Grey Towers Heritage Association’s Lunch and Learn series starting soon

Ask Eileen Smith, president of Grey Towers Heritage Association (GTHA), where one can get a hot, home-made meal in the middle of winter, meet and talk to people you would not normally talk to about issues important to Milford, and she will tell you to sign up for the GTHA Lunch and Learn Series taking place at Forest Hall from January through March of 2024.

There will be events each month covering a variety of topics important to the community by experts who are deeply involved in the areas they will be talking about, including a series on Grey Towers itself, forest conservation, gardening for all, non-profit organizations in Pike County and how to get involved, creating and protecting habitats for wildlife on your property, and a talk on women helping women and achieving leadership parity.

The hot lunches will be prepared by GHTA volunteers. All Lunch and Learn events will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Forest Hall (see the schedule below), which was originally established by Gifford Pinchot, well-known conservationist, founding chief of the United States Forest Service, and two-time governor of Pennsylvania. (Note that the lecture space at Forest Hall is only accessible by a one-flight staircase and there is no elevator.)

The series kicks off on January 6 with Joseph Koloski, the new director of Grey Towers National Site and ends on March 23, with “Conversations with women making a difference.”

January 6, 2024 - Behind the Towers with Joseph Koloski

Grey Towers is run by the U.S. Forest Service and Koloski is the latest forest service officer to become its director. He will give a first-hand look at what it takes to run a historic mansion. Koloski is charged with bringing the legacy alive for this and future generations. His open and affable manor will make the mansion accessible. Koloski will also talk about jobs and volunteer opportunities at the mansion.

January 20, 2024 - Conversations with Peter Pinchot

Peter Pinchot is the grandson of Gifford Pinchot, and one could say he was born a conservationist. He is on the board of the Pinchot Institute for Conservation and has worked in Ecuador for many years helping to create an economic alternative to rapid deforestation in Ecuador’s northern plain. He will explore the connection between the Ecuador forest and Grey Towers National Historic Site and the role deforestation has played in each of these.

February 3, 2024 - Gardening for the Greater Good

Master gardeners Kathy Donahue and Stephanie Cavallaro will share practical, doable gardening techniques to keep your home garden happy and healthy. They are part of the Penn State Extension’s Master Gardener program, a rigorous program to develop master gardeners who will then reach out to the community with hands on advice. For more information on the Master Gardener’s program, visit extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener.

February 17, 2024 - Conversations with our Community

In the spirit of outreach to the community, something fundamental to Pinchot family, there will be representatives from various non-for-profit organizations who will talk about their roles in the community; what they do, how to get involved and how to get assistance. Some of the organizations include VIP (Victims Intervention Program), Casa (a children’s advocacy program), NAACP, ACLU, and TriVersity.

March 2, 2024 – Habitats – Protecting and Creating Sanctuaries

Master falconer Gregory Wojtera will talk about the importance of creating habitats for wildlife and how we can do that in our own backyards. The post-COVID influx in the area had people destroying natural habitats for birds and other animals. Wojtera will explain how we can correct this.

March 23, 2024 - Conversations with Women Making a Difference

Conversations with Suzanne Braun Levine, Amy Litzenberger, and Amy Ferris will focus on leadership parity and the need for women helping women — how women can support each other rather than compete against each other.

GTHA is very excited about presenting this series, as part of the Grey Towers tradition. Eileen Smith said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to get out and meet others, as well as to broaden the view of how the community works. Getting involved is good for everyone.”

Tickets are $13 for GTHA members, or $18 for general admission for each luncheon. They are available at greytowers.org/events. Forest Hall is located at 214 Broad Street in Milford.