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Woodlands CONNECTICUT The Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association Spring 2008 Volume 73 Number 1 STORMS

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CONNECTICUTWoodlandsSTORMSThe Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park AssociationSpring 2008 Volume 73 Number 1CONNECTICUTWoodlandsThe Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association The Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Inc. Officers PRESIDENT, David Platt, Higganum VICE-PRESIDENT, Jean Crum Jones, Shelton VICE-PRESIDENT, Eric Lukingbeal, Granby VICE-PRESIDENT, David Sullivan, Haddam TREASURER, Gordon L. Anderson, Glastonbury SECRETARY-FORESTER, Adam

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

WoodlandsC O N N E C T I C U T

The Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association Spring 2008 Volume 73 Number 1

STORMS

Page 2: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

The Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Inc.

OfficersPRESIDENT, David Platt,Higganum

VICE-PRESIDENT, Jean Crum Jones, SheltonVICE-PRESIDENT, Eric Lukingbeal,GranbyVICE-PRESIDENT, David Sullivan,Haddam

TREASURER, Gordon L. Anderson, GlastonburySECRETARY-FORESTER, Adam R. Moore,Durham

DirectorsMark Ashton, New Haven

Richard A. Bauerfeld, BranfordWilliam Breck, Killingworth

Russell L. Brenneman,WestportGeorge M. Camp,MiddletownStarlingW. Childs, NorfolkRuth Cutler, Ashford

Laurence Diamond, CoventryCaroline Driscoll, New LondonAstrid T. Hanzalek, SuffieldDavid Leff, Collinsville

Geoffrey Meissner, SouthingtonKaren Mignone, Fairfield

Thomas Mongillo, North BranfordRandall Miller,HamdenBrian O’Connor,WestbrookStephen C. Parsons, CheshireDonald L. Snook,Westport

Colin Tait, NorfolkRichardWhitehouse, Glastonbury

Honorary DirectorsHarrol W. Baker, Jr., BoltonRichard F. Blake,Milford

Clyde S. Brooks, Gibsonia, PAAnn M. Cuddy, Lakeville

Samuel G. Dodd,Mansfield CenterJohn E. Hibbard,HebronPhilip H. Jones, Jr., SheltonGeorge M. Milne,Hebron

Edward A. Richardson, GlastonburyDavid M. Smith,HamdenL.P. Sperry, Jr.,MiddleburySally L. Taylor,Mystic

Henry H. Townshend, New Haven

StaffExecutive Director, Adam R. Moore, Durham

Trail Conservation Coordinator, Ann T. Colson, ClintonDevelopment Director, James W. Little,Hebron

Administrative Coordinator, Teresa Peters, DurhamAdministrative Assistant, Linda Cunningham, Portland

Land Conservation Coordinator, Damon Hearn,HigganumEducation Coordinator, Lori Paradis Brant, Beacon FallsWalkConnecticut Coordinator, Leslie Lewis, Lyme

EDITOR, Christine WoodsideGRAPHIC DESIGNER, KarenWard

Conserving ConnecticutThe Connecticut Forest & Park Association is aprivate, non-profit organization dedicated since1895 to conserving the land, trails, and naturalresources of Connecticut.The Connecticut Forest & Park Association isaffiliated with the National Wildlife Federation,the National Woodland Owners Association,the American Hiking Society, and Earth Share.

Connecticut WoodlandsPublished quarterly by theConnecticut Forest & Park Association,Middlefield, 16 Meriden Road, Rockfall, CT06481-2961.Indexed in the Connecticut Periodical Index,ISSN 00106257.Telephone: 860-346-2372.Fax 860-347-7463.E-mail address: [email protected] Wide Web site:http://www.ctwoodlands.org

Annual MembershipIndividual $ 35Family $ 50Supporting $ 100Benefactor $ 250

Life Membership $ 2500

Corporate MembershipClub $ 50Nonprofit $ 75Sustaining $ 100Landmark $ 250Stewardship $ 500Leadership $1000

Printed on recycled paper

WoodlandsC O N N E C T I C U T

The Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association

Mark C. Borton

Floodwaters rage past a building in Ivoryton after the June 1982 storm. See page 8.

2 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

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WoodlandsC O N N E C T I C U T

The Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association Spring 2008 Volume 73 Number 1

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Contents

On the cover:This was the scene in Chester atthe bottom of Exit 7 of Route 9after the June 1982 flood. Photo byMark C. Borten

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 3

FEATURES

Storms. The definition of the 100-yearstorm has changed – they’re worse.Checking in with those who think aboutthis the most: the state dam safety staff.By Christine Woodside.

Carbon and forests. Connecticut has thepotential to act as a major carbon sink. Aforester looks ahead. By William Bentley.

A Pioneer in Manchester: Lewis MorganPorter (1903-1967) and the Shenipsit Trail.By Susan Barlow.

DEPARTMENTS

Executive Director’s Message. Change is here.

President’s Message. A membership initiative.

Editor’s Note. A tribute to Adam Moore.

Trail Mix.New England Scenic Trail bill passesCongress. Report on winter and springmaintainers’ workshops.

Try This Hike. Explore the Goodwin Forest inHampton. By Steve Broderick

Essential Facts of Life. Taking students outside,away from test prep. By Lori Paradis Brant.

Tree Page. The shadbush, or serviceberry.

From the Land. The Nine Seasons of Food.By Jean Crum Jones.

Stumpage Report. Current prices for standingtimber.

Letter to the Editor.

Book Review. Bear history reveals humans’ fearsand myths about them. By Robert M. Ricard.

Spring Programs.

News of the Connecticut Forest & ParkAssociation. Executive Director Adam R. Mooretakes land trust job on Martha’s Vineyard afterseven years at CFPA. Starr Sayres retires afterbuilding development program.

Development News. Recognizing CFPA’s manydonors.

Poem. “Fast Food.” By Kathleen Groll Connolly.

CFPA Store. Buy books, maps, and clothing.

Page 4: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

BY DAVID PLATT

As of May 1, Adam Moore is leaving his post as execu-tive director of CFPA. We stole Adam from Martha’s

Vineyard a number of years ago, and now that darn island hasstolen him back to head up Sheriff’s MeadowFoundation, the island’s private land trust.

In his tenure at CFPA, Adam successfullymanaged a significant number of changeswithin our organization, and served as aninspiration to board members, staff, and theConnecticut environmental community atlarge. These are not meant to be empty wordsor platitudes. When it comes to the conserva-tion, trail, education and other environmentalissues that are the root of CFPA’s mission,Adam gets it, and gets it done. Adam, Melissaand the rest of the Moore family are excitedto return to island living. We wish them the

best and will miss them. And we will hear more from Adamon a regular basis as he remains an active CFPA member andcontributor to Connecticut Woodlands.

The other news of the day pertains to our membership ini-tiative. As you know, CFPA has proclaimed 2008 the “yearof membership” to celebrate our members and attract newones to solidify our base. We have a number of terrific mem-bership initiatives under way, so I recommend a look at theWeb site (www.ctwoodlands.org) to look for ways memberscan take advantage of CFPA programs and help others join.We are spending considerable time and effort to make itmore user friendly and interactive.

It is late January as I write this, and several friends of mineare about to drag me out on the trails for a new experience –winter backpacking and camping. I remember one inadver-tent winter camping experience I had as a kid, when a groupof us camped out and woke up to the season’s first snowfallof almost a foot. It was magical. I have not winter campedsince, and am approaching this planned trip with some trep-idation. It helps when I remind myself that new things – evenicy cold and snowy ones – are good. Consider a new outdoorexperience yourself, for you and your family. All the better ifit involves an activity on the trails.

CFPA PresidentDavid Platt

Christine Woodside

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

BY ADAM R. MOORE

We value constancy. Permanence, persistence, a treefirmly rooted in the soil: these are values of the

Association, and these are values of NewEngland. Yet change, too, is something thatwe value. Indeed, the constancy of change isthe essence of New England – of its ever-changing seasons, of its ever-changingweather. This constant change is somethingthat the flora of New England thrives on andsomething we New Englanders thrive on,too.

We need the occasional change. I find thatI long for the season that is next to come. Asmuch as we may appreciate winter, who doesnot thrill inside at the sight of skunk cabbagepoking through soil of the swamp? Who, in

August, does not delight at seeing the first errant birch leafto turn an early yellow, hinting at the autumn spectacle tocome? It is through the permanent, recurrent events of life– the annual Durham Fair, for example – that I mark thetimes change has entered my life.

Change has come to me again. Come May, I will leavemy post as executive director, secretary and forester of theConnecticut Forest & Park Association and become theexecutive director of the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation.The Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation is a private, non-profitconservation organization and is the land trust for the islandof Martha’s Vineyard. It is similar in size and budget to theAssociation, but necessarily narrower in scope. With myfamily, I will return to the island where I lived and workedprior to becoming executive director of CFPA. I am veryexcited about leading a conservation organization devotedto protecting such a unique and limited environment, andwe are very excited about the singular opportunity to giveour children an island childhood.

It was a most difficult decision, however, to leave this jobthat I love, for an organization that I love and respect. As Istated to our board and trail volunteers, I declare that thereis no better job in Connecticut than the one that I have heldfor the past six and a half years. The job is wide-ranging anddiverse; no day is like the day before. On one day, I may becrawling under a barbed wire fence while perambulating aproperty, on the next, wearing a suit and tie testifyingbefore a legislative committee. I have greatly enjoyed work-ing for our Board of Directors, working with and growingour talented and dedicated staff, assisting our trail

4 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

Executive DirectorAdam R. Moore

Ann Colson

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

DRAWING INNEW MEMBERS

continued on page 13

CHANGE HAS COMELeaving the best jobin Connecticut

Page 5: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 5

TRAIL MIX: NEWS OFTHE BLUE-BLAZED HIKINGTRAILS

Learn Trail MaintenanceBasics at SpringWorkshopApril 26 in Chester

Join Connecticut Forest and ParkAssociation at our annual trail maintainerspring workshop. The date for the work-shop will be Saturday, April 26, 2008 andit will be held in Chester, CT on theCockaponset State Forest property.

Learn the basics of trail design andmaintenance of pedestrian/hiking trailswhile working side-by-side with seasonedtrail volunteers. Projects will includebridge building, water bar construction,side-hilling, brushing, blazing and safetool usage. CFPA guidelines for handicapaccess trails will be included this year.Everyone is welcome. Meet at 8:30 a.m.at Cockaponset State Forest. From Rt 9,exit 6, take Rt 148 west. At 1.45 miles,take Cedar Lake Rd north (right). At 1.8miles continue on straight at stop sign. At3.0 miles turn left at signs for PattaconkLake/Pattaconk Reservoir Area. At 3.4miles turn left into the eastern parkinglot. . Bring water, lunch, work gloves anddress appropriately for outdoor work.Tools will be provided. The raindate isSunday, April 27. To register or for fur-ther information, contact workshopleader George Arthur by calling 860-871-0137, or send him an e-mail at [email protected]. Or call CFPA at860-346-2372, e-mail [email protected].

— George Arthur

Volunteer Trail ManagersElected

The CFPA Trails Committee has elect-ed the following volunteers trail managersfor the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails. Therewere many new Trail Manager candidatespresent at the meeting.

� Interim Trail Manager Jack Marshallfor the Mattabesett Trail from BrooksRoad to Aircraft Road, including BearHill and the Bear Hill Loop.

� InterimTrailManagerErikLandgraf for theAmerican Legion and Peoples State Forest.

� Interim Trail Manager Paul Badger forthe Macedonia Ridge Trail.

� Interim Co-Trail Managers Ellen Boydand Debbie Birden for the Alain and MayWhite Nature Trails, including theTestone Boulder Trail and Fadior SpringTrail (Torrington Trails).

� Trail Manager candidate BobMcGarry for the Kettletown State ParkTrails including Brook, Miller, Crest andPomperaug (North) Trails.

� Trail Manager candidate Kelly Walshfor the Paugussett Trail from Indian WellState Park to the Monroe/Shelton townline, including Indian Well and WebbMountain Park.

� Trail Manager candidate Keith Stetsonfor the Aspetuck Valley Trail.

� Trail Manager candidate David Leesfor the Pachaug Trail from the NehanticJunction to Route 138, including Mt.Misery and Pachaug Pond.

� Co-Trail Manager candidates MikeDeFranzo and John Shomsky for theShenipsit Trail from Gadpouch Road toRoute 2.

Fifth AnnualWinterWorkshop Report

Connecticut Forest & ParkAssociation’s winter workshop reached amilestone on February 2 when it held thefifth annual indoor program on trail worktechniques and other related skills. Theworkshop took place the day before theSuper Bowl, a tradition of sorts. As has alsobecome tradition, it was filled to capacityand had a waiting list. This is all a result ofCFPA volunteers, staff and guest speakersgiving up their Saturdays to make the trailsa “little bit better.”

Executive Director Adam Moore wel-comed the group, speaking on the impor-tance of cooperation among trail main-tainers through out the state. LaurieGiannotti, recreational trails and green-ways program coordinator of theConnecticut Department of Environ-mental Protection, spoke on the

continued on page 7

EDITOR’S NOTE

A TRIBUTE TOADAMMOORE

Since September 2001, when AdamR. Moore took over as executive direc-tor of the Connecticut Forest & ParkAssociation and I agreed to edit a fewissues of Connecticut Woodlands maga-zine, he has consistently pushed me topublish the best material I could. Adamonce reminded me that publishing is amajor enterprise of CFPA. This quarter-ly is one of its oldest publications. It hasfunctioned as forestry journal, environ-mental journal, club newsletter, andforum for ideas. It continues an evolu-tion that began a few decades ago toreach a wide audience.

Adam liked his job and wanted me tolike my assignment. When he didn’t likean idea, he told me without hesitating,but always with dignity. More often heexuded a sense of well-being that mademe feel comfortable airing ideas, no mat-ter how unbaked, knowing that hewould understand and help developthem.

Adam dreamed up some of the morecompelling topics we explored, such as ,the Naugatuck River (Spring 2003),school forests (Fall 2003) and theMerritt Parkway (Spring 2004). Hegently insisted on topics that he felt themagazine must write about (conserva-tion philanthropy, summer 2007).Because he had confidence in me, Icould concentrate hard on the workitself and not on the politics of a boss-editor relationship that can get in theway in my business.

Most important, Adam writes well andfeels that compunction to write thathaunts some of us. Because he under-stands my own obsession with writing, Ienjoyed a kind of creative freedom that isvery unusual for an editor. I will inviteAdam to write regularly for ConnecticutWoodlands on any aspect of the NewEngland enviroment that interests him.Because his horizons will expand, so willours.

—Christine Woodside

Page 6: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

6 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

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Page 7: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 7

Recreational Trails Program (RTP). TheRTP, funded by the Federal HighwaysAdministration, provides monies to thestates for use on trails. Ms. Giannottispoke about how grants are awarded andon how to apply for them.

The next speaker was Ann Faust, vicepresident of operations of the MiddlesexCounty Community Foundation. Ms.Faust gave a detailed talk on applying forgrants. She explained why grant applica-tion formats should be followed and spokeon how to make a grant stand out fromthe rest. An animated question and answerperiod concluded her presentation.

CFPA Trail Manager Elaine La Bellathen provided a demonstration on trailtool safety. Ms La Bella also volunteersfor the Appalachian Mountain Club andhas often taught tool safety. No one whohas seen Ms. La Bella’s safety demonstra-tion will ever forget the “zone of death.”

Next, the trail manager of the LonePine Trail, Paul Mei, spoke about a kioskhe had designed for use on trails. Hebrought two kiosks, one partially builtand the other finished, which he used todemonstrate the construction details.Complimenting his talk was a Powerpointslide show. Fifteen attendees signed up tohave the detailed plans emailed to them.

Many attendees took advantage of thelunch break to take a walk on theDemonstration Forest trail. The walkincluded discussions on standards of uni-versal access, trail blazing and invasivespecies. Those staying indoors were treat-ed to CFPA Trail Manager Bob Schoff’sslide show on trail bridges.

After lunch the trail manager of a sec-tion of the Mattabesett Trail, ChristineWoodside, spoke on volunteer newslet-ters. Ms. Woodside, in addition to beinga trail manager, is the editor of CFPA’sConnecticut Woodlands and the

Appalachian Mountain Club’s Appalachiajournal. Her talk on ways to reach mem-bers through newsletters went over welland generated many questions.

Wrapping up the day’s presentations wasCFPA Trail Manager Rob Butterworth.Mr. Butterworth did a presentation on trailtool maintenance. He discussed sharpen-ing, care for wooden handles and the toolsrequired. Rounding out the day was a gen-eral question and answer period.

CFPA wishes to apologize for a num-ber of substitutions on the agenda. Dueto the lead-time involved with the invita-tion mailings it’s not always possible topredict scheduling conflicts. We alsowish to thank everyone who volunteeredtheir Saturday to making this a successfulevent. Special thanks go to CFPA stafferTerri Peters for helping with the setup,food, tear down and all the other littlethings that come up.

—Rob Butterworth

TRAIL MIX: NEWS OFTHE BLUE-BLAZED HIKINGTRAILS

BY LESLIE LEWIS

In keeping with this issue’s theme of storms,I thought it would be appropriate to talkabout dressing to walk in wet weather.

While the thought of schlepping out into the rainmay not sound appealing, the right gear can makeall the difference in keeping up with your walkingregimen.

Let’s start at the bottom with your footwear.We all know that there are few things moreuncomfortable than cold, wet (or hot and wet)feet. Your socks should fit well without too muchexcess material that can cause blistering. Look fora fabric (not cotton) that wicks moisture awayfrom your skin. Shoes or boots should be as

waterproof as possible. Make sure that they havesturdy, grippy lug soles. Dirt, pebbles, leaves,even pavement can get slick when they are wet.Trekking poles can help maintain your balanceand stability.

For pants, you have a choice of water-repellingfabrics for the pants themselves or for pull-overrainwear. Keep breathability in mind to avoidfeeling clammy for your entire walk. The samegoes for your upper body. Look for wicking abil-ity for inner and middle layers, and a breathableouter shell. If you are wearing a hood, make surethat it doesn’t impair your ability to see, particu-larly when crossing streets or walking alongroadsides. Waterproof hats and gloves are avail-able for those damp and cold days.

Once you are well outfitted, you will need tochoose your route with the weather in mind.Slopes that may be easy to negotiate when dry canturn slick and treacherous when wet. Streams thatwere trickles can swell enough to make crossingthem difficult or impossible. In addition, wetbanks can erode quickly under feet, tires andhooves, leading to pollution of the waterways.

Advice from the WalkConnecticut Desk

It’s Wet Outside –Go Hiking Anyway

continued from page 5

continued on page 18

Page 8: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

8 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

Woodlands last talked about the weather andthe climate (winter 2003), scientists havestrengthened their statements and warningsabout the world’s warming climate. We nowknow with greater certainty that springarrives earlier, summers are getting hotter,and winters are marked with higher temper-atures and less snow.

Scientists predict with growing confi-dence that in many regions of the world, badstorms will become more frequent and thatthey will bring more precipitation, higherwinds, and more danger than before. Thesepredictions are not very specific for theNortheastern United States, and they covera period of a century or so.

Looking at the present day, and the nearpast, we know much more. Actual precipita-tion totals from the last quarter century, asreported here five years ago, shows that those

Within a few months, grass began to growdown there as the owners, a group ofEpiscopal churches, began to raise money torebuild the dam. In the village, where otherdam breaks destroyed a swimming hole,locals decided that rebuilding its dam wouldcost too much. When the storm ended, 11people in the state had died (not the directresult of the dam breaks) and officials count-ed $250 million in damage.

We hear about the 100-year storm, a sta-tistical amount of rain or snow that doesn’tpredictably arrive every century but, rather,statistically has a 1-percent change of occur-ring in any given year. The 1982 flood wascloser to the 1,000-year storm. Anyone whowitnessed it could say with some certaintythat the chances of this happening againanytime soon are almost nil.

In the five years since Connecticut

R ain had been falling in Connecticutfor several days on June 5, 1982,when a torrent began. For the next

two days, 14 to 16 inches fell onto already rain-soaked ground and then rushed towardstreams and rivers, breaking through 17 dams.The experts compared this spring storm to awinter Nor’easter without the cold tempera-tures. Witnesses had seen nothing like thisever, and probably never would again.

In the lower Connecticut River Valley, thestorm changed the landscape. A dam onBushy Hill Lake in Ivoryton broke at 12:30a.m. on June 6,, emptying the lake. The flowswept away houses and smaller dams as itraged through the village. The course of thenearby Falls River was altered. At the bot-tom of what used to be Bushy Hill Lake,century-old tree trunks, left from when thelake was first dammed, stood exposed.

The100-Year StormChecking in with the experts who really care — dam safety professionals

Page 9: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 9

years produced more rain than earlier peri-ods, even though from year to year,Connecticut’s weather varies greatly, frommore than 60 inches of precipitation in a year(as in 1982) to about half that (as in 1967).On average, though, it has rained more inConnecticut over the past century than it didbetween the years 1951 and 1980.

To make some sense of what the futureholds in a state like Connecticut, we talked tothe experts who really care about storms: thestate dam safety engineers. The 100-yearstorm, based on that data, means 7 inches in24 hours, said Art Christian, supervising civilengineer of the state's dam safety department.

In 2003, the dam safety department of theInland Water Resources Division of theConnecticut Department of EnvironmentalProtection, commissioned a new study of pre-cipitation. It concluded that the traditionalmethod of defining normal rain- and snowfall,by looking at a 30-year period of actual precip-itation, is not adequate to define “normal” rain-fall, because the amounts could vary greatlyfrom one 30-year span to the next. Theydefined normal to mean the average precipita-tion in a year based on actual weather from1895 to 1995.

The result of the study was that normal

precipitation actually is 45 inches per year –on average – in Connecticut. The previousdefinition of normal was about 43 inches.The findings by three University ofConnecticut professors suggested that the100-year storm is a worse storm than it isnow defined to be. This surprised the state’sdam safety water resources people, whowere braced for the opposite trend becauseof some dry spells that had not counted inprevious storm studies.

But when the dam safety experts reviewedthe new data against their current dam stan-dards, they decided not to require all damsto be rebuilt, because the current standardswere already so rigorous that they wentbeyond the storm levels of the old definitionof the 100-year storm. These standards callfor dams to be one foot higher than thewater level at the spillway during the 100-year storm. (Remember, the 100-year stormis actually a misnomer. It can occur at anytime; the chances of it occurring are 1 per-cent in any given year, but not 0.)

Denise Ruzicka, director of the InlandWater Resources Division of theConnecticut DEP, said that the staff has notdetermined how the new data should affectthe dam standards. “Rainfall has increased,”she said. “What we don’t know is, if rainfallis increasing, does that really lead to morefloods?” The causes of floods go beyondaverage rainfall. She noted thatConnecticut’s tremendous variability in theweather makes the word “normal” difficultto define. As the climate continues to warm,

some scientists are calling into questionwhether it’s possible to predict river flowwithin a set of normal boundaries. There willbe higher highs (more rain and snow) bal-anced by lower lows (periods of drought).Another major factor in predicting dam fail-ures, she said, is that increasing developmentadds pavement and increases flooding, addsup to more uncertainty in the face of therainfall statistics.

There are only four people in the damsafety department. They permit new dams,inspect dams with problems, and maintainthe 262 state-owned dams. (About 82 per-cent of the dams in the state are owned byprivate individuals.) Just after the 1982floods, the department had 15 people. Thestate dam regulations apply to about 2,295of the 5,500 dams here. (A dam is consideredlarge enough to be regulated if its failurewould kill people or lead to economic losses.)Of the dams they regulate, 503 are “high andsignificant hazard” dams. But some highhazard dams, such as the Mansfield Hollowdam, are designed to much more rigorousstandards than the 100-year flood—theprobable maximum flood.

“Remember, floods are inevitable,” Ms.Ruzicka said.

Christine Woodside is the editor ofConnecticut Woodlands and a freelancewriter. Her book, The Homeowner’s Guideto Energy Independence, was published in2006 by the Lyons Press.

Some Recent Dam Breaks

It doesn’t always take the 1000-year storm to destroy a dam. Some of the floods herewere 25-year storms or 50-year storms.

1961. Crystal Lake Dam burst in Middletown, damaging 11 houses andinjuring three.

1963: Spaulding Pond Dam in Norwich failed, causing six deaths and muchdamage.

1982. One of the worst floods since the famous back-to-back hur-ricanes in 1955 hit Connecticut, breaking 17 dams and damaging 31 others.Eleven people died due to the flood (not the dams).

October 8-15, 2005. “Moderate to major” flooding hit the state, leadingto at least 14 dam failures in Hartford and Tolland counties and damages to 30dams. Bridges and roads also washed out or were damaged.

Number of Damsin ConnecticutHigh Hazard - 239

Significant Hazard - 264

Moderate to Low Hazard - 692

Low Hazard - 1800

Negligible Hazard - 1470

The June 1982 flood knocked out a roadin the town of Deep River.

Mark C. Borton

Page 10: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

10 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

BY WILLIAM R. BENTLEY

When the IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Changereleased its revised report last

February, Americans began to think moreabout global climate changes. Al Gore’sfilm, “An Inconvenient Truth,” helpedbring attention to the issue in a more vividway, and the Nobel Prize award to the paneland Mr. Gore raised the nation’s attentionconsiderably.

Carbon dioxide is the leading greenhousegas. It traps heat radiated from the sun withthe Earth’s atmosphere, thus creating thegreenhouse effect that we now call globalwarming. The rapid increase in CO2 levels iswell documented, and current levels may bethe highest in the past 655,000 years. Whilesome of the recent warming may be part ofa long-term cycle, virtually all scientistsattribute much of the increase in averagetemperatures to higher levels of CO2. Fossilfuel burning since the Industrial Revolution(beginning in the mid-1700s) caused theselevels.

The consequences will be global, but wealso may see dramatic changes inConnecticut. We could experience over 100days of temperatures over 90 degrees, manyover 100 degrees. Our vegetation willchange as northern species like sugar mapleand central species like red oak disappear.Insect pests will increase, and birds andmammals will change. Our climate is pre-dicted to eventually become like that ofNorth Carolina today.

Carbon Sequestration by Forests

One solution to increased CO2 in theatmosphere is to capture and store carbon inplants. Plants naturally store carbon in pho-tosynthesis: CO2 from the atmospherecombines with water from the soil to makeoxygen (which is released back into theatmosphere) and sugars. The sugars areeventually converted to various starches, cel-luloses, and other components of plants. Allplants store carbon above ground and belowground in roots.

In trees, the woody stems and branchesare the visible form of the net photosynthateafter respiration. The root systems of trees

CLIMATE, CARBONSTORAGE, AND

CONNECTICUT’S FORESTSA forester looks ahead

Robert Pagnini

Page 11: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 11

plus the various other life forms in soil canstore an additional amount of carbon aswood and starch (food for future respirationor growth). In temperate regions, this stor-age may be equal to or more than the car-bon stored above ground.

Because trees, especially many forest trees,live for a long time, forests are valuable car-bon sinks. Conversely, the destruction offorests, especially by fire or fire followingland clearing, releases enormous amounts ofcarbon dioxide. Current estimates suggest18 percent to 25 percent of the annualincrease in atmospheric CO2 is from defor-estation. Consequently, maintenance ofgrowing healthy forests is an importantstrategy in combating global warming,

Forest products are a way of prolongingthe carbon stored by forests. Solid woodproducts like lumber and plywood havelonger lives than fiber or energy products.Consequently, forest management thatfavors producing larger trees suitable forsolid wood products will store more carbonand often yield more financial returns.

Losses and gains

In Connecticut 1,859 million acres areforested. This is about 60 percent of thestate’s land area. The forests are concentrat-

ed in the Northwest Corner and the eastcentral hills, and the eastern edge at theRhode Island border. Over the past decadeor more, the major increases in forest areahave been in Hartford and Litchfield coun-ties and the biggest losses are in Windhamand New London counties.

Between 1952 and 1998, Connecticut’stimber inventory more than doubled to 3.2billion cubic feet. Preliminary estimates arethat the timber inventory probably increasedover 3.5 billion cubic feet by 2005. Abouttwo-thirds of this volume is in commercialhardwoods, and most of the current growthis in hardwoods. The current inventory oftrees and shrubs is 108 million metric drytons of biomass.

Each year, Connecticut’s timber volumegrows by more than 1.7% – about 61.6 mil-lion cubic feet. Only eight-tenths of 1 per-cent of Connecticut’s timber volume isremoved – about 28.2 million cubic feet,which gives a growth to removal ratio of 2.2to 1. It is important, however, to understandthat removals are not just harvests for saleand use. Of the 28.2 million cubic feetremoved, 17.5 million cubic feet went toforest products or logging residue. Land useconversion and development – deforestationby another name – was the cause of 10.7

million cubic feet of removals. This volumeof deforested biomass is higher than the 9.7million cubic feet average estimated over1985 to 1998.

Connecticut forests held 127.5 MMT oflive above ground biomass in 2005, which is234 MMTCO2e. The growth each yearadds 1,881 MT of biomass – 3.5MMTCO2e. Removals are 861 MT, ofwhich 534 MT go into forest products orlogging residue. Deforestation removesanother 327 MT 1 – or 0.6 MMTCO2e.While we cannot be sure that none of thedeforested volume ended up in the forestproducts chain, the land went out of pro-duction and is no longer sequestering car-bon in forest biomass form.

Connecticut forests could absorb more car-bon. One obvious way would be to grow larg-er trees, which would yield lumber for logsand solid wood product. Another is to movetoward various “smart growth” strategies thatleave larger tracts of trees undisturbed.

Incentives for CarbonSequestration

The Kyoto Protocol, which the UnitedStates did not sign, has spawned attempts touse market forces to favor reduction ingreenhouse gases and sequestration of moreCO2. Two kinds of markets are emergingthat will favor more efficient use of fossilfuels and more effective sequestration of car-bon. The first is carbon exchange markets,of which the Chicago Carbon Exchange isan interesting example. Several similar mar-kets are emerging in Europe as tougher pol-lution standards are employed. A report oncarbon markets is available on the CFPAWeb site (www.ctwoodlands.org).2

Connecticut has been a leader in estab-lishment of the Regional Greenhouse GasInitiative (known as RGGI and pronounced“Reggie”), which will begin operation in2009. California has a similar agreement,and others are developing. These voluntaryapproaches create a scarcity of rights to pol-lute greenhouse gases and the markets for

continued on page 12

Because trees, especially many forest trees, live for a long time, forests are valuable carbon sinks. Conversely, the

destruction of forests,especially by fire or fire following land clearing, releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide.

Page 12: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

trading rights. The results are more focus onreducing gas emissions instead of more waysto sequester carbon.

Another alternative is an international car-bon fee. Most economists agree that suchfees are the fairest and most effective socialtool for encouraging less pollution and morecarbon sequestration. Jeffrey Sachs estimatesthat a $25 per metric ton of CO2 would beeffective. However, the fees are often calleda carbon tax, and taxes are increasinglyunpopular in America, Europe, and othereconomic centers. Also, getting an interna-tional agreement on a fee level would beeven more difficult than the next round oftreaty negations to replace the KyotoProtocol.3

Don’t exclude Connecticut as acarbon sink

Connecticut needs to advocate a broaderpolicy approach to replace the KyotoProtocol in 2012. Given the huge amountof carbon stored in forests and the potentialto store more and release less, the new pro-tocol should count forest growth in allforests, not just new plantations and otherprojects. The current discussion of findingcarbon sinks virtually excludes all forestgrowth in Connecticut and other northeast-ern states. Three consequences flow fromthis exclusion. First, an enormous annualincrement to the total sequestered carbon isignored. Two, carbon sequestration cannoteasily be added to the incentives thatencourage working forests. Three, the lossof forest biomass and future growth todevelopment is ignored and, in a policysense, it is invisible.

The latter consequence is important inmuch of the forested area of North America.Forty percent of Connecticut’s forestremovals are forests that are cleared for com-mercial and residential development. Someof the removed timber is harvested, ratherthan burned or placed in landfills, andmoves into solid wood and fiber products.However, those lands are permanently

removed from the forest base and futuregrowth and carbon sequestration.

One important note about urban forests:Our knowledge of urban trees and theirsalutary effects on the urban environmenthas increased rapidly in the past 20 years.4

Urban trees also sequester carbon above andbelow ground. However, urban vegetationrequires much more tending over time,requiring fossil fuels to trim and harvestplants and to grind cuttings. The net carbonsequestration, as a consequence, is negative.This does not diminish the great importanceof urban vegetation but simply says urbanforestry as it’s now practiced does not add tothe net annual sequestration of carbon.

Recommendations

I have made several recommendations tothe Connecticut Forest & Park Associationfor its advocacy program:� Join with several other non-profit organ-izations, like Environment Northeast andWinrock International, in supporting use ofthe Forest Service FIA5system for estimatingcarbon sequestration at the state level.

� Encourage the development of carbonexchange markets, like the Chicago CarbonExchange, even if they have little immediatedirect benefit for Connecticut.

� Promote or take lead to develop marketmechanisms that can aggregate carbon andforest values in Connecticut.

� Encourage more research on urbanforests from the perspective of carbonsequestration

� CFPA should advocate three other posi-tions that will encourage working forestsand reduce the pressure to convert forests toother land uses.

� Support making the tax deductions fordonation of conservation easements over a15-year period a permanent part of the USTax Code and adding this as a deductionagainst Connecticut income taxes.

� Explore multi-pronged approaches toencouraging sustainable forest managementon Connecticut’s private forestlands.

Climate and forestscontinued from page 11

� Encourage Connecticut and nationalresearch organizations to conduct studies onthe potential of various institutional mecha-nisms to lead forest owners to sequestermore carbon and not deforest or changeland use.

William Bentley is a consulting forester andan associate of CFPA.

Footnotes

1 MMTCO2e is the abbreviation for millionmetric tons carbon dioxide equivalent.

2 See Whitman, Austin. 2007. The CarbonMarkets: Forests, Credits, and Uncertainty. AReport for the Connecticut Forest and ParkAssociation. 50 p.http://www.ctwoodlands.org/research/researchnotes.html.

3 See Sachs' article, “The Road to Clean EnergyStarts Here” in the May 2006 ScientificAmerican.

4 For example, see the Work of Dr. DavidNowak and his colleagues with the USDA ForestService on urban forestry and the health and cli-mate benefits. Northeastern Forest ExperimentStation publications can be found athttp://www.fs.fed.us/ne/newtown_square/publications/

5 FIA stands for Forest Inventory and Analysis, aprogram of estimating forest volumes andgrowth, plus many other variables, which is con-ducted by the USDA Forest Service.

12 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

The current discussion of finding carbon sinks virtually excludes all

forest growth in Connecticut and other northeastern states.

Connecticut Land UsesForest 60%Farm 9%Other1 31%

Page 13: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Finally, remember that the same rules apply tohikers and other non-motorized trail users asto drivers on the roads; if you can’t see abridge or crossing because of water runningover it, don’t take a chance. You could windup in a dangerous situation.

Laminate the map you use. Although it willbe harder to stow in a pocket, you will beguaranteed that you can still read it by the endof your journey. Carry this with your waterbottle in a small backpack. Leave dry clothingin the car for later.

Being outside when it’s wet can give youa whole different perspective on your sur-roundings. Try taking a walk on a mildspring day when the rain drips off the leaves

into puddles and rivulets. Enjoy the mist ris-ing from the hills and the way the damp airmuffles sound. And maybe, if you’re lucky,you will be rewarded by a rainbow.

Leslie Lewis is the WalkConnecticutcoordinator.

CFPA’s newWalkConnecticut initiative is a holisticapproach to promote walking and other non-motor-ized activities along trails and sidewalks around thestate. WalkConnecticut will bring together the health,recreation, tourism, cultural and historical, transporta-tion, and economic development communities to pro-mote, preserve, and expand these opportunities.Through a newwebsite, guided walks, and technicalassistance efforts, CFPA hopes to foster healthierlifestyles.

volunteers in their mission of maintainingthe Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System, andcollaborating with our many, many partnerorganizations.

There are a few highlights of my tenurethat I look back on especially fondly. First, Iam proud of the staff that we have grownover the past six years. The Association nowhas nine members of the staff, as well as acontract editor of this magazine and a con-tract lobbyist. I am especially proud of theway they function as a team. I am pleased tohave helped to improve ConnecticutWoodlands magazine over the years. It hasbeen a joy to write this column and to hearso many compliments from you, especiallyon the piece I wrote about the home birth ofmy son. The new logo and associated designmaterials made a great and long-lastingimprovement in the way the Associationpresents itself to the public, and I am pleasedthat the last phase of that, the website, will becompleted soon. It was an honor to beinvolved in the publication of the award win-ning, 19th Edition of the ConnecticutWalk Book: East and West.

Land protected by the Association has morethan doubled, from 803 acres in 2001 to 1710in 2008, and this number is growing. TheBlue-Blazed Hiking Trails have lengthened,too, to 825 miles, and the new Saugatuck andAspetuck Valley Trails and Lone Pine Trails

have been added.Our education program tookoff under Lori Brant, who was named theEnvironmental Educator of the Year in 2007.We created the WalkConnecticut program,which is now striding forward under the lead-ership of Leslie Lewis. Forces of Nature was anincredible high point and a milestone in theAssociation’s history. I am delighted to havepresided over the quintupling of theAssociation Annual Fund, from $20,000 in2001 to $100,000 and counting this year. Mythanks go to you, our loyal donors, for so gen-erously supporting the Association and givingus the confidence to accomplish the conserva-tion work before us. Finally, it was a thrill andan honor to testify last May before the HouseCommittee on Natural Resources,Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests andPublic Lands in support ofH.R. 1528, theNewEnglandNational Scenic Trail DesignationAct.The House passed this bill on January 29,2008, and I am hoping that the bill passes theSenate and is signed into law this year.

There are challenges that lie ahead for theAssociation. The membership needs to grow.Maintaining a dynamic, talented staffdemands strong annual financial support.Our Middlefield headquarters serves notonly the Association, but also the entire envi-ronmental community in Connecticut, and itneeds certain updates and will need expan-sion. The lands and easements we holdrequire an increasing level of stewardship.Finally, the endowment that the Associationis blessed with will require additional capital

if it is to remain the permanent foundationfor our programs that it has been and is. Ihave no doubt, however, that thisAssociation of 112 years will be able to meetthese challenges.

I love the Connecticut Forest & ParkAssociation and look forward to remaininginvolved on a lifetime basis. I thank all of you,the members, for being so supportive andencouraging over these past years. Your com-pliments, kind words and warm wishes havemeant a great deal to me. I thank my staff forall of their hard work and devotion. I thank thevolunteers for their extraordinary public serviceand remain in awe of their accomplishments. Ithank the Board of Directors for giving metheir unwavering confidence and trust. Finally,I thank my family, and most of all my wife,Melissa, for her support, a constant indeed.

So, come summer, my family and I will setsail. We will be homeward bound for a placeof beaches and bandstands, of quahogs andbeach plums, of pitch pines and oaks, and fora cedar-sided Cape, on a dirt road, on anisland, in the Atlantic Ocean. Farewell, andthank you.

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 13

Executive directorcontinued from page 4

Go hiking anywaycontinued from page 7 SAVE THE

DATE FORTRAIL DAYSJune 7 and 8

For abrochure call860-346-2372

Page 14: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Without L. MorganPorter, theremight not be a

Shenipsit Trail in theManchester area. If he hadn’tvolunteered through theConnecticut Forest & ParkAssociation to lay out the offi-cial trail in the 1940s, the areathat he blazed might not beopen to hikers today.

Starting in 1946, Porterbegan creating trails and obtain-ing permission for hikers tocross private and water-compa-ny land. He chose the directionof the trail, sometimes linkingup with old tote roads, some-times choosing rock ledges orclearing brush for a new foot-path. He kept in mind scenicviews for hikers, as well as avoid-ance of swampy places. He was the first topaint light-blue blazes along the trail, and hedrafted the trail’s first maps.

By 1947, he had established the trail,which hikers continue to enjoy 61 yearslater.

What a thrill Porter must have felt whenhe saw this history-making note in one ofthe trail logs: “Look for the Shenipsit Trailon new edition of U.S.G.S. TopographicMap of Ellington Quad.” The date wasAugust 7, 1953, and the signer was R.T.Barron, U.S. Geological Survey, Arlington,Virginia.

The trails that Porter laid out havechanged, of course, over the years, and insome places housing developments havereplaced the forest that he encountered, butwe are fortunate that he devoted himself tothis work and that the trail acquired officialstatus when it did. Otherwise, would thistrail have disappeared when land was sold offto private owners?

When Porter was exploring, he referred to“a wilderness” from the Glastonbury firetower to the springs near Case Brothers millson Spring Street, Manchester, and on toSomers’ Soapstone Mountain.

In letters to Edgar Laing Heermance,founder of Connecticut’s Blue-BlazedHiking Trails, Porter tells of progress withlandowners:� In June 1946: “On 6-22-46 I obtainedverbal permission from Mr. F.H. Parker tocross the lands of the South ManchesterWater Committee…[assuring] virtually all ofthe trail from Birch Mountain to the firetower….They don’t know who some of theowners are, they have been trying to buy itup, and since it is all wilderness I guess wecan go ahead anyway. I did get a couple ofnames from the Water Committee’s mapsand will see what I can find out aboutthem.” Porter had also obtained permissionto cross Case Brothers property “from theheirs, Mrs. Robert Dennison and her sons,

Wells and Robert … and havewalked over the trails with Mr.Wells Dennison. They are verymuch interested in this work.”

� In May 1947: “I went over theproposed trail from Highland Parkto the Glastonbury Fire Towerwith F.E. Thrall of the WaterCommittee and received his OKprovided we properly post it withsigns…specifically referring to awatershed and saying ‘Commit nonuisance,’ etc.” Porter enclosed adesign for a sign, already approvedby the Water Company, andrequested that the signs be print-ed by CFPA. “I expect to startclearing the trail this week end.Thanks for the can of trail paintwhich arrived recently.”

In a June 1946 draft map of“Walks Around Manchester,” we

see Porter’s workman-like drawing of trails,brooks, roads, and town lines. His handwrit-ing is the same that graces the old walkbooks, when Porter became the chairman ofthe Shenipsit.

Drawing must have come naturally toPorter, a 1924 Yale University graduate, anengineer at United Aircraft, and a teacher ofmechanical engineering at the newRensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduatecenter, beginning in 1955. He combinedthese duties with family life – he and his wifehad two sons – and with heading up volun-teer work crews to maintain the Shenipsit.His son J. Winthrop Porter said that Sundayafternoon was his father’s favorite time towork on the trails. Winthrop recalls the cansof that special blue paint in the cellar, andbottles of India ink on the dining room tablewhen his father worked on Shenipsit maps.

L.M. Porter was no stranger to trails andthe outdoors – he measured the trails in thehigh peaks area of the Adirondacks, rewrote

14 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

A PIONEER INMANCHESTERLewis Morgan Porter (1903-1967)

and the Shenipsit Trail

BY SUSAN BARLOW

L.M. Porter in 1955, using ameasuring wheel on a trail inthe Adirondacks. He went outmeasuring rain or shine, wear-ing a poncho in bad weather.

Photo courtesy of Susan Barlow

Page 15: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 15

the Guidebook to the Adirondack Mountains, served as presidentof the Adirondack Mountain Club, and was known throughout NewEngland for his interest in the outdoors and conservation. Althoughhe didn’t move to Manchester until 1939, he threw himself intocommunity activities, including serving as chief timer forManchester’s famous Thanksgiving Day 5-mile road race.

John Hibbard, who became executive director of CFPA in 1963,remembers him as a longtime member of the Trails Committee anda very organized trail manager. Mr. Hibbard said that Mr. Porterworked “to a large extent on his own. After his death, the Shenipsitwas split into three subsections. Dick Whitehouse still has a portionand Clyde Brooks, formerly of Glastonbury, had the southern end formany years.”

Harrol (Bill) Baker, who chaired the Trails Committee in the1960s, notes that Porter “lived in the era before computers and pos-sessed a three-foot slide rule for calculating engineering problems.He was an inspiration for trail maintainers.”

L.M. Porter died 41 years ago, but his pioneering work lives on, amodel to those of us who enjoy the Blue Trails.

Susan Barlow is a local historian and CFPA family hike leader. Shethanks Dick Whitehouse for unearthing copies of the Porter-Heermance letters.

Three-by-five-inch hikers’ logs, maintained by L.M. Porter. Thesecontain mileage information about the trails, location of garnets,as well as penciled comments by hikers, including an entry from1962 by Susan Barlow, the author of this article, during a hikefrom the old fire tower (now gone) to Camp Merrie-Wood. Othersigners were tree expert Ed Richardson, his wife, Marion, andbrother, Bob, Dr. Amos Friend of Manchester, and Ms. Barlow’sbrother, Michael.

Susan Barlow, with thanks to Ed Richardson

The summit of Case Mountain, a view L.M. Porter enjoyedmany times.

Page 16: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

16 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

TRYTHIS HIKE

Explore the Goodwin Forest in Hampton

Consider a visit to the Connecticut’s“quiet corner,” where theGoodwin Forest Conservation

Education Center offers beautiful, diverseand educational hikes of all shapes and sizes.

Most of us connected to the ConnecticutForest & Park Association have at leastheard the name James Lippincott Goodwin.He was a longtime leader and benefactor ofCFPA. The Association’s Middlefield officeis named in his honor, and his portrait hangsin the library there. Some may not realize,however, that Connecticut boasts one otherwonderful site named after this man: theJames L. Goodwin Conservation EducationCenter in Hampton.

James Goodwin was among the first practic-ing professional foresters ever educated inAmerica. Coming to Hampton in 1913, hepurchased 25 acres of white pine forest (thathad grown on an old field) and abandonedfarmland. There he built a summer house.Overmany years, he continued to buy land until hisPine Acres Farm had grown to more than1,700 acres of managed timber stands, appleorchards and Christmas tree fields.

In 1964, after 50 years of practicing pioneer-ing, state of the art forestry, James Goodwindonated the entire Pine Acres Farm to the stateof Connecticut. Included in the conveyancewere instructions that the house and acreagesurrounding it were “to be used in such waysas prove feasible and appropriate to provideeducation in forest, wildlife and general conser-vation among youth and adult groups on astate-wide basis.” Thus was born the GoodwinForest Conservation Education Center.

The center offers several interesting hik-ing routes.

Directions

The center is located off of Route 6 at 23Potter Road in Hampton. From the inter-section of Routes 6 and 198 in Chaplin, goeast 3.1 miles on Route 6 and take a leftonto Potter Road. From the intersection ofRoutes 6 and 97 in Hampton, go west 1.4miles and take a right onto Potter Road.

Shorter hikes

For those with limited mobility, the 1.6acres adjacent to the house sport the

Richard D. Haley Native Plant WildlifeGardens. Here one can take a self-guidedbrochure and walk among several individualgardens, each representing different combi-nations of sun and shade, and different com-binations of trees, shrubs and herbaceousperennials that have wildlife value and aresuited for the conditions. Visitors will findspots similar to their own back yards, andcome away with ideas for high value wildlifeplants that they could grow at home.

The brand new, 2/3 -mile long Steward-ship Trail leaves the northwest corner of the

gardens and follows a loop through severalmanaged forest areas before returning to thecenter. A brochure available at the garden gaze-bo explains the types of forest stands, and theforest and wildlife stewardship practices visiblealong the way. Included are white pine timberstands planted nearly 70 years ago by Pine AcreFarm crews, managed oak-hickory forests, awoodcock habitat demonstration area andmore. Numbered posts along the trail corre-spond to explanatory text in the brochure.

continued on page 23

Page 17: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 17

WORKING WITH THE LAND

Managing LandAs aRenewable andProfitableResource� Ecological Inventories� Wetlands Analysis� Forestry� Environmental Impact Studies� Easements & Estate Planning

E E C O S

O∞ces in Lyme and Norfolk, Connecticut.We provide informational interviews at no cost orobligation. For more information, call (860) 434-2390or (860) 542-5569 or visit us at www.eecos.com

Starling Childs, MFS; Anthony Irving, MES

Ecological and Environmental Consulting Services, Inc.

Page 18: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

18 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

Photo contributed

Lynn Kochiss, a 3rd grade teacher inCromwell, enjoys the Project LearningTree activity The Shape of Things alongthe trail of the John R. Camp OutdoorClassroom & Demonstration Forest. Ms.Kochiss plans to use the activities toengage her classroom students and afterschool Earth Club participants.

ESSENTIAL FACTS OF LIFE

Getting Children Outside in a Test-Prep World

BY LORI PARADIS BRANT

A second grade teacher I knowwho teaches in Fairfield Countyoften laments to me how diffi-

cult it is to take her students outdoors dur-ing the school day. It’s not that she does notwant to engage them in the world outsidethe classroom window. This teacher, afterall, is my sister, and we certainly share aninterest in the environment. She tells methat the federal No Child Left Behind Acthas forced teachers and schools to focusalmost exclusively on the testing of stu-dents’ knowledge rather than focusing onlearning interdisciplinary, holistic contenttaught by creative teachers.

The No Child Left Behind Act stressesthat teachers should be accountable fortheir students’ performance in math, read-ing, and writing. These are essential for thefoundations of learning, but the controver-sy of the federal act is that it is severelyunder-funded, promotes test-taking skillsover lifelong learning, and expects all stu-dents, even those with special needs, to takeand pass the same test. This means teacherscannot view outdoor investigations as a pri-ority in the current school structure, notbecause they disagree with it but becausethey don’t have the time.

Many public school teachers share that agood deal of time in the classroom isfocused on what will be on the test.Reading, ’riting and ’rithmetic have beentested each year; this year is the first timescience has been added to the standardizedtests in Connecticut. I fully comprehend theimportance of the three R’s; a poor grasp ofthese would be a hindrance throughout astudent’s life. Poor test scores can result inthe withholding of federal funds for educa-tion. So teachers end up spending a consid-erable amount of time on practice tests.Discussion often centers on better test-tak-ing skills, such as how to read a questionand select the answer.

Rather than learning how to take tests,

students who study their local environmentlearn how to put their knowledge to work.Open-ended explorations outdoors, led by ateacher, can excite children’s natural curiosi-ty and interest in learning. Outdoor fieldtrips have been traditional methods to teachscience outdoors. Not only is there less timefor outdoor field trips due to the testingapproach of teaching, but many schoolscan’t meet increasing transportation costs tobring their students to parks, forests, naturecenters, etc.

I’ve heard these issues voiced from manyteachers in the last several years. If teachingabout Connecticut’s forests, rivers– the land– is not a part of their curriculum, they arenot encouraged to teach it. Many schoolsuse science kit programs: materials and acorresponding lesson plan come in a box.After the activity, it goes back into the box.Boxes are limiting, but students who use theoutdoors as their science box are exposed toa variety of learning opportunities. One ofthe advantages of teaching science by using

the schoolyard is that it does not get putaway. The scenery will change over thecourse of the school year as the plants andsigns of wildlife may change. The schoolgrounds are an inexpensive tool that cancaptivate students’ interest in science as theypredict and study the changes they observethere. They can apply the knowledge gainedindoors to their outdoor experiences incourtyards and gardens.

For a class to plant and maintain a garden,they must use their reading skills forresearch, writing abilities for planning andproblem-solving skills for evaluation. Plantsgrowing in gardens are sure-fire ways tobring in measuring and graphing skills, bothof which are areas found on the standardizedtests. Collecting data, such as rates of plantgrowth or substrate types, is a measurableway to incorporate gardening with science.Many schools create outdoor field guidesbased on their outdoor classrooms or gar-dens and add to its content each new schoolyear. Field guides use science and math toidentify species and language arts skills forthe written material. Frequently, studentstap into their creative sides as they showcasetheir detailed observations with drawings,sketches, and/or photographs. Research ofprior land use of the school grounds con-nects students to local history.

There are other strategies that bridge thegap between teaching to the test and thedecrease in local environmental studies. TheState Department of Education has recentlyinvited informal science educators like me towrite lesson plans that apply science standardsto studying the environment. While theseactivities will not be on the test, it is a con-structive step towards the formal and informalfield of education working together. Also,teachers can attend professional developmentworkshops on environmental education thatmeet the state standards for workshops. (Seethe program page of this magazine.)

I am pleased to report that ConnecticutProject Learning Tree, a national environ-mental education curriculum co-sponsored

continued on page 27

Page 19: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

TREE PAGE

Service Berry, Downy Serviceberry(Shadbush, Shadblow, Juneberry)

(Amelanchier arborea)

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 19

The Shadbush, as it is often called locally, has no impor-tance except for its frequency and the touch of beauty itsflowers give to our forests early in the spring before thefoliage has come out. It is a small tree, 20 to 50 feet highand seldom over eight inches in diameter, with a rather nar-row, rounded top, but is occasionally shrubby from sproutsfollowing clearly or fire. Settlers who noticed that it blos-somed when the shad were running up the streams gave itits nickname.

The leaves are alternate, slender-stalked, ovate, pointed,finely toothed, two to four inches long, purplish-brownuntil nearly mature, then becoming a light green, and earlycovered with scattered silky hairs.The flowers are white and appear in drooping clusters

in early spring, before or with the leaves, making the treequite conspicuous in the leafless or budding forest.The berries are sweet, edible, rounded, dark purple

when ripe, one-third to one-half-inch in diameter, ripeningin June. Birds and other denizens of the forest (includinghikers) are very fond of the berries, and people hae beenknown to cut down and destroy the trees to gather onegood crop.The wood is heavy, exceedingly hard, strong, close-

grained and dark brown. It is occasionally used for handles.This is a desirable ornamental tree and should beplanted forthis purpose and to encourage the birds.

When I was thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail with threecompanions some years back, serviceberries quenched ourthirst as well as our hunger for something beyond saltinesand peanut butter as we worked our way north with thespring. For anyone who has experienced the unique starva-tion of the hiker—who knows that it’s possible to stop andgo into town and forget this long slog, but who has chosento see the country from a new perspective and therefore toeat a very limited diet for months—relishing the somewhat

watery taste of serviceberries puts a person briefly on thesame plain as that of birds. How grateful we were to comeacross these little trees.

— C.W.

This page is modeled closely on CFPA’s classic book ForestTrees of Southern New England. To order a copy, contact theoffice at 860-346-2372. The price is not prohibitive.

Page 20: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

20 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

FROMTHE LAND

BY JEAN CRUM JONES

From my vantage point as a farmer, Ihave discovered that young chil-dren don’t know the names of the

seasons and the basic farm activities eachbrings. At our farm, we host first grade stu-dents during pumpkin season. When I askthe students what season it is, they stare.They sometimes ask things like, “Who isJack Frost?” or “During what season doesthe farmer plant seeds?”

Adults don’t know much more. Manyfarm visitors in August, during blueberryseason, ask where they go to pick the straw-berries. During the June strawberry season,they want to buy sweet corn.

One of my common mantras is to say,“Eat local foods in season.” We have fourcalendar seasons, but in Connecticut, wehave nine food seasons.

I first thought about an annual system ofnine food seasons in Connecticut back inthe day when I was immersed in menu plan-ning for Yale University in the early 1970s.Then, Yale’s food budget required us toprocure food from local suppliers becausethat was generally what was most afford-able. We developed six-week menu cycleswith six distinct plans based on what was “inseason” in Connecticut. The menus ranfrom September to June. The Decemberholiday break was a time when studentscould enjoy home cooking, special familycelebrations, and their own regional tradi-tions. During summers, I was personallyimmersed in two more food seasons: straw-berry season and the summer garden har-vest.

Food Season Calendar Period Foods to Eat

Early Spring March to mid-April Maple syrup, pancakes,fish, wild greens, cheese

Spring Mid-April thru May asparagus, spinach,rhubarb, herbs, eggs,lamb

Early Summer June to mid-July Strawberries, lettuces,peas, snow peas, babybeets, radishes,scallions, cream

Summer Mid-July to September Green beans, zucchini,peppers, new potatoes,sweet corn, cucumbers,lima beans, artichokes,Swiss chard, NZspinach, blueberries,peaches, melons, plums,cherries, nectarines,raspberries

Early Fall September to mid-October Broccoli, garlic, onions,red peppers, eggplants,tomatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, cabbage, cauliflower, pears,apples

Fall Mid-October through White potatoes, beets,November kale, carrots, parsnips,

turnips, rutabagas,Brussels sprouts, wintersquash, cranberries,popcorn

Early Winter December Game, pork, sausage,nuts, seeds, dried beant

Holidays Late December Heritage meals, breads,cookies, and desserts

Winter Mid-January to Stored fresh andlate February preserved foods

The Nine Season Food Calendar

The Nine Food Seasons in ConnecticutA Northeast regional diet can be nutritionally complete –choose wisely and widely

Page 21: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 21

Coming in the summer issue of

CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS

TREESANDVOLUNTEERS IN

THE NOTABLE TREES PROJECT

Between knowledge gained from my work at the YaleDining Halls and my own farm life, I began organizing myown food selection and cooking repertoire around thesenine food seasons, about 40 days each of certain combina-tions of foods that seasonally appear together. As I was todiscover in the 1990s, this method was not unique to me,but the way traditional New Englanders had been eating forgenerations. I came across two Yankee cookbooks that werebased on the same organizing principle, one originally pub-lished in 1958 and the other in 1986 (see references below).

I enjoy planning my home menus based on the Nine-Season Food Calendar because I like using the freshest,ripest, and highest quality foods that are locally available. Ilike the close connection with what the earth is yielding allaround me. I change my dining room decorations aboutevery six weeks, selecting tablecloth colors and other décorthat reflect the current food season. I also like to pick flow-ers in bloom from around my farm and make floral arrange-ments that accent the earth’s clock.

Jean Crum Jones is a registered dietician who with her hus-band, Terry, runs the Jones Family Farm in Shelton. Sheserves on the CFPA Board of Directors.

Year-RoundNortheastern Foods

Mushrooms, sprouts, cranberry juice,grape juice, apple cider, black currantjuice, milk, cheese, eggs, fish, grass-fedbeef, honey.

Small-scale food processing is growing inthe Northeast. Look for jams, tomatosauces, salsas, pickled vegetables, pick-les, potato chips

References:

The Nine Seasons Cookbook, by Pat Haley. Yankee Books,1986.

Old-Time New England Cookbook, by DuncanMacDonald and Robb SagendorphDover Books, 1958, reprinted 1993

Connwood Foresters, Inc. SINCE 1945

Forest Stewardship PlansProperty Tax Savings (PA490)

Baseline Documentation ReportsTree Protection Plans

Permit Acquisition

Expert Witness ServicesTimber Sales & Appraisals

Boundary Location/MaintenanceInvasive Species ControlGIS and GPS Mapping

860-349-9910Foresters & Arborists In Central, Western and Eastern Connecticut

CONNWOOD.COM

Page 22: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

It was with great concern that I read the article, “Out the Doorin Guilford to Southern New Hampshire,” by David Bell (Fall2007). The article glorifies one man's attempt to thru-hike theMMM Trail. In the text of the article, Bell discusses illegally camp-ing on private property along the way. As a landowner of a small sec-tion of this trail, I am appalled that CFPA would print this article(and thereby encourage this type of activity). This highlights theconcern that many landowners, myself included, have about this typeof abuse when it comes to having the MMM Trail designated as aNational Scenic Trail. And as the editorial board of the official pub-lication of CFPA, I am disappointed that you and your colleagueswere not more sensitive to the hiker-landowner relationship (whichcan be so fragile).

I ask you to please refrain from publishing any other articles thatdiscuss camping (or any other illegal activity) along the trail. I, forone, believe you owe it to the landowners who allow strangers toaccess their property on a daily basis.

Clare B. LindseySouthington

Adam R. Moore, executive director of the Connecticut Forest& Park Association, which manages the Mattabesett Trail,responds:

CFPA thanks Ms. Lindsey for her letter and for hosting the trailon her property. The Association does not condone unauthorizedcamping on or near any of the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails. OurConnecticut Walk Book clearly indicates where camping may be avail-able in the vicinity of the trails that we maintain. We also wish toclarify that the Association’s publication of an article in ConnecticutWoodlands does not convey an endorsement of the positions or poli-cies expressed by that author.

On the matter of camping on the potential New England NationalScenic Trail, we believe that Ms. Lindsey, and Mr. Bell, each raisevery important points. Certainly, if a New England National ScenicTrail is designated, through-hikers will desire overnight accommo-dations, camping or otherwise. The Association will need to active-ly seek accommodation opportunities so that the landowners who sogenerously allow access across their properties are not burdened byunauthorized overnight guests. The Association will gladly workwith landowners, the proposed trail Stewardship Council, the Stateof Connecticut and partner organizations to find suitable places forhikers to stay near the Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails.

22 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

LETTERS

ILLEGAL CAMPING

STUMPAGE REPORT

This table summarizes 63 voluntary reports byforesters, loggers, and sawmills of prices paidfor timber between July and September 2007 inConnecticut and Massachusetts. Prices are indollars per thousand board feet using the inter-national quarter-inch scale. Pulpwood and fuel-wood are reported in dollars per cord. TheCooperative Extension Services of theUniversity of Connecticut and the University ofMassachusetts compile these quarterly reports,warning that these prices offer only a guide toprices, which can fluctuate due to many factors.See the Web sitehttp://www.canr.uconn.edu/cew/forest/pricesht.htm, or http://forest.fnr.umass.edu/snes-tumpage.htm.

Current prices for standing timber

EAST OF CT RIVER WEST OF CT RIVER

SPECIES no. of median range no. of median rangereports reports

Red oak 28 210 10 - 350 12 190 150 – 350

White oak 22 60 10 - 150 5 100 25 – 150

Other oaks 21 100 10 - 220 5 50 50 – 250

Ash 13 45 40 - 105 11 70 50 – 100

Cherry 9 200 100 - 350 10 350 200 – 525

Sugar maple 11 120 100 - 325 11 215 100 – 440

Red maple 18 50 10 - 125 10 45 25 – 50

Tulip poplar 1 30 - 3 70 0 – 200

Yellow birch 9 50 50 - 50 8 55 30 – 70

Black birch 15 50 50 - 150 7 50 30 – 100

Paper birch 6 50 30 - 50 2 28 10 – 45

Beech 0 - - 6 3 0 – 20

Pallet hdwd 17 25 17 - 40 8 5 0 - 50

Other hdwd 6 33 5 - 80 1 100 -

White pine 36 90 20 - 153 10 60 40 – 200

Red pine 8 20 20 - 100 0 - -

Hemlock 12 18 0 - 40 9 10 0 – 20

Spruce 6 20 0 - 20 2 20 15 – 25

Other sfwd 0 - - 0 - -

Poles, hardwd ($/lin.ft) 0 - - 0 - -

Poles, sftwd ($/lin.ft) 0 - - 0 - -

Fuel wood ($/cd) 30 5 0 - 12 4 4 0 – 6

Pulpwood ($/cd) 6 0 0 - 13 1 0 -

Biomass ($/ton) 5 0 0 - 1 1 0 -

Page 23: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Try this hike

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 23

Hull Forest Products Inc.Serving The Needs of Forest Landowners

Since 1972.

Providing Numerous Forestry Services:Four Certified Foresters On StaffForest Management Planning

Tree Farm CertificationWildlife Habitat ManagementTimber Stand Improvements

CT Forestland Property Tax Classification

Purchasing Standing Timber.

For A Free Initial Consultation or SawtimberAppraisal Please Call:

Hull Forest Products Inc.101 Hampton Road, Pomfret Center, CT 06259

(860) 974-2083 or (800) 353-3331www.hullforest.com

SCOTLAND HARDWOODSA ROSSI COMPANY

FORESTRY SERVICES DIVISIONP.O. BOX 328, SCOTLAND, CT 06264

� Dedicated To Helping LandownersMeet Their Objectives

� In Business Since 1925

� Fully Automated Sawmill Facilities

� Complete Line of Forestry Services andConsultation Provided By A Full TimeStaff of State Certified ProfessionalForesters

TO FIND OUT HOW A ROSSI FORESTERIN YOUR AREA CAN HELP YOUMEET YOUR OBJECTIVES,

CALL US TODAY AT (877)-209-9906

Longer hikesThose looking for still more can pick up a Goodwin State Forest trails map at

the center or at the southern terminus of the Blue-Blazed Natchaug Trail,which lies directly across Potter Road. More than 10 miles of white, red and yel-low marked trails surround the 93-acre Pine Acres Pond, the smaller Brown HillPond, and follow other interesting forest landscapes. The Natchaug Trail beginsby following the west bank of Pine Acres Pond and then cuts northwest throughthe Goodwin State Forest. It passes Black Spruce Pond and a beautiful overlookon Orchard Hill before wending its way down to the Natchaug River. Some 19miles to the north it joins the Nipmuck Trail in the Yale-Myers Forest.

Finally, theAirline Trail, which is a state park trail on a former railroad bed,crosses Potter Road just a few hundred feet from the Center. A series ofdemonstration forest and wildlife management practices are being put in placealong the trail here, and soon signs will be going up describing these projects.The graveled, level bed makes the Airline Trail ideal for hiking, cross-countryskiing and horseback riding. Those feeling adventurous can hike the AirlineTrail some 8 miles north to the Northeast Connecticut Audubon Center onRoute 169 in Pomfret, and from there on to Putnam if they choose.

Contributed by Steve Broderick, an extension forester for the University ofConnecticut Cooperative Extension System. He directs programs at the GoodwinCenter under an agreement among the Extension system, the state Departmentof Environmental Protection, and CFPA.

continued from page 16

Page 24: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

24 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

For more information, or to register, please contact CFPA

at 860-346-2372. For updated program information, visit

www.ctwoodlands.org/EdPrograms.html. All programs

except Family Hikes are held at CFPA headquarters in

Middlefield.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOREDUCATORSCFPA teaches students how to think, not what to think, about theenvironment, as a sponsor of the award-winning environmentaleducation curriculum Project Learning Tree. For a registrationform, contact CFPA 860-346-2372 or [email protected]; CEUsavailable. Workshop fees are $35 per person. The programs alltake place at the Connecticut Forest & Park Association head-quarters in Middlefield unless specifically noted.

Every Student Learns OutsideFriday, May 2, 9-3Grade K-5 educatorsUnleash the naturalist in your students. Discover ways to chal-lenge them to explore grade-appropriate environmental issues –from the inside to the outside. Project Learning Tree (PLT) activi-ties suit different learning styles, meet education standards andteach through experiences in nature. All activities feature sci-ence as well as reading and technology connections, clearobjectives and assessments strategies. This completely hands-on workshop will teach how to use inquiry skills to examine andmeasure components of different habitats. We'll investigate avariety of factors of an environment, such as sunlight, tempera-ture, wind, soil, plants, and animal life. Participants receive theProject Learning Tree PreK-8 Activity Guide. CT Language ArtsFrameworks: Reading and Responding, Communicating withOthers. CT Science Framework Content Standards: ScientificInquiry, Scientific Literacy, Scientific Numeracy.

WalkConnecticut’s Family Hike Leader Volunteer TrainingSaturday, May 3 from 9-noonShare your enthusiasm for the outdoors with others! We are offer-ing a training program for adults interested in connecting childrenand their families to the natural wonders of our world. Become atrained Family Hike Leader and share your enjoyment of the trailsand the outdoors. Family Hike Leaders enjoy flexible schedules andare encouraged to lead just a few hikes a year. These hikes arepart of Connecticut Forest & Park Assocation’sWalkConnecticutinititiative, an adventure in fostering lifelong health and connectionto the land through a network of outdoor trails and programs. JoinWalkConnecticut: the trail to health and happiness.

Get Out! Outdoor Learning for Youth Leaders & CampCounselorsThursday, May 22, 9-3In this fun and lively hands-on workshop, youth group leaderscan:

� Receive help in planning nature programs relevant togroup’s own site;

� Learn age-appropriate, environmental activitiesgeared towards forests, nature, energy and more andtheir connection to our everyday lives;

� Become part of a network that offers follow-upresources and opportunities;

� Acquire background information and materials aboutenvironmental education; and

� Involve young people in the natural world them.Participants will receive the Project Learning Tree PreK-8 Environmental Education Activity Guide.

FOR SCOUTSBring your troop or den to these fun and hands-on workshops;activities help earn the following badges or pins. Workshopscan also be scheduled per your schedule/calendar; call fordetails. Pre-registration is required; $5/scout.

Brownie Scouts – Eco-Explorer, Saturday, April 26, 2-3:30 p.m.Cub Scouts – Forester, Thursday, May 8, 4-5:30 p.m.

WALKCONNECTICUT FAMILY HIKESFree – the last weekend of each monthBring the kids! Feel the fresh air and enjoy quality time outdoorstogether. Family Hikes, led by trained Family Hike Leaders, arepart of Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s initiative,WalkConnecticut the trail to health and happiness. Family Hikesare free as a public service to the children and families ofConnecticut. Pre-registration is appreciated, but not required.Locations are subject to change; call CFPA at (860) 346-2372 andvisit www.ctwoodlands.org for additional Family Hikes. Babies inbackpacks welcome.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable time:1. Leave pets at home2. Wear sturdy shoes3. Bring water and a snack to enjoy on the trail

Join us for adventure along the trails throughout Connecticutthe last weekend each month.

AprilSunday, April 27Spring Woods Hike, Durham,1-4 p.m.., 6 years+

SPRING PROGRAMS

Page 25: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Search for signs of spring in the wonderful Field Forest, behindCoginchaug Regional High School (CRHS) in Durham. We'll lookfor animal homes, interesting trees, plants, rocks, a stream andexplore a vernal pool. Using our eyes and ears, we will look forlots of frog eggs, frogs & other spring pond life! Don your detec-tive cap to figure out the clues to find a letterbox (bring yourrubber stamp and pad). Bring your sense of adventure for funspringtime discoveries. Rain and high winds cancel. Directions:Meet in the back parking lot for CRHS. Call CFPA for directionsto the high school. Check our Web site for updates,www.ctwoodlands.org

MaySaturday, May 31Easy Hike at Highland Park, Manchester1-2:30 p.m.For ages 5 and olderLet’s discover the beauty of the close-to-home forest at CaseMountain. We’ll follow a gravel path to the summit of CaseMountain for the well-known view of Manchester’s Downtownand the Hartford skyline. Come learn some basic hiking skillsand have fun in the outdoors; some steep areas.Directions: Meet at the parking lot one-tenth mile from the inter-section of Birch Mountain and Camp Meeting Roads,Manchester. If coming from Hartford, take I-84 to I-384. At exit 4,take a left onto Spring Street, and a right onto Highland Street(which becomes Camp Meeting Road). In about one-half mile,take a right onto Birch Mountain Road, where the lot is almostimmediately on the right. If coming from Providence, take I-384,exit 4, and turn right onto Highland Street. In about seven-tenthsof a mile, turn right onto Birch Mountain Road, where the lot ison the right.

Saturday, May 31Cockaponset State Forest, Haddam9-noonAge 8 and olderThis moderately difficult hike of nearly 3 miles along the green-blazed trail is a great challenge for older kids. We’ll hikethrough an area that has under gone a managed timber harvestdesigned to sustain a new generation of oak and pine. Learnabout timber harvesting in Connecticut and how a forest re-grows. There is a possibility that an active harvest may be inprocess along the trail. The State Forester responsible for theCockaponset will be joining us on this hike. Please wear appro-priate footwear and clothing as trail has rocky sections and maybe muddy. Heavy rain or high winds cancel. Call Family HikeLeader at 860-345-8029 before 8:15 am if in doubt.Directions: CT Route 9 to Exit 8 (Beaver Meadow Rd). Meet atcommuter lot at exit. We’ll carpool to trail head (limited parking)on Beaver Meadow Road.

JuneSaturday, June 28,Introduction to Hiking, Chester9 AM – Noon, ages 5+.Not sure what you need to know to take the family outside? Letus put your mind at ease and show you and your family how funand easy walking the trail can be. Join us for the 10 Essentialsof a Safe Hike, how to read trail blazes and other hiking infor-mation. An easy hike of nearly 3 miles on the Pattaconk trail tothe north end of Pattaconk Reservoir. Heavy rains or high windscancel; call Family Hike Leader (860-345-8029) before 8:15 am ifunsure. Directions: CT RT 9 to Exit 6 (RT 148 in Chester). West onRT 148. Turn right after Cedar Lake onto Cedar Lake Road.Continue on Cedar Lake Road until seeing a brown and yellowsign for the Pattaconk Reservoir Recreation Area. Turn left afterthe sign and follow to parking lots. We’ll gather at the parkinglot on the left hand side. Route will be signed. Hike beginspromptly at 9 AM.

MORE FAMILY PROGRAMSIntroduction to LetterboxingSaturday, June 28, 2 - 4 p.m, all agesJoin us for a fun-filled afternoon. We’ll learn all about letterbox-ing, the adventurous treasure hunt of the trails. Bring a simpledesign (or we’ll supply you with ideas) in order to create yourown family letterbox stamp for use on the trails and take homefor other letterboxing jaunts. Venture on the John R. CampOutdoor Classroom & Demonstration Forest to find your veryfirst letterboxes after following a series of clues. $10/family;$12/nonmember families to help cover cost of materials. Pre-registration required; space is limited. Call 860-346-2372 or [email protected] to pre-register.

OTHER EVENTS OF INTERESTTrails to a Cure, 8-Mile Trail Race and 3-Mile WalkCockaponset State Forest, Chester, Sunday, May 188 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. both races beginIn memory of Steve Hancock, a runner who died at age 58 of pan-creative cancer. Proceeds benefit Pancan, a national non-profitdedicated to finding a cure through more research, effective treat-ments, prevention programs, and early detection. In his last yearof life, Steve Hancock helped resurrect this race, and attended it.All of the race organizers knew Steve, who was known for runningoccasionally with two other friends in plaid suits.

For an application and information, contact Brenda Hancock at860-887-2062, Laurie Tomlinson at 860-526-2240, or Jay Churchvia email at [email protected]. The race starts and endsat the parking area near Pattaconk Reservoir. Take route 9 southor north to Exit 6 and follow signs.

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 25

Page 26: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

26 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

BOOK REVIEW

Bears: A Brief History,By Bernd BrunnerNew Haven and London:Yale University Press, 2007. 259 pages.

BY ROBERT M. RICARD

Walt Disney indoctrinated meas I grew up in the 1950s andearly 1960s. At age 5, I met

Fess Parker, who was more than the actorwho played Daniel Boone; he was DanielBoone. The Disney “Daniel Boone” right-ed wrongs, saved the day, and beat the badguy, and did all the other good things theEisenhower happy days stood for.

The best quality of the Disney version,for me, was how it depicted the boundlessAmerican frontier – woods, mountains,rivers, prairie, and plain. Disney’s romanti-cized stories shaped my perception of thenatural world and humans’ role in it.Almost everything the “noble” frontiers-man Boone did on television and at ourlocal Danielson Cinema settled into mybrain like a hibernating bear and probablyfueled my decision to become a forester.

Absurd? Then read Bears: A BriefHistory, by Bernd Brunner. This smallbook, translated from German to English, isa treasure trove of stories, anecdotes, sci-ence, and illustrations and presents anengaging narrative of the shared and com-plex history of people and bear interactions.Here are stories – including the myth andsubsequent legend of Daniel Boone and hiskilling of a bear when he was only three –that span human time and space. Includedis the known pre-written history as record-ed in primitive cave paintings in Europe andlegends and stories passed through genera-tions of native peoples.

Brunner begins asking us to imagine howprimitive man might have reacted when hefirst encountered a bear. What would thisearly hunter have thought when a bear rose

up on its hind legs much the same as thehunter did? Brunner reports that except fora few rodents and owls only bears stand uplike humans. What would primitive manhave made of the bear’s face, which seemedfamiliar, even though it had a large nose andeyes that align in a nearly frontal plane?Would he have wondered more about thesimilarities than the differences betweenhumans and bears?

Brunner goes on to describe the mixedfeelings of man and beast, how people havevenerated, killed, captured, caressed, tor-tured, nurtured, trained, eaten, worshipped,loved, and despised bears. He gathers sto-ries, fact and fiction, from Japanese, Russian,North American, European, and South andNorth American cultures. From these storiesBrunner weaves threads of commonalitybetween the interaction of bear and manthroughout the historical record. To be sure,this is a science-based book but Brunnerdoesn’t permit the reader to simply slidecomfortably into faith in behavioral science.Scientists now know much about bearbehavior and biology, such as their repro-ductive and hibernation patterns, but hecorrectly and deftly weaves scientific knowl-edge with cultural anecdotes, such as human“bearanoia,” which has caused us to nearlyexterminate many species of bear.

In a chapter on “Transformations,”Brunner tells stories from various culturesincluding those that contributed to the for-mation of western beliefs. Myths and leg-ends depict the bear in a pagan image of kin-ship between man and nature, but the bearplayed a key role in early Christian legends.Brunner writes that “Saint Ursula, for exam-ple, received her name because she success-fully defended eleven thousand virginsagainst bears – a fear that could represent thesaving of these Christian innocents from thedangers of nature worship.”

Bears played a distinctive role in natureworship and reverence. He writes, “Onesuch story was handed down from ancient

Greece, where female bears served as sym-bols of motherhood. The beautiful nymphCalisto had broken her vow of chastity tobecome one of the many lovers of Zeus. Shebecame pregnant as a result of her liaison,and when her condition became apparentthe furious Artemis, the goddess of thehunt, turned Callisto into a bear. In spite ofher new form, Callisto gave birth to ahuman son, Arcas, who grew up separatedfrom his mother. Years later, while hunting,Arcas happened upon the bear Callisto,whom he of course did not recognize as hismother. As her son took aim, Zeus decidedto rescue Callisto and set her forever in thesky, where she is visible as the “Big Dipper,”the constellation known in much of theworld as the “Great Bear.”

With these andmany other wonderful tales,along with the mythical aspects of DanielBoone – friend and foe of Native Americans,bear hunter and caretaker, wearing his coon-skin cap “on the top of ole’ Dan” – this booktells how the bear and human story spansmany cultures and eras. By the way, the originof “The Three Bears” is here, too.

Forester Robert M. Ricard works for theUrban Natural Resources and PublicManagement program of the University ofConnecticut Cooperative Extension Systemin West Hartford.

Stories About Bears in Our Lives

Page 27: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 27

by the Connecticut Forest & ParkAssociation and the Connecticut Departmentof Environmental Protection, received a smallgrant this past year to correlate its curriculumto the state standards in science, languagearts, math, and social studies. This means thatteachers will be able to teach with the ProjectLearning Tree curriculum while meeting statestandards.

I also realize the importance of reachingteachers before they even get into the class-room. Working with college students study-ing to be teachers has been a joyful opportu-nity to bring environmental education intothe classroom. The goal is for them to havethe resources early on before their careersbegin. Currently, many students studying tobe teachers are only required to take one sci-ence class.

We at CFPA believe that the children trulyare the future stewards of the land. If theyconnect to the outdoors while they are

young, they can grow to be environmentallyliterate citizens who can make sound deci-sions about our land.

While the No Child Left Behind Act triesto improve education, it has led manyschools to forsake environmental education.This past year, a coalition of more than 160environmental, education, and publichealth organizations proposed a new feder-al act—the No Child Left Inside Act. Thebill calls for state education “environmentalliteracy plans” that would teach elementaryand secondary school students about theoutdoors. It calls for grants for teachertraining and outdoor student programs. Sofar, U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd has signedon as a co-sponsor. (Thank you, Mr.Dodd.) If you believe that our studentsshould be learning about Connecticut’senvironment in the classroom, then I askyou to contact your member of congressand senate and let him or her know thisissue is important to you. Our goal is anenvironmentally literate citizenry.

Visit www.eenclb.org for more informationon the No Child Left Inside bill: The Houseversion is HR 3036 and the Senate version isS1981.

By the way, my sister the second gradeteacher recently gave her students a new typeof homework assignment. On a recent Fridayafternoon, she challenged them to put downtheir video games, step away from their com-puters, and go outside over the weekend.They will write about their experiencesMonday in class.

Lori Paradis Brant is the education coordi-nator of CFPA.

Essentialscontinued from page 18

Page 28: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Adam R. Moore, executive director,secretary, and forester of the ConnecticutForest & Park Association since 2001,will be stepping down from these posts atthe end of April to take a job as executivedirector of the Sheriff ’s MeadowFoundation, the land trust for the islandof Martha’s Vineyard, where he previouslyserved as land superintendent for its landbank.

Mr. Moore has overseen CFPA duringa period of growth and marked severalmilestones: the 75th anniversary of theBlue-Blazed Hiking Trail System; thefivefold increase of the annual fund; thecreation of two new trails, the Aspetuckand Saugatuck trails; the formation of theWalkConnecticut project; the movementto name the Metacomet and Mattabesetttrails as part of the New England ScenicTrail (for which he testified in Congress);the purchase of trailside lands, the publi-cation of two new editions of theConnecticut Walk Book; the growth of thismagazine; increases in education pro-grams and land programs; increases in theadministrative staff; and last November’sproduction, spearheaded by Starr Sayres,of a play, “Forces of Nature.”

“I think I’m most proud of the peoplewho are doing the work,” Mr. Mooresaid. “It’s been a joy to have hired mostof them, and to work with them and seewhat they’re able to accomplish—and totry to draw the best out of them.”

Family influences

Mr. Moore is a native of Durham and amember of a family with strong ties toconservation work and public service. Hisfather is Robert Moore, the chief admin-istrative officer of the MetropolitanDistrict Commission (a water and sewer

authority) and the former deputy com-missioner of the Connecticut Depart-ment of Environmental Protection. Hisgrandfather, the late Greg Curtis, was theMiddlesex County agent for theUniversity of Connecticut CooperativeExtension System.

After graduating from Yale Universityin 1992, he spent one year as a paralegalfor the firm Hunton & Williams in NewYork, soon deciding the lawyer’s life wasnot for him. He enrolled in the YaleSchool of Forestry & EnvironmentalStudies, expecting to earn a master’sdegree in environmental studies. Soonafter starting, he changed his mind andenrolled in the forestry program. Herecalled the moment he changed hismind, after attending a field program at

the Yale Camp at Great Mountain Forest,watching forester Jody Bronson cuttingdown a tree.

In 1995, the same year he earned hismaster’s degree in forestry, he married hiswife, Melissa, whom he had first dated asa senior in high school. That date endedwith Mrs. Moore’s parents grounding herbecause she had snuck out (she was afreshman at the time). They had run intoeach other several years later, at church.Mrs. Moore is a graduate of QuinnipiacCollege and a registered nurse. They nowhave four children.

After forestry school, Mr. Moorelooked for a job in his field for a year. Hefound a job at Connwood, a forestryservice for private landowners, where heworked for a year and a half.

28 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

NEWS OFTHE CONNECTICUT FOREST AND PARK ASS0CITATION

AdamMoore SetsSail for Martha’sVineyard to Directits Land Trust

Michelle Paulson

Melissa and Adam Moore

Page 29: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

The next stop was working for theMartha’s Vineyard Land BankCommission, which uses the fundsfrom the real estate conveyance tax of 2percent to buy and manage land forconservation. He and Melissa lived onthe island for three and a half years. In2001, Mr. Moore returned toConnecticut and to CFPA, living inDurham. The Moores’ daughters areMadeleine, 11; Isabel, 7; and Ingrid, 4.Their son, Robert, is 1.

Strategic plans, speeches, anda new logo

Besides the major milestones CFPAinitiated or was involved with, Mr.Moore directed a major push toimprove the Association’s public out-reach. In 2003, the board approved anew logo, and in 2006, Mr. Mooredelivered a major speech on conserva-tion at Plant Science Day, held eachyear at the Connecticut AgriculturalExperiment Station in Hamden. Healso testified for legislative initiatives inHartford such as bills to register or oth-erwise limit all-terrain vehicles.

While he was not looking for a newjob, Mr. Moore said the opportunity tolive with his family on an island and torun an organization similar in size toCFPA in that environment seemedright at this time. “When you have anadministrative job like mine, a lot of theaccomplishments are those of others,”Mr. Moore said. “They become youraccomplishments, too.”

Lisbon FamilyDonates Easement

CFPA has accepted a gift of a conser-vation restriction over about 375 acresin Lisbon from Dr. ChristopherGlenney and his family. The Associationis grateful for the gift, which will be thesubject of a future article inConnecticut Woodlands.

DevelopmentCoordinator StarrSayres Retires

Starr E. Sayres, development coordi-nator of the Association since 2002,retired in February. Over her term,Starr more than quintupled annual giv-ing, taking the Association’s annualfund from less than $20,000 in 2001 tomore than $100,000 (and climbing) forthe 2007 fund. Mrs. Sayres was thevision behind the play, “Forces ofNature” (see Connecticut Woodlands,Spring 2008, for articles about thisNovember 9 premiere). Written byplaywright Stephen Most, “Forces ofNature” was the brainchild of StarrSayres, who thought of the idea duringa conversation with her sister, ElinorEllsworth.

“Starr has been an absolute inspira-tion and a joy to work with,” said AdamR. Moore, executive director of CFPA.“She embodies the ideals of conserva-tion, and we will dearly miss workingwith her on a daily basis.”

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 29

CFPA Staff

Starr Sayres

FAST FOOD,SLOW SEED

Little seed, it was never.

Right?

Never a seedling,

Never needed water.

Never strived for sun.

Never provided fodder.

Never a wheat head,

Never crowded by weeds.

Never blew in the wind,

Growing past farmer’s knee.

Never gathered sunlight

To manufacture energy.

Hamburger bun, fast-food sesame roll,

You’re fast, but you take a toll.

Teaching little children,

Pressing countless lunchlines

For instant gratification,

That food is a cartoon

That feeds imaginations.

– Kathleen Groll Connolly

Page 30: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

30 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Welcome New Members!We are pleased to welcome you as a member of CFPA and we thank you for your interest and support. As a member, you

become an important part of the conservation community. We hope you will find your membership informative, satisfying

and fun, and that you will introduce yourself personally at one of our many events throughout the year. This listing

includes the names of those who joined or renewed their membership between 11/15/2007 and 1/31/2008.

Sheila Anson

Donald Bellemare

Betsy Bielefield

Tatonka Bruce Bill

Richard Campbell

Jeremy Carlson

Arthur and Laura Corey

David and Emily Davison

Edward Drapatin and Sons

Daniel J. Duffy

Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Dyer

Kirsten Feldman

Thomas J. Gervais

Stephen Grossmanand Sally Hellerman

Christiaan Hogendorn

Lady Yolanda Joseph

John J. Kriz

Neal Konstantin

John C. Larkin

David W. Liedlich

Martin L. Mador

O’Callahan Family

Stephen andJill Parkosewich

Mrs. Edward R. Peckerman

Clarence O. Peterson, IV

Ray Rauth

Mr. and Mrs. R. Reich

Perry D. Rianhard

Paul Rochford

The Most Reverend PeterA. Rosazza, D.D.

Joy J. Sherman

Geoffrey P. Smith

Stephen G. Solley

Caroline K. Tighe

Robert Winkler

Benefactor $250

Susan J. Beach

Paul Cruikshank*

Virginia deLima

Danusia R. Dzierbinski

Mr. and Mrs.Reynolds Girdler, Jr.

Marta Jo Lawrence

Supporting $100

Judith Applebaum

Jean S. Bamforth

Dr. David A.J. Belman

Dr. and Mrs.David B. Bingham

Dora S. Blinn

John and MicheleBoccalatte*

Mr. and Mrs.Ralph S. Blanchard, III

Hugh P. Broughel

Mr. and Mrs.Merrell E. Clark, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs.John B. Cox, Jr.

David J. Crockett*

Hugh Cushing

Jake DeSantis

Renee DeSalvatore

Mr. and Mrs.Thomas Deupree*

Dr. and Mrs.David M. Dressler

Carol and Jackson Eno

Andrew Feinsteinand Liz Bochain*

F. Bernard andSandra Wood Forand*

Marshall Hamilton

Mr. and Mrs.Gerald C. Hardy

Arthur L. Hollings, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs.Michael D. Johnson

David and Carol Jordan

Robert L. Kleinberg

Thomas G. McGee

Peter R. McKnight*

Scott and Carol Mitchell

Mr. and Mrs.Joseph Neafsey

John C. Nulsen, M.D.

Thomas J. O’Sullivan

Joseph Pignatello andElizabeth Stewart

Michael C. Rice

Barbara Paul Robinson

Stuart and Arline SmallSadaka Foundation, Inc.

Duncan F. Schweitzer

Mr. and Mrs.Frank L. Stanley

Eric Corbin Sweeneyand Family

Hugo F. Thomas

Gilbert C. Walker

Mr. and Mrs.Alden Y. Warner, Jr.

Arthur S. Wensinger

Mr. and Mrs.David Westcott

Edmond S. Zaglio

Ronald A. Zlotoff, M.D.

Organizations

Landmark $250

J.C. Larkin Company, LLC*

Sustaining $100

Hartford Public Library

The L. SuzioConcrete Co., Inc.

The Lyman Farm, Inc.

John Lyman, III

Southern ConnecticutState University

Nonprofit $75

AMC – ConnecticutChapter

Berkshire-LitchfieldEnvironmental Council

Connecticut League ofConservation Voters*

Club $50

Friends of Bluff Point*

North Haven Garden Club

Prospect Land Trust

Sunny Valley Preserve

Town of Orange TreeCommittee

* denotes new member

A special welcome and thanks to the following newand renewing members

Page 31: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Founder’s Circle$5,000 and up

Loureiro EngineeringAssociates, Jeff Loureiro

James ShattuckCharitable Trust

1895 Society$1,895 to $4,999

Mr. and Mrs.Maxwell M. Belding

Richard Blake

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Connolly

Richard A. Whitehouse

CentennialSociety$1,000 to $1,894

The CommunityFoundation ofNorthwest CT

Harriet Ford DickensonFoundation, Daniel andEllen Hubbard

Jones Family Farms, LLC

Eric Lukingbealand Sally S. King

Pfizer Foundation VolunteerProgram in honor of DavidDean

B. Holt Thrasher

Charter Circle$500 to $999

Arnhold Foundation

Russell L. Brenneman

Evan Griswoldand Emily Fisher

William and Jean Graustein

Mr. and Mrs. John Hibbard

Philip G. Keating

Marta Jo Lawrence

James and Margaret Little

Scott andDeborah Livingston

Henry D. Lord

Karen A. Mignone

Mr. and Mrs. David Platt

Henry Townshend

Foresters’ Circle$250 to $499

Dr. Mark S. Ashton

Susan J. Beach

Frederick P. Clark

Jay Cunningham, TheScenic Company

Danusia Dzierzbinski

Fran Kochman in honor ofAstrid and Fred Hanzalek

Elaine T. Lowengardin memory ofJerome H. Lowengard

Ralph G. Mann

Elaine McMahon

James Scott McWilliam

Mr. and Mrs.Andrew D. Meigs

Robert and Diane Moore

Mr. and Mrs.James Peckham

Frances D. Puddicombe

Douglas H. Robins

Eleanor Saulys

Eric R. Stones

Cynthia and David Sullivan

Francis M. Trafidlo, Jr.

Anonymous

Patron$100 to $249

Jennifer A. Allcock

Walter G. Alwang

AMC –Connecticut Chapter

Jeri Appel

John and Donna Bailey

Robert Baldwin

John and Janice Benda

Dr. and Mrs.David B. Bingham

Dora S. Blinn

John and Michele Boccalatte

Robert and AnnetteCaneschi

John M. Chapmanand Lorri C. Marquez

Mr. and Mrs.Starling W. Childs, II

Mr. and Mrs.Herbert Clark, III

Stephen and Carol Clark

Charles andJacqueline Collimore

Connecticut Leagueof Conservation Voters

Peter M. Curry

Ruth B. Cutler

Edwin M. Dahill, Jr.

Thomas andDeborah Downie

Caroline Driscoll

Diane and Paul Duva

Carol and Jackson Eno

Howard B. Field, IV

F. Bernard andSandra Wood Forand

Alice K. Hallaran

Susan Calhoun Heminway

Peter A. Herrmann

Michael D. Johnson

David and Carol Jordan

Marcia and David Kalayjian

Joseph F. Kelleher, Jr.

Quentin Kessel

David A. Lees

Mary A. Ludwig

Andrew May

Adam and Melissa Moore

Frederick W. Morrison

Mr. and Mrs.Joseph Neafsey

John and Anne Olsen

Patreena andStephen Parsons

Ian and Linda Rickard

John and Susan Ritchie

Theresa andJames Ritchie, Jr.

Constance A. Rokicki

Otto E. Schaefer

John W. Shea

Mr. and Mrs.James G. Speth

Keith R. Stetson

Michael Stitelman, M.D.

William W. Stowe

Peter Sullivan

Mr. and Mrs. Brian R.Taylor

Hazel F. Tuttle

Mr. and Mrs.Alden Y. Warner, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs.Thomas A. Weidman

Joseph and Jessica Welsh

Richard T. Wright

John C. Yavis, Jr.

Edmond S. Zaglio

SponsorUp to $99

Eleanor R. Adair

Charles C. Anderson

George Arthur

SponsorUp to $99

continued

David and Jill Barrett

Jon Bauer

Barbara, Frank, Alicia,and Frank Belknap, IV

Dr. and Mrs. HowardBenditsky

Barbara Berry

Marian Bingham

Kenneth I. Bird, Jr.

David W. Boone

Elizabeth B. Borden

Peter H. Borgemeister

Donald B. Brant, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Joel E.Bronson

Dr. Debra Brown

Daniel J. Camilleri

Marcia Casey in honorcontinued on page 32

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 31

The 2007 Annual FundThe Association launched the 2007 Annual Fund in late October with enthusiastic Board com-

mitment and a first–time goal of $100,000. We offer our thanks to those whose contributions

were received between 11/15/2007 and 1/31/2008, making it possible for CFPA to exceed its

ambitious goal.

Page 32: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

32 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

of Dan Casey

Kimberly Chagnon

Lynn Charest

Mrs. James S. Coburn

Joel Cogen andElizabeth Gilson

Clare D. Conover

Robert R. Cooper

Lisa N. Davis

Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Davis

Trevor H. Davis, Jr.

Jennifer Decker andDouglas Gerlach

Peter Decker

Robert deCourcy

Laurence and Mabel Diamond

Edward J. Dodge

Mark and Dorothy Drobney

George B. Dudley

David Duffner

Ken Evitts andClaudette Roberge

Mark S. Fitton

Neil Fitzgerald

Shirley Galka

Kathleen Gentile

Emery Gluck

Dr. and Mrs. Malcolm Gourlie

Cynthia F. Grinnell

John M. Grocki

Dale O. Hackett

Brendan and Nancy Hanrahan

John J. Hayes

Mr. and Mrs.Fritz F. Heimann

Peter Herrmann

Marjorie Herzenberg

Paula Jones and Kevin Gough

Peter W. Kunkel

Charles L. Larkin, III

Mrs. Charles Larkin, Jr.

Marilyn Lassow

William D. Lepage, Jr.

Harry J. Lew

Mark R. Lewis

Brian and Kathleen Lynch

R. Darton Marchant

Robert J. Martin

Mr. and Mrs.Andrew W. Mason

Patrick and Linda Mastroianni,M.D.s

Stephen Mayer and DianeKaplan

William and LeslieMcCullough

Michael McCune

Craig R. McGarrah

James E. McKeon

Dwight F. Miller, M.D.

Keith Mitchell

Mr. and Mrs.Harvey G. Moger

Thomas Mongillo

Grayson Murphy. III

John and Anne Olsen

Carol and William O’Neill

Edward Paradis

Anthony Parfenov

Susan F. Payne

Paul R. Pearson

The James Peruta Family

Mr. and Mrs. Karl R. Pfluger

Joseph Pignatello andElizabeth Stewart

Robert V. Poole

Helen Raisz

Robert and Doreen Raney

John and Jennifer Rannestad

Gordon Reid

Martha S. Rhine

Jean M. Richards

Christina Roberge

Gerald W. Sazama

Paula L. Schiller

Philip A. Schmidt

David Schulz and Karen Stone

John B. Sebastian

Phyllis Sheridan

Wesley Skorski Family

Stephen G. Solley

Maura and Thomas Stavovy

Allen Stein

Betsy B. Stiles

Susan E. Stuttard

David C. Sullivan

Eric Sweeney and Family

Margaret B. Taylor

Baldwin Terry

Marlene S. Toobin

Thomas G. Traver

Betty S. Tylaska

David R. Vance

Doug and Karen Van Dyke

Thomas A. Walb

Russell A. Waldie

Arthur L. Wasserman, Jr.

Joseph F. Wassong, Jr. andBecky Skinner

Helen G. Waterman

Donald and Vicky Wetherell

Drs. Elizabeth A. Whalen andTerrence W. Ryan

Charles E. Whelan, Jr.

Dana P. Whitney

Joseph P. Wierzbinski, M.D

Allan N. Williams

Phillip and Marilyn Wilsey

Colin F. Wilson

Carol E. Youell

Marsha Zellner

The 2007 Annual Fund

James W. Little, an accomplished trust officer and,more recently, high school teacher, has begunwork as CFPA’s director of development.

Mr. Little worked for 24 years in trust and invest-ment services for several financial institutions, includingFidelity, Connecticut Mutual Financial Services, FleetBank, Shawmut Bank, and, from 1999-2003, AmericanSavings Trust Services, where he was senior vice presi-dent and senior trust officer.

From 2003 to 2007 he taught English to 10th-through 12th-graders at the Metropolitan LearningCenter in Bloomfield.

A graduate of Providence College, Mr. Little is work-ing toward a master’s degree in American Studies atTrinity College. He lives with his wife, Margaret, in

Hebron. They have two sons and a daughter.He has been active in several community causes. He is

the former president of the Catholic Foundation of theDiocese of Norwich, director and treasurer of theNEPCM Endowment, and corporator of New BritainGeneral Hospital and a former member the hospital’sDevelopment Committee. He has served on the CFPABoard of Directors and as its finance chairman.

Mr. Little’s many other activities in the past includeddirector of Easter Seals Camp Hemlocks, chairman of anEaster Seals Telethon, as general chairman of the AnnualBishop’s Appeal for the Roman Catholic Diocese ofNorwich, as a soccer and basketball coach, and as a reli-gious education teacher.

Development Director BeginsWork

Teresa Peters

James W. Little

Page 33: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

Spring 2008 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS 33

continued on page 34

APPLAUSE!FORCES OF NATURE Performance,recent contributionsThe Connecticut Forest & Park Association thanks its many sponsors, volunteers,

production team, actors and director for making the FORCES OF NATURE project

a great success. To our supporters, we express our deep gratitude for your generosi-

ty and sense of adventure in providing sponsorships for this undertaking.

John Muir

Gifford PinchotLibraryof

Cong

ress

Libraryof

Cong

ress

Corporate and InstitutionalSponsors

Supporting$1,000

USDA Forest Service

Individual Sponsors

Sponsor$500

Karen A. Mignone

The Simsbury Historical Society, Inc.

DonorUp to $249

James and Wendy Brant

J.C. Larkin Company, LLC

Anne B. Pierson, M.D.

Sharon and Robert H. Smith, Jr.

Leila Pinchot

Jeffrey Stocker

George C. White

Stan Wojewodski

Donald Worster

Hibbard Trust for Land & TrailsEstablished in honor of long-time CFPA Executive Director, John Hibbard, the Hibbard Trust for Land & Trails supports

the Association’s topmost priority – conserving the land and trails of Connecticut.

John Brady Jon and Ann Colson Holly Drinkuth and Family Frank Vartuli

Page 34: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

34 CONNECTICUTWOODLANDS Spring 2008

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Other DonationsAetna Giving Campaign

Linda Cunningham, bottle redemption proceeds

John C. Folsom

Kathleen Gentile

Patricia A. Grigg

Philip F. Hartman

Paul J. Knierim

James Peruta and Family

Erika Reen

Warren A. Stone

United Way of the Capital Area

Jeffrey S. Ward

Matching GiftsAetna Foundation

Global Impact

MBI, Inc.

The Stanley Works

Survey Sampling Int’l., LLC

United Technologies

Wachovia Foundation

BequestsThe Association sincerely appreciates the life-long giftof service by Barbara Kitchel Girdler, and is especial-ly grateful for her bequest of $15,000 to be used tomaintain the beautiful landscaping she helped create atCFPA headquarters

The Heritage SocietyBequests such as Mrs. Girdler’s have been instrumen-tal in helping secure CFPA’s success and growth tocontinue to fulfill its mission. We want to acknowl-edge and thank those individuals and families whohave been members of The Heritage Society since2001:

John R. Camp*

Ruth Cutler

Grace W. Ellsworth

Barbara Kitchel Girdler*

Edward and Marion Richardson

James L. Shattuck*

Katherine Stevenson*

Leon W. Zimmerman*

*deceased

If you have questions about The Heritage Society orwish to speak to someone about a bequest in yourestate documents, please call Jim Little at 860-346-2372 or e-mail him at jlittle@ctwoodlands .org.

Gifts to theConnecticutForestlands CouncilFundThe Association accepts donations on behalf of theConnecticut Forestlands Council to meet its needs inpromoting forests and forestry in Connecticut.

Connecticut Fly Fisherman’s Association

Office VolunteersMelissa Emma

Nancy Fox

Jose Landin

Sophie Makuch

Ed Paradis

Volunteer LibrarianMal Bochner

Page 35: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

DEPARTMENT

Trail GearCFPA LogoHatsTwo-toned low-profile 100% cottonbaseball cap with KHAKI CROWN,FOREST GREEN BILL, embroideredlogo. Adjustable strap. (Hat not exact-ly as pictured here).$15.00 (plus $2.00 shipping)

Limited EditionReproductionCommemorativeMapsQuinnipiac Trail (1931)$3.25 (plus tax and $4.00 shipping)

Original AppalachianTrail (1934) $3.75(plus tax and $4.00 shipping)

Books, etcetera

A Shared Landscape,A Guide & History ofConnecticut’s State Parks andForests, by Joseph Leary, pub-lished by Friends of ConnecticutState Parks, Inc. in 2004. Richlyillustrated in four-color withmaps and photographs, this240-page guide offers anintimate look at Connecticut’spublic lands and tells youeverything you need to knowabout where to go if you love tohike, bike, camp, fish, swim,hunt, watch birds, learn aboutecology or cross-country ski.$25.00 (plus tax and $5.00 shipping)

The Connecticut Walk Book, WEST, andthe Connecticut Walk Book, EAST,provide a comprehensive guide to hik-ing throughout the state. Published bythe Connecticut Forest & ParkAssociation, the two volumes are the19th edition of the guidebook firstreleased more than 75 years ago. Bothvolumes include the Metacomet andMattabesett Trails of CentralConnecticut. Both volumes includedetailed two-color topographic mapsthat are crisp, clear, and easy to read.Complete trail descriptions accompanythe maps.

Each volume $19.95 members(plus taxand$5 shipping)

Each volume $24.95 non-members(plus taxand$5shipping)

Forest Trees ofSouthern NewEngland, a 56-pagepaperback publication of theConnecticut Forest and ParkAssociation. This manual is asimple description in accu-rate and nontechnical termsof the forest trees common insouthern New England. It isintended for the general pub-lic to meet a pressingdemand for a pocket manualwhich is easy to use andunderstand.$2.00 (plus tax and $1.50 shipping)

CFPA Store

Please makecheck payable to:Connecticut Forest& Park Association16 Meriden Road,Rockfall, CT 06481

[email protected]

Please send me the following:

Item Size Color Qty Price Shipping Total____________________________ _____ _______ _____ _______ _____ ________ ____________________________________ _____ _______ _____ _______ _____ ________ ____________________________________ _____ _______ _____ _______ _____ ________ ____________________________________ _____ _______ _____ _______ _____ ________ ____________________________________ _____ _______ _____ _______ _____ ________ ________

Total amount of check $__________________________________________Name __________________________________________________________Street __________________________________________________________City ______________________________ State________ Zip_____________Phone____________________email__________________________________For credit card orders: Mastercard ______ Visa ______# ______________________________________________________________Exp.Date _______________________________________________________Signature ______________________________________________

Connecticut Woodlands,A Century’s Story of the Connecticut Forest & ParkAssociation, by George McLeanMilne, publishedby the Connecticut Forest and Park Association in1995. A fascinating history, not so much of theConnecticut Forest and Park Association as it is ofthe dedicated men and women who have caredabout Connecticut’s forests and fields, hills, valleys,and parklands. Scattered through these pages areinspiring accounts of courageous struggles to pro-tect the rich and varied natural environment of thestate.$25.00 (plus tax and $5.00 shipping)

6%SalesTax

Trail GearCFPA Logo T-shirtsHanes Beefy Ts – 100% cotton, heavy weight, double needle hems,taped shoulder-to-shoulder, Sizes: S-M-L-XL, WHITE ON FORESTGREEN / FOREST GREEN ON KHAKI. $15.00 (plus $4.00 shipping)

The Homeowner'sGuide to EnergyIndependence,by Christine Woodside.Lyons Press, 2006. A bookfor ordinary Americans whowant to move away fromfossil fuels. Learn about themost viable and affordablealternatives such as solarpanels, wood, hydroelectric,hybrid cars, and more.$14.95 (plus tax and $5.00 shipping)

Page 36: Connecticut Woodlands-Spring 2008

16 Meriden Road, RockfallConnecticut 06481-2961

Address Service Requested

Conserving Connecticut since 1895

Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PA IDHartford, CT

Permit No. 2386

Photo courtesy of Susan Barlow

Case Mountain summit, where Lewis Morgan Porter, who blazed the Shenipsit Trail, spent much of his time. See page 14.