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News

  • Plan for Forest Society North at The Rocks meets another milestone

    Anne Truslow
    January 21, 2021

    The building renovation is the central element of a multi-phased plan to re-envision The Rocks.

  • Chestnut Orchard Volunteers Recognized for Service

    Anna Berry
    December 10, 2020

    Forest Society volunteers were honored with 2020 Spirit of New Hampshire awards, presented by Volunteer NH.

  • Forest Journal: The season to celebrate firs

    Anna Berry
    December 7, 2020

    Here in northern New England, Fir trees thrive in the cool, moist climate, and there are some 500 Christmas tree farms across our two states.

Remembering Rocks Volunteer Ann Gruczka

Nigel Manley
September 25, 2020
Volunteers
The Rocks
The sun sets over a mountain view from The Rocks.
(Photo: Danny Richardson)

Ann “Annie” Gruczka (Nov 11, 1952 – July 23, 2020) passed away after an eight year battle against breast cancer. Annie was a volunteer at the Forest Society's The Rocks property for nearly 25 years. She worked as a docent on the horse drawn wagons during the Christmas tree season, led wildflower tours on the “Mile Path,” and presented the Wild Edibles lunch during the spring wildflower festival. Annie was a longtime member of the Bretzfelder Memorial Park Committee, up to the time of her death and served as secretary for most of her tenure.

Volunteer Ann Gruczka stands behind a table serving food to guests at The Rocks.
Longtime volunteer Ann Gruczka was a fixture at The Rocks.
Besides Annie’s work with and for SPNHF, she was a talented fiber artist, professional weaver and spinner. Annie was an elementary school teacher, and upon moving to Bethlehem from Manchester, NH, she (Mrs. G) was a regular as a substitute teacher. 

Annie was a fixture in Bethlehem where she was often seen knitting in front of the local yarn store, walking to do errands in town, planting the flower boxes in town, organizing or running the concessions at The Colonial Theatre, and reading Tarot cards as “Madame Gruczka” during the town’s Boo Fest. Until recently Annie and her husband Lon Weston ran the Sherman Inn, on Main Street in Bethlehem.

Annie had the warmest of smiles and was always ready to give a helping hand. Those of us who volunteered with Annie will miss her deeply, but we carry with us such fond memories of a grand lady.

- Nancy Czarny

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Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests54 Portsmouth St.Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.224.9945Fax: 603.228.0423info@forestsociety.org
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