The Friends of Hemlock Gorge

2011 has been a year of progress for the Friends, and with your help, 2012 will be even better. 

• We again sponsored spring and fall clean-ups and a picnic/concert in the summer. The Tzu Chi Buddhist Center on Summer Street recruited two dozen volunteers for the fall cleanup, twice the total from all other sources.
• We now believe that, after a 10 year wait, the windows for the Stone Building on Route 9 will actually be installed. The windows have been fabricated and the state bidding process appears to be taking place. We’ll do what we can to make it move forward. Thanks again to John Sangiolo and Amy Mah Sangiolo, whose Charles River Neighborhood Foundation Trust made a gift of $1,000 to the DCR to help pay for the windows.
• The Department of Conservation and Recreation has decided to replace the small damaged raceway dam at the foot of Ellis Street. This $800,000 project is scheduled for completion in June, 2012. The construction will necessarily be disruptive, and the Friends will closely monitor it.
• The effort led by Jerry Reilly to publish bound copies Ken Newcomb’s book on the history of Upper Falls Makers of the Mold has led to the sale of dozens of books and generated hundreds of dollars for the Friends. Previously available only on our website, the book is now also available for download to your Kindle!
• Jerry has also led the Friends’ efforts to restore the trails downstream of Hemlock Gorge, along Quinobequin Road, outlined on our website.
• Many hemlocks remain despite the adelgids, and the Asian longhorned beetle has not appeared.
• We also recognize our indebtedness to Dunn-Gaherin Restaurant and Karen Osborne-Shanley (Our “Empress of the Gorge”) who generously pay the cost of many of our activities including the clean-up luncheons, our holiday party, and the summer picnic entertainment.

We plan in 2012 to expand our efforts even further, but to do so we need your continued help in three ways:

1. Renew your membership by filling in the accompanying form and support us with your dues.
2. Indicate which projects on the work plan on the accompanying page that you believe deserve priority for allocating the Friends’ advocacy efforts and your dues.
3. Attend one of monthly meetings. These are held in the Emerson Community Center on Pettee Street at 7:30 p.m., usually on the first Tuesday of the month. Please be part of our work.

With best wishes,

                                                           

Brian Yates                                           John P. Mordes, M.D.

President                                              Membership Coordinator and Webmaster