Annual Meeting Features Local Watershed Advocate Don Doucette

Featured guest at the Attleboro Land Trust's Annual Meeting on November 2 will be Don Doucette, who will deliver a presentation with slides on "The Ten Mile River Watershed: A Walk Through Time." Don is a native of Attleboro and was a founding member of the Ten Mile River Watershed Alliance, which held its first river clean-up in Attleboro in the fall of 1990.
For many years, Don was actively involved in the Alliance's efforts to focus public attention on the Ten Mile River, through workshops, outings, educational events, and restoration projects. In 1995, Don, accompanied by fellow Alliance member Mark Benoit, trekked the entire length of the Ten Mile River, which actually stretches 27 miles from Savage Pond in Plainville to Narragansett Bay in East Providence. As Don wrote of the 2-day trek: "The primary intent was adventure--to cross, as does water, all human imposed, social and physical bounds that tend to fragment the Ten Mile River Watershed. Envisioned was a more intimate encounter with the river--we were not disappointed."

Dodgeville Pond on the Ten Mile River

photo: Charlie Adler

Having lived his entire life within a stone's throw of the Ten Mile River, and being someone with an inquiring mind, Don has acquired a wealth of knowledge of the river, it's history, and it's inhabitants. On November 2, Don will share not only his accumulated knowledge, but his passion for, in his words, "friend river."
The Attleboro Land Trust welcomes the public to its annual meeting, which begins at 7:00 pm on November 2, at the Attleboro Arts Museum, 86 Park Street, Attleboro. Also on the program are a report on the accomplishments of the land trust over the past year by President Ted Leach and election of new board members. The event is free and refreshments will be served.

17 Acres of Valuable Land Preserved

In June the chair of our Land Acquisition Committee, Don Ouellette, announced that the Attleboro Land Trust had received a donation of 17 acres of land in the area bounded by Park Street, Bishop Street, Pike Avenue, and Steere Street. The parcel includes both wetlands and uplands. The wetlands are part of what is identified on old maps of the area as "Bear Swamp." The Colman Reservation, which contains 77 acres of conservation land, is also located in this area.

Wetlands on the recently donated 17-acre parcel off
 Bishop Street

photo: Charlie Adler

One of the Attleboro Land Trust's goals is to establish a trail that would connect the Colman Reservation on Steere Street with the city's Finberg Field on the corner of Bishop Street and Park Street. This new acquisition, generously given by an anonymous donor, is a significant step towards that goal.

Community Organizations Gather to Kick Off The Big Read

The Attleboro Land Trust joined other community organizations to help promote this year's 1ABC Reading Program in a creative event hosted by the Attleboro Arts Museum. The book for this year is Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the theme of the evening was The Other Side of the Fence, a reference to the famous scene in which Tom cleverly motivates others to help him with his fence-painting chore. On display were fence sections creatively designed by local artists on behalf of local organizations.

Signpost by Sarah Mott

photo: Charlie Adler

Artist Sarah Mott honored the Attleboro Land Trust with her creative talents, using the five fence slats she was allotted to make a signpost that pointed to five of our properties. Each slat was decorated with objects harvested from the natural world, such as acorns and feathers, and arranged in a unique pattern.

From left to right, ALT board member Charlie Adler, artist Sarah Mott, ALT board member Mike O'Brien, and ALT executive director Doug Havens.         

photo: Dave Laferriere

The exhibit closed on September 24, but many of the pieces will be on display at other locations throughout the city.

Coming Events

Recent Events

Salute to Outgoing Director Millie Bauer

ALT Directors Hold Strategic Planning Retreat

Attleboro Springs Opens to the Public

Local Links

Check out these web sites for more local green events and activities...

Attleboro Area Community Garden

Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary

Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary

Citizens for a Sustainable Local Economy