Author Archives: Gilbert Hayes

Sawmill River 10K Run on January 1, 2026

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Once again the Montague (MA) Parks & Recreation Department has asked for our help during the Sawmill River 10K Run on New Year’s Day. In a letter from Jon Dobosz, the Parks and Recreation Director, he thanked the Hams who had provided “critical safety, security and communication services along the race route” in the past.

The race course is short, only 10 kilometers, but there are many turns and much of the course is in areas with poor or no cell coverage.  The race begins at 10 AM and is followed by snacks and delicious baked potatoes.  The commitment that morning would be from 9:00 to Noon at the latest.  The central site is the Montague Common Hall, 34 Main St, Montague, MA 01351.

One addition this year is a two mile walking route.

If you can help or have any questions, please email me directly even if you have already told me to count on you.  Please mention what type of 2 meter equipment you can bring, a hand held, a mobile with external antenna, etc.  If you have participated in this race before, let me know if you have a preferred location along the course.  

In addition to the spots along the course, there are three special roles required.

  1. A volunteer to drive the “sweep vehicle” who will follow the last runners.  
  2. A volunteer with a mobile radio, battery and mag mount antenna to ride with the race director in his vehicle before the races start. You will be back to the start in time to get to a position along the course.
  3. A volunteer to help me run the Net Control desk.

More information on the event itself is available here:
https://montagueparksrec.com/p/1021/Sawmill-River-10K-Run

Please let me know if you are interested in one of these positions.

You may get more than one copy of this request since I am sending to several mailing lists and I have no way of knowing who is on which list.  

Thank you,

Mark Swartwout, NX1K
nx1K@arrl.net

New WMA Amateurs for March 2025

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Please welcome the recent licensed amateur radio operators in the WMA section!

Felicity Goeckel, KC1WJG
300 Harkness Rd
Amherst, MA 01002-9782

Carol A Vanderheiden, KC1WJV
281 Chauncey Walker St Lot 547
Belchertown, MA 01007-9196

Jeffrey S Macphee, KC1WKP
152 Wales Rd
Brimfield, MA 01010-9748

Elizabeth Hickin, KC1WJI
55 Munson Rd
Chesterfield, MA 01012-9712

Eli S Martin Eberhardt, AC1TV
44 College Ln
Northampton, MA 01063-6303

Matthew A Yee, KC1WJX
75 Pearl St
South Hadley, MA 01075-1021

Keith A David, KC1WKB
9 Fernwood Rd
Southwick, MA 01077-9514

Ramon G Lapointe, KC1WJN
227 Little River Rd
Westfield, MA 01085-5404

Kyle G Christensen, KC1WLV
290 Horrigan Rd
Clarksburg, MA 01247-9754

Stanley E Haley, KC1WJS
60 Benton Pl
Athol, MA 01331-1969

Nathan N Davis, KC1WJT
95 Maple Ln
Petersham, MA 01366-9740

Preston Sturdevant, KC1WJL
22 Barbara Ave
Auburn, MA 01501-2902

Jinghao Luo, KC1WKL
31 Liberty Cir
Holden, MA 01520-2225

Anthony Davis, KC1WJH
65 Windsor Ridge Dr
Whitinsville, MA 01588-2041

13 Colonies Special Event Looking for Local Ham Radio Ops

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13 Colonies Massachusetts is looking for a few new ops to join Team K2H.

13 Colonies takes place every July 1-7. We’re looking for volunteers who can operate for at least 2 hours per day for at least 4 of the 7 days.

Operating as K2H is a blast. You become the DX, and stations want to work you. You don’t have to be a contest op to volunteer. Anyone interested and available is welcome. As part of team K2H for the past few years, we have made around 20,000 contacts. 

If you are interested, please contact Larry, W1AST, 13 Colonies Massachusetts state manager, at W1AST@arrl.net before May 15th.

Thanks and 73,
Larry, W1AST

New WMA Amateurs for February 2025

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Please welcome the recent licensed amateur radio operators in the WMA section!

Michael A Perkins, KC1WHJ
94 Fairgrounds Rd
Cummington, MA 01026-9701

Declan J Flood, KC1WGJ
841 Southbridge Rd
Warren, MA 01083-2146

Jonathan A Wynn, KC1WIO
229 Cadwell Rd
Pittsfield, MA 01201-7929

David G McKearney, KC1WHG
325 Savoy Rd
Cheshire, MA 01225-9012

Dana L Davidsen, KC1WEC
70 Egremont Plain Rd
Great Barrington, MA 01230-1691

Alejandro E Vazquez, KC1WFT
61 Arroyo Way
New Marlborough, MA 01230-2196

Carol L Gillette, KC1WEH
PO Box 42
Southfield, MA 01259-0042

Brendan Hanrahan, KC1WEY
47 North St
Grafton, MA 01519-1212

John H Cook, KC1WFZ
1 Sidoti Ln
Rutland, MA 01543-1250

Brian Hanlon, KC1WFR
7 Krula Way
South Grafton, MA 01560-1151

Steven Watroba, KC1WIA
22 Lawrence Rd
Dudley, MA 01571-5850

Eliot R Guerin, KC1WIP
122 Singletary Ave
Sutton, MA 01590-1839

Logan M Mombourguette, KC1WDJ
32 Stone School Rd
Sutton, MA 01590-2926

Xavier N Corapi, KC1WFF
47 Field Pond Rd
Milford, MA 01757-1284

MTARA Hamfest on March 1

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The Mount Tom Amateur Repeater Association is holding its annual Amateur Radio and Electronics Hamfest on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Drive in Chicopee. All amateurs and those interested are invited!

Admission is $5 for adults and children 12 and under are free. Doors open at 6:30 AM for vendors only and 8:30 AM for general admission.

The hamfest will feature:

  • A snack bar serving coffee, soda, donuts, breakfast sandwiches and the like.
  • An amateur radio license exam session will be run at 10:30 AM provided by PVVET
  • Several raffles (tickets 6 for $5)

Those wishing to reserve a table for selling, please contact Brian Mullarney N1FI.

Talk-in for the hamfest will be on the W1TOM repeater (146.940 MHz, PL 127.3).

WMA Section Manager Ray Lajoie AA1SE will be at the hamfest.

YLRL Scholarships Available for Students

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The Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) has announced its Memorial Scholarship program for 2025. The scholarship program is aimed at female amateur radio operators studying radio, communications, electronics or amateur radio related arts and sciences. 

There are three Memorial Scholarship award categories:

•The Ethel Smith, K4LMB, Memorial Scholarship — $2,500 award

•The Mary Lou Brown, NM7N, Memorial Scholarship — $2,500 award

•The Martha “Marte” Wessel, KØEPE, Memorial Scholarship — $1,500 award

“YLRL is committed to investing in women in amateur radio, and we believe that every act of volunteerism through amateur radio, even a small one, helps turn the world into a better place,” said Vicki Zumwalt, N6KLS, President of YLRL. “We hope that our scholarships will not only encourage students to learn more about science, technology, and engineering but also inspire them to take pride in being an amateur radio operator and to encourage others to do so as well.”

The YLRL believes that education in the fields or radio, communications, electronics, and amateur-related arts and sciences will play an important role in shaping the world’s future. Through these memorial scholarships, YLRL hopes to encourage female students to learn more about amateur radio.

To qualify, students must be female, have an amateur radio license, meet the requirements listed on the YLRL website and apply using the online application. Applications are due by April 30, 2025. Winners will be announced in July 2025.

The Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) is an international non-profit organization of female amateur radio enthusiasts. It was founded in 1939 and is the longest-running YL club in the world.

SKYWARN Nets to Activate for Jan 19 – 20 Storm

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This message was sent over the WX1BOX SKYWARN Announcement email list:

Hello to all…

..Updated Amateur Radio Net Schedule for snowfall reports and other storm impacts for the Moderate snowstorm affecting much of Southern New England. For other snowstorm forecast details see Message #4 at the following link: https://wx1box.org/2025/01/19/storm-coordination-message-4-late-sunday-afternoon-1-19-25-early-monday-morning-1-20-25-moderate-snowstorm-potential/ for additional details..

Amateur Radio Net Schedule:

  • 146.940-Mount Tom Repeater: Hourly Nets 6-11 PM Sunday Evening, Final Snowfall Total Nets 7 and 9 AM Monday Morning
  • 146.970-Paxton Repeater: 630 PM, 830 PM, 1030 PM Sunday Evening, Final Snowfall Total Nets at 730 and 930 AM Monday Morning
  • 146.790-Vernon CT Repeater: 630 PM, 830 PM, 1030 PM Sunday Evening, Final Snowfall Total Nets at 700 and 930 AM Monday Morning
  • NB1RI Rhode Island Repeater System: Nets will be scheduled between 6-11 PM and 700-1000 AM – Exact Net Schedule will be updated on the wx1box.org web site
  • 147.225-Windham CT Repeater: 800 PM and 1000 PM Sunday Evening, 830 AM Monday Morning
  • 145.470-Danvers Repeater: 830 PM, 1030 PM Sunday Evening, 800 AM Monday Morning
  • 146.895-Walpole Repeater: 700 PM, 800 PM is the Norfolk County Emergency Preparedness Weekly Net, 900 and/or 1000 PM Sunday Evening, 700 AM Monday Morning
  • 146.955-Westford Repeater: 700 PM, 800 PM is the Police Amateur Radio of Team of Westford Weekly Net, 900 PM and 1000 PM, 900 AM Monday Morning
  • 147.180-Bridgewater Repeater: 845 PM, 1045 PM Sunday Evening, 745 AM Monday Morning
  • 147.000-Dartmouth Repeater: 900 PM, 1100 PM Sunday Evening, 815 AM Monday Morning

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
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Algonquin ARC Flea Market, Marlborough, February 15, 2025

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The Algonquin Amateur Radio Club will hold its Marlborough Flea Market on February 15, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the 1Lt Charles W. Whitcomb School, 25 Union St., Marlborough, MA. Talk-in is on the MMRA repeater, 147.27+ (PL 146.2).

A VE session will be held beginning at 9:00 AM. General admission is $5. Vendor tables are $15 before February 9, 2024, or $20 at the door if space is available. Each table includes one admission.

For more information, email fleamarket@n1em.org or visit https://www.qsl.net/n1em/2025flyer.pdf.

Boston Marathon Volunteer Registration Now Open

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Hi Folks,

The Boston Marathon will take place on Monday, April 21st, 2025. I am a member of the amateur radio leadership team for the event. With time running out before volunteer registration closes, we have filled less than half of our needed volunteer slots. Volunteer registration closes February 7 at 5 PM.

Volunteers are needed to support operations throughout the 26.2-mile course, along with amateur support in the Start and Finish areas and along the transportation bus network. 

Here is a link to register to volunteer. Also, here is a quick tutorial on the volunteer registration process if you find yourself needing the reference. 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.

Best,
Marty Sullaway, NN1C
Member, BAA Communications Committee