Newts, Salamanders and the Dangers of Human Over-Development

Photo from Conservation of Reptiles and Amphibians in Connecticut
Anyone who is either a careful reader of The Lakeville Journal or an attentive student of life in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut has probably heard the name Michael Klemens before — perhaps as an expert on the elusive bog turtle, perhaps as the strict-but-fair chairman of the Salisbury, Conn., Planning and Zoning Commission. He has also been a member of Connecticut’s Siting Council, which has final say on the location of monoliths such as cell towers and wind turbines. Before coming to Connecticut, he was the director of program development for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates New York’s Bronx Zoo.
There is much that we know about Michael Klemens but much more that most of us have yet to learn — including the depth of his knowledge of herpetology.
Klemens is a polymath who knows a great deal about a lot of things, but probably the topic he knows most about is the study of reptiles and amphibians.
There have been times in the past decade or so when Klemens has been called to offer an expert opinion on the possible presence of bog turtles (you can see one in the photo above) in an area where someone wants to build something. Opponents of a building project will often cite the presence of the federally protected and adorable reptiles as a reason why building can’t continue. The bog turtle is as powerful a deterrent to construction in this part of the world as archaeological remains might be in another region.
But Klemens knows about much more than just the furtive lives led by the tiny turtles. He has written books, studies and management plans on these and other creatures for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies — including, now, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which has just released a 305-page study of the “Conservation of Reptiles and Amphibians in Connecticut.”
Klemens is the lead author on a team that also includes Hank J. Gruner, Dennis P. Quinn and Eric R. Davison.
While the topic might sound specialized, and it is, the main message of the book is one that impacts us all. In his decades of study, Klemens discovered that, more than anyone had realized before, human activity and building has a startling impact on the health of all creatures small (turtles, snakes, frogs) and great (humans). What’s bad for the animals that creep through our vernal pools and fens is bad for the “greater” animals that build houses and roads that destroy breeding grounds, migration patterns and habitats.
While acting as a catalogue of every species in the state (salamanders, newts, skinks and snakes, turtles, frogs and more), the book also points out the dangers to their habitats and suggests ways in which humans can not only reduce their negative impacts but perhaps even be helpful to the creatures that contribute so much to the beauty of this part of the world.
“Since human activities so profoundly affect the natural world, why can’t the human intelligence and technology which drive destructive trends in land use, be better applied or retooled through education and information to create human landscapes that are more in harmony with the natural world?” he asks in his introduction to the book, which was published in late 2021.
“In my work, I often describe the problems that have occurred because I believe that to change how society deals with its responsibilities to the natural world it must first come to understand the problems that past land-use patterns and practices have created. Only from the confidence that is engendered by that understanding can the impetus to create better models of sustainability and stewardship find solid footing.”
The book can be ordered online from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection bookstore, https://www.ctdeepstore.com/Conservation-of-Amphibians-and-Reptiles-in-C.... The cost is $54.95 and money from sales of the book help protect amphibians and reptiles. The lessons presented in the book are also relevant, of course, to areas outside Connecticut.
Aradev LLC’s plans to redevelop Wake Robin Inn include four 2,000-square-foot cabins, an event space, a sit-down restaurant and fast-casual counter, a spa, library, lounge, gym and seasonal pool. If approved, guest room numbers would increase from 38 to 57.
LAKEVILLE — The public hearing for the redevelopment of Wake Robin Inn is over. Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission now has two months to make a decision.
The hearing closed on Tuesday, Sept. 9, after its seventh session.
Michael Klemens, chair of P&Z, had warned at the opening of the proceedings that “this might be a long night” due to a last-minute influx of material from experts hired by Wells Hill Road residents William and Angela Cruger to oppose the project, but this turned out not to be the case.
These 11th hour submissions set a sour tone to the start of the meeting, with commissioner Robert Riva stating that it was “not very professional to pull this stunt on this Commission.” Riva said he had diligently reviewed the already substantial documentation provided by both the applicant and the opposing experts, and was surprised to find a “dump” of additional information submitted just hours before the meeting’s start time at 6 p.m.
Tensions were quickly eased, however, when William Cruger offered his concise summation of his platform’s opposition to the expansion, which is the second iteration of the project after an earlier version was withdrawn late last year.
“It’s important for you all to hear from me that there was never any disrespect intended to the Commission, the commissioners, and to the process,” Cruger said. He defended the last-minute submissions as an effort on the part of the experts to be thorough in their analysis: “Our intention… has been and remains to do our best to get whatever we think will be helpful in your deliberations into the record.”
The Crugers formally entered the hearing process as intervenors for the first application from Aradev LLC, the applicant, in the fall of 2024, meaning they and their hired consultants had full party status in the hearing proceedings. During this cycle, however, they chose not to petition for intervenor status, yet during this round of hearings their role has been similar. Klemens described them as having “almost intervenor status — not quite.”
William Cruger summarized the consultant’s findings for Aradev’s revised application, noting they found it to be “virtually identical in scale to the previous proposal.”
“Our position is that the proposed expansion would absolutely negatively impact the usefulness, enjoyment and value of the surrounding properties,” he said.
Aradev’s attorney Joshua Mackey countered by saying that the special permit conditions would elevate the currently non-conforming hotel in the zone, describing it as a “community asset that is improved, regulated, and safeguarded for generations to come.” He characterized Aradev as “the next steward of this storied property.”
After Mackey and Aradev co-founder Steven Cohen concluded their remarks, Klemens closed the hearing with no public comment, which he had stated would be the case at last week’s hearing session on Thursday, Sept. 4. Klemens said that P&Z will begin deliberating the proposal in early October after the commissioners have had the chance to review the information in the record.
A total of 45 letters, including the Crugers’ experts’ testimony, were submitted since the Sept. 4 meeting alone, alongside hundreds of pages of application materials and additional testimony.
As the Commission deliberates and reviews, all of this information is available for public viewing on the “Meeting Documents” subpage under P&Z’s section on the town website, www.salisburyct.us.
The Commission must issue a decision on the application by Nov. 13, the end of the statutorily defined deliberation window.
The Weavery is Stanton Home’s oldest activity space, featuring a collection of vintage and modern floor looms. It offers opportunities for building dexterity, creative expression, and social connection through fiber arts.
Stanton Home is holding its annual Harvest Roast fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 13 in Great Barrington, an evening of farm-to-table dining, live swing music, and community connection.
For nearly 40 years, Stanton Home has supported adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential programs, therapeutic services and skill-building activities.
“Here in the Berkshires, adults with diverse abilities often face barriers like limited housing, tricky transportation, and fewer opportunities for meaningful work,” said Executive Director Peter Stanton. “Stanton Home flips that script. Our mission is to partner with adults to pursue healthy, self-determined lives.”
The Harvest Roast features locally grilled meats, roasted vegetables from Stanton’s own gardens, warm apple crisp with SoCo Creamery ice cream, and beverages —all set to the swing and gypsy jazz rhythms of the Lucky 5 Band.
“The Harvest Roast is a celebration of what makes our community strong, inclusive, and vibrant,” Stanton said. “Every ticket and sponsored table supports programs that make a lasting difference.”
Guests will begin in the gardens with a signature cocktail before gathering at long farm tables for a shared meal and celebration.
“Though this night matters, the work is year-round,” Stanton added. “People can help by shopping locally at the farm store or buying handmade weavery goods, pitching in with time or skills, gardening, lending a hand at events or by partnering with Stanton’s programs like composting or sourcing local goods. Folks can also speak up for inclusion in their workplace or community circle. Even the smallest action helps keep the mission alive.”
Tickets are $125 per person. Proceeds support Stanton Home’s inclusive programs. Reserve at donorbox.org/events/771775/steps/choose_tickets or call 413-441-0761.
Following the memorable benefit reading last season of Charles Busch’s Tony-nominated Broadway hit, “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife,” the Sharon Playhouse will present a one-night-only staged reading of his riotous comic melodrama “Die Mommie Die!” on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
The production —a deliciously over-the-top homage to classic Hollywood mid-century thrillers — continues the Playhouse’s artistic partnership with Busch, who reprises his iconic role of the glamorous yet troubled songstress Angela Arden.
The playwright and performer is no stranger to the Playhouse and, luckily, he’s supported by a truly stellar powerhouse cast of top-notch comic actors — some returning to the Playhouse stage, and some making their debut. The cast includes Richard Kind; two-time Tony Award nominee Kristine Nielsen, who was part of the original New York cast; Tony Award winner Celia Keenan-Bolger; Andrew Keenan-Bolger; and Claybourne Elder.
The production also marks a fortuitous alignment of talent and history. It is directed by Sharon Playhouse Artistic Director Carl Andress, who performed in the play’s Los Angeles premiere in 1999.
“I have a long and happy history with this particular show,” Andress said. “At the Sharon Playhouse, we’re thrilled to offer unforgettable, one-of-a-kind live experiences. With Charles Busch and this phenomenal cast, ‘Die Mommie Die!’ will surely light up the Olsen Stage with laughter, wit and glamour.”
The original music is by Lewis Flinn, whose score for the 2007 Off-Broadway production is being adapted specially for this event.
The play is a classic Charles Busch concoction that, like all his work, lovingly and intelligently spoofs some of the greatest talents and tropes of stage and screen. The original production was praised by critics as his “funniest, most accomplished and, without question, raunchiest work.”
In 2003, Busch won the Best Performance award at the Sundance Film Festival for the film version of “Die Mommie Die!” His indelible contributions to American theater have been recognized with countless awards and he was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
The event promises to be an unforgettable night of laughter, glamour and theatrical fun, with all proceeds going to benefit Sharon Playhouse’s productions and educational programs. The funds will help ensure that the Playhouse continues to thrive as a cultural destination for audiences and artists alike.
For tickets, visit: sharonplayhouse.org. Running time: 90 minutes.
Richard Feiner and Annette Stover have worked and taught in the arts, communications, and philanthropy in West Berlin, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. Passionate supporters of the arts, they live in Salisbury and Greenwich Village.