Grateful for Grants Galore!

In recent months the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association (QRWA) has been the recipient of several grants.  We are grateful to the individuals who took the time to research, prepare and submit the grants, but especially to those granting agencies that saw the partnership potential of recreation and education. 

The QRWA is pleased to announce that we will offer a monthly Speaker Series courtesy of Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas Services $2,500 Community Investment grant.  These monthly talks will cover a wide variety of topics, from animals to the environment, with a CT focus and a constant theme of water being critical to life and the wildlife within the watershed. 

Tentative topics on wildlife include: bats, turtles, deer, eagles, snakes, pollinators, falcons, mountain lions and coyotes; with additional topics about the environment to include: homeowner habitats, Southington-Meriden canoe trail and the Wallingford fish ladder. 

The Speaker Series are usually offered on the second Tuesday of each month, from 7 – 9 pm at the QRWA headquarters, 540 Oregon Road.  Please refer to our website, www.qrwa.org for specific event details. 

Also, the QRWA is excited to have Pratt & Whitney sponsor our Eagle Seminar & Watch through a $2,500 Green Power grant.  As you may know, there are mature and immature Bald eagles that feed on Hanover Pond, literally, the backdrop of our headquarters in Meriden.  We now can offer the public an opportunity to learn more about our national symbol as well as the chance to view these magnificent birds through binoculars purchased through the grant.  

We have two speakers for this years’ session: Larry Fischer, Federally Licensed raptor bander and the official climber for assisting CT DEEP scientists with eagle research.  Julie Victoria is a retired wildlife biologist with the former CT DEP for over 32 years, monitoring eagle distribution and productivity in CT. 

This is an outside event so remember to dress weather appropriate and visit our website at www.qrwa.org for any changes or cancellations. 

The QRWA is pleased to partner with the Second CT Volunteer Heavy Artillery, Meriden Historical Society and Meriden Arts Trust to offer a Civil War Encampment on Saturday, October 6, thanks to the generosity of the Meriden Foundation’s $12,000 grant. 

This event will honor the involvement that Meriden had in the Civil War, as there was a Civil War camp, Camp Tyler, along the banks of the Quinnipiac River in South Meriden in 1861.  We envision the Meriden event consisting of the group setting up a camp near the pond, with members engaging in typical activities of a Civil War encampment, such as cooking over an open fire, setting up tents, drills and gun salutes.  

Other ideas include making a day with several related events, such as a themed concert at Platt High School, vendors offering items in the spirit of the living history, and speakers talking about the war.  We are working with the local schools to encourage students to get involved with the educational opportunity so close to home.  Anyone wishing to get involved can contact the QRWA at (203) 237-2237 and leave a message. 

Students at Lincoln Middle School are busy being creative working on the Nature Art Show, a joint effort with the Meriden Arts Council and the QRWA, sponsored by the Naugatuck Savings Bank Foundation.  In February the students listened to Jeffrey Ward, Chief Scientist, with the CT Agriculture Experiment Station who gave a presentation on the history of CT forests.  With the opening reception set for Thursday, April 26, the students are focusing on the wild life, flora and fauna that are present along the Q River working towards their interpretations of the Earth Day theme – Celebrating Life along the Quinnipiac River. 

We are extremely pleased to announce that The Cuno Foundation has awarded us a $7,000 grant for materials to complete the first floor of our headquarters and we hope to have that completed by mid May.  We are actively seeking additional “in kind” services and donations to complete the 1st floor and the offices on the 2nd floor. 

With all the renovation going on inside the building, we decided to push up the construction of our dual-purpose outdoor shed, which will contain both garden and water related materials and equipment.  The site has been selected, permit obtained and crushed stone delivered, thanks to a generous donation by Suzio-York Hill.  Be on the lookout for the actual construction to take place within the month. 

Changes are abound inside and outside the QRWA building and internally as well.  The Board of Directors recently eliminated the Executive Director position and created a new position of Science Educator, to be more in line with the direction of creating a regional environmental educational center. 

To learn more about the upcoming events, news and programs visit our web site at www.qrwa.org.  Or better yet, become a member, dues are $20 for individual membership and $30 for families; we give a discount membership to students and senior citizens.  As a member you will receive advance notices of events and programs and special invites to selected programs exclusive to members. 

Upcoming QRWA Events:

Saturday, March 3rd, 10:00 am.  Eagle Seminar and Watch, with Julie Victoria, retired Wildlife Biologist of the CT DEEP, sponsored by Pratt & Whitney.  Listen to eagle expert Julie and then go outside to see if the eagles are on Hanover Pond.  Dress for the weather, light refreshments served.

Sunday, March 4th, 12:00 noon.  Game Dinner Fund Raiser chaired by Mike Roberts to stock Q River for Annual Fish Stocking Event at Red Bridge.  The Fish Stocking is planned for April, be sure to check our web site for details.

Wednesday, March 7th, 7:00 pm.  2012 Speaker Series with Scott Williams, PhD, research scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, sponsored by Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas Services.  The presentation is entitled, “White-Tailed Deer and Invasive Plants”, light refreshments served.

Wednesday, March 14th, 6:30 pm.  QRWA Board Meeting, the public is invited to attend. 

Be sure to visit our web site at www.qrwa.org to confirm information, cancellations and details for upcoming events. 

QRWA provides wateractivities, events in education, outreach, advocacy, scientific monitoring, conservation, restoration, recreation and public access to the watershed area.  The Quinnipiac River Watershed Association (QRWA) is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization whose mission is to restore the Quinnipiac for the health and enjoyment of all citizens and communities along its reach and to educate all students, families, individuals, businesses and governments to be informed stewards of the river. 

Thank you for your support and remember your donations are tax deductable.