Martins Pond Newsletter

Restoration Day Sat 7/19

2008-07-17T15:29:00.001-05:00

Hi, We are having a Project SHORE shoreline restoration day this Saturday 7/19 from 8AM to 2PM, starting out at 14 Comeau Rd, then if we have a good turnout or get far along, move some people to the end of Poplar to Oakhurst. We will do more of these as we move around the pond restoring shorelines and planting native vegetation. Please come do a few hours. Gloves a must, small or large sledge,

Summer Solstice Concert

2008-06-07T13:11:00.002-05:00

Enjoy the triumphal return of the North Reading Community Band and welcome summer on Thursday June 19th at 6:30pm. Bring a picnic, or just a chair or blanket, and enjoy the music.

fish kills info

2008-06-04T19:50:00.000-05:00

Below is an excerpt from a MassWildlife info sheet on Fish Kills. People have noticed more dead fish on the shore than usual this year. Usually this is a natural thing. Read on if interested… After the long, hard winter months, lakes and ponds across the Commonwealth are finally beginning to warm up. While this is a welcome sign to anglers and swimmers alike, it can be an extremely

Here comes Summer!

2008-04-27T08:09:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone, The weather has been just wonderful. Time for a Spring update on all the great things happening. Flyover – On April 19 local pilot Nancy took a group up for a flyover of Martins Pond and the drainage areas above and below to help identify any flow issues ,beaver dams, encroachments, etc. that may impact the area. We have a DVD of the flight and many photos. The good news

"All About Martins Pond"

2008-02-27T09:42:00.001-05:00

Hi, We hope to see many of you at this Friday, February 29th’s informational meeting All About Martins Pond. We will discuss the state of the pond, flooding, wildlife, and our new Grant project the Martins Pond Shoreline Restoration and Sedimentation Reduction project which is just underway. We will have info on how you can get a dock permit, what is ,or is not allowed at the pond, history,

Save the Dates. Feb 9th Winter Festival, Feb 29th Martins Pond Presentation and Celebration

2008-01-25T19:05:00.001-05:00

Hi, Please come to the following 2 events: FEBRUARY 9TH - Martins Pond Winter Festival Noon to 3PM at Clarke Park. Our 15th Year! Skate, play games, eat great hot food, make smores, ride a pony. Talk with neighbors and friends. FEBRUARY 29th – Our first ever All About Martins Pond Night. 7:30PM at Town Hall Rm 14. We will celebrate accomplishments and discuss future challenges.

What's going on?

2007-11-24T10:05:00.000-05:00

What is that at the Park? It is a Rain Garden. Historically surface runoff after rains flowed over the grass areas in the park and collected and eroded the shoreline each year, bringing excess nutrients and sediment into the pond. A Rain Garden is a garden placed in a water runoff area which collects and sends the surface runoff down into the ground where it will perk and be cleaned by

Email Notification List/Halloween Event NEWS

2007-10-03T15:39:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody, We are now offering two options for Email notifications. Please email hobbit@avian.org if you wish to be added to either list and begin to be informed about Martins Pond issues. Martins Pond Announcements - this list you will receive announcements and news only and you will not be able to reply, nor will anyone else. This list is ideal for those of you who receive too

319 Grant Shoreline Restoration Fact Finding Underway

2007-07-19T13:15:00.000-05:00

Hi all, Lida Jenney, Jon Lyon and I went on a tour of some Western Massachusetts sites this tuesday in preparation for our restoration at Martins Pond. We visited a failed restoration of a very steep bank in Montague where plastic blanket was used. It was ugly. Some lessons learned there about using enough loam for seed to grow, proper anchoring, and site design. We then visited and

Diagnostic & Feasibilty Study for Martins Pond now online

2007-06-26T14:44:00.000-05:00

The Martins Pond Assessment and Remediation Project is complete and available to everyone. It consist of the Diagnosic & Feasibility Study by Merrimack College, and the Wateflow Improvements and Public Outreach Report. This was a team effort between the Town of North Reading DPW/Engineering, the Martins Pond Reclamation Study Committee (MPRSC), Merrimack College, and Malcolm Pirnie

Great Summer Concert

2007-06-22T21:33:00.000-05:00

A sudden squall didn't dampen spirits at the Summer Solstice Concert by the North Reading Community Band at Clarke Park Thursday June 21. The concert was great and the audience had a great time. Let's hope it becomes an annual event!

Bridge Grant not on first cut list, but wait-listed

2007-05-24T13:46:00.001-05:00

Hi, Mike Soraghan, Town Engineer, heard from the State today that North Reading DPW's grant application to replace the Rt 62 bridge was not recommended for initial funding, but was put on the waitlist should FEMA provide additional funds for this year's applicants. This is disappointing news. However, I spoke to our contact at DCR today and there is still a glimmer of hope for this year's

Save the dates 6/21 & 7/14

2007-05-21T14:56:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone. Summer is coming! We have two Summer events coming up: Summer Solstice Concert at Clarke Park Thursday June 21st 6:30-8PM. No admission, no sales, just bring your picnic dinner and blanket or chair and enjoy an 18 piece ensemble courtesy of the North Reading Community Band. Park your boat esplanade-style. Bring some charcoal and use the new barbeque being installed this week.

Update Martins Pond

2007-04-18T07:14:00.000-05:00

See Larry's update below. Yes this is really ridiculous. We continue to work every angle of the flooding, and will continue. We must work to lower water levels in the huge complex of wetlands around the pond. This wet sponge is just too wet all the time to absorb as wetlands should. So my guesstimates from the other day are totally in the trash. 3+ inches of rain have so far brought

Patriot's Day rainfall at Martins Pond

2007-04-16T08:04:00.000-05:00

Hi, I know many of us get tense as rains are predicted and certainly the Weather stations go into high gear. Although this is a big storm which may affect septics, I do not believe we will flood. Here are the totals... thanks to Larry who has a continuous rain gauge at Martins Pond. So far in this storm, starting April 15th, we have received 2.82 inches of rain as of 7AM today. Less

Update on issues

2007-03-08T13:09:00.000-05:00

Hi, Below is an update on some issues: Flooding - Paul Cameron and I attended a meeting at Town Hall with MEMA regarding DPW's application for replacing the bridge at Rt 62 on 3/6/07. Our project made the "first cut" and they were here to ask questions and visit the bridge. The meeting was very encouraging, and they said they expect to have a final list of projects chosen by early May. One of

"...and a Great Blue Heron in an Oak Tree."

2006-12-27T17:55:00.000-05:00

What did you wish for? Well, for the Poplar Terrace residents and friends who watched a Great Blue Heron in destress, caught about 50+ feet in an oak tree, we wished for a miracle. Chris Shaw noticed the huge bird hanging from a caught wing way up an Oak on Christmas Eve morning. He called the Police and asked for assistance, then called the Fire Department. Scott and Anne Ronco

Grant award for Martins Pond $218,000

2006-09-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

The Town of North Reading, Martins Pond Reclamation Study Commitee, Merrimack College Team has done it again! We just received notification that our 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant application, named the Martins Pond Shoreline Restoration and Sedimentation Reduction Project has been recommended for funding by the DEP to the EPA. This is a 3 year, $218,000 project consisting of:

FEMA deadline extended to Aug 7th

2006-07-24T12:10:00.000-05:00

Note from the Fire Chief: The deadline to register for FEMA help has been extended to August 7th.

FEMA claim deadline July 24th, please read.

2006-07-14T14:00:00.000-05:00

Note from our Fire Chief... Janet, Could you email this to anyone who might not be aware of the deadline? Anyone who suffered flood damage and had insurance should at least consider starting a FEMA claim, if they haven�t already. If a claim is put on record, residents can always go back later for anything that

FEMA declaration - note from NR Fire Chief

2006-05-26T09:27:00.000-05:00

Could you send this out to your neighbors: The Federal Government finally declared this county a disaster area and the federal programs will begin to become available. To qualify and apply, residents should call the FEMA hot line at 1-800-621-3362 to get additional information and apply. Applications can also be

Buses resume 5/25/06

2006-05-24T09:16:00.000-05:00

It's official. School buses will resume their normal routes tomorrow AM, Thursday 5/25/06. Thank you to all of you for your patience. You should all get notices in your back packs. Other news... I just spoke with Congressman Tierney's office, our US Congressman. Helen Rush-Lloyd in his office assures me that the FEMA disaster declaration is in process, and although there is

Disaster Releif - Please take advantage of this

2006-05-23T10:46:00.000-05:00

Information below on Disaster Relief Inc. Please, many of you are not taking advantage of the relief services available. You are entitled to this, much of it is government grant funded, you pay taxes, you work, don't take a hit when there is help available. Don't wait for FEMA to sign up and take things from these programs. The information below was provided by our Board of Health Agent

Update Sat 9AM 5/20

2006-05-20T09:45:00.000-05:00

Water levels down to 78feet 1 inch. down 3.5 inches from yesterday. FEMA and MEMA toured the neighborhood yesterday with the Fire Chief, Town Manager, and Assessor. Thanks you those of you who spoke to them, and thank you Ken for your report. It was important that they see the faces connected with this loss and you all did that. I gave both of them CD's of all the pictures you all

update 8am friday

2006-05-19T07:14:00.000-05:00

Waters have receded to 78feet 4.5 inches, or 78.375 feet above sea level. Yesterday at this time water levels were at 78 feet 8.5 inches or 78.71 feet above sea level. We've dropped 4 inches in 24 hours. FEMA and MEMA are visiting our neighborhood late AM early PM with the Fire Chief. Some of you have responded that you will be there for them to come in and I'm giving them your