Kristen Colombo, Jonah Center Director

Posted on by

By Krishna Winston

The members of the Jonah Center Board are delighted to announce that on September 1 Kristen Colombo became the Center’s new Director. Kristen first contacted the Jonah Center in the fall of 2024 to ask about volunteer opportunities in furtherance of clean energy and sustainability. She had recently taken early retirement from Verizon Communications, where she headed up curriculum design and project management, building employees’ leadership skills and fostering career development. Kristen quickly demonstrated her passion for environmental work and an impressive range of skills and talents. Continue reading →

A New Path Forward: Mayor’s Walk Kicks Off Community Trail Development

Posted on by

To date, thirty people supported the new trail at the Midden Lookout by attending public walks, including Mayor Gene Nocera, who is very interested in the community vision for this amazing space. It’s time to get more organized to keep this project going!

Walking at the Midden:
Acting Middletown Mayor, Gene Nocera!

Here are two ways to get involved:

Sign up here to join us at our next walk, Thursday, October 2nd at 5PM, for an early sunset view. Plus, an optional post-walk meet-up at Forest City Brewery.

Join our official “Trail Blazers” Group to commit to actively supporting the Midden Lookout Park and Trail. We’ll use the Trail Blazers distribution list to share milestones, public meetings, calls for time and talent, and moments to celebrate along the way. Keep reading for a recap of our walk with the Mayor.

Continue reading →

Our Next Litter Clean-Ups Are Scheduled!

Posted on by

Join us for one or both dates! Click here for more details and to register.

  • Saturday, September 20th at Pameacha Pond, Middletown
  • Saturday, September 27th at Airline Rd, Portland

Litter clean-up events are a fun way to accomplish something good while socializing with like-minded friends and neighbors.

6 volunteers on litter clean up
You too can be a part of this crew!

The Cheapest Energy Is GREEN Energy

Posted on by

The current administration, along with Republican lawmakers, is systematically dismantling policies related to climate. This includes many of the tax credits and economic incentives designed to drive green energy acceleration put into place by the Biden-Harris administration.

Deadlines for incentives are approaching but they aren’t here just yet.

There is still time to take advantage of clean technology offers that allow you to save now and save later with your future energy bills!

Continue reading →

The Spotted Lanternfly Arrives in our Area — Watch For It!

Posted on by

By John Loughery, of the Berlin Land Trust

To view an enlarged version of this image on the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences website, click here.

The spotted lanternfly, a particularly beautiful, plant-hopping insect with a fiercely destructive nature, was unknown in the U.S. prior to the 2010s. September will be the crucial month.  That is when spotted lantern flies deposit their eggs on tree bark, covering them with a thick white or gray-ish substance.  It is necessary to scrape that substance off the tree, immediately killing the eggs, or vast numbers of these insects will be released into the environment in the spring, endangering plants and trees in that area.  So, the message is: examine your trees! Continue reading →

Busting Solar Myths and Tips for Finding the Right Company 

Posted on by

If you’ve been thinking about solar, get started now to take advantage of Federal Solar Incentives before they expire.  

Continue reading →

Grades Are In For Our Representatives

Posted on by

The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) has released its annual Environmental Scorecard.

This is a tool we can all use to hold our lawmakers accountable.  

Which of your elected officials are regular champions of protecting our environment, healthy living and green economy?  

Which elected officials are marginal or failing us?

Continue reading →

Readers Theater Presents “The Velocity of Autumn”

Posted on by

Reader’s Theater Presents “THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN” by Eric Coble.  A play about a 79-year-old artist, Alexandra, who barricades herself in her Brooklyn brownstone with Molotov cocktails to avoid moving into a nursing home. Her estranged son, Chris, climbs through a second-story window to mediate the situation, leading to a confrontation that explores themes of aging, independence, family dynamics, and the struggle to maintain one’s identity.

Sunday October 5th at 3:00 PM at the Oddfellows Playhouse in Middletown, CT.

To reserve a seat, please call OP at 860-347-6143, leaving your name and number of seats.  

Donations accepted at the door.

Saving Wildlife Habitat While Enjoying Nature

Posted on by

Our final Paddle With  A Purpose for the season was on August 2. Volunteers and field workers removed 2000 pounds of invasive water chestnut plants. That makes our total for the year come to 18,500 pounds. (We removed 24,000 pounds last year. So, we’ve made progress in reducing this infestation.) Continue reading →

The heat didn’t stop our work party at the landfill! 

Posted on by

We are so thrilled to have awesome volunteers step up to help us on a hot, humid day in July. This crew showed up ready to work!  

Work Party – From left to right – Marek Kozikowski, Chantal Foster, Rob Evans, John Hall, Ann Percival, Nathaneal Rodbourn, Carl Lecce, Mick Bolduc, Mike Thomas, Kevin Markowski – Other volunteers not pictured– John LeShane, Kristen Colombo, Gary Middleton and James Sipperly

Before we arrived on site, Joe Pac (from Plummer Landscaping) kicked off the volunteer effort by driving a Brush Hog through Mugwort that was up to 5ft tall in some places.  

Continue reading →

Volunteer Opportunity: Help Build Middletown’s Next Nature Trail!

Posted on by

We’re kicking off the transformation of the Middletown landfill summit into a nature trail loop on Thursday, July 17th at 9AM.  (Pictured – Aerial view before solar panels)

When this trail is complete, it will have educational signs, benches, and an elevated wildlife viewing platform.

 

Continue reading →

Connecting the Air Line Trail in Portland to East Hampton and Middletown

Posted on by
Overhead view of the East Hampton Air Line Trail gap near Route 66 where a proposed boardwalk will be installed over the wetlands area. Google Earth image.

Portland to East Hampton Developments

There is a major development happening with the Air Line Trail in Portland and East Hampton Connecticut. Users of the trail will be glad to know that significant progress is being made to connect the Portland and East Hampton sections of the trail and thereby connect the Portland trail to the rest of the 55-mile long Connecticut State Park Air Line Trail.  This has been a long-term goal of the two towns and the State Parks Division.

June 3 marks the 7-year anniversary of the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the Air Line Trail in Portland in 2018.  A few months later, East Hampton completed a section of their trail connecting it to Portland’s. However, a small 1800-foot gap remained in East Hampton separating the two segments. This gap has frustrated many users of the trail for the past 6 years.

The 1800-foot gap was unable to be completed as part of the original plan because a stream ran through it and it was designated as wetlands, requiring a wetlands study.  A plan then needed to be developed to allow the trail through without disturbing the stream and water way and appropriate permits obtained. Eversource also had power lines running through this section that further complicated the situation. Sufficient funding also needed to be found. This all took several years to work out.

Continue reading →