Date: Fri 24-Nov-1995

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

camping-state-parks-winter

Full Text:

If You Love The Great Outdoors, The State Will Still Accommodate You

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

If you love nature and adventure, you can find both at four state parks and

forests through December 31. There is still time to lace up your boots, strap

on a pack, and - go camping?

Off season camping does not offer the amenities, activities, or communal

experience found during the regular season. But those who rough it during

colder weather usually discover that nature's rewards are plentiful and often

unexpected.

Kettletown State Park in Southbury, Housatonic Meadows State Park in Cornwall

Bridge, American Legion State Forest, and Pachaug State Forest allow camping

through the end of the year. In fact, you can even spend the Christmas

holidays roasting marshmallows over an open fire and hiking through miles of

wooded trails.

"There are less people for one thing; during the week it's deserted," said Tim

O'Donoghue, park and forest supervisor at Kettletown. "You can see a lot of

wildlife, birds migrating. In the winter there are animal tracks you can see."

There is no fee for camping this time of year, and no pre-registration.

Kettletown allows cross-country skiing, ice-fishing, and winter hiking on five

miles of trails in the park which link to the 2Â«-mile Pomperaug Trail outside

of park boundaries.

There is a catch-and-release trout fishery with year-round permit,

cross-country skiing and kyacking at Housatonic Meadows. Campers can drive a

short distance to nearby state forests where there are trails for snowmobiles

and mountain bikes.

Roughing it, however, means there are no showers, no garbage disposal

facilities (you must "pack out" what you bring in), and no flush toilets.

There are outhouses, however. Kettletown and Housatonic Meadows each have a

tap and hand pump as the only source of water. Fire rings and picnic tables

provide an area for preparing and enjoying meals, although many people choose

to cook on a camp stove, said Mr O'Donoghue.

The park supervisors will close the park and campgrounds if a bad snowstorm or

high winds are predicted. Campers should realize that the parks may not plow

out campground roads. Although supervisors are not on duty during the evening,

pay phones are available to get help in case of an emergency (call 911, or the

DEP at the 24-hour emergency dispatch 860-424-3333).

If you decide to brave the cold, be sure to waterproof your tent. Mr

O'Donoghue said people are not aware that, even with a new tent, you need to

apply seam sealer to prevent leaking. Campers should also have rugged boots,

warm/wool clothing, and sleeping bags suitable for temperatures in the teens,

he added.

Gary Nasiatka, park supervisor at Housatonic Meadows and four other sites,

suggests hikers also wear "400 inches of orange" on their upper bodies so

hunters can readily identify them. Hunting is not permitted in Housatonic

Meadows, but hunters will traverse the park to reach a connecting state

forest, he said.

Kettletown State Park

Georges Hill Road, Southbury

30 camping sites

Park Office: 203-264-5169

Housatonic Meadows State Park

Route 7, Cornwall Bridge

25 sites in wooded setting near Housatonic River

Park Office: 860-927-3238

American Legion State Forest

West River Road, Pleasant Valley

15 sites in pine woods

Forest Headquarters: 860-379-2469

Pachaug State Forest

Route 49, Voluntown

Mt Misery Campground

22 wooded sites

Forest Headquarters: 860-376-4075

For maps and additional information:

State Parks Division

Bureau of Outdoor Recreation

Department of Environmental Protection

79 Elm Street

Hartford, CT 06106-5127

Phone: 860-424-3200.

Nighthawk Track And Field Teams Host Meet

New Heights Vacation Bible School Returning

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

<< May 2026 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
26	27	28	29	30	1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	1	2	3	4	5	6

Log In

Date: Fri 24-Nov-1995

Leave a Reply Cancel reply