[MassHistPres] FREE Preservation Workshop Series

[Joanna_Doherty at nps.gov]

The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
Commission, Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Inc., and the
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation invite you to

   Protecting Special Places: Saving Farms, Reviving Mills, and Building
                           Successful Coalitions

Please join us for a series of free workshops designed to help you preserve
the character of your community for generations to come.  Learn how to
craft a successful landscape preservation campaign and hear about
strategies for saving two important, yet threatened, types of heritage
resources – farms and mills.  Workshops will include hands-on, case-study
exercises and will allow ample time for questions and answers with the
experts.  Registration required (see end of announcement for more info).

Building Support for Landscape Preservation
Is there a particular landscape you want to save, a bylaw you would like to
see passed or a preservation cause you want to promote? Learn how to make
the case, find allies and achieve success! Experts will advise you on how
to build coalitions, convey your message, use the media, and understand
town board roles and responsibilities.   Featuring Chris LaPointe, Project
Manager, The Trust for Public Land and Rebecca Williams, Field
Representative, Northeast Office, National Trust for Historic Preservation.

This workshop will be offered twice – attend either:
Wednesday, September 24, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Douglas Municipal Center, 29
Depot St., Douglas, MA
or
Thursday, October 2, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Federated Church of Sturbridge &
Fiskdale, 8 Maple St., Sturbridge, MA

************

Keeping Farms in Your Community
Explore the tools available to farmers and municipalities that can be used
to preserve agricultural landscapes.  Learn about the historic, economic
and environmental benefits of agriculture, how to establish an agriculture
commission, use land preservation tools such as c.61 and APRs, and create
municipal policies that are agriculture-friendly.  Featuring Cris Coffin,
New England Director, American Farmland Trust; Cheryl Lekstrom, Director of
Member Relations, Mass. Farm Bureau and Contractor, Mass. Department of
Agricultural Resources; and Bonnie Parsons, Principal Planner/Manager
Historic Preservation Programs, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.

This workshop will be offered twice – attend either:
Thursday, October 9, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Blackstone River & Canal Heritage
State Park/River Bend Farm Visitor Center, 287 Oak St., Uxbridge, MA
or
Thursday, October 30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Sturbridge Town Hall, 308 Main St.,
Sturbridge, MA

************

Bringing New Life to Mills
What can municipalities do to encourage the re-use of mills?   What
attracts developers?  Learn about planning and zoning tools, plus sources
of public funding that can turn eyesores into assets.  See a successful
rehabilitation project for yourself by joining us for an optional
pre-workshop tour, beginning at 5:45 p.m.  Featuring Carolyn Britt,
Community Investment Associates; Michael Collins, Chair, Hopedale Board of
Selectmen; and Steve Stowell, Administrator, Lowell Historic Board.

This workshop will be offered twice – attend either:
Thursday, October 16, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., 12 Crane, 12 Crane St.,
Southbridge, MA
or
Wednesday, October 29, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Alternatives Unlimited, 50 Douglas
Rd., Northbridge, MA

************

Workshops are free and open to all but pre-registration is required.  Local
historical commissioners, selectmen, planning board members, conservation
commissioners, municipal employees, and landowners are particularly
encouraged to attend.  For more information or to register, please contact
Joanna Doherty, Blackstone Heritage Corridor (401-762-0250 or
joanna_doherty at nps.gov) or Bob Levite, Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage
Corridor (508-831-1223 x 244 or boblevite at hotmail.com).  Please register at
least one week before each workshop.

        ***Directions to workshop locations available on request***

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

Joanna M. Doherty, Community Planner
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley
     National Heritage Corridor
One Depot Square
Woonsocket, RI  02895
(401) 762-0250 x14
(401) 762-0530 fax
joanna_doherty at nps.gov