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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Advocacy News (Includes how to reach your legislators) DEP Enforcement Actions In The Berkshire return to top |
film / Earth Days Opens August 14th EARTH DAYS opens in New York theaters on August 14th, and will expand to movie theaters across the country through October. To watch the trailer and find out where the film is playing near you, go to Earthdaysmovie.com. return to top |
HCI’s 5th Conference, “The Future of the Highlands , Its in Your Hands,” Celebrates Peoples’ Roles in Protecting Rural Nature Ashfield, MA —July 22, 2009-- The future of the Highlands is in good hands—yours. On Saturday, September 12th, join The Trustees of Reservations’ Highland Communities Initiative for its 5th biennial conference celebrating our region’s rural nature, and the people whose ideas and efforts hold the keys to its future. The conference will begin at 8:30AM at the Ashfield Town Hall , with morning and afternoon workshops throughout Ashfield center. HCI is proud to welcome Laurie Sanders, host of WFCR’s “Field Notes” radio program, as the conference’s keynote speaker, as well as a range presenters offering sessions on diverse topics such as protecting nighttime skies, businesses that build community, connecting farms and schools, regional broadband internet access and numerous others. Conference registration is $25 for Trustees of Reservations members and $30 for non-members, with a $5 discount for those registering before August 31st. Registration fees include lunch and morning refreshments. Please call if you are interested in volunteering at the conference in return for free admission. Attendees are asked to bring their own coffee cups or mugs to reduce the environmental impact of the conference. HCI & The Trustees of Reservations Founded in 1891, The Trustees of Reservations is the nation's oldest regional land trust and nonprofit conservation organization. The Trustees of Reservations welcomes the public to enjoy and experience our nine beautiful properties in the Pioneer Valley and our 100 special places across Massachusetts . The Trustees rely on dedicated staff, volunteers, members and donors to raise community awareness around the importance of preserving exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological landscapes; to interpret the stories that emerge from our local history and define our community character; to sustain local farms and natural resources; and to offer our visitors top notch outdoor experiences. To learn more, please visit www.thetrustees.org or call the Pioneer Valley office at 413.532.1631. Mark Wamsley |
Nuestras Raíces Energy Enterprises looking for CEO We would like to post the position through your network in order to identify the best candidates. Please send the posting below out to your jobs list or career database and directly to any candidates you think would be particularly well suited to the position. To apply, candidates should send a resume and cover letter to: NREECEOjob@nuestras -raices.org. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. Interviews will be scheduled as early as the end of July 2009. A candidate will be hired when one is identified with appropriate qualifications, so it is in the applicants’ interest to apply as early as possible. Thank you, Marjorie Winfrey JOB TITLE: Nuestras Raíces Energy Enterprises President and CEO REPORTS TO: Board of Directors POSITION CONTINGENT UPON SECURING FINANCING AND CONTRACT FOR INITIAL PROJECT IN FALL 2009 COMPENSATION: FSLA DESIGNATION: Exempt DUTIES:
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supervises 2-4 Crew Leaders and office staff QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Arithmetic and geometry skills required. SMALL BUSINESS FINANCE & ACCOUNTING BACKGROUND: Experience working with small business financial management and accounting software preferred. REASONING ABILITY: Basic reasoning ability required. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employee must be able to move easily from the basement to the roof of a building carrying 50 pounds walking up stairs and on uneven ground. Employee must be able to use a hammer, screw driver, tape measure, exacto knife, circular saw and other hand and power tools safely. WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employee must be able to work in dusty environments, in rooms with mild mold, mildew, smells or other inhalants. VALUES: A successful candidate must be interested in community development and social impact work or the “triple bottom line.” HIRING PROCESS: Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. Interviews will be scheduled as early as the end of July 2009. A candidate will be hired when one is identified with appropriate qualifications, so it is in the applicants’ interest to apply as early as possible. Interviewed candidates must possess all of the ‘required’ skills. An ideal candidate will have both all of the ‘required’ skills/experience and many of the ‘preferred’ attributes. Due to the large volume of applications, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted regarding their application status. To apply, please send resume and cover letter to: NREECEOjob@nuestras -raices.org. Nuestras Raíces is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. Underrepresented U.S. minority (African American and Hispanic) candidates and women are encouraged to apply. |
The 2009 Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program Grant Round is now OPEN!
Please visit the Recreational Trails Program website for updated grant guidelines, application materials, and paperwork guidelines: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/greenway/regionalGrants.htm Also, the most recent rounds of RTP Grant Awards are now posted on the website. Please take a look at the 28 projects which have been funded this year as well as past grant round awards. Contact Amanda Lewis, Recreational Trails Program Coordinator with any questions at amanda.lewis@state.ma.us or 413-586-8706 ext. 19. Amanda Lewis |
DEP Proposes Air Quality Standards Change Brief Explanation and Rationale for Proposed Changes: These amendments will be applicable to all Air Pollution Control Districts. MassDEP is proposing to amend the state ambient air quality standards in 310 CMR 6.00 to bring them into conformance with the currents National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for lead, ozone and fine particles (PM2.5). EPA revised the NAAQS for particulate matter to add a standard for fine particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5). It replaced the 1-hour ozone standard with an 8-hour standard and strengthened the lead standard. These amendments will codify in Massachusetts regulations the latest EPA revisions to the NAAQS. Massachusetts is already required to meet the federal standards pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act. MassDEP also proposes to make amendments to definitions related to particulate matter in 310 CMR 7.00. Web Link to View Draft Regulations: http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/regulations/newregs.htm#aaqs Testimony may be presented orally or in writing at the public hearing. Written comments also will be accepted until 5:00 PM on August 18, 2009. Written testimony must be submitted by either email (Aimee.Powelka@state.ma.us) or by regular mail to: In addition to the web link above, copies of the draft regulations may be obtained by calling Aimee Powelka at 617-574-6883. |
New England Grassroots Environment Fund Small Grants Program Upcoming Grant The New England Grassroots Environment Fund (NEGEF) is a small grants program designed to foster local grassroots environmental initiatives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, in the places where we live, work and play. NEGEF provides small grants of up to $2,500 to fuel local activism that results in broader community involvement in projects that address a wide range of environmental issues and opportunities. The mission of NEGEF is to energize and nurture long-term civic engagement in local initiatives that create and maintain healthy, just, safe and environmentally sustainable communities. Applications are accepted anytime, with the following deadlines for each grant round: January 15, May 1 and September 15. Local groups may be tackling an environmental health problem related to poor air quality, water pollution, or climate change initiatives and energy efficiency, working to protect greenspace, starting a local community garden or may be urging citizen participation in wildlife habitat protection. For more information and copies of our brochure contact NEGEF at PO Box 1057, Montpelier, VT 05601, email info@grassrootsfund.org or visit the website at www.grassrootsfund.org. |
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Great Barrington, MA (Berkshires, Tri-state area) |
Asian Longhorned Beetle Training The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Outreach & Survey Project is looking for volunteers to receive training about the ALB and other forest pests. This "Train the Trainer" workshop will give you information and tools you need to teach others about the Asian Longhorned Beetle and protect your neighborhood from this invasive pest. Organized by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, these workshops are geared towards landscape and nursery professionals, conservation and environmental group leaders, master gardeners, and anyone else who is willing to commit to passing on this valuable information to their communities. Come to one of these train-the-trainer sessions and leave with:
The trainings will be led by entomologist Jennifer Forman Orth, PhD, and yes, there will be free food. We hope you can attend one of these trainings—and bring a friend with you! Springfield, MA: Emma’s Place, 1464 Parker St. Springfield , MA Boston, MA: UMass Boston, McCormack Building , 1st floor, room 318 [parking and T accessible!] To Register email jennifer.forman-orth@state.ma.us or call 617-626-1735. |
Milford Daily News On Wednesday, the patient was brought to the New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth bloody, dazed and cracked. The eastern painted turtle, a common Massachusetts species found in or near ponds and lakes, met with a truck or car on Rte. 44 in Plymouth earlier that afternoon and a passerby scooped him up to see what could be done. Untold numbers of turtles - some on protected species lists - are killed on Massachusetts roadways each year while looking for a place to lay their eggs, searching for food or simply getting from one place to another. A collaborative project between the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife's Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program and MassHighway might put an end to some of the road kill. This spring, the state began collecting information from area wildlife scientists, advocates and motorists about areas where they see high rates of turtles killed by vehicles. When possible, the species of turtle killed is logged to see if it is endangered or protected. "We know already that there are a number of very low cost design implementations that make roads safer for wildlife," said Mike Jones, endangered species review biologist at the NHESP. "We are interested in having available as a resource where these problem crossing sites occur." "These are pretty small fixes that can really provide a great benefit to the traveling public and wildlife," said Kevin Walsh, director of environmental services for MassHighway. Walsh said Jones' position at the NHESP is paid by MassHighway's budget through an interagency agreement. The stimulus money caused a significant increase in the number of transportation projects, which all need environmental review. Jones, who works out of the MassWildlife field office in Westborough, operates independently of MassHighway but his position "helps us have them focus on our projects and identify areas where we can improve the environment while we are out there," Walsh said. Ron McAdow, executive director of Sudbury Valley Trustees, praised the collaboration between the two state agencies. "I applaud this very much," McAdow said. "With turtles, it's extremely important (to protect them) because they have a very slow reproductive strategy. They lay a small number of eggs and many of those eggs can be eaten by predators. The accidental death of an adult turtle really makes a big difference in the population." According to Jones, protected species such as wood, box and Blanding's turtles are of particular concern as well as common species such as painted and snapping turtles, which are probably declining in population. There are two ways turtles get into trouble on roads, Jones said. Some turtles are actually looking for nesting areas on the shoulder or median. Others are crossing the road to get to nesting areas or back to water. In areas where turtles wander on the shoulder looking for nesting sites, a simple low barrier would keep them safer. In areas where turtles are crossing roads from waterways, a culvert or tunnel under the road might be what's needed, Jones said. Locally, roads around the Concord, Sudbury, Assabet and Nashua rivers are being targeted, though site-specific data is not complete. This is not the first time the state has helped turtles near roads. Two years ago, MassHighway improved fencing along Rte. 2 in Lancaster because Blanding's turtles - a threatened species in Massachusetts - were crawling under a fence and not making it across the busy highway. There are also wildlife tunnels under Rte. 2 in Concord. According to Dr. Greg Mertz, CEO of the New England Wildlife Center, turtles most often get hit by cars in May (when females are searching for nesting sites) and late September (when hatchlings head to water), but road kills can happen at any time. Those that can be saved are eventually returned close to where they were found, said herpetologist Joe Martinez, director of education at the Wildlife Center. "But if the (pond or lake) is surrounded by roads and heavy traffic, we might look for a better location," he said. Wednesday's patient came in with a visible crack down the middle of its shell. It appeared slightly impaired neurologically and had blood stains on its underside, Mertz said, but it might be saved. The woman who found it, Morgan Guiliano of Manomet, said she's a big fan of turtles and this was not her first road rescue. According to staff veterinarian Dr. Maureen Murray at the wildlife clinic at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton, about 80 turtles are brought in each year. A vast majority of those were injured on the road and only half survive. With each adult turtle killed, the effect on local populations can be devastating, Murray said, because it takes 15-20 years to reach adulthood. "Road mortalities are really a huge threat to turtle populations," she said. "Collecting data on road crossings is really important for these turtle species. I think it's a great idea." |
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