The Friends of Hemlock Gorge
Annual Letter to Members, 2014
December 3, 2013
Dear
Friends of Hemlock Gorge:
2015 was again a productive year for the Friends.
- Our meetings were well
attended, the picnic was enjoyed by everyone, and our cleanups of the Gorge
went well. Our pruning crew continued its work. A new kiosk has been installed
at Hamilton Place
- Thanks to your generosity,
we have about $11,000 available to support our 2016 projects.
- We supported and
participated in the annual Feast at the Falls sponsored by Seanna Gaherin.
2016 promises to be a challenging year.
- Karen Osborn and Evan
Westrake are leading efforts to design and fund a new fence between the Stone
Building and the river. Karen Osborn plans to continue to upgrade the
landscaping in front of the Stone Building and add an informational kiosk.
These efforts will require hard work on design, budget, and submission of a
public/private partnership application to the DCR for funding. Site Supervisor
Erica Aubin and DCR’s Director of Partnerships Lisa Barstow are working with
us. The initial cost estimate is $27,000. If confirmed, then under the terms
of the partnership program, A Friends contribution of $9,000 would be matched
1:2 with $18,000 from DCR.
- Bob Burke has initiated an
effort to learn if we can use modern pest control methods to help save some of
the hemlocks. He and other members of the Friends met with a representative of
Newton’s Lupien Tree Service, Jason Lupien. The group learned that it is not
only the woolly adelgid that is threatening the trees, but also two kinds of
hemlock scale that are on all the trees. Jason believes that modern
insecticidal injections would save most of the trees, but the injections need
to be done yearly. What trees can be treated and at what cost will be a focus
of discussion in 2016.
- Work will also need to be
done on trail maintenance, a close inspection of the roof of the Stone
Building (now nearly 30 years old), use of land that may be added back to the
Reservation after Route 128 is reconstructed during the next two years, and
the impact of the closure for reconstruction of the Eliot Street Bridge next
July for six months.
In order to continue our work, the Friends of Hemlock Gorge
need your help, in the form of contributions, participation in our cleanups
and our picnics, and input into our plans and expenditures.
We usually meet the first
Tuesday of every month September to June at 7:30 P.M. in the Emerson Community
Center. Visit
www.hemlockgorge.org for news and updates.
We hope to get your return
mail, and see you at our activities and meetings. Thank you for all you have
done for Hemlock Gorge Reservation in 2015 and for all you will help the Friends
do in 2016.
Brian Yates
John P. Mordes, M.D.
President
Membership Coordinator and Webmaster\
You are, quite remarkably enough, visitor
.
Hurray!
This page last modified December 3, 2013
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