About 35 people attended the 15th annual Winterfest celebration on Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Garden City Bird Sanctuary, Inc. (GCBS).
John W. Cronin, the president of the board of directors, led the annual ceremony wherein attendees light green candles, symbolic of the new spring that will surely follow winter. The “Great Telling,” as this seasonal rite is called, is to remind everyone that “all winters must come to an end.”
The winters to which that refers is not restricted to the chronological December 21-March 21, but it denotes the harsh times in our lives; winters of health problems, financial woes, and so on. The great religions of the world remind us that even the “winter” of death itself will yield to springtime of life to follow. Professional folk songs were provided by guitarist-singer Aaron Sion.
Cronin gave awards to the many members of the GCBS Volunteer Corps. The sanctuary was able to remain open all weekends (Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-6 p.m.) from the end of April until the end of September 2022. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact Cronin at gcbirdsanctuary@gmail.com.
Cronin announced that the board of directors has initiated a development committee to raise funds and get grants, ensuring the GCBS remains on stable financial footing.
Nassau County Legislator Laura Schaefer presented citations of merit to the honorees, as well as Dr. Shana Caro, professor of biology at Adelphi University. Dr. Caro and Cronin announced a partnership between Adelphi and the GCBS to bring in educational environmental programs.
