WickedLocalDedham.

com Dedham Transcript Thursday, July 21, 2011

DEDHAM BIOBLITZ

Exploring the great outdoors

By Andrea Salisbury
asalisbury@wickedlocal.com

t the entrance to Wigwam Pond in the parking lot of Atent for Rent, Dedham resident and nature enthusiast Stephanie Radner spotted a large white bird in the distance. At first she thought it was a heron. If I see something like this, she said pointing in the direction of the winged creature thats still too far away to identify. I usually take a picture, walk a couple feet and take another picture. She tries to get closer while still keeping her distance and doubts her first guess. But, she admits, it is still just a guess and pulls out a nature book hoping to better identify the bird. Radner doesnt have formal nature training. She worked for several years as a weather observer the Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center in Canton. But it wasnt until she stopped to look in her own backyard did Radner fully appreciate the nature which surrounded her. It just amazing. There is so much in this town that is just overwhelming, she said moving down the paved path to the bank of the pond. Every time I go out I find something new. Radner said she spends many mornings exploring Dedhams open space. In the summer of 2011 she started Dedham Natural Wonders, a Facebook page where she shares her discoveries, photos and asks questions. Dedham has vast open space, with close to 900 acres of wetlands, 600 acres of woodlands, and hundreds of acres of parks and other recreational space, she said. Excitedly she detailed the first project for Dedham Natural Wonders, a BioBlitz. A BioBlitz is typically a 24-hour event where scientists and volunteers conduct a biological inventory of a specific area. After attending the Berkshire BioBlitz earlier this summer, Rader decided to bring the exploration to Dedham. Some people say you need a year to plan one of these things and budget

Dedham resident and nature enthusiast Stephanie Radner organized Dedhams first BioBlitz for Saturday, July 23, at the Dolan Recreation Center.
WICKED LOCAL STAFF PHOTOS BY ANDREA SALISBURY

Want to go?
WHAT: Dedham BioBlitz WHEN: Saturday, July 23 TIME: 9 to 1 p.m. WHERE: Dolan Recreation Center, 269 Common St.

and contacts, she said. But was told, If you arent really shooting to get a huge number, but rather to take an inventory of whats there, just do it. On Saturday, July 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Dolan Recreation Center, 269 Common St., Radner will hold Dedhams first BioBlitz. In addition to the experts from a variety of organizations including the Neponset River Watershed Association and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation working to build the local catalogue, the event has a family component where parents, children and other family members can explore and help identify various species. In keeping with

Stephanie Radner, founder of Dedham Natural Wonders, encourages residents to explore the open space in Dedham. On a recent Tuesday she explored Wigwam Pond in Dedham.

the towns 375th anniversary Saturdays goal, according to a press release is to tag and identify 375 species, such as plants, lichens, fungi, mammals, insects, birds, spiders, reptiles, and amphibians. Some highlights for the day include nature walks led by naturalist Peter Alden, a kid-friendly bio-scavenger hunt along the banks of the

Charles River, and display of live animals. All educational programs and activities at the BioBlitz are free. During a nature walk guided by someone with a well-trained eye, you can easily find 100 species in one morning - you just have to look around and discover what nature beholds, Alden said in a press release. For Radner this BioBlitz

is a first step in her goal to encourage others to explore their own backyards. Ive done outdoorsy and travel stuff but I never really stopped to look, she said and now that she has she knows there is still so much to learn. I dont know the names of anything, she joked. I learn that if I go out and find something new I will

take a picture and look it up when I get home. Then it will stick for a bit. After getting a bit closer to the white bird, Rader decides it is an egret. And as if he knew she was done, the egret decided to leave its perch for another spot in town.
Editor Andrea Salisbury can be reached at 781-4338322 or asalisbury@ wickedlocal.com.

DEDHAM SCHOOL COMMITTEE

New reading program for elementary schools

Treasures program to start in first and second grade
By Dave Eisenstadter
deisenstadter@wickedlocal.com

Who Else Wants To Lose 1230 lbs. In 12 Weeks Or Less?

I joined GISFW because I felt they could help me do what I couldnt do myself get into a fitness routine and stay in it! I have lost more than 35 lbs. in 12 weeks. I couldnt do this without my support system thank you to my GISFW family!

Underscoring the value of literacy education, the School Committee approved funding for Treasures, a new reading program for first and second graders. The School Committee voted unanimously Wednesday, July 13, to spend $35,000 this fiscal year and an equal amount next year for the program, which will include reading materials and audio phonics materials for students. While the district only has enough money to include first and second graders in the short term, Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Kelly hopes to include the other elementary grades as soon as funds are available. Treasures will have all students in each of the four elementary schools learning from the same materials, and replace the districts former literacy program, which was published in 2000, Kelly said. All the schools will be presenting the same curriculum, Kelly said. Before, even though our schools taught the same skill, at the end of the day, we didnt know if everyone got the same education. Now everyone is in the same program.

A 22-member committee including parents, teachers, principals and other administrators selected the program from a group of five. McGraw-Hills Treasures Reading Program offered the best literature selections, including several books that won the Caldecott Medal, Kelly said. The literacy program also features online materials rather than CD or DVD materials, which will provide greater access to those materials, Kelly said. The committee also looked for components for English Language Learners, Kelly said. The district has 132 students for whom English is not a first language, and about half of them are elementary students, she said. Former literacy mainstays at the Dedham schools, such as the Lucy Calkins Writing Program, will remain in effect, and be incorporated into the new program, Kelly said. School Committee member Mayanne Briggs said Wednesday, July 13, she thought the program looked excellent. This is going to be huge for a lot of families, she said. Im glad to see that were moving forward with it. For more information on the Treasures Reading Program, visit http://treasures.macmillanmh.com/.

Mary Boucher
BEFORE AFTER

Join Get In Shape For Women in supporting the 3-DAY Breast Cancer Walkers on July 22nd
FREE WEEK TRIAL

Small Group Personal Training

Acton - Andover - Arlington - Bedford - Belmont - Beverly- Bridgewater Brookline Village - Burlington - Cambridge - Canton - Chelmsford - Chestnut Hill Concord - Coolidge Corner - Danvers - Dedham - Easton - Framingham - Franklin - Georgetown - Hamilton Hingham - Lexington - Marblehead - Marshfield - Mashpee - Medfield - Medford - Melrose - Natick - Needham Newburyport (coming soon) - Newton Centre - Newtonville - North Andover - Northborough (coming soon) - Norwell Plymouth - Reading - Salem - Sharon - Sudbury - Tewksbury - Wakefield - Walpole - Waltham - Wayland Wellesley - Westborough - Westford - Weston - West Roxbury - Westwood - Wilmington - Winchester - Woburn

Delivery problems?
Call : 888-343-1960

1-877-304-4567
For Career & Franchise Opportunities visit getinshapeforwomen.com