In the woods we return to reason and faith.
There I feel that nothing can befall me in life,
No disgrace, no calamity, which nature
cannot repair.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

There will be no hike on Wednesday December 25; instead we will hike on Thursday December 26.
Our Holiday Party will be held on Saturday, December 14.
Please notify Niki or Joe
Lombardi at to make reservations. For additional hike information please call .
The next meeting of the EHTPS will be Monday, December 2, at 7:30PM at Ashawaugh Hall.

December 4, Wednesday, 10AM: Cedar Point Park (3 miles).
This is one of the hike leader's favorite hikes. Meet in the park, off Alewife Brook Rd., in the Northwest section of East Hampton. Continue to the parking area, next to the pavilion across from the campgrounds.

December 7, Saturday, 10AM: Stony Hill. (5 miles).
Join us on a newly rerouted section of the Paumanok Path, through the oak forest of Springs and the beech forest of Stony Hill. Meet on the corner of Springy Banks Rd. and Soak Hides Rd., just west of Three Mile Harbor, in East Hampton.
Leaders: Laurie and Steve Tambor
December 11, Wednesday, 10AM: Napeague Bay to Bay. (4 miles).
Water, woods and words will follow us from Fresh Pond to Promised Land. Meet at the entrance to Multi Aquaculture Systems (Fish Farm) on Cranberry Hole Rd. in Napeague

December 14, Saturday, 10AM: Barcelona Park (3 miles).
This 828-acre preserve includes spectacular dunes and views of Northeast Creek and Northwest Harbor. Meet at Sag Harbor Golf Course off Rt. 114.
Leader: Nancy Kane
December 18, Wednesday, 10AM: Waterfence (5-6 miles).
This stunning hike takes us on the Serpent's Back Trail and along the shore to the Waterfence overlooking Napeague Bay. Meet at Hither Hills Overlook parking lot off Rt. 27, about 1 mile east of Montauk Highway and Old Montauk Highway split in Montauk.

December 21, Saturday, 10AM: Northwest Hike (4 miles).
The hike leaders of this beautiful trail will be showing off their adopted portion of the Paumanok Path. As we hike along be sure to comment on the pristine condition of the trail. Meet at the corner of Edward's Hole Rd. and Rt. 114, in East Hampton.
Leaders: Helen and Larry Kutash

This walk begins at the Nature Preserve on David's Lane just west of the intersection with Egypt Lane. We will walk past the Maidstone Club and along a stretch of ocean beach and through the Nature Preserve. Leader: Nancy Kane
December 28, Saturday, 10AM: Wainscott Historic Hike (2-3 miles).
We will explore the history of beautiful Wainscott with a leader whose family has been there for nine generations. Meet at the end of Beach Lane between Georgica and Wainscott Ponds.

January 1, Wednesday, NOON: New Year's Day Hike (10-12+mile)
Rigorous 10-12+mile hike in the deep winter beauty of one of Long Island's largest and most secluded natural areas, Montauk's Hither Woods. We will hike through rolling woods of oak and mountain laurel to a wild and beautiful coastline. Hikers should bring food, snacks and liquids. Be prepared to finish at dusk or later! Hike is NOT cancelled by snow, wind or rain. Meet at Montauk Recycling Center, north side of Rt. 27, two miles east of the Hither Hills Overlook parking area.

EAST HAMPTON TRAILS PRESERVATION SOCIETY MINUTES OF MEETING November 4, 2002/ASHAWAGH HALL

After calling the meeting to order at 7:35 PM, president Ed Porco rendered thanks to Jody and Bill Flynn for providing the evening’s refreshments.

Ed introduced two guests, Susan and Rod Richardson. The Richardsons are interested in EHTPS as a possible recipient for trust fund money that has been earmarked for qualified non-profit organization. Ed invited the couple to the meeting so they could learn about our organization’s interests and activities.

1) Ed reported on his Nov 1^st presentation to the Town Board regarding the Nature Preserve Committee. He offered ideas for ways to improve the productivity of the committee. A dozen EHTPS members attended the session to lend support. 2) In a letter to the Town Board, Ed objected to a management plan for the Soak Hides property that is being acquired as a nature preserve. While applauding the move to preserve the land, Ed decried the recommendation by the NPC to allow unrestricted vehicular access. Because the nature preserve status carries with it the goal of bringing the area back to its natural state, it seems counterproductive to allow access to cars and trucks. Ed urged members to write to the Town Board asking them to deny non-emergency vehicle access to the Soak Hides preserve. Send letters to Jay Schneiderman, Supervisor and the Members of the Town Board, Town of East Hampton, 159 Pantigo Place, East Hampton, NY 11937. (Call Ed at for additional information.)

Treasurer Jody Flynn reported that there’s now a balance of $10,335 in the savings account and $1,250 in the checking account, with no outstanding bills. Expenses for printing and postage are down considerably thanks to the e-mailing of monthly hike schedules and minutes to so many members. The Irwin Butensky Fund took in $913 altogether. Two cedar park benches have been purchased for installment in Theodore Roosevelt County Park. Each will bear a plaque honoring Irwin and his contributions to the society.

Arlene Makl gave the hike attendance numbers for the last two months. In September, there were 8 hikes with a total of 304 hikers, for an average of 38 per hike. In October 7 hikes were conducted, with 190 participants for an average of 27.

Arlene announced that she has EHTPS t-shirts and caps on hand for any members wishing to purchase these items as holiday gifts. Sweatshirts and jackets can also be purchased, but they need to be bulk-ordered (minimum 12 pieces) and the delivery date cannot be predicted.

Arlene displayed a sample of the new windbreaker, which differs from the old model in that it has a hood but is not lined. To order clothing, contact Arlene at or .

Ed gave the report in the absence of Ken Bieger, who was on his honeymoon. (Best wishes to the bride and groom!) There were 3 work sessions in September, with a total of 31 helpers; in October, 24 volunteers came out for 4 work sessions.

No report, but Rick Whalen pointed out that it was time for a committee meeting. Ed concurred. He will be contacting committee members soon.

Ann Foster reported that there are now 695 member families on the mailing list, but 181 of them are not paid for this year. Ann will be working with Gene Makl and Richard Lupoletti on a “final notice” letter to be sent to these members, who have until the end of the year to renew or be dropped from the mailing list.

The committee met on October 21. Chair Jeri Wellman announced that the Fall Newsletter is now in production and will be mailed out later this month. The committee’s new project is an informational single-panel brochure. The material for the brochure is now in the hands of a volunteer designer. More news to follow after the committee’s next meeting on November 18^th.

A couple of years ago Ray Hartjen prepared an application for a state grant to build trail head kiosks in East Hampton Town; unfortunately we did not receive a grant at that time. Now Ray has been asked by Town Supervisor Schneiderman to resubmit the application, and Ray is working on putting the new proposal together in time to make the November 15^th deadline.

Reservations are coming in for the holiday party on December 14^th at Gurney’s Inn. Niki Lombardi pointed out that this year members are being asked to cover the entire cost of the party, including gratuities, which formerly were paid for from the treasury. (This is to offset the additional expenses we incurred to hire help at the beach picnic.) The price of $40 for members and $45 for non-member guests

Includes a cocktail hour (cash bar), a 4-course sit down dinner, and live music—still a bargain. Deadline for reservations is December 6^th and should be sent directly to Niki Lombardi at 47 Dorset Road, East Hampton, NY 11937.

1) Ed reported that the hiking trip to Tuscany, Italy, was such a success he is hoping to arrange other “away trips” that will be tailored to our membership, perhaps two a year. 2) Gene Makl summarized the recent activities of the newly formed Long Island Coalition for Safe Trails, which was created to deal with the ATV problem and other safety issues. A pamphlet outlining steps to be taken in reporting various unsafe conditions and a wallet-sized card with pertinent phone numbers are being prepared for distribution to all coalition members. Also, the committee plans to make a presentation to the EH Town Board. 3) Although the parking area at Turtle Cove has been officially closed off by the National Parks Service, the Town Board has organized an ad hoc committee headed by Larry Penny to look into alternative parking plans. The committee is meeting this week with the head of the Parks Service. Ed will report any alarming developments. 4) The October 19-20 South Fork Trails Weekend, planned in conjunction with the Southampton Trails Preservation Society, was a mixed bag. Some hikes had good turn-outs, but a couple of groups were directed to the wrong place at the wrong time. Next year, we will need to prepare earlier.

1) In an effort to augment our overburdened trails maintenance force, Rick Whalen is looking into ways that we might involve mountain bikers and other users of the trails. Rick estimates there are 200 bikers, but since there is no actual mountain biking organization, Rick will contact local bike shop owners and try to formulate some plan for bringing bikers into maintenance efforts.

Some members suggested approaching youth and scouting groups as a means to get more help; the problem is that these groups would not be available on a regular basis. Another idea was to schedule some work sessions for a Saturday (rather than the usual Tuesday) when more workers might be available. Members thought this was a good suggestion. 2) We have learned that two parcels of privately held land in the Buckskill area of EH (the Kiembock Property and the Talmadge Property) may be slated for commercial development. If this happens, the trails on these properties could be blocked or destroyed. We think the Town should purchase these properties to preserve them as is. Ed and Gene will bring the matter to members of the Town Board. (It may be that the trails through the Talmadge Property would be allowed in any event, according to Nancy Kane, who lives in the area). 3) Arlene Makl announced that there will be a seminar for hike leaders some time in December. She will notify all leaders of the date and place.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday December 2, 2002 at 7:30PM at Ashawagh Hall. Refreshments will be provided by RoseMarie DeSantis.

EHTPS mourns the passing of our loyal member and friend, Nancy Burroughs. Nancy’s family has suggested contributions in her memory to the East End Hospice or to the Dominican Sisters Family Services.

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