June Member News From TLGV

Celebrating The Last Green Valley   

If you didn’t attend The Last Green Valley’s annual membership meeting on May 31, you missed an incredible evening!  

Guests were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of Hull Forest Products’ modern sawmill & lumber manufacturing facility in Pomfret.

After the tour, everyone reconvened at the Windham County 4-H Outdoor Center for a social hour, a make-your-own fajitas dinner by G Seven Catering Company, the annual business meeting, awards, and a tour of the camp.

Look for more photos (credit to B. Zoldak), profiles of our new Board members, and descriptions of our award winners in next month’s e-newsletter.

Grant Funds Available

Small Grants Program for

Sharing and Preserving Our Heritage 

TLGV is pleased to announce a small grant round for projects that preserve, protect, interpret, promote, or market historic and cultural resources. Projects must produce tangible and lasting benefits, and can include interpretive projects, marketing and promotional activities, collections inventories, assessments or conservation measures, and structural or mechanical repairs and upgrades. Creative and innovative approaches are encouraged. Grants may range from $500 – $4,000. Funds will be dispersed on a reimbursement basis and must be matched 1:1 by cash or in-kind contributions.   

Tastes of the Valley Sponsorship Opportunities

Tastes of the Valley is our signature fundraising event, showcasing local farms and orchards by pairing products grown, raised and created in The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor with a variety of top-notch, local restaurant chefs. This year we are proud to present a new twist on our popular event – a gourmet, multi-course, sit-down dinner featuring special guest “Farmers at your Table” on August 27 at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA. 

Sponsorship packages are available now and provide your business or nonprofit with exposure to attendees, local chefs, area farms and beverage crafters. Sponsorship packages include publicity, recognition, and a set number of tickets. We must receive your sponsorship commitment by June 23rd in order to be included in the printed event invitation.

Get Outside!

Only a few weeks remain but there are still plenty of Spring Outdoors walks, talks, and other activities are just waiting for you to explore! Spring Outdoors will continue until the Summer Solstice on June 21. Find your new favorite place this spring! 

Dark Skies in The Last Green Valley!

On Friday, June 16th, visit the Sprague Land Trust property on Holton Road in Franklin for “Deep Sky Observing” starting at 8 pm. Be ready for night observing of some distant objects like galaxies, clusters of stars, Red Giants, and Nebulae. Learn how to find the North Star. If you have a telescope – bring it. If you don’t know how to use it, come early and we’ll help you get started. Rangers Geoff and Kim will talk about, and answer, all kinds of astronomical trivia while we observe those great skies. This is a family-friendly event. Please, no lanterns, and flashlights should have only red lights (no white lights). No dogs except for guide dogs. This event is weather permitting.

The Last Green Valley Farmers in the Valley Tours! 

Morning Beckons Farm calls you in for the “7th Annual North American Shearing Contest” on Saturday, June 24th, from 8 am – 4 pm. This is a hair-raising excuse to visit the largest alpaca farm in the northeast! Watch the fleece fly at the Shearing Contest, a free event that is open to the public. Walk the farm and check out the other interesting animals living there, too. Visit the farm store for alpaca-related products and great gift ideas. The Last Green Valley Rangers will be on hand at this partner farm located at 343A Sand Dam Road in Thompson, CT.

Think Walktober! Plan Your Walktober Now!

TLGV is gearing up for its 27th fun-filled year of Walktober! The deadline to submit your Walktober activity for inclusion in the program this fall is June 30, 2017. Easy-to-use online forms are available.

NEW! Paddle Guide for the Quinebaug, Willimantic and Shetucket River Water Trails!  

Explore National Recreation Water Trails in The Last Green Valley with our comprehensive Paddle Guide. Learn about public launch sites, paddling conditions, and safety tips for an enjoyable outing. $5 includes postage.  

Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, June 22, 8:30 am

TLGV Office

Finance, Planning, & Development

Thursday, July 6, 4 pm

TLGV Office

SAVE THE DATES!

Upcoming Historical Collaboration

Wednesday, August 2, 4 – 6 pm

Lebanon Historical Society Museum, Lebanon, CT

Tastes of the Valley – A Farmer at Your Table! 

Sunday, August 27, 4 pm

The Publick House Historic Inn, Sturbridge, MA 

Exciting New Donation Opportunities

Supporting The Last Green Valley is easy! We have two new ways you can support our work: 

Marty’s of Dudley has offered to recycle cans and bottles and donate the proceeds to The Last Green Valley. Bring your sorted cans and bottles to Marty’s, located at 119 West Main St. Dudley, MA, between 9:30 am -5:45 pm, Monday – Saturday, and let the staff know you are returning  them for The Last Green Valley. Marty’s will log them in and send us a check!

If you are an Amazon shopper, all you have to do is shop! Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to The Last Green Valley. Use this link to shop.

Thank you for your support!