Congratulations To Frosty Drew – A Treasured Charlestown Educational Institution
In the early 2000s, an Observatory Director at the Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center, Les Coleman, envisioned a theater at Frosty Drew in Ninigret Park where live telescopic views from the Observatory’s large telescope would be shown on a screen in the theater, making the views accessible to more people.
As a result of many individual contributions and an $80,000 grant from the Champlin Foundation, the Sky Theatre was constructed by the Frosty Drew Memorial Fund, a private nonprofit founded in 1982.
Before the Sky Theatre was constructed, what is currently the Science Center was a small building on the north side of Park Lane that housed the Frosty Drew Nature Center. It was the first building opened in Ninigret Park in 1983. Across Park Lane was the Frosty Drew Observatory, constructed in1988.
This June 14 marks the fourteenth anniversary of the grand opening of the John G. Drew Sky Theatre in Ninigret Park. Over the last 14 years, the original dream of connecting views seen through the large telescope to a screen in the Sky Theatre has been accomplished—and more.
Frosty Drew’s current Observatory Director, Scott MacNeill, recently wrote, “The Sky Theatre has gone through several modifications and upgrades, including faster bidirectional communications with the entire campus, not just the observatory, [and] the ability to broadcast live views from any connected telescope on campus, as well as simultaneous views…. The projector and screen have been upgraded to a large LED display, and a powerful display server has been integrated which links everything on our campus into the Sky Theatre.”
Stay tuned. Special events this summer at the Frosty Drew are slated to include a collaborative piece with the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory entitled “The Sun,” the first installment of Frosty Drew’s “Project Messier,” a project based on the list of astronomical objects catalogued by the French astronomer Charles Messier; and slide shows of celestial objects captured at the Observatory.
In addition, Frosty Drew will host several speakers. One of the speakers at Frosty Drew this coming season will be Frank Puglia, a NASA Solar System Ambassador. Mr. Puglia has presented several times at Frosty Drew over the past 5 years. A Frosty Drew “fan favorite,” Frosty Drew is excited that he will return to Frosty Drew this season. Mr. Puglia is a URI Chemical Engineering graduate and has over 20 years experience in the design, development and production of energy storage systems for advanced applications ranging from the Mars Rovers, Landers, and Science Laboratory, to batteries for the next generation of fighter aircraft. During this time he has authored and coauthored numerous papers with various NASA and Air Force researchers.
Mr. Puglia also has an extensive history in promoting STEM topics at local schools and organizations. For example, Mr. Puglia hosted an event entitled “STEM Opportunities with NASA: A Mission Example” at Chariho High School. In addition, he has spoken to local groups regarding Girl Scout robotics badges, supporting success in science and technology, and about the Moon landing. Hosted also will be dark sky advocate Bill Steinman of Charlestown. Frosty Drew is also working to arrange a special night with the band Triangle Forest.
Congratulations to all who have contributed to making Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center a valuable Charlestown educational institution and, especially, to Scott MacNeill and his team whose accomplishments have far exceeded what was thought possible at the grand opening of the Sky Theatre 14 years ago!
Banner photograph of the Milky Way above Frosty Drew Observatory by Scott MacNeill.
Bonnie Van Slyke, the author of this post, was a member of the Charlestown Town Council from 2014 to 2022. She was the Town Council Liaison to the Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Senior Citizens Commission. She is a former officer and member of the Board of Directors of the Frosty Drew Observatory & Science Center, a former Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals in Harvard, MA and a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Harvard Conservation Trust. Bonnie is a freelance copy editor, technical writer, and publications specialist. Bonnie writes occasionally about land use issues in Charlestown.
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