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Wachusett Greenways Newsletter

Connecting the Wachusett Community with Trails and Greenways

November 2013

The Greenways Connector

The Journey to the Mill on Saturday,September 28, began with a group of veryenergetic youngsters at the Oakdale entrance tothe Mass Central Rail Trail. First they receivedwater bottles and flashlights from the WestBoylston police officer. Wearing their officialride numbers at the starting line, and led by aDCR Ranger and Holden Police Officer onbicycles, the children walked or rode bikes tothe Springdale Mill Site. APO members fromWPI, along with Greenways volunteers,welcomed the children at the finish line.

Music by the Chas Paddock Band and DaveWest created a lively atmosphere, which drewsome folks to try their skill with hula hoops.

Continued on page 4

Springdale Mill Celebration Scored a Perfect 10

T“Daisys” Show Flower PowerThis summer Mass Central Rail Trail visitors entering atGates Road in Sterling encountered a strange and novel sight:orange popsicle sticks stuck in the ground along the way. Thesticks were “planted” by Sterling’s Daisy Troop 30518, whichconsists of 13 first grade Girl Scouts led by Nickole Boardman

and Deb Meunier.Each stickdesignated thelocation of a lady’sslipper plant, one ofour native springorchids that isprotected by a MAstate law enacted onApril 1, 1935.

The Troop alsoused the bulletinboard at thetrailhead to show animage of the flower,with such warningsas, “Don’t pick it”and “Can’t bereplanted.” In orderto survive andreproduce, PinkLady’s Slipperinteracts with a

fungus in the soil. These plants do not do well if they aretransplanted and take years to go from seed to matureflowering plant.

The project was inspired by the Troop’s Girl Scout Journeythis year to preserve and protect a national treasure in ourregion, part of their “Between Earth and Sky” journey.

2 the Greenways Connector • November 2013

Newsletter Team: Manager Vivianne Ouellette, Colleen Abrams, Grace Blydenburgh, Tim Enman, Ken McDonnell, Hank Ouellette,Peder Pedersen

Graphic Design: Adshead Graphics

Board of Directors: Colleen Abrams Steve Chanis Mike Peckar Christy Barnes Gordo Elliott

To submit articles or letters to the editor, please send to Vivianne at: vivoue30@charter.net or mail to

Wachusett Greenways, P.O. Box 121, Holden, MA 01520.

Printed on recycled paper with soy inks.

For regular news updates, visit our website at

www.wachusettgreenways.org.

The Greenways ConnectorWachusett Greenways Newsletter

BMass Central Rail Trail…Onward!Building and maintaining the Mass Central Rail Trailcontinues to be one of our highest priorities. The stone dust“paving” west from Coldbrook Road, Oakham, was contractedwith R. D. Salvadore Excavating of Barre for completion thisfall. The trail surfacing is being completed to Barre at the newWhite Valley Bridge and continuing on to the Route 122 reststop at the Ware River.

In Rutland, we have developed plans for the important 0.2 mile connector along Miles Road. The route will sweep to make a grade of less than 5%, making it accessible to all.“We’re excited to provide an off-road hop between twopopular sections of the trail,” said Colleen Abrams, Greenwayspresident. Plans call for completion of the construction in 2014.

Greenways anticipates a DCR Recreational Trails Grant of$50,000 to improve three sections of the rail trail beginning in2014, including the “over-the-hill” section between ManningStreet and Route 31 in Holden, the Sterling section from theCider Mill to Gates Road, and the Charnock “Cut” inRutland. Greenways matching funds and services will supportthis work.

Greenways looks forward to partnering with the DCR, theTown of West Boylston and Mass DOT to design a rail trailconnection along the Route 140 causeway over the StillwaterRiver and adjoining land in West Boylston.

Webster First Gift

Lisa Bean presents a giant check from Webster First Federal CreditUnion to Greenways Directors, Mike Peckar and Colleen Abrams.

The Joys ofStoryWalk!

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TWelcome Center is Ready for a RampThe Wachusett Greenways Welcome Center at Miles Road inRutland is moving toward a 2014 opening. WANTED: avolunteer to take the lead to build a ramp. Once the WelcomeCenter is accessible to all it can open for visitors to stop in forinformation and hospitality.

Through the fall Greenways volunteers and a dedicatedgroup of contractors have been hard at work refurbishing thecenter. Contractor Thomas Montgomery was hired to replaster

the walls in thekitchen, and volunteerHoward Hastingsrefit the doors on thekitchen cabinets.Warm thanks to theStidsen family ofSentry Oil whogenerously donatedthe Welcome Center’sfirst tank of heatingoil this fall andremoved all theradiators for painting.

Volunteers tackled the radiator painting. Meanwhile B & RFloors of Leicester was contracted to refinish the floors inOctober. Hagman Landscaping continues to donate mowingand leaf removal keeping the grounds green and inviting. Newwindows and partial siding and fresh paint are the nextpriority for improvements.

3Make sure to visit www.wachusettgreenways.org for all the latest Greenways news!

Full Moon Walk at Porcupine Hill On Sunday, November 17, 7-8:30 PMyou’re invited to join Lori and Larry Altobelli for an unhurried walk at thispicturesque park on the Paxton/Holdenborder. Rustling leaves, distant hootsand moonbeams will accompany us.Contact Lori or Larry to sign up atholden_yahoo@charter.net or 978-407-6066.

Reading to Bring Nature Home Have you a favorite book about Nature? Wachusett Greenwayswould like to feature members’ favorite nature readings on itswebsite and in its newsletter. Did the reading inspire you toplant a butterfly garden, or put on some hiking shoes orbicycle helmet, pack up a picnic or tent, and head for the hills,the mountains or the sea? Let us know in a paragraph or soabout a book you’d like to share with WGmembers. Why did you like it, what didyou learn? Here’s WG Board memberChristy Barnes’ contribution:

“I have browsed a book recently that Iwould love to share. It is titled: BringingNature Home, by Douglas W. Tallamy. Hediscusses the fact that, as a society, we havegroomed our landscapes with mainlyplants that are from Europe and Asia, tomimic the homeland or to increase colorin our gardens or to “tame” the wild. And, sadly, grass is themost common form of landscape across the country. But ournative insects do not recognize most of these plants assomething to eat, let alone lay their eggs on.

“This is of concern, particularly for those of us who valuebird-watching as our favorite pastime. Birds need to feed theirbabies with insects. If we do not provide the landscape for ournative insects, then we are not providing a basic part of thehabitat for our loved birds. Tallamy argues that we should beproviding refuge for our native insects by planting nativeplants. A chapter of the book discusses many possibilities forsuch planting, and a chapter devoted to all of the neat insectsand arthropods that birds favor that we could be nurturing inour gardens. He discusses many of the invasive plants andwhat they are doing to our forests and fields. This is a bookthat everyone who loves to garden and who loves their birdsmust read!”

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WPI students engaged children in face painting, beading and atreasure hunt. Boarding the MCRT model train proved to beanother big hit. A new StoryWalk installed by DCR’s Jim Lafleydrew children up the hill to the mill housing. Maggie Spaulding,enthralled by the story along her walk, copied all the script fromStoryWalk and is in the process of drawing her own pictures.Maggie, #101, was the first entrant in the inaugural Journey tothe Mill and the first to cross the finish line.

Participants of all ages enjoyed delicious food. Donors for theevent included ClearviewOrchards, Leroux’s, Walmart,Rocky’s Ace Hardware of WestBoylston, and the OakdaleNursing Home. Ruth Spaulding,chair of the Springdale MillCommittee, thanked all whoattended and each volunteer(including her very supportivefamily). “We all look to nextSeptember’s celebration andhope for another beautiful day!”

Springdale Mill Celebration Scored aPerfect 10Continued from page 1

5Make sure to visit www.wachusettgreenways.org for all the latest Greenways news!

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Avoid squeezing or twisting it; rather grasp it close to theskin and pull straight out with steady pressure.After I’ve removed an attached tick, what symptomsshould I look for? Whenever someone removes an attached tick from their body,they should watch for the appearance of any type of rash, feveror flu-like symptoms. Immediately seek the advice of a healthcare provider should any symptoms occur, especially if the tickwas attached for more than 24 hours.

How can I prevent diseases spread by ticks? Ticks generally cling to plants near the ground in brushy,wooded, or grassy places. The edges of woodlands and leaflitter are high-risk areas. Wear long pants tucked into yoursocks. The ticks, which cannot jump or fly, climb onto animalsand people who brush against the plants. Check your entirebody for ticks after returning indoors and remove any attachedtick as soon as possible. Pay particular attention to areasbetween the toes, back of the knees, groin, armpits, neck, alongthe hairline, and behind the ears.

Use of repellents that contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) or permethrin before you go outside can reduce therisk of tick bites. Repellents should not be used on childrenless than two months of age.

Massachusetts’ ticks have never had it better. A damp fall lastyear and a not particularly cold winter made for a bountifulsummer for these pesky and disease-spreading insects. Protectyourself by knowing the facts.How common is Lyme disease in Massachusetts?Massachusetts is among the states with the highest incidenceof Lyme disease. Infections spike in June and July. Be aware,ticks are present every month of the year.What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that are spread to humansthrough the bite of tiny, infected ticks. Lyme disease can causeserious joint, heart or central nervous system problems if it is notrecognized early in the disease process and treated appropriately.How is Lyme disease spread? White-footed mice, coyotes, deer and bear may all carry Lymedisease, as do robins, blue jays, thrushes, wrens and about 70other species of birds. These critters may also carry ticks,which feed on the blood of their carriers and in turn becomeinfected with the Lyme bacteria. If a tick then bites humansfor another blood meal, these people can become infected.Black-legged ticks, aka deer ticks, are the insects mostresponsible for spreading the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.If bitten, how likely am I to be infected? Tick bites often go unnoticed because of the small size of thetick and tick secretions that prevent the host from feeling anyitch or pain from the bite. Transmission of the bacteria, however,is rare. Only about 1% of recognized tick bites result in Lymedisease. This may be due to the fact that an infected tick mustbe attached for at least a day for transmission to occur.What should I do if I find a tick on me? The longer a tick remains attached to the skin, the greaterthe chance it will be able to spread disease. Remove anattached tick as soon as possible using a fine-point tweezers.

Ticks FAQ

Stewards on the MCRT

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6 the Greenways Connector • November 2013

Valiant Vertex VolunteersThis September, for thefourth year in a row,employees from Cambridge-based Vertex Pharmaceuticalsvolunteered to spend a dayworking on the MCRT.Alongside WachusettGreenways volunteers, eightVertex employees led byResearch Scientist BrianBoucher cut and hauledbrush on the trail edge nearMiles Road, and fortified theembankment along Thayer Pond with crushed gravel andstone. The volunteers enjoyed good company as well as a lunchof pizza and delicious homemade apple crisp.

Mexicali Fun

Mexicali Fresh Mex Grille gave a big welcome to WachusettGreenways friends and members in October when theydonated a portion their food sales for two days. Greenwayssupporters gathered in their favorite WG t-shirts for afestive and delicious time together.

The Vertex employees participated as part of Vertex’s 5thAnnual Day of Service, which engages over 2,000 Vertexemployees worldwide to assist their local communities. We areincredibly grateful to Vertex and the hardworking individualswho pitched in!

This summer and autumn found us spreading the word aboutWachusett Greenways and the many great trails throughoutthe region. From Rutland’s famous 4th of July parade, toHolden Days, the Sterling Fair, West Boylston Arts Fest orHey Day in Princeton at Wachusett Meadow, and at trailcounts on the MCRT, our Greenways volunteers enjoyedmeeting new people and handing out maps and more.

Community Connections

7Make sure to visit www.wachusettgreenways.org for all the latest Greenways news!

A IFaces along the Trail: KathyVignaly, West Boylston“I greatly appreciate all of the hard work that WachusettGreenways has done over the years to make the rail trail sucha beautiful place to walk, run and bike. With all the running Ihave to do to train, I love that I don’t have to run on the roadwith the traffic or worry about neighborhood dogs.

“I also love that I can run in the shade and I have a softsurface with no holes to worry about twisting an ankle. I lovetaking some time to just listen to the sound of the [Quinapoxet]river after a rainstorm. It is definitely a favorite place of mineand such a peaceful place to be.”

One sparkling autumn afternoon recently, we caught upwith Kathy half way through an 11-mile training run. Adedicated marathoner, she has completed this year’s Goofy’sChallenge and is now training for the 2014 Goofy’s Challenge,consisting of nothing more than a half-marathon on day one,followed by a full marathon the next day through DisneyWorld in Florida, 39 miles in all. Yikes!

Kathy also is involved with Team in Training, a volunteerorganization that has trained over a half million runners,walkers, triathletes, cyclists and hikers, and raised more than$1.3 billion to fund lifesaving leukemia, lymphoma and othercancer research. “Running takes on a whole new meaningwhen I do it with real purpose,” says Kathy.

“Since my family has been using the trail for so many years– from my running to the kids playing along the trail – I knowhow much work goes into building such a wonderful resource.I am always impressed with the constant maintenance to keepit in perfect shape. So thanks again for all the hard work bythe volunteers of Wachusett Greenways. I know many otherpeople appreciate them as well.”

A Place for Your DogAlong the Mass Central Rail Trail, land owners determinewhether or not dogs are allowed. Some rail trail sections areopen for dogs, provided that owners keep their pets leashedand remove any waste.

On the Holden-West Boylstonsection of the MCRT, dogs areallowed on the land owned by theTown of West Boylston, whichextends from the trailhead offThomas Street west to the I-190overpass. The MassachusettsDepartment of Conservation andRecreation owns the land west of theI-190 overpass and manages theproperty for the Massachusetts WaterResource Authority. Dogs are not

allowed on this section of the trail due to concerns aboutcontamination of water from diseases found in pet waste.

Each DCR watershed has its own access policy, however.From Glenwood Road, Rutland west into Barre, the MCRTlies in the Ware River Watershed, and the DCR is lessconcerned about the threat of pet waste in this area, where it ismore distant from the reservoir. In the Ware watershed dogsare permitted on DCR lands including the MCRT. On therail trail dogs must always be leashed and pet waste removed.

Other nearby outdoor spaces that allow dogs include TroutBrook Reservation and the White Oak Trail in Holden. ManyState Parks, including Rutland State Park and LeominsterState Park also allow dogs, and lands under the stewardship ofthe Trustees of Reservations (ttor.org) in the central region arealso dog- friendly. The Towns of Rutland, Holden and otherarea towns do require that dogs are leashed for the protectionof all.

ISummer ServiceIn the spring, WG received thismessage from Matt Todd: “I’m anundergraduate at the Universityof Maine studying forestry andwildlife ecology. I came acrossWachusett Greenways and waswondering if there were anyvolunteer opportunities availablein June.” Our answer was aresounding, “Yes, please.” Mattwas an enthusiastic volunteer whohelped with trail work andmowing at 21 Miles. He alsojoined wildlife biologists throughMA Fish and Wildlife and theDCR to assist in projects.

P.O. BOX 121HOLDEN ~ MA ~ 01520

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDHolden, MA 01520

Permit #15

Return Service Requested

Pioneers Pitch-In at Springdale Mill

WWednesday August 14th found adetermined detachment of risingseniors from St. John’s High Schoolhard at work along the WestBoylston – Holden section of theMCRT. As part of a leadership andbonding program run by St. John’s,the students, along with alumni andfaculty mentors, cleared ditches andtrimmed brush around the SpringdaleMill historic site over the course of anall day shift. It was the first formalvolunteer collaboration betweenWachusett Greenways and St. John’s, and the day’simpressive results have longtime Greenwaysvolunteers looking forward to the next time.

Holden resident and Greenways volunteer LauraBeckwith said the St. John’s group took directionwell, were able to visualize the job, and stayed at ituntil completion.

Greenways President Colleen Abrams compli -mented the group on their strength, stamina, goodattitude and solidarity. “They completed a tremendousamount of very good work, and they looked likethey were having fun,” added Laura Beckwith. “Iknow I was having fun. I hope they did too.”