Dear Acton Conservation Trust Members and Other Friends,
The following news and events may be of interest:
CPA News! (from Communitypreservation.org)
There was a distribution of $10 million in state budget surplus funds that adds to what had already been a record-breaking year for the CPA Trust Fund. With the budget surplus funds now added in, all CPA communities ended up with a match of 43.8% of their local surcharge revenue on round one of the trust fund distribution. What does this mean for Acton?
Acton: 1/20/22 State Budget Surplus: $51,893
Total CPA Trust Fund Distribution (11/2021 + 1/2022) $508,998
Final Percentage Reimbursement: 43.8%
January 29 -RESCHEDULED TO SUNDAY FEBRUARY 6
Winter Wildlife Tracking Walk
12-2 PM
Acton Conservation Trust welcomes members and friends for a winter tracking walk led by Paul Wanta. We will walk through the trails of North Acton, including Nashoba Brook, Robbins Mill, Spring Hill and Camp Acton Conservation Lands. This area is the largest contiguous parcel of protected land in Acton, comprising 400+ acres. This will be a slow walk of 1-2 miles. As the long range weather forecast predicts only a small chance of snow between now and the event date, there is a good possibility that we will have to move the event to the snow date. No pets on this walk, thank you!
To read more about Paul’s tracking history and education, visit the ACT website. Registration is required, click here. For more information or questions, please contact Jody Harris at jharris.actonconservationtrust@gmail.com
Saturday, January 29 (Rain date Sunday)
Boxborough’s Annual WinterFest
1-4 PM
Steele Farm, Middle Road, Boxborough
Bonfire, music, foosball game for all ages. Snacks for purchase from Supa Dupa food truck; Two Friends Chocolates (with demo); Pony Shack Cider, True West beer; Boxborough Regency warm chocolate chip cookies and mulled cider and wine. Bring sleds, hike, children’s activities. Click for more information.
Saturday, January 29
Walden’s Former Inhabitants
Walden Pond State Reservation, 915 Walden Street, Concord
Meet by the Thoreau house replica
In his book Walden, Henry David Thoreau writes about the disenfranchised and formerly enslaved people who lived along the Walden road, before he built his house at the pond. Drop by the Thoreau house replica to learn from a Park Interpreter about the lesser known residents of Walden. All ages. For more information, call 978-369-3254.
Sunday, January 30
Snowshoe Nagog Hill Conservation Land, Acton
10-12:00 PM
Approximately 272 Nagog Hill Road: Parking lot on Nagog Hill Road next to the field adjoining Grassy Pond
A little pop-up event to celebrate the arrival of fresh sow! If you’re interested in snowshoeing at Nagog Hill, meet Jody Harris at 10 AM, in the parking lot on Nagog Hill Road, the one next to the field adjoining Grassy Pond.
Wednesday, February 2 and 9
The Peopling of the Americas with Greg Paris
10-11:30 am, on-line course
The American continents have been home to a vast number of Native cultures and civilizations for at least 15,000 years. Their origins have been a continuing puzzle for anthropologists, archaeologists, and geneticists. Questions surrounding the peopling of the Americas include: who were the ancestors of American Indigenous populations, where might they have come from, when, in how many waves, and where did they go?
In this two-session course, we will first provide an overview of past climatic events, introduce the debate between several past and present proposals for migrations, and discuss the kinds of evidence that bear on these arguments. Then we will review some unusual hypotheses, recent findings, some extremely early dates, and discuss the evidence pro and con. There is a modest fee and you can register here. A diverse reading list will be distributed in advance, mostly from accessible research reports and reviews.
Friday/Saturday, February 4 and 5
Winter Tree and Shrub ID Walk, Winter Carnival with Lincoln Conservation Department
Codman Estate, Lincoln
Join Lincoln Conservation Department staff for a rousing winter walk through the woods as they discuss how to identify wood plants-no leaves necessary! Plan for a 2 mile walk and wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes. Please leave pets at home, since our focus is on nature. Please bring a mask for when the group gathers together. Registration is required, click here! Each session is limited to 15 people so sign up today! You may also call 781-259-2612 or email conservation@lincolntown.org to register.
Thursday, February 3, 10, 17, and 24
7th Annual Mass Open Space Conference; Webinar 1: The Ecological Context of Your Community
12-1:30 PM Webinars; 1:35-2:20 PM Networking
Information and registration are available here.
This event is being collaboratively organized by the North Quabbin Regional landscape Partnership, Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, and Green Cambridge. Funding for this event is provided by the MA Working Forest Initiative, in partnership with UMass-Amherst and MA Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Saturday, February 5
Polysterene Collection Day
10 AM-1 PM
Acton Transfer Station and Recycling Center – Enter via The Acton Dept of Public Works entrance, 14 Forest Road.
Bring your clean polystyrene (styrofoam); We can’t accept polystyrene food containers. Questions? Contact sustainability@actonma.gov if you have any questions. Transfer Station sticker required for access.
February 6
Winter Wildlife Tracking Walk
12-2 PM
Acton Conservation Trust welcomes members and friends for a winter tracking walk led by Paul Wanta. We will walk through the trails of North Acton, including Nashoba Brook, Robbins Mill, Spring Hill and Camp Acton Conservation Lands. This area is the largest contiguous parcel of protected land in Acton, comprising 400+ acres. This will be a slow walk of 1-2 miles. As the long range weather forecast predicts only a small chance of snow between now and the event date, there is a good possibility that we will have to move the event to the snow date. No pets on this walk, thank you!
To read more about Paul’s tracking history and education, visit the ACT website. Registration is required, click here. For more information or questions, please contact Jody Harris at jharris.actonconservationtrust@gmail.com
Tuesday, February 8
Mammals of New England
1 PM
Zoom – Pre-registration is required.
There is a wide range of mammals found around New England, from the woods, fields and suburbs to the seashore. From the shy fisher to the comical chipmunk, rabbits, fox, deer, and more. Learn about mammal behavior tracks and signs to help figure out who is in your neighborhood – as well on the shore. Presenter: Joy Marzolf of the Joys of Nature, has been offering a variety of animal-related education programs for over 20 years. Most recently, she was a Naturalist and Educator at Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. Registration here.
Thursday, Feb. 10
Birds, the Epic Adventures of a Mass Bird Photographer by Peter Christoph
7-8 PM
via Zoom
Join East Quabbin Land Trust for a zoom webinar from wildlife photographer, speaker, and author, Peter Christoph. He will share his favorite bird photographs taken in Massachusetts and share stories of his adventures and techniques used to capture his images. Click to register for this event.
Thursday, February 10
How can I reduce my property taxes?
2nd Thursday of each month, December 9 – April 2022
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Hosted by UMass MassWoods
This six-part webinar series for landowners will feature relevant professionals to provide information and help answer questions. Sign up for individual webinars or the entire series. Learn more and register.
- February 10 – How can I reduce my property taxes?
- March 10 – How can I conserve my land?
- April 14 – What are the financial benefits of land
Friday, February 18 – Monday, Feb. 21
The Great Backyard Bird Count
Birders of all experience are invited to come together to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. these efforts help scientists understand bird migratory patterns and populations. organized by the Cornell lab of ornithology, national Audubon Society, and Birds Canada this event brings the joy of bird watching to members of their organizations and beyond., If you are interested in participating you can learn more at birdcount.org
Sunday, March 13
Preview of ACT Annual Meeting: New Conservation Strategies for the 21st Century – presented by Claudia Thompson
6:15PM Business Meeting; 7 PM – Presentation
Acton Town Hall, 472 Main Street, Room 204, and/or Virtual
Fight Climate Change with a Nature Based Solution: Climate change and loss of biodiversity are the critical ecological challenges of our time. To address these crises, conservation efforts must become much broader and more inclusive than has been the norm, so that they engage virtually all citizens throughout our communities. The extent of our current human impact, and the fragmentation of our landscapes over the past one hundred years, clarify the need – every piece of land, large or small, public or private, deserves careful stewardship so that it becomes part of the solution instead of contributing to the problem. Using her garden as a case study, Claudia will discuss valuable lessons learned over several decades as she transformed her small urban property into a landscape rich with habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Much can be achieved. Indeed, the significant challenges before us are motivating many people to action. The growing native plant movement, with its focus on landscapes as ecological systems, instead of gardens as adornments, is an essential component of 21st century conservation strategies.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!
Winter Volunteering with Boston Area Gleaners:
Wednesdays volunteers are invited to lend a hand to support the ‘Just Eats’ grocery box program. Choose either 9-12 PM or 1-4 PM at 91 Martin StreetAs BAG enters their second year of this collaboration with Food for Free, volunteers are helping to fill hundreds of boxes each week with veggies and dry goods for pantries, housing facilities, and other community food distribution sites in eastern Massachusetts. Register here.
BAG is also always looking for more ways to connect with more communities and new volunteers. If you are part of a community that may be interested in working with the Gleaners, or have suggestions for volunteer outreach, please email us at outreach@bostonareagleaners.org
Covid safety: BAG is now requiring that all volunteers be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Volunteers are also required to wear masks on all projects. The staff members that you will work with are also fully vaccinated and follow the same safety protocols. Food packs take place in the greenhouse, which is partially open to the air. Read more about volunteer Covid precautions on the BAG website.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO BOSTON AREA GLEANERS NEWSLETTER Visit: https://www.bostonareagleaners.org/
Acton CAP (Climate Action Plan) Blueprint Here! Together with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the Sustainability Office presented the report to the Select Board on December 20. The Blueprint contains a list of strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our buildings, energy, transportation and through nature-based solutions.
Support Acton Conservation Trust while you make purchases on AmazonSmile! ACT will receive a small payment, and these add up! From your desktop or laptop computer, AmazonSmile is available at at smile.amazon.com on your Web browser. Bookmark it for easy use! AmazonSmile is available from your mobile phone as well. To activate AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app, simply tap on “AmazonSmile” within the Programs & Features menu or Settings and follow the on-screen instructions.
Sincerely,
Susan Mitchell-Hardt
President, Acton Conservation Trust
www.ActonConservationTrust.org
P.S. Welcome to new “Events of Interest” subscribers! As a nonprofit organization, we rely upon the support of our members. Visit our ACT website, and click on “Join Us”!
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