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.
Continue reading
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
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.
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.
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!
It was a chilly, wet Saturday afternoon, November 22nd. But our volunteers were warmed by the spirit of sharing the HeatSmart program with Middletown neighbors!
Donning Jonah Center safety vests and excellent energy, from left to right, Genesis, Eli, Tamira, and Kristen.
Wesleyan College of the Environment interns for Sustainable Middletown, helping with two Jonah Center initiatives: HeatSmart and the Midden Lookout Park.