Author: Preferred Customer

March 2013

Volume 8, Issue 1

Winter Newsletter

www.SavetheRiver-SavetheHills.org

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.

Wine, Cheese & Song Holiday Party Fundraiser Successful & Fun… Thank YOU!!

Inside this issue:

Our Save the River- Save the Hills Fundraiser, December 6, 2012, was a huge success, especially given the economy. The wonderful party atmosphere had members and friends sharing the joy of the season.
Wine, hors d'oeuvres and dinner catered at and by Flanders Fish Market were plentiful and delicious. The Denise and Tony Band led the children and adults alike in Holiday songs while attendees bid on the many Silent Auction items donated by community supporters. Live Auction items were on display. Paintings of the Niantic River and Oswegatchie Hills donated by artist and author Pat Coombs Fox and a biography written and signed by the actress Mariette Hartley were also auctioned. The Connecticut Flag and a tour of the Hartford Capitol donated by Senator Andrea Stillman, Legislators Betsy Ritter and Ed Jutila were part of the live auction. Our own special auctioneers ended the evening on a high note. Waterford 1st Selectman Dan Stewart and East Lyme 1st Selectman Paul Formica urged guests to raise their paddles and bid to support Save the River- Save the Hills.
A new addition to place in the Keepsake Book was introduced. Named "River of Inspiration", it is a history of the many authors, artists, actors and community activists who promoted the rich cultural heritage of our area and who live and have lived along the Niantic River. Please call Eileen O'Pasek (860-439-1687) for more information.
A special thank you to everyone who attended, bid and/or donated to our auctions or volunteered to help us. Without you, we wouldn’t be Saving the River and the Hills!

Upcoming Events!
“LIKE” our Facebook page to stay up-to-the-minute on our events...
Clean-up Latimer Brook (headwaters to the Niantic River behind Tri-town) - Watch our Facebook page for the upcoming date in April.
Our 10th Annual (can you believe it?) Kayak Regatta! August 24, 2013
Remember to plant Native Plants this year! Stop by Perennial Harmony’s for free advice on organic and environmentally friendly gardening or call Petie Reed at 860-961-4439.

Note from President Fred Grimsey	2
A Special Note— Eleanor Peterson	2
Keepsake Supplement Info	3
Legal Defense & Watershed Education Program Update	3
Water Quality Testing & Pumpout Programs	3
Membership Update/ Volunteer opportunities	4
Membership/Donation Form	4

Dan Steward & Paul “Flanders Fish” Formica were our auctioneers at Wine, Cheese & Song Holiday Party

Fred addressing Kayak Regatta. We will soon be back out there.... Get your kayaks ready!

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

A Special Note:
Save the River-Save the Hills would like to express our sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of Eleanor Peterson. We would also like to thank the following who sent donations to Save the River- Save the Hills in her memory. Beverly Alling, George and Nancy Glendenning, Joslin Diabetes Center, Lynne and David Lersch, Amy Milligan, Joanne Moore, Richard and Alice Valentini.

Remember the supplement to our Keepsake Book is available!
It is a great addition to the book and can be placed in your Keepsake Binder. The supplement tells the stories of those creative artists, authors and community activists who live or have lived on the Niantic River. The donation for one is $10.00 dollars.
If you don't yet have a Keepsake Book, you can obtain one for a $20.00 donation. For more information contact Eileen O'Pasek @ 860-439-1687. All donations support Save the River- Save the Hills programs.

Thank you once again for all Auction Items and Dessert Table Donations !!

Page #

Winter Newsletter

The Oswegatchie Hills Saga continues! Once again we are filing as Interveners, this time in the appeal of East Lyme's denial of water to Landmark's latest request for excess supply for an over-the-top development. Meanwhile we wait for the other shoe to drop: namely a zoning approval application for a new development plan. Therefore, we are still asking our membership and the public to give to our Legal Defense Fund. We think that legal costs will be much higher this year than 2012. Save the Last Mile As near as we can determine we believe that the Landmark parcel on the Upper River is the last mile of undeveloped Tidal Waterfront in all of Connecticut. Hence, the enclosed bumper stickers!! The Annual Kayak Regatta tentatively set for August 24th will celebrate this as a main theme. Niantic River Pumpout Boat Program The Pumpout Program is starting its 11th year this spring! Save the River-Save the Hills is planning a major upgrade of the boat this year. The upgrade will include a new engine, a complete set of parts for a sewage pump overhaul, a new electrical panel and console rewire, and a spare set of sewage pump batteries. Reliability is key to our operation and we think this conservative approach will avoid the problem of spare parts panics during the busy summer season. We have applied for a major grant from the CT DEEP/Clean Water Act Fund which would cover 75%`of the cost of the upgrade. We must raise the other 25% privately and are now soliciting donations. Memberships I would like to humbly remind our loyal supporters that STR-STH Memberships are not for Life but need to be renewed yearly, (sadly many of the issues we are working on seem to go on forever). Please check page 4 of the newsletter for details and the form to send in with your donation. Thank you!!
Yours for a Clean Niantic River, Fred Grimsey

STR-STH Program Updates...

Legal Defense Fund — Help Us Save Oswegatchie Hills!

In the Fall, Landmark asked the Town for 118,000 gallons/day capacity for its proposed 840 unit development of Affordable Housing at the top of the Hills (what they called Phase 1 in their conceptual design plans). The Water-Sewer Commission denied the request as excessive for such a small piece of land. STR-STH spoke at the meetings against the request because there are other parts of EL that need to be sewered first, like Saunders Point, as they are currently affecting the water quality of the Niantic River. As Fred mentioned, Landmark has appealed the decision and that case might end up in front of the same Judge who sided with Landmark before. Therefore, we, along with The Friends, are legally intervening on environmental grounds. Stay tuned to this ongoing battle!

Watershed Education Program

Our Education Program would like to clean up Latimer’s Brook (the headwaters of the Niantic River) where it runs behind Tri-town Plaza in April. The Enviroscape (shown right) will be borrowed by the Children’s Museum for this month. We are also offering the children at Pine Point School our Enviroscape to use with the 4th grade curriculum. If you would like to be involved in the clean-up or an education project, please call Deb at 860-444-9247.

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.

Water Quality Testing Program

Remember when you are fertilizing your lawn this Spring 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.
We will continue to monitor the River (when we get the boat back in the water) and let the town’s of Waterford and East Lyme know of our findings We will also post info on our Facebook Page.
If you can help in our efforts to get the boat in the water or in going out to test the waters during late Spring or Summer, please contact Fred at 442-8349. WE CAN USE YOUR HELP!!

Pumpout Boat Program

We are gearing up for our 11th season of the Pumpout Program starting Memorial Day Weekend! As Fred mentioned above, we might get a nice grant from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. We’ll let you know next newsletter. Fred could really use some help—If you would like to help get our boats in the water this Spring, please contact Fred at 442-8349 ! ! You can volunteer your High School kids—we can give them Community Service Credits as we are a Non-profit 501(c)(3).

Volume 8, Issue 1

Page #

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 the Oswegatchie Hills.
To donate or become a member, clip and mail the form below, or call Eileen O’Pasek @ 860-439-1687

Volunteer Opportunities:

Join Our Board—we are looking for new ideas… come bring yours to STR-STH!
Help with the Education Program — call Deb 444-9247 to borrow the Enviroscape for your kids school
Administration - helping with mailings, etc.
River Safety Committee
Join us in anyway you feel comfortable and take action to Save the River and the Hills!

Membership News

This Newsletter starts a new year for Save the River- Save the Hills. This year will be challenging as you have read in Fred's letter regarding Landmark development. We need your support, your voice and your resolve in this continuing struggle. Please stand with us and join us at Public Hearings (we will send flyers to alert you) and let your voices be heard. Send us any suggestions or comments which you can include in the membership envelope. We need to work together to "Save the Last Mile"!!
We have started a new calendar year for our donation cycle. Please renew your membership soon!
Sincerely, Eileen O’Pasek, Membership and Fundraising Chair

Membership & Other Contributions:
___ New ____ Renewal
___ Basic Family $20
___ River Keeper $50
___ River Saver $100
___ River Neptune $250
___ River Neptune $500
___ River Champion $1000
All members receive our quarterly newsletters and one STR-STH membership sticker
Note: first $20.00 of any membership category goes to the general fund and is used as required 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)
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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