Calendar of Events
Berkshire events - locations in red
Connecticut River Valley events - locations in green
BEAT sponsered/co-sponsered events - in navy
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Canoe Trip on the Housatonic River Watch for frogs, fish, herons, muskrats, and signs of beavers along the meandering Housatonic River. This leisurely paddle will take us through the George Darey Wildlife Management Area, a part of the Upper Housatonic Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Join us to learn about the natural history of the waterway that is the heart of the Berkshires. Directions to meeting place provided upon registration. Children must be at least 10 years old, accompanied by an adult, and know how to swim. Call for information. Open to families with children ages 10 and up. Please call to register: |
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Canoe Trip to Upper and Lower Goose Ponds Explore the coves and marshes of one of the Berkshires' most beautiful lakes. Paddle across Lower Goose Pond to pristine Upper Goose Pond in search of ravens, hawks, herons, and a variety of songbirds. Eat a snack onshore and search for interesting plant and animal life along the Appalachian Trail. Instructions and Directions: Directions to the meeting place will be provided upon registration. Due to possible windy conditions, previous canoe experience is required. Bring food, drink, insect repellent, and sunscreen. Please call: |
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WRLF to hold September square dance fundraiser The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation’s biggest fundraising event of the year will be held on Friday September 10th beginning at 6 PM. The Harvest Hoedown will feature a barbecue, square dancing and a silent auction, and will be held at 91 Northwest Hill Road in Williamstown. Cliff and Senta Brodeur and the Square One Band with guest Bobby Sweet will play and call the dance; Cliff has been the Club Caller for the Pittsfield Squares for over twenty five years, and a caller for more than 40 years, first as a successful solo caller, and more recently with Square One, a quintet of virtuoso instrumentalists with an impressive track record of studio recording and concert performances. Members of Square One have toured internationally, and appeared with artists such as Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt and John Denver. Senta, his wife for 40 years shares his enthusiasm and backs him up in every way possible leading and organizing the squares and dance formations at the dances. “The Harvest Hoedown will be a chance for people to get out on the dance floor and have fun” says Leslie Reed-Evans, WRLF Executive Director. “Eating delicious seasonal foods and dancing with friends and neighbors is the perfect way of celebrating the harvest season. In addition to having fun, guests will be helping to support the WRLF and its land protection efforts.” Barbecue will be provided by Williamstown’s Bee Hill Culinary Services’ Stephanie Santore. The silent auction features something for everyone, from local foods baskets and hand crafts to weekend getaways, gourmet dinners, and wine tastings. Harvest Hoedown is open to the public. Ticket prices are $65 each, $55 for WRLF members. Ticket price includes dinner, drinks and dancing. Babysitting will also be available at Sheep Hill through the Williamstown Community Preschool. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 458-2494 or email ruraland@wrlf.org. The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation is a non-profit member-supported land conservation trust dedicated to preserving the New England character of Williamstown and surrounding areas. WRLF properties, such as Sheep Hill, Pine Cobble and Fitch Woodlands are open to the public for hiking, nature study and enjoyment of nature. Website: www.wrlf.org. Leslie Reed-Evans lre@wrlf.org www.wrlf.org |
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Wildlife Tracker Training at Dyken Pond Center Grafton – The Tamakoce Wilderness Programs and the Friends of the Dyken Pond Center announce the first of two Wildlife Tracker Training Workshops to be held at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center. Tracker Training I will be held the weekend of August 13 through 15. Tracker Training II, a continuation of Tracker I will be held September 10 -12. Both weekends will include camping for two nights at the Center. Dan Yacobellis, instructor for the Workshops and founder of the Tamakoce Wilderness Programs states, “To be a tracker is to be a survivor. The two field intensive Tracker Training weekends will give you the skills to photograph wildlife, conduct field research, hunt, search and rescue and survive catastrophe.” Fee for each weekend is $175 per person. Tracker Training I can be taken singly but is a pre-requisite for Tracker Training II. Pre-registration is required and can be done by contacting the Center at 518 658-2055 or dykenpond@fairpoint.net. Dan Yacobellis, instructor for the series is a local tracker, naturalist and director of the Tamakoce Wilderness Programs. He has lived with the Native American Lakota people in South Dakota, where he learned native traditional skills such as brain tanning hides, hunting practices, bead and porcupine quillwork and tool and weapon construction. For the past 17 years, Mr. Yacobellis has been studying the ancient art of animal tracking both in formal educational settings and on his own in the forests of Grafton, New York. |
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Berkshire Residents Free Admission Day Berkshire County residents and people who work in Berkshire County are invited to visit Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox free of charge on Saturday, September 12. The sanctuary grounds are open dawn to dusk, and the office and gift shop will be open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The sanctuary offers a well-maintained and clearly marked seven-mile trail system that takes visitors around beaver ponds, through hardwood forest, and to the summit of Lenox Mountain. Pleasant Valley also offers an All Persons Trail that makes the sanctuary accessible to everyone. Special introductory half-price memberships will be available, and our gift shop (where members receive a 10 percent discount) will be open as well. Registration not required. Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary |
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Massachusetts Raw Milk Dairy Days, September 11-12 Ten dairies in Massachusetts will hold open houses on September 11-12 to showcase the farms that provide safe, healthy raw milk to thousands of customers. Visitors to the farms will be treated to tours, milking demonstrations, and lessons on proper management of healthy dairy animals. See a full list of farms, including details and directions, at http://www.nofamass.org/programs/organicdairy/pdfs/2010rawmilkidairydays.pdf, or email winton@nofamass.org. Participating farms include:
Winton Pitcoff, Coordinator |
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Northeastern Transportation and Wildlife Conference Conference details: The conference is hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation-Highway Division, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Federal Highway Administration, VHB/Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., Kleinfelder/SEA, STV Incorporated, The Nature Conservancy, and Normandeau Associates, Inc. The conference track sessions include: Planning for Wildlife, Wildlife Collisions, Road Ecology & Passage, Mapping and Modeling, and Wildlife Mitigation on Roads, Rails and Airports. Participants are encouraged to register before August 27 for the best rate. For more information and to register visit: BEAT Note: Jane served on the steering committee for this conference and BEAT will have a poster at the conference. BEAT has had a presence at everyone of these since they began in 2004. |
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Hinsdale – Come celebrate the opening of the Old Mill Trail with the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) on Wednesday, September 15 at 5:00pm at the trailhead on Old Dalton Road off Route 8 in Hinsdale. This ongoing HVA project was finally realized when funding was obtained from the Natural Resource Damages Trustees. The unique blend of history and nature make a walk on the Old Mill Trail a memorable adventure, inspiring appreciation and understanding of the river’s importance to the character, health, history, and economy of these riverside towns. An easy walk for all to enjoy, the trail is just 1.5 miles long and is wheelchair accessible the first half of its length. HVA thanks Crane & Company and Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife many additional local funders, and the scores of trail building volunteers for their ongoing support of the trail. For more information about the trail and the celebration, call the South Lee HVA at 413-394-9796. Visitors will find the trailhead on Old Dalton Road in Hinsdale, just off of Rte 8. Look for the new Old Mill Trail sign. Heading north towards Dalton, the trail follows the river closely and crisscrossing the river over newly constructed footbridges. Near the beginning of the trail, a short spur trail along a breached dam leads visitors to remnants of the Plunkett Mill ruins including, stone foundations and remnants of a penstock, which diverted water from a dam downstream to the mill. Enjoy picturesque stretches of the trail including a portion that follows the edge of the river where a professional trail crew placed rocks to create a solid stone walkway. The trail ends and turns around at the remains of a penstock of the Kittredge & Sons Mill. HVA protects and restores the land and waters of the Housatonic watershed from its source in the Pittsfield, Massachusetts area to Long Island Sound. HVA’s offices are in Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut; South Lee, Massachusetts and Wassaic, New York. Visit HVA’s website at www.hvatoday.org. |
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Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program Grant Workshop The Department of Conservation and Recreation will be holding a workshop to discuss the Recreational Trails Program and its upcoming grant round with applications due November 1, 2010. The dates, times and locations are as follows: Friday, September 17th 2-4pm Purgatory Chasm State Park (Sutton) The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funds to non-profit organizations, municipal, state, and federal land managers to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses. RTP grants are 80-20 challenge grants. In other words, 80% of the project costs are reimbursed to grantees, but at least 20% of the total project value must come from other sources (local match). There is a minimum award amount $2,000 and a maximum of $50,000. More money may be available for multi-town, regional projects. The Recreational Trails Program allocates 30% of its funds to motorized use, 30% to non-motorized use, and 40% to diverse use projects. The workshop will go over the program requirements for the RTP, discuss the scoring criteria, provide examples and presentations on successful grant projects and provide feedback and answer any questions that potential applicants may have about the program or about their specific projects and how they fall within the requirements of the program. Amanda Lewis The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)’s Recreational Trails Grants Program recently announced its next grant round. The Program provides grants ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 on a reimbursement basis for a variety of trail protection, construction, and stewardship projects throughout the Commonwealth (click here for info on projects funded during the last round). The application deadline is November 1, 2010. E-mail amanda.lewis@state.ma.us with your current contact information to make sure you receive the grant application details once they become available. |
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HCI's September Events for the Highlands Region Kick Starting Conservation Your Land, Your Legacy: An Introduction to Estate Planning Conservation Options for Preserving Your Land Join HCI, the Goshen Open Space Committee and the Hilltown Land Trust for the free workshop, Conservation Options for Preserving Your Land on Monday, September 20th from 7 to 9pm in the upstairs meeting room of the Goshen Town Hall, to learn about some of the flexible options that land conservation provides. At this workshop you will learn about the legal tools, tax benefits, and process of land conservation from attorney Richard Evans and land trust representatives. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion with other local landowners. Dessert refreshments will be served. This program is sponsored by the Highland Communities Initiative, the Goshen Open Space Committee, and the Hilltown Land Trust. It is free and open to all. Please RSVP at 268.8219 or by emailing mwamsley@ttor.org. * * * * 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 |
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September 21st, Producing and Applying Actively Aerated Compost Tea; |
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Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Moose, and More:Wildlife Slide Show photographer, naturalist, & See amazing photos of mammals in the wild St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 67 East St. (use entrance on Allen St.) Pittsfield, MA $5 Donation at the door appreciated Please sign up on-line so we know how many people to expect Have you ever seen an animal track while walking in the woods and wondered what animal made it? Wouldn’t it be nice to know, not only what animal made it, but where they might have been going and what they might have been looking for? If you’ve had these sorts of thoughts, wouldn’t it be even better if you knew the answers to these questions would help save the land that animal needs to survive? That is just what nationally recognized naturalist and habitat identification specialist, Susan Morse of Keeping Track® can teach you to do. Susan Morse returns with another incomparable Wildlife Slide Show with an emphasis on our cats – Bobcat and Mountain Lion – but including many of our other large mammals here in the northeast – Bear, Moose, Fisher, and many more. Join us September 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 67 East St (use the Allen St. entrance), Pittsfield, MA (see google map for parking and location). Susan Morse, a nationally recognized naturalist and habitat specialist, will dazzle you with a slide show of her spectacular wildlife photos and an interactive talk on the biology and ecology of these mammals. Morse uses humor and personal anecdotes to impress on wildlife enthusiasts of all sorts the importance of landscape-level planning to protect wildlife habitat and corridors. Sue’s research has focused on cougar, bobcat, black bear, and Canada lynx. (more information) The Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and Berkshire Natural Resources Council are hosting this event. A $5 donation at the door is requested. For more information visit BEAT’s Berkshire Wildlife Trackers section of our website, or contact BEAT at team@thebeatnews.org or 413-230-7321. |
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RENEWABLE ENERGY VERMONT CONFERENCE NEW ENGLAND ENVIRONMENTAL ED. CONFERENCE |
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C2C/The National Climate Seminar Amidst the wreckage of climate legislation in DC, one thing is clear. This is not the fight of a day, of a year or of a decade. Even had the Senate acted, changing the future would still have required a vibrant, engaged global citizenry, pushing every day of every year, for the next 40 years, to decarbonize the planet. American social movements—from abolition to civil rights—crest in legislation that changes the direction of the nation, and the world. We hoped this would be the year. We were wrong. So let’s get back to it. C2C is launching this fall, with a mini-conference at the Williams College Center for Environmental Studies on 9/24, from 3 pm-9 pm. Join us for a brainstorm on how we can: 1. Every year, engage educators at 1,000 colleges, universities and high schools, and Economist Juliet Schor, author of Plentitude, will keynote. To register for the conference, please contact jofrench@bard.edu. There is no charge to attend. Following the launch conference, on 9/29 at 3 PM Eastern, join us for a National C2C Webinar. We need your ideas on how we can build a permanent and growing national network, including tens of thousands of faculty, students and staff, in regular dialogue with key decision-makers on climate. This is the fight of our lives. Thanks for the work you are doing. Eban Goodstein ************** Books & Videos For the National Teach-In |
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Community Coalition Forum for Central and Southern Berkshire County
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Mossyback Men's Campout Does your responsibility-filled life need to be balanced with some fun, friendship, and quality connection with Nature? Are you nourished by carving wood, fire-roasted food, laughing with the guys, playing games of stealth and invisibility, and sleeping to the hush of wind in pines? Do precious moments of backyard "wilderness" solitude bring you peace through your awakened senses? Join us for 24 hours of self-restoration through the enjoyments of adventure and play, rest and comfort, brotherhood and wilderness. You'll return home with your own primitive fire-making kit and with your fire burning bright! |
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Project Bee Ross Conrad, renowned Vermont organic beekeeping writer and lecturer, will speak about the current challenges facing local beekeepers and organic ways to help the bees thrive. Honey-centered treats will follow. Tuesday September 28, 7:00 to 9:00pm Special thanks to the Meeting House and the Old Inn on the Green Ross Conrad learned his craft from world-renowned beekeeper and apitherapist, Charles Mraz, and Charlie's son Bill. Conrad is a former president of the Vermont Beekeepers Association, a regular contributor to Bee Culture - The Magazine of American Beekeeping, and author of Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches To Modern Apiculture. Ross has given bee related presentations and led organic beekeeping workshops and classes throughout North America for many years. His beekeeping business, Dancing Bee Gardens, supplies friends, neighbors, and local stores with honey and candles among other bee related products. Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and Organic Solutions: Project Bee aims to preserve honeybee arts and culture in New Malrborough, the Berkshires and Beyond. |
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The next Housatonic Citizens Coordinating Council (CCC) meeting will be held on September 29, 2010 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Berkshire Athenaeum (library), One Wendell Avenue Pittsfield, MA. |
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Turning Ideas into Action to Double the Pace of Conservation Working Woodlands: Getting the Value Proposition Right for Private Forest Landowners Speaker: Dylan H. Jenkins, CF, Director of Land Conservation, PA Chapter of TNC There will be time in the meeting for extensive updates on the following items and more:
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From University of the Wild (part of the Institute for Environmental Awareness) Winter Newsletter Contents: Andean Pilgrimage, October 1-9 |
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12th Annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival Event Name: 12th Annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival Mark your calendars for the 12th Annual, always scent-sational ‘Festival that Stinks,’ October 2 and 3. Enjoy and support the bounty of over 100 amazing, visionary artists, farmers and organizations; strengthen communities by purchasing locally grown and crafted. Gain vision and skills for local living: learn to grow garlic, press cider, mill lumber, make paper, coil clay, grind grain, do tai chi, go solar. Nourish yourself through chef demos, incredible food courts and the wondrous wood fired bread oven. Transform trash into compost (only three bags of garbage for 10,000 people); Orange IS the New Green! Celebrate with friends old and new: enjoy rockin’ music and amazing entertainment on two solar powered stages, inspiring workshops, fabulous free kids art and activities, and garlic games galore. Admission is still only $5.00 per day for adults, weekend pass $8.00, kids 12 and under free. Wow! The Bridge is Out but the Festival is ON!! A fully volunteer committee of friends and neighbors, and Seeds of Solidarity Education Center, a non-profit organization, organize the North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival. Supporters include the Forster/Stewart Family, local businesses, and over 200 community volunteers the festival weekend! Festival proceeds keep the event sustainable and affordable, and support the festival’s new community grant program for regional arts, agriculture, health and energy projects. |
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Master Gardeners 2010 Educational Series The Western Mass Master Gardeners will kick off their 2010 educational series with a class on Planting and Caring for Hydrangea on Saturday, May 22, at 10:00am. The class will be held (rain or shine) in the demonstration gardens behind Springside House at Springside Park. Admission is free. |
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Bascom Lodge Schedule 2010: (top of Mt. Greylock, Adams, MA)
Every Friday through October free guided hikes will be offered on Mount Greylock to be followed by breakfast (optional) at historic Bascom Lodge. Breakfast at 9AM (fee for breakfast).
Sunday and Monday events have been added to the schedule!
Wednesday, September 8: "Movie Night" Wednesday, September 15: "The Lichen and Mosses of Berkshire County" Saturday, September 18: Painting the Landscape on the Summit of Mt. Greylock-10am-4pm
Wednesday, September 22: TBA |
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Visitors will meet at the Sidehill milk fridge, take a quick walk through the fall vegetable fields, then tour the milking facilities, visit this year's calves, walk out to pasture to talk about rotational grazing, and meet the milking herd! Samples of raw milk and yogurt to follow. Wear shoes appropriate for walking and possibly encountering cow poop. Kids welcome! 
Start your day with a hike on Mount Greylock! Every Friday, began July 9th!
Just Added! Sundays & Mondays @ Bascom Lodge.
Please join us for the 16th Annual benefit party for Clean Water Action.
Get Your Tickets |
Connect |
Interested in attending the fundraiser or just making a donation? You can do that on our event page. |
Become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our YouTube channel or Shop for a Cause. |
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Contact Us |
Boston office |
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Global Work Party 10/10/10
From 350.org
Dear World,
It's been a tough year: in North America, oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico; in Asia some of the highest temperatures ever recorded; in the Arctic, the fastest melting of sea ice ever seen; in Latin America, record rainfalls washing away whole mountainsides.
So we're having a party.
Circle 10/10/10 on your calendar. That's the date. The place is wherever you live. And the point is to do something that will help deal with global warming in your city or community.
We're calling it a Global Work Party, with emphasis on both 'work' and 'party'. In Auckland, New Zealand, they're having a giant bike fix-up day, to get every bicycle in the city back on the road. In the Maldives, they're putting up solar panels on the President's office. In Kampala, Uganda, they're going to plant thousands of trees, and in Bolivia they're installing solar stoves for a massive carbon neutral picnic.
Since we've already worked hard to call, email, petition, and protest to get politicians to move, and they haven't moved fast enough, now it's time to show that we really do have the tools we need to get serious about the climate crisis.
On 10/10/10 we'll show that we the people can do this--but we need bold energy policies from our political leaders to do it on a scale that truly matters. The goal of the day is not to solve the climate crisis one project at a time, but to send a pointed political message: if we can get to work, you can get to work too--on the legislation and the treaties that will make all our work easier in the long run.
You can sign up to host a local event at www.350.org/oct10
Or search for an event to join at www.350.org/map
And don't worry about being alone at this party: there are already 1077 groups in 109 countries around the world scheduled to do something great that day. We'll knit all these groups together with a powerful mosaic of photos, videos, and stories from around the world. You wouldn't want to miss it.
It's been a tough year--but it can be a beautiful day on the 10th Of October if we work together, and party together. And if we do it right, then we'll take a big step towards the kind of political solutions we desperately need.
Onwards!
Bill McKibben and the 350.org team
P.S. If you feel a little shy, or wonder if you can really make a party work, check out these pictures from last year's Global Day of Action. There were 5200 demonstrations in 181 countries, which means an awful lot of folks like you figured out how to get it done!
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MAC will host an education exhibit and activites for children and accompanying adults at The Spencer Fair on Saturday, September 4. The focus will be on Honeybees and Pollination. MAC will also host an educational exhibit and activities at the Big E in Springfield on two days. Massachusetts Day, Thursday, September 23 and Specialty Foods Day, Friday, October 1. We are looking for volunteers to help us with both events. Training will be provided.
Our Fall Conference for Educators focusing on Composting, Soils, School Gardening, Healthy Local Foods and Natural resources will be held in Brookline on Saturday, November 6. Mark the date.
Debi Hogan
Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom
P.O. Box 345
Seekonk, MA 02771
508-336-4426
debi.hogan@earthlink.net
www.aginclassroom.org
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Forest & Stream Cleanup - 10/16
This time we will be cleaning in and around Pittsfield State Forest along Potter Mountain Road. Exact location to meet is still being decided.
Wear old clothes and expect to get dirty and wet. We will provide gloves and trash bags.
This cleanup is organized by the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, BEAT, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, and Jiminy Peak. This will be the 5th cleanup BEAT has helped with this year.
Thank you to all the many volunteers! You are awesome!
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Tickets Now on Sale!
A Celebration of Land Conservation for the 20th Anniversary of the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
Join Your Friends & Colleagues for a Night of Fun & Celebration!
Friday, October 22, 2010
6:00 p.m. VIP Reception - 7:00 p.m. Celebration
Riverview Banquet Facility at the Hudson Portuguese Club
14 Port Street, Hudson, Massachusetts
Honoring these Champions of Conservation:
Jack Clarke, Buzz Constable, Don Henley, Joel Lerner, Bob Levite,
Bob O'Connor, Pamela Resor, Wes Ward, Fred Winthrop & George Wislocki
(Click here for pix & bios of our Honorees!)
Special Guest Speaker - Nationally Renowned Conservation Attorney
Steve Small
Guest Tickets $40 each - VIP Tickets $100 each*
(Buy Tickets Here - http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/122741)
Patrons $500 for Two - Sponsors $250 for Two**
Help Support the Coalition by becoming a Patron or Sponsor of this Celebration!
Sponsor and Patron tickets include a tax-deductible contribution to the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
Click here to learn more! - http://www.massland.org/files/MLTC_Ticket_Form.pdf
Visit MassLand.org for Details!
*Includes admission for One to VIP reception and dinner
**Includes recognition in the program book and admission for Two to the VIP Reception and dinner
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Searsburg Wind Facility Tours
Tuesday, September 21 and Tuesday, October 12
Tours are scheduled for late morning and early afternoon
Searsburg, Vermont
Eleven 550-kilowatt wind turbines make up the 6-megawatt power plant that provides enough emission-free electricity to supply 1,600 average Vermont households. These are the last two tour dates for 2010. Don't miss your chance to experience an operational wind power facility up close! Registration is required. Contact Cynthia Grippaldi at 413-445-4556 ext. 25 for more information or to register.
South Berkshire HHW paint and oil collection events
Saturday, September 11
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Lenox DPW
Saturday, September 25
9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Great Barrington Recycling Center
These collections, which are funded by the South Berkshire Household Hazardous Waste Collaborative, are for your unwanted oil based paint, stain, thinner, turpentine and used motor oil. Only residents of the following towns are eligible to participate: Alford, Becket, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlboro, Otis, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, and West Stockbridge. Registration is required. Contact Jamie Cahillane at 413-445-4556, ext. 30 or 14 to register and for information on what is accepted at these collections. (No latex paint!)
South Berkshire Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Saturday, October 2
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Great Barrington Recycling Center
This is the last big collection for 2010. Again, this collection is only for residents of towns belonging to the South Berkshire Household Hazardous Waste Collaborative. Televisions and computers are $15 and up. Propane tanks up to 20 lb. 3 free tanks per car and then $5 each. Businesses, schools and institutions are eligible to participate, for a fee. The list is long for the types of toxic goodies we'll accept at this collection, so don't miss your chance--register today and enjoy a less toxic home environment this winter! Contact Amanda Dubrowski at 413-445-4556, ext. 10 or 14 to register and for more information. No latex paint -- you can let your latex paint dry up and then you can toss it in the regular garbage.
BPI Certification Courses
CET is now offering BPI Building Analyst and Envelope Professional Certification classes. Classes run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and all of the instruction is a combination of classroom study and hands on experience in the field.
- Building Analyst
September 13 through 17 (5 days) - Envelope Professional
September 20 through 22 (3 days) - Combined Building Analyst & Envelope
October 18 through 27 (8 days)
The unprecedented funding for residential energy efficiency retrofit work and weatherization assistance programs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has created an urgent need for trained, qualified home performance specialists. That means BPI certified professionals are in huge demand right now. CET has the know how to get you certified. Learn more about the trainings as well as why to get certified and why; and meet our trainers. Call 413-586-7350 ext. 236 to register or to learn more and you can also send email to training@cetonline.org.
Massachusetts Energy Codes Trainings
For Building Code Officials, Builders, Architects, HVAC Professionals, Home Inspectors and any other professionals affected by code changes.
We're excited to announce that classes will be offered again this fall! Please check back for dates and locations. For more information send email to training@cetonline.org or call 800-369-3333 ext. 301.
Mark your calendar...
Green Buildings Open House Tour Events
Friday, October 1
Saturday, October 2
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Berkshire County
More details are coming soon! For more information on the 2010 Green Buildings Open House Tour contact Cynthia Grippaldi at 413-445-4556 ext. 25.
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The Sixth Annual Connecting for Change: A Bioneers by the Bay Conference presented by the Marion Institute, in the historic Downtown of New Bedford, MA, on October 21-24, 2010, is an internationally acclaimed annual gathering of environmental, industry and social justice innovators who have demonstrated visionary and practical models for restoring the Earth and its inhabitants.
Over 2,000 students, teachers, green business innovators, scientists, grassroots leaders and everyday folks from across the East Coast will gather to embrace, share, brainstorm, network, heal, learn, teach, celebrate, recharge and connect for change. We will roll up our sleeves and harvest tangible, practical solutions to the specific challenges we face here in the Northeast and the world at-large.
We have planned a rather remarkable three days of live keynote presentations, afternoon workshops, a inclusive family program, an extensive Youth Initiative program, a downlink of the 21st Annual Bioneers Conference in California, an exhibition hall featuring sustainable businesses and organizations, a community action center, films, music, art installations, a farmers’ market and local & organic food.
REGISTER NOW at:
http://www.marioninstitute.org/connecting-for-change/register
For more information, visit:
http://www.marioninstitute.org/connecting-for-change
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SAVE THE DATE for the Seventh Annual WRLF PIE CONTEST at SHEEP HILL
Calling all Pie Bakers! Do you have a famous family recipe for pie? On Saturday, October 23rd the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation (WRLF) will hold their Seventh Annual Pie Contest at Sheep Hill in Williamstown to celebrate the harvest season and the wide array of locally grown and produced ingredients. A panel of distinguished pie aficionados will judge pies in three categories: Adults Fruit/Produce or Nut/Cream, and a separate Youth category for our younger bakers (16 and under). Look for entry forms in early September at Sheep Hill, the Milne Public Library, and Wild Oats Market, and more details on the WRLF website at www.wrlf.org. The evening will also feature a cooking demo, craft projects for kids, and an easy Full Moon hike around the property if the weather is clear.
For more information, call WRLF at 458-2494, or email ruraland@wrlf.org.
Leslie Reed-Evans
Executive Director
Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation
Sheep Hill
671 Cold Spring Road
Williamstown, MA 01267
lre@wrlf.org www.wrlf.org
413-458-2494
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2010 Northeast Wildlife Trackers Conference - 10/30
The 2010 Northeast Wildlife Trackers Conference will take place on October 30th, once again at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster, MA. Visit our website for more details.
9:30 AM to 3:30 PM - 9:00 AM sign-in
$30 per person - registration required
Doyle Conservation Center, Leominster, MA
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Susan Morse from Keeping Track®
Plus presentations on a wide variety of wildlife topics:
- Find out how fellow trackers have been using wildlife tracking in their work
- Renew friendships and share your experiences
- See exhibits about other tracking-related resources
Please bring your own bag lunch. Coffee and bagels at sign-in. Drinks and snacks provided.
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It Takes A Region - 2010: A Conference to Build our Northeast Food System
http://www.ittakesaregion.org/
What:
The 18th conference and annual meeting of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG)
When:
November 12-13, 2010 with pre-conference trainings, November 11
Where:
Desmond Hotel and Conference Center, Albany, NY
Who:
Food system advocates, policymakers, planners, researchers, Extension and other educators, farm groups and support organizations, food supply chain businesses, consumer groups, youth, students and young food system professionals.
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The global financial system has failed us in its promise, resulting in an environment and society in crisis. A movement for a new economics, one that supports people and the planet, is emerging as an inevitable response.
The Thirtieth Annual E. F. Schumacher Lectures will introduce three leading voices for a New Economics:
Gus Speth, prominent environmentalist who has been at the forefront of rethinking the connection between health of the environment and the nature of our economic system;
Neva Goodwin, pioneer of contextual economics at the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University and an advocate for a new economics curriculum readying a younger generation to shape a sustainable future; and
Stewart Wallis, executive director of the influential New Economics Foundation of London that has led policy creation and public campaigns to successfully affect change in economic behavior.
November 20th, 10AM to 5PM, at Community Church of New York, 40 East 35th Street, New York City. Tickets are $65. Registration is through the New York Open Center: www.opencenter.org
Events of the past few years have helped create a broad shift in our thinking about economics. The Thirtieth Annual E. F. Schumacher Lectures are presented in recognition of this movement and in celebration of the many organizations and businesses working to develop the theory and practice of a new economics.
In "Memoirs of a Revolutionist," Peter Kropotkin characterizes the making of a successful revolution:
"Socialist papers have often a tendency to become mere annals of complaint about existing conditions. The oppression of the laborers in the mine, the factory, and the field is related; the misery and sufferings of the workers during strikes are told in vivid pictures; their helplessness in the struggle against employers is insisted upon: and this succession of hopeless efforts, related in the paper, exercises a most depressing influence upon the reader. To counterbalance that effect, the editor had to rely chiefly upon burning words by means of which he tries to inspire his readers with energy and faith. I thought, on the contrary, that a revolutionary paper must be, above all, a record of those symptoms which everywhere announce the coming of a new era, the germination of new forms of social life, the growing revolt against antiquated institutions. These symptoms should be
watched, brought together in their intimate connection, and so grouped as to show to the hesitating minds of the greater number the invisible and often unconscious support which advanced ideas find everywhere, when a revival of thought takes place in society. To make one feel sympathy with the throbbing of the human heart all over the world, with its revolt against age-long injustice, with its attempts at working out new forms of life, -- this should be the chief duty of a revolutionary paper. It is hope, not despair, which makes successful revolutions."
We take Kropotkin's admonitions to heart as the E. F. Schumacher Society completes its metamorphosis into the New Economics Institute. Our thanks to our members who share our vision of a just, sustainable, and regionally scaled economics and who are supporting us in this transition.
Tax-deductible donations can be made at:
http://neweconomicsinstitute.org/support_us
or send a check to the New Economics Institute, 140 Jug End Road, Great
Barrington, MA 01230.
Best wishes,
Susan Witt, Stefan Apse, Joshua Moses, and Kenneth Monroe,
Staff of New Economics Institute
neweconomicsinstitute.org
Board of Directors: Gar Alperovitz, Jessica Brackman, Eric Harris-Braun, John Fullerton, Neva Goodwin, Hildegarde Hannum, Dan Levinson, Richard Norgaard, David Orr, Constance Packard, Will Raap, Gus Speth, Peter Victor, and Stewart Wallis.
Advisory Board: Peter Barnes, Merrian Fuller, Bill McKibben, Otto Scharmer, Doug Tompkins, and Robert Wade.
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BARTHOLOMEW’S COBBLE UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Weatogue Road, Ashley Falls, Sheffield
A property of The Trustees of Reservations
http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/berkshires/bartholomews-cobble.html
Monday September 6, 9am-12noon
Labor Day Canoe Trip
Enjoy the Labor Day holiday with a guided leisurely paddle along the Housatonic River down to the Konkapot River and back. All equipment provided. Adults $30. Children $15. Members $24/$10. Please pre-register to 413.229.8600.
Saturday September 18, 5-7pm (rain date next day)
Sunset Serenade
Enjoy an evening of outdoor Bagpipe music with Don Worth and the best sunset view in the Berkshires. Bring a picnic, chair or blanket to throw in the truck and hike up the hill. Adults $10. Children FREE. Reduced price for members. Please pre-register to 413.229.8600.
Saturday & Sundays thru Oct 10 10am-4pm
Ashley House Stories of Freedom
Next door to the Cobble, visit the oldest house in the Berkshires, a site on the African American Heritage Trail. Hear two very different stories of freedom about Colonel John Ashley and Elizabeth Freeman. Hourly guided tours. Adult $6. Children & Trustees members FREE.
Wednesdays, 8:30-9:30am
Wednesday Wellness Walks
Meditative walking and social time led by Margo and Lawrence Davis-Hollander. Free. Learn more at www.coachingvision.info.
Thursdays, thru October, 9am-12noon
Thursday Eco-Volunteers
Help maintain the biodiversity that the Cobble is famous for. Please call for information 413.229.8600.
Sunday September 26, 9am-12noon
Sunday October 3, 9am-12noon
Fall Foliage Canoe Trips
Paddle a gentle section of the Housatonic River watching for hawks and bald eagles with a naturalist guide. All equipment provided. Adult $30; Child $15. Members $24/$10. Please pre-register to 413.229.8600.
Monday October 11, 9am-12noon
Columbus Day Canoe Trip
Join a naturalist guide for the last canoe trip of the year, taking in the scenic Housatonic River. Adults $30. Children $15. Members $24/$10. Please pre-register to 413.229.8600.
Friday, November 26, 7pm-9pm
Annual Owl Prowl
Learn how owls hunt swiftly and silently in the dead of night. We’ll listen to the calls of several species and try to draw them in. Individual $6. Family $15. Members $4/$12. Please pre-register to 413.229.8600.
Details & directions at www.thetrustees.org
Bartholomew’s Cobble is a 329 acre nature preserve with 5 miles of scenic trails and a nature museum, open daily 9am-4:30pm. Located on Weatogue Road in Ashley Falls, Sheffield, not far from routes 7 & 7A. A property of The Trustees of Reservations – Join as a member or volunteer today!
Tammis Coffin
Education & Outreach Coordinator
The Trustees of Reservations | Berkshires Office
P.O. Box 792 | 1 Sergeant Street | Stockbridge, MA 01262
(413) 298-3239 x3003
www.thetrustees.org
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Save the Date
Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference
February 8-10, 2011
Join us February 8-10, 2011, for the fourth Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The 2010 Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference brought together more than 3,000 people for two days of high-profile speakers including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senators John Kerry and Jeff Merkley, Labor Secretary Solis, Energy Secretary Chu, Governors Rendell and Ritter, and corporate, environmental and labor leaders from around the country.
The 2010 Conference also featured more than 100 workshops ranging in topic from green manufacturing to growth strategies for energy-efficiency industries, local economic development partnerships, and building markets for clean energy products through regulation and procurement.
Mark your calendars for the 2011 Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference, February 8-10, in Washington, D.C.
For more information, and to keep updated on this important event, visit www.greenjobsconference.org.
BlueGreen Alliance Foundation • 2828 University Ave SE • Minneapolis, MN • www.greenjobsconference.org
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Green Drinks-Great Barrington is a regular meetup of folks interested in green issues, always on the first Wednesday of each month starting at 5:15 pm, and is hosted by The Orion Society. There are Green Drinks chapters in Pittsfield and Northampton, too. Contact Erik Hoffner for details.
Wednesday 10/6 , 11/3 , 12/1
5:15 to 7:30 p.m.
Route 7 Grille
The next Great Barrington Green Drinks is Wednesday August 4th at Route 7 Grill, from 5:15 on, hosted by the staff of Orion magazine.
What exactly is Green Drinks? It's a monthly social event hosted by the folks who publish Orion magazine for people like you interested in everything from environmental education to local agriculture, the arts, green business & design, and the ways all of these intersect.
So grab a friend and bring them down to share what you're working on and meet others active in the community.
Please forward this on to your email friends and Facebook contacts...
Best wishes,
Erik Hoffner
Orion magazine
Orion Grassroots Network
413.528.4422
http://www.orionmagazine.org
http://www.oriongrassroots.org
The Orion Grassroots Network provides services and support to grassroots organizations engaged in ecological, social, and cultural change.
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Greenfield Green Drinks
Green Drinks gathering in Greenfield on 10/6, 11/3, 12/1- at Mesa Verdre.
What: GREEN DRINKS IN GREENFIELD are informal, monthly gatherings hosted by local establishments in and around Greenfield. Drop by for a few minutes or stay the full two hours. There's always a good balance of serious talk and good humor.
No agendas, fees, or RSVP's required - (RSVP nice so we can tell the sites what to expect)
Why: Because it's a high priority to have regular opportunities for good ol' fashioned face to face conversation on questions such as:
- How can each of us, our businesses, and our towns be better stewards of our resources?
- What's already working well, what are you planning, and what questions can we help each other with?
Feel free to invite others to come with you and join the conversation. Sceptics welcome!
When: Always FIRST WEDNESDAYS ~5:30 - 7:30pm, starting later in the winter
Where: Places selected by the group
for the next event see http://www.earththrives.com/calendar.html
I am pleased to announce the EarthThrives.com will be sponsoring the gathering going forward.
If you'd please, RSVP if you think you might come so I can properly advise the folks
at Mesa Verdre what to expect.
Rich Roth,
CEO EarthThrives.com
Your place to find news and activities,
Green and Sustainable in the Pioneer Valley
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Northampton Green Drinks
Come join other environmentalists for an informal get-together for networking and fun on the second Wednesday of each month
Wednesday 9/8, 10/13, 11/10, 12/8
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Northampton Brewery
Hi all - Green Drinks Northampton is Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Northampton Brewery.
Warm weather is finally here - we'll be outside on the deck! (if the weather cooperates of course)
Look for the Green Drinks table tents or ask a hostess to point us out. When you arrive, please grab a nametag.
Based on your feedback, we will no longer be collecting $5 from you, and people can just order food and drink on their own or in groups as they like.
If you are new to Green Drinks or have not been in a while, ask for Rich or Kirsten and we'll introduce you to a bunch of people!
We are taking over running the group from Pam and John, We're excited to be part of "Green Night at the Brewery" each second Wednesday of the month. The related group Western Mass Green Consortium will be on break until the fall (their meeting is normally at 4)
Come to the Brewery each second Wednesday of the month and tap into the area's green scene and some quality brews at a business that is taking the lead in greening its own operations too.
Please forward this email to all of your friends and colleagues - it's the best way to spread the word!
Thanks!
John
Visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/greendrinksnorthamptonma?hl=en
John Majercak
Associate Director
Center for Ecological Technology (CET)
ReStore Home Improvement Center
26 Market Street, Northampton, MA 01060
johnm@cetonline.org / 413-586-7350 ext. 28
Visit www.cetonline.org / www.restoreonline.org
Support our work
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Pittsfield Green Drinks
Pittsfield Green Drinks - gathering of people interested in conservation and environmental issues - all welcome
Co-sponsored by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) & the Center for Ecological Technology (CET)
Tuesday 9/21, 10/19, 11/16, 12/21
starting at 5:15 pm
Pittsfield Green Drinks is a very informal gathering, open to everyone with any environmental interest. The drinks aren't green, but our conversations are.
Every month, on the third Tuesday, beginning at 5:15 pm we gather for "Green Drinks". This month's Pittsfield Green Drinks will be at Mission Bar and Tapas, 438 North St., Pittsfield. Come talk about the environmental issues you are interested in and hear about what others are doing to try to save the world.
Green Drinks in Pittsfield is co- sponsored by the Center for Ecological Technology (CET) and the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT).
What is Green Drinks? Green Drinks is an international forum where people who work in the environmental field meet for a beer and snacks at informal sessions. There will be a lively mix of people from Non-profit organizations, academia, government and business.
Green Drinks is a great way of catching up with people you know and for making new contacts. These networking events are very simple and unstructured. Come along and you'll be made welcome.
For more information about Pittsfield Green Drinks, contact Jamie Cahillane at CET (413-445-4556 ext. 14) or Jane Winn at BEAT (jane@thebeatnews.org or 413-230-7321).
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Athol Bird & Nature Club Field Trips & Meetings 2010
Unless otherwise noted, programs meet at
the Millers River Environmental Center, 100 Main Street, Athol.
Sunday, September 5, 7 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff as he explores the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
Wednesday, September 8, 7 p.m. DCR Gull Study
Why do we see gulls so far inland? This monthly meeting at the Center (100 Main St., Athol) will address that question when Ken MacKenzie and Dan Clark discuss the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Gull Study – research into ring-bill, herring and black-back gulls in Massachusetts, including their movements, feeding and use of public water supplies. Ken is a senior wildlife biologist and Dan is the Director of Natural Resources for DCR.
Saturday, September 11, 1-2 p.m. Monarch Mania!
Join educator Rachel Roberts at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol, for a program exploring the complete life cycle of butterflies with emphasis on the monarchs who will be migrating through our area at the time. FREE and geared towards families with young children. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Athol Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. To register or for more info, contact Rachel at robertsrml@verizon.net or 413-774-7290.
Sunday September 12, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Exploring Tully Mountain
Allen Young, author of North of Quabbin Revisited and other books of local interest, will lead us on a loop trail exploring the mountain, part of ABNC’s celebration of Orange 2010. Meet at the parking area near 98 Mountain Rd. Bring a bag lunch to enjoy on the summit. Info: Allen Young, 978-249-7612.
Tuesday, September 14, 8-10 a.m. Accessible Birding with Joe
Join Joe Superchi on the second Tuesday of the month visiting local sites. Open to birders of all abilities. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Call ahead for wheelchair van access, 978-248-9491.
Sunday, September 19, 7 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff as he explores the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
Sunday, September 26, 7 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff as he explores the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
Sunday, October 3, 7:30 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff as he explores the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
Saturday & Sunday, October 2 & 3, 11 a.m. The Chestnut Story
Meet at the headquarters booth at the Garlic & Arts Festival, for a short hike in the Fittz Family Forest to learn about the glory days of the chestnut, its tragic demise, and the promise of the future. Guides for this event, part of ABNC’s celebration of Orange 2010, will be Lula Field and Christine Beckert Long. Those who wish can continue the hike to an overlook with a magnificent view of Orange’s Chestnut Hill, led by Daniel Bolton. For directions to the festival, visit the website: www.garlicandarts.org. Info: Chris Long, 978-249-0246 or christyblue@juno.com. Co-sponsored by New England Forestry Foundation and North Quabbin Woods.
Sunday, October 10, 7:30 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff as he explores the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
Tuesday, October 12, 8-10 a.m. Accessible Birding with Joe
Join Joe Superchi on the second Tuesday of the month visiting local sites. Open to birders of all abilities. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Call ahead for wheelchair van access, 978-248-9491.
***Wednesday, October 13, 7 p.m. Weasels
This regular monthly meeting at the Center (100 Main St., Athol) features Laura Hajduk //
Laura Hajduk is currently the Furbearer and Black Bear Project Leader for the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, but her first love is weasels – she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Illinois, where she studied space and habitat use of long-tailed weasels.
Sunday, October 17, 7:30 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff as he explores the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
Sunday, October 24, 7:30 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff as he explores the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
Sunday, October 31, 7:30 a.m. “Early Bird” Birding with Jeff
Join Jeff as he explores the North Quabbin area for spring migrant birds. Come for as long as your schedule allows. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Severe weather cancels. Info: Jeff Johnstone, 978-249-9052.
Tuesday, November 9, 8-10 a.m. Accessible Birding with Joe
Join Joe Superchi on the second Tuesday of the month visiting local sites. Open to birders of all abilities. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Call ahead for wheelchair van access, 978-248-9491.
***Wednesday, November 10, 7 p.m. Birding Thailand
Join us at 6 p.m. in Liberty Hall at the Athol Town Hall (584 Main St.) for our annual dinner meeting (members $10, non-members $12) and at 7 p.m. for a free, colorful trip to Thailand. A veterinarian in South Hadley, Bill Benner has traveled extensively over the years, birding in 45 of the 50 states as well as overseas. Birds and butterflies are the main focus for his photography – he is the current president of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club.
Reservations are required for the dinner; please respond to Cindy Hartwell at 978-544-5783 or cindyhartwell56@gmail.com by Sunday, November 7. No reservations are necessary for the program. The event will also feature an always popular Chinese auction; participants are encouraged to bring an item to donate for the auction.
Saturday, November 13, 9:30 a.m.-noon Hiking Chestnut Hill
Dan Bolton will lead a hike on the beautiful Chestnut Hill Trail in Orange, part of the Orange 2010 celebration. Meet at Mattawa Four Corners (the corner of Holtshire and Chestnut Hill Roads.) Info: Dan Bolton, 978-249-2162. Co-sponsored with Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust.
Wednesday, December 8, 7 PM Members’ Night at the Center
Come to the Center, 100 Main St., Athol, to share your experiences, trips and photographs with other members. Plan for about 10-15 minutes, so we’ll have time for everyone!
Tuesday, December 14, 8-10 a.m. Accessible Birding with Joe
Join Joe Superchi on the second Tuesday of the month visiting local sites. Open to birders of all abilities. Meet at the Center, 100 Main St., Athol. Call ahead for wheelchair van access, 978-248-9491.
Saturday, December 18, all day Christmas Bird Count
Join this "Citizen Science" project, the longest continuously running bird data in the area. Contact Dave Small for additional information and to participate in this nationwide annual event: 978-413-1772 or dave@dhsmall.net.
New Download and print the entire ABNC events list, visit:
http://www.millersriver.net/events/eventpics/Events2010-09.pdf
Dave Small
Athol, Massachusetts
dave@dhsmall.net
978-413-1772
http://dhsmall.blogspot.com/
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2009–2010 Hoffmann Bird Club Schedule
The Hoffmann Bird Club is Berkshire County’s premier ornithological organization. It was established in 1940 with a mission of promoting the study of birds in the county. The club was founded under the auspices of the Berkshire Museum and was named in honor of Ralph Hoffmann, a naturalist born in Berkshire County.
Meetings: are held at Berkshire Life Insurance, 700 South St., Pittsfield 01201 (499-4321), or at Pleasant Valley Sanctuary, 427 W. Mountain Rd., Lenox 01240 (637-0320). Consult the schedule for specific dates and locations. Most meetings begin at 7:00PM and are open at no charge to everyone interested in birds. Come enjoy the scheduled program and light refreshments.
Field Trips: Times listed are departure times; please arrive a few minutes early to meet the leader(s) and carpool when possible. When carpooling, participants are expected to contribute towards gas expenses. Local trips generally last until lunch, unless otherwise noted. For out-of-town trips, you must confirm with the Trip Leader in advance. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Dress for the weather, wear proper footwear, and bring binoculars (if you have them). Call the Trip Leader if you have questions. Trips described as “TBA” will be announced on the club hotline. It’s always a good idea to contact the Trip Leader to let her/him know you are coming.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, all telephone numbers are in area code 413
Click here for Hoffmann Bird Club's full 2010-2011 brochure(.doc) or (pdf)
Click here for the Hoffmann Bird Club's website.
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