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Good Breaking News! June 11, 2013 GOSA closed at 10:00 a.m. on Candlewood Ridge, the 91-acre parcel of land on Lambtown Road. To learn more about Candlewood Ridge, click here to see the article “Candlewood Ridge: A Jewel in Nature’s Crown” in GOSA News Fall 2012.
The Sheep Farm waterfall on Saturday, June 8, after the storm. See Jim Anderson’s video. Photo above by Jim Anderson.
On May 19, Cassandra Cini (right) and Mikayla Beebe (left) received the Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest Girl Scout honor, during a ceremony at Haley Farm State Park. For their project, they built two bog bridges and two bird houses and installed them at the park on the eastern side of the pond area near Brook Street. They also cleared some trails and participated in GOSA’s clean-up day (see pictures below) in April . Thank you, Mikayla and Cassandra, for making a difference in this corner of our world!
Photo above by Joan Smith
Attention All Hikers! June brings the first sweet pleasures of summer to Groton. These include Connecticut Trails Day, celebrated the weekend of June 1-2. (Sponsored by the CT Forest and Park Association)
Update on hikes from Sidney Van Zandt: It was a great couple of clear blue warm days for our hikes. On Saturday, June 1, 29 adults and three children joined the X-town hike. Leaders for the X-town hike included GOSA Director Sidney F. Van Zandt and members Bernie French and Si Borys; leaders from the Avalonia Land Conservancy included Joellen Anderson, Anne Pierson, Bob Volkman and Dick Conant (hike sweeper). Also on Saturday, 10 adults, and one child joined GOSA Director Whitney Adams for a hike on the Sheep Farm. On Sunday, 10 adults and one child joined Sue Sutherland for a hike at Candlewood Ridge.
Photo above by Sue Sutherland
GOSA News Spring 2013
March 27, 2013 GOSA is delighted to present our spring 2013 newsletter. Simply click on the newsletter image to the left to view.
Letter from the Editor When the GOSA News staff met last November to plan the spring 2013 issue, we found that habitat was the topic that came up again and again in our discussion. In this issue, themed Habitat Matters, Syma Ebbin has written our feature article on alien invasive species: “what they are, why they are a problem, and what we should be doing about them.” Joan Smith’s “Message from the President” updates us on GOSA’s many activities, fundraising challenges, and accomplishments. Joan has also authored a compelling article on the importance of habitat to the New England cottontail rabbit. A short piece on bobcat signs and sightings in Connecticut by Liz Raisbeck contains some information that may surprise you. Victor Villagra shares with us his joyous response to the book Feathers by Thor Hanson. As a physician, Victor has always been in awe of the evolution of human anatomy and physiology; he now finds feathers equally amazing. Sidney’s Corner inspires us to hike the “emerald path” and reflect on the impact of Superstorm Sandy, while highlighting the contributions of our dedicated volunteers. An update on the progress we are making toward the purchase of Candlewood Ridge — a habitat unusually rich in wildlife, forests, open marsh areas and multiple streams — reminds us of the importance of actively supporting open space in the Groton area. Habitat, indeed, matters to us all. Happy spring!
Haley Farm Cleanup April 6, 2013
What a spectacular spring day! Nature smiled in gratitude on the 40 + GOSA volunteers—from infants to octogenarians—who turned out for the Haley Farm cleanup. Girl scouts fanned out to pick up the flotsam from Hurricane Sandy that littered the shoreline, and a group from the Naval Submarine Base worked to liberate the trees and stone walls from invasive bittersweet and honeysuckle vines. A Canine Cadet group cleaned up dog waste and will return next Saturday (April 13) to host another cleanup day. Families and dogs enjoyed the activity too. State Representative Elissa Wright and State Park Superintendent John Lincoln lent a hand as well. A good time was had by all. Thank you!
Photos below by Joan Smith
GOSA’s Annual Sheep Farm “Chipper Party” was held this year March 30 – 31. Bob Graham from Ledyard is pictured to the left. Photo by Eugenia Villagra.
Please note that we are in the process of making significant updates to the web site, so we thank you in advance for your patience.
Go to the Groton Town Website for a complete schedule of town meetings. The only town meetings listed on this GOSA page will be those of expected special environmental interest. Once you are in the town schedule, click on the calendar displayed and move forward and backward with plus and minus signs. For a video of Town Council meetings, click on GMTV on Groton home page and then on Streaming Video.
