Remains Positively Identified as Missing New York Teacher

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Emergency responders spent months searching woods and trails in Lee for Meghan Marohn. A forensic examination has been unable to determine a cause of death.
LEE, Mass. — Remains found in Lee in September have been positively identified as missing New York State teacher Meghan Marohn. 
 
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Boston released the findings on Tuesday but was unable to determine cause and manner of death because of the condition of the remains.
 
Marohn was identified through dental records and a forensic anthropological examination that showed the remains are the same sex, ancestry, and stature of Marohn. The examination did not reveal any signs of pre-death trauma. The office's toxicology testing revealed the presence of THC and organic products of decomposition. The office could not determine a cause and manner of death, which is common in these types of cases, according to the release.
 
Marohn, 42, was a 10th-grade English teacher and poet at Shaker High School in Latham, N.Y., who had been on a leave of absence when she disappeared. She had reportedly been staying at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge.  
 
Her family reported her missing on March 29, and Lee Police located her vehicle unattended at Longcope Park that same day. Her family said she enjoyed hiking and police believe she went for a walk. There was no sign of tampering with her car and police were able to track her cell phone activity for a short time until the signal stopped.
 
Lee Police, Lee Fire, troopers from the State Police barracks in Lee, the State Police K9 and Airwing, State Police Special Emergency Response Team, Berkshire County Sheriff's Office, Albany (N.Y.) County Sheriff's Department, and the Berkshire Mountain Search and Rescue Team coordinated continuous searches for Marohn over the summer.
 
On Sept. 1, a civilian located the remains in a heavily wooded area in the town of Lee. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner took custody of the remains.
 
Lee Police, the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, and Bethlehem, N.Y. Police continue to receive and follow up on leads and are awaiting the result of further State Police Crime Lab forensic testing. The evidence collected thus far does not suggest foul play.

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BNRC Conserves 66 Acres Along Great Barrington's Blue Hill Road

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Natural Resources Council has conserved 66 acres of woodland on the western slope of Three Mile Hill, enhancing the region's natural beauty and bolstering climate resilience. 
 
With support from the Thieriot Foundation and private foundations, Mass Audubon, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs' Acquisitions for Forest Reserves Grants Program, BNRC's Blue Hill Road property will safeguard vital wildlife habitat and create new opportunities for people to connect with nature. 
 
Mass Audubon contributed $125,000 toward this acquisition through its 30x30 Catalyst Fund. The fund is a $75 million private initiative dedicated to accelerating the pace of land conservation in Massachusetts. 
 
"The Catalyst Fund is tailor-made to assist with land projects like this. It was Mass Audubon's pleasure to work with our partner, BNRC, to secure this property as it exemplifies the goals of the Catalyst Fund, which are to protect Massachusetts' most bio-diverse, carbon rich lands" said Mass Audubon's President and CEO David O'Neill. 
 
BNRC's Assistant Director of Conservation Nick Pitel, said, "The Blue Hill Road property protects critical forest habitat and prevents further fragmentation in an area facing increased development. By securing this land, BNRC conserves the ecological health and connectivity of Three Mile Hill for future generations." 
 
Located next to BNRC's Thomas and Palmer Brook Reserve, the property is home to diverse natural features, including mountain laurel at higher elevations, quartzite boulders along the ridgeline, and the iconic "Whale Rock." 
 
A portion of the land is designated as Critical Natural Landscape and Priority Habitat of Rare Species by Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, emphasizing its ecological importance. The land features rich soils that support healthy forests and is part of an area identified by The Nature Conservancy for recognized biodiversity and as a resilient habitat — better able to adapt to the changing climate.
 
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