Newhall Notes

  • Newhall Notes for April 2024

    A dozen volunteers joined for our April “Second Saturday” Work Day at the Audubon Newhall Preserve. The weather was fantastic, and so were our accomplishments!

    Pictured above from left to right are our volunteers: Larry Tavino, Vice-Chair Matt Mattoon, Ingrid Strelka, Greg Riss, Luke Levensaler, Elizabeth Rios, Sue Groesbeck, Karen Lucey, and Committee Members Julia and David Buzzard. Not shown are late arrival Tony Facenda, and camera-shy Fearless Leader, Bob Clemens.

    Matt, Greg, and Larry erected a canvas shelter for our summer intern and volunteer greeters (We hope to have three in the mix!), and then repositioned our turtle logs and culled vegetation at the Pond. Julia and David painted the new latticework around the Pond Aeration station. Karen Lucey, Elizabeth and Tony scrubbed pine pollen from the Preserve’s benches signs, and interpretative panels. Ingrid and Sue gathered debris from the forest around the Pond. Luke assisted Bob in hauling four loads of branches from the pond to the parking lot collection area and then blew debris off the Newhall Trail. See candid photos below!

    Pending blessing of the Newhall Budget from the Audubon Board, we hope to employ a summer intern to greet visitors beginning in June and through the summer months. We also have two rising high school seniors who have volunteered to serve as greeters as well. If anyone else on our Newhall volunteer email list or the Audubon Society wishes to serve as a volunteer greeter, please contact Bob at rclemens318@gmail.com.

    Plans for our new (ATAX-funded) kiosk project are nearly ready for submission to the Town of Hilton Head and Sea Pines ARB for approval, and we are planning for a second printing of Newhall trail guides to be provided to selected South Carolina Welcome Centers on interstates 95 and 26.

    Our next Newhall Work Day will be Saturday May 11th. We will gather in the parking lot at 8:30, and early arrivals get donuts. Bring gloves, eye protection, water and bug spray. RSVPs are helpful, but not necessary to rclemens318@gmail.com.

    May the Forest be with you!

  • Newhall Notes for March 2024

    Pictured below are five of our regular Newhall volunteers supplemented by ten hardy volunteers who joined us for the local Rotary Club “Day of Service.” Not pictured is photo-shy photographer, Co-Chair Bob Clemens.  The weather was fantastic, and we accomplished a great deal to prepare the Preserve for the Spring Vacationers.  

    One Rotary crew hauled crushed limestone from the parking lot to cover the area around two of our interpretative panels, as shown in the second photo below.   More limestone was then added to the West end of the Newhall trail to level a “dip” where the trail transitions from stone to bare ground.  

    Another team, led by Vice-Chair Matt Mattoon, dug a new trench for the air lines to the pond aeration system, and then removed sections of a huge log that had fallen in the Pine flat woods.

    Vice-Chair Lynn Hodgson led a crew to cull unwanted vegetation from among the Long Leaf pines, and the same crew then spread pine bark nuggets on the paths in the parking lot pollinator garden.

    Finally, our Rotary volunteers trimmed vegetation on the Branch Wood, South Woods and North Woods trails! When all was done, we had a huge pile of brush to be hauled away by Sea Pines CSA.

    Thank you Rotarians!

    Our next Newhall Work Day will be on Saturday April 13th, from 8:30 to 10 AM.  
    RSVPs are not necessary, but appreciated, to rclemens318@gmail.com  

  • Newhall Notes for February 2024

    Eleven hardy volunteers were aided by great weather for the February Newhall Work Day!  Pictured below, from left to right, are Co-Chair Jack Coleman, Committee Member David Buzzard, Karen Lucey, Jim Reynolds, Denise Prichard, Emily Anthony, Greg Riss, Vice-Chair Matt Mattoon, John Grobe and Sal Gioia.  The Photographer was camera-shy Co-Chair and Fearless Leader, Bob Clemens. (We have learned to take the volunteer photo at the outset, so as to not appear too bedraggled at the conclusion of our work.)

    Jim and Greg tackled a problem at the front gate, where Sea Pines Security Officers were apparently having trouble securing one wing of the gate in the open position.  Problem solved!  David, Emily, and Karen painted signposts throughout the preserve, although Karen claims that she got more paint on herself than on the posts (Emily and David of our paint crew are shown below).

    John, Sal, and Bob installed a new “turtle log” off the pond deck, as pictured below.  (A task made more complicated when Bob dropped a screwdriver into the pond, which was rescued later with a “grabber!”)

    Matt and Jack cut some logs to line the Branch Wood Trail where “turtle logs“ had been relocated to the pond.  They then turned on the irrigation system which had been shut off to prevent frozen pipes. (We certainly hope the groundhog was right and there will not be another big freeze!)

    Denise refreshed and “turned” the compost bin, and then gathered a truckload of branches, which were taken to the collection point to be taken away by Sea Pines CSA later this month.

    Our next Newhall Work Day will be in conjunction with a Rotary Service Project on Saturday, March 10 from 9 AM to 11 AM.  RSVPs are helpful, but not necessary to Rclemens318@gmail.com. We will do more trail trimming and painting to spruce up the Preserve for our Spring visitors.

    In other news, we have engaged a contractor to build a new “welcome kiosk“ with monies from an ATAX grant. Once the plans are finalized, they will be submitted to Sea Pines ARB and the Town for approval, and construction can begin. The new kiosk will feature four panels: three for bulletin boards and one for an enlarged trail map.  We have also been awarded ATAX monies to print more trail guides to be placed at the South Carolina welcome centers on the interstates.

    Finally, our “people counter” recorded 1,390 visitors in January, 275 of whom made entries on the clipboard (or 20%). The clipboard entries showed that we had visitors from 28 states and three foreign countries. At least 43 of our visitors attended bird walks, and the donation post and Venmo donations totaled $329 for the month.

  • Newhall Notes for January 2024

    We had a stellar turnout of eleven volunteers for our January work day and we celebrated five NEW faces in addition to our “regulars.”  Shown in the group photo, from left to right, are Linda and Jim Butler, Karen Lucey, Ingrid Braun, Wes Braun, Vice-Chair Lynn Hodgson, Denise Prichard, Ava Elizabeth Rios, and Newhall Committee Members Julia and David Buzzard.  Not shown is camera-shy photographer, Fearless Leader and Co-Chair, Bob Clemens.

    Julia and Ava were our “sign cleaning crew,” and are shown in the photos scrubbing our interpretive panels and other signage. Linda (photo) and Karen (photographer) trimmed the forest trails and made sure the recent storms had not felled any trees. Shown with his bicycle is Wes, who with Jim, helped Lynn relocate three birdhouses.  Bob blew accumulated leaves and pine straw from the Newhall trail and then helped haul vegetation with his beloved Jeep Gladiator truck. The balance of the crew (Ingrid, Denise, and David) gathered limbs from around the Audubon Pond, with two truckloads being hauled to the collection area near the parking lot. We are ever grateful to Sea Pines CSA, who helps by carrying away what would otherwise become a mountain of debris after our work days. 

    Our next work day will be on Saturday, February 10th.  We gather at 8:30 AM in the parking lot and will be all done before 10 AM. RSVPs are not necessary, but helpful to Rclemens318@gmail.com. (We know this date conflicts with a “Birding 101” class, but we’ll make do with whomever can help.)

    In other Newhall News:  We are thrilled to report winning ATAX grants to build a new welcome kiosk and to reprint Newhall trail Guides for distribution to South Carolina Welcome Centers. (Today, South Carolina, Tomorrow the World!)  A pdf schematic of the proposed kiosk is attached.  We anticipate relocating our existing three bulletin boards to the new kiosk and will add in an enlarged map from the Trail Guide. The current Donation post and Trail Guide Box will be moved to be adjacent to the kiosk.  The old kiosk will either be retired or relocated.

    We are also pleased to welcome Kathy Shea to the Newhall Committee. Vice-Chair Emeritus Rita Kernan has trained Kathy to take undertake the task of maintaining the scores of plants, shrub, and tree labels in the Preserve. We owe a boundless debt of gratitude to Rita for her years of dedication to Newhall!

    We also added these new directional signs to Newhall:

  • Newhall Notes for December 2023

    Nine volunteers showed up to beautify the already beautiful Audubon Newhall Preserve on Saturday, December 9th.  We did a good deal of cleanup on the road to the parking lot, the Newhall trail, and around the Audubon Pond, hauling three truckloads of limbs and debris to the collection area.  Appearing below are Tom Marko, David Buzzard, Jim Reynolds, Lynn Hodgson, Julia Buzzard, Sal Gioia, Karen Lucey, and Greg Riss.  Camera-shy Fearless Leader Bob Clemens took the photo. 

    Our next workday will be from 8:30 to 10 AM on Saturday January 13th.  RSVPs are not necessary, but helpful to Bob Clemens at rclemens318@gmail.com.

  • Newhall Notes for November 2023

    Undeterred by a forecast of rain (which never materialized!) nine dedicated volunteers pitched in for the November 11th Veterans Day Work Day at the Audubon Newhall Preserve. 

    Jim Reynolds and John Grobe tackled a “log realignment project” in the parking lot, and then joined the balance of the crew working at the Audubon Pond.

    Most of our time was spent removing downed logs, limbs and branches from the adjacent forest.  We hauled at least three full truckloads of debris back to the parking lot where it will ultimately be removed and ground into mulch by Sea Pines CSA. 

    David and Julia Buzzard, and Fearless Leader Clemens created a new “meditation space” on the north side of the pond as shown in the photo.  We have an absolutely beautiful large magnolia tree just off the path, but it was screened by wax myrtle and other shrubs. By removing the competing vegetation and transplanting a memorial bench, we created a nice little “alcove” with a great view of the Audubon Pond.

    Finally, we hauled a log from the South Woods Trail to invite turtles to enjoy the sun off the Pond deck. We had added a smaller “turtle log” last work day, and it had become so popular with the turtles, we wanted to add another.  Thank you, Rita Kernan, for the suggestion.  (Questions and suggestions are always welcome to rclemens318@gmail.com.)

    Thank you to our many volunteers who contribute to work days, trail monitoring, data collection, plant care and labeling, and so many of the tasks necessary to maintain this lovely space.

    Our next work day will be on Saturday, December 9 from 8:30 to 10 AM. As always, Donuts will be provided. Bring gloves, water, and eye protection.  RSVPs are helpful, but not necessary to  Rclemens318@gmail.com.

  • Newhall Notes for October 2023

    Seven stalwarts attended the October Newhall Work Day.  Shown below from left to right are David and Julia Buzzard, Lynn Hodgson, Karen Lucey, Sal Gioia, and Matt Mattoon.  Not pictured (by popular demand) is Newhall Co-Chair, Fearless Leader and photographer Bob Clemens.

    Lynn, Julia, and Karen cleared vegetation around a copse of magnolias near the parking lot. They also clipped the bases of vines in the pines around the parking lot pollinator garden, expecting them to die and eventually fall back of their own accord.

    David and Sal addressed a “bump in the road” on the Newhall trail where the new stone surface ended near the pond.  The dirt surface had to be reduced and the stone built up to make the slope more manageable.

    Bob and Matt cleaned out our owl boxes and refreshed the wood shavings in each.   One owl box, which was quite far from the parking lot, has been relocated off the northwest corner of the parking lot.  All in all, a successful Work Day!

    The most recent and most visible improvements to the Preserve are in the three bulletin boards shown below. Kudos to Shannon Wilkinson, Rosemary Staples, and Julia Buzzard, who have prepared the new displays, which will be updated as appropriate. Also, a new Venmo QR code was added to the donation post to encourage gifts to support the Preserve.

    Finally, our appreciation to Mike Kizis and Sal Gioia, who used their design and drafting skills to sketch plans for a proposed new “welcome kiosk” to house our three bulletin boards and an enlarged Trail Map.  Sarah Gustafson has requested an ATAX grant to cover the cost of construction.

    As always, we welcome suggestions regarding the Preserve, and they can be addressed to co-Chairs Jack Coleman at jjcolema@iupui.edu or Bob Clemens at Rclemens318@gmail.com.

    Our next Work Day is on Saturday, November 11 from 8:30 to 9:45 AM.  Donuts and water provided! RSVPs are helpful, but not necessary, to rclemens318@gmail.com.

  • Newhall Notes for September 2023

    A “Magnificent Seven” Volunteers showed up for the September Work Day and completed preparations for the Newhall Trail Project: Resurfacing the trail from the parking lot to the Beanie Newhall Monument to improve accessibility.  No more blue painted roots!  With grants from the local and district Rotary and the Nature Conservancy, Mike Jukofsky and MAJ Enterprises will “grind” down 6 to 8 inches of roots and soil, place a layer of fabric, lay three inches of coarse white stone and then a few more inches of finer material, which will then be “rolled” to leave a more trafficable surface for wheelchairs, strollers and “stumblers” like me . . . We won’t miss those darn roots!  Remember: the Preserve will be closed from Thursday 21st through Saturday the 23d for the project. 

    Pictured in the group photo from left to right are Fearless Leader Bob Clemens, Newhall Committee Members David and Julia Buzzard, volunteers Karen Lucey, Meaghan Ellis, Tony Facenda, and Co-Chair Jack Coleman.  The remaining three “candids” were provided by Karen Lucey.

    Our work on Saturday the 16th was to cull vegetation on both sides of the Newhall trail to facilitate the project.  We also hauled a truckload of limbs from the pond to the collection area near the parking lot for removal by Sea Pines CSA.  (Thanks to September Trail Monitor John Grobe, who had collected the limbs for removal.)

    Our next proposed project will be a new four panel “Welcome Kiosk” with three bulletin Boards and an enlarged Trail Map.  Mike Kizis and Sal Gioia used their drafting and “CAD” skills to prepare plans for Sarah Gustafson to submit for an ATAX grant.  In the near term, Rosemary Staples and Julia Buzzard are employing their artistic skills to redesign the materials to be posted on our bulletin boards.  (Julia was an elementary schoolteacher, so bulletin boards are in her wheelhouse!)

    Sharing the credit, Co-Chairs Bob Clemens and Jack Coleman truly appreciate the contributions of Newhall Vice-Chairs Rita Kernan, Tom Hennessey, Matt Mattoon, and newer Committee Members David and Julia Buzzard, Carrie Jones, and Steve Fishman.  Any member of the Newhall Committee will be happy to entertain your questions, suggestions, and (gentle) criticisms. We continue to operate under the theory that “If you’re not improving, you’re stagnating!”  In that same vein, we recently updated our Newhall Committee Task Lists pursuant to the Audubon and Newhall Strategic Plan.

    Volunteers are always welcome!  We need monthly trail monitors, pollinator gardeners, irrigators, and work day muscle for “sweat equity.”  Contact Bob Clemens or Jack Colemen to step up!

    Our next work day will be Saturday, October 14th from 8:30 until just short of exhaustion (typically to 9:30 or 10).  Bug spray, water and donuts provided.  RSVPs are helpful, but not necessary to Bob at RClemens318@gmail.com.   May the Forest Be With You!

  • Newhall Notes for August 2023

    We had a hardy crew of well-hydrated volunteers for our August “Second Saturday” Newhall Work Day.  Paying homage to the Heat Index (99 degrees in the shade!), we worked only an hour, but accomplished a great deal.

    Carrie Jones led a green-thumbed crew of John Grobe and Karen Lucey in weeding the Pond Pollinator Gardens while the remainder of the team trimmed back vegetation on the north side of the Newhall Trail from the parking lot to the pond. (That sounds easier than it was!) 

    Later in September the Preserve will be closed for a Saturday while the local Rotary resurfaces the Newhall Trail, making the path more trafficable for wheelchairs and strollers. That project has been made possible with grants from the local Rotary, the District Rotary, the Nature Conservancy, and donated labor and machinery from MAJ Enterprises.  In preparation for the resurfacing, volunteers will dig down 6 to 8 inches, removing roots, lay fabric, and then resurface the trail with the shell material.

    Shown in the photo, from left to right, are Fearless Leader Bob Clemens, John Grobe, Karen Lucey, Carrie Jones, Sal Gioia, Summer Intern Rylie Tiemann, Vice-Chair Matt Mattoon, and Hilton Klein.

    Our next Work Day will be Saturday September 16th (the third Saturday, for a change) from 8:30 until 10 AM.  We will work on trimming back vegetation on the south side of the trail to facilitate the resurfacing project.

    RSVPs are not necessary, but are helpful to Bob Clemens at RClemens318@gmail.com.

  • Newhall Notes for July 2023

    Fueled by donuts, ten Newhall Preserves volunteers labored in the early morning heat on our “Second Saturday Work Day” on July 8th at the Audubon Newhall Preserve.

    Shown in the photo from left to right are David Buzzard, Co-Chair Bob Clemens, Vice-Chair Matt Mattoon, Newhall Intern Rylie Tiemann, Sal Gioia, John Grobe, Karen Lucey, Thaddaeus Rios, and Co-Chair Jack Coleman. Not shown is Meaghan Ellis who arrived after the photo was taken, but she promptly pitched in and “turned over” the mulch pile in the storage area.

    The second photo is Rylie Tiemann, our summer intern. Karen Lucey led a crew to remove branches from around the Audubon Pond while Matt and Bob harvested a large log to place in the pond near the observation deck in hopes that the local turtles would entertain our visitors. Jack Coleman led a crew to use milled asphalt to fill potholes in the drive and parking lot, and to level the area where we will place new interpretative panels. Thanks to all who helped, as the Preserve has never looked better.

    Our next work day will be Saturday August 12th from 8:30 to 10 AM. Bring gloves and eye protection. Donuts, water, and bug spray will be provided. RSVPs are not necessary but helpful to RClemens318@gmail.com.

  • Newhall Notes for June 2023

    At first eleven seemed to be the magic number, as we once again had eleven workers for our monthly “Second Saturday” Work Day and our “before photo.”  (We are typically too bedraggled and camera-shy for an “after photo!”)  However, we soon grew to an even dozen as Tony Facenda arrived to help out. Fortunately, donuts were still available when Tony arrived!

    The most labor-intensive task was hauling milled asphalt from the parking lot to an area on the south side of the Audubon Trail, where we will install two interpretive panels. Audubon has been awarded a grant for $10K for four new panels for Newhall. Vice-Chair Lynn Hodgson identified the location for these two before she headed north for the summer. With two dump carts and a wheelbarrow, Jim Reynolds, Hilton Klein, and Logan Cambron hauled the milled asphalt to the sign site, where John Grobe, Rylie Tillman, Kristin Cambron, and Tony Facenda raked and tamped the milled asphalt into submission.

    Committee Members David and Julia Buzzard and Thaddaeus Rios undertook the back-bending task of repainting roots along the Audubon trail to assist in wheelchair accessibility. The process involved blowing and brushing the exposed roots and then painting them with “safety blue” paint. Julia also painted the reflector post for the new “people counter” described below.

    Fearless leader Clemens and Karen Lucey removed a sign the Committee had deemed unnecessary and straightened signs which had developed serious leaning issues. They then harvested logs to frame a small tree in the new interpretive panel site as well as to line paths in the parking lot pollinator garden.

    Our next Newhall Work Day is Saturday July 8th from 8:30 to 10 AM. RSVPs to rclemens318@gmail.com are appreciated, but not necessary.

    From left to right are Newhall Volunteers Hilton Klein, Karen Lucey, Logan and Kristin Cambron, John Grobe, Intern Rylie Tillman, Thaddeus Rios, Julia and David Buzzard, and Jim Reynolds.   Not shown is your camera-shy photographer, Fearless Leader Bob Clemens and slightly tardy Tony Facenda. 
    David, Julia, and Thaddaeus refreshing our “Safety Blue” paint on roots on the Audubon Trail

    We are trying to get a grant to resurface the trail to reduce trip hazards and to make it more accessible for wheelchairs and strollers! 

    In other news, our summer intern, Rylie Tillman, started as an afternoon greeter for Newhall late last month. She will also assist the Audubon team at the Juneteenth Celebration at Mitchellville on Saturday June 17th. We’re hoping Rylie will encourage visitors to add entries to our visitors log and perhaps add some funds to our donation post.

    Recently our Vice-Chair and resident engineer, Matt Mattoon (assisted by your Fearless Leader),  installed a “people counter,” which logs passing visitors who break its infrared beam. Our visitor counts support the grant applications we submit to improve the Preserve and to print our trail guides and birding brochures.

    We always welcome questions and suggestions regarding Newhall and those can be sent to Bob at rclemens318@gmail.com or Co-Chair Jack Coleman at jjcolema@iupui.edu.

  • Newhall Notes for May 2023

    There were only seven workers for our May Work Day, but a great deal was accomplished nevertheless!  We had superb weather and great fun.

    John Grobe, Sal Gioia, and Karen Lucey hauling vegetation.

    Earlier in the week Jack Coleman and Fearless Leader Bob Clemens pressure-washed the Pocosin boardwalk as prep for a second coat of paint. David and Julia Buzzard then came and painted trim, and encored on the Work Day to single-handedly finish the second coat of paint.  While the painting was going on Sal Gioia trimmed the palmettos and briars encroaching on the entrance to the boardwalk. 

    David and Julia are exultant after finishing painting the Pocosin boardwalk.
    The Pocosin Boardwalk was prepped and painted with materials donated by Lowe’s of Bluffton.
    Thanks to Lowe’s of Bluffton!
    Our new Intern/Greeter shelter, with thanks to Amber Kuehn, the Beach Patrol, and the visitors who left it behind.

    Back at the parking lot, Jim Reynolds, John Grobe, and Karen Lucey erected a shelter for the Newhall Intern who will serve as a part-time “Greeter” starting later this month. That done, they commenced widening the Branch Wood Trail as recommended in our Fire Mitigation Plan.   

    Sal and Bob hauled a truckload of debris to the collection point near the parking lot, where Sea Pines CSA will haul it away for us.  Sal and Bob also used some smaller logs to re-line the paths in the parking lot pollinator garden. 

    Jim Reynolds supervising Sal Gioia hauling vegetation.

    Our next Work Day is scheduled for Saturday June 10th from 8:30 to 10 AM.  RSVPs aren’t necessary but helpful to rclemens318@gmail.com.

  • Newhall Notes for April 2023

    Wow! Before we begin celebrating our great April Work Day, let’s lift accolades to Local Life Magazine for the April “Birdie Issue,” featuring several of our favorite people.

    Turn to page 50 for an introductory “Faces of Birding” collage with Sean Ryan of Wild Birds Unlimited, Patty Kappmeyer, Lynn Hodgson, and a photo of our Newhall Pond Pollinator Garden sign! But that’s just the “teaser!”

    Sean Ryan’s promo for birding and Wild Birds Unlimited begins on page 52. Then on Page 56 Patty Kappmeyer is featured with her camera and wading gear! Now we know how Patty gets those great photos we see on Facebook!

    Turn to page 60 for an article about our favorite Newhall Vice-Chair and Tour Guide, Lynn Hodgson. Another photo was taken near the cypress knees on the west side of the Audubon Pond at Newhall.

    But wait! There’s more! Flip ahead to page 130 for the “Fashion & Feathers” article, with fashion photos of Coastal Discovery Museum’s Carlos Chacon and Newhall volunteer Jim Reynolds, as well as Audubon tech whiz, Shannon Wilkinson. Then on the next two pages, we have the four Rios siblings, Thaddaeus, Charlotte, Ava Elizabeth, and Nathanael, all of whom are regulars at Newhall Work days. Finally, turn the page for photos of Pollinator Gardener Mary Ellen Blankenship, Backup Newhall Tour Guide Rosemary Staples, and Newhall Deck Carpenter Steve Fishman. Wow! (Hope I didn’t miss anyone!)

    Fearless Leader, John Grobe, and Co-Chair Jack Coleman

    Now, we can celebrate a great April Work Day with our own photos! The group photo below shows Work Day Volunteers: David and Julia Buzzard, Co-Chair Jack Coleman, Sal Gioia, Kathy Kettel, Carrie Jones, Mary Ellen Blankenship, Vice-Chair Lynn Hodgson, Rios siblings Elizabeth and Nathanael, John Grobe, Tony Facenda, Karen Lucey, and Stephen Freniere. (As usual, your camera-shy Fearless Leader, Bob Clemens, is behind the lens!) Fifteen workers is the highest turnout in recent memory! More “candids” were provided by Karen Lucey, and are captioned below.

    The Work Day Volunteers: David and Julia Buzzard, Jack Coleman, Sal Gioia, Kathy Kettel, Carrie Jones, Mary Ellen Blankenship, Lynn Hodgson, Elizabeth Rios, Nathanael Rios, John Grobe, Tony Facenda, Karen Lucey, and Stephen Freniere.

    David and Julia Buzzard captained a crew with Jack Coleman, Karen Lucey, and Steve Freniere to repaint the Pocosin Boardwalk. We pause to thank John Grobe for literally months of work day pressure-washing to prep the Boardwalk surface. We also thank Steve Fishman who arranged for Lowe’s of Bluffton to donate paint supplies and two gallons of deck paint.

    Lynn Hodgson, Carrie Jones, and Mary Ellen Blankenship, assisted by Kathy Kettel, Tony Facenda, and Elizabeth and Nathanael Rios, planted native plants and shrubs in the two pollinator gardens and in front of the pond aeration station.

    Sal Gioia, John Grobe, and Bob Clemens completed the work started last month in culling vegetation from around the Audubon Pond. We now have eight good-sized piles of debris, and will ask Sea Pines CSA to come and haul them away.

    Julia Buzzard washing paint brushes
    Julia and Stephen painting the Pocosin Boardwalk
    David, Stephen, and Jack
    Karen Lucey wanted a candid photo of Fearless Leader

    Our next work day will be Saturday May 13th, and we’ll add a second coat of paint to the Pocosin Boardwalk, reline the Parking Lot pollinator garden walkways with small logs, and trim our trails. RSVPs are not necessary, but helpful to rclemens318@gmail.com.

    Finally (If you’ve read this far, we are very proud of you), we thank Lynn Hodgson and our Audubon “techies” who revised and updated the Newhall trail guides with for reprinting with funds from an ATAX grant facilitated by Treasurer Sarah Gustafson. Lynn corrected some errors and revised content, and we added QR codes for links to the digital trail guide, to donate with Venmo and to our Audubon membership form. A big thank you to our many, many Newhall Volunteers!!!

  • Newhall Notes for March 2023

    An industrious 11 souls joined the March 11th, 2023 Newhall Work Day (coincidentally, one less than the number of available Dunkin Donuts!)  Once again, we had great weather.

    From left to right are new Newhall Committee Members David and Julia Buzzard, Co-Chair and Fearless Leader Bob Clemens, Co-Chair and Equally Fearless Jack Coleman, Sal Gioia, Mary Ellen Blankenship, John Grobe, Tony Facenda, Thaddaeus and Elizabeth Rios, and Karen Lucey. 

    Karen, Elizabeth and Thaddaeus camouflaged our new “bright white” PVC pipes with spray paint.  (Matt Mattoon had replaced a few sections which had burst in the February freeze.) Karen and Thaddaeus then trimmed the South Woods Trail, while Elizabeth helped gather the scrub buckets and tools for storage.  Jack and Tony assembled a new deck box for the storage area (there were only a few parts left over, but what the heck.). Mary Ellen labored solo in the Parking Lot Pollinator Garden, while Julia, David and Sal washed pollen from the benches and then culled vegetation around Audubon Pond.  John resumed his meticulous pressure washing of the Pocosin boardwalk in preparation for painting next month. Bob repaired a damaged bench, greeted visitors, and pretended to supervise (but without micromanaging!). A great day and much was accomplished.

    Fearless Leader, aka Bob Clemons
    John Grobe, Prince of Pocosin, Pressure Washing
    Mary Ellen Blankenship, Pollinator Gardener
    Thaddaeus Rios, who “accidentally” spray painted his sister’s leg instead of the PVC pipe!

    Our next Newhall Work Day will be April Fool’s Day, Saturday, April 1st. We’ll meet in the parking lot at 8:30. The principal tasks will be to paint the Pocosin Boardwalk and complete culling vegetation around the Audubon Pond.  Donuts will be provided and we’ll be done by 10 AM. 

    RSVPs are not necessary, but helpful to Bob Clemens at Rclemens318@gmail.com.

    We are truly grateful for our volunteers!

  • Newhall Notes for February 2023

    Last week we installed a new “Welcome” sign on the Trail Guide Box to replace the laminated sheet we had there before (see photo, below). The best new features are three QR codes linking the Trail Guide, Donations (via Venmo), and Audubon Membership.  Studio One did an excellent job delivering a product which is likely to outlive the “Elders” on our Newhall Committee!

    Speaking of “Elders,” we are proud to announce the expansion of our Newhall Committee to add four more youthful members.  We welcome Julia and David Buzzard, Carrie Jones, and Steve Fishman.  They join our long-standing Vice-Chairs: Rita Kernan, Lynn Hodgson, Tom Hennessey, Matt Mattoon, Jack Coleman, and Chair Bob Clemens.

    We were thrilled to find that the folks at Allcare Tree Surgery, Inc. had donated more large logs to line the parking lot (see photos). We were so pleased with the logs they had placed on the entrance road from Palmetto Bay Road last Fall that we went back and begged for more.  Please consider Allcare for your next tree project! Contact them at office@allcarehhi.com or by phone (843) 757-8095.

    If you know a college age person who has an interest in nature or environmental science, please invite them to apply for our Spring Greeter Internship position.  Flexible hours and decent pay are compensation for greeting our visitors and providing them with essential information about the Preserve.  Applicants should contact Bob Clemens at rclemens318@gmail.com.

    Finally, here’s our report of the February 18th Newhall Work Day! Once again, we had 13 hardy volunteers.  The “pre-op” photo shows only 9, as Fearless Leader Clemens was taking the photo and the Rios Siblings: Charlotte (a first timer), Elizabeth, and Thaddaeus hadn’t yet arrived.  Shown from left to right are Vice-Chair Matt Mattoon, Karen Lucey, John Grobe, Tony Facernta (also a first timer), Sal Gioia, Jim Reynolds, Hilton Klein, and new Committee members Julia and David Buzzard.

    John and Tony continued the seemingly never-ending task of pressure-washing the Pocosin boardwalk, while Matt and Jim (assisted by Bob’s Jeep) moved the donation post to a more prominent location between the Trail Guide Post and the Bulletin Board (see photos.) We’re hoping the new location will lead to enhanced revenue.

    The balance of the crew tackled the remaining mountain of milled asphalt donated by Sea Pines CSA, spreading it to level the new parking space between the towering pine trees (photos below). Sounds simpler than it was. It can be back-breaking work, and the surface has to be “tamped” to compact the millings. Thanks to all who did that! Our next Newhall Work Day will be Saturday March 11th from 8:30 AM to 10 AM. We’ll cull vegetation from around Audubon Pond, finish pressure-washing the boardwalk, and try to clean the pine pollen from the benches! Bring gloves and eye protection. Insect repellant hasn’t been necessary in the winter months, but who knows what March will bring!  RSVPs are not necessary, but helpful, to Bob Clemens at Rclemens318@gmail.com.

  • January 2023 Newhall Work Day Report

    Who has triskaidekaphobia? Not us! Thirteen stalwart volunteers, fueled by only 12 donuts, braved cold weather for the January Work Day at the Audubon Newhall Preserve.  Jim Reynolds and his crew of the Rios siblings, Elizabeth, Thaddaeus, and Nathanael extended the milled asphalt surface material up the Audubon Trail. Vice-Chair Lynn Hodgson and Elizabeth spruced up the parking lot pollinator garden and waged war against fire ants.  Co-Chairs Jack Coleman and Bob Clemens cleaned out and added wood shavings to two of our three owl boxes.  We spared an owl box near the Audubon Pond after finding it occupied by a baby possum! We have dubbed him or her “Pogo,” whose famous Earth Day 1970 quote regarding pollution was: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

    Meanwhile, closer to the ground, Karen Lucey, David and Julia Buzzard, Sal Gioia, Tom Marko and newcomer Daniela Duran gathered logs, branches and other debris from around the Audubon Pond into piles to be removed by our friends from Sea Pines CSA.  For our traditional photo op, below,  we positioned the roses among the thorns . . . From left to right: thorns David Buzzard, Fearless Leader Clemens, Tom Marko, John Grobe, Co-Chair Jack Coleman, roses Vice-Chair Lynn Hodgson, Daniela Duran, Julia Buzzard, overlapping thorn Jim Reynolds, rose Elizabeth Rios, and thorns Sal Gioia, Thaddaeus Rios and Nathanael Rios.  It was a great day to be outdoors!  

    Our next Newhall Work Day will be Saturday February 18th, 8:30 to 10 AM!  (Ordinarily we schedule our Work Days for the second Saturday of each month, but your Fearless Leader will be out of town on February 11th, so we will push it back a week next month!)

  • December 2022 Work Day Report

    Happy Holidays from All of Us at Audubon Newhall Preserve

    Eight hardy volunteers pitched in at the December 10th Newhall Work Day. Shown in the first photo below (from left to right) are Vice-Chair Lynn Hodgson, VMI lineman Jim Reynolds, Miho Kinnas, Karen Lucey, “Doc” Hilton Klein, and “Brooklyn“ Sal Gioia. Not shown are photographer and Fearless Leader, Bob Clemens, and “Boat Captain” Jay Rawl, who arrived 30 seconds later. Jim Reynolds honchoed a crew that relined the Branch Wood Trail with logs (second photo) and cleared debris from the northeast corner of the parking area. Bob Clemens and his crew cleared an area near the aeration pumps that had been cluttered with discarded lumber and trash. Bob and Sal hauled the debris to the recycle center (thus avoiding more hauling of logs) and returned to find the work almost done! (Good timing!) In the third photo, Jim shows Lynn and Bob his crew’s accomplishments! Many thanks to all who participated.

    Our next work day is planned for Saturday January 14th from 8:30 to 10 AM. We will spread milled asphalt and gather brush to be hauled away by Sea Pines’ CSA. RSVPs are helpful, but not required, to Bob Clemens at rclemens318@gmail.com or text (317) 989-5777.

  • November 2022 Work Day Report

    Our November Work Day was successful, as always.  The ladies, led by Vice-Chair Lynn Hodgson, culled unwanted vegetation from the long leaf pines planted after Hurricane Matthew.  The gentlemen spread milled asphalt on the access road and parking lot, and stabilized the new logs lining the access road.  Shown below from left to right are David and Julia Buzzard, Lynn Hodgson, Karen Lucey, Sal Gioia, and Bob Clemens.  Hilton Klein joined in the fun, but had to leave before the photo was taken.  The second photo is an onlooker we have dubbed “King of the Forest!” Join us for the next Work Day on Saturday, December 10th, 8:30-10 AM.  RSVPs are helpful, but not necessary to Bob Clemens at rclemens318@gmail.com or (317) 989-5777.

  • October 2022 Work Day Report

     We are attaching photos of the new logs lining the roadway to the Newhall parking lot!  Allcare Tree Surgery donated and placed these logs at no cost, and they are a striking addition to the entry to the Preserve!  A second photo shows the result of Sea Pines CSA mowing the fire break around the perimeter of the Preserve. Where would we be without such great neighbors!? Finally, the donation post yielded over $500 for October!  Definitely an improvement over the hot sticky summer months.

     Our next Work Day is Saturday November 12th from 8:30 to 10 AM!  “Many hands make light work!” RSVPs are not necessary, but helpful to Bob Clemens at Rclemens318@gmail.com.

    Seven of our Newhall Volunteers enjoyed great weather for our October Work Day!  Shown from left to right, before they got grubby and sweaty, are Ava Elizabeth, Nathanael, and Thaddaeus Rios; Julia and David Buzzard; and John Grobe. The invisible photographer was your Fearless Leader, Bob Clemens.

    The Rios brothers moved the Memorial Garden sign to a less conspicuous location because we have had too many people walking down that dead end path and then wandering the irrigation trails.  Julia, David and Ava Elizabeth tackled grooming the cathedral-like Pine Flatwoods, leaving only pine straw on the forest floor.  John and Bob resumed the time-consuming task of pressure-washing the Pocosin boardwalk.  (We think we’ll be done by the end of 2023!).  The balance of our time was spent trimming trails and greeting visitors.

    Our next work will be on Saturday, November 12, 2022, from 8:30 to 10 AM.  RSVPs are not necessary, but helpful to Bob Clemens at RClemens318@gmail.com or text (317) 989-5777.

    Future projects include erecting a new welcome kiosk for the bulletin boards, rebuilding the trail guide box, improving wheelchair access to the pond, and re-lining the road to the parking lot with larger logs. We also hope to have a Spring Semester Intern from USCB to greet visitors during peak tourist season.

  • September 2022 Work Day Report

    Ignoring dreadful weather forecasts, we had nine stalwart volunteers show up at the Preserve for our September Work Day. Fortunately, the weatherman was wrong about the rain, so we only had to brave the heat, humidity, and bugs! Julia and David Buzzard cleaned our interpretative panels at the Pocosin Boardwalk, Audubon Pond, and Deck, and Matt Matoon and Co-Chair Jack Coleman led crews to address overgrowth on the Branch Wood Trail and around the Greenshield Gate.  The Rios siblings, Ava Elizabeth, Thaddaeus, and Nathanael tackled trimming and mowing duties, and John Grobe and Co-Chair and Fearless Leader Bob Clemens pressure washed the Pocosin Boardwalk (only made possible by the prior installation of a water line at the Pond!) A group Photo was taken before we became too disheveled.  From left to right we have Matt, John, Jack, David, Julia, Thaddaeus (or is that Nathanael?), Ava Elizabeth, and Nathanael (or is that Thaddaeus?).  Cleverly not pictured is the photographer, your Fearless Leader.

  • July 2022 Work Day Report

    Hello Fellow Tree Huggers:

    I’m pecking away at the keyboard to report on our July 16th Work Day at the Audubon Newhall Preserve.  Our participants included high schoolers Thaddaeus and Ava Elizabeth Rios; regulars Sal Gioia, Hilton Klein, MaryEllen Blankenship, Karen Lucey, Julia and David Buzzard; and your Fearless Leader. (Not present for the photo was MaryEllen who had to leave a bit early, and your Fearless Leader, who took the photo.)  Sal and Hilton moved three benches to the other side of the perimeter path around the Audubon Pond, in hopes that Big Al will not munch on our visitors, and then returned to assist with the “log-rolling crew.”  Thaddaeus and his sister, Ava Elizabeth helped several of us move and realign logs around the perimeter of the parking lot, (See photos) and others of us moved branches to a large pile on the south side of the access drive for removal by our friends from Sea Pines CSA.  Thanks to CSA we have added two additional parking spaces to the parking lot!  As always, “May The Forest Be With You.”

  • June 4, 2022 Work Day Report

    Wow!  Did we ever accomplish a great on our Saturday, June 4th Work Day! Vice-Chair Matt Mattoon, assisted by Karen Lucey, John Grobe, and Joe Kernan, worked to camouflage our new irrigation pipes to the Pond Pollinator Gardens (Where’d they go?) and placed some logs into the pond for the turtles (per Rita Kernan’s suggestion).  Our high school volunteers, Nathanael and Thaddaeus Rios, spread milled asphalt on the entrance roadway to fill in some nascent potholes!  Fearless Leaders and Co-Chairs Jack Coleman and Bob Clemens, assisted by Sal Goia, cleared a metric ton* of vegetation from an area we hope will add a space or two to our parking lot. (*Okay.  Maybe a bit less than a metric ton, but it was a big pile.)    Mary Ellen Blankenship worked in the Parking Lot Pollinator Gardens, building bamboo tripods as trellises for the passionflower vines.  Meanwhile David and Julia Buzzard tackled encroaching vegetation of the Branch Wood Trail.   Finally, Vice-Chair Rita Kernan hosted a group on a guided tour of the Preserve.   At times the parking lot was overflowing with vehicles, and that’s a good thing!  Slightly unrelated is that we collected over $800 from the Donation Post in May and over 300 visitors signed the clipboard.

  • May 7, 2022 Work Day Report

    Led by Fearless Leaders Bob Clemens, Matt Mattoon, and Lynn Hodgson, our Newhall volunteers Mary Ellen Blankenship, Karen Lucey, Sonny Huntly, Hilton Klein, and Thaddaeus Rios accomplished a great deal on our May Work Day!  Matt led a crew routing a water pipe to the pond Pollinator Gardens for a new irrigation system.  As the photos show, we rented a trencher to lay the irrigation pipe under the Pond Trail, and in coming weeks the white pipe will be camouflaged.   Bob and Thaddaeus laid a milled asphalt pad and erected a shelter for Faith Sulak, our Audubon Intern.   Faith will serve some of her internship as a greeter for visitors to the Preserve!  Lynn, Mary Ellen, and Karen labored in the parking lot pollinator gardens and among the trees and shrubs planted after hurricane Matthew. A great deal was accomplished, and we appreciate our volunteers immensely.

    Tuesday May 17th will be Lynn’s last nature walk, as she departs for Maine for the summer.  Walks will resume in the Fall.  In the interim, we invite anyone interested to step up to fill her shoes with occasional guided walks for our visitors.  Contact Bob Clemens if you’re willing to serve as a tour guide!   Vice-Chair Rita Kernan also offers guided walks by appointment, and she can be contacted at ritakernan48@gmail.com.

  • April 9, 2022 Work Day Report

    Fueled by donuts to fortify ourselves against the chill, eleven hardy souls worked to improve and beautify the Audubon Newhall Preserve on Saturday April 9th.   Our medium age was lowered considerably by two community service volunteers from Bluffton High School, Thaddaeus and Nathanael Rios.  The “elders” included nine “Regulars:” Jim Reynolds, Sal Gioia, Julia and David Buzzard, Hilton Klein; Vice-Chairs Matt Matoon, and Rita Kernan, and Co-Chairs Jack Coleman and Bob Clemens.  You’ll easily pick out the high school students in the group photo, but almost as important in the photo is the new handicap parking area, complete with a handicap sign and outlined with logs painted “safety” bright blue!  This feature was suggested by Aliceon Stillman and Vice-Chair Lynn Hodgson, who have completed an accessibility certification for the Preserve.  In addition, we have added wheelchair “bumpers” on the ramp to the deck on Newhall Pond, and several weeks ago Matt used a stump grinder to reduce roots on the pond perimeter trail.  . On the Work Day, we had a crew locate and cover the remaining roots with safety blue paint.  In the future we’ll add railings at the rear of the deck to make it less likely that visitors might back up to take a photo and find themselves on their backsides.  Other crews removed vegetation to improve sight lines for our signage and spruced up the parking lot in our never-ending war against encroaching vegetation and pine cones.   The Preserve has never looked better.

  • March 12, 2022 Work Day Report

    To everyone’s surprise, our Fearless Leader’s prediction of good weather for the March work day was prescient!  Rain was predicted, but the clouds parted promptly at 9 AM, and fueled by cocoa and donuts, eleven hardy souls went to work in the Audubon Newhall Preserve. Vice-Chair Lynn Hodgson, Karen Penale, Mary Ellen Blankenship and Stephen Streeter worked on the parking lot pollinator gardens, adding good topsoil to the extension to the east side of the gardens and weeding and preening the remainder of the garden.  Sonny Huntley and Sal Gioia cleared some vegetation which had been blocking the sight lines for the front gate and hauled the debris to a large pile which will be taken away by Sea pines CSA.  Bob Clemens planted a new Handicap Parking in an effort to enhance our accessibility, while others improved the newly laid milled asphalt to remove tripping hazards.  Tackling the hardest task, Vice-Chair Matt Matoon, Jim Reynolds Hilton Klein and Jay Rawl laid 600 feet of PVC pipe through the forest to extend our water lines to the Audubon Pond. Bob, Sonny, and Sal also felled two pine trees and hauled the logs back to the parking lot to frame the Parking Lot Pollinator Gardens.  Our thanks to everyone who participated, and to Debby Boots who is undertaking planting replacement plants at the Pond pollinator Gardens.

    Photo: Volunteer Carrie Jones moving dirt ahead of the work day.

What have we done lately?

The Audubon Newhall Preserve had a banner year in 2021.  Our many volunteers repaired and repainted the frames for our interpretive panels, installed two new bike racks and pads, installed new “double-wide” bulletin boards at the welcome kiosk, rebuilt and repainted the deck at the Audubon Pond, created a (hidden) “maintenance yard” with our tool shed, deck box, and compost heap; collected various memorials in a “Memorial garden,” installed a new memorial birdbath and dripper at the Pond Pollinator gardens, and extended the milled asphalt surface from the parking lot to the welcome kiosk.  During our many work days we culled invasive vegetation, removed loblolly pines competing with our long leaf pines, and “tubed” scores of trees and shrubs to protect them from the deer.  We also elevated portions of the Branch Wood trail which tend to flood after heavy rains and fought the never-ending battle with encroaching vegetation and fallen trees on the trails.  Blessed with a talented engineering Vice-Chair, we overcame “supply chain issues” to replace the pump for the pond aeration system.  Finally, after months of hard work on the part of Lynn Hodgson and the Newhall Committee, we created a Management Plan which was approved by the Audubon Board in the Fall.

Since our fiscal year began on May 1st, we have collected more than $3,200 in donations, and by mid-December in calendar year 2021 over 2,000 visitors recorded their visits on our trail guide clipboard.  (We know that only a fraction of our visitors makes clipboard entries, given the frequency with which we have to refill the trail guides.)  We partnered with the local Rotary on work days and with the Coastal Discovery Museum in marketing.

What do we have coming down the road?

Stay tuned for more exciting improvements!