By: Maria Moore

The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) will be holding a special meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, July 20 at the West Hartford Town Hall to receive public input on its recreational land use policy. The special meeting follows a Hartford Superior Court ruling in May which awarded Maribeth Blonski of Rocky Hill $2.9 million after she slammed into a gate in 2002 and broke her neck riding down hill on one of the trails at the MDC-owned West Hartford Reservoir. The bicyclist filed the suit because there were no signs warning of the gates.

Following is a July 16 press release from the MDC regarding this special meeting:

The Water Bureau of the Metropolitan District (MDC) will conduct an informational meeting relating to the recreational use of its reservoir land on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. in the West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, Connecticut. The purpose of this meeting is to receive public input on the issue. The Water Bureau will not take any formal action on this issue at the meeting.

Under the MDC Charter, the Water Bureau is charged with making periodic recommendations to the District Board regarding the uses permitted on and within MDC reservoir property.  For example, in 1998, the District Board, upon recommendation of the Water Bureau, adopted ordinances requiring bicyclists, skateboarders and roller skaters using MDC property to wear certain protective equipment.

In response to a recent Superior Court decision in the case of Blonski v. Metropolitan District, the Water Bureau, through its chairman, Commissioner Timothy Curtis of Windsor, has decided to reevaluate the MDC’s policy in this area. “As a public entity funded by rate payer money, we have an obligation to assess our risks, particularly in light of recent events. We intend to proceed in an open and deliberate manner as we review our policies. In the meantime, the public should not assume that the Water Bureau has made, or will recommend, any changes to the District’s recreational use policy,” said Commissioner Curtis.

On behalf of the District Board, and in response to a good deal of misinformation on the issue, Chairman William DiBella stated, “Let me be perfectly clear. No decisions to change our current policies have been made, specifically in regard to closing the reservoir property to the public. Any statements to the contrary should be disregarded. The District Board has yet to take any formal action, and individual statements or conclusions do not reflect Board policy. I commend Chairman Curtis for his leadership on this issue in conducting an open and constructive dialogue.”

The meeting will include a brief presentation by MDC staff on its recreational facilities with public comments to follow. Those attending the meeting who wish to speak will be asked to sign in for the record, and all speakers will be limited to 3 minutes in duration. Organizations are welcome to choose a representative to speak on their behalf.

West Hartford Community Television will telecast the meeting on Tuesday, July 20th at 5:30 p.m. live on Comcast cable channel 5. The meeting will also stream live on www.whctv.org and be transmitted on the town’s informational radio station 1630 AM. After the event, the program will be available on demand at the station’s website.

WHC-TV’s wishes to inform its customers that regularly scheduled programming will telecast on Channel 96 if the meeting does not conclude by 7:00 p.m.

Interested viewers should also check the Connecticut Network (CT-N) schedule for air times and dates.

Potential Effects On New Hartford:

The MDC owns extensive acreage in New Hartford where recreational use by the public is now allowed. A decision by the MDC not to allow the public to access its land could potentially impact the following areas in New Hartford:

The Nepaug Reservoir and Forestlands: totalling 3,400 acres, which includes the Nepaug State Forest in New Hartford and the Nepaug Reservoir. This area is currently available to the public for:

• Hiking;
• Hunting;
• Fishing.

Land along the West Branch of the Farmington River: the MDC owns 6,500 acres of such land.  This includes the land from the end of Greenwoods Road in New Hartford to Barkhamsted. This area is currently available to the public for:

• Hiking;
• Snowmobiling;
• Some hunting;
• Fishing.

Lake McDonough: a 446-acre lake located just 3 miles northeast of New Hartford Center has the following recreational opportunities:

• The Braille Trail;
• Swimming;
• Fishing;
• Cross country skiing;
• MDC row boats;
• Picnic sites.

Any change in the MDC’s public access policy may impact any or all of the recreational opportunities on MDC-owned land now available in and around New Hartford.

What You Can Do To Help Maintain Public Access To MDC Lands

A group called ‘Save the MDC Trails‘ has been formed and it is collecting signatures for a petition asking the legislature to amend the state statute to provide exemption from personal injury lawsuits for towns and cities that allow people free access to their land and reasonably maintain it.    So far, the group has collected 3,613 signatures.  To sign their petition, please go to Fix Connecticut’s Recreational Liability Law.

‘Save the MDC Trails’ also has 8 other ways you can help; please visit the What can I do to help? page of their website and help in any of the ways they suggest that you feel able to.

About the MDC: The MDC is a nonprofit municipal corporation chartered by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1929. The MDC provides water, sewer and household hazardous waste collection services to its member municipalities: Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. In addition, under a series of special agreements, the District supplies treated water to Glastonbury, the southern portion of South Windsor, the eastern portion of Farmington, East Granby and Unionville. For more information about the MDC, visit www.themdc.com.

A hike along the banks of the Farmington River on the MDC land on Saturday, April 24. Photo: Maria Moore

Following is the latest wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) construction progress report #11, emailed to us by Denton Butler of the Building Oversight Committee (BOC)

_______________

TO: Board of Selectmen
FROM: WWTP – Building Oversight Committee (BOC)
SUBJECT: Project Status Report #11
DATE: June 24, 2010

(1) Item: Construction Progress

Status: As of June 23 the WWTP upgrade is 413 days (56%) into the allotted 2-year contract period. The project is estimated at 86% completion (in the amount of the revised contract value of $7,213,480. This reflects the adoption of (3) Change Orders totaling $415,743.  A total of $6,239,057 has been expended to date. (Please refer to the financial summary at the end of this Report.)

(d) Automated screen mechanism

On May 25 all sewage processing equipment required to meet the provisions of the NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit were placed into service and the new WWTP was made operational. Following an “all go” operation of the new Plant for approximately one week, the old processing plant was decommissioned. The nearly (60) year-old metal sedimentation tanks were drained, washed and crushed. Subsequently, two 12′x60′ cement EQ (equalization) tanks were set in place. (See photos.) The equalization tanks hold partially treated influent that is sent through the filtering system and UV processing before being released into the Farmington River. The footings for the last of our prefab buildings (lab/admin) were poured this week. Frost walls will be poured within the next (10) days and the lab/admin building set in place during July.

CHN  (C. H. Nickerson) will be seeking status of “partial completion” from the Feds and Engineers and New Hartford, as the Owner. Three stages of completion will be recognized in this project: Partial, Substantial and Final Completion. Partial completion status starts warrantees for those mechanicals placed in service and requires the Town to provide insurance coverage under its policy. Substantial completion will provide for all systems operational with only minor “punch list” items to be completed. The Town’s Building Inspector will then do a “walk-through” and submit regulatory standard forms to the design engineers to substantiate compliance with acceptable practices and building codes. Final completion as the name denotes is Contract Completed.

Our continued thanks to John Chudzik, CDM for taking the pictures accompanying this report.) (a) Sludge Tank Removal; (b) Aeration Tank Disposal; (c) New EQ Tanks; (d) Automated Screen Mechanism.

Item #2:  Change Orders And Credits

Status: A series of PCOs (Proposed Change Orders) have yielded Change Order #4 to include: an outdoor lighting change; influent manhole replacement; replacement hot water heater; and a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) for the EQ Pump. A series of other job credits offset all but $5,648.86 of the additional cost. Further reductions in the value of the contract from engineering and construction costs are expected and will be projected in the next BOC progress report.

(3) Item: Buy American Provisions

Status: The BOC prevailed in its appeal for a waiver for non-American made heating/air-conditioning units. Our analysis of the last American manufactured product yielded a review that showed an inflated price; a less than high quality product and possible issues involving ongoing replacement parts. USDA concurred.

(4) Item: Funding Initiatives – USDA Application Status

Status: NO COMMENTS

(5) Item: Near-term Project Look Ahead

Status: The immediate look ahead includes: pouring frost walls – lab/admin building; bank stabilization; lab/admin building placement; old lab building refurbishing; placement of crushed stone; establishment of walkways; driveway blacktopping; and landscaping.

(6) Item: Integration of A Plant Operator

Status: Three interim Operators have been qualified in the operation of the WWTP systems until such time as the WPCA approves a new Operator for the Plant.

Financial Summary As of June 23, 2010

(a) Sludge tank removal. Â Photo: John Chudzik

(b) Aeration tank disposal. Photo: John Chudzik

(c) New EQ tanks. Photo: John Chudzik

[This article was updated to include information from the DOT press releases; 5:00 p.m., Sunday, May 16]

By: Bob and Maria Moore

The Route 219 steel bridge which spans the east branch of the Farmington River on the way to Ski Sundown will be closed to traffic beginning tomorrow, Monday, May 17 until approximately August 31 while the Department of Transportation carries out repairs to the bridge.  The bridge, officially bridge #01561, is on Reservoir Road, north of Black Bridge Road and just south of Farmington River Turnpike.

The steel beams underneath the bridge on Reservoir Road

While the bridge is being worked on, Route 219  between the intersection of Route 44 and the bridge will be open to local traffic only.  For those who normally use this road to travel to the reservoir area and beyond, traffic will be detoured west on Route 44 through the center of New Hartford to Routes 181 and 318 in Barkhamsted; click the link to see a Google Map of the detour.

At a Public Informational Meeting on May 27, 2009 held at Town Hall in New Hartford the proposal of the work on this bridge project, #91-119, was described by the DOT as:

“Project #91-119 proposes to abrasive blast clean and paint the existing steel truss bridge, involves major structural steel repairs due to extensive deterioration, replacement of the existing bridge rail, and also involves the upgrading of approach guide railing.”

The work on the New Hartford steel truss bridge is one half of a two-bridge project; the other bridge is the steel truss bridge over the west branch of the Farmington River in the Pleasant Valley section of Barkhamsted. Both bridges are being worked on at the same time; however the Barkhamsted bridge will be kept open during the work, with an alternating one-way traffic pattern. The work on both bridges is being performed under a single DOT contract awarded to Hartland Building and Restoration of East Granby on April 16, 2010 at a cost of $4,148,280.00. According to the 2009 DOT handout distributed at the informational meeting, the New Hartford bridge work was to be 100% funded by the state under the “Fix-It-First” program for existing state roads and bridges; the Barkhamsted bridge work was to be funded 80% by Federal funds and 20% by State Bridge Bonds.

To see a downloadable copy of the DOT detour plan for this project, please see the copy of the detour plan posted on the town municipal website.

If you have any questions or concerns about this project, please contact the First Selectman’s Office at 860-379-3389.

To read the DOT press release on the New Hartford bridge project, please see the May 7 New Hartford press release on the DOT website; to read the DOT press release for the Barkhamsted bridge project, please see the May 7 Barkhamsted press release on the DOT website.

The steel truss bridge on Route 219 over the east branch of the Farmington River that will be closed to traffic from May 17 through August 31. Photo: Maria Moore

This weekend calendar is being added to as we come across more events that may be of interest to our readers. If you know of an event, please email us the information and we’ll gladly add it to this Weekend Calendar.

Following are the Calendar listings for this weekend, Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16 in New Hartford, CT:

Saturday, May 15, 2010:

• North Congregational Church Christian Ed. Department Car Wash: Now that Winter is over, it’s time for some Spring cleaning. Don’t forget your car! The car wash will support the Sunday school children’s mission project, Simply Smiles. See the flyer posted on our Bulletin Board for more information.
• Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church Mother’s Market Tag Sale, Bake Sale and Luncheon: The Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church will be holding a Mother’s Market Tag Sale, Bake Sale and Luncheon at 93 River Road-Route 181 Pleasant Valley, from 9 am to 3 pm.
• St. John’s Episcopal Church Youth Group Hosts “Concert for Haiti” from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m., on the Pine Meadow Green in New Hartford. Musical performances will be provided by a number of local youth performers. Proceeds will benefit ShelterBox, a U.K.-based charity which provides tents and other essential equipment in times of crisis, including Haitian earthquake victims. See the listing on our Calendar Page for complete information.

Sunday, May 16, 2010:

• Visit your favorite Church, Temple, Meditation Center or Meeting House: Be sure to make time today to visit your favorite church, temple, meditation center or meeting house for good fellowship and spiritual uplifting. For specific information about times of worship or meditation, please check out the list of links in our Houses of Worship tab in the sidebar on our front page.
• Annual New Hartford PTO “Mother/Son” Event: Get Moving and Have Some Fun! Free hike up Talcott Mountain! B.Y.O. picnic lunch and beverages, as well as something to share if you’d like (e.g. cookies, fresh fruit, etc.). Picnic tables available up top. 1 1/2 mile hike up to Heublein Tower, 1,000′ above the Farmington River Valley (note: tower will be closed). Free parking. See the flyer posted on our Bulletin Board for more information on the event.
• 2010 Earth Weekend Spring Cleanup: Meet in the Town Hall parking lot at 12:30 p.m. to sign in. At 12:45 p.m. the clean up begins! This is the rescheduled event. Bring work gloves, a filled water bottle, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray and some tools (clippers, pruners, rakes, etc.). See our Calendar for more information.
• Buddha’s Birthday Celebration: At Dae Yen Sa International Buddhist Temple, 19 Kinsey Rd., New Hartford. Schedule:12:00-1:00: Korean Buddhist Birthday Ceremony. 1:00-2:00: Ceremonial Bathing of Baby Buddha and healthy vegetarian meal. Come One, Come All. For more information, call Su Yen Sunim at (860) 489-3254.

This weekend calendar is being added to as we come across more events that may be of interest to our readers. If you know of an event, please email us the information and we’ll gladly add it to this Weekend Calendar.

Following are the Calendar listings for this weekend, Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9 in New Hartford, CT:

Saturday, May 8, 2010:

• May Market at Hill-Stead: from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Hill-Stead Museum, 35 Mountain Road, Farmington, CT. Market features over 50 exhibitors of antiques and quality crafts for home and garden. Shop for perennials and woodland plants, enjoy garden and cooking demonstrations with local experts, consult with horticulturalists and Master Gardeners. For more information, please see the Activities and Programs section fo the Hill-Stead Musem website.
• New Hartford Garden Club 2010 Spring Plant Sale: from 8:30 until 3:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Town Hall, 530 Main Street, New Hartford. For more information, please read our May 7 article Garden Club’s Spring Plant Sale….
• Northwestern Regional #7 FFA Plant Sale: from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. today, Saturday and tomorrow, Sunday, in the greenhouse at Regional #7 Vo-Ag Building, 100 Battistoni Drive, Winsted.
• Haight-Brown Vineyard Express: at 2:00 p.m. at Thomaston station, Thomaston. Board 1970′s rail cars at the Thomaston station and take a leisurely 3(+) hour train ride around Litchfield County. On board, enjoy an eight wine tasting, including Haight-Brown’s special release ‘Railway White’, while hearing tidbits about HB history and practices. Unique and tasty Hors Des Ouvres and accompaniments will be served throughout the journey. On the second half of the journey, while enjoying desserts and treats, wine will be available by the glass for just $5. Reservations required; $65 per person. For more information, please visit the Haight-Brown website.
• Synergy Brass Quintet: at 7:00 p.m. at the Bakerville Methodist Church on Route 202, just east of Route 202 in Bakerville. The quintet is acclaimed for “a veritable fireworks display of outstanding musical ability combined with superb showmanship” (Door Concerts, Inc.) in addition to “blazing precision [and] amazing technique”. The concert is a fundraiser for the Bakerville company. Tickets: $15 t at the door; Children under 12 Free. A reception with refreshments will follow the concer. For more information, please visit the Bakerville Library website.
• Steam Vent Coffee House: from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. tonight at First Church of Winsted. For more information regarding the Steam Vent Coffee House, please visit the First Church of Christ website.

Sunday, May 9, 2010:

• Mother’s Day: Please be sure to do something special for that special mother in your life: a bouquet of flowers, a live plant, her special breakfast brought to her in bed ~ all the little things that will make her day memorable.
• Visit your favorite Church, Temple, Meditation Center or Meeting House: Be sure to make time today to visit your favorite church, temple, meditation center or meeting house for good fellowship and spiritual uplifting. For specific information about times of worship or meditation, please check out the list of links in our Houses of Worship tab in the sidebar on our front page.
• Northwestern Regional #7 FFA Plant Sale: from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. today, Sunday, in the greenhouse at Regional #7 Vo-Ag Building, 100 Battistoni Drive, Winsted.


The Farmington River from Black Bridge looking east toward Canton. Photo: Maria Moore

Following are the Community Calendar listings for today in New Hartford, CT:

Tuesday,April 27, 2010:

• New Hartford Senior Center activities: at Senior Center, Town Hall, 530 Main St., New Hartford. Activities: Fitness at 10:45 a.m. ($2.50 per person, per class, includes a fitness card which is stamped for every class attended); Cribbage ‘n cards at 1:00 p.m. For more information please call Jean Barnicoat at 860-379-3980 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.
• Early Literacy Program: Comprehension Session: at 9:30 a.m. at the Beekley Library, 10 Central Avenue, New Hartford. For more information about this Early Literacy Program please see the flyer posted in our Bulletin Board or call the Library at 860-379-7235.
• Bakerville Library Story Time for 3 to 5 year-olds: at 10:15 a.m. Bakerville Library, 6 Maple Hollow Road, New Hartford. For more information about the library please visit the Bakerville Library website.
• CANCELLED: Board of Selectmen Regular Meeting : for lack of agenda.
• Annual Budget Meeting: at 7:00 p.m. in the Senior Center at the Town Hall, 530 Main Street, New Hartford. To learn more about this meeting and to see the Notice of Annual Budget Meeting and Notice of Referendum please see our April 21 report Selectmen Meet Briefly, Set Future Budget Dates.
• Have a Spring-related business you want to advertise?: Check out our BRAND NEW Yellow Pages: an economical, simple way to get your business in front of our 32,066 visitors (this past March). Use the “Submit Your Listing” form to send us your information and we’ll list your business. Looking for a lawn care service? Check our Yellow Pages where we’ll be listing companies as soon as their info. is submitted to us.

Our Community Calendar section provides additional information about the events listed above and information on past, current and future events – a permanent record of events in New Hartford. Also check out our Bulletin Board where you can see flyers on events happening around town, and where we have listed information on local non-profit groups.

…NHGrapevine…

“There’s no selectmen’s meeting but there will be the Annual Budget Meeting at 7.”
“It’ll be a 5-minute affair.”

First Selectman Dan Jerram and his Assistant Christine Hayward told our reporter yesterday. Odd to think that a town Annual Budget Meeting is no longer the place where the town’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year is discussed and voted on. There must have been some heated meetings in the past to get us to this point…

Contribute to the …NHGrapevine… Let us know what you’ve heard – or seen – in town and we’ll add it to this listing, and also add it to the …NHGrapevine.. section. So let’s hear what you’re hearing around town…

Trillium in full bloom in a wooded area along the banks of the Farmington river. Photo: Maria Moore

By: Maria Moore

Property Tax Sales Off The Table

A tax sale of properties with delinquent taxes which had previously been scheduled for June will not be taking place, town Tax Collector Linda Sheffield confirmed to our reporter today, Monday, April 26; see our March 9 report Tax Sale Warrants Issued…

Linda said that all property owners had now responded and had made arrangements to pay off the back taxes they owed. “As long as they all keep to their arrangements, we’ll be fine.” Linda said. Good news for all concerned!

Community Connections Grant Application Deadline Fast Approaching

We received the following press release from Community Connections, publishers of the New Hartford Telephone Directory:

Calling on all New Hartford non-profit organizations, New Hartford Community Connections is ready to give out the  5th round of grant dollars, proceeds from the advertising of the 2010 New Hartford Telephone Directory. Get your applications in today! Deadline is MAY 1st. Go to www.nhcommunityconnections.org to download the application.

In the first 4 years Community Connections has given back to our community over $40,000. The organization is are now waiting for your completed application today!!! If you have any questions feel free to call Phyllis Webb at 860-489-5156.

Update On Earth Weekend Spring Clean Up

We have been asked whether the Earth Weekend Spring Clean Up has been postponed as reported in today’s Register Citizen. In response to our query, Madeline McClave, emailed us the following:

“We’re not sure yet if we may be rescheduling the entire event or just set up a time to do the Cub Scouts tree planting, etc. separately.”  Madeline went on to say that the Land Trust has a very busy schedule in May.

NewHartfordPlus was informed on Sunday that the the clean up has been cancelled.  We will, of course, publish any changes in this status as they may become available.

In the meantime, we’d like to suggest one way we can all help clean up our environment:

“Pack It In, Pack It Out Plus!”

If we all make an effort to pack out that little bit more litter than we packed in, not only are we not littering, but we’re actually helping to leave a more picked-up area behind us, one small piece of litter at the time…

Along the banks of the Farmington River on Saturday, April 24. Photo: Maria Moore

We received the following notice at 8:30 a.m. this morning, Sunday, April 25 from the New Hartford Land Trust cancelling the Earth Weekend Spring Clean Up:

Due to the wet weather, the Earth Weekend Spring Clean up scheduled for today has been CANCELLED. The weather could turn better by 1 or 2:00 p.m. today but that’s questionable and starting off wet will cause many to assume a cancellation. A cancellation sign wil be posted at Town Hall. NewHartfordPlus will also post a cancellation notice on its website.

Thank You for your support!

A view of the Farmington River looking west towards Cottage Street from Black Bridge during he heavy rains this past March. Â Photo: Maria Moore

This weekend calendar is being added to as we come across more events that may be of interest to our readers. If you know of an event, please email us the information and we’ll gladly add it to this Weekend Calendar.

Following are the Calendar listings for this weekend, Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25 in New Hartford, CT:

Saturday, April 24, 2010:

• Opening Day ~ New Hartford Youth Sports: New Hartford Youth Sports Opening Day at Brown’s Corner, on the corner of Steele Road and Route 202, New Hartford. All teams should be on the field by 8:00 a.m. with tee-ballers in the front row. For more information about New Hartford Youth Sports, please visit: http://www.nhys.org
• New Hartford Youth Soccer Registration: from 10:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon at Brown’s Corner (corner Steele Road and Route 202). Registration forms are also available on the New Hartford Youth Sports website. Participants can mail the form to register or they can register in person at the Brown’s Corner regisration
• Earth Day Plant Sale sponsored by Northwest Conservation Commission: from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Goshen Fairgrounds, Route 63, Goshen. Huge number of native trees and shrubs! The Earth Day Plant Sale is the main fundraising event for the Northwest Conservation Commission. The plant sale will take place today from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. For more information on the plants available, prices, etc. please see the Plant Sale Catalog online. For more information on the Northwest Conservation Commission, please visit their Commission’s website.
• Quilt and Needle Arts Show: from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Winchester Center Congregational Church, Route 263, Winchester Center. This show will also be open tomorrow, Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. “Quilts of Valor” display, vendors, cafe, quilts and needle art on exhibit and some items for sale. Raffle quilt. Admission: $5.00, Seniors and Students $3.00, children 12 and under free, exhibitors free. For more information, please call: 860-379-2184.
• Museum Kids Free Week at White Memorial Conservation Center: Free admission to Children ages 12 and under when accompanied by an adult. In Memory of Louise W. Willson. For more information about the conservation Center, please visit the White Memorial Conservation Center’s website.
• Bluebirds and Other Cavity Nesters: at 2:00 p.m. in the A.B. Ceder Room, White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 Whitehall Road, Litchfield. Wildlife Biologist Dave Rosgen discusses Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, and others. Learn nest box construction, habitat, and more. For more information about the conservation Center, please visit the White Memorial Conservation Center’s website.
• Gordon Bok in Concert: at 7:30 p.m. at the Roaring Brook Nature Center, 70 Gracey Road, Canton. This Maine-based singer songwriter, instrumentalist sings about not just what he knows, but what he does. Gordon is a poet, woodcarver, instrument builder, storyteller, former professional sailor, and a songwriter-interpreter who plays 6 and 12-string guitars and cellamba. His fine CD A Rogues Gallery of Songs for 12-String was inspired by legendary players, Leadbelly, Pete Seeger and Leo Kottke. Bok returns to Roaring Brook Nature Center with a new CD entitled Other Eyes and a book of songs and woodcarvings called Songs In The Wood. He will also perform songs from his albums Clear Away In The Morning, Fashioned In The Clay and Another Land Made of Water. Song highlights include: “McKeon’s Coming,” “Turning Toward The Morning,” “Duncan and Brady,” “The Ways of Man,” “Dillan Bay,” and “Mist Covered Mountains/Bonnie Galway.” Tickets: $17 at the door. For more information, please visit the Concert section of the Roaring Brook Nature Center website.
• Have you added your green act to the Billion Acts of Green Campaign?: Check out our article …Billion Acts of Green ~ One Act At The Time… to learn how you can add your green act to the Billion Acts of Green Campaign being sponsored by the Earth Day network. Let us know what your green act is and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a New Hartford Farmers’ Market gift basket! Drawing will be at 12:00 NOON tomorrow, Sunday, so send in your entry NOW! See our April 22 article Shop Green and Other Acts of Greeness…

A view of the the center of New Hartford along the banks of the Farmington River from the Route 219 bridge on Monday afternoon, April 19. Photo: Maria Moore

Sunday, April 25, 2010:

• Visit your favorite Church, Temple, Meditation Center or Meeting House: Be sure to make time today to visit your favorite church, temple, meditation center or meeting house for good fellowship and spiritual uplifting. For specific information about times of worship or meditation, please check out the list of links in our Houses of Worship tab in the sidebar on our front page.
• Cancelled: Earth Weekend Spring Clean Up. Due to the wet weather, the Earth Weekend Spring Clean up scheduled for today has been cancelled. For more information, please see the cancellation notice we published earlier today from the New Hartford Land Trust.
• Earth Day Plant Sale sponsored by Northwest Conservation Commission: from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. today at the Goshen Fairgrounds, Route 63, Goshen. Huge number of native trees and shrubs! The Earth Day Plant Sale is the main fundraising event for the Northwest Conservation Commission. For more information on the plants available, prices, etc. please see the Plant Sale Catalog online. For more information on the Northwest Conservation Commission, please visit their Commission’s website.
• Quilt and Needle Arts Show: from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. today at the Winchester Center Congregational Church, Route 263, Winchester Center. “Quilts of Valor” display, vendors, cafe, quilts and needle art on exhibit and some items for sale. Raffle quilt. Admission: $5.00, Seniors and Students $3.00, children 12 and under free, exhibitors free. For more information, please call: 860-379-2184.
• Museum Kids Free Week at White Memorial Conservation Center: Free admission to Children ages 12 and under when accompanied by an adult. In Memory of Louise W. Willson. For more information about the conservation Center, please visit the White Memorial Conservation Center’s website.
• Jekyll and Hyde, The Musical at Northwestern Regional #7: at 2:00 p.m. at the Northwestern Regional #7 Theater, 100 Battistoni Drive, Winsted. Admission: $5 today, Sunday.
• Art and Spirituality Forum: The Artist – Shaman or Showman?: from 2:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Wisdom House, 229 East Litchfield Road, Litchfield. How do artists see themselves? What effect does their work have on others? How can artists survive in a market driven society and still be faithful to themselves? Come meet artists who will be in conversation about these and other questions that touch their lives and work. Moderator: actor Jack Gilpin. Panelists: musician Joseph Firecrow; painter Ellen Griesedieck; radio show host Joseph Montebello; and Hana Sharif, director at Hartford Stage. Fee $15. For more information on Wisdom House programs, please visit the Programs section of the Wisdom House website.
• Have you added your green act to the Billion Acts of Green Campaign ?: Check out our article …Billion Acts of Green ~ One Act At The Time… to learn how you can add your green act to the Billion Acts of Green Campaign being sponsored by the Earth Day network. Let us know what your green act is and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a New Hartford Farmers’ Market gift basket! Drawing has been extended to 6:00 p.m. this evening, Sunday, April 25 ~ so send your entry NOW! For more information, please see our April 25 article Deadline Extended: Tell Us About Your Act Of Green And Win A Gift Basket From The New Hartford Farmers’ Market.

Fishermen walking along the Farmington River near the Route 219 bridge. Photo: Maria Moore from our archives

Following are the Daily Community Calendar listings for today in New Hartford, CT:

Friday, April 23, 2010:

• Earth Day Plant Sale sponsored by Northwest Conservation Commission: from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Goshen Fairgrounds, Route 63, Goshen. Huge number of native trees and shrubs! The Earth Day Plant Sale is the main fundraising event for the Northwest Conservation Commission. The plant sale will take place today, Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. For more information on the plants available, prices, etc. please see the Plant Sale Catalog online. For more information on the Northwest Conservation Commission, please visit their Commission’s website.
• Children’s Story Time at the Beekley Library: for 3- to 5-year-olds at 10:15 a.m. at the Beekley Library, 10 Central Avenue, New Hartford. For more information please call Andrea Gaedeke at the library at 379-7235.
• New Hartford Senior Center Activities: Yoga Class: at 11:00 in the Senior Center. To see this month’s scheduled activities at the Senior Center please see our Community Bulletin Board. For more information about the Senior Center please call Jean Barnicoat at 860-379-3980 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.
• Have you added your green act to the Billion Acts of Green Campaign ?: Check out our article …Billion Acts of Green ~ One Act At The Time… to learn how you can add your green act to the Billion Acts of Green Campaign being sponsored by the Earth Day network. Let us know what your green act is and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a New Hartford Farmers’ Market gift basket! See our April 22 article Shop Green and Other Acts of Greeness…
• Should your event be listed here and you don’t see it? Please email us the info. and we’ll add it! Email: newhartfordplus@gmail.com and write Calendar in the subject line.

Our Community Calendar section provides additional information about the events listed above and information on past, current and future events – a permanent record of events in New Hartford. Also check out our UPDATED Community Bulletin Board where you can see flyers on upcoming events, monthly calendars and information on local non-profit groups.

…NHGrapevine…

“We’re adding shopping bags this year, but they have to be ‘green’.”

Phyllis Webb told our reporter, Maria Moore at the Business Council Morning Mingler on Wednesday morning. Phyllis is working with the Farmers’ Market to get ready for next month’s opening.

Contribute to the …NHGrapevine… Let us know what you’ve heard – or seen – in town and we’ll add it to this listing, and also add it to the …NHGrapevine.. section. So let’s hear what you’re hearing around town…

A tranquil scene of fishermen in the Farmington River on Thursday afternoon while along Route 44 the rush-hour traffic was speeding by. Photo: Maria Moore

By: Maria Moore

$3,000 Prize In Fishing Derby

If you’ve driven by UpCountry SportFishing today you might have noticed a small white sign announcing “$3,000 Prize.” And that’s no fisherman’s yarn!

The $3,000 prize is for a special, tagged fish if it’s caught in the New Hartford Fishing Derby on Saturday, May 29. The Derby, which is sponsored by the town’s Economic Development Commission (EDC) has in the past been a rather small, local event which has attracted primarily children and their families. But this year, with the prize set at $3,000 the EDC is looking to attract many more fishermen and women to our stretch of the Farmington River. So pass the word along ~ there really will be a $3,000 fish for the catching on May 29 ~ and that’s no yarn!

To register: For the New Hartford Fishing Derby, or for more information about the Derby, please call Grady Allen at UpCountry SportFishing: 860-379-1952. Or just stop by the store at 352 Main Street (Route 44) in the Pine Meadow section of New Hartford.

Fishing License Sales Help Keep Revenue Flowing To Hartford

We had heard that New Hartford sells a lot of fishing and hunting licenses and so with fishing season here, our reporter headed over to the Town Clerk’s Office to see just how many licenses are sold each year. There our reporter was told that most of the licenses in town are sold at UpCountry SportFishing. Donna LaPlante said that about 30% of sales go through her office, the rest are sold by Carol Allen at UpCountry. In the old days, Donna said, the Allens would sell the licenses and then Carol would bring a box of the three-part forms to Donna’s office for the town to process. “Now it’s much easier.” Donna said, thinking back to the three-part forms that were sometimes so hard to read. The Allens have bought a computerized licensing system from the state, the same as Donna has, and they’re able to process licenses directly with the state. The only licenses that have to be processed through Donna’s office are those for individuals with handicaps, who need to provide documentation to get their free licenses.

On her next visit to UpCountry, our reporter checked in with Carol about the number of licenses she has sold. “How has the start of the fishing season been?” Our reporter asked. “It’s been going pretty well.” Carol said. “With the fees going down, the sales have gone back up again.” She printed out a summary tape from her machine and said so far for the month of April through the 21st,  she has sold 537 licenses, grossing $20,173 for the state, of which her store gets to keep $1 per license sold.

Of the 537 licenses, the most popular types of licenses have been:

• 249 were for Inland Fishing licenses;
• 141 for All Waters Sports Fishing licenses;
• and 65 for All Waters Sports Fishing and Firearms Hunting licenses.

Last year in April, Carol said, she sold exactly 1,000 licenses. And for the whole of last year? “3,400 and 13 or 14,” Carol said; that’s roughly $140,000 in fishing and hunting licenses sold by Upcountry SportFishing ~ not a bad revenue stream to flow to the state in Hartford every year.

2010 Angler’s Guide Now Available

Donna gave our reporter copies of two magazines she has just received from the state: The 2010 Connecticut Angler’s Guide ~ Inland Marine Fishing, and the 2010 Connecticut Guide to Hunting. Both magazines are free and copies are available from the Town Clerk’s Office and from Upcountry SportsFishing.

Donna said the Angler’s Guide is a great resource for anyone interested in fishing. The guide has pictures of the different types of fish to help identify them, and it has a listing of the state’s lakes and ponds with a breakdown of the types of fish available and the regulations for that particular fishing place. On page 33, our reporter found West Hill Pond listed, where you can fish for trout and kokanee and where there is a 15 m.p.h. speed limit during the day (6 m.p.h. during the night) and motors are limited to 8 h.p.

“It even tells you a way to calculate the weight of fish.” Donna said; see page 35 of the guide. And on page 16, there are pictures of Aquatic Nuisance Species which include alewife (a type of landlocked fish), and didymo, a freshwater alga (also known as rock snot ~ the picture shows you why).

This Angler’s Guide is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the bodies of water in our community, whether to fish in them or just enjoy their beauty. And in New Hartford, we’re blessed with two of the best bodies of water in the state: the Farmington River and West Hill Pond.

You may pick up a copy of The Angler’s Guide at either the Town Clerk’s Office at Town Hall or at UpCountry Sports
Fishing. The guide is also available online and you may download a PDF copy of it from the DEP website.

The Farmington River flowing through the center of New Hartford on a recent afternoon. Photo: Maria Moore

Following are the Community Calendar listings for today in New Hartford, CT:

Tuesday,April 20, 2010:

• Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Building Oversight Committee (BOC) Meeting: at 8:30 a.m. at Town Hall, 530 Main Street, New Hartford. For the agenda for this meeting see our Calendar section.
• New Hartford Senior Center activities: at Senior Center, Town Hall, 530 Main St., New Hartford. Activities: Fitness at 10:45 a.m. ($2.50 per person, per class, includes a fitness card which is stamped for every class attended); Massage with Mindy Lee at 12:00 noon; Crafts at 1:00 p.m.; Cribbage ‘n cards at 1:00 p.m. For more information please call Jean Barnicoat at 860-379-3980 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.
• Early Literacy Program: Comprehension Session: at 9:30 a.m. at the Beekley Library, 10 Central Avenue, New Hartford. For more information about this Early Literacy Program please see the flyer posted in our Bulletin Board or call the Library at 860-379-7235.
• Bakerville Library Story Time for 3 to 5 year-olds: at 10:15 a.m. Bakerville Library, 6 Maple Hollow Road, New Hartford. For more information about the library please visit the Bakerville Library website.
• Board of Selectmen Special Meeting : at 5:30 p.m. in the Sessions Conference Room at the Town Hall, 530 Main Street, New Hartford. For the agenda for this meeting, please see our Community Calendar.
• Low Impact Development Stakeholder’s Group MLUE Grant: at 7:00 p.m. in the Senior Center at the Town Hall, 530 Main Street, New Hartford. For the agenda for this meeting, please see our Community Calendar.
• Have a Spring-related business you want to advertise?: Check out our BRAND NEW Yellow Pages: an economical, simple way to get your business in front of our 32,066 visitors (this past March). Use the “Submit Your Listing” form to send us your information and we’ll list your business. Looking for a lawn care service? Check our Yellow Pages where we’ll be listing companies as soon as their info. is submitted to us.

Our Community Calendar section provides additional information about the events listed above and information on past, current and future events – a permanent record of events in New Hartford. Also check out our Bulletin Board where you can see flyers on events happening around town, and where we have listed information on local non-profit groups.

…NHGrapevine…

“Excellent person involved!”

Said Wayne Conner to the Regional #7 Board of Ed members as they talked about Ken Chichester’s starting as the new High School Principal on July 1. Ken was sitting among the audience at last night’s Board of Ed meeting.

Contribute to the …NHGrapevine… Let us know what you’ve heard – or seen – in town and we’ll add it to this listing, and also add it to the …NHGrapevine.. section. So let’s hear what you’re hearing around town…

A view of the the center of New Hartford along the banks of the Farmington River from the Route 219 bridge on Monday afternoon, April 19. Photo: Maria Moore

The following press release with details of the New Hartford 2010 Earth Weekend Spring Cleanup was forwarded to us by the New Hartford Land Trust, one of the event’s organizers.

New Hartford residents can actively observe Earth Day’s 40th birthday and the arrival of spring by cleaning up parks and playscapes, performing trail maintenance on an open space preserve and eliminating invasive plants along the Farmington River and at other sites on Sunday, April 25. Those interested in volunteering can pre-register to be eligible for raffle prizes and should gather at 12:30 p.m. behind Town Hall (530 Main Street) for sign in, inspiration and instructions, and light lunch fare. Leaders and teams of volunteers will then go out to seven sites around New Hartford to pick up trash, weed, prune and remove debris.

The New Hartford Land Trust, the Town Conservation Commission, Cub Scouts Pack 19 and the Friends of Brodie Park are organizing the annual New Hartford Earth Weekend Spring Cleanup. Hoffmann Hardware is contributing trash bags to support the event. The Foothills Delery and Subway are donating food. Volunteers who pre-register will be eligible to win a variety of raffle prizes including a perennial from local plant purveyor Dan-Dee Acres, gift certificates from Passiflora and Radwick’s Coffee & Sandwich, a gift basket from Renaissance Farm, tours of a local CT Zero Energy Challenge home and other earth-friendly items.

Steve Worthington, a volunteer parent with New Hartford Cub Scout Pack 19, said that the Scouts ”will continue the tradition of supporting New Hartford Earth Weekend Cleanup by helping clean the downtown park areas and planting a tree in honor of the 100th anniversary of scouting.”

Organizers ask that those interested in participating in the Earth Weekend Spring Cleanup sign up for the event as soon as possible by visiting www.newhartfordlandtrust.org or by calling 860-489-4118. This will help with planning. Others are also welcome to just show up. Volunteers should bring a water bottle, gloves, hat, sunscreen, bug spray and pruning shears or a rake if possible. Children under 18 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Please check the New Hartford Land Trust web site or call for additional information.

A spokesperson for the New Hartford Land Trust said “For many years, the annual cleanup was held on a Saturday morning but we all decided to move it to Sunday afternoon so that it won’t compete with the opening day of youth baseball. We hope more families will be able to participate at the new time. Last year, about 85 residents of all ages came out to spruce up the town and we are hoping for an even bigger crowd to honor Earth Day turning the big 4-0 and to acknowledge the importance of environmental awareness and action. We need lots of help to accomplish our list of tasks for the day.”

The New Hartford Land Trust: is an all-volunteer, private, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the permanent preservation of farmland, forest, and other open space and natural resources in New Hartford.

Friends of Brodie Park, LLC: is a nonprofit dedicated to maintaining and preserving Brodie Park.

NewHartfordPlus is a contributing business of  the New Hartford 2010 Earth Weekend Spring Cleanup.

Members of Cub Scout Troop 19 and others cleaning up along the Farmington River last year. Photo: Maria Moore from NHPlus archives

Paul Mahoney of the Conservation Commission talks to the high school student volunteers who helped maintain the trail at Jones Mountain as part of last year's Earth Weekend Cleanup.

Billion Acts of Green ~ One Act At The Time

How many acts of green does it take to make a difference? One of course, and that one is yours! And what if you could add your green act to those of millions of others around the world? Or maybe a BILLION others?

That’s just what the Earth Day Network wants you to do. To help celebrate the 40th Earth Day Celebration, the Network has set up a Billion Acts Of Green Campaign where they’re collecting green acts from participants around the world. Add your green act today and watch that number grow. When our reporter started writing this report, the number stood at 31,460,51 and now it’s grown to 31,460,101, with that last “1″ being hers!

To have your green act count towards the Billion, please go to the Earth Day 2010 website and add your act.

Share Your Green Act With Us And Win A Gift Basket From The New Hartford Farmers Market

Let us know you added your green act to the Billion Acts Of Green campaign, and we’ll enter you in a free drawing for a gift basket filled with goodies from our friends at the New Hartford Farmers’ Market. We’ll announce the winner of our gift basket at 12:00 noon on Sunday, April 25 on NewHartfordPlus and the basket will be available for pick-up at the Earth Weekend Cleanup in New Hartford Center.  How sweet it is to act green…

To enter the drawing for the NewHartfordPlus gift basket: filled with goodies from the New Hartford Farmers’ Market, please email us at newhartfordplus@gmail.com and include your name and the details of the green act you added to the Billion Acts of Green campaign.

Following are the Community Calendar listings for today in New Hartford, CT:

Monday, April 19, 2010:

• New Hartford Elementary Schools CLOSED: Professional Development Day.
• Northwestern Regional #7 CLOSED: Teacher In-Service.
• New Hartford Senior Center activities: at Senior Center, Town Hall, 530 Main St., New Hartford. Activities: Fitness at 9:00 a.m. ($2.50 per class, includes a fitness card which is stamped for every class attended); Coffee at 10:00 a.m.; Advisory Board at  POSTPONED ‘TILL WEDNESDAY; Lunch at the Gilson at 12:00 noon. For more information please call Jean Barnicoat at 860-379-3980 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.
• Northwestern Regional #7 District Budget Hearing and Board of Ed Meeting: at 7:00 p.m. District Budget Hearing is immediately followed by the Board of Ed Meeting. For more information, please see our Calendar.
• Have a Spring-related business you want to advertise?: Check out our BRAND NEW Yellow Pages: an economical, simple way to get your business in front of our 32,066 visitors (this past March). Use the “Submit Your Listing” form to send us your information and we’ll list your business. Looking for a lawn care service? Check our Yellow Pages where we’ll be listing companies as soon as their info. is submitted to us.
• Do you know of an event that should be listed here and you don’t see it? Please email us the info. and we’ll add it! Send to newhartfordplus@gmail.com and write ‘Calendar’ in the subject line.

Our Community Calendar section provides additional information about the events listed above and information on past, current and future events – a permanent record of events in New Hartford. Also check out our new Community Bulletin Board where you can see posters and information on local groups and events.

…NHGrapevine…

“It looks like it belongs on the Cape.”

Bob Moore said about the driftwood-colored barn set down close to the water on the Farmington River close to the center of town. The Moores got a new perspective on the houses along Route 44 from the other side of the Farmington during their family hike this past weekend.

Contribute to the …NHGrapevine… Let us know what you’ve heard ~ or seen ~ in town and we’ll add it to this listing, and also add it to the …NHGrapevine.. section. So let’s hear what you’re hearing around town…

A view of Hillside Avenue this past Saturday, April 16. Photo: Maria Moore