Contact: Christina Pivarnik, Marketing
Port Townsend Marine Science Center
(360) 379-3378 or christina@pivarnik.com
Eleanor Stopps to be honored as a special guest
Port Townsend, WA— The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is pleased to announce the opening of its winter exhibit on Friday, January 13, 2006, called: Protection Island: A Northwest Treasure. As part of the opening, Eleanor Stopps, a long-time local supporter of the island’s preservation, will be at the exhibit on Sunday, January 15th from 2:30-4 p.m. to talk informally about the island and how it came to be a National Wildlife Refuge.
“We’re very excited to bring Protection Island’s interesting historical legacy and its importance today for wildlife throughout the Puget Sound region to the community to relish and enjoy,” said Judy D’Amore, Natural History Exhibit Curator/Educator. “Welcoming Eleanor Stopps to the exhibit two days after its opening, gives us an opportunity to honor her deep commitment to the island and its wildlife. We’re thrilled she’s agreed to spend the afternoon with us to answer questions.”
Eleanor Stopps and Zella Schultz were instrumental in building support at the local, regional and national level for preservation of the island for nesting seabirds, and it was Eleanor’s perseverance that led to the decision to designate the island a National Wildlife Refuge in 1982.
Protection Island has lots of stories to tell. Its bluffs tell of the advance and retreat of three successive glaciers. Native American and early explorers offer accounts of this beautiful landscape and its importance to their lives and activities. Several generations of hardy homesteaders made efforts to eke out a living on its flower-sprinkled prairies.
This year’s winter exhibit has received help and support from many people. Peggy McDonald, a graduate from the Museum Studies program at UW Extension has played an important role in pulling together the exhibit content and arranging for the loan of equipment and exhibit materials from other institutions. In addition, a group of enthusiastic students from Jefferson Community School had had their hands in it too. Other students will also have a chance to participate, thanks to a generous contribution from First Federal Savings & Loan. Elementary and middle school classes from around the Olympic Peninsula are invited to visit the exhibit during February and March at no charge. To schedule school class visits, call Molly Moline at the PTMSC at 360.385.5582, ext. 113.
In addition to Eleanor Stopps’ informal presentation on January 15th, at 2:30 p.m., additional lectures include: Pigeon Guillemot Research, with Lee Robinson, January 28th at 2:30 p.m. and Early Peoples of Clallam and Jefferson Counties, with Kathy Duncan, February 25th at 2:30 p.m.
The Protection Island Exhibit will run from January 13 through March 19, 2006. It will be open to the public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for youth. Members are free. Admission to the lectures and special guest presentations is $5 for non-members ($3 for youth), and $3 for members ($2 for member youth). For more information, call the PTMSC office at 360.385.5582 or go to the Web site at www.ptmsc.org.
The Port Townsend Marine Science Center, founded in 1982, is an educational and scientific organization devoted to understanding and conserving our marine and shoreline environment. Located on the beach at Fort Worden State Park, the PTMSC offers two public exhibits: the Marine Exhibit features large touch pools and aquaria, and the Natural History Exhibit highlights the rich zone where land meets sea. For the winter months, the Natural History Exhibit is open from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for youth and free to PTMSC members and children under 5. The Port Townsend Marine Science Center also offers a wide variety of educational programs and special events. For more information, go to www.ptmsc.org, call 360-385-5583 or e-mail the PTMSC at info@ptmsc.org.
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