2008 Report of Activities and Accomplishments
Reservation Events:
- Hilltop clean-up and debris removal on south-east slope – late March / April
- Bird walk led by Phoebe Epstein of the Wild Bird Center - May
- Honeybee presentation and demonstration by Joseph Lelinho, Hilltop Honey – June
- Family Hike / Bike Ride – June
Good News for Good Works:
- Treasurer Theresa Trapp is award the Essex County TrailKeeper award – June
Trails Network:
- Continued membership in the NY NJ Trails Conference – developed e-Newsletter list
- Held trail maintenance event; cleared fallen trees and added markers – Spring
- Added loop trail in northwestern reservation corner. Scouted additional trail loop possibilities
- Initiated map making effort with Essex County College students as part of their GIS course work and creating a greater ‘green space’ project
- Removal of fallen tree from White Rock Trail by KHovnanian - June
Local Awareness Raising Efforts:
- Held meetings at the Verona Park Boat House – Jan, Feb, Mar, Ap, Sept., Oct.
- Met with KHovnanian representatives to define building site issues - July
- Access by illegal vehicles via building site
- Trash
- Felled tree below Verona water tank
- Erosion control, land scar coverage and Parcel III drainage
- Watersphere landscaping
- Updated and distributed brochures – ongoing
- Earmarked public information kiosk from County - placement in Reservation pending completion of construction
- Created and applied ‘Keep Hilltop Clean’ signs to trash barrels
Meadow Restoration Project:
- March -- stump and tree removal. Met with Verona Township manager, to promote Watersphere area planting compatible with meadow species.
- April -- debris collection & removal
- May -- native grass seeding
- June -- wildflower seeding, wood chip path creation (with Morris Land Conservancy and Hatch Mott MacDonald volunteers)
- July -- soil application to large parking lot
- August -- wood chip path completion. Raised $1,500 for plants and seeds
- September -- large rock removal (with Ricoh USA volunteers)
- October -- wildflower transplanting & seeding (with Ricoh USA volunteers)
- November -- soil & wood chip application to stony areas
- December -- bluebird nest box installation by Cedar Grove Boy Scouts, soil & wood chip application to stony areas
Western Entrance:
- Continued efforts to meet with County and KHov and obtain agreement on route, and to determine repairs and resources required.
Hilltop Security and Maintenance:
- Responded to sludge dumping incident. Access to Reservation through North Caldwell development sites. Shared pictures and information with county police departments. Initiated removal of dumped material. – July
- Initiated monthly trash pick up by Parks Department
- Doubled number of trash barrels in the Reservation
- Regular patrols by Sheriff’s Department – ongoing
Membership, ‘Allmembers’ and Interested Parties:
- 181 by 2008 end
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