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Last updated on Thursday, March 1, 2012
(LINTON) - The third annual Marsh Madness Festival is this weekend in Linton. The festival showcases Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area, one of the Midwest’s finest wetlands for migratory birds. (GC DAILY WORLD)
Property Manager Brad Feaster says the weather should be great, but the number of Sandhill Cranes at the property is down this year. He says there are still a couple of thousand there, but there are other waterfowl to see.
One attraction, the unveiling of the sculpture "The Winds Of Chang" will be Saturday at 1 p.m. The unique sculpture features two bronze Sandhill Cranes has been erected along State Road 59, just north of the property - south of Weaver's Curve. The nearly 10 feet tall piece is the work of Eva Stanley of Bloomington and Sharon Fullingim from New Mexico. The Friends of the Goose Pond commissioned the art piece through a grant from the Smithville Telephone Charitable Foundation.
Marsh Madness events will kickoff Friday night with a wine tasting/silent auction at the Linton Elks Lodge. The event is underwritten by Peabody Energy with all proceeds going to the future construction of a visitor's center. About $20,000 has been raised toward the project, but Feaster said there is still a long way to go to make the center a reality.
One new event at this year's festival will be the free Earth Joy Climbing Adventure, sponsored by McDonald's in Linton. Using a system of ropes, harnesses and pulleys visitors will be able to climb up in the tops of trees I the park.
Other events include: Bus tours of the Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area, Hardy Lake Bird Rehab Program with live birds of prey on display, children's activities, speakers, workshops, arts and crafts exhibit and vendor sales.
Most of Saturday's activities will be centered in Humphreys Park and the Roy Clark Community Building as well as at the fish and wildlife area.
A Bloomington choral group, Voces Novae, will perform a concert in celebration of the migratory flight of the Sandhill cranes Saturday at 5 p.m. at Saron United Church of Christ, 440 1st Street, Linton. Admission is free.
There will be bus tours to Goose Pond immediately following the concert.
Tickets for the bus tour are $5 each and must be purchased in advance. There is no charge with a Marsh Madness festival stamp, however, you must make a reservation as seating is limited.
For reservations, send an email to mail@friendsofgoosepond.org or call 875-3804.
Marsh Madness is a cooperative effort of the Friends of Goose Pond, Linton Civitan Club, Linton Rotary Club, Carnegie Heritage and Art Center, the city of Linton, Linton Public Library, Sassafras Audubon Society, Greene County Daily World, Linton First Christian Church, and Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife.
Major corporate sponsors at the "Whopping Crane Level" (at least a $500 donation) include: Peabody Energy, Linton McDonald's, MainSource Financial Center, Bloomfield State Bank, and Greene County Foundation.
Other supporting sponsors include: Crane Federal Credit Union, Linton Family Pharmacy, Graves Plumbing Company, Casey's General Store, Triple H Gun Club/Grill on the Hill, The Refuge, R. Randall Baker Business Services, Greene County Board of Realtors, Anderson-Poindexter Funeral Homes, Welch & Cornett Funeral Homes, Farmers & Mechanics Federal Savings and Loan, First Group Engineering, Inc., and Walmart.
Schedule of Events:
Friday, March 2
Venue: Linton Elk's lodge
7p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Wine Tasting, Silent Auction, Hors D'oeurves
Saturday, March 3
Venue: Roy Clark Community Center,
7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. -- Self-guided tours (maps available)
9 a.m.- 5 p.m. -- Art & Craft Fair
10 a.m.- 5 p.m. -- Birds of Prey
Venue: Scout Cabin, Humphreys Park
9 a.m.-noon -- Indiana Wildlife Federation Habitat Workshop
Venue: East Cabin, Humphreys Park
7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. -- Bus Tours
9 a.m. -- 6 p.m. -- Exhibitors
Venue: West Cabin, Humphreys Park
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Kids' Activities
Venue: Humphreys Park
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Earth Joy Tree Climbing
Venue: Conservation Club
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Bird Banding Demonstration
Venue: GPFWA Office
1p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - "Winds of Change" unveiling Bronze & Indiana Limestone sculpture monument commissioned by Friends of Goose Pond through a grant from Smithville
Charitable Foundation
Venue: Saron United Church of Christ
5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Voces Novae choral performance. Bus tour of GPFWA following the performance $5 charge for bus tour. Bus seating is limited
Sunday, March 4
Venue: Roy Clark Community Center
Noon - 5 p.m. - Art & Craft Fair
Noon - 4 p.m. - Birds of Prey
Noon - 5 p.m. - Self-guided Driving Tours
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