Eastman Living Online Magazine

By Gale Schmidt Photos Provided By Chris Rimmer At 7 A.M. on Sunday morning, May 11, the weather forecast was 90-100% chance of showers, rain and thunderstorms. This did not deter a group of hardy Eastmanites, who gathered at Heath Forest for a bird walk sponsored by the Woodlands and Wildlife Committee. Chris Rimmer, director […]

By Aaron Brooke Jenkyn Owls, coyotes and turtles, oh my! What a wonderful summer to live in Eastman. With the extremely warm weather and sunny days, many of you had the opportunity to get out and explore. Others of you didn’t have to travel very far to see wildlife, as the birds, critters and turtles […]

A perennial favorite with riders, volunteers and staff at High Horses Therapeutic Riding Program in Wilder, VT, Louie, a gentle giant Belgian draft horse, was nominated for horse of the year of the National American Riding for the Handicapped Association (now PATH, Int.) in spring 2009. The photo and poem, both by Richard Sachs, were […]

By Peter Hope The summer Eastman Walk program was a great success! We focused on walks within Eastman but also returned to old favorites such as Mt. Tom in Woodstock, VT and French’s Ledges in Meriden. The hiking program was shortened due to a lack of leaders and adverse weather. We hope for a more […]

By Evan Goldsher With the presidential election on the horizon, Americans are preparing to make an important decision. Every day we hear the same news report of failing economies in Europe, a struggling stock market and a poor jobs report. But what candidates and news stations have failed to cover adequately is the condition of […]

The Lake by Amber Rose Vermette, age 7 Some things are blue. We lay on the water. We see the ducks. We kayak on the lake. We see the flowers. We see lily pads. We see turtles in the water. We jump off the dock into the water. Sometimes we see loons.   Our Lake […]

By Milt Weinstein For the fourth consecutive year, Eastman Lake’s loons produced two chicks. Born on July 2, the chicks spent the summer learning to dive for fish, and in the fall they will learn to fly so they can escape to coastal waters before the ice sets in. The breeding success on our lake […]

By Craig McArt and Renée Gustafson •  Photo by Renée Gustafson Here in the early 1900s, when the Draper Company’s mill was turning out thousands of bobbin blanks from trees logged in its tract around Eastman Pond, a Grantham girl by the name of Wilema Hastings went for a long excursion with her grandfather. After […]

  A Cottage by the Sea By Tom Graves How soporific is the ocean’s roar? Let’s rent a little cottage by the sea, with warmth and sand and shells close at our door. We’ll go there not to do, but just to be.  Let’s rent a little cottage by the sea. Where sky is blue […]

By Craig McArt and Renée Gustafson In the early days, 1851 to be exact, a road was built to connect Grantham with Washburn’s Mill at Washburn Corner in Springfield. It crossed a small, unnamed brook, later to be called Anderson Brook and finally to be renamed Eastman Brook. While the remains of the mill can […]

By Aaron Brooke Jenkyn Summer came early to Eastman this year, with temperatures reaching the ‘70s and ‘80s for several weeks in April and May. The extra warm weather has allowed Eastman residents the chance to open up their windows to listen to sounds of spring, to explore the trails and to get out on […]

By Peter Hope Once again we will offer our Wednesday morning Eastman walks, which will run from July 4 through Columbus Day. Awaited by many with bated breath, the destinations will be in Eastman and in the Upper Valley area. We’ll meet for car-pooling at 8:30 a.m. at the Alpine Vista parking area, above the […]

 By Susie Burbidge The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in North America and is found in both freshwater and saltwater habitats. Standing nearly four feet tall and weighing a mere five to six pounds, it can be identified by the blue-gray plumage on its back, wings and belly, striped crown, thick yellow bill […]

By Caroline Hoen Photos by David Armstrong Eastman is home to scores of engaged and accomplished young people who excel in areas from academics and athletics to the arts and beyond. One noteworthy member of our 18-and-under set is Jaret Armstrong, who triumphed in this year’s Lebanon Regional Spelling Bee. Held last February, the competition […]

By Rhonda Weinstein   Photos by Amy Hoffman The Program Weed Watchers in Eastman are an invaluable group of volunteers who work to prevent the spread of invasive plants in Eastman Lake, Anderson Pond and Mill Pond. Members paddle to check for non-native plants in the water, and they also check the shorelines for sightings of […]

By Judy McCarthy and Maddie Brown Eastman resident and Lebanon high school student Maddie Brown was simply responding to her English/history teacher’s assignment when she wrote a letter to the author of one of the books she and her classmates had read in class this past year. The teacher, Deb Nelson, had challenged her entire […]

By Aaron Brooke Jenkyn After the unusually warm and snowless winter of 2012, it has been nice to have the cooler temperatures and snowfall that this winter has brought us. Eastman is alive with people walking, skiing and snowshoeing. With more people getting outdoors, it means there were lots of opportunities to see and report […]

By Peter Hope Once again this year we have been able to enjoy our ever-popular Snowshoe Hike Program, even though weather and trail conditions forced some cancellations. However, the groundhog did not see his shadow, which means we are having an early spring! Please be considerate of the trails during mud season. Stay off fragile […]

This poem is in the sonnet form, which contains 14 lines in two groups, one of 8 lines (octave) and one of 6 (sestet). The octave is often divided 4 and 4 and the sestet 4 and 2 (as in this poem). The final couplet allows the poet to state a general summary of the […]

By Rob Strong

 By Craig McArt and Renee Gustafson When Eastman Lake was just a pond, a corduroy road stretched along the length of its western shoreline. The road was surfaced with logs laid side by side to provide logging wagons access to mills near each end of the pond. The north end of the pond disappeared into […]

By Sharon Parker Lake Hosts get to spend two hours lakeside enjoying the view or reading a good book. You can make friends with boaters, walkers, dog owners and their dogs at the public boat ramp. But the biggest benefit is the sense of fulfillment you get from helping to keep our lake free of […]

By Caroline Hoen Photo by Richard Sachs Much of Don Blunt ’s life focuses on the natural world: observing it, exploring it, sharing it. Perhaps because he is so in tune with the cosmic forces around him, he projects a sense of tranquility that belies an intense curiosity and an ambitious personal agenda – he […]

Article and Photos By Don Blunt Eastman’s Woodlands and Wildlife Committee hosts a mushroom foray each September at South Cove. It’s open to all residents of Eastman and is organized by a group of fungi enthusiasts who call themselves the Montshire Mushroom Club. We hike the Eastman woods and trails with baskets for an hour […]

By Sue Pratt “Love our Lake” is the motto of the Lakes and Streams Committee at Eastman. There is no better way to do that than to learn as much as possible about its history and ecology. Education has long been a focus of the committee and starting young appeared to be one of our […]

By Milt Weinstein Last year was a good year for loons in New Hampshire and an excellent year for the loons of Eastman Lake. According to the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC), 170 loon chicks hatched on New Hampshire lakes, of which 134 survived at least until mid-August. That’s not quite as many as in 2011, […]

Article and Photos by Craig McArt The Eastman Community Association purchased John’s Glen Forest last year, adding 60 acres to its open space. The property is located on Eastman’s eastern flank as it borders Bog Brook. Cross country skiers had been using trails in the forest for years with the permission of the previous owner, […]

Apple Stealing By Ethel Paquin Five Cinderellas uninvited to the ball. “Who cares?” we blustered, while our minds plumbed the depths we’d been denied and our spotless bodies ached for the chance to be violated. What to do with the long Friday night that stretched before us. It was late September, air so sharp it […]

 By Jackie Underhill Much of what the Lakes and Streams Committee does has an effect on the water quality in our lake. The tasks of monitoring, protecting, educating and informing all play a part in keeping our lake healthy for the enjoyment of our community and future generations. Lots of data gets generated doing this […]

 By Aaron Brooke Jenkyn The lake is still, the roads and trails a little quieter and the leaves have fallen. Another season has come and gone but, hopefully, not before it was enjoyed by all. Here are a few of the things some of you saw while out and about in Eastman this fall: Residents […]

 By Kristina Burgard Grantham’s Wetland Inventory project was completed last fall with the help of 22 trained community volunteers and the cooperation of 87 landowners. This project was mandated by the Master Plan adopted by the town, which directs the Conservation Commission to “prepare a local wetlands inventory and evaluation and consider the designation of […]

By Renee Gustafson and Craig McArt Photos by Craig McArt and Michael Sandman James Smith married Mary Colby of Hopkinton in 1791 and then moved north to become some of Grantham’s earliest settlers, purchasing land by Butternut Pond. There he cleared the fields and built a farmstead where the couple raised their 12 children. Later […]

By Peter Hope Due to a lack of snow , last year’s Snowshoe Walks did not occur. Let’s hope for better conditions this season! Snowshoe walks are scheduled each Wednesday until mid-March, conditions permitting. We had such success with the summer Wednesday walk program that I decided to try that same schedule in the winter. […]

A Moment in Eastman by Joyce Schmalenberger While the evening winds whip through the trees I hear the rustling of the ornamental green leaves Watching the last golfers on #3 pass by Layers of alizarin crimson begin to form in the distant sky As I sit and remember, tears swell in my eyes Such memorable […]

by Andrea LaMoreaux, NH LAKES Education Director  We’re lucky in New Hampshire—our lakes typically freeze during winter. This provides us with another great season of fun on the lake. While many of us are looking forward to the cross country skiing, ice skating, snow shoeing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling opportunities that our favorite lake will soon […]

By Ruth Ann Eastman As the ground is covered with snow, it becomes easier to know what’s been out there from the animals’ telltale tracks. Can you see the mouse tracks, possibly followed by fox tracks, or see where a ruffed grouse has burrowed into the snow for the night? Enjoy watching the tracks in […]

By Peter Hope I write this in late May, but it already feels like summer! Eastman will again offer our ever-popular walking and hiking programs. This year both will run from July through mid-October, on Wednesdays and Saturdays respectively. If you have any questions about either, call me at 863-6456. And we always need new […]

By Craig McA rt and Renée Gustafson • Photos by Renée Gustafson rom Lorenzo Dunbar’s History of Grantham, published in 1791, we learn that “about the year 1791 two men by the name of Anderson were drowned in Anderson Pond – so called after this occurrence.” From this sad account one might reasonably surmise that […]

By Aaron Brooke Jenkyn The extended spring of 2012 has certainly brought out lots of wildlife sightings! From the Fairway foxes to some really uncommon bird sightings: white-winged scoters and a bald eagle! Eastman residents have also taken advantage of the warm weather to get outside and watch as our local fauna comes to life. […]

By Jackie Underhill A Brief History In 2005, a concerned Eastman resident alerted the Lakes and Streams Committee (L&S) to the New England purple loosestrife invasion and how it might be controlled. These invasive plants were growing unfettered throughout the region, particularly in wet, marshy areas. It was noted that purple loosestrife was indeed spreading […]

I always have a hard time deciding what species I’d like to write about, mainly because there are so many different critters that live in Eastman or visit regularly. Recently, I heard a loud tapping noise right outside my window and, after scanning the trunks of nearby trees, I saw a pileated woodpecker next to […]

By Craig McArt Walkers have fewer incidences of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other killer diseases. They live longer and get mental health and spiritual benefits. Where do people walk at Eastman, and where are the best places? All the possibilities come with both advantages and limitations. Here’s a run-down (walkdown?) on what Eastman […]

  In the summer issue of Eastman Living we will be launching a new feature, a special section devoted to your writing, artwork and photography. To get us started, think about this: WHAT IS IT ABOUT LIVING OR VACATIONING AT EASTMAN THAT YOU REALLY LIKE AND/OR WHAT IS IT THAT IS NOT SO PLEASING?  For […]

By Aaron Brooke Jenkyn Spring is my favorite time of year in Eastman: the birds are chirping, the wildflowers are blooming around the lake and the ground has thawed enough to plant peas and other cold crops in my garden. The critters, human and all, have come out from their winter dens to feel the […]

Writing poetry in form can be demanding but extremely helpful to the poet. Being forced into following some rules often forces the poet to get right to the heart of the matter. The following poem, a pantoum, has a unique form: an interlocking series of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with lines two and four of each […]

Article by Craig McArt and Renée Gustafson Photo by Craig McArt   Eastman Lake is fed from the north by Stroing Brook, a stream that drains a pristine valley lying largely within a conservation easement we have with New Hampshire Fish and Game. The land surrounding the valley was first cleared for fields and pastures […]

Cyndy Adamic and Suzanne Goldman will return as Peppermint Patty’s concessionaires for the third season. To round out the South Cove experience, Cyndy and Suzanne will combine their creative ideas to develop additional items for their original menu. Back by popular demand will be their signature lobster picnics overlooking Eastman Lake on Tuesday and Thursday […]

By Jackie Underhill   What are PAHs? Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH s) is the scientific name for coal tar and other similar substances. Coal tar is a black, viscous waste product derived from the distillation of coal during the production of steel. Driveway sealants, vehicle emissions, crude oil and power plants are all sources of […]

Article by Gale Schmidt • Photos by Carol Shearon Four goals were recorded in the minutes of Eastman’s founders’ annual meeting in 1970, three of which pertain to the social and environmental aspects of a sustainable community: 1. T o create a living environment with a variety of activities with continuing appeal to people of […]

By Milt Weinstein By the time you read this column, a pair of loons has probably settled on Eastman Lake. This could be the fourth year in a row that two chicks will have fledged from  Eastman Lake — for the first time in recorded Eastman history! Fortunately for the parents, and unlike humans, they […]

By Sharon Parker   Most everyone has read about nearby lake associations that are fighting invasive flora, like Eurasian and Variable Milfoil, at a great expense of money and time. Here at Eastman we are fortunate that our lake remains clean of these invasives. This could be good luck, but most likely it is due to the sharp eyes of […]

By Peter Hope Because of the lack of snow at Eastman this past winter, we were unable to enjoy our usual Snowshoe Hike Program. In order to walk in the woods, traction devices, such as stabilicers or MICRO spikes were much better options. But an early spring just might allow extended three-season hiking! Of course, please stay off all trails until they are completely dry. […]

By Peter Hope Once again, we had many enjoyable hikes and walks here at Eastman in 2011. Unfortunately, rain and/or wet trails did force the cancellation of several of our trips. But, there’s always another year! Since my work schedule precluded my leading trips far afield, other leaders were able to fill in. A great […]

By Susie Burbidge Fall, with the changing leaves and crisp days, is definitely one of my favorite seasons. My dog Zoe also enjoys the cooler temperatures because she knows winter is imminent; she’s a northern breed and loves the snow. However, there is one animal that meanders through our woods more often in the fall […]

  A Moment in Eastman by Joyce Schmalenberger While the evening winds whip through the trees I hear the rustling of the ornamental green leaves Watching the last golfers on #3 pass by Layers of alizarin crimson begin to form in the distant sk As I sit and remember, tears swell in my eyes Such […]

We’re lucky in New Hampshire —our lakes typically freeze during winter. This provides us with another great season of fun on the lake. While many of us are looking forward to the cross country skiing, ice skating, snow shoeing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling opportunities that our favorite lake will soon offer, we must wait patiently […]

By Ruth Ann Eastman As the ground is covered with snow, it becomes easier to know what’s been out there from the animals’ telltale tracks. Can you see the mouse tracks, possibly followed by fox tracks, or see where a ruffed grouse has burrowed into the snow for the night? Enjoy watching the tracks in […]

Photos by Richard Sachs

By Milt Weinstein On our recent trip to Alaska, my wife, Rhonda, and I learned something about loons that surprised even some local experts from New Hampshire. We had previously been taught that mature common loons breed on lakes in the summer and migrate offshore to salt water only in the winter. In Alaska, we […]

By Peter Hope Summer and fall saw great hikes and walks to destinations near and far, old favorites and new ones alike. Now we are looking forward to the snowshoe hike season, which will start early in the new year. Call me at (603)863-6456 or e-mail me at phope at worldpath.net with suggestions for trips. […]

Article by Gale Schmidt • Photos by Craig McArt Heath Forest (off Bogie Place) is full of treasures – some unique in Eastman: Eastman’s largest contiguous undeveloped parcel of land which correlates with maximal biodiversity Eastman’s most varied habitat: streams, wetlands, large pools, vernal pools, hardwoods, softwoods, mixed woods, meadows and ledges Confluence of two […]

Article and Photo by Craig McArt What can we do to get youngsters at Eastman to experience and appreciate our woodlands and wildlife? That was the question posed by Board President Maynard Goldman to the Woodlands and Wildlife Committee a year ago. We hoped that WHOSA would be the answer. An acronym for Woodland Hikes […]

By Gale Schmidt Eastman’s “ladies of the night” Renee Gustafson, Amy Hoffman, Maureen Connelly, Jackie Atherly, Toni Taylor, Leslie Moses and Gale Schmidt are drawn to the full moon. They enjoy combining social interaction with physical activity and experiencing the out-of-doors by camping out overnight under the stars and the full moon. The initial event […]

Dear Eastman Residents, For the past several years the community of Eastman has supported the Upper Valley Humane Society in a profound way. When the triathletes are splashing, mashing and dashing through your home community, they are raising funds to support the pets at the Upper Valley Humane Society. We are thankful for their dedication […]

By Ruth Ann Eastman In our Eastman Community we are fortunate to have a plethora of wildlife. Let’s do our part to preserve and sustain the treasures that we have. Shaun Kronenwetter observed and photographed a snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentine) at South Cove on June 6. Marge Owen quietly watched a doe nursing her fawn […]

By Ruth Ann Eastman As we enjoy w arm summer nights, barbecues, fireflies flickering and cool breezes across the lake, the bears are on the lookout for fast food. Please put your bird feeders away and sprinkle ammonia on the ground under the feeder to discourage the bears from feeding. Cyndy Adamic put out a […]

At 7 a.m. Saturday, M ay 14, approximately 20 Eastmanites gathered at Bogie Place for a bird walk in Heath Forest, led by Chris Rimmer, director of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. How many kinds of birds would you guess we saw or heard in less than two hours? Half a dozen? Would you believe […]

By Craig McArt The Woodlands and Wildlife Committee recently published a series of four brochures describing Eastman’s hiking trails. The guides are available for purchase at South Cove and can be accessed on-line at the Eastman Members’ website under Woodlands and Wildlife Committee. This undertaking involved GPS tracking of the trails for accurate mapping and […]

By Craig McArt The Charter of the Woodlands & Wildlife  Committee , as approved by the ECA Board, defines its responsibilities and objectives: To act as advocates for the proper management of Eastman’s woodlands and wildlife; to educate community members by providing information and events related to our natural environment and to encourage respect for […]

By Carol Ann Moses Despite the rainy month of May, the 2011golf season got off to a good start. Beginning in February when at least four feet of snow covered the ground, members were getting together and eagerly discussing the upcoming season. As April approached, Mark Larrabee, head PGA golf professional, held weekly workshops in […]

 Rainbow Reflections Copyright 2000 by Joel D. Ash All Rights Reserved Iridescence of rain’s aftermath, Arch of colors above gentle bath; Sky’s blue intersected, Earth’s joy now reflected, Directed along sunshine’s path. Sun showers in glory completed, Happy omens, glad portents are meted; With worries deflected, Refractions inspected, The viewers of colors well greeted. […]

This season we are continuing weekly hikes on Saturdays and woodland walks on Thursdays, both well into October, including several Thursday mini-hikes. Walk leaders are needed for late summer and early fall; please call me at (603)863-6456 if you have an interest in leading. Both groups meet at the Eastman parking area off Alpine Drive, […]

During a recent conversation about Eastman’s number one asset, the lake, questions came up about the dam. Quickly, it became apparent that there were more questions than answers. We thought that perhaps other residents might also puzzle over some of “the dam questions,” whether they hike, bike or drive by it or help protect the […]

Photo and article By Milt Weinstein As the copy deadline for this column approaches, a pair of loons has found its summer home on Eastman Lake. Having arrived late this year because ice covered the main part of the lake well into mid-April, they hung out in West Cove until the ice was clear. They […]

Article and photos by Kristina Burgard At the beginning of 2011, the Grantham Conservation Commission initiated work on a Wetlands Inventory, the goal of which is to identify the wetlands in Grantham that are of highest importance to our community. Two of the many important roles that wetlands play in the overall health of our […]

By Judy McCarthy It was a good day. WinCycle, a non-profit company based in Windsor, Vt. dedicated to the safe and responsible recycling and reuse of electronic equipment, was happy. Eastman residents and their neighbors were happy too. It was a win/win situation as WinCycle collected 3,522 pounds of materials from 48 recyclers at the […]

By George Sutherland On a cold day in January, 2010, a large group of residents representing Eastman governance met in the Lakeside Room at the South Cove Activity Center. Present were General Manager Ken Ryder and his department heads, the president of the Board of Directors, the Council chair and those who chaired the various […]

By Ruth Ann Eastman We look forward to spring! The bears will awaken soon and be very hungry, so please put all bird feeders away until December. This way, the bears will not become used to having bird food, which for them is fast food. Bears have wonderful memories as to where the nearest fast […]

Compiled by Maynard Goldman   1969 • Formation of Controlled Environment Corporation (CEC) 1969 • CEC purchases land from North American Rockwell Sept. 1970 • CEC contracts with Hanslin Associates to develop and market Eastman July 1971 • Eastman Community Association formed Summer 1972 • lst Special Place meetings held Fall 1973 • 1st property […]

By Maynard Goldman Whether Eastman’s system of governance is unique may be debatable, but there can be no question that it is atypical for a community association. In prior interviews with Tony Hanslin, son of the late Emil Hanslin, he recalled that the original decision was made not to use a standard model but to […]

Fiesta Black Bean and Tomato Soup Submitted by Judy McCarthy Keep a good brand of canned black beans on hand to make this soup, but it is certainly possible to prepare dried beans for use, too. You can make this soup an hour and a half before serving. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in […]

Article by Craig McArt • Photos courtesy Grantham Historical Society The Laurentide Glacier shaped the land that is now Eastman. Between scoured hills, it left a landscape of glacial outwash deposits, lakes and bogs, which eventually became forested. It’s hard to imagine early settlers actually farming this terrain. To do so, they felled the huge […]

Geoffrey Cornish, Eastman Golf Links’ Architect By Brad Moses • photos courtesy grantham historical society The story of Eastman Golf links really begins in 1969 when Emil Hanslin, the noted land planner who created the New Seabury community on Cape Cod as well as Wesleyan Hill in Middletown, Connecticut, agreed to build a community at […]

Woodland Hikes On Sunday Afternoons For the family It’s impressive today that young people can enjoy activities on manufactured playgrounds, manicured ball fields and climate-controlled indoor facilities. It’s remarkable that they can be stimulated and challenged by a virtual world of exciting video games. Living in Eastman, however, it would be a shame to ignore […]

By Peter Hope We had excellent snowshoe hikes this winter, even though several were cancelled due to weather or snow conditions. We now have a stalwart cadre of leaders for winter as well as for summer trips! Even though it is snowing hard as I write this, we are very much anticipating spring and summer […]

By Susie Burbidge While trying to figure out what species to select for the first “Species Spotlight” article, I looked outside my window and saw my first small flock (this year) of Common Redpolls at my bird feeder. Avid birders wait anxiously during the long winter months in New Hampshire to see if it’s going […]

By Sharon Parker The blue shirts of Lake Hosts are a familiar sight at most lakes in New Hampshire, and Eastman Lake is no exception. Lake Hosting is a program offered by the New Hampshire Lakes Association (NHLA). For the past seven years, Eastman has been fortunate to have a dedicated core of volunteer Lake […]

By Jackie Underhill and Ebba McArt Evolution of a Committee 1982 – Environmental Protection Committee (EPC) is formed 1988 – EPC merges with Forestry & Wildlife Committee into Lake, Forestry & Wildlife Committee 1997 – Lake, Forestry & Wildlife Committee splits into two committees: Woodlands & Wildlife Committee and Lakes & Streams Committee Years served […]