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Conservation Commission reports Earth Day success, Heat Smart leads and plans for composting and outreach
Summary
At its May 7 meeting the Chester Conservation Commission approved April minutes, reported a successful Earth Day event and fundraising, said Heat Smart/HSI outreach generated about 100 leads and 53 scheduled visits, noted 16 student volunteers for Chester Fair Zero Waste, and set priorities including investigating town‑wide composting and drafting short recycling messages.
The Chester Conservation Commission on May 7 approved the April 2, 2026 meeting minutes unanimously and reviewed a range of outreach and program updates.
Sharon Diamen reported the April 25 Earth Day event was very successful: the CCC table was busy, the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District (CRCCD) invasive‑plant booklets were distributed, Rotary native plants were gone by 1:30 p.m., and $76 raised in a raffle and sale of nesting‑material balls will be donated to Tri‑town Youth Services. Sharon said she will provide more seedlings for next year; Lisa Wahle said she will send thank‑you notes to participants.
Commissioners also reported recruitment for the Chester Fair Zero Waste program is progressing: 16 students from six local high schools have signed up. Members asked organizers to plan for staffing shifts to avoid early cleanups while event music continued.
Rick Holloway briefed the commission on the Heat Smart/HSI program: grant funding runs through September, outreach has generated about 100 leads and 53 scheduled Home Energy Solutions (HES) visits, including eight income‑eligible households, and faith‑based groups may increase signups. Holloway said he will add program details to the UCC bulletin and check distribution to Soup Kitchen attendees.
Other business included work on SuCT Silver status recertification (Lisa Wahle and Cindy leading, with suggestions from Jim Murac); progress coordinating GIS information for an Open Space map and Natural Resources Inventory; plans to review CCC and SuChest webpages for content updates; an information session on the Cockaponset Forest management plan (Winthrop block) scheduled for May 9; and a reported bird walk on May 5 with the Cockaponset forester, with discussion of future walks starting at the Water Street Carini Preserve and going to Dock Road. Members noted Essex Sustainability is coordinating a tour of the USA Recycling Facility.
The commission set short‑term priorities for SuChest outreach and programs: Brittany Silvestrini will check with CES about a possible town‑wide composting collection location, and Silvestrini and Hollyann Moriarty will draft short recycling messages for Envirotips. The meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m.; the next meeting is June 4, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.
