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10th
Annual Ghost Run/Relay - November 3rd, 2012
The
Air Line Trail hosted the 10th annual Ghost Run/Relay on Saturday,
November 3rd, 2012. As usual, the race started at 9:00 A.M. from Hebron Elementary School (92 Church Street - Route 85) and ended at Center Elementary School in East Hampton.
Follow these links for Photos at Raymond Brook Marsh and Race Results
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Trail reaches "Downtown" East Hampton
July, 2012: The Air Line Trail extension west from Cranberry Bog now reaches Main Street, East Hampton - with ample parking and access to restaurants and shops! This is great news: the first access to services of any kind adjacent to the trail. Full details here. |
9th
Annual Ghost Run/Relay - November 5th, 2011
The
Air Line Trail hosted the 9th annual Ghost Run/Relay on Saturday,
November 5th, 2011. As usual, the race started at 9:00 A.M. from Hebron Elementary School (92 Church Street - Route 85) and ended at Center Elementary School in East Hampton.
Follow these links for Photos at Raymond Brook Marsh and the Finish Line and Race Results
Sample Photos from Ghost Run 2010
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Walktober 2011 - October 15th
The Lebanon Rails to Trails Committee hosted a guided walk on the Air Line Trail on Saturday, October 15th from 9:00-11:00 AM. Donna Koenig (in red, below) offered trail history while I provided nature photography tips. We met where the trail crosses Route 87 in Lebanon at the Columbia town line (4.7 miles north of Route 207). The round trip of 1.5 miles was on a smooth stone dust surface, though some ventured a few yards off the trail for pictures. More pictures here.
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DEEP's 2011 Family Bike Day
October 8th was Family Bike Day on the Air Line Trail in Hebron, part of the DEEP's No Child Left Inside initiative that was very well attended last year. Diane Joy organized the event. |
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Rachael signs up a young participant. Lettered "bird houses" placed along the trail held stamps to be used to complete game sheets. |
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DEEP staff chat with riders. Bicycles for adults and children were available for loan. There were even adult bikes with "trailers" for young family members. |
"Along the Air Line..." Gallery Showing at the Marlborough, CT Town Hall - May-June 2011
"Along the Air Line..." was on exhibit at my local Town Hall during regular business hours through the end of June. The exhibit was courtesy of the Marlbourough Arts Center.
Samples of what was on display.
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Colchester
Land Trust's Fine Art & Living Auction - April 2011
The Colchester
Land Trust Fine Art and
Living auction is complete. Donations of fine art, crafts, and wine were accepted until March 15th. Artwork was dropped off or shipped to: Barry Ford, 462 Westchester Road, Colchester, CT 06415. Call Barry 860-267-6751 to arrange for special pickup or directions.
The Artist's Reception at Cragin Memorial Library
in Colchesterwas on Tuesday, April 12th from 6:00-8:30. The gallery exhibit was open through April during library hours. As usual, all bidding was online. Follow links at the CLT web site to view fine art, photos, sculpture, and wine items that were up for bids.
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I
contributed three of my photos. All sold.
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Ring-billed Gull
8x10" in 11x14" frame. |
Ring-billed Gull
3x10" in 11x14" frame. |
Ring-billed Gull
8x10" in 11x14" frame. |
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2010 Trail Advocacy Award
In November, I was honored by American Trails as recipient of their 2010 Trail Advocacy Award for Connecticut - primarily for my 9+ years work on this web site. While pleased, I can't help but feel that others may have deserved it more. Their full announcement is here. Also honored was a true pioneer of the Air Line Trail, Joe Hickey. |
8th
Annual Ghost Run/Relay - November 6th, 2010
The
Air Line Trail hosted the 8th annual Ghost Run/Relay on Saturday,
November 6th, 2010. As usual, the race started at 9:00 A.M. from Hebron Elementary School (92 Church Street - Route 85) and ended at Center Elementary School in East Hampton. Follow these links for Photos at Raymond Brook Marsh, Photos at the Finish Line and Race Results
Sample Photos: (I took 479 photos and tried to get every runner.)
I've been asked to serve as a judge of the 2011 CT Audubon Society Photo Contest - Jan-Feb.
After much success as an entrant over the years, I'm looking forward to recognizing the work of other photographers.
Entries accepted Jan. 11-14 from 1-5 p.m., and on Jan. 15 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Contest is for amateur photographers only. All ages welcome. Opening Reception for participants on Fri., Jan. 28, 4-7 p.m. (Snow date is Jan. 29, 4-7 p.m.)
"Our Natural World" Photo Exhibit and Sale runs from Feb. 1-26 during normal Center hours. Contest Rules and Entry Forms here. |
Along the Air Line... - Gallery Exhibit, Presentation, and Field Trip.
March - May, 2011
Planning is underway for a major gallery exhibit and presentation at the Connecticut Audubon Society's Glastonbury Center. Additionally, I will lead a field trip on the Air Line Trail. Here are brief descriptions of each event:
Gallery Exhibit - Along the Air Line…
The Air Line Trail in Eastern Connecticut - Photos by Stan Malcolm March 23rd gallery exhibit opening, 5:00-7:00 P.M. Running until May 6th or 7th. I'll hang roughly 30 of my favorite and/or award-winning photos - mostly from the trail. I'll also have a PPT presentation about the trail set to loop on a large screen monitor.
Nature Photography Along the Air Line…
The Air Line Trail in Eastern Connecticut - by Stan Malcolm April 6th PPT presentation, 7:00-8:30. I'll describe trail features from East Hampton to the Willimantic River, discuss some fundamentals of nature photography, and comment on the gallery pictures.
Photoshoot Along the Air Line…
The Air Line Trail in Eastern Connecticut - Led by Stan Malcolm April 9th hike, 8:00 A.M., starting at the Route 85 trailhead near the lumberyard in Hebron. There will be an experienced Audubon "birder" co-leading the walk with me.
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Details and admission costs, if any, will be posted at the CT Audubon Society's web page: http://www.ctaudubon.org/visit/glastonbury.htm
Or you can call them at: 860-633-8402
Location: 1361 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033
Hours:
Tuesdays through Saturdays: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sundays: 1-4 p.m. (please call first).
Closed Mondays.
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"Along the Air Line..." Gallery Showing in Northampton, MA
opened July 7th, 2010 - Closed August 5th.
"Along the Air Line..." was on the road in July with an exhibit at the Trailside Gallery in Northampton, Massachusetts. It opened on July 7th and ran until August 5th. On Arts Night Out, July 9th, the gallery hosted a wine and cheese reception from 5:00 until 8:00 PM. There was be a Closing Reception on Thursday, August 5th from 5:00 until 8:00 PM.
View the opening reception in time-lapse video:
QuickTime high-resolution version
YouTube low-resolution version
The gallery is in the lower-level conference room of the real estate offices of long-time rail-trail advocate Craig Della Penna. I had 30 framed photos on display, and an array of matted prints also for sale. |
| Craig's business blends several passionate interests: He's the Broker/Owner of Pedal to Properties: Della Penna’s Trailside Realty, where he specializes in matching trail enthusiasts with properties near trails. And he has been an advisor to rail-trail project committees throughout the northeast, bringing the experience necessary to steer dreams to reality. He also supports the arts in an art-friendly town. |
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The ground floor office area features a commissioned conference table as a center piece. "Built through a collaboartion of Stone Soup Concrete and SalmonStudio, this structure is sure to become famous around town as a touchstone of sorts. A bridge from real estate past to real estate future."
Stairs at the right lead down to the gallery. Guests unable to negotiate the stairs were treated to a slide show of the exhibit on this level. |
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Downstairs is the spacious and well lit Trailside Gallery www.thetrailsidegallery.net The gallery is the idea of Jessica Lapinski, office manager at Pedal to Properties. On the second Friday of every month, Northampton hosts "Arts Night Out", a collaboration of area galleries, performers, and restaurants.
Regular Gallery Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday - 9:00-6:00. Tuesday 11:00-6:00.
Click for directions. |
If you missed attending in person, you can still view the exhibit through this Powerpoint presentation in PDF format (Adobe Reader required). |
ADDRESS:
14 Strong Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
413-584-1885
Located in Northampton's arts district and steps away from four acclaimed restaurants, Pedal to Properties and the Trailside Gallery also provide immediate access to a popular rail trail. You're just a few steps away from the restored Union Station and the rail trail that parallels the still-active main line. |
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Wild Birds Unlimited offering my Photos
Next time you're in Glastonbury, CT, please stop by and see the nice display of my photos that they are offering for sale. Prices are very reasonable.
UPDATE: I've pulled the display for now in order to display the matted prints at the Trailside Gallery.
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Remarkable Progress on the Lebanon Section of the Air Line Trail! - April 8th, 1010 update
As I was walking west of Leonard Bridge Road, I met Donna Koenig who heads the Lebanon Rails To Trails committee. She gave me an update on their progress and I followed up with a tour on foot and by car.
Briefly, the Lebanon section of the trail is complete from Hebron all the way east to Route 87. The next section, from Route 87 to Cook Hill Road just needs stone dust but is perfectly usable as is. Stone dust is scheduled for this year. The east side entry from Route 87 appears to run through private property but in fact is part of the trail right-of-way. On the east side of Cook Hill Road a farmer is using the trail property and further planning is necessary. Beyond the farm to Village Hill Road the trail is passable but not improved. I then went on via Rt 289 to Williimantic and found the trail crossing Kingsley Road close to the bridge over the river. That area has been roughly bulldozed and should be passable but a bit muddy. Donna tells me that they plan to complete the sections from Village Hill Rd. to Kingsley, and Kingsley to the Willimantic river this summer! Windham will be decking the bridge over the river. They are still in the planning stages.
Summing up, the Lebanon section is complete from the Hebron line all the way to Route 87. From Route 87 to Cook Hill Road, it's ready for stone dust this year. The section from Cook Hill Road to Village Hill Road will be postponed until the farm issue is resolved. The section beyond Village Hill Road is slated for completion this year, right up to the bridge. No specific date is available for decking the bridge leading into Willimantic.
Surfacing the Colchester Spur, March 25th, 2010
I'm pleased to report that surfacing of the Colchester Spur is nearly complete. Thanks to Park & Recreation director Richard Calarco for guiding the project along.
Red-shouldered Hawk, March 16th, 2010
My daughter Jill called me outside to see a hawk perched nearby. Over the course of 15 minutes or so, we watched as it caught and devoured three moles (or possibly voles). Please
have a look at my photos. |
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Magic
Wings, March 10th, 2010
Yesterday, I made another visit to the Magic Wings
Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield, MA. Please
have a look at my photos. |
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Colchester
Land Trust's Fine Art & Living Auction - April 2010
The Colchester
Land Trust Fine Art and
Living auction is underway There was an opening Artist's Reception at Cragin Memorial Library
in Colchester on Wednesday, April 7th. The gallery exhibit will remain open through April during library hours. As usual, all bidding will be online. Follow links at the CLT web site to view fine art, photos, sculpture, and wine items up for bids.
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I
contributed three of my photos.
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Alpine Asters
11x14" in 16x20" frame. |
Cecropia Moth
11x14" in 16x20" frame. |
Great Egret
11x14" in 16x20" frame. |
Clicking With Nature:
Even A Simple Digital Camera Can Capture Special Shots You'll Be Wild About
In
late January, 2010, Steve Grant asked for my input to a column he was writing on nature photography tips and techniques. His timing was perfect as just the week before I had presented "Nature Photography 101" to a large group in Colchester. I was able to share my Powerpoint slides and talking points in short order. Steve's column appeared in the February 6th
edition of the Hartford Courant. The
article was accompanied by several of my photos, in color, and a nice
portrait of me by photographer Bettina Hansen.
Stan Malcolm - Bettina Hansen photo, used with permission.
Copyright 2010, The Hartford Courant.
Read
the Hartford Courant article
These photos accompanied the article:
"Parahelia" - February 5th, 2010
While driving through Waterford, CT, I photographed this 360 degree rainbow parahelia, complete with lateral sundogs and an inverted rainbow arc above (not visible in this shot). Never seen one so dramatic. The pictures were taken before 10:00 AM and the effect was still partly visible at 2:00 PM.
Background: http://www.astropix.com/HTML/G_SUN/SUNDOGS.HTM |
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2010
Connecticut Audubon Society Photo Contest Results
January
30, 2010
I'm
pleased to say that my photo of a Jaguar won an
Honorable Mention award in the Conncticut
Audubon Society's 2010 Photography Competition.
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My photo of Bee Balm also won an
Honorable Mention award.
The
exhibit will be on display through February at the Audubon
Center in Glastonbury. There were a record 310 entries and the quality
overall was quite high, so well worth a visit if you're nearby.
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National Recreational Trails Photo Contest Winner - January 2010
American Trails has announced the winners of their 2009 National Recreational Trails Photo Contest. I was lucky enough to receive an award in the Environmental Features, Flora, and Fauna category. View complete contest results.
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My photos in Publications
Recently several of my photos appeared in Nature Reviews - Neuroscience and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. The Nature Reviews article by Jerome Seigel is titled "Sleep viewed as a state of adaptive inactivity." Two Dermatology journal articles by Eric Hossler dealt with "Dermatological manifestations of encounters with Lepidoptera." My Saddleback caterpillar photos (sample at right) show the stinging spines designed to break off at the slightest touch. |
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My Saddleback caterpillar photos made the cover of the January 2010 issue of "JAAD", the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. I can just imagine future grad students in Dermatology coming across that cover while flipping through research library copies and being more than a little startled by it! "What the heck is that?!?"
Several more photos are scheduled to appear in Pearson Publications' new 5th Grade Science textbook, National Wildlife Federation's upcoming Field Guide to Wildflowers and David Wagner's next revision of his Caterpillars of Eastern Forests. These published photos give me great pleasure. |
"Fall in New England" Photo Contest Results
December 6th, 2009. I'm pleased to say that my black and white image of poke berries took First Place in PhotoConnection's latest contest.
Another of my photos (below) was awarded Honorable Mention in the color category.
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Construction at Cranberry
Bog - December 2nd, 2009
Construction on Flanders Road, across Cranberry Bog from the East Hampton
trailhead, seems to be progressing. (Abundant materials nearby suggest that more is to be done, presumably further east along the road, or at least beyond the marsh.) Not being an East Hampton resident and thus quite out of the local loop, I'm not sure if the project is to install sewers or storm drainage. though I'm guessing the former. |
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| Repairs to the outlet standpipe that maintains water levels in Cranberry Bog have not been attempted by the landowner. The standpipe broke off at its base last June. Hopefully construction at the road and in the marsh will be completed before waterfowl return in the spring. |
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Eight
Years of Air Line Trail Photos!
The
first photos I posted to this site were taken on November 19th,
2001 - eight years ago today as I write this in 2009.
Conservatively, I can say that I've
posted in excess of 4,000 photos, and walked well over 5,000 miles.
You can view some of those earliest photos by clicking the thumbnail to the right. (Thankfully, my photography has improved since then.) |
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7th
Annual Ghost Run/Relay - November 7th, 2009
The
Air Line Trail hosted the 7th annual Ghost Run/Relay on Saturday,
November 7th, 2009. As usual, the race started at 9:00 A.M. from Hebron Elementary School and ended at Center Elementary School in East Hampton. Follow these links for Photos and Race Results A few sample photos:
Promethea
Moth Life Cycle
I'm
rearing Promethea Moth caterpillars this summer. They're really
quite remarkable creatures, looking quite different from larval
instar to instar as they grow. Have a look!
The
giant silk moths of the family Saturniidae are increasingly
rare in New England as a result of parasites and diseases introduced
to control Gypsy Moth outbreaks. By rearing caterpillars and
releasing adult moths, I contribute a bit to maintaining their
presence in the wild.
In
the past, I've also posted photos of the Cecropia
Moth Life Cycle:
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Cranberry
Bog in Trouble - June 23rd 2009
Within
the past couple of days, the outlet standpipe that maintains water levels in Cranberry Bog near the East Hampton
trailhead has broken off at its base. After 35+ years in place,
it's not surprising that it has rusted away. Most of the water
in the scenic bog has drained, leaving plants and stinking mud
exposed. |
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| Turtles
have been "abandoning ship", crossing the parking lot
in search of water. The resident Canada Geese are molting and
have still-flightless young so they are more than usually vulnerable
to predators. |
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At
Smith Street, the standpipe used by the fire department to fill
their tanks has very little water to draw from.
I
was surprised to learn that Cranberry bog is privately owned,
not itself a part of the Air Line Trail. I hope a resolution
to the water problem can be found quickly, while respecting
the rights and good will of the property owner. |
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"No
Child Left Inside" meets the Air Line Trail
The
DEP's No
Child Left Inside "Great Park Pursuit" program visited the Air Line Trail on May 30th.
Standing,
from left to right are State Parks Director Pam Adams, DEP staffers
Naomi Davidson and Rachael Sunny. Below them is volunteer Adam Chanski.
DEP
Staff and Volunteers were out by 7:30 AM to set up, anticipating large
crowds.
The
parking lot on Route 85 in Hebron was soon filled beyond capacity.
Bicycles were available for loan.
And
the trail swarmed with parents and children eager to collect clues
and stamp their worksheets as they visited "birdhouse" stations along
the trail.
Colchester
Land Trust Clean-Up Day and Air Line Gateway Property sign installation
- April 25, 2009
The Colchester
Land Trust held a clean-up day on the Air
Line Trail and their adjacent Air Line Gateway Property. Here
the "crew" poses with the newly installed signboard,
provided by Ford Folios' owner and CLT board member, Barry Ford. The sign is located close to the Air Line Trail, roughly 500
feet east of the Bull Hill Road crossing. |
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As they did with the large Air Line Trail signboards and color
brochures, Ford Folios used a number of my photos to illustrate
the sign. (The three smaller images on the signboard are mine.)
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Colchester
Land Trust's Online Auction - April
The Colchester
Land Trust held their annual fine art and
wine auction throughout April, 2009. There was an Artist's Reception at Cragin Memorial Library
in Colchester on Wednesday, April 1st, to mark the opening
of the gallery exhibit. All bidding was online.
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I
contributed three of my photos.
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Morning
Glory
11x14" in 16x20" frame. |
Dahlias
- CT Audubon Society first prize winner, 2006.
8x10" in 11x14" frame. |
Chinodoxia.
5x7" in 8x10" frame. |
Logee's
Greenhouse - Instant Summer on a Winter Day!
February
1st, 2009. Heat, humidity and the smell of jasmine in bloom.
If you can't visit Logee's in Danielson, CT, at least have a look at my photos: www.performance-vision.com/logees-2-1-09 |
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A
return visit to Logee's on February 27th.
Made
another trip to Logee's Greenhouses in Danielson, CT, today.
Got some good pictures - some of things I've seen there before,
but some new things too: www.performance-vision.com/logees-2-27-09 |
2009
Connecticut Audubon Society Photo Contest Results
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January
30, 2009
I'm
pleased to say that my photo of mating Cecropia Moths won
1st place in the Butterflies and Bugs category of the Conncticut
Audubon Society's 2009 Photography Competition.
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My
photo of a garden Poppy won 2nd place in the Plants, Wild
or Domestic, category.
The
exhibit will be on display through February at the Audubon
Center in Glastonbury. There were 190 entries and the quality
overall was quite high, so well worth a visit if you're nearby.
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United
Distillers photo update
December,
2008. After hearing from the son of a former owner of the
United Distillers factory site, I had a walk through the property
yesterday. The result is a page of photos of the site as it
is today, five years after I last posted a photo essay about
United Distillers. In those five years, the site has deteriorated
badly through vandalism, illegal dumping, and weathering.
The chimney and building are clearly unsafe.
Through
nature's succession, the land itself is growing up around
the structures as shrubs and trees replace goldenrod and queen
anne's lace. Even so, there is a kind of beauty in the decay.
View
my photos of United Distillers 2008.
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Fall
Foliage Photo Contest Results
November
29th, 2008. Two
of my photos placed well in Colchester's PhotoConnection fall foliage photo contest which was judged this morning.
My
Frosted Oak Leaves earned 1st place. |
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And
this Oak placed 4th. |
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Surfacing
compete on the newest Lebanon section
November
10th , 2008. The Town of Lebanon has completed applying a stone
dust surface to section 2 which runs from Leonard Bridge Road
to Chesbro Bridge Road, a distance of roughly 1.1 miles. Time
and winter will pack the surface down but otherwise this section
is now complete. |
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My
Photos in the Hartford Courant
On
November 2nd, 2008, the Hartford Courant ran an article featuring
the Colchester section of the Air Line Trail. Initially, I was asked
to provide photos, but in the end the writer chose to build her text
around my enjoyment of the trail and this web site. You can view the
entire article online: Slowing
Down on the Straight-line Trail
6th
Annual Ghost Run - November 1st, 2008 PHOTOS
HERE!
The
Air Line Trail hosted the 6th annual Ghost Run on Saturday,
November 1st, 2008. The race started a few minutes late due
to registration of more than 300 runners. The weather was excellent! Complete
results are posted here
Here
are a few samples of the 146 images I've posted to FlickR:
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Albino
Grey Squirrel
I
can't resist sharing this photo of a rare albino Grey Squirrel, taken
on Flood Road in Marlborough, October 17th, 2008.
Section
2 of Lebanon trail renovations nearly complete!
August
21st, 2008. Today I checked out the newly graded section in
Lebanon from Leonard Bridge Road to Chesbro Bridge Road, a distance
of roughly 1.1 miles. They've done a beautiful job of grading
and drainage channeling. All that remains is to add stone dust
which the Town of Lebanon hopes to complete in the Fall. |
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Those involved are to be commended for creating this marvelous
extension to the finished trail. Special recognition is due
to the Lebanon Rails to Trails Committee and Nutmeg Gravel
& Excavating with whom they contracted for this work. Funding
for work on the Lebanon section of the Air Line Trail has
been provided by the National Recreation Trails Program. (More
info at www.ct.gov/dep/rectrails)
The
recent color Trail
Brochure and Map is available online in
PDF format.
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Korea
- 1972
Recently,
I discovered photos I'd taken during a year in Korea, courtesy
of the US Army. I began putting together a page of photos for
my oldest daughter, but the project soon expanded (as they have
a way of doing). If you'd like some vicarious travel - in time
and geography - have a look. Stan's
Korea Photos, 1972 |
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Visit
the Norwottuck Rail Trail in Southern MA.
Steve
Grant recently published a piece on the Norwottuck Rail Trail
which runs through Northampton, Hadley, and Amherst, Mass.
Highlights are the bridge over the Connecticut River, a nearby
ice cream shop, and bicycle rentals. Click here for Steve Grant's article and directions to the
trail (Sure wish the Air Line Trail had
a nearby ice cream shop!)
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Photoshop
Experiments
May,
2008. I've been experimenting with Photoshop; manipulating
natural images into slightly unnatural forms. Check
out the results.
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View
(and purchase) my Photos at Area Businesses
Recently,
I've placed different selections of my photos in two area shops. Both
stores are worth a visit to see their wide range of hand-crafted items.
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48
Main Street
Colchester, CT 06415
860-537-0234
Hours:
Mon, Wed, and Thur: 10AM - 6PM Tues: CLOSED
Sat: 10AM - 7PM
Sun: 11-5PM |
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The
Golden Egg Studio
325 West Main St
(Rte 66)
Hebron, CT 06231
860-228-0273
Hours:
Saturdays: 10:00am to
4:00pm
Sundays: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Other
times by appointment. |
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Colchester
Land Trust's Online Auction - April
The Colchester
Land Trust held their annual fine art and
wine auction through April, 2008. This year's proceeds went
into their land acquisition fund. Information is available
at their web site, or from Barry Ford (860-267-6751).
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Three
of my photos were among the items auctioned off.
They were all 11x14" prints, matted, in 16x20" frames. |
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Beaver's
Wake - CT Audubon Society first prize & people's choice
awards. |
Morning
Glories |
Frosted
Oak Leaves |
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Virginia
Beach
I
was in Virginia Beach from March 14th through 16th for my
son's soccer tournament. Check
out my pictures from the drive, and around
the Virginia Beach area.
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Lyman
Viaduct Repairs Complete
Today
(March 2, 2008) I had a look at the Lyman Viaduct and was pleased
to discover that emergency repairs were complete. |
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| Still need
some stone dust resurfacing in the spring, and the heavy equipment
hasn't yet been hauled away, but the trail is open and the unsightly
safety barriers around eroded sections are gone. |
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Lunar
Eclipse - February 20, 2008
I've
added a page for the Lunar
Eclipse My photos aren't great, but if you
missed the live event, they'll give you a sense of what it was
like. |
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| Sugar
Maple Trailside Inn
On
February 7th, 2008, I presented a slide show of Air Line Trail
photos to the Friends of the Southampton (MA) Greenway. Overnight
accomodations were provided by Craig and Kathy Della Penna at
their B&B in nearby Florence, MA. As you can see from the
photo, the Sugar
Maple Trailside Inn is just that - immediately
adjacent to a thriving rail-trail that leads into downtown Northampton,
MA. |
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Rapallo
Viaduct repairs Complete
I
walked to the Rapallo Viaduct on January 18, 2008. Emergency
repairs to the embankments are complete and all the construction
equipment is gone. Some minor grading will be required in
the spring once things warm up and settle.
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Lyman
Viaduct Receiving Emergency Repairs
As
explained in Peter Marteka's Hartford
Courant article work began this first week
of January 2008 to stem erosion of the Lyman Viaduct on the
Colchester section of the trail near Bull Hill Road. Work on
the Rapallo Viaduct in East Hampton, just to the west, is nearly
complete. The Lyman Viaduct portion of the trail will be closed
on weekdays while work is underway. |
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A
large sewer main is embedded in the viaducts. Erosion due to
people climbing or dirt-biking up and down the steep embankments
has threatened to expose and potentially rupture this pipe with
disasterous consequences for the watershed below. Of special
concern is Dickenson Creek, a popular local swimming spot, which
feeds the Salmon River.
The
project is expected to be completed in the spring. Discussions
are underway to develop a longterm solution to the problem. |
Colchester
Land Trust Receives Grant for Air Line Trail Gateway
The
Colchester Land Trust recently received a $95,000 grant from
the DEP to help fund purchase of the Air Line Trail Gateway
parcel of land adjacent to the trail at the junction with Bull
Hill Road. For more information, visit ColchesterLandTrust.org. |
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5th
Annual Ghost Run
The
Air Line Trail hosted the 5th annual Ghost Run on Saturday,
November 3rd, 2007, despite rain and near freezing temperatures. Complete
results at HITEKRACING.COM (Sorry, no photos
this year. I was out of town.) |
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Grant
Awarded for Trail Improvements in Colchester
The
junction of Route 149 and the Air Line Trail in Colchester is
about to receive an overhaul that should enhance safety. A "Cross
Alert" system will warn approaching motorists as trail
users near the intersection. As a byproduct, the system will
also track trail utilization. Contact Jason Cohen, Colchester's
Park & Rec Director, for more information. |
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East
Hampton Trail Closures
The
Air Line Trail in East Hampton will be temporarily closed, Monday
through Friday only, beginning Monday, October 22, 2007 through
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 from the Smith Street access point
to the area just past the Rapallo Viaduct. The trail will be
closed so that the culvert at the Rapallo Viaduct can be reconstructed.
The Airline Trail will be open weekends and the Ghost
Run scheduled for Saturday, November 3, 2007 will
take place as scheduled. |
|
|
Monarch
Butterfly Life Cycle
I've
added a page following the Monarch
Butterfly Life Cycle - specifically the
transitions from caterpillar to chrysalis, and chrysalis to
butterfly. The photos were taken using a series of caterpillars
collected in New Hampshire this summer.
|
Cecropia
Moth Life Cycle
I've
added a page following the Cecropia
Moth Life Cycle - based on the life and offspring
of a female moth which emerged from a cocoon found along the
trail. Cecropia moths are large and beautifully colored, and
the caterpillars are remarkable for their bright colors and
large size. |
|
|
Milestone
Yesterday,
June 12th, 2007, I posted my 2,300th photo to this site. I
began posting pictures in November, 2001. Remarkably, I'm
still finding new things to photograph, like the green heron
at the left posted yesterday to Spring
2007, Part 9.
|
Magic
Wings
I
hope you will enjoy my photos of Butterflies taken recently at Magic Wings in South Deerfield, MA. Magic
wings is just three miles northeast of I-91 exit 24 on Route
5. Same exit as Yankee Candle Co., which you'll pass. Magic
Wings opens daily at 9:00. Anytime is good, but early on weekdays
is least crowded.) |
|
|
Niagara
Falls
I
made a quick visit to the Canadian side of Niagara
Falls on May 2nd, 2007. The weather was
perfect and the falls spectacular.
|
Nat
Brown's Digital Art
Five
Years of Air Line Trail Photos!
The
first photos I posted to this site were taken on November 19th,
2001 - five years ago today as I write this.
Most
of those early photos look pretty dreadful to me now.
I
haven't counted lately, but conservatively I can say that I've
posted in excess of 1,700 photos - with no end in sight. |
|
Section
1 Surfacing Completed in Lebanon!
November
5th, 2006: Naomi
Davidson, Chairman of the Lebanon Rails to Trails
Committee, reports that "The stonedusting on 'Section 1' (between
Route 207 and Leonard Bridge Road) of the Lebanon stretch of trail
has been completed. I went out on it yesterday and it looks great! The
more folks we can encourage to use this section of the trail, the
better. We are continuing to work on the rest of the trail, and though
it will take some time until there is a finished surface for the entire
stretch of trail in Lebanon, most of it is passable."
So...
we've got another 1.7 miles in Lebanon to walk or ride - 2 miles including
the portion that's in Hebron. I got my first look at the new section
on November 9th.
The
view from Leonard Bridge Road
The
Lebanon trail comittee clearly spent a lot of effort working on drainage.
This section used to be awash with water.
Rita
the cat complained that her walk was too long. Nice to see a good
number of people and pets using the trail.
The
Town of Lebanon web site has several pages devoted to their portion of the Air Line Trail.
I believe maps of the section are available at Town Hall.
(Sorry,
cancelled due to heavy rain and dangerously high winds.)
On Saturday, October 28th, 2006, the trail
will host the
4th Annual "Ghost Run/Relay"
This 13.6 mile event starts at 9:00 A.M. from Hebron Elementary School
on Route 85, and ends at Center Elementary School in East Hampton.
Applications to participate are available at the Hebron Town Hall,
Park & Recreation Department. Also available at Colchester and
East Hampton Town Halls.
|
New
Hampshire
I've
just returned from a week in New Hampshire. Here's a sampling
of what I saw: NH-August
2006
|
Air
Line Trail Video Documentary
Bob
Adams has produced a short video about the Air Line Trail, focusing on the
section from East Hampton to Colchester. It's great fun to watch and
includes railroad history as well as fall foliage trail highlights. View
the video Bob and his wife Joyce hope to return
this fall to cover the Hebron portion of the trail, perhaps releasing
the combined piece for broadcast on public access television.
|
Flowers
- Garden & Roadside
I've
begun posting photos of garden and roadside flowers &
butterflies: Spring
2006
|
Surfacing
the Colchester Spur!
| Improvements
to the Hebron portion of the Colchester Spur line are well along.
On March 8th, 2006, Hebron's Public Works crew reached the intersection
with the main trail. |
|
The
Spur trail has been widened and leveled. Stone dust still needs
to be added and compacted. Hebron's section of the Spur ties
in with what Colchester has already finished.
|
|
Looking
back towards the main trail from the abandoned United Distillers
factory, you can see that the Spur adds some interesting new
options for trail users. |
|
Photography
Awards - 2006
 |
I'm
pleased to say that my photo of Dahlias won 1st place in the
Flowers category of the Connecticut
Audubon Society's 2006 Photography Competition. |
|
My
photo of a Great Blue Heron, taken in Raymond Brook Marsh,
won 3rd place in the Landscape category.
The
exhibit will be on display through February at the Audubon
Center in Glastonbury. There were a lot of entries and the
quality overall was quite high, so well worth a visit if you're
nearby.
|
World
Of Beauty In A Single Mile: Amateur Photographer Documents Nature's
Myriad Manifestations Along Air Line Trail.
In
mid-January, 2006, Steve Grant interviewed me during a walk on the
trail. The result was an article which appeared in the January 23rd
edition of the Hartford Courant. The
article was accompanied by several of my photos, in color, and a nice
portrait by photographer John Long.
Stan Malcolm - John Long photo, used with permission.
Copyright 2006, The Hartford Courant.
Several
days later, I discovered that Steve's column was syndicated by the
Associated Press and published in other Connecticut, Boston, and New
York papers. It even made WFSB-TV's web site. All this attention was
very unexpected, but very gratifying. Sincere thanks to Steve and
John, and to the Hartford Courant for giving space to nature and environmental
articles.
Read
the Hartford Courant article, reprinted at Martin Bartel's Air Line
Trail site
I received a number of e-mails after the article appeared. The most
common question was, "What kind of camera do you use?" Sigh. (It's not the camera.)
On
October 29th, 2005, the trail hosted the 3rd
Annual "Ghost Run/Relay". This 13.6 mile event
started from Hebron Elementary School on Route 85, and ended at Center
Elementary School in East Hampton. Brett Stueffler finished first
overall at a 5:46 pace, Jimmy Grant second at 5:49, Chris Shulten
third at 5:50. Claudia Camargo was first among women and fifth overall
at a 5:56 pace.
Complete
results at USAXC.COM
Claudia
Camargo (in red) placed first among women and fifth overall. Brett
Stueffler (in white) placed first overall.
Jimmy
Grant placed second overall.
Chris
Shulten finished third overall.
Runners
young, and not so young.
Regular
trail joggers, Jim Fracchia and Mark Tierney - though without their
dog today.
More
trail regulars - Carol Hassett, Donna Howell, and Maryellen Cillizza.
Thanks
to all who made the race run smoothy.
 |
Store!
Purchase
photos, T-shirts, Mugs, and more
|
Many folks have asked if I sell my photographs. To date, I've only
offered them through local library fund-raisers and the occasional
exhibition.
This
site has never been about making money. But it would be nice to recover
at least a fraction of my costs. So, if you like my photos and appreciate
the trail, please consider making a purchase. And if you don't find
your favorite photo for sale, please contact
me and I'll see if I can make it available.
Stan's SmugMug Photo Sales Galleries
Green
Circle Award
| The
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has honored
me with a Green Circle Award for my work on this web site. The
DEP established the GreenCircle
Award Program to recognize businesses, institutions,
individuals, and civic organizations who have participated in
projects that promote natural resource conservation or environmental
awareness. |
|
 |
Twenty-nine
awards were distributed at a reception held at the DEP's Sessions
Woods Wildlife Management Area in Burlington. Deputy Commisioner
David Leff announced the awards... |
|
...and
Commisioner Gina McCarthy presented them. |
Photography
Award - 2005
 |
I'm
pleased to say that my April 2004 photo, Beaver's Wake, won
1st place in the Animals category of the Connecticut
Audubon Society's 2005 Photography Competition.
It also won the People's Choice award. |
England
and Wales - January 2005
 |
I
spent the end of January visiting my daughter, her husband,
and my granddaughter in northern England. We also spent two
days in the mountainous Snowdonia National Park in Wales. Click
the link above for a virtual tour. |
Butterflies
at Magic Wings
| Just
posted my pictures of Butterflies from today's (January 18, 2005) family trip to Magic Wings. Nothing
too spectacular, despite taking over 100 pictures. Mostly my fault,
but many of the butterflies were old and tattered. Ah well, at
least the colors may help you all through this dreary winter.
Magic Wings in South Deerfield, MA, is a highly recommended destination
- especially as a cure to the winter blues: tropical temps and
humidity, flowers, and thousands of live butterflies. Magic wings
is just three miles northeast of I-91 exit 24 on Route 5. Same
exit as Yankee Candle Co., which you'll pass. Magic Wings opens
daily at 9:00. Anytime is good, but early on weekdays is least
crowded.) |
|
Gloria
Gery's Romania Journals
My professional colleague and friend, Gloria Gery, has made several
working visits to Tutova, Romania's "Failure to Thrive Clinic" for
children, a program sponsored through Global Volunteers. Click the
link to view Gloria's journals and photo galleries.
On
October 30th, 2004, the trail hosted the 2nd
Annual "Ghost Run/Relay". This 13.6 mile event
started from Hebron Elementary School on Route 85, and ended at Center
Elementary School in East Hampton. Steven Moore of New Haven finished
first overall with a pace of 5:45 per mile. Complete
results at USAXC.COM Last year's event raised nearly
$600 for trail improvements.
Steve
Basson (left) and Lawrence Gore finished 8th and 7th respectively.
Bekkie
Wright of Marlborough finished 16th overall, was the second woman
across the line,
and was first in the women's 40-49 class.
John
LeShanef
(Photo by Barbara Emmons)
For
more information,
call John LeShane at
860-342-0658.
|
Support
Meshomasic Forever!
John
LeShane of Portland, founder and president of the Meshomasic
Hiking Club and a board member of the Middlesex
Land Trust, was joined by George Rolland
and Chuck Bernstein on a 45-mile hike Sunday, October 17th,
2004 to raise money for the Meshomasic Forever Wild Fund.
Guided by flashlight and starting at 2:30 A.M., the three
men hiked from Putnam to East Hampton on the Air Line Rail
Trail.
Meshomasic
Forever Wild Fund money is used to help conserve additional
land in the Meshomasic Forest, established in 1903, making
it New England's oldest state forest. LeShane said 50 percent
of the Meshomasic landscape is not protected and can be developed
at any time. The concern is that as development pushes into
the Meshomasic Forest, it is in danger of becoming so fragmented
that it would no longer provide the habitat needed for wildlife
such as songbirds, ruffed grouse, bear, hawks, turkey, fox,
coyote, fishers or rattlesnakes. Rolland, an avid hiker and
member of the hiking club, joined LeShane because he is concerned
about Meshomasic Forest and enjoys the Air Line Trail. Rolland
hopes that supporters will sponsor them at $1 a mile, but
any donation is appreciated. Donations should be sent to the
Middlesex Land Trust, 27 Washington St., Middletown, CT 06457. Checks should have a notation on them that they are for the
Meshomasic Forever Wild Fund. (Text
adapted from an article in the October 13th Hartford Courant.)
|
John
Walsh of Hebron's Boy Scout Troop 28 poses with one of five
map boards he erected along the trail. These signs represent
his Eagle Scout service project and are located at major road
crossings. Thank you John!.f |
|
On
September 13th, 2004, I posted my one
thousandth photo to this Air Line Trail web site.
(I began the site in November, 2001.)
|
On
Sunday, May 16th, 2004, there was a combined 5 or 10 kilometer
walk or 25 kilometer bicycle ride on the trail, sponsored by the
Hardware City Hoofers and the Connecticut Valley Volkssport Club.
Reporting on the event, the June issue of the "Walk 'n Mass"
newsletter says, "Our nominee for “Pleasant Surprise Walk of the
Year” goes to the Connecticut Valley Volkssport Club’s event in
Amston, CT on May 16. The walk on the Air Line South State Park
Trail was a naturalist’s dream with a listing of 23 plants that
could be seen on the trail during May provided with the walk directions.
Also spotted along the trail were such birds as a scarlet tanager
and a turkey buzzard."
For
more information on CT Volkssport, contact:
Andy
Fal 860-828-5750, or Carol
West 860-721-1185 |
| England: In
late April, 2004, I was in England where my family visited with
my daughter, her husband, and their child Hazel (my first grandchild).
They live in Bollington, in northern England, and have access
to a wonderful variety of walking trails - most with a pub nearby
to break up the trip. We also managed two days in London seeing
the tourist sights. Care to see my England
trip pictures? |
|
|
Flowers & Butterflies: Also
"off-trail", I've begun posting photos of garden and
roadside flowers & butterflies: Spring
2004 - Summer
2004 |
My
interview for a segment of Public Radio's "Field Notes"
was broadcast on Monday, April 19th 2004, by WFCR, Amherst, MA (88.5
FM). Laurie Sanders hosts a series of Morning Edition segments exploring
significant natural areas, special plants and animals, and "natural
happenings" in the Connecticut River watershed.
Archives of "Field Notes" programs, including the Air Line
Trail piece, are accessible at WFCR's web site (http://www.wfcr.org/field_notes/naturalareas/index.html).
(Scroll down to "Trails" to find my Air Line Trail interview.)
Laurie's previous shows are a joy - please check them out too.
Want to try something different outdoors? Consider "Letterboxing".
There are a number of letterboxes on the Air Line Trail. See if you
can find them. (Naturally, if you do find them, please treat them
with respect.) For basic info on Letterboxing, see: Letterboxing
North America For letterboxes in Connecticut, including
some on the trail, see: CT
Regional Letterbox Guide An easy letterbox to start
with is: In
Memory of Brandi
Please
visit my Gallery at Photo.net. There you'll find pictures taken "off-trail"
as well as some favorites from my Air Line Trail collection.
| I
hope you will enjoy my photos of Butterflies taken at Magic Wings in South Deerfield, MA. (A highly recommended
destination - especially as a cure to the winter blues: tropical
temps and humidity, flowers, and thousands of live butterflies.
Magic wings is just three miles northeast of I-91 exit 24 on Route
5. Same exit as Yankee Candle Co., which you'll pass. Magic Wings
opens daily at 9:00. Anytime is good, but early on weekdays is
least crowded.) |
|
|
Chris
Shafer is a friend who does marvelous, light-hearted paintings
of "suburban fauna." Please visit his Gallery |
| I'm
sure we get trail visitors from afar, but I'm pretty sure we don't
get many from as far away as Joe and Sue Salembier, visiting from
Scottsdale, Arizona. I met them on the trail July 1st, 2003. Thanks
to Hebron's Bob Parker of Cycle Escape for renting them bikes
and even dropping them off at the Route 85 trail head. Joe &
Sue learned about the Air Line Trail through the Rails-to-Trails
Conservancy's web site; which, in turn, led
them to this web site. |
 |
Out
of 88 entrants, "Along the Air Line..." was chosen winner
in the best use of photographs category of the American
Trails 2003 Website Contest.
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Local
Attractions and Lodging
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Cato
Corner Farm - Gourmet Cheeses
"World-class...
some are wonderfully spicy and pungent. All it takes is one
bite of their most popular offering, the Belgian-inspired Bridgid's
Abbey, and you'll swear off bland, pasteurized cheese forever."
- Town and Country magazine, October 2001
Learn
more about Cato Corner Farm
Open
for drop in sales at the farm Saturdays only: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
|
Priam
Vineyards
The
vineyards are beautiful throughout the year for picnicking and
touring. Take a picnic to the top of the vineyard and enjoy
the 35 mile view or bring a picnic for the wine patio. Add local
cheeses available for purchase in the tasting room, that beautifully
compliment Priam Vineyards' wines. Enjoy the tasting room gallery
where regional artists are displayed. Pick up your entire meal
of fresh CT. grown products here at our seasonal Farmer's Market
in the vineyard above the winery parking lot. Local Ct. Grown
fruits , vegetables, fish, fresh made desserts, breads, cheeses
will be available July through October.
Learn
more about Priam Vineyards |
SUMMER HOURS
March - December Fri., Sat., Sun. & select holidays, 11am-5pm
for tastings and self-guided tours of the vineyard
Farmer's Market in the Vineyard every Sunday, 12pm - 4pm July
8 through October 7
|
 |
We
presently produce 13 different wines which are released at different
times throughout the year. Our white wines are: Jeremy River White,
Salmon River White, Blackledge White, Cayuga, Barrel Select Chardonnay,
Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Late Harvest Riesling. Our red wines
are: St. Croix, Salmon River Red, Salmon River Red-PV, Westchester
Red and Essence of St. Croix. |
Lodging:
Amston Manor
Historic
Amston Manor is a short walk away from the trail. John and Wendy
Raymond offer a suite of rooms for guests with breakfast optional.
Learn
more about Amston Manor
I've
toured the accomodations and they are awesome. The price is very reasonable. Lake privileges. Come for a weekend
or a week, walk the trail, and check out the other attractions
of eastern Connecticut. |
|
 |
This
“Mansion on the Hill” was built in 1929 by Charles Ams who owned
the town of Turnerville and changed the name to the present day
“Amston.” The house sits on 10 acres of land with a pond, and
looks out over tree tops and a beautiful landscape. |
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2018
Hunting Seasons
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to TOP)
For
safety sake, please wear bright colors during hunting seasons. Consider marking your dogs with a bright
bandana, especially if you or they explore the woods off the
main trail. Hunting is not permitted on Sundays or most holidays. |
Deer
| As
I interpret the DEEP
Deer Hunting Seasons
deer may be hunted from September 15th through January 31st.
However, the greatest danger period on State and Private Lands seems to be from November
1st through December 31st when rifles, revolvers, and shotguns are permitted. At other times, only bows or shorter range muzzle-loading rifles
are allowed. Please visit the
DEEP site
and draw your own conclusions about dates- I find the site utterly confusing. |
|
Turkey
| Turkey may be hunted with a bow from September 15th through
December 31st. Because
of the short range of arrows, little risk to trail users is
likely. Firearms
may be used to hunt turkeys from October 6th through October
31st. Note that there is a spring 2019 turkey season as well, from roughly April 25th through May 26th. Learn
more at the DEEP web site. |
|
Waterfowl
| Ducks may be hunted from October 6th through October 13th, and again
from November 10th through January 10th. Learn
more at the DEEP web site. |
|
 |
In
our area, Canada Geese may
be hunted from October 13th through 20th, and November 10th through January 10th. Learn
more at the DEEP web site. Note: we are in the North Zone and the NAP-H Unit of the DEEP map. |
Waterfowl Hunting MAP for Raymond Brook Marsh
Hunting is not permitted from the Air Line Trail or on the embankments immediately adjacent to it. Hunters in the DEEP Wildlife Management Area on the north side of the trail (clearly marked by signs) must be physically in the marsh and respect the rights of recreational trail users. Please hold your fire when trail users are within 100 yards. Note especially that all of of the Marsh to the south and east of the Air Line Trail is Town of Hebron open space. Hunting is not permitted.
View areas where hunting is allowed or restricted
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