Drew Johnson and Angelina Altobellis fell in love with each other around the same time they fell in love with Western Massachusetts. They met attending UMass-Amherst, and after a few moves to other parts of the country, returned to the area to settle down.
They wanted a place that was “quiet, with a friendly, laid-back community and easy access to both the outdoors and Northampton,” and were excited to find their home in Williamsburg near a beaver pond. Angelina said The Hilltowns are “the kind of place that we would want to travel to if we didn’t already live here.”
Both their jobs combine remote time with long commutes for in-person work, and they love the quiet solitude of their home after a long day. They enjoy unwinding with outdoor activities, including on HLT trails near them, like Bradley, Breckenridge, the Big View Trail, Locke’s Loop, and the Historic Dam Trail.
“We appreciate the approach HLT takes to conserving and stewarding the natural spaces around us—combining conservation with access,” said Drew. He continued, “[HLT] has offered really thoughtful educational programs that have helped us better understand the land and ecosystems around us.”
Last year, Drew and Angelina decided to become Sustaining Members of HLT by making a monthly gift.
“So much of what we appreciate about living in Williamsburg benefits from the work of HLT… and it’s important to us to support this financially (however modestly!),” said Angelina. “A sustaining membership makes it easy to make regular gifts to an organization we care about; it’s a great way to build this support into our budget.”
Sustaining Members like Drew and Angelina provide a steady stream of support for land protection and stewardship in The Hilltowns. You too can show your enduring love for this beautiful landscape and become a Sustaining Member with your monthly gift of $5 or more.
