12/28/12 by Mario-Design

“Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.” ~ Michael Josephson

Prst. Std. U.S. Postage Paid Naugatuck, CT #27

FR EE

Bee Intelligencer Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown A FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Volume VIII, No. 53

Friday, December 28, 2012

Police dispatchers fight to stay local By MARJORIE NEEDHAM The two remaining fulltime Middlebury police dispatchers, Jim Roy and Tom Reynolds, are fighting to keep police dispatching in Middlebury after selectmen voted Dec. 3 to move it to a firm in Prospect. In addition to calling a press conference and circulating petitions, Roy said Wednesday they paid for the large signs that appeared in at least three locations around town over the weekend. The signs read, “Save Dispatch. Public Safety Depends on It!” A week earlier, on Dec. 14, Roy and Reynolds held a press conference to discuss their efforts and their position on moving dispatch to Prospect. That press conference was sparsely attended, probably because the tragedy in Newtown began unfolding about an hour before the press conference. At the conference, the two handed out copies of two petitions they were circulating. It was later joined by a third petition. At the press conference, Roy said he and Reynolds each have more than 20 years of service as Middlebury police dispatchers. Roy said as far as he knew, Northwest, which handles fire and ambulance calls for Middlebury and other towns, has never dispatched police calls. He noted the town outsourced dispatching to Northwest Connecticut Public Safety Communications (Northwest) in Prospect without following bidding procedures, and he said the financial information selectmen used as the basis for their decision has skewed numbers. Roy said the current cost for police dispatching is $212,401 for two fulltime and six part-time dispatchers, not the $418,088 stated at the selectmen’s meeting. He said if dispatch were fully staffed and if fire and ambulance dispatching currently done by Northwest were returned to Middlebury, the communications budget would be $269,000. Roy said the number of 911 calls increased 9 percent, to 2,244 in 2011 from 2,058 in 2010, but he noted police handled nearly 10,000 cases in 2011, which would indicate dispatchers handle a number of non911 calls while assisting with those cases. Roy also mentioned Middlebury dispatchers monitored and dispatched business and residential alarms, for which the town receives a monthly fee. He said he doesn’t believe these fees benefited the communications center or went towards training for its personnel. He said of two earlier petitions submitted to the selectmen, “They were both rejected for no purpose.” The first of the three new petitions is to reject the contract with Northwest. It calls for a special town meeting to act on a resolution regarding the memorandum of agreement between the Town of Middlebury and Northwest, as voted on at the Dec. 3 selectmen’s meeting. The second petition is for a proposed ordinance regarding changes to the 911 emergency dispatch system and communications department. It calls for a special town meeting to vote on an ordinance to prevent changes to the 911 emergency dispatch system and communications department. A third petition added later is similar to the second petition, but the second petition is based on Section 7-7 of the Connecticut General Statutes, and the third petition is based on Section 902 of the Town of Middlebury Charter. All three petitions were submitted to Middlebury Town Clerk Edith Salisbury Monday, Dec. 17, and she passed them on to the first selectman’s office after validating the signatures on them. First Selectman Edward B. St. John said last Friday he had turned the matter over to Town Attorney Bob Smith for his legal opinion. Both of the two earlier petitions were rejected based on Smith’s legal opinion. Selectmen rejected the second of those with no discussion during their June 4 meeting. They presented a legal opinion from Smith saying “the petition does not request a town meeting for a ‘proper purpose’ and therefore the Board of Selectmen has no authority to call a special town meeting pursuant to this petition.” Roy said Wednesday he thought selectmen would act on the three new petitions at their next meeting, which will be Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. in the town hall conference room.

For the 11th year in a row, a small lit tree sits in a canoe at the edge of Fenn's Pond in Middlebury. Middlebury resident Malcom Todt makes this tree an annual tradition. (Trish Blazi photo)

Vigils honor Sandy Hook victims By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

for 15 minutes to give everyone a chance to park their vehicle and join the gathering. Each of the first 600 attendees was given a green and white ribbon to wear and a candle to light at the end of the vigil. Local clergy who spoke were Father Kwiatkowski of St. Teresa’s Roman Catholic Church, Rev. Welin of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rabbi Polokoff of B’nai Israel, Rev. Lines of the United Methodist Church, Rev. Lloyd of Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society and Rev. Barret of the First Congregational Church. Each offered words of comfort from their faith tradition. Among the prayers offered were Lloyd’s prayers for peace for the blessed and for the tormented and prayers for strength to persevere in the face of unspeakable tragedy. She said we

must work to create a community of healing and wholesomeness for all. Midway through the vigil, Selectman Barbara Perkinson read the name of each victim and then a member of the Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department tolled a bronze bell he held aloft. He was flanked by other department members. Perkinson said, “There are 26 new stars in the heavens.” The Treble Choir from Nonnewaug High School performed several times, both a capella and with accompaniment, starting first with a musical setting of the poem, “Do not stand by my grave and weep.” At the end of the vigil, after a moment of silence, everyone lit their candles and, led by the choir, sang “Silent Night” together before dispersing into the darkness of the night.

A vigil in Middlebury Friday morning and a vigil in Woodbury Sunday afternoon gave those mourning the lives lost in the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown places to share their feelings of loss. At the Woodbury vigil, local clergy shared words of comfort with those attending. The torrential downpour Friday morning forced the Middlebury vigil inside Town Hall from the Town Green, where it was to be held. It was set for 9:30 a.m., the time Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy had asked all to pause and honor those lost. The carillon at Westover School sounded a tone followed by the ringing of the bell at Middlebury Congregational Church. As this was happening, First Selectman Edward B. St. John read the names of each of the victims. Acting Police Chief Richard Wildman, Sergeant John Desmarais and Officer Todd Adams stood at attention on the Town Hall steps as Terry Manning of Middlebury stepped into the doorway and played “Amazing Grace” on his bagpipes. As Manning played, a First Student school bus that was driving by Town Hall stopped. It paused until Manning finished playing. Among the 30 or so attendees were Ron Vitarelli of Middlebury, who said he served as principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School for 21 years, and Brenda Carter, also of Middlebury, whose cousin’s grand-daughter, Jessica Rekos, died in the tragedy. By the flagpole in front of Town Hall, small pink and blue crosses and at least one Star of David had been put in place before the vigil. Each held an angel outline, and each had the name of a victim written on it. That memorial to victims is expected to be in place for at least a month. Spotlights focus on it at night. The Woodbury vigil in Hollow Park Sunday Ron Vitarelli of Middlebury stands in the pouring rain in front of Middlebury's memorial to the drew more than 600 people. So many turned out, Sandy Hook Elementary School victims last Friday. Vitarelli was the principal at Sandy Hook for First Selectman Gerald Stomski delayed the start 21 years. (Trish Blazi photo)

Adoptable Pets................ 6 Classifieds....................... 5 Community Calendar....... 4 Fire Log........................... 2 In Brief............................ 6 Legal Notices.................. 5

Library Happenings.......... 2 Nuggets for Life.............. 4 Puzzles........................... 5 Region 15 Calendar........ 3 Senior Center News......... 3 Varsity Sports Calendar.... 4

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Inside this Issue

monday

Dec. 31

wednesday Jan. 2

New Years Eve Wellness-A-Thon for Sandy Hook Elementary School victims

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The Bee-Intelligencer

Friday, December 28, 2012

Bee Intelligencer

in•tel•li•gencer: n. One who conveys news or information The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed.

Issued every week by: The Middlebury Bee-Intelligencer Society LLC Bee-Intelligencer Staff: Editor-In-Chief/Publisher: Marjorie Needham Contributing Writers: Mary Conseur, Terrence S. McAuliffe, Kathleen Riedel Art & Production: Mario J. Recupido Advertising Sales: mbiadvertising@gmail.com - Submit press releases in person, by mail or email The Bee-Intelligencer welcomes news, press releases and advertising from all surrounding communities Editorial Office: 2030 Straits Turnpike, Suite 1, Middlebury, CT 06762 Direct mail to P.O. Box 10. Telephone: 203-577-6800 • Email: beeintelligencer@gmail.com Advertising Information: Telephone: 203-577-6800 • Email: mbiadvertising@gmail.com Deadlines: Display Advertising: 5 p.m. Friday preceding publication Classified Advertising: 5 p.m. Monday preceding publication

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Mary’s Book Review

Middlebury Weekly Programs Monday, Dec. 31: 10:30 a.m. “Holiday Inn” DVD. The library will close at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1: Closed for the New Year holiday.

“It Worked for Me” By Colin Powell (Harper Collins, $27.99)

Renovation Closing

Reviewed by Mary Conseur “It Worked for Me” is Colin Powell’s practical “How to …” manual for leadership training as well as a personal memoir of his life and career. The four-star general and former secretary of state grew up in the Bronx in a family of Jamaican immigrants who worked in the garment district of New York. Powell’s first jobs included loading Coca Cola trucks and working in a toy store. From these inauspicious beginnings, he developed the motto, “Always do your best. Someone is watching. And, even if no one is watching, you always are. Don’t disappoint yourself.” (p. 36) After completing high school, Powell decided on a career in the Army because he could retire early with a pension, and, to his immigrant family, “a pension was the next best thing to winning the lottery.” (p. 41) Because he was poor and black, he could not attend West Point, the Citadel, Virginia Military Institute or other prestigious military schools. But he was accepted into the ROTC program at City College of New York (CCNY), known fondly as “the Harvard of Harlem.” Despite some inevitable encounters with other Army personnel over race, Powell never let his race interfere with his career. He writes, “I was an American soldier who was black, not a black American soldier.” (p. 265) In his new book, Powell offers down-to-earth counsel for prospective leaders on a variety of subjects, including how to handle the media, how to make rational decisions from conflicting evidence, how to manage the transfer of power to a new position, how to juggle a high-ranking job with family life, how to retire when your time comes and what to do when others “hand you the brass ring”

Library Happenings

and expect you to solve their problems. Powell warns leaders, who should be problem solvers, of the dangers of a tidy desk. He says, “If your desk is clean and no one is bringing you problems, you should be very worried. It means your followers don’t think you can solve them, you don’t want to hear about them, or they don’t think you care. Either way, your followers have lost confidence in you, and you are no longer their leader.” (p. 50) Powell cautions leaders to be true to themselves. When he was asked to run for president, he responded, “Why would you want to wear someone else’s T-shirt? Remain free and wear your own T-shirt.” (p. 16) Powell advises leaders to “Share the credit, but take the blame. When something goes wrong, it is your fault, not theirs.”(p. 21) If you succeed, “Remember you didn’t do it alone. It is alway s ‘we.’” (p. 266) If you fail, you must abide by the “Pottery Barn rule” and pay for whatever you have broken. “Take responsibility, but continue to drive through life looking through the front windshield, not the rearview mirror.” (p. 224) On the subject of retirement, Powell advises, “Cheerfully and with gratitude, take your gold watch and plaque, get off the train before somebody throws you off, go sit in the shade with a drink, and take a look at the other tracks and the other trains out there. Watch the old train disappear; then start a new journey on a new train.” (p. 194) Powell’s pearls of wisdom can inspire us all. He delivers a message of hope, saying, “It is not where you start in life that counts, it is where you end up. Your past is not necessarily your future.” (p. 275)

Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department Call Log

The library will close Wednesday, Jan. 2, for renovations. It will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 22, at its temporary location, the Middlebury Timex Building at 199 Park Road Extension, Suite D, in Middlebury. For more information and updates, see www.middleburypubliclibrary.org For more information, call 203-758-2634 or visit www. middleburypubliclibrary.org. The Middlebury Library is at 30 Crest Road in Middlebury.

Naugatuck Holiday Closings The library will be closed Monday, Dec. 31, and Tuesday, Jan. 1, for the New Year holiday.

The image of this tree was created by artist Linda Banks using a technique known as "fused glass." Her artwork is on exhibit in the Southbury Library through Jan. 29, 2013. (Submitted photo)

Southbury Holiday Closings

The Southbury Library will be Tai Chi Class closed Monday, Dec. 31, and The Tai Chi class will resume Tuesday, Jan. 1, for the New Year Saturday, Jan. 5, from 9:30 to holiday. 10:30 a.m. The class is free and includes all age groups. For more Linda Banks Fused information, call 203-729-4591.

Glass Exhibit

Book Downloading Class The library will present an “Overdrive Downloadable Book Training” class Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 6 p.m. This class will instruct on how to browse, check out and download e-books and digital audio books from the library’s Overdrive downloadable service. Please bring your Kindle, Nook, iPads, Tablet or smart phones. Call 203-729-4591 for more information.

Meditation Group

A selection of Linda Banks’ fused glass is on display in the Gloria Cachion Gallery through Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Banks, a multi-media artisan, owns and operates Banks Art Studio in New Preston, Conn. She has received many awards for her art, and her glass has been collected extensively nationally and internationally. Glass has become her passion with its color, vibrancy, sparkle and glow. Check www.southburylibrary. org for more information. The library is at 100 Poverty Road in Southbury (203-262-0626).

The ongoing meditation practice meets every second and fourth Tuesday from 6 to 6:45 p.m. in the Reading Room. It Holiday Closing consists of periods of meditation The Woodbury Library will be with time for discussion. Please arrive by 5:50 p.m. so the group closed Tuesday, Jan. 1, for the can start on time. The next four New Year holiday. meeting dates are Jan. 8 and 22 Reviving 5,000 Years of and Feb. 12 and 26.

Woodbury

Whittemore Book Club

The Whittemore Book Club will meet Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. in the Main Reading Room. The Date Time Address/Incident book to be discussed will be “One 12-17-12 20:52 161 Three Mile Hill Road. Gas leak in outside Good Turn” by Kate Atkinson. tank. The Howard Whittemore Me12-18-12 16:50 259 Shadduck Road. Branch on wires with morial Library is at 243 Church small fire. St. in Naugatuck. For informa12-19-12 07:42 Route 63 at Route 64. Motor vehicle acci- tion, call 203-729-4591 or visit dent. whittemorelibrary.org. 12-19-12 18:19 Route 63 at Route 64. Motor vehicle accident. Two vehicles; two patients. Fluids down on roadway. 12-20-12 09:20 I-84 East and South Street. Medical call in vehicle. Engine 4 responded. Literacy Volunteers of Greater 12-20-12 09:26 I-84 East. Motor vehicle accident. Van into Waterbury (LVGW) is accepting DOT truck. registrations for its winter session 12-21-12 16:44 245 Shadduck Road. Chimney fire. of volunteer orientations. Individuals interested in learning more about volunteer opportuTony’s nities in adult literacy are encouraged to attend one of the follow“Due to the current state of the USED TIRES ing orientations: economy, YOU CAN’T AFFORD $ & up • Monday, Jan. 7, at 11:30 a.m. NOT TO GO TO TONY’S TIRES!” at Cheshire Public Library at Manufacturers’ Rebates Available 104 Main Street in Cheshire WHEEL PACKAGE LAYAWAYS • Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 10:30 a.m. s e ic “My prorth 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT at Naugatuck Valley Commuw e $ ar e!” our EVERYDAY LOW PRICE! nity College in Technology the rid Hall, Room 515, at 750 Chase M-F 7:30-6 • SAT 8:30-3 FREE Alignment w/purchase of 4 tires Parkway in Waterbury 2067 S. Main St. • WTBY 203-575-1350

Civilization

Saturday, Jan. 5, at 11 a.m., Tracey Zhu will present, “Reviving 5000 Years of Civilization – A Taste of Chinese Traditional Culture.” China is a country rich in culture, history, and tradition and one of the world’s oldest civilizations. This slide presentation will introduce the important aspects of traditional Chinese philosophy, the destruction of au-

thentic culture and art in the last 60 years and the Renaissance of Chinese culture as demonstrated in Shen Yun Performing Arts, which will present three shows in the Palace Theater in Waterbury Feb. 13 to 14, 2013. The audience also will have a hands-on experience of traditional Chinese instruments and the performance of classical Chinese music. Zhu came to New Haven from Beijing, China, in 1990. She is a co-founder of the Connecticut Chinese Culture Association and a member of Connecticut Falun Dafa Association, the presenter of Shen Yun Performing Arts in Connecticut. She practiced medicine as a licensed physician in New Haven for five years. Now, she is the editor for The Epoch Times, the most widely distributed Chinese newspaper outside China. She trained four years in Chinese traditional dance and has done numerous workshops in the area. Register for this program by calling the library at 203-2633502.

Take an Armchair Safari Go on safari via armchair Thursday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m., when Sarah Jane Thornington, a portrait photographer who lives on Cape Cod, shares highlights of her trip to Kenya for a twoweek-long safari in March. During the trip, she stayed in eco-lodges, fed a black rhino and Rothschild giraffes, visited schools and women’s weaving cooperatives, took a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara, had breakfast in the bush, did some stargazing, danced with Maasai women in their village, viewed Mt. Kili-

manjaro and saw animals of all shapes and sizes. Her trip was just before the rainy season, so many of the animals had just had their young. Watching the interaction among their family members was something she’ll never forget. Thornington’s African safari truly was the adventure of a lifetime. Come hear her enthusiastic memories via beautiful and majestic photography. The snow date for this program is Thursday, Jan. 17.

“Color and the Abstract Truth” Exhibit Local artist Cathy Jarcho will exhibit her art at the Gallery during the month of January. There will be an artist’s reception Saturday, Jan. 5, from 2 to 4 pm. Both the reception and the show are free and open to the public. Jarcho is a largely self-taught artist, who has attended classes and workshops at Pratt Institute, The Art Students League of New York, Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Creative Arts Workshop, Washington Art Association, Mattatuck Museum and Georgetown University. As a painter, she has been influenced both by abstract expressionists and jazz artists of the 1950s and 1960s. “When I paint, I listen to this music. I believe this partly accounts for the joyous nature of my work,” she said. All the paintings in this show were constructed using painting knives. For more information, call 203-263-3502 or visit www. woodburylibraryct.org. The library is at 269 Main St. South in Woodbury.

Literacy Volunteers hold orientations

TIRES & WHEELS 15

• Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at Whittemore Memorial Library at 243 Church St. in Naugatuck • Thursday, Jan. 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Thomaston Public Library at 248 Main St. in Thomaston • Thursday, Jan. 10, at 6:30 p.m. in Silas Bronson Library in the Board Room at 267 Grand St. in Waterbury • Saturday, Jan. 12, at 10:30 a.m. at Southbury Public Library at 100 Poverty Road in Southbury LVGW trains and supports volunteers who teach adults to read, write, speak and understand En-

glish. As a learner-centered educational program, tutors help adult learners improve their literacy skills so they may reach their individual goals, which may range from securing employment to passing the U.S. citizenship test to helping their children with their homework. No prior teaching experience is necessary; but volunteers must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent, possess excellent oral and written English skills and demonstrate the potential, with some training, to tutor adult learners. The Win-

ter 2013 Tutor Training Program is sponsored by Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation. LVGW, a United Way Agency, serves the Greater Waterbury area, including Beacon Falls, Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oakville/Watertown, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Terryville, Thomaston, Waterbury, Wolcott, and Woodbury. For more information about the program or to register for one of the orientations, call Vanessa Vowe at 203-754-1164. These will be the last orientation and training sessions until fall 2013.

The Bee-Intelligencer

Friday, December 28, 2012

Jewish Learning classes to start The CHAI Center for Jewish Learning is accepting new students for the winter-spring session. This alternative model to Jewish education is for learners of all ages, from children to seniors. Sessions take place two Wednesdays a month from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Walzer Family Jewish Community Campus at 444 Main St. North in Southbury. The sessions include an intergenerational meal shared with the school community. Students in grades three through seven also meet a third Wednesday each month from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The CHAI Center also will offer a new “Shabbat Shalom” program for children ages 7 and younger and their families starting Saturday, Jan. 12, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. The program will meet once a month and is open to the community. Cantor Sharon Citrin, (Kathleen Brown-Carrano cartoon) assisted by CHAI student volun-

Middlebury Senior Center News Holiday Closing

Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 6 p.m. The group’s The Middlebury Senior Center will be facilitators are Donna Sasani and Fran Declosed Tuesday, Jan. 1, for the New Year’s Pillo of The Village of East Farms. The group provides an opportunity to learn more about holiday. the different stages of this progressive disease and offers tips on ways to cope. Storm Closings The Senior Center does not follow the local schools in determining if the center will close due to inclement weather. The center may be open, and programs may be held even when schools have closed. TV and radio announcements will reflect the exact status of the Senior Center. See announcements on TV stations WTNH (Channel 8/19), WVIT (Channel 30) and WFSB (Channel 3) or hear announcements on radio stations WTIC (1080 AM), WATR (1320 AM) and WWCO (1240 AM). Announcements are not made in advance: tune in to these stations the day of the activity. Cancellations include ALL activities for that day: exercise, nutrition, card playing, billiards, computer classes, Pilates, Tai Chi, yoga, sewing, crochet and knitting, as well as art programs.

Dial-A Ride Program The Greater Waterbury Transit District (Dial a Ride) runs on Thursdays. All out of town rides must be planned for Thursdays as the senior center mini-bus is used only in town.

AARP Driver Safety Program

The next AARP Driver Safety course will be Monday, Jan. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Senior Center. The nation’s first and largest driver refresher course uses new materials and new videos to present new defensive driving techniques, a refresher in laws and regulations, new laws and regulations, how to deal with aggressive drivers, and how aging affects reaction time, vision and hearing. Drivers who complete this class get a certificate that may entitle them to a discount on automobile insurance (contact your insurance company for details). AARP membership is not required, and drivers of all ages are invited to attend. The fee is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. Make checks out to “AARP.” You must register before the class begins by calling 203-577-4166 or going to the Senior Caregivers Support Group Center Office in the Shepardson Community A caregivers’ support group for families Center at 1172 Whittemore Road in Middleand caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s bury. disease and related dementias will meet

Operation Fuel The Senior Center is taking applications for Operation Fuel. For more information on this program, call 203-577-4166, ext. 707.

Save the Date! Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, at 10:30 a.m., June Ye from the Connecticut Chinese Culture Association will provide a presentation of Chinese culture. China, one of the world’s oldest civilizations, is a country rich in culture, history, and tradition. Learn about traditional Chinese philosophy, the destruction of authentic culture and art in the last 60 years and the Renaissance of Chinese culture as demonstrated in Shen Yun Performing, which will have three shows in the Palace Theater in Waterbury Feb. 13 to 14, 2013. Shen Yun features the world’s finest classical Chinese Dancers, gorgeous handcrafted costumes and massive animated backdrops. If you would like to attend the presentation, call 203-577-4166

Girl Scout cookie time nears Girl Scouts throughout Connecticut will start taking Girl Scout cookie orders beginning Saturday, Jan. 5. For the first time since 1999, all boxes of Girl Scout cookies will have a new look and a new purpose: to show customers the five skills girls learn through the cookie program. These five skills are goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. The new boxes stay true to the organization’s heritage by using the trefoil and pictures of Girl Scouts in action. The cookie program is a large part of the Girl Scout experience, as it shows a girl what she can do: great things!

Proceeds from Connecticut’s cookie program stay in Connecticut and directly benefit all Connecticut Girl Scouts, including the Girl Scout troop or group from which the cookies were purchased. Girl Scouts use the cookie proceeds for many different activities. Some use the money to help out local animal shelters and support emergency personnel during times of hurricanes and nor’easters. Others fund troop activities such as camping trips and overnights, and others use their money to travel to exciting places around New England and the country! Girl Scout supporters who

purchase a box of cookies are investing in girl-led and girl-centered programming that helps girls discover their personal best, connect with others to build healthy relationships and take action in their communities to make the world a better place. The popular Cookies for Heroes program is back. Last year, more than 125,000 boxes were sent to our service women and men, and this year, we want to send even more! The Cookies for Heroes service project allows customers to purchase Girl Scout Cookies from their local Girl Scout, and then Girl Scouts of Connecticut, along with com-

heart attacks, a 28-percent reduction in risk for congestive heart failure and a 19-percent cut in risk for stroke. In other words, taking medication for cholesterol and blood pressure isn’t enough. The same goes for beta blockers, aspirin and other medications commonly prescribed for cardiovascular disease. We have to eat right to promote heart health. Diet should emphasize vege-

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tables, fruits, grains and more fish than meat. Ask your doctor if the American Heart Association diet is appropriate for you. It includes: Fruits and vegetables: At least 4.5 cups/day Oily fish: Two 3.5-ounce servings/week Whole grains: Three 1-ounce servings/day Sodium: Less than 1,500 mg/ day Nuts, legumes, seeds: At least four servings/week Sugared drinks: No more than 36 ounces/week

Beth El members and nonmembers. For tuition information, call the Beth El office at 203264-4500 or write to info@bethelsyn.org. The CHAI Center for Jewish Learning also offers exceptional training for Bar and Bat Mitzvah students under arrangement with Beth El clergy. The CHAI Center for Jewish Learning is sponsored in part by the Jewish Federation Foundation of Western Connecticut. For more information about the CHAI Center for Jewish Learning, contact Beth El Synagogue at 203-2644500 or visit www.bethelsyn.org.

Should you pay off mortgage early? Paying off a mortgage early can be as easy as making an extra principal payment each month. That money goes to the end of the mortgage term and cancels the interest that would be due then. Making extra payments, especially early in a mortgage, can have stunning results with years shaved off the length of the mortgage. When it comes to paying off a mortgage early, however, there are those who are strongly on one side of the fence or the other. While some claim it’s a great idea, others say it’s not. Here are the arguments on both sides. Don’t pay off a mortgage early: • You’ll lose the mortgage interest deduction on your taxes. • You’ll miss out on the low mortgage rates available now. • You may be hit with pre-payment penalties. (Read the fine print on your loan papers, especially if you have a refinance. Does it say you’ll incur a penalty if you pay off early?) • You won’t have spare cash for emergencies if you spend it all on extra mortgage payments. Pay off a mortgage early: • The mortgage is typically the largest monthly payment a consumer makes. Once the mortgage is paid off, you’ll have room to pursue other financial interests, including putting it all in savings or paying off other debt. • You’ll own your home. As long as you keep up with taxes, insurance and repairs, the home is yours. The truth is your individual

situation will indicate whether it’s good for you to pay off a mortgage. Some thoughts to consider: If you hope to retire at a certain time and know your retirement income will make it hard for you to continue making mortgage payments, it makes sense to pay off the mortgage while your income is still adequate to do so. If you can save for your children’s college, put money into savings and still put extra money on your mortgage, it makes sense to pay early. Go online to mortgage calculators and do a few “what if” scenarios to see how many years can be shaved off your mortgage with varying extra payments. Even an extra $50 will have visible results. At the time of this writing, it’s being discussed whether to cancel the mortgage interest tax deduction on Schedule A. Keep an eye on this. Your real savings from having a mortgage interest deduction depend on your tax bracket. David Uffington regrets he cannot personally answer reader questions, but he will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Write to him in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475, or send email to columnreply@gmail.com.

munity partners, ship the cookies to service women and men overseas and at home. Thin Mints, Samoas, Tag(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc. alongs, Do-si-dos, Trefoils, Dulce De Leche, Thank U Berry Munch and Savannah Smiles will all be available this year. Girl Scout cookie fans who Friday, Dec. 28 - Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 don’t know a Girl Scout can log Winter Recess Continues............. Classes resume Wednesday, Jan. 2 onto www.gsofct.org and click on the cookie to connect with Wednesday, Jan. 2 Girl Scouts in their area particiClasses Resume...................................................No Events Scheduled pating in the cookie program. Visit www.gsofct.org or call Thursday, Jan. 3 1-800-922-2770 for more inforPTO Advisory Council.............................................................9:30 a.m. mation.

Region 15 School Calendar

Friday, Jan. 4 PHS Symph. Band, Orch., Choir Winter Concert.....................7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan.5

Diet and heart health A worldwide study has concluded there really is a relationship between diet and the risk of cardiovascular disease for patients who are taking drugs for prevention of secondary events. More than 31,000 high-risk seniors in 40 countries were assessed for quality of diet. A higher-quality diet resulted in a lower risk of recurring cardiovascular events in people age 55 and older, who were already taking medication for cardiovascular disease or who had diabetes. Here’s the big news: The risk of dying from a heart-related event was reduced by 35 percent. A healthy diet also meant a 14-percent lower risk for new

teers, will lead the children in singing, dancing and stories. Refreshments will be served. CHAI is an innovative educational experience designed to foster the creative nature of children and adults in aspects of Jewish life, tradition and skills. The Hebrew word “CHAI,” meaning life, is also an acronym that describes the center’s unique educational vision: Creative, Holistic, Alternative, and Intergenerational. Beth El Synagogue’s clergy, Rabbi Eliana Falk and Citrin, teach the classes. A teen “madrich” assists with the children’s class. Enrollment is open to both

No Events Scheduled

Region 15 website: www.region15.org

Processed meats: No more than two servings/week Saturated fat: Less than 7 percent of total intake. M-SAT For more information, go online to www.heart.org. Matilda Charles regrets she cannot personally answer reader questions, but she will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

Middlebury Road (Opposite the Shell Station) Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Anthony Calabrese 203-758-2765

M-SAT 11am-12am • SUN 12pm- 11pm Bar Open Later!

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DAILYstill SPECIALS There’s time to place orders for &your New Year’s Eve “Voted the best pizza burgers in Middlebury 2012” party!!! –Patch Readers

MON special special TUES Selected Drafts.......$2

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The Bee-Intelligencer

St. John of the Cross Church volunteers make a difference

Monday, Dec. 31, 2012 New Year’s Eve

By MARY CONSEUR

Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 Happy New Year! All town offices, library, senior center and transfer station are closed.

Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013 Land Preservation & Open Space 6 p.m...................................................Town Hall Conference Room Zoning Board of Appeals 7:30 p.m.......................................................... Shepardson Room 26

Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 Planning and Zoning 7:30 p.m......................................................Shepardson Auditorium Calendar dates/times are subject to change If your organization would like your event included in the community calendar, please e-mail the information to beeintelligencer@gmail.com

Coping with a sea change Nuggets for Life By CYNTHIA DE PECOL This week’s nugget for life is to remember. Remember the good. Remember the quiet joy. Remember the feeling of comfort. Remember the happy dreams, and let them guide you. Remember to try thinking with your heart if your mind is overwhelmed and exhausted. Remember that to persevere is an art and that patience is a skill worth growing. Remember the importance of your words and the weight they carry when you speak. Remember to listen well to learn things you wouldn’t ordinarily have heard. Remember all the little things that truly matter. Remember the strongest thing you can say sometimes is to just be silent. Remember the 3 R’s: rest, reflection and replenishment. Happy New Year. Cynthia De Pecol is a Yoga instructor, Reiki master and life coach who lives in Washington, Conn. See lifecoachingllc.com or email lifecoach3@aol.com

In 2009, Marie Vitarelli of Middlebury, a supervising nurse consultant with the State of Connecticut, felt she was ready to retire. But she wanted to continue to be of service to others. Every lunch hour, as she took walks near her office in Hartford, Vitarelli noticed a van marked “Malta House of Care.” She started asking questions about it. She learned it was a mobile health care facility for indigent adults. It is operated by the Knights of Malta, an international, nonprofit Catholic organization that was formed during the Crusades when knights lay down their weapons and started helping the sick and the poor. Staffed by volunteer medical personnel and social workers, the “Malta House of Care” in Hartford serves uninsured or under-insured people who cannot afford regular health care options. The van is funded by the Archdiocese of Hartford and strongly supported by the Most Rev. Henry J. Mansell, Archbishop. As she approached retirement, Vitarelli attended a dinner in Hartford for the archbishop’s annual appeal. There she learned the archdiocese was about to set up a new “Malta House of Care” to serve patients in the Waterbury area. At the dinner, she asked Michael Culhane, chairman of the board of directors of the “Malta House of Care” in Waterbury, to contact her when the van was ready and he was in need of volunteers. The Knights of Malta in Waterbury received a donated van from ConnectiCare, but it needed to be retrofitted to include an interviewing room, an examining room and computers. It did not need a pharmacy because medicines are not stored on the van. They are available only at pharmacies and by prescription. The van had to be made compliant with Connecticut Department of Health regulations, fire department regulations, liability insurance regulations and car insurance regulations. The van was put into service

Jill Zabit of Bethlehem, left, and St. John of the Cross parishioner Marie Vitarelli, R.N., of Middlebury, right, stand beside the Malta House of Care van in Waterbury. They volunteer their time and expertise with the van to help provide health care to uninsured or under-insured patients. (Mary Conseur photo) in August 2010, and since that time Vitarelli has worked tirelessly to provide skilled nursing services to patients two days a week. Today the van is staffed by some 35 volunteers: physicians, nurses, social workers and van drivers. Ten of them are parishioners of St. John of the Cross Roman Catholic Church in Middlebury. These volunteers serve some 1,200 to 1,500 patients per year, Vitarelli said. One of the volunteers’ most heartwarming stories is that of a young Hispanic woman who came to the van with Bell’s palsy, a drooping of the muscles on one

side of the face. Within an hour of her initial examination, the patient was in the office of a neurologist getting some prescriptions to cure the disease. She recovered completely. To express her gratitude, she became a Spanish/English translator for the van; recently, she accepted permanent employment in the health care field. Another volunteer nurse, Peggy Dwyer of Middlebury, recalls a patient who came to the van with diabetic ulcers on her legs. By learning to monitor her diet and take daily injections of insulin, she got her diabetes un-

Certain polyps raise colon cancer risk Attention PHS Students! Do you attend PHS varsity games? Are you interested in writing about them for the Bee-Intelligencer? You will get a byline, and your stories will be published on this page. This will look good on your college application! Our readers love to read about PHS sports! In addition, if you take pictures (or have a friend who wants to take pictures), we will publish the pictures and, of course, give photo credit! If you’re interested, email me at beeintelligencer@gmail. com. Marjorie Needham, Editor and Publisher

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DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please help. I have had two colonoscopies with 10 polyps found – half and half, both kinds. I noticed on my medical bill that I am at high risk. I was told that some new medicine might be available soon. I’m very scared. What could help me? – R.H. ANSWER: A polyp is a growth of cells projecting from the lining of a structure. In this case, the structure is the colon. Close to 90 percent of polyps do not become cancers. Fifty percent of the population older than 60 has at least one polyp. Ten percent of polyps are adenomatous polyps, ones with a potential of becoming cancer. I take it some of your polyps were of this variety, and that’s why you are at “high risk.” Having those polyps removed eliminates the present cancer risk. Adenomatous polyp size is one factor involved in judging these polyps’ threat. Those larger than 2 cm (0.8 inches) have a 40 percent chance of transforming

into cancer. The microscopic appearance of these polyps’ cells is given the designation of highgrade or low-grade. High-grade cells also increase the risk of cancer. Actually, you are sitting pretty. You’ve had all your polyps removed. The fact that some of yours put you into the category of high risk only means the doctor will work out for you a schedule for future colonoscopies. Those scope exams will disclose if any new polyps have formed. You are less likely to develop colon cancer than are people who have never had such an exam. I

Pomperaug High School Varsity Games Dec. 29, 2012 - Jan. 5, 2013 Girls’ Basketball

Saturday, Dec. 29................. Plainville Tournament (A)....................... 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2................ Brookfield (A) ....................................... 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4........................ New Milford (H)..................................... 7 p.m.

Boys’ Basketball

Saturday, Dec. 29................. Middletown (H)..................................... 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2................ Brookfield (A) ....................................... 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4........................ New Milford (A)..................................... 7 p.m.

Girls’ Gymnastics

Saturday, Jan. 5.................... Pomperaug Invitational (H).................... 8 a.m.

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Saturday, Dec. 29................. Newtown (A) ......................................... 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31.................. Wilton (A) ............................................. 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2................ Joel Barlow (A) ..................................... 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5.................... Trinity Catholic (H) ........................... 7:30 p.m.

Boys’ Swimming

Thursday, Dec. 27................. Bunnell/Stratford (A)............................. 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3.................... New Milford (H)..................................... 4 p.m.

Wrestling

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Saturday, Dec. 29................. Bunnell (H).......................................... 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2................ Masuk (A)............................................. 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5.................... Lawless Invitational (A) ......................... 9 a.m. (H) Home (A) Away

don’t know about the medicine you speak of. Cutting back on red and processed meats (hot dogs and other luncheon meats), losing weight, decreasing the fat in your diet, cutting back on alcohol consumption, increasing the amount of fruit and vegetables you eat and increasing dietary fiber are things that diminish the likelihood of colon cancer. I have to be candid. Some authorities say these changes are not as protective as they’re made out to be. They are, however, conducive to good general health. The booklet on colon cancer explains this common ailment in greater detail. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue – No. 505W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have had genital herpes for many years. I take a lysine pill every day, which can be bought over the counter at all drugstores. I get an outbreak maybe once or twice a year. Doctors don’t know this, I guess, and they prescribe medicine rather than use home remedies. – R.Z. ANSWER: Lysine treatment for herpes infections, including cold sores, is widely known. The fly in the ointment is that, for most, it doesn’t work successfully as it has for you. There is some scientific basis for lysine. It’s an amino acid, one of the building blocks for proteins. Lysine blocks the action of arginine, another amino acid, necessary for herpes viruses to replicate. That’s the theoretical reason for using lysine. Dr. Donohue regrets he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2012 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

der control, the ulcers disappeared, and she is pain-free. Dwyer recalls, “This patient was so happy, she was hugging and kissing all the doctors and nurses.” Dr. Michael Simms of Middlebury, another volunteer, said the van is not equipped to perform medical miracles. “We take care of basic problems; patients with serious problems are referred to surgical hospitals,” he said. Vitarelli said one of the biggest obstacles to providing health care for the poor is they delay getting services at the beginning stages of a disease. Culhane added that, for many of these patients, the “Malta House of Care” is their only health care provider. Perhaps they are afraid that they will be turned over to immigration authorities. Perhaps they recently lost their job, and, with it, their health-care benefits. Perhaps they are uneducated about their disease. Or they don’t speak English well. Being sick in one’s native country is often difficult; being sick in a foreign country can be terrifying. “Malta House of Care” addresses all these issues: legal, financial, educational and linguistic. The organization is not connected to immigration officials; it serves undocumented as well as documented workers. Intake workers on the van often are bi-lingual (Spanish/English) or tri-lingual (Spanish/Portuguese/English). And because the van is staffed by volunteers, there is no charge to patients for medical services. Patients can get their prescriptions filled at a discount through Wal-Mart pharmacies. Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury also offers financial and medical assistance when patients are referred to them through the “Malta House of Care.” The van is open Tuesdays from 1 to 5 p.m. behind Sacred Heart Church at 31 Wolcott Street in Waterbury and Wednesdays from 1 to 5 p.m. behind St. Francis Church at 625 Baldwin Street in Waterbury. Plans are in the works to expand “Malta House of Care” services two additional days per week, one day at St. Margaret’s Church and one day at St. Stanislaus Church, both in Waterbury. Additional volunteers will be needed: physicians, nurses, social workers, and van drivers. For information on volunteering, contact Vitarelli at 203-748-1130.

1. When was the last time the Toronto Blue Jays made the playoffs but not the World Series? 2. In 2012, Adam Dunn of the Chicago White Sox tied the mark for most career Opening Day home runs (eight). Who else holds the record? 3. Name the first Heisman Trophy winner to later be named a Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. 4. In 2011, Tom Thibodeau tied the record for most victories by a first-year NBA coach (62). Who else holds the mark? 5. When was the last time before 2011-12 that the Montreal Canadiens finished last in their conference? 6. Name the last time before 2012 that Great Britain won an Olympic team medal in men’s gymnastics. 7. Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson tied a record in 2012 for biggest victory in a Ryder Cup match. What was their margin of victory?

Answers:

1. In 1991, the Blue Jays lost in the American League Championship Series to Minnesota. 2. Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Robinson. 3. Roger Staubach won a Heisman (Navy, 1963) and a Super Bowl MVP (Dallas, 1971 season). 4. Paul Westphal won 62 with Phoenix in 1993. 5. It was 1939-40 season. 6. It was 1912. 7. Seven holes up with six to play.

Middlebury Community Calendar

It’s the last column for 2012 and an important one. The recognition of what is upon us is nothing short of monumental. We have an opportunity to shift the sands of time to reflect a more conscious way of living with ourselves, each other, our communities and the world at large. We are in a new time, with helpful energies of light and awareness flowing onto our planet. It is the Age of Aquarius, the age of awareness and instant information. The time to be more connected with the energies of intuition and instinct. The new earth asks that we reach for more love and unity than insecurity and separateness. It is important to live with wisdom and sway with change like the great willow tree, being flexible in our minds as well as our bodies. Our community has undergone a sea change. This profound transformation and striking change has altered us all. What happens when the sea changes is that things are never the same again. There is a striking difference in how we view our lives. Sometimes there are just no words. Sometimes it’s about remembering.

Friday, December 28, 2012

The Bee-Intelligencer

Friday, December 28, 2012

Classified Ads

Classified Advertising Deadline: 5 p.m. Monday Classified Advertising Cost: $10 per week, up to 40 words. 25¢ each additional word. Submit ad with your name, address, telephone number, and payment to: Mail: Bee-Intelligencer, P.O. Box 10, Middlebury, CT 06762 Email: mbisubmit@gmail.com Office: 2030 Straits Turnpike, Suite 1 This publication does not knowtastic. Walk out to the beach. Education MUSIC ingly accept advertising which is 3-Bedroom. Weeks available. deceptive, fraudulent, or which Sleeps 8. $3500. Email: car- MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS MAINTENANCE might otherwise violate the law or AVIATION olaction@aol.com for more CLARINET/FLUTE/VIOLIN/ TRAINING Financial Aid if accepted standards of taste. Howinformation. qualified. Job Placement TRUMPET/Trombone/Ampliever, this publication does not warAssistance. Call National fier/Fender Guitar, $69 each. rant or guarantee the accuracy of Instruction Aviation Academy Today! Cello / Upright Bass / Saxoany advertisement, nor the quality FAA Approved. CLASSES phone / French Horn / Drums, of the goods or services adverLANGUAGE TUTOR: English, STARTING SOON! 1-800$185 ea. Tuba/Baritone Horn/ tised. Readers are cautioned to French, English as a second 292-3228 or NAA.edu Hammond Organ, Others 4 thoroughly investigate all claims language, SAT, PSAT, and made in any advertisements, and to sale.1-516-377-7907 TOEFL preparation. MiddleFlea Market use good judgment and reasonable bury: 203-758-1888 care, particularly when dealing with persons unknown to you who ask WOODBURY ANTIQUES & for money in advance of delivery of FLEA MARKET open Saturthe goods or services advertised. days year-round 7:30 a.m. to LEGAL NOTICES

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LEGAL NOTICES Legal Notice of the Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission The Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Middlebury will hold a public hearing on January 3, 2013, 7:30 p.m. at the Auditorium, Shepardson Community Center, 1172 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, Connecticut regarding the application submitted by County Line Nissan/2191 Straits Turnpike-Application for Special Exception for signage pursuant to Sections 63 & 52.10.10. The public is invited to attend and be heard. Written comments may be sent and will be read into the record. They should be addressed to the Zoning Office at 1212 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, CT 06762. A copy of the application is on file for public inspection during normal working hours of that office.

THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The Water Pollution Control Authority of the Town of Middlebury, Connecticut will hold a public hearing in Room 26, Shepardson Community Center, 1172 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, Connecticut on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 7:45 p.m. to hear the general public concerning a proposed project to upgrade sewage pump stations 1, 2 and 3, located, respectively at 141 Shadduck Road, 1100 Long Meadow Road and 270 Benson Road, all in the Town of Middlebury, at an estimated cost of $4,000,000. Following the public hearing, the Water Pollution Control Authority is expected to consider and act upon a resolution entitled “Resolution of the Water Pollution Control Authority of the Town of Middlebury Approving the Upgrade of Sewage Pump Stations Nos. 1, 2 & 3.” A copy of said proposed resolution is on file open to public inspection at the office of the Town Clerk, and a copy of the plans and specifications is on file open to public inspection at the office of the Water Pollution Control Authority Dated this 20th day of December, 2012. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY

Dated this 17th day of December, 2012 Curtis Bosco, Chairman Legal Notice of the Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission

BY: Robert W. Smith Its Chairman

bury will hold a public hearing on January 3, 2013, 7:30 p.m. at the Auditorium, Shepardson Community Center, 1172 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, Connecticut regarding the application submitted by Tribury Restaurant Group, LLC/William Perrotti/1358 West St./1 Store Ave – Application for Special Exception for outdoor dining pursuant to Sections 31.4.2 & 52.10.8. The public is invited to attend and be heard. Written comments may be sent and will be read into the record. They should be addressed to the Zoning Office at 1212 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, CT 06762. A copy of the application is on file for public inspection during normal working hours of that office.

Dated this 17th day of December, 2012

Curtis Bosco, Chairman

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I was putting away my ladder after hanging up lights when it slipped and fell against the front window. One of the panes cracked all the way up. It’s an older window, and I don’t think I’ll be able to get a repair By Samantha Mazzotta service in this late in the holiday season. How can I fix it? – A on a towel or old cloth. Keep heat Reader, via email inside the house by closing the storm window or taping a sheet Believe it or not, the of plastic around the frame. newer, double-paned Next, carefully remove the windows can take lon- cracked glass. You’ll need to break ger to fix than older ones. So, the pane to get it out, so put on you’re in luck. Because you have gloves and eye protection and put an older, single-pane window a strip of masking tape on both with multiple panes, replacing a sides of the cracked glass pane. single pane can be pretty easy. Carefully tap the cracked pane Here’s what you’ll need for the with a hammer until it breaks. Tap job: a replacement pane of glass, pieces downward onto the proglazier’s points, glazing com- tective cloth, and then carefully pound or putty, wood primer, pull shards out of the panel frame, small paintbrush, needle-nose as well as any old glazier’s points pliers, a screwdriver or chisel, a (discard them). small putty knife, sturdy work Use a screwdriver or chisel to gloves, eye protection, a hammer, carefully remove old glazing commasking tape, sandpaper and a pound from the frame, then sand tape measure. the area smooth, and clean away Measure the size of the win- debris. To finish prepping the dowpane opening before heading frame, put a coat of wood primer to the home improvement or win- (preferably fast-drying) over the dow specialty store. Purchase a sanded area. This will help the replacement pane that is about glazing compound last longer. 1/8 inch smaller than the length Once the primer is dry, test-fit and width of the opening. This is your replacement glass; then rea good time to purchase the gla- move it. Roll out a very thin rope zier’s points, putty, primer and of glazing compound around the any tools you’ll need, too. wood frame. (You also could use First, remove the window sash clear silicone caulk at this point, from the frame and lay it down as it’s an extra step to ensure a

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water-resistant seal.) Carefully press the replacement glass into place. Next, put new glazier’s points into place. These secure the pane in place firmly. Press the pointed end into the wooden frame about two inches from each corner, and then use a screwdriver to press them in firmly. Finish sealing the windowpane by rolling out another rope of glazing compound. Press this into the seam between the windowpane and the wood frame. Use your putty knife to really push it in there, and then smooth down the compound. Clean accidental globs of compound or primer from the glass with mineral spirits or turpentine. You can now put the window sash back into the frame. Let the glazing compound dry for about a week so it sets well, then paint the wood around the new pane to match the rest of the window. Send your questions or comments to ask@thisisahammer. com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Health District tests cholesterol, gives shingles vaccine

Know Your Numbers The “Know Your Numbers” program will be offered Thursdays, Jan. 3, 17 and 31, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the office at 800 Main St. South in Southbury. Appointments are required; call 203-2649616, ext. 0. The “Know Your Numbers” program provides a low-cost way for people to learn their total cho-

lesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose numbers. Participants are required to fast 9 to 12 hours for the test. Participants also will have their blood pressure measured as part of the screening. Brief counseling will be offered – no one will walk away without understanding what their numbers mean. Educational materials also will be provided. The cost for the testing will be $30 for residents of the Pomperaug Health District towns and $35 for nonresidents.

Shingles Vaccine The Pomperaug District Department of Health is offering the shingles vaccination (Zostavax) at its weekly vaccination clinics. The vaccination clinics are held every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Health District office at 800 Main St. South in Southbury. Appointments are required. Anyone who has had chicken pox is at risk for getting shingles. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of adults in America have had chicken pox. Shingles can be painful and can cause serious problems such as long-term nerve pain. The Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone over the age of 60 years receive one dose of shingles vaccine. The cost for the vaccine is $195 payable by cash, check or credit card. The Health District accepts Medicare Part D for the shingles vaccine. For more information, and to make an appointment, call the health district at 203-264-9616, ext 0. Information about shingles and the vaccine is also available at the Health District website: www. pomperaughealthdistrict.org.

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Fixing a broken windowpane

The Pomperaug District Department of Health, which serves the towns of Southbury, Woodbury, Legal Notice of the and Oxford, is offering its “Know Your Numbers” Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission cholesterol-testing program and also is adminisThe Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Middle- tering the shingles vaccine.

The Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Middlebury will hold a public hearing on January 3, 2013, 7:30 p.m. at the Auditorium, Shepardson Community Center, 1172 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, Connecticut regarding the application submitted by Shaker’s Family Ford – Application for Special Exception for a sign. The public is invited to attend and be heard. Written comments may be sent and will be read into the record. They should be addressed to the Zoning Office at 1212 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, CT 06762. A copy of the application is on file for public inspection during normal working hours of that office.

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The Bee-Intelligencer is available by mail to those outside our delivery area or in need of extra copies. Mail delivery costs $40 a year for each subscription. Send a check and the mailing address to Bee-Intelligencer, P.O. Box 10, Middlebury, CT 06762. Call 203-577-6800 for rates for shorter periods of time.

The Bee-Intelligencer

Friday, December 28, 2012

In Brief Dollhouse Workshop The Gunn Junior Museum is offering a free dollhouse workshop Saturday, Dec. 29, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. It is a drop-in event during which children get to create a miniature room with furnishings using household items. Please bring a shoebox or small box of a similar size. After the workshop, enjoy viewing the “It’s a Small, Small World: Doll Houses & Miniatures” holiday exhibit next door at the Gunn Museum. For more information, call 860868-7586 or visit www.gunnlibrary. org. The library and museum are at 5 Wykeham Road/Route 47 in Washington, Conn.

Wellness-A-Thon for Sandy Hook

Middlebury Chiropractic and Wellness Center will host a wellness-a-thon Tuesday, Jan. 2, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Proceeds from chiropractic services, chair massages and auricular (ear) acupuncture to reduce anxiety will be donated to the Sandy Hook Elementary School Victims Relief Fund, as will proceeds from raffle sales. Raffle prizes include gift certificates towards chiropractic care, a naturopathic medicine visit, naturopathic gift baskets, one-hour massages, cosmetic acupuncture and Salomon USA shoes and a winter jacket and pants set. Girl Scout Celebration Middlebury Chiropractic is at Day 590 Middlebury Road, Suite B, in Middlebury Girl Scout Troop Middlebury; telephone 203-57764202 invites all local registered 2095. Junior, Cadette and Senior Girl Heating Assistance Scouts to a “Girl Celebration Day” Available Sunday, Dec. 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Middlebury. Please contact State Sen. Rob Kane said OpTroop Leader Carolyn Barbieri eration Fuel is accepting applicaat 203-758-1697 for details and to tions for emergency energy assisregister for this event. tance. If you or someone you

know might require heating assistance, please call the state’s free infoline at 211 or visit the Operation Fuel website atwww.operationfuel.org for more information. If you can donate to the program, which receives many more requests for energy assistance than it can fill, send donations to Operation Fuel One Regency Drive, Suite 200 Bloomfield, CT 06002 or donate online at www. operationfuel.org.

The Middlebury Lions’ Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at the Shepardson Community Center at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting will be Jan. 9. Any man or woman interested in learning about or joining this great service organization is invited to attend. Although Lions Clubs are committed to service to the blind, the Middlebury club also has a special mission to give back to the local community and to the youth organizations of Middlebury.

By SEN. ROB KANE

State Sen. Rob Kane listens to Roxbury taxpayers during a town hall meeting. Kane writes this week about random acts of kindness changing our communities for the better. (Submitted photo) the stricken families or others related to the school. “I didn’t know how I could help, and I just thought if I could offer them a place to get away for a few days to go to Disney or relax, my husband and I would love to do that,” Pat Polvani said. Simple acts of kindness are being amplified on Twitter with the hash tag “26acts.” It is proving to make the season brighter. Tens of thousands of Americans are already tweeting about their participation. Thousands of people have “liked” the new Facebook page www.facebook.com/26acts. These acts could mean holding open a door for an elderly person, saying “thank you” to a veteran,

Your pet could be featured as “Pet of the Week” in this picture frame. Send us your pet’s photo by email to mbisubmit@gmail.com or by regular mail to P.O. Box 10, Middlebury, CT 06762 along with your pet’s name, your last name and your town.

Middlebury Lions Club Meeting

Random acts of kindness As we continue to mourn the loss of precious life in Newtown and look ahead to 2013, I want to bring to your attention some of the scores of random acts of kindness that have taken place in the days following the tragedy. These acts inspire me, and I hope they inspire you as well: • Beth Howard loaded up her RV with 100 cases of Granny Smith apples and drove more than 1,100 miles with her two terrier dogs, Jack and Daisy, from Eldon, Iowa, to Newtown. Friends, neighbors and strangers pitched in for her gas money. For several days, she served up free, warm pies to area residents and children, spreading love throughout Newtown the best way she knew how. • Louisiana businessman Jay Roberts contacted the Toys “R” Us in Milford and bought $19,000 worth of toys, one gift for each of the students in Sandy Hook Elementary School. The truckload was dropped off in Newtown in time for Christmas. Roberts said he felt he had to do something for the children, and this was the best way he knew how. • Wallingford residents Pat Polvani and her husband, Mark, are offering free use of their condo near Disney World in January to

Send in your pet photos

donating food or money to area food pantries, or leaving a gift card on someone’s windshield. Connecticut Senate Minority Leader John McKinney said it best when he said, “I plan to just try to be a better person.” He said he will hug his kids a lot harder and a lot longer. When you spread love and good cheer, good things come back. I know that in Thomaston and throughout Connecticut there are certainly many people who are doing good deeds very quietly. For that, I say, “Thank you.” May your 2013 – and every year after 2013 – be filled with random acts of kindness.

PET OF THE WEEK Simon lives with the Whitman family in Naugatuck.

Adopt a Rescue Pet

JASPER

ALADDIN

Jasper is about 2 years old and gets along perfectly with cats, dogs and even birds! He is pretty reserved until he’s comfortable. Then watch out – he loves attention! He’s very vocal, and he enjoys playing with his kitty toys. He would most likely be a good fit for a home with owners that have cat experience and will allow him time to adjust. Please call ahead to meet him as he is in foster care now.

Aladdin recently attended the Animals For Life holiday event, and he was the hit of the day! He loved everyone he met and enjoyed interacting with the public and other dogs. Aladdin is a playful and happy 1½ year old mixed breed. He’s a big, strong fellow who would love an active family and a doggie companion. Aladdin also rides well in the car. To meet Aladdin, please visit him at the Animals For Life shelter.

For more information on these pets, call 203-758-2933 or visit Animals for Life at the Middlebury Transfer Station on Rte. 63 at the corner of Woodside Ave. During the holidays, make an appointment to see a pet of interest by calling 203-758-2933 or emailing animals_forlife@yahoo.com. Shelter hours will resume after the New Year. For more information about the adoption process, visit www.animalsforlifect.org.

P UZZLE SOLUTIONS:

1255 Middlebury Road (the Hamlet) Offering beer, wine & distilled spirits

Spears

Our sparkling wines from around the world are perfect for your New Year’s celebration!

Harriet Harriett is a dear, sweet two-year-old girl that came to us pregnant and ready to give birth! She had three healthy babies that are now up for adoption as well as mom herself! She soon will be spayed and ready to go home. She is a sweet girl who loves everyone and everything and will fit well into most any home!

Also offering a selection of artisanal cheeses

Spears came to us as pregnant as can be and had a wonderful litter of babies that are all grown now and off to their new homes. She is the absolute best – very loveable and so sweet! She was absolutely awesome in her foster home and got along with the children and animals in the home, both cats and dogs. Spears has no issues, except she will give you all the hugs you can ask for! Yes, she will wrap her paws around your neck and just love you all day!

For more information on these animals, as well as others at Meriden Humane Society (MHS), email meridensociety@sbcglobal.net. MHS is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., and volunteers can be available to meet with you through an appointment. MHS is at 311 Murdock Ave. in Meriden. HOLIDAY HOURS: The Meriden Humane Society will be closed until Friday, Jan. 4. During that time, adoption appointments can be made by emailing meridensociety@sbcglobal.net

203-527-6651

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday 12 to 4 p.m.

Keeping your pet safe this holiday Family Enrichment Center

Yoga • Zumba Martial Arts for all ages Yoga Class Cards for 5, 10 and 20 classes (adult or children) Zumba Class Cards for 10 classes (adult or Zumbatomic) For sale: Zumba toning sticks, Yoga mats for children and adults

203-527-7324

Check our schedule on Facebook: TulaFEC

489 Middlebury Road in Middlebury (behind Dunkin' Donuts)

As we move into the peak of the holiday season, it’s more important than ever to make sure your pets are safe, stress-free and healthy. Here are a few tips to help your pets have a happy holiday: • Avoid using decorations like tinsel, which can be ingested by cats and puppies attracted gether, create a safe haven for to its shine and crinkly sound. your pets in a room closed off Hang small ornaments and from the rest of the house. Put glass balls high on the tree and their bed and blankets, toys, place larger, sturdier ornawater and food in there, and ments on the lower part. check on them regularly. • Cover electrical cords and light • Make sure candies and chocstrands to prevent pets from olates stay off the floor so pets chewing on them. A piece of can’t ingest them. Chocolate PVC pipe or a thick piece of is poisonous to dogs. spare carpet, or even duct tape, • Use toddler gates to keep your can cover exposed runs along pets out of areas like the or behind the tree. kitchen so they don’t get into • Before a party or large get-toholiday baking.

• Make sure to keep pets on a regular feeding, walking and play schedule. This will help them deal with the more stressful period of the holidays. • Monitor your pets’ behavior during the holidays. If they appear lethargic, yelp in pain when you touch their stomach, nip at you when you reach for them, or show other signs of stress or illness, contact your veterinarian immediately. Send your questions or comments to ask@pawscorner.com, or write to Paw’s Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. For more pet care-related advice and information, visit www. pawscorner.com. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.