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Conservation Commission

Conservation and More

              by Bruce B. Beckley

Issue #69, August 20, 1999
Peabody Mill Environmental Center Established

Management of the former Bacon home site at Joe English Reservation has been reassigned to the ACC by the Selectmen. Purchase of the property in 1997 was made possible with a grant secured by the ACC from the Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation plus money from the Commission’s land purchase fund that is supported by land use change fees.

The ACC quickly took several actions to launch the facility as a place where environmental understanding will be enhanced through education and quiet recreation. First, the Commission voted to officially call the facilities the Peabody Mill Environmental Center (PMEC) to emphasize that all programming will have environmental appreciation as a goal. PMEC will become the focus for the Commission’s educational outreach.

Director Named

Janet Woodbury, ACC Vice-Chair, was appointed by the Commission to be Director of PMEC. Jan, recognized state wide for her teaching prowess, has just completed her eighth year as Director of the Hartshorn Summer Program. She will be responsible for overall direction of the Center including, development, operations and an expanded year-round education program. ACC Chair John Harvey says that the ACC will offer an expanded program at the Center and services to the community. A fee schedule will be used to help defray program and operating costs so that the Center may be as close to self sustaining as possible.

PMEC Fall Program

Jan Woodbury, PMEC Director, announced the programs to be offered at PMEC this Fall. Included are events for all ages: school vacation day programs, family walks, a colonial craft fair and evening slide programs. A full listing is provided in refrigerator door format.

One Liners

4-H club members led by Alice Paquette are the new stewards of the Bragdon land north of Route 101. One of the club’s first tasks will be attacking the invasion of autumn olive that is taking over the old ski slope.

The survey spearheaded by ACC member Anne Krantz of wetlands in town is progressing well with ACC volunteers and Antioch New England personnel. The data recorded will be important in Planning Board and ACC decision making.

ACC member Dave Gagne is planning a new trail system with natural history information for the recently logged Haseltine lot on Austin Road. Students interested in helping with a natural features inventory and trail development should contact Dave at 673-2647. The Haseltine lot is a designated tree farm.

Save for reference:

Amherst Conservation Commission
PEABODY MILL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
FALL PROGRAMS

Third Sundays 1 to 4 PM
Center Open, Guided Family Walks
Third Wednesdays 7:30 PM
Slide Programs on Travel and Nature *

September 19 Guided Family Walk
September 22 Exploring the Galapagos *
October 3 Colonial Craft Fair…you do it
October 11 School Vacation Day 8AM-4PM
October 17 Guided Family Walk
October 20 Colorado Creations *
November 2 School Vacation Day 8AM-4PM
November 11 School Vacation Day 8AM-4PM
November 21 Family Walk
November 17 Across Two Oceans*

See Amherst Citizen for further information on programs and vacation day registration or call 673-3084 or 673-5075. Small donations appreciated for all programs. Fees and advance registration required for vacation days. The Peabody Mill Environmental Center is at 66 Brook Road.

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