Westwoods Trails Meeting
October 15, 2001
Guilford Community Center
Chair: Paul Proulx.
Meeting began: 7:35 PM
Attendance: 18 people. Bill Blaha, Ron DeMartino, Bob Hanshumacher, Joe Kaufman, Karen Klugman, Susan Kukle, Dave Middleton, Joe Ortoleva, Peter Otis, Karen Owen-Buckley, Sandra Porter, Paul Proulx, Fred Richards, Dia Robinson, Liz Scholl, Audrey Teofilo, Robert White, Al DiMarzio.

Approval of Minutes:September 2001 minutes approved as written.

Resignations/New Members/ Member News: Congratulations to Frank Keil, who was appointed Master of Morse College at Yale.

GLCT Report: Paul reported that 12 people attended the GLCT-sponsored walk that he led in the Eastwoods area.

Trail Reports:
Westwoods.
-Team A - 12 hrs. (Bob Handschumacher) Rich DiNardo swept Cable Rock.
-Team B. 8 hrs (Dia Robinson) --- Fred experimented with the use of water bars to contain erosion on White Circle Trail near the railroad tracks. His work was disrupted, however, when he hacked into a nest of bees. Fred plans to continue his work in the area this coming month.
-Team C. 17 hrs (Karen Owen-Buckley). A community work party on the first Saturday of the month will remove three trees down on the Blue Circle Trail. Paul finished blazing the Nature Trail, but we must still re-mark the points of interest.
-Paul Trail- Frank Keil is too busy in his new position at Yale to manage this trail.
-Nut Plains - Bob White reported that two trees need to be chain sawed.
-Kampmeyer- The sign was removed, but Liz plans to replace it. She also plans to take care of the overgrown foliage between the trolley tracks and the marsh walk. Joe reported that the bridges that had been constructed from fallen trees have cracked.
-Eastwoods - 10 hrs - Sally, Bob, and Red Erda removed remaining debris from the tulip tree lost in the microburst last May. They made two trips to the dump. Bob and Sally walked the green trail, cleared it, and marked trees for blazing.
-Hoadley Creek-Bob made two signs for the entrance. Spencer Creek Susan reported that girl scouts have been cutting through thick briars. Susan is concerned that the area requires constant attention in order to keep the trail clear.

Work Parties.
-Community Work Party -- Saturday, Nov 3, 9am - noon. Meet at Dunk Rock Entrance. Plan to work remove downed trees from Blue Circle and other trails in the area.
-Bridges - A work party must be scheduled to install bridges at the south end of the Orange Circle and near the power lines/ Blue Rectangle area. Also on the CCC (Civil Conservation Corps) Pond on the Green Rectangle.

New Business
-Westwoods on the Web - Al Marzio, a senior web designer from HB Graphics, made a stunning laptop presentation of his camera and web work in Westwoods. In preparation for picture-taking on his upcoming trip to the Himalayas, Al decided to practice his skills in making 360 panoramic views with his digital Canon Powershot G1 camera on our trail system. Since Al is not only skilled in capturing and displaying images, but also in web design, he designed a site just for fun where one can scroll, not stroll, through familiar area of Westwoods. The 360-degree views allow the user to go at his own pace, not only left and right, but also zooming in on details.
-Forest Management Study --- Peter Otis brought samples of studies that had been done by groups of students from the Yale Forestry School on the management of protected land.. Typically, the group is made up of 4 to 6 students in various areas of Forest Management, such as social ecology, wildlife studies, and hydrology. Peter proposed that the GLCT and the WWTrail Committee consider the possibility of having a group of students prepare a booklet about Westwoods. The cost would be approximately $2000.
-Trash Cans - Following a discussion of the problems with overflowing trash cans and the WWTrail policy stating that one should "carry out what you carry in," members voted overwhelmingly to remove all trash cans from Westwoods.
-Proposed Gas Line -- There is a proposal to run a natural gas pipe line from Massachusetts, through Connecticut through the Sound to Long Island. Since members of the Pine Orchard community objected to the original plans to run the line through their community, the new suggested route would take the gas line through Westwoods. From the map of the proposed route, it looks as if the line follow the power line.
-Annual CT Forest and Park Association Dinner Bill Blaha reminded members of the dinner on the 10th of November in Newington, Ct.
-Trail Biking -- In a biking magazine, Westwoods was given a 4.6 rating out of 5, highly touted as great and difficult riding.

Adjornment: The meeting was adjourned at 9pm.
Recording Secretary: Karen Klugman