It looks as if access to the MRG at the Mascom/Mechanic/High Street access is going to be unpredictable until the end of July. If you have wondered about those enigmatic “Rail Trail” signs that seem randomly posted along Mascoma and Mechanic Street, this map of the suggested alternative route will show the switch backs that help explain the signs . . . and will probably make you want to avoid the problem.

Walkers are expected to zigzag back and forth through the area. and slip through the Eastman Automotive parking lot pass-through. Bicycles are to function like cars on the right shoulder of the road. then pass through Eastman. You may find the NRT the best choice until the work is completed. For more info see the official alert at https://lebanonnh.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/6310

It has been frustrating to have the Mechanic/Mascoma/High Street intersection closed off in preparation for a roundabout . . . and the suggested “Rail Trail ” signs were enigmatic. But this afternoon, the access was opened. There may be more blockages to come, but, as of this afternoon, the entrance at that intersection has been cleared.

We Upper Valley folk have endured a lot of cold and rain of late – finally, T-shirt weather!

An alert from Dan Moriarty’s early morning walk yesterday:

“The other point of interest today is the large patch of Poison Ivy that people should be aware of on the Glen Road Gate MRG unpaved entrance trail. The patch starts about a hundred yards down the trail on the left and goes almost to the point where the trail bends to the right to head uphill to the bridge. People should be aware of it in case they let their dogs roam on the trail, and they happen into that patch. If the owner then pats their dog or happens to brush up against them, they might get an unpleasant surprise later with burning and itching from the poison ivy oil that was on the dog’s coat. The poison Ivy will change color during Spring, Summer and Fall but the best word of advice to remember is the old Boy Scout maxim: “leaves of three, let it be”. Poison Ivy has three leaves.”

Be on the alert for egg-laying snapping turtles on the MRG behind the movie theaters on the “Miracle Mile”. Imagine the effort to get her cumbersome body up the slope from the river, and finding a diggable spot to lay her many eggs. Here is Dan Moriartys report from this morning:

“I approached the Steel Umbrella right next to the Hope Foundation side trail. There was a female snapping turtle looking around to where she was going to build a nest to lay her eggs. She was in the exact same location that I had taken a photo of a turtle laying eggs two years earlier on 5/26/2024.”

5/26/2024

Pollinator Plants Find New Home

Lebanon Recreation, Arts, and Parks Posted on May 12, 2026

Volunteer gardeners Joan McGovern, Barbara Slaiby, and Jessy Elfstrom joined Recreation, Arts, and Parks Department staff gardener, Susan Johnson Sunday, May 10, 2026, to carefully transplant a mature pollinator garden from the Mascoma River Greenway trailhead, where construction of the new Mechanic/High/Mascoma Streets Roundabout is beginning. The garden was established by Pat McGovern, and without the relocation effort, the established plants would have been lost during construction activities.

With permission from Goss Logan Insurance, the garden was successfully moved to the hillside near the Lebanon Pedestrian Tunnel entrance, creating a new space for both pollinators and visitors to enjoy. The transplanted garden will continue to provide important habitat and seasonal color along the Greenway.

Plants relocated during the project included Purple Coneflowers, Rudbeckia, Asters, Daffodils, Grape Hyacinths, Golden Alexanders, Bellflowers, Coreopsis, Daylilies, Bearded and Blue Flag Iris, Obedient Plant, Chrysanthemums, and Liatris.

Special thanks to the volunteers and community partners who worked together to save and replant this pollinator garden.

Here’s a message of this chilly morning’s missed photo op on the MRG from Dan Moriarty:

“I missed a unique photo op this morning . I was walking down MRG and had just passed Terrace View Condos. I was looking to the right downhill towards the pond for wildlife.

Out of the corner of my left eye, I noted something moving onto the trail uphill from Gardner Supply. It was a huge magnificent beaver. He waddled onto the trail, stopped, sat up and looked at me. He was about 20 feet away.I was dressed warm because it was 30 degrees out. My phone was zipped in my anorak front pouch and I had big mittens on. I tried to get my mittens off fast, unzip my pouch, take my phone out, cycle it on and take a photo. Phone took too long to cycle on.

Beaver sat there watching me fumble around, then turned around and went back downhill toward Gardners Supply. He was out of sight by time phone cycled on. I thought he would have headed across trail toward pond downhill on other side.”

If you spot this magnificent beaver or other interesting wildlife on the MRG please submit your photo and story to mcgovern.patricia(AT)gmail.com

Tuesdays, May 5 through May 26, 2026 9:30am to 10:30am. Lebanon’s Downtown Tunnel

Get outside with your tots in tow and join Leb Rec on the Mascoma River Greenway. Bring your little ones in a stroller or carrier, or let them walk, and let’s explore together. It is a proven fact that moving and getting fresh air at least 30 minutes a day helps little ones to sleep, helps build immunity, and decreases stress for everyone! Come make new adult and tot friends! Registration is free online at LebanonNH.gov/Register

Lebanon, NH: Mechanic Street/Mascoma Street/High Street Roundabout Project Update – Week of April 27, 2026

Fairway Electric has completed the installation of new utility poles and Fairway, Eustis Cable, and other utility companies will be transferring cables next week. Message Boards have been strategically placed in proximity to the project corridor to alert motorists of upcoming and ongoing construction, traffic pattern shifts, and traffic delays. The Message Boards will remain in place throughout the duration of the project.

The contractor will be on-site next week to commence construction work on the roundabout. Activities will include test pits, island removal, installation of project signs, and project layout.

As a reminder, the south side of the Mascoma Street sidewalk (Eastman Automotive side) will be temporarily detoured to the north side (Tanglez N Tanz side) between Granite Street and the crosswalk to the Mascoma River Greenway, and detour signs will be placed.

For more information about the project, please visit LebanonNH.gov/Roundabout. https://alrt.se/u/MRRbfqsMX64

Lots of coltsfoot in bloom along the MRG

Today was warm and sunny – a perfect day to get out on the MRG with volunteer trishaw pilot Dan Moriarty, The CWA Trishaw program is a wonderful feature of the Lebanon Parks & Recreation to get seniors and those with disabilities out on the MRG and Northern Rail Trail. Fresh air, turtles sunning themselves on logs, coltsfoot blooming in many places . . . and a Spring Azure Butterfly flitting about, gaining sustenance from these early bloomers. (Spring Azures are rather drab when wings are closed, but flash a brilliant purple-blue as the flit from flower to flower.) Dan pointed out an otter slide I had never noticed and told tales of turkeys, beavers, deer, bears, snapping turtles, foxes and other life he has encountered on the greenway. (A broken hip last fall has limited my range beyond recliner . . . what a treat to get outside to this larger life!)

For seniors and folks with disabilities, you can schedule a trishaw ride on the MRG by filling out this form with Lebanon’s Recreation Dept.

The adult Spring Azure butterfly uses its proboscis to drink nectar from early spring flowers.