Posts tagged children
Attleboro, Massachusetts Council Bites on White Alligator
May 23rd
by Jonathan Friedman, Local Editor, Attleboro-Seekonk Patch
In an effort to bring more attention to Capron Park Zoo, the Attleboro, Massachusetts City Council on Tuesday voted 10-0 to spend $8,000 to bring a rare white alligator from a St. Augustine, Fla. farm to the Attleboro attraction for four months. The reptile is expected to arrive in mid-May and be ready for public view by Memorial Day.
Councilor Jay DiLisio said there is already buzz about the white alligator, which he said should pay for itself with the extra visitors it will attract. The possibility of the reptile coming to the zoo has been reported in media throughout the East Coast and Councilor Mark Cooper said it is the talk of local school children, including his six-year-old.
The white alligator, DiLisio said, will help the local zoo as it competes with nearby larger facilities to remain relevant.
“When the zoo has the opportunity to bring in such a great attraction such as this white alligator … I think it’s something that we need to support 100 percent,” DiLisio said.
The councilor said director Jean Benchimol had assured him that Capron Zoo is “fiscally sound at this stage.” Recently, the city had agreed to pay upfront for an extra zookeeper. This was needed for Capron Zoo to retain its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which is up for renewal in the fall.
AZA accreditation “means official recognition and approval of a zoo or aquarium by a group of experts” based on “high standards,” according to the nonprofit organization’s website. Capron Zoo is one of 224 accredited zoos or aquariums in the nation as of March, the website states. DiLisio said accreditation is needed for the zoo to have the chance to bring in attractions like the white alligator.
“I think it’s really rare for a city of our size to have an accredited zoo,” Councilor Jeremy Denlea said. “That’s something I’m really prideful of. And if [bringing in the white alligator] would help bring a little more limelight to the zoo and a little more attraction, I think that’s great.”
Benchimol told Attleboro-Seekonk Patch earlier this month that the farm would also send a regular-colored hatchling. The zoo’s education department staff will walk around with the newborn alligator, showing it to visitors who will be able to compare the green baby with the white adult.
Note: There are only 200 albino alligators in the world.
Gamble Rogers Folk Fest is back in the St. Augustine Amphitheatre
May 5th
This year’s festival is the 17th and the theme is “Return to Oklawaha County,” appropriately titled, according to Festival President Paul Linser’s recent edition of Gamble Gazette. Oklawaha County is a fictional Florida place that Rogers would take his audiences to wherever he performed.
Rogers lived in the Lighthouse Park on Anastasia Island and had staged a Storytelling Festival at the amphitheatre which highlighted, among other performers, winners from a public schools contest he organized to encourage appreciation of the art of storytelling.
He won national acclaim for his own stories and songs and singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett acknowledged Rogers as a mentor.
But Rogers untimely but heroic death in 1991 left his adopted community in shock. He died at a Flagler County Park while trying to rescue a man drowning in the rough October surf. Both men died in the rescue attempt. The St. Johns County School Board named a middle school for Rogers and Flagler County named its oceanside park in his memory.
His friends and fans created the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival in tribute and it showcases performers from all over the county. We’re glad the festival has become a tradition here and we’re glad its back “home.” The camaraderie in Rogers’ backyard can’t be beat.
Four stages and venues will be going non-stop today from noon until 6 p.m. And then, the Main Stage continues on with the headliners starting at 7 p.m., Aaron O’Rourke Trio, followed by the well-known regional group, the Gatorbone Band, and then The Waymores, whom Linser refers to as one of Nashville’s top threesomes of singer-songwriters.
The festival’s proceeds benefit youth music programs. Tickets for today’s festival are $35 per person and children under 12 get in free when accompanied by an adult on a paid ticket.
The Amphitheatre is always a busy place with or without another event on Saturdays with the Farmer’s Market open for business until around 12:30 p.m. We suggest you come early and take in the market before following the sounds of music.
LEGO Kids Fest
Apr 28th
LEGO KidsFest brings all of the creative hands-on, minds-on fun of LEGO building and experiences together in one activity- and entertainment-packed family event for children of all ages and builders of all skills and interests. In this special event we bring you to the festival, watch kids hard at work building tons of LEGO constructions and a personal interview with Chis one of the LEGO Master builders who tells us about the things kids can participate in and lots of cool LEGO models to check out.
Find out more about the event at http://www.legokidsfest.com/