Social Butterfly

December 20th, 2007

Evelyn Madison- The Social Butterfly

DAR Adopts Soldiers in Iraq

The Rincon del Diablo Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) sent gift packages to soldiers in Iraq who will not be home for Christmas. Members collected food stuffs, small electronic games, sunscreen, baby wipes, magazines, trail mix, and jerky to fit in an $8.95 post office mailing box. Pictured are DAR members, from left, Rose and Sarah Barnes whose brother, SSG David Barnes, is in Iraq. Filled boxes were sent to Barnes and the three members on his team to show the chapter's support and appreciation for their efforts and sacrifice.

Women who can trace their lineage back to the Revolutionary War, or would like chapter help in doing so, are invited to join DAR. Call Phyllis Young at 760.744.7530, or Mary-Ann McCullough at 760.743.0034.

San Marcos Senior Center to Recycle Cell Phones

The San Marcos Senior Center is teaming up with the National Council on Aging to hold a cell phone recycling fundraiser. The Senior Center will collect old cell phones and turn them into the NCOA and the Center is paid for them. This is a win-win situation since old cell phones cannot be discarded in the trash. For more information, call Deborah at the Senior Center, 744-5535, Ext. 3606, for collection locations.

SM Senior Citizens Club Puts Out Call for Donations

Every day at the San Marcos Senior Center, seniors are honored with numerous programs, continued education, fitness for body and mind, dances, a nutritious hot meal, and valuable comradeship with others. During this time of year, the Senior Citizens Club, through their president Edna Bambarger, requests contributions to assist with the continuation of these beneficial and rewarding programs and the opportunity to create new ones. Your contribution will make a difference. The San Marcos Senior Citizens Club is a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization so all contributions are tax deductible. Donations should be made payable to The San Marcos Senior Citizens Club, and mailed to 111 W. Richmar Ave., San Marcos, 92069.

Buena Vista Audubon Plans "The Great Christmas Bird Count" and Basic Birding Class

On Saturday, December 22, the Buena Vista Audubon Society will host their annual Christmas Bird Count in and around Oceanside. By 8am more than 100 volunteers will fan out in a 15-mile diameter area that includes Oceanside, Vista, and portions of Carlsbad and Camp Pendleton to count birds. Around noon they will reconvene at the Nature Center in Oceanside where results will be tallied. Last year's search resulted in the identification of over 180 bird species. To volunteer, call Terry Hunefeld at 760.908.3453, or email him at thunefeld@gmail.com. He will assign you to a group leader who will fill you in on when and where to meet. Warm clothing, sturdy shoes, and binoculars are a must.

It's interesting how the bird count came about. A little more than 100 years ago people engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt." They would choose sides and go afield with guns and whoever killed the most birds won. Bird populations rapidly declined. On Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman, an officer in the then budding Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition - a "Christmas Bird Census" - that would count birds rather than kill them. Now, 108 years later, Frank's census has more than 50,000 Americans involved.

In the 107 years since that Christmas Day, the annual Audubon bird count has become a popular and very important event, part research and part fun. Tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the country will be counting bird species in December and January. This important data will be entered into the Society's database to be used by scientists and conservationists to monitor increases/decreases in bird populations, which in turn may reflect the health of the planet.

This month Audubon and the American Bird Conservancy released WatchList 2007, a list of over 200 species at risk. The list is based on latest available research from the bird conservation community, data from the Bird Count and the annual Breeding Bird Survey. Habitat loss from urban sprawl and energy development, introduction of foreign animals and disease, and global warming are cited as key causes of declining numbers for 217 kinds of threatened and endangered birds. Identifying and spotlighting the species at greatest risk is the first step in promoting the public policies, funding support, conservation initiatives, and public commitment needed to save them.

Novice birders are invited to join the Basic Birding class at the Lagoon Landing in Carlsbad at 8am that same day. Tom Troy, 760.967.6915, will lead that program. Take I-5 to Hwy. 78 East, exit Jefferson; turn right and go to stoplight. Turn right and park in the Landing parking lot on right side of the road.

Piano Recital to Start the New Year

First United Methodist Church of Escondido will present pianist Scott Pratt in recital on Sunday, January 6, at 3p.m. in the Church Sanctuary, 341 S. Kalmia St., Escondido. Scott will play works by Scarlatti, Beethoven, Poulenc, Chopin and others. Scott Pratt is a native of Escondido having attended local schools as well as some classes at both Palomar and Mira Costa Colleges. Scott is a four-time winner of the Musical Merit Competition. This concert is being co-sponsored by the Musical Merit Foundation of Greater San Diego.

The Music Men Chorus to Perform Special Show in Vista

The Music Men, North County's premier A Cappella Chorus, is set to perform "This is My Country" when they headline the 2008 inaugural of the Vista's Library Concert Series, First Sunday at the Library, on Sunday, January 6, at 1:30pm.

Sponsored by Friends of Vista Library, this rousing and heartfelt one hour Salute to America will rise in perfect four-part a cappella harmony when 30 members of The Music Men step into the spotlight at the Vista Library Community Room, 700 Eucalyptus Avenue. The public is invited, and admission is Free. For more information, contact Bernie Rappaport at 760.726.1055.

Women for Sobriety Meets Weekly

Women for Sobriety, a self-help group for women alcoholics, meets every Monday, 6:00pm at the San Marcos Kaiser facility. WFS is not a 12-step group. For information call Debbie at 760.214.2118 or Ann at 760.724.4474.

Lions Club Looking for New Members to Start the New Year

The San Marcos Lions Club is looking for people to join their biweekly meetings. Lions is a service organization working for the betterment of the community, and are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired. Meetings are on the first and third Thursdays of every month from 12N to 1pm, at the Spaghetti Factory in San Marcos. For more information, call David Simpson at 760.941.3475, or email him at ptfg@sbcglobal.net.

Whelan Lake Bird Walk

Duck! Winter migration should be in full flight as you explore freshwater lake and riparian edge habitat, not open to the public, on the first Saturday of every month at 8:00am (next one January 5). Directions: I-5 to Hwy 76. East on Hwy 76 to Douglas Drive. Turn left on Douglas and continue to the traffic light at North River Rd. Turn left and meet at the end of the cul-de-sac by entrance gate. Sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society. Leader: John Haddock, 760.941.7824.

Clapper Rail

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