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Bottle Bill Defeated by Corporate Interests: Spinning the Bottle

The generation-long effort to update the Mass. Bottle Bill and how powerful business lobbies continue to thwart the public interest.

By Tom Sturm

There may be no better illustration of how, even in the relatively progressive commonwealth, monied special interests are all but granted exclusive decision-making power over our daily lives than the ongoing battle over the expansion of the Mass. Bottle Bill. Read the rest of this excellent article.

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“Rest of River” Documents Added to EPA’s GE/Housatonic Webpage/Proposed Modification to Consent Decree Regarding Silver Lake

Hi All.

As many of you already know, EPA has decided to continue meetings with General Electric and the public prior to finalizing a proposed cleanup plan for the GE/Housatonic River site. In order to better inform all stakeholders about EPA’s conceptual approach to cleanup as described in EPA’s Status Report of May 2012, EPA has today posted a considerable amount of supporting information intended to clarify certain aspects of EPA’s evaluation and approach to cleanup.

The “Remedy Review Board Information” box on the first page of the EPA website (http://www.epa.gov/region1/ge ) contains the links to all the newly posted information. The “Fact Sheet” link within the box is a 2 page update that explains EPA’s decision to continue meetings and discussions at this point, and also includes a general description of the key documents available. We hope that you’ll take advantage of the additional time this summer and fall to review the information and gain a better understanding of EPA’s current thinking regarding potential cleanup options. EPA is planning a round of technical discussions with GE in the coming weeks and will also plan to hold technical or information meetings when requested with other interested stakeholders. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to plan an additional information session once you have a chance to review the new information on the website.

Proposed modification of the Consent Decree regarding Silver Lake
On August 2nd, the U.S. Department of Justice filed with the Court an Unopposed Motion for Modification of the Statement of Work, Appendix E to the Consent Decree, and the Eleventh Modification to the Decree, with respect to the plantings near Silver Lake. As we have reported to the CCC in the past, the Statement of Work called for mature plantings to be placed around Silver Lake. Following agreement on the Decree and SOW though Western Mass Electric Company constructed a solar power generation facility near Silver Lake. Due to the proximity of the WMECO facility to the Lake, the potential height of the mature plantings required in the SOW could have had a negative effect on the solar power generation.

The motion and modification still require GE to install plantings around the Silver Lake shoreline, except the required plantings, including trees, will not reach the same height, or such plantings will be in a slightly different location on the Lake shoreline. Therefore, the Modification reduces the potential negative impact on the generation of solar power while still restoring, replacing, or acquiring the equivalent of injured natural resources.

The U.S. is requesting that the court approve the proposed modification because the terms to be modified include one of the Decree’s performance standards for natural resource restoration around Silver Lake.

The modification documents should be on our website later this week under the Cleanup Agreement button. I have attached them here as both are small pdf files.  (See attached file: mod11Solar Silver Lake Filed.pdf)(See attached file: slake cd motion Filed 8 2 2012.pdf)

CCC Meeting reminder
The next regular meeting of the GE/Housatonic Citizens Coordinating Council will be on Wednesday, September 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Lenox Library, Sedgwick Reading Room, 18 Main Street in Lenox.

I hope you are enjoying the summer. Please contact me with any questions.

Jim Murphy
Team Leader, Government & Community Relations
United States Environmental Protection Agency
New England – Region 1
Office of the Regional Administrator
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100
Mail Code ORA 01-1
Boston, MA 02109-3912
617-918-1028 (phone)
617-721-2868 (cell phone)
617-918-0028 (fax)

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You Can Help “Outsmart” Invasive Species

Protecting native flora and fauna is a critical part of forest conservation. Now there is a free tool available that lets you identify and report the non-native species that threaten the health of our forests.

All you need is a smartphone or a digital camera to join a statewide effort to stop the spread of harmful invasive pests. During the month of August, you could even win a National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands pass by taking part.

You may have noticed a link to the Outsmart Invasive Species Project appear on the Mass Woods website this spring. The project is a joint effort by UMass Amherst and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to stop the spread of invasive species in the state.

If you have an Android, iPhone, or a digital camera, you’re already equipped to take part. You can download the free Outsmart Invasive Species application from iTunes or Google Play, or sign up to submit photos through the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMaps).

The Outsmart app provides a list of the “Most Wanted” invasive species to be on the lookout for in Massachusetts, as well as descriptions and images to help you identify them.

When you think you’ve found one of the species on the list, use the app to take a close-up photograph that will be tagged with GPS coordinates, and then enter an estimate of the species abundance.

After you upload the observation, the data will be verified by experts on the project team, and submitted to a state-wide database. That’s all there is to it.

It’s a great tool, and a fun way to take action for forest health. Like a scavenger hunt for invasive species!

And during the month of August, the Outsmart project team is holding a “Pestathalon” to drum up participation – whoever submits the most correct observations will win an annual National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands pass!

Read more about the contest on the Outsmart project blog, the Pestimonial.

For more information about the Outsmart project, check it out on Mass Woods or on Facebook.

Many landowners enjoy their land for its privacy, beauty and recreational opportunities and don’t think about managing their land or planning its future until something forces a decision.  The intent of Mass Woods is to inform these critical landowner decisions when they do arise.  Mass Woods provides regularly updated content relevent to land decisions and connects landowners to land trusts and foresters working in their town.  Thank you for your interest in Forest Conservation.

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Environmental Violations at Dufour Bus Company

Dufour Escorted Tours, Inc., a bus company located in Hinsdale, has been assessed a $12,500 penalty by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to address a diesel fuel spill, hazardous waste management and open burning violations at the company’s facility at 133 South Street.

Dufour failed to notify MassDEP within two hours of becoming aware of a 20-gallon diesel fuel spill that occurred during the fueling of a bus at the facility on June 17, 2011. Dufour did notify MassDEP of the release on June 20, 2011; however, state regulation requires that MassDEP be notified as soon as possible, but in no case greater than two hours after the owner and operator of the facility became aware of a spill of greater than 10 gallons of petroleum.

MassDEP personnel conducted an inspection of the facility on June 23, 2011 and observed a number of hazardous waste management violations, including: Dufour was not correctly registered with MassDEP as a generator of waste oil; was burning waste oil in space heaters without notification to MassDEP; and the company was allowing the open burning of pressure-treated wood and pallets in 55-gallon drums at the rear of the facility.

Since the initial inspection, Dufour has initiated steps to correct the hazardous waste violations at the facility, has ceased open burning of wood materials, and has arranged for assessment and cleanup of the diesel fuel spill. In order to resolve the violations, Dufour must pay the $12,500 penalty, and re-train its personnel on response to releases of oil and hazardous materials.

“MassDEP inspectors identified a significant number of violations at this facility following the reported spill,” said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP’s Western Regional Office in Springfield. “We are encouraged that Dufour is correcting existing violations and has taken steps to maintain compliance with Massachusetts environmental regulations.”


MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.

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Green Communities Awards to Great Barrington and Richmond

Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rick Sullivan and Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Mark Sylvia today presented $280,000 in grants to fund clean energy projects in the towns of Great Barrington and Richmond.

“I congratulate Richmond and Great Barrington on joining the over 100 Green Communities across the Commonwealth as they make smart investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “Community by community, we are protecting our environment, reducing municipal costs and making Massachusetts a clean energy leader.”

“Great Barrington and Richmond are among the leaders in the clean energy revolution underway in Massachusetts,” said Secretary Sullivan, whose office includes DOER. “The Patrick-Murray Administration is proud to support towns like these, which are committed to cutting energy use, creating jobs and protecting the environment.”

Great Barrington will receive $142,700, and Richmond will receive $137,300.

In addition to the grants, each town will receive a certificate from the Commonwealth and four road signs identifying it as an official Green Community.

“Nearly half of the Commonwealth’s residents live in a community that has made a conscious decision to buck the energy status quo and become a leader in renewable energy adoption and smart energy use,” said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia. “Becoming a Green Community requires hard work, and these grants are a testament to the eagerness with which Great Barrington and Richmond have rolled up their sleeves in support of a clean energy future.”

The grants are part of a package of nearly $2.75 million in funding to be given to the state’s 17 newest Green Communities. In addition to Great Barrington and Richmond, awards are being made to Amherst, Ashland, Auburn, Berlin, Conway, Gill, Huntington, Lakeville, Leominster, Northfield, Pelham, Sunderland, Tisbury, Townsend and West Tisbury.

These 17 communities helped Massachusetts surpass the 100 Green Communities mark, a milestone that demonstrates the commitment of Bay State cities and towns that choose what makes good sense both for municipal budgets and the environment.

Once designated by DOER as official Green Communities, cities and towns are eligible for awards to fund local renewable power and energy efficiency projects that advance both municipal and state clean energy goals. Grants awarded so far assist an array of projects across the state, including the installation of solar panels on town office buildings, weatherization at schools and municipal buildings, installation of high-efficiency street lights, and a host of energy efficiency upgrades. Including this fifth round of designation grants and a round of competitive grants last spring for previously-designated Green Communities, the Patrick-Murray Administration has awarded $23.2 million in grants to the Commonwealth’s 103 Green Communities.  Projects to be funded for the 17 new communities will be finalized this fall.

To date, the 103 Green Communities have committed to a five-year total energy reduction equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 13,358 homes, about the same size as the town of Bedford. This commitment equates to eliminating the greenhouse gas emissions from 22,556 cars.

“With today’s designation, the Commonwealth again demonstrates its commitment to supporting our municipalities while advancing our clean energy goals,” said Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, Senate Chairman of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. “I am proud that communities I represent, Conway, Great Barrington and Richmond, join 100 other Green Communities in committing to these goals through reduced energy use and the encouragement of renewable energy solutions.”

“This is wonderful news that Great Barrington has earned the designation as a Green Community,” said Rep. William Pignatelli. “I know they worked hard to become part of this program and I commend the town for taking the initiative. Our communities continue to lead the charge toward a more sustainable future and this is another great step towards that goal.”

DOER’s Green Communities Designation and Grant Program, a result of the Green Communities Act signed by Governor Patrick in 2008,  rewards communities that earn Green Communities designation by meeting five clean energy benchmarks.

The program is funded through auctions of carbon emissions permits under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, as well as Annual Compliance Payments made by electricity suppliers under the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.

Massachusetts sits at the end of the energy pipeline and imports all of its fossil-fuel based energy sources – some from areas unstable or hostile to the U.S. Of the $22 billion Massachusetts spends annually to buy the energy that runs its power plants, buildings, and vehicles, 80 percent flows out of state to places like South America, Canada, and the Middle East. That’s nearly $18 billion in lost economic opportunity that Massachusetts stands poised to reclaim through investments in home-grown renewable energy and energy efficiency projects such as those supported by Green Communities grants.

By the end of July, Massachusetts had more than 129 megawatts of solar power installed. That’s enough electricity to power more than 20,404 homes, and, when compared with fossil fuel-generated electricity, the equivalent of eliminating the greenhouse gas emissions from 13,870 cars per year. Installations this summer alone are poised to be more than five times the total solar power installed in all of 2008. Massachusetts is now more than halfway to its 2017 goal of 250 megawatts of solar power, with five years left to hit the target.

There has been a twenty-fold increase in wind energy to 61 megawatts since 2007, enough to power nearly 19,296 homes and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from 13,117 cars annually.

BEAT Note: It looks like we should be concentrating on installing more solar on rooftops and degraded landscapes to exceed the goal of just 250 megawatts by 2017. Let’s stop installing industrial energy that fragments wildlife habitat or destroys farmland.

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The Waste of Nuclear Power

from the Conservation Law Foundation

A recent decision from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) offers hope that the nuclear industry’s free ride is coming to an end. The problem of what to do with the ever-growing amount of nuclear waste that is stockpiled at nuclear sites around the country has been vexing industry and regulators for years. It is a shameful reminder of poor management. Our nuclear reactors continue to operate and generate more waste when we have no real solution for its long-term storage.

Absent a permanent answer, the waste sits where it ends up when it is no longer useful. In the case of Vermont, it sits on the banks of the Connecticut River or in a spent fuel pool of the same style and vintage as was used at the Fukushima reactor. <more>

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Ribbon cutting for Project Native’s “Wislocki Woods” trail will take place this Friday, August 17th, 10:00 am.

Project Native is opening their 54-acre farm and wildlife sanctuary to the public after receiving a grant from the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area to develop and maintain the trails, which include a level mowed grass path around a 22-acre meadow of wild flowers surrounded by trees, and a woodland trail through 6.5 acres of old growth forest preserved for white oak (Quercus alba) regeneration.

The forest trail cleared by the Camp Becket YMCA Service Corps, a group of a dozen young men in leadership training, goes through Wislocki Woods, named for the founder of Berkshire Natural Resources Council. The Service Corps cleared invasive species, widened paths, and built woodland habitats for native wildlife.

Another group of young men from Heartwood School , in Washington , Mass. , used posts and beams from Project Native’s dismantled barn to build an information kiosk at the entrance of the native plant seed bank.

The kiosk, trails, and interpretive signs and maps will educate visitors about why native plants are essential to a healthy ecosystem and the prevention of extinction of many species of plants, insects, and birds.

The ribbon cutting for the new trail through Wislocki Woods is Friday, August 17th at 10:00 am. Camp Becket Service Corps and Project Native staff will be celebrating. The public is invited.

Project Native is a 54-acre native plant farm, nursery, and wildlife sanctuary in Housatonic , MA , working to protect, propagate, and promote native plant species as habitat for the insects and birds that depend on them for food.

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Program and Performers for Goodnight Irene Concert Aug 28

The Connecticut River Watershed Council, a Greenfield, MA environmental group, announces the program and the performers for its Goodnight Irene concert at Deerfield Academy’s Memorial Hall auditorium on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 7 pm. The concert is a benefit for the CRWC’s annual Source to Sea cleanup September 29. Tickets ($10) are available at www.ctriver.org, and at CRWC (15 Bank Row), World Eye Bookshop, and Raven Used Books (also Northampton), Greenfield; at Boswell Books, Shelburne Falls; at Turn it Up, Brattleboro; at Savages Market, Deerfield; and at Elmer’s Store, Ashfield.

Seventeen Irene-inspired songs will be performed by the writers and other guest performers. The Boxcar Lilies will join Katie Clarke of Conway, MA on her song, Loves Comes Back. Jennie McAvoy of Deerfield will sing Hancock, VT’s Leslie Blair’s A Road Home, a lilting celtic ballad about being cut off from the world, and, also, Vermont native (now of Munich, Germany) Michael Veitch’s folk tribute to a covered bridge: Irene Meets the Bartonsville Bridge. Greg Bullen of Towson, MD, former Deerfield Academy choral director, and an internationally-recognised and recorded composer, will sing and play piano on his folk-jazz song The River to Its End. Mark Fraser, cellist in the noted Adaskin String Trio, will play on four songs.

“We have been working with the musicians and getting into the songs for the last several weeks,” says Tex LaMountain. There’s a song here for everyone—such variety and moving music and stories.” Greenfield’s Charlie Conant will sing Irene, a haunting bluegrass response to the changes at his camp on the Green River; Roland Lapierre, also of Greenfield, will play Rising Up, a country-blues gospel-flavored anthem; John Currie of Orange has a heartfelt folk song, The Harvest is Plentiful, about the Deerfield River, Clesson Brook and surrounding farms; Sarah Pirtle’s evacuation from Shelburne Falls’ flooding inspired her song Keep Hold of the River’s Song. Pat and Tex LaMountain, concert producers, will sing their Down the River, a humorous reminiscence about their place on the Chickley River in Hawley, MA.

Vermonters have a variety of takes on Irene: Laura Molinelli from Jamaica, VT and her bluegrass group, the Bondsville Boys will perform Between the River and the Road and Water Wheel, a song of old loves reunited by the flood. Seventeen year old Larken Goode of Woodstock will sing and play piano on her modern lament Expressions Upon Thee. Quechee’s Dave Clark’s Starting All Over is a gypsy swing history of the storm; Steve Spensley of Pittsford sings Didn’t It Rain, a Woody Guthrie style sing along with a hook that you can take home; Victor Tremblay of Granby sings traditional country—That No Good Irene—Mother Nature’s fine but not her daughter. Dan Seiden of Brookline, VT a NYC transplant, sings Dramatic Sky, a rock weather report. Bridget Ahrens and Alana Shaw of Winooski, VT sing You Can’t Drown Out Vermont, an Indigo Girl-style comic folk song.

Expect guest performers throughout the evening: the house rhythm section, John White, bass, and Rick Mauran, drums and percussion, both from Greenfield; The Boxcar Lilies (Stephanie Marshall of Greenfield, Jenny Goodspeed of Ashfield, and Katie Clark), vocal harmonies; Jennie McAvoy, vocalist; Greg Bullen, piano; Tex LaMountain, guitar; Claire Dacey of Easthampton, violin; Mark Fraser, of Montague, cello.

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New England Grassroots Environment Fund

The mission of the New England Grassroots Environment Fund is to energize and nurture long term civic engagement in local initiatives that create and maintain healthy, just, safe, and environmentally sustainable communities. The Fund offers two grant programs designed to foster grassroots environmental initiatives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Seed Grants of $250 to $1,000 help volunteer groups launch and build their newly evolving projects. Requests for this program may be submitted throughout the year. Grow Grants of $1,000 to $3,500 enhance the ability of established groups to increase capacity, collaborate, and leverage impact. The application deadline for this program is September 15, 2012. Visit the Fund’s website for more information about these grant programs.

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Saving 78 Tons of Food Waste from the Landfill:

CET’s Green Business Specialists helped Geissler’s Supermarket divert a projected 78 tons of food waste annually. They provided custom signage for store staff, a cost analysis, onsite staff training, and follow up. Geissler’s Supermarket received MassDEP’s Supermarket Recycling Program Certification which provides state wide commendation and regulatory relief.  CET delivers the new MassDEP funded business and institution recycling and composting assistance program called RecyclingWorks in MA. This will allow us to help other businesses achieve similar successes throughout Massachusetts. Click on the image below to learn more!

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Introducing: The Activist Network Series, a series of monthly networking events hosted by Occupy Berkshires.

The first meet up will be Sunday, August 19 from 4-6 pm at the Friends Meeting House in GB. 

Through the Activist Network Series, Occupy Berkshires is creating a space to link motivated community members with existing projects, actions, and organizations seeking participants and support, while also introducing radical communication and decision-making skills.  Through social meet-ups, we hope to cultivate fruitful relationships and meaningful actions.

WHO

The Activist Network comprises existing organizations as well as individuals working to create positive change in our community.

WHAT

Groups are invited to give a brief introduction to who they are, their mission, and any projects they’re currently working on.  There will be time for groups to make announcements and put out calls to actions/calls for help, as well as time for open conversation.  In future meetings, we will be highlighting individual organizations by giving them 10 – 20 minutes to briefly present on their mission and work.  Delicious, organic snacks will be provided by Occupy Berkshires.

WHERE&WHEN

The first meet-up will be on Sunday August 19th, from 4 – 6 PM, at the Friends Meeting House on Rte 23, in Great Barrington, MA.  This event is free of charge – donations for food and space are welcomed, and will be put towards future events.

Please join the Activist Network – and help your community grow!

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Cricket Creek Farm Awarded Blue Ribbon from American Cheese Society

Small farmstead creamery receives national recognition

 

Williamstown, MA – August 6, 2012 – Cricket Creek Farm, a diversified grass-based dairy, received a first place award in the Farmstead Cheeses category for hard cow’s milk cheeses at the American Cheese Society’s 28th annual competition last week.  The honor was given for the cheese Maggie’s Reserve – an extra-aged version of the popular Maggie’s Round – a raw milk cheese with a natural rustic rind, inspired by the toma cheeses of the Italian Alps.   This is one of the highest honors a farmstead creamery can receive.  This announcement brings national recognition to Massachusetts, and the Berkshires – a region with many exceptional artisanal food producers.

Suzy Konecky, creamery manager at Cricket Creek, expresses her thanks, “This farm is unique in that we have a steady flow of fresh creativity and passion from the dedicated and diverse group of apprentices who work with us.  We are grateful to each one of them, and everyone who has left their mark on our farm and creamery.  Like so many small dairies, we are trying to grow the business through the sale of our value-added products.  It has been a winding road, but we have been time and again propelled by our local and regional customers – including chefs, cheese mongers, community members, and CSA – who have all made an outstanding commitment to this farm.  We look forward to continuing to produce cheeses that nourish and sustain both our customers and our small farm.”

 

ABOUT AMERICAN CHEESE SOCIETY

Founded in 1983, the American Cheese Society is a not-for-profit organization that supports and promotes North American cheeses.  ACS is a leader in cheese advocacy and education – specifically related to technical practices, safety, and sustainability.  They work to raise the quality and availability of American cheeses.  Their annual competition is one of the world’s most prestigious in the cheese industry; it is like the Olympics for North American cheeses.  The 2012 competition was the largest in their history with 1,711 product entries.

 

ABOUT CRICKET CREEK FARM

Cricket Creek Farm is a small, diversified, grass-based dairy nestled in the Berkshire hills of Williamstown, MA.  The farm consists of our herd of Brown Swiss and Jersey cows, mixed heritage breed pigs, a small flock of laying hens, and an on-site bakery.  Cricket Creek Farm says, “Our mission is to produce nourishing food that honors our animals, respects the land, and feeds our community, and to exemplify a sustainable model for small-farm viability.”

Cricket Creek Farm products are sold on site at their farm store and weekly farmers markets in Williamstown, North Adams, Lenox, Lanesborough, Great Barrington, Northampton, Troy NY, New Lebanon NY, Bennington VT, and Manchester VT.  Cricket Creek cheese is also available at many specialty food stores and cheese shops including Wild Oats Market, Guidos, Berkshire Co-op, Nejaimes, Rubiners, Formaggio Kitchen, and Central Bottle Wine and Provisions.

To learn more about Cricket Creek Farm, please visit: www.cricketcreekfarm.com, or find them on facebook.  An online version of this press release is available on their farm blog: www.cricketcreekfarm.com/wp/.

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2012 Heritage Walks

The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area will be offering its 11th annual “Heritage Walks Weekends” on Saturday & Sunday – September 22 & 23 and October 13 & 14. Please join us for 53 free guided tours to be offered throughout The Berkshires of Massachusetts and Litchfield County, Connecticut.

Everyone is invited to join us on these interpretive, educational tours that are being offered in partnership by the various heritage organizations in the region, the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, the Berkshires Visitors Bureau and the National Park Service. The Housatonic Heritage Area mission is to “preserve, celebrate and share with others, our regional historic, cultural, scenic and natural heritage of the 29 towns that lie within the upper Housatonic River watershed area, from Kent, Conn. to Lanesborough, Mass.”  We accomplish this by supporting the programs that our partner organizations offer to illuminate and educate residents and tourists about the history and culture that makes our region a “very special place” to live and visit.

The “Heritage Walks” will feature educational walking tours through historic estate gardens and town districts, and a historic train station tour. Also, nature walks and trail hikes, tours of industrial-site ruins that were once thriving industries, a canoe trip on the Housatonic River, bike rides along scenic country roads, and a Native American village walk will be offered. Historians, naturalists, and environmentalists will help participants explore and learn about our region’s rich history.   Historical and cultural venues will open their doors to the public for free behind-the-scenes tours; and natural resources organizations will provide access to many of the region’s most interesting outdoor recreational areas.

Detailed “Heritage Walks” brochures will be distributed in August to libraries, town halls and stores throughout the region. The detailed schedule can also be seen on our website… www.heritage-hikes.or

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Grant Opportunity for Individual Artists, Community Organizations and Schools

The Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire (CCNB) invites local schools, artists, individuals, and community organizations to apply for their 2013 grants. The CCNB is a local branch of the Massachusetts State Cultural Council and it represents 11 Berkshire towns (Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Lanesboro, Monroe, New Ashford, North Adams, Savoy, and Williamstown), allocating state funding to local arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences projects. There are also “Individual Artist” grants offered to select residents of those towns. Details are available on the CCNB website: culturalcouncil.wordpress.com.

The CCNB is currently accepting applications to fund projects occurring between January and December of 2013. Applications must be postmarked no later than October 15, 2012. Anyone interested in applying is strongly encouraged to attend one of two FREE grant-writing workshops: Wednesday, August 22, 6:30-7:30 pm, at the Williamstown Public Library, and Thursday, September 6, 6:30-7:30 pm, at the North Adams Public Library. Even if you’ve applied in the past, guidelines and priorities can change each year, so chances of success increase after attending one of these workshops.

Grants are awarded based on: a project’s benefit to the community, the qualifications of the individuals/organization involved, the preparation and planning process, and the population segments served. Priority is given to: artists and organizations living within the 11 municipalities represented, proposals that reach underserved populations, and collaborative projects between cultural groups and community organizations.

Applications and guidelines will be available at local libraries and town halls or online at www.mass-culture.org beginning September 1st. TWO copies of the completed application must be postmarked by October 15, and mailed to the CCNB, PO Box 227, North Adams, MA 01247. For more information contact Heather O’Brien, at 413-281-0455 or obriens12@verizon.net or Kimberly Ciola at kciolabdt@gmail.com.

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Job: Mass Audubon Legislative Director

Mass Audubon’s Beacon Hill Legislative Affairs Office serves both as a leader and a catalyst for conservation by stimulating legislative action to protect the nature of Massachusetts. The Legislative Director directs all aspects of the Legislative Affairs Office following Mass Audubon policies, priorities, plans, and procedures in cooperation with other departments, offices, and sanctuaries of the organization.

Read the position description here.

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Job: Regional GIS Analyst, The Nature Conservancy – Boston, MA

The Regional GIS Analyst will be based at the Eastern Resource Office of The Nature Conservancy in Boston, Massachusetts and will support the partnership of the Conservancy, the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) and conservation partners in the Northeast to develop, refine and implement spatially-based conservation projects. This is a one year position and is partially funded by the LCC. A complementary GIS Analyst position is also being established to support the LCC in the Northeast Regional Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in Hadley, Massachusetts. The two positions will serve as LCC team members and liaisons between the Conservancy and FWS, with the charge to develop and maintain a collaborative conservation data management system to make linked databases accessible to partners via web and cloud technologies, and further, to provide technical support, analysis and ecological modeling using GIS and other relational database technologies, project design and execution, application development, technical writing and documentation, training and technical support at landscape, and regional scales.

The Boston-based Regional GIS Analyst will also be responsible for other technologies (e.g. websites) to be developed as tools for scientific research in the TNC Eastern Division program and for serving as a Conservancy liaison with partners participating in the North Atlantic Conservation Cooperative, including NGOs, foundations and agencies in the region. For example, s/he will be responsive to states and other partners to make the data compiled for and generated by Conservancy projects funded by the LCC and the Northeast State’s Regional Conservation Needs Program more accessible. S/he will compile, assemble and maintain biodiversity use and management information from various sources and communicate to both technical and non-technical staff and partners.

For more information: www.nature.org/careers (Job # 40242).

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