Deer shotgun season opens Monday November 30th, 2009. Please be careful if you're out in the woods! for more info see: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/hunting/deer/deer_hunting_home.htm
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Don't move firewood! Keep our forest safe!
By using firewood from local sources, you will avoid transporting invasive species local trees.
Here's a poster from the DCR
PUBLIC ADVISORY:
Don’t Move Firewood!
Don’t Move Firewood!
Massachusetts State Parks, along with our neighboring state park systems in Connecticut and Rhode Island, urge park users to notmove firewood. Your parks and forests are at risk of infestation by the Asian Longhorned Beetle and other pests. Invasive
species have devastated forests in the U.S. Midwest, and have
recently been found in Massachusetts.
• Leave firewood at home.
Buy firewood at the campground.
• Burn all firewood at your campsite, or leave firewood for the next camper.
Never bring firewood home.
• For more information or to report a finding,
check with park staff or visit
www.mass.gov/dcrPUBLIC ADVISORY
Male Asian Longhorned Beetle
approximately 1 ¾ “ long
2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Baby Ida Cancels Lantern Walk
Saturdays Lantern Walk has been cancelled, because of the anticipated nor’easter.
Thank you to all those who worked so hard making beautiful lanterns, we will save them and we promise to reschedule in the spring, as soon as mother nature allows.
See you in the Forest!
Thank you to all those who worked so hard making beautiful lanterns, we will save them and we promise to reschedule in the spring, as soon as mother nature allows.
See you in the Forest!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Wiggins Trail Autumn 2009
The Wiggins Trail (the Red square trail) starts
on Park Drive and continues North to Braintree.
To the right is a picture of Holson Pond,
which is under the High T's.
Parts of the trail suffer from years of erosion,
as it is still a very popular, and heavily traversed trail.
Autumn is the perfect time to take in the many sensory 
pleasures along the Wiggins Trail!
pleasures along the Wiggins Trail!
"The Trash They Take Out"
Left is a picture of some of the trash our volunteers found behind the homes near the forest. We applaud out volunteers hard work at keeping the Town Forest clear of such things as peoples old computer screens, old baby items, old plastic plants and lawn items, and used furniture and old toilets. Also, when people dump there yard waste into the area behind there homes it makes them much more vulnerable to wildfire. Clearing out this excess yard waste helps the forest stay healthy, too, as it often contains invasive species, which can spead throughout the forest and choke out native plants.
Below is an old abandoned campfire filled with plastic bags
and food waste. Not exactly what anyone wants to see! 
Also, plastic is a choking hazaard for animals!
Please remember take out what
you bring into the Town Forest !
Please join us in keeping the Town Forest clean!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Lantern Walk Postponed - New Date November 14th at 6pm
So far close to 150 people have made a firesafe lantern to carry through
the Town Forest.
The Town Forest Committee Meeting Wednesday night had 14 volunteers arrive,
the South School Ecology Club had 70,
and the Cub Scouts of Pack 56 had over 20 show tonight.
The Tiger Scouts of Pack 56 also made quite a few this week.
What a wonderful outpouring of good times, community spirit and "tree hugging"!
This is the most popular event of the year, and we hope you will join us, too.
Scroll down for more details! And please remember to bring a flashlight and water!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Forests to lose Fire Protection & Smokey the Bear, too
State to layoff county Forest Fire Patrolmen, ACTION ALERT: please contact the governors office, and your local reps!! THese are the guys that helped Holbrook with Firewise, too!
The following article appeared in the Boston Globe :
State forest fire bureau bracing for cutback, layoffs Training program may be impaired
By David Abel Globe Staff / October 3, 2009
Steep budget cuts at the Department of Conservation and Recreation will reduce the state’s ability to fight forest fires, fire officials across the state said yesterday.
Over the next week, the agency will issue layoff notices to as many as 55 employees to account for the $11 million in budget cuts required as a result of the state’s fiscal crisis. Those cuts are likely to reduce the staff of the agency’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control by at least half.
“It’s going to be devastating,’’ said Dennis Annear, president of the Massachusetts Forest Fire Council and fire chief for the town of Orange. “This bureau will have a lack of ability to do its job in supporting municipalities in detection, prevention, and suppression.’’
He said the cuts also mean the state will have fewer programs to teach residents how to avoid forest fires and fewer programs to train firefighters how to respond to forest fires. The cuts may also reduce the amount of federal firefighting equipment brought to the state as part of a program the bureau manages.
Annear said the cuts mean the state will have about one fire official in each of its 14 districts trained in fighting forest fires. “So if there’s a large wildfire, we’re going to have to pull people from other [districts], and we’re not going to have anyone to respond to fires in those areas,’’ he said.
Richard K. Sullivan Jr., the department’s commissioner, said the cuts are going to hit employees across the board and reflect the 12 percent hit the agency must take in its $82 million budget.
“Are there going to be impacts in that bureau? Yes,’’ Sullivan said. “But we have statutory requirements, which we will maintain. There’s also a public safety requirement, and we’ll maintain that. But this is similar to what cities and towns across the state are going through.’’
He could not provide a specific number of agency employees who will be laid off. For those who do lose their jobs, he said their last day will be Oct. 23.
Trevor Augustino - vice president of Local 2948 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, which represents many of the employees facing layoffs - said his union has proposed that the agency consider trimming more management positions.
“This is going to be a major hit, especially with spring fire seasons, ice storm cleanups, or any disasters,’’ he said. “I don’t know how they’re going to support all the duties they have.’’
He said his suggestions for more management cuts have been ignored.
Sullivan said that the agency is still deciding where the cuts will fall and that some managers will lose their jobs.
Annear and others said the cuts will mean fewer fire officials in lookout towers and brush fires that will probably spread more quickly than they would have otherwise.
“These cuts are going to have a huge impact,’’ said Paul Zbikowski, second vice president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. “This is the number one topic on our agenda. We’re absolutely concerned about this.’’
David Abel can be reached at dabel@globe.com.
The following article appeared in the Boston Globe :
State forest fire bureau bracing for cutback, layoffs Training program may be impaired
By David Abel Globe Staff / October 3, 2009
Steep budget cuts at the Department of Conservation and Recreation will reduce the state’s ability to fight forest fires, fire officials across the state said yesterday.
Over the next week, the agency will issue layoff notices to as many as 55 employees to account for the $11 million in budget cuts required as a result of the state’s fiscal crisis. Those cuts are likely to reduce the staff of the agency’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control by at least half.
“It’s going to be devastating,’’ said Dennis Annear, president of the Massachusetts Forest Fire Council and fire chief for the town of Orange. “This bureau will have a lack of ability to do its job in supporting municipalities in detection, prevention, and suppression.’’
He said the cuts also mean the state will have fewer programs to teach residents how to avoid forest fires and fewer programs to train firefighters how to respond to forest fires. The cuts may also reduce the amount of federal firefighting equipment brought to the state as part of a program the bureau manages.
Annear said the cuts mean the state will have about one fire official in each of its 14 districts trained in fighting forest fires. “So if there’s a large wildfire, we’re going to have to pull people from other [districts], and we’re not going to have anyone to respond to fires in those areas,’’ he said.
Richard K. Sullivan Jr., the department’s commissioner, said the cuts are going to hit employees across the board and reflect the 12 percent hit the agency must take in its $82 million budget.
“Are there going to be impacts in that bureau? Yes,’’ Sullivan said. “But we have statutory requirements, which we will maintain. There’s also a public safety requirement, and we’ll maintain that. But this is similar to what cities and towns across the state are going through.’’
He could not provide a specific number of agency employees who will be laid off. For those who do lose their jobs, he said their last day will be Oct. 23.
Trevor Augustino - vice president of Local 2948 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, which represents many of the employees facing layoffs - said his union has proposed that the agency consider trimming more management positions.
“This is going to be a major hit, especially with spring fire seasons, ice storm cleanups, or any disasters,’’ he said. “I don’t know how they’re going to support all the duties they have.’’
He said his suggestions for more management cuts have been ignored.
Sullivan said that the agency is still deciding where the cuts will fall and that some managers will lose their jobs.
Annear and others said the cuts will mean fewer fire officials in lookout towers and brush fires that will probably spread more quickly than they would have otherwise.
“These cuts are going to have a huge impact,’’ said Paul Zbikowski, second vice president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. “This is the number one topic on our agenda. We’re absolutely concerned about this.’’
David Abel can be reached at dabel@globe.com.
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