Sounds of Spring

I heard spring peepers for the first time on Saturday!


Allison

Keeler Tavern Women's History Event

It was most unfortunate that the original speaker for this event took ill at the last moment. But our substitute speaker proved to be a wonderful experience. Christine Soper, Vice-Regent from the Hudson River Patriots Chapter of the DAR spoke about the "Role of Women in the American Revolution". She provided little known facts and stories about some of the unsung heroines of the Revolution.

Her list of women proved that it is just lack of good press that kept them out of the history books. Women proved some very essential information to the Patriot cause. Sally Townsend exposed Benedict Arnold. Lydia Barrington Darragh, Deborah Champion, Anna Strong, Patience Wright to name a few, risked everything to provide intelligent information. Deborah Sampson Gannett and Margaret Corbin battlefield actions resulted in Army pensions. Boycotting British goods created lots of extra work for many a housewife. But some ladies like Ester dee Berdt Reed and Penelope Barker not only boycotted but organized groups of women to put more teeth into it. In all it brought to the mind how in all wars, women may rarely get into the history books but their roles are essential.

After the talk, Keller Tavern lived up to its tavern heritage and provided some lovely refreshments and for those interested, a tour of the historical site.

Mar 28 - Draw On at Park & Rec

"Draw On" at Park and Rec this weekend had some extra added attractions. Those lucky enough, witnessed the beginning of the Red-Shouldered Hawk mating ritual. One hawk was flying in circles around the river, making loud screams. Then it disappeared only to return screaming loudly while carrying a snake in its talons. We were briefly able to check it out through the spotting scope. According to further research, this appears to be courting behavior of the male trying to prove to the female that he is a good provider and that his territory is a great place to "raise the chicks".

As part of the open air drawing, Discovery Center provided some "stationary" wildlife. These included three mounted animals fox, raccoon and otter. Also we were able to catch a frog for our our portable aquarium. Luck was with us. In our river water bucket we could show the participates some aquatic nymphs and three small almost transparent fish fry. The spotting scope provided some of our youngest participates with their first up close view of turtles in the wild. For some, just being able to close one eye to look through the scope was a new experience.

For those concerned - all live animals were returned to the wild.

Women's Hiking Group Week of March 30

The Discovery Center Women's Hiking Group will hike this week Tuesday (3/31) and Thursday (4/2) at 9:30 am at West Mountain Refuge in Ridgefield. Take Barry Ave. which turns into West Mountain Rd. Take a left onto Oscaleta Rd. Parking is on the side of Oscaleta Rd.

Celebrate Women's History Month with Keeler Tavern and The Discovery Center on March 29

Due to an unexpected illness, Nicole Eustace from NYU will be unable to make her scheduled presentation on Sunday. Our replacement speaker will be Christine Soper, Vice-Regent, Hudson River Patriots Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mrs. Soper's presentation, titled "The Role of Women in the American Revolution: "Little-known Facts and Stories About Celebrated Women and Unsung Heroines of the Revolution," will begin at 2:00 pm in the Garden House at Keeler Tavern Museum, 132 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT. Please stay for refreshments and guided tours of historic Keeler Tavern following the presentation. This event is $10 for members of Keeler Tavern or The Discovery Center and children sixteen and under, $15 for non-members, and is co-sponsored by the Keeler Tavern Museum and The Discovery Center at Ridgefield. For reservations please contact The Discovery Center or Keeler Tavern Museum.

Women's Hiking Group Week of March 23

The Discovery Center Women's Hiking Group will meet this week Tuesday (3/24) and Thursday (3/26) at 9:30 am and hike Topstone Park in Redding. Directions: From Rt. 7 take Topstone Road, and follow the road across the railroad tracks. Continue on till it turns into a dirt road. A short way down there will be a parking lot on the right side.

Celebrate Women's History Month with Keeler Tavern and The Discovery Center on March 29

The Keeler Tavern Museum and The Discovery Center at Ridgefield will be hosting a special event to celebrate Women's History Month on Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 pm. Guest speaker Nicole Eustace, Assistant Professor of History at New York University, will give a presentation about women's roles during the American Revolution, followed by coffee and dessert and guided tours of historic Keeler Tavern.

Ms. Eustace regularly writes and teaches about colonial and revolutionary America. She also periodically co-directs the NYU Program in the History of Women and Gender. She earned a B.A. in history from Yale University in 1994 and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Pennsylvania in 2001. Her first book, titled “Passion Is the Gale: Emotion, Power, and the Coming of the American Revolution,” was published in 2008.

This special event takes place on Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 pm at Keeler Tavern Museum, 132 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT. This event is $10 for members of Keeler Tavern or The Discovery Center and children sixteen and under, $15 for non-members, and is co-sponsored by the Keeler Tavern Museum and The Discovery Center at Ridgefield. For reservations please contact The Discovery Center or Keeler Tavern Museum.