Westwoods Trails Meeting
December 17, 2001
Guilford Community Center
Chair: Paul Proulx.
Meeting began: 7:35 PM
Attendance: 14 People: Bill Blaha, Erin Craig, Rich DiNardo, George Goss, Ross Novak, Joe Ortoleva, Peter Otis, Sandra Porter, Paul Proulx, Fred Richards, Sally Richards, Dia Robinson, Dixie Sanderson, Trista Sanderson.

Approval of Minutes: June minutes approved.

Resignations/New Members/ Members News: Was informed that Sarah Ireland & Jessica Johnson have moved out of town, so their names can be dropped from membership list. Karen Klugman has a photography exhibit showing in New Haven, (opens Sept 14).

GLCT Report: Sally reports that the GLCT has a new Treasurer: Eva Otis of 342 Moose Hill Road, Guilford, CT 06437.

Trail Reports:
Westwoods:
-Team A: (12 Hrs) (Bob Handschumacher) Bob was not present at meeting, but Paul Proulx reports that overall the trails of Westwoods are in good shape. Rich DiNardo reports some work on yellow circle trail this past summer. He and Laura Miller did some blazing and will return to empty trash and sweep cable rock this upcoming week. He also reports weeds need cutting near power lines.
-Team B: (24 Hrs)(Dia Robinson) Dia reports that the plank walk in her section is in need of about two planks and one cross beam. Dia also reports that one big hemlock on the white circle, between the green rectangle and plank walk, needs to come down. The big tree will require some work, requiring chainsaw and ropes. Dia also reports first two bridges on orange circle are in need of repair. On blue rectangle to orange circle, one medium hemlock "up top" on west side of trail is in imminent danger of falling. Dia reports entrance to Peddlers Rd needs brush cutting. White rectangle need to be tidy up a bit with lopers and chainsaws. Paul Proulx reports sawing several trees (approx 20 trees) on the white circle trail.
-Team C: (15 Hrs)(Karen Owen-Buckley) Karen was not present at meeting. Paul Proulx reports that the trails look good overall. He also had recently blazed the north end of the green circle. George Goss reports removing large overhanging limbs and leaners on the green circle trail (north). He also reports the plank walk is very overgrown. Audrey Teofilo reports she will take care of one tree and one blaze on the red triangle horse trail. She plans to blaze the entire trail in the fall time. Joe Ortoleva reports 3 trees down on blue circle trail and will send info to Karen Owen-Buckley.
Nut Plains Preserve - No report.
Kampmeyer Preserve - No report.
Paul Trail - No report.
East Woods - Sally Richards reports that red trail has been blazed and that more blazing will be done.
Spencer Creek - (12 Hrs)(Three Mile Course) - Dixie & Trista Sanderson report the new trail is now cleared and will soon be blazed as red diamond. Thanks to Dixie, Trista, Alica, Kathy, & Andrea of Girl Scout Troop 2067. It is possible the trail might be added for a potential walk on either Nov 11 or Dec 2 (maybe).
Hoadley Creek Preserve - Sign at entrance is OK. Trail users have parked there and are using the trails.

Work Parties
-Bridge Repair - 2 bridges on south end of orange trail, near Sam Hill entrance. 2 bridges north of orange trail, south of blue rectangle, near Dunk Rock entrance. 1 bridge on blue rectangle and 1 bridge on green rectangle, both near Dunk Rock entrance. George Goss, and Paul Proulx volunteered to fix with the help of Peter Johnson's pre-built bridges.
-Plank Walk Repair - Dia will organize and call people to help repair the plank walk.
-RR Embankment - Dia will cut back brush & try to divert trail away from RR tracks (Sam Hill Rd section). Fred will work on erosion control of the embankment next to the RR tracks.
-Peddlers Field - Is in need of weed wacking. Dia will see Fred & Sally about borrowing weed wacker to clear trail.

Old Business
-Blazing - Paul is still managing the whole trail blazing project from original sign-up sheet. The blazing is ongoing. Fred Richards recommends scrapping off light layer of bark. Violet and north end of yellow circle have already been blazed. Yellow triangle and all of white need to be blazed. Erin Craig will blaze lower orange trail. Paul will call Ron DeMartino to help blaze northern orange trail. Paul is ongoing blazing of green circle & rectangle. Joe Ortoleva will blaze blue circle and blue rectangle (Paul will give him paint). Red triangle is ongoing. Dixie Sanderson and Audrey Teofiloboth need red paint.
-State Plans for Hemlocks - Fred will call state and see if there are any further plans. Approx 300-500 trees cut to date.
-Nature Guide Book - Currently on sale. Karen Owen-Buckley is looking to paint numbers on trail.

New Business
-Trail Clean-Up Days - Paul will post info at trail heads. Next trail clean-up day is on Oct 6 at Duck Rock entrance at 9:00 pm - 12:00 noon. Focus will be on Nature Trail. Lopers, pruning, brush removal & little chainsaw work involved. Recommended to bring gloves, pruning shears, & lopers. Scheduled to be a regular event every 1st Saturday of every month.
-Guilford Parade - WWTC has reserved a spot in parade Sept 22 at 10:00. Be there at 9:30 am at High & Whitfield Street.
-Yale School of Forest & Enviro Studies - Peter Otis will bring more info for the next meeting. He mentioned that the school contracts their services (cost is $2000) for studies and reports.

* NOTE: Paul Proulx has "blown-up" maps for anyone that needs them
* NOTE: All this year's meetings will all be at the Nathanel Greene Community Center!

Adjournment: 8:45 pm
Secretary: Joseph Ortoleva