From left to right: Therese and Kurt Melden; David Moon, Mass Audubon; Su Mittermeier, president, Friends of Manchester Trees.
Against the splendor of landscape-to-ocean views, from Manchester's Ballarach Cove to Pickworth Point, Friends of Manchester Trees members and guests gathered at the residence of Therese and Kurt Melden to recognize and celebrate the Friends' record number of recently planted Commemorative Trees about town.
The occasion also served to announce the Friends' in-progress, first-ever Town Tree Policy, designed to protect, preserve and enhance the beauty of town trees. Working with town administration, the Friends seek to highlight the environmental and economic benefits of town trees in shaping the character of Manchester, while contributing to community-wide well-being.
The evening's centerpiece featured the urgent message of special guest speaker David Moon, Sanctuary Director for Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center — a response to the extreme, evolving climate changes adversely affecting the North Shore, the fragile Great Salt Marsh and beyond. Moon candidly explained that innovative thinking and tools to reverse this threat exist, but the window to take corrective action is closing.
