Pipeline protesters walk across Athol

Pipeline protesters walk across Athol

On Tuesday, marchers made their way along Route 2A near the Orange and Athol line. (T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR)

By George Barnes TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
gbarnes@telegram.com

ATHOL — When Rene Lake took the symbolic piece of pipeline from Mary King Tuesday night, bad weather was threatening.

But the storm held off until the ceremony was done, and Wednesday morning she was back out there, weather or not, to do Athol's leg of a march across the state to protest the proposed Kinder Morgan natural gas pipeline.

The pipeline is proposed to run from Richmond on the New York border to Dracut. Central Massachusetts communities expected to be affected are Orange, Athol, Royalston, Winchendon, Ashburnham and Townsend. The line could also go through parts of Templeton or Lunenburg.

To protest the pipeline, marchers have been participating in a Rolling March Against the Pipeline, walking across the state through the affected towns since July 6. They have been hitting one or two towns each day as they make their way to Dracut on July 26 and to hold a rally in Boston on July 30.

The Athol march began in what soon became heavy rain, but the 15 people walking made it the nearly 2½ miles to the Upper Common in Athol along Route 2A, pausing halfway there for a break at the Millers River Environmental Center. With weather improved, a smaller group then headed up Route 32 to Tully Lake, where they passed the symbolic pipe to Royalston residents.

Before Wednesday's march, standing in Hannaford's Plaza near the Orange town line, Athol organizer Rene Lake said it is hoped the march will encourage political leaders to take a stronger look at their side of the issue.

"A lot of what is being presented is not the whole issue," she said. "Good people, legislative people, elected officials do not have the whole story."

Ms. Lake said they are still hoping to receive support from the Athol selectmen.

"It's really important we have a presence here in Athol," she said.

Ms. Lake said she is hoping to grow support in the town. The pipeline opponents have received support from community leaders in several towns. In Winchendon, Town Manager James M. Kreidler said he has tried to get the pipeline supporters to look at different alternatives, but so far with little success.

U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, has come out against the pipeline, as have state Reps. Denise Andrews, D-Orange, and Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, and gubernatorial candidate Don Berwick, a Newton Democrat. In Shelburne, comedian Bill Cosby has also spoken against the pipeline. His land could also be affected by the project. Mr. Cosby has a Central Massachusetts connection. He lived in Petersham before moving to Shelburne.

Pipeline opponents also received support from another Petersham resident — a 19th-century farmer. Larry Buell of Petersham joined marchers both in Orange and Athol dressed as 19th-century farmer Lucius Spooner carrying a sign that read, "Another 19th century farmer opposed to the pipeline."

Remaining in character, Mr. Buell addressed those gathered on the Upper Common in Athol. He referred to the fight against the pipeline as a "Geronimo moment," adding, "Which means we have to make a stand."

Mr. Buell also tied the anti-pipeline movement to another period of history, pulling out a sprig of hemlock from the broad brimmed hat he was wearing.

"If you wear hemlock in your hat, you're a Shaysite," he said.

Mr. Buell explained that the last major battle of the Daniel Shays Rebellion was fought in Petersham, and Shays and his men passed through Athol on their way to Vermont after the battle. The rebellion in Central and Western Massachusetts occurred in 1786-87 over financial difficulties and harsh policies instituted by the state to deal with debt problems.

The pipeline opposition has attracted many people who never before took part in political action, but found themselves facing having their land or their neighbors land used for the pipeline.

In Orange on Tuesday, Clare Green of Warwick, who has been involved with conservation issues for years pointed to Mandy Maillet, also of Warwick, whom she said was one of the many who have never been involved in issues like this before. Mrs. Maillet said she became involved with organizing her town when she learned the pipeline would go right next to the border of her horse farm. She said the farm is a dream home she and her husband built when she was 19 in what was then an overgrown hayfield. She said now she is worried it will all be ruined.

Deb Habib, an owner of Seeds of Solidarity Farm and Education Center in Orange, added that it is not clear that the pipeline is needed. She said it would be better if the gas companies cleaned up the mess they already have, fix leaks in the existing system and focus on better alternatives like solar and wind power.

Ms. Habib, who is also one of the organizaers of the annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival, said her property is not in the pipeline path, but she feels it affects everyone.

"We're all connected," she said.

Jim Roche of Athol said he first got involved in political action fighting a dump in Winchendon several years ago. He said a rare salamander helped keep the dump from being built. He describe it as lightning striking, helping win the fight.

"Let's get out there and find what is interesting in the area and see if we can get lightning to strike twice," he said.

The march will continue Thursday in South Royalston at 4 p.m., with marchers walking down River Road to Winchendon. On Friday the walk will begin at 8 a.m. at the Lake Dennison swim area off Route 202 and continue for 6.5 miles to the intersection of Routes 12 and 140. On Saturday, marchers will meet at 8 a.m. on Route 12 on the Ashburnham-Winchendon town line and walk to Town Hall before heading up to the Ashby town line on Route 119. The march will continue Sunday in Ashby and Monday in Townsend.

Contact George Barnes at george.barnes@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgebarnesTG