Author and Photographer of Tuxedo Park: The Gift of Nature to speak on November 15

Only 40 minutes from Scarsdale and a few miles from the New York State Thruway, Tuxedo Park offers sanctuary to a diverse range of wildlife. This is uniquu; vast expanses of nature do not often exist so close to metropolitan areas. Tuxedo Park, however, is rich with biodiversity. Here, more than 450 species of trees and plants, 150 species of butterflies and moths, and nearly 200 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians thrive. Its lakes and feeder streams teem with life year round.

A new book, Tuxedo Park: The Gift of Nature tells the story of the village's diverse species and scenic beauty through more than 200 original color photographs. Many of the species living in Tuxedo Park are also found in Westchester County. On November 15th, Author Chiu Yin Hempel and Photographer Greg Miller will discuss their experiences and adventures creating the book. Scarsdale residents, nature and photography enthusiasts, conservationists, and people who simply enjoy wildlife and history are welcome to attend. The presentation will be held at the Tuxedo Park Fire Department. Registration is required; the event is free.

Founded in 1886, Tuxedo Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nature in Tuxedo Park appears almost untouched by man. However, over 100 years of conservation-minded community development has been responsible for the village's continued ecological health and unspoiled beauty.

While writing the book, Ms. Hempel worked closely with John C. Yrizarry, naturalist, author and wildlife artist who spent more than a decade compiling his Field Notes of natural species in Tuxedo Park. "Tuxedo Park is a historically important, ecologically rich Shangri-La. John showed me so many species, including some not easily found in the Hudson Valley region, such as purple trillium and the protected pileated woodpecker," said Ms. Hempel.

"Together, Chiu Yin Hempel's historical research and writing, Greg Miller's photographic talent for capturing light, and John C. Yrizarry's work on documenting natural species tell the story of nature's gifts in Tuxedo Park," Carol Monderer, the book's publisher said.

The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com. This is the third volume in an illustrated trilogy about the historic community of Tuxedo Park, New York. The other books are Tuxedo Park: Lives, Legacies, Legends and Tuxedo Park: The Historic Houses.

This presentation is part of the Tuxedo Park Library's Authors' Circle. The Event will take place at the Tuxedo Park Fire Department: 2 Contractors Rd. Tuxedo Park, NY. Please make a reservation: register on the Tuxedo Park Library website, send an email to the library at tuxpl@rcls.org or call (845) 351-2207.