Beyond the South End

A wonderful tribute to my cousin, Diane Hilton O’Connor, who passed away last November. See other stories about Diane and Bremen in the archives:  “A Tale of Twin Cousins,” “Memories of the Farm,” “Visit Bremen, Maine,” “Twin Cousins Photo Album,” all to be found in the November 2011 archives. For a slideshow of Bremen, go to: www.tidewater.net~bremen/

This article will appear soon in the Lincoln County News.

BCC set to Dedicate Bremen’s First Public Trail

The Bremen Conservation Commission would like to invite the public to join them on Sunday, October 28th at 1:00pm for the opening of Bremen’s first public trail. The trail will be dedicated in memory of Diane Hilton O’Connor and her tireless service and dedication to the Town of Bremen, local organizations and the Bremen Conservation Commission. All those interested in joining the BCC should meet at the Bremen Town House (560 Waldoboro Road) next to the Bremen Fire Station. Light refreshments and treats will be available.

The Bremen Town Forest (dubbed ‘47 Acre Wood’ by the BCC for its acreage) is a surprisingly unique and interesting property. With a hay field, stone walls, ravine, mix of old and new growth forest, wildlife habitat, saltwater marsh and meandering creek it is a great opportunity to enjoy 1.5 miles of marked trails complete with footbridges for easier access.

The property was purchased by the town in the early nineties at a bargain basement price. As a result the town selectmen appointed an ad hoc committee comprised of town residents to explore best uses for the property. The committee identified its location as central within Bremen and recommended that the property be utilized for relocating the Bremen Town House with expanded parking and outdoor event space, future town office, community playground and a nature preserve with walking trails. Unfortunately, none of the recommendations came to fruition until the BCC began looking for a venue to initiate its plan for a public trail system.

The Bremen Town Forest Trails Project was spearheaded by the late Diane Hilton O’Connor . Having spent 34 years of her life in Washington D.C. Diane returned to Bremen with a keen understanding for the need to conserve open space and provide public access in Bremen. In 2006 Diane sponsored an article in the town warrant to establish a conservation commission in the town of Bremen and to establish a Land Conservation Reserve Fund to make land conservation and future land acquisitions possible. She served as the commission’s first chair and was instrumental in writing the first conservation plan for Bremen and key to Bremen being the 2009 Sterling Dow State of Maine Conservation Commission of the Year award.

Diane held a strong conviction that Bremen must takes steps to protect its natural environment, rural character and resources that present and future generations would be able to enjoy. In 2011 Diane helped initiate a public forum to discuss conservation priorities seeking feedback from Bremen residents to provide direction for conservation work in Bremen. As a result the BCC realized that townspeople wanted greater access to fresh and saltwater and more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in the form of nature trails and green space. Chairman of the BCC, Dennis Prior remembered, “Diane advocated the use of town owned properties to serve as working models to engage people in local conservation projects without significant costs to taxpayers. With a growing Land Conservation Fund and increasing public awareness Diane recognized that greater conservation projects could then be realized in Bremen. The Bremen Town Forest trails are the first completed projects by the BCC realizing Diane’s vision.”

Diane’s snow pictures of the farm. They were taken the winter of 2009 for each direction, north, south, east, and west on the farm in Bremen.