Community Corner

Stormy Weather Friday, Don't Make Wild Turtles Pets, Memorial Hall Tour Sunday

Five Things for Friday.

1. It’s Friday, and the last day of the work week will have scattered thunderstorms and a high temperature of 74 degrees, according to The Weather Channel. Tonight will also have scattered thunderstorms with a low temperature of 61 degrees.

2. Turtles are a common sight now that the nesting season is in full swing. They are crossing roads in search of nest sites, coming into yards to dig their nests and lay eggs, and basking in the warm sun. If you come across a turtle, especially one in your yard or crossing a road, you may be tempted to take it as a pet. Don’t. The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cautions that turtles should be left in the wild both for your own good and the good of the turtle.

“Removing individual turtles from the wild, including hatchlings, can have a huge impact on the local population,” said Julie Victoria, a Wildlife Biologist with the DEP Wildlife Division. “Turtle populations require high levels of adult survivorship _ every individual is important to the population’s stability.”

A turtle must live for many years and reproduce numerous times in order to replace itself in the population. Losing adult turtles, particularly adult females, is a serious problem that can lead to the eventual local extinction of a population.

For more information about turtles and turtle conservation in Connecticut, visit the DEP’s “Year of the Turtle” Web page at www.ct.gov/dep/yearofturtle, as well as subscribe to the DEP’s Connecticut Wildlife magazine. You also can visit the Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation’s (PARC) Web site at www.yearoftheturtle.org.

3. The and fire departments are holding a Fill the Firetruck fundraiser Saturday at on Bridge Street. In partnership with Geissler’s, the fundraiser will benefit the in East Windsor.

4. will be open for group tours on Sunday. It is one of the most interesting and historic buildings in Windsor Locks.  Dedicated in 1891, the building is a monument to those who went from Windsor Locks and lost their lives in the Civil War.
 
 Today, it is a monument to honor all veterans of Windsor Locks who have served in all wars of our country.   To promote the historical significance of this monument, the board of trustees has scheduled guided tours of the building and museum.
 
 The group tours are conducted from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month,  at one hour intervals. All tours are free and open to the public. The next tour will be September 25.
 
 Memorial Hall is located at the corner of Elm and South Main streets.

5. The East Windsor Athletic Club Community Benefit Golf Tournament is on June 26.
The tournament benefits at least two athletic scholarships per year and funds facility improvements at all three schools, funds the East Windsor sports Web site, www.ewsports.com and more.

The tournament takes place on June 26 at Transitions Golf Course. Golfer donation is $85 (dinner only $30). Registration/lunch is at 11 a.m., tee-off time at noon.
For more information or to be a corporate sponsor, contact Ted Szymanski at 860-875-0031 or Chairperson Dave Pitney at 860-627-7977.


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