Snow Has Fallen!

Snow has fallen here on Manchaug Pond making for a magical morning sunrise.

Another Photo of the Fog…

Here’s the photo take by the secretary… I have to agree with the reader’s comment on the previous post that our guest photographer wins hands down!

Voters resoundingly back land-saving measure

Voters resoundingly back land-saving measure SUTTON — In a special election yesterday, residents overwhelmingly approved, by a 441-83 vote, a debt exclusion to fund the town’s $280,000 share of the cost to place an agricultural preservation restriction on 314 acres owned by Whittier Farms. “It’s a significant step to preserving a piece of Sutton’s history,” Town Administrator James A. Smith said. It also brings the town a step closer to solving its cell phone coverage problems. “It’s a win-win,” he said. After the closing of the APR transaction with the state, the town plans to buy five acres from the Whittier’s for $24,000. The goal is to offset the town’s cost of the restriction with revenue generated by leasing the land to a cell carrier. — Ruth Vecchione http://www.telegram.com/article/20091125/NEWS/911250301 Thank you to the Whittier Family for offering this gem to the community, to Sutton Town Administrator, James Smith, for heading up this effort, to Sutton Board of Selectman for supporting, and to you Sutton voters who came out for this single ballot item. I would venture to say that a good portion of Whittier Hill’s 314 acres lie in the 4,288 acres of Manchaug Pond’s watershed. The Manchaug Pond – …

ATTENTION SUTTON VOTERS! Vote YES and Protect Manchaug Pond Watershed

“Special Election Nov. 24 to protect Whittier Farms The Town of Sutton is holding a special election on Tuesday November 24th, 2009 from 7am-8pm to consider a debt exclusion of $280,000, for the purpose of becoming a co-holder, with the State of Massachusetts, of an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) on 314 acres of land currently owned by Whittier Farms Inc. The APR program is a voluntary program that offers an alternative to owners of farmland who choose to see the property protected rather than sell it for development. The APR program offers to pay farmland owners the difference between the “fair market value” and the “agricultural value” of their property in exchange for a permanent deed restriction that prevents the land from ever being developed for anything other than a farm purpose. The Whittiers are seeking the APR for 378 acres of land: 314 acres off Town Farm Road and Douglas Road in Sutton and 64 acres in Oxford. The State Department of Agriculture has determined that the Town’s share to co-hold the APR is 10% of the State’s acquisition price. The special election on Tuesday November 24th, 2009 is for the voters to consider the debt exclusion of $280,000. …

Walkingstick – the Insect

This unusual insect was captured by our Area 1 photographer during last week’s warmer weather. Resembling a twig or stick, as they are 2 – 3+ inches long, they easily blend into the landscape – but are easily spotted on the house window. The field guide tells us that all walkingsticks, including our Northern Diapheromera femorata, live in the deciduous woods and forests feeding on the foliage of trees and shrubs especially oaks and hazelnuts. Interesting is their “amazing ability to regenerate lost legs.” “Females drop eggs singly. Eggs overwinter among ground litter and hatch in spring, when nymphs push open domelike ends of the eggs. Nymphs crawl up woody vegetation at night to reach edible foliage.” Further it notes that their stick-like appearance camouflages them from birds seeking food during the day. And “when many femails are dropping eggs, the sound is like the pitter-patter of light rain.”