penn dixie chronicle · hamburg natural history society, inc., p.o. box 772, hamburg, new york...

Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc., P.O. Box 772, Hamburg, New York 14075 (716)627-4560

Penn Dixie ChronicleA newsletter of the

Penn Dixie Paleontological Outdoor Education CenterHamburg Natural History Society

Founded to Protect and Promote Education

March/April 2015 about our Natural Resources Volume 23, No.2

HELP SEND A CHILD TO A SCIENCE SUMMER DAY CAMP!Every child deserves a chance to attend summer science camp and have the opportunity to enjoy new experiences. Unfortunately, there are many children in our area for whom attending summer camp is not an option because of financial limitations.

Penn Dixie would like to change that for 10 deserving girls and boys, 8-12 years old, by taking part in the United Way’s Buffalo Niagara’s Day of Giving “Spring It On 24-hour Give-a-Thon” from 8 a.m. March 19 to 8 a.m. March 20.

The goal is to raise $1,800, which would allow 10 children to attend one of Penn Dixie’s three one-week-long camps: “Science Adventure Camp”, “Dinosaurs, Fossils and Nature” and “Summer Science Safari” which are held during July and August. The Dinosaur camp will have children experiencing Penn Dixie and Evangola State Park for two days and Past & Present Rock Shop one day. The Summer Science Safari children will experience Penn Dixie and Evangola State Park for two days and Reinstein Woods Nature Center for one day. Dates and program information are available at www.penndixie.org.

In these camps, children learn about the natural sciences through hands-on programs, investigations, inquiry, and dis-covery, which will foster their creativity, teach them about the world of science that surrounds them, improve their social interaction, and give them a chance to make lifelong friendships.

To accomplish this goal we need your donation, so please take part in the ‘Spring It On’. Make a donation and help us send these 10 children to an educational and fun-filled experience they will remember all their lives. The link to make a donation is http://www.springiton.org/penndixie. Thank you for your support!

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MARCH PROGRAMS

PENN DIXIE EXHIBIT AT UNIVERSITY DAY OF SCOUTINGPenn Dixie will have an exhibit at the Greater Niagara Frontier Council University Day of Scouting on Sat-urday, March 7, 2015, from 9 am-2 pm at the Erie County Community College North Campus. Penn Dixie will be promoting programs, events, and Scout programs to Boy Scouts, Webelos, Cub Scouts, and their leaders.

PENN DIXIE EXHIBIT WILL BE AT THE BUFFALO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY’S 47th ANNUAL GEM-MINERAL-FOSSIL SHOW MARCH 21-22The Penn Dixie will display fossils, program information, the fossil dig for children, and astronomy information at the Buffalo Geological Society’s 47th Annual GEM-MINERAL-FOSSIL SHOW on Saturday, March 21 from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday, March 22, 10 am to 5 pm in the Market and Grange Buildings at the Erie County Fairgrounds. The theme of the show is FLUORITE: ‘FACES OF A CRYSTAL’. There will be minerals, fossils, and other geological speci-mens on display, along with demonstrations, dealers in minerals, fossils, jewelry, beads, gems and more. The famous Mini-Mine for children and Grandpa’s Corner doing crafts will also be available.

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PENN DIXIE PROGRAMSThe Penn Dixie Site Volunteer Training Session is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2015, from 8:30 AM to 12 Noon in the Gateway Executive Office auditorium at 3556 Lake Shore Rd., Blasdell.

Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center in Hamburg, a non-profit educational organization, provides programs and events in fossil collecting, geology, astronomy, birding, wetland investigations and studies, and the natural sciences, is currently recruiting enthusiastic and responsible individuals to help support on-site and off-site programs. This could be your perfect opportunity if you…

• Want to make a difference in your community.• Are looking for a hands-on volunteer organization.• Have three or four hours available each month.• Need to fulfill community service hours.• Are seeking teaching or mentoring opportunities.

As the demand for programs continues, the need for additional volunteers also increases. This is a great opportunity to introduce children and adults to the world of natural sciences available in our region. Families from over 41 states, Washington, D.C., and 14 countries visited Penn Dixie in 2014. Penn Dixie has a variety of programs, exhibits, and events that suc-ceed through the volunteer efforts of individuals, groups, students, scouts, seniors and retirees. Public days and programs are available for schools,

scouts, families, individuals, physically and mentally challenged, and visi-tors from around the world. Over 4,100 feet of paved trails provide access for wheel chairs, walkers, strollers, and wagons for visitors, along with a bridge connecting the northern and northeastern trail sections on the site.

In 2014, 460 events reached over 123,792 children and adults. Visit the Penn Dixie website: www.penndixie.org for information on the volunteer program.

Reserve a spot in the Penn Dixie training session: (716) 627-4560. Pre-registration is requested to have sufficient train-ing booklets available. Free for Penn Dixie members. Non-members are $30/person. Students and adults of all back-grounds are welcome! You can make a difference!

Robin Harris, Rick Batt & Linda Bastedo helping introduce Penn Dixie to children and adults at the Erie, PA, Gem- Mineral-Fossil Show

Four Worlds, One Country:A look Into the diverse Treasures of Ecuador”

Penn Dixie is pleased to have Abigail LaPlaca, of the University of Buffalo, speak on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at 7 PM in the auditorium of the Gateway Executive Of-fice, 3556 Lake Shore Road, Blasdell, NY 14219. Ms. LaPlaca had a great opportunity to spend a semester in Ecuador and South America for her Undergraduate Program at UB.

The wonders of the Andes Mountains, the Amazon rain-forest, the coastal region, and the Galapagos Islands come together on a tiny piece of South America. Come travel to zero degrees latitude and learn about the incredible features of Ecuador and Peru! We will look into the fantastic geographical and ecological diversity of these areas, the accomplishments and cultural rich-ness of the Incans and other indigenous peoples, and the intere sting chemistry of ancient and modern cultures brought together in their societies today!

Ms. LaPlaca’s illustrated presentation is open to the public – including children, families, students, scouts, and groups are welcome. No pre-registrations are required. $5 per person and Penn Dixie members are free. Visit the website www.penndixie.org or call (716) 627-4560 for ad-ditional information and directions. Penn Dixie membership and program information will be available at all the lectures.

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PENN DIXIE EXHIBIT WILL BE AT THE HAMBURG CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE TRADE FAIR ON MARCH 27th Penn Dixie will be a sponsor and have an exhibit in the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce Trade Fair on Friday, March 27, 2015, from 1-8 PM in the Grange Building at the Erie County Fairgrounds. Penn Dixie will have fossils on display, program information, and the fossil dig for children. This trade Fair will be featuring over 40 HCC businesses. There is FREE parking and FREE admission for all.

PENN DIXIE WILL BE OPEN FOR SPRING BREAK MARCH 28-APRIL 12

FOR FOSSIL COLLECTING & SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Penn Dixie will be open on March 28-April 12 for fossil collecting Mon.-Sat, 9 am-5 pm & Sun. 10 am-5pm, but will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 5. During Easter Break there are six different Spring into Nature programs being offered, a different program each day the week be-fore Easter and the week after. On Saturday, April 4, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for children. All these programs are available on the website www.penndixie.org or by calling (716) 627-4560 to request information to be sent. The Spring Into Nature programs require pre-registration which may be done by calling (716) 627-4560.PENN DIXIE EXHIBIT AT TOWN OF

EVANS ENVIRONMENTAL DAY ON MARCH 28

Penn Dixie will have an exhibit at the Town of Evans Envi-ronmental Day on Saturday, March 28, 2015, from 9 am-5 pm in the Evans Volunteer Fire Department on Rt. 5 in Evans. Program information and the fossil dig for children will be available.

Telescopes will be scanning the skies at the Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center in Hamburg, NY, on Saturday, March 28, 2015, beginning at 7:30 PM. Telescopes, with filters, will be available to view sun-spots and solar flares before sunset. After dark, telescopes will focus on the Penn Dixie Skies to view Mars and Venus in the west, the Pleiades M45 (7 sisters) in the southwest, and famous Orion’s Nebula M42. a Half moon will be to the right of Cancers Bee Hive cluster M44 and the bright planet Jupiter to its left, the Winter Triangle in the south, and the Spring Triangle rising in the east, and a variety of other constellations.

Two 16-inch, one 14-inch, and two 8-inch telescopes will be available for viewing. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own telescopes, if they like. This is also a good opportunity to learn about the variety of telescopes available before making a purchase. If anyone has questions about how to operate their per-sonal telescope, they are welcome to bring it and the Penn Dixie astronomers will help them learn how to operate it.

Families, scouts, and groups are encouraged to attend. No pre-registration required. $4/person. Penn Dixie members are free. Visit www.penndixie.org or call 627-4560 for additional information, directions, and 2011 special events, astron-omy, school tours, membership, birthday parties and volunteer opportunities.

GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE AND YOU ON APRIL 2nd Penn Dixie is pleased to have Mary Jo Graham, of Erie County Community College, speak on “ Gardening For Wild-life And You” on Thursday, April 2, 2015, at 7 PM in the auditorium of the Gateway Executive Office, 3556 Lake Shore

Road,Blasdell, NY 14219.It is no surprise that the plants best loved by humans also are favorites of wild animals. While this can sometimes be a challenge, there are ways to share the bounty among all who wish to partake. This talk offers tips and recommendations for gardening with both you and wildlife in mind. We’ll cover garden plantings, form containers to large pots and discuss critters of all sizes from insects to White- tailed Deer.Ms. Graham’s illustrated presentation is open to the public – including children, families, students, scouts, and groups are welcome. No pre-registrations are required. $5 per person and Penn Dixie members are free. Visit the website www.penndixie.org or call (716) 627-4560 for additional information and directions. Penn Dixie membership and program information will be available at all the lectures.

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TELESCOPES WILL FOCUS ON MARS, VENUS AND A VARIETY OF CONSTELLATIONS IN THE PENN DIXIE SKIES ON MARCH 28th

APRIL PROGRAMS


Become a Wetland Detective! Monday, March 30th, 2015 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Monday, April 6th, 2015 1:00 - 3:00 PM Are you a future Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple? Come to Penn Dixie and investigate its murky wetland area and learn about the plants and animals that depend on it for survival. This will be a hands on adventure, with live animal encounters!

(Cost $10 for not yet members $8 for members, Admission includes fossil collecting. Pre-Registration required – limit 35)

*Special Penn Dixie Family Discount $25 for all families of 4

Family Wilderness Preparedness! Saturday, April 4, 2015 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Saturday, April 11th, 2015 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Learn the rule of 3’s when you enter the woods to be a Survivor! Join an experienced outdoor enthusiast as he teaches us some basic survival techniques, such as how to build a fire, and obtain water, so you will be prepared to go exploring.

(Cost $10 for not yet members - $8 for members, Admission includes fossil collecting. Pre-Registration required)


Who Pooped at Penn Dixie? Tuesday, March 31th, 2015 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Tuesday, April 7th 2015 1:00 - 3:00 PM Join a naturalist for a hiking expedition to look for clues at Penn Dixie. We’ll search high and low for animal scat and tracks that were left behind this winter. This program doesn't stink we assure you, but what we will find just might!

(Cost $10 for not yet members - $8 for members, Admission includes fossil collecting. Pre-Registration required – limit 35)


Spring Bird walk for Beginners Wednesday, April 1st, 2015 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Come on Downy to Penn Dixie for a hike to spot birds and their habitats. Bring your eyes, ears, binoculars and field guides if you have them. After the hike kids will have fun making a simple bird craft.

(Cost $10 for not yet members - $8 for members, Admission includes fossil collecting. Pre-Registration required – limit 35)

*Special Penn Dixie All Family Discount $25 for all families of 4

What’s Beneath Your Feet? Thursday, April 2nd, 2015 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Thursday, April 9th 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Brachiopods, Trilobites and Corals, Oh My! Uncover rock and fossil remains of animals that lived in the ocean 20-30 degrees south of the equator, 380 million years ago. These creatures lived long before dinosaurs ever roamed the earth. You will be amazed by these Devonian Fossil Discoveries!



Call Penn Dixie at 716-627-4560 to register and for directions. Visit penndixie.org for more information.

Searching Penn Dixie Skies Friday, April 3rd, 2015 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Friday, April 10th, 2015 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Ever look up into the sky at night and wonder what's out there? View sunspots and solar flares. Learn what can be seen at night. Find out about telescopes to buy so you, too, can begin star-gazing!




PENN DIXIE EASTER EGG HUNT ON APRIL 4th

Penn Dixie’s Easter Egg Hunt Extravavganza! will be held on Saturday, April 4, promptly at 1 PM, at the site. Chil-dren 12 and under will find colorful eggs hidden all around the site (limit of 2 eggs per child). Prizes for all kids, plus games, and get your picture with ‘Tilly the Trilobite”, and more. Non-member children $10, member children-$8, non-member adults-$9, member adults Free. Easte Egg Hunt Admission includes fossil collecting. No pre-registra-tion required. Event will be held rain or shine. Bring your own basket. Call (716) 627-4560 for information.

PENN DIXIE EXHBIT AT COOL KIDS ECO-FEST EARTH DAY AT GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE APRIL 11th

The Penn Dixie exhibit will be at the Annual Cool Kids Eco-Fest Earth Day Event at Genesee Community College in Batavia on Saturday, April 11, from10 am-2 pm. This event focuses on recycling, environmental good practices, ecology, and features many nature and outdoor education centers. Penn Dixie will have fossils on display, program information and the popular fossil dig for children. This is a well-attended event that makes many families aware of Penn Dixie and the many activities available in Erie County.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: GREAT PLACES TO SEE “DOWN UNDER”

GEOLOGY AND MORE ON APRIL 16th Penn Dixie is pleased to have Dr. Rick Batt, of Buffalo State College, speak on “ Australia and New Zealand: Great Places to see ‘Down Under’ geology and more” on Thursday, April 16, 2015, at 7 PM in the auditorium of the Gateway Executive Office, 3556 Lake Shore Road, Blasdell, NY 14219.

The small continent of Australia and the islands that comprise New Zealand are pieces that broke off from the great continent Gondwana. Today, each has its unique geologic setting and isolated location that favor spectacular scenery and wildlife. Australia today is far from plate boundaries, so it has just one major chain of mountains down the eastern portion. The remainder, except for the northern latitudes with their rain forests, is mostly relatively low and dominated by desert. In

contrast, New Zealand is situated along active plate boundaries. The Pacific Ocean plate is sub-ducting beneath the North Island, with the result that the North Island is a good place to see active volcanoes and geothermal features like geysers and hot pools. The South Island, however, is being smeared along a major transform fault, with pressure along the shear zone pushing up the high mountains of the Southern Alps.

Dr. Rick Batt and his wife, Dr. Robin Harris had the opportunity to spend several weeks in Australia and New Zealand early last summer (the onset of winter there), taking numerous pictures including the ones that will be shown here. They traveled through portions of both the North and South Islands of New Zealand before begin-ning their itinerary in Australia (more a “fly about” instead of a “walk about” since it’s such a huge place). Some of the areas that will be highlighted in this presentation include the North Island’s Coromandel Peninsula, geo-thermal features, and a little hill with a long name; the South Island’s Southern Alps and Christ Church, the site of an earthquake that caused major damage in 2011; and, in Australia, areas around Sydney, Tasmania, Melbourne, Perth, Shark Bay (home of some living stromatolites), Darwin (with nearby Kakadu National Park), Uluru (Ayer’s Rock), Cairns (access to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rain forest), and Brisbane.

Dr. Batt’s illustrated presentation is open to the public – including children, families, students, scouts, and groups are welcome. No pre-registrations are required. $5 per person and Penn Dixie members are free. Visit the web-site www.penndixie.org or call (716) 627-4560 for additional information and directions. Penn Dixie membership

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Rick Batt with stromatolites in the background.


EARTH DAY 2015 AT PENN DIXIE APRIL 18th The 2015 Annual Earth Day cleanup and planting of trees and shrubs will be held at Penn Dixie on Saturday, April 18, beginning at 9 AM. Bring gloves, a change of shoes, and dress for the weather. This event will run rain or shine. Garbage bags and gloves will be provided. A dumpster will be available for all debris collected. This is a good opportunity for scout or school service hours. Free admission for those who participate in the Earth Day cleanup and plantings. If you have a shrub or tree you would like to donate please bring it along. For information, call (716) 627-4560.

ASTRONOMY AND PLANETARIUM NIGHT AT

WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH HIGH SCHOOL APRIL 22nd Penn Dixie and the Williamsville North Space Planetarium are collaborating on an astronomy-planetarium night on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, 2015, beginning at 6 PM. Penn Dixie telescopes will be available to view the Williamsville Skies to observe a crescent moon, Venus, Jupiter, and a variety of constellations. Visitors are

welcome to bring their own telescopes, especially if they have operational questions or are learning about what type of telescope to purchase.

The Planetarium Show, The Making of a Star and her Entourage, will be presented at 6:30 and 7:15 PM. Dis-cover how human thought and understanding has change dramatically over the centuries and come explore how stars form and how x-rays from the forming star may impede the formation of planetary systems. Weather permitting; Penn Dixie will have telescopes available for all to view the planets and constellations.

This is a free program. No pre-registrations required. The Williamsville Space Planetarium is at 1595 Hopkins Rd. (near Dodge), with the planetarium entrance on the south side of the building off the parking lot. Call (716) 627-4560 for information and directions.

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11th ANNUAL MEMBERS ONLY CINCINNATI FIELD TRIP APRIL 23-26th

Penn Dixie has scheduled a Members Only field trip to the Cincinnati, OH area to collect 500 million-year old Ordovician fossils. Permission has been secured to collect in the St. Paul, IN, quarry on Friday, April 24. We are working on a couple of locations for us to collect trilobites, echinoderms, brachiopods, and a va riety of other fossils. On Friday evening, for those interested, we will attend the Dry Dredgers monthly meeting at the University of Cincinnati. The locations are still being final-ized and hopefully we will be visiting a new location in Indiana.Those who participated in the nine previous April trips had a great time and all found trilobites and a variety of other fos-sils. The trip is scheduled for April 23-26, 2015 departing on Thursday morning and returning on Sunday. Participants will be car-pooling for this trip. There will be a $15 charge/member to attend this trip. Additional information on hotel, sites to visit, and reservations can be obtained by leaving a message on the Penn Dixie phone at (716) 627-4560 or email jbpendix@gmail.

SPRING BIRD WALK AT PENN DIXIE APRIL 26th The first Spring Bird Walk at Penn Dixie will be on April 26 at 9 AM. Marilyn O’Connell, of Wild Birds Unlimited, will lead those participating in a tour of the site to view some of the 143 nesting and migratory birds that have been identified at the site. Bring binoculars, boots, and dress for the weather. The Penn Dixie Bird List may be downloaded from the Penn Dixie website at www.penndixie.org. The next Spring Bird Walk will be led by Marilyn O’Connell, of Wild Birds Unlimited on Sunday, May 3, 2015, at 9 AM.


TELESCOPES VIEW MOON, JUPITER, & A VARIETY CONSTELLATIONS IN PENN DIXIE SKIES ON APRIL 25th

Penn Dixie telescopes will focus on Venus high in the west, a half moon just un-der and to the right of the Bee Hive Cluster M44, Jupiter, the Big Dipper, and use the pointer stars Dubbe & Merak to locate the North Star Polaris, and a variety of other constellations at the Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center in Hamburg, NY, on Saturday, April 25, 2015, beginning at 7:30 PM.

Telescopes, with filters, will be available to view sunspots and solar flares prior to sunset. Two 16-inch, one 8-inch and a variety of other telescopes will be avail-able for viewing. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own telescopes, if they like. Penn Dixie volunteers will also help visitors learn how to operate their own telescopes. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the variety of tele-scopes available before making a purchase.

Dress for the weather. The public is invited and children are encouraged to attend. $4/person, HNHS members are free. No pre-registrations are required. Call (716) 627-4560 for additional information and/or visit the web site at www.penndixie.org for directions, program, and membership information.

PALEOLITHIC ART:CAVE PAINTINGS FROM FRANCE AND SPAIN

Penn Dixie is pleased to have Carol Miller, of Lockport, speak on “ Paleolithic Art: Cave paintings from France and Spain” on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at 7 PM in the auditorium of the Gate-way Executive Office, 3556 Lake Shore Road, Blasdell, NY 14219.

Cave paintings, sculptures, spear throwers, 35,000-year old carv-ings, 25,000-year old jewelry. Paleolithic art is all this and more. Highly developed art did not appear in our lifetime; it has been around for thousands of years. Come and hear for yourself.

Paleolithic speaker, Carol Miller, will present a one-night review of her popular five-week Paleolithic Art session. She will discuss the sudden appearance of art approximately 35,000 years ago. Top-ics include cave paintings from the well-known caves of Altamira,

Lascaux, and Chauvet, as well as a few lesser-known caves. The review will also include etchings, sculptures, portable art, jewelry, and the popular Venus figures.

Carol is a retired microbiologist, having worked in clinical and veterinary medicine, sales, and clinical instruction. She now devotes her time to the more enjoyable pursuits of quilting, writing, photography, traveling, and teaching for fun. She has given classes on Paleolithic Art at various venues in and around Lockport.

Ms. Miller’s illustrated presentation is open to the public – including children, families, students, scouts, and groups are welcome. No pre-registrations are required. $5 per person and Penn Dixie members are free. Visit the website www.penndixie.org or call (716) 627-4560 for additional information and directions. Penn Dixie mem-bership and program information will be available at all the lectures.

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WELCOME TINA RIMBECK TO THE HNHS/PENN DIXIE BOARD

We welcome Tina Rimbeck, from the Buffalo Sabres, to the HNHS Board of Directors. She was appointed by President Felice Krycia and approved by the HNHS Board members to fill a vacancy on the Board. She will be officially elected to the Board by the Penn Dixie membership in the November 2015 an-nual elections. Please welcome Tina when you meet her.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMPLETE CALENDAR AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE WWW.PENNDIXIE.ORG

MARCH March 7, 2015 – 8:30 AM- 2 PM, Penn Dixie exhibit at the Boy Scout University Day of Scouting

March 14, 2015 – 8:30 am-12 Noon, Penn Dixie Volun-teer Training. Call (716) 627-4560 or email [email protected] for information and/or registration.March 14, 2015 9 AM-2 PM, Penn Dixie presentations at 10th Anniversary of Tech Savvy girls STEM Program

March 18, 2015 – 7 PM, “Four Worlds, One Country: A Look into the Diverse Treasures of Ecuador,” by Abby LaPlaca, University of Buffalo, an illustrated pre-sentation in the auditorium of the Gateway Executive Of-fice 3556 Lake Shore Rd., Blasdell, NY. $5/person, Penn Dixie members FREE. No pre-registrations required.

March 21-22, 2015 – Penn Dixie exhibit at Buffalo Geological Society Show in the Grange and Market Buildings at the Erie County Fairgrounds, Hamburg New York.

March 27, 2015 – 1-8 PM, Penn Dixie exhibit at Ham-burg Chamber of Commerce Trade Fair in the Grange Building at Erie County Fairgrounds.

March 27, 2015 – 6-8 PM, Penn Dixie exhibit at Union Pleasant Elementary School Science Night, Hamburg, NY

March 28, 2015 – 9 AM-2 PM, Penn Dixie exhibit at Town of Evans Environmental Day at Evans Fire Dept.

March 28, 2015 – 7:30 PM, Astronomy Night at Penn Dixie Site. Telescopes will be available to view planets and constellations. Dress for the weather. No pre-regis-trations required. $4/person, Penn Dixie Members FREE

March 28-April 4 & April 6-12, 2015 – Penn Dixie Open during Spring Break, Mon- Sat, 9 AM – 5 PM & Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM, Adults $9 and children 12 & under $7, chil-dren 2 and under & Penn Dixie members FREE.

March 30, 2015 – 1 PM, Spring into Nature Program “Become a Wetland Detective” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Dixie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

March 31, 2015 – 1 PM, Spring Into Nature Program“Who Pooped at Penn Dixie?,” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Dixie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

APRIL April 1, 2015 – 1 PM, Spring Into Nature Program “Spring Bird Walk for Beginners,” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Dixie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

April 2, 2015 – 1 PM, Spring Into Nature Program “What’s Beneath Your Feet,” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Dixie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

April 2, 2015 – 7 PM, “Gardening for Wildlife and You,” by Mary Jo Graham, Erie County Community College, an illustrated presentation in the auditorium of the Gateway Executive Office 3556 Lake Shore Rd., Blasdell, NY. $5/person, Penn Dixie members FREE. No pre-registrations required.

April 3, 2015 – 1 PM, Spring Into Nature Program “Searching Penn Dixie Skies,” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Dixie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

April 4, 2015 – 10 AM, Spring Into Nature Program “Family Wilderness Preparedness!,” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Dixie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

April 4, 2015 – 1 PM, Penn Dixie Easter Egg Hunt for children. Children only get to find two eggs. $10/ non-member children and $8/Penn Dixie members, Adults $9, and Penn Dixie Members free. Prizes for all children. Fossil collecting for all included.

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April 6, 2015 – 10 AM, Spring Into Nature Program “Become a Wetland Detective!,” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Dixie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

April 7, 2015 – 10 AM, Spring Into Nature Program “Who Pooped at Penn Dixie?,” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Dixie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

April 8, 2015 – 10 AM, Spring Into Nature Program “Spring Bird Walk for Beginners,” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Dixie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

April 9, 2015 – 10 AM, Spring Into Nature Program “What’s Beneath Your Feet?,” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Di-xie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

April 10, 2015 – 10 AM, Spring Into Nature Program “Searching Penn Dixie Skies,” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Dixie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

April 10, 2015 – 6-8 PM, Penn Dixie exhibit at South Davis Elementary School

April 16, 2015, 7 PM, “Australia and New Zealand: Great places to see “Down Under” geology & more,” by Dr, Rick Batt, Buffalo State, an illustrated presentation in the auditorium of the Gateway Execu-tive Office 3556 Lake Shore Rd., Blasdell, NY. $5/per-son, Penn Dixie members FREE. No pre-registrations required.

April 11, 2015 – 10 AM-2 PM, Penn Dixie exhibit at Eco-Fest Earth Day Event at Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY.

April 11, 2015 – 10 AM, Spring Into Nature Program “Family Wilderness Preparedness!,” for children and adults. Pre-registration required. $10/person, $8 per Penn Dixie member, Special Family discount $25 for families of 4. Visit www.penndixie.org for information or call (716) 627-4560 for information and/or to register.

April 16, 2015, 7 PM, “Australia and New Zealand: Great places to see “Down Under” geology & more,” by Dr. Rick Batt, Buffalo State, an illustrated presentation in the auditorium of the Gateway Execu-tive Office 3556 Lake Shore Rd., Blasdell, NY. $5/per-son, Penn Dixie members FREE. No pre-registrations required.

April 18, 2015 – 9 AM, Earth Day at Penn Dixie. Volun-teers welcome & have free admission to collect fossils.

April 22, 2015 – 6 PM, Williamsville North Planetarium Show and Astronomy Night with Penn Dixie telescopes at the Williamsville North Space Planetarium, 1595 Hop-kins Rd. Public welcome. No pre-registrations required. FREE program. Children, families, scouts and students welcome. Call (716) 627-4560 for information.

April 23-26, 2015 – 11th Annual Penn Dixie Members Only Cincinnati Field Trip. Please email [email protected] or call (716) 627-4560 for information.

April 25, 2015 – 7 PM, Astronomy Night at Penn Dixie Site. Telescopes will be available to view planets and constellations. Dress for the weather. No pre-registrations required. $4/person, Penn Dixie Members FREE.

April 26, 2015 – 9 AM, Spring Bird Walk at Penn Dixie led by Marilyn O’Connell, of Wild Birds Unlimited. Bring binoculars, boots, and dress for the weather. Free pro-gram. No pre-registration required. Children welcome.

April 29, 2015 – 7 PM, “Paleolithic Art: Cave paintings from France & Spain,” by Carol Miller, an illustrated presentation in the auditorium of the Gateway Executive Office 3556 Lake Shore Rd., Blasdell, NY. $5/person, Penn Dixie members FREE. No pre-registrations required.

April 30, 2015 – 6-8 PM, Penn Dixie exhibit, fossil dig, programs, and telescopes at Ellicott Elementary School, Orchard Park.

MAY May 2-November 1, 2015 – Penn Dixie Public Days for fossil collecting, Sat. 9 AM-5 PM & Sun. 10 AM-5 PM. Visits may be scheduled at other times. Adults $9 each, children 12 & under $7, children 2 & under and Penn Dixie members FREE.

May 3, 2015 – 9 AM, Spring Bird Walk at Penn Dixie led by Marilyn O’Connell, Wild Birds Unlimited. Bring binoculars, boots, and dress for the weather. Free program. No pre-registration required.Children welcome.

May 3, 2015 – 1-4 PM, Penn Dixie Geology Merit Badge Day. Registration must be made through the Greater Niagara Frontier Council.

May 15, 2015- 7 PM, “Utah Long-necked Dinosaurs; Myths & Mysteries,” by Joe ‘PaleoJoe’ Kchodl, of Midland, MI, an illustrated presentation with some speci-mens, in the auditorium of the Gateway Executive Office 3556 Lake Shore Rd., Blasdell, NY. $5/person, Penn Dixie members FREE. No pre-registrations required.

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May 16, 2015 – 9 AM, Penn Dixie’s 11th Annual ‘Dig with the Experts’ at the site. Email [email protected] or call (716) 627-4560 for information and to register. Penn Dixie Members $25 and non-members $30.

May 16, 2015 – 7:30 PM, Astronomy Night at Penn Di-xie Site. Telescopes will be available to view planets and constellations. Dress for the weather. $4/person, Penn Dixie Members FREE. No pre-registrations required.

May 17, 2015 – 1-4 PM, Webelo Geology Activity Badge Day. Registration must be made through the Greater Niagara Frontier Council.

JUNE June 7, 2015 - 1 PM to 4 PM Children’s DayCelebrate Children’s Day at Penn Dixie! Special fun events for children and their families, prizes for children’s contests, viewing sunspots and other astronomy activi-ties, fossil identification, and more! Adults $9 each, children 12 and under $7, children 2 and under & Penn Dixie members FREE.

June 13 - September 8, 2015, Penn Dixie open for fossil collecting 7-days a week. Visit www.penndixie.org or call (716) 627-4560 for directions and information. Adults $9, Children 12 & under $7, Penn Dixie members FREE.

June 13, 2015 – 7:30 PM, Astronomy Night at Penn Dixie Site. Telescopes will be available to view planets and constellations. Dress for the weather. $4/person, Penn Dixie Members FREE. No pre-registrations required.

June 13, 2015 – 11 am-5 PM, Penn Dixie exhibit at Great Lakes Experience at Dunkirk sponsored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

June 14, 2015 - 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM, 24th Annual Penn Dixie Nature Cruise Tour. Call (716) 627-4560 for reg-istration information and cost or visit www.penndixie.org. Limited space available.

June 28, 2015, 2015 - 11 AM to 4 PM – “Big Toys, Trucks and Bikes Event”

Fossil collecting, viewing of sunspots, and a “Big Toys Event” fundraiser! Sit in your favorite truck, explore a variety of vehicles, and have your picture taken in your favorite vehicle – check web site for details. Adults $9 each, children 12 and under $7, and children 2 and under & Penn Dixie members FREE. Penn Dixie has 4,100+ feet of paved trails for wheel chairs, walkers, strollers, and wagons.

2015 SUMMER DAY CAMPS FOR BOYS & GIRLS 8-12 YEARS OLD

2015 SCIENCE ADVENTURE DAY CAMPAT PENN DIXIE

The Penn Dixie Site will be offering a five-day, 9 AM to 3 PM, Science Adventure Day Camp, for 8-12 year olds July 6-10, July 20-24, August 3-7, and August 17-21. The campers will explore geology, fossils, astronomy, weather, ecology, and rocketry at the Penn Dixie Site. The rates are $180 per camper for non-members, and $155 for family members. The registration brochure is available on the Penn Dixie web site at www.penndixie.org or by leaving your name and mailing address at (716) 627-4560 or email [email protected]. Pre-registration is requested.

2015 Dinosaurs, Fossils & Nature Science Summer Day Camp at Penn Dixie, Evangola State Park & Past & Present Science &

Nature Store The Dinosaurs, Fossils & Nature Science Summer Day Camp will be held from 9 am-3 pm, July 13-17 and August 10-14 for 8-12 year olds. Campers will be at Penn Dixie Monday & Tuesday; Past & Present on Wednesday, and at Evangola State Park on Thursday and Friday. Geology, fossils, dinosaurs, and nature will feature the week’s activities. The rates are $180 per camper for the week. The registration brochure is available on the Penn Dixie web site at www.penndixie.org or by leaving your name and mailing address at (716) 627-4560 or email [email protected]. Pre-regis-tration is requested.

2015 Summer Science Safari Summer Day Camp at Penn Dixie, Evangola State Park, Reinstein WoodsThe summer Science Safari Summer Safari Day Camp will be held from 9 am-3 pm, July 27-31 and August 24-28 for 8-12 year olds.

Campers will be at Penn Dixie on Monday & Tuesday; Evangola on Wednesday & Thursday; and Reinstein Woods on Fridays. Geology, fossils, wetlands, and nature will feature the week’s activities. The rates are $180 per camper for the week. The registration brochure is available on the Penn Dixie web site at www.penndixie.org or by leav-ing your name and mailing address at (716) 627-4560 or email [email protected]. Pre-registration is requested.

Summer Day Camp programs and registration forms are availableon the Penn Dixie website.

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HELP MARKET PENN DIXIEYou, as a member are the best form of marketing that Penn Dixie has available. Please encourage your scout groups, schools, day care cen-ters, recreation departments, visitors, families, friends, and neighbors to experience Penn Dixie. Many are unfamiliar with this world-class outdoor educational, cultural, recreational, and tourism attraction in Hamburg. Please help recruit new members and encourage your company and civic organization to help support Penn Dixie. Admissions and memberships are important source of revenue that help support programs, events, summer day camps, off-sit programs, and Penn Dixie operations. Your support is greatly appreciated.

BOOK YOUR SCHOOL AND/OR GROUP FIELD TRIP TO PENN DIXIE NOW FOR A

HANDS-ON OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE IN 2015 SSchool and group field trips to visit Penn Dixie for the Spring and Summer of 2015 are now being booked. Have your students, chil-dren and adults experience an outdoor classroom in fossils, geology,

and nature. Field trips are the best way to learn, experience, and see science first hand. Please call (716) 627-4560, if you are interested in scheduling your class to visit to collect fossils, learn about what the area was like 380 million years ago, and the local geology.

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PENN DIXIE IN-SCHOOL AND ON-SITE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

Busing costs prohibiting getting your students to Penn Dixie for a hands-on experience? Penn Dixie staff will visit your pre-school, day care center, libraries, after school program, and science nights. A variety of natural science programs in fossils, geology, rocks and minerals, and birds may be brought directly to your facility.Call (716) 627-4560 for information, scheduling and costs. Please leave your phone number and brief message and we will get back to you ASAP.

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CHARITABLE GIVING PLANNING WITH THE NEW YEARAs the New Year begins, many taxpayers attempt to streamline their finances to ensure that transactions that can be deducted on their tax return are completed in a timely way. This includes making gifts to charities. Do you plan to include your retirement assets in charitable donations? If so, consider how it may affect your finances. In some cases, it can be more beneficial to name the charity as a designated beneficiary of your retirement account, rather than giving the assets during your lifetime. The Hamburg Natural History Society/Penn Dixie is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, a charitable organization. In this uncertain economic climate, the HNHS/Penn Dixie is going to be more dependent on new and additional sources of funding.

A Charitable donation is a gift made by an individual or an organization to a non-profit organization, charity, or private foundation. Charitable donations are commonly in the form of cash, but can also take the form of real estate, motor vehicles, appreciated securities, or other assets and services. Charitable donations often represent the primary source of funding for many charitable organizations and non-profit organizations. Most charitable donations made by an individual will provide him or her with an income tax deduction.

For more information contact our financial consultant Michael Brown, of the Wall Street Financial Group, at (585) 507-2596.

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11th ANNUAL DIG WITH THE EXPERTS ON MAY 16TH There were several slabs with multiple complete trilobites collected during the 2014 ‘Dig with Experts’ event. The experts will excavate an area for this program and show you how to split the shale to discover some complete speci-mens. Although a large complete trilobite is the goal, there are other unique fossils besides trilobites that can be found at Penn Dixie. Cephalopods, carbonized wood, fish remains, crinoid calices, and other specimens may be found with careful excavation and preparation.

Join us on Saturday, May 16th when HNHS Cincinnati members Dan Cooper, Don Bissett and their team will show you how complete trilobites can be found. The program will take place from 9 AM to 5 PM. The cost will be $25/Penn Dixie member and $30/non-member. This will be a fun event and a chance to find some other interesting fossils that have been preserved in the rocks at Penn Dixie.

In addition, PaleoJoe, of Michigan, will be having a ‘Utah Long-necked Dinosaurs; Myths & Mysteries’ presentation the night be-fore on May 15 at 7 PM in the auditorium of the Gateway Execu-tive Office, not far from the site. This is a presentation for children and adults. Plan on attending both events.

Participants in the “Dig” should bring gloves, a crack hammer, chisels, a pry bar, safety glasses, a small shovel, newspaper, paper towels, Elmer’s glue & water, and a collecting bag or flat for your specimens. Dan and Don have been collecting at Penn Dixie for many years and know some of the good areas to collect. Five Penn Dixie members from Michigan are already signed up for the ‘Dig’. If you are interested in signing up for this program, please call (716) 627-4560 or email [email protected].

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS ARE DUEDo you need to renew your membership? Check the mailing label and if it has 2014 above your name, your membership is up for renewal. Penn Dixie memberships are on a calendar year basis.

Memberships in the HNHS are needed to help support the programs and operations of the Penn Dixie Site. Consider increasing your membership to the next level this year. The HNHS needs to triple its membership to help support the educational programs and operations of the Penn Dixie. If all the memberships could recruit or gift one or two new memberships this fall, it would be of great help to the HNHS. If each membership renewal included an extra donation of $25 to $30, this could also help close the society’s budget deficit. Your support is needed to help keep Penn Dixie moving forward. The HNHS wants to continue to offer new and interesting programs while maintaining and continuing to develop the site. Your support is needed to make certain that this happens. You can make a difference!!

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NEW MEMBERSHIP AND ADMISSIONRATES BEGIN IN 2015The HNHS/Board has voted to increase membership rates in most categories in 2015. The Student, Senior, Indi-vidual, Family, Grandparents, Associate and School memberships will all increase by $5 in each category. These new rates will take affect on January 1, 2015. Current members and new members may renew at the existing rates and save a few dollars, if done before December 31, 2014.

The admission rates will also be increasing in 2015 for fossil collecting for adults to $9 each, children 12 and under will be $7, and children 2 and under and Penn Dixie members will be free. The Winter/Spring lecture series will be increased to $5 per person and the astronomy programs will be $4 per person in 2015.

The increase in the membership and admissions is necessary to help cover the increased operational, program, insur-ance, marketing, and other costs required to keep Penn Dixie operating and developing new programs and facilities.


24th PENN DIXIE NATURE CRUISE JUNE 14TH

Make your reservations now! The Nature Cruise will be held on Sunday, June 14, 2015. Boarding for the cruise will begin at 8:30 AM at the entrance to the Erie Basin Ma-rina, departure is promptly at 9 AM, and return to the dock at 12 Noon.

The cruise will provide views from the harbor, Lake Erie, the Niagara River, the locks, and the Black Rock Canal as we travel along the Buffalo waterfront. This will be a great op-portunity to view the 410-ft. tall wind turbines that have been installed on the former Bethle-hem Steel site and other changes being made on the Buffalo waterfront. Experts in aquatic biology, birding, fisheries, and geology will provide information on the formation of the lake and river, the fishing, birding opportunities, and features along the waterfront.

The cost of the cruise and lighthouse tour for Penn Dixie members - $27 adults, $24 chil-dren and non-mem-ber adults - $30, children $27. This cruise generally sells out, so do not wait too long to make your reserva-tion. A confirmation letter will be sent out to all registrants upon receipt of paid registrations with directions of where to board the Miss Buffalo boat at the entrance to the Erie Basin Marina. Reg-istration forms and information may be downloaded from the website www.penndixie.org or call (716) 627-4560 and leave you name and address for information to be sent.

South End Lighthouse with wind turbines in the background

Canalside along the Buffalo River and the Harbor Center in the background under construction.


From Rich Switzer


FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESKWinter still reigns at Penn Dixie and WNY! There is probably a good 27-inches of snow pack at the site and in the area, with many drifts over 4-ft. and piles of snow approaching 10-15 ft. every-where. The depth of the snow has made it difficult for the deer and many other animals at Penn Dixie this winter. We had some great cross-country skiing at the site, although it was cold for some. The forecast is actually calling for temperatures above 32 and not soon enough for anyone. It has been a cold, long and snowy winter. Yes, winter has been here along time but Spring is in the air and we all move our clocks ahead one hour on March 7. Daylight hours are increasing and warmer temperatures will soon be here. We are optimistic about a warm and dry summer and can’t wait to hear complaints on how hot it is at Penn Dixie this summer!

Penn Dixie’s winter lecture series is going well and we had some very interesting and informative presentations from Dr. Kevin Williams on Saturn, Ceres and Pluto in January. Scott Mckenzie, from Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA, provided a very enthusiastic program on Meteorites and had some meteorites for all to see. We anticipate the remaining five lectures will be just as informative and hope you can make.

Jeff Dietz, Stan Martin, and I have been working on some new programs and expanding some of the existing events. Jeff brings a lot of computer skills, new ideas, and creative approaches to teaching natural sciences. Please note the many programs that are being provided, especially over Spring Break March 28-April 12. There will also be an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at 1 PM for children. We are looking at new ideas to attract more visitors to Penn Dixie and help increase revenues for programs and operations.

We welcome the new members listed in this newsletter and especially thank Gibraltar Industries, Inc. for becom-ing a Corporate Sponsor member. Membership renewals are due now and this could be your last newsletter. If your newsletter label has 2014 above your name, your membership has expired. Penn Dixie memberships are on a calendar year. Penn Dixie needs your support and if you can include an extra $25-$30 donation that would be greatly appreciated.

The HNHS/Penn Dixie thanks all the donors listed in this newsletter. Donations are an important source 0f support that helps move Penn Dixie forward with the programs, events, and operations. The HNHS/Penn Dixie especially thank Carol and Gordon Baird, of Fredonia, for their $1,000 donation and Robert Ferguson, Houston, TX, for his $500 donation. All donations, regardless of the amount help Penn Dixie. If all of our memberships donated $20-$30, Penn Dixie would benefit $20,000-$30,000.

The HNHS/Penn Dixie also appreciates the $5,000 of support if has recently received from the Town of Ham-burg. Erie County has just sent out their contracts for the $92,800 in support that will be received in two install-ments during the year. This support, along with earned revenues, help keep Penn Dixie operating. In 2014, the HNHS/Penn Dixie staff and volunteers provided or participated in 443 programs, events, exhibits, presentations, field trips, in-school programs, festivals, and other community activities that reached over 123,792 children and adults. In addition, staff and volunteers introduced visitors from 41 states, Washington, D.C., and 14 countries to Penn Dixie. We thank all the supporting organizations, members and volunteers!

The HNHS/Penn Dixie Board and staff thank Jack Flint, who recently stepped down as treasurer and from the Board so he could spend more time with his family. He has been serving as treasurer for the past few years. The HNHS/Penn Dixie Board elected Linda Catalano treasurer. We welcome her to this new position.

Penn Dixie’s annual Volunteer Training Program is on Saturday, March 14, 2015, from 8:30 am to 12 Noon. Volunteers are needed to help support the increasing number of programs and events on-site and off-site. If you are interested, or you know anyone that is interested and plan on attending, please leave a message on the Penn Dixie answering machine so we have sufficient number of training booklets for all. Penn Dixie members are FREE and non-members are $30 each. There are a large variety of activities that volunteers may help with and on the Penn Dixie website www.penndixie.org many of these are list under Volunteer Opportunities. Like working with children and adults? Volunteering can be a real rewarding experience. You can make a difference!

We look forward to seeing you participating in the many programs that are being planned. Hope to see you at Penn Dixie soon!

Executive Director: Jerold Bastedo e-mail address: [email protected]

Jerry

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NEW MEMBERSHIPS & DONATIONSWELCOME NEW MEMBERSPatti Baldson & J.D. Foriest – West Seneca, NYMichael Bartz – Hamburg, NYJeff & Betty Ann Dietz – Hamburg, NYDeborah Gibson – Kenmore, NYDon & Arlene Hassenfratz – Lancaster, NYTracy Jawoszewski & Family – Hamburg, NYDaniel Krisher – Churchville, NYJoe & Sandy Malikowski – West Seneca, NYScott McKenzie & Family – Erie, PATina Rimbeck – Buffalo, NY Peter & Diane Szewczuk – Hamburg, NYRod Tobin – Buffalo, NYJohn Toner – Tonawanda, NYJason Zollinger – South Dayton, NY

WELCOME STUDENT MEMBERSMark Guilliams – Cedarville, OH

WELCOME ASSOCIATE MEMBERLaurie Hogan – Buffalo, NY

WELCOME PATRON MEMBERSLinda Catalano – Buffalo, NYHarold & Margaret Fabinsky – Orchard Park, NY William & Regina Mastroleo – Buffalo, NYG. Scott Thorsell – Anchorage, AK

WELCOME CORPORATE MEMBERSCincinnati Dry Dredgers – Cincinnati, OHFerraro & Hauser, LLP – West Seneca, NYWalsh Duffield Cos., Inc. – Buffalo, NY

WELCOME SCHOOL MEMBERS Meadow Elementary School – North Tonawanda, NY

WELCOME CORPORATE SPONSOR MEMBERGibraltar Industries, Inc. – Buffalo, NY

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR DONATIONS TO THE HNHS/PENN DIXIE

Carol & Gordon Baird – Fredonia, NYPat Castiglia – Orchard Park, NYDr. Jean Feldman – Hamburg, NYRobert Ferguson – Houston, TXHamburg Garden Club – Hamburg, NYMake Cents Deposit Refunding – Blasdell, NYThe Margaret L. Wendt Foundation – Buffalo, NYWilliam & Regina Mastroleo – Buffalo, NYNational Fuel Gas Company Foundation – Williamsville, NYBetty Newell – Buffalo, NYPampered Chef – North Chili, NYKevin Simmons – Pottstown, PAG. Scott Thorsell – Anchorage, AKTown of Hamburg – Hamburg, NYKarl Wilson – Binghamton, NYPatricia Yuhnke – Hamburg, NY

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING WHO MADE A DONATION TO THE $1,000 BUILDING CLUB FUNDG. Scott Thorsell – Anchorage, AK (Newest $1,000 Club Member!)

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THANK YOU TO THE TOWN OF HAMBURG FOR $5,000 OF SUPPORTThe HNHS/Penn Dixie thanks the Town of Hamburg for their $5,000 of support for the programs, events and operations of the Penn Dixie. Penn Dixie provides many events that attract visitors from throughout NYS, across the country and from around the world to Hamburg. In 2014, Penn Dixie had visitors from 41 states, Washington, D.C., and 14 counties. In addition to the on-site programs, Penn Dixie provides many programs throughout Hamburg and for the residents and visitors to the area. In 2014, Penn Dixie provided or participated in in 443 events that reached over 123,792 children and adults.

THANK YOU TO CAROL & DR. GOR-DON BAIRD FOR DONATING $1,000

TO THE HNHS/PENN DIXIEThe HNHS/Penn Dixie thank Carol and Dr. Gordon Baird, of Fredonia, for their continued support of the programs, events, and operations of the Penn Dixie Site. Dr. Baird is a Life member, long time supporter, and more importantly brings his students to Penn Di-xie to have a hands-on opportunity to study geology, paleontology, and stratigraphy while collecting many fossils. We thank Carol and Gordon for their impor-tant and continued support!

THANK YOU TO ROBERT FERGUSON, HOUSTON, TX, FOR HIS

DONATION OF $500The HNHS/Penn Dixie thank Robert Ferguson, of Houston, TX, for his donation of $500 to help support the programs, events, and operations of the Penn Dixie Site. Bob, long-time supporter, makes his annual visit to Penn Dixie to collect fossils and enjoys spending time on the site. He now even has his wife collecting fossils. Thank you Bob for your continued support!


CORPORATE MEMBERS3rd Rock, LLC – East Aurora, NYBlasdell Rod and Gun Club – Hamburg, NYBuffalo Geological Society, Inc. – Buffalo, NYCincinnati Dry Dredgers – Cincinnati, OHDelaware Valley Paleontological Soc.,Inc.– West Chester,PA Ferrara & Hauser, LLPNorth Coast Fossil Club – Cleveland, OHRotary Club of Hamburg – Hamburg, NY SJB/Empire Geo Services – Hamburg, NYTown of Hamburg Lions Club – Hamburg, NYWalsh Duffield Cos., Inc. – Hamburg, NYWild Birds Unlimited – Blasdell, NY

CORPORATE SPONSOR MEMBERSBuffalo Association of Professional Geologists – Bflo, NYGibraltar Industries – Buffalo, NYHamburg Sunrise Rotary Club – Hamburg, NY

CORPORATE BENEFACTOR MEMBERU.S. Energy Development Corp., LLC – Getzville, NY

The Penn Dixie Site/HNHS gratefully acknowledges the

financial support of:The Hamburg Gaming/Buffalo Raceway The

Erie County Cultural Resources The Garman Family Foundation The Penfold Family Foundation National Fuel Gas Foundation

The Margaret L. Wendt FoundationThe Federal Aviation Administration

Gibraltar Industries and all those who helped make grants avail-able for the Penn Dixie Site, including the Corporate members listed above.

SCHOOL MEMBERSAllendale Elementary School – West Seneca, NYBennett Montessori School (2) - Buffalo, NYCasey Elementary School (2) – East Amherst, NYCataract Elementary School – Niagara Falls, NYEden Elementary School (2) – Eden, NYElmwood Franklin School – Buffalo, NYForest Elementary School (2) – Williamsville, NYForestville Central School – Forestville, NYForestville Elementary (2) – Forestville, NYFourteen Holy Helpers – West Seneca, NYGenesee Community Charter School – Rochester, NY Hinsdale Elementary School – Hinsdale, NYKenmore East High School – Kenmore, NYKenmore East Science Club – Kenmore, NYMill Middle School – Williamsville, NYNorth Collins Jr. & Sr. High School – North Collins, NYNorth park Middle School – Buffalo, NYOlmsted School #64 (2) – Buffalo, NYSt. John Vianney School – Orchard Park, NYSt. Mary’s Elementary School – Lancaster, NYSeneca Nation of Indians – Irving, NYSENSES Foundation School – Buffalo, NYSilver Creek Elementary School (2) – Silver Creek, NYSouthside Elementary School (4) – Buffalo, NYSouth Davis Elementary School – Orchard Park, NYUnion Pleasant Elementary School (2) – Hamburg, NYWales Primary School – East Aurora, NYWestminster Community Charter School (2) – Buffalo, NYWilliamsville East High School – East Amherst, NY

PATRON MEMBERS Linda Catalano – Buffalo, NYAmy Choboy – Fredonia, NYJane D’Agostino – Williamsville, NYDonna & Robert Dusel – Hamburg, NYHarold & Margaret Fabinsky – Orchard Park, NYFerrara & Hauser, LLPKevin Hogan – Hamburg, NYBryan Hann – Hamburg, NYMary Hughes, East Amherst, NYTom & Joan Johnston – Hamburg, NYWilliam and Regina Mastroleo – Buffalo, NYRobert Shoemaker – Cockeysville, MDG. Scott Thorsell – Anchorage, AKDaniel Tack – Honeoye Falls, NYPeter & Manya Warn – Williamsville, NY

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES THAT HELP SUPPORT

PENN DIXIE THROUGH THEIR MEMBERSHIPS

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GO OUTDOORS IN 2015 ! HAVE A NEW HANDS -ON EXPERIENCE!VISIT PENN DIXIE!

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PENN DIXIE TRILOBITE POSTER

A Penn Dixie Trilobite poster of specimens collected, professionally prepared, and photographed is available for sale. Information on the back of the poster provides information on who collected the specimen. The poster was prepared by Richard Spencer.

The 24x30 inch poster is available for $10 each, plus $5 for shipping and handling. Copies of the poster can be purchased at Penn Dixie and by mail order. Send your check to the HNHS/Penn Dixie P.O. Box 772, Ham-burg, NY 14075 and the poster will be shipped to you in a rolled tube. Any questions, please email [email protected] or call (716) 627-4560.

CORPORATE CHARITABLE

PLANS & MEMBERSHIPS

Many corporations have estab-lished matching corporate chari-

table donation plans for their employees to make income tax deductible donations to their preferred charity or non-profit organization. The Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that qualifies for these plans. Please check with your employer to see if the HNHS can be added to their charitable donation plan. If you do not see your company listed in the lists of corporate members, please contact your company man-ager or owner about helping support an important unique and classic educational, cultural, recreational and tourist attraction that you support. Memberships are a major supporter of the Penn Dixie programs and operations.

THE UNITED WAY DONOR CHOICE PROGRAM

HELPS SUPPORT PENN DIXIEThe Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc./Penn Dixie Site is recognized to receive donations through the United Way Donor Choice Program. The United Way offers this opportunity for donors to designate all or a portion of their United Way contribu-tions to the HNHS. If you would like more information on how to designate your gift, please contact the United Way or call the HNHS at 627-4560. Please note that the designation should be to the Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc. The Penn Dixie Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center is listed as a program under the HNHS. The United Way may be contacted at 887-2607. Donations received from this Donor Choice program are an important source of support for the Penn Dixie Site. Thank you to all who have made donations to the HNHS under this program.

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: __________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Employer: ________________________________________________________________________

Telephone Number (Day): _________________________ (Evening): _________________________

E-Mail Address: __________________________________________________________________________________

Are you interested in serving on a committee? o Yes o No Are you interested in assisting us with site maintenance and cleanup? o Yes o No Are you interested in helping to run trips to Penn Dixie for groups such as school children? o Yes o No

Return to: HNHS/Penn Dixie. • P.O. Box 772 • Hamburg, New York 14075

*Please choose a membership catagory above. Check the box before the membership catagory you are applying for.All HNHS memberships, except LIFE, are good for one calendar year unless otherwise noted. All members have free access to the Penn Dixie Site during special tours and presentations and will receive our newsletter, The Penn Dixie Chronicle.

Signed: ________________________________________________________ Date: __________________________

o Additional Donation $____________

o Endowment Donation $____________

Penn Dixie Membership Application

Membership Categories 1-year 2-yearo Student $25 $35 (FulltimeK-12orCollege)o Senior (65&up) $25 $35o Individual $30 $45o Family $45 $70 *Covers 2 adults and their children (up to 18 yrs. old) residing in the same household per visit.

o Grandparents $50 $85 *Covers 2 Grandparents and up to 5 grandchildren per visit.

o Associate $80 per year• Includes a sample fossil set from Penn Dixieo Corporate $100 per year• Includes a sample fossil set from Penn Dixie and 1 guided tour for up to 10 people. (Must be pre-scheduled)o Patron $100 per year• Includes a sample fossil set from Penn Dixie and 1 guided tour for up to 10 people. (Must be pre-scheduled)o School (K-12) $180 per year• Includes a sample fossil set from Penn Dixie and 3 guided tours for up to 60 students. (Adult supervision required, must be pre-scheduled, additional students @ $6.00 each)

o New Membership o Renewal o Gift Membership from ________________________

o LIFE $500As a LIFE member you help build our endowment.• Includes a sample fossil set from Penn Dixie, a copy of Amadeus W. Grabeau’s “The Geology & Paleontology of 18 Mile Creek” and 1 guided tour for up to 20 people. (Must be pre-scheduled)o Sponsor $500 per year• Includes a sample fossil set from Penn Dixie and 1 guided tour for up to 20 people. (Must be pre-scheduled)o Corporate Benefactor $1000 per year• Includes a sample fossil set from Penn Dixie and 1 guided tour for up to 100 people. (Must be pre-scheduled)o Corporate Silver $2500 per year• Includes a sample fossil set from Penn Dixie and a corporate event day at Penn Dixie for employees and families. (Must be pre-scheduled)o Corporate Gold $5000 per year• Includes a sample fossil set from Penn Dixie and a corporate event day at Penn Dixie for employees and families, (Must be pre-sched-uled) and Corporate logo will be displayed at major site events.

The Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc. was founded in 1993. Its purpose is to promote the study of the sciences with an emphasis on the field activities associated with the geological and biological sci-ences; to develop, administrate and maintain the Penn Dixie Site: Paleontological and Outdoor Education Center in Hamburg, New York; promote a regional fossil site to foster and encourage a medium for the public to study and collect fossils; encourage and promote upper level training of in-service and pre-service teachers; and to aid in obtaining and administering funds to promote the study of natural history in the Western New York Region. Programs, monthly meetings and field trips will be announced in the monthly newsletter and local newspapers. For further information, write the Hamburg Natural History Society, Inc., P.O. Box 772, Hamburg, New York 14075 or call (716) 627-4560.

Penn Dixie Paleontological & Outdoor Education CenterHamburg Natural History Society, Inc.PO Box 772Hamburg, New York 14075

FIRST CLASS MAIL

STAFFExecutive Director: Jerold C. Bastedo 627-4560Director of Education Jeffrey L. Dietz 627-4560

OFFICERSPresident: Felice Krycia 649-7296Vice President: Tammy Russsell 662-1589Secretary: Kim Barnashuk 504-5784Treasurer: Linda Catalano 603-9340

Educators: Jess Martin Stan Martin Mark Yetter

*all phone numbers are area code 716 unless otherwise noted.

DIRECTORSPeter Avery 688-0921Steve Birtz 773-6386Jim Eiseman 208-5467Timothy Hoelscher 649-1647Catherine Lange 913-2554Tina Rimbeck 597-5689Patty O’Shei 912-2279

HNHS Programs Information 627-4560HNHS Gateway Office 826-0788Homepage: http://www.penndixie.org

penn dixie chronicle · hamburg natural history society, inc., p.o. box 772, hamburg, new york...

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