JANUARY
2022
Welcome! 2022 Off to a Busy Start
2022 is off to a busy start for LCHIP. Both Barb Beers, our former office manager and I retired at the end of 2021. Paula Bellemore has been appointed LCHIP’s Executive Director, and Katie Midolo has quickly become an indispensable member of the LCHIP team. You’ll read more about the executive director transition later in the newsletter.
 
With Paula in the Executive Director seat, a search is underway for a new land conservation program specialist. More about that can be found here. I am staying on for a couple of weeks to wrap up a few loose ends and to provide a little support during the transition.
 
What a treat to be retiring from my favorite job out of a 45-year career in conservation and education! As I look back over my years at LCHIP, I will remember and take pride in the resources protected but will remember even more fondly the skilled, dedicated and interesting people with whom I have worked. 

Be well and do good work.
Dijit Taylor
Executive Advisor
Protecting New Hampshire's Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources
People Conserving the Vernacular
Wolfeboro Railroad Freight Shed Rescued
The rehabilitation of the 1872 railroad freight shed illustrates the value of conserving historic buildings that were used by ordinary people, not the rich and famous associated with so many conserved historic buildings. The modest building in downtown Wolfeboro served an important function in the days when both tourism and commerce in the region depended on rail transport. Following the demise of the railroad in the 1960s, the building was reused then abandoned. Now the rail bed has been turned into a popular walking and biking trail and the Lakes Region Model Railroad Museum has a vision to use the space to illustrate the local history and importance of the railroads and to offer innovative learning opportunities to local students. A 2018 LCHIP grant is supporting the restoration of this building. 
Photo: Wolfeboro Railroad Freight Shed
A Tale of Conservation Bookends
Conserving the Piscataquog River in 2010 & 2021
On October 18, 2010, the Francestown Land Trust (FLT), along with the Francestown Conservation Commission, conserved 83 acres along Dinsmore Brook in Francestown, part of a long-term initiative to protect the South Branch of the Piscataquog River. This was the very first LCHIP land conservation project completed during Dijit Taylor’s tenure as LCHIP’s executive director. On December 29, 2021, FLT once again added to the protection of the Piscataquog River, finalizing
acquisition of 37 acres along Rand Brook and Cressey
Hill Road.

The recently completed Rand Brook Connectivity project, which received LCHIP funding in 2021, will connect previously fragmented blocks of conservation land along Rand Brook, securing critical habitat and corridors for wildlife. As with all LCHIP-funded conservation projects, the land will be open to passive recreation including hunting, fishing, cross country skiing and nature walks. In support of the project, abutting landowners will conserve an additional 23+ acres, which includes 1000’ of School House Brook, a tributary of Rand Brook.
Photo: Dijit midstream during a 2013 site visit to the Shattuck-Dinsmore Conservation Project in Francestown.
As luck would have it, this was the last land conservation project to be completed during Dijit’s tenure. Much like the legacy of conservation, preservation, and community building that Dijit has created, the 42,000 acres of land conserved during her time with LCHIP will serve NH for years to come.
Former LCHIP Executive Director Retires
LCHIP’s former Executive Director, Dijit Taylor, has retired. Dijit served in the position from September 2010 through December 2021. During those years, support for the program solidified and LCHIP distributed more than $35 million in grant funding to help with nearly four hundred projects. LCHIP Board Chair Ben Wilcox, President and General Manager at Cranmore Mountain Resort said, “The LCHIP Board is grateful to Dijit for her leadership during these years. Her passion for fulfilling LCHIP’s mission and her leadership are a large part of LCHIP’s success.” In retirement, Dijit will be found savoring the resources LCHIP has helped to protect, spending time with family and friends and catching up on a backlog of arts, crafts and home maintenance projects.

Photo: Dijit’s granddaughter Anna stopping in to join a 2021 LCHIP site visit in her hometown.
Introducing LCHIP's New Executive Director
Paula Bellemore of Goffstown has been appointed Executive Director of the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program! Paula has worked at LCHIP since 2014, initially as Natural Resource Specialist and more recently as Deputy Director and Natural Resource Program Manager. LCHIP Board Chair Ben Wilcox, President and General Manager at Cranmore Mountain Resort observed, “Paula has proven herself to be a dynamic, energetic and committed leader. She is thoroughly familiar with the legal and legislative framework within which LCHIP operates.” Retiring Executive Director Dijit Taylor adds, “Paula brings experience, vision, organizational skills, attention to detail and networking facility to the position. LCHIP can be expected to thrive under her leadership.” Paula can be reached at pbellemore@lchip.org

Photo: Paula Bellemore, LCHIP’s new Executive Director on a 2018 site visit to Stillhouse Forest in Northfield.
Congratulations to all 2021 LCHIP Grant Recipients
The NH Conservation License Plate (Moose Plate) Program supports the protection of critical resources in our state. You can purchase a Moose Plate at any time - even for a friend! Find out more at mooseplate.com. Income from the Moose Plate Program pays for much of LCHIP's administrative expenses. Thanks Moose Plate holders for your support!
Header photo:  Newmarket's Graziano Tract. Photo credit: PC Jeffrey GoldknopfGoldknopf.jpg