Connecticut
Connecticut’s Ultimate Fall Foliage Road Trip For October 2024
![Connecticut’s Ultimate Fall Foliage Road Trip For October 2024 Connecticut’s Ultimate Fall Foliage Road Trip For October 2024](https://townsquare.media/site/677/files/2024/09/attachment-yoav-hornung-xDY3GWwSoQE-unsplash-2.jpg?w=1200&q=75&format=natural)
Besides sleep, what are your two favorite relaxing activities? My two favorites are driving and listening to my favorite music, especially during the fall foliage season. Driving the winding roads of Connecticut during October is an experience like no other; each turn reveals a breathtaking panorama where golden yellows, fiery reds, and deep oranges paint the hillsides.
As I navigate these scenic routes, I find solace in listening to music that resonates with my mood. I often sing along to my favorite tunes while enjoying nature’s artistry, which creates a sense of tranquility and allows me to escape from life’s demands momentarily. I know what you’re thinking…BORING!!
Last year, I discovered a gorgeous fall foliage road trip I’d like to share with you if you missed it in October 2023. It even has a name: CTVISIT calls it the ‘Litchfield Hills Ramble.’
The ‘Litchfield Hills Ramble’ – 2023’s Ideal Fall Foliage Drive
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Connecticut
New Haven debuts Connecticut’s first electric garbage truck
![New Haven debuts Connecticut’s first electric garbage truck New Haven debuts Connecticut’s first electric garbage truck](https://yaledailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/electrictransport_ab_YashRoy-1024x683.jpg)
The city has utilized federal and state grants to purchase an electric garbage truck in an effort to combat climate change.
Asher Boiskin
Yash Roy, Senior Photographer
New Haven is taking a big step in the fight against climate change with its recent announcement of the first electric trash and recycling truck in Connecticut.
The new electric truck, which is the second of its kind in New England, retails at $616,000 but costs the city $336,000 after federal and state grants. It will reduce emissions, save money and improve city air quality, according to New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. Diesel-powered garbage trucks typically cost $400,000.
“We did a little math based on the current cost of diesel fuel … We project a net savings of approximately $15,000 per year in gas,” Elicker explained at a press conference this past July. “New Haven is green and getting even greener.”
New Haven will also save on maintenance costs with the electric truck’s purchase. The truck will only cost about $3,500 in maintenance per year — in comparison to the $15,000 spent on diesel truck maintenance per year. This will cover the cost of the vehicle over its 15-year lifespan, according to Elicker.
The new initiative also addresses growing public health concerns in New Haven, recently named an “Asthma Capital” by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. By replacing diesel trucks with electric, the city hopes to address health concerns about smog-forming pollution — dirty air that affects those with asthma and other respiratory conditions.
“Even though [heavy duty vehicles] are only five percent of the vehicles on the road in Connecticut, they contribute more than half the smog-forming air pollution,” said Steven Winter, executive director of the New Haven Office of Climate and Sustainability. “[This] air pollution affects people that are suffering from asthma, [and] the air pollution causes heart disease.”
Connecticut has struggled to meet air quality standards set by the federal government for more than 40 years, according to Tracy Babbidge, air bureau chief for Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. But investments in cleaner technologies, like New Haven’s new electric trash truck, are beginning to turn the tide.
Babbidge pointed to the state’s public health successes stemming from improving local air quality on a neighborhood scale.
“Last year, there were 19 days during the summer where we had to tell children and residents across the state that the air is unhealthy to breathe,” Babbidge said. “This year, we’re on track to have 15 days where we’ve exceeded that health-based standard.”
The electric trash truck is part of a broader city initiative to electrify the municipal fleet by 2030, a goal set by New Haven’s Board of Alders in 2021. The city has already applied for a state grant under the 2023 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act to help purchase a second truck. The funding would cover up to 45 percent of the cost, with a decision expected this spring.
Public Works Director Michael Siciliano expressed enthusiasm for the department’s new addition.
“For myself, and for the department, we’re very excited to have this electric vehicle,” Siciliano said. “The staff is excited to see it at work, to put it to use. They’re happy they don’t have to check the oil every morning. Hopefully, it’s a sign of things to come.”
New Haven’s work to electrify its trash and recycling truck fleet comes in tandem with other city measures to combat climate change and promote sustainability. Such measures include city-wide efforts to transition from fossil fuel-powered buildings and vehicles to electric-powered alternatives, enhance green infrastructure and expand the electric vehicle charging network.
Connecticut
New renovations at the Big E Connecticut Building to be unveiled
![New renovations at the Big E Connecticut Building to be unveiled New renovations at the Big E Connecticut Building to be unveiled](https://media.nbcconnecticut.com/2024/09/ct-building-big-e.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&resize=1200%2C675)
The Connecticut Building at the Big E has undergone some renovations that will be on display at the start of the fair next week.
The Connecticut Office of Statewide Marketing and Tourism is unveiling major upgrades including a completely refreshed interior, a new interactive area, the first-ever “Shop CT” experience, Instagram-worthy backdrops and more.
In the new Shop CT experience, you can purchase state-specific clothing and merchandise, such as a pizza candle or “Made in CT” baby onesie.
Other major upgrades to the building include:
- A nearly 10-foot-tall digital monument located at the entrance of the building.
- The “CT Zone,” an interactive area highlighting Connecticut innovation with engaging activities for all ages, including an astronaut spacesuit and a quarter-scale jet engine model on display from RTX, and a lunar lander exhibit from the Connecticut Science Center.
- The first-ever “Shop CT” experience, created in collaboration with The Bristol Bazaar, featuring Connecticut-branded merchandise.
Opening day of the Big E is next Friday, Sept. 13. Connecticut Day will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
For a list of some new food options to expect this year, click here.
Connecticut
Connecticut Ski Area Likely Closed For Good After Sale
![Connecticut Ski Area Likely Closed For Good After Sale Connecticut Ski Area Likely Closed For Good After Sale](https://unofficialnetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-04-at-9.21.02-PM-scaled.jpg)
Woodbury, Connecticut — Woodbury’s life as a ski area appears to be over.
The Republican American reports that the former Woodbury Ski Area has been sold to a local couple. Seymour Blackwood and Simone Pyne have purchased the property for $675,000 and intend to convert the base lodge into a home. They could run the lifts, as they are operational, but it’s unclear whether the new homeowners are skiers or riders. This move to make the base lodge a home likely means the end of public skiing and riding at the Woodbury ski area.
![](https://i0.wp.com/unofficialnetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Screenshot-2024-09-04-at-9.31.10-PM.jpg?resize=780%2C517&ssl=1)
Woodbury opened in the early 1960s and was initially known as the Tapawingo Ski Area. In 1972, former U.S. Ski Team member Rod Taylor bought the ski hill and renamed it Woodbury Ski and Racquet Club. In the 2000s, they were the first ski area in New England to open for the season several times, beating out the heavyweights Killington and Sunday River. However, since Connecticut’s winters are underwhelming compared to its New England counterparts, they focused on adding many summer attractions.
The longtime owner of Woodbury, Olympian Rod Taylor, passed away in 2014, and the last year it operated for skiing was in 2016. The mountain did not open during the 2016-2017 season and was placed on the market in 2017. Numerous owners followed without any success in reopening the mountain. One proposal came from Art Powers, who wanted to turn the hill into a venue with various summer attractions. Before a deal could be finalized, Art died in a skiing accident at Stowe in February of 2021.
In 2021, it appeared like Woodbury would be revived. Eric Anderson, the owner of Quassy Amusement Park, bought the property and aimed to reopen the tubing park and the ski area. However, he was too preoccupied with running the amusement park and decided to put the properties back on the market in 2022. For more information about the life and times of Woodbury, check out New England Ski History.
![](https://i0.wp.com/unofficialnetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/xs3askijqt7ofzx85fntgcduqgr5.jpg?resize=780%2C725&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/unofficialnetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/xs3askijqt7ofzx85fntgcduqgr5.jpg?resize=780%2C725&ssl=1)
Image Credits: Woodbury Ski Area, Skimap.org
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