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Volunteer Spotlight:Dorothy Schmidt
Dorothy Schmidt is an extremely committed volunteer. She is an integral part of keeping the Land Alliance’s Shore Road Sanctuary clean and healthy for wildlife. Dorothy comes a few times a month to Shore Road to cut the invasive reed Phragmites, to pull out mugwort or locust saplings and to clean up garbage along the shore. Despite the clouds of mosquitos that also call Shore Road their home, Dorothy always gets the work done, sometimes having to wear bug-netting. Without Dorothy we fear the phragmites may take over the beach! We extend our greatest gratitude to her for all the work she has done In her own words, Dorothy says “I have found a perfect place to volunteer at the Shore Road Sanctuary. I have been visiting the grassland once a week during the growing season for a little over a year now and have seen my efforts to improve the habitat slowly progress with a little hard work and consistency. My tasks are simple, I try and cut back as much phragmites as possible and remove mugwort and black locust. The Phragmites is my main focus. It has been rewarding to see the cattail flourishing in the bog area of the meadow, as it should, after my weekly weeding out of invasives. “While I am at the grassland, I feel myself relaxed and enjoy the tranquil sounds of the wildlife around me. I have observed the seasonal course of wildlife including the nearby osprey nest and the fledglings’ first flight. It was magnificent.” “The staff has been excellent in answering any questions I have and teaching me about the ecosystem. It has been a great experience for me, and I recommend volunteering to anyone who enjoys nature. Thank you, Land Alliance.”
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Peter O’Connor
Peter O’Connor has been volunteering with the Land Alliance since September 2020. He is one of our most dedicated volunteers and lends a helping hand every week. He can regularly be seen in the Humes Japanese Stroll Garden cutting bamboo, digging up rhizomes and preparing the Garden for visitors. He started volunteering for the Land Alliance as a way to give back to his community after spotting our name and information at the entrance to the Hope Goddard Iselin Preserve. His favorite Land Alliance holding is the Japanese Stroll Garden because it’s unique and there’s always something new to learn. Stroll Garden Manager, Mary Schmutz, says that Peter is an invaluable resource and a dedicated steward of the Garden. Peter’s curiosity and inquisitive nature have inspired volunteers, staff and interns. Recently, three black walnut trees were damaged in the woodland garden at the Humes Preserve. Peter swooped in and saw an opportunity to make a difference and embark on a new project. With help from Garden Manager Mary and fellow volunteer Melanie Howard, Peter researched methods to save the trees. He organized a work party and, with the help of three nature enthusiasts, attached locust twigs to the girdled areas of the walnut trees. They wrapped the wounds in duct tape and tarp to protect them from the elements. The Land Alliance is grateful to Peter (aka Dr. FrankenTree) for his ingenuity and enthusiasm in his volunteer efforts with the Land Alliance. In the coming seasons, we will keep a close watch on the walnut trees as we wish them a safe recovery!
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Richard Weir and Peter Meleady
The North Shore Land Alliance would like to thank the many active volunteers who contribute their time and energy to help us accomplish our land conservation mission. These individuals spend time in our preserves and, assist with community outreach events and office needs. In this issue of Conservation News, we would like to highlight two volunteers who have provided extraordinary services this spring (and over time). Richard Weir trained at Cornell University, spent his career with the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Nassau County. He currently serves on the Land Alliance’s advisory board and stewardship committee. Richard was most generous to share his expertise and hard work ethic this past March when he offered the stewardship team sage counsel on how to prune the very large round of yew hedge at Wawapek in Cold Spring Harbor. Richard offered much more than pruning advice spending nine hours over the course of two days with chain saw in hand to cut the yew hedge to the appropriate height. He was also instrumental in removing decades of wisteria vine growth from the base of the yew hedge, making the job that much tougher! Richard worked non-stop the entire time and inspired Land Alliance staff with his dedication to preserving the central element of this historic garden. Thank you for all your hard work, Richard! Since joining our volunteer corps earlier this year, Peter Meleady has made a real difference. An expert horticulturist, Peter has been involved with many invasive plant removals and pruning projects at Shore Road Sanctuary and has reinvigorated the trumpet honeysuckle trellis and blueberry bushes at Wawapek. He is also involved with projects and educational programming at the Roosevelt Community Garden and our Humes Japanese Stroll Garden manager looks forward to his assistance there, too. Peter often going to preserves after work or early in the weekends before he leaves to spend time with his family, shows dedication and knowledge that have resulted in a much-improved landscape. Thank you for your commitment and many contributions to the Land Alliance, Peter!
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