Sheffield Land Trust Newsletter

12:00AM / Tuesday, January 07, 2003Print Story | Email Story

Protecting Home Our daughter, Catherine, is a wildlife biologist and raptor specialist living in Boise, Idaho. Marilyn and I visited her in October and spent a day trapping and banding birds on Lucky Mountain in the foothills north of the city. On a frosty Saturday morning four of us climbed to a bird blind overlooking the peaks and valleys of the Rockies, set our traps, and waited for the winds to bring us raptors on their flight south, in eight hours we succeeded with seven - all sharp-shinned hawks - trapping, measuring, banding and weighing them before releasing them again to freedom; failed with three others; and were outwitted by two- kestrels, perched safely on posts beyond our reach- who only watched us with amusement. It was another step in my education. Having lived in suburbs or cities most of my life and being absorbed in urban issues, we had moved deliberately to Sheffield. As I grew older, I had discovered that suburban life was stifling me. Month-long vacations in the woods helped but were not enough. I needed to plant roots - to live alongside nature, not against it. Sheffield Land Trust was key to my learning. Sally Cook first told me about this wonderful, electric organization. Kathy Orlando, our Executive Director for Land Protection, was encouraging; Twiggs Myers invited me to join him tramping the woods and fields of our town, sharing his knowledge and wisdom, and I was hooked. That was only the beginning. I learned next that nature needed more than people who loved it. It also required those who would take the time to understand protect it. Suddenly I was thrust into disciplines where I had even less knowledge. Biodiversity and ecology for instance. But also the law. And real estate, economics, agriculture, education, and politics. Perhaps especially politics. Not everybody sees things the way I do. A couple of months ago, Kathy Kerry Douglas, our Vice President and Chair of our Land Protection Committee, Charles Wyman of the Trustees of Reservations and I trampled a 120 acre tract of land owned by the SLT on Route 41, just south of Berkshire School and extending to the ridge line. It's a gorgeous piece of property. At the top, a climber is greeted by old growth pines, rare and unique to this region, and by outstanding views of Sheffield and the Housatonic River Valley. Returning form Idaho, I compared the view form Lucky Mountain with that from our Taconic. There the terrain is sparse, grand and sweeping. Majestic sky, brown earth and clouds compete for attention. Here it is lush, green and intimate. We spent a good deal of time looking for Kerry's farm. I tried to find Mill Pond. It was familiar. It is home Each place is threatened by over development and haphazard planning, but I live in the Housatonic River Valley, not the foothills of the Rockies. And I have pledged, with you, to do all I can to preserve, protect and support this place I now call home. It is not an impossible task. But it is demanding, and time is slipping away. And it requires energy, brains, good will and money. Can we count on your support? John G. Wightman Sheffield Master Plan Taking Shape The public input phase of the Sheffield Master Plan has begun and our town needs to know from each of us what we value most about Sheffield, what we would like to see stay the same and where we would like to see changes! How do you see Sheffield in 10 years time? Are there particular places or experiences, which you've enjoyed that you would like your children and grandchildren to experience as well? Are there opportunities you would like to have that are currently not available? Do you enjoy Sheffield's rural character? What type of businesses would you like to see encouraged? Do you think it is important to support our local farms and protect our farmland? What type of housing do you think is most needed in Sheffield? Is public transportation important? How do we ensure the quality of our water supply? An initial presentation about the planning process and existing housing, economic, and demographic conditions was presented at the first Public Input Workshop on November 23rd. the 50 attendees were asked to share what they felt were Sheffield's strengths and weaknesses, and what sore of opportunities and threats each saw for Sheffield's rural character to providing affordable housing. These and many other issues will be pursued at subsequent meetings and through the work of committees now being formed. Attendees at the workshop were also urged to return their Community Surveys. The surveys, sent out in November to each household in Sheffield, and public input from each workshop will help guide the work of the committees through prioritizing issues to be addressed. How can you get involved? - Return your Community Survey! - Participate in future Public Input Workshops! - Join a committee! The Four committees will cover: - Open space/Recreation/Land Use - Economic Development - Housing - Facilities/Service/Transportation. Partnering to Reclaim Farmland Along Route 7 The Sheffield Land Trust and James M. Larkin are partnering to reclaim farmland along Route 7 that the family leased and worked years ago. Aerial photographs of the area from 1942 show this land and most of the Route 7 corridor as a patchwork quilt of farm fields interspersed with occasional hedgerows - the classic New England and Sheffield landscape. Over the years the property changed hands numerous times, was subdivided and broken into smaller lots as people speculated on commercial ventures that never came to pass. Much of the property grew up to shrubs and trees. Then four years ago, in fulfillment of a project begun by local philanthropists Robert Thieriot, SLT purchased four contiguous lots for the purpose of reclaiming the land for farming Larkin, who is currently using and leasing the land will eventually purchase the 12-acre property for its agricultural value, with SLT retaining the development rights to ensure that it remains as farmland and natural habitat As part of the purchase price Larking is clearing the land, and careful observers may already have noticed some changes just south of the Mass Highway garage. While the bulk of the land will be cleared to expand the existing cropland, a wildlife corridor running along the railroad track at the western boundary will be left untouched as well as more sensitive ecological zone of vernal pools and old floodplain forest at the south end of the property. Protecting farmland and supporting the local farm economy is an important part of SLT's work, and projects like this and Agricultural Preservation Restrictions help to secure land in farm ownership. That ownership is critical to the long-term visibility of local farms and local food. The farms, turn, maintain the landscape which is essential to the character of Sheffield and Berkshire County as a whole, not to mention the area's critical tourist economy and all the related businesses and services Four Land Project To Close If everything goes according to plan, Sheffield will soon have four new Agricultural Preservation Restrictions (APRs)- several within the next month! The purpose of these APR's is not only to protect important farmland, but also to help ensure that it remains in active use and ownership by local farmers. Securing a critical mass of arm land is essential to support viable farms and the agricultural economy, which are an integral part of our community and landscape. For each APR, SLT must raise the local portion of the purchase price, to supplement the portion paid by the MA Dept. of Food and Agriculture, and also to pay associated project expenses. Due to the recent passage of the Environmental Bond, the State has funds to purchase these APRs now, which means that SLT must quickly finish raising the funds for theses projects. Please take a moment to read about these APRs and help us reach our goals! SLT will be pre-acquiring the 96-acre Cavalier APR, along Route 7. we will then convey I to the MA Dept. of Food and Agriculture, and Pine Island Farm will purchase the protected farmland for its agricultural value to help support their dairy operation. As part of the APR not only is the cropland and floodplain foresee being protected, but important river buffers are being established along the Housatonic to help slow erosion of the stream banks and loss of fields, as well as provide a wildlife corridor along the river. Neighborhood residents will be able to walk along a designated path for the river. SLT has $25,000 left to raise toward acquisition/projects cost. Contributors should designate their donation for the Cavalier APR. The SLT will also be pre-acquiring the Balsam Hill Farm APR on Hewins Street. SLT and the Chapin family have been working together to conserve the farm, which the family has been careful stewards of since early Sheffield history, and to meet the family's future needs. The goal is then to find an agricultural buyer to purchase and continue to farm the land. The farm, which includes 154 acres to be protected through the APR, as well as the existing farm house and two potential additional building lots, is an essential part of the farm economy and the character of the neighborhood. This APR will also provide protection of the floodplain forest and the natural resources of the land as well as a river buffer along the Housatonic. SLT still has $92,000 to raise toward the acquisition and project costs. Contributors should designate their donation for the Balsam Hill Farm APR. The MA Dept. of Food and Agricultural will be directly purchasing an APR on a portion of the Howden Farm on Rannapo Road. This project is broken into phases to accommodate IRS requirements. While the first APR only covers the most northerly 12 acres of the farm, it is the first step toward protecting the remaining 235 acres. The farm's prime agricultural fields, wetlands and floodplain support a thriving business and important wildlife habitat. SLT is partnering with the Trustees of Reservation on an option for an APR on the remaining farm once the IRS restrictions have run their course. We still have $25,000 to raise toward the acquisition and projected costs. Contributors should designate their donation for the Howden Farm APR. SLT anticipates closing on a fourth APR by the middle of the next year. The Bow Wow Road project combines an APR, to keep the farmland affordable, which affordable farm housing and the creation of a 32-acre Nature Reserve. The goal is to create one 144-acre protected farm with housing. SLT is spearheading this effort with the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Community Land Trust in the Southern Berkshires and The Nature Conservancy. To meet the requirements of the APR, SLT must first combine abutting properties into the deed over which the Dept. of Food and Agriculture will then purchase one APR. SLT borrowed the funs for the down payment on the first purchase made earlier this year, and has its next mortgage payment due in June. We hope to close on the second property in 2003. a third property, a gift, will be conserved as a natural area either within the APR or separately. The Community Land Trust will own an acre around the house, to remove the speculative value from the land and keep its value from escalating beyond reasonable inflation over time. The farmer, Ted Dobson of Equinox Farm, will then purchase the protected APR land for its agricultural value and the house itself with a 99-year inheritable and renewable lease on the acre around the house. SLT still has 82,000 to raise toward the acquisition and project costs. Contributors should designate their donation for the Blow Wow Road Project. Community-Based Learning Partnership SLT is continuing to work with the Southern Berkshire Regional School District on several community-based learning projects. These include the existing 2nd grade mapping and farm visits and the Agricultural Internship and Education Program being developed (highlighted in last year's newsletter). SLT is also part of the team working with the school to craft its Community-Based Environmental Education initiative. New this year is the middle school surveying project, described below, which incorporates the principles of community-based education. Students take concepts that they are learning in class -required by the Massachusetts State Frameworks -and apply them in a real world setting, helping to better understand the material and learn more about their community and its environment. At the same time the project help SLT to accomplish part of its stewardship goals toward conserving the property as a community resource. Kathy Orlando Middle School Survey As part of Mt.Everett Middle School's "Housatonic River Interdisciplinary Unit," students extended their classroom work to include two community-based projects. One was measuring and clearing invasive species at Bartholomew's Cobble, the other, in conjunction with SLT, was to roughly survey the topography of the Dohoney property across from the school. The school is part of a collaborative effort with SLT and the property owner to conserve the property with the school stewarding the property. The students doing the surveying were led by George Milukas, their middle school math teacher, and Robert Macy, a local surveyor. Before venturing into the field, a map of the property was placed on a coordinate plane with each grid unit representing a fifty-foot square; the vertical axis was aligned north south. Using the coordinate map, magnetic compass, trundle wheel, hypsometer and elevation rod, and two groups of ten students proceeded into the woodland and recorded positive and negative elevations. The groups were delighted to find that, although they were using rudimentary instruments, after traveling 1000 feet they missed hitting their boundary marker by only six feet in a diagonal direction. Using this method of surveying, four different groups of students covered about one fourth of the accessible property, a fair portion being wetlands. George Milukas Two Long Term Volunteers Honored Following the Board of Director's meeting on October 19th a luncheon was given in honor of Eric Shamie and Virginia Drury. Eric has stepped down as SLTs secretary after 7 years, taking over from original secretary Roger Drury. As secretary he has been chairman of the Outreach and Public Relations Committee. Eric will continue to serve as editor of the SLT annual newsletter. Virginia has been a loyal member of the SLT since its inception. She has been a valued member of the Special Events Committee and the formidable chair of the food committee, an essential ingredient for our many successful events. Virginia's enthusiasm and good humor will be sorely missed. Pat Elsbach A Landscape of Farms All of u who have enjoyed the bounty of the Farmers' Market know that our local farmers provide the community with a wide range of fresh, locally frown food. Theses farmers and their farms maintain much of what we love about Sheffield and its landscape. People see the physical landscape, but many don't understand the business and economics of farming, the interdependent nature of the landscape/farm/community. The lecture and tea drew a capacity crowd of around 130 people who packed the hall, illustrating the importance of the topic to the community as a whole. The question and answer period gave the audience and panelists a chance to interact, adding more depth and understanding to the discussion and highlighting further the need to support local farms and agricultural as a whole. Susan Rothschild Annual Meeting On a warm and sunny July 13th, SLT held its 13th annual meeting at the town park. The persistent breezes cooled members and friends as they gather for the pot luck lunch In the pavilion. Newly elected President, John Wightman, gave a warm welcome and proceeded to re-view recent progress of SLT's farm projects and outlined the status of new undertakings. He stressed that the ongoing participation of volunteers and staff keep the Land Trust an energetic, far-reaching organization. John thanked Peter Stiglin, our out-going President, for hid dedication during his one ear tenure. Thanks to his insights the SLT is a stronger organization. At the conclusion of the business meeting the Mountain Laurel band played as the audience joined hand for a rousing two hours of square dancing. Join us for the next Annual Meeting late spring or early summer 2003. Patricia Elsbach Art Show & SLT Farm Program Get Broad-based Support Area farms were the focal point of the celebrate Sheffield farms art show at the Bushnell-Sage Library. The show was held in September as part of the 2nd annual "Sheffield in Celebration" week, and was a cooperative venture with the Friends of the Library, Sheffield Art League and Sheffield Association. SLT hosted two well-attended and successful receptions; a morning opening coffee, reception and an evening "meet the artists reception". Thirty percent of painting sales went to benefit SLT's Farm Protection Program, which netted $1,700. of equal importance was the enthusiastic response by the community to the theme and the art featuring farms, farming and farm families. Our farms are not forgotten and farming as a way of life is deeply embedded in the hearts and minds of Sheffielders. In preparation for the art show, members of the Sheffield Art League met Monday mornings throughout the summer at nearby farms, including some SLT is working with the families to protect, and painted their impressions on canvas. Theses paintings and those of other artists were hung at the art show. A total of 34 artists showed 65 paintings. The judges for the art show were area farmers several of whom were owners of the very farms shown in the paintings. In addition to viewing the fine paintings at the show, many people enjoyed being able to identify and point out familiar farms and landscaped. Sheffield is truly a beautiful place and our farms and open land are worth preserving in reality as well as on canvas. Bill Connell

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North Adams Wins to Even La Festa Series

iBerkshires.com Sports07:13PM / Sunday, July 21, 2024

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Jayden Demotropolis went 2-for-4 Sunday morning to lead the North Adams La Festa team to an 11-5 win over the North End Dodgers at Joe Wolfe Field.

The win evened the 33rd edition of the La Festa Baseball Exchange at one win apiece with two games left to play in Boston on the weekend of Aug. 10 and 11.

The Bostonians won this year's series opener on Saturday night.

Jack Marlowe came off the bench to double and scored a pair of runs in Sunday's win.

Andrew Meany went 1-for-1 with an RBI.

He also earned the win in relief with four innings of work on the mound. Meany struck out two and allowed two runs after taking the ball from Hayden Barrett, who struck out five and allowed one earned run in three innings of work.

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