Monthly Archives: September 2013

9 Town Transit Welcomes Eight New Buses

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First Selectman Carl Fortuna, First Selectman Ralph Eno, First Selectman Dick Smith, Leslie Strauss, First Selectman Noel Bishop, John Forbis and First Selectman Norman Needleman (Photo courtesy of Roland Laine).

From left to right, Old Saybrook First Selectman Carl Fortuna, Lyme First Selectman Ralph Eno, Deep River First Selectman Dick Smith, Leslie Strauss, Westbrook First Selectman Noel Bishop, John Forbis of 9 Town Transit and Essex First Selectman Norman Needleman prepare to cut the ribbon to celebrate the roll-out of 9 Town Transit’s newest buses.  (Photo courtesy of Roland Laine).

Shoreline transit users are getting a more comfortable — and colorful — ride thanks to eight new buses introduced over the past several months.

The new buses rolled out by 9 Town Transit (9TT) include the region’s first two low-floor buses.  These buses have no steps inside, making it easier for passengers to board.   Each bus also offers a ramp for people utilizing wheelchairs or walkers instead of the traditional wheelchair lifts.  With this delivery, the fleet now has five hybrid electric buses.  Hybrid technology saves fuel and emissions, resulting in reduced cost and environmental impact.  The 9TT fleet is now 40 percent hybrid electric.

9 Town Transit does not only rely on hybrid vehicles to save fuel.  There are two diesel buses and one mini bus that also service the district.  The diesel powered buses consume 40 percent less fuel than their gasoline counterparts.  The mini bus has improved gas mileage over the traditional 12-passenger-buses and is easier to navigate into residential driveways for our dial-a-ride passengers.

The purchase represents the largest single year vehicle investment in 9TT’s history at a total price tag of $873,073.  The project was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Federal Transit Administration, the Connecticut Clean Fuels Program and the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

9 Town Transit provides service to all parts of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook, with connections to New Haven, New London and Middletown. All services are open to the general public.

Additional information, route maps and schedules are available online at www.9towntransit.com or by calling 9 Town Transit at 860-510-0429.

Old Lyme Land Trust Hosts Swallow Boat Cruise, Sept. 28

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swallow migrationThis trip is now full, but a waiting list is being held in case of cancellations.  

On the lower Connecticut River we are fortunate  to be able to witness many spectacular avian happenings.  One highlight of the birding year on the river is the tree swallow concentration that can be found each fall starting in August and running through early October.

During fall migration, hundreds of thousands of tree swallows congregate in this area and at sunset settle in on a giant communal roost.  The birds come from as far away as 30 miles and converge at dusk, often creating a “ballet” and “funnel” of birds before and as they settle down to roost on Goose Island.

The renowned ornithologist and artist Roger Tory Peterson was introduced to this phenomenon by Old Lyme Land Trust Steward Hank Golet.  Peterson wrote, “I have seen a million flamingos on the lakes of East Africa and as many seabirds on the cliffs of the Alaska Pribilofs, but for sheer drama, the tornadoes of tree swallows eclipsed any other avian spectacle I have ever seen.”

The Old Lyme Land Trust is hosting a Connecticut River cruise to view the swallows in action on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 5 to 8 p.m.  Tickets are $40 per person.  Wine, beer and soft drinks will be provided.  Bring your own picnic supper if you wish.

Contact Ted Mundy at 860-434-5674 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Alternatively, join Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel naturalists on Wednesdays or Sundays from Aug. 25 through Oct. 6 as they journey down river aboard RiverQuest to see the spectacular display.  Bring a picnic supper  and your favorite beverage to enjoy on the trip.

Tickets are $40.   Call 860-767-0660 or 1-800-996-8747 or register online at https://ssl.charityweb.net/ctaudubon/event/eaglecruises.htm or visit www.ecotravel.ctaudubon.org and click on Day Trips.  Scroll down to the link.

Old Lyme’s Hillhouse Leads Project to Install Buoys in Front of Custom House Maritime Museum, Christening Today

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The two buoys stand patiently awaiting their christening this morning.

The two buoys stand patiently awaiting their christening this morning.

Today, New London Mayor Daryl Finizio will be guest of honor as the New London Maritime Society (NLMS)–Custom House Maritime Museum officially christens two eight-foot shallow-water marine buoys installed at the Bank Street museum.  The event, which is free and open to the public, takes place this morning at 10 a.m. in front of the Custom House Maritime Museum at 150 Bank Street, New London.

Placement of the buoys has been a year-long project of NLMS museum trustee and Old Lyme resident Jennifer Hillhouse. Hillhouse saw buoys installed at other maritime sites and thought something similar in front the Custom House would make the sober, Greek-revival, granite building look, in her words, “more like a museum and less like a bank!”

With the help of local mariner Patrick Kennedy, Hillhouse found the pair of 1992 Type 3.5X8LC buoys through GSA surplus in South Weymouth, Mass.  Through her determined efforts accompanied by the intervention of Senator Andrea Stillman, the buoys were transported to Connecticut, stripped, cleaned and repainted–with US Coast Guard (USCG) decals applied.  Remarkably, all the work and materials to cart and restore the buoys were donated.

Faced with the expensive prospect of creating two concrete pedestals on which the buoys would stand, the NLMS turned  in February of this year to the City of New London’s Facade Improvement Program.  This program, administered by Ned Hammond, the City’s Economic Development Coordinator, helps fund improvements to the street-side ‘face’ of downtown businesses.

Pouring the concrete for the buoy bases.

Pouring the concrete for the buoy bases.

The buoy application went by the Facade Program’s Review Committee, which contributed a number of excellent suggestions to improve the base design, and last week two round, black-dyed concrete bases were poured by contractor Jon Graziano.

The twin red and green buoys were set in position early yesterday morning, Sept. 8.  A party for all involved in the buoy production is scheduled to be held at the Custom House Maritime Museum later this month.

The NLMS wishes to thank the many volunteers, who donated both their time and materials to this effort: Odd Brevik (New England Pump & Valve), USCG Chief Raymond Casher, Mark Ferriera (GSA), Robert Getman, Job Grazioano, Ned Hammond and the New London Facade Committee, Jeff Hedberg (Sherwin Williams), Ken Hillhouse, Mike Hillhouse, USCG Senior Chief Mary Kathleen McSweeney, Daniel Miller, Ray Miller and staff (USCG buoy depot, South Weymouth, MA), James Salmon (City of New London Building Inspector), Senator Andrea Stillman, Jamie Taft (Pittsburgh Paint), Bob Thomas (Ring’s End Paint), and–most of all–Jennifer Hillhouse of Old Lyme, NLMS trustee and leader of this project.

The New London Maritime Society – Custom House Maritime Museum, which now owns both Pequot and Race Rock Lights, currently is developing its exhibition about area lighthouses and other Aids to Navigation.  Among these ‘other aids’ are beacons, light ships, fog horns and buoys.  In fact, in the mid-20th century, New London’s Custom House Pier was home to the USCG buoy tender Redwood, which kept dozens of assorted buoys stacked out behind the Custom House on the pier.

Today’s buoy-christening event is part of NLMS’s 30th Anniversary Celebration — it also marks the official launch of the museum’s 2013 Fall Season.