Garden City Bird Sanctuary Celebrates Anniversary

This weekend, the Garden City Bird Sanctuary celebrated its fifteenth year of service to the community and environment. More than 50 local residents and supporters attended the celebratory benefit, including local Assemblyman Tom McKevitt.

"[The sanctuary] is something that is just beyond people, it's a connection to nature," said board director Stephanie Bird. "There are things here for all ages, young and old, and it's a great thing for the community."

Board members selected and honored Garden City residents Robert B. Catell, chairman, Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center and former chair of U.S. National Grid; Robert R. McMillan, former chairman, Panama Canal Commission, co-host of Face-Off and founder of the Long Island Housing Partnership; and Robert H. Stark, Sr., former chief of procurement for Grumman Corp., for their tireless efforts, contributions, time and service to the mission.

Garden City Bird Sanctuary President Rob Alvey presented each with a special recognition certificate signed by Nassau County Clerk Maureen O'Connell, one of the first to visit the nature preserve 15 years ago.

Jennifer Ulsheimer was this year's Bird Sanctuary Environmental Stewardship awardee and a special tree was dedicated in memory of Mary Richard, former director of the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary.

Guests were treated to several musical talents, including Tom Wagner's Band of Garden City and local Queens rock band, Born of Scars.

Part of the day's celebration included a guided walking tour of the basin by Alvey and Laura Napoli. Along with fellow Adelphi University alum, Joseph DiLallo, Napoli has maintained her connection with the sanctuary after first becoming involved as a student member of Adelphi's Environmental Action Coalition back in 2008.

Additionally, after being introduced to the Bird Sanctuary by Alvey as part of the geology curriculum at CUNY York College, Fatima Kanteh said, "I basically just fell in love with this place; it's so environmentally friendly and peaceful." She continues her research while volunteering much time at the nature preserve.

Garden City High School's HOPE Environmental Club has served the sanctuary since its opening. Incumbent president Emily Werner, with her mother, Claire, delivered a poster-sized photo collage of the club's service to the organization.

More than seven members of Woodmen of the World Lodge #467  were in attendance to show their dedication to the sanctuary's mission. The Woodmen fraternities are active community volunteers. Lodge #467 previously selected Alvey as their honoree for his community service to the environment through the sanctuary, which was established in 1995 to preserve a nine-acre storm water basin.

The organization receives thousands of dollars each year in generous donations and supplies from local businesses and individuals. Each year, hundreds of volunteers provide hours of community service, maintaining the basin and its surroundings in an ongoing effort to preserve the ecosystem, which includes a remnant of the original Hempstead Plains.

The Garden City Bird Sanctuary is open from 12-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoons throughout the summer.

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