River Bend Farm: June 2022
by Jim Hendrickson
The first 2022 night sky event at River Bend Farm in Uxbridge took place under hazy but mostly clear skies on Friday, June 10. Francine Jackson and Jim Hendrickson set up their small refractors on the edge of the field overlooking the canal pond.
We had learned recently that there were late personnel changes at the Department of Conservation & Recreation (Mass DCR) and that our point person from last year was no longer there. The new ranger didn’t seem to have much knowledge or enthusiasm for the night sky programs, and this week’s program hadn’t even been advertised. He did as much as bring out two of the park’s small reflecting telescopes, which were not needed or used, and then left to conduct his own business elsewhere.
Because there was no night program advertised, we didn’t get our usual visitor numbers. At our personal invitation, friends and frequent visitors to the night sky events in Uxbridge and at Seagrave Observatory, Ruth and Marc Gravel came to visit us for about a half hour. Only one other visitor came to view the Moon with us. When the ranger didn’t return by 9pm, and we were by ourselves, we packed up our scopes, and theirs, and left. We’re hoping to return on July 22 with better coordination.
