May 19, 2013

You are here: Home / Archives for Departments / Outdoors

Connecticut River System Highlights Role of People in Sustaining Nature

February 25, 2013 by
Dr. Frogard Ryan, state director, The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut

Dr. Frogard Ryan, state director, The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut

A fishway around a dam on the Mattabesset River in East Berlin might not seem to have much to do with towns along the lower Connecticut River.

But the fishway The Nature Conservancy is building on the property of StanChem, a polymer manufacturing company about 35 miles from my home in Old Lyme, is good news—here and there.

As the Conservancy’s state director, I have a vested interest in the project’s success. It’s no stretch, though, to say we all have an interest in this work.

The Mattabesset River is a tributary of the Connecticut River, and the elaborate U-shaped fishway being built near the StanChem complex will help improve the health of the river area residents know and love as a neighbor.

That’s just for starters, though.

As I toured the site recently with StanChem President Jack Waller and Conservancy Connecticut Director of Migratory Fish Projects Sally Harold, I was reminded of a fundamental truth:  Conservation is made possible by people, and if Connecticut’s natural resources are to be sustained into the future, it will be because people make it so.

River and stream connectivity is an important environmental issue and opportunity in our state. The vast majority of dams in Connecticut are relatively small and privately owned. Many of them no longer serve the purposes for which they were built; some are at risk of failures that could threaten public safety.

From an environmental perspective, dam removal can open access to upstream spawning habitats for migratory fish. It also can restore the natural, swift-moving flows that support some native species, and it can enhance water quality by improving nutrient and sediment transport.

Removal isn’t always an option, of course, and that was the case with this project, where the impoundment created by the dam provides water that would be crucial for StanChem in case of a fire. In such circumstances, a well-thought-out fishway is a great—if not always easy— alternative.

The fishway on the Mattabesset is designed so that American shad, alewife and blueback herring will be able to use it. Because the old dam has been a complete barrier, none of those species has been above it in maybe 100 years.  All told, about 50 miles of habitat—including tributaries to the Mattabesset—will become available to them, improving the overall health of the Connecticut River system.

An embedded tube for migrating American eels is part of the project, too, and the Connecticut Department Energy and Environmental Protection will gather information from an observation room there for its “No Fish Left Behind” reports about monitored fish runs across the state.

Equally important, though, is how this project has happened.

A $308,000 Connecticut DEEP Ecosystem Management & Habitat Restoration grant, a $10,000 contribution from the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership through Northeast Utilities, and private donations to The Nature Conservancy are helping pay for this work. Of course, it also couldn’t happen without StanChem’s active buy-in.

With the state and the private and nonprofit sectors involved, the cooperation that characterizes this project is a model for conservation.

Still, it wouldn’t be possible without the commitment of individuals—people who want to make a difference. Mr. Waller, whose buoyant enthusiasm for the project is infectious, comes to mind, as does DEEP Supervising Fisheries Biologist Steve Gephard, a long-time champion of the project.

A great deal of work was done last year to improve the health of Connecticut’s rivers and streams. In East Berlin, Farmington, Stonington and elsewhere, there were real successes with dam removal and fish passage.

With so many of Connecticut’s dams privately owned, the future of this type of work depends greatly on individuals—including, I hope, some readers here—who see and cherish the opportunity to make a difference. There are so many dams out there where work of real ecological value could be done. Perhaps one of them is yours.

Dr. Ryan, who is the State Director of The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut, lives in Old Lyme; the Conservancy’s Connecticut Chapter is located at 55 Church Street, Floor 3; New Haven, Conn. 06510-3029.

Filed Under: News, Outdoors

A Portfolio of the Beauty of the Recent Snow Storm

February 21, 2013 by
A snow covered tree top surveys the scene

A snow covered tree top surveys the scene

Without question much damage was done by the recent snow storm. For some the lights and the power went out. Others were trapped in their homes for days because of the sheer massiveness of the snow storm.

Whereas below every element is covered with snow

Whereas below every element is covered with snow

Shoveling out was incredibly difficult. In many cases professional work crews had to dig people out.  Cars were buried; driveways were non-existent and getting to the store was a major undertaking.

Two straining trees, their branches bent with the weight of snow

Two straining trees, their branches bent with the weight of snow

Still, there was a memorable beauty to the storm. It created whole new worlds of splendor. Soon enough it degenerated into muddy piles of dirt and snow, but in its fullest glory here is what it looked like.

The sun illuminates the snowy scene

The sun illuminates the snowy scene

The deer look at us as we look at them

The deer look at us as we look at them

Filed Under: Jerome Wilson, News, Outdoors

Enjoy an Exciting, Educational ‘Eagle Watch’ Cruise with CT River Museum

February 19, 2013 by
1302_2013FebEagleWatch_076-7

The view east into Hamburg Cove from the Connecticut river

Last Friday was the perfect winter weather for a boat trip on the lower Connecticut River to view the wildlife and enjoy the experience of being one of the very few boats on the river during mid-February.  I was a guest aboard the 65 ft. Project Oceanology vessel Enviro-Lab III  for one of the “Eagle Watch” boat trips offered by Connecticut River Museum in partnership with Project Oceanology during February and March each year.  This is the fourth season the Connecticut River Museum has teamed up with the Groton-based marine science and environmental education organization, Project Oceanology, to provide a dynamic on-water experience.

The 65 ft Enviro-Lab III owned by Project Oceanology who have partnered with Connecticut River Museum to offer the Eagle Watch trips

The 65 ft Enviro-Lab III owned by Project Oceanology who have partnered with Connecticut River Museum to offer the Eagle Watch trips

Although visitors to the river in winter can see many interesting avian species, the bald eagle is the one most visitors hope to see.   Declared an endangered species in 1973 with the passage of the federal Endangered Species Act, populations began to recover following the ban on DDT, and by 2007,  the bald eagle populations had recovered to the extent that they have now been removed from the endangered species list.  They are, however, still protected on the federal level by the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Every winter a number of bald eagles migrate south looking for open water to feed as the lakes and rivers in Canada and northern New England  freeze.  Many of these birds stop in Connecticut and winter along major rivers and large reservoirs, and can been seen feeding and occasionally nesting on the banks of the Connecticut river.

1302_2013FebEagleWatch_024-3a

A juvenile bald eagle in flight over the Connecticut river

Although a sighting is not guaranteed, eagles are spotted on most trips.  On the first trip of the season, six adult eagles and eight juveniles were spotted.  On this trip, we were fortunate to spot our first young eagle soaring high above the boat minutes after casting off from the town dock as the boat headed north up river and then we saw several more eagles throughout the trip, some roosting in riverside trees and some gracefully circling above the river.

1302_2013FebEagleWatch_041-9

A juvenile bald eagle perched on a tree along the river bank

Eagles nesting on Nott Island

One of the highlights of the trip was to observe, from a distance, the rare sight of an eagle on her nest on the eastern side on Nott island, just across the river from Essex harbor.  In the 1950s the bald eagle was no longer a nesting species in Connecticut but, according to the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, in 1992 the state documented its first successful nesting of bald eagles since the 1950s when a pair raised two young birds in Litchfield County.  Since then, the nesting population has increased gradually and, in 2010, 18 pairs of bald eagles made nesting attempts in the state.

1302_2013FebEagleWatch_096-8

Female bald eagle on nest on Nott Island, CT

One such nesting pair is seen here on Nott Island.  The female was about to lay her eggs a week or so ago but was temporarily disrupted by Winter Storm Charlotte.  Hopefully, now that she is back on her nest, the eggs have been successfully produced.

“Let’s go out on the river and have some fun!”

The Eagle Watch boat trips are led by local expert naturalist and lecturer Bill Yule, who is an educator at the Connecticut River Museum.  He is not only an expert on most wildlife species found along the Connecticut River but also a renowned expert on local mushrooms and fungi.  Yule welcomed visitors aboard the trip with the invitation, “Let’s go out on the river and have some fun,” and throughout the trip he helped locate and identify birds, related historical stories about life along the river and made sure all the passengers were warm and comfortable with plenty of hot coffee.

Naturalist and lecturer Bill Yule provides interesting and informative information on all wildlife species seen along the river throughout the cruise

Naturalist and lecturer Bill Yule provides interesting and informative information on all wildlife species seen along the river throughout the cruise

Yule was accompanied by two educators from Project Oceanology, Chris Dodge and Danielle Banco, who cheerfully helped identify interesting birds and assisted the boat captain with docking and navigating up and down the river between the ice flows.

Bald eagles are certainly not the only avian species guests can enjoy on the trip and on this particular voyage, we enjoyed numerous sightings of  cormorants, black-backed gulls, red-tailed hawks and common merganser ducks.

We returned to the town dock some 90 minutes after departure excited by all the birds we had seen and moreover, educated about them, and, despite the cold, I am confident I am not the only traveler on that voyage who will be taking another trip later in the season.  All in all, it was an awesome experience!

1302_2013FebEagleWatch_026-4

The common merganser duck in full flight along the river

February Vacation Week Programs

The Connecticut River Museum is also offering a week-long program of vacation week activity for the February school break starting tomorrow, Feb. 19.  In addition to an Eagle Watch adventure on Friday, Feb. 22, the program will also include a day exploring the many galleries in the museum, an outdoor exploration day including a nature hike and animal tracking, and an arts and crafts day building models boats, learning knot tying and other maritime arts.

1302_2013FebEagleWatch_009-2

Avian wildlife exhibit in the Connecticut River Museum

To make reservations for the vacation week program or for more information about Connecticut River Museum educational programs or Eagle Watch Tours, visit www.ctrivermuseum.org or contact Jennifer White Dobbs in the Education Department at jwhitedobbs@ctrivermuseum.org or Bill Yule, also in the Education Department, at byule@ctrivermuseum.org.

Project Oceanology in Groton also offers Winter Seal Watch trips during weekends in February and March.  These two and a half hour trips travel out into Fishers Island Sound to view these playful creatures, which are abundant in this area.  The ticket price of $25 (adults) and $20 (children) also includes a 20-minute slide presentation.

Filed Under: News, Outdoors

Frostbite Sailors Brave the Wind and Cold, “all for the love of sailing”

October 31, 2011 by

Snow on boats before launching (Photo courtesy of Bob Leary)

In a bright, bright sun, on a cold, cold day, with the wind gusting well over 20 knots, twenty-five hearty sailors raced last Sunday (Oct. 30) for the better part of an afternoon in Essex Harbor.

These Frostbiters, as they call themselves, didn’t seem to mind conditions such as these. For them the more blustery it is, the better. In fact, when it was learned that ten “frostbiting” sailboats had capsized while sailing this afternoon, it was taken as a point of pride, rather than  a demonstration of what some might consider pure foolishness.

Readying the boats in parking lot

There were four kinds of boats in the afternoon’s competition in the cold.  They were: (1) the graceful, 30 foot Etchells, (2) the JY-15’s, (3) the Ideal 18’s, and (4) the one person, single sail Lasers of 13 feet, 9 inches. Most of the boats that capsized during the afternoon races were Lasers, with a few JY-15’s as well.

Single-handed Lasers round a mark

Once a Laser capsizes there is only one person at hand, who can bring the boat back upright, and that is the one man crew. Regular dunking into the water is the primary reason why Laser skippers wear full-bodied wet suits. The wet suit, however, does not keep a capsized sailor’s head from getting wet, and there is always a bit of water leaking down into the wet suit, after the boat and sailor have gone into the drink.

Crew struggles with capsized boat in water (Photo courtesy of Bob Leary)

A Crash Boat, fully motorized, patrols the Frostbite races, manned by  Frostbite Yacht Club Commodore, Scott Baker. If Baker sees that a capsized Laser sailor is having a difficult time righting his vessel, he has the power to send the boat back to the dock, because of the sailor’s evident fatigue. “If they are having trouble, we send them back in,” Baker says.

On this afternoon the Commodore sent three exhausted Laser skippers back to the dock, because of fatigue. In fact, there was such a concern for capsizing Lasers that the crash boat began following them around their course.

The larger Etchells can suffer a variety of breakdowns, such a broken spinnaker pole or traveler, but they are rarely, if ever, ordered back to dock, because of skipper’s fatigue.

As for Sunday’s sailing competition, the Frostbite sailors spoke with real feeling. “It was an awesome, windy day,” said Toby Doyle, who took first place with his Etchells in the afternoon’s races. “We survived,” he added.

An Etchells close-hauled

Other winning skippers were Mathew Wilson, first place of the JY-15’s; Ed Birch, captain of the winning Ideal 18, who is frequently a winning skipper; and Chris Field, the first place Laser skipper, who had only himself to thank for his victory.

As for the weather conditions, Ed Birch said, “It was nasty out there, with big puffs coming up.” A one point Birch said, “We were getting killed out there.”

An Etchells with full spinnaker

For her part Charlotte Posey, who sails an Ideal 18 with her husband, Dennis Posey, she was shocked when her husband said he wanted to go sailing today. They first had to shovel the snow out of their driveway.

The Ideal 18 requires a crew of two, and Charlotte Posey says that she and her husband “are one of the few couples out there who can sail together.”

After the races a former Commodore of the Frostbiters, Rick Harrison, said simply while sipping some hot soup, “It was a day of survival.”

Frostbnite Commodore Scott Baker eating soup after the race

The ultimate arbiter, whenever there is a dispute, is the club’s   Principal Race Officer, Tom Carse. As for the winds this day he termed them, “Very difficult, very puffy.”

Commodore Baker officially termed the day’s weather conditions as, “challenging but not dangerous.” Do the Frostbiters sometimes sail in  “dangerous conditions?” The Commodore answered, “Yes.”

Of the 25 sailboats boats in the races, there were four Etchells, four JY-15’s, 8 Ideals 18’s, and 9 Lasers. After all the boats were pulled out of the water, and stored until next week’s race, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, November 6th, in Essex Harbor, the Frostbiters retired to a local yacht club and some hot soup. Sailing a boat is always a matter of moods, it seems. This past Sunday was one of just pure excitement.

Frostbiters' Race Committee Boat

Filed Under: Jerome Wilson, Outdoors

Pettipaug Yacht Club Still Showing Effects of Irene

October 25, 2011 by

Debris taken out of the water by club members

Hurricane Irene visited the Pettipaug Yacht Club in a big way on Sunday, August 28, and the club is still feeling the after effects. For one there is literally a parade of floating logs coming down the river, and clogging up with debris the club’s boat ramp to the river.

“We have to clear the boat ramp at least every two days,” says Paul Risseeuw, who is the Director of the club’s Sailing Academy and informal caretaker of the club.  A pile of the debris that has been collected by club members is kept next to the boat ramp. The sizes of some of the pieces taken out of the river by club members are impressive.

However, as Risseeuw admits, some of the whole trees that pull up at the club’s docks are simply too big to handle, Reluctantly, they have to be pushed back into the river to continue their journey towards the sound.

Paul Risseeuw points high water mark at club

When the Irene’s storm water reached its highest, it was up to the second step from the top of the stairs at the club house. The club house itself is on a platform some four feet above the ground, and no water touched the deck.  However, all the grounds of the club were completely submerged during the storm period.

When the water on the grounds reached a certain point although anchored in some fashion, the boats began to float. (All of the boat’s masts and been removed before the storm.) This meant that some 120 boats were floating around during flood periods. The boats afloat included: Blue Jays, 420s, Lasers, as well as several Boston Whalers.

Although anchored to the ground, because of the leeway in their painters, the floating boats began to sway, and a number of them banged into each other. A few boats were damaged in this fashion. Also, a storage shed, where wind surfers had been kept, was badly banged out by wind, water and swinging boats.

However, saved from banging boats on the flooded grounds, were the small Optimist sailboats. They had been stacked on the floor of the clubhouse and were unharmed.

The story was very different for one boat owner at the club, who decided to keep his boat in the water in spite of Irene. It was a big mistake. Early in the storm the boat was flipped over to its side, and a floating tree coming down the river dragged the capsized boat and mooring down the river, and eventually hung up on another mooring. The owner found his boat after a hunt only to learn that the boat’s mast had been broken into three pieces. The boat owner had to hire a floating crane to get his boat out of the water.

Some club grounds still a jumble

Meanwhile the club’s docks completely avoided any damage, although the poles that are driven into the river bottom to hold the docks in place now appear bent. If the poles themselves had failed, it would have meant the loss of the club’s docks.

With the exception of the single boat left in the water, and the only minor damage caused by the boats anchored on the club grounds banging around, the club got away pretty easily from the visit by Irene. As Risseeuw puts it bluntly, “We got away cheap.”

A second chapter to Irene

There was also a week or so later, a second chapter to Irene. Some are calling it, the “Vermont mud slide.” Because of the heavy rains during Irene, the Vermont shore of the Connecticut River, way up north, flushed an enormous amount of sediment, i.e. mud, into the river.

In fact, there was so much Vermont mud coming down the river, the waters out in front of the club turned brown for a number of days.

Also, according to Risseeuw, there was a layer of Vermont mud dumped on the grounds of Pettipaug. There was also a second surge of high water, but nothing on the scale of Irene.

With its grounds scarcely above high tide levels, it is inevitable that future hurricanes will again completely flood the grounds of the Pettipaug Yacht Club.

Entrance sign of the Pettipaug Yacht Club

Risseeuw says that before another hurricane hits, which is inevitable, the club has decided to order all boats off the club grounds, and moved to higher elevations. Whether that means storing them in private driveways, or even in well elevated marinas, it won’t make any difference. “The boats are not going be allowed to be left here,” Risseeuw says.

Also, there will be strict rule that all boats, when a hurricane threatens, must be hauled out of the water, no exceptions. Some sailors simply have to be saved from themselves.

 

Filed Under: Jerome Wilson, Outdoors

Senator Daily Announces $75,000 Grant for Gillette Castle Upgrades

August 26, 2011 by

Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam, CT. (Photo courtesy of CT DEP)

Senator Eileen Daily, whose district covers Essex, Deep River, Chester and parts of Old Saybrook, has announced a $75,000 state grant to one of the area’s major tourist attractions, Gillette Castle State Park. The grant, which was approved by the State Bond Commission, will fund an  initial phase of terrace and stone wall repairs at the park.

Daily said, “The Gillette Castle State Park is one of the crown jewels of the Connecticut River valley and rightfully attracts some 300,000 visitors per year.” She continued, “The eccentricities of the building and grounds are matched only by the panoramic views from the castle itself and from throughout the 180-plus acre grounds – they are memorable for local residents and tourists alike.”

Daily also said that she played “an instrumental role in the four-year $11 million restoration of the park,” which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986. “I’m grateful to Governor Malloy and the members of the bond commission for their favorable consideration of this project and this investment in our local economy,” Daily said.

Filed Under: News, Outdoors

Cruisin’ By the Sea – Wednesday Nights at Saybrook Point Inn

July 21, 2011 by

Saybrook Point Inn sponsors cruise nights every Wednesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Inn. (Photo courtesy of Saybrook Point Inn and Spa).

Saybrook Point Inn and Spa is hosting cruise nights every Wednesday from 5:30 to 8:30 pm in the Inn’s parking lot at Two Bridge Street, Old Saybrook, overlooking Saybrook Point Marina. Owners of antique, classic and muscle cars are invited to showcase their automobiles at one of the region’s most picturesque locations. There is no entry fee, but space is limited.

“Island Oasis,” a duo of local musicians, John Banker on vocals, horn, rub board and steel drums and Al LaPorte on vocals and keyboard, perform on the Marina Bar terrace during the car show, from 5:30  to 8:30 p.m.

After attending the cruise night, visitors are invited to dine inside or outside on the balcony or patio at Saybrook Point Inn’s new restaurant, “Fresh Salt.” Totally redesigned, “Fresh Salt” offers the freshest day’s catch raw bar and an innovative approach to American cuisine, featuring the region’s finest ingredients, courtesy of the Inn’s farm-to-chef program. Beverages and lighter fare are also available outdoors at the Marina Bar. 

During the car show, extra parking is available for Inn guests and restaurant patrons. For more information on Saybrook Point Inn’s cruise night, call Pauline Ackles or Chris Loader at Saybrook Point Inn at (860) 395-2000. For directions, visit www.saybrook.com.

Filed Under: Old Events, Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Towns Agree to Explore Legal Route to “Save The Ferries”

July 18, 2011 by

The towns of Lyme, Chester and East Haddam have agreed to explore whether to seek a court injunction to bar the state Department of Transportation (DOT) from closing the Connecticut River ferries.

The inter-town agreement was announced by Lyme First Selectman Ralph Eno and East Haddam First Selectman Mark Walter Sunday evening at a “Save the Ferries” meeting at Hadlyme Public Hall.

About 125 local supporters of the Chester-Hadlyme and Rocky Hill-Glastonbury ferries cheered the announcement and went on to work on plans to galvanize public opinion to convince the state to keep the ferries running.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) has scheduled the closing of the ferries for next month.  All eight employees of both ferries received termination notices from DOT last week as part of Governor Malloy’s lay-off of more than 6,000 employees in order to balance the state budget after pubic employee unions rejected a revised contract designed to save the state $1.6 billion.

Eno explained that the DOT will be violating two state laws by following through on its plans to shutter the ferry service.

The first is a section of the state Transportation Law that requires DOT to “maintain and operate” both of the ferries, he said. ( See Sec. 13a-252 detailed below.)

The second is the section of the Transportation Law regarding sections of the state highways officially designated as “scenic roadways.” The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry is part of Rte. 148, and the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry is part of Rte. 160.  The routes of both ferries are incorporated into sections of both highways designated by the state DOT as “scenic roads.”  (See Sec. 13b-31d  detailed below.)

Eno pointed out that Transportation Law prohibits any alternation of a state highway designated as a “scenic road” without publication of notice of such changes and providing a period for the public to “comment” on the proposed changes.

Eno and Walter said their plan is to team up with other towns – Chester, Glastonbury and Rocky Hill – to seek a court order barring the DOT from closing the ferries based on these two state statutes.

Eno said the Lyme Board of Selectmen will meet today (July 18) with the town attorney to decide whether to seek such a court order.

Both State Senator Eileen Daily (D-33rd) and State Representative Philip Miller(D-36th) told the ferry supporters that they hope the state employee unions will reconsider their rejection of the contract changes so that the Governor can rescind the lay-off notices.  Both urged the ferry supporters to continue their efforts to convince the Malloy administration to maintain ferry service.

The meeting was sponsored by Hadlyme Public Hall.  The organizers outlined plans to reach out to ferry users and others locally and across the state to communicate support for the ferries to the Malloy administration.

Those who would like to help can contact the organizers at hadlymehall@gmail.com or call Humphrey Tyler at 518-253-4844 .

Sec. 13a-252. Certain ferries to be operated by state. Fees. Rocky Hill ferry deemed a state historic structure. (a) The ferries crossing the Connecticut River, known as the Rocky Hill ferry and the Chester and Hadlyme ferry, shall be maintained and operated by the Commissioner of Transportation at the expense of the state. The rates of toll or the charges to be made for travel upon said ferries shall be fixed by the commissioner with the approval of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. The commissioner may establish a discounted commuter rate for travel upon said ferries.

      (b) All expense of maintenance, repairs and operation of said ferries shall be paid by the Comptroller on vouchers of the commissioner. The commissioner shall include in his report to the General Assembly a report of the receipts and expenditures incidental to the control and maintenance of said ferries. Said Rocky Hill ferry shall be maintained as a state historic structure and shall be so marked with an appropriate plaque by the commissioner in cooperation with the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.

Sec. 13b-31d. Alteration or improvement of scenic road. Prior to altering or improving a state highway or portion thereof that has been designated a scenic road, pursuant to section 13b-31c, the Commissioner of Transportation shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality or municipalities in which such scenic road is located, a notice describing the alteration or improvement. There shall be a comment period following the public notice during which interested persons may submit written comments.

Filed Under: News, Outdoors, Politics

Valley-Shore Y Summer Camp Develops Youth’s Potential

June 1, 2011 by

Westbrook, CT – Registration now open for Day and Specialty Camps at the Valley-Shore Y.

 Instead of spending the summer at home and in doors, the Valley-Shore Y is encouraging parents to give their kids a chance to explore nature at the Y’s DAY camp. YMCA campers gain new experiences, develop essential social skills and create lifelong friendships, while enjoying camp adventures along the way.

“Children and teens have camped at our Y for 64 years,” says Rich Ward, Camp Director, Valley-Shore Y Day Camp. “When at DAY camp, kids are given new responsibilities and they learn independence. As a result, they become more confident, open to trying new things and grow as individuals and as part of a group.”

As a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y works to help children and teens discover their full potential by providing opportunities to learn, grow and thrive amidst caring, supportive adults. According to camping experts at the Valley-Shore Y Day Camp, there are five reasons why children and teens should experience summer camp:

  1. FOR ADVENTURE: Summer camp is all about fun adventures in the outdoors. YMCA camps have a new adventure for every child and teen. Visit www.vsymca.org for details.
  2. FOR NEW EXPERIENCES: Day camps are about learning outside of school, exploring and appreciating the outdoors, developing new skills, making friends and showing leadership.
  3. FOR PERSONAL GROWTH: While being away from the routine back home, youth have a chance to develop confidence and independence by taking on new responsibilities and challenges.
  4. FOR NEW FRIENDSHIPS: Amidst the fun of camp games, songs, swimming, canoeing and talent shows, campers meet new friends.
  5. FOR MEMORIES: Summer camp is an unforgettable experience that will give each camper memories that will last a lifetime.

Valley-Shore Y also provides exciting and educational Specialty Camp programming for children and teens, and their parents, including: Flag Football, Gymnastics, UK International Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, Cooking, Rock Band, Golf, Sports, Hip-Hop, Fitness, Cheerleading, Jewelry Making, Origami, Fashion, Photography, Film Production and Forensic Science and many more.

To ensure that every child and teen has the chance to go to camp, the Valley-Shore Y offers financial assistance to those in need.

For more information about Valley-Shore Y Day Camp, visit www.vsymca.org, contact Richard Ward at 860-399-9622 ext. 27 or rward@vsymca.org. For more information about Specialty Camps please call Chris Ferreira 860-399-9622 ext. 19 or cferreira@vsymca.org.

Filed Under: News, Outdoors

Navigation Class – Keep Your Investment Off the Rocks!

May 29, 2011 by

Take your boating knowledge to a higher level with this hands-on practical course in navigation and piloting. Classes are small to ensure close personal attention. Course content includes longitude and latitude, taking a position fix, dead reckoning, Loran, GPS and radar basics, charting a course, using plotting tools, time, speed and distance calculations, fuel calculations, using a compass, marine time conversion and cruise planning. Taught by John L. Annino, State-certified instructor with many years of personal boating experience. All students will receive a decal for The Connecticut Coastal Boater Endorsement Program upon successful completion of this course.

Acton Library
Old Saybrook
60 Old Boston Post Rd.
June 29 & 30
5:00pm – 8:00pm
(6 hours total)
 
$125, includes all materials

To sign up please call
 Krista Karch
A B Sea Safe Boating, LLC
860-322-5122
Krista@abseasafeboating.com
 

Connecticut Coastal Boater Endorsement Program
 
Boating on Connecticut’s waterways and Long Island Sound may seem easier with the modern electronics of today. But what if they fail? You will need to quickly depend on the time-tested methods of the past. These methods of navigation form the basis that modern electronics rely upon to make navigation so easy today. Should your electronics fail, having a basic understanding of navigation and plotting methods could save your life and those of others.

Boaters desiring to travel in coastal waters should seek advanced courses in navigation. Boaters should be confident in their vessel and their handling skills. To further promote safety in coastal waters, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is sponsoring the Connecticut Coastal Boater Endorsement Program. This program seeks to recognize and reward those boaters who have chosen to further their boating education.

Boaters who complete a course in basic navigation will receive the Coastal Boater Endorsement decal to be placed on their Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. There is no fee for the endorsement. It is simply our way of recognizing and thanking those who have taken the extra time to learn more about boating safety in our waters. Your efforts may be rewarded further by a decrease in insurance rates. The completion of one of the following classes will allow you to proudly display your decal.

Filed Under: Old Events, Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Landscape Design Seminars at Middlesex Community College

April 28, 2011 by

Three landscape design seminars will be held at Middlesex Community College on June 6, June 8 and June 13.  Classes will be led by Kathy Connolly, landscape gardening expert and local Old Saybrook resident. Topics will include selecting successful shade plants for summer and winter, using your flower garden for both beauty and energy saving, and looking at the economics of maintaining a lawn.  Details are as follows:

Who’s Afraid of Shade – Successful Shade Gardens for Summer Cooling and Winter Interest. June 6, 6 p.m. – 8.30 p.m., Chapman Hall, Room 607, Middletown Campus.  Cost $49

Foundation Gardens – Using the Circle Around Your Home for Beauty and Energy Savings.   June 8, 6 p.m. – 8.30 p.m., Chapman Hall, Room 607, Middletown Campus. Cost $49.

Changing the Lawn Economy in Home Landscape.  June 13, 6 p.m. – 8.30 p.m., Chapman Hall, Room 607, Middletown Campus. Cost $49.

For further details or to register call 860-343-5865

Filed Under: Old Events, Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Clinton Bike Fest May 1

April 25, 2011 by

The Clinton Bike Fest will take place May 1 from 12 noon - 5pm

The Bike & Pedestrian Alliance of Clinton (BPAC) invites you to the First Annual Clinton Bike Fest & Street Fair on May Day – May 1, 12 – 5 pm.

Join the fun at noon at Town Hall for the Family Fun Ride/Walk out to the Clinton Marina (registration begins at 10:30 am). At the same time, a longer ride for more road-savvy cyclists will head out to the beach by way of Beach Park Road. Participants in all rides are required to wear a properly fitting bike helmet and should bring a water bottle along for the ride.

From 1 – 5 pm there will be activities behind Town Hall, including food and information booths, music, bike demos, pedicab rides, and a bike rodeo for young cyclists (grades 3-5) to learn bike safety and smart cycling skills (bike and helmet required). The bike rodeo will be set up in the parking lot behind Town Hall and will run from 2 – 4:30 or so. New groups of participants will form every 20 minutes between 2 and 3 pm, with each group requiring a little over an hour to complete the course. Inside Town Hall, the Historical Society Museum will be open for tours. Lots of exciting events will also be happening on Post Office Square all afternoon, where singing, dancing, yoga and zumba classes will take place, and there will be musicians and an open mike for jamming. Museums and shops on Main Street will be open for business as well.

Visit the web site at www.clintonct.org/bpac.htm for more details on this event and to download a registration form for the Family Fun Ride/Walk. The Bike Fest is a free event, and all ages are welcome.

Filed Under: Outdoors

Volunteers Sought for Trail Maintenance in Old Saybrook

April 5, 2011 by

The Old Saybrook Land Trust (OSLT) is sponsoring a series of trail maintenance events over the next several weeks in preparation for Connecticut Trails Day on June 4.   The purpose of the events is to help keep town trails open and accessible to the public and to remove non-native plant species along the trails that have been identified by the Town’s Conservation Commission and the Parks & Recreation Commission.

Volunteers are needed to assist with trail maintenance and plant removal at any or all of the scheduled events.  The next event is:

4/9 - On Saturday, April 9, volunteers will be joined by OSLT’s youth group, OAK, at Clark Community Park off Schoolhouse Road.  Children, parents, and volunteers will undertake trail work at that location from 1 to 4 p.m.

4/10 - On Sunday, April 10, OSLT board members and volunteers will perform trail maintenance and invasive species removal in Great Cedars West, off Ingham Hill Road, from 1 to 4 p.m.

5/1 - OSLT and volunteers will return to Great Cedars East on Sunday, May 1, from 1 to 4 p.m. to conclude trail work at that location.  Identification of non-native species and techniques to remove them will be given at the beginning of each session.

5/15 - In addition, on Sunday, May 15, touch-up painting on trail markers will be performed on all the trails from 1 to 4 p.m.  Supplies and designated areas will be assigned at all three trail heads.  Rain date is Sunday, May 22.

5/22 – Rain date for May 15.

Volunteers are encouraged to join OSLT in these beneficial outdoors endeavors. Be sure to wear long protective clothing, gloves, and bug repellent; and bring clippers, loppers, and small hand tools for branch trimming and plant removal.

6/4- A Connecticut Trails Day event will be held on Saturday, June 4, from 10 am to noon. OSLT environmental educator Judy Preston will lead an interpretive hike through Great Cedars West.

For more information, contact Barbara Guenther at (860) 388-0085, blguenther19@aol.com; orcall Old Saybrook Parks & Recreation Department at (860) 395-3152.

Trail maps are available for download and print at the following websites:

OSLT website

OSPRC webpage

OSCC webpage

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Local Angler Receives DEP Award for Record Bluefish

March 28, 2011 by

Fred Spadaccini (L) receives award from Dave Simpson, Director of DEP’s Marine Fisheries Division

The DEP recently held their third annual awards ceremony for anglers, the Trophy Fish Award Ceremony. 

On January 19, 2011 at the Third Annual Trophy Fish Award Ceremony, CT DEP Marine Fisheries Division presented Fred Spadaccini of Old Saybrook an award for the new Catch and Release State Record Bluefish (34.5 “) of any adult in 2010.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Shoreline Sailing Club Spring Fling Dance

March 21, 2011 by

If you’re single, over 35 and have a love of the sea, put on your dancing shoes!  Join the Shoreline Sailing Club for their Spring Fling Dance, Thursday, April 21  7:30-11 PM,  Westbrook Elk’s Club.  Music provided by The Dayton Rich Band.

Lite bites and cash bar.  Members $10, guests $15 at the door. Further information available at www.shorelinesailingclub.com  or by calling Rosemary 203-675-4621.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Gardening Seminars – Who’s Afraid of the Shade?

March 21, 2011 by

Three gardening seminars will be held at Middlesex Community College on March 26, April 2 and April 9.  Classes will be led by Kathy Connolly, gardening expert and local Old Saybrook resident. Topics will include selecting successful shade plants for summer and winter, using your flower garden for both beauty and energy saving, and looking at the economics of maintaining a lawn.  Details are as follows:

Who’s Afraid of Shade – Successful Shade Gardens for Summer Cooling and Winter Interest. March 26, 9 a.m. – 11.30 a.m., Chapman Hall, Room 606, Middletown Campus.  Cost $50.

Foundation Gardens – Using the Circle Around Your Home for Beauty and Energy Savings.   April 2, 9 a.m. – 11.30 a.m., Chapman Hall, Room 606, Middletown Campus. Cost $50.

Changing the Lawn Economy in Home Landscape.  April 2, 9 a.m. – 11.30 a.m., Chapman Hall, Room 606, Middletown Campus. Cost $50.

For further details or to register call 860-343-5865

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Nature Photography Along the Airline Trail at CT Valley Camera Club Meeting

March 7, 2011 by

This month’s CT Valley Camera Club’s meeting will be on Monday, March 28, 2011 at the Deep River Library at 7:00 p.m.  and the guest speaker, Stan Malcolm, will give a presentation on “Nature Photography Along the Air Line Trail”.

The Air Line Trail was once a railroad renowned for its relatively straight course from Boston to New York. Stan Malcolm will give a presentation on "Nature Photography Along the Air Line Trail" at the CT Valley Camera Club's meeting March 28.

The Air Line was once a railroad renowned for its relatively straight course from Boston to New York – “as if by a line drawn through the air.” You can still find lumps of coal left over from the steam era.  Today the rail bed has been converted to a Connecticut linear park and hiking trail. 

Award-winning photographer Stan Malcolm has been documenting the trail for over nine years.  His “Along the Air Line…” web site offers over 4,000 photos and serves as a guide to what can be seen on the trail, as well as encouragement to experience nature firsthand.

The program will highlight the scenic beauty, flora, and fauna of the Air Line Trail, including advice on the best photo locations.  Stan will also provide basic tips for budding nature photographers, including discussions of shooting conditions, composition, negative space, depth of field, macro photography, and the relationships between shutter speed, aperture and ISO. 

To preview Stan’s work, visit www.performance-vision.com/airline/  The general public is invited to attend.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Old Saybrook Garden Club Presents “Landscaping and Ferns”

March 7, 2011 by

The Old Saybrook Garden Club invites the public to a lecture and Power-Point presentation on ”Landscaping with Ferns,” by Bill Harris,co- owner (with his wife) of Acer Gardens in Deep River, at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 4.

Harris has a  degree in agronomy and soil science; the couple has operated Acer  Gardens since 1983. The presentation will take at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main  Street, Old Saybrook.

Light refreshments will be served after; there  is no charge. A garden-club business meeting for members will begin at  12:30.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

“Pyrotechnic” Gardener Digs Formalism

March 3, 2011 by

Landscape designer Louis Raymond - Essex Meadows, March 18

Landscape designer Louis Raymond conducts an illustrated and animated presentation on that perennial horticultural question “To be Formal – or Not to be Formal” as part of the Essex Library’s Centerbrook Architecture Series.

Raymond’s exposition, which is formally titled “Putting Everything in Perspective: Formality in Your Garden,” is on Friday March 18 at the Essex Meadows Auditorium from 7 to 8 p.m.  Admission is free; please call the Essex Library at (860) 767-1560 to register.

Raymond and his exuberant garden designs have appeared in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, House & Garden, Metropolitan Home, and Design New England.  His broad plant palette ensures that his gardens go from peak to peak Spring through Fall, while his acute sense of space combines with a keen interest in foliage and form, bark and berry, to ensure that his landscapes maintain their interest right through the Winter. 

A flower lover at the core, he’s nonetheless unafraid to speak plainly about the impracticality of relying on flowers alone for garden interest.  “In New England, it’s a triumph to have even one thing in bloom in any given week, month after month after month.  So it’s best to think of flowers as the icing on the cake.  Delicious indeed, but the heart of your garden’s appeal must be in its plants’ form and foliage, as well as overall layout.”

Raymond served for six years as the design manager of the New England Spring Flower Show, which draws more than 100,000 people a year, and his portfolio includes work from Montreal and Manhattan to the Caribbean.  Favorite projects include New York’s legendary Turtle Bay Gardens, the eye-popping gardens for owners of a rare Gustav Stickley house in Wellesley, MA, and a massive waterfront estate in Narragansett, RI.  For other projects, visit his website, www.RGardening.com. 

Raymond is not shy about expressing his beliefs: “Naturalism is for wusses.  People use it as an excuse to plant things willy-nilly.”  While he has always had a fondness for plants and gardening, Raymond, who is 56, took the scenic route to his current vocation.  By the time he was 25 he had already earned baccalaureate degrees in chemistry, piano, and voice—and still found time for a couple of years of medical school along the way— before launching successful careers as an opera singer and a freelance writer.   By 30 he had retired from both to take up the trowel as a garden designer.

One reviewer described the riotously-expansive gardens at Raymond’s country home in Rhode Island as “pyrotechnic.”  Many hundreds of varieties of indigenous, exotic, and tropical plants cavort within its strictly-formal layout.  It’s where Raymond celebrates both his successes and failures, learning from each.  “To have a garden of this intensity is freakishly rare,” he said.  “I can only do it because it’s my business, so I don’t have to hire myself.  My gardens are a big lab to figure out every possibility for what we can grow here in New England.”

The Centerbrook Architecture Series is sponsored by Centerbrook Architects (www.centerbrook.com).

Filed Under: Local News, Outdoors

Literacy Volunteers April Fool’s Backward Mile

February 28, 2011 by

Literacy Volunteers Valley Shore will be holding their 4th annual April Fool’s Backward Mile and 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 2, 2011, starting at Essex Town Hall. There will also be a Lollipop Run for children aged 6 and under.

Registration will be at 7.30 a.m., and the Backward Mile for adults age 18 or older will start at 8.30 a.m., the Lollipop Run for children 6 and under will start at 8.50 a.m. and the 5K Walk/Run will start at 9.15 a.m.

This is an important fundraiser for Literacy Volunteers Valley Shore, CT, Inc. , who provide tutors to those residents in the Connecticut Valley Shore area who want to learn to speak, read or write English or who wish to improve those skills. Their service is strictly confidential and is provided free of charge.

People who wish to participate in the race can download the application form here or apply directly online at the Literacy Volunteers website at www.vsliteracy.org .  They can also contact Michael Noto, the Executive Director at 860-399-0280 or contact the race director, Cathy Bishop, at 860-767-0354.

Filed Under: Local News, Outdoors

Camp Hazen YMCA Summer Camp Open House , February 27

February 15, 2011 by

On Sunday, February 27, Camp Hazen YMCA will host an Open House from 2-4 PM.   Families are encouraged to attend to learn more about summer opportunities for their children.  Camp Hazen YMCA, located at 204 West Main Street on Cedar Lake in Chester, offers one and two week session of both day and resident camp. 

Some sessions already have waitlists so it is imperative for families to plan their summer now.  Camp Director, Danita Ballantyne, states “Attending an Open House provides a valuable opportunity for families to meet the Camp Directors and see the facilities to determine if Camp Hazen is the right choice for their family.” 

Camp Hazen YMCA is committed to helping youth develop valuable life skills through camping experiences that build healthy bodies, open minds and awakened spirits.    Traditional camp activities like swimming, arts and crafts and campfires – along with more unique programs including a Skate Park, Alpine Tower, Mountain Biking and Windsurfing are available for campers.  All activities are designed to ensure that campers are having fun, making friends and learning valuable life lessons such as independence and leadership which are the core ingredients of the camp experience.

Camp Hazen YMCA believes the summer camp experience is a vital part of a child’s development and offers a tier pricing program to make camp affordable for all.  For more information, contact Danita Ballantyne at 860-526-9529 or visit www.camphazenymca.org

Filed Under: Local News, Outdoors

Despite the Weather, “Essex Ed’s” Parade Draws Large Crowd

February 1, 2011 by

 

  

Move over Phil … Punxsutawney Phil, that is!  Everyone’s favorite groundhog, “Essex Ed” took to the streets of his namesake town on Sunday appropriately dressed in his finest – complete with twirled mustache – to celebrate this year’s 100th anniversary of the Ivoryton Theatre.

Despite the frosty weather, hundreds turned out for the parade, which was started over 30 years ago to wake up the town during the post-holiday doldrums.  

Some came in green (below) … were they early for St. Paddy’s Day?

 Others came with their groundhog … and their mom.

 And some, like eight-year-old Alex Torino (below), came with their groundhog, their groundhog hat … and a great big smile!

 Followed by a fife and drum corps (pictured below), antique cars, fire trucks, and numerous residents and visitors of all ages banging pots and pans, the larger-than-life groundhog made his annual pilgrimage from Essex Boat Works up Main Street.

 ”Essex Ed” stood proudly atop a trailer pulled by a vintage car in which Miss Connecticut, Regina Turner of Old Saybrook, sat looking a little chilly … but delightfully regal in her glittering crown.  

 First Selectman Philip Miller (above, left) was on hand to greet Miss Connecticut and “Essex Ed” on their arrival at the top of Main Street.

 A brief musical performance by the Fife and Drum band heralded the transfer of Ed from his trailer to his position on the plinth in the center of the circle.   A short speech celebrated his arrival and then it was time for photos galore of one group of parade-goers (see below) after another standing in front of the four-legged star of the show.

 Special musical performances followed the conclusion of the parade. 

The parade is organized by the Essex Board of Trade and is the first event of the seven-week long Essex Winterfest celebration that includes EagleWatch boat tours in February and March, Eagle Flyer train rides and free trolley transit over President’s Day weekend, and the inaugural year for the Essex Go Bragh Parade and Festival on March 19. 

 For more information about the parade, visit www.essexct.com.

Filed Under: Local News, Outdoors

Free Fly Tying Clinic in February

January 16, 2011 by

North Cove Outfitters of Old Saybrook is proud to offer a series of four free fly tying clinics each Saturday in February, from 10:00 a.m – 1 p.m.  Fishing staff will review tying techniques and some of their favorite patterns. These are patterns that their fishing staff love to tie and have proven effective in CT waters and beyond.

Attendees should bring your own vise and tying tools and North Cove Outfitters will provide the materials.  Please call the fishing department to reserve a seat.  Call 860-388-6585 ext 307 visit www.northcove.com for more information.

The clinic will be limited to 6 students.  The schedule will be as follows:

Saturday, Feb 5
Atlantic Salmon Flies
An introduction to tying flies for Atlantic Salmon.
By Ben Bilello

Saturday, Feb 12
Early Season Trout Flies
Some of our favorite flies for fishing in early spring and
how we tie them.
By Merrill “Doc” Katz

Saturday, Feb 19
Spun Deer Hair and Deer Hair Applications
Fish LOVE flies that “push” water. We will show you tips and tricks for
tying flies with deer hair heads like Muddler Minnows, Snake Flies, or
Dahlberg Divers. Big Flies catch Big Fish! This clinic will have some
patterns & techniques for tying castable big flies that catch fish!
By Evan Peterson

Saturday, Feb 26
Epoxy Flies: Salt Water
Every fly tyer has a love-hate relationship with Epoxy and beginners get
overwhelmed. 1 minute, 5-minute, 30-minute and rod builders epoxy all have
their place in fly tying. We’ll go over some of the favorite Epoxy Flies and
share some tips about handling this wonderful adhesive. By Captain Mark
Dysinger

North Cove Outfitters is located at 75 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT 06475

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Old Saybrook Garden Club presents “Preservation and Protection of the Lower CT River”

January 12, 2011 by

The Old Saybrook Garden Club invites the public to a Powerpoint presentation and lecture entitled ”Preservation and Protection of the Lower CT  River,” by J. H. Torrance Downes. The presentation will be held  Monday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. in the Old Saybrook Town Hall  Conference Room (302 Main St.).

Mr. Downes is currently a planner with the CT River Estuary Regional Planning Agency and has worked in the land-use field for more than 20  years. This Renaissance man is also a professional actor who has  appeared on Saturday Night Live, Law & Order, and other popular shows.  In addition, he is an artist whose work appears on Connecticut’s   “Preserve the Sound” license plate, depicting Saybrook Outer Light.

Admission if free.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Digging out after Benedict

January 12, 2011 by

After the first big snow storm to hit the region this winter local residents are faced with the task of digging themselves out from as much as two feet of new snow.  Most areas along the shore got more than 12″of new snow, and some got nearly two feet, in addition to several inches of snow from earlier snowfalls during the weekend. 

Many local businesses were closed for the day and Gov. Dannel Malloy announced that all non-essential State employees who work the first shift should stay at home.

Old Saybrook, Region 4, Region 18 and East Lyme public schools were all closed for the day and most scheduled Town meetings have been cancelled.

Snow removal crews were out all night trying to stay ahead of the storm. I-95 was passable but deserted, with only the occassional snowplow or truck on the highway at 9am today.

As the the last few flurries of the storm pass through the area, residents are now faced with the task of digging themselves out.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Preserve Public Hearing Draws Large Number of Local Residents

January 6, 2011 by

Engineer and land surveyor Bob Doane

About 60 local residents attended the public hearing Jan. 5 to comment on a proposal from River Sound Development, LLC  to develop the 1,000 acre preserve.  The hearing, at the Old Saybrook Middle School, was a continuation of a previous hearing held on Dec. 1, 2010.

The Preserve consists of 1,000 acres of open space, most of which is located in Old Saybrook, but also includes areas in Essex and Westbrook.    Approximately 925 acres are in Old Saybrook, 70 acres are in Essex, and five acres are in Westbrook.

River Sound Development, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the now bankrupt Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.   The Preserve is the sole asset of the River Sound LLC.   The developer is seeking ”A Modification of an Approved Special Exception for a Preliminary Open Space Subdivision Plan for 226 [new] dwelling units on Ingham Hill and Bokum Roads in Old Saybrook.”

At the earlier hearing on the project, the owner’s representative, Robert A. Levine of New York City said that the  modification proposes “some limited development” of  three “‘pods,” consisting of 43 acres along Ingham Hill Road, 31 acres adjacent to the Westbrook boundary and a 32 acre parcel on Bokum Road. These pods propose “no changes regarding the 816 acre forest core” of the property, he said.  Levine also said that he “wishes to defer to another time the decision of what happens to the central forest core.” “The options range,” he said, “from full development to no development.” 

David Royston, attorney for the applicant

At the Jan. 5  hearing, David Royston, attorney for the applicant, opened by saying he would provide responses to all comments that had been received by Nov. 23. He noted that additional comments were received after the Dec. 1 meeting and that responses to those comments had also been incorporated. Royston testified at the hearing that his client had meetings with numerous organizations, commissions and town departments, including the police. He said, “These meetings were extremely helpful in determining what we were asking for in respect of the special modification.”

Royston stressed the purpose of what he and other representatives of River Sound would present during the evening was to clarify, “What we are changing, what we’re not changing [with regard to the application]”. 
Royston pointed out however, “the plans of mice and men often go awry” and noted they had received more comments after they had provided 18 sets of responses, including a new report received Jan. 3. He committed to respond to that report but said, due to the obvious time constraints, that it was not yet done. For that reason, he asked that the Public Hearing be continued to Jan. 19, 2011.

In his conclusion, Royston stated his intent was, “to clearly indicate that what we are doing fits into the special exception you’ve already granted, except as modified by our proposal.” 

Professional engineer and licensed land surveyor Bob Doane then went through in detail all the changes that had now been incorporated, which included a modification to show a future access roadway, a proposed parking area and trailhead, stone wall reconstruction, and most significantly, the reduction of all lot sizes to 60,000 square feet. Royston had previously stressed the proposal was, “attempting to do nothing to the central core.”

Michael Klein, a biologist and soil scientist from West Hartford, then took the stand to confirm the locations on The Preserve where the eastern box turtle had been found. He noted that the home range for a typical box turtle was around 15 acres.

Philip Miller, Essex First Selectman, referred to the area as “a giant, wet, rocky sponge …including the headwaters of 3 watersheds which feed rivers in Old Saybrook, Westbrook and Essex.”  He urged the Planning Commission to be wary of the developer’s phased approach of developing the property “from the outer edges in.”

Charles Rothenberger, attorney for intervening party Connecticut Fund for the Environment observed that developing the edges would potentially box future developments into an even worse environmental situation. 

Bill Peace, Old Saybrook Selectman, reiterated his opinion that it was fiscally irresponsible for the town to take on the additional infrastructure expenses of more roadways, bridges and more.

The Public Hearing will be continued on Jan. 19, 2011.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Connecticut River Museum and Project Oceanology Team Up Again for EagleWatch 2011

January 4, 2011 by

Passengers board Project Oceanology’s Enviro-lab III at the Connecticut River Museum’s dock for eagle viewing boat tours every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in February through mid-March.

Essex, CT — Every year as the temperature drops below freezing and the last holiday decoration is packed away, a new season begins on the Essex waterfront. Bald Eagles from as far north as Canada migrate to the open waters of the Connecticut River where the fishing is good and the nesting is easy. In fact, the lower Connecticut River boasts one of the largest concentrations of these majestic birds from mid-January through mid-March, a natural phenomenom which sets the stage for the Connecticut River Museum’s continued expansion of its annual EagleWatch programming. After a highly successful season last year with first-year partner Project Oceanology, the Connecticut River Museum will again team up with the Groton-based marine science and environmental education organization to provide a dynamic on-water experience.

Connecticut River Museum Educator Bill Yule guides eagle viewers aboard Project Oceanology’s 65-foot research vessel Enviro-lab III.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting on February 4 and running through March 13, Project Oceanology’s vessel Enviro-lab III will depart from the Museum’s docks for an up-close view of winter wildlife, Bald Eagles, and other big birds of prey. Educators from the Museum and Project Oceanology will provide narration while passengers can enjoy viewing from the heated cabin or outside deck area. In addition, there’s an opportunity to assist in collecting water samples and compiling data for water-quality monitoring programs that are part of an ongoing environmental study with the Museum. Every boat tour ticket includes free admission to the Museum where the story of the Bald Eagle continues to unfold in the Eagles of Essex exhibit. 

Opening on February 5 and running through March 13, Eagles of Essex tells the full story of why so many bald eagles winter here and how they went from near-extinction to becoming one of the greatest environmental come-back stories in history.  In addition to an interactive eagle nest, exhibitry will illustrate how to identify birds of prey and where the best land-viewing spots are located.  An eagle sighting scoreboard and a “real-time” community photography display will also be featured.  Amateur photographers are invited to submit their digital shots of eagles or other river raptors for inclusion in the exhibit. 

Special programming events will round out EagleWatch 2011.  On Saturday, February 5, drop-in arts and crafts, eagle nest building activities, family gallery tours, birdwatching with binoculars and scopes, and more will be happening from 12 noon to 4 pm in the Eagles of Essex gallery. 

On Saturday, February 12 and on Saturday, March 5 at 1:30 pm, international nature photographer Stan Kolber will present the do’s and don’ts of photographing birds in the wild during a one-hour “Introduction to Bird Photography” workshop.   And on Sunday, February 13 at 3:30 pm at Essex Town Hall, the Connecticut River Museum, together with the Essex Garden Club and the Potopaug Audobon Society, will host a Wind Over Wings live birds of prey demonstration.  Admission is free but seating capacity is limited. 

For a full listing of event details, go to www.ctrivermuseum.org or call 860-767-8269.  The Connecticut River Museum is located on the Essex waterfront at 67 Main Street and is open Tuesday – Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

RiverQuest and CT Audubon offer their Seventh Annual Eagle Cruises from Haddam

December 31, 2010 by

RiverQuest – Connecticut River Expeditions and Connecticut Audubon are joining up again in February and March for their Seventh Annual Eagle Viewing Boat Cruises on the Connecticut River. These ever-popular winter cruises will depart from the “New Eagle Headquarters” located at the appropriately named Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam.

Captain Mark of the quiet, environmentally friendly eco-tour vessel RiverQuest says “This will be our second year offering Eagle Cruises from Eagle Landing State Park. Our first year was a complete success and we are excited to again be departing from the beautiful and picturesque Haddam and East Haddam area. Because of our many years of experience on the river, we know exactly where to look for eagles and other wildlife. We hope to expose even more people to this “Winter Wonderland” during the 2011 season.”

Andrew Griswold, Director of Connecticut Audubon EcoTravel and founder of the Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festival, has been offering Eagle Cruises on the Connecticut River for 16 years. This will be the seventh year the two organizations have partnered together aboard RiverQuest. “We have many years of knowledge and experience between us. The same naturalists and educators narrate these cruises each year making our trips truly exciting, educational and better each year.” said Griswold. Andrew agrees that departing from Eagle Landing State Park was very successful in 2010 and is looking forward to the 2011 Eagle Cruises.

Eagle Landing State Park is very easy to get to. It is close to Route 9, right off of Route 82 and there is plenty of parking. The park is located directly across the river from the historic Goodspeed Opera House and is just south of the famous East Haddam Swing Bridge, which opened in 1911 and is the 5th longest swing bridge in the world. Gillette’s Castle is 4.5 miles away. Although the castle is closed this time of year, the grounds are open year round for visitors. There are also unique shops and restaurants in Haddam, East Haddam and Chester, all making this area a destination in itself.

Please join Connecticut River Expeditions and Connecticut Audubon aboard RiverQuest for a unique, informative cruise while searching for the majestic Bald Eagle and other winter wildlife along the peaceful lower Connecticut River. Complimentary coffee and tea aboard. Binoculars are available for use during the cruise at no charge.

Numerous weekend and weekday dates and times are available for these 2-hour cruises. For more information or reservations visit RiverQuest at ctriverquest.com, phone 860-662-0577 or CT Audubon EcoTravel at ecotravel.ctaudubon.org, phone 860-767-0660.

Filed Under: Local News, Outdoors

Woman safe after Knollwood pier rescue

December 30, 2010 by

The Past Chief of the Old Saybrook Fire Department, David Heiney, responded to an emergency at the Knollwood pier yesterday and played a key role in a dramatic rescue of a woman from the Long Island Sound.

On Wednesday Dec. 29 at 0940 Hrs, the Old Saybrook Fire Department received a 911 call reporting that a female was in the water off the Knollwood Pier in Old Saybrook (Long Island Sound). The Old Saybrook Fire Department, Police Department and Ambulance were dispatched to the scene.

Past Chief David Heiney of the O.S.F.D. responded to the scene in his personal vehicle. When Heiney arrived, he was told that a woman was in the water off the end of the pier. Heiney entered the water to rescue the woman.

Officer James Kiako of the Old Saybrook Police Department arrived on scene and retrieved his rescue rope that is kept in the trunk of his patrol car. Kiako went out onto the pier and threw the rescue rope to Heiney as he was swimming to the victim. Kiako tied the rope to the railing of the pier. Heiney was able to grab onto the rope and swim to the victim.

Firefighter Rebecca Lucas and Kiako went down onto the beach to enter the water to assist Heiney. In the meantime, Heiney had grabbed onto the victim and started to swim to shore. A civilian, Jerry Gintoff was on the pier assisting in the rescue. 

Gintoff took the rope off the railing and pulled Heiney and the victim to the shore.  Heiney was met in the water by firefighter Lucas and Kiako. The woman was pulled from the water and was still breathing.

The victim was transported to the Middlesex Medical Center in Essex by the Old Saybrook Ambulance and treated for hypothermia. Heiney and Lucas were also transported to the Medical Center and were evaluated and released.

Reported by Max Sabin of Old Saybrook

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Boats, Tugs, Steamships & Trains: Stories of Commercial Traffic Along The Connecticut River

December 28, 2010 by

Artist Steve Cryan will present “Boats, Tugs, Steamships & Trains: Stories of Commercial Traffic Along the Connecticut River!” at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex on Thursday, January 20 at 5:30 pm.

Essex, CT – The stories of commercial transportation in the Connecticut River Valley will come to life on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m. when local artist Steve Cryan presents “Boats, Tugs, Steamships & Trains: Stories of Commercial Traffic Along the Connecticut River” at the Connecticut River Museum. 

Using his colorful storytelling technique and vibrant images, Mr. Cryan will treat the audience to a retelling of the days when the River was bustling with various modes of working vessels and transport. 

A special behind-the-scenes tour of the Connecticut River Museum’s 17th Annual Holiday Train Show created by Mr.Cryan will end the program. 

Admission is $5 per person.  Museum members are admitted free.  Please call to reserve a spot. 

The Connecticut River Museum, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the cultural and natural heritage of the Connecticut River and its valley, is located on the Essex waterfront at 67 Main Street.  The 17th Annual Holiday Train Show runs through February 13.  For more information on this and other programs, go to www.ctrivermuseum.org or call (860)767-8269.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Old Saybrook Planning Commission to hold second public hearing on Preserve development, January 5

December 5, 2010 by

Residents post signs to preserve the land

The Old Saybrook Planning Commission will hold a second public hearing on the controversial proposal to develop the Preserve on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m.  The hearing will be held at the Middle School in Old Saybrook.

The Preserve property consists of  1,000 acres of open space, most of which is located in Old Saybrook along Ingham Hill Road, although 60 acres of the site are located in Essex and a smaller parcel in Westbrook.

The Jan. 5 hearing, like the earlier hearing in early December, will consider a proposal by developer River Sound Development LLC to develop a small portion of the 1,000 acre site along Ingham Hill Road. This new proposal would consist of three developed sites containing 224 units of new housing.  

1,000 acres of vacant land at issue

An earlier development plan of the Preserved a number of years ago, envisioned the construction of 221 new housing units and a new golf course with a club house. Although this proposal was approved by the Old Saybrook Planning Commission in 2005, the Inland Wetland Commission thwarted the plan from going forward because of environmental concerns.  The developers appealed the Wetland Commission’s decision to the courts but to no avail. 

Although Old Saybrook First Selectman Michael Pace declined to take a position on the Preserve’s latest application, noting that the idea to develop the Preserve “has been going on for years,” Essex First Selectman Phil Miller on the other hand is staunchly opposed to the new proposal.

Essex First Selectman Phil Miller

Miller has said, “The Preserve is a 1,000 acre, wet and rocky sponge. The best use of the property is open space.” Development of the property in Miller’s view “is not in the best interests of Old Saybrook or Essex.” 

Miller is also seeking a new purchaser of the Preserve property, who would preserve the land as open space. He recently met with representatives of the Trust for Public Land with this in mind.

Expected to speak against the new application at the Jan. 5 hearing is the Connecticut Fund for the Environment. Others in the past, who have voiced opposition to the Preserve’s development include: local State Senators, Eileen Daily, Andrea Stillman, and Edward Meyer; and State Representatives, James Spallone, Marilyn Giuliano, and Brian O’Connor. U.S. Senator-elect Richard Blumenthal has also expressed his opposition to developing the Preserve.   

Some 60 local residents came out for the first hearing on the proposed River Sound development, and many of them opposed it.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Residents Show Opposition to ‘Preserve’ Housing Plan

December 3, 2010 by

About 60 residents attended the Planning Commision meeting on Wednesday to fight plans for a housing development on “the Preserve.” 

Read the full story by Susan Misur in the New Haven Register.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Old Saybrook Farmer’s Market Nov. and Dec.

November 22, 2010 by

The Old Saybrook Farmer’s Market will be hosting two Holiday Markets. The first will be Tuesday, Nov. 23 from 11:00-1:00 p.m. and the second will be on Thursday, Dec.23 from 11:00-1:00 p.m. Both will be held in the parking lot at 210 Main Street.

Local produce, bakery items, prepared food, and other Connecticut-made items will be available. Free hot cider will be served this Tuesday and free hot cocoa will be served on Dec. 23.  

Come and see what we have to offer fresh for all your holiday needs! For more details visit the Farmer’s Market website www.oldsaybrookfarmersmarket.com .

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

First Connecticut Bike-Walk Summit Raises Hope

November 17, 2010 by

If you doubt that bicycles and pedestrians are beginning to get some long-overdue attention as road users, those doubts might have been revised on Saturday, Nov. 13, when about 150 people gathered at Central Connecticut State University for the state’s first Bike-Walk Summit.

Participants learned about the latest developments at the Connecticut Department of Transportation, heard about national trends in community planning such as “Complete Streets,” got the scoop on the new legislative landscape, and learned about national and international bicycle and pedestrian planning—among many other topics.

The summit was sponsored by www.BikeWalkCT.org. Old Saybrook representatives included members of the Bikeways Committee, the Board of Selectmen, and the Police Commission.

Highlights:

A “Complete Streets” law took effect on Oct. 1 in Connecticut. This refers to a practice of considering all road users in street design, including non-motorized users. This new law says, among other things, that the state and municipalities working with state money must set aside 1% of funds for bike and pedestrian projects.

Things are busy in New Haven, where a number of tangible changes are underway. The city has completed a street design manual that addresses bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. It is available at the New Haven web site: www.cityofnewhaven.com/TrafficParking/pdfs/CS-Manual-04-05-10.pdf

New Haven is using the “SeeClickFix” Web site to accept public input about safety issues and repairs. (http://www.SeeClickFix.com) SeeClickFix is a local advocacy Web site that lets users write about issues and encourages communication between residents and local government. SeeClickFix users post a complaint about problems that occur within a set of boundaries on a Google Map, like a missing stop sign or a damaged curb, and the site communicates the problem to local agencies and departments, with a mark the Google map.

New Haven also has a “Vision Zero” initiative, an idea that got its start in Scandinavia and is spreading worldwide. It is based on the premise that traffic fatalities are NOT inevitable.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is exploring six major changes to past policies, including the following:

  1. Setting aside 50% of Federal Transportation Enhancement funds received by the DOT for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
  2. Allowing Surface Transportation Funds (STP) to be used for bike and pedestrian projects.
  3. Putting sidewalks on an equal footing with other elements of road design.
  4. Including more bicycle and pedestrian design standards in the DOT Design Manual.
  5. Making faster responses to local situations, implementing of a “quick fix” mechanism.
  6. Collaborating with the Department of Environmental Protection, which currently administers many miles of bike and pedestrian trails within the state park system.

Comments regarding changes to DOT policy can be sent to Tom Maziarz, DOT’s Bureau Chief for Policy and Planning. Email: maziarztj@ct.gov.

The Capital Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) has a “Smart Cycling” education program. According to Sandra Fry, Transportation Planner, these programs are based on the principles advanced by the American League of Bicyclists: “Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.”

Ms. Fry reviewed who and what causes of cycling accidents. According to her sources, responsibility for cycling accidents is about 50/50 between cyclist and motorist. She also showed that about 50% of all cycling accidents involve falls by the cyclist, indicating that many riders have poor control of the bike. The Smart Cycling program teaches five layers of safety for cyclists, including bike control, following traffic laws, proper positioning on the road, hazard avoidance, and use of helmets.

Legal trends are causing more state and local governments to look at laws as they pertain to bicyclists and pedestrians, according to Kyle Wiswall of the Tristate Transportation Campaign. Nonetheless, there continues to be a lot of misinformation regarding those laws. One of the primary objections to “complete street” designs, he said, is the fear that towns raise their liabilities with designs that encourage multiple types of users. Contrary to common opinion, however, towns have “design immunity” as long as implementation is done according to accepted design standards (such as those advanced in connection with Connecticut’s new “Complete Streets” law).

Wiswall also discussed the “vulnerable user law” that will be considered in the upcoming legislative session. This law creates a new category of road user—anyone outside the crumple zone of a motor vehicle. This can include emergency workers while outside their vehicles, road workers, pedestrians, cyclists, roller bladers, skateboarders, horseback riders, and others. If passed, it will give police the power to cite drivers whose role in accidents with “vulnerable users” is currently uncovered by existing laws.

Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, shared that about 60% of survey respondents in Portland, OR, could be classified as “concerned” about safety in cycling—a factor which causes them to cycle less than they might. This 60% will be the source of growth in transportation cycling as better infrastructure and better education become established.

These were just some of the highlights. Information flowed freely, as did some cautious optimism that a new day may be dawning for those who would like to leave their cars in the driveway. The presentations will be posted at the BikeWalkCT Web site by the week of Nov. 22.

For some interesting Web sites, check out these:

Connecticut bicycling and walking advocacy site where the Summit presentations will be posted: http://www.bikewalkct.org

Walk to School Pledge: http://walkitbikeitct.org

United States Bicycle Route System: http://www.adventurecycling.org/usbrs

Share-the-road signage in Connecticut: http://sharetheroadct.org

Benchmarking report 2010 on biking and walking in the US: http://www.PeoplePoweredMovement.org

Kathy Connolly is Chairman of the OldSaybrook Bikeways Committee and can be reached at kathy.connolly@snet.net

Filed Under: Community, Old Saybrook, Outdoors, Town Hall

Leaf pickup scheduled to begin Nov. 15.

November 9, 2010 by

Old Saybrook residents are asked to bag leaves without sticks, grass clippings or brush into biodegradable paper bags, which are available at local retail and hardware stores.  Secure the bags and leave them by the roadside.  Leaves in plastic bags will not be picked up.

Town trucks will circulate throughout the town and pick up bagged leaves beginning Nov. 15 through Dec. 3.  Do not overload the bags.  Over-stuffed bags will not be picked up.

Residents can take loose leaves or those bagged in biodegradable paper bag to the old landfill site, which is open through Dec. 18 at the end of Coulter Street, Monday through Sunday. Leaves in plastic bags must be removed from the bags at the site.

Public works will keep the gate open 24 hours a day, provided all rules and regulations are followed.

To report illegal dumping, call 860-395-3123.

Filed Under: Community, Departments, Outdoors, Town Hall

Old Saybrook Historical Society Welcomes New Volunteer Gardeners

November 6, 2010 by

The gardens at the Old Saybrook Historical Society welcome new volunteers to join the busy green thumbs, who have already signed up to weed and seed there.

Tuesdays any time between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. is the appointed time.

The gardens surrounding The General William Hart House at 350 Main Street (between the Episcopal and the Congregational Churches) are the appointed place.

Need further information?  Call Audrey Goodhue at 860-510-0669.

Filed Under: Community, Departments, Outdoors Tagged With:

OS Garden Club Welcomes New Members

November 6, 2010 by

The Old Saybrook Garden Club meets the first Monday of the month (except for July and August).  It is the mission of the club to  “Stimulate a greater interest in horticulture, educate members in the art of flower arranging, promote conservation of our natural resources, initiate and perform civic beautification, and encourage youth in civic projects with a gardening focus.”

To those ends the club plants and cares for the Main Street median plantings, the Constitution Garden in front of Saybrook Country Barn, and various other public gardens around town.

The club also gives a scholarship to an Old Saybrook resident each year, presents monthly programs for selected elementary-school students, prepares floral arrangements for high-school graduation, provides a floral display for Acton Library each week, and much more.

The annual Gardeners’ Market, held each May on the Friday and Saturday before Mother’s Day, is the club’s only fundraiser–and is thus critical to its civic endeavors.

For information about the club, contact membership chairman, Carol Voigt at 860-388-3213 or windsongos@sbcglobal.net

Filed Under: Community, Departments, Outdoors Tagged With: , ,

Looking for a few good men … and women

November 6, 2010 by

The General’s Garden Battalion is looking for a few good men and women!

Volunteers are needed to fight the war on weeds in the Old Saybrook Historical Society Garden at the General William Hart House Garden, 350 Main Street, Old Saybrook on Tuesday or Saturday mornings between 10 a.m. and 12 noon.

Interested recruits should contact Marianne Pfeiffer by email am.pfeiffer@comcast.net or meet at the battlefield!

Filed Under: Community, Departments, Outdoors

Potapaug Presents Program About Bears

October 27, 2010 by

Potapaug Audubon presents “The Bear Reality – Bears in Our World and Our Backyard” with speaker Patricia Ortner, Master Wildlife Conservationist on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. at the Westbrook Library on Goodspeed Dr.   Folklore, legends, truth, myths and natural history of wildlife in Connecticut.

This is a free program.

For more information, call 860-399-0136.

Filed Under: Local News, Outdoors

Public Tells Bikeways Committee of Town Road Cycling Hazards

October 1, 2010 by

Several members of the public described the hazards of cycling in the town from personal experience at yesterday's Special Meeting of the Old Saybrook Bikeways Committee.

During the first of two Special Meetings of the ad hoc Old Saybrook Bikeways Committee on Thursday evening, members of the public listed problem areas of which they were aware that cause hazards and impact the safety of cyclists and pedestrians on town roads.

About 20 residents turned out for the meeting, which was chaired by Kathy Connolly, who gave a short presentation on the history of the committee before seeking input from the members of the public on specific cycling and pedestrian hazards they had encountered on and around the roadways of Old Saybrook.

The Bikeways Committee, which was formed in September 2008 by the Old Saybrook Board of Selectmen, is developing a list of recommended infrastructure changes and other investments that will require funding from the 2011-12 budget, which it will then take to the board of selectmen later in the year.

Committee member Julie D’Ambrosio described a survey she is conducting with members of Girl Scout troops to collect traffic, pedestrian and cyclist data at the middle school as part of the “Safe Routes to School” project. Connolly hopes that funding for infrastructure improvements may be available through a grant from the program. The Town of Essex has already received a $400,000 grant for physical improvements and Clinton is reportedly working on a similar grant application.

Several members of the public provided personal examples of dangerous situations they had experienced while cycling locally. One of the most hazardous areas identified was The Causeway between Saybrook Point and Fenwick, which several residents reported as being particularly dangerous for cyclists.
Great Hammock Road, Elm Street under the Amtrak bridge, and Route 1 over the railway bridge between CVS and Pat’s Kountry Kitchen were also identified as areas of concern. Proposed solutions included widening roadways where possible, changing road markings and reducing speed limits.

Connolly noted all comments and will incorporate them into her recommendations to the board of selectmen.
A second special public meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the Town Hall.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors

Bringing Bike Racks to Town

October 1, 2010 by

Bikeways Committee member Pat Ingellis installs a bike rack in front of Porter Plaza, near the site of the Old Saybrook Farmer’s Market. (Photo by Robert Lorenz Photography)

Cyclists will be noticing new bike racks around Old Saybrook.

The racks are located on Main Street in front of the Old Saybrook Farmer’s Market area (Porter Plaza parking lot), at the corner of Dudley Street and Main Street, in front of the Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce at One Main Street, Old Saybrook Town Hall, and the Post Office.

In addition, racks are located at Saybrook Point Pavilion, the Town Park on Schoolhouse Road, and Trask Park on Trask Road.

These bike racks are being installed thanks to Robert Lorenz and Pat Ingellis, both avid cyclists and members of the Board of Selectmen’s Ad Hoc Bikeways Committee.

The new racks are one way the Bikeways Committee is trying to encourage bicycling as a mode of transportation for business and pleasure, as well as to make it easier for cyclists to bring their bikes into town. There are additional bike rack locations in the works.

Riders will also find bike racks at Town Beach, Acton Library, the Parks and Recreation office, the train station, and all three Old Saybrook public schools.

The Bikeways Committee is a group of volunteers who meet monthly with the objectives of furthering cycling safety issues and enhancing bike routes in the Old Saybrook area. The Committee is also working on other projects including the installation of road signs, sidewalk cleanups, lane paintings, and bike safety education.
For more information, contact the Board of Selectmen’s office: 860-395-3123

Filed Under: Local News, Outdoors

Celebrate Mark Saybrook Colony’s 375th Birthday Next Sunday

August 9, 2010 by

Next Sunday, Aug. 15, Old Saybrook Historical Society celebrates Saybrook Colony’s 375th anniversary with two events.

The first part of “A Step Back In Time” is from 12 to 4 p.m. at Bushnell Farm, Boston Post Rd. in Old Saybrook, and features family fun with games, tours, demonstrations, hayrides, a plow pull, barn-raising, historical characters in period costume, story telling, fife and drum corps, weavers, spinners, and more. 

There will be no parking on site during the afternoon hours.  Shuttle buses will be available to and from the Old Saybrook High School for the convenience of attendees.

The second event takes place in the evening starting at 6 p.m. at the same location.  Wine and beer will be offered and then at 7 p.m. a Summer Supper cooked onsite will be served buffet style under a tent. The menu comprises brisket, whole rostisserie turkey, corn bread, vegetables, and dessert.  Music will be played throughout the event.

Tickets are $60 per person and reservations, which are essential, can be made at 860-388-2622, 860-395-1635 or www.saybrookhistory.org

The Old Saybrook Historical Society is grateful to the following sponsors for their support of this event:  Herb and Sherry Clark, Reid Amusements, LLC, Essex Savings Bank, Guilford Savings Bank, Hadass and Matthew Rubin, The Sandra and Arnold Chase Foundation, Inc, Thompson and Peck, Shore Discount Liquors, Clinton and Deep River, and Lorensen Auto Group.

Filed Under: Local News, Outdoors

The General’s Garden Battalion is looking for a few good men and women!

July 29, 2010 by

Volunteers are needed to fight the war on weeds at the General William Hart House Garden, 350 Main Street, Old Saybrook on Tuesday or Saturday mornings between 10am and 12 noon.  Interested recruits should email am.pfeiffer@comcast.net or meet at the battlefield!

Submitted by Marianne Pfeiffer for the Old Saybrook Historical Society Garden, 30 July 2010

Filed Under: Outdoors

High Hopes

January 5, 2010 by

They Have “High Hopes”

On Jan. 16, 2010, the Salt Marsh Opera will be presenting a concert at the Old Lyme Congregational Church entitled “An Evening of Operatic Favorites” benefiting High Hopes. The performers are Teresa Eickel and Brian Cheney. Tickets are $25 and the patron tickets are $50. There will be a reception after the performance at the Lyme Academy College of Art for patron ticket holders.

High Hopes was founded in 1974 by Sis Gould. The mission of High Hopes is to “improve the lives of people with cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities, through the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding and other equine assisted activities, while serving the therapeutic riding profession through training and education.”  Forty-four percent of the riders receive financial assistance from High Hopes. Riders benefit from the donations.

High Hopes helps people of all ages with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities, including, but not limited to autism, Down’s Syndrome, and cerebral palsy. The organization has helped people at places such as the Connecticut Valley Hospital and the Rocky Hill Veteran’s Hospital.

“The movement of the horse moves the rider’s body in a three-dimensional pattern. It is very similar to the movement in human walking. Being around the horse will help kids and motivate them to say words or make eye contact,” said Kitty Stalsburg , Executive Director.

“We do an assessment of every rider that comes here”, commented Sara Slayton Qua, the Development Director, “and we see what needs to be developed, whether it is physical or cognitive. The ride with the horse is geared toward developing that.”

Not all riders, however, physically ride the horse. There is an “unmounted equine learning program”, where participants learn about caring for the horse. There is also a “carriage driving program”, where participants sit in a carriage and learn how to control the horse and carriage.

This program gives people with disabilities self-esteem and the confidence they need to succeed in the future.

The evening of entertainment will be a great way to support High Hopes and all of their programs. We have “high hopes” that this will be a successful event and that you will attend.

Filed Under: Old Saybrook, Outdoors