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"FRIENDS OF NASHAWANNUCK POND, INC." FORMED FOR ENHANCED PRESERVATION AND FUNDRAISING EFFORTS The Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee was established in 1985 with a mission to promote the cleanup and preservation of Nashawannuck Pond at the intersection of Williston, Union, and Cottage Streets. Under the leadership of Amy Marsters, a current committee member, the Steering Committee is proud to announce "The Friends of Nashawannuck Pond, Inc.," a Massachusetts non-profit corporation operating under the authority of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 180. "Our mission is to financially support the City of Easthampton’s Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee for the maintenance and preservation of Nashawannuck Pond for generations to come.” Realizing rising costs and potential grant opportunities for pond improvements, the structure of being a committee within the City was limiting the pond’s needs. Amy Marsters, in collaboration with Mayor Lachapelle, their attorney, and the city solicitor, has spearheaded the creation of a 501(c)(3) organization. This change empowers the "Friends of Nashawannuck Pond, Inc." to fundraise more effectively, access a wider array of grant opportunities, and reduce the burden on the city and reliance on Community Preservation Act dollars. Going forward, the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee will continue with its steadfast dedication to the environment. Nashawannuck Pond is vigilantly monitored for invasive plants, and, when necessary, herbicide treatments are employed to maintain its ecological balance. The committee is actively engaged in implementing preventative measures for cyanobacteria using barley straw and conducts testing whenever there is an indication of cyanobacteria, ensuring the safety and health of the pond. Currently, the committee is evaluating the retention walls installed in 2001 for shoreline stabilization, recognizing the importance of preserving the pond's natural beauty. The Committee sells merchandise and organizes the annual WinterFest to generate funds for the pond's upkeep. The basic annual maintenance and operating costs are approximately $10,000. WinterFest sponsorships will continue to be a crucial component in achieving their financial goals. The Friends of Nashawannuck Pond will lead robust efforts for grants and donations as a separate nonprofit organization. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, with Amy Marsters as the President, Beth Tiffany as the Treasurer, and Hillary Ballantine serving as the Clerk / Secretary. Directors: Paul Davis, Elaine Wood, Veronica Frantz-Eggleston. The Board will also appoint and oversee committees and committee chairs responsible for their respective areas of focus. To join us, or for more about The Friends of Nashawannuck Pond, Inc. please contact Amy Marsters at [email protected]. About The Friends of Nashawannuck Pond, Inc. The Friends of Nashawannuck Pond, Inc. is a Massachusetts non-profit corporation dedicated to supporting the City of Easthampton Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee in the maintenance and preservation of Nashawannuck Pond. The organization's tax-exempt purposes are overseen by a dedicated Board of Directors and carried out by a team of dedicated volunteers and practitioners. Their mission is to ensure the continued vitality of Nashawannuck Pond for future generations. REMEMBER US FOR YOUR TAX DEDUCTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS !
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
What: Algae and Cyanobacteria Control Project When: Saturday, April 23, 2022 Where: Nashawannuck Pond, Easthampton, MA Why: Over the past number of years, lakes and ponds throughout the United States and the world have been experiencing increased occurrences of algae blooms. These blooms are a result of warmer climate temperatures and particularly affect shallower water bodies. Not all, but some of these blooms, may contain Cyanobacteria which can be very harmful. Because the Nashawannuck Pond has experienced these blooms in the recent past, we are trying to see if using Barley Straw will help. It has been found that Barley Straw, as it decomposes in certain waterbodies, will release a non harmful agent that will prevent these blooms from occurring. Thus, we are locating mesh bags of Barley Straw at specific locations to help prevent these blooms from happening. We need 6 volunteers - to prepare Barley Straw bags. Meet at Valley Malt, 4 North Bridge Street in Holyoke (approx. 8 miles from Easthampton) April 23rd from 9am-noon. Volunteers will stuff two sections of Barley Straw from a bale into each of the 100 onion bags together with 2-3 floats. We need 2 volunteers - to be in a boat on the Nashawannuck Pond to deploy the Barley Straw bags. There will be 2 boats with a pilot and a volunteer. The task is at designated areas with water depth approx. 2' - 3' deep, pounding in a stake approximately 2' deep, tying the Barley Straw bags to it and tying on an identifying ribbon. May need waders. Meet at the boat ramp on Water Street on Saturday, April 23rd at 12:30pm. Please email [email protected], if you wish to volunteer or have questions and concerns.  IMPORTANT WINTERFEST UPDATE! Out of an abundance of caution regarding the increased presence of COVID-19 in our community, INDOOR WinterFest activities have been cancelled, or postponed. As a city committee, the Nashawannuck Pond Committee must follow the city health director’s guidance regarding eliminating indoor public gatherings at this time.
This directive does NOT apply to individual businesses and organizations who wish to hold events during WinterFest. In order to help the public best identify "official" WinterFest activities, committee sponsored activities show as “Featured Events” on our calendar. All other activities are sponsored by private businesses or organizations. We hope you will enjoy all the wonderful outdoor and online activities we have worked hard to plan this year. We also wish to thank our many sponsors of WinterFest.  MEDIA ALERT
December 20, 2021 For Immediate Release Contact Information: Beth Tiffany, Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee - WinterFest Chair [email protected] (413) 320-3124 www.nashawannuckpond.org City plans 9th Annual Easthampton WinterFest to celebrate winter and raise funds for Nashawannuck Pond. Easthampton, MA - On Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022 the 9th Annual Easthampton WinterFest will be held in locations throughout the city. Due to covid awareness some events are online, others outdoors and must wear masks indoors .The festivities begin January 2, 2022 with online events Nash pond photo contest, snowflake making contest, online pond trivia and Mt.Tom ice cream flavor contest.. The festival is organized by the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee and is a fundraising event created to bring public awareness about ongoing efforts needed to keep Nashawannuck Pond healthy for generations to come. Most activities are free to attend due to generous business sponsorship, and are family friendly. Donations are gladly accepted. A Historical Ice Harvest on Nashawannuck Pond features historian Dennis Picard. Participants can try their hands at using a pond saw to "harvest" blocks of ice as they learn about Easthampton's part in the area's ice industry. Other outdoor activities include a nature walk at Arcadia, draft horse wagon rides and a fire by the pond. Ice carver MIke Rondeau will be creating an ice bar luge and table tops on the Keystone Mill patio. Indoor activities are at Keystone Mill 122 Pleasant St. Juggernaut Glass blowing demonstration, Art in Motion dance demonstration, The 1 Man Party trivia and Bumble will be there for photo ops.. Bring the kids, grandparents, friends and out of area visitors and make it a day in Easthampton. Adult fun includes the first Winterfest Fire & Ice Gala at Boylston West Room featuring Ice Bar outdoors on the Keystone patio with ice carvings by Mike Rondeau, along with Johnny & the Flashbacks Pioneer Valley’s premiere dance band and appetizers by Meyers Catering. A ticketed event. WinterFest On Tap with live music at Abandoned Building Brewery. To view activities, please visit the event calendar: https://www.nashawannuckpond.org/winterfest.html. More information about sponsorship and volunteering are available on the pond's website: www.nashawannuckpond.org. For up to date information, join our mailing list, follow Nashawannuck Pond on Facebook and our Facebook events. All outdoor events are weather permitting and may be cancelled without notice.  The Nashawannuck Pond Committee raises funds throughout the year for many pond projects, including:
Nash pond t-shirts and hoodies (right now limited sizes for hoodies but will restock in 2-3 weeks) available The Water's Fine goods + coffee & Wedge Works Art & Home . Reuse bags available at above and Sonnet & Sparrow Big Bear Used Books and Cafe Big E's Supermarket Please consider a small donation by purchasing and using our cool swag!  The Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee is pleased to announce the 8th Annual Easthampton WinterFest has begun. We admit that the event looks a bit different this year, but we wanted to do something to bring our wonderful community together for a little safe fun this year. Many activities will take place in the weeks leading up to Feb. 13th, our official WinterFest date.
Most of our events will be VIRTUAL, allowing participants to join in the fun from home, or in small family circles. Our theme this year is simple - - - LOVE. Love the pond, love our community and love each other. It's fitting that WinterFest often falls on Valentine's Day weekend and love is in the air. Enter contests for the best Window Displays, Snowflake Making, Pond Photo, and sponsored events including naming a new ice cream flavor for Mt. Tom's Ice Cream, creating a winning snow sculpture with Valley Paddlers. Take a walk in the woods at Arcadia and discover snow fleas (yes, they are a thing!). Are you a trivia fanatic? Enter our Pond Trivia contest. Love a good Scavenger Hunt? We've got that, too. There is something for everyone at WinterFest!!! WinterFest has been our main fundraiser for the last seven years, and we have relied on the funds raised through local business and resident support to help us care for the pond. We are an advisory committee to the city and do not receive any funds through our city government for important pond health projects. We work collaboratively with our mayor's office, city planning department, park and rec department, local conservation commission, DPW, city health department, CPA (Community Preservation Act) committee and other supporters. If you would like to become a sponsor of WinterFest, you can download a form here. Check out our calendar of activities here.  They say it takes a village . . . . It sure does, especially when working out the logistics of the long standing tradition of creating a visual lighting display on the pond. A group of semi-secret "elves" led by Mike LaValley, owner of The Brass Cat, made sure that the tree shined its light for all to see for more than twenty years. After a year's absence, a number of volunteers decided to bring the tradition back and worked hard to gather supplies and labor to make it happen.
In late November, a tree was once again donated by Mrs. Mumblo who had a Christmas Tree Farm for many years in town. The Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee, led by Paul Nowak, Pat Brough from Finck and Perras Insurance Co., volunteers and equipment from Williston Northampton School, Chief Alberti from the Easthampton Police Dept. and Dan Whiteley, of Whiteley Electric who supplied the technical lighting knowledge and electrical power made it all happen. Paul put his boat captain license to good work as he guided the tree by boat to its resting spot. The pond lighting display joins the light on Mt. Tom as a symbol. Let the light shine each night as we keep in mind what a wonderful, caring community we are lucky to have. Pasqualina Azzarello, our City Arts Coordinator, says it best. . . "Easthampton, a little city with a big heart." |
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Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee
c/o 50 Payson Ave. Easthampton, MA 01027 Click HERE to learn more about Friends Of Nashawannuck Pond, Inc. 501c3 Donations in the form of checks can be made out to and mailed to: Friends of Nashawannuck Pond, Inc. 50 Payson Ave, Easthampton, MA 01027 |
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