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"Hike
in Memory of Betty" Hikers will gather at the trailhead on Opening Hill Road just west of its intersection with Route 79, Durham Road. Please allow an hour for the hike. If you have questions, please call 203-245-1896. In the event of rain, we will gather a week later on May 23rd.
About Betty Lowry "Our
Betty" On Dec. 21, 2009, the Land Trust lost a cherished friend. Dr. Elizabeth C. Lowry is someone we will always remember with joy and wonder at all she did. The MLCT would not be the organization it is today had Betty not been such an on-going presence and a tireless worker. Betty just had to be active, and whenever possible, outdoors. She was often on the trails – hiking, cross country skiing or wielding a lopper almost as big as herself. She relished dragging branches and trees off paths. Over many years, there was seldom a hike she didn’t organize or attend. There are so many good memories – hiking Shepherds Trail with Betty making her way along a narrow ledge while four young men tried to take inconspicuous positions to catch her if she didn’t make it given her failing eyesight. A group outing up Mica Ledges found most needing a hand up tricky areas, but Betty, pushing 5' in height and unburdened by an ounce of extra weight, scrambled up the steepest sections on her own. Years ago, while walking the Paper Mill Trail along the Hammonasset, I tagged along with Betty to talk to a farmer on Horsepond Rd. He kept about ten Herefords, all of whom took great interest in our entry to their pasture. They formed a tight, heads-in ring around the three of us as we spoke. I’ll never forget the steamy breath and saliva on my neck from the cow behind me. Finished with our conversation, the farmer returned to chores leaving the two of us hemmed in by large bodies. Betty looked at me and knew she had to take charge. She just gave the cow nearest her a solid whack with her elbow and leaned on her side (with her full 90 lbs. or so) to create a small space through which we could squeeze. Our bovine observers closely followed us to the back fence where Betty graciously let me climb over first. There were great times riding in Betty’s old car to put up Land Trust property signs. We had a ten foot ladder but no way to fit it in or on the car. So we hooked one end over the right hand mirror and I rode in the back, arm out the window, holding on to the back section. At each stop, Betty would hop out, run around the car to let down the ladder and let me out. All I could think of was a Charlie Chaplin movie or some sort of circus routine. It was such fun, and discounting suspicious looks from observers, we went about our work with great energy. It was like being a youngster again and invited to pal around with the best kid in the neighborhood. Betty’s involvement in the Land Trust extended over 30 years. In 1973, she joined the Board of Directors and seven years later, she was elected Vice-President of Operations. This tenure was short as she became acting President the next year. With Betty’s election as President in 1982, the next four years became a time of outreach and enrichment for the Trust. She initiated numerous public hikes, brought in students from the Yale School of Forestry to study and work on MLCT properties and began our involvement in the Land Trust Service Bureau. In 1986, resuming her role as director, Betty continued to provide hikes. She always participated in conservation workshops offered at annual convocations of the Service Bureau. Involved in land stewardship, she organized that program by dividing Madison into four geographic sections with a leader over each. She also worked on acquisition of properties. After 20 years as director, Betty was elected an Honorary Director, so she was no longer obligated to attend meetings. But she loved being part of things, so that provided an opportunity for her to ride in my little car (minus the ladder, etc.). Over the next ten years, Betty continued to attend Board meetings on a regular basis. There is no way to adequately honor Betty and all she did. The Land Trust was so lucky to have her. Perhaps it’s best to just think of her with a smile or laugh and be grateful she was ours.
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Past
Events To
get there, from Route 79 just south of the Route 80 traffic circle, go
west on Opening Hill Road for 3.3 miles. From the shore, take Route
79 North. Just past
the Pines, turn left onto Warpas Road. Take the second right onto Winterhill
Road. At the intersection with Opening Hill Road, turn left (south). The
trailhead will be found on the right after 0.5 mile. In the event of rain
or high winds, the hike will be canceled. Photo
Contest Public Reception ***
Madison Land Conservation Trust Annual Meeting "Human
Impacts on Salt Marsh Communities" Our guest speaker will be Dr. Mark Bertness, the Robert P. Brown Professor of Biology and chairman of the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Brown University. His topic will be "Human Impacts on Salt Marsh Communities." Dr. Bertness earned his Ph.D. at the University of Maryland in 1979 and has been at Brown ever since. His research is focused on the ecology and conservation biology of marine shoreline communities, particularly salt marshes and rocky intertidal habitats. He is the author of the book Atlantic Shorelines (Princeton University Press, 2007) as well as numerous journal articles. For a .pdf flyer of the Annual Meeting, click here.
Mid-Week
Hikes
Autumn
Moonlight and Telescopes As always, a piper will play the bagpipes for walkers as they take to the Garvan Trail. This trail is ideal for hikers of all ages and the trek usually takes 40 minutes or so. After the walk, refreshments will be served in the Surf Club building. Members of the New Haven Astronomical Society will set up telescopes so participants can view the moon and other celestial features from the deck of the Surf Club building. Please remember to bring a FLASHLIGHT. Sponsored by The MLCT Trails Committee, the New Haven Astronomical Society and the Town of Madison Beach and Rec. Department.
Kids Nature-Photo Hike Learn how to take great nature photos while enjoying the outdoors
with Madisonians Julie Ainsworth, science educator, and Ruthana Terreri,
professional photographer! Then enter your best photo in the Madison Land
Conservation Trust’s 2009 Photo Contest (Deadline: August 1). Date: July
11, Time: 10 a.m. – 12 noon, Place: Neck River Uplands North, Ages: 6
– 14 years. Bring your camera and
bug repellent; long pants are suggested for kneeling down to get up close
and personal with your subjects! Directions: Take Rte. 79 North past the traffic circle. Take
the first left onto Princess Drive, and proceed 0.1 mile to the trailhead
and parking area on the left. A printable flyer is attached here -à Kids Nature-Photo Hike Flyer Spring
Along the Neck River On Wed., May 6th at 10:00 AM, the Madison Land Conservation Trust will again offer a guided hike along the Neck River. Spring rains will swell the river and crisp breezes will sing in the pines. Trail 3 leads past the site of a charcoal mound in the State Forest and then into Land Trust property. This outing will take 1 to 1.5 hours. Waterproof footwear is advised. To get there from lower Madison, go north on Route 79, west on Green Hill Road, north on Norton Town Road 0.5 miles, and then keep right on Opening Hill. From upper Madison, take Opening Hill Road from Route 79 and drive 3.3 miles to the trailhead. In the event of high winds or heavy rain, the hike will be canceled.
The
Ironwoods Preserve From the Route 79 & 80 traffic circle in North Madison, take Route 80 west to Race Hill Road. Turn right (north) on Race Hill. The trailhead is on the left at the base of the hill near the old red barn. For more information, please call 203-245-1896.
The
Neck River Trail To
get to the trailhead from lower Madison, go north on Route 79, west on
Green Hill Road, north on Nortontown Road 0.5 miles, then keep right on
Opening Hill Road. The trailhead is 1.1 miles north along Opening Hill.
From upper Madison, take Opening Hill Road from Route 79 and drive south
3.3 miles to the trailhead. For more information, please call 203-245-1896. Groundhog
Day Hike Participants will gather at 1:00 PM at the trailhead on Princess Drive. This road is the first left-hand turn off Route 79 north of the Route 80 traffic circle. In the event of rain, icy conditions, or high winds, the hike will be canceled. This hike will also be offered Wednesday, February 4th at 10:00 AM for Comfortable Pacers. For more information, please call 203-245-1896. Madison
Land Conservation Trust Annual Meeting
Mortgage
Payoff Celebration! On August 12th at 12:00 noon the Madison Land Conservation Trust will celebrate the payoff of its mortgage loan on the Neck River Uplands North, with a ceremonial burning of the mortgage deed. The loan payoff is the result of the many contributions of the Land Trust’s supporters, whose generosity has made possible the conservation of this beautiful open space. The property was purchased with a grant from the State of Connecticut and a loan from the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (SCCRW), which sold the parcel to the land trust in 2003. SCCRW’s Dianne Tompkins, Senior Land Use Manager, and Tom Chaplik, Vice President of Water Quality, will be on hand to accept the payoff check. The event will begin at the trailhead on Princess Drive, followed by a light lunch at the North Madison Fire Department firehouse on Route 79 and Opening Hill Road. Directions to the trailhead: Route 79 to 0.4 miles north of the traffic circle; turn left (west) on Princess Drive and travel 0.1 mile to the trailhead on the left. Please let us know if you will join us by writing to madisonlandtrust@gmail.com. Violets,
Marsh Marigolds & Fiddleheads At 1:00 PM on Sunday May 4th, the Madison Land Conservation Trust will offer a guided hike along the northern parcel of the Neck River Uplands Preserve. Hikers will utilize new stream crossings put in place by Eric Anderson and his fellow Scouts in Troop 1. Eric will accompany the group for the hike. Wetlands along the Neck River provide perfect habitat for wildflowers. Bird activity will be high, so binoculars may come in handy. The trails of this preserve explore upland plateaus and lowland tributaries of the Neck River. While the terrain is varied, the trail is very manageable. To get there, travel north on Route 79 to the circle with Route 80. After the circle, continue north, and at the top of the hill, take the first left turn onto Princess Dr. The trailhead is about ¼ mile in on the left.
Frogs,
Salamanders, and More At 1:00 PM on Sunday April 6th, the Madison Land Conservation Trust will offer a guided hike to vernal pools along the Blinnshed Loop trail. David Skelly, Ph.D. in the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, will help participants identify species that utilize these habitats. Vernal pools are small bodies of fresh standing water that develop in Spring. They have no in-flowing or outgoing water source, but result from snowmelt, rain, and elevated water tables. Because they're dry most of the year, they do not support fish, thereby providing safe areas for the breeding of salamanders, frogs, toads, and fairy shrimp. David will identify the eggs and other aspects of breeding cycles that occur in these micro-habitats. To get there from Rte 79, turn west on Warpas Road, just north of the blinking light at the intersection with Horsepond Road. Take the second right onto Winterhill Road. At the end, turn right on Opening Hill Road, traveling north to the Country School. Parking is near the trailhead on Blinnshed Road. The hike will take about 1½ hours. Dogs must be on a leash. Heavy rain will cancel the hike.
Will
the Groundhog Have a Shadow? At 1:00 PM the Madison Land Conservation Trust will guide those who want to look for groundhogs along the Indian Rock Shelters Trail. This trail provides an opportunity to see the modest beginnings of the Neck River. West of this watercourse, rock ledges contain shallow caves once used for winter shelter by members of the Hammonasset Tribe. The terrain of this area is rocky and uneven, providing numerous hiding places for groundhogs and making it advisable that hikers wear sturdy boots and have hiking poles. The hike will last about 1½ hours. Dogs must be on a leash. To get there, participants should take Summer Hill Road, North of Route 80 to the second left, Twilight Drive. From Twilight Drive, turn left on Lake Drive and park at the cul-de-sac.
Madison
Land Conservation Trust Annual Meeting
Music,
Telescopes and the Autumn Moon There is no fee for this event. Sturdy footwear is advised along with the usual precautions for ticks and mosquitoes. These include insect repellent and the wearing of long pants that can be tucked into socks. FLASHLIGHTS are a must for every walker. Should there be rain, the walk is cancelled.
Lenny
and Joe's Magical Carousel Details: Noon to 8:00 PM, Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale, Madison/Clinton Line.
June
in the Neck River Uplands
Green
Up Clean Up is Another Success The dumpsters got a workout. Our volunteers picked up and disposed of normal trash found on roadsides, at the Pines, near the Fence Creek area, along Warpas Road, and on the Garvin Trail at the Surf Club. They also hauled a water-logged chest type freezer out of a pond and took apart and hauled out a full size trampoline that had been discarded on MLCT property. They hoisted a rusted, water-filled 50 gallon propane tank and dismantled and hauled away a rogue dock and lumber from the Ox Pasture Preserve. In all, a full morning's work! We all had fun too. The traditional MLCT fish and ice cream "buffet" afterwards, at one of Madison's finest - Lenny and Joe's, provided a welcome respite for our volunteers after a hard day's work.
Groundhogs
Day Hike at the Neck River Uplands Throughout the parcel, numerous old stone walls and woods roads testify to its earlier use for pasturing livestock. Thickets of Mountain Laurel provide cover for birds and mammals. Groundhogs surely find den sites in numerous rocky outcrops and occasional forest openings. Sturdy footwear, water bottles, and hiking poles are recommended. Tick precautions are also advised. Dogs must be on a leash. The hike will last about 1½ hours. To get there, turn on to Opening Hill Road from Route 79 immediately South of the North Madison Traffic Circle for Routes 79 & 80. The trailhead is on the right approximately 1 block from Route 79. For more information, call 203-421-3537.
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Copyright
(c) 2010 Madison Land Conservation Trust, Inc.
Last updated April 22, 2010