The Friends of Hemlock Gorge
Annual Letter to Members, 2017
December 3, 2013
Dear
Friends of Hemlock Gorge:
2017 was a rewarding year for the Friends 2018 promises to be even better.
-
Foremost among our
accomplishments, spearheaded by Evan Westrate and Karen Osborn, was the
fabrication and installation of new fencing in front of the Stone Building, by
the Circular Dam. This was the result of a public-private partnership
agreement between the Friends and the Department of Conservation and
Recreation (DCR). Under the terms of
this agreement the Friends contributed one-third of the cost of the project, a
little over $9,000, and the DCR covered the remaining $18,000. The result is
an absolutely lovely railing that replace the old bent steel pipes and matches
very nicely the railings that were installed as
part of the spillway repair project in 2015. Thanks to Evan for his
outstanding efforts to bring this project to its successful conclusion
-
Moving forward, we are now
studying ways to address the deteriorated cedar roof of the Stone Barn and
possible partnerships for repair. One is with the Army Corps of Engineers
who fixed it 20 years ago and second with the U.S. Geological Survey, which
has used the building for decades to record the depth of the River. This
will be a high priority in 2018.
-
A DCR crew cut down dead
trees and opened up the floor of the Reservation to much more sunlight and
made the handful of small hemlocks in the Gorge more visible and accessible
-
Lee Fisher has continued the
Friends effort to work in partnership with the Massachusetts Water Resources
Authority to replace the rusted and shattered railings on top of Echo Bridge
with new steel railings that will keep their appearance far better than the
current railings that show the deterioration of 100+ years exposed to the
elements
- The Friends spring
cleanup and summer concert were successful and well attended.
- 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.
We need your help to build on our success.
-
Our spring and fall cleanups need your continued
participation.
-
Our fundraising projects need your vocal and
visible support as we ask Newton and Needham for Community Preservation Act
funds and private donors to fund new railings for Echo Bridge.
-
Please visit our web site at www.hemlockgorge.com and
visit us on Facebook.
-
Finally, please attend our monthly meetings,
usually on the first Tuesday of the month, at the Emerson Community Center
on Pettee Street in Newton Upper Falls.
We hope to receive your commitment and financial by
your return mail,
Thank
you for all you have done for Hemlock Gorge Reservation in 2017 and for all you
will help the Friends do in 2018.
With best wishes,
Brian Yates
John P. Mordes, MD
President
Membership Coordinator and Webmaster
This page last modified December 22, 2017
Back to the Index of
Annual Reports
Back to the Friends' Home Page