Category Archives: Progress!

Thanks to a Great Volunteer Team: Upper Valley Rugby Club!

Posted on August 1, 2018 by | Leave a comment

 

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Former Lebanon Recreation and Park Director, Cindy Heath, has been the main mover on the enhanced landscaping of the MRG pocket park by the tunnel in downtown Lebanon. She and a team from Upper Valley Rugby Club did great work in the park Wednesday evening.

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Here’s Cindy’s report on this energetic team of volunteers:

“Members of the Men’s and Women’s teams of the Upper Valley Rugby Club put forth an amazing effort on Tuesday night and moved the MRG Pocket Park closer to completion. President Brian Frampton and his club mates dug out sod, applied mulch to flower beds, and did some serious digging to install wood chips under the picnic tables. 

This is work that needs a strong back and stamina, and the club members were definitely up for the task. It’s amazing how much was accomplished in just two hours by this community service minded group! 

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Several members of the club will be back next week to put the finishing touches on a new flower bed in preparation for a final planting of perennials donated by Gardener’s Supply. All are welcome to participate in the final work session on Tuesday, August 7 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at the park. Bring work gloves, a shovel, and wheelbarrow if you have one!”  Update: Tuesday’s work was postponed on account of rain.  Next work day is Tuesday, August 14 at 5:30.

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Posted in Events, Good News!, Next Steps, Progress!, Thank you!, Work Day

Access to River Views

Posted on July 10, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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Lebanon is graced with the beautiful, winding Mascoma River . . .  but there are very few places where one can actually appreciate that beauty.  The MRG is one of those places. Above is a view from the western end (behind the movie theaters) looking east.

Have you seen the western end now that it has been paved?  Smooth sailing for bikes, skate boards, roller blades, baby strollers and many other modes of non-motorized transport.

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Western end (behind movie theaters) looking west

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Posted in Mascoma River Greenway Updates, Progress!

Planting Day in the Pocket Park

Posted on June 28, 2018 by | 1 comment

A project like this pocket park on the MRG makes one aware of the generosity of this community.  So many beautiful plants were dug and donated from gardens around town and farther afield. Folks donated their time and energy, and it is gratifying to know that many local businesses grant volunteer time to employees during the work day. (The MRG has benefited greatly for a number of years by these volunteers.)

On Wednesday, donors and volunteers showed up at the pocket park with carloads of beautiful plants. Among the volunteers was Jake Jasinski and his Mom Linda. Jake was the Eagle Scout who had envisioned this pocket park and worked with others to build the picnic tables and benches.

The group laid out the plants in a pleasing design and then went to work digging, planting, watering.  In a matter of a few hours the park was transformed.

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Cindy Heath in the foreground, Jackson, Henry, and Linda in back, digging and planting.

Cindy is the organizer and energy behind this extension of last year’s pollinator garden into what will be a fully landscaped park. The many hostas, flowering shrubs and trees, and ground covers will also be a boon for pollinators.

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Henry Homeyer, the Upper Valley’s “Gardening Guy”, donated his time and expertise to the project. Here he is planting a beautiful little Japanese maple.

 

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The planting day team: Cindy, Paula, Henry, Linda, Jake, Jackson, Pat

 

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Before

 

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After

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Posted in Good News!, Progress!, Work Day

Grand Opening of MRG – Saturday, July 21!

Posted on June 25, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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Please plan on joining us for the GRAND OPENING of the Mascoma River Greenway! Festivities will begin at 9:00AM on Saturday, July 21, on the lawn of the Homestead at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital on Mascoma Street in Lebanon. There will be activities for bikers, hikers, nature lovers, history buffs and art enthusiasts.

In addition, Omer’s & Bob’s will provide a bike-safety check starting at 9:00. Please save the date and watch for further details about the official opening of the Greenway.

Intersection of Mascoma, Mechanic and High streets
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Posted in Events, Good News!, Mascoma River Greenway Updates, Progress!

Amazing Simbex Volunteer Crew

Posted on June 20, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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This amazing crew of Simbex volunteers showed up at the “pocket park” this morning; they showed up with tools, with skills, with vibrant energy, and a great work ethic.  Their main task was to mix compost and soil and mound it on the extended beds. They did that, and so much more.  They moved and leveled a picnic table (really leveled – a marble found in the park did not roll when perched on the table.) They removed a broken bench. They picked up litter, even going down the riverbank to pull up a roll of chain link fencing. They cut out dead wood, pruned and weeded. They dug out old stumps. We are so grateful for their youthful energy, their generosity,  and all they accomplished. Thanks also to John and Jackson of Leb Recreation and Parks for delivering that soil and compost. What seemed an overwhelming task now looks do-able . . . and really looking good!

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Posted in Good News!, Progress!, Work Day

Bridge over Mascoma River Progress Report

Posted on October 27, 2017 by | 8 comments

We set out to check on the progress of that blocked bridge over the Mascoma River.  We can tell you that the middle section is almost finished – the rails are up – but we can’t show you; we were so distracted by the beauty of the river, we forgot to take a photo of the bridge. Next time!

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Looking north from the MRG bridge over the Mascoma River –  distractingly beautiful!

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Southward view from the MRG bridge over the Mascoma River

 

And you meet the nicest people along the trail!

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Beautiful Birches

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Reminders from the Railroad’s Past

Next time we’ll bring a tree identification book – such varied leaves scattered across the trail!

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Posted in Mascoma River Greenway Updates, Progress!

Eastern End of MRG Paved

Posted on October 25, 2017 by | 2 comments
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Intersection of Mascoma, Mechanic and High streets

Wow!  Most of the eastern end of the MRG has a base paving, up to the blocked bridge over the Mascoma River.  (There is a gap at one point where sewer line work will occur – Lebanon Public Works will then pave that section and the whole stretch will get a top coat.) A smooth paved surface will allow for all non-motorized uses including wheelchairs, baby strollers, skateboards, and in-line skating.

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Near the underpass by APD looking eastward

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Near underpass by APD looking westward

We will report on Friday on the status of that blocked bridge over the Mascoma River.

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Posted in Progress!