Cheshire
Land Trust
Cheshire Land Trust
Preserving Land as a Living Resource Since 1969News, Notes & Happenings
CLT produces The Balance Sheet twice a year. The newsletter is mailed to members, business owners and local officials. The name for the newsletter was coined by Tom Pool, an energetic and dedicated past president who had his hand in many things to help grow the fledgling organization. Balance is derived from our mission...to preserve open space while respecting the needs for the community to grow and develop. The name also demonstrates the importance the governing board places on its accountability to members.
Newsletters
We need your help Monitoring for Emerald Ash Borer
Presence of the Emerald Ash Borer in Prospect, CT, Cheshire’s neighboring community to the west, was recently confirmed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES).
The Emerald Ash Borer is responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees from the midwest to New York State and south to Tennessee. Ash makes up about 4% to 15% of Connecticut’s forests and is a common urban tree.
According to the DEEP, "The EAB is a small and destructive beetle, metallic green in color, and approximately 1/2 inch long and 1/8 inch wide. Adults emerge from the bark of infested trees leaving a small “D”-shaped exit hole roughly 1/8 inch in diameter. This insect is native to Asia and was first discovered in the Detroit, MI and Windsor, Ontario regions of North America in 2002. It has since spread through the movement of firewood, solid-wood packing materials, infested ash trees, and by natural flight dispersal.
The Cheshire Land Trust in interested in learning about any potential EAB sightings on or around CLT property. If you think you may have spotted EAB on Cheshire Land Trust property, please visit www.ct.gov/dep or www.emeraldashborer.info to verify if the insect looks like the one you saw. If it looks like emerald ash borer or emerald ash borer damage, please call the CAES at 1-203-974-8440, and notify the Cheshire Land Trust at 203-806-5165.
Under the heading of "Older News"...take a look back at CLT events....
Cheshire Land Trust celebrates its 40th with Art in Good Taste Event.
Staged in the open fields of Ives Farm, against the backdrop of the setting sun, Cheshire Land Trust celebrated its 40th anniversary with "Art in Good Taste" at the historic Ives Farm August 29th 2009. The exhibit and sale, attended by several hundred visitors showcased many very talented local artists and artisans. Artworks and crafts were on display and the farm itself, with its planted crop fields, historic barns, antique farming tools, and hiking trails was open for all to enjoy.
Along with the art, the wine tasting and the delicious food, delightful musical entertainment, with local musicians added just the perfect ambiance to create a memorable summer evening.
CLT Celebrating its Fortieth Year at the Cheshire Memorial Day Parade 2009. Larry Pivirotto created the float which was drawn over the two mile parade route courtesy of Tim Casey.
CLT members - Jim Mertz, Larry Pivirotto, Janice Yusza, Tim Casey, Kevin Wetmore
CLT rents new office space
May (2008) CLT president Kevin Wetmore announced that the governing board leased office space at 1030 South Main St. The modest office provides the trust with ample room to conduct regular and subcommittee meetings of the board and a consolidated location for file storage. Elim Park has generously made their conference room available for meetings for the past ten years but files were stored in various director's home offices. This move has helped towards getting everything in one place. Larry Pivirotto donated his carpentry skills while Jim Mertz and Kevin Wetmore painted the walls, replaced the carpet and hauled several donated file storage cabinets and tables (donated by SNET-AT&T) to the second floor office. Thanks to Bob Davis his hand carved lettered sign appoints the location.
Management Plan for Ives-Pelz Unveiled
The Mosaic Team
Dominique Gilbert, Dan Tesini, Kelsey Kidd, Teresa Sarroca, Rebecca Watters & Mark Kasinskas
CLT has made significant progress in developing a long term plan for the Ives farm and the adjacent 13 acre Pelz farm preserve. The plan addresses key areas of stewardship including soils, hydrology, woodland, riparian corridor, wildlife, public access issues and farming operations.
The management plan for the Ives-Pelz farm properties was recently unveiled to the governing board. Mark Kasinskas presented an overview of this comprehensive plan at the Annual Meeting held March 27, 2008.
Kasinskas and five other graduate students of Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies developed the advisory study based on months of work at the land trust farm properties.
The Harvest Festivals at Ives Farm
Membership Appreciation Day at Ives Farm - Sunday, October 14, 2008
Under near perfect skies throughout October, thousands celebrated the fall harvest days at Ives Farm. Tim and Dyan Casey have created a delightful experience for young and old for many years at Ives Farm. This year was even better with the introduction of a challenging corn maze made possible by the professionals at MazePlay.
Horse-drawn Hay Rides, Clowns, Fire Truck Slide, D.J., Rock Wall, Pony Rides and of course, the fabulaous Ives Corn maze added to the the month long excitement at Ives CLT joined in on the fun with a membership tour of the farm. Several families and dozens of cubscout's took a closer look at Ive's.
Corn Maze - Fall 2007
Four acres of strategically planted corn were planted at Ives Farm. This aerial photo was taken in August 18, 2007 when the corn was about 5 feet high. By early October the corn towered eight to ten feet and created two trails totaling nearly 3 miles. Hundreds experienced the MAZE CRAZE.
Cub Scouts from Pack 92 take time out for a photo-op. They joined in on one of many tours of Ives farm taken during Membership Appreciation Day, which was held at Ives Farm Oct. 14th during the Fall Harvest and Pumpkin Festival.
Ives Farm - Cheshire St. - October 15, 2006
Cheshire Fall Festival
Hundreds of people came to the Fall Festival at Bartlem Park September 9, 2006. The land trust booth was packed. People were excited by the recent acquisition of Ives Farm and the prospects for farming continuing there in the years ahead. They had many questions for CLT directors and volunteers. The prospect of new members unfolded throughout the day under a brilliant blue sky.
These interested Cheshirites look over aerial photos of Ives Farm with Dave Schrumm
Rick Marinaro works the crowd
This delightful image of Ives Farm was rendered by Carla Koch some 12 years ago. She displayed several of her Ives Farm watercolors at the CLT tent. The large barn is no longer there, a fallen relic of old age.
Summer Picnic at Mixville
Jo Kowalski - charter member - with her brother in-law Bernie
The Land Trust held its annual picnic at Mixville Pond August 17, 2006. The event was attended by 20 members and the highlight of the affair was Jo Kowalski. Jo is a charter member and served as CLT's treasurer for 25 years. She has recently returned home from a stint in a nursing home. She was a lively as ever as she told all, "I haven't missed a land trust picnic yet". Her brother-in-law Bernie, a regular at these summer gatherings, is seen in the photo above.
For more picnic pictures go to Photo from recent Events
Krampitz Bequest
CLT member Minnie Krampitz died in 2005. She bequeathed $80,000 to CLT. She and her brother Archie, who predeceased her some five years ago, were long time members. Their remarkable story follows. As of February 2007 CLT has received $155,000 form their estates.
Minnie was born on a farm on Peck Lane. The farm was purchased by her parents, immigrants from Germany, in 1911. The Krampitz family consisted of nine children, six girls and three boys. The farm was operated as a truck farm, delivering vegetable produce by horse and wagon daily to the Waterbury farm market. Their father, Ferdinand, is said to have grabbed an occasional cat-nap on the way home, but he was always returned home safely by horses that knew the route.
In later years the farm was operated by Archibald (Archie), August (Butz) and Whilhelmina (Minnie). They operated a popular farm stand on Meriden-Waterbury Road known as the Krampitz Farm Market selling fresh vegetables and flowers.
As the siblings advanced in age they sold the development rights to their farm to the State of Connecticut. Archie was among the first Connecticut farmers to take advantage of a new state program that was designed to sustain farming. The state bought the development rights and placed permanent deed restrictions on the land for farming use only. The Krampitz family retained a four acre parcel and Archie farmed a small garden into his nineties. John Romanik is the current owner of the former “Krampitz Farm” property and farming pursuits continue there to this day.
Minnie Krampitz was the last member in the local family lineage which has left a significant imprint upon Cheshire. Archie and Minnie Krampitz leave a lasting legacy in the name of farm and land conservation. Our town and the Cheshire Land Trust have truly been touched by their love for the land. CLT will most certainly convert this treasure into acres in the years to come.