Lynn Paresky of Douglas on Beau crossing the French River
BSTRA’s 23rd National Trails Day raised $13,471, making it a definite success thanks to the many sponsors and participants who supported the non-profit organization’s event. Held out of the Army Corps of Engineers Hodges Village Dam in No. Oxford on June 14th, National Trails Day generated enough income to pay for the required 50% match of $13,404. for the grant they were awarded by the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor, Inc. The grant was awarded for BSTRA’s 2015 trail project on the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) in Uxbridge and Douglas and in the Douglas State Forest. The total cost of the project, which improves the local trail system for a variety of trail users, is just over $26,800. Both the SNETT and the Douglas State Forest are popular destinations for people to enjoy outdoor recreation and fitness.
BSTRA’s National Trails Day Fundraiser was sponsored by Paresky Flitt & Company, LLP, Certified Pubic Accountants, Wayland, and it attracted equestrian participants from across Massachusetts, as well as from Connecticut and Rhode Island. Thanks to food sponsors (Wegman’s, Papa Gino’s of Webster, Foppema’s Farm, Price Chopper, Douglas House of Pizza and Whole Foods) participants enjoyed a tasty lunch following a 6-mile ride through the beautiful trails of the park. The event was staged out of the Greenbriar Recreation Area of The Town of Oxford, providing plenty of parking for participants. The trail route was marked, making it easy for participants who were not familiar with the park to find their way through the designated course. Hodges Village Dam, with the French River running through it, offered lots of scenic areas with an abundance of wild flowers, birds and water fowl—a nature lover’s paradise.
Business sponsors provided just over $3,000 of gift certificates and items for the raffle table, as well as generous prizes for the top participants who raised the most in sponsor donations. Top participants were: Lynn Paresky (Douglas), Becky Kalagher (Douglas), Donna Johnson (Bellingham), Kathy Sugrue-Richards (Douglas), Julia Taddei (Douglas), Rose Zariczny (Woonsocket), Chris Podles (Douglas), Anna Marie Paul (Grafton), Rita Cardinal (Douglas), Tristen Weeks (S. Grafton) and Sandy Wedge (Uxbridge). A complete list of business sponsors is published on BSTRA’s website, http://www.bstra.org
BSTRA is a non-profit organization and has been working for trails since its incorporation in 1973, but increased loss of trails due to development and other factors has made its trail advocacy work even more important in recent years. Never in its history has the need for trail access, preservation and maintenance been so great as it is now. BSTRA is completely managed by volunteers and has approximately 500 members. 100% of the money BSTRA raises from its National Trails Day Fundraiser is used to fund trail projects.
Originated by the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day exists to encourage all Americans to get outside, connect with local clubs, businesses, community groups, and parks and recreation departments as well as federal land managing agencies to experience, appreciate and celebrate trails—the natural places where they can find scenery, peace, happiness and health. Dedicated volunteers, outdoor enthusiasts, trail lovers, and those new to the outdoors are all key ingredients to National Trails Day. It’s a time to give back to trails and introduce new people to the outdoors. It is in that spirit of National Trails Day that BSTRA hosts its annual National Trails Day Fundraiser to raise money for Massachusetts Trail Projects.
BSTRA is currently involved in the 18 miles of the SNETT projects under way in the towns of Franklin, Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Uxbridge and Douglas.
To help BSTRA with its second 2015 trail project located in the Douglas State Forest, please send your tax-deductible donation to: BSTRA Fundraising Committee, c/o 76 NW Main St., Douglas, MA 01516 — or make your donation online at http://www.bstra.org. On this project BSTRA is working with DCR to connect some trails that are not currently usable. The work entails installing a total of three bridges (one that will be 70 ft. long) and creating a new connecting trail which will make it possible to get to the SNETT from the east side of SW Main St., Douglas. Whether you enjoy the forest for walking your dog, riding your horse, cross country skiing, hiking, mountain biking or snowmobiling, please help BSTRA with its work to improve the trails you use by making a donation. A receipt will be supplied to you for tax purposes.
If you aren’t familiar with the Douglas State Forest and the SNETT, go out and explore these wonderful assets. They are important community resources, as well as popular destinations for visitors.
press release
UPTON DAILY 