Tag: Vaunita Schnell
Meeting Minutes: March 3, 2026
Attendees: Rena Getz. Paul Roberts, Benjamin Kahn, Robin Dexter, Amy Kahn, Julie Irish, Evan Weststrate, John Mordes, Don Ross
Remembrance of Vaunita Schnell
Vaunita K. Schnell passed away Feb 2, 2026. Vaunita was instrumental in founding the Friends of Hemlock Gorge and served as the first President of our organization. A Memorial Service for Vaunita is being planned for June in Newton, MA. The family has asked that donations be made to Newton South High School, 140 Brandeis…
Our December 2023 Holiday Meeting
This is a combined meeting of election of officers and year end party. It is the last meeting for 2023.
Annual Summer Picnic 2022
At this event we had our long delayed dedication of the new roof on the Stone Building and a ceremony to recognize Representative RUTH BALSER for making the new roof possible and for all the additional effort she has put in to supporting our efforts to maintain the Stone Building and the Park.
The Friends’ Brian Yates Memorial Dedication
Brian Yates, former Newton City Councilor and the Founder, Past President, and guiding spirit of the Friends of Hemlock Gorge, passed away on March 15, 2019. A granite memorial to Brian has now been placed in Hemlock Gorge close to the Stone Building and the Circular Dam. The dedication took place on the evening of…
Annual End-of-Year Letter to Members, 2019
2019 was a year of transition and renewal and accomplishment for the Friends.
Meeting Minutes: October 2, 2018
Next Meeting: Tuesday November 13, 2018 at 7:30 Present were Evan Weststrate, Vaunita Schnell, Robin Dexter, Jean Fisher, Mrs. Jim Purdee, Lara Prebble who is a Wellesley College senior student, Brian Yates, and the Secretary pro tempore (John Mordes). Jim Purdee’s retirement as Treasurer was made official, and Robin Dexter volunteered to take on the…
Meeting Minutes: April 5, 2016
Next Meeting: Tuesday May 3, 2016 at 7:30 Present were Vaunita Schnell, Brian Yates, John Mordes, Robin Dexter, Evan Weststrate, Bob Burke and Jason Lupien. Issue 1: Bob Burke and Jason Lupien’s “Saving the Hemlock Trees” Project The main order of business was the proposal initiated by Bob Burke and Jason Lupien to treat some…
Meeting Minutes: November 11, 2008
Next Meeting: Tuesday December 2, 2008 at 7:30 The November meeting was unusual. We had been assured that, even though it was Veteran’s Day, the Emerson Community Center would be open. But it wasn’t, and the meeting was held in 40 degree temperatures in the parking lot! Nonetheless it was a great meeting. Present were…
Meeting Minutes: February 5, 2008
Next Meeting: Tuesday March 4, 2008 at 7:30. Present were Erica Uramkin, Vaunita Schnell, John Mordes, and Brian Yates. Erica reported that there were no critical issues at the Reservation. More importantly she reported that she engaged NStar electric to work with DCR and the electricity is back on in the Stone Building. She is…
2007 Summer Picnic
A special annual treat for the Friends is our Summer Picnic, a time at which we all get together on the property to enjoy the fruits of our labors. At the 2007 picnic we had Greg Burroughs, a 21 year old vocal performance major at Berklee College, provide music for us. At the picnic Brian…
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…
