MEDIA

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=160 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="24af46b0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="107" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MISSION"><U><B>MISSION</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WHAT TO DO?"><U><B>WHAT TO DO?</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="JOIN CUSH"><U><B>JOIN CUSH</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="POLLUTION SOURCES"><U><B>POLLUTION SOURCES</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>MEDIA</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WATER TESTING"><U><B>WATER TESTING</B></U></A><B>    </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#006666" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CUSH HOME PAGE"><U><B>HOME PAGE</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=275 BGCOLOR="#006666" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="24eb44e0.jpg" border=0 width="180" height="78" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> PR Releases</div> <div> The most recent PR Releases appear in the right column.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ARTICLES IN THE NEWS"><U>Articles in the News</U></A></div> <div> Click above for articles that have appeared in the news.  The most recent articles are listed first.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2d8b4890.jpg" border=0 width="180" height="137" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=320 BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="10" CELLPADDING="8" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="682" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#CC9933" BORDERCOLORDARK="#006666" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF HEIGHT= 3741 WIDTH="634"><div> <B><U>MEDIA</U></B></div> <bR> <div> Most Recent Press Releases Listed First</div> <div> See left column for articles in the news</div> <bR> <bR> <div> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    CONTACT:  Gracelyn Guyol, President, CUSH</div> <div> October 25, 2010                                                             (860) 535-4134</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>CUSH and Stonington Win $43,200 Pumpout Grant</B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="34b2cc80.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="200" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="5">CUSH and the Town of Stonington have been awarded a $43,200 grant from Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection under the Clean Vessel Act Grant program. The successful application, written by CUSH board member Kathryn Burchenal and Stonington Town Engineer Larry Sullivan, will fund construction of a fixed pier and pumpout station at Stonington Borough sewage treatment plant. </div> <bR> <div> Currently, Westerly pumpout boats (partially funded by DEP) empty holding tanks of vessels moored in the Pawcatuck River, Watch Hill harbor, and Stonington harbor. Pumpout boats unload into sewer lines at Westerly Yacht Club. However, Stonington harbor is a two hour trip for a full boat, reducing the number of vessels that can be serviced each day. Construction of the new emptying station will save time, dramatically improving service in all three areas, hopefully motivating impatient captains to arrange free pumpout, reducing raw sewage deposited in local waters.</div> <bR> <div> The project is a collaboration between the Town, CUSH, and Stonington Harbor Management Commission. First proposed in 2007, the portion not covered by grant funding was included in the Town's 2008 budget but eliminated due to the economic downtown.</div> <bR> <div> "We felt this was an important project but one a municipality might not be able to fund in the foreseeable future," said CUSH President Gracelyn Guyol. "When Rick Huntley, Connecticut DEP's Clean Vessel Act Grant Program Coordinator, telephoned in January 2010 asking if the project might go forward, I said yes, CUSH would accept responsibility for raising the additional funds."</div> <bR> <div> Half the new dock will house the Harbormaster’s boat and be paid for by Stonington Harbor Management Commission. Seventy-five percent of pumpout-related costs will be covered by the DEP Clean Vessel grant. CUSH will raise $14,200 to cover the remainder. Construction will be overseen by Town Engineer Larry Sullivan, Harbor Management Commission Chairman Peter Vermilya, and CUSH Board member Mike Logan. </div> <div> The new pumpout emptying station is expected to be in operation by May 2011.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> #####</div> <bR> <bR> <div> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    CONTACT:  Gracelyn Guyol, President, CUSH</div> <div> September 10, 2010                                                             (860) 535-4134</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Community Cleanup of Flood Debris in Pawcatuck River and Sandy Point</B></div> <div> <B>Saturday, September 25, 9 am – noon, Barn Island Boat Ramp</B></div> <bR> <div> Save The Bay’s Dave Prescott, South County Coastkeeper for its Westerly office, is spearheading a community cleanup of flood debris on Sandy Point and in the Pawcatuck River, Saturday, September 25, 2010, from 9 am to noon. A Clean the Bay barge with crew and winch has been reserved to remove water-soaked lumber, metal objects, and other heavy debris, including derelict boats, for disposal. </div> <bR> <div> Volunteers and pleasure boaters are asked to meet at the Barn Island boat ramp at 9 am wearing warm, comfortable, water repellent gear. The cleanup will work East to Sandy Point then up the Pawcatuck River, ending at the Westerly boat ramp (across from McQuades). Pleasure boat Captains are needed to carry volunteers to assist the barge. For instance, large amounts of lumber were washed onto Sandy Point during the flood. Pleasure boats can land, allowing volunteers to go ashore and bring debris to the barge. These boats will be given heavy duty trash bags for collection of small items but bigger debris will be loaded onto the barge.</div> <bR> <div> Members of the public are asked to assist by e-mailing the location, description, and a photo (when possible) of major objects to <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><U>dprescott@savebay.org</U></FONT> no later than September 23. This will enable establishment of a database with GPS points in advance of the cleanup.</div> <bR> <div> CUSH is applying for grant funding to sponsor a similar community cleanup of flood debris in the Mystic River and along Stonington harbors in the spring of 2011. Reports of items to be removed during that cleanup can be e-mailed to CUSH President Gracelyn Guyol, gguyol@aol.com .</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> #####</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>TidePool Cruiser and CUSH to Promote Ocean Preservation</B></div> <div>      </div> <div> Stonington, CT --Gary Poe and his TidePool Cruiser have educated roughly 50,000 kids about preserving the ocean.   Half of the CUSH (Clean Up Stonington Harbors) mission is educating residents about ways to improve local waters.  This summer, Poe and CUSH will join forces at four events aimed at local families:</div> <div>   </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">July 4, 9 am-5 pm, during Mystic Seaport's All American Picnic Week </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">July 11, 7-10 pm, at the Westerly/Pawcatuck Riverglow </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">August 1, 10 am-4 pm, at the Stonington Village Fair </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">September 27, 10 am-4 pm, at Mystic Aquarium's National Estuaries Day.</div> <div>      </div> <div> The TidePool Cruiser made its debut on Earth Day 2002, entertaining and enlightening more than 850,000 people since at annual celebrations.   Where Poe's Windows-On-Our-Waters Environmental Education (WOOWEE) Program has had the most profound impact, however, is with school children.  The TidePool Cruiser has logged 25,000 miles and just completed the Great American Sea Star Trek, educating more than 1,700 children at 14 schools in 11 states and the District of Columbia.</div> <bR> <div> School adventures start during an assembly where urban runoff and stormwater pollution are explained.  Hands-on demonstrations illustrate sources of pollution and how it can be stopped.   Students then go outdoors to the TidePool Cruiser itself for a “worms' eye view” of a storm drain full of trash, pesticides, oil, fertilizer, and additional pollutants on their way to be deposited, untreated, into streams, rivers, coastal harbors, and the ocean.</div> <div>   </div> <div> As students move around the cruiser, they enjoy the “Travelin' Tide Pool Touch Tank,” handling living sea stars, sea urchins, marine snails, kelp, and other ocean life.  At an “Examination Station” with preserved specimens of marine life, they get a closer look through magnifiers and a microscope.  In the “General Store of the Sea” section, scanning a barcode on one of several dozen products brings up a description of the product and its ocean connections on an overhead monitor. </div> <bR> <div> Gary Poe attended Kent State University and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.  He has appeared off and on Broadway in a variety of plays.  As a teacher, he was Senior Educator for seven years at Safe Moves, an award winning Children's Transportation and Safety organization and served as science educator at Venice Camp in Los Angeles and docent at the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom in Beverly Hills' Franklin Canyon.  He is a member of the North American Association for Environmental Education, the National Marine Educators Association, Southwest Marine/Aquatic Educators Association, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)</div> <div>  </div> <div> Windows-On-Our-Waters (www.windowsonourwaters.org) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit educational organization.   </div> <bR> <div> CUSH, Inc. (<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><A HREF="http://www.cushinc.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.cushinc.org"><U><U>www.cushinc.org</U></U></A></FONT>) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that conducts scientific water testing to document Stonington harbor conditions and educates residents on how to improve local waters through Harbor Friendly Yards, Eco-Safe Boating, and other programs.  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> #####</div> <div> <I>(Permission is granted to reproduce this release in whole or part by crediting writer Gracelyn Guyol or CUSH, Inc.  E-photos available on request.)</I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          CONTACT:  Gracelyn Guyol, President </div> <div> July 2, 2008                          <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:gguyol@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:gguyol@aol.com"><U><U>gguyol@aol.com</U></U></A></FONT> or (860) 535-4134     </div> <bR> <div>      </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Free Nature Conservancy Lecture, July 24, 8 pm</B></div> <div> <B>Topics Include Scallop Restoration Project for Stonington Waters</B></div> <div> <B>and Six Miles of New Pawcatuck River Protection </B></div> <bR> <div> Members of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will provide an update on a several-year action plan for Long Island Sound on Thursday evening, July 24, 2008, at 8 pm, in the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club community room, 32 Water Street, Stonington Borough.   The event is free and the public are invited.</div> <div> Speakers will include Dr. Lise Hanners, Executive Director of the TNC Connecticut Chapter, who will outline long-term plans to protect and restore key estuaries.  </div> <div> Kevin Essington, Director of the TNC Borderlands Landscape Program in Connecticut, will review activities along the Pawcatuck River, centering on the recent acquisition of 600 acres that now provides a six mile protected stretch of river.   </div> <div> Chris Littlefield, Director of TNC Special Projects for the Rhode Island Chapter, and Alan Desbonnet of the Stonington Shellfish Commission, will address the scallop project.  TNC will direct private and government funds to begin raising scallops in Stonington waters, focusing first on Little Narragansett Bay.  Although some beds currently exist, the project is intended to increase their numbers to provide badly needed filtration services in the area and eventually offer opportunities for scallop farming. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ###</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    CONTACT:  Gracelyn Guyol, President </div> <div> May 9, 2008                                    <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:gguyol@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:gguyol@aol.com"><U><U>gguyol@aol.com</U></U></A></FONT> or (860) 535-4134     </div> <div>      </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Poison in the Grass?</div> <div> <B> Health Risks from Lawn Chemicals </B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >     Stonington, CT - Blurred vision, speech difficulties, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, irritability, and breathing problems are just a few of the short term reactions to chemicals routinely sprayed on lawns across America.  Competing for picture perfect turf carries long term health risks too. <B>  </B></FONT><B>Increased cancers, birth defects, and damage to the endocrine, nervous and immune systems, are just a few that will be discussed by Susan Addiss, MPH, MurS, at a </B><B><U>free public lecture June 4, 2008, 7:30 pm, Stonington Harbor Yacht Club,</U></B><B> 32 Water Street, Stonington Borough.</B></div> <div>      Addiss is Past Commissioner of Health for the State of Connecticut; Past Director of Health for the Quinnipiack Valley Health District; Past President of the American Public Health Association; Past member of the Pew Environmental Health Commission.  She is currently Director of Health Education for Environment & Human Health, Inc., a North Haven nonprofit founded to protect the public from environmental harms through research, education and promotion of sound public policy.  </div> <div> To schedule an interview with Susan Addiss, please contact Gracelyn Guyol (above).</div> <div>      For information on the impact of pesticides on children, adults, sea life, and birds, go to http://www.cushinc.org/id135.htm and scroll down.</div> <div> CUSH (Clean Up Stonington Harbors) is a nonprofit founded in 2007 with the goals of reducing water pollution in local harbors, between the Mystic and Pawcatuck Rivers, and restoring a healthy marine habitat.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ### </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>Restoring Stonington Harbors to Pristine Condition</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>