Author: Brian Steinberg

The Hamburg Natural History Society/Penn Dixie is pleased to announce the hiring of Sally
Sgarlata, M.S., as full time Program Coordinator.

Sgarlata joins Penn Dixie following a recent role at Northeast Pro Services where she served as
Office and Communications Coordinator from April to October 2026. Prior to that role, Sgarlata
served as Program Coordinator at the Valley Community Association from July 2020 to May
2025 while simultaneously completing a Master’s degree from the Department of Earth
Sciences at SUNY Buffalo in May 2025. Her research studied the relationship between lithology
(rock types) and ice velocities at the margins of glaciers as they move through fjords. She
previously earned a Bachelor of Science from St. Lawrence University in 2019.
Sgarlata joins the organization at a pivotal time; Penn Dixie is preparing for its 32 nd season in
2027 which features the completion of a $2 million in capital improvements that began in 2021.

When completed, the park will have a new entrance on Jeffrey Blvd in Hamburg, 150 new
parking spaces, new restrooms, a new check-in area for visitors, and new programming.
Sgarlata will lead Penn Dixie’s educational team which includes up to 15 employees, depending
on the time of the year. The team is responsible for guiding 15 to 20 thousand visitors each year
as they hunt for Devonian Period fossils in our 54-acre quarry.

Sgarlata says “I’m originally from Central New York where I grew up spending as much time
outdoors as possible. I’m so excited and grateful for the opportunity to bring together my
background in geological sciences, nonprofit work, and community engagement at Penn Dixie!”

Executive Director Dr. Phil Stokes says “We are absolutely thrilled to have someone with Sally’s
experience, vision, and skillset leading our team. It is a bonus that she is a geoscientist – we
couldn’t have asked for better alignment with our mission for someone in this critical role.”

Penn Dixie is ranked as the number one fossil park in the Unites States and welcomes science
enthusiasts from around the globe to uncover trilobites, brachiopods, crinoids, and corals that
lived in a shallow ocean 380 million years ago.

Please note that our office will be closed from December 23 to January 3. If you need to contact us, please use this form and we will get back to you when we return to the office. Thank you and Happy Holidays!

The 2026 Penn Dixie season is officially in the books!

We can’t thank you enough for continuing to support the park and making 2026 another great year for Penn Dixie! We are grateful to be able to provide such a unique resource to the community and allow the hands on study of the natural sciences to be accessible to patrons throughout WNY and beyond.

While Penn Dixie is closed to the general public until April of 2027, we are still booking special programs such as Private Expeditions and Field Trips through October! Additionally, Penn Dixie members who have purchased the “Special Access” add-on may contact our office to schedule access to the park anytime during the offseason!

Untitled with Rocks

A new multimedia performance by Caroline Doherty

gate open 5:45 pm | performance 6-7pm

outside at Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve

4050 North Street, Blasdell, NY 14219

Untitled with Rocks is a performance with rocks, people, and projection. It features old friends and new ones, and the team at Penn Dixie have generously allowed us to engage directly with the landscape of this unique park. This performance is also a companion to DIG, which was performed at Penn Dixie in September 2024.

Penn Dixie Fossil Park is a 54 acre park near the shore of Lake Erie. In the human time scale, it is on the site of a former concrete quarry. In the geological time scale, it is on an ancient, tropical seabed. Home to countless fossils from the mid-Devonian Period (419-359 million years ago), the park hosts fossil hunters of all ages, who dig and collect specimens; and stargazers, who come to the park for the dark night sky. 

Big thanks to Penn Dixie for trusting us with their ever changing landscape. 

Event Info:

– Free onsite parking

– Bring your own chair or blanket, and dress for the weather.

– Penn Dixie has portable toilets but no running water.

– The seating area is accessible via a flat paved path. It is navigable by wheelchairs, but you may also encounter uneven ground. Please wear sensible shoes.

– The performance begins just before sunset, and it will be dark when it ends. Paths and seating area will be marked by lights on the ground, and volunteers with flashlights will be available to guide you back to the parking area. You are welcome to bring your own flashlight.

– No pets / No smoking

– Suitable for audiences of all ages

– Invite your friends!

***We will reschedule in the event of rain, mud, or strong winds. RSVP to ensure you’ll receive updates***

Saturday October 24, 2026

FREE, please RSVP here!

This project is supported by the Generator Fund, a grant for artists administered by the Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art and funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.