Timber harvesting info at Bowman / Sandra Pond from town officials
From: Public Notices
Date: Tue, Dec 27, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Subject: Timber Harvesting Bowman Conservation Area/Sandra Pond Reservoir
In response to questions and concerns received by the Town and the Conservation Commission, the Conservation Commission is providing the Public with more information regarding the ongoing timber harvesting operations in the forests surrounding Sandra Pond. The timber harvesting is part of a State Approved 10-year forest management plan.
The purpose of the timber harvesting program is to manage the forest around the reservoir with the following goals:
- Removing diseased trees.
- Removing storm-damaged trees.
- Reducing the density of trees.
- Promoting growth of diverse tree species throughout the reservoir area.
- Promoting an uneven-aged forest with a healthy range of young, middle-aged, old, and dead trees to provide a variety of habitat types for different kinds of wildlife.
- Maintain the structural integrity of the secondary earth dam at the northern end of Sandra Pond, which is being compromised by tree roots that are causing the dam to leak.
- Reducing the potential for storm damage (dense stands are more likely to have multiple trees knocked down in a large storm).
Large portions of the forest around Sandra Pond are not natural stands. Most of the conifer stands are single species that were planted at the same time, as far back as 70 or more years ago. These stands are so dense that new trees cannot take root and new species cannot move in.
In decades past, the forest around the pond was subject to periodic thinning operations by the DPW but this practice stopped over 30 years ago.
The Conservation Commission is fully cognizant that the timber harvesting process will not look "pretty" or park-like in the short term, but will result much healthier the ecosystem. In addition, once the operation is complete, the DPW will grade out the areas where the timber harvesting machines worked and plant the paths with a conservation mix to promote rapid plant growth. Over time, the opened canopy will allow new trees to sprout and existing understory growth to accelerate.
The use of timber harvesting machines will also result in less damage to trees that will remain. Trees felled by hand often damage other trees as they fall, and the damaged trees are more likely to die from the damage or from disease. Tree felling is controlled by the mechanized removal process. Damage to remaining trees has been minimal to date.
The timber harvesting operations are being inspected by the Town Conservation Officer and DPW staff at least once a week and the contract for the logging program has very tight performance specifications.
The Conservation Commission and the Town Department of Public Works ask town residents to be patient as this process moves forward. We also request that people stay out of the areas being harvested because of dangers due to the timber harvesting machinery.
2011 GOP Jobs Tour in Westborough, Mon Nov 7, 2011
2011 GOP Jobs Tour to Make Stop in Westborough Tonight
BOSTON— Representatives Matthew Beaton (R-Shrewsbury) and George N. Peterson, Jr. (R-Grafton), in conjunction with Kimberly Ferguson (R-Holden), Paul Frost (R-Auburn) and Kevin Kuros (R-Uxbridge) will host the 2011 GOP Jobs Tour tonight at the Training Associates Building.
The Tour is designed to provide businesses and constituents with a platform to propose ideas for how the Republican Caucus can assist in improving the job climate in Massachusetts. The Republican Caucus hopes that the 2011 G.O.P. Jobs Tour will help provide real-life insight and feedback regarding the Bay State’s current 7.3% unemployment rate.
Tonight’s event will be held at:
Monday, November 7, 2011
Training Associates Building
287 Turnpike Road, Suite 300
Westborough, MA 01581
6:00-7:30pm
Doors to the event will open at 5:30pm with media availability to directly follow the event at 7:30pm.
###
[received via email from david.muradian@mahouse.gov, Monday, Nov 7, 2011 10:30 am -- webmaster]
Superintendent message: Schools resume Wed Nov 2
[Received 1-Nov-2011 at 2:31 pm from ConnectED - webmaster]
All Westborough Public Schools will be open on Wednesday, November 2, 2011. At the moment Mill Pond School is experiencing phone difficulties. We hope to have the problem resolved by tomorrow morning, if not sooner.
Thank you for your patience and support throughout the past few days.
Marianne O'Connor
Superintendent of Schools
Superintendent message - no school 1-Nov-2011
[Received at 5:02 pm from ConnectED - webmaster]
Westborough Public Schools will be closed, Tuesday, November 1, 2011 due to the number of families (more than 50%) in the community still without power. We still have schools without power. The Senior Center is open as a shelter and the community is welcome to shower at the high school from 4-8 PM tonight. An update will be provided tomorrow as soon as we have additional information. Please be safe.
Marianne O'Connor
Superintendent
October 2011 Storm Update from Police Chief Gordon
[The following received via the School's "ConnectED" automated messaging system at 2:24 pm Mon Oct 31, 2011 -- webmaster]
Police Department
Westborough, Massachusetts
Alan R. Gordon
Police Chief
STORM UPDATE
National Grid is working on getting the power back on for our residents. We currently have 4,575 customers without power. The Fales and Mill Pond Schools are included in this outage. All town roads are open for traffic thanks to the efforts of the Department of Public Works. The DPW will be picking up debris from town streets and town owned trees. They will not be removing debris from private property. Homeowners are responsible for the removal from their own property.
The Westborough Senior Center will now be the emergency shelter. Any person needing shelter should bring their own pillow and blanket if they wish to remain overnight. Cots will be provided.
National Grid estimates that it may take until this Thursday to get all customers back in full service.
Please note that Westborough High School is open today from 4-8 PM for community members to take showers.
Another ConnectED message will be coming from the Superintendent of Schools at a later time with an update regarding school closings.
- Civil War Living History Day - Sep. 24 10am-4pm WHS
- Hurricane Preparedness note from Congressman McGovern
- Happy Memorial Day 2011!
- Tornado watch issued for our area (Wed June 1 2011)
- 2011 Spring Town Meeting Warrant
- Community Food Drive on May 7th 2011
- Youth Soccer Fall and Spring 2011 Tryouts
- 2011 Spring Election Results
- Town elections are IN A WEEK!
- 33rd Annual Troop 100 Pancake Breakfast - this Sunday, March 6th
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27 December 2011
[received 27-Dec-2011 as sent to the "Public Notices mailing list." --webmaster] From: Public Notices Date: Tue, Dec 27, 2011 at 10:37 AM Subject: Timber Harvesting Bowman Conservation Area/Sandra...
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2011 GOP Jobs Tour in Westborough, Mon Nov 7, 2011
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Superintendent message - no school 1-Nov-2011
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31 Oct
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Civil War Living History Day - Sep. 24 10am-4pm WHS
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