CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town has officially been designated as an Appalachian Trail Community and will hold a celebration in late June.
Resident Eileen Quinn said the Appalachian Trail Community Committee has been working hard over the past few months preparing the application and this March, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy gave the town its blessing.
"It is a pretty big deal and I think it will put Cheshire on the map more," Quinn said. "There are a little over 40 designated communities, so it literally puts us on the map ... hikers will know Cheshire is hiker friendly."
Quinn said the application process was lengthy and the committee needed to meet specific criteria, such as scheduling town educational opportunities and gaining support from businesses and organizations.
She said the application was submitted in February.
Quinn added that she was surprised that much of what the application process entailed, the town was already doing.
"I felt like we were just formalizing what Cheshire was already doing and through this process, we learned about the things that were already happening in the community," she said.
In March, Quinn and fellow committee member Karen Daigle attended the Appalachian Trail's annual New England Community Summit in Hanover, N.H., to go before the New England Appalachian Trail Community Board of Directors.
"They asked us questions about why we wanted to be an Appalachian Trail Community," Daigle said. "We went over some of the things and they voted us in as a designated community."
Cheshire joins three other Berkshire towns as Appalachian Trail Communities: Great Barrington, North Adams, and Dalton.
Daigle said the town now must honor what was pledged in the application and will hold a community cleanup day June 16 on the Cobbles and plan to engage the school system. She also has scheduled speakers to go the schools and educate students about the Appalachian Trail and hopes to get students involved in a youth summit on Mount Greylock.
Quinn added that committee also plans on updating the Appalachian Trail kiosk on School Street.
The celebration is scheduled for Saturday, June 30, and Quinn said there will be a morning hike to the Cobbles followed by a party near Diane's Twist along the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail where there will be music, food and guest speakers.
"It is this little business, but hikers love it and it is literally right on the Appalachian Trail and it crosses the rail trail," Quinn said. "So it is where two town recreation areas cross."
In the future, Quinn said the group would like to install a shelter for hikers somewhere in town and possibly provide bikes for hikers so they can use the rail trail.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Cheshire Tag Sale and Bazaar
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Cheshire Community Association (CCA) announced the return of the Cheshire Community Tag Sale and Bazaar for its second year.
Scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2024, from 9 AM to 1 PM, the event offers a day of treasure hunting, local craftsmanship, and treats at the Cheshire Community House located at 191 Church St, Cheshire.
Attendees can explore a variety of offerings, including handmade crafts, antiques, collectibles, and food options. The hot food truck, operated by the Berkshire Lodge of Masons AF & AM, will be stationed in the courtyard, serving up treats throughout the event.
One of the highlights of this year's event is the fundraising raffle, with all proceeds set to benefit the Cheshire Food Pantry. Participants can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes, supporting a worthy cause that serves the local community.
Registration for vendors interested in participating in the bazaar is currently open, with fees ranging from $10 to $30. Cheshire residents looking to showcase their items from home can have their locations advertised on the event map for a fee of $10. The deadline for registration is set for Friday, April 26, 2024.
Registration forms can be obtained from various locations across Cheshire, including A to Z Printing, Cheshire Community House, Cheshire Library, Cheshire Glassworks, Cheshire Senior Center, the Cheshire Community Association Facebook page, and the Cheshire Town website.
For more information about the event, including vendor registration and sponsorship opportunities, interested parties are encouraged to contact Jenny Gadbois at (413) 841-0844 or via email at jlgadbois@icloud.com.
Taylor Garabedian scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Abby Scialabba scored 16 points for the ‘Canes, who got 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists from Ashlyn Lesure. click for more
On Saturday afternoon at Lowell’s Tsongas Center, the Hurricanes will take aim at Division 5 State Championships in girls and boys basketball. click for more
Pittsfield High's Matt Dupuis and Lee's Bella Kotek Sunday completed a Berkshire County sweep at the State Bowling Championships at Bowlero.
click for more
Emily Holian’s strike to open the 10th frame of the Wildcats’ second game against Worcester Tech all but assured Lee a team title at Bowlero Chicopee.
click for more
Hoosac struggled to get into rhythm on the offensive end until Joey McGovern got the 3-ball working. McGovern finished the game with 21 points including a triple in the fourth quarter that cemented him in the record books. It took him nearly the whole game but he was able to join the 1,000-point... click for more
Pittsfield High's Eliza Mullen won state title and in the giant slalom and slalom, winning the former discipline by 1.6 seconds and the latter by nearly 2.7 seconds.
click for more