Last Sunday afternoon, some 20 or so people, met on West Street in Lenox to show their appreciation for a land donation which was made to the Town of Lenox in 1974 by the late Robert Weiss and his wife Olga. In attendance were members of the Weiss family. Short speeches were made by Jim Brooke, representing the Lenox Land Trust, its president Sarah Hatch and LLT members, Lenox Selectwoman Mary Beth Mitts, and Lenox Town Manager Chris Ketcham.
In Brooke’s comments, he noted that the Weiss donation is assessed today at over $1 million. He mentioned that the land, when partnered with the 84 acres donated by Mr. John Drummond (Jack) Kennedy totals nearly 150 acres of preserved land which covers the southern portion of Parson’s Marsh. The Weiss donation was made with the understanding that the Town would make hiking trails there. With tongue in cheek, Brooks commented, “The installation of the plaque, 49 years later, is a good start.”
Selectwoman Mitts thanked Olga Weiss not only for the donated land but also for the countless hours serving on many town committees.
Olga commented that we are living in perilous times and each of us needs to do what we can to preserve the environment. She also mentioned the need to address the dramatic rise in the water level of the marsh. Currently, Jack Kennedy’s plaque is under 3 ft of water as is the former path.
The wooden plaque, which was then unveiled, says it all:
“Weiss Family Gift” “This land was donated to the Town of Lenox in 1974 by Robert and Olga Weiss to augment the Parson Marsh Conservancy and to preserve in perpetuity its natural flora and fauna. It is habitat for deer, bear, fox, coyote, bobcat, mountain lion, wild turkey, eagle, and osprey and a large variety of trees, plants, birds and smaller animals. Erected by the Lenox Land Trust, Fall 2022.”
Trout Stocking
The following waters were scheduled to be stocked with trout last week. This is the last of the scheduled spring 2023 weekly trout stocking reports. But you never know, they might they find a few more trout hiding in the recesses of the hatcheries, so keep checking the website for any possible additional hatchery deliveries.
Deerfield River in Charlemont, Buckland and Florida, Housatonic River C&R in Lee and Stockbridge, East Branch of the Westfield River in Chesterfield, Cummington and Huntington, Laurel Lake, North Pond in Florida, Plunkett Reservoir, Richmond Pond, Stockbridge Bowl and Windsor Pond.
Many thanks go out to Deb Lipa and Leanda Fontaine Gagnon from the DFW Western District Headquarters in Dalton for providing the weekly trout stocking information to us. I’m sure it resulted in more work for them and they did not have to do it. If you are in their neighborhood, you may want to pop in and thank them.
The Wild Acres Youth Fishing Derby had another great turnout
Last Saturday the Wild Acres Youth Fishing Derby took place with some 98 Children registered. The age range was from 1 1/2 to 14 years old. This was the 9th year that the City of Pittsfield Conservation Commission and Lyon Aviation sponsored the event.
Representing the City of Pittsfield were Becky Manship, Recreation and Special Events Coordinator and Rob Van Der Kar, Pittsfield Conservation Agent. Assisting the anglers were Onota Fishing Club President Fred Ostrander and his team of OFC volunteers.
Dave’s Sporting Goods Store, Onota Boat Livery and Parks and Recreation provided bait, rods and tackle; Lyon Aviation provided the brook trout. Ozzies Steak and Eggs Restaurant catered the event out of their food van. Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and the Onota Fishing Club donated a total of 7 fishing poles that were raffled off once the trophy winners were announced.
Only 3 out of the 300 stocked trout were caught as bass were the most popular catches of the day. Some pumpkinseed and pond shiners were also caught.
4-year-old Gabe Christman caught the biggest fish, a 15 ¼ in bass which weighed 1.38 lbs. 5-year-old James Martindale caught the biggest trout which measured 14 inches and weighed 1.1 lbs. All in all, some 25 children took home trophies.
This year the Sophomore Class at Taconic High School built 15 Leopold viewing benches for Wild Acres and they also helped to stock the trout.
Our hats are off to Lyon Aviation, the City of Pittsfield, the Onota Fishing Club, BNRC and everyone involved to make this event a great success.
A huge thank you goes to Becky Manship for her hard work in providing information on the derby winners and other pertinent information.
State Grants
Governor Healey’s office announced $500,000 state grants on Wednesday, April 26, to five coalitions and four individual non-profit watershed organizations across the state to support monitoring water quality. The grant program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
Local organizations which received some of these funds were: The Housatonic Valley Association – $48,605, The Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited – $26,007 and The Farmington River Watershed Association – $13,378.
Free Fishing Weekend in Massachusetts
This year’s Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend is on June 3 and 4. No license is required to fish any public lake, pond, reservoir, stream, or river in Massachusetts from 12:00 a.m. Saturday, June 3 until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 4.
For saltwater anglers, Free Saltwater Fishing Weekend is June 17–18.
All other regulations, including catch limits, apply so before heading out on the water, make sure you know them.
Annual Harry A Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby coming up
The 31st Annual Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby will take place next Saturday, June 3, at the Frank Controy Pavilion at Onota Lake in Pittsfield, from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. No fishing license is required because it is Free Fishing Weekend.
This fishing derby is perhaps the most important and largest of our local derbies. Open to the public, its purpose is to raise money for the Jimmy Fund – Dana Farber Cancer Institute. All the proceeds will be donated to the Jimmy Fund in memory of Harry A. Bateman a former member of Central Berkshire Bowman & I.U.E. Local 255 who was well known throughout Berkshire County and who became a victim of cancer in 1992.
Many trophies and prizes will be awarded to the winners of the fishing derby – 8 trophies for children, 4 trophies for adults and 3 trophies that can be won by adults or children. There is even a special category for those fishing with a bow & arrow. All fish must be weighed in at 12:00 p.m. and can be caught at Onota Lake from a boat or the shore. Don’t be late as the scales will be removed immediately after 12:00 pm.
Fishing tackle is given out with the trophy prizes and 2 prizes for the heaviest trout. A sportsman award is given out to a child which includes a tackle box with over $100 of tackle.
The fee is $10 for adults, $5 for children 14 years old and younger. The fee includes food and beverages. All children receive a free gift and children 5-14 years old have a chance to win a mountain bike boys/girls. Advanced tickets may be purchased at Avid Sports, Dave’s Sporting Goods, & Onota Boat Livery. Everyone needs to register at the Frank Controy Pavilion before all fish can be weighed in. Even if you can’t make the derby, donations to the cause will be graciously accepted.
Memorial Day Weekend
It’s that time again when we honor those who have fought, suffered and/or died in defense of our nation. I hope that as a nation we can set aside our differences and come together this weekend to remember them and their sacrifices. They deserve nothing less.