- Keystone XL Pipeline: Obama Administration Announcing It Will Not Go Forward with Controversial Plan
- Climate Change Causes Heated Battles for Science Teachers
- Updated on Status of Massachusetts Climate Plan Implementation
- Vermont Still Has Authority to Retire Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plan for Good
- HVA Hosts Zebra Mussel Forum
- $3.6 Million for Parks in Six Western Massachusetts Communities
- Community Involved in Supporting Agriculture Nominations
- MA Solar License Law
- Road Salt Impacts Water Quality
- Resource-based Invasive Plant Management
- Bird Friendly Building Design
- Land Protected by the State of Massachusetts in 2011
- Franklin Land Trust CONSERVATION NEWS: Partnership Conserves Local Treasure
- Keystone Project Accepting Applications
- Berkshire Highlands Pentathlon
- CTIC’s Conservation in Action Tour 2012 — Southern Style
- Roundtable Discussion: Creative Free Play in a Commercialized World
- Preschool Drop-In Nature Class at Sheep Hill
- Without Walls’ Eco Practicum
- Internship Openings at Cricket Creek Farm—a Small Dairy in Western MA
- Job Opening: Executive Director, Merrimack River Watershed Council
Keystone XL Pipeline: Obama Administration Announcing It Will Not Go Forward with Controversial Plan
from Huffington Post Green
WASHINGTON — Acting on a recommendation from the State Department on Wednesday, President Barack Obama denied a permit for the contentious Keystone XL pipeline proposal, which would have linked a vast oil deposit in Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast.
In rejecting the permit, Obama laid blame on Republicans in Congress, who forced passage of a measure late last month requiring the administration to render a decision on the pipeline by Feb. 21.
"As the State Department made clear last month," Obama said in a prepared statement, "the rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by Congressional Republicans prevented a full assessment of the pipeline’s impact, especially the health and safety of the American people, as well as our environment. As a result, the Secretary of State has recommended that the application be denied. And after reviewing the State Department’s report, I agree."
Climate Change Causes Heated Battles for Science Teachers
from The Huffington Post Green
Prior to taking Mr. Visco’s high school science class, Keith Hogan did not believe humans had had any hand in climate change.
"I thought the media had just picked that up and blown it out of proportion," he said.
Hogan remembers the day the "lightbulb went off," about four years ago. He’d always been into cars and would get defensive if someone tried to pin climate change on vehicle emissions. But when Mr. Visco pointed out that the methane spewing from livestock was actually a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, Hogan opened up and began to reconsider, and then accept, the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change.
"Keith was like George Bush in disguise," recalled Chris Visco, who is now retired. "It’s funny how things progressed with him."
Imparting the science of climate change is not always so easy. Many of Hogan’s conservative classmates at Sachem High School in Long Island, N.Y. avoided taking Mr. Visco’s class, aware that they’d hear views that conflicted with their own. And around the country — from Washington State to Oklahoma — pressure and pushback from skeptical students, teachers and administrators pose challenges.
Updated on Status of Massachusetts Climate Plan Implementation
– from the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM)
On Thursday, January 12, staff from state agencies updated the Climate Protection & Green Economy Advisory Committee on progress made in the last year related to implementing measures contained in the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020. The meeting was open to the public.
Although strides have been made with regard to energy efficiency, building codes, monitoring and addressing non-energy emissions, and even the incorporation of smart growth principles into certain infrastructure projects, there is still much ground to be covered.
While the updates offered that day might lead some to believe the state is largely on track to meet its 2020 emissions reduction target of 25% below 1990 levels, many in the room were quick to point out that a number of reductions estimated in the plan are largely contingent upon outcomes that are yet unknown (e.g., Canadian hydro imports/Northern Pass)*, policies that have yet to be operationalized (e.g., GreenDOT), regional initiatives and federal standards that have yet to come through (e.g., a regional low carbon fuel standard, federal standards), and even factors that were not previously anticipated (e.g., plummeting natural gas prices).
Indeed the progress made in the last year warrants praise, but as advocates we must caution against prematurely declaring climate victory. Especially since doing so plays into the hands of those who suggest climate action is too costly and unnecessary. Even now, factions seek to undermine Massachusetts’s climate goals by dismantling the Green Communities Act (GCA) – which is integral to the state’s ability to reach GWSA targets.
It was also announced at the meeting that the Advisory Committee has been reconstituted and will continue to be kept apprised of implementation, indicating that meetings such as this will be held in the coming year.
To find out more about the Advisory Committee, including membership and future meetings, or to access GWSA reports visit the MassDEP website here. For questions about ELM’s advocacy, contact Program Director, Eugenia T. Gibbons, at egibbons@environmentalleague.org.
BEAT NOTE: BEAT strongly opposes the Northern Pass project. It would fragment and destroy wildlife habitat. We believe there are much better alternatives. For more information visit Conservation Law Foundation’s website about the Northern Pass.
Vermont Still Has Authority to Retire Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plan for Good
from Conservation Law Foundation
The headlines following yesterday’s federal court decision overturning Vermont laws giving the legislature a say in the continued operation of Vermont Yankee make it seem like the case was a total victory for Louisiana-based Entergy Corporation and its multi-million dollar legal dream team. Not so!
The decision makes clear that State officials — specifically the state’s Public Service Board — still have broad authority to deny Entergy the “Certificate of Public Good” on grounds that are traditionally within the authority of the state to decide, including economics, land use, and trustworthiness of the plant’s owners to be honest, fair-dealing members of the state’s business community. Unless Entergy receives a Certificate of Public Good authorization from the Board, it cannot continue operating the plant for another 20 years past its long-scheduled retirement date of March 2012.
Nothing in the Court’s decision upsets that aspect of longstanding Vermont state law — a law that applies to all sorts of power generating projects located in Vermont’s borders — the so-called “Section 248 process”. On page 4 of the Court’s decision the judge clearly states as follows:
“This Court’s decision is based solely upon the relevant admissible facts and the governing law in this case, and it does not purport to resolve or pass judgment on the debate regarding the advantages or disadvantages of nuclear power generation, or its location in this state. Nor does it purport to define or restrict the State’s ability to decline to renew a certificate of public good on any ground not preempted or not violative of federal law, to dictate how a state should choose to allocate its power among the branches of its government, or pass judgment on its choices. The Court has avoided addressing questions of state law and the scope of a state’s regulatory authority that are unnecessary to the resolution of the federal claims presented here.”
So where does that leave things?
Fortunately, CLF has played a leading role in the ongoing Public Service Board proceedings involving Entergy’s application for a new Certificate of Public Good. Tapping some leading industry experts, CLF has presented a clear case that continued operation of the Vermont Yankee is NOT in the public good of the citizens of Vermont.
Our case rests entirely on grounds that are specifically not placed out of bounds by the Court’s decision yesterday. These include economics and the failure to have sufficient funds available close the plant and restore the site at the end of its useful life. Also the claims of an economic benefit from the revenue sharing agreement and the lack of a power contract all show that continued operation does not benefit Vermont. Add to that the failure of Entergy officials to be forthcoming and provide truthful information about underground pipes, and Entergy’s failure to abide by existing water quality permits and there are many areas of traditional state concern that remain.
The court’s decision is a definite setback, but there are still many opportunities. Vermont shouldn’t be forced to prop up this old reactor. Enough is enough. The Court’s decision left many avenues still open for Vermont to have a say in whether Vermont Yankee continues to operate for another twenty years.
CLF Resources on Vermont Yankee
from Conservation Law Foundation
Yesterday, the U.S. District Court issued a decision on Vermont Yankee. We at CLF have been involved in and commenting on the trial and on related issues as they arise. Knowing it can sometimes be hard to track down these various resources, I wanted to take a moment to share a selection of them with you.
- CLF’s Statement in Response to the U.S. District Court’s Decision.
- A copy of the decision itself.
- Timeline of CLF Advocacy on Vermont Yankee
Trial commentary:
- Post-trial commentary, by Sandy Levine
- Post-trial commentary, by Anastasia Douglas
- Pre-trial, by Sandy Levine
Blog posts:
- Untrustworthy Again – Entergy Orders New Fuel for VT Yankee
- CLF, VPIRG support Vermont, oppose Entergy request to keep Vermont Yankee going
- Court blocks Vermont Yankee bid to stay open
- Cleanup Needed NOW at Vermont Yankee
- Conservation Matters cover story: “Vermont Yankee: The Costs of Nuclear”
HVA Hosts Zebra Mussel Forum
The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) will host a zebra mussel forum on February 4, 2012 (snow date February 11) from 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington for public and private stakeholders from Massachusetts and Connecticut. The subject is "Slowing the Threat of Zebra Mussels in the Housatonic Watershed — Working Across Borders: Connecticut and Massachusetts Working Together to Combat the Spread of This Invasive."
Keynote speaker Ethan Nedeau of Biodrawversity will give a status report on zebra mussels in the Housatonic River watershed. A panel discussion on management tools and strategies will follow. At moderated break-out sessions attendees will determine what should or could be done and the 2012 priorities.
Dennis Regan, HVA’s Berkshire program director, said, “The forum will explain how the aquatic invasives impact the Housatonic River watershed and discuss practical management options and actions to combat this threat.”
Zebra mussels, an invasive aquatic species, inhabit freshwater where they attach to hard surfaces and take over the environment. They were first discovered in the Great Lakes in 1988 and have spread south down the rivers. In 1998, they were reported in Twin Lake in Salisbury, Connecticut.
By 2009, zebra mussels migrated to Laurel Lake in Lee and Lenox, Massachusetts, which drains into the Housatonic River in Lee. And then, in October 2010, these invaders were discovered in lakes Lillinonah and Zoar on the Housatonic River in Connecticut. In December 2011, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) reported they were found in Lake Housatonic.
The mussel’s D-shaped shell is yellowish to brown and normally contains both dark and light-colored stripes. Adults are about one inch or less in length and each mussel can lay one million eggs per year. The concern is they can quickly populate a body of water and with no natural predators in North America, they eventually dominate their environment and can completely cover beaches, clog pipes, cover docks and kill native aquatic species. Precautions to keep zebra mussels in check and to avoid spreading them to other water bodies can be found at www.hvatoday.org/show.cfm?page=ZebraAlert.htm.
Panel participants are: Doug Jensen, Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator, Minnesota Sea Grant; Peter Aarrestad, Inland Fisheries Division Director, CT DEEP; Eleanor Mariani, Boating Division Director, CT DEEP; Jim McGrath, Pittsfield Harbor Master/Park, Open Space & Natural Resource Program Manager, Department of Community Development, City of Pittsfield; David Santos, Conservation Director, Connecticut BASS Federation Nation; George Shippey, Chairman, Stockbridge Zebra Mussel Committee; and Jim Straub, Lakes and Ponds Program Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Lake and Pond Associations.
The 2012 Housatonic River Watershed Zebra Mussel Forum is co-sponsored byHVA and Bard College at Simon’s Rock. Additional funding is provided by The Berkshire Environmental Endowment Fund (a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation), Crane & Co., CT DEEP and the Connecticut Sea Grant Program.
The forum is free but pre-registration is required. To register, go to http://housatonicriverzebramusselforum2012.eventbrite.com/. For questions, call 413-394-9796 or 860-672-6678.
HVA, a tri-state nonprofit citizen’s environmental group founded in 1941, works to conserve the natural character and environmental health of its communities by protecting and restoring the land and waters of the 2,000-square-mile Housatonic watershed from its source in the Pittsfield, Massachusetts area to Long Island Sound. HVA is monitoring water quality, adding sections to the Housatonic RiverBelt Greenway, and is using computer mapping to help towns measure the impact and benefits of land use and development. HVA has offices in South Lee, Massachusetts; Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut; and Wassaic, New York. More information about HVA can be found on www.hvatoday.org.
$3.6 Million for Parks in Six Western Massachusetts Communities
from Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
SPRINGFIELD – Tuesday, January 24, 2012 – Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. today announced $3,647,360 in grants to enhance parks and recreational facilities in the communities of Amherst, Holyoke, Northampton, Springfield, Westfield and Wilbraham.
The grants announced today derive from two EEA initiatives – the Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities program (PARC) and the Gateway Cities Parks Program, which is one of Governor Patrick’s signature urban investment programs. Through these two programs, the Patrick-Murray Administration has invested more than $72.9 million since 2007, resulting in the creation or restoration of 154 parks. Funding for both grant programs comes from the Energy and Environment Bond Bill signed by Governor Patrick in August 2008.
“Public parks are essential to the health and economic wellbeing of our communities,” said Secretary Sullivan. “Both of these programs are key tools in revitalizing our public spaces here in Western Massachusetts and across the Commonwealth.”
Through the Gateway City Parks Program, the cities of Holyoke and Westfield received grants to fund the following projects:
- Holyoke –Veterans Park Renovation – $1.4 million for the renovation of the existing park including the addition of handicap accessible ramps, new pavement, tree removal and pruning, tree planting, new lighting, fencing, trash receptacles, and benches.
- Westfield –Columbia River Greenway – $1 million for the city of Westfield to build a greenway along an abandoned rail line from the city’s border with the town of Southwick to the Little River, a distance of just over a mile. The greenway will also connect to trails in Northampton, allowing travel along a substantial network of trails to the north as well.
Gateway City Parks is a flexible program, providing municipal officials with a menu of funding options for all phases of park development. Twenty-four Massachusetts cities are eligible for the program, which targets communities with population greater than 35,000 and median household incomes and educational attainment levels below the state average.
Funding can be used for activities and costs such as brownfield assessment and cleanup, park planning and recreational needs assessments – including the development of Open Space and Recreation Plans, activities that were not eligible for state parks funding prior to the Patrick-Murray Administration’s creation of the Gateway City Parks program. Communities can also use the grants for acquisition, design and construction of parks, greenways, and other recreational facilities. The cities of Holyoke and Westfield are two of nine Gateway City Park grant recipients announced across the state earlier this month.
The PARC program, formerly Urban Self-Help, was established in 1977 to assist cities and towns in acquiring and developing land for park and outdoor recreation purposes. PARC grants are offered on a competitive basis and reimburse communities between 52 and 70 percent of the total project cost, determined by municipal demographics, with a maximum grant award of $500,000.
Municipalities receiving PARC grants must have a current Open Space and Recreation Plan, an authorized parks and recreation commission, and the land must be under parks commission jurisdiction and open to the public.
Through the PARC Grants Program, the communities of Amherst, Northampton, Springfield and Wilbraham received grants to fund the following projects:
- Amherst– Community Field Rehabilitation – $208,320 for the installation of a pool liner, new concrete decking, fencing and lighting for safety, new drain lines and piping to fix significant water leaks, replacement of the filtration system and upgrades to the filter house, new benches, lifeguard chairs, shade structures, and water fountains, and improvements to the pool house.
- Northampton– Florence Recreation Fields – $500,000 for the development of a new park that includes five multi-use fields, one 60-foot baseball diamond and one 90-foot baseball diamond, a parking lot, a multi-purpose path along the property,a playground, a pavilion, restrooms, and a concession and storage building.
- Springfield– Hubbard Park – $500,000 for updates to the tennis and basketball courts, grading and drainage for the ball fields, new perimeter fencing, ADA accessible paths, a new parking lot, and a new picnic grove.
- Wilbraham– Spec Pond Recreational Area Renovation Project – $39,040 for the design of the Spec Pond Recreational Area.
“I would like to congratulate Hubbard Park on receiving this generous grant,” said Sen. James Welch. "The improved recreational facilities and accessibility will benefit everyone in the community."
“The grant for Hubbard Park in Indian Orchard is great news for the neighborhood and the city," said Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. "The grant fits right into our continuing efforts to enhance and improve our green space and park areas."
In addition to creating or restoring 154 urban parks, the Patrick-Murray Administration has protected more than 88,000 acres of land since 2007. Massachusetts now has nearly 1.3 million acres permanently protected – more acres than acres have been developed.
Community Involved in Supporting Agriculture Nominations
Do you know someone doing great work for local food and farms? We want to give them an award! Since 2003, CISA has recognized farmers, institutions, businesses, and everyday community members whose work helps sustain local agriculture — see our all-star recipient list. This year’s awardees will be profiled in the Farm Products Guide and will be honored at CISA’s annual meeting in 2013. Nominations are due January 28th. You may email your nomination(s), with a brief description of why you think the nominee is qualified and your contact information, to communications@buylocalfood. org, or mail them to CISA, 1 Sugarloaf Street, South Deerfield, MA 01373.
Solar Advocacy Alert
from Christopher Derby Kilfoyle. BPVS Berkshire Photovoltaic Services
Dear Solar advocate,
House Bill 1004 (see for lots more information on this bill masolarlaws.com) is at a critical point.
Please call or better, write and call your local legislator to voice your support for this bill and its need for a hearing soon in the Joint Committtee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
Please also call and or write this week to Committee Chairs Rep Ted Speliotis at 617-722-2030 and Senator Thomas Kennedy at 617-722-1200 with the same message.
While you are on the phone make a quick call to the Governor 888-870-7770 or at 617 725 4005 expressing your support for solar licensing.
If you have already written a letter, note that when writing again or leaving a voice mail message.
Finally the bill’s sponsor Rep. Jennifer Benson deserves a phone call in support and thanks for her courageous advocacy on Beacon Hill; her phone number on the website is incorrect and will be changed soon. To call her the correct number is 617-722-2637. Be sure to tell her who else you’ve called. All addresses are correct on the website.
The next two weeks are important; please ask your friends to help. Thanks so much!
Road Salt Impacts Water Quality
We know that the way we salt our roads is causing environmental problems. Here is a story that shows the state helping people have safe drinking water, but it doesn’t help the wildlife that is impacted. – Jane
When my wife and I bought our house + land here in Ashfield back in 2004, we discovered that the water was not drinkable…too much road salt (and whatever else from the highway) in it from Rte 112, which is uphill of the well. As well, it felt iffy to put it on my garden, so I got into rainwater harvesting.
Then we looked into the state’s Salt Remediation Program,
http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/default.asp?pgid=content/environ/salt_rem&sid=about
It’s funded by some sort of tax, I forget. But they have a bunch of money on hand to help homeowners mitigate the issues caused by their use of salt on the roads. So we tested our water at a certified lab, which showed it to be above state guidelines for sodium and chloride, and filed that along with the state’s official salt complaint form and eventually qualified for the program.
It was a lot of footwork on my end and it took about 2 years of testing and consultation, but the state this year drilled us a new well, connected it to the house, and installed a new pump and tank. At no cost to us!
It’s increased the resale value of the house, I’m sure, to have potable water once again. And now I don’t have to buy drinking water by the jug anymore, which is swell.
So I pass this along in case you have the same problem or know folks who do.
Resource-based Invasive Plant Management
by Julie Richburg
As regional ecologist for The Trustees of Reservations, I work with my colleagues to ensure that the natural resources of our properties (including rare species) are protected from threats such as erosion, non-native invasive plants, and inappropriate use. With more than 40 properties within my region totaling nearly 10,000 acres, we must prioritize what gets done. Non-native invasive plants are found on nearly every property in Massachusetts, at least at some level, and are often regarded as one of the greatest threats to the native habitats and species on our properties. So where do we start? [click to continue]
Bird Friendly Building Design
from Mass Audubon’s Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup
Good news this week for our feathered friends! Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance energy-efficient buildings, now includes bird friendly criteria.
Similarly, the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) recently released its own “Bird-friendly Building Design” guidelines. ABC provides a comprehensive view of the issue for interested individuals and professionals such as architects and contractors. Find out more at: http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/BirdFriendlyBuildingDesign.pdf.
Land Protected by the State of Massachusetts in 2011
–From Stephanie Cooper, EEA Assistant Secretary
Through Mass Land E-News, the e-newsletter of the Mass Land Trust Coalition
As 2012 gets underway, we wanted to take a moment to thank the land trust community for your strong support and continued partnership. Working together, we are nearing 100,000 acres conserved since Governor Patrick took office in 2007, and we look forward to reaching and celebrating this incredible milestone together this year! With a total of 1,233,000 acres now protected in the Commonwealth, the Patrick-Murray Administration remains committed to our three investment priorities for land conservation – creation or renovation of urban parks, preservation of working farms and forests, and protection of our best remaining ecosystems.
Secretary Sullivan has brought an increased focus on landscape scale conservation — for its important role in climate change adaptation as well as for its many other conservation benefits. With your help, this year EEA successfully launched our new Landscape Partnership Program to support projects protecting 500+ acres with high values for wildlife, drinking water protection, forestry and tourism. We were thrilled to announce commitments of over $5.7 million in funding to support all eight of the phenomenal projects for which we received applications, which will result in the permanent protection of over 8,000 acres!
We also recently announced awards for our other land conservation grant programs:
- Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities program (PARC) – 17 grants totaling more than $7.3 million to help municipalities acquire parkland, renovate existing parks or build new parks and other outdoor recreation facilities.
- Gateway City Parks program – nine grants totaling $6.8 million to fund design and construction of parks of all types and sizes including sections of several inter-municipal trails.
- Conservation Partnership program – ten grants totaling over $514,000 to nonprofit organizations to preserve 409 acres of open space across Massachusetts.
- Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) – nine grants totaling over $1.9 million to help municipalities purchase 722 acres of farms, wetlands, forests, and wildlife habitat.
- Drinking Water Supply Protection program – two grants totaling nearly $700,000 to municipalities to protect more than 183 acres of watershed land.
We are more committed than ever to working in close partnership with MLTC and land trusts throughout the Commonwealth to advance our shared agenda for land conservation. Our collective work yields essential benefits now and into the future in the form of cleaner water and air, more good locally grown food, higher property values and expanded tourism. There is no doubt that conservation is a smart investment in a better quality of life for future generations, and we look forward to more great work together in 2012!
Franklin Land Trust CONSERVATION NEWS: Partnership Conserves Local Treasure
Conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts had something extra to celebrate over the holidays as news was released about the largest Conservation Restriction on private land in the Commonwealth’s history.
The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG), with the support of Kestrel Land Trust and Franklin Land Trust, purchased a Conservation Restriction on 3,486 acres on and around Brushy Mountain from W. D. Cowls, Inc. The result of four years of planning, the conserved forest is now named the Paul C. Jones Working Forest in honor of Cowls’ recently deceased eighth generation family leader.
Most of the 5.4 square mile area covered under the CR is in Leverett, but also extends into Shutesbury. The area has long been used for hiking, x-country skiing, fishing, hunting and other recreation, and was recently named by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism as one of the state’s "Best 1,000 Places." More…
More 2011 Land Projects
What a year! In addition to partnering on the Brushy Mountain Conservation Restriction, Franklin Land Trust completed 14 projects in 11 towns in 2011, protecting another 487 acres of land. FLT accepted six donated CRs, purchased a CR with local fundraising support, and assisted with or collaborated on seven other conservation projects.
The projects include state Agricultural Preservation Restrictions on rich farmland in Deerfield and Northfield, scenic woodland along French King Highway just east of the bridge in Erving, and deep woods in Ashfield, Leverett, Shutesbury and Bernardston. These CRs and APRs build upon already protected resources, improving wildlife habitat, and providing watershed protection and biodiversity conservation in the western MA region.
See our map for a bigger picture of the properties FLT has protected since 1987.
Keystone Project Accepting Applications
The Keystone Project trains landowners and community leaders who are in a position to have a conservation impact on their community.
This 3-day, retreat style training covers a variety of conservation topics, including: forest ecology and management, wildlife management, and land conservation. Learn more about the Keystone Project.
This year’s training will be April 19 – 22nd at the Harvard Forest in Petersham. Applications are due March 5th. Download an application.
This year’s training is thanks to our generous sponsors: DCR’s Service Forestry Program, Harvard Forest, and the MA Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
Berkshire Highlands Pentathlon
We’re thrilled that the Highland Communities Initiative (HCI) is the beneficiary of a new event, the Berkshire Highlands Pentathlon on March 31, 2012. Held in Charlemont, this challenging race will feature many of the best outdoor adventures in our region while highlighting the natural beauty of western Franklin County and the Deerfield River. Teams or individuals will participate in five events – a 10k trail run, a 23 mile road bike, a 5 mile kayak, a 1 mile snowshoe or ski to the top of Berkshire East, and a downhill ski to the finish. It’s a rare combination of events not for the faint of heart!
We need participants and volunteers to make sure this event is a success. If you’re willing to help out with timekeeping and recording finishers, please contact HCI at 413.628.4485 x1 or email highlands@ttor.org. Or start building your team and we’ll see you on the course! Visit www.berkshirehighlandsevents.com for more information about the race, and use coupon code hcipe for a $5 discount.
CTIC’s Conservation in Action Tour 2012 — Southern Style
Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) will host its annual Conservation In Action Tour May 30-31 in the Mississippi Delta.
CTIC leaders chose the southern setting because of the unique challenges the producers face in the Delta, which is one of the largest contiguous coastal ecosystems in North America boasting both ecological and economic value.
“The rich culture and history as well as the conservation successes in the area made the Mississippi Delta an exciting choice for this year’s tour,” says Rex Martin, CTIC board of directors president.
The tour will highlight agricultural producers who implement innovative conservation practices and solutions to water quality and water quantity issues, herbicide resistance challenges and wildlife habitat needs.
The tour stops first at Stovall Farms, birthplace of jazz legend Muddy Waters. Farmers, advisors and agency representatives will detail efforts to address water conservation, soil health and nutrient management to curb two of the area’s most problematic issues, water supply and nutrient loading.
At the same stop, researchers will describe ongoing monitoring efforts put in place as part of the first state nutrient reduction strategy to help address hypoxia issues in the Gulf of Mexico.
Another stop, Mill Creek Gin, is one of the most innovative cotton gins in the United States, where guests will get to tour their state-of-the-art facility.
The tour concludes at Williams Farms where crop production is as equally important as wildlife management. The intersection between production agriculture and wildlife management is often punctuated with conservation measures that benefit both. Dinner will be served that evening at the Williams Farms hunting lodge.
“We look forward to another information-packed tour where we meet exceptional producers, learn about their successful conservation systems and see the results for their bottom line and for the environment,” says Karen Scanlon, CTIC executive director.
For more information and upcoming registration dates visit the tour website: http://ctic.org/CIATours/.
Roundtable Discussion: Creative Free Play in a Commercialized World
A Community Conversation with Hilltown Families
Tuesday, Feb 7th from 6-7:30pm
WHAT: Roundtable Discussion on Creative Free Play in a Commercialized World: A Community Conversation with Hilltown Families
WHERE: Cup & Top Cafe, 1 North Main Street, Florence, MA
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb 7th, 2012, 6-7:30pm (Snow date: Feb. 21st)
COST: Discussion is Free. Dinner from Cup & Top is available through 6:30pm ($).
CONTACT: Hilltown Families, hilltownfamilies@gmail.com
On the heels of the holiday season, with another commercialized holiday approaching on Feb 14th (Valentine’s Day), Hilltown Families invites parents, educators and community members to come together to informally discuss some of the challenges we face in an age of rampant commercialism and ubiquitous technology, while brainstorming together on ideas and strategies for preserving non-commercialized creative free play for our children.
This roundtable discussion will take place at Cup & Top Cafe in Florence, MA. Participants can purchase dinner from the cafe through 6:30pm. Free childcare is available in the cafe’s playspace. To sign up for childcare, email hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.
Hilltown Families roundtable discussions are part of a series of Community Conversations presented by Hilltown Families that invites the community to engage in conversations about raising healthy children including helping children develop a positive sense of self and empathy for others and the world around them.
For more information, visit www.HilltownFamilies.org or email hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.
ABOUT HILLTOWN FAMILIES
Hilltown Families is an online grassroots communication network for families living in Western Massachusetts. www.HilltownFamilies.org
Founded in 2005 by longtime activist and Hilltown mother, Sienna Wildfield, Hilltown Families serves thousands of families in the Highlands Region of Western Massachusetts, including the Hilltowns, Pioneer Valley and parts of the Berkshires.
Through a dynamic award-winning web site, social networking, listserv, podcast, online bulletin boards, and collaborations with civic and nonprofit groups, Hilltown Families connects community and organizations throughout Western Massachusetts by helping residents share ideas, organize activities, support and supplement their children’s education, and increase participation in community life.
Preschool Drop-In Nature Class at Sheep Hill
The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation is offering weekly drop-in nature classes for preschoolers at its Sheep Hill property in Williamstown from 1 PM to 2:30 PM beginning Tuesday February 7, through Tuesday February 28.
Winter is a fun time for children to get outside, and Sheep Hill, a conservation property and the headquarters of the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation, is the perfect place to experience and explore the natural world.
This child-friendly conservation property offers room to roam, and indoor facilities for getting out of the weather.
The weekly classes will include nature stories, crafts and activities, with topics such as animal tracks and adaptations, winter weeds, and weather. Naturalist and WRLF Director Leslie Reed-Evans will lead the class.
The cost for each session is $15 per child, $12 for WRLF members. Come to one session or all. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. The hour and a half classes will run through February 28. A parent or guardian must accompany each two children.
For more information or a registration form contact the WRLF at ruraland@wrlf.org, or 413- 458-2494.
The WRLF is a member-supported non-profit land conservation trust dedicated to preserving the rural New England character of Williamstown and which celebrated its 25th year in 2011. Sheep Hill, its headquarters, is located on Route 7, approximately a mile south of the Williamstown rotary. www.wrlf.org.
Without Walls’ Eco Practicum
Without Walls’ Eco Practicum is an environmental sustainability and action program for undergraduate students and recent grads. Learn while impacting society and shaping the global future.
- Field Work with the Region’s Most Effective Organizations
- Practice Different Farming Models (Organic, Permaculture, Urban)
- Meet Experts, Farmers, Activists and Policy-makers
- Understand the Economics of Environmental In/Justice
- Flexible Options: Sign Up for 1 Up To All 4 Weeks
You’ll live in Camp Shomria, an educational campus located in the heart of the Catskills, at the crossroads of the food- and watersheds of the most dense urban center in the US. Each day you’ll work on the farm learning new techniques, practicing small-scale animal husbandry, taking field trips to meet experts, and playing an active role in shaping the summer community. It’s fun and it’s necessary, now more than ever.
For more information about the Eco Practicum, please visit our website: www.EcoPracticum.com
With Eco Practicum, we hope to give students the opportunity to get hands-on experience and meet experts in the field in order to engage with the most urgent socio-environmental issues.
Internship Openings at Cricket Creek Farm—a Small Dairy in Western MA
Cricket Creek Farm is a small grass-based dairy in Williamstown, Massachusetts. We make several award-winning cheeses from the milk of our herd of Brown Swiss and Jersey cows (currently milking 25 cows). In addition to the cheese, we sell raw milk from our farm store. We also raise beef cows and whey-fed pigs, as well as layer hens. We make all our own hay for our cows (3 cuts on 150 acres). We have a bakery located on the farm that supplies the store with fresh bread, cookies, granola, and other baked goods. We are a member of Berkshire Grown and sell cheese to many shops & restaurants in the Berkshires. We attend several local farmers markets and have a CSA offering milk, cheese, eggs, beef, pork & bread. We also have a cheese CSA in Brooklyn, NY.
We are looking for 2-5 interns to join us for 2012. Interns would help in cheese making, general farm work, or both – depending on experience and interest. Qualities we are looking for are: commitment to agriculture, open communication, teamwork, passion for food, independence, and love of labor.
Dates of internship: Ideal candidates would be interested/able to stay for 1 full year, we request an absolute minimum of a 7 month-stay. Ideal start date is April 1, but no later than May 15, 2012. End date no earlier than Dec 15, 2012.
All interns must have good people skills and enjoy interacting with the public. We’re looking for interns who are excited about taking on significant responsibility. All interns will be attending weekly farmers markets and occasionally making deliveries. All interns work 6 full days per week with 1 full day off. We all work as a team here and we’d like to find interns who want to take on an independent project/aspect of the business and build it.
We provide housing, a stipend, and some food. Interns will share the farm house with the other inters, located on the farm. The house has wireless internet, heat, two bathrooms, and a fully-equipped kitchen. Amount of stipend depends on experience and length of commitment. Raw milk and plenty of cheese is free and available to all Cricket Creek staff and interns. All staff and interns have access to pulled baked goods, freezer burned meat, and receives a 20% discount on all items in our farm store. The staff at Cricket Creek is committed to providing a full educational experience. We have regular open meetings, are fine with sharing all our farm planning materials, are open with our financials, and encourage questions and suggestions.
If you are interested please send us an email (info@cricketcreekfarm.com) with: a resume, 3 references, and answers to the list of questions on the Intern page of our website (http://www.cricketcreekfarm.com/wp/internships-at-cricket-creek-farm/). Please clearly state the best way to get in touch with you.
If you have any questions, you can send an email to info@cricketcreekfarm.com or call (413) 458-5888. We are happy to provide contact info for previous interns. Any applicant who seems to be a good fit will be expected to come for a 2 day visit in Feb or March.
Suzy Konecky
Cricket Creek Farm
(413) 458-5888
1255 Oblong Road
Williamstown, MA 01267
www.cricketcreekfarm.com
Executive Director, Merrimack River Watershed Council
60 Island Street, Suite 211-E
Lawrence, MA 01840
www.merrimack.org
BACKGROUND – The Merrimack River Watershed Council, Inc. (MRWC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1976 by citizens and regional planning commissions to promote citizen involvement in the clean-up of the Merrimack River. Its organizational mission is to ensure the sustainable ecological integrity and balanced, managed use of the Merrimack River and its watershed through science, advocacy, partnering and recreation. We are the advocate of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts; we are “The Voice of the Merrimack.” See Merrimack River Watershed Council web site for additional information http://www.merrimack.org/
REPORTS TO: President of Board of Directors
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: The Merrimack River Watershed Council is looking for an enthusiastic, creative, go-getter to take the helm and help us grow our organization! This is an exciting opportunity for somebody looking to take charge, build on our recent momentum, and help our Board of Directors make a splash in 2012. We are looking for someone who loves to build bridges and open doors of collaboration, is involved in local watershed management and conservation efforts, and can foster membership and donor relationships to help build our organization. The Executive Director is charged with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Merrimack River Watershed Council including cultivating key partnerships and donor relationships, acting as the champion and voice of the Merrimack River, ensuring that all products and projects are produced and carried out in an effective, professional and timely manner, overseeing staff and volunteers, and developing and managing the budget. The Executive Director is responsible for developing and implementing short and long-term strategic plans to help grow and strengthen the organization’s ability to have a positive impact. Though not an exhaustive list, specific duties are outlined below:
- Work with and at the direction of the Board of Directors. Cultivate board involvement and board recruitment and training.
- Create and maintain project partnerships with other watershed groups and related nonprofit organizations.
- Act as a Merrimack River Champion, advocating for sustainable water management, resource efficiency, increased public education and awareness, etc. Stay abreast of key watershed concerns and help to keep the MRWC current and relevant for our constituents.
- Build the organization through fundraising and increased revenue from grants, membership, donors, and events.
- Serve as primary organizational spokesperson and contact for MRWC with appropriate media outlets, other agencies and the public. Speak at or attend conferences on: water conservation, water quality, community collaboration, etc.
- Conduct community outreach and promote greater citizen involvement in the MRWC and its projects.
- Develop and update material for the MRWC website. Coordinate outreach via social and online media.
IDEAL ATTRIBUTES
- Enthusiasm, a positive attitude and a passion for serving in our community, building relationships and enhancing the well being of the Merrimack River.
- Previous non-profit and management experience including budget management, fund-raising and grant management.
- Thorough understanding of basic ecological and watershed principles.
- Ability to work with minimal direction.
- Ability to motivate and inspire our membership and watershed constituency.
- Marketing and fundraising background. Proven grant-writing experience.
- Strong communication skills and public speaking experience.
- Previous experience working with a Board of Directors.
- Above average computer skills, including experience with the Microsoft Office Suite. Proficiency with spatial databases (GIS), web design, and Raisers Edge (or other donor management software) highly desirable.
- Degree in Environmental Science, Education, Environmental Management, Business Management, Communications, or related field a plus.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Compensation: Salary package is competitive for a small non-profit and will be determined by the Board of Directors based on experience and qualifications. Position is funded through grants and may be part time to start. Candidate will have the ability to increase compensation through program growth and fundraising.
TO APPLY:
Please submit a resume and detailed and compelling letter showing your passion and fit for the mission of the Merrimack River Watershed Council and why you should be the next Executive Director to: jbernard@merrimack.org with "Executive Director" in the subject line.
No phone calls please.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.