Bike trails prove popular, but not to neighbors

By John HitchcockPrint Story | Email Story
A racer pushes-it during a NORBA race at Mount Snow. (Photo By John Hitchcock)
Mention bike trails and you will hear a chorus of “not in my yard, back or front.” But there are hundreds of miles of converted unused rail lines already in use and more are planned annually. In the Berkshires the 11-mile Ashuwillticook Rail Trail runs roughly parallel to Route 8 from the Berkshire Mall access road in Lanesboro to the center of Adams, ending at least for the time being on Hoosac Street, where the new Berkshire Visitors’ Bureau Welcome Center officially opened last week. That is only the beginning, according to the Berkshire Bike Path Council, which envisions a trail from Connecticut to Vermont, where comparable agencies are working on similar trails. It took perhaps 10 years of planning and promoting before the Ashuwillticook Trail was constructed on the abandoned Boston & Maine Railroad tracks by the Massachusetts Highway Department. Now the trail is a Massachusetts State Park, operated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Other DCR trails are the Norwottuck Rail Trail from Northampton to Belchertown, 10.5 miles; the 11-mile Nashua River Rail Trail from Ayer to Dunstable; and the Cape Cod Rail Trail from Dennis to Wellfleet, 23 miles. All are paved and are off limits to any form of motorized vehicles, which of course has been protested, particularly by snowmobilers. Original protests came from landowners who did not want a trail running by their properties. Now the Ashuwillticook is considered a major attraction for both locals and visitors, right up there with the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams. People of all ages bike, hike, roller blade, ski and push strollers on the smooth paved surface, which runs along the shore of Cheshire Reservoir (Hoosac Lake) and through marshes, woodlands and forests, as well as past housing and business districts. In general the Ashuwillticook is considered an asset and a good neighbor, although there are some problems with unleashed dogs and their by-products and some cases of trail users getting on private property. But a public meeting last week at Pittsfield City Hall on a proposed 2.2-mile trail from Kirvin Park off Williams Street to busy East Street drew a chorus of protests from residents along the route, although most of the trail will be located on a power line corridor owned by Western Massachusetts Electric Co. In most cases, the trail would be close to the back yards of the objectors, who said their privacy would be threatened — and even that the trail would draw drug dealers and their customers. One resident said she did not object to the trail, but rather to its location near her back yard. Marjorie Cohan, president of Berkshire Bike Path Council, said the hope is to connect the Pittsfield trail to the Ashuwillticook Trail to the north and also south to Lenox. Foresight Land Services has laid out the preliminary route, with financial support from the Berkshire Environmental Dund. Similar efforts to extend the Ashuwillticook to North Adams and into Williamstown have met considerable resistance, particularly from Green River Road residents, who have opposed a trail next to the highway (but in their front yards). In neighboring New York, the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association hopes to complete a 46-mile trail from Wassaic north to Chatham, which is some 20 miles west of Pittsfield. And, according to David Shufelt, executive director of the Harlem Valley group, it is eventually planned to link Chatham with a trail system in Vermont. The annual Harlem Valley Rail Ride will be July 18, with rides starting from Millerton, from 17 to 75 miles, with the longer treks extending into South Berkshire and into Litchfield County in Connecticut. About 1,000 rides are expected, and there will be a post-ride festival in historic Eddie Collins Memorial Park in Millerton. To register or for more details: call 212-932-2453, ext. 120, or visit www.BikeNewYork.org. Mountain bikers descended on Mount Snow in West Dover, Vt., last week by the thousands for the annual NORBA National Mountain Bike Series, which included national and world champions in a variety of competitions. Mount Snow’s mountain bike school is in daily operation, and rides can be carried to the summit on chairlifts to explore more than 50 miles of trails. The Brodie-Jiminy Peak area in New Ashford and Hancock will also see 1,000 or more mountain bikers on July 16, 17 and 18 for the annual Pedro’s Festival, with camping at the former Brodie Mountain ski touring center on Route 7 in Lanesboro, just over the New Ashford line, where owner Jim Kelly is still working on an 18-hole golf course. There is a network of trails linking the Kelly property with Jiminy Peak, where the six-place chair lift runs daily for sightseers and mountain bikers. The Jiminy trails are linked to Pittsfield State Forest, which in turn is connected to the Taconic Ridge Trail. The Pedro Festival will include the Mavic/Lymphoma Research Foundation Marathon on Saturday, July 17, with 12 or 30-mile courses. A minimum donation of $10 is required. For information, call 781-871-9824 or www.pedrofest.com. In tennis news, a veteran tennis leader, David Bell, has left his post as tennis director at Berkshire West Athletic Club in Pittsfield (near Bousquet Resort) for a new position in Raleigh, N.C., where he will direct a year-round municipal program with 130 tennis courts. Bell, who was named USTA/New England Pro of the Year in 2002, resigned in May, following the purchase of Berkshire West by Boston businessman Craig Richlen. Bell, son of former Country Club of Pittsfield tennis pro Dudley Bell, had been at Berkshire West for nearly 15 years. Audrey Davis, who succeeded Kathy Piretti as tennis coordinator, said that Dick Piretti remains on the staff as director of various tennis programs, and Jim McCormick is the interim head tennis pro. Bell’s wife, Jeannie, formerly directed the Pittsfield municipal summer tennis program, which is now headed by Robin Huban (684-3451). David Bell also received the 2003 Team Tennis Volunteer of the Year Award in Las Vegas for his work in recruiting Team Tennis players. Bell was credited with establishing 14 teams in Berkshire County, as well as organizing the Western Mass. Team Tennis Tourney. USA Tennis programs are offered in Adams (743-8325), Dalton (684-0260), Great Barrington (528-0538), Lee (243-3240), Richmond (698-2131) as well as Pittsfield. John Hitchcock of Williamstown writes frequently about the area sports scene.
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Friends of Great Barrington Libraries Holiday Book Sale

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Friends of Great Barrington Libraries invite the community to shop their annual Holiday Good-as-New Book Sale, happening now through the end of the year at the Mason Library, 231 Main Street. 
 
With hundreds of curated gently used books to choose from—fiction, nonfiction, children's favorites, gift-quality selections, cookbooks, and more—it's the perfect local stop for holiday gifting.
 
This year's sale is an addition to the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce's Holiday Stroll on this Saturday, Dec. 13, 3–8 PM. Visitors can swing by the Mason Library for early parking, browse the sale until 3:00 PM, then meet Pete the Cat on the front lawn before heading downtown for the Stroll's shopping, music, and festive eats.
 
Can't make the Holiday Stroll? The book sale is open during regular Mason Library hours throughout December.
 
Proceeds support free library programming and events for all ages.
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