The Friends
are proud to announce that we have secured the following capacity
building grants that will greatly help us in strengthening our
organization for the benefit of Connetquot River State Park Preserve:
Sign up for the Friends
of Connetquot
email newsletter to receive notifications of upcoming events,
notices and other news related to the community and our organization.
FOC Newsletter, Chairman’s Letter, Summer 2007
The Mill has been lifted. A local company lifted the
Mill in July. With the building “up in the
air” it is clear how much damage has been done by
time and the elements. The next step will be to
pump out the water located behind the temporary
cofferdam that was constructed last fall. New
concrete footings will be poured. Concrete piers
will be poured and faced with native glacial stone.
Some of the stone will be from the original piers
that were replaced with wood by the State in 1973.
With foresight Gil Bergen, the Park Superintendent,
had saved this stone in the cellar of the Main Club
House. New structural timbers are on site for
repairs to the undercarriage. New shingles for the
roof
and sides are on site. We expect that by the time of
the Gala all of phase I (stabilization) phase II
(structural and foundation) and phase III (siding,
windows and roof) will be complete. We continue to
raise money for phase IV which will be to convert
the structure to a working tub Mill. It is not
difficult
to imagine the look of wonder that will appear in
the eyes of children and adults as the millstones
turn.
The Gerry Trust has very generously offered to match
the next $40,000 raised by the Friends toward
this effort. The Friends need your help. Please be
generous!
The Veterans Highway overpass continues to present a
risk to the River and to the hatchery.
An independent environmental firm has been onsite
during the last few significant rain events. They
have confirmed that runoff from the outside traffic
lanes runs almost directly into the Connetquot
River. Runoff from the center lanes drains into the
ground in the median strip. Once absorbed into the
ground this water and the pollutants it carries find
their way indirectly into the River. It appears that
during significant floods or at times when the
ground is frozen, water from the center median flows
directly into the river. An accident involving
hazardous materials near the overpass could be
catastrophic.
A formal report from the environmental firm should
be available in the next month. We will
continue to press this matter with New York State
Department of Transportation. Our strength will come
from membership. Encourage a friend to join. Give a
membership to a friend. The Veterans overpass must
be redesigned.
IPN continues to be on the minds of Connetquot
fishermen. The brook trout and brown trout
fingerlings at the hatchery have been destroyed. New
fingerlings have been brought in. The State will do
additional testing this fall. In the meantime the
fishing is fantastic! The fish are safe to eat and
open beats are almost always available. There are
few places like Connetquot anywhere in the country
for fishing, riding, hiking, bird watching or
jogging. Come to the Park, check out the Mill and
enjoy this local treasure.
Sincerely,
Richard Remmer
