We host and sponsor many different events here at HooRWA. We will try and give you as much advanced notice as we can on this site. Some are maintenance efforts, some are informational, and some are just pure fun!
Love to see you out there supporting our world!
Riverfest to be held on May 26
Riverfest, the annual celebration of the Hoosic held by the Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA), will be held at Cole Field on the Williams College campus from 11AM to 4 PM on Saturday, May 26. Admission is $5 advance and $7 at the gate per person. Children 10 and under admitted free.
Riverfest is a family event that features live river animals, crafts and games, pony rides, raft rides, live music, drumming and a riverside art exhibit. The traditional Riverfest bird walk, led by Leslie Reed-Evans of the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation, begins the day of celebration. (Meet at 7:30 at Ephs Pond opposite Cole Field.) Events for kids and adults are scheduled throughout the day.
Healing Winds, a not-for-profit Native American cultural and educational organization, will set up a tepee and invite children to help erecting a wigwam. These will be settings for drumming, dancing, story telling and games.
Riverfest tickets have been subsidized this year by over $3,000 in contributions from area businesses, including title sponsor, the Williamstown Savings Bank (WSB), and major sponsors Alton & Westall and the Williams College Center for Environmental Studies. Businesses have also donated $2,000 in prizes. Admission tickets double as raffle tickets for an Old Town kayak from Berkshire Outfitters, a mountain bike from the Spoke, or outdoor clothing from Nature’s Closet. The first-prize kayak is on display in the lobby of the Williamstown branch of WSB. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the bank, The Spoke, Nature’s Closet, Wild Oats or from HooRWA board members.
Numerous other bucket raffle prizes are available.
Visitors to Riverfest may want to end their day with a visit to MASS MoCA’s O, Canada exhibit, opening at 5:30 p.m. that day. The exhibit will showcase the vast expanse of art made in that country, spanning all media and crossing generations and geography. Tickets for the reception are $10.
For more information, contact HooRWA at 413-458-2742 or office@hoorwa.org.
Many thanks to our Riverfest sponsors listed below.
Adams Plumbing & Heating
Atlantis Equipment Corporation
Berkshire Outfitters
Cascade School Supplies
Coakley Pierpan, Dolan & Collins
Connors Bros.
Countryside Landscaping
Coury’s Used Auto Parts
Goffs Sports
Goodman’s Jewelers
Hobson’s Choice
Hot Tomatoes
Images Cinema
MASS MoCA
Neil Segala Custom Builder
North Branch Nursery
Persnickety Toys
The Cottage
The Harrison Gallery
The Mill on the Floss
The Porches Inn
The Spoke
Tunnel City Coffee
Ware & Goodman
West Oil Company
Wild Oats Market
Where’d You Get That?
Williamstown Theatre Festival
Zoar Outdoor
Williamstown Savings Bank
Alton & Westall Real Estate
Williams College Center for Environmental Studies
First Annual North Berkshire BIKEfest May 13–19th:
A week of activities in North Adams, Williamstown and Adams organized by BIKE North Berkshire to promote biking and bike safety in our area. Films, bike displays, library bike history exhibits, bike washes, and discounts by area businesses for cyclists!
Thursday May 17th there will be a Bike Documentary Film night and Community Biking Panel Discussion at MASS MoCA. Then saddle up your bikes for the Bike Rodeo at BIKEfest Saturday May 19th Bike Rodeo at MASS MoCA from 11am – 2pm (Rain Date Sunday May 20th ). FREE and kids of all ages can participate. There will be games, bike decorating with “Kids Space”, bike inspections, helmet safety checks, bike challenge courses, a slow bike race and, more… 2pm Bike Parade and prizes awarded. See more about the BIKEfest week of events and special discount’s by local businesses for those to bike to their location.
For more information visit Tinyurl.com/BIKEfest2012 and facebook.com/NorthBerkshireBikefest
The Eighth Annual Hoosic River Ride promises to be the biggest ever. Save the date. Online Registration is open!
Visit BikeReg.com at http://www.BikeReg.com/16195 to register or to get more ride details. You can paste the above address into your browser or just click here.
The Hoosic River Ride is a one-day (rain or shine) event that benefits the education, research and advocacy programs of the non-profit Hoosic River Watershed Association (www.hoorwa.org). For the last six years, riders have responded very positively to the routes, the aid stations, picnic and just about every facet of the event. Locals have loved the challenge of new routes and the novelty of having their workout catered, while visitors have seized upon the cultural opportunities, everything from world class art to great theatre and music, offered by the region, to make the ride part of a great getaway weekend.
The venue this year is the same as last year, the athletics building at Southern Vermont College in Bennington, VT. The Ride will continue to offer four scenic route options that traverse primarily secondary roads with great views, historic landmarks, covered bridges and yes, even a bit of hard-packed dirt (suitable for regular road tires).
Each group of riders will rollout together to start their chosen route. There will be well-stocked aid stations along the way, and routes will be marked on the road and cue sheets will be available to all. EMT support will be available at all aid stations and back at the registration area. Additionally, roving tech support will exist on each route, although all riders should come prepared with bikes tuned up and ready to go and a spare tube, tire irons and air to support your bike if need be. A complimentary tech check will be available at registration. A wonderful post ride picnic will start at 11:30 and run until 3:00 p.m. to help you celebrate your day.
If you register by August 1 you will receive $10 off your registration fee. Commemorative ride jerseys are available for $65, or you can raise $250 to get one free, along with a 1-yr. HooRWA membership. For route maps of the routes, you can click on the route name below and download a pdf file.
The Monument Loop
Two State Tour. New route this year. map coming soon.
Wild Edibles Walk
Tuesday June 16, 6 pm-8pm
Tilldale Farm, Hoosick, NY
Sponsored by the Hoosic River Watershed Association, www.hoorwa.org, office@hoorwa.org or 413 458-2742.
Join Russ Cohen, expert forager and author of “Wild Plants I Have Known and Eaten,” for a walk on an organic farm and along an abandoned rail line near the Hoosic River to learn about identifying, harvesting, and preparing several species of wild edibles.
Meet at the farm, on Tilley Lane just west of the traffic light at NYS Rte. 7 and County Rt. 95 in the hamlet of Hoosick.
