14<strong>Hartford</strong> News Special Edition <strong>Hartford</strong> <strong>Progress</strong>: An Update on One <strong>City</strong>, One Plan June, 2012Greater <strong>Hartford</strong>Arts CouncilArt rests at the center <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hartford</strong><strong>in</strong> both name and spirit. For morethan 40 years, the Greater <strong>Hartford</strong>Arts Council has been a leader andcatalyst for the promotion,fundrais<strong>in</strong>g and coord<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong>arts and heritage programs thathelp celebrate our diverse cultures,enliven the spirit, and enrich theeconomy <strong>of</strong> Connecticut’s CapitalRegion. Committed to support<strong>in</strong>gthe vibrancy and power <strong>of</strong> the arts<strong>in</strong> the region, the Arts Councilencourages and helps thousands <strong>of</strong><strong>in</strong>dividuals to appreciate and takepART <strong>in</strong> the arts around us eachday.A full-service cultural affairsagency, the Arts Council providesgrants and services to more than150 organizations each yearthrough funds raised dur<strong>in</strong>g theannual United Arts Campaign.Provid<strong>in</strong>g one <strong>of</strong> the largestsources <strong>of</strong> unrestricted fund<strong>in</strong>g formajor arts and heritage <strong>in</strong>stitutions,as well as project-specific andcapacity-build<strong>in</strong>g fund<strong>in</strong>g forsmaller associations and community-basedprojects, the Arts Councilfosters a wide-range <strong>of</strong> activitiesthat give everyone a chance to addart to their lives. So whether you’retak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a show at the BushnellCenter for the Perform<strong>in</strong>g Arts,perus<strong>in</strong>g through the galleries <strong>of</strong>the Wadsworth Atheneum Muse -um <strong>of</strong> Art, be<strong>in</strong>g captivated by the<strong>Hartford</strong> Symphony Orchestra oreven listen<strong>in</strong>g to free jazz <strong>in</strong> thepark, you’re sampl<strong>in</strong>g just a smallselection <strong>of</strong> the amaz<strong>in</strong>g work supportedthrough contributions toUnited Arts.In addition to fundrais<strong>in</strong>g, theArts Council plays a unique role <strong>in</strong>the area’s civic life by provid<strong>in</strong>gvalue-added support and services.From cultural promotions andumbrella market<strong>in</strong>g for thousands<strong>of</strong> local events to urban amenitiesand visitor services through theGreater <strong>Hartford</strong> Welcome Center,the Arts Council helps create<strong>Hartford</strong> as one <strong>of</strong> the dest<strong>in</strong>ationsfor artsy happen<strong>in</strong>gs not only <strong>in</strong>Connecticut, but all <strong>of</strong> NewEngland.For more <strong>in</strong>formation about theArts Council or how to take pART<strong>in</strong> the arts <strong>in</strong> <strong>Hartford</strong>, visitLetsGoArts.org.This Special Sectionwas published by<strong>Hartford</strong> Publications563 Frankl<strong>in</strong> Avenue<strong>Hartford</strong>, CT 06114Ph: 860-296-6128Fx: 866-875-3785Email:hartfordnews@aol.comWebsite: greaterhartford.comWith the assistance <strong>of</strong> the<strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hartford</strong>, <strong>Department</strong><strong>of</strong> Development Services andvarious other department aswell as numerous bus<strong>in</strong>essesand organizations throughout<strong>Hartford</strong>. Thanks to all!
Letter from the Executive DirectorBY RON PITZ<strong>Hartford</strong> Garden Club Plants Trees!!Good friendships grow stronger through community service. The <strong>Hartford</strong> Garden Club broughtboth friendship and sweat equity to South Downtown <strong>in</strong> May. With shovels <strong>in</strong> hand and a positiveoutlook, the club members dug holes, rolled trees by the root ball, and tamped dirt around the heartysapl<strong>in</strong>gs. Four dozen trees went <strong>in</strong>to the ground that morn<strong>in</strong>g, half <strong>in</strong> South Downtown and half<strong>in</strong> the Charter Oak Sheldon Street neighborhoods. The trees were generously funded by the GardenClub <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hartford</strong> and the <strong>City</strong>. Pictured left to right are Ron Pitz, Mally and Jim Cox-Chapman.The Forest You Always Dreamed OfThe USDA Forest Service, Northeast AreaState and Private Forestry granted Knox$125,000 over three years to develop acomprehensive, community-based modelfor urban forestry <strong>in</strong> the 21st century. Withmatch<strong>in</strong>g funds, this project will empowerKnox and the community to:1) Plant 600 new trees2) Tra<strong>in</strong> 75 tree tenders to care for 1,800trees3) Provide workshops <strong>in</strong> urban forestry4) Assist <strong>in</strong> <strong>Hartford</strong>’s development <strong>of</strong> anUrban Forestry Plan5) Br<strong>in</strong>g Knox’s Trees for <strong>Hartford</strong>Neighborhood Model to other forests<strong>in</strong> Connecticut.Knox engages Greater <strong>Hartford</strong> citizens<strong>in</strong> tree plant<strong>in</strong>gs every year. We cannotwait to tra<strong>in</strong> <strong>Hartford</strong>’s dedicated environmentaliststo care for <strong>Hartford</strong>’s new trees.Our urban cores cry for green <strong>in</strong>frastructure.This project will provide fresh air,shade, and clean water to Connecticut’scities for centuries to come.Community Garden Tour and D<strong>in</strong>nerPut on your walk<strong>in</strong>g shoes and sunglasses for the Garden Tour turned D<strong>in</strong>ner. We’ll meetat the House <strong>of</strong> the Good Shepherd at 5:15 on Thursday, August 2nd. The buses (actuallyan air-conditioned bus and an open air trolley) will depart at 5:30 sharp. Cycl<strong>in</strong>g enthusiastswill coord<strong>in</strong>ate a bike tour to shadow the bus route. The tour will <strong>in</strong>clude a stop at 4gardens and return to Good Shepherd for cocktails and an al fresco d<strong>in</strong>ner as the sun sets.<strong>Hartford</strong>’s best chefs will prepare specialty dishes with locally grown foods. And, as if thiscould get any better, a quartet from the <strong>Hartford</strong> Symphony Orchestra will provide musicfor the even<strong>in</strong>g! Knox is organiz<strong>in</strong>g a special silent auction, with an assortment <strong>of</strong> terracotta pots hand-pa<strong>in</strong>ted by local celebrities! All <strong>in</strong> all, this is the go-to event <strong>of</strong> the summer!Tickets are available at www.knoxparks.org or by call<strong>in</strong>g 860-951-7694.Volunteer Value: Hours x Number <strong>of</strong> Volunteers =Premium Dollars + Community StrengthKnox is very fortunate and privileged tohave a strong, active and engaged volunteer“army” dedicated to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g andpreserv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Hartford</strong>’s spectacular greenspaces. We organize and mange over 2,000volunteers annually. So far this year, 1,332stalwarts jo<strong>in</strong>ed hands and hearts toenhance our Capital <strong>City</strong> through a variety<strong>of</strong> environmental projects: tree plant<strong>in</strong>gs,community garden expansions, gardensreturn<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>Hartford</strong> schools, clean upand beautification <strong>of</strong> our precious parksand numerous neighborhood cleanups.The dollar value is amaz<strong>in</strong>g: 1,332 volunteersput <strong>in</strong> a total <strong>of</strong> 4,552.5 hours forBY: H. CHARMAINE CRAIG$99,199.00 <strong>in</strong> k<strong>in</strong>d service!Our volunteer force is comprised <strong>of</strong>:Corporate Partners - Aetna, The <strong>Hartford</strong>,Kohls, United HealthCare, REI, Prudentialand Pratt & Whitney, EDI Landscape andTD Bank. Community Partners – GardenClub <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hartford</strong>, Watk<strong>in</strong>son School,Tr<strong>in</strong>ity College, JC Clark Elementary,Pathways to Technology High School,K<strong>in</strong>gswood Oxford, Open Hearth, HYPE,Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, CRT,Northeast Organic, Farmers Association,the <strong>Hartford</strong> Job Corp, the Village forChildren and Families, and the Yale Club<strong>of</strong> <strong>Hartford</strong>.<strong>Hartford</strong>’s Urban Trees are the lungs<strong>of</strong> the city! <strong>City</strong>-dwell<strong>in</strong>g trees provideessential oxygen and theirleaves filter t<strong>in</strong>y particles <strong>of</strong> dust, ash,pollen and pollution that cause or worsenthe effects <strong>of</strong> asthma.Another benefit that we derive from treesis the absorption <strong>of</strong> storm water run<strong>of</strong>f.Without trees, this run<strong>of</strong>f picks up toxicsubstances like oil and anti freeze and contam<strong>in</strong>atesbodies <strong>of</strong> water and our dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>gwater supplies.Trees serve as air conditioners as their fullleaved crowns createshade and moisturewhich cool build<strong>in</strong>gs andcity streets. This cool<strong>in</strong>geffect allows us to use lessenergy to cool our build<strong>in</strong>gs.Trees provide habitatfor wildlife. They are akey l<strong>in</strong>k <strong>in</strong> the ecosystemthat susta<strong>in</strong>s us all.Dur<strong>in</strong>g photosynthesis,trees take <strong>in</strong> and storecarbon dioxide (whichcauses climate change)and they give <strong>of</strong>f oxygen.It is our responsibilityto make sure that thebenefits <strong>of</strong> trees rema<strong>in</strong>for future generations. Toma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> these benefits,we need to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> ourtrees! Trees, like any liv<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>g, have aproductive lifespan. Like us, they needmore ma<strong>in</strong>tenance as they age.<strong>Hartford</strong> has a backlog <strong>of</strong> tree ma<strong>in</strong>tenanceafter Storm Alfred destroyed 3000trees and damaged countless. More <strong>of</strong>these damaged trees may need to comedown. To protect the survivors, muchKnox Parks has spent the last eighteenmonths walk<strong>in</strong>g through a thoroughexam<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> who we are, where we’vecome fromand where weare go<strong>in</strong>g. Ourmission isstronger,greener, communities;treesand gardensare a means toachieve thatgoal. Theprocess hasbeen led by Causality, a firm specializ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>nonpr<strong>of</strong>it brand identity.After a year and a half, countless hours <strong>of</strong>prun<strong>in</strong>g and trimm<strong>in</strong>g still needs to takeplace. To grow a healthy urban canopy,trees that come down must be replaced.Knox has been charged with this responsibilitywhich we are tak<strong>in</strong>g very seriously.With fund<strong>in</strong>g provided by the Segarraadm<strong>in</strong>istration, <strong>City</strong> Council, and CapitalWorkforce Partners Knox will replace morethan 1,000 <strong>of</strong> the 3,000 trees <strong>in</strong> partnershipwith the <strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hartford</strong>’s<strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Public Works and HeatherDionne, <strong>Hartford</strong>’s new <strong>City</strong> Forester. Wehave hired 1 supervisor and 5 crew members,all <strong>Hartford</strong> residents,to plant and ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>these trees. So far we haveplanted nearly 300 trees allover <strong>Hartford</strong> with moref<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g new homes eachday. Check out the corner<strong>of</strong> Ma<strong>in</strong> and Charter Oakwhere the Garden Club <strong>of</strong><strong>Hartford</strong> provided fund<strong>in</strong>gand hard work with nearly50 other volunteers. Thatsame day, thirteen newMaples and three newOaks were planted onColumbus Street <strong>in</strong> front<strong>of</strong> the <strong>Hartford</strong> Foun -dation for Public Giv<strong>in</strong>g.Twenty-one new Mapleswere planted downtownjust last week at the corner<strong>of</strong> Ann and Church Stacross from the XL Center.We would love to see each <strong>of</strong> you at one<strong>of</strong> our tree plant<strong>in</strong>g or volunteer events.The vision is important but partners tohelp carry out that vision are essential.Thanks to all <strong>of</strong> our friends, donors, funders,members and volunteers. Wecouldn’t do what we do without your help!Time for Rebrand<strong>in</strong>gdiscussion, debates and <strong>in</strong>terviews, Knoxhas settled on a new logo and a modifiedname. Shortly you’ll see us as Knox, Inc.,with a tag l<strong>in</strong>e<strong>of</strong> “People,Plant<strong>in</strong>g,Programs.”Our new logo,which goeslive soon, isnext to thisarticle.This <strong>in</strong>itiativewas graciouslysponsoredby gifts from the NutmegFoundation, The <strong>Hartford</strong> Foundation forPublic Giv<strong>in</strong>g, and Causality.Foundation & SupportKnox is <strong>in</strong>credibly grateful for such strongfoundation support <strong>in</strong> a city with manywonderful charitable organizations!The community garden program is muchstronger this year due to <strong>in</strong>vestments byKeep America Beautiful, the <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong>Agriculture and its Agri Viability Grant, TheFund for Greater <strong>Hartford</strong>, Aetna, the USDAand the Asylum Hill CongregationalChurch. The AmeriCorps Green Crew isthriv<strong>in</strong>g under the support <strong>of</strong> the FisherFoundation, the George and Grace LongFoundation, the Charles Nelson Rob<strong>in</strong>sonFund, the Ensworth Charitable Foundation,TD Charitable Foundation, and Timberland(who provides steel toed shoes for our crew)!Fund<strong>in</strong>g trees this summer are: the Court<strong>of</strong> Common Council, Capital WorkforcePartners, The <strong>Hartford</strong> and the <strong>City</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>Hartford</strong>. The New Alliance Foundationprovided generous unrestricted fund<strong>in</strong>g foroperat<strong>in</strong>g expenses. AT&T has generouslydonated used trucks from their fleet to Knoxfor transport<strong>in</strong>g our crew and our tools.We are also fortunate to start the new fiscalyear <strong>of</strong>f with a renewed fund<strong>in</strong>g agreementwith the Connecticut Commission onCommunity Service for the AmeriCorpsprogram and the US Forest Service for theplant<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> trees <strong>in</strong> <strong>Hartford</strong>.
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