Chickatawbut Rd Closed Sundays

Celebrate Summer Sundays in the Park at the DCR Blue Hills Reservation

The east end of Chickatawbut road will be closed to vehicle traffic
and open for recreation this summer starting June 21

DCR Blue Hills Reservation is introducing “Sundays in the Park” beginning June 21 through August 30, 2009. The eastern section of Chickatawbut Road between Route 28 and Willard Street will be closed all day on Sundays for the public to walk, rollerblade, bike the roadway and picnic in the scenic eastern section of the reservation. Wompatuck Road in the reservation will also be closed. Following a program similar to DCR’s Sunday road closure on Memorial Drive, visitors can enjoy vehicle less access to a remote section of the reservation.

Peter Church, the DCR South Region Supervisor is excited to provide this new recreational offering this summer, “Sundays in the Park will provide new recreational opportunities including biking on the roadway and a quieter recreational setting while providing increased resource and wildlife protection during the closure.”

To access the east end of the park, park at the side south of the Shea Rink parking lot at 651 Willard Street in Quincy. Limited parking is also available at the intersection of Route 28 and
Chickatawbut Road.

Watch for sign boards announcing the closure along the roadway in early June. Also please note the road will be closed starting Saturday evening at 8 pm and will reopen Monday morning by 7 am to facilitate Sundays in the Park. For more information: Captain Maggi Brown, 617-727-4573, ext. 213.

Join the DCR Rangers for a Summer Kick-off hike at 1 pm on Sunday, June 21, 2009:

Sunday, June 21, 1:00 pm
Celebrate Sundays in the Park and Take a Hike with Dad
Meet at the parking lot at the corner of Chickatawbut Road and Route 28 in Milton. It’s the summer solstice and Father’s Day too! Chickatawbut Road will be closed to traffic to encourage recreation on Sundays during the summer. Join a ranger-led hike to Chickatawbut Overlook. Welcome summer with light refreshments while enjoying the scenic view. 1.5 hours

Please call the DCR Rangers at 617-698-1802 for more information.

Boston Globe on FBH Hikes

Click here for the electronic version of this article.

Blue Hills Hike to Cover 8 Miles
Guide will highlight bird calls, flowers
By Robert Knox, Globe Correspondent

Thursday, May 21, 2009
Boston Globe South

Seasoned trail guide Steve Olanoff likes to vary the agenda when he invites people to take a long hike in the 7,000-acre Blue Hills Reservation.

"I mix it up - some advocacy, bird calling, flowers. Keep everything moving. And I find a way to tell the occasional story or joke," the Westwood resident said.

Olanoff, a retiree, is a member of the Friends of the Blue Hills, a nonprofit support organization sponsoring this weekend's hike through some of the state park's big hills. It's an 8-mile hike, beginning at the Quincy end of the reservation's famous skyline trail. The hike will include some steep ascents and is expected to last six hours.

Olanoff, who has been leading hikes through the Blue Hills for 25 years, favors a steady, moderate pace for longer outings. "A lot of people like my pace," he said. "It's moderate. I maintain the pace uphill."

His plan for the long hike - other public outings are much shorter - is to have one steep climb in the morning, then go through level terrain to a spot with a good view for a lunch break, then traverse some more level ground after lunch before one more steep climb in the afternoon.

This weekend's outing focuses on the park's scenic hills and spring wildflowers.

The expedition's high points include Rattlesnake Hill and Wampatuck Hill. Hikers will search for the rare lady's slipper, a pink wild orchid that can be found in the Blue Hills and other regional woodlands this month. Other spring bloomers hikers are likely to encounter include Solomon Seal, wild violets, and possibly Jack in the Pulpit.

"A whole lot of purple," Olanoff said, "a whole lot of white."

Guided hikes are one example of the Friends of the Blue Hills' activities for the group's 1,000 members and the public, said director Judy Lehrer Jacobs.

"We have a lot of programs for different ages," she said. The organization's trail maintenance programs, in which members help out and learn how to do trail maintenance, for example, "are a chance to give back and also to enjoy being outdoors."

Upcoming programs on educating people to threats to the Blue Hills environment caused by invasive plant species include walks to make plant identifications. Those will take place next month on three consecutive weekends: June 13, 20, and 27.

(Those shiny green plants with white flowers taking over a forgotten corner of the backyard might be the invasive garlic mustard; the Friends are planning an event that will include tasting some dishes using garlic mustard as an ingredient.)

And not all of the trail walks are daylong affairs. On May 30, Olanoff is scheduled to lead a 3-mile beginner's bird walk hike through Fowl Meadow in Canton to listen for and identify late migrant and nesting species in what the Friends describe as the "best birding area" in the Blue Hills. Participants are advised to bring binoculars and a bird ID guide book.

Olanoff will be listening for birds rather than looking for them on this weekend's high-country hike.

Since it's a long hike, he said, hikers won't be able to stop and look for birds, but they can listen for the calls. Deep into the woods, hikers will hear woodland birds such as thrushes and vireos.
He is also planning to bring up a few issues for advocacy - such as the Friends' ongoing efforts to keep developers from gaining control of public park land - and discuss the history of the reservation, how to maintain the trails, and how to use them.

"If we hit a muddy spot," Olanoff said, "I walk right through the center of it, so people will follow my example." The idea is to stay on the trail for environmental preservation and to avoid widening the path.

"I have to tell you," Olanoff confessed, "very few do."

Muddy or not, rain or sunshine, some preparations are required for all hikes. Participants are told to bring water, wear outdoor clothes and footwear, and pack a lunch for the longer treks.

This weekend's hike is also sponsored by the Boston chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club, of which Olanoff is also a member. There is no rain date.

Robert Knox can be contacted at rc.knox2@gmail.com.

Action Alert - Environmental Budget

Parks fared even worse in the Senate version of the budget than the House. Like the House version, urban and state parks have been combined into one line item and the Senate cut them $1.6 million more than the House. When adjusted for inflation this is a 37% cut since FY 01! (FY 01--$73.99 million, Senate budget $46.56 million)

Senator Petrucelli, Chair of Environment Committee, has agreed to file an amendment to increase funding to the House level.

Please call your Senator and ask him or her to cosponsor Senator Petrucelli's parks amendment. Amendments need to be filed by 5:00 pm tomorrow so we need cosponsors NOW. Debate on the Senate budget, including revenue, starts next week.

To find out who your State Senator is go to http://www.mass.gov/legis/city_town.htm.

PLPA Hearing Postponed

For those of you planning on attending tomorrow's hearing on the Public Lands Preservation Act, it has been postponed. We'll let you know when it has been rescheduled.

EVENT POSTPONED - WILL BE RESCHEDULED
How Can We Protect Our Parkland?
Room 348, State House, Boston
Massachusetts loses 40 acres of open space a day to development. The three acres involved in the Lantana Land Swap can be considered among the casualties. How can we better protect our parks? Come learn about the Public Lands Preservation Act ("PLPA") (SB396; Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Rep. Ruth Balser). Presenters: Mass Audubon and the Massachusetts Chapter of the Sierra Club. This hearing is hosted by The Environmental League of Massachusetts, along with the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters and Massachusetts Environmental Collaborative.

Trailside Budget Update

As many of you know, the Blue Hills Trailside Museum budget has been dramatically reduced. Many thanks to everyone who responded to our Action Alerts to contact their legislators to support an Amendment that would restore funding to the Trailside Museum and to maintain funding for all environmental agencies, including DCR.

Unfortunately, the Trailside Amendment was not included in the House (or Sentate) version of the budget. We will let you know how environmental programs fare as the budget debate continues.

Events Around Town

Blue Hill Observatory Open House
Saturday, May 16, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Summit of Great Blue Hill, 1904 Canton Ave.
This Saturday enjoy a fun day of activities and free tours of the historic Blue Hill Observatory. Make your own windsock, launch a tagged balloon ($1 donation), stop at the Mount Washington and EPA exhibits, or just enjoy the panoramic views from the summit of Great Blue Hill. Rain or shine. More info at: http://www.bluehill.org/events.html or call 617-696-0562. Visit the Observatory homepage. The event is free.

Wakefield Estate hosts First Annual Garlic Mustard Fest
1493 Brush Hill Rd, Milton
Sunday, May 17, 1:00-3:00 pm
The Wakefield Estate will host its First Annual Garlic Weed Festival on Sunday, May 17; from 1:00-3:00 pm. Garlic weed (garlic mustard or Alliaria petiolata) is an aggressive, invasive plant originally cultivated for food medicinal use. Today, it is one of the most troublesome “exotic invasives,” as it crowds out our native wildflowers and woodland plants.

Participants will learn to identify and pull the biennial plant, the best way to beat the problem. There will scientific demonstrations showing the relationship between garlic weed and worms and samples of recipes that use garlic mustard as an ingredient. Teams are encouraged to participate. You will have the opportunity to taste some dishes using garlic mustard as an ingredient. There will be fun for all ages and prizes for participants! The event is free. For more information, directions and to register, call 617-333-0924.

ELM’s Earth Night is May 27
An annual gala benefit for the Environmental League of Massachusetts, Earth Night has become Boston’s largest environmental event, drawing hundreds of the state’s environmental, government, business, and community leaders.

Auctions: Live and Silent auctions, featuring a variety of appealing goods and services.
Online ticketing is now available. Earth Night raises funds, membership, and awareness for the Environmental League of Massachusetts. You can download printable PDF forms for sponsorship and auction donations. For more information, click here for a flyer or contact ELM’s event planning partner, Classic Communications, at info@classic-communications.com.

EVENT POSTPONED - WILL BE RESCHEDULED
How Can We Protect Our Parkland?
Room 348, State House, Boston
Massachusetts loses 40 acres of open space a day to development. The three acres involved in the Lantana Land Swap can be considered among the casualties. How can we better protect our parks? Come learn about the Public Lands Preservation Act ("PLPA") (SB396; Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Rep. Ruth Balser). Presenters: Mass Audubon and the Massachusetts Chapter of the Sierra Club.

This hearing is hosted by The Environmental League of Massachusetts, along with the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters and Massachusetts Environmental Collaborative.

Neponset River Watershed Association (NepRWA)
Annual Meeting 2009 with Featured Speaker Kristen Ferry
Thursday, June 11, 6:30 pm
Enjoy delicious food - & a smorgasbord of food for thought - as we explore local migratory fisheries and the significance of the Neponset River to their future, with expert Kristen Ferry. Discover the restoration stories of some of the Commonwealth’s most recognizable migratory fish, and join a discussion of NepRWA’s current conservation projects. Environmental awards will be presented, hors d'oeuvres will be served, and we will hold a raffle for a PERCEPTION Prodigy 10 Kayak! There is a requested donation of $40 per person to attend the Annual Meeting. A limited number of scholarships is available for NepRWA Volunteers; call Ian Cooke to learn more: 781-575-0354 x305.

Learn more, Register for the Annual Meeting, and Buy Kayak Raffle Tickets. Questions? Contact Carly Rocklen at 781-575-0354 x303 or rocklen@neponset.org. RSVPs are requested by June 1.

Action Alert on the Environmental Budget!

The House completed its FY 2010 budget last week and the Senate will be releasing its version next week. Given that the bottom keeps falling out of state revenues, we can expect additional deep cuts across the board. WE NEED TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE right now if we are to be heard at all.

The House budget cuts environmental programs by 12.7%! Last week, after the House raised the sales tax, they took up budget amendments and restored about $600 million in cuts. How much of that went to restore environmental programs? A mere $200,000!

These cuts would mean even deeper cuts to the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the agency that manages the Blue Hills Reservation. Even without this new round of cuts, DCR has to cut back on summer rangers and seasonal park staff.

Please call your own State Senator and Senator Stephen Panagiotakos, Chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and tell them: NO FURTHER CUTS to the environmental budget.

Talking points

Environmental agencies have borne disproportionate cuts, both during the mid-year (FY09) cuts made by the Governor to balance the budget and during the last economic downturn in 2001 (according to the Mass Taxpayers Foundation).

The legislature's landmark environmental achievements of the last session on energy and climate change and ocean management will not be fully realized without adequate resources.

Not only does public health suffer when we don't protect our environment, our economy suffers as well. Tourism is a $14 billion industry in MA and supports 200,000 jobs.

Senator Panagiotakos can be reached at 617-722-1481. To find out who your Senator is go to http://www.mass.gov/legis/city_town.htm.

Time is of the essence, so please call today!

May Events

Saturday, May 9, 7:00 am
Fowl Meadow Bird Walk
FBH joint hike with AMC. Beginners’ Bird Walk, 3 miles. Learn to bird. See common and rare species at height of spring migration. Bring binoculars and bird book. 3.5 hours. Meet at Paul’s Bridge parking lot on Neponset Valley Pkwy. Leader: Steve Olanoff, 781-326-6585.

Saturdays, May 9 and 16, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm
Trail Maintenance Events
Join FBH to help clean water bars and cut brush to improve the trails for everyone. Events run about four hours, followed by a hearty lunch. Meet us at 9:00 am at the Houghton's Pond main parking lot on Hillside Street in Milton. Wear sturdy boots, long pants and work gloves and bring at least one quart of water. You may also want to consider bringing sunscreen and bug spray. Register by emailing: trailwork@FriendsoftheBlueHills.org.

Wednesday, May 20, evening
Advocacy and Outreach Committee Meetings
You have a choice of FBH meetings to attend! Both the Advocacy and Outreach Committees are meeting this evening. For locations or additional information, contact us at info@FriendsoftheBlueHills.org.

Saturday, May 23, 10:00 am
Great Dome Hike
FBH joint hike with AMC. 8 mile hike around Great Dome. Enjoy wildflowers and scenic hills. Some steep parts. 6 hours. Meet at Shea Ice Rink. Leader: Steve Olanoff, 781-326-6585.

Quarries Family Event

Over 100 people enjoyed the Quincy Quarries Family Adventure event today. AMC volunteers helped young and old try out rock climbing, the Grass Gypsies serenaded attendees with great music, FBH volunteers engaged children of all ages in science projects and parachute games, and families picnicked on the green. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped share this natural treasure with families from throughout the Boston area.

Houghton's Pond Ball Fields

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is developing a master plan to improve the ball fields at Houghton's Pond. According to DCR staff, the planning process is about half way through for these popular fields used for multiple sports, including baseball, cricket, soccer and lacrosse. The master plan should be finished within the next six months.