Town of Shirley - Shirley, MA

present caretakers, Steve and Kim Hampson, can be reached at 978-761-3406 or 978-761-5824 or at longleyacres@ymail.comIn FY12 the Commission reached a long-term hay field lease agreement and renewed thecaretaker agreement. A new sign designating the conservation area was installed near theLongley farmhouse on Whitney Road.The Commission continued to focus on maintenance needs for the house and barn in orderto preserve the site and buildings and to prevent deterioration and ensure user safety.Maintenance projects in FY12 included new siding and repairs to the barn.The Community Garden at Longley Acres was established in 2010 to provide access toplots for local gardeners. In FY12 the Community Garden began cooperating withGrowing Places Garden Project of Clinton, MA, to enable low income families to learnabout growing their own food.We continue to sell As Seasons Change: A Collection of Poems by Melvin ProctorLongley, Sr. The Longley family compiled the poems and generously donated allproceeds from the first edition to the Longley Acres Maintenance Fund. We also stillhave copies of Betsy Colburn's must-have reference Vernal Pools: Natural History andConservation. These two books are still available at the Conservation office.The Longley Acres property has been entirely self-sufficient to date, with improvementspaid for by a combination of donations, hay sales, book sales, and grants. The public iswelcome to enjoy the property daily from sunrise to sunset.Staff (As of June 30, 2012)Part-time Administrator Rebecca Markey (12 hours per week)Part-time Administrator Stephen Schneider (12 hours per week)Part-time Secretary Anna J. MacDonald (10 hours per week)MembersThe Commission is currently looking for additional members. People interested in joiningthe Commission may also become non-voting Associate Members.As of June 30, 20l2, members of the Conservation Commission included:Nancy Askin, ChairE. Heidi Ricci, Associate MemberBob Burkhardt, Vice Chair Sheri Bean, Associate MemberDavid Bortell, Member Margaret Cronin Wilson, Associate MemberRita Bortell, Member Frank Esielonis, Associate MemberRespectfully submitted,Nancy Askin, ChairBob Burkhardt, Vice-ChairDavid Bortell, MemberRita Bortell, MemberMichael Lance, MemberE. Heidi Ricci, Associate Member95