WILLIAMSTOWN – Friends of the east Williamstown neighborhood at the First Congregational Church of Williamstown announce the establishment of the ENT (Encouraging Neighborhood Trees) Fund to help reforest the Luce Road area.
The acronym ENT was chosen in honor of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Ents, introduced in “The Two Towers,†the second book in his “Lord of the Rings†trilogy. Ents, also known as the Shepherds of the Trees, are an ancient and long-lived race of creatures that resemble deep-rooted trees while they sleep and tree-like beings when awake.
The Reverend Carrie Bail, pastor of First Church, has started the ENT Fund with a gift from her discretionary fund. A resident of Luce Road, Bail’s property has not been affected by the recent tree-cutting mandated by the expansion of Harriman-West Airport in North Adams, but she has witnessed the destruction of the local eco-system and the natural beauty of the neighborhood. A desire to create a way for concerned citizens to take action led to the creation of the ENT fund, which is non-sectarian and open to all.
Williamstown Selectman Jane Allen, who is also a Luce Road resident, was pleased to hear of the establishment of the fund and intends to contribute. She had earlier expressed interest publicly in creating such a fund, and is delighted that the church has taken the lead.
Members of the Habitat Crew, a service group for high school students sponsored by the First Congregational Church, will work with the ENT Fund and east Williamstown residents to gather expert advice and assist residents in creating individual household plans for replanting and landscaping. They will assist with the actual planting of trees and dedication ceremonies when the time comes. For more information or to get involved with the Habitat Crew call Beth Davis 413-458-4728.
In-kind donations of plants from a local family-owned tree farm and landscaping services from another local business have already been secured. All trees planted will be species that do not grow higher than the airport’s height restrictions.
Checks can be made out to the First Congregational Church with the words ENT Fund on the memo line, and can be dropped off at the church office weekdays from 9 am-3:30 pm, or mailed to the FCC, 906 Main Street, Williamstown, MA 01267-2639. All funds collected will go directly towards purchasing trees or planting and landscaping costs. For more information please call or e-mail the church at 413-458-4273 or fcc.willi@verizon.net .
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Governor Healey Signs Breast Cancer Screening Bill
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