To the Editor:

I want to express my personal appreciation, along with that of Aquarion Water Company (AWC), for the volunteers that helped with an Earth Day Project on April 29, on the banks of the Pootatuck River at the Newtown Well Field. Aquarion Water Company through its Green Team invests in projects to improve the environment in the communities it serves. This project provided a riparian buffer to filter runoff, stabilize the stream, and provide cooling shade for this wild native brook trout stream during the hot low flow periods.

Thanks to Sarah Middeleer, former Pootatuck Watershed Association and member of Protect Our Pollinators, who did the planting design, incorporating various native plants to benefit wildlife and insects. Dan Holmes of Holmes Fine Gardens also provided valuable input plus donated manpower and equipment to unload and place the larger trees that could not be handled by hand.

Volunteers included seven Aquarion employees plus 11 Newtown High School Forestry Club and National Honor Society students who were: Laura Augenbraun, Izy Cadoff, Nancy Chung, Emma Curtis, Hannah Daly, Robert Disibio, Rebecca Filiato, Sarah Grant, Sydney Howard, Katie Jones, and Grace O’Connell, along with their club sponsor Fawn Georgina. Everyone worked hard and completed grubbing out grass, digging holes, planting, mulching, fencing, and staking over 53 plants in just under four hours. The results of this project were excellent. Peg Ragaini, NHS counselor, helped to sign up the students and made arrangements for their safe travel to and from the project.

Thanks everyone for helping to keep Newtown a special place for all things living.

Randy Walker, Aquarion Green Team Member, Board Member of PWA

11 North Branch Road, Newtown         May 6, 2019