With one session already in the books, the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Fireside Chats series at Saugus’ Breakheart Reservation this month will continue next week with a presentation from Belle Isle Marsh Supervisor Sean Riley.
Riley, who will appear at 10 a.m. on Feb. 14, will talk attendees through the different bird species living inside the park, with a particular focus on shorebirds.
The series offers a “unique opportunity to engage directly with DCR’s staff experts and learn more about the agency’s work, with a specific focus on Breakheart Reservation,” the department said in a statement. “Each week will feature a different speaker who will share insights, experiences, and knowledge about various aspects of the reservation.”
Each conversation is held around the fireplace in the visitor’s center, hence the name Fireside Chats.
The first chat was held on Feb. 7, with DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo leading a discussion about the department’s efforts to combat climate change and how Breakheart aligns with that vision.
On Feb. 21, attendees will hear from DCR Archaeologist JP Patton, who will speak about archaeological discoveries and insights into finds at Breakheart itself.
The final session will be held on Feb. 28, with DCR District 5 Fire Warden Ben Jenelle offering firsthand accounts of the brush fires that ripped through the reservation in the spring and summer of 2022 and their impact on Breakheart. Jenelle will also speak about the steps taken by the department to manage and mitigate the risks of future fires.
The first event, featuring Arrigo, drew a crowd of a few dozen to Breakheart, including a trio of state representatives — Donald Wong, who represents parts of Saugus, Lynn, and Wakefield; Jessica Giannino, who represents parts of Saugus and Revere; and Jeffrey Turco, who represents Winthrop and parts of Revere. Arrigo was joined by students from Garfield Middle School in Revere, and Giannino said she was “so proud of the students’ engagement and great questions about wildlife and our climate.”
