Dear Friends and Acton Conservation Trust Members,
Our 2025 membership drive was added to our website under “News.” View it HERE. I encourage all non-ACT Member subscribers to “Events of Interest” to take this opportunity to join ACT to show your support of Land Protection in Acton!!
Views from new boardwalk spanning Heath Hen Meadow Brook (accessible from Mt. Hope Cemetery) at last Wednesday’s “I Hiked Acton’s Trails” Challenge sponsored by ACT and Acton Conservation Division – for more photos, visit our Instagram page.
The following news and events may be of interest:
Saturday, October 19
Fall Foliage Hike at Longview Conservation Area, Ashburnham, MA
10:00 am – 11:30 am
66 Hardy Road, Ashburnham, MA
It’s fall, y’all! Join us for a scenic hike around Longview Conservation Area (Southern Slope of Mount Watatic). Please prepare for weather and trail conditions.
Register here.
Sunday, October 20 (Rain date: October 27)
ACT Fall Community Service Day
1-3 pm
This fall we will be working in one of the conservation restrictions (CR) held by ACT. Family groups, scout groups, students and everyone else is welcome. No experience needed – we’ll show you what needs to be done.
Please register HERE. You’ll be emailed a copy of the registration. For more information or questions, please contact Jody Harris at jharris.actonconservationtrust@gmail.com.
Sunday, October 20
Archaeology October at Walden Pond
10-2 PM
Walden Pond Visitor Center, 915 Walden Street
Department of Conservation and Recreation archaeologists talk about artifacts found at Walden.
A park interpreter guides half mile walks to Thoreau’s house to learn about archaeologist Roland Robbins’ “Discovery at Walden.” All ages.
Sunday, October 20
Fungi Field Walk
10:00 am-12:00 pm
at Habitat in Belmont
Explore the sanctuary with mycologist Jef Taylor to discover and identify the many fungi found in Massachusetts throughout the year.
Sponsored by Mass Audubon
Sunday, October 20 – 3rd Sunday of every month – through November
Breakfast at Fort Pond Littleton
8 Kaleva Road
8-10:30 am
For directions CLICK HERE.
kalevalittletonma.org
Menu:
Eggs, Homefries, Bacon or Sausage, Toast
-OR-
Pancakes, Bacon or Sausage
Plus Coffee, OJ, Pulla (Finnish sweet bread)
Adult $12 Child $8
For more information CLICK HERE
Tuesday, October 22
Burying the Trowel: A History of Controversy and Innovation in New England’s Cultural Stone Features Debate
7-8:30PM, in person at Acton Memorial Library and via Zoom.
Unusual stone features dot the woodlands and hillsides of New England, and their provenance has been subject to many theories and debate. Kitty O’Riordan is a cultural anthropologist who has been studying the people, methods, and literature surrounding the cultural stone features debate in New England for nearly a decade. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, where she currently teaches. This talk gives an overview of the changing ways stone features have been understood over time, the friction this has caused between avocational researchers and professional archaeologists, and the benefits and limitations of new techniques in their study. O’Riordan will discuss the ways some are working to repair collaborative relationships to build new networks of communication that provide promise for future investigations of these culturally important places. Events are free but require registration at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024 Questions? Email friends.of.pinehawk@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Workshop on Aquatic invasive species in our rivers, lakes, and ponds
2:00-4:00 pm
Acton Town Hall, Room 204
Registration is required. The CISMA Aquatic Invasive Management Subcommittee will be hosting Kara Sliwoski of DCR’s Lakes & Ponds program, who will be doing an in-person workshop for us on aquatic invasive species in our rivers, lakes, and ponds. We’ll go over our current invasives and some that we should be on the lookout for. This will be a great time to learn about new invasives or just brush up on your ID skills. Sponsored by The CISMA Aquatic Invasive Management Subcommittee.
Wednesdays, October 23 – November 20
“I Hiked Acton’s Trails!”
2:30-4:00 pm
Walk the trails in Acton’s conservation areas with the goal of earning a sticker and a sew-on patch! This weekly set of walks (typically 1-2 miles) is a joint effort between Acton Conservation Trust and Acton Conservation Division. We will complete the remainder of 22 conservation land walks which started last spring. Check out the “I Hiked Acton’s Trails” Challenge form HERE for more information about the challenge.
An accessible option is also available for those with devices or mobility issues. Contact us if you are interested in this option. For more information or questions, please contact jharris.actonconservationtrust@gmail.com. REGISTER HERE!
Thursday, October 24
“Eyes on Owls” Program
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m
Sargent Memorial Library.
See Owls Up Close with Boxborough Birders’ “Eyes on Owls” Program
The Boxborough Birders, with funding from the Friends of Sargent Memorial Library and the Boxborough Well-Being Committee, will present an “Eyes on Owls”.
The program will be run by teacher/naturalist Marcia Wilson and author/photographer/naturalist Mark Wilson.
Participants will be introduced to the owls of New England, such as the Great Horned Owl, Northern Saw-Whet Owl, and Eastern Screech Owl.
“You will meet six live owls and get to see them up close, learn about their habits and habitats, and listen to the different calls each one makes. Mark and Marcia point out the field marks of each owl, and detail the signs and naturalist’s skills that you can use to find wild owls in the woods–without disturbing them. They also provide tips on how to attract and protect owls near you.”
Look forward to seeing the Great Horned Owl, Northern Saw-Whet Owl, and Eastern Screech Owl. Learn about their habits and habitats, and listen to the different calls each one makes.
This program is appropriate for ages 5 years and up. Register in advance by October 20 at https://boxlib.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/boxborough-birders/
Thursday/Friday, October 24-25
Tales of the Night at Drumlin Farm
6:30-9:00 pm
Our spookiest tradition returns for another year! Put on your costume, grab your flashlight, and get ready for an evening of fun at Tales of the Night. Meet creepy critters, take a haunted hayride, prowl the candlelit farm, and more during this event for all ages. Register HERE.
Saturday, October 26th
Clean Energy Home of the Month – Focus on Heat Pumps
Two sessions: 11am and 1pm
South Acton address sent with registration.
More than ever, our environment calls us to switch from fossil fuels. Are you thinking about air source heat pumps for your home? Come see a house that has an air source heat pump and a heat pump hydronic system, plus other clean technologies. The homeowner is one of Acton’s Clean Energy Coaches and he looks forward to your questions about transitioning off fossil fuels. There will be two free sessions, one at 11am and one at 1pm. The address will be sent upon registration. Sponsored by EnergizeActon.org. For info and registration, click HERE.
Sunday, October 27
Run For The Hills, 2024
10am
Community Harvest Project Barn, 115 Prospect Hill Rd, Harvard MA 01451
Register now to get a guaranteed race shirt!
8:00am Registration Opens
10:00am 5k Race Starts
10:30am Kids Fun Run Starts
Sunday October 27
Invasive Species Walk in Boxborough with Anya Brunker
Noon
LIBERTY FIELDS / PATCH HILL, Boxborough
Anya is a high school student who recently received her Girl Scout Gold Award for her project on invasive species in Boxborough. You have probably seen her informative signs along the trails! She led a walk at Steele Farm in August (see photo below), and will continue to hold them throughout the seasons. . No need to register, just meet at the parking lot at Liberty Fields on Liberty Square Rd.
Questions? bharris@bctrust.org
Saturday, November 2
Teen Outing Club: Purgatory Chasm
9:30 am-2:30 pm
at Purgatory Chasm in Sutton
Clamber through caverns and discover the wonders of the geological formations at Purgatory Chasm State Reservation Sponsored by Mass Audubon. Register HERE.
Saturday, November 9 (Rescheduled from Oct. 19)
Adult Archaeology Walk (Note New Date)
10AM–noon, in-person only
Nashoba Brook Conservation Area
This walk was formerly scheduled for October 19, but Bettina Abe is unavailable due to a knee injury. Now Ian Bergemann, Land Stewardship Coordinator for the Town of Acton, will lead this hike along the Nashoba Brook Trail, with stops at the stone chamber and Native American ceremonial sites. Trail conditions can be rocky, uneven, and often wet, and thus participation is limited. Registrants will receive a detailed email several days before the walk. Limited to 20, ages 17 and up. Events are free but require registration at tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2024 Questions? Email friends.of.pinehawk@gmail.com
Thursday, November 14
Coyote Ecology and Behavior
7pm
Lincoln Public Schools, Learning Commons, Ballfield Road, Lincoln, MA
LLCT is pleased to welcome Jonathan Way to Lincoln in mid-November. This is part of LLCT’s continued efforts to provide education about how humans can co-exist with coyotes, an important carnivore in New England.
Way will speak about the coyote’s territory, activity patterns, denning behavior, and hybridization. He will also speak to the coyote’s successful survival in close proximity to urban and suburban areas.
This is a 90 minute presentation, free, and open to the public.
Jonathan (Jon) Way has a B.S. (UMass Amherst), M.S. (UConn Storrs), and doctorate (Boston College) related to the study of eastern coyotes/coywolves. He is the author of numerous books. Jon founded and runs his organization, Eastern Coyote/Coywolf Research, where his goal is to conduct long-term ecological and behavioral research on eastern coyotes.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
“Stand Up to Stigma” Scarecrow Contest – Cucurbit Farm, 32 Parker St., Acton
ACTON: The scarecrows will be on display for the month of October, and the public is invited to cast their vote for the winning entry. The goal is 100 scarecrows along the fence, as well as many conversations about mental health! There is still time to build your scarecrow creation or plan to enter a carved Jack O’ Lantern in the Glow By event on the weekend before Halloween. There’s a corn maze too!
Additional info can be found at namicentralmiddlesex.org/newsletter/scarecrow-contest2023.
Acton Municipal Vulnerability Plan Update (MVP 2.0) & Survey
Acton, MA (.gov)
https://acton-ma.gov › Acton-Municipal-Vulnerability-Pl…
Visit bit.ly/MVPACTON to take our survey and help Acton prepare for climate hazards. All survey respondents will be entered to win a $25 giftcard to KJs Caffe!
VOLUNTEERS:
Boston Area Gleaners is looking for gleaners!
Sign up to volunteer at BAG, https://www.bagetc.org/gleanlist.php
Town of Acton’s Agricultural Commission Needs Members
Meetings once/month, September – April; Advocating and representing Acton’s agricultural resources since 2020. Interested? Please contact AG@ACTONMA.gov
See you on the trails!!
Susan Mitchell-Hardt
President, Acton Conservation Trust
www.ActonConservationTrust.org
P.S. Welcome new “Events of Interest” subscribers! As a non-profit organization focused on conserving land in Acton, we rely upon the support of our members. Visit our ACT website, and click on “Join Us”