Author: admin

Gov. Abbott calls for expansion of Texas State Parks system Luke Metzger | Environment Texas | February 13, 2023 https://environmentamerica.org/texas/articles/gov-abbott-calls-for-expansion-of-texas-state-parks-system/ Great news for the Million Acre Parks Project! Last week, Governor Abbott called for expanding the state parks system, saying “Yes, we want Texas to grow. Yes, we want Texas to prosper. But we can do that while at the very same time conserving the beautiful parks that we have and adding to them to make Texas even more appealing to future generations.” As I told the Houston Chronicle, I “hope the Legislature heeds the governor’s call and makes a historic investment in expanding the state parks system.” This is the session to do it. It’s the centennial of the state parks system and our current parks already can’t keep up with demand. With a $33 billion budget surplus, the state has the resources to acquire more land for state parks, protect wildlife habitat, and create more opportunities for our kids to run free in the woods and...

Our Opinion: State must step up help for communities caught between crumbling dams and costly fixes Editorial Board | The Berkshire Eagle | February 18, 2023 https://www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/editorials/our-opinion-state-must-step-up-help-for-communities-caught-between-crumbling-dams-and-costly-fixes/article_4501d526-aede-11ed-9632-df16b919b46b.html Berkshires, we have a problem — a big dam problem. Recent Eagle reporting dove into the conditions of several critical dams across the county. Dams are considered “high hazard” by the state if a breach would likely cause fatalities and damage to surrounding property and infrastructure. According to the state Office of Dam Safety, Berkshire County has about three-dozen such dams — and three are in troubling shape considering the risks they pose. The Bel Air Dam on Wahconah Street in Pittsfield is rated as “unsafe” — the worst regulatory condition denoting major structural, operational and maintenance deficiencies in normal conditions. The Mount Williams Reservoir and Notch Reservoir dams, both located in North Adams, hold the second-worst rating of “poor” also indicating structural issues under typical conditions. Berkshire residents are all too familiar with crumbling infrastructure posing risks to residents,...

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces the Opening of Camping Reservations at DCR Campgrounds Press Release | Department of Conservation & Recreation | February 14, 2023 https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-announces-the-opening-of-camping-reservations-at-dcr-campgrounds BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that camping reservations at the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) campgrounds across the Commonwealth will be available beginning on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 9:00AM. Visitors can make camping reservations at one of DCR’s campgrounds up to four months in advance of their arrival date through ReserveAmerica. Reservations are available at DCR’s 27 campgrounds beginning in April and running through October.  “Over the past several years, we have seen the importance of seeking outdoor recreational activities and connecting with nature and the world around us,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is proud of the many diverse camping opportunities offered throughout the state, and we look forward to seeing new and returning visitors to DCR’s many campsites during the 2023 camping season.”  “Last season, DCR accommodated more than 50,000 camping reservations at 26 campgrounds...

You can now check out an all-terrain wheelchair at the Bushnell-Sage Library in Sheffield Heather Bellow | The Berkshire Eagle | February 3, 2023 https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/sheffield-grit-wheelchair-all-terrain-disability-trails-bushnell-sage-library-borrow/article_9ebdd178-a24a-11ed-bc93-3faed557c14c.html SHEFFIELD — For those who can’t go into the woods without help, Sheffield has a solution. With a state grant, the town bought a “GRIT Freedom Chair” that can be borrowed from the Bushnell-Sage Library’s “Library of Things” by those from any city or town with a CW Mars system library card. The chair is an all-terrain combination manual wheelchair and mountain bike designed by MIT engineers who founded the Medford-based company, GRIT. It’s lever-driven and has handles for pushing from behind. It’s easy to use and transport, according to the company’s website. It has separate sand and snow tires. The library links to the website and a video of a introduction of the chair and demonstration of its use one of two sessions the library held. The chair is the latest addition to the Bushnell-Sage’s “things” library. Other items include four different ukuleles, a guitar,...

Letter: Port Parks Alliance has been formed Letter to the Editor | The Daily News | February 3, 2023 https://www.newburyportnews.com/news/local_news/letter-port-parks-alliance-has-been-formed/article_81420ec4-a25f-11ed-98b0-434fc920d265.html To the editor: We would like to introduce the Port Parks Alliance formed by a group of Newburyport residents who wish to make positive and tangible contributions to help ensure the success of our parks far into the future. The PPA is a newly formed non-profit, 501©(3) organization whose mission is to collaborate with the city of Newburyport and its stakeholders to support the care, preservation, and enhancement of Newburyport parks. More specifically, we plan to bolster the missions of the Newburyport Parks Department and Parks Commission, as set out in the commission’s 10-year strategic plan adopted on Jan. 23, through independent fundraising for capital improvements; organizing of volunteers; and education and advocacy. Note that PPA operations will include policies to ensure the full transparency and proper procedures for donations, encompassing acceptance and use of funds, and reporting to city staff. By way of background, as founding...

Esplanade Association Hosts Free Frost Fit Winter Series 2023 Staff | Beacon Hill Times | January 26, 2023 https://beaconhilltimes.com/2023/01/26/esplanade-association-hosts-free-frost-fit-winter-series-2023/ The Esplanade is known to be a favorite spot for many Bostonians looking for a free, safe space to exercise. The Esplanade Association (esplanadeassociation.org) is excited to announce it will be hosting their fifth season Frost Fit Winter Series 2023 Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. This outdoor winter fitness series on the Esplanade will feature a program-packed lineup of workout classes and winter activities for people of all ages, abilities, and fitness levels to enjoy. The Winter Fitness Series will launch on January 28th at Fiedler Field with a 3-hour event featuring two workout classes, hot chocolate and swag all free to participants! Spend an hour or two learning about this year’s upcoming Frost Fit season and check out registration for classes. From January 30 to March 4, the November Project, 261 Fearless Club New England, and Lynx Fitness Club will each hold...

Overhaul of Ryan playground, wading pool moves ahead Gintautas Dumcius | Dorchester Reporter | January 25, 2023 https://www.dotnews.com/2023/overhaul-ryan-playground-wading-pool-moves-ahead Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) officials met last Thursday with state Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley and local residents as the agency restarts an overhaul of River Street’s Ryan playground and wading pool. Officials had received blowback from community members in October over an initial plan to convert the wading pool into a spray deck. The agency, which was ready to start construction within days but hadn’t asked for community input, pulled back on the plan and called off the contractors after hearing from angry residents. The plan was initially pitched as part of a statewide effort to convert pools to spray decks, which don’t require as many staffers and maintenance as pools do. But the later meeting went smoother: On Thursday, agency officials laid out preliminary plans to keep and enlarge the wading pool. The agency is still looking at improvements to the overall area. Existing issues...

Birding In Alabama's Black Belt Jennifer Kornegay | Bitter Southerner | January 17, 2023 https://bittersoutherner.com/feature/2023/birding-in-alabamas-black-belt By 9 a.m. on a Saturday in late July, despite a pale gray blanket of clouds blocking the worst of the sun, the temperature in Newbern, Alabama, deep in the state’s Black Belt region, is scorching. Still, people keep arriving at The Joe Farm, spying the sign from the county road and slowing to park on the shoulder. With a huge smile claiming most of his face, Christopher Joe yells and waves, greeting people with hearty handshakes or hugs and moving through the groups like a party host. There are old people. Young people. Folks from a few miles down the road and farther away in the state. People from Michigan, Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Vermont. All dressed in sensible shoes and wide-brimmed hats, with binoculars or cameras (or both) hanging around their necks, they turn their faces up and intensely search the skies when...

Midstate Trail In Massachusetts Is Full Of Awe-Inspiring Rock Formations Marla S. | Only In Your State | January 24, 2023 https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/rock-formaton-trails-ma/ There’s far from a shortage of hiking trails in Massachusetts. So, if you love spending time outdoors, head to Midstate Trail for a scenic in-and-out adventure that features jaw-dropping rock formations, wildflowers, a forest, local wildlife, and breathtaking scenery. In addition to enjoying the stunning views throughout this intermediate-level hike that’s under four miles, you can bring your leashed dog with you too. To get started on your hiking adventure, head to Leominster State Forest near Westminster, Massachusetts. If you're coming from Boston, take MA-2 for about an hour to reach the trailhead. To read the full story, click here...

Easy 2.2-Mile Cascades Trail Will Lead You To A Massachusetts Waterfall Katie Feldkamp | Only In Your State | January 23, 2023 https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/cascades-trail-waterfall-ma/ Nestled in the Northwest corner of the Berkshires in the small, vibrant town of North Adams, Massachusetts is a trail that begins in town and leads you to a stunning 40-foot waterfall. The 2.2-mile hike along the Cascades Trail in Massachusetts is easy enough for all skill levels, making it an ideal way to spend a few hours any day of the year. To reach the trailhead, visitors are encouraged to park at the local YMCA and walk along Notch Brook until signs lead you to the entrance of the trail. The trail begins in a neighborhood and parking is otherwise limited on the residential streets. To read the full story, click here...

Meander Through A Shady Forest Along The 2.1-Mile Wolf Meadow Trail In Massachusetts Meghan Byers | Only In Your State | January 23, 2023 https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/wolf-meadow-trail-ma/ There are so many scenic Massachusetts trails to explore, winding through woods and along lake shores, across beaches, and up mountains. Wolf Meadow Trail, also called Wolf Meadow Road, is a particularly peaceful wooded trail located in F. Gilbert Hills State Forest. It offers a serene walk through a shady forest at just over two miles long – and this beautiful out-and-back trail in Massachusetts also happens to be easy enough for a beginner to enjoy. Located in Norfolk County, F. Gilbert Hills State Forest is comprised of just over 1,000 acres and welcomes hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. There are 23 miles of trails to explore, and Wolf Meadow Trail is a popular choice. To read the whole story, click here...

Muddy River Restoration Project: Annual Meeting The Muddy River Restoration Project is hosting its annual meeting on April 26. This year's meeting will feature presentations from Federal, State and Municipal partners, the event will also mark the birthday of visionary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, whose urban greenspace designs have guided all aspects of the Project. For more information, please see below or click here. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-muddy-river-restoration-project-2023-annual-meeting-tickets-527343778437...

Five Years Ago, I Wrote a Fictional Disaster That Is Now Playing Out in Real Time Opinion | The New York Times | February 2, 2022 By Richard PowersPhotographs by Joshua Dudley Greer Mr. Powers is the author, most recently, of the novel “Bewilderment.” Mr. Greer is an artist and educator based in Atlanta. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/02/opinion/atlanta-police-center-protests.html What could make a person die for trees? About five years ago, I published a novel called “The Overstory,” the tale of several characters who come together to protect an old-growth forest. The book follows these characters as they put their lives on the line in increasingly aggressive confrontations against powerful interests in the hope of saving trees. In the story, decent and principled people cross over the edge into retaliatory violence while trying to defend the living world. Now a similar story is playing out just a four-hour drive from where I live. Atlanta has been shaken by an apparent shootout that occurred two weeks ago when law enforcement officers tried to clear protesters...

Neponset to Blue Hills Feasibility Study Open House Session 2/6/2023 Public Meeting Notices | Department of Conservation & Recreation https://www.mass.gov/event/neponset-to-blue-hills-feasibility-study-open-house-session-262023-2023-02-06t180000-0500-2023-02-06t193000-0500 Overview At this open house session, the DCR team for the Neponset to Blue Hills Feasibility Study project will provide opportunities for feedback on the proposed feasibility study. The purpose of this meeting is to continue gathering input from the community after the initial public listening sessions hosted virtually, and to provide information on the preliminary conclusions about preferred options for multimodal connections in this area. Please visit the prior event pages for this project to access the presentations and recordings: November 14th meeting & September 20th meeting. The public is welcome to come at their own convenience during the allotted open house session time. Informational material will be provided and the project team will be present to answer questions and address concerns. After the open house session, additional comments can be provided by emailing Daniel.cushing@mass.gov.   If you have agency-related questions or concerns or would like to be added to an email...