Introduction from Mike Ludgate: "If you don't know who Ann is: Her family owns private land which is completely surrounded by NYS land at Hammond Hill. She and her husband Charles are active in the Orienteering club, they are runners, equestrians, hikers, bikers and etc.... and just about the friendliest most generous folks I know. Some of the multi-use trails cross their land ... so probably hundreds of you have been on their property and didn't even realize it... I say whatever these folks are trying to organize is worth an effort by the rest of us, just to say thanks! Please pass on. Thanks, -m"

Hammond Hill Block Party

Photos are up! (Aug 21, 2004)

"I've posted a (brief) story on today's excitement, as well as a gallery of pictures. The story is at: http://livingindryden.org/archives/000963.html The gallery is at: http://simonstl.com/pics/hammondHill/ If you'd like larger versions of any of the pictures, let me know. It was a great way to spend the day. I've never seen anything quite like it, but I'd really like to see that again!"

Simon St.Laurent
http://livingindryden.org/

Thank you from Ann Leonard: (Aug 24, 2004)

Dear Friends! Wow, what a crew you all are, I must say. Never in a million years had I imagined so perfect a day as we had, despite the rain, and maybe a bit because of it! Please take some time to peruse Simon St.Laurent's photo gallery of the trail crew at work... you guys are absolutely awe-inspiring! Also he took some shots of the block party.

Through your generousity, we raised $1030 for trail materials, spent $638 of that on gravel and culverts and have $392 left for another project of our choosing. Many expressed a desire to make this event an annual item. Reckon we could do that, don't you?

We will get together one more time this year at least, to finish what we started. This coming weekend is out for me, big ol' race in Canada, but the morning of Saturday September 4th would work (afternoon is taken) Also Saturday the 11th. Please let me know what works for you.

I cannot thank you all enough. You are fantastic!

Ann Leonard

Hammond Hill Block Party

8 am until 5 pm August 21, 2004 -- Please scroll down for details on parking and directions....
at Camp Earth Connections (1/4 mile south of the parking lot on Hammond Hill Road)
Hammond Hill State Forest Dryden, N.Y.
organized by Ann Leonard leonard@clarityconnect.com

Why we are having a block party ?

•    To promote understanding and build contacts and friendships across the different groups who come to Hammond Hill for recreation
•    To share our interests with others. Who knows whom we may inspire?
•    To raise funds and recruit volunteers to repair Yellow Trail One, the main access trail into Hammond Hill State Forest

Activities on August 21st 2004

8 am until 1 pm
Trail Repair on Yellow Trail One

1 pm until ?
Chicken Barbeque and dish to pass

MUSIC Starting at 1:30 until ......
Scotch-Irish Bagpipe Music with Charlie Graves .......................... followed by
Acoustic Folk Music with "Your Friends and Neighbors" .............. then featuring:
"Satterly Hill" (this is Tom Farrell's band) ................................... followed again by
Acoustic Folk Music with Your Friends and Neighbors ................ wrapping up for as long as we can keep them playing!

2:00 until 5:00 pm
•    Bike O and History O Courses with CNYOrienteering
•    Short and Long Training Runs with Finger Lakers Runners Club
•    Mist Netting with Cornell Lab of Ornithology
•    Forest Walk with Michael DeMunn, Sponsor: Finger Lakes Land Trust
•    Horses Up Close and Personal; Safe Ways to Share the Trail, by Day Spring Farm
•    Hammond Hill History with the Dryden Historical Society

As a kindness to them and as a safety measure, please leave your dogs at home

From Ann Saurday morning Aug 21:

It has rained all night and still sprinkles this morning as I write this at 6:35 am. We sure are getting the high water, aren't we?! However, my tractor operator (Charlie, my husband) says he is going to try to work on the trail anyways. If it proves that it is not workable under the current conditions, then we'll knock off and go clean up and go to the party. If we cannot do the trail work today, well, we'll work at it when we can, as by Sunday the trail will not have dried out much more than it is today. But, let's go ahead and give it a shot today.

The party (starting at 1:00 pm with BBQ and dish to pass) is going forward anyways, whether we can get the trail work done or not... too many people signed up and/or are doing the party work details who cannot come Sunday.

Pre-registration for this event will help us to plan on how many people to expect, and helps to pay in advance for necessary trail repair materials, chicken for the barbecue, and insurance for the private camp where we will be assembling. Please print out, then fill out the registration RSVP form and mail to the address on the form with the per head entry fees and any additional donation toward trail materials that you wish to donate (why five bucks? please read FAQs below scroll down).http://www.ludgatefarms.com/blockparty_RSVP.doc Also here is the block party poster page alone for printing for your office, club or store bulletin board. Here are the HTML versions also which seem to work better in non-MS browsers RSVP , POSTER If you failed to pre register don't worry: please see FAQ's below! scroll down ... Thanks :)

F.A.Q. section: (frequently asked questions)

0) "Do I get in free because I'm helping?"

"It really would help me to plan if I had a paper RSVP from everyone who planned to come (multiple people can use one form, as long as I get a head count) I have to figure 1) how many people will be there (insurance purposes) 2) how much chicken to buy, 3) how much parking space is going to be needed and 4) if I need to plan for more parking elsewhere, and then 5)how do I get people from the remote parking to the event, if there is goingto be more than just so many people and traffic, 6) I have to notify the police, 7) the EMT squad, and so on. So that RSVP is crucial.

As the chicken and camp is being provided at cost, no one is making money on this event, (and if there is a cost overrun, I will end up picking up the difference, real motivation to make sure we stay within budget!) I really cannot afford to provide any "get in free" tickets. Everyone there will be providing of their talents, in many ways. The only fee is the $5 a head for insurance ($2) and chicken ($3), anything individuals chose to donate over this is a free will offering toward gravel and geofabric. You don't have to pay a dime toward that if you don't want to." -Ann Leonard

1) How do I get to the Block Party?

Directions: The party is being held at Camp Earth Connections on Hammond Hill.

From Ithaca via Rt 13, head north on route 13 toward Dryden. Turn right onto Irish Settlement (it's the first right after Steven's Furniture house and the Willow Glen Cemetery) The Back To Basics store is on the corner there. Follow Irish Settlement (you're headed due south) 4 miles to Hammond Hill Road. Turn left onto Hammond Hill Road. The road forks in about 1/4 mile Take the right fork, staying on Hammond Hill Road (the other fork is Starr Stanton Road) Go about 1/4 mile up a hill to the parking lot on the right. We should have parking marshalls assisting people to park. If none, please park safely, keeping in mind there will be a lot of people and kids around. From there, walk along Hammond Hill Road to the camp, about 1/4 mile. There will be signs pointing the way.

From Ithaca, you can also come by way of Route 79. Turn left onto Midline Road in Slaterville Springs. Take Midline to where it joins Irish Settlement down in the bottom of a dip. Midline goes left, Irish Settlement goes straight ahead. Go Straight Ahead! on Irish Settlement another 2 miles to Hammond Hill Road. Turn right, and follow instructions from that point as outlined above.

From Cortland, take 13 into the center of Dryden. Stay on 13 (a right turn at the stoplight) and follow 13 out of town past the VFW to Irish Settlement, which is the first left turn after the VFW. Follow instructions from that point on as outlined above.

2) The walk from the parking area to the camp is a problem for me. Can you help?

Sure! Please email Ann at leonard@clarityconnect.com and tell her what the difficulty is, or write on your RSVP form that you need help. We'll work something out.

3) I'm coming in the morning to help work on the trail. Where are we meeting for that?

No need to walk all the way up to the camp, since we are going to be working on Yellow Trail One and that starts right opposite the parking lot. After you park your car, cross Hammond Hill from the parking lot and follow the trail down through the gully and on up until you find people. We will be tacking down geofabric and spreading gravel on the far side of the gully. That is, we will be, if people send money for it! So far, I only have $100. That doesn't buy much gravel or fabric... hint hint!

3a) It would be nice to know what kind of tools we'll need.....?

We'll be laying down geofabric, spreading gravel and setting drain pipes. Rock rakes and shovels are the tools of the day. No need to bring aything else, I think. If we end up needing anything else, I probably have it at home, and it's easy for me to go fetch it.

4) Why can't my dog come? He's really well behaved.

Sorry folks, the camp's insurance forbids dogs, even really well behaved dogs.

The camp also has a "No alcohol or tobacco" policy, so leave beer and smokes, etc at home. Also, there will be no swimming in the pond. There are no lifeguards and the pond water is far too murky for safety.

5) I'm not sure if I can get to the block party, but hope to. Can I just pay the entry fee when I get there?

Oi, these spontaneous folks make it hard to plan! However, here's what we'll do.

a) Those of you who simply need the extra flexibility of last minute arrival can register at the front gate of the camp and pay $2.00 for the insurance (Yes, it seems pricey. Let's all form a coalition and collective bargain these insurance companies down to reasonable premiums, starting with health insurance! In the meantime, unfortunately, we're stuck with what they want to charge us!)

b) Susan has agreed to prepare a small quantity of extra chicken (over and above what is prepaid for by those who actually send in an RSVP form) and there will be "chicken tickets" available for purchase at registration if you want one. Once all those tickets are gone, that's it, though.

c) Don't forget to bring a dish to pass for 20, as well!

d) A footnote to everyone. Chicken will all be served and gone by 2 pm, so plan accordingly!

6) I'm vegetarian. Do I have to pay for chicken?

No. Yetch. Imagine having to pay for something you can't bring yourself to eat! Just send in the $2.00 for insurance and indicate you are a vegetarian somewhere on the RSVP form. There will still be lots of good food in the dish to pass . You can bring your own veggie burgers to cook up if you want to, and, of course, a dish to pass for 20.

7) Late breaking news, last minute notes .... stormed out plans.... posted Thursday Aug 19th:

Evan tells me I should have a contingency plan in case of rain. He's right, so here it is: If it is just plain awful out, e.g.: lightning, thunder, heavy wind and rain, listen to the local radio stations and check your email before coming Saturday. I will call (at the very least) Eagle Broadcasting (870 am, and they have 97.3 fm and the country music station, ... right, Casey?)

However, it isn't going to rain, it is going to be an absolutely beautiful pleasant day!

We currently have about 60 people signed up, and that means there is LOTS of extra chicken since Susan ordered 100 pieces, anticipating a lot of last minute, show at the gate types. So you all can relay it onward to interested parties... if you aren't signed up yet, no problem, come on ahead! I have made 100 "chicken" buttons (some really nice, with a button maker, until both it and its successor broke down on the job, and then I made little button shaped pieces of laminated paper with safety pins) Once those 100 buttons are gone, (and preregistered people are safe here, your names are on a list and your buttons held separately) there will be "no chicken" buttons left so you can come anyways, just won't get chicken. Vegetarians get "no chicken" buttons, too. Remember a dish to pass for 20. We particularly need salads!

For those who are wondering, (and you should, I've been particularly poor about relaying how this is all going to work!) Those who are coming in the morning, you can go straight to the trail where we will be working. It starts opposite the parking lot. Just follow it up to where people are. We anticipate starting about 8 am. At about 12:45, or when we get done, whatever comes first, we'll all knock off and walk to the camp.

Those coming for the block party, park in the lot and walk to the camp (due south from the parking lot on Hammond Hill Road) about 1/4 mile. Look for the large white or silver tent near the entrance of the camp where Dave LoParco will be handing out the appropriate chicken/no chicken buttons to preregistrants and selling chicken/no chicken buttons to those spur of the moment types. From there, take your dish to pass to the pavilion where Jillian Liner will tell you where to set it. I hope to have another tent set up where folks who need to change their clothes can do so.

Parking! It's somewhat reduced due to 15 loads of gravel piled in the back, so please park closely to one another. Really squeeze them in there! Overflow parking can go up my driveway. In the wooded area is fine to drive off the driveway, just don't drive onto my lawn, you'll get stuck... the soil is really waterlogged and mushy. Also you can park along one side (ONE SIDE ONLY!) down Hammond Hill Road. There will be an area of NO PARKING (during the morning only) along the flat stretch at the top between the end of my driveway and the parking lot, as we need the area to maneuver tractors and wagons and we don't want to have to worry about running into anyone's parked car. Best NOT to park beyond the parking lot toward camp, as the road is narrower there and turning around to leave could prove problematic, unless you have a small and nimble car. Even then, once the pitch starts downhill, best not to park at all, so maybe 4 small cars all told can park in this area.

Mountain Bike aficionados, bring your bikes! We are having mountain bike orienteering complete with the latest Sport-Ident equipment (I didn't announce this earlier as I was unsure if we could get the equipment) Basically, you carry a computer chip with you when you ride. At every control stop you put this in the sport ident box, and it will register you were there, and when. Back at the finish, the computer chip downloads onto the computer and you will get a printout telling you how long you took between controls and your overall time. Great to share with other riders, while you compare times and route choices after the race.

All attendees! Please drive slowly and watch out for pedestrians, other cars, tractors and the occasional red fox. (their den is near the end of my driveway)

This is going to be an absolutely fabulous day =) thanks to all of you!!

The weather is forecast intermittantly rainy on Saturday morning and lovely Saturday afternoon. Folks, we are going to get gross and grubby anyways, why let a little rain stop us? Plan for rain, wear rubber boots(or footwear you don't care about that can protect your feet), raincoats and hats. Put a change of clothes and a towel in your car. There is no bad weather, just not dressing right for the weather! I will have a changing tent sent up (guys and gals separate) and Susan has a nice set of wash tubs set up where you can wash your face and hands before lunch. The only reason I would move the morning work to Sunday is if there is really bad slashing rain and high winds. Even if forced to move the trail work to Sunday, we will still hold all the planned Saturday afternoon festivities on Saturday.

The No See Ums are biting like nobody's business. Bring bug spray or plan to suffer.

If you can at all, bring your folding chairs. We need seating!

Trail workers, we willl be laying down geofabric, setting two culverts, and spreading gravel. You need rock rakes and shovels and little else. Gloves are a good idea, as is a water bottle (in a carrier if you have one) Snacks are being provided by EMS. (Thanks, guys!)

Cheers,
Ann

Our "Block Party" date is set!: August 21st, 2004. "Stormed out" date will be August 22. Base camp will be at Camp Earth Connections

Here is the initial feedback - 2nd letter:    HHBP Update (2nd letter) 3/25/04
Here is more feedback -      3rd letter: Progress Report (3rd letter) 3/29/04
Here is more feedback -      4th letter:                     HHBP Update (4th letter) 3/31/04
Here is more feedback -      5th and short 6th letter: HHBP Update (5th and 6th letter) 04/07/04
Here is more feedback -      7th letter: HHBP Update (7th letter) 04/14/04
Here is more feedback -      8th letter:       HHBP Update (8th letter) 05/28/04
Late Breaking News !!!! -      9th letter:    Late Breaking News!! - HHBP Update (9th significant letter) 07/23/04

03/24/2004 1st letter From Ann Leonard leonard@clarityconnect.com

Dear Friends,

I am writing you all as I have your email addresses (you poor souls!!) and know that you are involved to one degree or another in various groups who have a vested interest in Hammond Hill State Forest. The hope is that you will either assist me in spreading the following idea around to see if we can drum up interest, or at the very least, can direct me to someone in your group who would be interested in doing a bit of drum banging. The following idea has been bounced off several individuals as well as Dave Forness and John Clancy of the Cortland DEC, and was greeted with a respectable amount of enthusiasm by all, so now I take it the next step, which is to involve you all.

In short, I have been mulling over the possibility of pulling together a summertime or early fall, one day gathering of all the different groups who find recreation on Hammond Hill. The purpose is threefold:

1) To promote understanding and build contacts and friendships across the different user groups. It is hard to demonize people you know, frankly. I, for one, am tired of hearing individuals in one group trash talk another group's chosen activity. Peace and tolerance begins at home. (yes, I am a bit of a pollyanna)

2) To inform. Share your interests with others, who know whom you may inspire?

3) To raise money and recruit volunteers to repair Yellow Trail One, the main trail that leads from the municipal parking lot on a DEC easement across my property and on through state forest where it joins up with more trails. This trail is heavily utilized and some areas are truly gross underfoot. Who better to fix that than those who directly benefit? That's right : us. The state has our local foresters stretched thin both with dollars and with manpower. I think we can help them help us, and build a sense of community while we are at it.

Please help me by adding your own inspirations to the following ideas. Pretty much these are fairly low tech, homespun ideas the product of my own mini brainstorming that may or may not have any basis in reality:

HH private property owners, of course.

Dryden Historical Society. Bring the history of Hammond Hill to the rest of us. Prior owners of my farm, Burch and Rose Hammond have a large and devoted family, who have shared wonderful memories of days they spent at Uncle Burchy's and Aunt Rose's place. Not to mention Hammond Hill was the birthplace of Cornell's benefactor John McGraw, and the birthplace of the One and Only Artificial Dog, to whom all dogs and cats owe a pledge of gratitude for its role in developing today's flea control medications. How about a tent with tables and chairs for people to sit and visit and lots of pictures, old articles and anything else you can think of. Maybe have the music here too? (more on music later)

Cornell Plantations: They own a chunk of land on HH too. Cornell used a number of local farms to develop Birdsfoot Trefoil, a plant that continues to thrive on HH in our heavy clay soils. Burch Hammond used to cut the first crop for hay, and thresh the second crop for seed. A bit of history others might find as interesting as I have. Additionally, the Plantations could address present day habitat building information for those who would like to support bird and butterfly and wild animal habitats The biology of a pond could be held for youngsters as there is a small "peeper pond" on my property near the parking lot that could be utilized for nature study. Alternatively, perhaps Camp Earth Connections would be interested in doing this? Or the Cayuga Nature Center (former owners)

Birders and Cornell Lab of Ornithology Apparently Hammond Hill is the place to go to study confusing fall warblers. The lab has set their nets on Hammond Hill, and having myself blundered across them hard at work, find their research fascinating. No doubt others would think so, too! Not to mention many other bird species, also worthy of interest and study.

Nordic Ski Club and Bill Koch Ski League. What can I say? Hammond Hill remains one of the top ski destinations in the county, and I'm lucky to live right on it. Many individuals in this club have worked hard to clear trails and fix up Burch Hammond's old garage (now mine) for a winter shelter ( I also have real windows and new roof tin I intend to get installed this year. The materials are bought, I just need to designate the time to do it) Perhaps the club could put on a ski equipment swap? I know summer time isn't exactly when folks are thinking about skiing, but...

Snowmobilers. I've met an awful lot of lovely, generous people on snowmobiles, and those groomed tracks they've spend hours taking care of sure are super on skis, too! Wouldn't it be great if skiers and snowmobilers stopped whining about each other's sport? What would the snowmobile club like to do?

Mountain Bikers. We need to help others see we're not just a bunch of speed loving, mud splashing, trail trashing gearheads! What could we do? Bike riding or repair/tuneup clinic, maybe? Have someone working with the horse people to accustom horses to mountain bikes? (Horse people and mountain bike people too often are like the snowmobile/skier continuum... a little promotion of understanding could go a long ways)

Equestrians: Lets help others see how wonderful our equine pals really are. Not just piles of semi digested hay left on trails. I'd volunteer my horses for the cause, perhaps others would like to bring theirs? My horses are happy to ride out with mountain bikers, they see them as another horse. Not so all horses. perhaps here is an opportunity to fix that.

Orienteers: Hey we really need to promote our crazy sport. I still get the "orienteering? What's that?" We could put on a "History O" and take people all over the hills to spots that have historical interest, natural and man made. I'd design the course and hang the controls, if I could get others to manage the rest of the details

Finger Lakes Running Club puts on the Bugliosa Trail Run every year here... anything you folks would be interested in doing?

Susan Rausch runs a terrific kids camp up here. More people should know about this camp!! Sue, would you like to get involved somehow?

Dog lovers: SPCA. maybe? I love seeing dogs out here, they are so happy! But a few see them as a nuisance. What can we do to make peace?

How about a dish to pass or a barbecue chicken dinner?

Last on my list but far from least: MUSIC! I have a bagpiper to play Scotch Irish tunes in honor of the original settlers up here (He's very good!) Mike, if your group would play, that would be cool. Star Stanton (yeah, it's not just a name of a road, the guy really did live up here) made a name for himself as a fiddler. My brother is a professional violinist and viola d'amourist, he might be willing to play. Maybe my brass group that meets here Fridays could be convinced to play a couple numbers. Square and round dances? Others?

What all else? Ideas, anyone? I know it's crazy, but it could prove to be an awful lot of fun

As you can see, I don't have contacts for all the groups I mentioned above. (runner's club, snowmobile club, birders, Lab of Ornithology and so on. Those of you who do, would you help me out in this regard? Much appreciated. For the rest of you, maybe mentioning this on your respective club list serves would get things under motion. I sent this to the orienteers

Thanks,

Ann Leonard leonard@clarityconnect.com