About the Organization
Our Mission
To foster community support for stewardship of Pameacha Pond, a water body of historic, ecological, and recreational value in the heart of Middletown. It is part of the Long Hill Brook watershed, and evidence of its existence and use by humans goes back hundreds of years.
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Friends of Pameacha Pond-Long Hill Brook was formed in 2023 to help protect the pond and improve the quality of the watershed by:
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Promoting actions that improve and protect water quality, ecological integrity, wildlife habitat, recreation, and aesthetic values of the pond and the Long Hill Brook watershed through education, advocacy and collaboration with other entities
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Educating the public about the pond’s history and wildlife
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Supporting initiatives that provide safe access for public recreation and enjoyment
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Advocating for the pond to be maintained as public property by the City of Middletown and protected for future generations
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Promote dam management that will support these goals
Membership is open to anyone.
Board Members
Deborah Kleckowski
Vice President of FPPLHB Inc.
Deborah Kleckowski is a seasoned educator with experience in both administration and instruction. She has a strong background in management, hiring, professional development, grant writing, and community relations. As an instructor, she focuses on building rapport with students to support student-centered, goal-oriented academic and professional success, with a specialty in working with underprepared and non-traditional students.
In addition to her career in education, Deborah served for 10 years on the Common Council, representing her community with dedication. She remains committed to supporting those in office and is available to offer guidance if needed.
Mary-Ellen Sutton
Treasurer, FPPLHB Inc.
Mary-Ellen Sutton is a Middletown native and a Woodrow Wilson High School-Wildcat graduate. She holds a BSW in Social Work from Southern Connecticut State University and earned her MSW degree from Fordham University. Over her 30-year career, as a professional social worker she provided vital counseling services, advocated for community resources, and worked in hospice care
encouraging independence and quality of life for individuals and families. Following retirement, she returned to her family homestead and co-founded a commercial and residential property management company with her spouse.
Additionally, she established Cheemah on South Main, LLC Yoga and Wellness Center where she promotes health and wellness in the community. She is an avid lifelong learner and staunch advocate for Pameacha Pond to ensure this treasure for future generations.
Daniel Penney
Former Associate VP of Facilities Management, UCONN Health Center
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Daniel Penney serves on the Commission on Conservation and Agriculture and has experience in dam management through his work with a private lake association in New Hampshire. He has also been involved with the City of Middletown's Public Works, focusing on issues related to Chamberlain Hill Road.
Now retired, Daniel was the Associate Vice President of Facilities Management at UConn Health Center. He previously held a seat on the South Fire District’s Board of Commissioners.
Taylor J. Brown
Associate Director of Undergraduate
Admission, Yale University
Taylor is a relatively new member of the Pameacha Pond community, having purchased a house right
along the pond in 2021. A New Jersey native, he first came to Middletown in 2019 to work at Wesleyan
University, where he now serves as Associate Dean of Admission. Prior to Middletown, he resided in
Cambridge, MA to pursue his graduate work after spending three years in historic Gettysburg, PA.
In his free time, Taylor enjoys hiking, traveling, and skiing. He has a deep appreciation for both the
beauty and history of Pameacha Pond and hopes to see it not only maintained, but also enhanced so
that the local community can enjoy it for years to come.
Andrea Blackwell
Assistant Branch Manager, Liberty Bank
Andrea Blackwell is the Assistant Branch Manager at Liberty Bank on South Main Street in Middletown, a role she has held for many years. She has extensive experience in customer service, business operations, and building strong community relationships. Andrea is actively involved in Liberty Bank’s "Kindness" and community outreach programs, reflecting her dedication to community engagement. Outside of her professional work, she volunteers at her local church, further supporting her community through her personal efforts.
Suleiman Abiola
Middlesex Health
Sulieman chose Middlesex Health for his residency to gain hands-on training in full-spectrum family medicine within a community-focused setting. He is passionate about becoming a community-based family physician with a focus on population and preventative health, particularly supporting vulnerable populations. Through Maternal-Child and Community Health tracks, he is preparing to make an impact both locally and globally. In his free time, Sulieman enjoys hiking, fishing, cooking, and celebrating his Cape Verdean and Nigerian heritage through food, music, and dance.
Johan E. Varekamp
Harold T. Stearns Professor of Earth Sciences (Emeritus)
Johan Varekamp obtained his PhD in geochemistry at Utrecht University (The Netherlands) in 1979. Once arrived at
ASU, he developed a method using Hg as a tracer element for geothermal energy (Geothermics, 12, p.29, 1983).
When Mt St Helens erupted in 1980, he measured for the first time the associated volcanic Hg flux (Nature, 293,
p.555, 1981), and then made an early estimate of the global natural Hg flux (Applied Geochemistry, 1, p.65, 1986).
He worked on Hg pollution in Clear Lake, CA related to the Sulphur Bank Hg mine, but found that the lake had
higher Hg in the sediments ~10,000 years ago than today (Geology, 15, p.1018, 1987).