Hammond Hill "Block Party" - 2nd Letter from Ann Leonard: Initial feedback: HHBP Update 3/25/04

Original letter here.

This letter is titled: "Initial feedback: HHBP Update 3/25/04"
03/25/2004 From Ann Leonard leonard@clarityconnect.com

Dear all

This list has considerably expanded since yesterday!! Thanks so much to all who responded to volunteer and to offer suggestions. I have copied their comments below, then added a few of my own. One note though, please do not send me email with attachments unless you let me know in advance what is in them ... I delete those messages if from people I haven't yet met, for fear of computer viruses, and consequently I may already have deleted notes from potential volunteers. If you hear that someone wrote me and didn't get a response, please have them write me again. I really do try to respond to everyone! - Ann

Hi Ann,

What a great idea. Sure I'd like to be involved. We could probably gather at the camp, depending on the day...

Thanks for including me.

Susan Rausch

Camp Earth Connections

Thanks Susan! I think your camp would make a great "base of operations" ... you have shelters, water and electric, and the field out front is reliably dry. I had thought to use my property near the sign in kiosk, but your place works ever so much better, as long as we don't interfere with your day camp ops. Would you be willing to coordinate a day program for kids while their parents work on the trail? Maybe we could get Liz Griffin's crew out to assist? A

Ann,What a neat idea!

The Finger Lakes Runners (not Running ;-)) Club puts on the Tom Bugliosi Trail Run every Mothers Day with about 100 people doing 13k or 26k runs. (09 May this year) This is my first year as the race director and I would be very glad to support your ‘block party’ idea. Maybe an un official trail run could be done? Along with a short “O” course perhaps?

Keep me posted, Regards, Evan Kurtz FLRC & CNYO

Ooo Evan. Sorry to have screwed up the name of the Fingers Lakes Runners Club. A Fun Run sounds like a good idea, the O course I would love to pull off, if we get enough orienteers able to show up to coordinate it. A

Yup. I'll help out however. Music sounds good :) I put the letter on a
web page and sent the link out. I am pretty quick on the webstuff... so
can post more info if that helps! No date yet I presume?
-mike ludgate :)

No date set in stone as yet, but I am getting the feeling that early September may be a good time. How about we have "traveling minstrals" ... If we actually use this as a work day/party then during the work part of the day, the musicians could wander up and down the trail serenading the workers. Corny, yes, but wouldn't it be fun!! Then we can have more music during the party part later. Thanks for putting this idea on your website, you certainly were efficient! What a useful way to communicate. A

Ann,

I just want to say that I think this is a fabulous idea. Hammond Hill is
appreciated by so many, it would be great to all get together in honor of
it. I think your ideas for the party sound real good. Let me know how I can help. I do love to cook, so potluck/BBQ of sorts sounds like a good component to me. I also work at the Lab of O, so perhaps I can help with something on that end.

Thanks for brainstorming this!
Jillian M. Liner
Program Coordinator, Important Bird Areas
Audubon New York
c/o Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Oh jeepers, a Audubon Program Director just three doors down from me and I never knew it Shame on me! Thrilled to find someone who likes to cook, could we count on you to coordinate the potluck portion of the party? That would be super! Also, if there was a way to get the Lab of O involved, maybe a bird walk? A display set up with bird sound tracks? A program for the kids? What works?

Dear Ann,

I'm sure you are getting a flood of emails since you sent out that message
and it was posted on Michael Ludgate's website.

You ain't just a'kiddin'! A

I am writing to tell you that your idea is absolutely fabulous. I have been
recreating at HH for over 20 years. I've seen it change and seen the number
of users increase. I've also seen animosity amongst various user groups.
Having an event to celebrate the land and encourage harmony between users is
a fantastic idea. I truly hope that we can see it happen.

I will also forward your message to other's I know who enjoy Hammond Hill
(just about everyone I know in Ithaca). I hike, ski and mountain bike with
my dogs and friends at Hammond Hill year round. Though since I've moved to
Newfield, I don't go as often as I used to.

Please add me to your email list and keep me informed of any activities for
the preparation of this event. I would be happy to help out.
Sincerely,
Sharon Heller

Thanks! What would you like to do? Or do I pick for you? ; ) A

I'd be up for a day of music, food and whatever. I'd
even bring my guitar if there was a place to plug in
and a mike to use. I got your message through Mike
Ludgate (different Mike). You could certainly add my
name to your list. I'm on the FLCC (finger lakes
cycling club) list serve, which really turns into the
Fingerlakes 'Cross country ski" club from November
through March. Also there are so many people who use
that trail who aren't on any list. I kind of like
Yellow one the way it is now. It's a thrill ride,
however, I sometimes have trouble getting other people
to go that way, so I see your point.

Wayne Gottlieb

With Susan's camp there will be electric. Someone have a "mike"? Or do we just rely on lung power? =)

Ann,

I just read your letter. I think it's a great idea. A big work day/party in early Sept could be a blast. We could organize each "group" to do a section of the trail, with a party and humorous "awards" to acknowedge the work. Something where if you don't show up to work, you owe a $5 "wuss" fee, could also raise some money.

Also, another group to contact should be the various Boy and Girl Scout troops in the area.

August is my busiest time of year, but any help I can provide I will.

Joe Daley

I like Joe's ideas. Good point with the scouts groups! I had just thought to have a big party, but why not use the day as a combo work/party day. Rather like an old fashioned barn raising, only we would get spread out a bit. We could limit the work to just the morning, and play all afternoon. Lunch could be our dish to pass, or whatever. I really want people to play together too, to build community. The repair work is important too, but not at the expense of community. Your feelings in this regard? As for materials, can we get these delivered prior? How do we pay? I may be able to weedle some at-cost gravel from Mix Bros, they have a direct Hammond blood connection. Also it would be good if we could get area businesses involved with "awards," contributions to the trail costs, whathaveyou. Charlie and I have connections with building material companies, for example, and may be able to visit with them about donating. Anyone have else have connections for doing this?

Hi Ann. This message is outstanding. Your leadership, in my humble
opinion, is really making a difference.
I'm blushing!!! A
As you well know, your collaborative efforts will do more than upgrade
a section of trail. You are helping to build and improve relationships
that will make the state forest a better place for everyone.
I sure hope so! A
I'll do what I can to help.

Sincerely,
John M. Clancy
Senior Forester, Region 7

NYS DEC Division of Lands and Forests

Hi John. We need you to tell the rest of us how to do the job right! When might we review the trail and analyze where we need to concentrate?

This looks like a great idea to me. I would be glad to help spread the
word and play some small roll in organizing.

Debbie Gross
Town of Dryden, Environmental Planner

Super! What aspect works best for you?

Hi Ann,

Mike Ludgate forwarded a link to your letter regarding getting the various
groups of users of HH together. Great idea and I'd love to participate.

For me, the biggest issue on HH (and Shindagin) isn't getting along with
the other groups of legitimate users, it's dealing with the illegitimate
users (mostly ATV's). Obviously, there's no way to invite them. But I've
been thinking about the best way to address the problem for a long
time. From what I can see, the problem actually begins with the dealers
who SELL the ATV's (Gold Sport, Ithaca Recreation Sports, etc). If we
start to communicate with the DEALERS, maybe we can reach the riders. So
my suggestion is to invite the ATV dealers to your get together. If the
dealers started to promote responsible riding, maybe the riders would show
some responsibility.

Thanks,
Bill Webster

Hmmm. This is a toughie. Any brighter heads than mine have suggestions? I personally would feel uncomfortable asking the dealers, whose livelihood depends on ATV riders, to police their clients... but maybe there is a talented way of handling this point. With kids doing something not so great, a responsible parent might provide them with a suitable diversion from a destructive behavior. Here, I'm not qualified to say...

Hi Ann,

What a great idea! I read your letter via Mike Ludgate on the Bike & Ski list.
I sent copies to Marie (who may already know about it) and the newsletter
editor of our Central New York Horse Club.
I hope we can have a substantial friendly goodwill-promoting Equine
presence there. Pony rides? My own current mount is scared to death of
people, and could show everyone why horses should be approached
Carefully. But perhaps you won't want any horrible examples there. Best
to keep it positive!

Foodwise, I'd vote for a chicken barbecue, put on as a fund-raiser by a
local group (who will do all the work). And music! So many exciting
possibilities! I have to suggest Hammond Hill neighbor Phil Shapiro and
his singing partner Carrie Shore. They put on a hugely successful house
concert at Marie's last year- had everyone joyously singing along.

Regards,
Julie Lonnberg

The more music the merrier, I say =) As for pony rides, I like that a lot, but we would have to be careful of the liability issues, sadly! If someone knows more about that, or a company that does it commercially, perhaps you could inform the rest of us. Chicken BBQ is nice, maybe as a basis for the rest of the dish to pass aspect? Either a group could do it or I know a fellow who really knows how to make superior bbq chicken in quantity, and might be able to help with this.

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So it has started. I can tell I will be spending a lot of time at the computer, based on today's and yesterday's email. Seems to me, a block of time set aside for trail work, then a get together where we share our individual interests of sports, nature study and Hammond Hill History, with child care, music and maybe dancing and a ball game? And eating, too, of course. =)

Cheers!

Ann Leonard

Ann Leonard leonard@clarityconnect.com