A section of “Map of The State of Connecticut Showing Indian Trails, Villages, and Sachemdoms Made For the Connecticut Society of the Colonial Dames of America” by Mathias Spiess and Hayden Griswold, 1930.
This map shows approximate locations of Wangunk camps on both sides of the Connecticut River before the settlement of Europeans in what became Middletown and Portland. (The entire statewide map may be found here.)
Bird populations have been declining in Connecticut for some time. This is one reason why we are working to suppress the mugwort infestation on the midden cap and replant with wildflowers and grasses to create a pollinator- and bird-friendly environment. Continue reading
By the end of this year, over 250 Middletown homes will complete a home energy assessment—most by this fall.
All Middletown residents can participate in HeatSmart Middletown.
Residents who have their home assessed save $70-$100 per year on their energy bills, and additional upgrades can lead to even more savings.
How are we reaching 250 homes in the year of America 250?
Here’s something to celebrate! With help from Lisa Liesener, Middletown’s Recycling and Sustainability Coordinator, we connected with the Middletown Housing Authority. Executive Director Ben Bare has committed to completing energy assessments at Housing Authority homes in the Rockwood Acres, Sunset Ridge, and Santangelo Circle neighborhoods.
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Drone photo courtesy of Matt Stauble, Stauble Media. Click on the image to enlarge.
Our vision for the Midden Lookout Park is coming into view. This has been a core project of the Jonah Center, since 2006!
A recent drone photo by Matt Stauble shows the developing Midden Lookout Park in its summer glory. Follow along with this story by referring to the location letters A-I in the image.
A is the main location, the Midden Cap, where you can enjoy views of the 1000-acre marshland known as the Floating Meadows, a rich habitat for fish and birds. Continue reading
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.
Since our last update, we’ve been coordinating with amazing partners to activate spring and summer work at the Midden.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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