Along The Trail This Month - June 2009
CONNECTICUT TRAILS DAY in BRANFORD: RIBBONS AND A TURTLE SIESTA
Saturday, June 6 in Branford was celebrated by nearly 100 enthusiastic folks who helped local and state officials open the most recently completed trail section between Birch Road and Pine Orchard. Many families, toddlers, teens and seniors came with their sneakers, walking sticks, canes, strollers and pet dogs to enjoy the morning’s hike from the new section, through a new roughly-cut proposed trail across Pine Orchard Road, to a hidden pond near Tabor Drive. [photo by Hans Flink]
Big and little kids participated in self-guided nature hunts looking for wildlife – after easily finding two “planted” toy turtles, they were rewarded by discovering a real baby turtle napping on a log. They also identified trees, marked along the way by numbered posts installed as part of another Eagle Scout project using a Tree & Shrub identification number system developed by Young’s Pond Park. [photo by Pat Anderson]
The ceremonial ribbon was cut by State Senator Ed Meyer and Shoreline Greenway Trail Chair Chip Angle, assisted by Branford First Selectman Unc DaRos, State Representative Lonnie Reed, Kimberly Junior from U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro’s office, and Elaine Littlehales of the local Pine Orchard Association. The new section of trail was made possible with an easement generously granted by Pine Orchard Association to cross their privately-owned property.
[photo by Pat Anderson]
Further down the trail, our first trailhead sign was unveiled by Eagle Scout candidate Bradley Roth of Troop 428. He built it with an attached bench and erected it under the able guidance of his Scout project adviser Joe Byrne and SGT volunteer builder, Pete Peterson of the Branford Team, and the sign’s designer, new Board member Hans Flink. On hand to celebrate were Trail Development Team chair and Branford Team member, Jack Wood, and Branford Team co-chairs Chet Blomquist and Valerie Murray. Under their leadership, the Branford’s Team has made enormous progress with their trail. [photo by Pam Simonds]
Our event was televised by Channel 8 and was aired that evening on their 6pm news program – but not until 7pm – delayed by the Belmont horse race!
Connecticut Trails Day is part of National Trails Day, a program of the American Hiking Society to inspire the public and trail enthusiasts nationwide to seek out their favorite trails to discover, learn about, and celebrate while participating in educational exhibits, trail dedications, gear demonstrations, instructional workshops and trail work projects.
CONNECTICUT TRAILS DAY in EAST HAVEN: BUTTERFLIES AND SPIDER WORT ALONG THE TRAIL
Another exciting event occurred on Saturday, June 6 – a lovely shade garden and butterfly habitat were created along the trail next to the D.C. Moore Elementary School by members of the East Haven Garden Club and the Shoreline Greenway Trail East Haven Team, with school kids from D.C. Moore Elementary School and the Family Resource Center Preschool. [photo by Barbara Brow]
After sixth graders in Mrs. O’Connell’s and Ms. Meritt’s class studied butterflies and made a brochure about the life cycle of butterflies, a handmade wooden butterfly house was hung in a tree along the trail and a butterfly bush was planted at the entrance of the trail to attract them. Then on Monday, 6th graders and preschoolers joined volunteers from the Garden Club and East Haven Team to plant a variety of shade plants – columbine, monkshood, lamium, spider wort, and lily of the valley – and spread wild flower seeds to beautify a section along the trail. [photo by Barbara Brow]
This collaborative project was initiated by the Town of East Haven Youth Service Bureau which donated materials and provided funding with a grant from the State Department of Education. It was organized by Barbara Brow, chair of both the Garden Club chair and East Haven Team of the Shoreline Greenway Trail, and SGT Board members Mike Gambardella and Peggy Thomas. [photos by Barbara Brow]
NEXT “FIRST SATURDAY” WALK on the 4th of JULY at 10am FROM GUILFORD GREEN TO TOWN MARINA, WITH GUILFORD PARKS & RECREATION
Walk or bike, join our family-friendly Holiday stroll from the Guilford Community Center across the historic Guilford Green, south along Whitfield Street to Guilford‘s marina. Enjoy views of Grass Island and the harbor before returning past historic Whitfield Museum, reputed to be the oldest stone house in America. 3 miles, c. 1.5 hours, on sidewalks. Bikers on the road.
Directions: MEET at Guilford Community Center, 32 Church Street. From I-95 exit 58, turn south onto Rt 77, to light at Route 1, go straight ½ block to Community Center on right. Enter parking lot just past building entrance. Info: Larry 453-3994 or Parks & Rec 453-8068.
Posted: Jun 17, 11:43 AM
« First Saturday Monthly Walk - June 6, 2009
» First Saturday Monthly Walk - July 4, 2009