The Friends of Hemlock Gorge
Annual Letter to Members, 2014
December 3, 2013
Dear
Friends of Hemlock Gorge:
2013 has been a year of excellent progress for the Friends,
and with your help, 2014 will be even better.
- The Friends spring and fall
cleanups and summer concert were successful, well attended, and well covered
in local papers. The Tzu Chi Buddhist Center participated in the spring
cleanup.
- We have now on several
occasions enjoyed the windows and protective screening installed at the Stone
Building. Thanks again to John and Amy Mah Sangiolo, whose gift helped make it
possible.
- Fewer hemlocks remain
because of the relentless activity of the adelgids. Those that remain are in
poor condition and some have fallen. We learned that the Arnold Arboretum has
reversed course and is applying insecticides to their hemlocks. There is an
effective injectable agent, and we are exploring with local arborists if such
applications are feasible and affordable at Hemlock Gorge. Unfortunately,
trees may be too far gone at this point. There has been no evidence of the
adelgid-eating ladybugs for years. On the bright side, the Asian longhorned
beetle has not appeared.
- We again recognize our
indebtedness to Seana Gaherin (of Dunn Gaherin’s Restaurant) and Karen
Osborne-Shanley who generously pay the cost of many of our activities
including the clean-up luncheons, our 2012 holiday party, and the summer
picnic entertainment.
- This fall Karen oversaw the
first element of her landscaping plan to improve the appearance of the Stone
Building. Loom has been brought in, and several varieties of perennials
planted.
In 2014, we can build on this record.
·
We hope to continue our efforts to turn the grounds of the Stone
Building into a gateway to the reservation with elegant new fencing and
additional landscaping.
·
We also plant to place seedlings in the spring to mask the Needham
side, screening the edges of the park so you see trees and not houses when you
look across the Gorge.
·
We will continue our spring and fall cleanups and summer concert.
Visit www.hemlockgorge.org.
·
We'll participate in making Seana Gaherin’s second Tuscan Feast in
Hemlock Gorge as successful as was the first one last June.
To accomplish this and more, we need your continued help in
three ways:
- Renew your membership by
filling in the accompanying form and support us with your dues.
- Indicate which projects on
the accompanying page that you believe deserve priority for
allocating the Friends’ advocacy efforts and your dues. Our
former chief administrator Bonnie Pearson has moved away, and we desperately
need someone to help with the running of the Friends.
- Attend one of our monthly meetings in the Emerson
Community Center on Pettee Street, Newton Upper Falls at 7:30 p.m., usually on
the first Tuesday of the month. Please be part of our work.
With best wishes,
Brian Yates
John P. Mordes, M.D.
President
Membership Coordinator and Webmaster\
This page last modified December 3, 2013
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