Autumn in the North Cemetery.

Sixty miles west of Boston, Massachusetts there is the small New England town of Sturbridge. Located at the junction of I-90 (The Mass Pike), and I-84 it has become known as the "Crossroads of New England". The town was first settled over 300 years ago, and like other small New England towns it has grown just enough over the years to be in a difficult place today. How do we embrace the future without forgetting how we got to our present? How do we attract the right kind of growth, and maintain who we are? And, what about our culture out here in Central Massachusetts?



These pages will cause one to think about how to protect what we have, our future direction, and how to move on in the very best way.


Those thoughts, and other ramblings, will hopefully inspire more thought, conversation, action, and occasionally a smile...

...seems to be working so far

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Nartional Public Lands Day Call For Volunteers

Sturbridge; National Public Lands Day, (NPLD) the Nation's largest volunteer
day for public lands, will be held on Saturday Sept 27th, 9 am to noon. NPLD
is the nation's largest 1 day volunteer effort in support of Public Lands.
Last year over 1 million people volunteered. For more information on NPLD
visit: http://www.publiclandsday.org

Local hosting of this year's NPLD is by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and
The Grand Trunk Trailblazers. The local trail committees of Brimfield,
Sturbridge and the Sturbridge Conservation Committee are asking for
volunteers to work on trail projects. This year's event will be organized at
the Westville Lake Park, off Wallace Rd in Sturbridge.

Volunteers are needed for the following projects, listed by town:
Brimfield: continue work improving the Grand Trunk trail along 5
Bridge Rd. Work includes spread gravel, brush removal and tree trimming.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the trail head parking lot on 5 Bridge Rd for
registration at 8:30 am.

Sturbridge: Two sites will have several trail work crews; Site 1 is
the Heins Farm Conservation land, where 4 crews will work spreading gravel,
pulling rocks and roots from trails, and Vista pruning. Meet at Westville
lake Park for tools and crew organization and car pooling.
Site 2 is at the Leadmine Mt Wildlife Conservation Land (OSV Parcel) Three
trail work crews will do trash and debris pick up, brush cutting trails and
invasive plant removal to start opening up the proposed 1.8 mile loop trail
around the ponds. Meet at Westville lake Park at 8:30 am for tools and crew
organization and car pooling.
Westville Lake Park: Four trail work crews are needed for invasive
plant removal, Tree planting and trail building/safety improvements along the
Community Trail in Southbridge. Meet at the Park for registration at 8:30 am.

Participants are requested to pre register for preferred trail crews, sign
ups can be made by calling Tom Chamberland at 508-347-3705 or email at
Thomas.a.chamberland@usace.army.mil
Please bring a water bottle, work gloves and dress for the work and weather.
Events will be held rain or shine. Refreshments and a pizza lunch will be
provided at Westville Lake Park at noon.

Any one interested in making donations of equipment (trash bags, tools,
gloves, and small tractors), water, food or refreshments are asked to contact
Pat McGarrah at 508-347- 3647 or Erin Jacque, Conservation Agent at
508-347-2506. For further information or to sign up for a trail crew contact
Park Ranger Tom Chamberland at 508-347-3705 or email at
Thomas.a.chamberland@usace.army.mil

Service Nation

Our National Public Lands Day is now also a part of this Service Nation Program. Please visit this website for more information on Service Nation.





--Tom Chamberland, Contributor

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