Recent News
Annual Letter to Members, 2003
As the year draws to a close, we again write to you to mark the end of an eventful time for the Friends. In addition, we appeal to you to renew your membership and your commitment to our activities in 2004.
Adelgid News: A lot of uncertainty
In January we received the following report from Forester Charlie Burnham. The trees in the Gorge seemed to him to be in better shape, but he could not determine if the cold weather or the ladybugs are responsible. This is his report: “I was down at the Gorge in mid December to install a temperature…
2003 Fall Cleanup
Ken Newcomb Bench Dedication
The memorial to Ken Newcomb was made possible by financial contributions from many of his friends and family and by the unstinting volunteers who conceived and designed and transported the stone bench. To all of these thoughtful people, too numerous to list, the Friends extend their deepest gratitude. The Friends sited Ken’s memorial bench at…
Ken Newcomb Memorial Dedicated Summer 2003
On Tuesday, August 5, 2003 more than 30 Friends of Hemlock Gorge and members of the family of the late Ken Newcomb gathered for our annual summer picnic and to dedicate his memorial bench at Artist’s Point. To see more pictures of the memorial site, and to see photos of the dedication celebration, click here.…
Governor Romney merges the former MDC into a new Department of Conservation and Recreation
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s proposal to eliminate the Metropolitan District Commission has been accepted by the Legislature and signed into law as part of the fiscal Year 2004 budget. However, the Metropolitan Park Commission’s spirit lives on. A new Department of Conservation and Recreation has been created in the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. It…
2003 Spring Cleanup
Annual Letter to Members, 2002
2002 was a year of ongoing accomplishments for the Friends in our efforts to preserve and enhance the beauty of Hemlock Gorge. These accomplishments are the fruits of your efforts, the legislative leadership of Senator Cynthia Creem and Representatives Kay Khan and Ruth Balser, and the hard work of Metropolitan District Commission Site Supervisor Kevin…
Hopeful Adelgid News: The Ladybugs may be having an effect
It’s been more than a year since the release of the first ladybugs. We still don’t have an official opinion from forester Charlie Burnham on their impact. but at the August picnic, we all toured the site and inspected the hemlocks. What we saw made us cautiously optimistic. Although several trees have died, and evidence…
Annual Letter to Members, 2001
2001 was a year of truly major accomplishments for the Friends in our efforts to preserve and enhance the beauty of Hemlock Gorge. These accomplishments are the fruits of your efforts, the legislative leadership of Senators Thomas Birmingham and Cynthia Creem and Representative Kay Khan, and the hard work of Metropolitan District Commission Site Supervisor…
Annual Letter to Members, 2000
The year 2000 has been a year of major accomplishments for the Friends in our efforts to preserve and enhance the beauty of Hemlock Gorge. These accomplishments are the fruits of your efforts, the legislative leadership of Senator Cynthia Creem and Representative Kay Khan, and our partnership with the Metropolitan District Commission, in particular Site…
2001 Ladybug Release
May 2, 2001 The long struggle to save the trees in Hemlock Gorge reached a turning point at 2:30 on Wednesday, May 2, 2001. At that time Massachusetts state forester Charlie Burnham and site supervisor Kevin Hollenbeck released the first of 10,000 ladybugs grown during the winter to combat the Woolly Adelgid. The insects, black,…
