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WRWA sponsors or participates in a variety of events during the year. Many of these events offer opportunities for volunteers to get involved with watershed issues. The events listed below are those which are scheduled for the next few months. Details on additional events will be posted as information becomes available. Moonlight X-Country Ski - Granville, MA: Ski by the light of the nearly full moon (full moon is Sunday, the 28th) at beautiful Maple Corner Farm in Granville, MA on Friday, Feb 26. This is a working farm, doing sugaring in the spring and maintaining an extensive trail system for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Once per month they offer a special moonlight experience for those ready for a glorious outing. As we ski in the darkness of evening, our path will be illuminated by moonlit snow, starry skies and luminaries (candles in bags) lining parts of the trails. When in need of a warm up, we'll go inside and have snacks and a warm drink while sitting by the crackling fire and listening to musicians entertain us. Unlike most WRWA programs, there is a fee ($25 if you've got your own skis, $30 if you need rentals) payable to Maple Corner Farms upon arrival. The following day (Saturday, Feb 27) is the alternate date in case of bad weather. Dress in plenty of layers, as evening will be colder than during a daytime ski. Come join us for a memorable winter evening experience. Meet at Maple Corner Farms, 794 Beech Hill Road in Granville, MA at 7:30 p.m. Please call 413-564-0895 to register by February 19th, as Tom and Nancy will need to let Maple Corner Farms know our numbers. Sanderson Brook Falls and the H. Newman Marsh Trail - Chester, MA: Join Tom and Nancy Condon for a hike to the falls on Saturday, Mar 13. The total distance for this hike is about 4 miles. We'll start by heading up the access road to Sanderson Brook Falls. If we've had a lot of snow this winter and the melt is early, the falls can be spectacular. If it's been a long winter, the frozen falls can be lovely too. The road heads past the falls and a series of logging roads and trails will help us climb gradually to some outstanding views of the Westfield River watershed. We'll stop there for lunch and to enjoy the views before heading down the H. Newman Marsh Trail back to the start. This stretch of the trail can be steep, so come prepared. We'll take it slow and cautiously. Dress for the weather. Bring along a lunch and plenty of water. And don't forget your camera. Meet at the Sanderson Brook Falls parking lot (off Rt. 20 in Chester) at 10 a.m. and expect to be back by 3 p.m. Please call 413-564-0895 to register. 2010 Westfield River Symposium: The 16th annual Westfield River Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, March 27 in the Scanlon Banquet Hall at Westfield State College. The theme for this years' event is "Green Energy in Our Watershed". The keynote speaker will be Alan Nogee of the Union of Concerned Scientists. The morning session will feature half a dozen speakers on various issues related to renewable energy, and lots of exhibitors including local companies that offer renewable energy products. We're working on a couple of field trips for the afternoon. More details will be posted as they become available. Salmon Fry Stocking: Come out to help MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife personnel with the stocking of a million salmon fry into the Westfield River and its tributaries! On Saturday, April 10, we'll be stocking Munn and Dickinson Brooks in Granville, while on Saturday, April 24 we'll help stock along the Middle Branch of the Westfield River above the Littleville Dam. More information will be posted here as it becomes available. Kayak/Canoe Demo Day at Hampton Ponds State Park: WRWA, in cooperation with Wilderness Experiences & Westfield Water Sports, is sponsoring a Demo Day on Saturday, May 22. You'll have an opportunity to test paddle over 60 different kayaks and canoes. There will also be demonstrations throughout the day, and information about the best local places to paddle. Raffles for a kayak and a custom-made paddle will be offered. This event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Hampton Ponds State Park (1048 North Rd. in Westfield). Admission will be $5 per person or $10 per family. For more information, check the flyer, call (413) 569-1287, or visit Wilderness Experiences & Westfield Water Sports. 1955 Flood Documentary DVD: The Pilgrim Candle Marketplace, in partnership with WRWA (the Westfield River Watershed Association), will sell DVD's of Five Feet and Rising: The Flood of '55. This 28-minute documentary, produced by Jack Hayward of Hayward Communications and co-produced by Mark Saint Jean of Westfield State College in cooperation with WRWA, recounts the devastating Westfield River floods of August 1955. The film includes a number of interviews with Westfield residents recalling their experiences of the 1955 event - the largest recorded flood in Westfield's history. The Pilgrim Candle Marketplace, located at 16-30 Union St. in Westfield, is open from 9-6 on Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 on Sunday. Non-profit organizations can obtain free copies of the DVD by contacting Kathy Meyer at 568-4252. Westfield River Exhibit: WRWA partnered with The Pilgrim Candle Marketplace in Westfield in the creation of an exciting new Westfield River exhibit, which was unveiled on November 24 and is available for viewing during The Pilgrim Candle Marketplace's business hours of M-Sat 9-6 and Sundays from 12-5. The Pilgrim Candle Marketplace renovated unused space and developed it into a large exhibit highlighting the history of the area, celebrating the Westfield River in all its wild and scenic glory, and depicting the Great River Bridge Project in its various stages of construction. The display is divided into the Past, Present and Future. The Past features historic photos and drawings of the river and Westfield. The Present includes a large poster on the Westfield River highlighting its Wild and Scenic features. The Future includes architectural drawings and models of the Great River Bridge. WRWA funded the printing of the Present poster, which is a reprint of a display posted in a kiosk on Route 20 in Huntington. |
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