Today is Saturday, December 28, 2024 
Today we announce an exciting opportunity to become part of the first heritage park in Connecticut by operating what will be one of the park’s most unique features – a water taxi to connect anchor sites within the park. See details and Request for Proposals here.
Update: Click here for the transcript from the Q&A session of the January 13th bidders’ conference for water taxi service.
We also have a copy of the Information Book that comes with the 40-foot utility boats.
The Transition Team as a whole met Wednesday December 9th, this time at the Submarine Force Library and Museum, located, cleverly, right next to the Sub Base on Crystal Lake Rd. (off of Rt 12) in Groton. And what a very cool place it is, with interesting items on the grounds and an interactive museum just like Fort Trumbull.
There are all kinds of colorful thingamabobs outside the building.
Here’s a vintage sub—how cute!—from the 1950’s
This one looks scary
There’s the Nautilus, napping at the dock (and nearby will be the future site of the dock of the water taxi—we hope!)
You don’t realize how big these things are till you meet them face to face—this conning tower is at the entrance to the museum
The committees had lots of news to report, but it was kind of sad because this marked the last meeting for our friend and fellow Transition Team member, Captain Carl Lahti, the 50th Commanding officer of the Naval Submarine Base New London (his official title, and yes, the base is on the Groton side of the river). Carl has been really great about keeping us in the loop regarding the status of the plans for future water taxi dock space near the Nautilus, and we learned more at this meeting regarding that. At this point the Navy is waiting for an updated proposal from the CT DEEP (one is in place but it is ten years old so time to update it), which will happen when permits and funds are in place, so the water taxi dock at the Nautilus will not happen in 2016. However, all parties are quite positive about it, and our new liaison, Captain Paul Whitescarver (the 51st Commanding officer of the Naval Submarine Base New London), was also at the meeting and promised to pick up where Capt. Lahti left off.
Water taxi committee Chair Marian Galbraith gave an overview of what’s in store for our new boats this winter: first the “de-preservation” of the engines, then a marine survey to tell us what’s needed to bring the boats up to USCG passenger-carrying standards, then the development of a budget. Meanwhile, the hulls will be painted before it gets too cold. A big plus is that all the canvas is in good shape—phew! One expensive bullet dodged.
The Team also discussed the continuing hunt for permanent office space for the new 501 c 3, the RFP for water taxi operation, and the bylaws and articles of incorporation for the agency, which will be in place by the end of the year.
The City of Groton is also looking into obtaining insurance so volunteers can work helping get the boats ready. And we couldn’t have done any of this without the generosity of our pals at Crocker’s Boat Yard on Howard Street in New London where the taxis are being stored free of charge.
Enjoy time with your family and friends by attending this holiday favorite. The Holly & the Ivy is a living history play written by award-winning Connecticut playwright Charles Traeger and presented by Flock Theatre and will be performed This Weekend!!
The story takes place in four historic properties downtown. The audience travels back in time via a guided walk to the Hempsted Houses where they experience a Christmas Eve during the colonial period. Additional scenes take place in the Shaw Mansion and the Custom House, with the final scene of a soldier returning from World War II at the Hygienic Art Gallery, where there is a historic restaurant counter. All the stories are real but have been theatrically enhanced. The material includes four different periods covering over 200 years of the city’s rich history.
All shows begin at New London Landmarks, 49 Washington Street, New London and will end at the Hygienic Art Gallery on Bank Street. There is municipal parking lot behind Hygienic and it is free on weekends.
There will be coffee, cider, and cookies at Landmarks’ office while you wait for your performance to begin.
Click HERE to purchase tickets.
Well, at least two that we know of: Transition Team Chair Chris Cox and Communications Committee Chair Penny Parsekian. Both were at the opening reception of the “Celebrate the Sea” exhibit, which showcases the photographic artistry of Joe Geraci and will be at the Gallery until the end of January 2016. Don’t miss this opportunity to see some of these amazing images from the 2015 Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival, including great shots of the sailboat race.
All proceeds from the sale of prints at the reception benefitted the Connecticut Maritime Heritage festival.
The Gallery at Firehouse Square focuses on “maritime art, with the coastal and inland waters, the ocean, and representational art depicting the splendor of the natural world. The Gallery at Firehouse Square was founded in 2009 as New London’s only gallery offering maritime antiquities and art from the 19th century to the present. It is a treasure trove of maritime history, an artistic collective where emerging artists and art students find the kind of support necessary to showcase their vivid new talents, as well as a space in which to hold a very special event. . . . It is our goal to make art accessible to everyone – young and old, students, Connecticut residents and visitors to New London, boaters and sea lovers, collectors, and more.”
So plan a visit as soon as you can! But if, like me, you would like some instant gratification, by all means visit Joe Geraci’s website/blog. It’s great!
November 30th, 2015 was not a typical Monday for fans of our new park. No, Monday was the day we welcomed two 40-foot US Navy utility boats to Crocker’s Boatyard in New London, where they will be overhauled in preparation for new lives as water taxis, carrying visitors to sites in the historic park along the Thames River. Monday marked a giant step forward.
From all accounts, the journey atop two flatbed trailers from New Jersey was uneventful. The first excited update came at 10:39 am as they crossed the Tappan Zee Bridge, having freed themselves of some typical Monday morning traffic in northern New Jersey. The last leg of the trip went smoothly, and they arrived in New London about an hour ahead of schedule. Yes, ahead of schedule!
A small, but very enthusiastic group of greeters met the boats.
Thames River Heritage Park Foundation
P.O. Box 851
New London, CT 06320
Administration
(860) 444-4401 / Email
General Inquiries/Boat Operations
(860) 333-6706
