Connecticut
It Appears to Be a Great Year for Eastern Chipmunk in Connecticut
I know they may be a pest in gardens, but I love chipmunks. Some years I haven’t seen any chippys at all, but not this one. 2024 appears to be a great year to be a chipmunk living in Connecticut.
The Eastern Chipmunk is the only chipmunk found in Connecticut. They’re reddish brown, and have prominent black and white stripes down the length of their back. Oh those cheeks, I find that feature most adorable. Chipmunk can grow to 8-10 inches long, including their tail, and can weigh up to just over a quarter pound. According to ct.gov, chipmunk are omnivores, and their diet consists primarily of bugs, worms, bird eggs, frogs, snails, seeds, nuts, fruits, and mushrooms. July is mating season for chipmunks, which is good news/bad news for them. The good news is the mating, the bad news is that chipmunks are food for the hawks, owls, snakes, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, and house cats of Connecticut. Do you remember the horror of finding a chipmunk wiggling away in your cat’s mouth? That’s an image that you can’t shake.
Connecticut saw an explosion of the chipmunk population in 2016 according to cbsnews.com. At the time a biologist at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection pointed towards a mild Winter, an abundance of Maple seeds and acorns, and comfortable temperatures. Winter 23/24 was relatively mild, the temperatures between April and now have been moderate, and I do remember seeing a whole lot of acorns this Spring. Has the perfect storm of chipmunk weather and food happened in 2024?
Grey striped Chipmunk on the stone
The birdfeeders around my condo seem to be the best place to see Chip n Dale scurrying about.
The Beautiful Bovines at Arethusa Farms in Litchfield
Three Places in Connecticut Where The Smell Almost Knocks You Out
As the Summer heats up, so do the unexpected smells as you drive along with your windows open. I know of three areas in Connecticut where if you’re not expecting it, the smell in the air will almost knock you out.
Gallery Credit: Google
Five Connecticut Grocery Stores Serving Superior Prepared Meals
Most supermarkets and grocery stores serve prepared foods, some have pizza ovens, sushi bars, even their own coffeehouse. When I don’t feel like cooking, these are the five grocery stores around here that I feel make superior to-go meals
Gallery Credit: Google
Connecticut
5 Connecticut towns to receive $2M each for infrastructure upgrades
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Five Connecticut towns will collectively receive $10 million in grants for infrastructure upgrades, according to a Monday announcement by Gov. Ned Lamont.
The Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) is awarding $10.7 million to Coventry, Guilford, Ledyard, Mansfield and Thomaston to modernize and rehabilitate housing for low- and moderate-income residents, the announcement said.
The funds are being released through the DOH’s Community Development Block Grant’s small cities program, with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. To be eligible, a municipality must have fewer than 50,000 residents.
Cost Breakdown
Coventry: $2 million
Town of Coventry plans to use funds to upgrade, with a focus on making Orchard Hill Estates compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Guilford: $2 million
The Town of Guilford plans to use funds to design and build future affordable housing projects, consisting of up to 16 rental units and 8 homes.
Ledyard: $2 million
The Town of Canton requested funding for the first phase of affordable housing for people in Ledyard and the surrounding area. Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut is in the pre-development phase of the Colby Drive and plans to create 38 units.
Mansfield: $2.2 million
Funding will be used for upgrades to Wright’s Village, including roof replacements and sidewalk repairs.
Thomaston: $2.5 million
Funds will be used to make Green Manor ADA-compliant, including the installation of a new emergency call aid system.
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Connecticut
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Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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