Fall for Opacum Dinner on September 18th
Click here to buy tickets now!
Join us Wednesday, September 18th for a fun and informative evening at the beautiful Barn at Wight Farm in Sturbridge. Enjoy a delicious dinner and cocktail hour, a silent auction featuring local treats, treasures and activities, and our fascinating guest speaker, Dr. Curtiss Hoffman.
Learn about Opacum’s most recent work in our community. Social/Cocktail Hours begins at 5:30 pm, followed by dinner and program. Proceeds from this event support the conservation work of Opacum Land Trust.
We are pleased to present Dr. Curtiss Hoffman as our guest speaker to discuss his fascinating and extensive research on the mysterious stone piles found across our region, documented in his newest book Stone Prayers: Native American Constructions of the Eastern Seaboard.
“Scattered throughout the woodlands and fields of the eastern seaboard of the United States and Canada are tens of thousands of stone monuments. These stone constructions have been the subject of debate among archaeologists and antiquarians for the past 75 years.”
Dr. Hoffman will discuss the 4 competing hypothesis about the creation of these structures: that they were built by colonial farmers removing rocks from their fields; by pre-Columbian transatlantic voyagers; that they are the result of natural deposition by glaciers or downslope erosion; and lastly, that they were constructed as sacred places by the indigenous peoples of the region. The purpose of Dr. Hoffman’s latest book “Stone Prayers” is to provide quantitative support for the indigenous construction hypothesis.
Join us to hear Dr. Hoffman discuss this highly debated topic and to share the methods and findings of his recent research.
Click here for more information or to buy tickets. See you there!
Don’t Miss Opacum’s 3rd Annual Bike Ride on July 7th!
The Southbridge Credit Union Tour Opacum 2019 is going to be bigger and better than ever! Join us for live music by Livestock, food, beer from Rapscallion Brewery, a bike raffle by Southbridge Bicycles, kids’ activities by Roots In Nature, and all for a good cause! Registered riders get a free beer and food, and kids ride the 2-mile route free!
This year, we’re setting up at Brimfield Winery, where all rides start and finish. We have routes for riders of all ages and abilities: 100-, 50- and 25-mile routes AND a 2-mile family friendly route, all on beautiful, paved, marked roads.
Experience the beautiful countryside and towns that Opacum Land Trust is working to preserve. Get some exercise, a free beer, and food, and help Opacum carry out its critical work.
Register by June 15th to receive a FREE 2019 TourOpacum Shirt!
Visit TourOpacum.org for complete details
and BikeReg.com/TO19 to register.
Congratulations! Town of Holland Approves Purchase of Stevens Brook/Holland Community Forest
Congratulations to the town’s residents for taking a giant step towards creating the 153-acre Stevens Brook / Holland Community Forest and shaping the future of the center of their town. At their May 21st Town Meeting, residents overwhelmingly authorized their selectmen to negotiate for the purchase of the property, using up to $417,000 of grant funding that Opacum Land Trust secured on their behalf through two grants. One of these grants, through the U.S. Forest Service Community Forest Program, was ranked #8 nationwide in the current grant round. The town also has $50,000 that was secured for the project by Representative Todd Smola.
Opacum Land Trust has been working on this project since 2015, a multi-year effort only possible due to the support provided to Opacum by members, donors and volunteers – thank you!
This project, a collaboration between Opacum and the Town of Holland, will provide:
- 153 acres of town-owned open space for outdoor recreation including hiking trails, cross-country skiing, nature viewing, hunting, and fishing.
- Protection of Stevens Brook, the 2nd largest source of fresh water to Hamilton Reservoir.
- Nature-based education opportunities for Holland schools
- A sustainably managed forest that will provide additional revenue to the town.
- 17 acres of land adjacent to the Town Center for town use that can fulfill many needs such as senior housing, playing fields, a new library and more.
As we enter the next phase of purchasing the Stevens Brook property and establishing Holland’s Community Forest, Opacum will be investing over $60,000 into the effort. We need your support to help us accomplish this and to continue our land conservation work across the Opacum service area.
Please consider making a donation today – thank you!