Thayer Memorial Library Awarded $7,350 from Greater Worcester Community Foundation’s Rosemary Davis Memorial Fund Grant

Thayer Memorial Library is recognized as a venue that offers Lancaster and surrounding communities a variety of wildlife, animal habitat, and environmental programs. Once again the Library is excited to announce that the tradition will continue with the Rosemary Davis Nature Series 2017-18 season – thanks to a grant from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. The $7,350 grant will fund a series of nine programs, provide the public with passes to local nature and wildlife attractions, and purchase books and media that provide the most current information in the continuously evolving fields of flora, fauna, and environmental applied sciences.

Many people who attend the nature series programs ask who Rosemary Davis is and why the Library named their nature series after her? In Lancaster, Ms Davis’ legacy goes back to the 20^th century.

Rosemary Davis was a Lancaster resident who loved animals and wildlife. Neighbors recall she often carried biscuits in her pockets to feed pets or strays as she walked her neighborhood. She contributed regularly to nature and wildlife protection causes.

Ms Davis was born in Pasadena, California and attended Texas A & M, Southern Methodist University, and the University of Southern California. Upon her death in 1998 at the age of 66, the Rosemary Davis Memorial Fund was established at the Greater Worcester Community Foundation with an initial sum of one million dollars to benefit organizations and purposes related to wildlife and environmental causes.

With this year’s grant funds, citizens of Lancaster and surrounding communities will have opportunities to learn more about birds of prey, birds of the Florida Everglades, reptiles, pollinators, penguins, hiking the Appalachian Trail, wildlife found in several national parks, and caring for our planet. As well, this year’s grant enables Thayer Memorial Library to purchase local attraction passes providing residents access to a variety of venues such as Animal Adventures in Bolton, the Butterfly Place in Westford, Worcester’s Ecotarium, and Southwick Zoo. To enhance Ms. Davis’ enduring legacy, the Library will add a variety of media to its circulating collections that promote animal and environmental education for children and adults.

Thayer Memorial Library will kick off this program season with award-winning photographer Peter Christoph’s “Raptors: Majestic Hunters of the Bird World” onMonday, October 2nd. Peter’s striking close-ups and action shots of Bald Eagles, American Kestrels, falcons, … will certainly entice audience members to attend“North American Birds of Prey” on Tuesday, October 17 when Wingmasters bringlive raptors for attendees to see. The birds of prey program is not recommended for children under age five. All programs begin promptly at 6:00 p.m.

 Says Director Joe Mulé, “For more than 15 years the Greater Worcester Community Foundation has entrusted the Thayer Memorial Library with the timely responsibility of providing the Greater Lancaster community with services that build awareness for the protection of nature, wildlife, marine life, and animal habitats. Thanks to Rosemary Davis’ legacy, we all hopefully will inherit a more verdant world. We at the Library feel very fortunate to continue her vision.”

Stay tuned to Thayer Memorial Library’s website (www.thayermemoriallibrary.org) and Facebook Page to find out what’s happening next with the Rosemary Davis Series.

Karen Silverthorn, Thayer Memorial Library’s Assistant Director/Adult Services Librarian, is the grant’s administrator.