Category: Preserved Lands

Remarks by Sidney Van Zandt at Merritt Bench Dedication

Welcome to you all: To the Merritts, Nelson, his daughters Susan, Nancy, and Debra, to Tom & Hannah Treuer and John & Carly Matroienni. I hope to introduce you to some of the folks that were able to be here today that have been involved in GOSA, and who have done so much to transform [...]

Friday October 21st, 2011 in Land Acquisitions, People, Preserved Lands | No Comments »

Celebration and Dedication of the Stone Bench for Mary Cory Merritt at the Merritt Family Forest

A beautiful summer/fall day on Monday, October 10, 2011 with temperatures in the high 70’s greeted the 39 guests plus some young neighborhood boys and several wild turkeys. We gathered in a circle of chairs to celebrate Mary Cory Merritt’s life.

Friday October 21st, 2011 in Land Acquisitions, People, Preserved Lands | No Comments »

Open Space Worth the Investment

Rick Newton is a Vice President and Chairman of the Stewardship Committee of the Avalonia Land Conservancy. His letter on Open Space was published on August 4 in The Mystic River Press, and the full text follows: Recent news reports regarding the concerns of Stonington citizens about the Mary Hall/Greenhaven Road proposed subdivision show that [...]

Monday September 19th, 2011 in Land Acquisitions, Preserved Lands | No Comments »

The Day Adds Sheep Farm To Its Hiking Guide

NEW LONDON — The Day added the Groton Sheep Farm to its guide to hiking sites in the area with an article in the July 23, 2011 issue. Sasha Goldstein, writer of the article, comments: “Nestled just off I-95, this 63-acre tract of land in Groton provides varied, beautiful terrain for a walk in the [...]

Sunday July 24th, 2011 in Land Acquisitions, Preserved Lands | No Comments »

GOSA, Avalonia Lead Hikes For Trails Day

GROTON–GOSA led several hikes June 4, 2011–including one that was a first–across protected open space in Groton in connection with Trails Day, sponsored by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association in 115 Connecticut communities. The Groton activities included a long walk, conducted by GOSA with the Avalonia Land Conservancy, from the Poquonnock River to an [...]

Tuesday June 14th, 2011 in Miscellaneous, Preserved Lands | No Comments »

Nelson Merritt’s Memories Of Farm Life Added To Website; Career Also Described

GROTON — The GOSA website has posted a 1,500-word article by Nelson Merritt about the Fort Hill Farm where he grew up, a 75-acre portion of which now is The Merritt Family Forest. Also added to the website is a newspaper article describing Mr. Merritt’s remarkable post-farm career as an engineer with significant achievements in [...]

Connecticut Trails Day In Groton June 4

By Sidney F. Van Zandt,  GOSA Vice President GROTON — Connecticut Trails Day sponsored by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, manager of the Blue Trail System, is on Saturday, June 4, 2011 in Groton.  Three tours are available in Groton: ( For descriptions see below.) They are sponsored by Groton Open Space Association (gosaonline.org), [...]

GOSA Receives CLCC Award for Outstanding Land Acquisition Effort

By Joan Smith, GOSA President GROTON — The Groton Open Space Association has received the Connecticut Land Conservation Council’s prestigious annual award for Outstanding Land Acquisition Effort. The award was presented at the CLCC 2011 conference Saturday, April 30 at the Exley Science Center at Wesleyan University in Middletown. Other categories for the CLCC’s Excellence in [...]

Tuesday April 26th, 2011 in Land Acquisitions, Preserved Lands | No Comments »

The Day Reports On Recreational Liability Hearing

HARTFORD — The Day reported April 5, 2011, on the preceding day’s legislative hearing in Hartford on a bill to afford legal protection to municipalities that allow recreational use of land they own. The New London-based newspaper’s article, written by Day Staff Writer JC Reindl, is reprinted below. A Groton open-space advocate joined a coalition [...]

Sidney F. Van Zandt Statement For Recreational Liability Hearing

HARTFORD — Following is a  statement that Groton Open Space Association Vice President Sidney F. Van Zandt  delivered to a Connecticut House Judiciary Committee hearing April 4, 2011 on a bill to protect municipalities against lawsuits for accidents on their recreational lands. The slightly condensed text: I would urge you to support H.B. # 6557 that [...]