The BEAT News May 15, 2012

News Headlines

 

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
May 15, 2012Contact: Jim Murphy, (617) 918-1028 or (617) 721-2868 (cell) 

EPA, Massachusetts and Connecticut Host Public Meetings on Housatonic River Status

 

(Boston, Mass. – May 15, 2012) – EPA and the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut  will be holding public meetings in both states next week to discuss next steps for the potential clean up of the Housatonic River in western Massachusetts and Connecticut.

EPA and the states have been working cooperatively for the last several months to discuss potential approaches to clean up the Rest of River portion of the Housatonic River contaminated with pollutants from General Electric’s former Pittsfield, Mass. facility.  These discussions have focused, in part, on the need to address the risks from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to humans, fish, wildlife and other organisms while avoiding, mitigating or minimizing the impacts of the clean up on the unique ecological character of the Housatonic River.

Prior to the meetings, EPA and the states will release a document called the “Status Report of Preliminary Discussions of Potential Remediation Approaches to the GE-Housatonic River Site “Rest of River” PCB Contamination.”  This summary document, which recognizes that no remedy decisions have yet been made, reflects the current status of EPA and the states’ efforts to discuss and identify potential remedial approaches for the Rest of River in light of their shared goals and interests.  The summary report, which will be available on EPA’s web page on Friday, May18, will be the topic of the public meetings.

The Connecticut meeting will be on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, 246 Warren Turnpike Road, Falls Village, Conn. The Massachusetts meeting will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2012 from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. at the Lenox Memorial Middle and High School, 197 East Street, Lenox, Mass.

Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office, will be joined at the May 23 Connecticut meeting by Macky McCleary, Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Kenneth Kimmell, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Commissioner, Mary Griffin will join Curt Spalding at the meeting in Lenox on May 24.

More information on EPA’s work to clean up contamination in the Housatonic River
(http://www.epa.gov/region1/ge/) – on Friday, 5/18 this site will also contain the document referenced above.

 

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EPA Strengthens Dioxin Cleanup Levels

The Center for Health, Environment, and Justice has been making waves to protect communities from dioxin exposure.  In February, we secured a historic victory when EPA finalized their 27-year delayed report on the noncancerous health effects of dioxin.  Due to the release of this new report, we’ve just learned EPA is strengthening their cleanup goals for dioxin at toxic sites!  This is great news for dioxin-impacted communities across America.

 

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Rx Round Up Results

from the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership

 

788 pounds of medications were collected at the Berkshire County Rx Round Up on April 28th at 12 locations.  In North and Central county (we are awaiting South county results), 245 bottles of the most addictive drugs were turned in, meaning that those meds won’t end up in the wrong hands or get flushed into our water supply.
Opiate pain medication addiction is a costly and increasing problem, and the Round Up is one way to decrease access.

If you missed the Rx Round Up, you can dispose of your unused medications safely by dropping them into the lock box located in the Pittsfield Police Department lobby at 39 Allen Street.

 

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Invasive Species Smartphone App

from CISA

A new app developed by the University of Massachusetts’ Center for Public Policy and Administration and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation allows smartphone and digital camera users to help Massachusetts scientists locate invasive species. UMass Vegetable Integrated Pest Management program staff are monitoring newly arriving invasive species with the potential to impact agriculture, including Spotted Wing Drosophila and the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug .

 

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Chuck Knox new Executive Director of Mass Land Trust Coalition 

The Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, of which Mass Audubon is a member, has announced the hiring of Chuck Knox as its first executive director. Chuck has served as executive director of the Five Rivers Conservation Trust in New Hampshire and the Androscoggin River Watershed Council. He also served as Director of Public Affairs and Outreach for New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

 

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BIKEfest to feature Bike Rodeo, Films, Promotions and More in Support of  Local Biking


From  May 13-19, 2012, BIKEfest will present a series of fun and educational bike-related events for all ages. BIKEfest is intended to advance the mission of the BIKE NorthBerkshire , a group formed to promote safe bicycling for recreation, physical fitness and environmentally friendly transportation in north Berkshire County . BIKEfest will feature documentary shorts and a feature-length film, a panel discussion, and a Bike Rodeo on May 19 at MASS MoCA, exhibitions and activities at area non-profits , including bike displays, a bike wash, and promotions by local merchants for customers who arrive by bike.

On Thursday, May 17, a series of bike film shorts will be screened at Club B10 at MASS MoCA. The event begins at  6:30 with a bike salon and bike display.   The documentary shorts will begin at 7 :00 PM, featuring films that provide inspirational examples of biking as a primary form of transportation. Following the film , State Representative Gail Carriddi will moderate a panel discussion about biking in the region that will include a representative from the Berkshire Bike Path Council, local bike commuters, and an advocate exploring the feasibility of a bike path around Mount Greylock. The evening will conclude with a drawing for biking related door prizes. Tickets to this event are $5.

On Saturday, May 19, from 11 :00 AM -2 :00 PM, MASS MoCA will host a Bike Rodeo which will promote bike safety. Area police and volunteers will run stations including a helmet check, bike safety check, a safety signals tutorial , and a bike obstacle course. Prizes will be awarded to all who complete the Bike Rodeo. Bike decorating and a parade will also be included in the festivities. Admission to the galleries on this date will be free for those arriving by bike. In the case of rain, the Rodeo will be held on  Sunday, May 20, from 11 :00 AM -2 :00 PM. Adult bikes may be rented from at MASS MoCA”s MASS Transit rentals.

In addition to the events at MASS MoCA , BIKEFest will include a bicycle exhibit and bike wash at the Williamstown public library, a bike documentary at Images Cinema in Williamstown, a bike history talk at Western Gateway Heritage State Park in North Adams, and special offers from local merchants for customers or employees who arrive at their businesses by bike during BIKEfest week. Customers must show their helmets to receive promotions.

 

Held in conjunction with 2012 s National Bike Month and Bay State Bike Week, BIKEfest is a collaboration of Bike NorthBerkshire, MASS MoCA and area non-profits and businesses. For more information and to see promotions offered by area businesses , please visit http:/www.tinyurl.com/bikefest2012, https://www.facebook.com/NorthBerkshireBikefest , or call 413- 458-4708 .

 

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Vermont tops Strolling of the Heifers Locavore Index;
state tops nation in local food availability

BRATTLEBORO VT, May 8, 2012 — The Strolling of the Heifers announces the Locavore Index: an indicator of how states compare in their commitment to raising and eating locally grown food. In the 2012 Locavore Index, Vermont ranks first among the fifty states. (See Associated Press news story about the Index.)

Using data exclusively from government sources (principally USDA and US Census data) dating from 2010 and 2011, the Locavore Index measures the commitment of states to locally-sourced foods by measuring the per-capita presence of Community-Supported Agricultural enterprises and Farmers Markets, each of which is an indication of both the availability and demand for locally-produced food.

Click here for the full story and list of rankings.

 

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State-wide Buy Local Programs Pass First Budget Hurdle

from CISA

Two amendments providing important support for local foods programs were included in the House budget passed in April. Representative Chris Markey (D-Dartmouth) championed an amendment, co-sponsored by 34 Representatives, providing funding to seven “Buy Local” organizations across the state. Funding for CISA’s Senior FarmShare program was included in an amendment introduced by Chairwoman Anne Gobi and eight other members. In 2012, this program will provide more than 350 low-income seniors with farm shares; if this funding is maintained through the whole budget process, we’ll be able to do that again next year. We are now looking towards the Senate and we’re hopeful that these programs will be included in the Senate budget and signed into law by the Governor this summer. We are grateful that so many Representatives recognize the value of healthy, locally grown food and thriving farms!

 

One way that we helped our legislators appreciate the good food grown here was by feeding them on Agriculture Day at the State House. Many farms contributed food for that meal, including Hungry Ghost Bread, Little Brook Farm and Tanstaafl Farm, who were inadvertently left off our list last month.

 

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Watershed Council Seeks Songs about Tropical Storm Irene Flooding

 

The Connecticut River Watershed Council, a conservation group based in Greenfield , MA , has announced it is soliciting songs inspired by the flooding from Tropical Storm Irene. These songs will be featured in a concert to be held on August 28, 2012, the first anniversary of the flood. Roads, bridges, homes and businesses were flooded or washed down the rivers from Western Massachusetts into Southern and Central Vermont. Idyllic brooks became raging torrents and whole towns were cut off from the world. Hurricane Irene had widespread damage up the entire East Coast but the affect in the Northeast was the result of a huge lingering rainstorm that overpowered the drainage system of the rivers. Some rivers experienced 100 year and 500 year events.

 

“Many people were affected by the Tropical Storm Irene flooding in deep ways: emotionally, economically and spiritually,” says Pat LaMountain, who, along with her husband, Tex , is producing the concert. The duo have been singing, writing, performing and harmonizing together for almost 35 years and have shared the stage with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie. “This concert is meant as a way to make peace with the power of nature we witnessed and experienced.”

 

The concert will be a benefit for the Connecticut River Watershed Council’s annual Source to Sea Cleanup which this year takes place on September 29th. Pat and Tex also have a personal reason for wanting to support the Cleanup effort and give voice to Tropical Storm Irene’s impact.  “This year, some of the stuff being pulled out of the river will be parts of our barns and our summer place,” explains Tex LaMountain. “We lost all five buildings at our Hawley, MA retreat, the place we would go to write songs and watch grandchildren enjoy nature. It all went down the Chickley River on August 28th.” “I’m still looking for my hula hoop, the silverware, everything. The river is so powerful. It’s just gone,” adds Pat.

 

To enter a song for consideration, go to the CRWC web site at www.ctriver.org. Deadline for submission is June 21, 2012 and there is a $10 processing fee. People may also make a donation for the concert. In 2008 and 2009 the Council held songwriting contests of river songs. In 2010 many of the winning songs were presented in a concert at the Academy of Music in Northampton . This year’s event is not a contest but a concert that brings together the community to celebrate, mourn, and come to terms with the impact that Tropical Storm Irene had on our community. The concert is also about supporting the local songwriting community.  “The Council knows how to support songwriters and give them a stage for their work in a conscious, careful way. We cater to songwriters because we are songwriters.” emphasized Tex LaMountain. To learn more go to www.ctriver.org.

 

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WestSide Farm Project

The WestSide Farm Project, at 109 Linden St, will again offer 10 by 20 garden plots for the nominal fee of 15$ for the season. Anyone can
contact me to reserve a space or for more info. We will be prepping the sites on Saturday, 5/12, 10am – 1pm and could use everyone’s help.
Bring an iron rake and/or shovel, if you can.

Please share this info with the greater community. Thanks!

— Thom Pecoraro
WestSide Farm Project

413 3291400

 

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Tom’s of Maine Invites Nonprofit Organizations to Apply for Fourth Annual “50 States for Good” Program

Tom’s of Maine, a natural products company focused on oral and personal care, is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations in the United States for its “50 States for Good” program and will award a total of $150,000 in funding toward community projects.

Now in its fourth year, the 50 States for Good program seeks to uncover grassroots nonprofit groups working to address community needs and engage volunteers to get the work done.

Applicant programs must mobilize community volunteers and have a positive impact on the community in one of three areas — environmental goodness, healthy goodness, and human goodness.

Eligible applicants are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing with operating budgets under $2 million. Individuals who wish to seek funding for their community projects are encouraged to work directly with a local nonprofit organization.

For the first time, this year’s program will feature fifty-one finalists, one from each state as well as the District of Columbia, as determined by a panel of independent judges. The six winning organizations will be determined by public vote. The organization with the most public support will receive $50,000 in sponsorship funding, while five additional organizations will each receive $20,000 based on the public vote.

Applications are being accepted now until June 12.

·  Apply Now through June 12

·  Voting starts September 10

·  Winners announced by mid-November.

 

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Summer Institute for Leadership in Sustainability

 

Dates: Sunday July 22nd, 3pm arrival through Saturday August 4th, 6pm departure

This event is for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (current seniors also welcome to apply)

Contact: Stephanie Ladroga- (508) 451-0724, sladroga@student.umass.edu OR Katie MacDonald, (617) 470-4690,katiemac68@gmail.com

Location: University of Massachusetts Amherst

Cost: $2080 for tuition, room and board, meal plan, and all transportation and field trip cost for two weeks, with the option of earning 2 college credits for an additional $100 (Scholarships may be available!) All students need to bring is a positive attitude, clothes, and a notebook!

Website: https://www.honors.umass.edu/sils-overview

The Summer Institute for Leadership in Sustainability (SILS) is a UMass Summer College program through Commonwealth Honors College designed to provide passionate high school students with the opportunity to engage in sustainability education and leadership development at the college level while preparing them for success by immersing them in a university environment.

The program is structured to provide instruction in a variety of academic and non-academic disciplines and hybridize interdisciplinary academic skills and leadership skills. SILS academic curriculum provides a foundation in both physical and social sciences, economics, and environmental policy, as well as provides the structure for further investigation through a final project. Leadership training will focus on developing students’ ability to represent themselves and find confidence in personal communication skills while also stressing skills associated with group collaboration and training in grassroots organizing techniques.

 

 

Katie and I would love to meet some local high school students interested in sustainability! If you have any educators or groups interested in more information on the program, or who would like to request a brief in-person presentation, Katie and I would be happy to come visit or set up a meeting to chat. We are so thrilled to be involved in the creation of the SILS summer college and are so excited there are communities like the Hilltown Sustainability Group that can make this event available to students!

 

Thank you!

Stephanie Ladroga

Undergraduate Coordinator

SILS

 

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MACC Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners via Webinar

MACC, with grant support from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, is pleased to offer Fundamentals for Conservation Commissioners via webinar. We have had outstanding evaluations so far for the following trainings:

  • Unit 3: Wetlands Protection Act: Fundamentals, Process and Procedures
  • Unit 5: Wetland Functions and Values
  • Unit 7: Open Space Planning and Protection Techniques.

During the pilot phase of this program, each webinar unit costs $35 (a $20 savings). Full scholarships are available.

Classes are taught live over the internet by MACC’s expert instructors. Participants actively engage in lessons via Q&A and chat pods, virtual breakout rooms and online polling. Each lesson lasts 2.5 hours including a 10 minute break.

All units apply toward MACC’s Certificate Training Program.

Not sure if your computer system is webinar capable? Check your system requirements using Adobe Connect’s test at this link.

For webinar audio, participants need either Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or a telephone. Telephone calls are toll free.

Register for a Webinar Online or call 617-489-3930.

Funded by the
Massachusetts Environmental Trust

 

Scholarships Available for Webinar Programs!

MACC is offering several Fawcett Fund scholarships to cover 100% of the costs of the pilot webinar programs. We will entertain applications from Commissioners in towns that do not cover education expenses and applications from new Commissioners who have been serving for 18 months or less. Scholarships are available only to MACC members.

 

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MACC Is Hiring a Part-Time Web Designer

MACC is seeking a permanent, part-time web designer (5-7 hours per week) who can utilize HTML, CSS, PHP, JAVA, BB, Adobe CS Suite and other programs. Candidate will works off-site, but should be available for occasional meetings at our Belmont offices.

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NOFA/Massachusetts ∙ 411 Sheldon Rd ∙ Barre, MA 01005

            978-355-2853 ∙ www.nofamass.org

     Growing Organically Since 1982

 

Please note that these two jobs are not mutually exclusive in that we will give preference to candidates who apply for both positions.

Job Position for Beginning Farmer Coordinator

12 hours per week – beginning immediately – $13/hour

 

NOFA/Mass is hiring a Beginning Farmer Program Coordinator. This is a grant-funded 12-hour per week position that reports to the NOFA/Mass Education Director. The NOFA/Mass Beginning Farmer Program is part of a seven-state partnership that includes the NOFA chapters in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont, and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. The project aims to develop a strong network of beginning farmers throughout the Northeast by addressing progressive phases of farmer professional development and pairing new farmers with seasoned growers who serve as mentors.

 

The program coordinator is responsible for administering all aspects of the NOFA/Mass Beginning Farmer Program, including the newly created journeyperson farmer program and the farmer mentoring program. In addition, the program coordinator will be responsible for creating—in close coordination with the NOFA/Mass webmaster—a new online Massachusetts farm apprenticeship directory. The person in this position must work closely with other NOFA/Mass staff members, including the education event organizers, conference workshop coordinators and the administrative director, to ensure that all aspects of the NOFA/Mass Beginning Farmer Program meet the requirements of the USDA grant funding them.

 

The NOFA/Mass Beginning Farmer Program Coordinator participates in monthly conference calls with representatives from the other state chapters, and must attend two annual in-person meetings, one in December in the Hudson Valley and one in August at the NOFA Summer Conference in Amherst, Mass. In addition, the program coordinator is expected to attend a meeting in Maine this June 20-21 to learn about MOFGA’s longstanding journeyperson farmer program. Participation is required in periodic NOFA/Mass Education Department conference calls, scheduled for June 25, September 10 and November 12, 2012. Attendance is mandatory at the annual NOFA/Mass staff meeting in Barre, Mass., scheduled for Oct. 2, 2012; the annual NOFA/Mass board-staff retreat in Buzzards Bay, Mass, scheduled for Dec. 1-2, 2012; the NOFA/Mass annual meeting during the winter conference in Worcester, Mass., scheduled for January 12, 2013; and the annual NOFA/Mass board-staff meeting in Amherst, Mass. in the late winter.

 

This position will start June 1, or earlier, if possible. To apply, please send résumé, cover letter and three references to Julie Rawson, NOFA/Mass Education/Executive Director, at julie@nofamass.org. Questions, call (978) 355-2853.

 

More details on this position are available on the NOFA/Mass website at http://www.nofamass.org/about/jobs.php.

 

 

NOFA/Mass Winter Conference Workshop Coordinator

250 hours in 2012 – beginning immediately – $13/hour

                    

Tasks:

  • Organize educational workshops for the one-day NOFA/Mass winter conference.
  • Provide regular reports on this work to the NOFA/Mass Winter Conference Coordinator, and to the NOFA/Mass Extension Director prior to Board of Directors meetings.
  • Maintain financial records related to workshops and presenters, and coordinate presenter pay after the conference.
  • Attend/call in for winter conference meetings.

 

Timeline:

  • January: Follow up with workshop presenters before conference; coordinate last-minute details
  • January: Follow up with workshop presenters after conference; send online evaluation; gather their expense receipts
  • February: Coordinate with administrative director to distribute workshop presenter pay
  • February: Go through presenter and conference evaluations
  • February: Meet with WC staff to debrief and brainstorm ideas for next year
  • March-April: Distribute evaluations to each workshop presenter
  • May: Start preparing and cleaning up lists/database of possible presenters for following year’s conference
  • May: Collect workshop ideas
  • July: Send out initial call for workshop proposals
  • October: Have all workshops confirmed by Oct. 15
  • October: Have all workshops listed on website by end of October
  • October: Create workshop schedule by Oct. 31
  • November: Confirm workshop description and time with presenters

 

Employee Requirements:

All NOFA/Mass staff must maintain current NOFA/Mass membership.  Participation is required in periodic NOFA/Mass Education Department conference calls, scheduled for June 25, September 10 and November 12, 2012. Attendance is mandatory at the annual NOFA/Mass staff meeting in Barre, scheduled for October 2, 2012; the annual NOFA/Mass board-staff retreat in Buzzards Bay, scheduled for Dec. 1-2, 2012; the NOFA/Mass annual meeting during the winter conference in Worcester, scheduled for January 12, 2013; and the annual NOFA/Mass board-staff meeting in Amherst, in the late winter.

 

Interested parties please contact Cathleen O’Keefe, Conference Coordinator, (413) 387-2316, wc@nofamass.org.

 

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