UPDATE: Putting the “lookout” into Midden Lookout Park

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EXCITING NEWS!

Our Sustainable CT crowdfunding campaign to build the Wildlife Viewing Shelter at the Midden is COMPLETE!

To everyone who contributed and volunteered throughout this campaign, we would like to thank you once again for your overwhelming support.

With donations received (online and offline), we have updated our budget to use additional funds for more site prep which includes Mugwort suppression, ground prep, landscaping, and water capture from the roof of the shelter.

Building will begin next spring, once site prep is complete. We will share updates and exciting pictures as we reach major milestones!

With gratitude,  

Kristen Colombo, John Hall & The Jonah Center Board and Staff 

You can still visit our Lookout Fundraising site to learn about the planned Wildlife Viewing Shelter.

The rest of the long-term project has many elements, so donations and volunteers are always welcome and appreciated. Just note your intent for the “Midden” on any donation to add to that fund.

If you are not familiar with this project, welcome to the effort! We have more details published on a dedicated webpage under Initiatives > Midden Lookout Park and Trails.

Coginchaug Carp

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Watch carp spawning in the Coginchaug River just upstream from the canoe and kayak launch in Middletown — a Jonah Center project completed in 2014.  It’s the perfect place and time of year to see many amazing forms of life out in the Floating Meadows.  Our thanks to videographer Phil LeMontagne for this video. 

Progress with Partners at the Midden

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Since our last update, we’ve been coordinating with amazing partners to activate spring and summer work at the Midden. 

Continue reading →

What does it mean to be NiCER?

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The Jonah Center is proud to be one of the 29 organizations who have joined NiCER (the New Clean Energy Revolution). It’s the first coordinated statewide clean energy movement in CT! Take this survey to BE NiCER! and contribute to collective action for a clean energy future.

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Spring & Summer Paddle Schedule

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Register Here

We need volunteer paddlers to help us remove invasive water chestnut plants from local waterways. Ready to paddle and pull? Keep reading for dates and registration details.  Register early! Continue reading →

April Walk, Comfortable Summer Homes

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Spring is a great time to focus on energy efficiency in our homes. We tend to worry about staying warm in the winter, but it’s more important now than ever to stay cool during very hot summers.

Especially if you have an old AC unit, take the time to sign up for a Home Energy Solutions visit at Middletown » HeatSmart CT.

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Many hands truly do make light work at the Midden 

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Another successful volunteer work party was held last Sunday! 
If you want to be “in the know” for future events and would like to support this project in any way, consider joining the Trail Blazers. This group hears Midden news first…next work party events and other on-site activities too.

THANK YOU! 
Volunteers showed up to this work party with unique talents (and tools!) and worked together like they’ve known each other for years! We were thrilled to have 15 volunteers commit an hour and a half of their day to help us clear Mugwort and brush on the new Loop Trail.  

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Growing momentum for LOCAL energy efficiency initiatives 

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We have lots of news and new opportunities to get involved, supporting energy efficiency and clean energy in CT.

See below to learn about our next volunteer event, sign-up for a HeatSmart Home Energy Assessment, get energy resources for Middletown landlords and join a new clean energy movement!

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It’s Official! The Midden restoration project is underway.

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Explore our new Midden Lookout Park and Trails page under Initiatives to see what’s happening at the closed Middletown Landfill.

Everyone is welcome to get involved. Select the link above to learn how.

Photo credit – Heather Kennedy, friend of the trail and avid birder.

Public Meetings Scheduled To Plan Safer Streets

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Arterial corridors being studied are in red. Click on the image to enlarge.

You are invited to attend 2 upcoming public meetings to learn and provide input to make Middletown’s major arterial corridors safer for everyone. This is part of Connecticut’s Safe Streets For All (SS4A) program. Continue reading →

Volunteers Needed Soon – Upcoming Work Parties

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We are making progress on the Midden Lookout Park and will soon be requesting volunteers for our next steps. (Note: “Midden” is a word that means “trash pile” or, in our case, “landfill.”) The photo below shows the various existing and new trail segments. At the bottom is the Keating Enterprise Building at 180 Johnson Street in Middletown.

Work Party #1 (Date TBD) — On a day when there is snow on the ground (to minimize the presence of ticks) but it’s not too cold, we will need help clearing the route for the Loop Trail. No equipment is necessary — boots to stomp down the mugwort make good tools. But, if you have them, loppers, clippers, pruning saws, or weed whackers will be useful.

Work Party #2 (Date TBD) — After woodchips are dumped on the midden cap, we need people to help spread them to suppress the mugwort in the spring. 

If you can help us out (depending on your availability on the exact date, of course) please sign up as a Trail Blazer using this form. That will put you on the list for upcoming messages. Thank you to all who have already signed up! You may also use our Contact Form and put the words “Midden Volunteer List” in the message space.

We hope to see you soon for some fun, cool weather work on this project!

Great Spangled Fritillary Video

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By Phil LeMontagne

Butterflies like Monarchs and Swallowtails are awesome to see in the garden. It’s even more exciting when a less common species like the Great Spangled Fritillary shows up! For nectar the adults like native flowers such as Purple Coneflower, Joe Pye Weed, and Common Milkweed. Great Spangled Fritillaries can live as adults for three months—at least three times longer than most butterflies! To attract them, grow native violets in the garden. These are the only plants their caterpillars will eat. Click here or on the image above to view.