Painting Connecticut's Charter Oak

New London — Mark Patnode, the artist who is painting the image of the Charter Oak Tree for the state's 375th anniversary celebration, has some more work to do.

Showing off the work-in-progress to Gov. M. Jodi Rell Friday in his Washington Street studio, someone asked where the hole in the trunk was where the state's charter was hidden from the British.

"Ahhh,'' said Patnode.

"It's in the back,'' said Rell.

Patnode, a fellow of the Urban Artists Initiative, volunteered to donated the finished painting to the state to help celebrate the 375th anniversary. It will be finished by April 29.

A. Vincent Scarano, a commercial free lance photographer in New London has volunteered to take a picture of the finished painting. The image will be used by the state on commemorative items for the celebration.

"When you are the 87th governor for a state that is celebrating its 375th years, it's a marvel,'' said Rell, standing before the canvas of dark yellows and purples. "Everything 375th will have this charter oak on it."

After the New London unveiling, Rell trekked to Norwich for some fresh air at the Fairview Reservoir, where a $1.3 million combination grant and loan funded upgrades to a water tank and pumping station for the Taftville and Occum areas of the city.

With the reservoir and water tank in the background, Rell said she likes to get an "up close and personal look" see first hand how some of the $3 billion in federal stimulus money Connecticut has received thus far is being spent.

Norwich Public Utilities General Manager John Bilda said the money is paying to refurbish two NPU water tanks, one at Fairview and one on Richard Brown Road near Mohegan Park and to upgrade aging pumping equipment. Of the total, the city received $550,000 as a grant and $750,000 as a 2 percent loan through the state Department of Public Health.

The grant helped to free up other utility funding that would have been needed for the upgrades to extend the city water line elsewhere and to install new fire hydrants.