Birds! Beavers! Bears! Hooray Nature!

My hometown approved the $8 million bond to preserve the open space. Kudos to you, voters! (Of which I am one, but I was not present.)

The deal quashes a proposed 168-house development that had received preliminary approval from the Planning Board, despite impassioned opposition in the community. In all, it could forestall development of at least 400 potential house lots that would instead be reserved for hiking, fishing and hunting.

I still believe there should be some kind of park or trail system should be added to allow the people of the town to enjoy the property that costs them $150 a year extra in property taxes. It would still allow the Nature Conservancy to "preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive" while allowing people the opportunity to experience the nature they pay to protect.

Let's hear it for cute fuzzy animals and the people who protect them, even if it was due to fiscal reasons.