(l-r) Bryana, 11, New York City, hugs her host family, the Pettigrews, for her two-week Fresh Air visit.

photo by Daniel Cormier

Daniel Cormier, Jewett City, was among the winners of The Fresh Air Fund’s 2009 Photo Contest! All winners were selected from the hundreds of pictures sent in by volunteer host families throughout 13 Northeastern states and Canada, reflecting the memorable experiences they shared with their New York City visitors this past summer. Categories included Best Friends, Making Waves, Reunions and many more.

Daniel’s photo was awarded second place in the Best Arrival Moment category, and features the Pettigrew Family, Moosup, welcoming 11-year-old Bryana for her two-week Fresh Air visit. Check out the other winners of the 2009 Annual Photo Contest on The Fund’s website at www.freshair.org/PhotoContest2009.

This summer, nearly 5,000 New York City children visited volunteer host families in suburban and rural communities through The Fund’s Friendly Town program.

Summer 2010 will be upon us quickly, and The Fresh Air Fund needs more families to volunteer as hosts. There are no financial requirements for hosting. All that is needed is a little extra room in your heart and home.

Take the opportunity to learn more about The Fresh Air Fund and hosting a child this summer. Contact Raymond Cormier at 860.887.6559.

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Kim Lutz, Director, The Nature Conservancy's CT River Program, paddles past a floodplain forest on the CT River.

On October 16th, The Nature Conservancy, an international conservation organization, with offices in New Haven, was pleased by the news that, upon Presidential signature, over $20 million from the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, is headed to CT for various initiatives.

The Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy,  will receive $359,000 for a comprehensive multi-year study of the hydrology of surface and groundwater in the Connecticut River Basin to determine the best methods to improve the riverine eco-system. The study will allow researchers to better understand and protect the river, marine life, and the surrounding environs.

“We applaud the leadership by Senators Dodd and Lieberman on this issue,” said David Sutherland, Director of Government Relations, Nature Conservancy, CT. “We have made significant progress over the past few decades in improving the water quality of our major rivers. What we need to do now is to mitigate the ways in which we have adversely affected water quantity. This study will help us better understand how to help many species of fish and other wildlife that depend on natural water levels at different times of the year.”

For more on The Nature Conservancy’s work in CT, visit www.nature.org/connecticut.

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(l-r, back row) Sue Brinkman, Susan Hart, Lisa Taber, Donna Young, Libby Finnemore, Maggie Brown, Denise Hawk, Volunteer Program Administrator, Lori Calobrisi, (l-r, front row) Fran Poris, Kerry Dunnack, and Kate Romani at their graduation.

On September 29th, 13 Hospice Southeastern Connecticut volunteers graduated from a training series.  They learned about hospice care and their role as volunteers for Hospice.

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Vivki Anderson Executive Director Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center

It’s here – the season of change.  Green leaves become yellow, red and orange and dazzle us as they flutter to the ground.  Temperatures can vary from 70 degrees to below freezing, and all within the same day!  Days become shorter and the nights are longer.  There is so much I absolutely love about this season: cider, pumpkins, hay rides, hiking, fire places, church bazaars, cornucopias, pies, and the sight of corn stalks and hay bales.

It’s also a great season for family outings.  Take a day trip to buy some cider.  To make it an excursion, go to Clyde’s Cider Mill at 129 North Stonington Road, Mystic (860.536.3354).  Clyde’s has the oldest steam powered cider mill in the US.  It’s great fun for all ages and is open seven days a week, September- December.

Autumn is also a season of sharing.  And for those of us who are financially able to help our neighbors in need – this is season to do it.  Many of our neighbors have oil tanks and refrigerators almost empty.  Children often don’t have money to buy lunch at school. Their parents can’t buy them warm coats.  The 28 member agencies of the United Way of Southeastern CT, are doing all they can to ensure that this region takes care of its own in every way possible.

Our wonderful community can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner “together” by sharing.  Please “Feed Your Neighbor” and – enjoy a glass of cider!

Sincerely,
Vicki Anderson
Executive Director
Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center
Board of Directors
09-10 Member – United Way of SECT

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