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The Maria Mitchell Association, Nantucket's Science Center
E-Comet Newsletter
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Will you help support the MMA this holiday season? All donations make an impact on science education.
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| Photo from Nantucket Blackbook |
Welcome New Board Member
Brian Sullivan was elected to the Board of Directors at the December 4th meeting of the Maria Mitchell Association. Brian is a Nantucket year round resident. He arrived in 1996 from Weston, MA intending to stay for just a season. While on Nantucket, Brian met his wife Tess Anderson (who owns the Hub on Main Street) and just 5 years ago started a family. Their first son, Fisher, is an avid and frequent attendee to the Aquarium on Washington Street. For a living, Brian sells real estate full time and has since 1997. His career began at Jordan Real Estate, and now he is with Maury People Sotheby's on Main St. Brian is a board member of the Lighthouse School and has been for the last year. This past year he was a Nantucket Board of Selectman appointee to the Affordable Housing Trust, a local board tasked with creating and providing solutions for responsible affordable housing in our community. Brian worked diligently with The Friends of the Hummock Pond Bike Path, a coalition of homeowners associations in the Hummock Pond and Cisco area to get the bike path built 10 years ahead of schedule. He is also a board member of the homeowners association in the area which he lives here on Island - Aurora Way. The MMA staff and board welcome Brian.
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Hoots and Howls: All About Owls
Did you know owls make all kinds of sounds? They can hoot, screech, snap their bills, and more. Nesting season is about to begin for owls, so it's a great time to start learning their calls and listening for them at night. During this program you will learn about owl adaptations, species found on Nantucket and the calls they make, see the inside of a Barn Owl box, and watch a video of their babies. Following the presentation, children ages 7 and under will enjoy a reading of "Owl Moon" by Jane Yolen and make an owl craft to take home. Children ages 8 and up will get to dissect an owl pellet. Space is limited so you must register in advance. Appropriate for ages 4 and up.
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Note: Just two weeks are left in 2015 for Carnivorous Critters and Crafts!
Our next preschool family series, Moons and Monsoons, will begin on January 27th.
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Science Library/MMA Research Center Update
Work on the interior of our soon to be Research Center (formerly known as the MMA Science Library) is beginning to move along. Currently, Vollans Electric is completing work on phase one which concerns installing electrical outlets into the 1933 stucco Wing. This portion of the building needs only a very small amount of work; basically augmenting the number of outlets (there are only six currently) cleaning and coating the floors, and painting the walls and ceiling on the main floor. This space will continue to play host to office space and books.
We are also working on our code and handicapped accessibility with island architect Mickey Rowland and engineer Jim Badera. We have had an initial meeting with the Building Department created an application packet for the Historic District Commission for the building to receive a historic building designation. This will allow the MMA to apply for variances to protect the historic fabric of the building.
So, things are beginning to move along on the inside. We are still raising some last reminaing funds - please let us know if you would like to make a contribution! - and all of the contractors are on board. We are planning out the timeline and the delicate art of all of them coming and going. We hope work to begin in earnest soon after the New Year begins so stay tuned!
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ESSA Act
Yesterday, the President signed the ESSA Act (Every Student Succeeds Act) into law. This replaces No Child Left Behind. Within ESSA is the No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI) which will empower schools to integrate environmental education into their curriculum requirements and it could end up meaning money for states to do just that. This has been on the table since 2007 so it is an amazing accomplishment for environmental educators!
Read more here.
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New Partnership
The Maria Mitchell Association is a new nonprofit partner of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of over 1,200 member companies in 41 countries that give one percent of revenues to environmental causes.
The MMA is now eligible to receive donations from 1% for the Planet member companies, placing them among a diverse, global network of environmental organizations. 1% member businesses fuel this nonprofit network through their annual contributions. Partnership with 1% greatly expands the potential pool of funding to which the MMA can look to for support.
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Support the MMA While You Shop On AmazonSmile!
1. Sign into your Amazon account.
2. Go to
Pick Your Own Charitable Organization.
3. Type in "Maria Mitchell Association"
4. Shop AmazonSmile for your holiday purchases.
Whenever you shop AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate a portion of the price of your eligible purchases to the MMA.
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Maria Mitchell's Attic
A blog about Maria Mitchell, the Mitchell's, and daily workings of the Mitchell House.
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Membership
The MMA is a strong community and we are excited to welcome our newest members and their families:
Kermit Roosevelt, Robin McElroy Maloney, Betsey Lynch, Gary Walker, Stacey Leonardo, Bogdon Krachunova, and Susan Bloom
Are you a member? We have updated our membership program to provide you with even more benefits.
Join
here and help support MMA programs.
Because members really do have more fun!
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Private Events
Want to provide your guests with an unforgettable and unique evening? Host them at the MMA's Loines Observatory. Our gorgeous deck overlooks sensational sunsets and at night, the stars glitter like diamonds with a brightness only Nantucket can provide. An astronomer will be at your service to show your guests majestic planets and star clusters through our world class telescopes. This location is perfect for cocktail parties, birthday parties, corporate events, rehearsal dinners, and much more! Weather dependent.
For more information and to reserve now for the summer, please call Lauren at
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Annual Fund Update
A very special thank you to the following people for making an Annual Fund donation to support the Maria Mitchell Association and science education on Nantucket:
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Thomas and Patricia Anathan
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Karen & Douglas Beattie
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William & Kathie Beattie
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Susan Beegel
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Edith Bouriez
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Richard & Lucia Brimer
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Martha Butler
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James Carey
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Francis and Deirdre Carr
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Martha Carr
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John Mahoney and Karen Castle
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Nancy Chanover
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Michael & Margaret Connolly
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John & Susan Daniels
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Amy Hauk & Scott Dehm
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Susan Deutsch
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Alexis & Ethan Devine
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Nancy Drinkwater
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John & Margaret Falk
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Mary Ellen Ferrel
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Marc & Sheri Feigen
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Richard Foster
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Jascin & Eric Finger
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Robert & Sharon Gardner
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Fay Gambee
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Joseph & Jane Gifun
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John Gettier
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Joan and Philip Gulley
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Chris & Missy Griffiths
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Dorothy Hesselman
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Lucile Hays
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Laura Mosedale & Matthew Horgan
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Lisa Wohlleib & Seth Hoogasian
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Julie Kaufman
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Julia Jensen Weed
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Nancy Lubin
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Tony & Sarah Lathrop
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Stephen Mead
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Deb & Peter Manus
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Gregory & Tracey Morzano
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Michael & Julia Milone
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Bebe Archibald Poor, DVM, MS
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Oliver & Roisin Murray
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William Porter
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Deborah & Jeff Nicholson
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Andrew Rapkin
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David Poor & Patricia M. Beilman
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Mickey and Robin Rowland
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Eileen Rudden & Josh Posner
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Bonnie Sacerdote
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Kermit & Priscilla Roosevelt
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John & Ruth Sayer
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Errol Rudman
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Eric & Domini Stone
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Dr. Katherine Rhode & Dr. John Salzer
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Jonathan Swain
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Mary Anne Sloan
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Ned & Merrielou Symes
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Gregory & Kathy Sullivan
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Gary & Kathy Walker
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Louise Swift
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Susan & Bill Untereker
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Odile Farrell and Craig Wolfe
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