Integrating research and outreach education from UMass Amherst
The western region of Massachusetts is composed of Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties. The largest city in the region is Springfield, located in Hampden County, along the Interstate 91 corridor on the Connecticut River.
Rick Harper, environmental conservation, says that despite the warm and dry summer, “If we don’t see a warm, humid, drawn out fall, we should see typical beautiful coloration” as shorter days trigger tree leaves to change color. (WWLP, 9/16/20)
Young people across Hampden County have not let the coronavirus pandemic stop them from participating in 4-H programs this year. “Western Massachusetts 4-H has not missed a beat in this pandemic,” said Tom Waskiewicz, a Western Massachusetts 4-H educator. (Westfield News 8/17/20)
Amanda Bayer, extension assistant professor in the Stockbridge School, comments on mysterious seeds received in the mail by a Shutesbury resident. This appears to be part of national phenomenon of people receiving unsolicited and unlabeled seeds. (Western Mass News, 7/29/20)
Stephen Rich, microbiology and director of the Laboratory of Medical Zoology, is quoted in a report about mosquitos in Western Massachusetts and concerns about Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). (Republican 7/13/20)
Chris Von Achen, food science research assistant, is one of the organizers of a free webinar on residential composting that will be presented by the Greater Quabbin Food Alliance’s Food Waste Reduction and Composting Working Group on May 29. (Recorder, 5/27/20)
Wendell is one of three Western Massachusetts communities set to benefit from a 15-month grant awarded to a team at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Clean Energy Extension that will lead development of solar siting and financing procedures. (Recorder 5/19/20, News Office)
UMass Springfield urban design studio (LARP) won first prize in the state's "MassInc Transformational TOD" competition. The winning plan called "In the Loop" proposes a new bike park and bike path network that is accessible to all. (MassInc 4/27/20)
Because of the coronavirus emergency, the UMass Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment and UMass Extension have postponed public face-to-face programs through at least May 18. Online presentations are being prepared where possible. The Soils and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory as well as the Plant Diagnostics Laboratory are both also closed until at least then.
How far does a blueberry travel from a local bush to your home freezer? Normally not a very big journey. But finding out whether or not those same blueberries can be frozen and sold commercially in your local market is proving to be a long a winding road.
The Franklin County 4-H program is teaming up with the Bear Country radio station to start a Stand-Up Comedy 4-H Club, says Educator Tom Waskiewicz of UMass Amherst 4-H Extension (Recorder 2/21/20).
Stockbridge Hall,
Civil Rights and Non-Discrimination Information
Mass. Agricultural Experiment Station
UMass Research and Education Center Farms
Water Resources Research Center
