Middlebury Bee December 15 by Mario-Design

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Bee Intelligencer AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown

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Volume XI, No. 13

December 2015

Republicans take all By MARJORIE NEEDHAM Middlebury Republicans on Nov. 3 won all the seats in town government they were seeking, led by incumbent First Selectman Edward B. St. John, who got 1,230 votes to the 941 cast for his Democratic challenger, Middlebury Board of Finance (BoF) Chairman Michael McCormack. Selectman Elaine Strobel got 1,227 votes, only three fewer than St. John. Then things got interesting. Democratic incumbent Selectman Ralph Barra got 899 votes. But state statute says McCormack, with his 941 votes, can take the minority selectman position if he so chooses. On election night, McCormack said he would postpone his decision about the selectman position until the next BoF meeting, which was Nov. 12. McCormack was absent from that meeting. On Nov. 23, he told this newspaper he still had not made a decision on whether he would or would not take the selectman’s position. He said, “I’m just trying to make the best decision for the taxpayers.” It appears he can wait until Dec. 8, the day newly elected officials will be sworn in, to make his decision. Because McCormack can’t serve as selectman and also serve on the BoF, he must choose between the two. He has been serving as chair of the BoF, but changes in the composition of that board may mean he will not be chosen to continue as chair. Republican David Cappelletti, who ran for re-election to the BoF as a candidate endorsed by the Democratic party, lost to Republicans Rita Smith and Dawn Calabrese. They got 1,203 and 1,355 votes, respectively, to Cappelletti’s 889 votes. Democrat Joseph Drauss got 639 votes.

Ever since election day, Barra has said he believes McCormack will take the selectman spot. At first, that seemed unlikely, but now it seems McCormack probably will choose the selectman position as the slot in which he can do the best job for the taxpayers. For Board of Assessment Appeals, Republican Robert Flanagan defeated incumbent Stephen Ferrucci 1,221 votes to 807 votes. Republicans Robert Smith (1,377), Ted Mannello (1,375) and Paul Phillips (1,413) handily defeated Democratic challengers Punyada Bhaduri (620) and Anastasia Persico (642) for the three Water Pollution Control Authority spots. Republican candidate Robin Stanziale (1,384) defeated Democrat Anastasia Persico (678) for the town treasurer position. The current treasurer, John Calabrese, chose not to run for re-election. Tax Collector Jean Dawes, Police Commissioners Fran Barton and Frank Cipriano, and 2-year term Library Trustee Robert Desmarais were unopposed. For the two full-term library trustee positions, Republicans Peter Vaccarelli (1,366) and Bill Stowell (1,405) defeated Democrats Noa Miller (602) and Anastasia Persico (548). For the 4-year library trustee position, Republican Ron Clark (1,302) defeated Democrat Sharon Bosco (694). For Pomperaug Valley Water Authority, Democrat Ann Merriam Feinberg (674) was defeated by Republican Michael B. Dayton (1,323). For the two spots on the Regional School District 15 Board of Education, Republican incumbent John Cookson (1,387) and newcomer Brenda Carter (1,419) defeated the Democratic challenger, Lois Yager (856).

Grocery store coming? By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Conservation Commission (CC) at its Oct. 27 meeting heard plans for a grocery store to be built on Southford Road across from the former Golden Age of Trucking Museum. It also approved an oversize patio that had been constructed without approval, and accepted an application for a holding tank at Tyler Cove. When Attorney Michael McVerry was discussing Joseph Desantis and Richard Brown’s plans for the Southford Road building, he said it would have loading docks and dumpsters in the rear with parking around the perimeter of the building and had been specifically designed for what he called a “country grocery store.” When asked about the tenant, the developers said they didn’t want to comment, other than to point out the location was perfect for a small store with much commuter traffic and several nearby housing developments. DeSantis later told the Bee-Intelligencer the grocer is not LaBonne’s or Dinovas. We will report the grocer’s name as soon as we have it.

To create a parcel for the grocery store, Desantis and Brown of Middlebury, D/B/A Southford Road LLC will take a 2½ acre parcel at 1000 Southford Road and combine it with an acre from the adjoining lot at 984 Southford Road owned by Francis Cipriano of Watertown D/B/A Southford Park, LLC for the new 14,000square-foot commercial building. The plans were reviewed by civil engineer Paul Szymanski. Szymanski said the combined 3½ acres had about 1½ acres of wetlands, providing room for a centrally located commercial building on the remaining property. Using a set of maps and drawings, he described a mitigation plan to deal with a Connecticut drainage discharge as well as groundwater flowing into the existing wetlands. In other matters, commissioners unanimously approved a 20-by-40-foot patio with stairs and a retaining wall for the new office building at 891 Straits Turnpike with the stipulation additional winterberry and blueberry bushes be planted. The originally approved plans called for a smaller 20-by-20-foot patio and Wetlands

– See Store on page 2

Inside this Issue Classifieds...................7 Puzzles.......................7 Diversified Tax Tidbits...5 School Daze................3 Featured Pet................8 Senior Center Events....4 Library Lines................2 Veterans Post..............5 Now Here’s a Tip.........7 Winning Ways.............5

Editorial Office: Email: mbisubmit@gmail.com Phone: 203-577-6800 Mail: P.O. Box 10, Middlebury, CT 06762 Advertising Sales: Email: mbiadvertising@gmail.com

Middlebury Police Department honored; chief to leave By MARJORIE NEEDHAM In the second of two ceremonies honoring Middlebury police officers, Officer Ed Demers was cited as a Traffic Safety Hero when the AAA honored the Middlebury Police Department for traffic safety achievements recently at its 6th Annual Community Traffic Safety Awards lunch at Testo’s in Bridgeport. Earlier, on Nov. 3, Officers Kathy Blick, William Kalvaitis, and Ronald Pruchnicki were honored at the Exchange Club of Waterbury’s Annual First Responders Breakfast. Middlebury Police Chief James Viadero congratulated all four officers and said they are a testament to their profession and the community they are sworn to serve. Viadero recently announced he will be leaving Middlebury Jan. 1, 2016, to take the position of police chief in Newtown, where Chief Michael Kehoe is retiring. AAA Northeast also honored the Middlebury Police Department with a Bronze

Award for the department’s traffic safety programs. It recognized Demers as a department-nominated Traffic Safety Hero for his efforts involving the number of motor vehicle stops for texting, seatbelts and other safety violations. Demers, the department’s K9 officer, also is recognized by the community as one of the most friendly and proactive officers of the department. Blick, Kalvaitis and Pruchnicki are credited with saving two lives in January and June 2015 by providing lifesaving CPR and administering Narcan for drug overdoses. They were issued Narcan in January 2015, and Sgt. Christopher Wihbey of the Wolcott Police Department trained them to administer the drug. The officers’ rapid response to the scene, combined with training and experience, demonstrated a continued dedication to the law enforcement profession and providing first responder treatment in life-saving incidents. Middlebury Police Chief James Viadero, 56, said Nov. 4, “I’m not going anywhere

right now.” But that doesn’t mean he will stay in Middlebury. On Nov. 3, the Newtown Board of Police Commissioners voted to hire Viadero as Newtown’s new police chief. He will take over the position being vacated by Chief Michael Kehoe, who is retiring. Viadero became Middlebury’s police chief just a year and four months ago, on July 1, 2014, so Middlebury Police Commission Chairman Frank Cipriano said the commission plans to offer the job to a candidate who was among the top four during the search that ended with Viadero accepting the position as Middlebury’s chief. Newtown has been home to Viadero and his wife, Jill, since 1992. He said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a police chief in your home town.” But he said the decision to leave Middlebury was bittersweet. “The people in this town are phenomenal,” he said, “and we have a great group of officers.”

P&Z approves crematorium regulation By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on Nov. 5 unanimously approved a zoning regulations update allowing crematoriums. It also approved an in-law apartment on Watertown Road and a permit renewal for excavation and grading at Benson Woods, and it informally discussed reconstruction of Ford’s gas station and parking changes at Ridgewood. A second public hearing for Raymond and Panagiota (Penny) Albini to amend the zoning regulations to allow a crematory, undertaker facility, nondenominational chapel, columbarium (storage vault for funeral ash urns), and a cremation garden cemetery as permitted uses in the LI-200 zone was closed with no public comments for or against and then unanimously approved. The amendment allows the Albini family, who purchased a 33-acre commercial lot on Benson Road, to proceed with their development plans for the land.

The family owns the Albini Funeral Home in Waterbury. Attorney Michael McVerry, representing the Albinis, submitted a revision deleting the nondenominational chapel because funeral homes already have the ability to perform services and adding cemetery monument sales and fabrication as an accessory use. McVerry said the Albinis understood they need to come back with a special exception application so the specific details of the project can be addressed. A special exception application by Lou Persico to remodel a house at 642 Watertown Road for an accessory apartment was unanimously approved. Building contractor Eric Strachan told commissioners Persico bought the house with an existing downstairs in-law setup that had never been approved. Persico’s application relocated the in-law apartment to the second floor and converted the downstairs area into a recreation room. No bedrooms were added. Strachan said all utilities would be shared, and there would be no separate entrance.

The application by Middlebury Land Development LLC for renewal of an excavation and grading permit for Benson Woods, a project started in 2002 at North Benson Road, was approved for another year. Commissioners also agreed to waive the requirement for a traffic report and use a report from 2007. An informal discussion with the new owners of the former Sunoco station on the corner of Middlebury Road and Glenwood Avenue led to a recommendation from Chairman Terry Smith that they apply for a site plan approval with a change in use. The new owners, Nadeem Khalid and his partner, Mir Sabbir Ahmed, purchased the long-closed Sunoco gas and service station from Robert and Kerrie Ford Oct. 28 and plan to open a Citgo gas station/convenience store on the same footprint as the former gas station. Khalid and Ahmed are renovating a closed gas station in Torrington, and Khalid

– See P&Z on page 4

Annual Tree Lighting on the Green

Upcoming Events

Adopt a Rescue Pet........... 8 Obituaries...................5

AAA Public Affairs Manager Fran Mayko, right, presents a Bronze Award to Middlebury Police Chief Jim Viadero, center, and a Traffic Safety Hero Award to Officer Ed Demers, left. (Submitted photo)

SATURday

Dec. 5

What: When: Where:

St. George’s Church Annual Gingerbread Village (Runs through Saturday, Dec. 12) What: When: Where:

SUNday

Dec. 6

Tree lighting, entertainment by Middlebury Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts and carol singing. Enjoy hot chocolate at the Middlebury Congregational Church. 4 p.m. Town green on Whittemore Road

See the gingerbread village and purchase gingerbread delights. Dec. 5, 10 am – 7 p.m.; Dec. 6, 12 – 8 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 7, to Friday, Dec. 11, 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m.; Dec. 12, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. St. George’s Episcopal Church on Tucker Hill Road.

Menorah lighting for Hanukkah What: When: Where:

The first light on the menorah on the town green will be lit and blessings sung. Refreshments will follow in Westover’s Red Hall. 3:30 p.m. Middlebury town green on Whittemore Road.

Diet counselor coaches dieters

Page 5

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The Bee-Intelligencer

Hitt food drive a big hit

December 2015

Library Highlights This column features library highlights, visit with Santa Thursday, Dec. 10, at 6:30pm. Brown Bag Book Discussion this month from only the Middlebury PubThe Brown Bag Book Discussion group This event is open to all ages. Light refreshlic Library. For an extensive list of events at will meet Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m. to ments will be served. area libraries, please visit our website, www. discuss “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Traveling Gourmet bee-news.com, and click on “Libraries.” Lee. New members are welcome.

Holiday baking demonstrations

in Germany

Tanglewood Marionettes to perform

Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 1 p.m. and again at 5 p.m., enjoy a travel documentary while samThe Tanglewood Marionettes will perform pling cuisine from Germany prepared by “Sleeping Beauty” Thursday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 Chef John Cookson. A light luncheon will p.m. Space is limited, so registration is re- be served at 1p.m. and a light dinner will be served at 5 p.m. Reservations required. quired.

Enjoy two traditional holiday baking demonstrations, Home for the Holidays with Marie Harb, on Wednesday, Dec. 2, and Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 1 p.m. On Dec. 2, learn how to make holiday cookies from around the world in her Traditional Cookie Demonstration. On Dec. 9, see the Buche de Author to speak Noel Demonstration and learn how to make Local author Theresa Mieczkowski will a traditional Yule log cake. Registration is discuss her book, “When I was Jane,” Thursrequired and refreshments will be served. day, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. No registration is refor this free program open to all. Children’s book authors to visit quired Prior reading of the book is not required, Local authors Jessica Haight and Stepha- and books will be available for purchase. nie Robinson will discuss their book, “The Light refreshments will be served. Secret Files of Fairday Morrow,” Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 6:30 p.m. No registration is required Caroling and Santa for this free program open to all. Books will Santa Claus will return to the library this be available for purchase. year. Come enjoy live music, caroling and a

Middle School Masterminds The Middle School Masterminds, youth in grades six to eight, will meet Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 4 p.m. Registration is required. For Middlebury Public Library events, please visit middleburypubliclibrary.org. The Middlebury Public Library is at 30 Crest Road. The telephone number is 203-7582634. To see more library events, please look online at www.bee-news.com

Library Lines The Middlebury Food bank is 240 pounds of food and $13 richer thanks to folks who stopped by the Middlebury home of the Hitt family to see their elaborate Halloween display. Those who drive by to see the display are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to put in the donation box for the Middlebury Food Bank. This year, Dan Hitt said, they had more donations than ever. He and his family thank everyone who donated.

Celebrate with us… CHRISTMAS PAGEANT Sunday, Dec. 13 at 10:00 am

Join us in the retelling of the story of Christmas Snow Date: Sunday, Dec. 20

Middlebury Congregational Church,

Make time to enjoy a new book or two over the holidays

ecember is a very busy time as we prepare for our respective holidays. But we still need to fit some time into our schedules for some good reads. Here are some of the latest arrivals at the Middlebury Public Library. Happy holidays! Sophie Kinsella’s latest book is a “shopaholic” adventure, “Shopaholic to the Rescue” (KIN). This time Becky involves her whole family in a quest to find her father, who has disappeared with her best friend’s husband in Los Angeles. This book offers you light but engaging fluff to help you sleep after holiday shopping and baking. I haven’t yet read Gregory Maguire, but this book may change my mind. He of the “Wicked” series is continuing the Alice in Wonderland tale. “After Alice” (MAG) follows Ada down the rabbit hole to find Alice. There she encounters all our favorite char-

acters from the Lewis Carroll saga. Remember the Queen of Hearts, Mad Hatter and March Hare? Maguire adds the Tin Bear and Tin Ballerina and I think a few others – but maybe I just don’t remember some of them from Alice’s original adventure beyond the looking glass! “Little House Living: The Make-Your-Own Guide to a Frugal, Simple and Self-Sufficient Life” (640 ALI) by Merissa A. Alink was written to define a simpler, healthier existence. The author found herself newly married, short of funds – and allergic to everything in the store. Creating her own soaps and shampoos was one way of coping with her allergies as well as fulfilling a long-held dream and saving money. The start-up list is extensive, but the author breaks down costs to show how you actually

HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS?

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HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS? The Natural And Organic Pet Is Now

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Custom holiday gift baskets are 819 available. Straits Turnpike in Middlebury Just in time for the holidays! 203.598.7387

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do save time and money by creating your own items – with the added benefit of knowing exactly what ingredients are in them. Learn how to make your own nondrying hand sanitizer, healing salve, dish soap and many other household items. The Kennedys have had their fair share of celebrity as well as an unhealthy dose of notoriety. Patrick J. Kennedy has written of his battles with addiction and mental illness in “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction” (B KENNEDY, PATRICK J. KEN). This is a candid and intimate look at a man in a very public eye fighting many private demons. Depression, asthma, cocaine addiction, a mother struggling with alcoholism, and who knows what else besets him? What does come

through is Kennedy’s honesty and desire to fight for better mental health care and remain in public service. Are you having trouble finding time to read at this time of year? Daniel Klein has written a little gem of a book, “Every Time I Find the Meaning of Life, They Change It” (128 KLE). Each chapter starts with a quote of a famous philosopher and centers around how the quote is relevant to living our lives today. From Huxley to Emerson, Nietzsche to Sartre, each offers us pearls of wisdom, and Klein very wittily and with great humor explains why the quote would still resonate today. Middlebury Public Library Adult Services Librarian Donna Hine writes Library Lines. If you have a topic you’d like her to cover, contact her at the library at 203-758-2634.

Store -

additional 1,000 gallon septic holding tank at 17 Tyler Cove was accepted for commissioner review. McVerry said a permit from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection had been received. The next CC meeting was Tuesday, Nov. 24. Please see bee-news. com for a report on that meeting.

Continued from page 1 Enforcement Officer Deborah Seavey granted a certificate of occupancy in September if the owners agreed to apply for an afterthe-fact modification. In new business, an application by Antoinette Moore to install an

We will be hosting a pet adoption event with several rescue organizations. to benefit Fundraiser Along with: SafeSharon Haven of Warner, pet communiGreater Inc. cator; a classic carWaterbury show; raffles to benefit Saturday, Dec. the 5, 10 am - 4 pm Middlebury Dog Park;10% of your purchase Hidden Treasures will donate to Safeby Haven Greater Waterbury nail gratings ourofown • Byers Wet PawsChoice DogCarolers Grooming • Totally Bamboo • Christopher Radko and so much more!ornaments • Vera Bradley • Jewelry • www.oliversco.com Flashing holiday necklaces • Lolita wine glasses us on Facebook •Like SoapRocks

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The Bee-Intelligencer

December 2015

Westover student organizes Dec. 6 children’s gift sale Sarah Cavallaro of Middlebury, a junior at Westover School in Middlebury, is organizing the Kid’s Winter Season Sale, which will be held Sunday, Dec. 6, from 12 to 4 p.m. in Westover’s Fuller Athletic Center. The sale will help young children in the community find affordable presents for family members and friends. Children who come to the sale may purchase up to 10 items that each sell for $1. Cavallaro will then donate the proceeds from the sale to Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, which supports victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Cavallaro has been organizing the Kid’s Winter Season Sale as an independent community service project. She is basing the project on a program that was organized by the late Karen Kemp, Cavallaro’s former guidance counselor at Middlebury Elementary School. “The sale is an opportunity for Middlebury area children from kindergarten through fifth grade

Sarah Cavallaro to be able to purchase inexpensive gifts for loved ones in this busy winter season,” said Maggie Nuñez-Fernandez, a Westover faculty member who is coordinating the school’s community service program this year with her colleague, Christopher Sweeney. They have been providing guidance and support to Cavallaro in organizing the event. Cavallaro is collecting donated items – candles, books, toys, tools,

jewelry, wrapping paper, and other items – from faculty, staff, students and their families, as well as from members of the Middlebury community. In addition to a selection of gift items, Cavallaro said, there will be a wrapping station and a bake sale featuring gluten-free items at the event. She also hopes to have a jewelry-making booth at the event where children can create their own handmade gifts as a purchased gift item option. Cavallaro has recruited volunteers to staff the event from among her fellow Westover students and from the members of a Middlebury Girl Scout troop. Anyone wishing to donate new or gently used items for the sale can bring them to Westover’s Red Hall from now until Friday, Dec. 4. Westover is at 1237 Whittemore Road in Middlebury. It is a selective boarding and day school with more than 200 students in grades 9 to 12 from 17 states and 19 countries.

Tattered P.O. flag replaced When Air Force veteran Dick Bulkovitch of Middlebury went to the Middlebury Post Office Saturday, Nov. 14, he looked up at the flag pole to see a tattered flag, above, flying there. A neighbor and several friends had alerted him to the situation. He said they were very upset with the flag’s condition. “I went down there, not with a chip on my shoulder, but with the goal of finding a solution to a problem,” he said. So he went inside and discussed the situation with the postal staff. Monday, when Postmaster Mary Donahue returned from a month-long leave, she located a temporary replacement for the tattered flag, right. It’s a bit small but it is brand new. Donahue said via telephone Nov. 16, “Rest assured we have a clean one out there and I ordered new ones.” She said she raised the new flag while Bulkovitch and a postal employee who also is a vet saluted.

Online 24/7 at bee-news.com!

New direction in reading Greetings from School Daze! Last month I talked all about the “new” math, but this month it’s all about the new direction in English language arts (ELA). The shift in this area is the amount of reading your child is doing in fiction versus nonfiction. In the lower grades, reading fiction allows students to develop the necessary skills related to character traits, story elements, summarizing and much more. However, the current trend in curriculum is to have students read as much nonfiction as fiction, and this begins in kindergarten. This shift in the increase of informational text allows children to gather a wider knowledge of topics. Children are now required to read more difficult text at an earlier age. Children also are required to talk and write more about what is read, using facts and details to explain. By engaging in a more rigorous ELA curriculum, children will develop stronger speaking and listening skills as well. For the younger grades, have your child read both fiction and nonfiction aloud. If your child has difficulty pronouncing the

School Daze by Mrs. M. words, help him/her sound out the word. Review the text features and explain why they are used in the book. For example, explain why a graph, or a map, or a diagram is used in the book. Talk about why an author puts a heading at the top of a page. Your child must know these components of a nonfiction story as he/ she moves up in the grades. For the upper-grade students, have your child read two articles on the same topic. Have your child compare how they were written, what facts they had, and how they were alike and different. You can also have your child read an article in the newspaper, perhaps our very own, The BeeIntelligencer, and ask him/her to write down the facts and details. Your child can then sum-

marize what he/she read in the article. This is a nice way to incorporate current events in your child’s academics. In the area of writing, a journal is a great way to get kids to write. It can be a notebook or composition book. However, Barnes and Noble does sell some pretty fancy journals kids love to use. Whatever you choose will be an awesome avenue for kids to write. I use daily journals in my classroom, and the students love to write in them. You can have them write half a page and then draw an illustration to go with what they wrote. You can give your child a prompt such as, “If you were principal of your school, what new rule would you make?” Just 15 or 20 minutes of

this can help your child learn to express himself/herself, and of course, it fosters a love of writing. As always, I welcome your opinions and comments. You may email me at fmull04@gmail. com. Until next month ... keep smiling! Teacher: “Why have you got cotton balls in your ears? Do you have an infection?” Pupil: “Well, you keep saying that things go in one ear and out the other, so I’m trying to keep them all in!” Mrs. M. (Fran Mullen) is an educator in the Waterbury School District. She welcomes your opinions and comments. You may email her at fmull04@gmail.com.

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The Bee-Intelligencer

December 2015

Bee Intelligencer

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

Issued by: The Middlebury Bee-Intelligencer Society LLC Bee-Intelligencer Staff: Editor-In-Chief/Publisher: Marjorie Needham Contributing Writer: Terrence S. McAuliffe Art & Production: Mario J. Recupido - 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 Editorial/Press Releases: Noon Monday preceding publication Copyright © 2015 by The Middlebury BeeIntelligencer Society, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

P&Z -

Continued from page 1 told the Bee-Intelligencer he is involved with other gas stations in Connecticut. He told Commissioner Matthew Robison he had no plans for takeout food, which is not permitted in the regulations. Smith told Khalid the site plan must include parking, architectural renderings, landscaping and lighting. In addition, he suggested a front sidewalk to encourage pedestrian traffic. Smith also noted the project needed to come before the Conservation Commission and Economic and Industrial Development Commission for approvals. In another informal discussion, Steve Rogers, project manager for Toll Brothers at Ridgewood, was told by Smith an official revised site plan on Mylar needed to be submitted for changes to parking spot placements at Ridgewood. Rogers said

some parking spaces in the original approved plan could not be built because of building footprint changes from the ones filed by the original developer, Ginsburg Development Corp. He also said he modified a placement after hearing a resident complaint and pointed out more parking was provided than in the requirements. Smith maintained a revised Mylar needed to be filed because it was the official “as built” record of the project. In enforcement matters, Zoning Enforcement Officer Curtis Bosco said he and Wetlands Enforcement Officer Deborah Seavey had co-authored a ceaseand-desist order for Ridgewood for approximately three weeks due to their noncompliance in addressing dust control. The order has since been lifted, and he said he visits the site once a week. The next regular P&Z meeting will be Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Shepardson Community Center.

Letters to the Editor McCormack says first selectman must keep town on budget To the Editor: What part of the word “budget” doesn’t Middlebury First Selectman Ed St. John understand? In an article in last Monday’s Waterbury paper that highlighted the Board of Finance’s Nov. 12, 2015, meeting, Mr. St. John mentioned that the Police Department is over budget. It is the first selectman’s job to run the town within the confines of the taxpayer-approved budget.

When a department is over budget, other departments must have their spending reduced to bring the budget into balance. Reducing spending is the hard part; it is what the first selectman is paid to do. Once again, Mr. St. John is shirking his responsibility. Mr. St. John should be identifying the departments he will reduce spending in to bring the budget back within the amount of money the taxpayers approved. The taxpayers should expect the budget they voted for to be adhered to. Michael McCormack Chairman, Board of Finance Middlebury

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

Christmas Trees - Cut or Potted Wreaths • Roping Poinsettias Cemetery Boxes Kissing Balls

Middlebury police were called to 41 Tower Road in Middlebury at 6:22 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, on a report a man was lying in the driveway. When they arrived, Officers Kathy Blick and Ed Demers found an elderly man lying in a pool of blood at the end of the driveway. Ambulance personnel from AMR were on the scene and pronounced the man dead. The scene was secured by Middlebury officers. Middlebury Police Chief James Viadero issued a statement saying the cause of death was suspicious and the Connecticut State Police Major Crimes Squad had been asked to initiate an investigation with the Middlebury Police Department assisting them. An autopsy performed Wednesday, Nov. 4, by the Office of the Chief States Medical Examiner positively identified the victim as Isidore Ellin, 79. The medical examiner also determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Meanwhile, the State Police Major Crimes Squad was conducting an investigation at the request of the Middlebury Police Department and announced an arrest was imminent. The Middlebury Police Department said the investigation determined this was not a random homicide, that the victim was specifically targeted and he was known by his assailant. Middlebury Police Chief James Viadero assured the community there was no specific threat to their safety as a result of the isolated incident.

Swearing-in of newly elected Middlebury officials

When: Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.

Black Oil, Premium Mix, Sunflower Hearts, Niger Seed (thistle for finches)

Deer Corn • Livestock & Poultry Feed Bags of Wood

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

Town Clerk Edith Salisbury will swear in the town’s newly elected officials.

Pots of holiday decorated greenery Gift Certificates Available

Bird Seed Headquarters

Tower Road resident murdered

Where: Shepardson Community Center, 1172 Whittemore Road.

www.nfda.org

I am an individual, who is part of a family and that is part of our community. I want my funeral to reflect that.

We know the things that are important to the families we serve. After all, they’re the same values that guide our business... family, community, and personal service. To learn more about how we can help you and your family create a meaningful funeral, please contact us.

Middlebury Police were called to this house at 41 Tower Road the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 3, because a body was lying in the driveway. Authorities later determined the man was Isidore Ellin, inset, and he had been beaten to death. (Marjorie Needham photo) State Police detectives worked alongside Middlebury police officers as the investigation continued, developing leads and following evidence. On Wednesday, Nov. 4, State Police detectives from Western District Major Crime (WDMC) arrested Steven E. Brockett, 44, of Waterbury and charged him with Ellin’s homicide. Through the course of the investigation, Brockett responded to Troop A - Southbury to speak with WDMC detectives as part of the interview process. Through the

interview process, information was developed that led to Brockett being a suspect. As the investigation continued, detectives collected further evidence and information that led them to apply for an arrest warrant for Brockett that was granted by the Waterbury Superior Court. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at approximately 6 p.m., Brockett was taken into custody at Troop A - Southbury, where he was processed. Brockett was charged with murder, first-degree robbery, and first-degree

assault of an elderly person. His bond was set at $750,000. Brockett was transported to Bridgeport Correctional, where he was held until his arraignment in Waterbury Superior Court Thursday, Nov. 5. His next court date is Thursday, Dec. 3. Anyone with information on this incident can call the Connecticut State Police Troop A in Southbury, Major Crimes Unit or the Middlebury Police Department. All information received will be kept confidential.

Middlebury Senior Center Events Holiday closings The Middlebury Senior Center will be closed Friday, Dec. 25, for Christmas and Friday, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day.

Medicare enrollment help

Monday, Dec. 21, at 11:30 a.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Stuck on You Band with Bob Lupi. The menu will be roast beef carving, oven-roasted potatoes, green beans, salad, roll, dessert and milk and coffee. Please make your reservations no later than Friday, Dec. 18. The cost is $10 per person.

Medicare open enrollment runs through Dec. 7. Gail Seymour from the Western Con- Commission on Aging necticut Area Agency on Aging meeting will be at the Middlebury Senior The Commission on Aging Center Wednesday, Dec. 2, to will not meet in December. help with Medicare enrollment. If you would like to meet with Driver safety program Gail, please call 203-577-4166 for The next AARP Driver Safety an appointment. course will be Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at How to buy a the senior center. The course is the new computer nation’s first and largest driverOur computer expert, Sean refresher course. Using new maHoward, will give a free class on terials and new videos, the course buying a new computer Tuesdays, covers new defensive driving techDec. 8 and Dec. 15, from 10 to 11 niques, new laws and regulations, a.m. in the computer lab at the how to deal with aggressive drivMiddlebury Senior Center in the ers, and how aging affects drivers. Shepardson Community Building. Drivers who attend the class The class will give participants will receive a completion certifia general idea of what to look for cate and may be entitled to a diswhen buying a new computer count on automobile insurance with all of the technical jargon (contact your insurance comexplained. Please call 203-577- pany for details). 4166 to reserve your seat; we can AARP membership is not reaccommodate only eight stu- quired, and drivers of all ages are dents per class. invited to attend. The cost to participate is $15 for AARP members Senior Center and $20 for nonmembers. All Christmas party checks must be made out to The Middlebury Senior Center “AARP.” Call 203-577-4166 to regAnnual Christmas Party will be ister.

Trips Holiday Light Fantasia Monday, Dec. 7, the Senior Center minibus will take passengers to see the Christmas lights at Holiday Light Fantasia in Goodwin Park in Hartford, Conn. The bus will drive through an enchanting land of spectacular, sparkling light displays during this festive and magical holiday season, delighting children and adults with more than 60 enchanting images on display. All proceeds go to Easter Seals. The bus will stop at Denny’s in Southington for dinner. The cost of $12 per person includes admission and transportation. The rain/snow date will be Dec. 15. To reserve your seat, call 203577-4166.

Painted Pony restaurant As part of the Senior Dine lunch program, the minibus will go to the Painted Pony restaurant in Bethlehem Friday, Dec. 18. This trip is usually the fourth Friday each month. You must have a Senior Dine card to participate. If you do not have a card, stop by the senior center office to get one. If you want to go to the Painted Pony, call 203-577-4166 to reserve a seat.

The Bee-Intelligencer

December 2015

Diet counselor coaches dieters By MARJORIE NEEDHAM Carol Montano has been helping dieters lose weight and keep it off since she first came to Middlebury in 1979. At that time, her office was in the Middlebury Hamlet. In 2016, she will begin her 37th year of counseling dieters. She said of her work, “We are introducing people to healthier eating habits and teaching them how to make good choices for their food. We teach them to read labels and be aware of what they are eating.” She said people who are trying to lose weight need to eat enough food. “Don’t eat just one meal a day,” she said, “but be sure you eat proper portions of food.” Her clients tell her the hardest part of following her diet plan is making sure they eat all the food that is part of the plan. They usually want to eat less. In addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner, they eat healthy snacks in between meals. Montano said the meal plan helps keep their metabolism going all day and gives them energy. They also have to drink 8 cups of water a day. That can be a real challenge for those who start the program and are used to drinking 8 cups of coffee and

Diet Counselor Carol Montano prepares to counsel clients in her Middlebury office. Her goal is to help dieters lose pounds and keep them off. (Marjorie Needham photo) one glass of water a day. Her clients don’t lose just pounds. They also lose inches. “Their body shape changes,” she said. After their initial visit, they come see Montano twice a week for a weigh-in and counseling.

And once they complete the program and have lost weight, there is no charge for joining the maintenance program. Grace Halloran of Waterbury has been a client since 1986 and is on the maintenance program. She said of the program, “Its im-

portant for me to come here. You have to answer to somebody. You can’t fool yourself. You have to get on the scale.” Halloran said she liked the diet because you eat real food and it’s healthy. “You don’t have to buy special food,” she said. Montano said she has helped men, women and children lose weight. The youngest was an 8-year-old. The most an individual client lost was 175 pounds. She offers her clients a wide range of healthy recipes. The most popular are tofu potato salad, Italian sausage made from ground chicken, muffins (lemon or orange bran), and chicken Florentine. She also has recipes for sloppy joes made with spaghetti squash and for a tasty diet lasagna. Some clients are referred to her by doctors who send her patients with high blood pressure and diabetes. Two of those medical referrals are down 80 pounds and will be down 100 pounds when they finish. Montano’s office is at 2030 Straits Turnpike in Middlebury. She can be reached at 203-7588561. Call for information on her holiday diet special. Editor’s note: The Diet Center and the Bee-Intelligencer share office space.

It Happened in Middlebury

For whom did the Middlebury Historical Society bell toll? By AGNES LUTES The Middlebury Historical Society building’s best-kept secret may be the original bronze bell hanging in the cupola. It was installed in what was then the brand-new Center School in 1897, and it likely was used to call children to school. The bell is something special. Cast in West Troy, N.Y. (now Watervliet), at the end of the 1800s, it was destined to be the voice of a country school house in the small town of Middlebury, Conn., whose population at the time was fewer than 1,000 residents. The bell’s path here took it down the Hudson River to Long Island Sound and then to a harbor on the Connecticut coast. From there it was hauled by oxen to Middlebury. The Meneely Bell Co., where the bell was made, was founded in 1826 and continued to operate until 1952, producing more than 70,000 bells during that time. The bell’s casting reveals its foundry and place of origin: The Meneely Bell Company, Troy, New York. Bells are cast with a number of inscriptions ranging from the simple foundry name or donor to the more elaborate phrases that include the following: I convene the clergy, I bewail the dead, I arouse the slothful, I abate the lightning, I scatter the winds, I call the people. This bell has a famous relative. A replacement Liberty Bell called the Columbian Bell was produced at the Meneely Co. for display at the World’s Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Included in the casting of that bell were numerous historical objects and personal items of various metals. Its total weight was 13,000 pounds. By comparison, the original Liberty Bell weighs just over 2,000 pounds. Bell towers are interesting spaces not for the faint of heart.

Obituaries Maria Eracema (Costa) Carvalho Loving wife, mother and grandmother

Mrs. Maria Eracema (Costa) Carvalho, 89, of Waterbury died unexpectedly Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, at her residence. She was the wife of Aquiles Carvalho. Eracema was born in Escariz, Vila Real, Portugal June 6, 1926, a daughter of the late Joaquim and Lourdes Costa. She came to Waterbury from Portugal in April 1967. She worked at Waterbury Buckle for many years until her retirement in 1988. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church. Besides her husband, Aquiles, of 60 years, she leaves a daughter, Maria Zinno and her husband, Harold Zinno II, of Middlebury; a son, Joaquim Helder Carvalho and his wife, Cristina, of Naugatuck; a brother, Ricardo Costa and his wife, Fernanda, of Waterbury; a sister, Celia Costa and her husband, Bernardino Alves of Escariz, Portugal; five grandchildren: Harold Zinno III and his wife, Amanda, and Carla Zinno, all of Middlebury; and Natalia Carvalho, Luis Carvalho and Simon Carvalho all of Naugatuck, and several nieces and nephews. Her Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 25 at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Waterbury. Burial was to follow at All Saints Cemetery in Waterbury. For more information or to send e-condolences, visit www.chaseparkwaymemorial.com.

Isidore “Izzy” Ellin Mr. Isidore “Izzy” Ellin, 79, of Middlebury, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, at his home. Izzy was born June 20, 1936, in Israel and emigrated as

a young child. He was the son of the late Baruch and Martha (Gruenebaum) Ellin, formerly of Ellington. He was a well-loved physics professor and entrepreneur and was always passionate about his work. He cared greatly for his family, always taught a strong work ethic, and ensured his children had a religious upbringing. He concerned himself with those less fortunate, was generous, and always put others before himself, even sacrificing his own well-being. His dry sense of humor was simply unlike anyone else’s, and it always left a curious but happy impression. Izzy never seemed to lack energy to take on a project or help someone in need. He was unique and tireless, brilliant and intellectual. His unique perspective on life and smart advice will be missed. His absence leaves a blank space in the hearts of all who knew him. Among his survivors are his former spouse, Anita Ellin of Thomaston, Conn.; his children, Lisa Ellin and her husband, Haym Hirsh, of Ithaca, N.Y.; Gary Ellin, and his wife, Tammie, of Thomaston, Conn.; and Randy Ellin of East Hampton, Conn. In addition, he leaves his three grandchildren, Joshua and Alana Ellin and Jay Hirsh; his brother, Seymour Ellin and his wife, Barbara, of Boston, Mass., as well as several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his sister, Esther Elmakiss. Funeral services for Mr. Ellin were held Nov. 5 at Casey’s Eastside Memorial Funeral Home in Waterbury with Rabbi Joseph Eisenbach of Chabad Lubavitch of Northwest Connecticut officiating. Burial was to follow in Congregation Knesseth Israel Cemetery in Ellington. To honor Izzy’s memory, donations may be made to Chabad Lubavitch of Northwest Connecticut, P.O. Box 127, Litchfield, CT 06759 or a charity for the homeless of the donor’s choice. To extend online expressions of sympathy to the family or for additional information, kindly visit the funeral home website at www.eastsidememorial.com.

YMCA programs for Vets

The cupola on the former Center School, now the home of the Middlebury Historical Society, houses a bell likely used to call children to school. (Agnes Lutes photo) There is that involuntary response of looking over your shoulder for bats. Additionally, access is usually through an attic, across a shaky catwalk, or up a narrow stairway. In our case, we must climb an almost vertical ladder in the back of a closet up through a trap door into the attic. From here another ladder ascends to a much smaller trap door into a narrow octagonal tower with a minimum of support boards around the edges. Good balance is essential in this louvered space where light, fresh air enters and rain mostly stays out. Much of the space is taken up by the bronze bell, huge and heavy. The view is wonderful and makes it worth the climb. Of course, there is the horrifying trip back down. You may have avoided Quasimodo up there, but the real adventure continues as you find your way back down through

trapdoors and on ladders. This particular bell was silent for many years until our volunteer, Patrick, climbed into the belfry and was inspired. He worked on the bell itself, oiling it and making sure the parts moved freely. Then he replaced the rope that travels down through the attic to the kitchen below. At last, its lovely sound rang out throughout the Green and beyond for the first time in years, the first time in memory for those of us who work and volunteer at the Middlebury Historical Society. One of the few bells in town that can still be rung manually, our Historical Society bell rings a two-syllable peal of one specific note, the classic ding-dong of full-circle ringing. The first tug on the rope raises the bell to its upside down position. A ring is produced when the clapper hits the bell as the bell swings down

again and back up on the other side. Each pull of the rope reverses the bell’s direction and it sounds again. Sounds good? Please be our guest at the Middlebury Historical Society to hear the song of this beautiful bell. Agnes Lutes is the Middlebury Historical Society vice president. To join or contact the society, call 203--206-4717 or visit middleburyhistoricalsociety.org.

Have you been to the Y lately? Did you know there are special programs there for veterans? The alliance between the armed forces and the YMCA goes back to 1861, in Abraham Lincoln’s day, when YMCA members provided relief services to the military in local encampments. The Y also offered education scholarships long before that benefit was established for veterans and active-duty personnel. The relationship has continued all these years. In 1984, the YMCA and the Department of Defense established a memorandum of understanding, which was renewed in 2004. And now, the VA and the YMCA have expanded their partnership to promote the health and well-being of veterans and their families. Who knew? The expanded agreement pairs Veterans Benefits Administration regional offices and Veterans Health Administration facilities with YMCAs to make sure veterans, as well as their families and caregivers, are hooked up with resources in their communities. Not every YMCA site has the veterans program. The variety of programs is broad. This past summer, a new

program started that provides career opportunities for veterans protecting natural and cultural resources on public lands. Some YMCAs have started scuba experiences for wounded veterans. Others sent the kids and families of veterans to camp. Typical programs can include health and fitness, aquatics, camping, family, child care, arts, community development, sports and teens, as well as LIVESTRONG (healthy living and fitness help) and Healthy Kids Day. Some locations have diabetes prevention programs, youth after-school, preschool enrichment, aerobics and indoor track, cross training and more. To find a YMCA near to you, go online to www.ymca.net/ military-outreach, scroll and click on “Find a Y Participating in the Military Outreach Initiative.” Put in your ZIP code and then select “Show only Ys participating in the Military Outreach Initiative.” (c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

Don’t leave tax money on the table! This month we will consider accounts also are tax deductstill generally being fully desome deductions that often are ible, but only if you pay such ductible, usually cannot be overlooked, especially if people fees out of other funds; if these taken all in the current year, prepare their own tax returns. It expenses are deducted dibut rather must be amortized is important to note that some rectly from the IRA account, over the life of the mortgage. By MARK A. BURNS people will not be able to take they are not tax deductible. Then, if the mortgage is paid advantage of all of these items 3. Other investment expenses  off before the points are fully come tax return, fourth-quardue to the specifics of their own The cost of investment-relat“amortized,” the balance of ter estimated tax payment for tax return (e.g., standard deduced subscriptions, books, magthe points can be taken in the prior year made in January of tion versus itemized, AMT, azines, etc., is allowed as a tax year of payoff. Also, any fees current year, and any payphase-out of deductions due to deduction. calculated as a percent of the ments made resulting from 4. Tax preparation fees - If you income levels, and other possible total mortgage amount, even amended returns you might limitations). But if you will be pay someone to prepare your though called something else have filed or from notices reentitled to a tax benefit and if the tax returns (or help you with (e.g., origination fees), are ceived from state tax departdeduction applies to you, then tax planning), that amount is considered “points” for this ments. you don’t want to miss out. tax deductible. The same goes purpose. 1. Prior years’ state tax payments 2. Investment management fees for the cost of tax preparation The above is a very general or account maintenance fees  If you made any state insoftware (e.g., Turbo Tax) if discussion. Always consult a tax  For non-IRA accounts, any come tax payments during the you do it yourself. professional if you are uncertain fees paid directly or deducted 5. Points paid on a mortgage  about how tax matters might year, then you are allowed to from your account are detake a deduction for those Generally, when points are affect you. ductible, although if you have payments. This includes the incurred on a mortgage to Mark A. Burns, MBA, is a CPA tax-exempt investments in obvious, i.e., state tax withacquire a primary residence, with Diversified Financial your account, you might have holding shown on your W-2 those points are fully tax de- Solutions PC in Southbury. He to do an allocation of the fees form, but also the not-soductible in the current year. can be reached at 203-264-3131 to arrive at the tax-deductible obvious, such as the balance However, if the mortgage is a or Mark@DFSPC.biz. amount. Similar fees on IRA due on prior year’s state in“refi,” then the points, while

Diversified Tax Tidbits

Trust & Dignity

The Bee-Intelligencer

December 2015

Prostate often blamed for bladder problems

Some people need treatment for both, and there are no interactions I could find between doxazosin and bladder spasm agents like Detrol (tolterodine) or Ditropan (oxybutynin). The booklet on men’s health discusses prostate gland enlargement. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Roach – No. 1001W, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. 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. ROACH: I read and hear of great health benefits attributed to eating nuts. I have a very healthy heart, but no one can consider himself beyond the specter of cancer. Also, possibly my neurological or other systems that deteriorate with age could benefit from eating nuts. Unfortunately, eating nuts or peanuts results in constipation that can last for days. Foods with dairy or egg components give me the same problem. Do I do myself a disservice by not eating nuts? Should I consider episodes of constipation worth the benefits? – J.M. ANSWER: I have carefully read the new studies on nuts, and they confirm previous studies show-

ing that nut consumption is associated with a lower risk of heart disease and overall death and, as you note, reduced cancer risk as well. However, this doesn’t prove that eating nuts reduces those risks. It is possible that people who eat nuts have other behaviors that are really responsible for their lower risk of disease. However, the authors of the study did as good a job as possible to reduce that possibility. In your case, I would think of nuts as a medicine. You have to consider the benefits (possibly lower risk of cancer and other diseases) against the side effects (constipation, which can be very unpleasant and reduce quality of life). One estimate is that nut consumption may increase lifespan by as much as a year. You may have less benefit than other people from nut consumption

because of your healthy heart. That would make me less likely to recommend nut consumption for you. If your constipation were more than mildly annoying, I probably wouldn’t “prescribe” nuts. Similarly, people with nut allergies, which are increasingly common, cannot enjoy the health benefits of nuts. Only you can determine if the modest improvement in (possible) life expectancy is worth the symptoms. Dr. Roach regrets he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell. edu. To view and order health pamphlets, visit www.rbmamall. com, or write to P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2015 North America Synd., Inc. All Rights Reserved

Creating our own luck It is interesting to consider the different ways in which we tend to view the concept of “luck.” Some of us believe that luck, whether good or bad, is simply associated with random chance occurrences in our lives. They see luck as resulting from being in the right place at the right time. Others feel that luck is predetermined by mystical forces that influence our outcomes, implying that fate or karma plays a key role in our luck. Either way, luck is often cited as a key factor contributing to a person’s success or failure. Certainly things happen to each of us that appear to come “clear out of the clear blue.” We all experience misfortunes as well as happy surprises we had

Winning Ways By Pat Iannuzzi Insights for Constructive Living

no role or responsibility in creating. Finding a $100 bill on a sidewalk or having a car dented accidentally in a mall parking lot are events that are random and difficult, if not impossible, to cause or anticipate. Such instances are pure chance occurrences that either benefit us or harm us without any direct connection to our intentions or behaviors. Luck, however, is more than just the result of chance events. The dictionary defines luck as “a

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force that brings good fortune or adversity; a force that operates for or against an individual.” So, if luck is a force, why can’t we tap into it to our advantage? The answer is that we can and should. For centuries, people have tried to do this very thing by “knocking on wood” and carrying “lucky charms.” Michael Jordan, the famous Chicago Bulls basketball star, spent his entire NBA career wearing his old University of North Carolina shorts under his team shorts for good luck. There are more practical ways, however, in which we can increase our luck. While the words “luck” and “chance” are closely related, they are not the same thing. A chance event is basically an unexpected random occurrence of some kind, while luck has to do with the kind of impact such an occurrence has on us. Chance events in themselves do not generate luck but rather provide the opportunity for luck good or bad, to happen. Luck, then, results

from the effectiveness of our attitudes and behaviors in generating and responding to those chance events. We may have little or no control over the elements of chance, but we can have a great deal of control over how we deal with them, and how we deal with them can dramatically shape the nature of our luck. One way we can take a more proactive approach to becoming luckier is by preparing ourselves to be more ready to take advantage of the opportunities for good luck that may come our way. While being in the right place at the right time can be an important contributor to luck, most people find themselves in such a position because of design rather than by accident. They get what appears to be the big break, but in reality they worked hard planning and following their hearts to get to where the big breaks come. “I am a great believer in luck,” Thomas Jefferson said, “and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”

Another way to become more “lucky” is to continually try new things. Don’t just do the activities for which you know the eventual outcome. Change your routine. Go to new places. Venture outside of your comfort zone. Open your mind to encounter unexpected opportunities. Lucky people regularly experience such opportunities; unlucky people don’t. Expand your personal network so that you will have more support and resources to help you thrive in more situations. Even though for most of us winning a lottery may be only an incredibly remote probability, purchasing a ticket can dramatically improve our chances of getting lucky. Pat Iannuzzi of Symbiont Performance Group, Inc. is a performance consultant, trainer and coach focusing on selling, presentation and interpersonal skills. He lives in Litchfield and can be reached at 860-283-9963 or piannuzzi@symbiontnet.com.

1. Who holds the Marlins’ career record for most complete games pitched? 2. Who had the most hits in one major-league season: Barry or Bobby Bonds? 3. Name the first player in University of Nebraska history to run for more than 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. 4. Who holds the Milwaukee Bucks’ record for most career games played? 5. Six players hold the record of four goals in an NHL All-Star Game. Name four of them. 6. How many teams did Major League Soccer have in its first season in 1996? 7. Heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes suffered six losses during his 75-bout pro career. Name at least three of the fighters who beat him.

Answers: 1. Dontrelle Willis, with 15 (2003-07). 2. Bobby Bonds had 200 hits for San Francisco in 1970; Barry’s high was 181 hits for San Francisco in 1993. 3. Ameer Abdullah (2012-14). 4. Junior Bridgeman, with 711 games played. 5. Wayne Gretzky (1983), Mario Lemieux (1990), Vincent Damphousse (1991), Mike Gartner (1993), Dany Heatley (2003) and John Tavares (2015). 6. Ten. 7. Michael Spinks (twice), Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Oliver McCall and Brian Nielsen.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m 87 and have an enlarged prostate. When I get the urge to urinate, which is often, I have to go at once. Do you think that taking a bladdercontrol medicine would interfere with the Cardura (doxazosin) I’m taking to keep my urine duct (urethra) open? It’s getting to be a big problem. Hope you can help me. – CB ANSWER: Both men and women can have urinary urgency (the sensation of needing to go right away), and sometimes this can lead to accidents. In women, the problem usually is attributed to bladder spasm, and in men it may be attributed erroneously to the prostate. Of course, it is possible to have both prostate problems like benign enlargement of the gland and bladder spasm, but oftentimes the problem in men is solely the bladder.

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December 2015

BBB warns about package scam Cromwell, CT – Wine and roses are wonderful gifts, but beware unexpected deliveries. The Connecticut Better Business Bureau (BBB) is alerting consumers about a delivery scam that allows criminals to empty your bank account and run up your creditcard debt. One consumer’s trouble began with a phone call from a man who said he worked for “Express Couriers,” and asked to arrange a time to deliver a package that required a signature. Within an hour, he showed up at her door wearing what looked like a legitimate delivery company uniform and holding a gift basket containing flowers and wine. There was no accompanying card or information on the sender’s identity.

The imposter said there was a $3.50 “delivery/verification” charge because the basket contained liquor and he had to prove it was received by an adult of drinking age and not left outside where a minor might get it. He said he could accept payment only by credit card. He swiped the card on a mobile terminal, asked the consumer to enter the card’s personal identification number (PIN), and handed her a receipt for the payment. Over the next five days, $4,000 was withdrawn from her bank account through ATM withdrawals and charges to the card. The criminal had used the mobile pin pad to copy the card. The Connecticut BBB offers the following advice for consumers to protect themselves from similar fraud:

Who sent it? – Be wary of “surprise” gifts or packages, especially if you did not order or expect them. Don’t accept deliveries that lack sender identification or are from someone you don’t know. A delivery fee is a red flag – Delivery companies do not require payment of fees as a condition of delivery. Be stingy with information – Never give out financial or personal information to anyone over the telephone, online or at the front door unless you initiated the transaction. To track or report fraud or attempted fraud, visit the BBB Scam Tracker page in the “Get Consumer Help” section at bbb. org/connecticut or through www.bbb.org/scamtracker/connecticut.

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 knowingly accept advertising which is deceptive, fraudulent, or which might otherwise violate the law or accepted standards of taste. However, this publication does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of any advertisement, nor the quality of the goods or services advertised. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all claims made in any advertisements, and to use good judgment and reasonable care, particularly when dealing with persons unknown to you who ask for money in advance of delivery of the goods or services advertised.

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King Features Weekly Service

Classified Advertising Deadline: 5 p.m. Monday Classified Advertising Cost: $10 per insertion, up to 40 words. 25¢ each additional word.

• Three ways to use an empty tissue box: 1) store plastic grocery bags inside; 2) line with a small plastic trash bag and use in your car as a travel trash can; 3) cut out the bottom and use it to disguise an extra toilet tissue roll in your guest bath! • Love oranges? Save the peels to add to your potpourri mix. Remove as much of the pith as possible, and cut into strips. Air dry in bright light for about a week. Or you can set the strips on parchment and dry in a partially closed oven set to 175 F for about 45 minutes. Check often. • “When the last serving of jam has been used, I will happily add some oil and vinegar to the jar, along with a few choice spices, then shake. It’s an instant vinaigrette, with a fruity tang.” – C.L. in Tennessee • Keep your jeans or other denim items from fading by soaking them in a solution of cold water and salt (two tablespoons to a gallon) for about an hour before washing. • How can you keep snow and ice off your windshield? Some

May 25, 2015

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• Need a patch for old woodwork? to one partcolor water Tryvinegar mixing paint (whatever you sprayed on the windshield are using) and flour. Make a paste, fill night cutIt’s your in each the holes and can let dry. hardicelike cement, and can bein sanded into shape scraping time half or better. if necessary. (Use caution to avoid your • When you get near the end of a roll of paper towels, save it to put in your car. Put together a kit with the following items: a small bottle of Windex or other cleaner, a squeeze bottle of water, some wet wipes and the short roll of paper towels. Now you’ll always be ready for a quick on-theroad cleanup. • Use baking soda to scrub away stuck-on food on your grill. Sprinkle it on the metal brush, and scrub away. If your grate is beyond the power of fire and baking soda, remove it and lay it on the ground on some newspaper. Spray with oven cleaner and let sit (keep pets and kids away from it). Rinse with a garden hose and replace on the grill. • “I have a plastic cup that changes color when the drink is hot. Oddly enough, it changes at the perfect temperature for my baby’s bath. So, I fill the tub and toss in the cup. When the cup starts to change back to its original color (blue), I know the bathwater is not too hot.” — P. in Idaho

paint job.) Try covering your wipers with an old pair of long socks so they don’t freeze to the glass! • “To clean a can opener, get it wet and run a folded paper towel through it while turning the handle. Works best if done after each use.” – H.P. in Washington Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

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The Bee-Intelligencer

December 2015

Hunting isn’t answer to feral cat problem DEAR PAW’S CORNER: There was a furor last summer over a veterinarian who shot a feral cat with an arrow. While animal lovers’ fury was understandable, what wasn’t addressed is the massive population of feral cats in the United States. Cats are very effective hunters and have decimated native populations of small wildlife. What is your opinion on the suggestion to hunt feral cats rather than simply trap, neuter or spay, then release them back into the wild? – A Feral Cat Friend in Florida DEAR FRIEND: I think that we shouldn’t give up on TNR (trap, neuter, release) programs,

PET OF THE MONTH

though additional solutions need to be looked into. Hunting isn’t one of those solutions. In 2004, a study published in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association said that the population of feral cats in the U.S. was nearing the number of cats that had a home – about 50 million feral versus 73

million domesticated. However, while about 85 percent of female cats that had owners were spayed, only 2 percent of feral female cats were. (www.avma. org/News/Journals/Collections/ Documents/javma_225_9_1354. pdf ) I wrote about the problem those many years ago, advocating TNR. Fast-forward to 2014: A TNR study conducted in Alachua County, Florida, found that increasing awareness among area residents and encouraging them to TNR feral cats helped reduce the number of cats entering the local shelter by 66 percent. (www.sciencedirect.

com/science/article/pii/ S1090023314001841) So, providing local education and resources to residents helps them actively and humanely participate in the gradual reduction of feral cat colonies. Fewer cats in an area can help the local wildlife rebound. Whether or not you own pets, you can play a role in reducing the feral cat population without using a bow and arrow. Start with organizations dedicated to achieving this, such as Alley Cat Allies at saveacat.org. Send your questions or comments to ask@pawscorner. com. (c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

Adopt a Rescue Pet

Gunny is an English Bulldog. She lives with the Desmarais family in Middlebury.

SILVIO Silvio is a wonderful neutered male shorthaired brown-andwhite cat who is 3 to 4 years old. He is affectionate, lovable, mellow and also active at times. He loves attention, is healthy and a real love bug. He has a lot of affection to give. Can you open your home and your heart to him?

Send in your pet photos Your pet could be featured as “Featured Pet” 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.

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS:

SAMSON Samson is a sweet, adorable neutered male orange-and-white short-haired cat with golden eyes. He is 3 to 4 years old. He is mellow, affectionate, healthy, calm and a real sweetheart. He may be slightly shy at first, but he will soon come around and be your best friend and loyal companion. He loves attention.

Samson and Silvio are with Pet Protectors. Find an adoption application on the website, www.petprotectorsrescue.org, or call 203-330-0255 or email contactus@ petprotectorsrescue.org for more information or an application.

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SNOW WILL BE FALLING BEFORE YOU KNOW IT!

Holiday gifts for the contractor/craftsman in your life include discounted quality Dewalt and Paslode tools from Black Friday to Christmas Eve. See store for details. Generac generators, ice melt, snow rakes and shovels are arriving at our lumber yard daily. We also have quality building products like energy star-rated windows and doors.