Recent News
2005 Spring Cleanup
The Friends and the DCR (formerly the MDC) extend heartfelt thanks to all the many volunteers who helped despite the rainy and cool weather.
The Newton Tab declares the Adelgid Vanquished!
In early April, 2005 the Newton Tab wrote a nice article describing the efforts being made at Hemlock Gorge to thwart the adelgid. Site Supervisor Kevin Hollenbeck was featured. A PDF of the article has been provided.
The Arnold Arboretum’s Response to the Adelgid
The Arnold Arboretum’s famed Hemlock Hill has been severely impacted by the adelgid, and more than 100 trees have been lost. (They opted against an attempt to introduce ladybugs, as was done at Hemlock Gorge.) The Arboretum staff are undertaking an extensive research program that is described in some detail at their web site: https://arboretum.harvard.edu/plants/hemlock-hill-history-management-and-research/
Annual Letter to Members, 2004
In 2005, we will continue our productive relationship with the leadership of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and its Urban Park Bureau. We will also continue our strong partnership with Site Supervisor Kevin Hollenbeck and his associate Bob Hassett. We note with pleasure that the new director of the Urban Park Bureau is Kevin’s…
2004 Fall Cleanup
At this event, we celebrated Hannah Sherman’s many years of service to the Friends as our Secretary and awarded her a lifetime membership
2004 Spring Cleanup
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…
