Can't wait to see these letters to the Editor of the Lynn, Peabody and Salem newspapers.
If you have a letter you would like to share here, email peace@springpondwoods.com
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Begin Letter to the Editor
by Katerina and Leslie, members of Spring Pond Advocates
"Why Salem leaves behind nature's open space on the hilly summit by Spring Pond, for big-box development is unknown. A great vision written in "The City of Salem Open Space and Recreation Plan Update: 2007-2012" strategizes how to conserve important private, open space like this for people. This is a genius plan to put into reality, and in it, Camp Lion is inventoried. It states- "The need to improve and upgrade park facilities, and preserve and protect existing open spaces is widely recognized and deeply felt by Salem residents." We deeply feel the same way for Spring Pond's open space enriching Salem, Lynn and Peabody. Some of the goals in the plan include to: "Protect open space... Seek to establish public/private partnership for park maintenance... Identify parcels not owned by the City located in wetlands or other resource areas... speak to the owner about developing a conservation restriction on the property... provide consistently high standards for "symbolic landscapes", assess historic resources to prioritize protection of those that are most endangered... strengthen Salem's wetlands ordinance to protect rare, endangered and unique flora and fauna... protect examples of Salem's ecological diversity... revise local Wetlands Ordinance to include the implementation of conservation restrictions on parcels..." etc. Camp Lion has features to protect: fragile waterways on the hills of Spring Pond, potential vernal pools, unfragmented wildlife habitat, pine barrens, geological formations, potential "symbolic landscapes", trails that follow meandering streams and ancient paths, a great camp ground for children set back from highway noise and trouble, and rare flora pertaining to history in a ready-made arboretum and learning reservation. Protecting our landscapes of heritage in Essex County is important not only for today or for tomorrow's kids, but for life a 100 years from now.We hope history will remember this place well and not those who were behind to harm it. Please lets not destroy this place and all the good it brings... for material things. There are other lots to build on."
The Open Space and Recreation Plan is found online (click here) or at City Hall.
Katerina Panagiotakis,
member of Spring Pond Advocates
The Salem and Lynn Historical Society
The Lynn Historical Commission
Leslie Courtemanche,
member of Spring Pond Advocates
author of two books of Spring Pond: "A Quest for Survival"and "Heritage and Habitat Lost"
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Here's another letter to the newspapers sent last week, but has not been printed yet.
Arboretum enchants the Fay Estate
by Calvin Anderson, member of Spring Pond Advocates
A very special place exists within Lynn’s borders: Take a turn onto Fays Avenue off Western Avenue near the Salem line. Then, get out of your vehicle and stroll or bicycle through the neighborhood known for the sprawling, once private Fay Estate on the shores of Spring Pond. Be prepared to step back in time...
Begin your journey by walking along Fays Avenue, the main roadway through the area. Let your mind’s eye take on a sepia tone. Blur the panorama, erase the asphalt and render it once again as a dirt and grassy lane. Picture the human-made structures and homes are gone. Eliminate one-and-a-half centuries of newer shrub and tree growth and where you are is an idyllic pathway through hilly meadows, with a striking vertical element here and there along the way in the form of a carefully positioned tree from somewhere exotic. They are still there, you know...those special, precious trees planted as a gift to humankind by Mr. Fay in his private arboretum. Today, after watching over the generations of souls who have lived and died under their canopy, they are a continuing respite from the workaday strife of the current city residents. They seem content being the senior members of the landscape of this enchanting gateway to Spring Pond and the surrounding Spring Pond Woods.
Members of Spring Pond Advocates (SPA) are working on a map for a walking tour of the Fays Estate neighborhood highlighting the locations and species of trees planted in the 1800’s by Mr. Fay. Many of the trees are on the public way and are grand enough and suitable for beholding and...hugging! The taller varieties of trees and groves which are located on what have become private home lots can be viewed from the right-of-way, as well, so one does not have to trespass or intrude!... This tree tour is being researched and prepared by Katerina Panagiotakis and me, members of SPA with assistance from arborist Richard Randall and naturalist Leslie Courtemanche. We also are both Lynn Historical Commissioners and are doing this pro bono project in conjunction with that body’s mission. We welcome inquiries and assistance through the web log “Heart of Lynn” and through Mayor Kennedy’s office at Lynn City Hall.
Begin your journey by walking along Fays Avenue, the main roadway through the area. Let your mind’s eye take on a sepia tone. Blur the panorama, erase the asphalt and render it once again as a dirt and grassy lane. Picture the human-made structures and homes are gone. Eliminate one-and-a-half centuries of newer shrub and tree growth and where you are is an idyllic pathway through hilly meadows, with a striking vertical element here and there along the way in the form of a carefully positioned tree from somewhere exotic. They are still there, you know...those special, precious trees planted as a gift to humankind by Mr. Fay in his private arboretum. Today, after watching over the generations of souls who have lived and died under their canopy, they are a continuing respite from the workaday strife of the current city residents. They seem content being the senior members of the landscape of this enchanting gateway to Spring Pond and the surrounding Spring Pond Woods.
Members of Spring Pond Advocates (SPA) are working on a map for a walking tour of the Fays Estate neighborhood highlighting the locations and species of trees planted in the 1800’s by Mr. Fay. Many of the trees are on the public way and are grand enough and suitable for beholding and...hugging! The taller varieties of trees and groves which are located on what have become private home lots can be viewed from the right-of-way, as well, so one does not have to trespass or intrude!... This tree tour is being researched and prepared by Katerina Panagiotakis and me, members of SPA with assistance from arborist Richard Randall and naturalist Leslie Courtemanche. We also are both Lynn Historical Commissioners and are doing this pro bono project in conjunction with that body’s mission. We welcome inquiries and assistance through the web log “Heart of Lynn” and through Mayor Kennedy’s office at Lynn City Hall.
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Here's an older letter someone shared from June 26th,
and resubmitted a few days ago.
Main concern is Spring Pond
~ by Kerry D.
Printed: Salem News
Printed: Salem News
"In regard to the proposed Super Walmart and Lowes on Highland Ave near the Lynn/Salem line, a few may want the developments, but there are more en mass who do not. This may sound like great news for all of us in Lynn and Salem; increased revenue, jobs, tax breaks, incentives, etc etc etc. There are a lot of people out there who need jobs. I understand that and I want that to happen. But I live in Lynn and I work in Salem. The increase in traffic alone on Highland Ave and Buchanan Bridge will be tremendous. I don't care what all the statisticians say. They don't drive that road every day as I do. But that is just me talking about being inconvenienced.
And that is not my main concern. My main concern is how this will affect Spring Pond. This proposal will clear woods, take out wildlife, deer, bats, fox, woodpeckers, owls, all sorts of birds, plants, flowers, waterfalls, vernal pools. It's a beautiful place. Go up there, take a walk. You will be amazed.
On Highland Ave we already have Home Depot, One Way Lumber, Target, Market Basket, Shaws, CVS and Walmart. But we won't have another Spring Pond. You can't build that. Nature builds that in it's own special slow way and it won't come around again soon. I understand that we need to progress. We must move on and we must build, but at what expense? There has to be a time to say enough. This is the time."
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Email your letters to the editor:
Salem News: nbenton@salemnews.com
Salem Gazette: salem@cnc.com
Lynn Happens: editor@lynnhappens.com
Peabody: editor@weeklynews.net
write in subject line: Letter to the Editor
try to keep the letter short
try to keep the letter short
If you do not see your letter within a few days... call them!
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