MLT members meeting now on Zoom - 7:00 p.m. Thursday May 21

Zoom instructions here

View this email in your browser MLT MEETING MOVES TO ZOOM! Thursday, May 21st 7:00 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/94424267852?pwd=0i7H79OOabampxb1kT0Way8nojhD5F.1   Due to space conflicts at the Sutton High School complex, Metacomet will hold our annual business meeting virtually. If you are a member, please log in and participate. This short meeting will cover required elections, approval of last year's minutes and the financial report. Our Annual Report with details is here. MLT needs a quorum of 20 or more members participating on the video meeting or sending a proxy to our Board President and/or Vice President before the meeting begins. Please send a brief email to Lisa Mosczynski@MetacometLandTrust.org stating your proxy for the meeting. Proxies must be received by noon on Thursday. If you have not previously installed Zoom on your phone or computer, we recommend doing so before the meeting. Our program on watershed protection with Stefanie Covino, of the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, will be rescheduled for the fall. MLT ANNUAL MEETING ZOOM INSTRUCTIONS Topic: MLT - ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Time: May 21, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/94424267852?pwd=0i7H79OOabampxb1kT0Way8nojhD5F.1 Meeting ID: 944 2426 7852 Passcode: 346921 One tap mobile +16469313860,,94424267852#,,,,*346921# US +19292056099,,94424267852#,,,,*346921# US (New York) Join instructions https://zoom.us/meetings/94424267852/invitations?signature=WVC_q1_gCHzrSDZIkH8XuPZuEcNoodpZ_psOIg4RXqs   Would you like to renew your membership online before the meeting? Check your last donation date below and renew by mail or use the PayPal link to pay online. Our records show your donation of $1,000 was received on 02/19/2026.  Please keep your donation receipts. Our Federal Tax-Exempt ID is: 04-3020897.  We Love Where We Live -- And We Know You Do, Too! Copyright © 2026 Metacomet Land Trust, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to our e-newsletter. Our mailing address is: Metacomet Land Trust P.O. Box 231 Franklin, MA 02038 Telephone: (508) 271-7131

Metacomet Land Trust to Hold Annual Meeting - May 21

 The Metacomet Land Trust will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026 starting at 6:30 pm with a business meeting and the presentation of Community Spirit awards at the Sutton High School auditorium at 383 Boston Road in Sutton. 

Metacomet Land Trust to
Hold Annual Meeting - May 21

This will be followed at 7 pm by our guest speaker, Stefanie Covino. Covino is the Executive Director of the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative and she will discuss the importance of our land and water nexus. She will describe how the work of the Collaborative and Metacomet Land Trust is critical to the overall health of South Central Massachusetts communities, including Franklin, Bellingham, Norfolk and Wrentham. We will also play a quick round of watershed trivia! Please join us as we all strive to know our watersheds better.

A Silent Auction will be held to support MLT’s operating costs. Donations of original crafts, artwork, and books about rivers and fish are requested. To donate an auction item, please write to info@metacometlandtrust.org.

Franklin area members are urged to watch for the organization’s Annual Report which will be sent by email or hard copy next week. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, please return a proxy no later than May 14^th. For more information, go to Annual Reports | Metacomet Land Trust.

Metacomet Land Trust to Hold Annual Meeting - May 21

The Metacomet Land Trust will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026 starting at 6:30 pm with a business meeting and the presentation of Community Spirit awards at the Sutton High School auditorium at 383 Boston Road in Sutton. 

Metacomet Land Trust to
Hold Annual Meeting - May 21

This will be followed at 7 pm by our guest speaker, Stefanie Covino. Covino is the Executive Director of the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative and she will discuss the importance of our land and water nexus. She will describe how the work of the Collaborative and Metacomet Land Trust is critical to the overall health of South Central Massachusetts communities, including Franklin, Bellingham, Norfolk and Wrentham. We will also play a quick round of watershed trivia! Please join us as we all strive to know our watersheds better.

A Silent Auction will be held to support MLT’s operating costs. Donations of original crafts, artwork, and books about rivers and fish are requested. To donate an auction item, please write to info@metacometlandtrust.org.

Franklin area members are urged to watch for the organization’s Annual Report which will be sent by email or hard copy next week. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, please return a proxy no later than May 14^th. For more information, go to Annual Reports | Metacomet Land Trust.

Trails Giving event scheduled to Give Thanks for Open Space - Nov 1

Trails Giving event scheduled to
 Give Thanks for Open Space - Nov 1

Join White Barn Farm and Metacomet Land Trust to Give Thanks for Open Space

Saturday, November 1st 10 AM – 6 PM

431 South St. Wrentham

• Morning Mountain Bike Ride
• Cold County Bluegrass Band
• Afternoon Hike – leaves at 2pm from Farmstand
• Heath Nisbett – Acoustic Guitar
• Jubilee – Grateful Dead Cover Band

Face Painting, Pumpkin Painting, Hot Cider

Beer and Pizza Available for Purchase

$10 per car – proceeds to support Metacomet’s land protection work

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DQIN1PoEtzZ/

Metacomet Land Trust (MLT) fundraiser Friday, Oct 17 in Upton

Metacomet Land Trust (MLT) fundraiser Friday, Oct 17 in Upton

Forest Heights Project, Upton

MLT is raising funds to permanently protect Forest Heights, a 107 acre woodland in Upton.

To learn more about Forest Heights please join us at Rushford & Sons Brewhouse (8 Grove St, Upton) on Friday October 17 (5- 8 pm).

To learn more also see: https://metacometlandtrust.org/forest-heights-project/

Shared from ->   https://www.facebook.com/share/1G61SiRJdv/

Help Metacomet Land Trust Observe 1,000 Species by Year's End!

Need an excuse to get outside?

Help Metacomet Observe 1,000 Species by Year's End!

Thanks to our amazing community of nature lovers, 804 different species have been spotted on Metacomet Land Trust properties using the iNaturaIist app (App Store or Google Play) — from birds and butterflies to fungi and frogs!

Now, we're setting a new goal: Help us reach 1,000 species before the end of 2025!

Help Metacomet Land Trust Observe 1,000 Species by Year's End!

Whether you're a seasoned naturalist or just curious about what's out there, all you need is a cell phone and a pair of binoculars to join the fun. To start, visit one of our most accessible conservation areas:

• Stevens Pond (Sutton)
• Hop Brook Preserve (Blackstone)
• Szerlag Farm (Northbridge)

Download the free iNaturaIist app, snap photos of what you see, and contribute to real community science that helps us steward our lands.

Together, we can learn more about the rich biodiversity protected by your local land trust!l

Want to see if you've found a new species? Head to the project page and see for yourself. -> https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/metacomet-biodiversity-adventure

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1J2QevfdSp/

One Week Until MLT Program: How Are Your Local Birds Doing?

Hope to see you in Upton next Thursday, June 26th at 6:30 pm!

View this email in your browser Dear Neighbor, We hope to see you in person on Thursday, June 26th, for Metacomet's annual business meeting and program!  We will gather at 6:30 p.m. at the Upton Community Center, 9 Milford Street (Rte 140). Our program will be on the state of Massachusetts birds, including visitors such as this beautiful Yellow Breasted Chat, which was banded and released at a preserved property in Uxbridge last fall. Prior to the meeting, please take a few moments to read our Annual Report which is now available on our website at this link: 2025-MLT-Annual-Report.pdf Our membership meeting is an important part of our annual governance. We encourage you to attend, ask questions about our progress and recent activities, and vote on the key motions to allow the Trust to fulfill our governing by-laws. But if you can't attend in person, please consider sending your proxy in ahead of the meeting so that we can reach a quorum of our voting membership. The proxy form is the at the bottom of the first page of the report at the link above. Email a photo of your signed proxy to info@metacometlandtrust.org by June 25th. If you would like to volunteer to serve on the Board or other committees, please contact me for more information at Lisa.Mosczynski@metacometlandtrust.org. In Conservation, Lisa Mosczynski President Board of Directors Membership Donations, Gifts of Land or Conservation Restrictions, or donations of items to be auctioned are deductible on the Federal 1040. Our Federal Tax-Exempt ID is: 04-3020897.  How Are the Birds?       Metacomet will host Brandi Van Roo, Ph.D. and Beth Milke for a presentation on the health of our wild bird populations when they speak at our annual meeting on June 26th. The program will be held at the Upton Community Center at 9 Milford Street (Rt. 140) in Upton.      Brandi Van Roo is a professor of wildlife biology at Framingham State University. Her research includes bird breeding behavior as well as migrant bird banding for conservation purposes. She trains undergraduate students at banding stations in Ashland, Uxbridge and Douglas.      Beth Milke has lived in Uxbridge for 35 years, since her husband Paul retired from the military.  She grew up in suburban Philadelphia, PA and her early background included business education and mass communications. Her reincarnation as a nature lover began after spotting bluebirds in her yard shortly after moving in and then meeting an experienced local birder.  This meeting led to a 12-year stint banding songbirds and small owls at local parks. Most recently, Beth serves as a Volunteer-in-Parks with the National Park Service, leading birdwalks and maintaining River Bend Farm's Pollinator Garden for Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc.     A silent auction with wild bird-focused items, refreshments and information on land preservation will also be offered. If you would like to contribute an item to our fundraiser, please write to susan.speers@metacometlandtrust.org. We Love Where We Live -- And We Know You Do, Too! Copyright © 2025 Metacomet Land Trust, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Metacomet Land Trust P.O. Box 231 Franklin, MA 02038

Audio recording of the FHA Appreciation Event held Monday, June 9, 2025 (audio)

FM #1468 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1468 in the series. 

This session shares audio recording of the Appreciation Event celebrating the collaboration that returned a single family home to Franklin housing stock. State Representative Jeff Roy hosted the event on Monday, June 9, 2025

 

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1468-fha-appreciation-event-06-09-25/

--------------

Video recording by Steve Sherlock (Franklin Matters/Franklin Public Radio)

Video link -> https://youtu.be/lXcfc3-nNbI

Front row (L-R) Nayda Sanchez-DeJesus, Mark Lanigan, Larry Rettman, Maurice Coleman, Jeff Roy, Chris Feeley, Mike Doherty, George Danello, Paul White; Back row: Lisa Mosczynski, Lisa Audette, Susan Speers

-------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Appreciation Event celebrates the collaboration that returned a single family home to franklin housing stock (video)

State Representative Jeff Roy hosted the event on Monday, June 9, 2025. 

Video recording by Steve Sherlock (Franklin Matters/Franklin Public Radio)

Video link -> https://youtu.be/lXcfc3-nNbI

Front row (L-R) Nayda Sanchez-DeJesus, Mark Lanigan, Larry Rettman, Maurice Coleman, Jeff Roy, Chris Feeley, Mike Doherty, George Danello, Paul White; Back row: Lisa Mosczynski, Lisa Audette, Susan Speers

Event background:

The Franklin Housing Authority has acquired the ‘long-time vacant’ property located at 813 Summer Street, Franklin. The beautifully renovated three-bedroom home will be leased to an income eligible family and the property will remain in the Town’s affordable housing stock through perpetuity.   

The process of obtaining the property took many years and has involved much assistance from several local officials, agencies and advocates.

 

Supporters included: State Representative Jeffrey Roy, Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator, Lisa Mosczynski, President, Metacomet Land Trust (MLT) and all of MLT’s Board of Directors including Treasurer Susan Speers, Attorney Michael Doherty, Attorney Richard Cornetta, Chairman Christopher Vericker, Franklin Municipal Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT) and all MAHT’s Trust Members including Christopher Feeley, Bank of America, Dean Bank, George Danello, Chairman of the Franklin Housing Authority (FHA) and all FHA Board Members.

Read full article: 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/franklin-housing-authority-preparing-to.html

Save The Date! Metacomet Land Trust Annual Meeting June 26th!

Hope to see you in Upton on Thursday June 26th

View this email in your browser Dear Neighbor, Please join us on Thursday, June 26th, for Metacomet's annual business meeting and program! We will gather at 6:30 p.m. at the Upton Community Center. Our program will be on the state of Massachusetts birds, including visitors such as this beautiful Yellow Breasted Chat, which was banded and released at a preserved property in Uxbridge last fall. Prior to the meeting, please take a few moments to read our Annual Report which is now available on our website at this link: 2025-MLT-Annual-Report.pdf Our membership meeting is an important part of our annual governance. We encourage you to attend, ask questions about our progress and recent activities, and vote on the key motions to allow the Trust to fulfill our governing by-laws. If you would like to volunteer to serve on the Board or other committees, please contact me for more information at Lisa.Mosczynski@metacometlandtrust.org. In Conservation, Lisa Mosczynski President Board of Directors   Recent gifts receipt:  $25 on 03/22/2019.  Please renew your membership if your last gift was prior to December 1st, 2024. Membership Donations, Gifts of Land or Conservation Restrictions, or donations of items to be auctioned are deductible on the Federal 1040. Our Federal Tax-Exempt ID is: 04-3020897.  How Are the Birds?       Metacomet will host Brandi Van Roo, Ph.D. and Beth Milke for a presentation on the health of our wild bird populations when they speak at our annual meeting on June 26th. The program will be held at the Upton Community Center at 9 Milford Street (Rt. 140) in Upton.      Brandi Van Roo is a professor of wildlife biology at Framingham State University. Her research includes bird breeding behavior as well as migrant bird banding for conservation purposes. She trains undergraduate students at banding stations in Ashland, Uxbridge and Douglas.      Beth Milke currently serves as a Volunteer-in-Parks with the National Park Service, leading bird walks and maintaining River Bend Farm's Pollinator Garden for Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc.     A silent auction with wild bird-focused items, refreshments and information on land preservation will also be offered. If you would like to contribute an item to our fundraiser, please write to susan.speers@metacometlandtrust.org. On a personal note... It's appropriate here to reflect that it is entirely due to the conservation ethic of Ann and John Hanscom, whose beautiful Foxfire Farm hosts both Brandi and Beth during their bird banding work, that so many birds have a place to stop on their fall and spring migrations....thus adding to our appreciation for the habitat, actively used by so many creatures, and for landowners such as Ann and John, who made the choice in 2020 to permanently preserve their property -- 25 years ago this fall. -- Susan Speers, Board of Directors   We Love Where We Live -- And We Know You Do, Too! Our mailing address is: Metacomet Land Trust P.O. Box 231 Franklin, MA 02038