In the News
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
Report Illegal Off-Road Vehicle Use 1-800-632-8075 Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) is very concerned about the extensive damage to trails at Pittsfield State Forest caused by off-road vehicles. Because of extensive trail damage, the Department of Conservation and Recreation has limited All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and Off Highway Motorcycle (OHM) trail system use at Pittsfield State Forest for the 2010 season. Approximately 14 miles of trails are open for ATV and OHM use, but a permit is required and riders must stay on designated trails. To report illegal trail use please call 1-800-632-8075. DCR will be initiating a public involvement planning and design process for Pittsfield State Forest. For further information about the planning process at Pittsfield State Forest, please contact Gary Briere, DCR’s Recreation Bureau Chief, at gary.briere@state.ma.us. |
First BioBlitz in Berkshire County to be held over the first weekend in June. Pittsfield, Mass.: Celebrating the United Nation’s “Year of Biodiversity,” the Berkshire Museum is holding Berkshire County’s first BioBlitz in Pittsfield State Forest from noon on Friday, June 4 to noon on Saturday, June 5. It is co-sponsored by MCLA STEM Pipeline, Berkshire Environmental Action Team, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The weekend event will allow scientists and local residents to document the extensive variety of life in their immediate area and see first-hand the diversity and importance of the clean and active ecosystems in their own backyard. The BioBlitz is an opportunity for biologists, naturalists, and environmentalists to gather in a given area and in a 24-hour period complete a formal survey of all living species. Specialists such as BCC Professor Tom Tyning (reptiles and amphibians), Har vard botanist Walter Kittredge (flowering plants), Berkshire Wild Mushrooms’ John Wheeler (fungi) and Sage College Professor Emeritus Nancy Slack (mosses) will be on-hand to explore, identify and educate. The public is welcome to attend to watch the scientists work, and even participate in sorting specimens. The biological survey is the “core” of the Berkshire BioBlitz, and anchors a number of interactive, nature-oriented programs which have been scheduled around it. For example, on Friday night, a lively “BioBlitz Drum and Campfire Jam” will take place, followed by a “Moth-Light” demonstration and an “Owl Prowl” hike. A bird walk and a “fitness hike” will be held the following morning, as well as a presentation on Asian Longhorned Beetles—an invasive insect species recently discovered in Worcester, MA. The first 24-hour biological survey took place in 1998 in Walden Woods, Concord, MA. Through the success of that event many states and countries have joined the movement and held similar surveys. “It’s a great opportunity for people from all walks of life to come together and learn about their own backyard,” said Berkshire Museum Natural Science Coordinator, Scott LaGreca. “It’s a powerful tool we can use to get people away from their television sets and computer monitors, and spend time outside—providing an antidote to what some educators have dubbed ‘nature-deficit disorder’.” Further, LaGreca added, “It provides valuable information about Pittsfield State Forest’s flora and fauna that can be used by Pittsfield State Forest staff to better manage the Forest’s resources.” The Pittsfield State Forest is located just five miles from downtown Pittsfield. From Park Square, go west on West Street for 2.7 miles. Turn right on Churchill Street and continue for .7 miles. Turn left onto Cascade Street and continue for .3 miles. The entrance to the forest in just over a mile on your left-hand side. All events are free and held at the Pittsfield State Forest. Friday evening programs and Saturday morning naturalist hikes are weather-permitting. For a full schedule, pick up a BioBlitz Activities Guide from the Berkshire Museum, or visit berkshiremuseum.org. |
What Bears do in the Woods Join us for a fascinating look at one kind of animal sign – it starts with “S” and ends with “T” – Scat! From looking at scat, we can tell a lot about what animal left it behind, and often we can learn what that animal was eating. Lynn Levine, co-author of Mammal Tracks and Scat: Life-Size Tracking Guide recently dubbed “The Scat Lady” by a group of fourth graders, will be doing a hands-on programs using scat as a tool to engage children and adults alike in the natural world. Using her carefully preserved scat collection of 27 species from mouse to mountain lion participants use their powers of observation to learn about identifying animals from their scat. Scat is a great jumping off point to study the forest ecosystems in the Northeast. A librarian from the Rockingham Library in Vermont said “Lynn is a fabulous presenter, so engaging and relaxed and provides so much information!” Come learn about scat with the Scat Lady, Lynn Levine, at Berkshire Community College, Room G-10 on Friday, June 18th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. This program is presented by Berkshire Wildlife Trackers, Berkshire Environmental Action Team, and Berkshire Natural Resources Council. Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) is partnering with Berkshire Natural Resources Council to continue to host Berkshire Wildlife Trackers whose volunteer wildlife monitors are trained by Susan Morse, founder and director of Keeping Track® in Jericho, Vermont. We are currently looking for volunteers who may be interested in taking the intensive Keeping Track® training of 6 very full days scattered from October 2010 to April 2011. For more information please visit BEAT’s website – www.thebeatnews.org |
Pittsfield Bike to Work Week 2010 |
Volunteers Needed for the Green Mile Race Hi Everyone- The Green Mile Road Race will be held on June 17th at Third Thursday. The race will begin at 6:00pm and start at Berkshire Bank on North Street , turn around at Maplewood Ave and end back at Berkshire bank. We are in need of volunteers to help make this race successful! Please RSVP by June 11th if you are able to volunteer. Here is what is open:
Thank you all! Ashley James |
Audubon Nature Camp Unveils Restructured Program Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary has announced its 2010 camp season, and it has a new look this year. The camp is the area’s only day camp program focused entirely on interaction with nature. Launched in 1947, nature camp has introduced several generations of children to the wonders of the natural world in a safe, friendly, and non-competitive setting. The 1,300-acre Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox is home to the unique co-ed and ACA accredited camp for children ages 5 to 13. “We decided that the camp program needed to be more flexible and accessible to families” said sanctuary director René Laubach. “So instead of requiring one or two week sessions depending upon the camper’s age, we are now offering only one week sessions--each with a different theme--and allowing campers to sign up for as many sessions as they wish, regardless of age.” The new approach also includes five year olds for the first time. Some sessions for campers nine and older feature an overnight campout as part of the camp week for an additional fee. “In the past, all campers of a certain age participated in the overnight, and so we decided to give people more options”, continued Laubach. “Today’s youth are largely disconnected from nature and we aim to reintroduce today’s kids to the wonders of nature through the camp experience, and that is good both for kids and our environment”, said Laubach. Registration is currently underway and a camp brochure can be obtained by phoning the sanctuary at 413-637-0320, or by email: Berkshires@massaudubon.org. The brochure is also posted on-line at the Mass Audubon website: http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Pleasant_Valley/camp.php. Limited financial aid is available and applications for aid must be received by May 14. Please call Pleasant Valley for more information about camp. Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary |
Westside Farm Project update & open hours Dear Westside Farmers, OPEN GARDEN HOURS: Curbside parking on Robbins Ave., Daniels St. and Francis St. 148 Robbins Avenue, open May 1 - October: 109 Linden Street, open June 1 - October: GARDEN RESPECT -
Lastly, I am still looking for a few more educators / entertainers to conduct a workshop for the Westside Neighborhood's 'Green Streaks' free summer program for kids. This is going to be a stellar program, and I encourage anyone who is interested to contact me for more details. |
Public Relations Internship with the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA/Mass) Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. This internship is unpaid.
Application instructions: TO APPLY: Email letter of interest, résumé, and three references to Mindy Harris, NOFA/Mass Public Relations Coordinator at mindy@nofamass.org or call 310-633-0054 (cell) – home office in Waltham. Mindy Harris
Please join us at this year's 2010 NOFA Summer Conference. August 13-15, 2010 at UMass Amherst! |
Toxics Use Reduction amendment adopted in Senate Budget We have a victory to celebrate! Thanks to everyone who called their Senators this week in support of the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) Program. Your efforts paid off and the Massachusetts State Senate voted yesterday to approve a proposed amendment that will include funding for the line item in the State Budget. Thanks especially to Senator Jaime Eldridge (D-Acton) who sponsored the amendment and led the effort in the Senate to restore funding for this important program. We don't have a complete list of who co-sponsored the amendment yet, but it will be updated on the AHT website when we do. The funding is now included in all 3 draft budgets released by Governor Deval Patrick, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. While the final budget is not finalized, this line item should be safe and sound. Vist our website for more details on the TURA program. Thanks again to all who helped! |
Is your sunscreen actually protecting your family like it promises? Of the 500 beach and sports sunscreens that EWG analyzed for our 2010 Sunscreen Guide, we can only recommend 8 percent. Between the false sense of security from sunscreens with an SPF of 50 or higher, and new data linking vitamin A to accelerated development of skin tumors and lesions, most products don't live up to their hype. In fact, EWG found wearing a hat and shirt in the sun is your best bet. Click here to view EWG's 2010 Sunscreen Guide. You'll find:
How does your sunscreen rank? Only 39 sunscreens -- one out of every 12 we reviewed -- earn our top rating for safety and effectiveness. Find out which are in our top sunscreens list. (Hint: Leading brands like Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutrogena didn't make the cut.) We hope our research helps your family enjoy the summer sun safely this year. Sincerely, |
Still time to register for WRLF summer nature programs for children Environmental educator and Science Enrichment Specialist Kathy Chesney returns to Sheep Hill in Williamstown this summer for three weeks of summer nature programs for young children. Sheep Hill is a conservation property and the headquarters of the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation. In addition to extensive teaching experience, Kathy has a variety of experience in running summer nature programs, including Camp Rootabaga , an ecology day camp at Caretaker Farm, The Science and Art Program at Pine Cobble School , and the Williamstown Nature Program at Margaret Lindley Park . Currently, Kathy has been designing and teaching preschool programs in science and math for the Williamstown Preschools, and teaching science at the Hiland Hall School in Bennington . The programs will run during the last week of June and the first two weeks of July. Executive Director Leslie Reed-Evans states “Kathy brings to Sheep Hill the enthusiasm and experience needed to connect children to the wonders of, and inspire their curiosity about, the natural world. We are very excited to welcome Kathy back to Sheep Hill.” The week-long programs will introduce children to Sheep Hill’s pond and meadow and their winged and four-footed inhabitants. Nature drawing, nature crafts, and cooking will also be a part of the program. This child-friendly conservation property offers room to roam, and indoor facilities for getting out of the weather. The sessions will run daily from 9AM to 1 PM. The week of July 6th is for 4 and 5 year olds; the weeks beginning June 28th and July 12th are for 5 and 6 year olds. We are willing to consider accommodating children who don't fall exactly into these age ranges, so please contact us if you have a question about your child. The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation is a non-profit, member-supported land conservation trust committed to preserving the rural New England character of Williamstown and the surrounding area. Sheep Hill is a conservation property and the WRLF headquarters, and is located on Route 7, about 1 mile south of the rotary in Williamstown center. For more information or for registration forms contact the WRLF at ruraland@wrlf.org, or 413-458-2494. Leslie Reed-Evans lre@wrlf.org www.wrlf.org |
What's that smell? Fragrances are designed to make you smell good, but is that all they are doing? In a recently released study of 17 name-brand fragrances co-authored by EWG and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, we found that they contain secret ingredients, chemicals not listed on the label, with troubling hazardous properties. We found 38 unlisted chemicals in our testing. The average fragrance tested contained 14 secret chemicals. Among them are chemicals associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the industry's own safety panel. In 1973 Congress passed the federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. The law, which requires companies to list cosmetics ingredients on the product labels, specifically exempts fragrances. Since then, the vague word "fragrance" is all you'll find on the label. If there's anything to be grateful for in this, "fragrance" is a recognizable word that is easily avoided by label readers. The FDA has not assessed the vast majority of these secret fragrance chemicals for safety when used in spray-on personal care products such as fragrances. Most have not even been evaluated by the safety review panel of the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) or any other publicly accountable institution. Of the chemicals that have been tested, there isn't a lot of good news. The vague term "fragrance" covers chemicals that can be linked to reproductive damage, hormone disruption, and can trigger allergic reactions. Click here to found out about the health effects of chemicals in fragrances. Fragrances may be designed to make you smell better and feel good about yourself, but here at EWG we don't know how you can feel good when you don't know what you are putting on your body. We hope this new report will help you make better-informed choices about your fragrances. Sincerely, |
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