What's Happening - January 2005
Gala Celebrates Five Years
About 100 guests celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Benjamin Olewine Nature Center on Friday, Dec. 17 at the “Winter at Wildwood” gala, amidst fresh greens and twinkling white lights. JDK Catering presented a sumptuous array of fine foods and wines, and keyboardist Jimmy Wood provided elegant background music for the evening’s festivities and good fellowship. A silent auction also featured many works of fine art and unique gift baskets, and WGAL-TV featured the black-tie-optional affair on its late-evening news coverage.
Master of Ceremonies Dr. Noel Falk, known to many as “The Plant Doctor”, introduced The Benjamin Olewine Family as the evening’s special guests, and Commissioner Jeff Haste presented a congratulatory proclamation to Charles “Pickle” Henery for his devotion to the nature center and his leadership of the Friends of Wildwood during the center’s formative years.
The Friends of Wildwood extend a special thank you to all who attended, as well as to our many loyal and generous sponsors: Crimson sponsor C. Ted Lick, and our Evergreen sponsors -- the Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority, The Plant Doctor, Diane McNaughton, Mr. and Mrs. Terry Bush, Mr. and Mrs. John Hepschmidt, Mr. and Mrs. James Kopenhaver, the Olewine Family and the Dauphin County Commissioners. Special thanks are also extended to 
Crabtree Rohrbaugh for its donation of wine, Wilsbach Distributing for its donation of beer, and HERSHEY Nursery for the donation of fresh greens.
In addition, we thank William Ris Galleries, Leaf of Eve, One Good Woman, Brickle Bark, Designs by Lois J., TaberWare, Massage therapist Dana Wolfe and organizer Beth Bohnert for their silent auction donations.
The Gala Committee also deserves a huge round of thanks: Lucretia Crum, Sara Berchock, Katie Long, Helen Colvin and Diane McNaughton.
Although final profit figures are not yet available, the Friends hope to utilize the funds raised to enhance the educational exhibits at the center and ensure its continued role in educating young people and adults about the wonders of nature for many seasons and years to come.
Nature Shop
The Friends are excited to announce that the Nature Shop has finally added a credit card machine for visitor’s convenience. The Friends Board recognized early on that sales were being lost due to lack of a credit card option. The machine is finally here and now in use. Come out and check out the unique wildlife gifts!
2004 Photo Contest Winners
The Friends of Wildwood are pleased to announce the 2004 Winners of the Wildwood Lake Photography Contest. They are:
 |
 |
1st PlaceMeg Mader, Harrisburg |
2nd PlaceKathy Martin, Duncannon |
 |
 |
3rd PlaceYoung Jane, Harrisburg |
Children’s Choice AwareIsrael Gonzalez, New Cumberland |
Winners were honored at the Friends Annual Membership Meeting held in November.
The 2005 Photo Contest will be here before you know it. So grab those cameras and come to Wildwood Lake to take the next winning picture!