The Building of English Shelter at East Rock Park

Exploring the Icy Wildnerness: East Rock Park +W Falls

A video posted by #Nhv: New Haven, Connecticut (@nhvorg) on Jan 10, 2015 at 6:10am PST

Written by @203ian.  

Traversing to explore on days like these can be an adventure in winter preparedness. Don't be afraid to go into the cold, but bundle up: exposed skin is where things can become difficult to the point of danger. This morning, an early walk through East Rock Park revealed the presence of a duck symposium in the Mill River, as well as for some chilly falls.

Instagram is cool, but nothing beats seeing things and experiencing them in real life. Then again, the outdoors are freezing, so might as well just enjoy this outdoor wilderness scouting report. [article contains 1 video, 1 audio file]

Urban Wildlife: A Buck in East Rock Park.

A straight-up Buck in East Rock Park. 

Not a dollar, but an animal; not a doe; a deer, which is a female deer, but rather a buck was seen in the park of East Rock today by a man mysteriously known only as Kyle Connecticut. Found at his Instagram handle, cleverly titled "@WhatGives," this particular day presented a unique photo opportunity.

Says Kyle of the experience: "Hi! Rarely see a buck? We watched him for a while it was awesome. Thanks New Haven. — at East Rock Park."

You're very welcome, Kyle. Stay tuned as more Urban Wildlife presents itself at opportune moments to remind us all that we are all surrounded by animals.

Under91Project Complete.

The Under91Project was a major step towards making public art more accessible and available in New Haven. The event was open to the public yesterday, and people who came to the event simply to view public art were all handed paint brushes and asked to participate in the process. Artist and Craftsman, a new shop on Chapel Street, donated much of the paint.

Efforts of the Organizers
Organizers worked countless hours providing the community with a democratic process of electing the artwork that they wanted to see on the wall. They spent time canvassing the community, knocking on doors often speaking to residents in español, " ¿qué quieres en la pared?" (What do you want on the wall?" Other questions were on the survey such as, "¿Eres un artista?" (are you an artist?) and "what do you think of the view of the underpasses now?" were expressed to neighbors on both the East Rock and Fair Haven sides of the Humphrey and State underpass.


Questions as simple as "Do you want art at the underpass?" were asked, so not to make assumptions about what the neighborhood felt that they actually needed. These survey forms were translated into an .Xls sheet, and guided the project's leaders in making decisions along the way.

Morning Walks With My Pup

Morning Walks from New Haven, Connecticut on Vimeo.

Christina Lindstrom is chapter leader for Amercorps Alums CT. She has lived in New Haven for 5 Years and says she loves it here, citing the music and art and community as all reasons.

We met up with Tina on one of her walks in the morning. On this particular walk, it was exceptionally foggy. The air was thick with moisture, as she walked her dog through East Rock Park across Rice Field. Her shoes were soaked.

Coffee Pedaler: Open

If there's a snowstorm, feel free to swing on by the Coffee Pedaler on State Street. One of the most economical things is to pick up a carafe of coffee for six bucks. It makes like 8 cups of coffee and that's more than enough for you and a couple of friends. Comfortable ambient atmosphere and friendly staff make this coffeeshop the only five-star rated on Yelp in the area, and the best place for you to get some work done, and be semi-sociable in the process.

It's more than worth it. I found myself surrounded by birds, with highway traffic on the Interstate in the background. Not many souls dared to trek to the pedaler this afternoon, but it was an acceptable tour of the neighborhood for myself and Willowbee, my dog, this morning.

I suggest you get some fresh air and enjoy the global warming happening out there too.

Run For Refugees Tomorrow at 10am

The run kicks off at 10am. Map here.   

7th annual 5K run/walk on Super Bowl Sunday! Join 700 other friends of IRIS to support refugees with a brisk run or walk through East Rock Park in New Haven, followed by a fun and delicious post-race party. Sign up for the race. Fundraise for IRIS as an individual or team! Raise $100 or more for IRIS and your entry fee is waived. Top 3 fundraisers will win incredible prizes! Can't attend the event but want to make a donation? We'll use it to sponsor a refugee runner or walker! Donate here.

Hope to see you Feb 2 at the Run for Refugees! http://t.co/rs64BJEhsl @NhvOrg @Welcome2NHV @townofnewhaven pic.twitter.com/lxA0kDBnZL
— IRIS (@IRISCT) January 27, 2014

Fees: Early Bird Special! $26 Adult, $16 Student (18&Under) until December 31st.
$28 Adult, $18 Student (18 & under) from January 1st until February 1st.
Fees increase for raceday entries. Awards Given to first 3 finishers in each age division.
12 and under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+ and Wheelchair.

Below is a look at the course on Google Maps. Here's the official Iris PDF of the course.
View Run for Refugees Course in a larger map

What an Opportunity.

Good Morning! This is your car. 

If you see something, say something, in this case. If you're reading this, please stop stealing tires. You're missing all of your opportunity to be lifting weights, by wasting barbells to prop up cars on their rims after removing their tires.

This is not Ok.

Lisa Sidarz, the neighborhood block watch party notified her neighborhood regarding the atrocity with the following statement:

From Email List Serve SoHu:
"When I was driving to work this morning, there was a station wagon up on stones with all 4 wheels gone.  It is right near St Josephs Church. So if you made a right onto Edwards heading to State, the car is on the left hand side just before St Josephs. I was moving, so didn't see what make the car is, but the name on the back started with V (not a name I recognized - not Volvo)"
-Lisa Siedlarz 

A sandwich, reserving a parking spot. 

Elsewhere on Edwards, a sandwich in the middle of the road was discovered. It was taking up a parking space.  This was an issue to local pedestrians. "There's a burger in the middle of the street," said one, as he walked towards the car with the missing tires. "I wonder if we should eat it."

It was advised to leave both the car and the burger alone, since both looked dangerous in their own ways. If you are on Edwards Street today, please be careful.  It's a mess out there.

Temperature Swings Create Ice Skating Opportunities

View the Spreadsheet Document.  

Maybe you've noticed that temperatures have been rapidly fluctuating. We have, too. You can actually "rewind" the weather and review the past few days. Or view a windchill chart.



The good news is that the conditions have created some unprecedented ice skating opportunities.

East Rock Park, Cold Spring and Livingston.  

If temperatures drop to 13°F tonight, as announced, that will create a situation again where rain becomes ice. That's part of the process of drastic temperature fluctuation this time of year. You can choose to embrace this as an opportunity to use those frozen puddles for ice skating. One location which looked suitable today, as a very large puddle, is the field you see in this image. It's advised to use the same set of caution you normally do. Be careful about cold exposure, too.

Some Infrastructure For You.

Workers on Orange Street were replacing a worn-out telephone pole, and its transformers.  These cylindrical components allow the power from the grid to be safely applied to peoples' homes in residential neighborhoods.  Power company Altec handled the installation.  Transformers handle energy via inductive coupling.  These effectively step down the higher overhead voltages (15,000v) and "transform" it into power that your home can use (120v in most residential applications).  By transmitting power at high voltages (15kV), this limits the amount of voltage drop along the journey from generation plant to consumer.  That's why you see these things hanging from telephone poles, and now you know.  Enjoy the video, and here's another fresh song that you can listen to while you contemplate the mysteries.

New Library in East Rock

Anderson-Canner Library Opens from #NHV on Vimeo.

Little Mobile Libraries.  Try one in your hood.

It's a new group with only 20 members.  The Anderson-Canner Little Free Library is more than a trunk on wheels; it's tilted sideways with shelves in it.  The collection is a resource to the local tight-knit community, and provides a basis for gathering.  The library itself, which looks like a lazy susan with a steamer trunk on top of it, even has its own official inkpad stamp to mark the titles which have been donated to the library.

One such work available in the collection is a signed copy of The Wired City, a book about life without newspapers as society moves into a paperless world.   I wonder what Dan Kennedy would say about this little publication?

East Rock Fest Video Recap

East Rock Festival 2013 from #NHV on Vimeo.

The East Rock Festival was a success again this year, with participation from the New Haven Parks Department (providing the climbing wall), numerous vendors, musicians, and most of all, members of the community, cohesively bringing together an atmosphere reminiscent of New York City in the mid-1980's, when community street festivals were the norm.

In years to come, we hope that the festival continues to evolve and grow, because that's what the community around it is doing.  If you're interested in attending or participating in the festival next year, maybe watch the short 2-minute video and get a feel for the type of environment the event creates.

Local craftsmen, including spoon maker Reinaldo Cruz, as well as buttonmaker/graphic designer Jessica Ferguson were there.  Elm City Wellness was there.  Vintanthromodern was there.  Many others, as well.  Caseus Cheese Truck was there.  In fact, so many participants (Katalina's Cupcakes...) and many others were there.  It's impossible to mention everyone.

Coach Nate from New Haven Youth Soccer was teaching kids how to dribble a soccer ball on one's head, along with Coach Freddy (in the video).  They inspired kids to be athletic and take a chance at a new sport.  If you have a kid in the age group eligible for their program, try NHYSoccer.Org.

Next year, sign up!  It'll be just as an amazing experience as this year.  The weather could not have been better for a day in September.  Don't know who to thank for that; but...  thanks!

East Rock Festival Tomorrow 11am-8pm

Mobile Commerce Increases in Popularity

The entrepreneurial spirit was in the air, as well as the smell of fresh baked cookies, on Orange Street yesterday afternoon.  An unnamed young person tests out her new mobile retail venue, which sold cookies, secondhand books, and hand-made accessories.

The cookies were reasonably priced as were the books and accessories.  The books were ones that she had already flipped through a few times and had no more interest in.  There was even a discount card for regular purchasers.

The shop itself is built on wheels, which she can walk over from her residence.  Her father, an architect, helped make it possible by constructing the cart using durable materials like reinforced cardboard, pegboard for hanging items, and a few well-placed brackets.

It's difficult to indicate when the cart will next be seen or available, but mobile commerce is a growing culture on Orange Street, with the inclusion of Joel LaChance, the Goatville Cyclesmith, often on the same corner (below).

Joel LaChance, CycleSmith - Another mobile commerce service conveniently available on Orange St.

Stay tuned in the upcoming weeks for the East Rock Festival (Sept 21). 

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East Rock Festival Participation Form

The annual East Rock Festival is taking place again this year on the 21st of September.  The organizers are moving forward and hoping to get your participation.  Many people gathered last year to enjoy the weather and of course the community appeal.  Hope you'll be there this year.

This year, it takes place on September 21st from 11am until 8pm and it's sure to be a great day, as that is always the beginning of one of the best times of the year here in #Nhv.

Visit their website here.

Casa Del Bicycle

More proof there's hope for the future (location undisclosed)

The future of bicycle repair and education is here, and no further details are available until we know what the heck is going on.  A fellow known only as "The Goatville Cyclesmith" (seen on streets such as Orange in the summertime) is developing a plan for a state-of-the-art bicycle educational classroom and facility just to the east of Downtown.  It's not ready to start yet, but the man behind it is Joel LaChance, a former schoolteacher who says that nylon string, essentially fishing line, is the best material for transmitting sound along a tin can phone line.

Expect big things to follow, also with the emergence of a new bicycle coffeeshop in the same neighborhood, opened by cycling enthusiast Ryan Taylor.  He intends on opening up in the next few months as well.  Might as well get used to the idea of calling Goatville "Cycleville" because bicycles are going to be big in the future.   Ryan's shop is going to be located on East and State.

Comments:  Would you be interested in learning how to repair your own bicycle at this location?

Get to know Nhv

Sunset at 8:15pm.  Forecast calls for isolated thunderstorms.

Vantage Point:  East Rock Park  (see map (above).)

Upcoming Theater Arts Opportunities for All

As seen on Orange Street, publicly posted.

New York Producers currently holding auditions for a new American play by Steve Bellwood.  Collateral Damage will premiere in New Haven at the Whitney Arts Center, September 13-22nd.

Auditions will be held Sunday, July 7th, and Sunday July 14th, by appointment.  To schedule an audition and for any further information, email EastRockEnsemble@Gmail.Com

We are seeking bold ensemble performers (equity & non-equity) to be part of a dynamic new theater and film company.  Actors to receive an honorarium and be compensated for all travel expenses.

Praying Mantis Seen in Backyard during Kubb Game

The state insect, Praying Mantis, was seen in the backyard of a house in East Rock
photo cred:  Jess Angle  (Sam Adelman held the stick for the game "Kubb")

Extra books? Bring to New Haven Reads!

This was located on Orange Street in East Rock last Sunday Afternoon.

New Haven Reads is a great place to bring extra books.  If you are trying to get rid of a good pile of high quality literature, regardless of whether it's meant for children or adults, you can bring your work to their doorstep on 45 Bristol St.  It beats the uncertainty of having your books potentially be damaged from exposure to the elements, and it also keeps them off Ebay and into the hands of kids who can't afford books, who really need literacy education.

Make that extra step!  Bring your extra books to New Haven Reads.  Maybe even swap your books for new titles that you find more interesting.  Also, plenty of National Geographics.  Have a great day!

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