Whether you were or were not with us on May 1st, 2022, for our fourth annual Pittsford Save the Frogs Day, we thought we would share the fun with you on this pictorial blog. All photo credits go to Rob Corby and Lindsay Graham except the first one.
Starting and ending at A Frog House at 65 State Street, Pittsford, NY 14534, Pittsford’s fourth Save the Frogs Day, on Sunday, May 1, we attribute our achievement to
1) the generous grant of $750 from SAVE THE FROGS!
2) the knowledge and willingness of former Village of Pittsford mayor Rob Corby, to step in at the last minute in place of Frog Watch Trainer, Invasive Species expert from the Seneca Park Zoo, Dave Will, who contracted Covid that morning.
3) good weather with a little rain just as we were ending
4) a donation of 50 Eastern White Pine trees by Boy Scout Troop 260, led by Kristen Thornton, MD and her husband Steve Brauksreck.
It was so gratifying to be joined by Bonnie and Jane Coggshall McConnochie, another Board Member. Jane was able to stay briefly before going off to help out at a local Audubon group, but Bonnie took the walk with us as well. Our first volunteer of the year, Cora Clouser, gave out SAVE THE FROGS! stickers and information cards and sheets, both of which are very popular, and showed off SAVE THE FROGS! Frogabilia.
Greta brought two of her friends, a loyal threesome indeed. Barb Gibson, right, had wanted a membership in A Frog House for her birthday in February. That inspired us to make up a special card for her, which said “First Member”, and general membership cards for 2022.
With clothespins and clips, Rob and Jim Moyle put up our 6 banners on doors and fences. These were originally hung around the village in 2019, when Rob was mayor, and will be again one day, we hope.
Only six people registered on line, which was actually pretty good, given that all of the Instagram and Facebook planned information for the week before the event got overlooked and not posted.
The other guests registered on site, and we ended up with at least 20 adults and 12 teens and children, from as far away as Irondequoit, Henrietta, Walworth and Avon. The teen from Walworth was delightfully decked with frog pins, barretts, necklaces, and appliques, and I can’t believe we missed a close-up photo of her!
The frogs did well transitioning into their new and bigger habitat this spring.
At the north edge of the Preserve, there are four ponds and wetlands, which are in need of renovation. Rob’s opening talk at the Pittsford Library on March 31, and his unexpected presentation on May 1, were both essential in increasing awareness among our neighbors about the need, ways and means of getting this renovation done.
“That was terrific! I can’t wait for the next event!”
Becky was among the first to arrive, and literally the last to leave. What a joy to have a world where young and old alike can work and play and learn together.
Postscript:
Rob posted almost 30 photos on his own facebook page that very evening with a description of his experience:
PITTSFORD’S 2022 Save The Frogs Day Celebration.
SAVE THE FROGS!
SAVE THE ARBORETUM
A beautiful warm spring day brought out a large crowd for the annual Save the Frogs Day event, sponsored by the Pittsford based environmental advocacy group A Frog House.
The focus of this year’s talk was invasive species. A guided tour through the Village Arboretum and the Erie Canal Nature Preserve identified locally common invasive species and the challenges surrounding their management. The discussion included a description of the different ecosystems that work together to form a 30-acre wildlife sanctuary in the heart of Pittsford. The Village Arboretum provides woodland and meadow habitat and food for many animals, such as native gray tree frogs, that spend part of their life cycle in the adjacent wetlands and ponds.
The group passed by the native shrubs and trees planted a year ago in the Arboretum that are now leafing out. Unfortunately after the trees were planted, all work at the arboretum was illegally halted by the newly installed village mayor. The setbacks that stopped progress at the Village Arboretum were discussed as well as proposals to help get the project back on track. A petition to the Pittsford Village Board requesting progress resume at this very unique and important community project was circulated.
The tour resulted in an engaging discussion about the increasing importance of protecting our local ecosystems and wildlife which really is the true purpose of Save the Frogs Day.
For those who wish to sign the Village Arboretum petition, they may do so at A Frog House [or here]. A Frog House is located on the Erie Canal towpath just east of the State Street bridge and is open from 1 to 5 on Sunday afternoons.
This flyer was distributed from A Frog House along the Erie Canal towpath, and in several dozen locations around town. It was in our event description posted on our website Save the Frogs Day at A Frog House, and on our Instagram and Facebook sites. The news was on several sites, including Pittsford Concerns and Happenings, but we were short a staff member due to covid, and therefore short on promotion. . We posted our event description on our website: Save the Frogs Day at A Frog House, sent out a mail distribution announcement with our newsletter, posted an event on Facebook.com/AFrogHouse, and continued with reminders on Instagram and Facebook.
We sold one set of chimes for $20, and received $230 in gross income for online tickets, as well as $136 on site (Total, $386). Unfortunately we were unable to sell any of the beautiful carved onyx Frogs from SAVE THE FROGS!, but whenever we do, the money will go directly to them, our favorite charity.
Calls to action:
and Save the Date for another exciting Save the Frogs Day event next year on April 28, 2023.