Dear Friends and Acton Conservation Trust Members,
Growing the ACT Board of Trustees
Are you interested in preserving open space in Acton? While Acton has the benefit of many acres of open space, some prized undeveloped parcels in Acton are not yet protected … Read more
Monitoring the Gaebel and Grassy Pond West Conservation Restrictions.
The following news and events may be of interest:
Wednesday, October 25
Littleton Conservation Trust Annual Meeting
6:30 PM Presentation: 7 PM-8 PM
Dirigible Brewing Company, 24 Porter Road, Littleton, MA
LCT will treat those in attendance with one complimentary drink
John Hanson Mitchell will speak about the interrelationship between human culture and nature on one square mile of land, His book series, The scratch Flat Chronicles, will be the focus for the discussion
Thursday, October 26
THE SAND HILL SITE IN WAYLAND
7 PM
Acton Memorial Library and Zoom.
Duncan Ritchie, Senior Archaeologist at The Public Archaeology Laboratory will talk about Sand Hill, a large multicomponent Middle Archaic to Late Woodland Period site on the Sudbury River in Wayland, MA. The large assemblage of chipped, ground and rough stone tools, ceramic sherds and radiocarbon dated features document pre-contact Native American activities over a 7,000-year span. The Wayland Archaeology Group (WARG) carried out the excavation. At Acton Memorial Library and Zoom. Events require registration at https://tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2023 Questions? Email friends.of.pinehawk@gmail.com
Thursday, October 26
40th Anniversary Celebration/Fundraiser for The Nature Connection
5:30-9 PM
Concord Scout House,74 Walden St., Concord
Get ready to Celebrate 40-years of Inspiring Connections Between People & Nature!
Founded in 1983, this year marks a milestone as The Nature Connection’s 40th year, which we are excited to celebrate as part of this night of philanthropy! Mark your calendars for The Nature Connection’s annual fundraising event, Inspire which raises critical funds that support fee assistance through a sliding scale for organizations and participants who would otherwise go without the chance to connect with nature. Get tickets
Saturday, October 28th
Fall Family Fungi Fun
2-4pm, in person
Pierce Park, 17 Weston Road, Lincoln
Come join Lincoln’s Conservation Ranger, Will Leona, and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust’s Outreach Director, Bryn Gingrich, for a Family Fungi Fun Event. Look at spore prints, make slime mold, and hunt for different kinds of fungi.
This event will take place at Pierce Park. No pets please: our focus will be on nature. We will be meeting behind the town hall. This is a free program, but please register as space is limited. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Register at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1N1jHr-yIb2uJnaPtczuIyKjBQU-RYDxzws0I1kix-AE/edit#gid=1645793554
Saturday, October 28
Moonlight Hike sponsored by Harvard Conservation Trust
7 – 9pm EDT
The Burgess-Brown Trailhead, end of Murray Lane in Harvard, MA 01451
Venture out on an eerie hike under the full moon with Dr. Bob Douglas as he takes you on a spine-tingling journey into forest realm where elusive nocturnal creatures emerge from the shadows. Owls with ghostly hoots silently hunt, while bats, like winged phantoms, swoop in search of prey. Nightlife’s haunting howls echo through the forests as marauders of the night scavenge under the witching hour’s spell. Weave through native American stone mounds, ancient rock walls, and giant glacial boulders. Even discover rusty horse-drawn reminders from the 1800s. Then gather ’round a fire to share your stories and have some refreshments.
What to Bring: A small flashlight or headlamp, and a folding chair.
What to Wear: Closed toed footwear.
Be sure to apply bug spray;
Sign up at: https://bit.ly/MoonwalkOct28
Saturday, October 28
FULL Moon – Hunter’s Moon/Partial Lunar Eclipse
9:24 PM
Start looking for it on Friday, October 27
The Farmers Almanac: This particular full Moon is commonly referred to as the full Hunter’s Moon. It is believed that this name originates from the fact that it was a signal for hunters to prepare for the upcoming cold winter by going hunting. This is because animals were beginning to fatten up in preparation for the winter season. Moreover, since fields had recently been cleared out under the Harvest Moon, hunters could easily spot deer and other animals that had come out to search for remaining scraps. Additionally, foxes and wolves would also come out to prey on these animals.
Sunday, October 29
Plant ID and Natural History Autumn Walk, sponsored by Sudbury Valley Trustees
10:00am-12:30pm
Lyons-Cutler Conservation Land, Sudbury
Join Roland “Boot” Boutwell for a hike through the fields and woods of Lyons-Cutler Conservation Land. The Lyons-Cutler land was cleared and used as farmland until 1921 when it was sold and allowed to revert to forest. We’ll walk along Hop Brook as well as along the wetlands adjacent to Allowance Brook. The walk will focus on plant ID as well as fun and interesting natural history about the plants we see. Register at https://svtprograms.funraise.org/
Sunday, October 29
Run for the Hills with Harvard Conservation Trust
10 am 5k; 10:50 Fun Run
Prospect Hill Community Orchard, Harvard, MA
Great refreshments, prizes, and shirts. Costumes encouraged!
All proceeds support HCT’s mission Get more information at https://harvardconservationtrust.org/run-for-the-hills/
Tuesday October 31
BFRT Phase 2B Ribbon Cutting
10:00 am
Bruce Freeman Rail Trail Parking Lot
Commonwealth Ave, Concord, MA 01742 (that’s 407 Commonwealth Ave, just south of the rotary
MassDOT Acting Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt and Congresswoman Lori Trahan will join elected officials and municipal leaders from the Towns of Concord and Acton for a ceremonial ribbon cutting event for the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (Phase 2B) construction project. This rail to trail project begins at the intersection of Wetherbee Street and Great Road in Acton and continues across Route 2 to Commonwealth Avenue in Concord. This portion of the trail connects the Bruce Freeman trail across Route 2 between Concord and Acton. The total approximate project length is 5500 feet, 1.04 miles.
Light Refreshments
Wednesday, November 1
READING BETWEEN THE LINES: CONTEXTUALIZING NEW ENGLAND’S INDIGENOUS ROCK ART
7 PM
Acton Memorial Library and Zoom
New England’s rock art, imagery carved or painted on stone, provides a tantalizing, if often opaque, window into the region’s deep indigenous history. Drawing primarily from examples in Maine, Peter Anick, vice president of ARARA (American Rock Art Research Association), reviews various attempts to date, contextualize, and interpret figures using geology, ethnography, and comparisons with other sites. He relates how his experience researching difficult-to-see abstract art in Arizona contributed to the recent discovery of an unusual style of art here in New England Events require registration at https://tinyurl.com/pinehawk-2023 Questions? Email friends.of.pinehawk@gmail.com
Saturday, November 4
Eyes on Owls, sponsored by Sudbury Valley Trustees
11:00am-12:15pm
Wolbach Farm, Sudbury
Marcia and Mark Wilson have thrilled audiences of all ages with their live owl presentations for the past 28 years. The Wilsons highlight the owls’ unique adaptations, habitats and behaviors in the wild, while sharing tips on how you can look for owls yourself. Register at https://svtprograms.funraise.org/
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eNEWS from The Trustees
Favorite Fall Foliage Hikes
Looking to find the best fall foliage hikes in Massachusetts? Autumn is the best season to get outdoors and take in the brilliant leaf displays that New England is known for. You will be delighted by the list of lesser-known gems for leaf-peeping which comes highly recommended from our Stewardship Team. Click on Get Peepin’ →
Acton Photo Competition
We are looking to update the Town’s Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) with photos of Acton’s natural landscape, open spaces, and recreation. Do you have any favorite photos of Acton’s nature, open spaces, and recreation? The Town of Acton is actively collecting photographs to be featured in our updated Open Space and Recreation Plan
Please email your photos to photos@actonma.gov or scan the QR code on the flyer
Please include in the following in your submission:
-Your name
-Location the photo was taken
-Any other notes you would like to add
Reminder, all photographs of any individuals must be submitted with the individual’s consent. The deadline for submissions to the photo competition will be in December.
“Stand Up to Stigma” Scarecrow Contest – LAST WEEK!
ACTON: Enter the “Stand Up to Stigma” Scarecrow Contest to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Central Middlesex. Bring your $25 donation to Cucurbit Farm at 32 Parker Street in Acton and pick up your scarecrow starter frame. Then drop off your family friendly scarecrow at the farm stand. Individuals, organizations, and businesses are invited to participate. 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! Additional info can be found at namicentralmiddlesex.org/newsletter/scarecrow-contest2023.
Important News from Sudbury Valley Trustees (SVT)
New Role at SVT
Laura Mattei, SVT’s long-time Director of Stewardship, has been promoted to the newly created position of Director of Conservation. Laura will now oversee SVT’s Land Protection projects while also managing our Stewardship efforts. She will play a key role in establishing our conservation priorities, take the lead on collaborative conservation projects with our many partners, and continue to devise strategies for restoring wildlife habitats.
VOLUNTEERS:
Boston Area Gleaners is looking for gleaners!
Sign up to volunteer at BAG, https://www.bagetc.org/gleanlist.php
Thursday, 10/26
Apple picking
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Groton, MA
Thursday, 10/26
Hunt for Potatoes
10:00 AM – 1 PM
Ipswich, MA
Thursday, 10/26
Apple picking
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Groton, MA
Friday, 10/27
Apple Glean
9-noon
Acton, MA
Friday, 10/27
TBD!
9:00am – 12:00pm:
Location: TBD!
Friday, 10/27
Apple Glean
1:00pm – 4:00pm:
Location: Groton, MA
For more gleanings, visit https://www.bostonareagleaners.org/
Gleaning is in full swing! We have volunteer trips happening Wednesdays through Saturdays during the season. Be sure that you are signed up as a volunteer on our website. You will be automatically enrolled to receive weekly email updates when volunteer opportunities pop up. In the meantime, keep an eye on our volunteer opportunity list (or sign up for text message alerts – link below)!
Sign up on our and check out our FAQ to learn more! For more news and information from the Gleaners visit https://www.bostonareagleaners.org/
ne.org/team/499746
CPA Update, October 19, 2023, from Stuart Saginor, Executive Director of CPA
If you have been following the monthly collections reports from the state, you’ve probably noticed that the CPA Trust Fund has experienced some significant turbulence this year. With only one month of collections left until the November CPA Trust Fund distribution, total revenue has declined by 30% compared to this time last year (a difference of nearly $18 million). The Department of Revenue expects the Trust Fund to deliver a 20% base match for CPA municipalities this year (a figure that matches the Coalition’s own projections).
According to a recent report from State House News, home sales across the state have plummeted by 25% in 2023, and mortgage refinancing has all but disappeared with the rising interest rates. Because the CPA Trust Fund derives its revenue from the state’s Registries of Deeds, the diminishing real estate transactions puts a damper on the total revenue available for the annual distribution.
In previous years, the Coalition has succeeded in bolstering the Trust Fund by advocating for additional funding from the state’s budget surplus. However, this additional revenue source may be a longshot this year after the Legislature declined to include CPA in the FY24 state budget. While there is still a pending supplemental budget bill that could potentially include additional CPA Trust Fund revenue, the Legislature would need to take action by the end of October for the funding to be available for this year’s distribution.
Cucurbit Scarecrow Contest to support NAMI
If you haven’t visited and voted for “Mother Nature”, our ACT Scarecrow, at Cucurbit Farm – You have 1 week left to visit and to cast your vote in the most popular scarecrow contest and fundraiser for NAMI.
Please vote for #60; $1.00 donation/vote.
All scarecrows are expected to be picked up on Wednesday, November 1
Bring your kids/grandkids – they also have a corn maze!!!
“Mother Nature” supports MENTAL HEALTH/NAMI and CUCURBIT FARM!!!
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Sincerely yours,
Susan Mitchell-Hardt
President, Acton Conservation Trust
www.ActonConservationTrust.org
P.S. Welcome new “Events of Interest” subscribers! As a nonprofit organization focused on conserving land in Acton, we rely upon the support of our members. Visit our ACT website, and click on “Join Us”!