January 4, 2025
Dear Friend of the Long Pond Greenbelt,
2024 certainly had its moments, especially in November. We send tremendous thanks to everyone who rose in opposition to the PSEG plan to drill an underground transmission cable through the heart of the Greenbelt. Because of your vigorous and sustained support, the LIPA board, at their November meeting, officially adopted a project plan that entirely bypasses the fragile Long Pond Greenbelt, following an alternate route along existing roadways -- a conservation success to cherish.
Another long-awaited win, the Round Pond revitalization project, many, many years in the planning stages, finally came to fruition. Also in 2024, FLPG joined South Fork Natural History Museum and Peconic Land Trust for the well-loved annual Celebration of the Long Pond Greenbelt (25th year!) and continued our trail hikes and Vineyard Field moonlight walks. Using a grant from the Bridgehampton Association, we persisted in our removal of invasive plants in Vineyard Field and at the edge of Slade Pond, replacing them with native plants. And with the help of the town, the county and The Nature Conservancy staff, we replaced broken barricades to stop illegal trail use. We also took part in the Great East End Cleanup and the Long Island Nature Organization conference, continued our monthly Old Farm Road cleanup and seasonal pond testing, and had more fascinating and well-attended Sundays at Two programs at the Long Pond Greenbelt Nature Center.
All of this, thanks to the support of our members! When you join or renew a membership, you make our work on behalf of the amazing and beautiful Long Pond Greenbelt possible.
Your renewed support will carry forward the grassland restoration at Vineyard
Field and invasives removal at Slade Pond. We will also be working with the town to correct design shortcomings in the original Round Pond wetland restoration plan, coordinating with police to squash illegal activities including ATV abuse, testing ponds for water quality, and urging the Community Preservation Fund to preserve more acres in the precious Long Pond Greenbelt.
To join, renew, or give a gift membership, you may:
If you are interested in becoming more active, please contact us and/or join us at our Zoom meeting at 6:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Friends, your membership and participation are critical to the success of Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt.
Thank you for joining and very best wishes,
Dai Dayton Sandra Ferguson
President Vice-President
PS: To those of you who have already renewed for 2025 and to our Lifetime Members - thank you! We appreciate your continued support.
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