Upcoming Events

South Branch Park River Trail Groundbreaking Ceremony Invitation (pdf)

Greenway Journey Begins (Hartford Courant Article on the South Branch of the Park River Project)

Planning For Brownfield Reuse and Redevelopment Opportunities Brochure (pdf)

2008 Eastern CT Annual Meeting Registration Form (pdf)

Event Calendar

Past Events

2008 National RC&D DC Leadership Forum, Washington, D.C.
Members and Staff of the Eastern CT RC&D Council recently attended the February 2008 National RC&D DC Leadership Forum in Washington, DC. They also made visits to Capitol Hill to Connecticut Congressman and Senate Leaders letting them know about the importance of the RC&D program. If you would like more information on this and other National RC&D Events checkout the National RC&D Website.

Advanced Approaches to Land Protection:
These workshops were sponsored by The Green Valley Institute and Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development.

Workshop 3: November 28, 2007 6-8:30 pm Transfer of Development Rights. Speakers from the event included:

Susan Westa, AICP, Co-Director, Green Valley Institute
Susan presented an introduction to TDR or “TDR 101”. Transfer Development Rights Presentation (pdf)

Courtenay Mercer, PP/AICP, Director of Planning, N.J. Department of Community Affairs, Office of Smart Growth
Ms. Mercer shared the lessons N.J. communities have learned with TDR. She explained N.J.’s unique enabling legislation, the history of TDR in N.J. and the incentives the state offers. New Jersery Transfer Development Rights Presentation (pdf)

Workshop 2: October 30, 2007 6-8pm Development Techniques that Protect. More information on this workshop can be found at www.greenvalleyinstitute.org/landuse.htm#intro

Workshop 1: September 19, 2007 6-8:30pm Understanding the Money Facts. Speakers from the event included:

Reena L. Shaw, Ph.D., State Agricultural Economist with the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, shared the results of the Fiscal Impact Analysis she
conducted for Woodstock CT. Fiscal Impact of Future Development in Woodstock, CT Presentation (pdf)

Paula Stahl, Land Use and Finance Educator, Green Valley Institute, presented the
fiscal impact of buildout in 20 years of Lebanon, CT, this project was funded by
a grant from the Department of Agriculture. Fiscal Impact of Future Development in Lebanon, CT Presentation (pdf)

Dr. Robert J. Johnston, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics,
University of Connecticut talked about the results of his study for Woodstock,
Thompson, Brooklyn and Pomfret and the implications for municipal land protection
bonding. This study was funded by a CT Dept of Ag, Agriculture Viability Grant. What is the Willingness to Pay fo Open Space Protection Presentation (pdf)

2007 New England Regional RC&D Meeting:
The Annual New England Regional RC&D Meeting was held October 18-20, 2007 in Narragansett, RI. Below are some photos from the weekend. Next year the meeting will be hosted by Eastern CT RC&D, Area in Mystic, CT. Check back for more details. The 2008 New England RC&D Regional Meeting Flyer.

(Above from left to right: Amanda Fargo-Johnson and Elaine Sych stand alongside the Connecticut Environmental Review Team Display board which won and award for Outstanding Display, Turkey's on the Watson Farm in Jameston RI, Cows on the Dutra Farm in Jamestown RI with the Newport Bridge in the background, Sharon Ruggi National RC&D President with John Guszkowski Eastern CT RC&D President, Gilbert Stuart birthplace, Amanda Fargo-Johnson, Elizabeth Rogers(Eastern CT RC&D), Norma O'Leary(Eastern CT RC&D), Rebecca Augur(Eastern CT RC&D), Elaine Sych, Mark Cummings(King's Mark CT RC&D), and James Sipperly(King's Mark CT RC&D) take time for a pose during the conference friday night dinner, Gilbert Stuart birthplace Gristmill, Sharon Ruggi with a pirate of the Narragansett, Elizabeth Rogers alongside the Eastern CT RC&D Display Board, A window in the Narragansett Towers, The Point Judith Lighthouse, and the Narragansett Towers, Sharon Ruggi with Elaine Sych.

For more information on the New England RC&D Area Association visit them on the web at www.nearcd.org

Tour de Farms: www.tourdesfarms.org

The King's Mark Ride was held October 13, 2007 in Guilford. CT.

The Eastern CT Ride was held on Saturday September 29th, 2007 and the ride took place in Glastonbury, CT.
Below are some pictures from the event.

Celebrating Agriculture: was held on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
A day filled with agricultural displays, events, food and entertainment!
Free and Open to the Public, held at the Woodstock Fairgrounds in Woodstock, CT.
www.celebratingagriculture.org
For more information, contact the
USDA Service Center in Brooklyn
(860)774-8397, Ext. 109 Celebrating Agriculture Brochure

Grace from the Lebanon Historical Society welcomes everyone to the Museum	John Guszkowki(Eastern CT RC&D council president) looking on as DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy addresses the attendees
John Guszkowski Presents Gerry Maine with a Distinguished Service Award	John Guszkowski Presents Robin Chesmer with a Distinguished Service Award
John Guszkowski Presents the Green Valley Institute a Distinguished Service Award, Paula Stahl and Sue Westa accept on behalf of GVI	John Guszkowski Presents Margo Wallace a Distinguished Service Award
Everyone enjoying lunch out on the Lebanon Museum Patio	Everyone who attended the Eastern CT RC&D Meeting stops a moment to strike a pose
Robin Chesmer giving everyone a little background on his farm Graywall Farms in Lebanon,CT	Lincoln Chesmer telling folks about how things work on the farm
"The Cows that make the Milk" at Graywall Farm taking a little break	Robin Chesmer giving everyone on the tour an inside look at the feeding and comfortable habitat for the cows on his farm