Moose Mountains Regional Greenways Volume 15 Issue 1 Spring 2016

GREENWAY GAZETTE

Mission Help with MMRG’s First Land Purchase:

To identify and con- Branch River Conservation Area serve important natural MMRG is under contract to purchase a 17- is our first outright purchase of preserved resource areas, acre property that includes 5,000 feet of land. We are now raising funds to finalize including water frontage along the Branch River between the acquisition of this special property, resources, farm and forest lands, wildlife Routes 16 and 153 in the Town of Wake- which we have named the Branch River habitat, recreational field. Acquiring this parcel for conserva- Conservation Area (BRCA). areas, cultural and tion purposes is a big step for MMRG, as it (Continued on page 3) scenic areas. To educate others about these efforts. To join together protected lands to form greenways.

Contact Us By mail: Moose Mountains Regional Greenways PO Box 191 Union, NH 03887 By phone: (603) 473-2020 By email: [email protected] Online: www.mmrg.info Lily pads and scrub shrub habitat in the Branch River Wetlands Conservation Area that MMRG is working to Staff purchase to save from development. Photo courtesy of Bruce Rich.

Executive Director: Patti Connaughton- Burns April 17 Annual Meeting with Stonewall Builder Kevin Gardner Development & Communications MMRG will hold its 2016 Annual Meeting Coordinator: on Sunday April 17, from 12:30 to 4:30 pm Virginia Long at the Greenside Tavern of Kingswood Education Golf Club in Wolfeboro. This festive occa- Coordinator: sion will start with a cocktail/social hour Kari Lygren and silent auction, followed by a buffet (603) 978-7125 luncheon, award presentation, brief busi- ness meeting, update on MMRG conserva- Administrative tion news, and a talk by stonewall builder Coordinator: Kevin Gardner. (In case of weather emer- Stonewall builder and author Kevin Gardner will Kam Damtoft build a miniature stone wall at the Annual Meeting. gency, the event will be postponed to Mon- day, April 18, 6 — 9 pm.) (Article Continued on page 2) 150 Acres of Forest Conserved — A Collaboration with the Forest Society Board of Directors Last summer, MMRG helped the So- tegic puzzle piece of MMRG’s re- ciety for the Protection of NH Forests gional vision to build and connect Brookfield (Forest Society) to conserve 150 acres contiguous greenways of conservation Nicole Csiszer (Vice Chair) of working forest on land.” Farmington New Portsmouth open Road in Middleton. There are many tangible Middleton The recently pur- benefits to preserving Jack Savage (Chair) chased property, this property. It adds to dubbed the ‘Moose the miles of trails for Milton Mountains Addi- snowmobiling, horseback Cynthia Wyatt tion’, adds another riding, hunting, hiking, New Durham piece to the 2,300- skiing, and other outdoor Lorraine Drake acre Moose Moun- activities on the Reserva- Ron Gehl tains Reservation, tion. Wildlife such as Wakefield owned and managed black bear and moose Bruce Rich (Treasurer) by the Forest Socie- can take advantage of Nancy Spencer Smith ty. additional habitat and Vernal pool on Moose Mtns. Addi- enhanced connectivity. Wolfeboro tion property. Photo by Kate Wilcox. Art Slocum (Secretary) The area has always It contains vernal pools Dan Coons been a high priority in MMRG’s con- that provide critical breeding habitats servation efforts; we first partnered for amphibian species that are easily At Large with the Forest Society in conserving impacted by development. The land Wendy Scribner the Moose Mountains Reservation is part of the watershed headwaters of nearly 10 years ago. The Reservation the Jones Brook and Branch River, abuts the Ellis Hatch Jr. Wildlife which flow into the Salmon Falls Riv- Management Area as well as parcels er and recharge the aquifers that sup- of Middleton Town Forest land, creat- ply public drinking water. There are ing a large contiguous tract for roam- important economic benefits gained ing wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts. from protecting a working forest that According to Cynthia Wyatt, “The provides local wood products. Treas- addition of this property fills in a stra- ured scenic views are also preserved.

(MMRG’s Annual Meeting, continued from page 1) wood, Lovell Lake fishing trip, and a guided lobster trip. If you have an Kevin Gardner, a writer, teacher, auction item to offer, please call the tradesman, and lifelong NH resident, MMRG office at (603) 473-2020. has been building stone walls for more than 30 years. He is the author We invite you to join this annual of The Granite Kiss: Traditions and community celebration of MMRG. Techniques of Building New England The buffet luncheon will feature Stone Walls, published in 2001. He choices of salads, a soup, pinwheel will talk about such topics as the wraps, a pasta entrée and 2 desserts. history of stone walls in New Eng- Most dietary restrictions can be ac- land, dry stone wall design and build- commodated: contact Kam Damtoft at ing techniques, and changes from [email protected] or call (603) 473- historical to contemporary walls. We 2020. The cost is $30/person. The will also watch Kevin create a minia- RSVP deadline is extended to noon ture stone wall as he speaks. on Monday, April 11; please mail Serving your check to MMRG, PO Box 191, Union, NH 03887; Attn: Ann. Mtg. Brookfield Milton The auction is one of our most im-

Farmington New Durham portant yearly fundraisers, with items Thanks to our business sponsor Middleton Wakefield generously donated by area business- es and individuals. This year’s selec- Norman Vetter Foundations, Inc., a Wolfeboro tion includes a handmade quilt, Trag- Rochester business doing poured er massage session, luxury vacation concrete construction. week on Lovell Lake, cord of fire- 2 Greenway Gazette (Branch River Conservation Area, Continued from page 1) along the Branch River and its tributaries. The best public recreational opportunities of this proper- Within the BRCA, the pristine waters of the Branch ty make use of the river for fishing, boating and wildlife River flow along the banks of wooded uplands and high viewing. Anglers have frequented this spot on the river value wetlands that serve important water filtering and and will continue to have access to toss in their lines. flood control functions. Undeveloped lands like these Public access for canoes and kayaks is available from a help control flooding because they don’t contribute to pull-off along Route 153. Canoers and kayakers who runoff typically generated by impervious surfaces, such venture upstream will find an ideal picnic and exploring as roofs and paved areas, and they can absorb or accom- destination within the uplands forested knoll. modate excess water from melting snow and rain, easing flood impacts. Conserving the BRCA will preserve scenic vistas of its wetlands from The BRCA also White Mountain overlies a high yield Highway (Route stratified drift aqui- 16) and Wakefield fer, so conservation Road (Route 153). of the BRCA will The eastern prop- enhance protection erty boundary of the underlying partially fronts on aquifer and its exist- Route 153 and the ing and potential remainder fronts drinking water re- on private or town- sources. As a tribu- owned properties tary to the Salmon along that route. Falls River that The western ultimately feeds boundary falls Great Bay, the along the NHN Branch River is part railroad line. An of the Piscataqua/ historic gravesite Salmon Falls Water- tended by a local shed, designated by resident lies near the U.S. Forest Ser- the southern prop- vice as one of the erty boundary and nation’s most threat- provides historic ened watersheds due and cultural inter- to development est. pressure, making it Winter reflections in the wetlands of the Branch River Conservation Area in Wakefield, all the more urgent which is under contract for purchase by MMRG. Photo by Patti Connaughton-Burns. When the BRCA that we conserve the parcel came on the riverbank lands. market showing a buildable lot, MMRG quickly acted to protect it from development. We negotiated a purchase The parcel boasts notable biodiversity, providing a varie- price of $20,000, which is half of the asking price and ty of wildlife habitats with its meandering river, emer- tax-assessed value. Now we are appealing to MMRG gent and shrub wetlands, and an uplands pine-oak forest. members, Wakefield residents, and others who are moti- MMRG staff and volunteers have seen signs of deer, vated to protect the Salmon Falls Watershed to help us to beaver, chipmunk, turtle, pileated woodpecker, as well as raise funds in order to conserve this land in perpetuity. redwing blackbird habitat. Given the pristine water With an estimated overall project budget of $45,000, we habitats, it’s likely that visitors will identify even more are seeking grant funding for transaction costs (including wildlife species. The survey, legal, title and closing costs) and anticipate using parcel also provides some of our restricted funds for the long-term steward- important wildlife habitat ship of this land. connectivity between the downstream Union Please send your donation to MMRG, PO Box 191, Meadows Wildlife Man- Union, NH 03887, with a designation for the BRCA or agement Area, owned by go to the donate link on our website, www.mmrg.info. NH Fish & Game, and Thank you for your help in accomplishing our first con- private conserved lands, servation land purchase to preserve this special property! Historic BRCA gravesite. Photo Wakefield Town lands, by Patti Connaughton-Burns. and upstream habitats — Patti Connaughton-Burns, Executive Director

3 Greenway Gazette Dear Members and Friends, Conservation Commissions Mixer

On Leap-Day February 29, I stepped into my new role as Conservation Commissioners from MMRG’s seven ser- the Executive Director for MMRG, an active and engaged vice towns met for a round table discussion and informa- organization. The first month has been packed with hikes tional presentations at our 3rd annual ‘CC Mixer’ last De- on prospective conservation easements, participation in cember. The hall was abuzz with lively discussions MMRG winter outings, among the close to 40 commissioners, presenters, mem- planning for upcoming bers of the public, and MMRG Board and Staff, who at- events, and fundraising tended this networking event. for MMRG’s first pur- chase of conservation Pierce Laskey-Rigrod, of the Salmon Falls Watershed land (see cover story). I Collaborative (SFWC), distributed maps of the SF water- look forward to building shed showing important drinking water resources and the on the impressive work adjacent land areas that are critical to maintaining clean of the MMRG commu- water. He emphasized that the most effective means to nity that is committed to protect water quality is through permanent land conserva- Says Patti, “In the winter update let- ter, you were challenged to identify conservation and to sup- tion. See prepestuaries.org/initiatives/salmon-falls- the trees behind me in this head shot. porting the dedicated watershed-collaborative/. They are Sweet Gum (Liquidambar staff and Board in their styriciflua), from a wetlands buffer in work. If you don’t find Amanda Stone of UNH Cooper- southern New Jersey - not a NH na- tive. It may be time for a new photo!” me in the office, I am ative Extension presented the probably out exploring newly updated state Wildlife the mountains, forests, heath bogs, rivers and lakes as I Action Plan. The WAP seeks to reconnect with this landscape that was so familiar to me restore rare and threatened wild- while growing up in New England. life species and their habitats so that no new species get added to Eastern Meadowlark. Thank you for the warm welcome and I look forward to the endangered species list. For Photo by Margaret Viens. working with you! —Patti Connaughton-Burns example, the Eastern Meadowlark is declining because it needs 25 acres of open hay fields to breed and raise its young. In NH, this type of habitat quickly returns to shrub Tell Us Your Favorite Place! and forest unless maintained by mowing, so active man- agement is required if we want to continue to hear the Where is your favorite place to walk? Do you have a be- high sweet call of the Eastern Meadowlark in our state. loved view? What special places do you go to see wild- life? We want to know! Amanda handed out maps showing grassland and 17 other types of wildlife habitats in NH. Another set of maps MMRG is embarking on a conservation planning process showed habitat areas by rank, with higher scores given to and we are seeking input from all who have a stake in the rare plant and quality of life and the conservation of natural resources in animal species, our region. Over the next year and a half, we will engage large areas, our members, officials of our seven service towns, and those close to many community groups as we create a new conservation other protected vision to guide our future efforts in land conservation. areas, or those impacted least Using community input from activities such as town by development meetings, surveys and other means of engaging our stake- or human pres- holders, we will prepare a conservation plan with maps of ence. There are priority lands to conserve. In the process, we will invento- areas of highest ry our region-wide important resources, such as existing ranked habitat and potential recreational resources, critical wildlife habi- within each of tats, prime soils and farmland, wildlife and fisheries, for- MMRG’s seven est resources, and other resources important to our stake- towns. See holders. We will carefully examine water resources of these maps and the Cocheco River and other watersheds of our region. the new Wild- life Action Plan We are off to a running start thanks to grant awards from at takingaction- the State Conservation Committee Moose Plate Program, forwildlife.org/. the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation, and the Adelard Conservation Commissioners examine maps at A Roy & Valdea Lea Roy Foundation. the CC Mixer last fall. Photo by Kari Lygren.

4 Greenway Gazette Thank You to All Our Business, Organization, and Town Donors in 2015! Leadership Donors: ($5,000 or more) Tumbledown Farms Rowley and Assoc. , PC Pioneer Mechanical Inc. The Siemon Company Wentworth Hunt Club Royle Timber Harvesting LLC Poor People's Pub S&S Plumbing & Heating, LLC Town of Brookfield Moose Donors: ($1,000-$4,999) Coyote Donors: ($250—$499) State Farm Ins. Co, Agent Peggy Lynch Town of Farmington EOS Research Bradley's Hardware The Music Mill Town of Middleton Charlie Moreno Consulting Forester Three Ponds Protective Association Town of Milton Black Bear Donors: ($500-$999) DiPrizio GMC Trucks Inc Wakefield Inn and Restaurant Town of New Durham D.F. Richard Energy Evergreen Valley Snowmobile Club Wolfeboro Oil Company, Inc. Town of Wakefield David Hutchins Builders Forest Pump & Filter Town of Wolfeboro Devonshire Realty, LLC Garwoods Restaurant & Pub Red Fox Donors: ($100-$249) Varney Electric, LLC Donald F. Whittum Law Office Holy Rosary Credit Union Avellani Restaurant Enterprises Eastern Boats Inc. J&S Tech Electric B&B Fabricating Redtailed Hawk Donors: ($50-$99) Great East Lake Improvement Association Jay Fortune Custom Carpentry Blue Seal Feeds Hersom Logging Index Packaging Lake Forest Resort Creteau, Hackett, Lachapelle & Assoc. Ilex Wetlands Consultants Land Bank of Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro Law Office of L. Bradley Helfer Farmington Fish and Game Club, Inc Liberty Mutual Insurance Long Meadow Construction Hourihane, Cormier & Associates Chickadee Donors: ($25-$49) MapleStone Farm M&M Boat Storage Jim Smith Horseshoeing, Molnarp Farm 4 J's Earthworks Mi-Te-Jo Campground Mal Blodget, CPA Lilac Printing and Graphic Design Mayrand Computer Services New England Furniture McKenzie's Farm Maxfield Real Estate McEneaney Survey Associates Norman Vetter Foundations Patrick Stevens Contracting Meredith Village Savings Bank Proulx Oil & Propane Profile Bank Milton Hardware, LLC The Frank Massin Agency, Inc Ransmeier and Spellman PA Parsons Furniture Company

Thank You to all Individuals who Donated in 2015; MMRG Relies on Your Support! Leadership Donors: ($5,000 or more) Randall Zielinski Mary & Robert Barnum Henry and Junko Siemon Red Fox Donors: ($100-$249) Dana Zulager (in honor of Wentworth Hunt Linda Bates Nancy Spencer Smith Phil & Carolyn Auger and Branch Hill Farm) Rick Boulanger Sylvia Thayer & Philip Zaeder Jane Batchelder William J. Callahan, Jr. Cynthia Wyatt John Boucher Redtailed Hawk Donors: ($50-$99) Leslie and Constance Chase Janice & Joseph Brejwo John & Donna Lynn Lawrence and Nancy Craaybeek Moose Donors: ($1,000-$4,999) David Chase Ingrid & Thomas Barry Richard & Pauline Davenport Gene Hays Starling Childs (in honor of Cynthia Siemon Paul and Barbara Berry Resta Detwiler Jonathan & Anne Nute Wyatt) Shaun and Ellen Berry Adam & Erin Doiron Bruce & Jennifer Rich Mary Current Ernest and Susan Brown Bud and Norma Dyer William and Teresa Sammis Cassandra Curtis and James Chapman Sherry Bryant Richard Egan Beverly Siemon Charles & Dorothy Steimel Crespi Alfred Cann Joyce El Kouarti Art & Lynne Slocum Richard DesRoches Matt Chagnon Ben Fagan Barbara and Cyrus Sweet Lorraine Drake & Brad Helfer Michael Chaput Fred Fernald Brian & Laura Wyatt Susan & Joel Ducharme Gail Chase Alan and Joyce Frizzell Norman Dudziak & Damaris Rohsenow Bob & Michelle Craycraft Bob Garnett Black Bear Donors: ($500-$999) Mark Fagan & Patricia Wentworth Nicole Csiszer and Jim Cowles Tom and Cheryl Giguere Anonymous (in honor of Nancy S. Smith) Jane Cooper Fall Kam Damtoft Bob & Sally Gilbert Dottie Bean Ron Goodgame Paul & Edith DesMarais Ruth Gutman Marty Conant & David Levin Gary Gould Paige & Chris Holman Persis Hildebrandt Frank & Pam Frazier Jack Healey John Hraba Jennifer Hobler Don & Gail Holm William & Cynthia Hohenberger Marc Jacobs Peg Hurd Ron and Paula Gehl Nancy & James Insley Emmanuel Krasner Susan Lohse Virginia Long & Steve Panish Sheldon and Priscilla Jones Thomas Magoon Bill & Jean Malay Linda McGivern & Ben Thayer David & Sheila Larson Jim and Carol Matthew Jennifer McKown Lauren Nelson Martin Lee Jeff Meade Thomas and Sandra Mynczywor Charles & Ann Robbins Robert Lee & Susan Cleary Morse Anne Melvin Grigory Petrov Charles Salmans & Robin Wakeman Judy Nordberg & Edward Heck Catherine & Don Mills Lee & Doris Prescott Christopher Sherrill Gordon & Carolyn Page Roger & Linda Murray Marilyn Raymond Gregg & Mary Poston Richard & Diana Peckham Laurel & Stephen Reading Coyote Donors: ($250-$499) Peter Roessiger Chris and Michele Penta Karen Santoro-Nason Marjorie & Warren Berg Susan & Peter Rogers Jeff and Nancy Perkins Jon Samuelson Sharon and Dave Buttrick Richard & Lorraine Sager Barbara Pomroy Wendy and Stephen Scribner Cynthia Copeland Linda & John Schier John and Judy Russell Linda Southwick Thomas and Andrea Costello Buzz and Robyn Shiely Michael and Deborah Schneider Mark & Susan Stengel Penelope Curtis CK & Jennifer Siemon Sandra Simonsen Chip Tothill Gary Getchell & Mariko Yamasaki Pam & John Siemon Mallory Stephens Paul and Juls Twombley Kay & Carl Fernald Bernard Sinkonis Stephen & Nancy Weckbacher Ann Marie Van Coesant Keith Fletcher Jack Slosky (in loving memory of Ursula & Ruth Whipple Cheryl Kimball & Jack Savage Sebastian and Stress Breaker Acres Trust) Chickadee Donors: ($25-$49) Grace Wing Kathy L Siemon Robin Wakeman & Charles Salmans Barbara Bald Cyndi & Mark Paulin Inger and Bob Woerheide Richard Ballou Thank You to the Foundations and Trusts that Supported our Mission in 2015! Adelard A Roy & Valdea Lea Roy Foundation An Anonymous Family Charitable Foundation New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (Annalee Davis An Anonymous Foundation (gift directed by Lawrence An Anonymous Wakefield Trust Thorndike Fund) Labrie) Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust Norcross Wildlife Foundation Please visit our website Thank you page to see our newest 2016 business sponsors! 5 Greenway Gazette Our 2015 Woods Water & Wildlife Festival Stone Walls and Views on Whiteface Mountain A porcupine, a ‘possum, an owl, a corn maze, kids danc- ing, kids hunting for natural treasures, kids swinging on th On a crisp sunny autumn day, MMRG Board Secretary ropes; all these and more could be found at our 13 Art Slocum led hikers to the summit of Whiteface Moun- annual Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival at Branch Hill tain for MMRG’s annual Fall Foliage Hike. Near the Farm in Milton Mills last August. outset, he pointed out several cellar holes and numerous stone walls. The abundance of stones used in New Eng- land walls and cellars originated after the region’s forests were cleared, allowing the cold winters and fluctuating temperatures to push up a multitude of stones lying

Audrey Eisenhauer of Squam Lakes Science Center shows a res- cued owl to a rapt Festival audience. Photo by David O’Connor. More than 600 attendees enjoyed this celebration of the great NH outdoors through fun educational activities: guided nature walks, a nature’s playground in the woods, fishing in the pond, birdhouse building, hayrides to the Salmon Falls River, kids’ crafts, and many informational booths and demonstrations.

The Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival is also our biggest yearly fundraiser. We are deeply grateful to more than 60 local businesses, individuals, and organizations that sponsored the day’s events (see our 2015 thank you list, p. 5) , and to our underwriters, the Siemon Company and Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust. Hikers enjoyed views from the summit of Whiteface mountain. Thanks to all who came, presented, helped or donated! beneath the newly exposed landscape. Art also enumerat- ed the types of stone walls, their different purposes and how they were constructed. Thrown walls were made where stones and rocks were cleared and deposited at the edge of a field or pasture. Stack and fill walls and laid walls were constructed more carefully with the lowest stones set below the frost line. The Whiteface Trail has examples of stone livestock alleys and bar ways built to herd animals from one pasture to another.

Whiteface is the highest peak in Wolfeboro with scenic views spanning 180 degrees and vistas of the White Mountains. Approximately 85 acres of land below and including the Whiteface summit were recently purchased by the Wolfeboro-Tuftonboro Land Bank. The property will be transferred to the Town of Wolfeboro after being protected by a conservation easement to be held by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust. The Wolfeboro Con- servation Commission contributed to the purchase and is constructing a new trail to the summit. MMRG played a facilitating role in this conservation effort.

The Festival’s ‘Nature’s Playground’ has rope swings and hay Thanks to Parsons Furniture Company in Wolfeboro, bales for kids to play on. Photo by Kate Wilcox. the business sponsor of our Fall Foliage Hike! 6 Greenway Gazette Branch Hill Farm Forestry Walks— Managing for a Healthy Forest

Branch Hill Farm consulting forester Charlie Moreno led two recent forestry walks for MMRG on the BHF forest lands along the Branch River in Milton. On the first walk last fall, Charlie was accom- panied by Larry Hersom of Hersom Logging, who had carried out the timber stand im- Winter Wildlife Walk participants gather at the old fish hatchery provement planned site near the Jones Brook. Photo by Bob Nielsen. by Charlie for that tract of land. The

message they Jones Brook Winter Wildlife Walk presented together was that a forester Pileated woodpecker holes found during In late February, MMRG co-sponsored a Winter Wildlife and a logger can the recent forestry walk led by Charlie Walk with Branch Hill Farm (BHF) on BHF forest lands make a great team, Moreno. Photo by Patti Connaughton- in Milton. Although the mild winter had already dimin- and the more they Burns. ished the snow cover and obliterated many of the wildlife work hand-in-hand, the healthier the forest they are tracks that usually criss cross it, there was still evidence of managing will be. They showed examples of careful animal activity to be found and much to learn from the logging practices that respect the forester’s management presenters, Charlie Bridges and Rich Cook of NH Fish & plan, protect tree seedlings, remove individual trees Game. They pointed out some scat of wild turkeys, which without damaging nearby value trees, and limit damage to were starting to be actively mating, and showed how male the forest floor, all of which increase the quality of the and female scat can be distinguished. They also discussed growing forest. how to improve timber pine stands through pruning of the On the second recent winter walk, Charlie shared how the lower branches. Participants enjoyed the beautiful woods forester first walks through the stand and identifies by and trail down to the Jones Brook as well as the oppor- flagging the trees that are cut for timber, pulp, or fire- tunity to meet like-minded folks interested in conserva- wood; he then showed piles of the three types of lumber tion, wildlife, and forestry. products. Charlie explained that he prefers to use a fairly light weight John Deere 440 skidder that is less likely to compact soils than newer equipment. He also led the group to several carefully planned timber cuts in order to show the seed trees, cover trees, wildlife trees, and multi age trees of various species that were left intact, while removing the invasive plants. A new trail along the Branch River demonstrated how a carefully managed forest preserves wildlife habitat. The group observed several vernal ponds that will soon be teaming with life, a porcupine nest high in a tree with a pile of fresh droppings below, pileated woodpecker holes in a hardwood tree, and some beaver activity.

Branch Hill Farm/the Carl Siemon Charitable Trust co- sponsored both events with MMRG. Forestry walk participants hike up a Branch Hill Farm trail littered with colorful autumn leaves. Photo by Kate Wilcox. Thanks to Jones Brook LLP, the business sponsor of our Branch Hill Farm New Trails Forestry Walk!

7 Greenway Gazette PO Box 191 Union, NH 03887

Working to conserve the special places of the Moose Mountains region.

Upcoming MMRG Events: SAVE THESE DATES!

Sunday, April 17; 12:30—4:30 pm Wednesday, July 20; 9 am—12 pm (Rain date: July 21) MMRG’S Annual Meeting/Luncheon/Silent Auction Kayaking with Kids, Great East Lake 2nd basin, Acton, ME Kingswood Tavern Greenside, Wolfeboro, NH Ages 10 and older, families welcome, many educational Kevin Gardner presenting. (See page 1) RSVP by noon, April 11. components & FUN! Co-sponsored with AWWA and 3 Rivers Land Trust. Space limited; pre-register with Kari Lygren (below). Saturday, April 23; 3—5 :30 pm Province Lake Association Forestry Workshop: “Your Land, Saturday, August 13; 10 am—3 pm Clean Water, Your Legacy” Annual Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival! Province Lake Golf Club, Parsonsfield, ME Branch Hill Farm, 307 Applebee Rd, Milton Mills, NH Presentations on conservation easements, the impact of forestry This family-friendly celebration of the natural world features fun management on water quality, and financial assistance programs. and educational outdoor activities. $5/adult or $10/family. FREE Light refreshments. FREE. RSVP to [email protected] or for kids 12 and under and MMRG members. Volunteers needed! call (603) 473-2500 by April 9. Co-sponsored with Acton Wakefield Watersheds Alliance (AWWA) and other partners. Sunday, August 28; 2 pm—4 pm Volunteer Appreciation Gathering! Saturday, May 28, 10 am—2 pm Wolfeboro’s New Town Hall, Wolfeboro, NH Annual Branch River Paddle, Milton Mills, NH Light refreshments, live band. Volunteers always needed and Bring your kayak or canoe for this scenic paddle. Program with appreciated; join the team! Contact Kari Lygren (info below). naturalists includes stops en route. Lunch and boat transport provided. $15 donation suggested. Spaces limited; pre-register Late Summer or early Autumn, Date TBA with Kari Lygren. Co-sponsored with Branch Hill Farm/CSFCT. Branch River Conservation Area Community Celebration MMRG and our partners introduce our first land purchase! Saturday, June 5; 8 am—2 pm Lake Associations Gathering Meet and Greet A weekend in September, Date TBA Wakefield Opera House, Sanbornville, NH Hawk Migration, Little Blue Job Mountain, Farmington, NH Brainstorming, interactive learning and networking, plus Join birdwatcher Virginia Long atop this scenic mountain. presentations by Linda Schier of AWWA, Jay Aube of NHDES and MMRG representative. FREE. RSVP to Kari Lygren (contact A weekend in October, Date TBA info below). Co-sponsored with AWWA and other partners. Fall Foliage ‘Hike with Art’ All Events: For more information, see www.mmrg.info. To pre-register and for directions, call Education Coordinator Kari Lygren at 603-978- 7125 or email [email protected]. Please do not bring pets to these events.