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."

Are you scratching your head thinking about what to get the special people on your holiday shopping list this year?  Look no more!  We are excited to say the our Pond Bags are back in stock and available in the following shops:
Cottage Street Cultural District:
Water's Fine Goods & coffee 
Wedgeworks Art & Home  
The Boutique Easthampton Crystal & Mineral Shop  
Book Moon
Sonnet and Sparrow  
Comic's N More  
Corsello Butcheria  

Union Street

Big E's
 
The Mill District
Vintage Cellar  East (Keystone)
Big Bear Used Books and Café (Keystone)

Our reusable shopping bags are well-made, feature the art of Michael Henry (winner of our 2019 Photo Contest), and generously made possible by local business support. 

Gift them to your boss, your neighbor, family members who miss living in Easthampton, service providers -- and don't forget to pick up a few for yourself!  Please support our local businesses and shop local this year, and every year. All proceeds go directly to support the health of Nashawannuck Pond.

May your holidays be thoughtful, bright and full of love!

After many months of planning, the dredging of both the White Brook and Broad Brook siltation basins will begin on October 5, 2020.  The Easthampton Planning Department and Department of Public Works is administering the work. Funding for the project was secured through the Community Preservation Act (CPA) and the Nashawannuck Pond Committee's various fundraising activities.  During the dredging work, some trails, including the popular Toteman Trail, may be temporarily unavailable.  Attached is a helpful flyer which describes the scope of the project, along with an anticipated timeline for completion.
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For more historical information on this restoration project, please visit:
Original dredging project
Basin dredging project overview

Early this week, the pond committee was notified by the Easthampton Health Department of a possible cyanobacteria concern reported by a resident. In accordance with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health protocol, an image of the area was sent to the state for further inspection. Upon review, the state determined that there could be a "possible presence of cyanobacteria (algae) cells that may exceed the MDPH guidelines for recreational waterbodies in Massachusetts." The MDPH recommended posting public advisories at all access points of the ponds to notify residents that water should be avoided until further testing could be done over a two week period. Signs are now posted on both Nashawannuck Pond and Lower Mill Pond.

In August 2019 Nashawannuck Pond was closed abruptly due to a visual inspection of a possible cyanobacteria presence. While no cyanobacteria was found after subsequent testing, the action prompted the pond committee to work with city departments to develop a protocol should there be future issues. Working with the Mayor's Office, the Board of Health and the Public Works Department, the committee identified ways to 1) keep the city vigilant regarding water flow and removal of debris quickly, 2) perform expedient and appropriate tests for cyanobacteria as soon as it is suspected. Any costs for testing would be absorbed by the pond committee.

On Thursday, August 6, 2020, pond committee chair, Paul Nowak, collected the water samples from Nashawannuck Pond and drove them to Northeast Laboratories in Berlin Connecticut where they will test for the existence or nonexistence of cyanobacteria.  Upon the state's recommendation, we will also pay to test for the presence of microcystins. The report will be presented to the Easthampton Health Department within a 24 turnaround. If the results are negative, a second test will be done seven days later. If both tests are within acceptable limits, the state will be notified and the ban lifted, allowing residents to enjoy the pond, and a local boat rental business return to normal operations.

​For more information about Nashawannuck pond, please visit our FAQ page.

Late in the summer of 2019, the pond committee was made aware of the sudden closure of the pond in response to the possibility of a cyanobacteria bloom being present. At the time, the health department followed state protocol which was to send images of a suspected area to the state for visual inspection. This resulted in its closure and delayed reopening which affected residents and businesses from being on the pond. Subsequent water tests were negative for the bacteria.

The committee reviewed the protocol (August 28, 2019 minutes) to help create a pro-active response should this be an ongoing concern in future years.  The Easthampton Board of Health has released the new protocol which allows the Nashawannuck Pond Committee to test the water for cyanobacteria before reporting a possible bloom through image identification. The cost for testing would be paid by the pond committee made possible by our ongoing fundraising efforts throughout the year.

The protocol is available on the city website and is attached below.  We are pleased to work collaboratively with our city to benefit Easthampton residents and businesses who depend on continued access to our beautiful pond.

MEDIA ALERT

December 16, 2019

For Immediate Release

Contact Information:

Liz Provo, Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee - WinterFest Chair
nashawannuckpond@gmail.com
(413) 539-7950
www.nashawannuckpond.org

City plans 7th Annual Easthampton WinterFest to celebrate winter and raise funds for Nashawannuck Pond.

Easthampton, MA  - On Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 the 7th Annual Easthampton WinterFest will be held in locations throughout the city. The festivities begin Friday evening with the screening of "The Story of Nashawannuck Pond" and a short introduction to "Albert Kiesling", held at Easthampton Media in conjunction with ArtWalk. 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.

An 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 and draft horse wagon rides.

Indoor activities include a Craft & Vendor Fair with over 90 vendors, a student recital by The Prindle School, student art show and art workshops, Salsa dance lessons, cupcake decorating, kid's dance party, magic and comedy shows, a family movie on the big screen, and the annual Chili Cook Off. The results of the city-wide Albert Kiesling snow sculpture contest, chili cook off and scavenger hunt winners will be held at Easthampton High School at 3PM. Bring the kids, grandparents, friends and out of area visitors and make it a day in Easthampton.

Adult fun includes the return of the popular Ice Bar outdoors at the Brass Cat, featuring ice carvings by Mike Rondeau, and 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.

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