Environmental champions to be honored Oct. 3

MIDDLETOWN — The Rockfall Foundation recently announced the recipients of its 2019 Environmental Champion Awards, to be presented at the foundation’s annual meeting, Grants & Awards Celebration, at 6 p.m., Oct. 3.

The Essex Land Trust and Pat Young will receive Tom ODell Distinguished Service Awards, honoring their longterm accomplishments in environmental conservation and preservation. Certificates of Appreciation will be presented to Katie HughesNelson of Perk on Main, and Bill Hesbach of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association and Connecticut Queen Breeders Cooperative.

The meeting and celebration is open to the public and takes place at the deKoven House Community Center, 27 Washington St., Middletown. More information can be found at www.rockfallfoundation.org.

The Essex Land Trust, entirely supported by volunteers, has been a leader in the area for eradication of invasive plants and supporting fish populations. It actively manages over 900 acres of town open space, including its 23 preserves with over 55 trails maintained with 2000 volunteer hours annually. Amongst other accomplishments, ELT has collaborated to install fishways on two dams on Falls River, expanded open space corridors such as the 1000 Acre Preserve, protected the Essex Great Meadows, and raised public awareness of ospreys by a live stream from their OspreyCam on Thatchbed Island.

Pat Young of Marlborough has a career spanning over thirty years working to protect natural resources in the state. For the last ten years, Pat has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Eightmile and Salmon River Watershed groups. She also currently serves on the CT Sea Grant Extension Advisory Board, the CT River Coastal Conservation District Board, the CT Conservation Advisory Council to Senator Murphy’s Office, and is a community partner in the UConn Natural Resources Conservation Academy Program.

Katie HughesNelson of Durham opened the first Perk on Main location in 2002. Now located on Main Street in Middletown, her goal is to help bring forth an environmentally sustainable and socially just human presence on earth. Perk on Main buys fairly traded, organic and/or local products whenever possible, purchases 100% wind energy, generates no more garbage than an average single family home by turning food waste into mulch, provides filtered water to decrease the need for bottled water, encourages using a coffee travel mug, and donates coffee grounds to local gardens and farms.

Bill Hesbach of Cheshire is a Certified Master Beekeeper who teaches bee biology and basic beekeeping in Connecticut and throughout the United States. Bill is president of the Connecticut Queen Breeders Cooperative, serves on the board of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association, and works with the Eastern Apicultural Society as an educator and evaluator of aspiring Master Beekeepers. Bill also holds monthly “Bee Talks” at deKoven House in Middletown where beekeepers from all over the state gather to share beekeeping knowledge.

Founded in 1935 by Middletown philanthropist Clarence S. Wadsworth, The Rockfall Foundation is one of Connecticut’s oldest environmental organizations. The Foundation supports environmental education, conservation and planning initiatives in the Lower Connecticut River Valley through public programs and grants. In addition, The Rockfall Foundation operates the historic deKoven House Community Center, which offers meeting rooms and office space for nonprofit organizations.

For additional information about the 2019 Environmental Champion Awards, the Rockfall Foundation, or the Oct. 3 event, go to www.rockfallfoundation.org or call 8603470340.