Pelham Pathways

Celebrating Our 2026 Ladder Tournament!

Our 2026 Pickleball Ladder Tournament brought players together for a day of friendly competition, teamwork, and fun. Congratulations to our winners!

Morning competition: Sarah Hurley & Nicole Harding

Afternoon competition: Michael & Jhonatas Gaspar

A special thank-you goes to the wonderful volunteers who worked so hard to keep the day running smoothly. From helping organize play and serving as monitors to supporting players throughout the day, your time and effort made this event possible. To everyone who played, volunteered, or cheered from the sidelines—thank you for making it a day to remember!

Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators have a big job. They help flowers, fruits, vegetables, and native plants reproduce. In turn, those plants provide food and habitat for birds and other wildlife.

As we learn how to respond to invasive species, it is also important to consider how pest control choices may affect the beneficial insects we want to protect.

One group of insecticides receiving attention is called neonicotinoids, sometimes shortened to “neonics.” Some of these insecticides can be absorbed by plants and move into their flowers, pollen, and nectar. A bee gathering food from a treated plant may therefore come into contact with an insecticide even if the bee was never directly sprayed. Depending on the product and amount of exposure, these insecticides can harm or kill bees.

The New Hampshire Pesticide Control Board will hold a public hearing on proposed rules concerning certain neonicotinoids and rodenticides. This is an opportunity to learn about the proposal and share your views.

Monday, November 16, 2026
9:30 a.m.
Brown Building, NH Department of Health and Human Services
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH

If you care about bees, butterflies, and the health of New Hampshire’s natural places, please consider attending. Bring a friend or neighbor and help make sure community voices are part of the conversation. The hearing concerns broader pesticide rules; it is not specifically a hearing about the spotted lanternfly.

Help Protect Pelham’s Natural Places: Learn, Look, and Report

Dear Pelham Pathways Members,

Pelham’s parks, trails, and conservation lands are places to walk, explore, and connect with nature. They also provide homes for the birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife that make our community special.

Today, those places need a little help from all of us.

Two unwelcome visitors—tree-of-heaven and the spotted lanternfly—have been found in Pelham. By learning what to look for and reporting possible sightings, we can help experts understand where these invasive species are and how best to respond.

We also have an opportunity to learn more about protecting pollinators at an upcoming public hearing on proposed pesticide rules. Please read on to find out how you can help.
A sighting does not necessarily mean an established population is present. State and federal specialists are surveying southern New Hampshire, investigating reports, and mapping tree-of-heaven. Your observations can help them in this work.

The spotted lanternfly feeds on many plants and is a particular concern for grapevines, vineyards, nurseries, and other agricultural and ornamental plants. It does not harm people or pets.

The good news is that early reporting and a coordinated response can make a difference.

What should you look for?

Spotted lanternfly: Adults are about one inch long, with grayish outer wings covered in black spots. When their wings open, you may see bright red, black, and white underneath.

In the fall, spotted lanternflies lay egg masses on trees and many other surfaces, including vehicles, outdoor furniture, equipment, and rocks. A fresh egg mass can look like a small smear of grayish mud. The eggs can survive the winter and hatch in the spring.

Visit NHBugs.org for photographs and identification help. Other insects and egg masses can look similar, so you do not need to be certain before reporting a suspected sighting.

Tree-of-heaven: This fast-growing tree has long leaves made up of many smaller leaflets. It can resemble native trees, so identification can be tricky. Seek help from a knowledgeable professional before attempting to manage it.
1. Photograph and report suspected spotted lanternflies. Take a clear photo, note the date and exact location, and submit your sighting at NHBugs.org.

2. Look before you travel. Lanternflies and their egg masses can hitch a ride on vehicles, trailers, firewood, outdoor furniture, and equipment. Check these items before moving them, especially when traveling to or from areas where lanternflies have been found.

3. Report suspected invasive plants. Take photographs and record the location. You can share observations through EDDMapS, a mapping tool used to track invasive species.

4. Leave removal on public land to authorized crews. Cutting an established tree-of-heaven can cause its roots to send up many new shoots. Effective management requires the right approach and follow-up. On private property, seek qualified advice before attempting treatment.

5. Join the community effort. Pelham Pathways’ Community Trail Coalition is exploring how to help develop an invasive species management plan for Pelham with guidance from experts and community partners. Such a plan could help identify problem areas, set priorities, educate residents, and organize appropriate volunteer activities.

If you would like to help with education, mapping, planning, or a future volunteer workday, please reply to this email by contacting [email protected].. Whether you are an experienced volunteer or just beginning to learn, there is a place for you!

Think of a place in Pelham you would miss if it were gone. A quiet patch of woods. A field along your favorite road. A trail where you walk with a friend. A brook where your children once looked for frogs. Places like these help make Pelham feel like home. Keeping them takes planning, patience, and people willing to do the work. That is where the Pelham Conservation Commission comes in—and its members have been busy. ( Photo below- Shaw Farm- A new Conservation Easement)

Through mid-October, the Commission has worked on 10 separate land protection deals this year. Four are complete, one is nearly finished, and five are still in progress. The properties range from one acre to 50 acres. Some involve land donations. Others involve purchases. Each offers a chance to protect a piece of Pelham’s future. It has been one of the busiest years since these land protection efforts began in 2002. Back then, Pelham held about 1,700 acres of open space. Since then, the Commission’s work, landowner generosity, and taxpayer support have helped nearly double the amount of protected open space.

What does protected land do for you?
You do not have to walk a trail to benefit from conservation.
· Cleaner water. Woods and wetlands help filter water before it reaches our ponds, streams, and wells.
· Less flooding. Wetlands hold rainwater and slow its flow.
· Room for wildlife. Connected woods and fields give animals places to feed, nest, and move safely.
· Places to enjoy nature. Where public access is allowed, conserved land offers room to walk, explore, and unwind.
· A town that still feels like Pelham. Open fields, forests, and scenic views help preserve the rural character we love.

These benefits reach all of us—and the generations who will live here after us.

Pelham Pathways is honored to receive a New Hampshire Governor’s Declaration recognizing our community projects and the collective work behind them.

This recognition belongs to every volunteer, supporter, and partner who has given their time, energy, and heart to making Pelham a better place. Every project begins with an idea, but it takes people willing to show up and do the work to make it happen.

Thank you to everyone who has helped turn shared goals into lasting community improvements. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together—and excited for what comes next.

🎉 Congratulations to Lynne Hildreth, 2026 Spirit of NH Award Recipient! 🎉

Pelham Pathways is proud to announce that our very own Lynne Hildreth, Director of Pickleball, has been selected to receive a Volunteer Service Award at Volunteer NH’s 2026 Spirit of NH Awards Ceremony.

Lynne’s impact on our community has been extraordinary. What began as an idea in 2022 has grown into a thriving pickleball community of nearly 500 players, thanks to her vision, leadership, and countless hours of volunteer service.

Before Pelham’s pickleball courts were even built, Lynne helped identify locations, presented the project to the Select Board, organized volunteers, raised funds, and helped turn the vision into reality. Today, she oversees lessons, tournaments, youth programs, winter play opportunities, and a dedicated volunteer team that welcomes players of all ages and skill levels.

More than just building a successful recreation program, Lynne has built a community. She has created opportunities for beginners, encouraged friendships, reduced isolation for many older adults, and made sure every new player feels welcome from day one.

As one volunteer beautifully said:

💚 “Lynne doesn’t just run a program, she builds a community where everyone belongs.”

Pelham Pathways could not be more proud of Lynne and this well-deserved recognition.

📅 2026 Spirit of NH Awards Ceremony
🗓 Monday, October 26, 2026
⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Chubb Theatre at the Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord, NH
🎟 Free to attend

Please join us in congratulating Lynne and thanking her for the incredible difference she has made in Pelham. Her dedication, kindness, and service have touched hundreds of lives and continue to strengthen our community every day.

👏 Congratulations, Lynne! This honor is truly well deserved.

Want to learn about different strategies for managing your land for the future? Join the Conservation Commission for a land owner information session on Wednesday, October 28th at 6:30pm to hear about several options that you have as a land owner. Hear from speakers about land conservation, land management, and forest management.