Volume 29, Number 41
Friday, October 13, 2023
www.towntimes.com
Durham in search of a new finance director By Michael Savino Special to The Times
The Town of Durham is once again looking for a new finance director. First Selectman George Eames said the prior director, Alicia Mancarella, resigned roughly a month ago for personal reasons. The Evidence of Evil attraction is currently happening at Lyman Orchards and will continue every weekend through Nov. 4. Photos courtesy of Lyman Orchards
Get your fright on at Evidence of Evil By Grace McFadden Special to The Times
For thrillseekers looking for an activity this Halloween, the Evidence of Evil Haunted Attraction has returned to Lyman Orchards for weekends in October.
“The market is really tightening up with municipal experience and accounting experience, which are the two things that we’re looking for,” he said. Mancarella was hired in July to replace Beth Moncata, who left for the same position in Middlefield. Eames said Moncata’s departure highlights the difficulty towns face: many are competing for the same small group of applicants.
The attraction opened Sept. 29. It will continue to run Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Nov. 4. Evidence of Evil is somewhere between an escape room and a haunted house, says David Belas, one of the attraction’s organizers.
He said municipal finances are different from the accounting process in the private sector. Even more, many towns use a software system that is very different from both the private sector and from state level finances.
“As you go through the show, you have to interact with the different characters, whether it be repeating something they say or doing something they asked you to do,” Belas said. Evidence of Evil distinguishes itself through its interactive elements. Belas says there might be one or two puz-
The town posted the position but as of late-September had only received five applicants. Eames said he continues to look for a new director.
zles along the way as well. The attraction features different ‘horrors’ for attendees to brave. This
year’s attraction features new horrors
“It takes a long time to learn
See Evidence of Evil, A5
See Finance, A7