Save your appetite for the return of the Third Thursday Street Fest

Besides live music and other entertainment, the Willimantic Third Thursday Street Fest includes tables set up by local businesses, some offering samples of their goods and services. In prior years, for example, massage therapist Diane Marion has offered chair massages - a nice break for visitors after making a tour of everything going on on Main Street. Photo copyright 2011 by Brenda Sullivan.

Have you missed the Third Thursday Street Fest? Well, the new 2012 season begins this week on Thursday, May 17. Admission is free and all are welcome. Forecasts are for sunny skies and comfortable temps.

Downtown Main Street will be closed to traffic from 5 to 9 p.m., and the streets will be taken over by bands and other entertainers, food vendors of all kinds – from burgers to falafel – and tables with representatives of civic groups and other local organizations, as well as a variety of craftspeople and artists.

Good food tastes even better listening to the music by performers on the many stages at the festival, beginning at 6 p.m. until about 8 p.m.

Every year the Street Fest grows – drawing thousands of visitors from the area.

For details about each month’s music, food and other events, visit the web site at http://willimanticstreetfest.com (there you can also find an application to showcase your goods, services or band at a future Street Fest).

Third Thursday is also an opportunity to visit some of the restaurants, businesses, coffee shops and art galleries that make Downtown Willimantic special.

“Way uptown” is the home of Main Street Café and Brew Pub. That’s the one with all the awards, like the 2011 Best Brew in Connecticut, and 2010 6th Best Brew Pub in the World.

Then there is Cafémantic, in the beautifully renovated, colorful “Victorian” building with a large selection of fresh-made gourmet sandwiches and treats, as well as delicious coffees and teas.

Also on Main Street is the newly opened Fred’s Blues and BBQ and the City Side Deli.

The rock-climbing tower at the Willimantic Third Thursday Street Fest. Photo copyright 2011 by Brenda Sullivan.

Turn onto Church Street and find The Harp on Church, an Irish spot with tasty sandwiches and drink.

Go “way downtown” and you’ll find Tony’s Pizza, or buy their pizza by the slice at the Third Thursday Street Fest.

Also at the festival:

Domino’s Pizza with pizza and breadsticks; First Congregational Church with fried dough with various toppings; Hosmer Mountain Soda with its famous ice cream floats; Windham Bigg Play will have pulled pork and coleslaw; Wings Express selling Indian food like chicken tika masala, matter paneer and samosas; Ternullo Ministries offering French fries and onion rings; Chappy’s II has custom sausage and smoked products; Keiffer’s Kettle Korn also has Italian ice; Iglesia Corozon will have beef empanadas, rice with pigeon peas and roasted pulled pork; Raw Youniverse will make you an organic smoothie; and for your sweet tooth, cotton candy from St. Mary’s Church.

There truly is something for everyone at the Willimantic Third Thursday Street Fest – bring your friends and family.

Editor’s note:Please, if bringing your (friendly) family dog, keep him/her on a leash, plan to clean up after any accidents and bring some water because you, your children and your four-footed friend are likely to get thirsty. And if you have a good time at the festival, why not stop by the main information booth and buy a button to help support future fests. Each festival costs about $16,000 to produce. About $10,000 is covered through in-kind services and volunteer labor, leaving about $6,000 – which includes about $4,500 to pay performers, $1,000 for advertising and about $500 for insurance, Port-a-Potties, postage and other fest expenses.

Posted May 15, 2012, based on a press release from the Willimantic Third Thursday Street Fest organizers

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State invites you to design 2013 cover of boating guide

“Learning to Sail” on the Mystic River (shown cropped on the 2012 cover of the Connecticut Boater’s Guide), a pastel by Tina Campbell Lyman of Stonington, CT

If you are artistically inclined and have a love of boating, here is your chance to share your work with a large audience.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is sponsoring a competition for artwork for the cover of the 2013 Connecticut Boater’s Guide. The guide is a pocket-sized booklet containing updated laws and regulations, safety tips, and environmental information of interest to the boating public.

Approximately 92,000 guides are distributed statewide through marinas, town halls, libraries, boating classes and boat shows, in addition to being posted on the internet. (To view the 2012 Connecticut Boater’s Guide, click here )

This year, the competition is being conducted in tandem with the Gallery at Firehouse Square’s OpSail Plein Air Event. Juried submissions for the Connecticut Boater’s Guide Cover will be entered into the Plein Air Competition.

Submitted images should showcase Connecticut waterways and/or boating and the scene depicted should have been created within the last three years.

For the submission form and more details, click here.

The deadline to submit digital copies of the images is Monday, May 14, 2012.

Questions? Contact Katie Fogg at Fogg@aol.com or 860-443-0344 during state office hours.

Posted May 10, 2012

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Calling all bird-watchers

Tom Harrington will speak and show slides at the NOS meeting. His topic will be The Birds of Wisconsin, and the International Crane Foundation. Image source: Natchaug Ornithological Society

The Natchaug Ornithological Society (NOS) will have its first meeting of the year at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4, 2012 in the Buchanan Center at the Mansfield Library on Route 89 in Storrs-Mansfield.

Tom Harrington will speak and show slides at the NOS meeting. His topic will be The Birds of Wisconsin, and the International Crane Foundation.

The NOS board will meet before the program at 7 p.m.

All are invited to attend.

Also, a field trip is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Boston Hollow. In order to deal with the limited parking in Boston Hollow, we will meet at 7:30 a.m. at Ashford Elementary School on Route 89 and carpool from there.

Posted April 19, 2012

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Coventry High hosts dinner, raffle for Nathan Hale statue

Rendering of a statue of state hero Na­than Hale.

Coventry High School is hosting a Nathan Hale Memorial Fundraiser pasta dinner and raffle tonight, April 13.

The dinner is from 5: 30 to 8 p. m., in the high school café.

Tickets for the fundraiser are $ 10 for adults, $ 8 for seniors, $ 5 for children under 12 and children under 5 years old are free. Tickets will be available at the door. Take-out meals also will be available.

As of last week, the Nathan Hale Memorial committee had raised about $ 15,000 to bring a statue of the hero to Veterans Memorial Park off Lake Street.

Committee Chair Jean Risley said more than $ 30,000 is still needed to get the memorial finished.

Can’t make the dinner? You can still send donations to Nathan Hale Memorial Committee Treasurer Paul Jatkowski, 91 Upton Drive, Coventry, CT 06238.

Posted April 13, 2102

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Comedy, pasta, and medicinal teas among Friday’s local events

Babcock Library, 25 Pompey Hollow Road, Ashford, presents free workshop, Medicinal Teas – Grow Your Own at 7 p.m., Friday, April. 13. Presenter is from Topmost Herb Farm in Coventry, CT. Open to all. Photo courtesy of www.orientspiration.com

Some of the interesting events taking place in our area on Friday, April 13, 2012.

BENJAMIN’S CLOSET — CHAPLIN

The Chaplin Congregational Church, 43 Chaplin St., will re-open Benjamin’s Closet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

REFLEXOLOGY — MANSFIELD

Mansfield Senior Center, 303 Maple Road, Storrs, will offer reflexology appointments with Therese John at 10 a.m. Call Kathy for an appointment at (860) 429-0262.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE — UCONN

The Red Cross will host blood drives at the University of Connecticut — 2358 Alumni Drive and 626 Gilbert Road, Ext. — Storrs, from 11:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Info: (800) REDCROSS or visit www.redcross.org

SMILING SENIORS — MANSFIELD

Mansfield Senior Center, 303 Maple Road, Storrs, will host a program called “Smiling Seniors” presented by the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Interactive oral health education program offered for free.

PASTA DINNER AND RAFFLE FUNDRAISER

Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road, Coventry will host a Nathan Hale memorial fundraiser from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Cost is $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 children, under 5 are free. Tickets, call the high school at (860) 742-7346, ext. 165 or Captain Nathan Hale Middle School at (860) 742-7334, ext. 325.

SVFD COMEDY NIGHT 11

The Scotland Volunteer Fire Department will host “SVFD Comedy Night 11” at 7 p.m. at the Elk’s Lodge, 198 Pleasant St., Willimantic. Tickets are $20 and can purchased online at www.svfd16.com, at J&S Radio Sales, Main Street, Willimantic, or by calling (860) 450-1525, ext. 12.

MEDICINAL TEAS — GROW YOUR OWN

Babcock Library, 25 Pompey Hollow Road, Ashford, presents ‘Medicinal Teas – Grow Your Own’ at 7 p.m. Free program and plants will be available for purchase. Presenter is from Topmost Farm in Coventry.

PROGRAM ON SAMUEL AND ELIZABETH COLT

William Hosley will present an illustrated talk, “Sam and Elizabeth: Legend and Legacy of Colt’s Empire” at the Buchanan Auditorium at the Mansfield Public Library at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free for members and children under 16; $3 for non-members. Sponsored by the Mansfield Historical Society.

Posted April 13, 2012

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Visit some of your favorite farmers at the Storrs Winter Farmers Market March 10

Some colorful free-range chicken eggs.

Don’t forget, Storrs Winter Farmer’s Market continues through April. The remaining dates are March 10, March 24, April 14 and April 28, 2012. The market is open 3 to 5 p.m. at the Mansfield Public Library on Route 85 – in the Buchanan Auditorium.

Remember, eating food in season and grown locally is a great investment in the local economy and your good health. And besides – fresh tastes better!

Some of the treats in store for farmers market shoppers this Saturday:

Bailey’s Maple Syrup – New Maple Syrup, Local Honey; Maple Vinegar; Bees Wax Candles; and Honey Sticks

Chaplin Farms – Kale, Spinach, Apples (Melrose, Mutsu, Ida Red, Empire), and Farm-made Jam and Applesauce

Four Mile River Farm – All-Natural Beef: Steaks, Roasts, Ground Beef, Stew Beef, Hotdogs, and Kielbasa, and our own line of prepared foods: Meatballs, Beef Barbeque, and our “Farmburgers!

KD Crop Farms – Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Relish, Chicken Eggs, Duck Eggs; and Cato Corner Cheese (and read more on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=356662745556 )

Quiet Corner Coffee Roasters – Organic Papua New Guinea Tribal Aromas, Costa Rican Tarrazu Asoproa, and Organic Peruvian Royal Select Water Washed Decaf Coffees and Organic Fair Trade Peruvian Cocoa (Email us for cocoa orders)

Spring Acres Farm – Skeins of Hand-spun Wool Yarn

And much more…

You can also keep up to date on the market by visiting the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StorrsFarmersMarket

Posted March 10, 2012

Have a news item, event or Letter to the Editor you’d like posted on this news site? Simply send your information to editor@htnp.com and include your town in the subject line of your email. Please also include a phone number where you can be reached if there are questions. To keep up-to-date on local news, “like” us (HTNP News) on Facebook and follow us ( @HTNP) on Twitter!

Hebron Maple Festival is this weekend

The chainsaw carving demonstration by the Shack Out Back is one of the more popular events at the Hebron Maple Festival, held this year on March 10-11 2012. Photo source: Hebron Maple Festival"

The sweet tastes, smells and sights of the Hebron Maple Festival will return again this weekend.

Now in its 22nd year, the festival truly encompasses the entire town, not just in participation but in layout and the popular event draws thousands of visitors from all over the state – and even out of state – as well.

Those in the know arrive early, especially if you want to buy maple syrup at the sugar houses.

The 2012 Hebron Maple Fest will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 10 and 11.

Hebron is home to several maple sugar houses, where activities and self-guided tours are planned, but many of Hebron’s businesses and non-profit organizations also take part in the two-day schedule of events.

Some events are held at stores, churches and town facilities, and others are set up at booths along Main Street.

A full listing of events, contests, giveaways, demonstrations, special breakfasts, a downloadable copy of the brochure in PDF format (including a map), and so much more, is available on the Maple Fest web site at www.hebronmaplefest.com

Participating sugarhouses include: Woody Acres, 80 Cone Road; Pierce’s Sugar House, 325 W. Main St.; and Wenzel’s Sugar House, 522 East St. This year also features a new sugar house, Hill’s House on Route 85. All will be open for tours and demonstrations.

As well as tours, exhibits and activities, all things maple will be offered for the public.

These range from the Hebron Historical Society’s sale of maple milk at the Old Town Hall to the Hebron Volunteer Fire Department’s popular sugar on snow and the Hebron Interfaith Human Services’ maple cotton candy at Hebron Fire Company No. 1.

Of course, maple syrup will be offered, well, everywhere.

Ron Wenzel, owner of Wenzel’s Sugar House, said the mild winter hasn’t affected his operation.

“The snow that we had last year was just right,” he said, but, “the sap production for me is about the same as a normal year, 50 to 60 gallons of syrup.”

Making that amount of syrup means Wenzel collected at least 3,300 gallons of sap from the trees he’s tapped around his property.

All the sappy goodness will be available for personal analysis and comparison at the festival.

There also will be all the traditional festival fare – fried dough, hot dogs and hamburgers, kettlecorn and more.

Opening ceremonies on Saturday begin at 9:45 a.m. at Liberty Square Collectibles at 105 Main St.

A variety of events are planned for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For example, he nonprofit organization Wingmasters will exhibit birds of prey both days at the AHM Youth Services building at 25 Pendleton Drive, to benefit the family programs.

And the Hebron Historical Society will host the annual, very popular Quilt Show at the Old Town Hall on both days. Donations are requested to view the quilt exhibit to benefit historical society programs.

The Farmer’s Cow – a cooperative of six dairy farms from eastern Connecticut producing milk, cream, ice-cream, eggs and other products for local grocery stores – will share a booth at the Maple Fest with the Hebron Historical Society.

Adjacent to Old Town Hall will be a truck from Farmer’s Cow, which will serve ice cream samples and accept donations to benefit the town’s land acquisition fund, which is used to preserve open space.

One of the six farms in the cooperative is Maple Leaf Farm of Hebron, owned by the Ellis family.

This is the second year that representatives from the Farmer’s Cow have sponsored a booth at the Maple Festival.

“The society is pleased to support Farmer’s Cow in honor of Hebron’s long history of dairy farming,” said Hebron Historical Society President Donna McCalla.

She added, “We want to make sure that residents and visitors know that any volunteer donations will directly benefit the Hebron Open Space Land Acquisition Fund.”

Posted March 9, 2012 as edited and added to by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

Have a news item, event or Letter to the Editor you’d like posted on this news site? Simply send your information to editor@htnp.com and include your town in the subject line of your email. Please also include a phone number where you can be reached if there are questions. To keep up-to-date on local news, “like” us (HTNP News) on Facebook and follow us ( @HTNP) on Twitter!

Out and about in the Quiet Corner this weekend

The forecast for this weekend is warm if not a bit windy, but a great couple of days to get out and enjoy some fresh air. Please also see a separate story about the Hebron Maple Festival, on Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11.

Saturday March 10

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PANCAKE BREAKFAST

The Knights of Columbus, Council No. 11835, will host a Hebron Maple Festival pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Family parish hall (185 Church St.). Cost is $7 adults, $5 children (under 12). Info: T. J. McGuire (860) 228-1618.

NURSERY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

The Lebanon Cooperative Nursery School will host an open house from 9 a.m. to noon. Come and view the school, meet the teachers, and speak with current parents/board members. Info: www.lebanoncoop.org or call (860) 642-7719.

LAUGHTER YOGA

The Saxton B. Little Free Library, Columbia, will host Laughter Yoga with Laura Li at 10 a.m. at Yeoman’s Hall, Route 87, Columbia. Bring a water bottle and wear comfortable clothes and shoes. No yoga mats required. However, registration is required at ckubala@columbiactlibrary.org or (860) 228-0350.

HEBRON MAPLE FEST POLISH DINNER

St. Peter’s Church will hold a Polish dinner in Phelp’s Hall, 30 Church St. (Route 85), Hebron from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Cost is $12 adults, $6, 12 and under (under 6 is free). Info: (860) 228-3244 or visit the church web site at www.StPetersHebron.com

Sunday March 11

THE “MAGIC SCHOOL BUS” COMES TO JORGENSEN

Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Road, Storrs-Mansfield (on the UConn campus), will host two matinees at 1 and 3 p.m. of the Magic School Bus. Adults $13, children $11. Information/tickets: call the box office at (860) 486-4226 or order online at jorgensen.uconn.edu

COMMUNITY FARM PRESERVATION PROGRAM

The Ashford Grange will host an informative program with Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky, who will talk about the new Community Farm Preservation Program. The program will be held at Knowlton Hall, Route 44, Warrenville (Ashford), at 3 p.m. The Ashford Grange will precede the program with a potluck lunch at 12:30 and a short business meeting at 2 p. m. All are welcome.

LENTEN VESPERS

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 414 Valley St., Willimantic, will host the Connecticut Deanery for Lenten Vespers at 4 p.m. The public is invited.

VENDORS WANTED — FLEA MARKET

Cedar Hill Market Place, 828 Route 32, Franklin, invites vendors for a flea market to be held on March 24 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Info: (860) 642-1899.

And coming up this week…

Monday March 12

ORGANIC GARDENING WORKSHOP

The Columbia Conservation and Agriculture Commission will spon­sor an organic gardening workshop led by Bryan O’Hara at 3 p.m. in Yeoman’s Hall, 323 Route 87, Columbia. Come learn about natural ways to enhance your gardening experience. Free to the public. Info: (860) 228-0440 or e-mail lmcdonald@columbiact.org

WINDHAM THEATRE GUILD AUDITIONS

The Windham Theatre Guild will hold open auditions for the comedy “Blithe Spirit” by Noel Coward at Windham Middle School, Quarry Street, Willimantic, at 7 p. m. Info: Director Victor Funderburk at ( 860) 450-6419 or visit windhamtheatreguild.org

SECOND MONDAY SOCIAL ACTION FILM SERIES

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Storrs, 46 Spring Hill Road, Storrs-Mansfield, will present “Flow: For the Love of Water” at 7 p.m. Info: (860) 423-6727.

Tuesday March 13

STORYTIME

The Douglas Library, 2 Main St., Hebron, will host a story time for children aged 2 and 3 years old at 10 a.m. Info: call the library’s children’s department at (860) 228-9312, ext. 3.

TOWN-GOWN MEETING — ECSU

The community is invited to join Eastern Connecticut State University staff, Windham town officials, students and neighbors to discuss issues of interest and concern in the community from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Johnson Room 204, ECSU Eugene Smith Library. All are welcome. Info: visit http://www.easternct.edu/towngown

BOOK DISCUSSION

The Saxton B. Little Free Library, Columbia, hosts a book discussion of “A Secret Kept” by Tatiana de Rosnay at 7 p. m. Book highlights com­plex family relationships and how the power of a past secret threatens to change everything in the present. Books provided by the library, all welcome. Info: (860) 228-0350 or ckubala@columbiactlibrary.org

QUIET CORNER FIDDLERS

The Quiet Corner Fiddlers will perform at Fred’s Brick House Café, 1681 Main St., Willimantic, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. New fiddlers are always welcom to join in. Info: (860) 423-5403 or (860) 742-1547.

Wednesday March 14

INTERFAITH SEWING AND SERVICE GROUP

First Congregational Church, 199 Valley St., Willimantic, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Projects: CWS — schools bags and layettes, Haiti maternity dresses. Snow date: March 15. Info: (860) 228-9658.

HOSPICE HOSPITALITY LUNCHEON

Hospice of Eastern Connecticut will hold its hospitality luncheon at Pine Acres Restaurant, Route 6, Chaplin, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Social gathering of people who are successfully moving on with their lives after a loss. Open to the community. (860) 456-7288 ext. 293 for further information.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

The Red Cross will host a blood drive at the Lebanon Fire Safety Complex, 23 Goshen Hill Road, Lebanon, from 1 to 5:45 p.m. Info: (800) 733-2767 or www.redcrossblood.org Sponsored by Lebanon Lions Club. (Also see separate story in Mansfield Today about March is Blood Donor month)

MARCH MADNESS MOVIE

Mansfield Senior Center, 303 Maple Road, Storrs-Mansfield, CT will host a March Madness movie, “Hoosiers” at 1 p.m.

Posted March 9, 2012

Have a news item, event or Letter to the Editor you’d like posted on this news site? Simply send your information to editor@htnp.com and include your town in the subject line of your email. Please also include a phone number where you can be reached if there are questions. To keep up-to-date on local news, “like” us (HTNP News) on Facebook and follow us ( @HTNP) on Twitter!

This little Bug is ready for a new owner

Carol Bender of Lebanon, CT at Weston's Auction Gallery in Coventry, with a mini VW Beetle. Photo by Al Malpa

The paint on this classic Volkswagen Beetle may be a little faded, but it still runs great.

Holding it is Carol Bender from Lebanon. Here she is dropping it off recently at Weston’s Auction Gallery in Coventry for sale.

Bender said she bought the car there and is now sending it on to be enjoyed by another family’s children.

In her own family, it was passed on to three of her own grandchildren.

Posted Feb. 22, 2012

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Coventry Farmers Market returns to Nathan Hale Homestead

In a newsletter distributed to “fans” of the Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market, the big news is that the market will return to the Nathan Hale Homestead.

Several months ago, the news was not so good. Market organizers reported that they had not been able to reach a mutually agreeable contract with Connecticut Landmarks (which oversees the Homestead) to remain at the Homestead and so, began searching for a new as-permanent-as-possible location.

After being offered some privately-owned land at 307 Silver St., the market organizers then began jumping governmental hoops – both state and local – in hopes of solidifying the new location in time to get the word out to their farmers and vendors in time for the upcoming summer market season.

The absolute deadline – so that the farmers and vendors could set their own plans – was the last day of January.

Now, it seems, the tide has turned and the market is cruising back to what was a very popular location, one that has grown to draw market-goers in the thousands.

The newsletter states:

After many twists and turns and with much help from the Town of Coventry, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Governor Malloy’s office, and YOUR SUPPORT… This summer, as you have for the past four years and will for the next TEN, you will find us at the Nathan Hale Homestead!  … All the stars aligned for us to have landed a summer place, our old and happy home, just in time!

The newsletter also states that the Yankee Post & Beam barn that the market won in a statewide farmers market competition will be built at the Homestead.

To celebrate the good news, market organizer Winter Caplanson announced today that there will be a gathering from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 at the Cassidy Hill Vineyard in Coventry with libations and live music. “Thanks for opening just for us, Cassidy Hill!” the newsletter states. Click here for directions

“Our return to Hale under this arrangement is a win-win,” Caplanson said today. “The market has a beautiful long-term home under lease terms we can meet and we are able to remain in Coventry… and Coventry’s citizens and leadership made it clear to us over the past months that ‘in Coventry’ is exactly where they want us to stay.”

“Excellent news”

In a press release issued by the CT Department of Agriculture today, State Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky acknowledges that it is in the state’s best interests to support farmers’ markets, especially one as successful as Coventry’s.

“This is excellent news for the residents of Coventry and the farmers market… I commend the Town of Coventry and the farmer’s market for their work to ensure this great Connecticut tradition was not lost, and I thank Gov. Malloy for getting the parties talking again. Connecticut has a rich agricultural history, one that we want to encourage and expand,” he says.

The release notes that, of Connecticut’s 125 farmers’ markets, the Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market, now in its eighth year of operation, is “one of the largest and most heavily attended.”

“In 2011, it accounted for $500,000 in sales and was visited by over 75,000 people,” it states.

Describing how the new agreement was reached, the release states:

Negotiations to renew the lease between the Hale Homestead and the farmer’s market stumbled last fall over mutual concerns about expense and liability issues. During winter discussions, the parties reached an agreement to establish the Town of Coventry as the tenant with the farmer’s market subleasing the property. This assuaged the liability concerns and reduced insurance expenses, allowing the savings to be applied to the rental fees. The agreement also outlines that the town will coordinate the use and maintenance of the new barn which will provide shared income with a reserve held for barn maintenance.

Coventry Farmers’ Market organizer Roberta Wilmot, in an interview today, told HTNP.com that the town has signed a lease with Connecticut Landmarks, and the market will become a sub-leasee. She declined to specify, however, what the market will pay for rent for the 22 days it uses the property for the summer market.

As for the barn, the market will transfer ownership to the town, Wilmot said.

While the market will have priority for the barn’s use on market days, the town will rent it for public use (i.e. a wedding reception) through the town’s parks and recreation department, Wilmot said.

Income from rental fees will be split between the market (40 percent), the town (20 percent) and Connecticut Landmarks (40 percent), according to market organizer Winter Caplanson.

When the barn arrives this spring, there will be a groundbreaking celebration – probably in May – and then Yankee Post & Beam (the barn’s manufacturer) will do the actual construction… and once completed, it will be turned over to the town, Wilmot said.

Wilmot expressed relief over the new agreement. “It’s been a very long and twisted road to get us where we’re at… it’s been an exhausting six months,” she said.

She added, “the governor’s office, the Department of Agriculture and Coventry’s Town Manager (Elsessor) put a lot of effort into keeping the market in Coventry.”

When the crisis first made the news, the market received several offers from other towns to give it a new home. “The outpouring was unbelievable,” Wilmot said. “Our hearts were very warmed by that.”

She added, “We’ve been sitting on pins and needles – now we can tell our vendors we will have a home.”

Not time to relax, though

It’s not necessarily a time to relax, however. “Now we have to plan our programs, and we’re about six months behind,” Wilmot said. The summer market returns on June 3.

Wilmot credited the success of the Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market to a strong, motivated and creative market leader, Winter Caplanson who, in turn is supported by a strong network of hardworking, committed volunteers.

And a hard-core fan base of market-goers.

“We’ve exceeded our expectations, although there’s still more to be done,” Wilmot said.

For the market’s first four years, it was located in a field behind a red barn (a local landmark) on North River Road near the intersection with Route 44.

For the last four years, it has been located on the grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead.

Commissioner Reviczky, in his release, said the new lease is a win-win situation for the market and the historic site.

“It took considerable time, effort, and energy from everyone involved to reach this new agreement, but it was worth it,” Commissioner Reviczky said. “This is a marriage of one of the state’s most popular farmers’ markets and one of Connecticut’s historical treasures. The complete package is much greater than the sum of its parts.”

The Nathan Hale Homestead was the family home of State Hero Nathan Hale. Richard Hale, Nathan’s father, was a prosperous livestock farmer. The house on the homestead, built in 1776, was deeded to Connecticut Landmarks in the 1940s. Much of the acreage associated with the Hale farm is now the Nathan Hale State Forest, the release states.

Posted Feb. 9, 2012

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