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Selectmen secure flyover for parade
May 01, 2024
KENT — The Connecticut Air National Guard will be amping up the audio at this year’s Memorial Day parade.
A four-engine C-130 Hercules will make a low-altitude flyover during the parade, First Selectman Marty Lindemeyer announced at an April 24 Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting.
“The 103rd Airlift Wing of the Connecticut National Guard will be doing the overflight,” he said. “And they’ll be coming right down the center.”
Lindenmeyer said he expects the plane to be loud and it may fly below 2,000 feet. “They love it,” he added.
Lindenmeyer also announced changes to the Veteran’s Memorial Advisory Committee.
In addition to suggesting names to be added to town memorials, the committee will now oversee the maintenance and repair of monuments, conduct further research into town veterans for consideration to be added to the memorials, and help with planning of memorial services.
As a subcommittee of the BOS, all suggestions must be approved by the selectmen before the veteran’s committee can take any action.
During the April 24 meeting, BOS appointed Lindenmeyer to serve as the board’s representative on the committee. A veteran himself, the first selectman said he looks forward to contributing to the efforts involved in maintaining town memorials and organizing services.
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Planting new roots in honor of Arbor Day
May 01, 2024
Riley Klein
Grade school students across the Northwest Corner embraced their inner Johnny Appleseed on Friday, April 26.
New trees were planted by several elementary schools to strengthen environmental resiliency and celebrate the importance of nature on Arbor Day.
At Cornwall Consolidated School, a young sugar maple tree was added to a bare spot near the parking lot.
“Acer saccharum. Let’s get official,” said Cornwall’s assistant tree warden Bruce Bennett, noting the scientific name of the tree. “This starter plant came from Canada.”
Bennett explained to the CCS student body that as the climate warms, trees are slowly migrating north. Sugar maples now stretch into northern Quebec, when previously they were unable to grow north of Maine.
“Sugar maples like cool, moist, cold winters to be able to mature and be healthy,” said Bennett.
He said some trees that were once prevalent in the region have moved on or died out for various reasons. Chestnuts were all but eradicated due to blight, for example. Invasive insects can pose a threat too.
“What’s happened with our oak trees this year, especially in our area, we’ve had this little worm called the spongy moth,” Bennett explained.
“Eww,” said the kids.
“Ugh. I hate those,” one student expressed.
“They give you poison ivy,” added another.
“We need to keep planting trees that are resistant to those insects,” said Bennett.
Eighth graders volunteered to cover the freshly planted maple with mulch.
Bennett then went over to Kent Volunteer Fire Department for the afternoon planting of a tulip tree with Kent Center School students.
Kent Center School eighth-grader Ricky Patterson shoveled some dirt on the newly planted tulip tree.Ruth Epstein
Eighth graders helped shovel dirt onto the bulb of the sapling. KCS science teacher Chris Rose shared unique qualities of the tulip tree. Fifth grader Derek Braislin, who studied the history of Arbor Day, shared his knowledge with the group after the planting.
In North Canaan, Tom Zetterstrom and Christian Allyn oversaw the planting of a young American linden tree. This marked the 34th annual Arbor Day ceremony in North Canaan Elementary School’s arboretum.
“This American linden is already 15 feet tall, and by the time you fifth graders are as old as Christian Allyn, it will be 35 feet tall,” Zetterstrom explained.
“Dang,” responded a fifth grader.
Zetterstrom said of the hundreds of trees he has planted on town land in Canaan, he’s never planted a linden. This one was selected because it will provide good shade for the parking lot.
“This is a shade tree and as the planet gets hotter, we’re gonna want shade,” said Zetterstrom.
“It’s hot now,” added a kindergartener, shading his eyes from the sun.
After the tree was mulched by the fifth graders, the kindergarten and first grade classes sang traditional tree songs: “Arbor Day” by Charles Szabo and “My Roots Go Down” by Sarah Pirtle.
The Board of Selectmen then pitched in and watered the newly planted tree with Principal Alicia Roy.
Christian Allyn (left) educated students on the importance of planting trees at North Canaan Elementary School as Selectman Jesse Bunce (right) watered the new American linden tree, April 26.Riley Klein
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Reviewing Norfolk’s natural resources
May 01, 2024
NORFOLK — On Thursday, April 25 at 5:30pm, The Norfolk Conservation Commission held its natural resource inventory discussion at the Norfolk Library to a small audience, including a very friendly Golden Retriever.
Appointed by the Board of Selectmen, the Norfolk Conservation Commission keeps an index of all open publicly or privately owned areas to obtain information on their proper use; conducts research into the use, and possible use, of land in Norfolk; administers gifts, and approves state grants for the use of open space land for conservation or recreation purpose.
Led by John Anderson, the discussion provided updates to the 2023 Natural Resource Inventory, outlined the chapters, including the “recommendations” section, and answered questions from the public.
When Anderson presented information on Norfolk’s wetlands, library director Ann Havemeyer asked, “what defines a bog?”
“It’s a highly acidic body of water with particular plants and animals that live there. For example, Sphagnum moss floats on top of water which allows plants to grow on top of that. Beckley Bog is a prime example in Norfolk,” Anderson answered.
He further described different types of wetlands in Norfolk and how they interact.
“Holleran swamp is attached to Wood Creek Pond, which extends into a swampy area. There’s enough soil that trees like Spruce and Fir can grow there.”
While viewing images of a beaver pond on the big screen, an audience member asked how beavers affect the landscape.
“Beavers make dams because they don’t like to spend a lot of time out of the water, though they will harvest wood from shrubs and trees. They’re trying to create more water for their food supply of aquatic plants,” Anderson said.
Anderson rated Norfolk’s groundwater as very good because of the filtering effect of heavy forest cover. However, the November 2022 Gas spill and the use of salt to defrost roads are concerning.
“We’re testing salinity in local freshwater supplies. We’ll test and decide what to do, for example to use less salt and alternatives,” he said.
Anderson also described how water is connected in Norfolk.
“Norfolk participated in a region wide study of how streams are connected. There’s a database evaluating stream road crossing and how it might affect wildlife. Recent storms have been more intense than in years past. Many culverts and bridges are not built for this. Climate change certainly plays a role,” he said.
Anderson moved swiftly through the massive amount of information and covered plantscape, with a focus on the trees and wildflowers of Norfolk including pictures of northern species that aren’t typically found elsewhere in Connecticut.
The inventory focused on large rather than old trees. “Great Mountain Forest had the largest red spruce in the state, but it was struck by lightning and died. It’s been made into the mantle at the Curling Club,” Anderson said.
Regarding wildlife, he said, “Norfolk is unusual in many ways. We have a really good bear, bobcat, and moose population and a lot of species that have been extricated and are now here such as wild turkeys and fisher cats. The bird population is strong with a few new species including Sand Hill cranes. Thanks to our forests we have Rough grouse. We’ve added sections on butterflies and moths with an extensive appendices of 650 species of moths.”
“We’re cold, northern and deserve the name of the Icebox. We have really good clean wetlands and forests,” he added.
Anderson also described how The Norfolk Land Trust and the historic work of private individuals such as Ted Childs have helped preserve large areas of land. The report contains maps showing the intersection of private and public protected land including trails for recreational activities.
Other topics included the importance of rural roads, dark night skies, the use of proper lighting, the effect of lighting in some animals’ ability to forage food, historic buildings and roads, and more. The appendix section provides detailed tables on all aspects of the inventory. Each section has a bibliography with information about the contributors.
“We’re fortunate to have had so many people do so much good work. It is exceptional,” Anderson said.
The report also made recommendations, such as education on climate change and ways the public can get involved. “We’re going to do a sale of native plants. There’s a movement to encourage more of that and grow plants that are natural to the area,” Anderson added.
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Police Blotter: Troop B
May 01, 2024
John Coston
The following information was provided by the Connecticut State Police at Troop B. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sideswipe in Sharon
On Monday, April 22, at approximately 3:15 p.m., Susie Johnston, 61, of Penn Yan, New York, was driving a 2017 Volkswagen Passat and was making a right turn out of the Sharon Package Store and began traveling east on Route 41. Theresa Gillette, 63, of Sharon, was westbound on Route 41 in a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee and crossed over the double yellow line, sideswiping the driver door of the Passat. No injuries were reported. Gillette was issued an infraction for failure to maintain lane.
Impersonation, forgery
On Tuesday, April 23, at approximately 5:45 p.m. Troopers were dispatched to Laigle Flooring Covering and Design in North Canaan investigating a reported credit card fraud in conjunction with Cheshire, Conn., police. Two suspected parties were attempting to collect a fraudulently placed order with Laigle staff. An individual later identified as Santigo Ramirez, 26, of the Bronx, New York, produced a Dominican Republic ID as well as a fraudulent New York ID he said he purchased online so that he could obtain work. Ramirez was charged with forgery, 2nd degree and criminal impersonation. A court date was set. He was released on a $2,000 cash/surety bond.
Failure to yield right of way
On Thursday, April 25, at approximately noon, Howard Mortman, 66, of Sharon, was stopped at a Stop sign near Hospital Hill Road in a 2016 Volkwagen Golf in Sharon. Laurella Van Braislin, 72, of Sharon, was southbound on Hospital Hill Road in Sharon in a 2019 Ford Edge. Mortman turned onto Hospital Hill Road and made contact with the Ford as it was turning. Both vehicles turned into the Sharon Hospital parking lot and waited for Troopers. Mortman was issued a written warning for failure to yield right of way.
Yellow-light fender bender
On Friday, April 26, at approximately 5:50 p.m., Edison Tupiza Quilca, 26, of Torrington, was driving a 2016 Honda CR-V and was stopped southbound on North Elm Street in North Canaan, attempting to turn left onto Route 44. Hedy Manalo, 62, of Stamford, was stopped behind the Honda in a 2017 BMW X3. When the traffic light turned yellow Tupica Quilca entered the intersection. He then drove in reverse to get out of the intersection, hitting the BMW. Quilca was issued a written warning for unsafe backing. Manalo was issued a written warning for operating an unregistered vehicle.
The Lakeville Journal will publish the outcome of police charges. Contact us by mail at P.O. Box 1688, Lakeville, CT 06039, Attn: Police Blotter, or send an email, with “police blotter” in the subject line, to johnc@lakevillejournal.
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