Thanks to Jonah Center clean-up volunteers! We had two successful September events. For both of these clean-ups, we joined other groups to maximize our fun and impact. First at Pameacha Pond with the Friends of Pameacha Pond. And the following week in Portland, with the Portland River Access Committee and Connecticut River Conservancy, Source to Sound event.
Our next event is now scheduled! You are invited to join us on Saturday, November 15th at 10AM for a Boat Launch and Midden Trail clean-up! Click here for details and to register for this event.
Jess Bucholz – Litter Clean-up Organizer
“I am always in awe of what a small group of determined people can accomplish in a short amount of time. I leave every litter cleanup event feeling like we’ve accomplished something positive together – and we have! The volunteers, who dedicate time to cleaning up messes that they did not make, are the kindest and most altruistic people you could hope to meet! Not only is litter cleanup a great way to feel connected to nature, it’s a great way to connect with amazing, helpful humans.”
Click here for details and to register for our next clean-up event.
The grassroots activism to make our streets safer and more comfortable for walkers, bicyclists, wheelchair users, and users of public transit is the “complete streets” movement. Middletown, Portland, and Durham have Complete Streets groups working with their respective towns to achieve improvements that make our streets complete in that sense – suitable for all users.
It is that time in the season when you may have more cucumbers and zucchini then you can eat or put up. If you find yourself in this situation, consider donating your excess produce to our local food pantries and put it to good use. Details for Middletown and Portland are below:
Portland’s Air Line Trail Steering Committee has worked with private property owners to define a route that would extend the trail going west from YMCA Camp Ingersoll to Route 17. The committee is in the process of requesting formal easements from these property owners. This phase 2 segment will then require state or federal funding for final design work and construction. The proposed route (shown here) makes various turns that deviate from the original Air Line Trail right-of-way, due to sand and gravel excavations underway by Butler Construction. Completion of this segment will greatly advance the ultimate goal of connecting the Air Line Trail with Portland’s town center and the Arrigoni Bridge.
The Jonah Center wishes to thank the 97 individuals and organizations who contributed to our successful Replace Our Trees Campaign in Middletown and Portland. Click on the following link to view the 
Sidewalks are being replaced in Portland. The Town has completed nearly $1 million in sidewalk replacements funded by the Town’s voters through a ballot referendum in 2017. The Jonah Center’s recommendations of a “road safety audit” and the state’s Community Connectivity grant program led to an additional $200,000 in funding for the Town’s sidewalks.