Recent News

EQLT in the News, by Ellenor Downer
The Ware River News
August 26, 2004

Even the wildlife came out for the announcement ceremony as a beaver and mergansers swam across a nearby pond while a cuckoo sang from a tree just before Secretary Herzfelder spoke.

“The Lubelczyk property offers important wildlife habitat and protection for key water supplies,” said Secretary Herzfelder. “This strategic acquisition was made possible by a group of partners, who care deeply about this land’s environmental significance. I would especially like to thank the members of the East Quabbin Land Trust for the critical role they played in this public-private partnership effort.” The East Quabbin Land Trust not only contributed $100,000 toward the property’s purchase, but they worked closely with the Lubelczyk family, the Trustees of Reservations and the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

State Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre), who met Secretary Herzfelder, gave her the backroad tour over dirt roads and past numerous stonewalls to the Spooner road site. Sen. Brewer promised the audience that he would not sing “This Land Is My Land” and that State Rep. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) would not play her clarinet. He recalled that in 1978 when he was a selectman in Barre he made sure that the power company only trimmed - not removed - the only tree by Chet Lubelczyk’s house. It still stands today. He said that this land will remain open to all people and that the effort needs to continue to protect land as well as develop it so all can realize the dream of owning a home. He added that “wildlife doesn’t know town borders and we need to keep these paths open for wildlife to frolic.”

The 212 acres provide a critical link between Raccoon Hill WMA and the 58,000 acres of water supply land managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) at Quabbin Reservoir. Streams from the property feed directly into the reservoir and the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Bio Map and Living Waters programs recognized it as a “statewide significant habitat” while the Massachusetts Audubon Society declared it an important bird habitat in Central Massachusetts. He concluded with a quote from “Gone With the Wind” by George O’Hara to his daughter, Scarlet about the importance of land.

State Rep. Anne Gobi addressed the group and said that “one thing government does well is preserve land.” She continued that everyone needs to make sure “this administration and future administrations continue to preserve land.” Rep. Gobi wearing a skirt and sporting hiking boots, only had to time to change her shoes as she came directly from a panel discussion at Anna Maria College in Paxton.

Judith Jones of the East Quabbin Land Trust described the trust as a small organization in Massachusetts that is “all heart and no money.” She said this was a property that the trust looked at since 1991 and the partnership with other organizations and local support was vital to acquiring it. The smallest contributor was a nine-year old child that gave $5.25.

Some of the other people present included MassWildlife Director Wayne MacCallum, MassWildlife Assistant Director Bill Davis, Chris Hardy of Mass. Audubon, Mike Moss of Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council, Tom Berube of Barre Sportsman Club, Chet Lubelczyk, photographer Bill Byrnes, members of the Trustees of Reservations and other open space advocates.

The Raccoon Hill WMA consists of mixed woodlands, open fields and wetlands. The new property abuts the upper reaches of Raccoon Hill Brook and serves as a connection to Raccoon Hill WMA, Quabbin Reservation, Muddy Brook WMA and Moose Brook WMA. The habitats are home to grouse, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, beavers and many other species. The area will provide better access to the wildlife area and recreational activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, cross-country skiing and wildlife watching.

Used with permission of Turley Publications, Inc., © 2004