On June 5th, during a special ceremony at the Estate, the Mill Grove Estate and Wildlife Sanctuary (Philadelphia, PA) was recognized as a member of the NAS Center Network. Mill Grove's Audubon Center is the first publicly owned facility to receive this recognition. Many national, state and local Audubon and public officials attended. The 175-acre estate is of special significance to NAS; it was John James Audubon's first home in America (he was then 18 years old).

Mill Grove's participation in the Audubon Center Network came about as a result of inspired discussions with Estate staff, led by Walt Pomeroy (then NAS Mid-Atlantic Regional VP) and Leigh Altadonna (board member, PA Audubon). During the ceremony, Administrator of the U.S. EPA Carol Browner thanked NAS for its "rich contributions to American history," and highlighted issues such as the Clean Water Act, the preservation of the Everglades and the protection of horseshoe crabs around the Chesapeake Bay area, where NAS has had a profound impact.

For More Info, Contact: Cindy Dunn, PA Audubon; 1104 Fernwood Ave., #300; Camp Hill, PA 17011; ph: 717/763-4985; FAX: 717/763-4981; e-mail: cdunn@audubon.org, or Roger Mower, Mill Grove; Audubon & Pawlings Rds.; Audubon, PA 19407; ph: 610/666-5593.