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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>We are planning to make Deer Pond Farm in Sherman into an amazing destination for butterflies in the coming years. I hope some of you can join us for a preview!</strong></span></p>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>Deer Pond Farm in Sherman to Celebrate its Year-Round Opening with a Fanfare <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://3" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="3" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824);">on
July 7</a></strong><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>10 miles of beautiful trails will be open seven days a week. The public is invited to experience one of the state’s great nature sanctuaries</strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">June 28, 2018 -- After a year of preparation, the <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://5" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="misc" x-apple-data-detectors-result="5" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824);">Connecticut
Audubon Society</a>’s Deer Pond Farm in Sherman will open 10 miles of trails to the public seven days a week for hiking, birding, and nature study, <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://6" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="6" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824);">starting
Saturday, July 7.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The preserve has been open only for guided walks in limited areas and at limited times. But now visitors will be able to explore more than 400 acres of
the preserve from dawn to dusk, year-round.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Connecticut Audubon is celebrating by inviting the public to a free grand opening <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://7" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="7" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824);">on
Saturday, July 7.</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Bird walks led by Connecticut Audubon staff will <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://8" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="8" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824);">start
at 8 a.m.</a>, followed by <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://9" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="9" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824);">a 10 a.m.</a> ribbon
cutting, and a raptor demonstration by Skyhunters in Flight <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://10" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="10" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824);">at
10:30</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Additional guided walks are scheduled for <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://11" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="11" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824);">11:30</a> and
visitors will be able to explore the preserve on their own as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The walks will be led by Connecticut Audubon Executive Director Patrick Comins and Deer Pond Farm Director Cathy Hagadorn, as well as by Deirdra Wallin
and Jim Arrigoni of the Deer Pond Farm staff. Volunteers will also be stationed at the newly-established memorial pollinator garden.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Deer Pond Farm is located at <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://12" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="address" x-apple-data-detectors-result="12" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824);">57
Wakeman Hill Road</a>, Sherman.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The opening day programs are free but RSVPs are requested. Links to RSVP to all of the <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://13" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors-result="13" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824);">July
7</a> programs are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://bbox.blackbaudhosting.com/webforms/linkredirect?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.ctaudubon.org%2f2018%2f06%2fgrand-grounds-opening%2f&srcid=8759519&srctid=1&erid=668299286&trid=be5fe5b6-ee66-419b-80f4-c994747310ea&linkid=102857423&isbbox=1">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Deer Pond Farm is one of 20 wildlife sanctuaries owned and managed by Connecticut Audubon. Based in Fairfield, Connecticut Audubon is the state’s largest
independent conservation organization. Connecticut Audubon has centers in Fairfield, Milford, Glastonbury, Old Lyme, and Pomfret, in addition to Sherman. Its 20 sanctuaries encompass 3,000 acres.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Deer Pond Farm is extraordinary. Visitors will experience one of Connecticut’s great natural areas. The preserve occupies 835 acres in the highlands spanning
the border of Connecticut and New York. Most of it is a deep forest of hills and hollows, with wooded swamps throughout, but there are also meadows and other grassy areas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Deer Pond Farm also offers spectacular views from a high point of 1,200 feet to the southeastern hills.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Cathy Hagadorn<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Director - Deer Pond Farm<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>
<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://15/0" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="address" x-apple-data-detectors-result="15/0" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.258824);">57 Wakeman Hill Road</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><font color="#000000"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="x-apple-data-detectors://15/0" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="address" x-apple-data-detectors-result="15/0" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.258824);">Sherman,
CT 06784</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><font style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.258824);"><a href="tel:860-799-4074;101" dir="ltr" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="15/1" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.258824); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">860-799-4074
x 101</a></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Patrick Comins, meriden</span></p>
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