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I've been continuing my work with the town of Sturbridge and Army Corp of Engineers building hiking trails. I spoke with a couple of reporters and My wife Angie found this article and sent it to me. I was able to get little plug for the NEA. Any chance for positive PR is worth it.

PRESERVING NATURAL GEMS
EARTH DAY TRAIL CLEANUP
TARGETS INVASIVE PLANTS, TOO

pages 1,8,&11

http://www.blackstonevalleytribune.com/ ... .04.24.pdf


There should be one more from the Southbridge Evening News too. I'm going to the library to see if I can find it.

Good job Joe.

Nice Joe!

Awesome possum.

SidewaysTim wrote:Good job Joe.

Was it cold outside?

It was about 45-50. I also started at 9am and drove the Heep and trailer there to get the garbage/slash out. It was perfect weather for working.

SidewaysTim wrote:Good job Joe.

"Why do I hear banjo music every time that guy stands behind me....??"


Nice work Joe, keep it up.

Zaedock wrote:It was about 45-50. I also started at 9am and drove the Heep and trailer there to get the garbage/slash out. It was perfect weather for working.

:straightoverhead:

I was just curious because in the pic it almost looks like your high beams were on.

I was with you.

JayZR2 wrote:I was with you.

Great minds and all that...

tammylynn wrote:

JayZR2 wrote:I was with you.

Great minds and all that...

...or a bad joke

Great Job Joe

Very Nice!!!

Zaedock wrote:

tammylynn wrote:

JayZR2 wrote:I was with you.

Great minds and all that...

...or a bad joke

Mine usually are but it doesn't take much to make me laugh.

I did another cleanup in Sturbridge yesterday. I also stopped by to see Baystate Jeepers prior to them heading over to G2. Thanks for the Matty's shirt Pat!

I've been trying to get more involved at the town level and am now an Alternate Member of the Sturbridge Conservation Commission.

The last meeting I went to was cool. I parked my YJ between two Prius's. I've generally been accepted with open arms though. I guess with the cleanups and trail days I've been doing the last few years, I'm getting a reputation in town.

great job Joe!

Nice Joe!!

This is a good example about the value of becoming active in local politics. It also helps us breaking down barriers and stereotypes

Great job Joe

I :heart: Joe Ostrenga.

oh yea, nice nipples too.

Thanks guys. It really is pretty cool working with these folks. Kudo's to the NEA as well. All the training classes, meetings, & trail cuts/repairs over the years have really expanded my knowledge of land use.

Paul wrote:I :heart: Joe Ostrenga.

Paul wrote:oh yea, nice nipples too.

Not sure what to say Paul. I guess I wuv you too.

Paul wrote:oh yea, nice nipples too.

I noticed them first. But you can have the nipples, I want the rocks...um the arm ones.

We worked on the hiking trails at the Hamant Brook Area in Sturbridge this weekend (using my Heep as a tractor). I represented the Con Com and was in charge of a large youth group. We prep'd the trail for gravel, removing brush, saplings, etc. It was a good day and was nice to see the sun. It was also a good warm up for mowing my own yard of wheat!

A funny story: Last Thursday, I met one of the kids from the local high school who helped design the bridges in the pic below. He also attended the trail work on Sat. I was sitting at home watching TV with my kids when I heard a loud screetch. I ran out to see what the heck it was. Turns out, this kid (17 yrs old) and his girl friend (also 17 maybe his sister, don't remember) lost an outer tie rod on their '96 Grand Marque. Everyone was fine, as they weren't going fast and eventually stopped in front of my neighbors house. The girl had a cell phone, but her dad was at work and her mom didn't have a phone and at that point, they really didn't know what to do. So, long story short, I asked my neighbor if we could pull it into his driveway and I brought the kids to C.A.P to pick up an outer tie rod. It took about 10-15 minutes to swap it out and they were on their way. I couldn't help but think that that could be my kid in a couple years.


Here are the bridges at the hiking area. They came out very nice.

The line looks to be:
Over the silt barrier, dip into the stream, hug the rocks on the right as close as you can to the bridge railing, it's the only line worth taking really. The rest of the trail looks stocker friendly.

Paul wrote:The line looks to be:
Over the silt barrier, dip into the stream, hug the rocks on the right as close as you can to the bridge railing, it's the only line worth taking really. The rest of the trail looks stocker friendly.

in






BTW, nice work Joe.

Thanks guys. I thought I saw some 36" Swamper tracks in the mud.

The funny thing is, whenever I do any of this work, I can't help but think about the different obstacles I encounter and how cool it would be to drive up 'em.

Then reality sets in and I have to be all environmental.

You said it yourself, Joe: Environ-MENTAL.

Wow, those trails are gorgeous. Nice work. Nice story about the tie rod, too, it brings everything full circle.

The other line could be squeezing under the bridge to make the hard right up the rocks.