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If you’re thinking about heading to one of Connecticut’s state parks on Long Island Sound next week be warned.

If you get there late you may find that the park may have already reached full parking capacity. DEEP says that’s likely to happen next week as we head into warm summer weather and the July Fourth holiday.

Parks where that’s likely to happen include Sherwood Island in Westport, Hammonasset in Madison and Rocky Neck in Niantic.

With warm temperatures forecast next week and the July Fourth holiday, don't expect Sherwood Island State Park in Westport to look like this. In fact, Sherwood Island and other parks may reach full parking capacity.

“With the Fourth falling in the middle of the week, coupled with the warm weather that is forecasted, we expect our parks to be very busy.” said DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty said in a release. “I encourage residents to take in a park or two over the extended holiday week, but they should plan ahead and anticipate some traffic and crowds at some locations.”

“Go early, but before you head out the door and check Twitter for parking news and learn about other parks you may want to visit,” added Esty. “If your first choice park is full, seek out another in the area for an experience you will never forget. Connecticut parks are popular this time of year and sometimes parking areas fill to capacity –a testament to what a great value our parks provide for us all.”

Announcements of parks that are filled to capacity are made on Twitter the following addresses:

Twitter.com/CTDEPoutdoorrec – general information about the park system and outdoor recreation in CT including closures

Twitter.com/CTrockyneck – specific to Rocky Neck –Updates posted about activities at the park as well as parking conditions

Twitter.com/CThammonasset – specific to Hammonasset and activities for campers, folks looking to visit Meigs and general park conditions

I’m including the Sherwood Island Twitter address, but unfortunately there’s little activity there. As we headed into the July Fourth holiday week, the last tweet was on Aug. 31 … days after Tropical Storm Irene.

Twitter.com/CTsherwoodislnd – specific to Sherwood Island and activities at the park including parking

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Charles Island, off of Silver Sands State Park in Milford, is closed to humans until Sept. 9.

The reason? Nesting shorebirds including endangered piping plovers and least terns.

And by the way, there is no swimming at Silver Sands today because of poor water quality. It’s the same case at part of Sherwood Island in Westport. Farther east, Rocky Neck in Niantic is also closed.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, says once disturbed, these birds may abandon nesting areas, leaving eggs and hatchlings to die from exposure or predation.

A couple walks back from Charles Island in Milford last summer. The island is closed until Sept. 9 because of nesting shorebirds. Photo by Brian A. Pounds/Connecticut Post

Piping plover.

In addition beachcombers, sunbathers, and boaters can inadvertently trample piping plover and least tern eggs and young if they are not vigilant.

To avoid this, the DEEP has erected fencing and yellow warning signs along beaches where these birds build their shallow sand nests.

DEEP has cordoned off various off-shore islands where herons and egrets congregate in nesting areas called rookeries.

Least tern.

In addition to Charles Island, Duck Island in Westport is also closed.

“Shorebirds and wading birds need special protection throughout their April to September nesting season,” Susan Frechette, Deputy Commissioner of the DEEP, said in a press release.  “We urge beachgoers to keep fireworks and kites, especially kites that make noise, away from beach areas. We are also asking people to keep their pets leashed and to stay away from fenced areas.”

Charles Island off of Milford. Photo by Morgan Kaolian/AEROPIX

The DEEP offers the following advice to help protect nesting shorebirds and wading birds:

• Refrain from walking dogs or allowing cats to roam freely on beaches during the nesting season.  Dogs and cats are frequent predators of piping plovers and least terns.
• Don’t let pets off boats onto posted islands or beaches.
• If you live near a beach, do not let your pets roam during the nesting season. Dogs should always be restrained by a leash.
• Do not bury or leave trash, picnic leftovers, and fish scraps on a beach.  They attract predators of chicks and eggs, such as skunks, raccoons, foxes, and black-backed gulls.
• Do not attempt to “rescue” young birds that appear to be lost or too young to fly.
• Do not attempt to remove young birds from the beach or coastal areas to care for them at home.

It is illegal to hold wildlife for rehabilitation without state or federal permits.  In addition, shorebirds have a unique diet that people would find hard to duplicate, probably resulting in starvation of the young bird.  Please report any violations affecting wildlife to the DEEP’s 24-hour, toll-free hot line:      1-800-842-HELP.

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Press release:

Bryan Atherton of Atherton & Associates Commercial Properties has announced Colony Grill Development, LLC has reached a lease agreement with Milford Broad Street, LLC to open a Colony Grill restaurant at 36-38 Broad Street in Milford, CT – the former location of the landmark Harrison’s Hardware store, situated just across from the historic downtown Milford green.

Colony Grill's specialty, hot oil pizza, is made with oil in which poblano peppers soak for a spicy hot flavor. Photo by Lindsay Niegelberg.

This will be the fourth Colony Grill in Connecticut; other existing sites are located in Stamford, Avon & Fairfield.

The Colony Grill concept began in 1935 in an Irish neighborhood in post-Prohibition south Stamford. Since then, the “Colony” has become famous for what is now its only menu offering: a one-of-a-kind, one-size, thin-crust pizza – with or without its signature hot oil – served simply, amid classic American charm.

Bryan Atherton, left, president of Atherton Associates, and Richard Rhatigan, vice president of sales, stand outside Harrison's Hardware in downtown Milford. The brokers plan to develop the store, closed by fire and water damage in 2006, into a restaurant. Photo by Autumn Driscoll/CT Post

Colony Grill has been featured in such publications as Gourmet Magazine, Connecticut Magazine, and Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to America’s Best Local Eateries.

“We are extremely excited to be working toward opening a Colony Grill in Milford in the coming months,” said Chris Drury, co-owner of Colony Grill Development, LLC, and a former longtime National Hockey League standout. “My partners and I love the history of the space and its proximity to a wide range of other great restaurants and retailers, public transportation, and the beautiful Milford harbor. We are hopeful Colony Grill can become a strong community partner not only in the vibrant downtown area but, by extension, throughout the entire City of Milford for many years to come.”

With Drury, Paul Coniglio, Cody Lee, and Ken Martin co-own and operate Colony Grill Development, LLC. The four Connecticut natives played baseball together as youngsters on the 1989 Little League World Championship team from Trumbull that defeated Taiwan on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

“We think Colony Grill offers a deliciously unique pizza amid a very appealing tavern-like setting,” Martin said. “It’s the type of place we always envisioned operating as long-time friends, and we feel the sincerity and energy we put into running Colony Grill restaurants is something Milford residents, in turn, will be able to embrace and enjoy with their own close friends and family.”

Colony Grill restaurants are open seven days a week, serving pizza and drinks from 11:30am until late closing. Employment inquiries or general questions may be sent to info@colonygrill.com.

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PRESS RELEASE:

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police will be stepping up enforcement activities this weekend on those who may be boating under the influence.

EnCon Police officers will participate in Operation Dry Water and will be out in force looking for boaters with a Blood Alcohol Content exceeding the state limit of .08%.

Operation Dry Water will include state wide increased patrols and checkpoints, as well as boater education efforts. Impaired boaters can expect penalties to be severe. In Connecticut they include fines, jail and loss of boating privileges.

“We intend to arrest intoxicated boaters and to educate as many boaters as possible about the hazards of Boating while Under the Influence,” said Colonel Kyle Overturf of the EnCon Police and spokesperson for the Operation Dry Water Campaign. “There will be arrests this weekend, and some boaters will face the consequences of boating under the influence. We want recreational boaters to enjoy themselves, but there will be zero tolerance for BUI.”

Boating while Under the Influence (BUI) continues to be a major problem in Connecticut and the U.S. Alcohol was a contributing factor in 16 percent of boating fatalities in the U.S. last year. In Connecticut, alcohol-related boating deaths increased from six during 2001-2005 to 22 from 2006-2010. In 2011, DEEP EnCon Police made 15 arrests for BUI statewide.

A boat operator or even passengers with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit run a significantly increased risk of being involved in a fatal boating accident. When impaired by alcohol, boating accidents are more probable and more deadly for both passengers and boat operators, many of whom capsize their vessel or simply fall overboard.

Operation Dry Water (ODW), a multi-agency, education and enforcement initiative launched by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in 2009 in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, puts thousands of local, state and federal marine law enforcement officers on the water nationwide prior to the July 4th holiday to give BUI enforcement high visibility during the peak boating season.

For more information, visit www.operationdrywater.org or the DEEP website at http://www.ct.gov/deep/enconpolice.

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PRESS RELEASE:

State Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky announced today that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering federal economic injury disaster loans to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquacultural businesses and most private non-profit organizations in Fairfield and Litchfield counties as a result of frosts and freezes beginning March 1, 2012.

“I am pleased that the SBA has offered this assistance and hope that those who are eligible and in need will apply,” said Commissioner Reviczky. “Agriculture is an industry affected by forces beyond human control, including those of Mother Nature. While those engaged in the industry are, by nature, a resilient bunch, a little extra help to recover from severe weather disasters can go a long way.”

According to Frank Scaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta, the SBA issued its own disaster declaration following that from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The SBA’s declaration works to assist eligible entities affected by the same disaster. Connecticut’s Fairfield and Litchfield counties are eligible because they are contiguous to primary disaster counties in New York.

The program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. While aquacultural enterprises, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofit organizations are included, other agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers are not eligible.

Loans can be for as much as $2 million with interest rates of 3 or 4 percent and terms up to 30 years, and may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

For more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply, please contact the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit www.sba.gov.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than February 5, 2013.

www.CTGrown.gov

www.ct.gov/doag

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PRESS RELEASE

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) today announced that admission to twelve state park museums and historic sites will be free on Saturday as part of the 8th Annual Connecticut Open House Day.

CT DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty said, “Free admission to state park museums and historic sites will enable everyone to enjoy Connecticut’s state parks this upcoming Saturday. Visiting these special places will form memories your families and friends will never forget.”

8th Annual Connecticut Open House Day

Residents and visitors alike are invited to visit state park museums and historic sites free of charge this Saturday at:

For more information on state parks and museums, click here.

• Beckley Furnace State Park, North Canaan 10 AM – 2 PM

• Civilian Conservation Corps Museum at Shenipsit State Forest, Stafford, 9 AM – 5 PM

• Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill, 9 AM – 4:30 PM, pictured above.

• Fort Griswold State Park, Groton, 9 AM – 5 PM

• Fort Trumbull State Park, New London. 9 AM – 5 PM

• Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam, 10 AM – 4:30 PM

• Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford, 10 AM – 2 PM

• Heublein Tower at Talcott Mountain State Park, Simsbury, 10 AM – 5 PM

• Osborne Homestead Museum, Derby, 10 AM – 4 PM

• Putnam Memorial State Park, Redding, 10 AM – 5 PM

• Stone Museum at Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted, 10 AM – 4:30 PM

• Topsmead State Forest, Litchfield, 12 PM – 5 PM

To learn more about Connecticut’s State Parks and Forests, visit: www.NoChildLeftInside.org.

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Reporter Linda Conner Lambeck, doing some Saturday morning errands, shot this photo showing damage to the Marshall’s store building in Stratford.

Linda says the damage was caused by a truck that clipped the building.

Marshall’s is located 411 Barnum Ave. in Stratford Square Center.

A woman who answered the phone at the store said Marshall’s  is open for business as usual.

“We’re all fine here,” she said.

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PRESS RELEASE

State Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky announced today the up-coming sale of a group of rescued animals consisting of 10 horses. The animals are consigned to the University of Connecticut’s Annual Spring Horse Auction and Tack and Equipment Tag Sale, to be held Saturday, at the UConn Horse Arena on Horse Barn Hill Road in Storrs. The sale pre-view will begin at 11 a.m. and the auction at 1 p.m.

Chelsea Leach, Equestrian Team member, poses with UC Faith

The rescued and rehabilitated animals offered for sale have been cared for at the Department of Agriculture’s Second Chance Large Animal Rehabilitation Facility, located at the York Correctional Facility in Niantic. The barn, built in 2003, is a cooperative effort of the Departments of Agriculture and Correc-tions. Animals at the facility—all of which have been seized as a result of evidence of animal cruelty and neglect—are cared for daily by Department of Agriculture staff and York Correctional inmates.

More than 200 horses, mules, and donkeys have been rehabilitated at the facility since its opening.

“The Animal Science Department of the University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been an important partner in finding good homes for the rehabilitated animals,” noted Commissioner Reviczky. “The staff and students have taken a genuine interest in the animals, showing cooperation and dedication at each sale since 2003.”

To see photos of the 10 horses, click here.

Below is one of the horses named Eclipse.

The animals consigned to the sale have been at the rescue barn for some time and are completely rehabili-tated back to a healthy condition. The horses have current vaccinations, health certificates, negative Coggins tests, and each has a microchip (LifeChip®) for identification purposes. All records will be available to interested parties.

For more information regarding the Department of Agriculture’s animals, contact its Animal Control Division at 860-713-2506 or visit the auction website, which provides information and photos of all of the rescued animals.

For general information regarding the Annual Spring Horse Auction and Tack and Equipment Tag Sale, visit the website or contact the university at 860-486-2034.