Author: Preferred Customer

November 2012

Volume 7, Issue 3

Autumn Newsletter

Save the River-Save the Hills, Inc., is dedicated to preserving the health of the Niantic River Estuary, its Watershed and the natural beauty of the Oswegatchie Hills.

www.SavetheRiver-SavetheHills.org

Wine, Cheese & Song Holiday Party!
Our annual Fundraiser

Inside this issue:

Yummy Appetizers plus 3 Varieties of Pasta including a Flanders Fish Signature Dish featured in our Keepsake Book! Back this year: Light Dessert, Coffee or Tea

Entertaining Song by The Denise and Tony Band!!

The enclosed tickets are your reservation! Please return the LEFT portion with your payment in the enclosed envelope by Nov 30th.
$25.00 per person
For info call Eileen O’Pasek at 860-439-1687

LIVE & Silent Auctions!
All items are donated and all money raised supports STR-STH programs.
Do some Holiday Shopping with us & help Save the River & Hills ! !

Note from President Fred Grimsey	2
Winners of the Kayak Regatta Day	2
Legal Defense Program Update—HELP US!!	3
Watershed Education Program	3
Water Quality Testing & Pumpout Programs	3
Membership Update / Volunteer Opportunities	4
Membership/Donation Form	4

Bring your friends! More tickets are available at the door! A glass of wine, beer or soda is included and a cash bar will be available.

Eileen O’Pasek and Ed Jutila at last year’s event.

Rain doesn’t stop our Kayak Regatta!

Thanks to all our participants and volunteers for another successful event!
The 9th Annual Kayak Regatta was held a day late, but was honored to be opened this year with a kayak parade up the Niantic River lead by the Goshen Fire boat with hoses blasting! The parade brought kayakers north up to the Rt. 1 end of the river where the Denise and Tony Band entertained us from a balcony overlooking the Niantic River and the Oswegatchie Hills. Hot dogs donated by Flanders Fish Market and Restaurant were distributed by volunteers to participants while the Goshen Fire Boat demonstrated a water rescue. The Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla-Mystic performed safety checks for the kayakers. The Waterford Police boat was on hand to keep the waters safe around the kayakers. Paul Formica, Ed Jutila and Betsy Ritter (through her letter read by Deb Moshier-Dunn) all spoke of the beauty and importance of saving the Oswegatchie Hills to keep this pristine area clean and available for all to enjoy. (See page 2 for the winners of our Regatta and our free give-aways!)

The winner of our Kayak—Richard Ford of East Lyme!

Flanders Fish Market and Restaurant
22 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT 06357

Thursday eve
December 6, 2012
6:00pm-9:00pm

A Note from the President and Founder of STR-STH:

As many of you know, the Battle for Oswegatchie Hills is heating up again. It was slower last year and we were able to catch up a bit on our legal bills. That was then. We hope that those who are able can contribute to our legal defense fund so that we can continue the good fight in the struggle against Russo/Landmark's continuous assaults on the Hills.
Currently, we are fighting vs. Landmark’s Application #3, which focuses on 840 units on the Ridge of the Hills and was denied by zoning back in 2005, but has been remanded back to the town’s Zoning Commission with instructions from the Judge. We are also contesting Landmark’s proposal to grab 118,000 gallons of sewer capacity in EL for these units. We think that allocating this large amount of sewer capacity to such a small parcel will seriously hamper the Town's ability to solve pollution problems in the Niantic River Watershed. We are encouraging folks to attend public hearings of the Water and Sewer Commission as well as the Zoning Commission with our flyer mailings, Facebook & website announcements. Thanks to all who have attended the Commission meetings so far!!
Also, note our latest effort, “Save The Last Mile", a public awareness program to increase knowledge of the fact that the waterfront portion of Landmark's land holdings comprise the last mile of undeveloped or preserved saltwater frontage land in the state. The Day paper has shown renewed interest in our fight as has TheLymesPatch.com, our local online news outlet.
SEE YOU AT OUR WINE, CHEESE & SONG EVENT!!! There you can assist our cause and collect your “Save the Last Mile’ bumper sticker to show others your support.
Yours in the protection of the River & the Hills, Fred Grimsey

Friends of the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve Benefit!
featuring music by The Hoolios, playing original Americana songs and Zydeco-flavored Rock, and the Boathouse Blues Band playing Blues and Classic Rock
Saturday, November 10th, 7:00p, American Legion, Niantic $10.00 at door

Kayak Regatta Winners—Great Job Everyone!
The long kayak winners: men - Jay Sullivan, (defending his title in the nick of time!) and women - Joanne Hodge, 2nd place: Ken Sylvetri & Debbie Odun
The small kayak race winners: men - Dave LaFleur & women—Rose LaFleur, 2nd: John Starrett & Sue Powers, 3rd: Eli Clark & Rosie Kelly
Each winner received a STR-STH’s T-shirt along with their bragging rights.
Kayak Regatta Free Drawing Winners—Congratulations to all!
Kayak & Paddles – Richard Ford, East Lyme;
Personal Flotation device – Anabel Frish, Waterford; STR-STH Beach Bag – Craig Woody, East Lyme; STR-STH Lunch Bag – Norman & Corinne LaFleur, Waterford; STR-STH T-shirt – Kristy Wasniewski, Oakdale; Niantic River Hat – Paul & Barbara Whitehouse, East Lyme, STR-STH Hat – Jim Paganetti, Middletown.
STR-STH’s Kayak Regatta Sponsors/Donors—Thanks!
Flanders Fish Market and Restaurant — free hot dogs, buns, etc!
Deb Moshier-Dunn & Mike Dunn—Kayak, Paddles & Flotation Device

Page #

Autumn Newsletter

STR-STH Program Updates...

Legal Defense Fund — Help Us Save Oswegatchie Hills!

Please see Fred’s message at left as this Program is in full swing right now. We have had many of our members respond to our flyers and show up to the meetings to hear our attorneys Paul Geraghty and Jason Westcott argue vs. Landmark’s attorney in front of the Commissions. We think that the Water-Sewer Commission and Zoning Commissions will not have new announcements until right before or early after the Holidays. Both Commissions have 65 days from their last meeting to make their decisions. The real battle will heat up in the new year, when Landmark submits a proposed Site Plan. Watch our Facebook page and/or our website for upcoming Public Hearings where you can show up and make your opinions clear!! Come to our fundraiser to help our fight!!

Watershed Education Program

Check out our video about our Programs and why we are doing what we are doing, courtesy of Tom Richardson of Boating Local. Here’s the link to the video: http://boatinglocal.com/news/video-protecting-the-niantic-river.html. Or go out online and search for Boating Local. Look in the Video Library for “Protecting the Niantic River”.

Water Quality Testing Program

Our Enviroscape Model—if you know of a teacher or class who would like to borrow it or have us go to their school to teach with it, please let us know.

We wrapped up our Water Quality Testing in September. It is very helpful to our Save the Hills effort that we have been testing the river because we can use the data showing high levels of enterococci bacteria after 1 1/2—2 inch rain events in our environmental argument to not develop the Hills.
We will be winterizing the skiff—if anyone can help Fred in this task, please call him at 860-442-8349 (home) or 860-287-2654 (cell ). Thank you!
Remember when you are fertilizing your lawn this Fall not to over do it. (Question whether you need to at all.) All of the water that drains off your land eventually ends up in a storm drain, which in turn ends up in a waterbody. Extra nitrogen causes algae blooms which kill fish and other aquatic animals.

Pumpout Boat Program

Another successful Pumpout Season came to the end of operations October 31. The boat is being winterized and stored this month. Operations will begin Memorial Day weekend, 2013. We would like to once again thank the towns of East Lyme and Waterford for funding the expenses not covered by the program from the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Remember that the Niantic River and Niantic Bay and all of Coastal Connecticut remain a No-Discharge Zone.
When winterizing your boat, please ask your marina if they follow “Green Marina” guidelines when cleaning and storing your boat. You can make a difference by asking the question! Also, if you are washing your own boat, wash it over grass so the dirty water doesn’t end up in the storm drain and eventually into the River. Every bit counts!

Volume 7, Issue 3

Page #

Wine, Cheese & Song Holiday Party! December 8th 6-9pm

Volunteer Opportunities:
!

Fundraiser volunteers— call Eileen 439-1687
Administration help - fun! (e.g., event planning, setting up and manning event tables, mailings) - call Eileen O’Pasek 439-1687.
Board Members - Secretary, River Safety Chair, Legislative Liaison Chair positions are open!
Join us in any way you feel comfortable and take action to Save the River and the Hills!

www.SavetheRiver-SavetheHills.org

Save the River – Save the Hills, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) grassroots environmental organization based on the Niantic River Estuary in Waterford & East Lyme. We are dedicated to abating and preventing pollution of the river, its Watershed and advocating the preservation of Oswegatchie Hills.
To donate or become a member clip and mail the form below, or call Eileen O’Pasek @ 860-439-1687

Membership Chair Update
Dear Members and Friends! The latest developments in our continuing struggle with Landmark LLC to save the Oswegatchie Hills and the Niantic River makes our commitment and support more important than ever. If you haven’t made your membership renewal this year, now is the time for 2012 tax deductions!
Your support is critical to this cause, so I ask you please encourage family, friends, and neighbors to join us. A great introduction to Save the River- Save the Hills would be at our annual fundraiser: Wine, Cheese and Song at Flanders Fish, Thursday, December 6th, 2012 from 6:00- 9:00pm. Great food, fun, holiday gifts and information about our organization in a festive setting. Tickets will be sold at the door, but reservations are strongly suggested as last year was a huge success! We will also have the supplement to our Keepsake Book ,"River of Inspiration" available for purchase. It’s a beautiful addition!!!
Please send the left part of the enclosed tickets with your payment/donation by Nov 30th or call Eileen O'Pasek at 860-439-1687 or Deb Moshier-Dunn 860-444-9247. Your contributions, volunteer or financial are the backbone of this organization. We need to stick together to Save the Last Mile!!
Sincerely, Eileen O’Pasek, Membership Chair

Membership & Other Contributions:
___ New ____ Renewal
___ Basic Family $20 (newsletters, calendar of events, STR-STH membership sticker)
___ River Keeper $50 (all above plus STR-STH bottle holder)
___ River Saver $100 (all above plus STR-STH green bag )
___ River Neptune $250 (all above plus hat or visor)
___ River Neptune $500 (all above plus 2 tickets to Wine, Cheese & Song!)
___ River Champion $1000 (all the above and our eternal gratitude!!)
Note: first $20.00 of any membership category goes to the general fund and is used as necessary for all programs. Additional amounts may be directed as below:
___ Water Quality (testing, education, pumpout programs)
___ Water Safety ___ Legal Defense Fund ___ General Fund

Please make checks payable to:
STR-STH, Inc.
and mail to
Save the River-Save the Hills
P.O. Box 505
Waterford, CT 06385

Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
(email will be used for Action Alerts for STR-STH issues only)
Referred by:

Save the River-Save the Hills, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible.
This Newsletter is printed on Recycled Paper