Volume 29, Number
www.towntimes.com
Friday, December 1, 2023
Middlefield BOS will again seek charter changes By Michael Savino Special to The Times
The Middlefield Board of Selectmen want a second attempt to pass some changes to the town’s charter, including eliminating term limits and restricting selectmen’s ability to lease town land. Residents rejected the proposed changes, which were lumped into one question included on the Nov. 7 ballot. “I think basically people didn’t have a true concept of exactly what all the revisions were,” First Selectmen Robert Yamartino said. The BOS agreed to revisit the issue with the Charter Review Commission to see which, if any, changes will eventually go back to voters. Photo courtesy of Lyman Orchards, Facebook
Enjoy Christmas, Dickens-style Special to The Times
A Charles Dickens’ Christmas is coming. The special program will be held at Lyman Orchards from now through Dec. 23. Take a delightful stroll through a classic Dickens’ Christmas experience this holiday season. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of a simple and traditional family Christmas event. Admire the outdoor lighted scenes, engage with familiar characters from the treasured book, “A Christmas Carol,” and head inside the beautifully decorated Lyman Fami-
ly Homestead, to experience the joy of the holiday season. Enjoy a cup of hot apple cider, freshly baked donuts and other goodies (for additional purchase) as you stroll the grounds of the historical Lyman Homestead, viewing light displays and meeting familiar Dickens’ characters. Indoor family friendly activities include letter writing to Santa, miniature wooden ornament coloring station, and story time in the Great Room. You just might bump into Scrooge himself! Visit 1741 Pub & Grill before or after the event for delicious food and
drinks! Attraction Hours: Thursday-Sunday — 5 to10pm (9:30 p.m. last entry), Dec 1-23 Saturday and Sunday Matinee — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec 9, 10, 16, 17, and 23 Horse-drawn Hayrides are available during matinees only, and are included in the ticket price — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday). No refunds will be offered. From the creators of CT’s interactive Haunted House at Lyman Orchards, 3 Lyman Road.
Yamartino said the board agreed during its Nov. 20 meeting it will not propose removing the town clerk and tax collector positions from the list of elected offices in towns, which was part of the referendum in November. The change would have meant the current office holders, Town Clerk Tonya Hogan and Tax Collector Anne Olszewski, would no longer need to seek re-election, and selectmen would have hired replacements. Voters rejected the two changes by 4-to-1 margins. “Pretty overwhelmingly the town was against it, so I don’t anticipate us bringing that back at all,” Yamartino said. He does hope voters will change their mind on other charter changes, See Charter changes, A6