Home Care In Rockfall, CT

MIDDLETOWN — A local agency that promotes and supports environmental education and conservation in the Lower Connecticut River Valley is honoring five individuals and entities chosen recently as winners of its 2020 award.

The Rockfall Foundation bestowed its Environmental Champion Awards as well as the East Haddam Land Trust as one of two winners of its Tom ODell Distinguished Service Awards, which laud long-term accomplishments in environmental conservation and preservation, according to a press release.

Certificates of appreciation were given to Artfarm of Middletown, Chantal Foster from the Middlesex Land Trust, and Nathan Botting of East Haddam.

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“There is a tremendous amount of good work being done by dedicated individuals and organizations in the Lower Connecticut River Valley,” Tony Marino, executive director of The Rockfall Foundation, said in a prepared statement. “Our hope is that by bringing the community together to celebrate their successes, we can continue building awareness of our wonderful natural resources and further support a healthy future for all.”

The awardees will be honored at an Oct. 8 awards and grants celebration at 7 p.m. The free, virtual event is open to the public, and pre-registration is required.

The occasion will feature videos highlighting accomplishments of the environmental champions. Participants in the program will also be featured, including videos from Uconn’s AdaptCT program and Valley Shore YMCA’s Farm-to-Table Camp, the release said.

The ceremony will conclude with a toast to all the award recipients and grantees.

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The East Haddam Land Trust has more than 40 years of dedication to preserving land for the public benefit. It was one of the first land trusts in the region, has preserved over 700 acres to date, and last year earned the prestigious accreditation from the Land Trust Alliance, the release said.

Foster, co-chairwoman of the Middlesex Land Trust Stewardship Committee is being awarded a certificate of appreciation for her inspiring leadership, the foundation said. Under her direction, volunteer support has grown, leading to new trails and bridges, protected dams, management of invasive species, erosion control and much more.

Botting is being noted for his expansion of the trail system at Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School in East Haddam. Over the course of six years as a middle school student and Boy Scout, Nathan cleared trails, created maps and signage, built bridges and benches, and identified trees for educational and recreational use by students and the public.

Artfarm’s environmental theater productions, agricultural and plant medicine programming and advocacy work impressed the judges. Their original environmental education work, “Circus for a Fragile Planet,” focuses on climate change and making responsible choices, using acrobatics, juggling, balancing and comedy to engage and energize the audience.

MIDDLETOWN — The Board of Directors of the Rockfall Foundation announces recipients of its 2017 Environmental Awards to be presented at the annual meeting Nov. 2 at 6 p.m.

Middletown resident and arborist Jane Harris will receive the Distinguished Service Award and Certificates of Appreciation will be presented to The Independent Day School’s Director of Physical Education Janet Sisson and the Jonah Center for Earth and Art. The event is open to the public and takes place at the deKoven House Community Center, 27 Washington St.

Harris has been gardening in Middletown since 1974. She dates her environmental interest to the publication of Rachel Caron’s “Silent Spring,” according to a press release. A great deal of what she planted on her land in Middletown was a disappointment, which led her to enroll in the Master Gardener program, Harris said in the release. After she was appointed to Middletown’s Urban Forestry Commission, she became a Connecticut licensed arborist, then joined the Middletown Garden Club, where she met role models that exemplify the values of environmentalism mingled with public service, much of which occurred under the aegis of The Rockfall Foundation, the release continued.

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Under the guidance of Ed Richardson, Connecticut’s champion of notable trees, Harris began the process of replanting the Wadsworth/Kerste deBoer Arboretum. This collection consists of over 200 trees. Long Hill Estate is another location that has kept Harris busy for close to two decades, she said. Harris is also the manager of an orchard of over 350 trees. She chairs the Middletown Urban Forestry Commission, is secretary of the CT Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, edits the Middletown Garden Club’s newsletter, chairs a national committee of the Garden Club of America, and serves on the Parklands Committee of Long Hill Estate. She is a past board member and president of The Rockfall Foundation.

The Jonah Center for Earth and Art has a mission to foster more sustainable relationships between people, other creatures, energy resources and the environment through collaboration, education, community action and art. Since its inception in 2004, the organization has rallied the citizens of greater Middletown around a variety of projects, according to the release. Its main areas of activity include enjoying and protecting local waterways, climate change and energy efficiency, bicycling and walking for all ages, ecofriendly landscaping, urban development and quality of life, and environmental coalitions and government relations.

Executive Director John Hall has been actively involved in regional energy and environmental efforts. He is a member of Middletown’s Clean Energy Task Force, coauthor of the city’s 2010 Comprehensive Energy Plan, and an energy consultant for municipalities.

Sisson’s inspiration comes from her students as they challenge her to want to do better and continue to offer programs that take The Independent Day School to the next level, the release said. Since being hired as the school’s physical education teacher and athletic director in 1989, she has worked to make generations of students into people who value lifetime fitness, Sisson said. This director of physical education has built lifelong relationships with many of her former students.

Her physical footprint, for which she is being honored by The Rockfall Foundation, is the IDS Discovery Nature Trail. The completion of this trail in 2016 marks the culmination of one of the biggest challenges Sisson said she has enjoyed since 1989: how to use the more than 33 acres of land on the IDS property. She is a native of Watch Hill, Rhode Island, who holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s of science from Central Connecticut State University, both in physical education. She lives in Middletown with her partner, Lisa Christensen.

CROMWELL — Covenant Retirement Communities has named Dan Stegbauer as the new executive director at its senior living community, Covenant Village of Cromwell. Stegbauer has been with Covenant Retirement Communities for three years in positions of an associate executive director in both Michigan and Illinois, according to a release.

In his role, Stegbauer will oversee all campus operations at Covenant Village which is currently undergoing an expansion adding 54 new one-and two-bedroom apartment homes and a new Town Center with three dining venues, lobbies, a game room, an art studio, a wellness center, and event center.

“The residents and staff here at Covenant Village have been so welcoming and I’m enjoying getting an opportunity to meet with all of them,” said Stegbauer in a statement. “This is an exciting time to be here with all of the construction going on and all of the support we are getting from the community-at-large.”

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Stegbauer is a graduate of North Park University in Chicago where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science degree and a Master of Business Administration certified in finance.

Covenant Village of Cromwell is a faith-based, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community administered by Covenant Retirement Communities (CRC), the nation’s fifth largest not-for-profit senior services provider. CRC serves 5,000 residents at 16 retirement communities nationwide and is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church. For more information on Covenant Village of Cromwell, please visit www.covenantvillageofcromwell.org or call 877-236-0875.

Nominations Sought for Environmental Champion Awards

MIDDLETOWN —The Rockfall Foundation is seeking nominations for the 2019 Environmental Champion Awards, from now until July 22. The awards recognize individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses for environmental efforts that contribute to the quality of life in the Lower Connecticut River Valley. Areas recognized include preservation, conservation, ecosystem restoration, and environmental and sustainability education. The Tom ODell Distinguished Service Award will be awarded for outstanding ongoing or long-term accomplishments. Certificates of Appreciation are awarded, as appropriate, to recognize significant programs or projects.

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All awardees will be recognized at The Rockfall Foundation’s Annual Meeting, Grants and Awards celebration on Oct. 3.

The nominee’s contributions must impact the Lower Connecticut River Valley, which includes the following towns: Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook. Impacts to the Connecticut River corridor or Long Island Sound are also eligible as long as there is a benefit to at least one of the listed towns.

Nomination forms must be received by noon on July 22 at [email protected] or at The Rockfall Foundation, deKoven House Community Center, 27 Washington St., Middletown, CT 06457. Nomination forms can be downloaded at www.rockfallfoundation.org or one can be requested by calling 860-347-0340.

Founded in 1935 by Middletown philanthropist Clarence S. Wadsworth, The Rockfall Foundation is one of Connecticut’s oldest environmental organizations. The Foundation supports environmental education, conservation and planning initiatives in the Lower Connecticut River Valley through public programs and grants. In addition, The Rockfall Foundation operates the historic deKoven House Community Center that offers meeting rooms and office space for non-profit organizations.

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For additional information about the Environmental Champion Awards or The Rockfall Foundation, visit www.rockfallfoundation.org or call 860-347-0340.

Jonah Center holding garden party

MIDDLETOWN — The Board of the Jonah Center’s Summer Garden Party will be held 4-6 p.m. July 20 at the Middletown home of JCEA Board members Kathy and Mark Meyering. The rain date is July 21.

Highlights of the event include a hydroponic vegetable-gardening system designed for people in rural Haiti; a backyard chicken coop; beautiful flower gardens; a demonstration on identifying invasive plants; a bio-char oven that produces a highly enriched soil amendment using pyrolysis of woody biomass; and an activity for children. Enjoy the company of others who care about the environment . Delectable, healthful refreshments, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. The yard is shady in the afternoon so you won't be too hot.

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Tickets are $15 per person, free for 12 and under, (children 12 & under free) and may be reserved online at http://thejonahcenter.org/ and writing “Garden Party” on the form. To pay by check, mail a check to The Jonah Center, PO Box 854, Middletown CT 06457. Once payment is received, you will receive the address and directions to the party. The center will recognize those who come by bicycle or carpool with at least two other people.

Adult education offers free classes, tutoring

MIDDLETOWN — Adult education offers free classes for area residents ready to earn their high school diploma. High school completion options include online classes and GED.

Free GED tutoring is available days & evenings at 398 Main Street Middletown to help residents get their GED. There is no charge for area residents.

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English classes for non-English speaking residents are also available for all proficiency levels. Enrollment is ongoing and there is never a charge for area residents. Day and evening classes are available at 398 Main Street, Middletown. Call or stop by for more information, 860-343-6044.

Mad Hatter’s Garden Party coming up

DEEP RIVER — The Deep River Library, Deep River Garden Club and the Friends of the Deep River Library will host the 5thAnnual Mad Hatter's Garden Party on the library lawn, 6-8 p.m. July 26.

Tickets are $25 and are available to purchase at the library or Ashleigh’s Garden. Guests will enjoy a teapot auction, live music by Butter Jones, tasty hors d'oeuvres, wine and champagne punch.

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There will be prizes for the best hat and all proceeds benefit the library garden and grounds. For more information, go to website at http://deepriverlibrary.accountsupport.comand click on our monthly calendar, or call the library at 860-526-6039.

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MIDDLETOWN — The Rockfall Foundation has announced the three recipients of its 2021 Environmental Champion Awards.

Kim O’Rourke, Middletown’s recycling coordinator, was selected for the Tom ODell Distinguished Service Award, honoring her long-term accomplishments in environmental conservation and preservation, according to a press release.

Certificates of appreciation were given to Bernie Gillis of the East Haddam Conservation Commission and Dr. Diba-Khan Bureau of Three Rivers Community College.

“Each year, The Rockfall Foundation takes this opportunity to recognize the good work of deserving individuals for their efforts to better the natural world that surrounds us,” Executive Director Tony Marino said in a prepared statement. “Our hope is that through our celebration of their success that we can encourage others to become involved in the protection and enhancement of our natural resources.”

The awardees will be honored at an awards and grants celebration Tuesday at 7 p.m. The free, virtual event is open to the public, and pre-registration is required at rockfallfoundation.org. This celebration will feature videos highlighting the accomplishments of the environmental champions.

Recipients of the foundation’s annual environmental grants program will also be featured, including Mystic Aquarium’s Long Island Sound in the Home program, Old Lyme Open Space Commission’s beaver conservation project, and Valley Shore YMCA’s Farm-to-Table camp, the news release said.

O’Rourke, who has served the city for 30 years, is being honored for her lifetime accomplishments. She started as the city’s second coordinator at a time when mandatory recycling was new in Connecticut, and has since built a program that has received recognition statewide and regionally, the foundation said.

Gillis, also a member of the East Haddam Land Trust, and East Haddam Planning & Zoning Commission, is honored for his dedicated work to preserving and maintaining open space in East Haddam. He has been a consistent mainstay of maintenance and upkeep on more than 12 preserves in East Haddam, working on building kiosks, bridging streams, and blazing new trails, the press release said.

Khan-Bureau, the coordinator of the school’s Biology TAP Pathway, has successfully blended her career as a professor with her dedication as a local conservationist, working with students since 2005 on water monitoring projects, the statement said.

MIDDLETOWN — Compared with other countries around the globe, the United States has not yet fully tapped into the potential of offshore wind energy, but one city-based company is trying to change that.

Geo SubSea moved to its location on Middletown’s Main Street in 2018. Since then, the firm has been making strides in bringing wind energy to the state, and the country as a whole.

Owner and President Jeff Gardner said that the city has been great so far. “I really like the atmosphere,” he said.

He has made sure the company collaborates with, and contributes to, the community as well. This includes helping with local nonprofits such as the Rockfall Foundation and Connecticut River Conservancy, participating in environmental clean-up events, and visiting local schools for informational programs and seminars.

“It’s very important because it’s a way to give back,” Gardner said.

Geo Subsea is also in the process of creating an internship program with Wesleyan University, and is actively looking to hire local people to help achieve one of its goals — growing the offshore wind energy industry.

Geo SubSea supervises and manages everything that goes into such development, including environmental surveying, data collection and construction preparation. It was first company in the state to get involved in this industry, the president said.

“We’re helping move these renewable energy projects forward,” Gardner explained.

Wind turbines built on the coast and offshore can harvest more wind than turbines set up on land, Gardner said. The industry, which began in the late 1990s, has finally started to see some growth, but the United States is still far behind, he said.

“We’re about 30 years behind Europe,” he explained.

While there are thousands of offshore wind farms along the coasts in Europe, there are only a handful on the East coast. There are a few south of Block Island, and two located off the coast of Virginia Beach.

Through the work Geo SubSea has done, in collaboration with other like-minded companies in and around the state, the nation’s first commercial scale offshore wind farm will soon open on Martha’s Vineyard.

Staff are also heavily involved in another project known as Park City Wind, which entails building Connecticut’s first offshore wind farm south of Bridgeport. It would deliver renewable energy to the Connecticut power grid.

This could make energy both cheaper and greener for Connecticut residents.

Gardner explained why this work is important, saying it is necessary to both develop enough energy for the world’s population and fight climate change.

“Eventually, fossil fuels may not be available, so we need to transition energy sources toward renewable options,” Gardner said. “People need to think globally and act locally to improve and conserve the earth’s natural resources.”

It’s a mission he and his staff are very passionate about.

“I personally collected rocks, crystals and minerals as a kid and I loved the water, so I combined the two and went to college to become a marine geologist,” Gardner said.

“The GSS staff have similar background stories and we all love science, and know how important renewable energy is to society,” he added. “We enjoy our jobs, and it gives us a larger purpose to our the work to try and leave the planet in better condition when we depart.”

More information about Geo SubSea and the work it does is available at geosubseaconsulting.com.