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A Word from the President
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 Gillian Beamer was elected president of WCLT (2017-2020) at the Annual Meeting in June. She is a professor at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Gillian and her family have lived in Westborough for 6 years. She also serves on WCLT’s Education Committee.
Having grown up on Mount Desert Island, the island where Acadia National Park is located on the coast of Maine, I love the outdoors and view conservation as an important endeavor for all of us. Here, in Westborough, I feel strongly about maintaining a mindset focused on conservation. It is a goal that falls within WCLT’s mission. It takes a community effort to instill an appreciation for conservation and to encourage responsible use of conserved land. The effort, though, is not a burden but a pleasure. It will enrich our lives, children’s lives, grandchildren’s lives and future generations we will not know. The land and trails are in our backyards, waiting to be used.
One of my priorities as the new WCLT president is to build the number of active volunteers we have, so we can continue our mindset focused on conservation. WCLT is an all-volunteer organization and we are seeking volunteers for the following committees.
Membership Committee The Membership Committee communicates with members electronically and by paper mail; receives and acknowledges applications and donations; and maintains membership databases. Meeting schedule TBD.
Education Committee The Education Committee plans and executes WCLT-related events, typically walks and hikes; speakers; the annual live animal show in February at the Knights of Columbus (owls, snakes, birds, etc.), and Earth Day clean-up. Meets monthly.
Stewardship Committee The Stewardship Committee identifies and maintains trails and mentors scouts for projects. Meets monthly.
Nominating Committee The Nominating Committee recommends and interviews Westborough residents to serve on the Board of Directors, typically seeking volunteers with desirable skill sets. Most busy in winter/spring.
To find out more or to volunteer, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.
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Meet the New Directors
2017-2018
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Meet the three new directors elected to the Board of Directors by WCLT members at the June 2017 annual meeting:
Peter Dunbeck
Pete Dunbeck and his wife Kathy moved to Westborough in 1979 and have raised their family of three now-grown children here. Both Pete and Kathy recently retired from long careers in high tech, Pete from EMC and Kathy from Hewlett Packard.
Pete is active in a variety of environmental groups. Last year he started the Environmental Stewardship Ministry at St Luke’s. With this group he is now partnering with Good Shepard and is talking to other churches in Westborough, Shrewsbury and Northborough to try to increase the awareness and activities to support our environment. He is also on the Steering Committee for the Boston Catholic Climate Movement, which is an advocacy and teaching organization supporting carbon reduction and environmental sensitivity.
Michelle Scerbin
 Michelle Scerbin moved to Westborough in 1999 from California, and has especially enjoyed Westborough’s suburban elbow room. Three children and years later, she has been actively involved with many organizations that encourage outdoor activities, exploration and appreciation, including Boy Scouts, Venture Crew, WYSA, YMCA, and Girls Scouts. As a troop leader, she has been encouraging first-hand experiences and outdoor skill development as well stewardship.
Michelle and her children have explored more than 30 National Parks across the US. She and her kids have experienced every national ecosystem and have participated and earned Junior Ranger badges in each park they have visited. Michelle has recently started her return to professional endeavors as an independent consultant to a number of high tech and medical companies.
Karen Yeowell
 Karen Yeowell has always enjoyed wandering around the woods and sleeping in a tent. She was very excited to stumble upon the Westborough Community Land Trust’s trails when she and her family relocated to Westborough from Belgium in 2009. As a Girl Scout co-leader, Boy Scout merit badge counselor, and Venture Crew assistant advisor, Karen actively encourages her two children and local youth to hike the trails and volunteer to help WCLT. Karen’s trail work experience goes back to 1984, when she rearranged rocks on the Appalachian Trail in western North Carolina, and in 1987 maintained the side trails and structures around Mt Moosilauke in New Hampshire. She is currently attempting to walk all the trails in our area.
Karen also fosters kittens for the Worcester Animal Rescue League, volunteers at the Interfaith Hospitality Network’s shelter for homeless families in Worcester, and cooks for the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Youth Opportunities Program at Mt Cardigan Lodge.
Know Your Continuing Directors
Continuing board members include: Sue Abladian, Vince Acquilino, Warren Anderson, Gillian Beamer (now president), Ellen Bishop, Neil Feldman, Marjorie Fisher, Tim Foley, Adam Last, Jerry Lyle, Keith Martin, Bob Nolan, Polly Pearson, Christopher Sassetti, Kelly Thomas, and Eric Waite.
Executive Committee
WCLT’s Executive Committee is elected annually and consists of the WCLT officers and two members-at-large selected from the board of directors. Elected for 2017-2018 were:
President: Gillian Beamer
Vice President: Chris Sassetti
Secretary: Marge Fisher
Treasurer: Kelly Thomas
Assistant Treasurer: Neil Feldman
Member at Large: Warren Anderson
Member at large: Adam Last
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The new memorial bench in honor of Mark O’Connell offers a lovely view of Sandra Pond
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Memorial bench in honor of Mark O’Connell at Sandra Pond
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Flanked by shadbushes set to bloom in the spring, a new memorial bench now graces the shore of Sandra Pond in honor of the late Mark O’Connell of Olde Hickory Path. The location offers a lovely view of the pond. Walkers will find the bench near the pond’s spillway, just off the Charm Bracelet trail (on the section between Minuteman Park and Bowman Street). Trail map showing Sandra Pond and Bowman Conservation Area.
Friends and family of Mark O’Connell gathered to dedicate the memorial in September. Also in memory of Mark, they have created the Mark O’Connell Foundation for Lake Winnipesaukee Safety.
WCLT deeply thanks the O’Connell family and Mark’s friends and former colleagues for their generosity to WCLT after the family asked that donations in Mark’s memory be made to WCLT.
WCLT worked with Mark’s former colleagues from MatrixOne to establish the memorial bench. Thanks to Brian O’Keefe and other WCLT volunteers who helped coordinate the bench installation and watering of the trees. Thanks also go to the Westborough Conservation Commission and Department of Public Works.
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We are grateful to:
Family, friends, and colleagues of the late Mark O’Connell for their generous donations to WCLT in memory of Mark.
RSA Media for a generous donation to WCLT for the express purpose of funding the construction (by the Town) of the new Upton Road trail segment, which completed the trail loop around Sandra Pond. People no longer have to walk on the roadway.
The Westborough Cultural Council, Westborough Newcomers Club, and Knights of Columbus for their donations and support of WCLT’s two shows last March of “Owls of New England and Beyond” by Eyes on Owls.
Our business partner Arturo’s Ristorante, as well as Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 9, Roche Bros., and both Stop & Shop stores in town for donating food and beverages for the picnic lunch for WCLT’s 2017 Earth Day Clean-up volunteers; and Mugford’s Flower Shoppe for giving free bouquets to volunteers.
Our business partners Arturo’s Ristorante and Julio’s Liquors for their support in making WCLT’s 20th anniversary party in April a success.
Luanne Crosby for the special song she wrote for WCLT and for other music she played at WCLT’s 20th anniversary party in April.
The Willows at Westborough for choosing WCLT as the nonprofit organization to benefit from donations at the Willows concert in early August.
And of course, all members, friends, volunteers, event participants, trail stewards, Boy Scout and Girl Scout volunteers, Town volunteers, businesses, and more who support WCLT in so many different ways!
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A Special Song by Luanne Crosby Celebrates WCLT’s 20th Anniversary
This year WCLT was honored when singer-songwriter Luanne Crosby wrote a special song for WCLT’s 20th anniversary. Luanne sang and played the song, “Understand,” for the first time at WCLT’s anniversary celebration in April. For the benefit of all members, a future WCLT e-newsletter will provide a link to this special song, which Luanne is in the process of recording. For now, enjoy Luanne’s lyrics:
Understand – by Luanne Crosby
It soothes our aching souls
Warms our weary hearts
Clears our minds of thoughts
When we feel we’ve come apart
It’s always there for us
In our darkest hours
Shades us with its trees
Delights us with its flowers
We in turn seek to protect this strong but fragile land
Anyone who’s roamed these woods surely understands
It cleans the air we breathe
Its waters quench our thirst
Restores our mood to calm
Even when we’re at our worst
Cools us with the dark
Warms us from the chill
We trust it will provide
And pray it always will
We in turn seek to protect this strong but fragile land
Anyone who’s climbed these hills surely understands
How can we not cherish
This place that is our home
This planet is our savior
To whom we must atone
For all that we’ve done wrong
For what we have destroyed
We can’t turn back the clock
But we know how to go forward
Our duty now is to protect this strong but fragile land
Anyone who’s walked these fields surely understands
Anyone who’s watched the sky
Seen the lightning, heard the thunder
All of us who know its wonders
Surely understand
© L. Crosby 2017
(Written for the 20th Anniversary of the Westborough Community Land Trust)
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Keith Martin has recently taken on the role of chair of the Stewardship Committee, following Marge Fisher who served as chair 2013-2017. This is Keith’s third year on the Board of Directors. He has been an active trail steward both through WCLT and as an assistant scoutmaster in Troop 100.
Keith reports that most of the 50+ mile Charm Bracelet trail system is in excellent shape thanks to the hard work of our volunteers and a relatively mild 2016-17 winter.
- New trail at Bowman Conservation Area (BCA): Earlier this year, with financial support from WCLT, the Town installed a new trail behind the guard rail on Upton Road. This new trail segment creates safe and convenient access to the Bowman Conservation Area from Minuteman Park and completes a loop trail around Sandra Pond. Trail map showing Sandra Pond
- Scout projects: WCLT continues to sponsor multiple Eagle Scout projects, both ongoing and recently completed. Bram Townsend of Troop 382 recently finished construction of a bridge on the Malley Trail near the base of Veterans’ Freedom Park. Carter Fleming of Troop 100 recently completed an invasive species removal project at Gilmore Pond. Ongoing projects include repairs to the Gilmore Pond access road and additional bridging on the Malley Trail. Approximately 100 Eagle Scout projects have benefited WCLT since 1997. We also benefit from work with Girl Scouts on Gold and Silver award projects. Trail map showing Malley Trail Trail map showing Gilmore Pond
- Trail clean-up: This summer, the WCLT Stewardship Committee held three work sessions: one to create a new trailhead to the Libbey Conservation Area (LCA) at Adams Street, and two to remove large brush piles at Gilmore Pond. Trail map showing Libbey Conservation Area
- Ongoing work: This year, work will continue at the Adams Street trailhead, along the Malley Trail, and on the Orchard Swamp Trail where the section from Haskell Street to East Main Street was severely damaged by a 2016 microburst.
 You can help! If you regularly walk the trails in Westborough, it’s easy to help us keep the trails in good shape. If you notice any problem areas (fallen trees, trash, graffiti, or trails becoming too narrow due to foliage growth), please send a report by email to Keith. If you are interested in becoming a trail monitor, or you are willing to help out with some occasional trail work, send a note to the same address. We recently started a new mailing list for volunteers, and we’d be thrilled to add you to it!
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A view of the new Upton Road trail segment at Sandra Pond, looking toward Minuteman Park from Bowman Conservation Area
New Upton Road trail segment completes Sandra Pond loop
What’s new on the trails? This summer a short but crucial new trail segment along Upton Road was built, making it possible – at long last! – to walk all the way around Sandra Pond without having to walk on the road. This very welcome trail segment is situated between the Upton Road guard rail and the pond. It completes the trail loop around the pond and also provides a relatively short trail route between Minuteman Park and the Bowman Conservation Area parking lot on Bowman Street. Go to Minuteman Park and walk left (when you’re facing the pond) to get to this new trail segment.
The Town completed this trail segment with help from WCLT. Many thanks to RSA Media, which made a donation to WCLT for the express purpose of funding the completion of this portion of trail. We are grateful for the generosity that made the trail construction possible. Trail map showing Bowman Conservation Area with Sandra Pond
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Cindy Kunz
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