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      I met so many nice people during the August 23rd event For Spacious Skies: A Day to Celebrate the Sky!  The weather provided a dramatic “sky backdrop” to all of the events – a typically beautiful Northwest Connecticut sky throughout the day.

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The photograph above is of the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum tent several hours before opening, complete with our brand-new banner hanging above.  A nice selection of drinks and snacks were awaiting visitors to the Eric Sloane Museum who came out to celebrate the sky.  And celebrate we did!

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An impromptu “fan club” quickly surrounds guest meteorologist Mike Cameron from Channel 3 WFSB in Connecticut.  Mike provided a great in-depth look at the difficulties in forecasting the weather of Northwestern Connecticut, something echoed by Eric Sloane some 40 years ago when he was writing of weather patterns of the same geographical region – “…if you don’t like the weather now, just wait a few minutes”.

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John Pawlowski was so kind to come over and fix the attention of everyone in the audience by creating a cloud in the gallery of the Eric Sloane Museum.

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    Some of the many children in attendance at the event working on a cloud mural together.

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A number of young pilots assemble their balsa gliders and rubber band-powered planes to take part in the flight competition held on the grounds of the Eric Sloane Museum.

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Getting ready for a test flight….

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The afternoon sun begins to wane as the pilots test their skills…

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At the end of the day, the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum presented Barbara Russ with a new weather station to be used in the museum.  Barb requested the weather station through the friends as it would allow the museum to become a weather reporting location and it can be used with school tours and children and young adults to make weather observations and data-driven meteorological prediction.

From Left:  Meteorologist Mike Cameron, James Mauch, founder of the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum, and Barbara Russ of the Eric Sloane Museum.

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       Internationally acclaimed meteorologist Jack Borden, who launched the “For Spacious Skies Project”, steals a moment with confirmed fan Mike Cameron.  Mr. Borden spoke with participants about becoming more aware of the sky and all that it has to offer to us.

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The day is winding down and the parking lot is beginning to thin out after the August 23rd event For Spacious Skies: A Day to Celebrate the Sky!  Throughout our journey home, the panorama of the sky at dusk reinforced what excites, motivates, and encourages people like Jack Borden and Mike Cameron.  Look at the sky, folks…you won’t ever be disappointed.

It was a wonderful day, full of enthusiastic and curious people who ranged in age from 2 years old to 91 – more about my new-found 91 year old friend in my next post.  He absolutely made the day for me…

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Our thanks to the newest members of the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum:

Daniel and Linda Palmer, Sponsor

Dianne Lang, Individual/Volunteer

Thank you!  Your support of the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum helps to ensure Eric’s legacy by preserving and promoting the Eric Sloane Museum.  The Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum is a 501c3 non-profit organization.

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Congratulations to Caroline Nelson, winner of the “Best Artist Under 18 Years of Age” category in the 2014 “The World Above: Artists Celebrate the Sky” Contest, Exhibit and Sale at the Eric Sloane Museum for her entry “Mount Haleakala”.  Caroline was the recipient of a $50.00 gift certificate to Kent’s House of Books, sponsored by the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum.

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Congratulations to Herb Kroeger, winner of the “Best Professional Artist” category and the “Best in Show” category in the 2014 “The World Above: Artists Celebrate the Sky” Contest, Exhibit and Sale at the Eric Sloane Museum for his entry “Approaching Storm”.  Herb was the recipient of a $100.00 gift certificate to Kent’s House of Books and $100.00 gift certificate to Kingsley’s Tavern in Kent for winning both categories. Both prizes were sponsored by the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum.

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monica          Congratulations to Monica Rosenberg, winner of the “Best Non-Professional Artist” category in the 2014 “The World Above: Artists Celebrate the Sky” Contest, Exhibit and Sale at the Eric Sloane Museum for her entry “Murmurations”.  Monica was the recipient of a $100.00 gift certificate to the Fife n’ Drum Restaurant in Kent, sponsored by the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum.

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Welcome new members Sharon Dougherty and Phyllis Oria!  We’re happy to have you on board – your generous support of the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum helps to preserve and to promote Eric’s legacy.  We are a 501c3 non profit organization comprised of volunteers – 100% of all donations to the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum is used to support the museum.  Thanks again and welcome!

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Are you interested in volunteering for an organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Eric Sloane’s museum and legacy?  We’d love to hear from you.  We have a number of needs that you can help fulfill in as little as a few hours per week.  Much of what we need assistance with can be accomplished remotely, so if you have a computer and you are willing to volunteer some of your time and expertise, we’d love to talk with you today.

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We’re looking forward to August 23rd, when the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum will help to host For Spacious Skies: A Day to Celebrate the Sky.  Guest meteorologist, Children’s games and activities, Mr. Jack Borden of the For Spacious Skies program, and more.  1-4 p.m.  FREE.  The Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum hospitality tent will be on hand with members of the board of directors providing free light refreshments.  Hope to see you there!

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The Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum express our thanks to the artists who participated in “The World Above: Artists Celebrate the Sky” Contest, Exhibit and Sale at the Eric Sloane Museum:

Danya Wenzel
Don Turner
Herb Kroeger
Thomas Franken
Steve Balkin
Naya Bricher
Mary Terrizzi
Scott Bricher
Linda Petrocine
M.J. Budzyn
Cyndy Brissett
Julianna Fontanilla
Alan Wiener
Patrick Purcell
Spencer Parish
Karen Chase
Pamela Sauer
Clayton Preston
Lisa Deloria Weinblatt
Sal Barracca
Peter Wiehl
Richard Andrews
Liz Tobin
Tom Kmetzo
Michael Cherney
Connie Horton
Jane Hoben
Monica Rosenberg
Sharon Dougherty
Chris Plaisted
Ruth Pearl
Caroline Nelson
Joe Buda

Thank you all – it was a wonderful show!