Middlebury Bee July 15

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Volume XI, No. 8

July 2015

P&Z approves proposed Shell station

By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on June 4 approved construction of a smaller version of a new gas station intended to replace the current Shell station at 520 Middlebury Road in Middlebury. The approved station will have three double-sided pumps that will serve a total of six cars at a time compared to the five double-sided pumps serving 10 cars at a time that the property owner initially applied for in February.

This was the third public hearing on the proposal, which elicited strong opposition from some 40 residents even after the applicant, Wesson Energy, offered to lower the number of double-sided pumps to four from five, reduce the width of the canopy to 112 feet from 140, and reduce the number of parking spaces to 27 from 34.

After taking public comments for an hour and a half, the commission voted 4 to 1 to approve the project with one further modification, a reduction to three in the number of double-sided pumps. Chairman Terry Smith said the modification was made part of the approval to make the project conform better to the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). The proposed sign for the new station, which town engineer John Calabrese said wasn’t consistent with zoning regulations, will be addressed separately.

Chairman Terry Smith and members Erika Carrington, Bill Stowell and Paul Babarik voted for approval while the commission’s newest member, Joe Drauss, voted against it.

Commissioner Matthew Robison was absent. Attorney Michael McVerry, representing property owner Wesson Energy, had opened his remarks by asking for Robison’s recusal from any vote because of critical remarks made by Robison’s wife, Nancy, at the May 7 public hearing. McVerry said her position might “color his (Robison’s) ability to evaluate issues.”

Before the vote was cast, McVerry recapped plans to demolish the Shell Station at 520 Middlebury Road and construct a larger station on that site and the adjacent lots formerly occupied by Vinnie’s Pizza and Johnny’s Dairy Bar. He said the improved and enlarged station was harmonious with other businesses in the area, citing the history of neighboring gas stations going back to the 1940s. He argued that some residents might wish something different on the site, but saying the station wasn’t harmonious “flies in the face of the facts.” He said the station conformed to all the pertinent zoning regulations with every concern addressed and the visual appearance of the station would improve the rundown area.

He said he didn’t understand comments Cathy Smith made May 7 about the size and contents of the kitchen area and said those comments mentioned items not shown on the plans. Michael A. Galante of Frederick P. Clark Associates reviewed portions of the traffic access and impact study and disagreed with comments the station would draw traffic from I-84.

In written comments, a letter from Michael Jacobi questioned the metrics used to compute the number of pumps needed to service customers and a letter from Frank Perrella said the project was “a monstrosity not in the best interests of Middlebury residents.” He asked commissioners to scale it back.

Cathy Smith refuted McVerry’s comments about the kitchen equipment. “I went through the plans. Every single piece of equipment, model number, chapter and verse, serial number – I took pictures and can print you out a copy. I didn’t get that out of the air.”

She said the new plans had even more equipment “… a high-speed fatless fryer. I’m not making this stuff up. It’s on your plans.”

“Show me,” responded McVerry.

“I have the plans and I’ll be happy to go through them with you,” she responded. She also said the numbers on Galante’s traffic study did not match those in the POCD. She said the POCD listed 22,000 cars per day on Route 64, not 13,000. She said there was a lot of “smoke and mirrors.” She agreed a gas station was a good thing and needed, but not a mega-station.

Also opposing the station for various matters of size, scale, lighting, noise, children’s safety and traffic were Jane Conners, Jean Peterson, Mary Larkin, Maureen Voghel, Peter Vaccarelli, Richard Molleca, Robert Rafford, Kris Jacobi and Scott Peterson.

Five residents supported the project. Ingrid Manning said a gas station was needed in town.

She complimented Wesson Energy on listening and offering a tremendous improvement on what is there. Paul Anderson said he expects the other gas stations will go away and complimented the design of this station. George Frantzis said the town needed a nice gas station and it wasn’t reasonable to expect a boutique store to locate in that spot. David Theroux said the proposal was very responsible and had wonderful architecture that would open up the area in front of Village Square. John Cookson reminded everyone that Sylvia’s Deli (Nutmeg Pantry) was long known for breakfasts and sandwiches it sold from the Shell Station a few decades ago.

The next regular P&Z meeting will be Thursday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Shepardson Community Center.

Inside this Issue Adopt a Rescue Pet.....8 Obituaries...................5 Classifieds...................7 Parks & Recreation......4 Community Calendar...2 Puzzles.......................7 Diversified Tax Tidbits...5 School Daze................3 Here’s a tip.................7 Veterans Post..............5 Library Lines................2 Winning Ways.............6

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

Quassy Amusement Park President Eric Anderson announces the park’s five-year, $6 million plan for improvements that include eight new slides (shown on the wall behind Anderson) at Splash Away Bay, Quassy’s lakefront waterpark.

(Marjorie Needham photo)

Quassy announces expansion Quassy Amusement and Waterpark President Eric Anderson told the media Saturday the park will more than double the number of water slides at Splash Away Bay over the next several seasons, and other park improvements will include a two-story candy shop featuring an antique taffy-pulling machine.

The eight new slides will be a group of five smaller slides for younger children and three giant slides with a combined length of more than 1,000 feet for older children.

“We’re excited about further expanding the waterpark as it has become a venerable part of the guest experience here at Quassy,” Anderson said of the project.

In addition to the candy shop, Quassy will build a beach snack building and will replace some of the amusement area rides. An estimated $6 million will be reinvested into the historic lakeside park over the next five years.

The first phase of the expansion is targeted to open in 2016 when Slide City, the group of five slides, will open adjacent to the Saturation Station. Four of the slides will end in shallow troughs while a fifth will send riders gently along the wall of a circularshaped landing prior to exiting.

The larger slides, which will open in 2017, will be in an area now occupied by picnic tables on the north side of the property.

The existing popcorn concession near the Grand Carousel will be razed to make way for a new candy shop featuring a taffy manufacturing operation from yesteryear.

“We have purchased a taffy puller (machine) and wrapping machine that will not only provide great candy, but are also entertaining to watch,” said George Frantzis II, a park owner. “The wrapping machine dates back to around 1915 and has been

completely restored by an industry expert.”

“This will be the same type of operation you see at many boardwalk locations that have produced taffy for years,” he added.

“Guests will be able to mix flavors into a take-home package, and we are also planning to do online sales.”

The new lakefront structure, Splash Away Bay Café and Deck, will provide a place for guests at Quassy Beach and the waterpark to purchase food and beverages without leaving the waterpark. The café will feature rooftop seating on a deck overlooking Lake Quassapaug.

Andrew Peklo III of Woodbury, Conn., who already created a new ticket booth and group sales/season pass building at the park in a style reminiscent of Quassy’s “trolley park” heritage, also designed the candy shop and lakefront café.

Officer Demers, Jay graduate ​The Middlebury Police Department proudly announced that Officer Edward Demers and his K9, Jay, graduated from the 173rd State Police K9 Training Troop on May 28, 2015, in a ceremony at the Police Officer Standards and Training Council Academy in Meriden, Conn.

Officer Demers, along with 11 other officers and their K9s, participated in a grueling 14-week training session that began the second week of February and concluded the last week in May. The course, which is physically and mentally demanding, prepares the officers and their K9s for the rigors of patrol duty and includes tracking, apprehensions, obedience and other facets of their daily duties.

Officer Demers, who has had two previous K9s, is extremely experienced and respected in the field of K9 training and handling. When his most recent K9, a yellow Labrador retriever named J.J., retired, the department purchased Jay, a German shepherd. During the graduation ceremony hosted by the Connecticut State Police, Officer

Demers was honored for having the highest academic grade average in the class.

Middlebury Police Chief James Viadero said, “We are extremely proud and excited to have Officer Demers back to work with his K9. Additionally, both Officer Demers and K9 Jay will be an asset to the department and the town, providing years of dedicated and professional police service to the Middlebury community. Officer Demers made a great sacrifice accepting the assignment and will most certainly excel in his future endeavors.”

Viadero said the Middlebury Police Department also thanked members of the community who generously donated to the acquisition of K9 Jay and the cost of the K9 program. Without their donations the program would not have been possible. A special thank-you also goes to Fidelco Guide Dog Services in Bloomfield, Conn. Jay was acquired from Fidelco, a group that provides and trains guide dogs for Middlebury Police Officer Edward Demers and his police dog, the blind but also vigorously Jay, are shown at their graduation from the State Police K9 supports police K9 programs. Training Troop. (Submitted photo)

Look for the August issue of the Bee-Intelligencer on July 31.

Meantime, visit our website, www.bee-news.com.

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MRTC awards scholarships

Page 3

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The Bee-Intelligencer

2

It’s dog license and tax time

July 2015

It Happened in Middlebury

Middlebury residents have until June 30 to purchase their new dog licenses without paying a late fee. Their real property taxes are due July 1, but will not be late as long as they are paid by Monday, Aug. 3.

June is the month to license your dog. Dogs must be licensed every year. Licenses are $8 for a neutered or spayed dog and $19 if they are not. Payment is by cash or check. Dogs six months and older must be licensed per state law.

Proof of up-to-date rabies shots must be shown, as well as a certificate of neutering or spaying if your dog has not been registered before. If your dog has a microchip, please provide the registration number. Registering dogs also can be done by mail.

If registering by mail, please send your check payable to “Middlebury Town Clerk” and your paperwork to Town Clerk, 1212 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, CT 06762.

Licenses purchased after June 30 are subject to a $1 per month late fee.

The Town Clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call 203-7582557 with any questions.

Animal Control Officer Rusty Bona reminds dog owners not to leave their small dogs unattended while outside due to the coyotes around town.

Middlebury’s Tax Collector, Jean Dawes, reminds residents taxes are due July 1, 2015. Taxes of $100 or less and all motor vehicle taxes are due in full. All other taxes may be paid in two installments due July 1, 2015, and Jan. 1, 2016. Taxes are due even if you didn’t receive a bill, so please call the tax collector if you need a bill.

All motor vehicle bills are now printed on a single bill, listed separately. If you no longer own a vehicle, proof must be supplied to the assessor’s office in order to reduce taxes or remove a vehicle from the list.

Payments may be made by cash, check or money order.

Credit card payments made be made online at www.officialpayments.com or by calling 1-800272-9829. Phone payments require jurisdiction code #1763. A This photo, taken around 1940, shows the Watertown Road home of Leo McDonald. The house has since been torn down.

(Middlebury Historical Society photo) fee is charged for this service.

The tax office in Middlebury Town Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Leo’s grandparents, Mary and Michael Mc- shells, bones, even the metal wheel of a very

By AGNES LUTES Donald, emigrated from Ireland and settled early car. This may be one of the wheels from Most of us of a certain age will remember in Waterbury. Their son Thomas, listed in the the two Fords or the Packard listed in the AgLeo McDonald of Middlebury. Though his Connecticut Vital Records as a hostler, married ricultural Survey. An early crosscut saw was house is gone, the property still can be located Mary O’Neill, and Leo, their son, was born in found in this area and is now at the Historical by the well visible in the front yard of a private 1902 in Middlebury. Leo and his wife, Kathryn, Society.

Wednesday, July 1 lived on and farmed the Watertown Road Also, from the same area off Watertown home on Watertown Road.

Larry Atchison, in his “Atchison Recollec- property. The 1918 Council of Defense Agri- Road, the historical society has parts and Land Preservation and Open Space 6 p.m.............................................................. Shepardson, Room 26 tions” in the Historical Society collection, wrote, cultural Survey lists crops grown by Thomas pieces of old glassware, dishes, pottery, bottles, “Coming onto Watertown Road from Breakneck McDonald as corn, potatoes, apples and hay. silverware and other evidence of farm life.

Zoning Board of Appeals Hill is where Leo and Jack McDonald had a The livestock included horses, cows, poultry Along with the farm, the McDonalds had a 7:30 p.m..............................................Town Hall Conference Room trash-hauling business around 1960. Could house which stood, from what I’ve been told, and pigs.

Some of the area owned by the McDonald these pieces be remnants from that time? since the early 1800s. It was torn down around Thursday, July 2 Agnes Lutes is vice president of the Middlefive years ago, 1985 or so. It stood where #106 family was developed in the mid-1970s as [sic] is now. They inherited it from their father Cedar Acres and now is home to 18 families bury Historical Society. To join or contact the Planning and Zoning Commission 7:30 p.m....................Shepardson Community Center Auditorium and Leo lived there until he died at 75 yrs. His on Woodfield Drive. The soil yields many re- society, visit MiddleburyHistoricalSociety.org membrances of that farm – pieces of china, or call Bob Rafford at 203-206-4717. father owned it at least 40 yrs prior.”

Middlebury’s Leo McDonald family

Middlebury Community Calendar

Saturday, July 4

Fourth of July Holiday - Transfer Station Closed

Kenausis resigns from EIDC, guidebook awaits review

Monday, July 6 Board of Selectmen 6 p.m.........................Shepardson Community Center Auditorium

Wednesday, July 8 Board of Finance will not meet this month

Thursday, July 9 Parks and Recreation will not meet this month

Monday, July 13 Police Commission 6 p.m...................................................Town Hall Conference Room

Tuesday, July 14 Library Board of Directors will not meet this month

Wednesday, July 15 Beautification Committee will not meet this month

Thursday, July 16 Safety and Health Committee 12:30 p.m............................................Town Hall Conference Room

Monday, July 20 Board of Selectmen 6 p.m...................................................Town Hall Conference Room Public Works Commission 7 p.m................................................................ Shepardson, Room 4

Tuesday, July 21

By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Economic and Industrial Development Commission (EIDC) at its May 26 meeting unanimously voted Terrence McAuliffe as chairman to fill the place of resigning member Michael Kenausis, who first served as co-chairman before becoming chairman in March 2014. It also approved the final draft of the Commercial Development Guidebook, discussed architectural guidelines from other towns, and set a special meeting to respond to the draft Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).

McAuliffe said, “Michael Kenausis was responsible, along with former co-chairman Gerry Matthews, in getting Middlebury’s Tax Incentive Program implemented.” Matthews and Kenausis researched and cowrote the package in 2010 using what

Fresh Strawberries, Squashes, Cukes, Tomatoes ** Sweet Corn coming July Fourth ** Annuals • Perennials Ornamental Statuary • Roses Hanging Baskets • Herbs • Shrubs Mulch in bulk or by the bag

future meeting to discuss possibilities.

A special meeting was set for Tuesday, June 2, to discuss EIDC recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on the POCD. McAuliffe said the EIDC should write a letter to P&Z stating the most important areas of agreement and disagreement and any unanswered questions in the draft POCD. In procedural matters, members voted to make the Town Hall Conference Room the standard meeting location as suggested by the first selectman’s executive secretary, Barbara Whitaker.

The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, June 30, at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room.

Ed. note: At our request, McAuliffe continues to report on this commission while serving as its chair.

S

Well-written books keep arriving

o many well-written books are out there! When new books arrive, it is such a treat to page through them and choose the best of the best to Tuesday, July 28 share with you. It is especially a Economic and Industrial Development Commission treat to read them. This month, 6:30 p.m. ............................................Town Hall Conference Room I feel as if I’ve hit a jackpot! It does Conservation Commission make it difficult to choose just a 7:30 p.m......................................................... Shepardson, Room 26 few, but those are choices I don’t mind making.

Calendar dates/times are subject to change.

Set at the end of the Roaring If your organization would like your event included in the community calendar, please email the information to beeintelligencer@gmail.com. ’20s, “The Jazz Palace” (MOR) by Mary Morris is just as rollicking and wild as the time it is a part of. This is a tale of two Jewish families who have suffered the loss of sons and are hoping the remaining family members will continue the family business. But Middlebury Road (Opposite the Shell Station) Benny Lehrman doesn’t want to do anything but play jazz – and Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Pearl asks Benny and his new Anthony Calabrese 203-758-2765 friend, Napoleon, to play at her family’s saloon – newly dubbed “The Jazz Palace.” Can they all remain true to their dreams? Or will reality intrude?

Kate Atkinson follows “Life After Life” (ATK) with “A God in Ruins” (ATK) and continues Ursula’s story through her brother, Teddy. Teddy never expected to survive World War I and finds every day a struggle to fill. Teddy, an ordinary man living his life day to day, encounters love, death, pain, joy and suffering.

Deer Corn • Livestock & Poultry Feed When written through Atkinson’s pen, though, this somewhat Democratic Town Committee 7:30 p.m......................................................... Shepardson, Room 27

voted May 18 to set a special town meeting to approve sale of the property for $200,000, the same as its appraised value. In his letter, Kenausis complained there was no public or private notice of the offer to sell and many options not explored might have fetched a higher price.

Members voted unanimously to forward a final draft of the Commercial Development Guidebook to the BoS, pending legal review by Town Attorney Dana D’Angelo.

Commissioner Frank Mirovsky distributed examples of architectural standards from New Milford and Newtown. Building designs are usually referred to the EIDC for architectural approval in site plan reviews, but Ted Mannello commented there were no written standards to go by. Mirovsky agreed to ask architectural consultants he knew from Woodbury and Avon if they would attend a

Library Lines

Commission on Aging will not meet this month Water Pollution Control Authority will not meet this month Republican Town Committee 7:30 p.m......................................................... Shepardson, Room 26

Wednesday, July 22

Matthews said were the best ideas from surrounding towns, particularly Oxford. It was sent to the Board of Selectmen (BoS) in March 2011 and updated in March 2012. The first business approved under the plan was Winchester Electronics, which moved into the old Timex building on Park Road Extension.

In his resignation letter Kenausis, who also is a member of the Board of Finance, said job and personal responsibilities had become more demanding of his time. His letter expressed disappointment with the process the town used recently to sell a 33-acre commercial lot in the Oxford Airport Enterprise Zone.

The town acquired the land in 2014 from Baker Residential, who owed $75,925.07 in taxes on it.

The parcel fronting on Benson Road has about five to 10 usable acres with the remainder being unbuildable wetlands. The BoS

mundane life becomes a life lesson for us all.

Futuristic books are often really out there – but others are frightening simply because the future they present is all too possible. “The Water Knife” (BAC)

by Paolo Bacigalupi belongs to the second group. It is all too easy to imagine a time when the Southwest runs out of water and people are hired to find water sources for greedy land developers. The “water knife” is Angel Velasquez, who encounters a journalist and a Texas migrant who are somehow entangled in the same desperate hunt for water – too bad much more unscrupulous people also are looking for it.

“Our Souls at Night” (HAR) by Kent Haruf is a tiny gem of a book. It looks as if you could read the entire book in one sitting – and from just skimming it, you may want to do just that. The writing is so lovely and loving.

We can see these two lonely people connecting every night and just talking about their lives – both have lost a spouse – and that all-too-natural human need of companionship is fulfilled for them in each other. Addie and Louie have their own families but miss just having someone there.

Nothing can separate them – not even age and infirmity.

For many years now, we have listened to and watched Tom

Brokaw deliver the state of the world on the nightly news. His recent autobiography, “A Lucky Life Interrupted” (Brokaw, Tom BRO) is “a memoir of hope” after his diagnosis of multiple myeloma. I write those sentences as if they were just words, but as any cancer survivor will tell you, hearing those words in particular is devastating. But his book isn’t so much about his illness, as it is about his life: interviews, memories, travels as well as his life over the past year battling cancer.

He writes as he speaks – directly to you and from the heart.

“Shabby chic” in home decorating has been popular for many years – possibly because when our furniture gets old and shabby we still want to believe it doesn’t have to be replaced! “The Nesting Place” (248.4 SMI) by Myquillyn Smith shows us how very lovely shabby can be. She demonstrates a loving and lived-in atmosphere using a book to prop up a broken chair leg, or mismatched picture frames – “Live with imperfections and make them work for you” is her mantra. I love the idea of using white slipcovers on an old, but super-comfy, sofa so you can wash them in bleach and they will be clean as new again!

Martin Ford writes “Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future” (331.13 FOR) and imagines a fu-

ture where robotics may replace certain human jobs. He offers some valid arguments – especially for robots performing lifting and carrying jobs in which an injury may occur to a person, or in the field of medicine where it is all too easy to write out an incorrect dosage for medication, for example. This thoughtprovoking work forces us to confront a future in which we need to redesign certain areas of human employment.

Finally, it’s kinda fun to look at “Where to Retire: America’s Best and Most Affordable Places” (306.3 HOW) by John Howells.

Are we not surprised Connecticut is not listed? Designed to help those who are looking to move from their present town to some place different, the book offers specific states as well as towns with features appealing to the recently retired. Many suggestions are southern states (especially Florida), California, the Southeast, Arizona and many more – mostly warm-weather areas. If you are looking for a snapshot view of a certain area, you’ll probably find it here.

Middlebury Public Library Adult Services Librarian Donna Hine writes Library Lines once a month. If you have a topic you’d like her to cover, contact her at the library at 203-758-2634.

The Bee-Intelligencer

July 2015

3

Reading … the key to success

MRTC members Brendan Browne, far left, and Tom King, far right, flank the MRTC’s 2015 scholarship recipients, left to right, Jillian Buckley, Joanna Rizza and Megan Civitello in front of town hall. Each student holds an envelope with her scholarship check in it. (Marjorie Needham photo)

MRTC awards scholarships

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM The Middlebury Republican Town Committee (MRTC) scholarships this year went to Jillian Buckley, Megan Civitello and Joanna Rizza. MRTC scholarship committee member Brendan Browne and MRTC Chairman Tom King presented the scholarships to the students at Middlebury Town Hall June 12. Civitello and Rizza are Pomperaug High School seniors (now graduates) and Buckley is a Westover senior (now graduate).

Megan Civitello, the daughter of Jill and Daniel Civitello, will start classes at the University of Connecticut in the fall and will study biology with a pre-medicine

concentration. She said she hopes to become a pediatric oncologist.

Joanna Rizza, daughter of Beth and Paul Rizza, will go to Cornell University, where she will study chemical engineering. She said a degree in that field will give her several options, including becoming a patent lawyer, going to medical school or working for a pharmaceutical company.

Jillian Buckley, a daughter of Karl and Ellen Buckley of Middlebury, said she will attend Bryant University in Rhode Island this fall. She has not yet decided on her major.

King said scholarships, previously open only to Region 15 students, were open this year to applicants who live in Middle-

bury regardless of where they attend school. Among the schools included were Westover, Taft and the Waterbury Magnet School. Starting in January, the scholarships were advertised on the MRTC website, www.middleburygop.com.

Browne said the scholarship committee was looking for students who went out and did community work, not just in groups but also on their own. “We were looking for students who went above and beyond,” he said.

Other members of the scholarship committee were Betty Proulx, Rito Albini, Fran Brennan and Terry McAuliffe.

Greetings from School Daze!

School is out for the summer. As a teacher, the last day of school is such a bittersweet day for me.

I love that my students have grown, learned and are moving on. But it also is time to say goodbye and I never enjoy that. I embrace each child as my own. I give 100 percent to their needs, and in the process I fall in love with each of these precious little people.

I have been blessed to discover my calling in life, and I relish each and every day that I can go to a job that continues to excite me, energize me and fulfill my desire to make a difference in the life of a child. I am humbly and gratefully appreciative of the role given to me, and I continue to pursue my life’s course with the greatest respect for the task I have been given. Thank you to all who have followed my column during the past several months of the school year. I look forward to continuing and keeping you updated on educational issues. Now, on to the important message for this month.

As I mentioned in a previous column, reading is a key factor in a student’s overall success in school. Since fluency and comprehension transcend all subject areas, mastery of reading skills is vital to performing at one’s best. Reading should never be viewed as a “chore,” but rather an enjoyable, enthusiastic experience. So many positive attributes can come from delving into a good book. Know that when a child embraces reading at a young age, that desire can last a lifetime. Research has shown that a student who consistently reads builds a greater base of vocabulary, content knowledge and understanding of the world around him.

Selecting just the right chapter book is essential to your child’s enjoyment and comprehension of reading. We use a strategy in school to identify whether a chapter book is too difficult for

School Daze by Mrs. M. a child. It is the “five-finger rule.”

Have your child read the first few pages of the book. Every time your child comes across a word he/she does not know, have them hold a finger up. If your child holds up five fingers, you can assume the content may be too difficult for your child to read.

This is only a gauge and can vary depending on your child’s background knowledge. Once your child has an appropriate level book, let the reading begin.

Set aside some time each day (15 to 20 minutes) for your child to read. Make it a shared activity.

Ask your child to retell what he or she is reading. Have your child tell you about the characters or the setting. Have your child draw a picture of the characters or the setting. Ask plenty of questions so your child is discussing the story in depth.

However, if your child is struggling with this activity, you need to slow down the activities and modify them so your child is not frustrated with the task. Instead of your child reading several pages, have him or her read just a page. Then have your child tell you what he/she has read. If this still is problematic, scale it down to a paragraph. Your child must comprehend what is read. You can then proceed with appropriate questions as stated above.

Make sure that part of the reading session includes knowing the new vocabulary words and substituting synonyms or antonyms for them. In addition, ask your child what message or lesson he/ she thinks the author wanted him or her to learn.

Lastly, when your child com-

pletes the book, have him or her do a creative activity celebrating its completion. You can find several great ideas on Pinterest.com.

Kids love being creative and it truly inspires the love of reading.

You don’t have to be a teacher to act like one. You have all you need at your fingertips.

Any time you spend on these activities will be well worth it in terms of developing good comprehension skills. Remember … reading comprehension is the key to success in all areas of academics and therefore one of the most important skills a child needs to master.

As always, I welcome your opinions and comments. You may email me at fmull04@gmail. com. Until next month ... enjoy the beautiful summer days with your child and keep smiling!

Mrs. M. (Fran Mullen) is an educator in the Waterbury School District.

Our world class cardiac care has made Rick a world class walker.

Dr. Ehsan Ansari, Interventional Cardiologist Cardiology Associates of Greater Waterbury 81-year-old Rick Oricchio was never a guy to slow down. In fact there was hardly a day he wasn’t at the family business, Waterbury Industrial Supply. Until the day his heart stopped.

Rick was rushed to Waterbury Hospital’s Emergency Room where he was treated and quickly evaluated by our Cardiac Care team. Suffering from a heart attack and cardiac arrest, Rick underwent a lifesaving cardiac stent procedure and later, defibrillator implantation performed by Dr. Ansari.

Today Rick’s feeling just fine. He still works (although his wife and family are trying to slow him down-just a tad). Access to world class cardiac care allowed Rick to live life to the fullest. It’s just one of the amazing clinical specialties that have helped make Waterbury Hospital your hospital of choice. It’s also one more way we’re providing world class healthcare, right at home.

Rick now walks 3-4 miles a day and is grateful for his

amazing quality of life.

Rick Oricchio of Wolcott, grateful cardiac patient

Visit waterburyhospital.org

The Bee-Intelligencer

4

July 2015

Bee Intelligencer

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

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Fenn Farm may qualify for grant

By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Land Preservation and Open Space Acquisition Committee (LPOS) at its June 3 meeting discussed the status of needed repairs to Fenn Farm and a preservation grant inspection.

Chairman Ray Pietrorazio opened the meeting with a followup to a Fenn Farm visit in May by Brad Schide of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation (CTHP). Schide told Commissioner Ted Mannello the historic barns were in very good shape and suggested a grant might be available.

Pietrorazio distributed a CTHP brochure to members and stated he intended to ask absent member Kris Jacobi if she would chair a funds subcommittee to apply for a CTHP grant and raise matching funds. He also asked if any other members were interested in serving on that subcommittee.

Pietrorazio said he had met with James K. Grant, a structural engineer recommended by CTHP, who agreed to inspect the cow barn free of charge. He said he would ask Grant to also inspect the deteriorating horse barn foundation. Member Patrick Dwyer asked to be notified of the inspection so he could be present and encouraged other members to do the same.

In Fenn Farm maintenance items, Pietrorazio said electrical work had been completed and an invoice sent to the town finance department for payment.

The need for those repairs was

Editorial

Plenty of shame to go around in Middlebury The town’s recent sale of a piece of property appraised at $200,000 left some residents saying shame on the town’s selectmen for the way they sold the property. We agree with those residents, but the selectmen aren’t the only ones who should be ashamed. Town officials discussing the sale yelled and cursed at each other during a public meeting and immediately after it. Shame on them, too.

First, to the sale itself. A commercial real estate agent knew the unadvertised commercial property on Benson Road was available, so he showed it to clients who decided to offer to purchase it at its appraised value.

The selectmen accepted the clients’ offer and then moved the sale through the appropriate channels to its ultimate approval at a special town meeting.

The first selectman sees nothing wrong with the way the sale was handled and neither do the two selectmen. “We followed town charter,” they all say in unison. “We did exactly what we were supposed to do.” At this point, town counsel Dana D’Angelo dutifully holds up the appropriate state statute and presents her legal argument supporting the selectmen’s actions.

They miss the point entirely.

first noted by Pietrorazio in October when he said wires were almost touching at the farmhouse weather-head electrical service point. A contract was awarded to Mark Electric in December to correct that safety issue and also upgrade the service into the building, but the work was delayed due to severe winter weather and higher priority items for electrical supplier Eversource, formerly CL&P. In annual farm maintenance, Pietrorazio said owner Robert Fenn was concerned about scheduling the weed whacking, rotary chopping and ditch drainage that needed to be done every year. Member Robert Jokubaitis said the work typically cost about $2,600. Member Malcolm Todt’s motion to authorize payment for the work from the Fenn Farm budget was unanimously approved.

Pietrorazio said Fenn had reported carpenter bees in one of the sheds and asked for the exterminator used last year to come again. He told members Public Works Department Head Dan Norton said this was Fenn’s personal responsibility. Fenn also said member John Cookson had stored two pieces of furniture in one of the buildings without permission and Fenn wanted them removed. Mannello told Pietrorazio he would contact Cookson and transport the items to CookM.R.A. July 4 son’s house. celebration The next regular LPOS meeting will be Wednesday, July 1, The Middlebury Recreational 2015, at 6 p.m. at Shepardson Area (M.R.A.) will be open from Community Center.

9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Residents and pass holders having family celebrations are limited to 15 nonresident guests per pass holder. All large picnics must register in the recreation office prior to July 4. Early table saving is limited to one table per group.

The fireworks display is scheduled for 10:15 p.m. Only Middlebury residents will be allowed into the M.R.A. after 8 p.m. providing parking is still available.

There will be a $5 per car charge for residents without an M.R.A. membership.

trial Development Commission (EIDC) that we believe would have been willing to work on finding a buyer for the property.

The former chair of the EIDC, Michael Kenausis, who resigned in part because of his objections to the way the sale was handled, said the committee knew nothing of the sale until the selectmen voted to accept the offer to purchase the land.

And then there is the Board of Finance (BoF). Shame on some of them for the events at their June 10 meeting, held after the land sale had gotten final approval. In something akin to the Spanish Inquisition, the chair and some of the members repeatedly asked the first selectman, “What procedure did you follow?” Then the shouting and cursing began, and the chair did not immediately stop it or tell town officials they were behaving inappropriately. Order was restored briefly before the meeting adjourned, and then the shouting and cursing continued among those who lingered after the meeting.

Although we question why the selectmen didn’t establish a procedure for marketing and selling this land, we don’t believe they did anything illegal, and we acknowledge much of what they

did was done publicly and was properly noticed. BoF members could have attended the April 20 selectmen’s meeting when the land sale was first discussed publicly. They could have gone to the May 7 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting where the sale was presented and approved, they could have gone to the May 18 Board of Selectmen’s meeting where it was moved to town meeting and they could have attended the June 1 special town meeting where the land sale was voted on. Instead, they waited until the sale was complete and then pounced on the first selectmen.

There is plenty of shame to go around here. Politics have long directed procedure in Middlebury, and the result is a totally “dysfunctional family” form of government with few boards and commissions working closely together and actions at some times dictated by an individual member’s political affiliations and aspirations rather than the good of the town’s residents. In this election year, we expect this to worsen as Republicans and Democrats jockey for position in an attempt to win the first selectman and two selectmen positions this November.

principles right in front of them.

Defeat the Empire by designing and refining LEGO X-Wings, R2units, and settlements on farflung edges of the galaxy. Imagination and engineering combine to create motorized and architectural projects such as energy catapults, shield generators and defense turrets. Regisfor league play. Campers will tration deadline is July 13. learn skills on both sides of the ball, including the core compo- Jedi master engineering nents of passing, catching and with LEGO de-flagging or defensive posiThis camp for ages 8 to 10 will tioning – all presented in a fun meet Monday, July 20, to Friday, and positive environment.

July 24, from1 to 4 p.m. at ShepThe week will end with the ardson Center. The fee is $145 Skyhawks Sports Bowl, giving for residents; $155 for nonresiparticipants a chance to show- dents. case their skills on the gridiron!

The Force is strong in this Each camper will receive a class. Build complex machines T-shirt and a football. Please and structures based on the best bring two snacks and a water designs from a galaxy far, far bottle. away. Projects include LEGO X-Wings, AT-AT walkers, Pod Jedi engineering with Racers, Star Destroyers, Cloud LEGO Cities, settlements, and forThis camp for ages 5 to 7 will tresses. Play-Well’s Jedi instrucmeet Monday, July 20, to Friday, tors reinforce key engineering July 24, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at concepts such as gear trains, Shepardson Center. The fee is worm drives, pneumatics, eccen$145 for residents; $155 for non- tric motion and more as students tap into the powerful forces of residents.

Young Jedi will explore worlds imagination and engineering. far, far away and engineering Registration deadline is July 13.

Participants have the opportunity to try soccer, T-ball, basketball, floor hockey and lacrosse in a safe, structured environment. Each player will receive a camp T-shirt. Please bring a water bottle.

Tennis Squirts for ages 3 to 5 will meet Monday, July 20, to Friday, July 24, from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. at the Middlebury Recreation Area. Registration deadline is July 13. The fee is $70 for residents; $80 for nonresidents.

Participants will learn the fundamental skills and tennis strokes in a low-pressure, fun environment. Racquets are provided for Tennis Squirts ONLY. Each player will receive a camp T-shirt. Please bring a water bottle.

Middlebury Parks & Recreation

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Flag football

Trust & Dignity

No one is saying what they did was illegal. But in a town where a purchasing procedure approved by the selectmen requires three quotes for purchases over $5,000 and competitive bidding for items valued at more than $10,000 (with some exceptions), wouldn’t you think at least one of the selectmen would have thought it a good idea to be sure the sale of a property valued at $200,000 was advertised – particularly when that property is in the newly created Oxford Airport Enterprise Zone, where tax breaks for business owners are intended to make property there more desirable than commercial property in other parts of town?

“We’ve never owned property before,” our first selectman said.

OK. So we understand there was no town procedure in place for marketing and selling the property because this hadn’t happened before. But he had only to look to other Connecticut towns who have sold town properties for examples of procedures that could have been put in place here.

Instead of advertising the property for sale, the town, after acquiring it a year ago, let it sit there until an unsolicited offer came in. This despite the town having an Economic and Indus-

The registration deadline for this Skyhawks Sports Academy program is June 29. The program for youth ages 7 to 12 will meet Monday, July 6, through Friday, July 10, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Shepardson field. The fee is $109.

Skyhawks flag football is the perfect program for young athletes who want a complete introduction to America’s game or for those who simply want to brush up on their skills in preparation

Send in your pet photos

Your pet’s photo could be here FEATURED PET

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.

U.S. Sports Institute Camps Total Sports Squirts for ages 3 to 5 will meet Monday, July 20, to Friday, July 24, in two sessions, one from 9 to 10 a.m. and one from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. at Shepardson field. Registration deadline is July 13. The per-session fee is $80 for residents; $90 for nonresidents.

First Play Tennis will have two age groups, 5 to 8 and 9 to 11. It will meet Monday, July 20, to Friday, July 24, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Middlebury Recreation Area. Registration deadline is July 13. The fee is $119 for residents; $129 for nonresidents.

This program targets beginner to intermediate players. The main focus of the class is developing basic shot techniques and skills. Time also will be dedicated to developing the children’s ability to participate in full match play, and the class will culminate in their own U.S. Open Championship Friday. Each player will receive a camp T-shirt. Please bring a racquet and a water bottle.

For more information visit www.middlebury-ct.org or call 203-758-2520, ext. 702.

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The Bee-Intelligencer

July 2015

Obituaries Irving Bashevkin

with military honors in St. James Cemetery. Arrangements were by Father of Rachel Bashevkin the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/ Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home Irving Bashevkin, 91, in Naugatuck. To send an online died June 7. A resicondolence, please visit www.naudent of Sarasota, Fla., gatuckvalleymemorial.com. formerly of Adams, Mass., he was the Robert L. Diemand widower of Esther (Green) Bashevkin, Grew up in Middlebury who died in 2010.

Robert L. Diemand, 74, of WoodHe leaves two daughters, Rachel Bashevkin of Middlebury, Conn., bury, Conn., died peacefully June 9, and Sylvia Bashevkin of Toronto, 2015, at Village Green Convalescent Canada, and three grandchildren, Home in Waterbury after a long illElie Bilmes of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Aviva ness. He was the husband of Mary Levy and her husband, Adam Wal- Rose (Ko) Diemand.

Robert was born Sept. 14, 1942, man, of Toronto, Canada; and Dalia Levy of Vancouver, Canada. He also the son of the late J. Helen Diemand is survived by his loving companion, and Edwin A. Diemand, and grew Arline Levine of Sarasota; three of up in Middlebury. He attended his eight sisters and brothers: Robert Westminster School in Simsbury, Bashevkin of Williamstown, Mass.; Conn., and graduated from Fairfield Helen Yulman of Palm Beach, Fla.; University. He lived most of his adult and Ruth Kelman of Voorhees, N.J.; life in Woodbury.

Besides his wife, Mary, of Woodand many nieces and nephews.

A son of David and Annie (Feder) bury, he is survived by his two Bashevkin, he was born and raised daughters, Jennifer Diemand Casin North Adams, Mass., and earned sidy of Raleigh, N.C., and Kelly Diea degree from Bay Path College in mand of New York City; and his 1943 just as he entered the U. S. brother, Dennis Diemand, and his Army. He served with the 107th wife, Rosalind, of Venice, Fla., and Evacuation Hospital in Europe dur- Milford, Conn. He also is survived ing World War II, a 400-bed hospital by a niece, Heather Diemand of San where he was responsible for all Diego, and a nephew, Timothy medical equipment and medica- (Randi) Diemand of Madison, Conn. tions and earned the rank of techni- He is predeceased by his sister, Judy Diemand. cal sergeant.

A graveside service and burial Upon his discharge in 1945, Mr. Bashevkin joined the family busi- took place at the Old Middlebury ness, Butler Coal and Grain Com- Cemetery on Route 64 West in Midpany in Adams, which became But- dlebury. Eastside Memorial A Casey ler Wholesale Products. He worked Family Funeral Home and Tribute Center in Waterbury was entrusted there until his retirement in 1994.

Mr. Bashevkin served on the to assist the family with arrangeboard of many organizations and ments. Memorial contributions may earned several community awards, be made to the Woodbury Ambuincluding the Judge Ernest Rosasco lance Association, P.O. Box 581, Humanitarian Award in North Ad- Woodbury, CT 06798. For additional ams, Carpe Diem Award and Civic information or to leave an online Award from Bay Path College in condolence please visit www.eastSpringfield, and Eliezer ben Yehuda sidememorial.com.

Award from Sinai Academy in PittsJason M. Gomulinski field.

His funeral and burial were in Loving husband and father Sarasota, Fla. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made Jason M. Gomulinski, to the Sarasota Manatee Jewish 40, of Naugatuck, Housing Council, 1951 North Honhusband of Lisa ore Ave., Sarasota, FL 34235 or to a (Hayes) Gomulinski, charity of the donor’s choice. passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2015.

Luke Czarny Jason was born in Waterbury, Conn., May 7, 1975, son Former Quassapaug of John J. Gomulinski and the late Yacht Club Commodore Linda (Krulikowski) Gomulinski. He grew up in Middlebury and lived in Luke Czarny, 98, husband of the Naugatuck for the past 16 years. He late Helen Czarny and Adele worked for Allegheny Ludlum Steel Schwenk Czarny, passed away Friin Waterbury. He was a car enthusiday May 29, 2015, at Colonial Health ast, and he had a passion for Subarus Care Center in Plainfield. He was a and building models. His main goal resident of Moosup, Conn. was spending time with his family Mr. Czarny was born in Woonand his dog, Baby, and working socket, R.I., on May 3, 1917, the son around the house. of the late Wasyl and Mary Czarny.

Besides his wife, Lisa, and his He lived in Moosup for the past 25 father, Jason leaves his daughter, years and Naugatuck for many years.

Kaitlyn Hayes; his mother-in-law, He worked for many years at Peggy Ann Hayes; his sister-in-law, Uniroyal Inc., and his early retireSandra Gomulinski; and several bement offered him the opportunity loved brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, to spend time with his two grandnieces, nephews and cousins. He sons and pass on his sailing and was predeceased by his brothers, fishing skills. His happy times and Todd and Mark Gomulinski, and his many stories of their adventures are father-in-law, James Hayes. still present in our lives today. He All services are private. The Naualso was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. gatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald He enjoyed gardening, salt-water Zembruski Funeral Home is assistfishing and sailing, and he won many ing the family with arrangements. trophies sailing the boat he built.

To send an online condolence, Luke was a member of the Quassaplease visit www.naugatuckvalpaug Yacht Club where he was past leymemorial.com. commodore. He proudly served his country in the United States Army Elizabeth A. Joy during World War II. He is survived by his daughter, Long-time Susan Jacoboski and her husband, Middlebury resident Ronald, of Naugatuck; his grandsons, David Jacoboski of Vernon and Elizabeth A. Joy, 85, Marcus Jacoboski and his wife, of Middlebury enStephanie, of Old Saybrook; several tered into rest Saturgreat-grandchildren; and his sister, day, May 23, 2015, at Olga Semrow of Prospect.

Gaylord Hospital in His Mass of Christian Burial June Wallingford. She was 2 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in the devoted wife of Naugatuck was followed by burial John J. Joy for over 60 years. Elizabeth

was born Feb. 7, 1930, in New Haven, a daughter of the late Edward F. and Mary (Poplis) Anderson, and was a Middlebury resident for 54 years.

Elizabeth was a graduate of Waterbury Catholic High School Class of 1947 and also class president her senior year. She was employed as an executive secretary with Patent Button Co. before starting her family with John. Elizabeth enjoyed old movies, especially those featuring Bette Davis; reading; and tending to the flowers in her garden. She loved spending time with her family and relished visits with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is the beloved mother of Deborah Austin and her husband, Gary, of Green Bay, Wis.; John E. Joy and his wife, Joanne, of Waterbury; and Karen Smith of Greenwood, S.C.; loving grandmother of Kristina Sosby and her husband, Michael; Eric and Kevin Smith; and Lea, James, John and Brendan Joy. Elizabeth also is survived by her cherished great-grandchildren, Annabelle, Hannah and Benjamin Sosby; her sister, Joan Mastrianna, and twin sister, Sally Slick, both of Waterbury; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter, Maureen Joy, and her son-in-law, Rick Smith.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Blessed Sacrament Church in Waterbury. Interment was in Lake Elise Cemetery in Middlebury. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Waterbury was entrusted with Elizabeth’s arrangements. To leave condolences for her family or to share a story of Elizabeth, visit www.fordfh.com.

Saul Reichbach Husband of Julia Rizzotto Saul Reichbach, 87, passed peacefully on June 3, 2015, in Waterbury, Conn. During his last few years in declining health, his life was blessed and supported by constant care and love from his wife of 32 years, Julia Rizzotto, where they lived in Middlebury, Conn.

Born Oct. 18, 1927, in the Bronx to Murray and Marion (Green) Reichbach, he was one of the original team of “Bronx Boys” who are still together today and of which he’ll be a part of forever.

His life with Julie brought together a wonderful extended family that will miss him greatly – Saul’s two children, Lisa Rowe (and son-in-law David Rowe) of Connecticut and Bill Reichbach of New York City; Julie’s daughters, Amy Modine and Missy Gallagher; and Saul’s former wife, Jean Reichbach of New York City.

He had countless friends and close relatives and a rich social life.

His interests were broad, from a lifelong love of the theater and acting to aviation, sailing and golf. He started and ran his own business, Mass Mailings Inc., in Manhattan, where he lived and worked for over 50 years.

A life celebratory event will be held in July for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations to Theater Three Collaborative (go to theaterthreecollaborative.org) or the charity of your choice are suggested by the family. Online condolences may be made at www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.

Obituary Policy Please ask your funeral director to send obituaries and photos to us at beeintelligencer@gmail. For more information, call 203-577-6800.

The Bee-Intelligencer runs obituaries and their accompanying pho-

tos free of charge. We do this as a community service to honor the deceased and the family and friends who love them.

Suicide study is an eye-opener A 10-year study of suicide statistics for veterans has an eye-opening conclusion: Using the Department of Veterans Affairs health services lowers the risk of suicide. The study, which appeared in “Psychiatric Services Journal,” looked at data from over 173,000 suicides in 23 states over the years 2000-2010.

Here are some stats: • Veteran suicide rates went up 25 percent, while civilian rates increased 12 percent.

• Suicide rates were 20 percent higher than expected in 2000.

By 2010, that number was up to 60 percent higher.

• Suicide risk for female veterans was higher than that for males.

• Female veterans were six times more likely to commit suicide than non-veteran women. Suicides among female veterans increased 40 percent.

• Veterans over age 50 account for 69 percent of veteran suicides.

While there have been annual reports about the suicide rates,

this one concludes with that crucial fact: Veterans who use VA health services have lower rates of suicide. Researchers admit they weren’t expecting that result.

The study didn’t attempt to determine why some veterans don’t seek help at the VA. Maybe one of these annual suicide rate studies will take on that challenge.

Sources of help if you’ve had thoughts of suicide: Call the hotline at 1-800-2738255 and Press 1. Or send a text message to 38255.

Go online to go to www.veteranscrisisline.net and chat with a counselor.

Every VA medical center has a women veteran program manager who serves as advocate for female veterans. For referral, women veterans can also call the Women Veterans Call Center, 1-855-VA-WOMEN (1-855-8296636).

If you know you’re in trouble, get help ... now. (c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Home office tax deductions for W-2 employees This column recently covered the office-in-the-home tax deduction (OIH) for self-employed persons. This month we will discuss the same topic for W-2 (non “statutory”) employees.

We need to start off by saying that if you are a W-2 employee (versus self employed), it is much less likely you will get any tax benefit from the OIH deduction. But it is possible, so let’s discuss how it works.

First of all, the same rules apply for the office itself – i.e., you must have a separate area in your home that is used “regularly and exclusively” for business. Refer to our earlier column for more details on that.

Assuming you have an office in the home that qualifies, then as a W-2 employee the office must be maintained for the convenience of your employer, not for your convenience. This means that if you have an office at your employer’s place of business, but choose to work at home certain days of the week, you will normally not qualify for the OIH deduction. But, for example, if you work in sales for a

Diversified Tax Tidbits

By MARK A. BURNS

New York-based company, your territory is the state of Connecticut and your employer has no office in Connecticut, then you probably will qualify for this deduction.

But that still does not mean that you will get an actual bottom-line benefit on your tax return. This is because this deduction is included with other expenses that are considered “unreimbursed employee business expenses” on line 21 of Schedule A of Form 1040. And these deductions only come through as an allowed tax deduction to the extent the total of lines 21 through 23 exceed 2 percent of the total adjusted gross income (AGI) on your tax return. So, for example, if your total AGI (not just your W-2 wages from this job) is $100,000, then these deductions must exceed $2,000 before you start to get any bottom-line benefit. Also it should be noted that if you do not itemize your deduc-

tions, but instead take the standard deduction, you will not get any benefit for the OIH deduction.

Similar to a self-employed person, there are two methods you can use for the OIH deduction – simplified or regular. If you use the regular method, you do not include a portion of your home mortgage interest, mortgage insurance premiums or real estate taxes in the OIH deduction calculations, but rather take the full allowed deduction for those items on their other respective lines on Schedule A. Another potential complication is the alternative minimum tax (AMT). If you are subject to the AMT, then you may very well lose any benefit you might otherwise get from the OIH deduction.

This is a very general discussion of this subject. Always consult a tax professional if you are uncertain about how tax matters might affect you.

Mark A. Burns, MBA is a CPA with Diversified Financial Solutions PC in Southbury. He can be reached at 203-264-3131 or Mark@ DFSPC.biz.

Savings bonds rates If you have part of your retirement money in savings bonds, the newly announced interest rates might have you in a spin.

As of May, it was announced Series I bonds will earn zero percent interest for six months, down from 1.94 percent. The Series EE bonds will see a rate of only 0.30 percent for the next 20 years.

However, those are for new bond purchases only. You can breathe a little easier now.

The interest rate on your existing I or EE bonds is determined by the type of bonds they are plus the original terms.

If you purchased Series EE bonds after May 2005, you’ll get a fixed interest rate for 20 years.

It’s guaranteed that after 20 years, the bonds will have a value of twice the purchase price. If you purchased bonds between May 1997 and April 2005, rates are 90 percent of average five-year Treasury securities. Prior to May 1997, the rates vary. You can check www.treasurydirect.gov for current values.

Series I bonds have a fixed rate plus an inflation rate that is reset every six months for the 30-year life of the bond.

Series HH bonds have stayed

the same with interest at 1.50 percent.

The good news is you won’t lose money with bonds, although you might not get any interest for a period of time.

Go online to check your actual yield. The online bond-rate calculator and wizard tool are free on the Treasury Direct website listed above. If you need information about cashing in bonds or replacing lost ones, you can also see www.savingsbonds.com.

Matilda Charles regrets she cannot personally answer reader questions, but she will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail.com. (c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

Are insider threats a risk?

By JUSTIN GOLDEN When you think about the security of your laptop, your office workstation, or the servers with which you communicate, what comes to mind? For most people, it is all about the software that most of us use to identify viruses. This software is in a category called “unified threat management.” Or you may think of a firewall, which is a check on (mostly) incoming communications. These are all-purpose endpoint, or network security, mechanisms aimed at the majority of harmful threats and intrusions.

However, the greatest damage comes from “insider threats.”

These can be intentional or unintentional acts by people in your household or your organization.

The harm can be caused by a malicious virus, but how the virus gets to your computer(s) or other devices is through human error or human intent. An insider threat can have a negative impact on any aspect of an organization, including employee and/or public safety, reputation, operations, finances and mission continuity.

Verizon’s 2015 Data Breach Investigations Report states that 40 percent of malware infections (e.g., viruses) are caused by email attachments executed by the person operating the computer. They note that 37 percent of infections are caused by the operator clicking on an email link, and 17 percent are caused by visiting a web site that has malicious code.

The threats are continually evolving, and while there is no surefire way, given the blurring of work and personal boundaries with regard to device/computer usage, there are ways to mitigate your risk and limit it as best you can.

The best practices for cybersecurity that optimize your ability to prevent or recover from malicious or unintentional insider threats include: 1. Identify your critical assets (e.g., laptops/desktops, phones/tablets, information/ data, network appliances).

2. Determine your “risk appetite” and “risk tolerance” – How much time and money are you willing to spend on planning, software, backup infrastructure and education?

3. Catalog potential risk indicators in your organizational data – how can the loss of cer-

tain data irreparably damage your organization?

4. Back up your data, software and configuration settings often.

5. Understand your organization’s culture and level of competence and how it can be targeted.

6. Educate yourself, your employees and even your suppliers, and ensure policies and monitoring are put in place to prevent, and to be able to recover from, insider threats.

These practices, and others will help you ensure that your computers, devices, network and your business continue to operate and, if ever need be, recover from an insider threat.

If you would like assistance in evaluating your cybersecurity plans and capabilities, contact us at Golden Technology Services. We can be reached at 972-679-9738 or justin.golden@gtscloud.com.

Police seek suspect Middlebury Police ask you to look at this photo of a white male suspect and to contact them if you recognize him. Monday, June 8, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the suspect entered the Shell Station on Middlebury Road, grabbed five cases of Red Bull valued at approximately $200, ran out the door and got in a silver vehicle operated by a second white male. The vehicle, which may have been a Buick, had tinted windows. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Ron Pruchnicki of the Middlebury Police Department at 203-577-4033. www.nfda.org

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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.

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Developing the power of passion The word passion can conjure up a variety of different meanings, and when we talk about it, we generally tend to discuss it in rather loose terms without specifically identifying what we mean. Clearly passion can have both physical and intellectual implications but, regardless of its underlying nature, at its core passion reflects a set of powerful and compelling emotions (i.e., intense desire) that drives us to put more energy into an activity than is essentially required. Being passionate about something means putting as much heart, mind, body and soul into it as possible.

Winning Ways

By Pat Iannuzzi Insights for Constructive Living

Demonstrating passion can have an especially powerful impact on our success in achieving our goals and ambitions. The challenge for many of us, however, is that we may be in a situation where for various reasons we may not be genuinely excited or fulfilled by our current circumstances. If we’re not in love with who we are, what we’re doing, where we’re heading or who we’re becoming, it is understandable that it can be very difficult for us to be passionate. But living with a “same stuff, different day” attitude will not maximize our personal success and happiness.

To recapture the power of passion for our career, relationship or life in general there are only two paths we can take. We can either change our circumstances by finding a different job, project or cause we can become genuinely passionate about, or we can change our thinking about our current situation. Here are a couple of thoughts with regard to the second approach: Critically assess your attitude.

Are you focusing enough attention on the positives of your situation or are you just looking at the negatives? Are you accurately counting your blessings or are you concentrating only on challenges and obstacles? Are you sincerely trying to recognize and work towards the opportunities that are available to you or are your heart and mind blinded by

negative past experiences and unrealistic expectations? What are your skills, talents and gifts?

Examine the things you are innately good at and enjoy doing.

People often forget about things at which they excel because they come so naturally.

Evaluate others’ impressions of you. People who are good at what they do are valued, admired, appreciated and respected by those around them. Similarly, people who are held in high esteem by their colleagues derive a higher level of enjoyment and satisfaction from what they do.

Demonstrating a genuine concern for the well-being of the organization of which you are a part and consistently contributing more than is required is the path to getting this ball rolling.

When you have passion, you are being your authentic self and are enthusiastically doing what comes naturally to you. Furthermore, passion demonstrated by self-confidence, commitment and a sense of purpose can be a great equalizer that often can make up for a certain lack of knowledge or experience. Living with passion is about having the courage to express your thoughts, opinions, convictions and your love for life. That love for life comes because you live a life by design, not by default. That is the power of passion.

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.

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Making Vitamin D without sunshine DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a question about vitamin D-3 pills.

How does 400 mg fit into such a tiny pill? I also thought you needed sunlight to make vitamin D. – A.S. ANSWER: Four hundred mg is very small. Most of the tablet isn’t even vitamin D – it’s starch and other materials to hold the tablet together.

The skin does make vitamin D-3 from precursors in the presence of sunlight. However, there are several factors that affect this process. During winter months at moderately high latitudes (above the line from Los Angeles to Atlanta), the sunlight might not be strong enough to efficiently convert enough vitamin D, so many people are vitamin-D-deficient during winter.

People who don’t go outside, who usually wear clothing and hats to cover their skin, or who have darker skin are less able to create vitamin D. People over 70 also are less able to make their own vitamin D. This is why many foods are supplemented with vitamin D. Even so, a sizable portion of the population has low levels of vitamin D. There remains great controversy about whether supplementation will improve overall health. Studies are ongoing to test the effect of vitamin D supplementation to reduce fracture risk, improve muscle function or reduce cancer risk.

DEAR DR. ROACH: You mentioned lupus in a recent column.

Is there a connection between lupus and arthritis? – D.J.T. ANSWER: Systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) is a disease that can affect virtually any organ in

Jogging probably is better for preventing osteoporosis, since it gives more impact to the bones, but on the other hand it is harder on the joints. If your goal is to get faster and win races, then you need to practice going faster. But walking is nearly as good for most aspects and is easier on the body than jogging for most people.

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.

the body and usually affects several – often at the same time. The most common symptoms are fatigue, fever and weight loss.

Skin signs can be very specific, such as the classic “butterfly rash,” a red, butterfly-shaped rash across the nose and cheeks.

Arthritis (joint inflammation) or arthralgia (joint pain) is present (c) 2015 North America Synd., Inc. in 90 percent of people with luAll Rights Reserved pus at some point in the illness.

The arthritis booklet discusses joint pain found in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and lupus. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Roach – No. 301W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475. 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 de- 1. In 2014, Billy Hamilton set a livery.

Cincinnati Reds rookie record DEAR DR. ROACH: If you walk for most stolen bases (56). briskly for a certain time and Who had held the mark? distance, is that not just as good 2. The Chicago Cubs’ Jorge Soler, for you as jogging, if you are goin 2014, became the third ing for the same time? – A. player since 1914 to have an ANSWER: It depends on what extra-base hit in his first five you mean by “good.” If you mean major-league games. Name what I think you do, in terms of one of the other two. overall health and maybe living 3. Who are the only three men longer and feeling better, then to win a Super Bowl as both yes, a brisk walk is nearly as good an NFL player and a head for you as jogging. coach?

4. Name the last players before Creighton’s Doug McDermott (2012-14) to be picked to three consecutive Associated Press All-American teams.

5. In 2015, St. Louis’ Ken Hitchcock became the fourth coach in NHL history to win 700 games. Name two of the first three.

6. When was the last time before 2014 that Algeria’s men’s soccer team won a game at the World Cup? 7. Name the last horse before American Pharoah in 2015 to Advertise Your Properties For Sale or Vacation Rentals throughout New win the Kentucky Derby from England in free distribution newspapers with over 700,000 circulation the No. 15 post.

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Answers: 1. Bob Bescher, who had 54 stolen bases in 1909.

2. Enos Slaughter (1938) and Will Middlebrooks (2012).

3. Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy and Tom Flores.

4. Patrick Ewing and Wayman Tisdale, 1983-85.

5. Scotty Bowman (1,244 wins), Al Arbour (782) and Joel Quenneville (754).

6. It was 1982.

7. Orb, in 2013.

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The Bee-Intelligencer

July 2015

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Classified Ads

Classified Advertising Deadline: 5 p.m. Monday Classified Advertising Cost: $10 per insertion, 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 knowFlea Market ingly accept advertising which is deceptive, fraudulent, or which might otherwise violate the law WOODBURY ANTIQUES & or accepted standards of taste.

FLEA MARKET open SatHowever, this publication does urdays and Sundays yearnot warrant or guarantee the round 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. accuracy of any advertisement, Routes 6 and 64 in Woodnor the quality of the goods or bury, Conn. 203-263-6217. services advertised. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly For Rent investigate all claims made in any advertisements, and to use good judgment and reasonable WARM WEATHER IS YEARROUND In Aruba. The wacare, particularly when dealing ter is safe, and the dining with persons unknown to you is fantastic. Walk out to the who ask for money in advance beach. 3-Bedroom. Weeks of delivery of the goods or services advertised. available. Sleeps 8. $3500.

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Look for our August issue on July 31.

Meanwhile, visit bee-news.com.

Now here’s a tip

• Having a yard sale? Here’s a great way to put out extra signs when you don’t have a way to stake them into the ground: “Write your sign advertising your yard sale on the sides of a big box. Place it where you want it, add a large rock to the inside and then tape it shut.

We did this when we had no poles to tape signs to or any other way to get them to stand up. It worked really well!” – D.R. in Georgia • Avoid calling the pediatrician’s office on Monday mornings for routine business. Wait until the afternoon. All the parents with mildly sick children over the weekend will be calling to consult with the doctor and nurses first thing when the office opens.

• If you drop an egg, sprinkle it • Need a patch for old woodwork? saltpaint before you attempt to Trywith mixing (whatever color you up.flour.

TheMake salt binds areclean using)itand a paste,the fill spread, in whites, the holeswhich and letwill dry. not It’s hard like cement, andpickup can be sanded making easier!into shape if • necessary.

“My kids had kind of an obses•sion Whenwith you colorful get near the end tape of a roll Duck in of paper towels, save it to put in your the past year, and we made car. Put together a kit with the followour ingsome items:“beach a smallbags” bottletoofkeep Windex at the pool, or electronics other cleaner, safe a squeeze bottle of water, wipesWe andcarefully the short lakesome and wet beach. rollcovered of papera variety towels. of Now you’ll sizes of always be ready for a quick on-thezipper-top self-sealing bags road cleanup. tape, creating •with Use the baking soda to scrubtough, away

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colorful pouches in which we can store cellphones, etc., to keep them safe from water damage.” – W.L. in North Carolina • You can sharpen scissors by cutting folded aluminum foil into small strips.

• The best time of day to water your lawn is the evening. The cooler temperatures allow the water to sink into the soil instead of evaporating with the heat of the day. Always follow your city or county guidelines on watering times for your area.

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.

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

Have you thanked one of our advertisers lately?

Please do!

Visit one, spend a little money, tell them you saw their ad in the Bee-Intelligencer, and thank them for advertising with us.

Their advertising dollars cover the cost of bringing you this free newspaper.

Let them know you appreciate them!

• Sprinkle baby powder in dish gloves to help them slide on in an instant.

• “To remove muffins or rolls from a pan, set it on an old, damp towel for Photo (c) Andy Dean - Veer.com a minute. The steam must loosen the bottoms, because they just slide right out. I thank my mom for this tip.” — Janey R. via e-mail Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL Fill in the gaps (StatePoint) When you began 32853-6475. can be a glorious fixer-upper as

Time and money-saving home improvement projects

shopping for your home, you may have envisioned white picket fences, the perfect kitchen and decorations mirroring those from your favorite glossy magazines. Then you realized your taste and budget weren’t on the same page. However, every home

© 2015 King Featuresfeatures Synd., Inc. – esyou add appealing pecially if you know some tricks to save time and money on home improvements.

With limited time and money, you may not know where to begin. Here are four home improvement tips to help get you started.

Wall Repair You’ve decided the ugly bathroom mirror needs a makeover, but when you remove it from the wall, some of the drywall paper comes off too. For larger wall repairs, remember to prime twice.

Cut away any loose paper, apply a thin coat of primer, followed by three coats of spackle or compound – sanding between each application for a smooth finish.

Apply primer again to prevent “flashing,” or a dulling in the finish, and paint the area with your desired wall color. For a quick bathroom update, consider framing the mirror instead of removing it.

Boxed storage Large retailers offer stylish storage solutions for minimal cost. The downside, besides having to assemble things yourself, is the lack of stability these units provide. Have a little peace of mind with a simple fix – before screwing the pieces together, simply add a small amount of Elmer’s Wood Glue. The bond will hold strong, even as your screws loosen over time. For projects with mixed materials, such as metal and wood, use ProBond Advanced.

Your trim and baseboards can take quite the beating over the years. Moving furniture, kicking off your shoes, or playing with toys can lead to dents and gouges. Apply wood filler to damaged trim to quickly bring it back to life. Not sure when it’s ready to sand? Color Change Wood Filler changes color when it’s dry, taking the guesswork out of the drying time. Finally, apply a fresh coat of paint or stain.

Transform tile Tile adds a touch of luxury to your kitchen or bath, but can be an eyesore if it starts looking dingy. For an easy refresh, pick up grout cleaner from your local hardware store or simply sprinkle baking soda onto the grout.

Pour a little vinegar over it before scrubbing. Use an old toothbrush and some elbow grease, and your old grout will look new in no time. If you need to replace the caulking around your tub or base of your backsplash, apply painter’s tape on the base and wall to ensure you’ll get a straight, clean line.

Home improvement doesn’t have to be daunting. Tackling small, effective projects can provide a large impact while requiring little time, money and DIY expertise. From home repairs to furniture fixes, these quick tips will help you make your house feel more like a home – leaving you more time to kick back and enjoy it.

The Bee-Intelligencer

8

July 2015

Church plants seeds of support

By JULIA A. ALBINI St. John of The Cross Church parish members Peggy Gibbons and Noreen Corsi initiated a new ministry in May 2014, a garden club that contributes weekly donations of fresh produce to local food banks, including St. Vincent DePaul in Waterbury. Volunteers grow tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers and Russian kale for the ministry in a garden at the Parish House, where they follow the club’s “weed, water, pick” method of maintaining the garden.

Gibbons said, “When the church bought the house, there was an old, fenced-in garden in the back yard so it gave us the idea to weed it and make something out of it that could help others.”

The club had a rough start in 2014 with only three or four vol-

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I would love to help pets in some way, but the local animal shelter doesn’t need volunteers, and there isn’t much else going on in my area.

Do you have any suggestions? – Kara in Idaho DEAR KARA: Check your local newspapers (or their websites) and your town’s website for volunteer opportunities. There may not be anything right now, but needs change throughout the year for many nonprofits.

So, what if there really are no opportunities near you? Consider

Vegetable plants are flourishing in the St. John of the Cross garden.

The produce will be given to local food banks and the St. Vincent DePaul soup kitchen in Waterbury.

(Marjorie Needham photo) unteers, but this year, with the help of new volunteers experienced in the art of gardening, the club has a full schedule of help-

ers to weed, water and pick throughout the season. They hope to continue developing a larger group every year. “Our

Volunteer ideas

creating one. Organizing a fundraiser for a pet charity (or your local animal shelter) is one fast way to do something positive.

Or, if you spot a need that isn’t being met in the local pet community, create a way to fulfill that need. For example, a military

couple created “Dogs On Deployment,” a website that helps military members find temporary homes for their pets (not just dogs) before they leave for overseas assignments.

What if senior citizens in your area need help keeping their pets’ shots up to date? You could talk to local vets and perhaps the local shelter about ways to help them.

Perhaps your town has no facilities for pets, such as a dog park or even pet zones in local parks.

Start exploring the possibility of getting a park built.

Adopt a Rescue Pet

lives are so blessed that we don’t know hunger, and we don’t know need. But there is hunger, and there is need, and it’s right next door,” Gibbons said.

One garden beneficiary, Waterbury’s St. Vincent DePaul soup kitchen, prepares nearly 400 meals a day seven days a week for the homeless. Produce for those meals can be expensive. Soup Kitchen Manager Paul Scampolino said, “With a surplus of vegetables we can blanch and freeze some, then as we need them, take them out. We won’t waste it.”

Deacon Paul Iadarola, executive director of the St. Vincent DePaul Mission, said the mission’s pantry gives away more QUINCY than 200 bags of donated groceries each week. “The garden club Sweet Quincy is an adorable mostly gray short-haired neutered is a great example for other sub- male cat who is approximately 2 to 3 years young. He is affectionurban churches to pick up on the ate, very friendly, active at times, healthy, loves attention and is a same idea and expand,” he said. real sweetheart. He may be fine with another cat that likes cats.

Quincy is with Pet Protectors. If you foster a cat for them, they will provide everything needed for their care. Learn more about adoption or the Foster Care Program at www.petprotectorsrescue. org. Applications are on the website, or call 203-330-0255 or email You could even start with contactus@petprotectorsrescue.org for more information or for something as small as an aware- an application. ness campaign that educates store owners about the many PUZZLE SOLUTIONS: types of service dogs (and other service animals) that are helping disabled people these days.

Keep your eyes open for inventive opportunities to contribute positively to pet care, and you may find yourself overwhelmed with choices.

Send your questions or comments to ask@pawscorner.com. (c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

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