News & Events
Winter Hike January 15th
A small group of hardy folks came out on a cold day to hike Irene's Woods on January 15th.
Seeking Board Members
Naromi seeking new Board Members to join our team! We're looking for a few dedicated individuals passionate about conservation in Sherman who are ready to roll up their sleeves behind the scenes. Contact the office if you are interested - we would love to hear from you!
Threats in Your Garden
Even though we have more months of winter to endure, its not too early to start thinking about invasives and your garden. In case you missed it - check out this editorial published in the Litchfield County Times on January 12 entitled " Boxwood Threat a Yawn? No Way".
Naromi's Annual Membership Drive
Naromiyocknowhusunkatankshunk! Naromi Land Trust derives its name from this 29-letter American Indian name for the lovely brook in the north end of Sherman. It means "water flowing from the hills."
Naromi Land Trust provides the community with opportunities for passive recreation, nature observation and education on our thirteen preserves with trails, and more than twenty other open space preserves. With these holdings comes enormous responsibility. Unlike other kinds of non-profits, land trusts, including Naromi, have promised to shoulder their preservation responsibilities in perpetuity.
In order to keep this promise, Naromi needs your support as a member. Your membership helps us to protect the scenic and natural resources throughout Sherman, and to preserve the rural character of our community. Please be on the lookout for Naromi's annual membership appeal in your mailbox, or become a member by contributing online today!
Click here for an updated map of Naromi's holdings, including descriptions of several featured hikes.
Thank you to all those who came to Naromi's Annual Community Picnic!
Special thanks to everyone who volunteered and who brought a side dish or dessert to share. It was a beautiful day atop Hadlow Fields at Kemp's Meadow. About 125 folks came out to enjoy the views, the turtles, the food and the kite-flying.
Naromi's Fall Family Picnic - October 9th noon to 3 pm
Celebrate the spirit of fall at the Naromi Land Trust’s Annual Fall Picnic on Sunday, October 9, at 12 PM high atop the Hadlow Fields in Sherman. This spectacular setting has one of the most glorious views in northern Fairfield County. This is always a wonderful community event, open to all. Come enjoy fall colors, kite flying, a hike, and the views.
If the weather is warm enough (70 degrees minimum) or rainy (so the Picnic is held indoors at the Lake Mauweehoo Clubhouse), John Foley will bring his turtles to the Picnic. John was the presenter at our Annual Meeting this year and brought his turtles there. Many folks got to get up close and personal with these incredible creatures. This will be a real treat for those who missed it the first time or who would like to spend more time with them. Scroll down on this page to see photos from the Annual Meeting and of the turtles themselves.
Grilled hamburgers and hot dogs will be cooked on site and beverages will be provided. We ask that guests bring, if possible, a salad or dessert to share. The Hadlow Fields are reached off of Cozier Hill Road (0.3 mile east of Rte. 37 or 0.8 mile west of Rte. 39). In the event of inclement weather, the location will be the Lake Mauweehoo Clubhouse at the intersection of Route 37 and Leach Hollow Road.
Please call the Naromi office at 860-354-0260 to RSVP, with any questions, or if you would like to volunteer to help; or email us at naromi@sbcglobal.net. We look forward to seeing you there!
Streambank Restoration at Babbling Brook Farm
With funding from the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), a program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Naromi has been working to restore the streambanks of Babbling Brook. This effort is part of Naromi's revitalization of Babbling Brook Farm. The project began with removal of invasives and other debris in 2009, continues this year with mowing, and now removal of two failing culverts and replacement of a third with a more adequate one. The project has been overseen by Todd Bobowick, a fisheries expert with NCRS. The new culvert design will help prevent erosion and keep high water within the floodplain.
Above, several members of Naromi's Board visiting the replaced culvert at Babbling Brook Farm; Bill McGoldrick, Chris Theodoros, Chris Jellen, and Marge Josephson, and Hunter Brawley, Land Manager (center). Photos from throughout the project below.
Wimisink Boardwalk Project
Naromi has been awarded a grant from the Housatonic River Basin Natural Resources Restoration Project to build a boardwalk for education, including wildlife and plant study/observation, and passive recreation for anyone and everyone. The grant is administered by CT DEEP, US Fish & Wildlife Service and NOAA. The project has been permitted by Sherman Land Use Commissions and construction is planned for Fall 2012.
As a part of the planning and study for this project, Naromi hired a butterfly expert to survey the Wimisink Wildlife Sanctuary. Here is the list of species present there: Spicebush Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Summer Azure, Pearl Crescent, American Lady, Little Wood Satyr, EYED BROWN, Silver-spotted Skipper, Peck's Skipper, European Skipper, Least Skipper, Great Spangled Fritillary, Little Glassy Wing, Dun Skipper, Black Swallowtail, Summer Azure, Monarch, Delaware Skipper, Hobomok Skipper, Dion Skipper, Orange Sulphur, and Viceroy. We featured photos of many of these taken in Northern Sherman by Dennis Larkin in the July 2010 edition of Naromi eNews.
The EYED BROWN is listed as a Species of Special Concern by the state. The population at Wimisink was viewed with frequency and ease and the expert considers the preserve to be a state stronghold of the species. The Dion Skipper is listed as a Threatened Species. This species is difficult to observe, so the location of even a single individual among the extensive favorable habitat suggests a viable population.
Odonates, or insects including dragonflies and damselflies, were not surveyed in detail, but the following species (all expected in the habitat) were noted during the butterfly work: Ebony Jewelwing, Common Spreadwing, Swamp Spreadwing, Eastern Forktail, Fragile Forktail, Variable Dancer, Common Green Darner, Easterm Amberwing, Blue Dasher, Eastern Pondhawk, Spangled Skimmer, Slaty Skimmer, Common Whitetail, Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Widow Skimmer, Halloween Pennant, Cherry-faced Meaowhawk, Dot-tailed Whiteface, and Black Saddlebags.
Thank you to everyone who came to our Annual Meeting!
Fifty people came out on a rainy evening to learn about Naromi's activities during the past fiscal year and learn about turtles from John Foley. Naromi elected Christopher Jellen, Elizabeth Mard, William McGoldrick all for another three-year term, and Chris Theodoros was elected for his first three-year term. We will include a profile of Chris here soon. The Board would like to express gratitude to outgoing Board members John Allen and David Schneiderbeck for their years of service to NLT. Here are Minutes from the Annual Meeting. We are grateful to the community for their support!
Board Member Ian Gribble performing turtle rescue with assistance from Clay Cope. This turtle was getting too close to disappearing into some thick vegetation near Lake Mauweehoo.
From left to right: Leopard Tortoise; Sukata Tortoise; Bill Garrison, Helen Garrison, Dan Leary, Bill McGoldrick; Chris Theodoros, Chris Jellen, Stephanie Warren; Speaker John Foley and guests; Kids looking at two spotted turtles; Kid making friends with a tortoise.
Annual Meeting: July 8, 2011
Great Swamp Paddle
Thirty intrepid paddlers came out on the morning of June 19th to paddle the waters of the Great Swamp. The group met at 8 am, was outfitted by Great Blue Outfitters and was on the water by 9am. The trip took about two hours and fun was had by all. The group was too large and raucous to observe much wildlife. And everyone stayed dry!
Trails Day
More than thirty people came to hike the trails in Great Hollow on Trails Day spanning ages and species (a few leashed dogs joined in). The group managed to stay together and had a great time!
EARTH DAY EVENTS APRIL 16, 2011
Work Day
Seven dedicated volunteers came out on the morning of April 16, 2011 to the Kemp's Meadow section of Hadlow Fields. They cut invasive vines and shrubs, cleared underbrush to free apple trees, neatly piled the brush and raked the area. Kemp's Meadow was named for a much loved and missed friend of Naromi who served as a Board member and Treasurer. This meadow is the site of Naromi's Annual Picnic in October.
Party
Close to seventy people came to the cocktail party in the evening on April 16th. The big room at the Jewish Community Center was beautifully decorated by Liz Munch Mard. The hors d'oerves were expertly prepared John Allen and Stephanie Warren, who were yeomen for the evening, and served by volunteers led by Margaret Cook. The Silent Auction offered many desirable items, including terrific wildlife photos, gift certificates to local nurseries, garden clean-up and coaching, and native plants. (See below for a list of individuals and businesses who generously donated to the auction.) Naromi is grateful to all who participated in our celebration of Earth Day!
Auction Donors
Bloomingfields Farm, Claire's Garden Center, Angela Dimmitt, Friend of Naromi, Marge Josephson & Dennis Larkin, New Milford Agway, Scott's Landscaping & Nursery, Spring Lake Garden Design, and Victoria Taft's Garden
Frog Frolics at Towner Hill
Eight people gathered to hike up Towner Hill on Tuesday March 22, 2011 to bear witness and observe the Spring activities of wood frogs. It was a cold day and the frogs were shy. The group did see some egg masses, evidence of their activity and purple skunk cabbage turbans poking up through the thawed ground. Then on Saturday March 26, 2011 a group of 14 gathered to try again. It was a warmer sunny day, but with biting winds. The frogs were much more active and the egg masses were plentiful. The also saw Red-backed Salamanders migrating near the vernal pool. While you are outdoors, keep you ears open to the sounds of wood frogs and soon, the chorus of peepers.
Wood Frogs at Towner Hill!
Click here to see a video of the vernal pool at Towner Hill and hear the Spring chorus of the wood frogs.
Tax Incentive Extended
The US Congress has renewed a federal tax incentive for conservation easements. This incentive has lead to significant conservation work all across the country. The incentive raises the deduction a donor can take for donating a voluntary conservation agreement from 30% of their income in any year to 50%, allows farmers and ranchers to deduct up to 100% of their income; and increases the number of years over which a donor can take deductions from 6 to 16 years. More information is available from Land Trust Alliance.
Naromi Highlights from 2010
Please click
here for a list of highlights from 2010. Click
here for an archive of our
eNewsletter.
More news to come. Check back soon. Be sure you are receiving our eNewsletter to get notices via email!
