Until this week, we have seen very few pollinators along the MRG Pollinator Corridor. It was a relief to finally spot many bees and a few monarchs and hummingbirds these last few days The red bee balm is a powerful draw! And the butterfly milkweed is finally attracting monarchs.
Posted in Good News!, Pollinator Corridor, Pollinators
Posted in Good News!, Progress!, Thank you!
Over the years, progress has been made toward improving the safety and comfort of walking and bicycling in the City of Lebanon. Some notable achievements include the construction of the Mascoma River Greenway, improved pedestrian safety along the Miracle Mile, addition of sidewalks, and the adoption of a Complete Streets policy.
However, Lebanon has never had a comprehensive, citywide plan for walking and bicycling. Once completed, this plan will identify specific actions that the City can take to develop a safe, comfortable, and connected walking and bicycling network, including connections to public transportation services.
The plan will inform how walking and bicycling improvements factor into future City budgets and Capital Improvements Programs, which grant opportunities are pursued, and how new and existing developments can be connected into the walking and bicycling network. Taking a City-wide approach will help identify the highest-priority improvements that can be achieved with limited resources and funding.
Walk, Bike, Ride Leb – Online Survey
What would help you and others to get around Lebanon by foot, bike and bus more often–and with less stress? Take a visual stroll with us through the Walk, Bike, Ride Leb plan’s themes and take a brief survey to share your thoughts with the City of Lebanon decision-makers. Access the Public Input Portal here.
Learn more at https://lebanonnh.gov/WalkBikeRideLeb.
Posted in Good News!, Next Steps, Visioning the Future
Lebanon has a vision for those blank walls of the downtown tunnel; two new public art installations will be revealed as part of Lebanon’s Winter Celebration on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 4:15 pm in the tunnel.
Join the Lebanon Arts and Culture Commission, Lebanon Recreation Arts & Parks, and featured artists
Posted in Events, Good News!
Now that the tunnel is open, access from the MRG to the Northern Rail Trail is facilitated!
In celebration of the Northern Rail Trail’s 25th Anniversary in 2021, Friends of the Northern Rail Trail (FNRT) invites the whole community to participate in a challenge to walk, run, or bike 25 miles (cumulative) on the Northern Rail Trail this summer!
Students in the Lebanon and Mascoma Valley School systems will receive their cards through the schools in early June. Others may pick up a card at Omer and Bob’s bicycle shop in downtown Lebanon or at the grand opening of the Lebanon Mall Tunnel on July 8th.
To participate, simply register online at bit.ly/fnrt-25. Once you have completed 25 miles, return your card to Omer and Bob’s to be entered in our raffle on August 26th. Prizes include gift certificates that support businesses located along our trail!
For questions, or to help support the Northern Rail Trail celebration, contact Amy Chan at amyjoywright@hotmail.com.
Sponsors include Friends of the Northern Rail Trail, Hypertherm HOPE Foundation, and Rotary Club of Lebanon NH, USA.
Posted in Events, Good News!
Lots of enthusiastic riders and walkers have been discovering the renewed link to downtown Lebanon and the Northern Rail Trail through the MRG tunnel. Saturday, August 14, 2021 will bring even more energy to this space as Lebanon Opera House and Nexus Music and Arts Festival invites you to participate in a FREE drumming workshop with the Akwaaba Ensemble in Colburn Park at 3 pm (a limited number of drums will be provided or bring your own) before they lead a processional through the revitalized rail trail tunnel and back into the park for a high-energy showcase of their West African drumming and dance. Sounds energizing . . . and imagine the acoustics of this percussive parade through the tunnel!
More at https://lebanonoperahouse.org/events/akwaaba-ensemble/
Posted in Events, Good News!
The Grand Opening Ceremony was postponed until July 15th . . . but the tunnel is now open . . . and there is no forecast of rain for the weekend! Hope you can get out and enjoy it! With lights!
– Thanks to Doreen Schweizer for this photo.
Thursday, July 8: 4:30 – 6:30 pm at the Lebanon Tunnel (under the Mall and Village Pizza)
Celebration includes:
“The River” radio station live broadcast
Public Art proposals
Sidewalk Chalk
Scavenger Hunt
Bike Rodeo (Omer Bobs bike checks, helmet giveaway, bike registrations, safety obstacle course, e-bike loan signups)
4pm Guided bike ride for kids along MRG
5pm Hear all about the big project
5:15pm Mayor remarks
5:20pm Ribbon cutting
6:00 Group dog walk*
*if you would like to join the dog walk, please email recreation@lebanonnh.gov
~ Dogs should be comfortable on leash around other dogs and distractions.
~ Dogs should not be fearful/reactive/anxious on leash in new environments or around heavy distractions.
Most events will start at the eastern end of the tunnel, behind Village Pizza.
Farmers’ Market also on Colburn Park 4-7pm
Front Porch Concert at 7pm: Cold Chocolate
Posted in Events, Good News!, Progress!
The Mascoma River Greenway is a unique trail for the Upper Valley, and we want signage that celebrates that uniqueness. Hypertherm HOPE Foundation is already a financial donor to the MRG, and they stepped up their game by volunteering to cut these signs, using their patented Plasma cutting machinery, right here in Lebanon. These signs give a tip of the hat to the industrial history of the railroad corridor, while also giving thanks to the major donors that helped create our popular Greenway.
Sadly, some of these signs were vandalized the day after they were installed. Please, if you see something, say something. We appreciate the communities’ eyes and ears open for us.
Paul Coats, Lebanon Recreation, Arts, and Parks
Posted in Good News!, Thank you!, Uncategorized
“Until the first big snowstorm, I usually walked the length of the MRG every morning from 0430 to 0630. I usually have a headlamp on so that I can watch out for skunks, fallen tree limbs and crazy bicyclists who don’t use any headlamps even though it’s pitch black out. I also like the headlamp because you can then see what’s in the woods looking back at you. A week before I took the Owl shot, I was about to cross the wood bridge going downhill from Renihan Meadows area. It was pitch black out and I heard a rustling in the trees right above my head. I looked up with my headlamp and there was a Barred Owl looking back at me right over my head. It was sooo cool. Then about a week later, I was out on the Trail, halfway between the powerline cutout and the P&C access road. I just happened to look right up the ridge line and saw a Barred Owl. Next thing I know, the owl flies right down to the edge of the trail and perched himself on a limb only about ten feet from me, and just sat there. I couldn’t believe it. I took the shot.” – Dan Moriarty
For more of Dan’s 2020 wildlife sightings on the MRG see https://mascomagreenway.com/mrg-wildlife/
Posted in Animal Life on the MRG, Good News!
The Mascoma River Greenway 