Parks & Recreation

November 13, 2014 by Staff Report

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

For more information, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geaugaparkdistrict.org.

Call for Entries: ‘Art Takes A Bough’ Community Art Project

For the eighth consecutive year, Geauga Council for Arts & Culture is seeking regional artists of all ages to participate in its Art Takes a Bough community art project, a showcase for community handmade holiday ornaments.

Entries may be submitted Dec. 16 from 4-6 p.m. at The West Woods Nature Center in Russell Township. This year’s new format does not include an auction. Instead, Art Takes a Bough is a venue to display and sell one’s ornaments directly.

Ornaments must be priced at $10 or $30 each. Artists may submit a maximum of six ornaments at $10 each and a maximum of four ornaments at $30 each. Each ornament must fit inside a 6-inch square box, be lightweight, have an ornament hanger and be signed by the artist. Artists are also to provide a short, typed bio or business card to include with each ornament.

As in the past, 50 percent of sales will go directly to the artist; the remaining 50 percent will be split equally between the Geauga Council for Arts and Culture and Geauga Park District. All artists must be present at the reception and will be paid on location for ornaments sold.

Once all ornaments are submitted, these beautiful miniature pieces of artwork may be admired and purchased by the public at “buy it now” prices during an open house and reception at The West Woods Nature Center from 6-9 p.m.

Guests at the reception will have the opportunity to purchase the handmade ornaments, priced at $10 or $30 each, and enjoy holiday refreshments. Then, from 7-8 p.m., Bill Hixson, an accomplished floral designer who has helped decorate The White House for the holidays for over 30 years, will share humorous stories centered on decorating various rooms within the White House and folklore surrounding ornament designs and holiday traditions. Some of his ornaments will also be available for sale and signing at the event.

For more information, contact Teresa Runion at 440-279-0882 or trunion@ geaugaparkdistrict.org.

Waterfowl Wonderland

Water bird migration is underway and early November is the prime time to see birds that are using inland waters as migratory stopovers to feed and rest.

Waterfowl on the Move takes place Nov. 16 from 9-11 a.m. at LaDue Reservoir, 17759 Valley Road, Auburn Township. Meet at the boathouse parking lot to join the carpool destined for the west side of the reservoir along Valley Road.

Naturalist Dan Best anticipates a variety of wildfowl including dabbling and diving ducks, mergansers, and hopefully, tundra swans. Other anticipated diving water birds include common loons, horned and pied-billed grebes, double-crested cormorants and oodles of coots.

Program participants can also be hopeful for prime views of the park district’s resident bald eagles, both adult and all-over dark-colored immatures and more rare species of gull, duck or grebe.

Bring binoculars and a bird guide if one has them; the park district will provide the scopes and official Geauga County bird checklists. Registration is not required for the Nature’s Not to Be Missed program.

Nighttime In November

Gather ’round a blazing outdoor campfire with other families for a story or two, and then journey into the darkness without flashlights to experience the magical world of nature at night.

Family Campfire and Night Hike is Nov. 22 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Sunnybrook Preserve, Lodge, 12474 Heath Road in Chester Township.

Naturalist Karie Wheaton is eager to show participants how night hikes are awesome for exploring their senses and how nocturnal animals have adapted theirs to both survive and thrive at night.

Registration is not required.

In Honor of Those Who Served

To honor those who have served our country, and commemorate Veterans Day, Geauga Park District has installed a new flagpole and American flag at Mountain Run Station, 12601 Chardon-Windsor Road in Hambden Township.

Mountain Run Station is a 32-acre park that provides access to the central section of The Maple Highlands Trail, which runs from South Street in Char-don to Headwaters Park in Huntsburg Township.

A veteran himself, Geauga Park District Interim Director John Oros also wished to honor the other veterans on his staff: Rod Fyfe, maintenance tech II; Joshua Inks, maintenance tech I; Lucas Beamer, IT assistant; and rangers Jim Kailburn, Brian Kerr and Ed Hunziker.