- Tar Sands Action – Stop the Keystone Pipeline
- Run for the Hills, a 5K Run/Walk
- Your State Forestlands
- Project Native Gives Back Planting a Garden Of Hope for Dalton Resident Battling Breast Cancer
- Weatherization Installer Class at BCC
- Weatherization Installer Course at GCC
- Job Announcement: Trout Unlimited Northeast Restoration Coordinator
Tar Sands Action – Stop the Keystone Pipeline
From Bill McKibben: This is only the beginning Friends—
I’m sitting in the rain in Lafayette Square Park, typing while I listen to the chants behind me. There are 243 people sitting, soaked, in front of the White House, including an 86-year-old man from Sarasota Florida wearing a sign that says “World War II Vet, Handle With Care.” This is the last day of Phase 1 of this campaign—we’ve now done three important things:
1— Successfully, thanks to you, carried off the biggest civil disobedience campaign about anything this century. It’s been calm, peaceful, dignified, powerful, beautiful. Unofficial final count: 1,252 arrested. (If you didn’t make it, no worries—I fear there will be more opportunities ahead)
2— Made the tar sands pipeline the focal point of environmentalists around the country, the biggest flashpoint we’ve had in decades.
3— Put the president on the spot. Everyone is well aware now that he, and he alone, can make this call.
That doesn’t mean, unfortunately, that we’ve won. We’ve changed the odds—but as the president’s baffling and heartless decision on ozone regulations yesterday made clear, the odds are still in big oil’s favor.
Which means, on to phase 2. Extensive details will follow within 48 hours—suffice it to say, no rest for the weary, we have an extensive battle plan for the next six weeks. We need you more than we ever did, to capitalize on the momentum we’ve built together. To be in the loop on the details, sign up here: www.tarsandsaction.org/next-steps
Job one is to get everyone you know hooked in to this electronic network. Send them this email, so that they will sign up at tarsandsaction.org. We’re making this up from scratch, but so far it’s working. Please please please push it along.
And as your reward: a gallery of some of the thousands and thousands of great images from the two weeks just past: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarsandsaction/. [BEAT Note: Look for photos of Bruce Winn, Jane Winn, and Ceacy Henderson] Let them fire folks up for what comes next!
With great respect,
Your State Forestlands
from Mass Audubon
Mass Audubon commented last week on the proposed new management system for 311,000 acres of forest lands owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The Draft Landscape Designations for DCR Parks and Forests, Selection Criteria, and Management Guidelines are part of DCR’s Forest Futures Vision process, which Mass Audubon has supported since its formation. We support many of the proposed Designations, including a goal of allowing at least 60% of State Forest and Park lands to be managed primarily by natural processes.
However, we noted several areas where the proposed Designations, which would classify lands as either Reserves, Parklands or Woodlands, fall short of the Forest Vision recommendations. We urge that a Scientific Advisory Committee be formed immediately to provide input on final selection of Reserves and ecological management for all three categories. We also request that DCR strengthen provisions for protection of habitat for both common and rare species in all three Designations. The new management system needs to be clarified and more clearly connected with the property-level management planning that is authorized under state law.
To learn more about our recommendations, read the full letter.
Project Native Gives Back Planting a Garden Of Hope for Dalton Resident Battling Breast Cancer
Over the last ten years, Project Native has been fortunate to have had the help of many volunteers, who have given countless hours of their own time to help this organization. In years past we have had annual community volunteer days here at the farm. This year we decided to turn the tables on Volunteer Day and give of our time. On September 10th, a crew from Project Native will install a home garden, free of charge, for a local woman battling breast cancer for the third time.
In July, we heard about an organization in the Boston-area called “Hope in Bloom” that creates gardens (free of charge) for individuals undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Knowing the joy and healing that comes from gardening we decided this was a way we could make a difference. I contacted “Hope in Bloom” and told them we wanted to plant a garden for someone.
The following day, I received a call from Roberta. The paperwork for a woman in Dalton had just been completed when they received a note from her oncologist. Several phone calls and emails later I spoke with Ann Borsello of Dalton, Massachusetts. Ann contacted “Hope in Bloom” in June after reading an article in Better Homes and Gardens about the project. At that time she was informed that there were 150 people ahead of her on the list and the garden would probably not happen this year. Ann is in treatment for a third time with breast cancer that has now metastasized. Prior to her illness she enjoyed gardening for over 50 years. We had a very nice conversation and I told her that Project Native wanted to design and install a garden for her at no cost to her. She was incredibly excited and grateful.
Several weeks have passed since our first conversation. We have visited the home, met with Ann and her husband, and designed a shade garden for their home. On Saturday, September 10th a crew from Project Native will install the garden. The project will involve creating the bed (a roughly 100 sq. ft.), removing sod, planting and mulching the area. We are excited to being doing what we love for a deserving family.
Project Native is a non-profit native plant nursery and environmental education organization located in Housatonic, MA.
For additional information on this project contact:
Roberta Hershon, Founder of Hope in Bloom
781 258-1710
www.hopeinbloom.org
[email protected]
Ann Borsello, garden recipient in Dalton, Ma
413-499-1863
[email protected]
Hi All,
Please join me in spreading the word about the Run for the Hills, a 5K run/walk, on October 16, in support of the Great Barrington Land Conservancy and our many projects promoting land conservation, community trails, and farm preservation. The event is sponsored by many local businesses including Simon’s Rock, CrossFit GB, Berkshire Coop Market, Windy Hill Farm, Barrington Brewery, Ward’s Nursery, Wheeler & Taylor, and many others. We need your help bringing out a huge crowd for race day! Please tell all your running and walking friends. Sign up with friends or family or a team of co-workers. Show your support for this wonderful organization and stay fit at the same time. Thank you!
Dale Abrams, Board President GBLC
Here’s the full scoop:
On Sunday October 16th, Great Barrington Land Conservancy invites runners and walkers to traverse a bucolic Berkshire route while helping to raise funds to promote land conservation, farm preservation, and community trails. The 5K Run/Walk is co-hosted by Bard College at Simon’s Rock. Advance registration and complete event information are available at the Land Conservancy website: www.greatbarringtonlandconservancy.org. Race day check-in and registration will be held at the Kilpatrick Athletic Center at Simon’s Rock from 8-9 AM on race day. Race begins at 9:30 AM. Computerized timing by Platt Systems will provide rapid race results for multiple age divisions for male and females runners. Beautiful hand-screened T-shirts by MoHo Designs will be offered to advance registrants.
Great Barrington Land Conservancy:
For 20 years, Great Barrington Land Conservancy (GBLC) has played an important role in preserving the landscape that makes the Berkshires a wonderful place to live, by promoting land conservation, community trail building, and farm preservation projects. These efforts include the Peter Berle Wildlife Conservation Area in Monument Valley where 300 acres of private land have been conserved as “forever wild” and the protection of 45 acres of prime agriculture land at Taft Farm & River Hill Farm. On the trail building front, the Land Conservancy supports the Housatonic River Walk trail, new trails in the Lake Mansfield Conservation Forest, and the beautiful Pfeiffer Arboretum on Long Pond Road. GBLC is proud to encourage trail building and maintenance as a lead partner and fiscal sponsor for Great Barrington Trails & Greenways – a vital coalition of more than 20 trail building and natural resource area partners. The Land Conservancy also supports recognition of important historic figures via the William Stanley Overlook & Du Bois River Park at River Walk. For more information about these Land Conservancy projects and ways to get involved please visit: www.greatbarringtonlandconservancy.org.
Want to Save on Heating Bills?
Want to Help Your Customers Save on Heating Bills?
For INDIVIDUALS or CONTRACTOR BUSINESSES:
Whether you want to learn how to weatherize your own home, looking to improve your skills or you’d like to expand your business into weatherization, BCC’s Weatherization Installer Class is for you!
Weatherization Installer Course at GCC
Registration is open for GCC’s Weatherization Installer Course that will be held at the Franklin County Technical School in Turners Fall at the end of September to train workers to insulate and air seal homes. GCC is one of five community colleges across MA to offer this course as a partner of the MassGREEN Initiative.
I hope you can help us get the word out about this technical and hands-on 78 hour course, which with an instant GCC scholarship will cost $300 to register and will take about three months to complete. For complete course description see the flyer below. Alex can send the list of lessons upon request.
The Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board (FHREB) – which works alongside the Franklin Hampshire Career Center in Greenfield – can fund the cost of this training program for eligible participants. They can call the FHREB at 413-774-4361 ext 336 to find out if they meet the requirements to have this training paid for by the FHREB’s Northern Tier Energy Sector Partnership grant from the US Dept. of Labor. Must be 18 or older, live or work in Franklin, Hampshire, Berkshire or Worcester County, and be legally able to work in the U.S. to apply.
Participants need to pre-register with GCC for this course, anyone interested should call Alex at 413-775-1660 to find out more.
Weatherization Installer Course
Date: September 27 – December 20, 2011
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30-7:30 pm, including Saturday from 9am-3pm on 11/19 (12 weeks)
Cost: $750.00 – Instant scholarships available!
Location: Franklin County Technical School
After completing this course, students will be qualified to work as professional air sealing technicians and insulation installers by learning to:
- Determine where the thermal boundary should be in any typical single family residence and identify potential air leakage points in that barrier
- Identify appropriate insulation materials for any given application in a single family residence, seal and test their seals for air-tightness
- Install all standard insulation materials in a manner that assures maximum insulating value, minimal damage to the property, occupant health and safety, and compliance with all relevant building and fire codes
- Install house ventilation components as directed
- Work in a manner that ensures their own safety and the safety of job-site residents and property
Prerequisites for enrollment in the course include:
- High school diploma or GED
- Basic math skills
- Ability to read a measuring tape and calculate simple measurements
- Reading, writing, and speaking English at a minimum of the 8th grade level
- Basic carpentry skills
- Satisfactory report on a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI)/Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check to be conducted by the College
- Students must be able to wear a respirator and use other required safety equipment (i.e. latex gloves.) and should not have any respiratory issues
The curriculum and props were developed in line with Building Performance Institute (BPI) standards. Students can pursue becoming a BPI certified professional in air sealing and insulation after completing this course.
Funding for course development, tools, equipment, supplies, and instructor pay for GCC’s offering of the Weatherization Installer Course has been provided by MassGREEN Initiative in affiliation with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. Thanks to their support, this course is being offered at a specially discounted rate. For more information about the MassGREEN Initiative visit www.massgreenstcc.com.
Please feel free to forward this message to anyone who might be interested. For more information about the upcoming course in September or future MassGREEN N. Tier courses, contact Alex at 413-775-1660 or [email protected]. There are 12 seats per course; I look forward to filling the 7 seats we still have left for a successful 3rd round this Fall!
Best,
Alex
Alexandra Floratos, MassGREEN N. Tier Training Coordinator
Greenfield Community College, 270 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
phone: 413-775-1660 – cell: 201-788-8108 – [email protected]
Job Announcement: Trout Unlimited Northeast Restoration Coordinator
Trout Unlimited (TU) is North America’s leading coldwater fisheries conservation
organization, dedicated to the conservation, protection and restoration of trout and salmon
fisheries and their watersheds. The organization has more than 140,000 members in 400
chapters across North America. TU’s vision is that, by the next generation, trout and salmon
will be restored throughout their native range. To accomplish this vision, TU works to
protect intact habitat, restore degraded habitat, and reconnect the two through restoration
of instream flows and removal of barriers. Finally, TU seeks to sustain its achievements
through outreach and youth education.
TU is launching a three-year project focused on: (1) restoring the Salmon Kill River in
northwestern Connecticut; and (2) implementing restoration projects through the use of a
mitigation fund in the Catskills region of New York. The position will be located in
northwestern Connecticut.
Job Description
The Restoration Coordinator must be entrepreneurial, organized, and a problem-solver. The
principle duties of the coordinator will be to:
- Solicit specific restoration projects for funding.
- Manage numerous and potentially complex restoration projects simultaneously.
- Oversee project implementation, including engineering, design, and construction.
- Engage towns and other partners in project feasibility and implementation, when and
where appropriate. - Coordinate with TU chapters and councils within each watershed on projects and
project funding. - Identify funds for project engineering, design, permitting, and implementation,
where necessary. - Coordinate press opportunities to highlight