April Eco-News

Traffic Camera Survey Update
Our survey on readers’ feelings about traffic cameras has revealed some support, but also mixed feelings and some misunderstandings or unwarranted assumptions about the nature and limits of the program. For example, the program permitted by state law is not a revenue generator, but a net financial cost to municipalities. Most YES respondents support cameras due to increased and dangerous traffic violations. Most NO respondents object because the cameras would be a form of government surveillance. Of course, cameras are already ubiquitous in developed areas. We are still hoping to get more responses. We will publish survey results in a future newsletter. Take the survey here

Jessica Bucholz – Wildlife Rehabilitator The Jonah Center’s new Program Associate was featured in an article by Maureen Murphy in the Hartford Courant on Sunday, April 14. We have permission to share the article with our readers who might have missed it. View the PDF here.

Berlin Land Trust Opposes Sale of State Park Land
Meriden Homestead II, LLC, Lamentation Mountain State Park’s southerly neighbor, has requested and received initial approval for the conveyance or sale of 2.7 acres of state land. The development company has illegally encroached onto Lamentation Mountain State Park by constructing structures and a driveway on park land. Sale of the land will allow the company to avoid the legal consequences for encroaching on and using state owned land. Read more and take action here.

Let's Get Ready To Paddle
Our first “Paddle With A Purpose” event to remove invasive water chestnut plants from the Floating Meadows will be on Saturday, June 1, launching at 9 a.m. from 181 Johnson Street in Middletown. If you are not already on our “paddler” email list and want to receive special emails about paddling events, reply to this email with the word “paddling.”

Arbor Day Celebration -- Friday, April 26
Middletown's Urban Forestry Commission invites the public to its Annual Arbor Day celebration at the Wadsworth Mansion, 421 Wadsworth Street, on Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m. Tree dedications will be in memory of Tawana Bourne, Sally D'Aquila, Jane McMillan, and Sheila Stoane, and in honor of Ellen Lukens and Phil Pessina. Refreshments will be served.

A video rendering of the proposal and written details may be found here.