Summer
2008:
News:
- The
Day Camp at Camp Nahaco begins July 7th, 2008.
- The
ECHPC has been awarded a $2,170 grant from The
Last Green Valley to enhance and improve the
Geogre Askew Trail and to add an Outdoor Classroom
nearby the school and the Still River. Intereactive
educational materials will also be provided
to the EES library as well as the town's Ivy
Glenn Library. Please contact Deirdre Childs
208-1788 if you would like to donate materials,
or help volunteer over the next 11 months to
help complete this wonderful project.
Spring
2008:
Coming
to nearby Ashford, CT on June 15th, 2008 the 2008
Farmer's Market. Join a selection of local
farmer's, artisans, and bakers Sundays beginning
June 15th from 10 am to 1 pm -- Located at Pompey
Hollow - near the Ashford Senior Center off Route
44, across from Babcock Library. Growers are WIC
approved. Find gluten free treats, organic coffee,
handmade jewelry, maple syrup, local honey, baked
goods, nursery stock and a growing abundance of
fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as entertainment
throughout the season. Any questions, please call
Deirdre Childs at 208-1788.
Saturday,
June 14th, Eastford will host Heritage Day at
the Eastford School. Road race, parade and other
events begin early. Come one, come all!
STEWARDS OF THE
EARTH, 2008 by Mary Ellen Ellesworth
April 22, 2008 is Earth Day!
What can we do on this day, and every day, to
protect the natural world around us?
In our town we can:
1. Walk or bike to school, the
library, and the soccer field.
2. Adopt a road and pick up any litter; NEVER
drop any additional litter.
3. Plant a small tree or some flowers, using native
plants, and avoiding pesticides, fertilizer, and
chemicals.
4. Make sure that the places where we work, play,
and study have good, energy-saving lighting [compact
fluorescent light bulbs], proper ventilation,
low noise levels, and adequate space.
5. Recycle toys, books, magazines, clothes. Someone
else may find a lot of pleasure in our used products!
6. Be creative. A glass jelly jar can become an
attractive vase; folded magazine pictures can
transform into lively butterfly mobiles!
7. Support a local science institution, like an
aquarium, zoo, nature center or botanical garden.
8. Compost .
9. Carry a reusable bag to the supermarket and
other stores.
At home and at school, we can:
1. Turn off lights, computers,
and electronic appliances when we are not using
them.
2. Wear a sweater and turn the thermostat down
two degrees.
3. Use both sides of every piece of paper!
4. Eat locally grown foods.
In the lunch room we can:
1. Fold and recycle clean paper
products.
2. Wash out and reuse any plastic snack containers,
or plastic utensils.
3. Bring a thermos or reusable bottle for beverages;
if a single-serving plastic, glass or aluminum
drink container is a must, wash it out & put
it in the proper recycling bin.
On April 11, 2008, a number of
teachers, students and community volunteers in
Eastford will be sharing the beautiful story of
The Tree Farmer. This 32-page book by Chuck Leavell
and Nicolas Cravotta explains healthy tree farming,
and points out all of the necessary and wonderful
products that trees provide for us. The Giving
Tree by Shel Silverstein is another good read,
presenting a parable of giving and receiving between
a boy and a tree; it provides a sensitive look
at the trees that too many of us take for granted.
There are lots and lots of other good books about
the natural world around us, and these books remind
us of why it is so important to become proactive
stewards of our planet.
Some may be wondering about the
history of Earth Day. April 22nd this year will
mark the 38th Earth Day! Earth Day was first proposed
for our nation by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin,
who urged environmental protest “to shake
up the political establishment and force the issue
onto the national agenda.” In retrospect,
he noted, “It was a gamble, but it worked.”
On the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, 20 million
Americans joined to begin conversations about
protecting a healthy and sustainable environment;
people from all parties and all walks of life
joined in. Out of their raised voices came the
United States Environmental Protection Agency,
and the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered
Species Acts.
By April 22, 1990, Earth Day
had become global, with 200 million people in
141 countries participating. Recycling took main
stage, and the day provided a big push toward
the 1992 UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Earth Day 2000 focused on global
warming and the efforts to develop clean sources
of energy. Hundreds of millions worldwide took
part, in 184 different countries.
Earth Day 2008 is up to each
one of us! Let’s get going!
Winter
2007:
Take
a Hike! Did you know that there are trails in
"downtown" Eastford? If you
have some time this winter, put on some sturdy
shoes and take a walk through history. Off of
Old Colony and John Perry Road, you can access
the Town Pound, and continue toward the Boston
Turnpike Trail. PARKING: Limited parking can be
found on the State Forest road (no name) and near
the junction of rts 244 & 198 (off Old Colony
Road). It is best to carpool if coming with a
group. DOGS: Dogs must be on leash at all times.
Please clean up after your dog. PLEASE REMEMBER
TO STAY ON THE TRAIL. TRAMPLING CAN DESTROY NATURAL
HABITATS. THE TRAIL IS OPEN TO FOOT TRAFFIC ONLY.
MOTORIZED VEHICLES ARE NOT PERMITTED.
Welcome to Eastford's
Boston Turnpike Trail! Here you will be standing
on the ONLY remaining unaltered portion of an
early road system that first connected our cities
and town during colonial times. It was first established
under King Charles II of Britain and followed
trails laid out in much earlier times by Native
Americans.
The Boston Post Road was not
a single road, but actually a system of roads
that connected the important cities of the colonies:
Boston, Hartford, Providence, New Haven, New York,
Philadelphia, Williamsburg and Charleston. The
portion in Eastford was part of the Middle Route
that ran east from Hartford to Putnam, then on
to Dedham, MA and finally to Boston. The trip
to Boston to New York via this route was about
225 miles - considerably shorter than the southern
Boston Post Road that ran along the coast.
As the name implies, an important
function of these roads was to carry the mail.
Back in 1673 it took about a month for a letter
to go from New York to Boston. First it was carried
by horseback and then later by stage coach. These
roads also gave farmers a way to get their goods
to markets and were also important for moving
troops during colonial wars and the American Revolution.
In order to raise money to pay
for the upkeep of the road, the newly formed states
of the United States allowed towns to charge tolls
on their portions of the Post Road. The roads
then became known as "turnpikes" because
of the turnstiles where travelers had to pay a
toll before passing.
At some places along the Boston
Turnpike Trail, you will notice that the old roadway
still maintains its crown at the center. This
allowed rainwater to drain off to the sides -
an especially important feature in the mud season!
Although cattle drivers were permitted to use
the route, the cattle had to be kept off the main
road. You will see stone walls running parallel
to the road in places. On the other side of these
walls is where the cattle were permitted to walk.
This trail passes through part
of the Natchaug State Forest (for more information
- see the Trails & Recreation Page in this
website), as well as over privately owned land.
We thank the land owners who have given their
permission for the public to use this trail.
The portion of the trail between
Old Colony Road and State Forest Road passes through
what is known as a typical maple/oak/hickory forest.
Near to the State Forest Road, the trail passes
through wetland habitat. A small bridge and short
length of boardwalk have been constructed (by
local talent and Conservation Commission member,
Thomas DeJohn) to ease your passage through these
areas.
The Boston Turnpike Trail continues
through hardwood forest down Rt. 198. You can
turn back and re-trace your steps on the old roadway,
or follow the newly cleared loop trail and visit
several different habitats. Along this section,
you shall cross a stream, find stands of coniferous
trees planted by the Connecticut DEP Division
of Forestry, pass a vernal pool, and finally return
to the old Post Road after passing by a lovely
meadow.
Enjoy!
The
Town Pound
The
Historic Town Pound has been rejuvenated thanks
to the collaboration of Tom deJohn, Sharon Lyons,
The Conservation Commission and the Town of Eastford
Pubic Works Department. This project has been
on the agenda for quite some time and it is a
pleasure to see the gate standing tall once more.
Fall
2007:
Water
Conservation Guidance for Homeowners with Wells:
Some private
wells run dry every [year], while others, which
may be right next-door, flow without a problem
even during a drought. Geographical or physical
conditions of the soil or rock and well construction
may cause these differences.
This guidance has been prepared to help people
cope when groundwater levels are low and private
wells run dry.
Do I have a Problem?
If you hear your pump going on more frequently
than normal or experience water outages, or if
air bubbles come out of your faucet, you well
may be having trouble keeping up with your demand
for water.
Where is My Well?
Where is it? How deep is it? These are some basic
questions. If you do not know the answers, call
your local health department. The well driller
who installed your well may also be a useful source
of information. A metal detector may prove useful
in tracing buried pipes to locate your well. New
pipes are generally plastic, but iron is often
used in the installation of wells.
Why Conserve Water?
Cutting back on water use by refraining from outdoor
use or doing laundry and limiting toilet flushing
and bathing can significantly reduce your demand
for water. Timing water use to spread out your
water demand over the entire day may also help.
Tips for reducing water demands.
How Do I Increase My Available Water?
A licensed plumber or well driller can inspect
your well and may be able to lower the pump. This
may increase the useable storage in the well and
increase the extent of the aquifer from which
the well can get water if the well is already
deep.
Deepening your well is another possibility. Consult
your local health department about the advisability
of deepening your well and to obtain a list of
licensed well drillers.
Increasing the amount of water storage through
the installation of an atmospheric storage tank
and/or transfer pump by a licensed plumber may
help. Water in storage will be available for use
as needed, for longer periods. This allows well
water to flow into the well (recover) for a longer
period of time before recharging the tank.
What Happens if I Run Out of Water?
If the groundwater level drops below the bottom
of your well you are out of water. Deepening your
well or drilling a new well may be a solution.
If that is not feasible, it may be possible to
connect a tank to your home and have water delivered
by a bulk water hauler, although this may require
the installation of an atmospheric storage tank
and transfer pump. Your town health department
may have information on local facilities for bathing,
or filling containers for drinking water. Bulk
water haulers are available but limited on their
ability to deliver water.
What About Safety?
Any time work is done on your well, or you add
water storage, or change delivery, your system
should be disinfected to kill any bacteria that
may have entered the system during the work procedure.
A description of disinfection procedures is available
from your local health department. Also private
well owners should test their water annually for
bacteria and other indicators, and whenever there
is an evident change in quality contact your local
health department for advice.
When Will Things Get Better?
This is largely governed by precipitation and
is thus unpredictable. However, if conditions
have not improved, relief can be expected normally
around mid-October when evaporation and transpiration
by plants declines. Following information provided
by public water suppliers and your local health
department can give a good indication of conditions.
Things to Remember
Do not fill your well from other water sources.
The water will disperse into the aquifer. Your
well is not a storage tank.
When in doubt, utilize local and state resources
for information.
excerpted from CT DEP website 10/18/2007
September 2007:
-
CT DEP Advises Anglers And Boaters To Take
Precautions To Prevent Spread Of “Didymo”
Into Connecticut Waters
Highly invasive alga found in Vermont in
the Connecticut and White Rivers
The Connecticut Department of Environmental
Protection today is advising anglers and
boaters to be on the lookout for the highly
invasive freshwater alga Didymosphenia geminata,
known as “Didymo” and to take
precautions to prevents its spread into
Connecticut waters. The call was prompted
when the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
recently confirmed that the alga has been
found in the northern reaches of the Connecticut
River near Bloomfield, VT, and at several
sites along the White River, a tributary
of the Connecticut River in central Vermont.
This is the first official report of Didymo
in the northeastern United States.
During blooms, didymo can form thick mats
of cottony material (typically gray, white
and/or brown, but never green in color)
on the bottoms of rivers and streams that
can potentially smother aquatic plants,
aquatic insects and mollusks, destroy fish
habitat, and negatively affect existing
food webs. Didymo is most frequently found
in relatively shallow streams and rivers
having a rocky substrate. Didymo is not
expected to be problem in the lower Connecticut
River or in lakes; however, it could have
a large impact on fish and other aquatic
organisms if introduced to the state’s
smaller rivers.
Humans are the primary vector responsible
for the recent spread of didymo. Anglers,
kayakers and canoeists, boaters and jet
skiers can all unknowingly spread didymo.
This microscopic alga can cling to fishing
gear, waders (felt soles can be especially
problematic), boots and boats, and remain
viable for several weeks under even slightly
moist conditions. It is recommended that
water recreationalists practice CHECK, CLEAN,
DRY procedures.
• CHECK: Before leaving a river or
stream, remove all obvious clumps of algae
and look for hidden clumps. Leave them at
the affected site. If you find any later,
do not wash them down drains; dispose all
material in the trash.
• CLEAN: Soak and scrub all items
for at least one minute in either hot (140
degrees F) water, a two percent solution
of household bleach or a five percent solution
of salt, antiseptic hand cleaner or dishwashing
detergent.
• DRY: If cleaning is not practical,
after the item is completely dry to touch,
wait an additional 48 hours before contact
or use in any other waterway.
Thought to be native to far northern regions
of Europe, Asia and probably North America,
the geographical and ecological range of
this freshwater alga has been expanding
in recent years. Didymo has been spreading
to diverse areas including British Columbia
in Canada, the western US (especially Montana,
South Dakota, Idaho and Colorado), New Zealand,
and then into the southeast US (Arkansas,
Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia and
West Virginia). Didymo, a microscopic alga,
has also begun developing massive blooms
that can sometimes extend for several kilometers
of river.
July/August 2007:
-
The annual removal of the
invasive species, water chestnut (see Invasive
Plants link) will take place at Budd's Pond
on Westford Road in Eastford on July 7th.
-
Camp Nahaco Day Camp will
begin next week and is open to all residents
of Eastford and Woodstock, as well as neighboring
towns for an additional fee. Please visit
the Trails and Recreation link to visit the
Camp Nahaco information page.
June 2007:
-
The Department of Environmental
Protection is pleased to announce that a review
draft of "The Green Plan: Guiding
Land Acquisition and Protection in Connecticut
2007-2012" is available for public comment.
This update, called for in Governor Rell's
Executive Order 15 regarding Responsible Growth,
is a strategic plan for land acquisition and
protection for the State of Connecticut through
2012. When finalized, it will influence
DEP land acquisition and protection decisions
made on both direct actions and grants to
municipalities, land trusts and water companies.
It will also provide general guidance for
program managers, serve as a tool for those
who want to work with the State in preserving
land, and offer a basic overview for the public
of the DEP's land acquisition and protection
program. The plan is posted on DEP
Website Homepage under
"Current Topics" where it will stay
until June 29th. Comments should
be forwarded to Margaret Welch, the DEP Landscape
Stewardship Coordinator. Comments
are requested by Friday, June 29, 2007.
- Locally, Heritage Day will
take place at the Eastford Elementary School
grounds (see description in May Update
Below!) on June 9th. Camp Nahaco
is also enrolling for sessions beginning this
July!
-
June 28th, Peter
Tork (formerly of the Monkees) and his new
band "Shoe Suede Blues" will play
a benefit concert in Ashford, CT. Joshua's
Trust plans to raise money for a $15,000 pledge
made to contribute toward the purchase of
development rights for Crooke's Orchard. Peter’s
concert last year was a big hit, and Joshua's
Trust expects this year’s event to be
equally enjoyable. Place: Knowlton
Memorial Hall/Babcock Library Building on
Rt. 44 in Ashford. Time: 7:30
p.m. for wine and refreshments; music at 8:30
p.m. Donation: $25. per person
for members; $30. for non-members*.
Make reservations by sending a check
to Joshua’s Trust, P. O. Box 4, Mansfield
Ctr. CT 06250. Reservations should
be received by June 20. *Please visit Joshua's
Trust Website to join or to inquire as
to how to get your copy of the Joshua's Tract
Walkbook.
May 2007:
-
The Connecticut
Land Conservation Council was formed
in 2006 by the merger of two existing programs
of The CT Chapter of Nature Conservancy: the
Land Trust Service Bureau (LTSB) and the Land
Conservation Coalition for Connecticut (LCCC).
The The Council’s mission is to advocate
for land preservation, stewardship and funding,
and ensure the long term strength and viability
of the land conservation community. The intent
of the new Council is to enable our conservation
community to better learn from each other
and to even more effectively advocate for
critical issues at the State Capitol. Visit:
Connecticut
Land Conservation Council for
more information.
- Locally, Heritage Day will
take place at the Eastford Elementary School
grounds on Saturday, June 9th. There
will be a Book Sale, Conservation Information,
Food, Local Vendors & Artists, and much
more. Please contact the commission
if you would like to volunteer, or if you have
questions regarding the event. The George
Askew Nature Trail - located behind
the school - has been reblazed and provides
a fine walk. Enjoy it if you can.
April 2007:
-
If you want to know more
about the latest initiatives in conservation
Statewide, visit CACIWC.ORG
to read about the advantages in The
Face of CT Campaign: a Green and Growing Vision
for CT. "The Face of CT (FOC)
has a diverse landscape of rolling hills,
forests, rivers, farms, buildings and streetscapes
that reflect CT's rich and diverse history.
The Face of CT defines the character of our
cities and towns, and our quality of life."
It is an aggressive, visionary initiative
to significantly increase the pace of land
conservation, historic preservation, and urban
restoration, to prevent sprawl from polluting
our natural resources, and degrading the heritage
of our communities." ( Source:
CACIWC.org, 3/21/07)
- Local Stewardship Event to be held
in Mansfield, CT on Tuesday, April 24th, 2007
at Mansfield Library's Buchanan Center from
7 - 9 pm. Charlotte Pyle, landscape
ecologist with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation
Service, and Tom Worthley, UCONN Extension Forester
along with local landowners will discuss "Getting
to know your neighborhood's forest stewardship
options: no action or active management"
Landowners will provide perspectives on forest
management. This event will be followed by an
on-site field trip to Coney Rock Preserve
April 28th at 1:30 pm. Contact Jennifer
Kaufman at 429-3015 extension 204 or at kaufmanjs@mansfieldct.org.
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