FLPG President Dai Dayton and Southampton Town Councilman Rick Martel participated in the annual Great East End Clean-Up (GEEC) on Sunday, April 24th. The GEEC is a volunteer-based program to remove litter and debris from Southampton Town’s roadsides, parks, trails, and beaches. This year, FLPG focused on cleaning up the trail along Little Long Pond. Thank you, Dai and Councilman Martel!
Special Guest at April Reading Group
At our April reading group for Marie Winn's book Red-Tails in Love, artist Roz Dimon stopped by to share her special response to the famous hawk featured in Winn’s book; that is, following the 2001 attacks on the WTC, Roz created the interactive artwork Pale Male (pictured), which is now part of the permanent collection at the 9/11 Memorial Museum in NYC. You can see Roz’s more recent work in the show “Techspressionism” currently at the Southampton Art Center through June 4th. Our next Reading Group book is An Unreasonable Woman by Diane Wilson. Email for details.
LPG Nature Center Opens on May 1st for 2022 Season
The LPG Nature Center, 1061 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike, Brigehampton, is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting May 1st. The center offers parking for access to hiking in the LPG, restrooms, and a reading room. It is also the starting point for the William B. Sickles Tree ID Trail.
Bench Dedication for 2022 Greenbelt Champion
Wednesday, May 11th, 1 p.m.
A bench honoring FLPG’s 2022 Greenbelt Champion Laura Smith has been installed at Little Long Pond at Laurel Lane in Sag Harbor. Please join us, Town officials, and Laura for the bench dedication on Wednesday, May 11th, at 1 p.m.
Inaugural Walk Along
New StoryWalk® Trail & Seed Planting
Saturday, May 21st, 10:00 a.m.
Bring the kids for a leisurely-paced walk along the new StoryWalk® Trail featuring A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts. The book introduces children to the world of seeds and plants by presenting facts in a simple format with beautiful illustrations by artist Sylvia Long. There will also be a seed starter project for all to enjoy. Co-sponsored by FLPG and the John Jermain Library.
Motorists Should be on the Alert for
Turtles Crossing the Road in May and June
Our native turtles will be on the move in May and June, seeking sandy areas or loose soil to lay their eggs. In New York, thousands of turtles are killed each year when they are struck by vehicles as they migrate to their nesting areas.
What you can do to help, if you see a turtle in the road:
Slow down to avoid hitting it with your car.
If you can safely stop, consider moving the turtle to the shoulder of the road in the direction it was facing.
Never pick up a turtle up by its tail, it may injure it. Most turtles can be picked up by the sides of the shell.
Use caution when moving snapping turtles (pictured) – they bite! Either pick it up at the rear of the shell near the tail using two hands or slide a car mat under the turtle to drag it across the road.
Eastern Box Turtle Sighting
FLPG Board Member Meghan Moore spotted this eastern box turtle in her front yard not far from the Haines Path trailhead to the LPG. The eastern box turtle is one of six native species of turtles found on Long Island (not including sea turtles). It is distinguished by its brightly-colored upper shell, which helps it camouflage in fields and forests. On average, box turtles live 40 to 50 years, reaching full size (i.e., shell length of 4.5 to 6 inches) at around 20. Once grown, males and females can be distinguished by eye color; males typically red, females typically brown. Most box turtles spend their entire lives within 2.5 to 25 acres of the nest from which they hatched. This can make reproduction challenging if potential mates are scarce within the turtle’s home range. Hatchlings are also vulnerable to predators. All the more reason to heed the advice above to protect our local turtle population.
Nature Photo Contest Celebrating National Trails Day
Register by Friday, May 27th
Entries Accepted Friday, May 20th – Friday, June 3rd
Award Ceremony, Saturday, June 4th, 1 p.m.
All ages are welcome and prizes will be offered in two age groups: 12 and younger and 13 and older. Entries limited to smartphone nature photos taken on the trails of the Long Pond Greenbelt between May 20th and June 3rd (maps available at www.longpondgreenbelt.org/trailmaps). Participants can register and receive additional guidelines by emailing greenbeltnews@aol.com (be sure to include “Photo Contest” in the subject line).
Upcoming Events in May
Important: Maximum 25 attendees - to register, please email greenbeltnews@aol.comor call (as noted in event detail). Masks required for unvaccinated participants. Priority at all events given to 2022 FLPG Members. Dress appropriately for ticks.
Monday, May 9 – FLPG Monthly Zoom Meeting, 5:30 p.m. All are welcome. Zoom link:
Wednesday, May 11 – Bench Dedication for 2022 Greenbelt Champion, Laura Smith, 1 p.m. Meet at Little Long Pond on Laurel Lane, Sag Harbor. All welcome.
Sunday, May 15 – Little Long Pond Hike, 9:00-10:30 a.m. Meet at the LPG Nature Center, 1061 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike. Moderately-paced, 3-mile hike. Leader: Dai Dayton, 631-745-0689.
Monday, May 16 – Full Flower Moon Hike, 8:30-9:30 p.m. Co-Sponsored by FLPG and South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO). Join us on a leisurely-paced hike through open-field trails. Flowers are abundant during this time; thus, the name of this moon. Meet at the SOFO parking lot, 377 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike, 200 yards north of the RR tracks. Leader: Dai Dayton, 631-745-0689.
Monday, May 16 – Total Lunar Eclipse will be at its maximum 12:11 a.m.
Saturday, May 21– Old Farm Road Cleanup, 8:00 a.m. Help clean up the roadside along FLPG’s adopted road. Meet at Poxabogue Park, 191 Old Farm Road, Sagaponack. Bring gloves, bags provided. Leader: Peter Wilson, 631-553-1393.
Saturday, May 21 – Opening of the A Seed is Sleepy Story Walk Trail and Seed Starter Project, 10:00 a.m.-Noon. Co-sponsored by FLPG and John Jermain Library. Meet at Mashashimuet Park, Sag Harbor.
Sunday, May 22 – Place & Story/Humanities New York Reading Group, 2:00 p.m. To join the group (which includes a loan of each month’s book), please email greenbeltnews@aol.com and include “Place & Story” in the subject line.
Our 2022 Membership Drive is Underway
It's Time to Renew!
Suggested annual membership donations. More or less is welcome.
1-year Individual: $ 25.00
1-year Family: $ 40.00
Individual Lifetime: $250.00
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