Friends of Lincoln State Park

It’s time to get in shape and Indiana State Parks want to help you with the annual InShape Welcome Back Weekend May 4-6. Special activities are being held at Lincoln State Park on Saturday, May 6th. So, if you haven’t been to the park yet this year, why not make plans now to visit during this special weekend and start getting in shape! The schedule of activities includes the following:

 8 AM Canoe hike
10 AM InShape Walk: meet @ the beach house for a guided walk to the fire tower.
 2 PM Wild Game activity
 7 PM The Shade Tree Players will perform at the Nature Cabin

The Blackburnian Warbler is a 5-inch long bird that in males has a fiery orange throat, eyebrow, and crown patch with a dark ear patch, a large white wing patch, black back with white lines, and streaked flanks. The blackburnian warbler is a most striking bird, very pretty.

The female has the same basic pattern as the breeding male, but the orange is replaced with orange-yellow. Warblers like mature coniferous and deciduous woods. They feed on insects and occasionally berries. They usually stay high in the canopy of the trees.

Now is the time to be looking for the spring warblers passing through your Lincoln State Park and Col. Jones Home area with their mating colors in full display. This is the time for easier identification of warblers, when they are at their best. Come to your State Park now and see a short-lived yearly treat-- the spring warbler migration.

TAKE NOTHING BUT MEMORIES AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS.

The Friends of Lincoln State Park have started our annual fundraising and membership drive for 2007. The response thus far this year has been tremendous! Thank you to all those who have sent in their 2007 membership dues and renewed their support for the Friends of Lincoln State Park.

All current members should have recently received a renewal notice in the mail. If you haven’t yet renewed your membership, don’t be left behind! Everyone who renews or joins by June 1st will be automatically entered in our annual prize drawing. Membership information and application forms are available on our website.

Thank you and welcome to all of our new members who have become Friends of Lincoln State Park so far this year. The response to our new member drive has been impressive and the generosity shown has been greatly appreciated. We welcome the following new members who have joined thus far in 2007:

Friends:   Jerry & Betty Biggs, Luke & Rachel Boultinghouse, Ed & Karen Bryant, Larry & Martha Feldmeyer, Steve & Susan Gordon, C.T. & Faye Grubb, Candy Haenszel, Jim & Barabara Hevron, Debra Lamar, Leroy & Helen Meyer, Max Schumacher, Robert Steffe, and Bill & Angie Tempel

Supporters:   Eric & Donna Ayer, Kenneth & Carolyn Beeler, Braun's Appliance & Air Conditioning, Doug & Nancy Habig, Mike & Norma Kreilein, Mike & Mary Schriefer, and Gervase Schwenk

Patrons:   Ruth & Doug Harper

Abraham Lincoln is famously remembered for many reasons one of which is his eloquent use of the English language in his many writings and speeches. He no doubt began developing those skills in Indiana as he learned to read and borrowed books from those neighbors lucky enough to have them.

In our modern age, we are no longer treated to words from our leaders nearly so eloquent as those routinely spoken and written by Abraham Lincoln. Many of his words still have relevance to our modern times and tribulations.

145 years ago this month, on April 10, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the following Proclamation in the midst of the Civil War calling on the nation to give thanks for military successes and to pray for peace:

It has pleased Almighty God to vouchsafe signal victories to the land and naval forces engaged in suppressing an internal rebellion, and at the same time to avert from our country the dangers of foreign intervention and invasion.

Abraham Lincoln.

Early morning snow flurries and frigid temperatures put a slight damper on this year’s Kite Day and Egg Hunt at the park. Nevertheless, it wasn’t enough to keep away our Friends volunteers on a blustery spring afternoon. Several families braved the cold and came out to fly kites at the amphitheatre. Hot chocolate provided by the Friends certainly helped to keep everyone warm.

Many more families showed up for the egg hunt and it didn’t take long for the kids to snatch up all the plastic eggs. We all know how important it is to recycle and most of the children were more than willing to turn their empty plastic eggs back in so they could be used again next year.

Of course, you don’t have to wait until next year’s Kite Day to fly a kite. The next time you notice the winds blowing, grab your kite and go fly it. Kite flying can be a great activity for the kids or grandkids and you’ll both have a great time! A special thank you to Friends of Lincoln State Park board members Bonnie Hohl and Shirley Begle for planning and organizing this year’s Kite Day and Egg Hunt.

The end of April normally marks then end of the General Assembly’s legislative session and local supporters are optimistic that the legislature will pass a budget that includes restored funding for the amphitheatre. The budget passed by the House included the funding, but the Senate version did not. Both Houses have been negotiating the final budget in conference committee and the latest word is that funding for improvements and operation of the amphitheatre are currently included in the proposed final budget. Anyone interested in can write letters of support to the Governor and/or their state senator: