Archive for the ‘ Methuen Rail Trail Alliance ’ Category

Today on the Trail – the widening

New member David Gagnon and I,  joined Tim, Matt and T.J. Vermette to work on our ongoing project of trail widening. Today we targeted the small shrubs that had taken control of the ‘island’. The long term goal is to make the path on the WEST side of the trail wide enough to mountain bike or hike the trail comfortably from end to end. After taking on the island, we moved down the trail to the spot under the MSPCA bridge. Where we lopped many saplings out of the train tracks and pushed the brush back.

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December 5th, 2009  in Methuen Rail Trail Alliance, Today on the Trail No Comments »

Methuen Rail Trail Alliance Officers

We need a round of applause for Julie Levesque (Provencal), who after much begging on my part has thankfully agreed to take on the job of Secretary pro tem. That fills the last open spot on the Methuen Rail Trail Alliance board of directors.
I am so thoroughly grateful for each and every moment that our volunteers give to the project; I know it will come back to the community ten-fold.
I am also eternally grateful for Tim Vermette our new Project coordinator, Tim has been getting out on the trail regularly and clearing the west side of the tracks of obstructions. This long term project is part of goal to make our section of trail passable by foot and mountain bike. The more people we can get out there, the more folks can see what a great hidden asset this property is.
Also working behind the scenes is Kelly Tondo, our Event coordinator. Kelly has been the driving force behind out petition drive. She has been working to get copies of our petition into local venues and get some of US some visibility in the community. Last summer’s info tables at soccer events went over like gangbusters.
And the folks who keep me propped up and on track are Harry Banks, our vice president and Rachel Banks our esteemed and put upon treasurer. Rachel and I have worked diligently to get get all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed on all the registration documents a new organization needs.
We will be having small, kitchen table MRTA meetings throughout the winter for those who want to attend; and will go back to formal meetings in the library when the snow’s clear.
Thank you all!
Joyce
Methuen Rail Trail Alliance Board of Directors
Joyce Godsey, President Pro Tem
Harry Banks, Vice President Pro Tem
Rachel Banks, Treasurer Pro Tem
Julie Levesque, Secretary Pro Tem
Kelly Tondo, Event Coordinator
Tim Vermette, Project Coordinator

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November 29th, 2009  in MRTA Notices, Methuen Rail Trail Alliance No Comments »

Rail Trail Clean Up Day Results!

We tackled a short section of track that parallels Pine St. And runs from parking lot south towards the Bridge at Five Corners. Unfortunately this area is filled with years of industrial waste from the businesses on Pine St and illegal dumping from houses on either side.
We focused on liftable items within 20 feet of the Rail Road tracks, even though the property does extend much further. Items that aren’t removable by hand will have to wait for a time when the area will be accessible by trucks and trailers and equipment.
Among the mostly metal detritus, there were approximately 13 tires, 5 electrical spools, 3 chairs, many asphalt shingles and 1 suitcase. Much of the industrial waste is unidentifiable, and seems to be general large trash pushed over the hill onto the rail road property.
Methuen Rail Trail Alliance Members who did such great work:
Julie Levesque
Tim Vermette and his sons Matt and T.J.
Rosanne and Ewald Apel and their children: Nikolas, Lukas and Jessica.
Rachel Banks
Kelly Tondo
Joyce Godsey


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November 22nd, 2009  in Methuen Rail Trail, Methuen Rail Trail Alliance No Comments »

Rail Trail Clean Up Day 11/21

Rail Trail Clean up Day

Saturday November 21st, 2009 8:00am
Bring gloves and whatever implements of destruction you like. We are going to try to make a dent in the accumulated detritus just north of the Five Corners Bridge yet south of the Spicket River. Meet up is same as last time, in the parking lot at the end of Pine St. The city will be making a trash pickup on Monday.

We need a nice turnout of 8 or 10 people to make the time go quickly. We should be done in plenty of time, the Santa Parade doesn’t start until 1:00PM. See you all there.

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November 12th, 2009  in MRTA Notices, Methuen Rail Trail Alliance No Comments »

Methuen Rail Trail group ride


Another late post, my apologies. Last Sunday had incredible weather…the kind that you read about in old books about New England. On the spur of the moment, we got a few folks together for a quick trip on the Windham Rail Trail…we were NOT alone.

Odd some days I get out there and it seems that everyone called ahead and arranged the day. From my experience it seems Monday holiday mornings are FAMILY days, and it seems Sunday mornings are DOG day, or rather BIG DOG day. It seems a new trick is for walkers to bag their Dogs leavings and then leave the bag on the side of the trail for the return trip…as practical as this is. I and the other trails users found this habit slovenly and rude. If you are reading this…knock it off.

If you want to ride for long stretches pretending you are alone on the trail, weekday mornings are ideal. Basically all day week days until about dinner time you can be alone for most of your ride, but the more I ride the busy times, the more i LIKE the happy communal atmosphere that a busy trail gives off. Everyone is smiling, everyone nods as you go past. Dog people talk to dog people, children people try to rein in their kids as they go tearing up ahead unmonitored, it has a very town and country feel to it.

We are hoping that if we keep doing group rides at the drop of a hat, we will eventually build up a base of interested riders to have ‘Official’ group rides.

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September 17th, 2009  in Methuen Rail Trail Alliance, Windham Rail Trail No Comments »

Our newest toy

Through the good graces of some folks on Methuen Freecycle we have us a smaller trailer for use in trail development. Technically 1980 Besco Folding Motorcycle trailer, this can easily hook to an atv for rubbish removal; allowing us to use the larger donated trailer to move larger loads directly to the dump. We still have no clear idea when all this trail clearing will occur, but when it does we will have some nifty tools to make it easier. <a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3635643678_58346f8f91.jpg”><img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 364px;” src=”http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3635643678_58346f8f91.jpg” alt=”" border=”0″ /></a>

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June 17th, 2009  in Methuen Rail Trail Alliance No Comments »

Methuen needs bike racks

We really need bike racks, this is getting dangerous.



When I stopped, the boys ran out to be in the picture, and they agreed – we need bike racks.

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June 10th, 2009  in Methuen Rail Trail Alliance No Comments »

Soccer Jamboree Saturday June 13th !!


The Methuen Rail Trail Alliance will be set up in two locations this Saturday!!

Kelly Tondo will be at the Soccer Jamboree at the Soccer Field out on Rt 110 towards Dracut, selling water and getting petition signatures.

And I will be at the AAA Bike Rodeo in the Target parking lot on Pleasant Valley St, getting petition signatures and some video footage for our community access feature.

Plenty of chances to volunteer…even 15 minutes of your time at either location will be appreciated!

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June 10th, 2009  in Events, Methuen Rail Trail Alliance No Comments »

Methuen Rides Windham


windham ride, originally uploaded by jgodsey.

A small group of Methuen Rail Trail supporters met up on Windham’s Rail Trail last Monday. The Banks, Tondo, Gallagher and Lavoie families (as well as myself) took a small cruise up and down Windham’s well cared for trail. Only a few of us had visited the trail in the past, and those that hadn’t were all a flutter with the idea that we could have anything like this for our very own. Hopefully we can make this a regular thing that will keep us inspired until that day comes.

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June 4th, 2009  in Area Trails, Methuen Rail Trail Alliance, Windham Rail Trail No Comments »

Methuen Needs Bike Racks

just another day in Downtown Methuen

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June 1st, 2009  in Methuen Rail Trail Alliance No Comments »
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