The Community Farm of Simsbury is converting a former milk processing plant into an agricultural education center, thanks to a $128,000 grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
In 1883, Simsbury native and New York City real estate multi-millionaire Amos R. Eno donated 140 acres to the town of Simsbury “to be used for the occupation and maintenance of the town poor.”
That mission continues thanks to Community Farm of Simsbury Inc.
The milk processing plant closed in 2008, after which Community Farm was founded to fulfill the charitable intent of the land deed. The agency leases 38 acres from the town for programs about nature, farming and environmental stewardship.
The farm’s old milk processing plant — located off Wolcott Road — will be turned into a center for kindergarten through young adults to experience age appropriate agricultural education programs.
The 1,260 square feet renovated building will house a large classroom, workroom, storage room and mechanical room, said Tim Goodwin, executive director of Community Farm. Plans also include a new ceiling and lighting, electrical systems, heating and cooling systems, insulation and wallboards, doors, and windows, as well as leveling, patching and painting the existing floor.
“Renovation of the milk processing plant represents a critical first step toward Community Farm becoming a sustainable year-round educational farm while fulfilling the charitable intent of the Eno gift,” said Goodwin.
Community Farm has formed partnerships with the Simsbury and Hartford school districts, Ethel Walker School, Capitol Region Education Council and others.
In additional to its educational programming, Community Farm of Simsbury has developed an incubator farmer program that allows adults considering farming as a career to lease an acre to develop their skills in food production. The food, certified organic, is then sold at farmers’ markets and local restaurants, and also donated to local food banks such as Gifts of Love, which serves the Farmington Valley; Simsbury Social Services; Foodshare, the regional food bank; and Billings Forge Community Works in Hartford.
Two Grants For Wilson-Gray YMCA
The Wilson-Gray YMCA Youth and Family Center has received a pair of grants totaling $40,000 to extend its programs.
The Travelers Foundation, the charitable arm of Travelers Cos. Inc., provided the Hartford center with $25,000 for its Y Achievers Program, a mentoring program that encourages the pursuit of higher education and vocational training.
The center also received $15,000 from Sam’s Club to enhance programs designed to help teens prepare for and achieve higher education. The gift is part of $1 million national charitable giving initiative to support national urban education and outreach. In Hartford, the funding will be used to help area youth develop life skills and achieve educational goals by actively becoming involved with positive adult role models and mentors through the Y Achievers program.
• • •
CCSU Foundation Elects Board
Anthony S. Torsiello, a vice president in corporate finance for Travelers Cos. Inc. has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the CCSU Foundation Inc. Torsiello, who joined Travelers in 1988, he is responsible for the preparation of annual budgets and re-forecasts and monthly analysis of operating results.
In addition to Torsiello, Christopher J. Galligan, vice president for Institutional Advancement at CCSU; Robert A. Kerzner, president of LIMRA International Inc.; John J. Patrick, president and chief executive officer of Farmington Bank, and Thomas I. Rogan, vice president and treasurer for United Technologies Corp. were all re-elected directors for three-year terms.
Foundation directors elected Garret A. Ratcliffe as board chairman; Kerzner as vice chairman; Galligan as secretary and Edward R. Young as treasurer for one-year terms.
• • •
WESU Gets Booster Shot
WESU (88.1 FM) and Wesleyan University honored Community Health Center Inc. for its role in the radio station’s recent power upgrade. President and CEO Mark Masselli and CHC were recognized for contributing the money needed for a new antenna. With the new antenna to carry its signal, the university-based station’s wattage increased from 1,500 to 6,000 watts, expanding its reach from 500,000 potential listeners in central Connecticut to 1 million. The health center’s radio show, “Conversations on Health Care,” airs on WESU on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m.
