Conservation district will honor Wesleyan professor and others

MIDDLETOWN — A Wesleyan University professor whose website connects local farmers with people looking to add fresh, organic, sustainably grown produce to their diets is among individuals to be celebrated this month by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District.

Rosemary Ostfeld, an interdisciplinary environmental scientist at Wesleyan University in Middletown, founded Healthy PlanEat, a start-up business through which farmers can sell their food to local buyers, a year ago. She will receive a special merit prize, according to a press release.

The district’s virtual 73rd annual meeting will take place Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. and include a look back on its 2019-20 accomplishments.

Also featured will be a presentation on the Connecticut River invasive aquatic plant survey, and the threat of hydrilla by Greg Bugbee and Summer Stebbins of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. A brief business meeting will precede the program.

Additional conservation awards to be presented include the Tom ODell award for Outstanding District Service to Jim Costello, former board member at the conservation district; the Environmental Project award to Greg Bugbee and Summer Stebbins of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; and a certificate of appreciation to Sandy Weiss of the conservation district.

To register, and for meeting access information, call 860-346-3282 or email ctrivercoastal@conservect.org.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Rosemary Ostfeld, an environmental scientist at Wesleyan University in Middletown, will be honored Nov. 19 by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District for her website, Healthy PlanEat.