Town Times

Roche continues to slice up the Conn. pizza scene

By Mike DeRienzo Special to Town Times

If you ask people around the world where the best pizza is made, you’d probably get a variety of answers including Italy, New York, or Chicago. But in recent years, the “pies” made in Connecticut, specifically New Haven, have been ranked right up top with all other contenders, and many would suggest that the best way to enjoy a slice of New Haven style pizza is right from a brick oven truck.

Jackie Roche would agree.

Jackie has been serving her famous New Haven-style pizza at any one of the hundred events she does every summer. And if the name doesn’t sound familiar, you probably have seen her zipping around in her custom-built 1948 International Harvester complete with a working brick oven straight from Italy.

“It’s a hard job because you’re sweating in the heat and it’s nonstop but it’s all worth it – it really is,” says Jackie, who, at the time of this interview was, per usual, preparing for another long day of back-to-back events.

She usually starts the day at around 6 a.m. to prepare for the day’s events. The truck – a barn find from Ohio that has been rebuilt using all original parts, with the exception of the brick oven – requires a lot of labor to get ready.

A labor of love, Jackie would say, but a labor nonetheless.

First, Jackie has to unlatch the sides

Exciting year ahead for Regional District 13

By Doug Schuch

The last week in August means the start of another school year in Regional School District 13. It was great to be in our schools this past week as we welcomed the Coginchaug Regional High School Class of 2036 (AKA Kindergarten at Brewster Elementary School and John Lyman Elementary School) and began reconnecting with all of our learners after a long summer break.

Thank you to parents and guardians for recalibrating bedtimes for your children and for your overall support of our schools as we enter 2023-24. I am also thankful for the hard work of our teachers and other employees for making our schools welcoming and helping our learners become more comfortable with new expectations for the coming year.

Speaking of welcoming and comfortable, I am happy to report that the long overdue reconstruction and subsequent paving of Pickett Lane was substantially completed (we still have a bit more work to do) recently and has made driving to the high school/ middle school campus a much more pleasant experience.

I previously referred to our entering Kindergarten as the CRHS Class of 2036, a daunting thought for educators and families alike, especially when

Jackie Roche continues to make a name for herself as one of the state's bestandmostuniquepizzamakers. Photos courtesy of Jackie Roche

Jackie Roche’s custom built 1948 International Harvester. See Roche, A3

‘Clear Day Thunder’ documentary screening

set for September 21

A free screening of “Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut” on Sept. 21 at The Rockfall Foundation's deKoven House.

Once upon a time stood a magnificent tree. This tree, a symbol of life's interconnected-

COMMENTARY

ness, provided sustenance and shelter to countless creatures.

As the 20th century unfolded, a calamity of sorts struck. A destructive blight, unknowingly introduced from Asia, began to See Screening,

Time in the sauna: A necessary torture

Shortly I will be getting into my portable sauna.

I will lie on a heated pad, snuggled under two domesa larger one that goes over a smaller one. I will plug in the heated pad and the box that turns on the heat for the domes, set the timer for 30 minutes, and proceed to be absolutely miserable.

I say miserable – and I mean it – because this is torture. It goes to a whole new level of “hot.” Which is the point, I know, because that is how we sweat out those pesky toxins.

Eons ago I lived in Georgia, where I must have sweat out a boatload of toxins because the starting temperature hovered around a whopping 95 degrees, with high humidity. I never thought I could be hotter than that. It turns out I could.

I think my sauna gets up to 140 degrees. It’s akin to being baked in an oven. I make myself climb into it twice a week, though, because I like being healthy.

I lie there for 30 minutes, encased in my dome, with only my head sticking out. I listen to uplifting things on the Internet. I always hope this will keep my mind off my misery. It doesn’t. I never thought 30 minutes could be so long.

Surely someone is messing with time as I know it, because it feels like a day and a half. I try not to look at the timer because then I get discouraged about how much more time is left. I think I am doing a good job with that, just minding my own business, and then I can resist no longer – I sneak a peek. I just know that a hefty amount of time has passed and I will be released shortly from my torture chamber. Nope. It’s only been 10 minutes.

Ten minutes?! Surely you jest!

I close my eyes again and try to focus on what I am listening to, trying to keep my eyes off that darn timer. But they keep sneaking back to it. My spirits start to lift when there are only 10 minutes to go. Ten minutes – I can do that. But that is no picnic, either, because it just keeps getting hotter, or so it seems.

Now the countdown is really on. I sneak a peek at the timer after each minute. I

had no idea that a minute could stretch out for such an interminable amount of time. I am dismayed when I see that the timer has not budged. I really thought a minute was supposed to be 60 seconds, but now I’m not so sure.

By now the sweat is pouring down into my ears, which is beyond annoying. My hair is plastered to my head. Every fluid in my body has managed to leak out. I’m afraid I will get out only a shell of the woman who climbed in. Finally, finally, finally I have put in my 30 minutes. I have served my sentence. Where I used to be is now a big puddle. The good news – there could not possibly be any toxins left. And now that I’ve come out the other side I am glad I did this.

It’s what people tend to say about exercise – you hate it when you are doing it but it feels so good afterward.

Well, my friends, I must scoot. It’s “sauna time.” And here we go.

In order to continue delivery to your home or business, we need to have each resident or business let us know that, by filling out our on-line requester form at myrecordjournal. com/town-times-requester. Or, you can call us at 203-634-3933 and we can mail you a postage paid postcard to fill out and return. Without the necessary requester information, delivery of your Town Times to your

From A1

of the truck (that doubles as the tables) so that she can get to the oven. Then she has to climb up and place the chimney on top of the oven so that she can begin to heat it up. Just like a fireplace, Jackie uses firewood and paper to get a good fire going for the oven. While the fire burns, Jackie then loads the truck with everything she needs to make the pizza: fresh New Haven made dough, toppings, sauce, cheese, all dry goods (flour, corn meal, oregano) and paper goods for each event.

Jackie can’t drive the truck with a fire going, so she has to let the fire itself die down before she can drive anywhere, but she still has to make sure the coals stay hot so she can use them later to cook the pizza. Then, she seals everything back up and she’s on the road.

The ride is anything but smooth, as the truck is true to its origins and lacks power steering.

Operating between April and November, Jackie can usually be found working two events a day – a lunch event and a dinner event – all over Connecticut, Massachusetts,

and New York. Most of the events are where you expect a pizza truck to be – business parks, birthday parties, religious celebrations – but she’s probably most known for her involvement with the New Haven Family Fun Days.

Every Wednesday over the summer, Jackie can be found all over New Haven serving between 500 and 1,000 kids and their families free pizza as part of an agreement with the city.

“The City of New Haven contacted me based upon word of mouth from some former customers and asked me to get involved,” she explained.

While she does get paid by the city, it does not cover the costs, meaning Jackie puts a lot of her own money into it.

“It’s one of my best events because I love watching the

kids eat the pizza. It’s a great way to support the community and give back,” she insisted.

While the kids go nuts for the standard cheese and pepperoni pizzas, the adults usually go for something more exotic.

“Probably the most popular pizza amongst adults is the mashed potato, bacon, onion pizza,” said Jackie. “Though a close second is the arugula, goat cheese, and hot honey pie.”

Whatever you end up ordering though, Jackie will put her heart and soul into preparing it just for you.

“Making pizza has become an art. Every pizza is made individually and New Haven style with local farm fresh ingredients. My love for pizza will never stop growing.”

Screening

From A2

ravage the American Chestnut tree. This once-thriving species faced a dire fate, teetering on the brink of annihilation within just a few generations.

The new documentary film tells the story of passionate citizen scientists and researchers working to restore this ecologically and economically important species during this pivotal moment. These devoted individuals are dedicating themselves to breathing new life into the American Chestnut, ensuring that it can once again shape the destiny of our world.

To sign up for the free screening, visit www.rockfallfoundation.org/event/clear-day-thunder.

Vote for Nicole Charest for Town Clerk

Editor:

The best person to replace you, is a person that is working in your unit. This means that Nicole Charest, who is the Assistant Town Clerk, should be the person to replace Kim Garvis.

Nicole was selected by a panel of seasonal Town Clerks to be Kim Garvis’ Assistant over two years ago. She knows the ropes of this important office.

Nicole has taking many courses to gain knowledge of what goes on in the Town Clerk office.

Town Clerk is a very complex with many tasks.

Besides land records, and issuing various licenses, it keeps the “hatch, match and dispatch” records. This office post meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes of various boards and commissions.

Another big task is to take accurate minutes at Town meetings. History has shown that voters have elevate the Assistant Clerk to Town

Schuch

From A1

we reflect about how much our world has changed for our current seniors – the Class of 2024 – during their time in Regional School District 13. Consider the prevalence of remote work options today, supported by live video conferencing technologies that were so essential during the recent pandemic, compared to what things were like in 2011. Other relatively recent and evolving technologies like Smart phones and artificial intelligence were simply not on our educational radar 13 years ago, yet both of these technologies, along with many others, are impacting education and our world itself in significant ways. The truth is we have no way of knowing exactly what new technologies will emerge, disrupt, and potentially alter

Clerk. Laura Francis, Myra Korn and Kim Garvis were working in this office before becoming Town Clerk.

The GOP primary is on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

Nicole was endorsed at the Durham Republican caucus in late July. Now you as a republican voter can confirmed the cancus action by voting for Nicole Charest.

This position is the only one on the primary ballot.

Elmer Clark Durham

The writer is a former member of the Board of Finance.

Congratulations to Durham PZC

Congratulations are in order for the following Durham Planning & Zoning Commission members, who recently completed their state-mandated Land Use Certification Training: Philip Auger, James Piotrowski, Michael Fumiatti, Josh Eddinger, Chris Balay, Janet Morganti, William Spooner, John DeNunzio, Michael Dahlheimer, John Batorski, and Frank DeFelice. The curriculum for

the way that will work and live in 2036, yet that does not alleviate us from the obligation to change our education system in response to these changes as they occur. Unfortunately, most schools and school districts do not typically adjust to changes in our world in significant ways, as we are firmly rooted in an educational model that was designed over 100 years ago, as a way to efficiently produce assembly-line workers during the Industrial Age.

The good news is that here in Regional School District 13, we have recognized the need to fundamentally reimagine our educational designs if we expect our graduates to successfully navigate life and compete for the jobs of the future. Though our schools still largely resemble their predecessors in most ways, we are slowly starting to make the learner-centered transfor-

this certification includes land-use law, public hearing and meeting procedures, zoning impacts on affordable housing and the environment; and the interpretation of site plans, surveys and maps. Certifications for these commissioners will be valid for a period of four years.

Frank C. DeFelice

The writer is the chair of the Durham Planning & Zoning Commission.

Experience matters in race for Town Clerk

Editor:

Knowledge and experience are a must for the next Town Clerk of Durham. Nicole Charest, Assistant Town Clerk, was recently cross endorsed by both parties and for good reason: She is the only experienced candidate.

Town Clerk duties and responsibilities are governed by numerous state and local laws. Multiple state and industry software programs are used to perform the daily tasks of the office and the learning curve is a long one. The many duties of the office are not learned in a few weeks; it takes months. With more than two

mations that will be necessary in order to fulfill the hopes and dreams of our learners and their families for life after high school graduation.

A few examples include:

Learners in Grades K-5 will begin utilizing Expeditionary Learning, a new literacy program that is both grounded in the latest scientific research about how we learn to read and aligned with our belief that learning needs to be more personalized.

Learners in Grades 6-8 will have more opportunities to explore their interests and passions through a number of engaging hands-on electives newly designed for the 2023-24 school year.

Learners in Grades 9-12 will be able to showcase and highlight individual interests, projects, goals, and achievements through a web-based learning record

years ’ experience in the office Nicole has proven her commitment and work ethic to serving the residents of Durham.

Many residents have expressed their appreciation to Nicole for “going above and beyond.” She shows the same commitment to education. Nicole has taken certification courses for the past two years. With one course to go she will soon meet the requirements to sit for the state certification exam to become a Certified Connecticut Town Clerk (CCTC).

Continuity of service and a smooth transition is imperative for this office. Durham voters have recognized the importance of experience and for more than 100 years have chosen the Assistant to be the next Town Clerk. Performing essential duties of the office and maintaining important records of the town; Nicole has the experience and knowledge to carry on these duties in a seamless fashion.

Please join me in voting for Nicole Charest at the upcoming Republican Primary on Sept. 12, and at the November election, Nov. 7.

Kim Garvis Durham

that will enhance the traditional high school transcript. The high school master schedule has also been modified to better facilitate internships and other workbased learning opportunities, as well as community projects.

In addition, we have instituted a new professionalized learning model for teachers and other staff in 2023-24 that is personalized, relevant, and job-embedded. In our constantly changing world, it is more important than ever to provide teachers with the autonomy and flexibility they need to grow as professionals for the benefit of the learners that we serve. We have also renewed efforts to keep our schools safe through training with experts and collaboration with law enforcement and other partner agencies that serve our communities.

The future is very bright in

Regional School District 13, and we look forward to an amazing 2023-24 school year!

Doug Schuch is the school superintendent of Regional School District 13.

In Brief

Annual Fundraiser

Cats in the Castle is the premier, annual fundraising event for Cat Tales. Taking place on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville.

The proceeds from this event directly benefit the abused, homeless, and abandoned cats/kittens un der Cat Tales’ pay for food, shelter, and veterinary care which over a year’s time is over $150,000.

Appetizers ~ Dinner ~ Beer & Wine ~ Desserts ~ Silent auctions ~ Raffles.

Tickets are available at https://cattalesct.org/citc/.

To order tickets by phone, call 860-344-9043. Leave your full name, phone num ber, and how many tickets you’d like to purchase on our voicemail. A volunteer will call you to confirm your address and with payment instructions. For email or ders, send your full name, address, and how many tickets you’d like to purchase to Info@CatTalesCT.org and a volunteer will reply with payment instructions.

Monthly Tag Sales

Notre Dame Church Monthly Tag Sales, inside and outside, Saturday, Sept. 2 at 272 Main St., Durham from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rain Or Shine!

Outside you will find records, tapes, CDs, books, pictures and frames, baskets, electronics, sporting equip ment, and a full range of miscellaneous tag sale items. Inside our Church Hall we have a huge assortment of clothing, toys, jewelry, china, a variety of linens, kitchen supplies, craft supplies, and more.

The kitchen will be offering breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, beverages, and snacks See you at our last Saturday tag sale for this year Oct. 7.

Thank you for your support. We will be returning in the Spring of 2024.

The Durham Farm Market

The Durham Farm Market and more is every Thursday from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at 144 Pickett Lane in Durham.

The farm market will close for the season on Oct. 12. We will also be closed on Sept. 14 and 21 due to the Durham Fair.

Project Graduation

The Project Graduation Committee provides an allnight, fun, safe, substancefree, adult-supervised graduation party for Coginchaug’s graduating class. For over 20 years, dedicated parents, teachers and other community members have run the event. Support and volunteers are always appreciated.

Donations can be mailed to: Project Graduation, P.O. Box 81, Durham, CT 06422. For more information, find the group on Facebook.

FD volunteers

The Middlefield Volunteer Fire Company seeks volunteers age 18-plus. No experience is required; the department provides the necessary training.

To learn more, visit middlefieldfirect.org, email info@ middlefieldfirect.org or stop by the firehouse Mondays before 7 p.m. The department has an Explorer program for youth, 14 to 18.

Gift of sight

The Durham Lions Club’s recently-refurbished drop box is ready for your eyeglass donations at the Durham Pharmacy.

Lions have recognized the urgent need for corrective lenses and collect usable glasses in their communities to support the Lions Recycle For Sight Program.

Cat Tales

In Brief Museum program

people a few hours a week to help care for homeless cats at Cat Tales’ main shelter. The volunteer application can be found at cattalesct.org.

Food Bank

The Middlefield Food Bank is in need of the following: peanut butter, jelly, jam, sandwich/freezer bags, coffee, tea, crackers, snacks, laundry detergent, dish soap, cleaning supplies, toothpaste, tooth brushes, pasta, pasta sauce, tuna, and grocery store gift cards.

Connecticut’s Summer at the Museum program enables children to receive free admission at dozens of museums across the state. The full list of participating museums is available at ctvisit.com.

Summer at the Museum concludes Sept. 4.

Join a wonderful group of

Adelphia Café

476 Washington Avenue North Haven, CT 06473 203-535-0149

Family owned/operated. Former proprietors of the Neptune Diner in Wallingford. Extensive menu for all tastes. Breakfasts, luncheons and special dinners. All baking on premises.

Brownstone Psychological Associates, LLC

Lyman Orchards corn maze is set to open Sept. 2

Lyman Orchards, a familyowned popular New England destination for over 275 years, has announced that its annual Corn Maze will open on Sept. 2. This year, visitors can explore the four-acre maze with a design inspired by the

1900 literary classic, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

A ribbon cutting ceremony will commence at 10 a.m. on opening day of the Corn Maze and coincides with the Cider Donut Festival. Opening day festivities include horse-drawn hayrides, yard games, face painting, square dancing, and more.

Each Corn Maze visitor will receive a Corn Maze Map and a Corn Maze Passport, which will feature 10 “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” trivia questions that help in choosing the right direction at the path crossroads.

199 Main Street, Durham, CT 860-788-3231

Durham, CT 860-788-3231

www.BrownstonePsychological.com

The 24th annual maze takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes to complete and will be open Monday through Friday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays until Nov. 5.

Admission costs $11 for adults and $6 for children ages four to 12. Children under three will be admitted for free.

One dollar of every admission will be donated to the American Cancer Society, a Lyman Orchards partner for the past 23 years. Since 2000, Lyman Orchards has raised $731,891 for the organization. Additionally, 50 cents of each ticket fee will benefit the Connecticut Cancer Foundation, which has received $54,287 from the Corn Maze over the past three years.

“Every year, we are so excited for families to enjoy a day of fall fun at the Corn Maze,” stated John Lyman, Executive Vice President of Lyman Orchards. “We have the incredible opportunity to promote the hard work of both the American Cancer Society and Connecticut Cancer Foundation. These critical See

Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte turns 20

By Dee-Ann Durbin Associated Press

The seasonal drink that made pumpkin spice a star is turning 20. And unlike the autumn days it celebrates, there seems to be no chill in customer demand.

Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte goes on sale Thursday in the U.S. and Canada, as it does each year when the nights start getting longer and the fall winds gather. It’s the coffee giant’s most popular seasonal beverage, with hundreds of millions sold since its launch in 2003. And it has produced a huge and growing industry of imitators flecked with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

In the year ending July 29, U.S. sales of pumpkin-flavored products reached $802.5 million, according to Nielsen. That’s up 42% from the same period in 2019. There are pumpkin spice

Oreos, protein drinks, craft beers, cereals and even Spam. A search of “pumpkin spice” on Walmart’s website brings up more than 1,000 products. A thousand products that smell or taste like, well, pumpkin pie. For better and, some might say, for worse the phenomenon has moved beyond coffee shops and groceries and into the larger world. Great Wolf Lodge is featuring a Pumpkin Spice

Suite at five of its resorts this fall, decked out with potpourri, pumpkin throw pillows and bottomless pumpkin spice lattes.

It has also spawned a vocal group of detractors and become an easy target for parodies. Comedian John Oliver once called pumpkin spice lattes “the coffee that tastes like a candle.” There’s a Facebook group called “I Hate Pumpkin Spice” and Tshirts with slogans like “Ain’t

no pumpkin spice in my mug. ”

The haters, though, appear to be in the minority. Last year, Starbucks said sales of its pumpkin spice drinks including newer offerings like Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew were up 17% in the July-September period. And in a 2022 study of 20,000 Twitter and Instagram posts mentioning pumpkin spice, just 8% were negative, according to researchers at

Montclair State University in New Jersey.

Before the latte: what pumpkin spice was

It wasn’t always this way.

Canned pumpkin and pie spices were relegated to the baking aisle when Starbucks began experimenting with an autumn drink that would replicate the success of the Peppermint Mocha, which See Pumpkin spice, A12

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organizations provide wonderful support to those fighting their toughest battles.”

“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support received from Lyman Orchards. The funds they have contributed over the past 24 years have helped us provide patients with access to free rides to treatment, free lodging for those who must travel for treatment, and helped us to advance our research efforts by funding the best science,” said Erin Nielsen, Director of Development of the American Cancer Society’s Northeast Region. “The American Cancer Society is leading the battle against cancer with a vision to end it as we know it, for everyone. With the support of dedicated volunteers and community partners like Lyman Orchards, we are confident we will get there.”

For more information, visit lymanorchards.com.

CLERK FARM STORE

Part-Time, Afternoons And Weekends. Apply

At Norton Brothers Fruit Farm, 466 Academy Road, Cheshire.

Ask For Phyllis

HELP WANTED - Full time Machine Operator, grinding carbide. Will train. Apply in person to Century Tool, 260 Canal St., Milldale, CT 06467, M-F, 7-3:30 P.M. 860-621-6748.

METER READER

Reads electric and water/sewer meters on assigned routes and records finding utilizing automated or manual systems and equipment, Requires graduation from a high/trade school with one year of full-time post high school employment experience. Must have a valid State of CT driver’s license. $24.44 to $30.95 per hour plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply to: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Fax #: (203) 294-2084. Closing date will be September 6, 2023 or the date the 50th application is received, whichever occurs first. EOE.

ELECTRIC UTILITY DISTRIBUTION SUPERINTENDENT

The Town of Wallingford is offering an excellent career opportunity for a strong manager and leader in the electric utility industry to oversee the construction, operation, and maintenance of the electric transmission and distribution systems and related facilities of the Town’s Electric Division. This highly reliable municipally-owned electric utility, located 10 miles from New Haven, CT, serves 25,000 customers in a 50+ square mile distribution area with a peak demand of 130 MW with an excellent rate structure. Applicants should possess 8 years of progressively responsible experience in electric utility distribution construction, maintenance, and operations which includes at least 4 years of experience as a supervisor, plus a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (power), or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. Must possess, or obtain within 12 months of hire and maintain Connecticut Valley Electric Exchange (CONVEX) Switching and Tagging certification. Must possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut Driver’s License. Salary: $102,810 to $131,545 annually plus on-call stipend when required. The Town offers an excellent fringe benefits package that includes pension plan, paid sick and vacation time, medical insurance, life insurance, 13 paid holidays, and deferred compensation plan. Applications may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page and can be mailed to the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492, or emailed to: wlfdhr@ wallingfordct.gov by the closing date of September 29, 2023. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

TOP CASH PAID

For Junk or unwanted vehicles, Toyota’s etc.

Please call Mike @ 203284-8562 8am-5pm.

DURHAM 765 SQ.FT.

OFFICE SPACE - Bathroom, open room incls. heat, AC, electric, no internet, 2 parking spaces. $800 mo. (860) 349-5449

BAR BELLS - BO; Lg Bureau w/mirror $30, table, AC, lamps, all BO and Ford (2) 15” rims, $30. 203.213.2821.

TREE LENGTH FIREWOOD

CALL FOR DETAILS

203-238-2149

1, 2, 3 CASH FOR YOUR ANTIQUES & JEWELRY - Call Todd Shamock at 203-494-1695.

A-1 SERVICE - Is what you will receive from me when purchasing your Old Costume & Fine Estate Jewelry. Napier, QVC, ETC, Jewelry Wanted! “I Pay Top Cash For Your Grandma’s Costume & Fine Jewelry Stash!” I’ll come to you. Julie, 203.443.9602.

ALWAYS BUYING CASH PAIDVintage Electronics, Musical Instruments, Amps, Ham Equipment, HiFi, Radios, CB, Guitars, Audio Equipment, Antiques. 860-707-9350

ANTIQUES - Always buying old; Toys, military, jewelry, art, watches, musical instruments, signs, arcade games, cameras, pre 1970 sports memorabilia, plus more. One item or entire estate contents. Call 860718-5132.

GRASSY HILL AUCTIONS, - an Estate

Sale, Liquidation, Attic & Basement Cleanout Company is Always Buying and providing services all over Connecticut. These are just a FEW of the things we are looking for: Antiques, Collectibles, Old/ Vintage Toys, Musical Instruments (Saxophones, Trumpets, Violins, Flutes, Clarinets, Trombone & SO MUCH MORE) Advertising Items, Wristwatches (Broken or Not), Pocket Watches, Tools (Machinist, Woodworking, & MORE) Doorstops, Clocks, Oil Paintings, Old Signs, Old Photographs, Old Postcards, Brewery Items, Hunting & Fishing, PEZ Dispensers, Costume Jewelry, Broken Jewelry, Gold & Silver Jewelry, Gold & Silver Coins, Military Items, Swords & Bayonets, Helmets & Patches, Medals & Uniforms, Pocket Knives, Lighters & Pipes, Fountain Pens, Mechanical Pencils, Fraternal Order Items, Religious Items, Industrial Items, Winchester Items, Sikorsky Items, Pratt & Whitney Items, Colt Items, Native American Items, Vintage Electronics, Slot Cars, Toy Trucks, Matchbox & Hotwheels, Barbie’s, Folk Art, Statues, Bronzes, Trains, Cameras, Mid Century Modern Furniture, Straight Razors, Shaving Items, Political Items, Comic Books, Sports Cards & Autographs…& THE LIST GOES ON! So please give us a call at your earliest convenience. Grassy Hill Auctions 203-868-1816 - Grassy HillAuctions.com

PREMIER ESTATE JEWELRY - Is interested in buying your fine jewelry, watches, coin collections, silver flatware, and costume jewelry. Call Bill, (203) 4942496.

TIMELESS TREASURES ESTATE AUCTIONSIs looking to purchase estate contents. From single items to entire estates. Clean-out ser vices available. Call Bill (203) 494-2496.

TOP CASH PAID For any Toyota any condition, running or not, crashed okay. Will take other makes and models.

(203) 600-4431.

MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION

Screened Topsoil $30/ per yd; 2.5” screened gravel, $18 per yd; Sand$18 per yd; Millings-$22 per yd; Screened Millings $30 per yd; $100 minimum delivery. No pickup truck service. Minimum 16 yd pickup at our yard.

Call Jim @ 860-9824819 for delivery

PREMIUM SCREENED

TOPSOIL

$30/yard delivered, 3 yd, $100 min. delivery

Call Jim 860-982-4819

. Top Soil . Compost . . Wood Chips . FOR SALE. Catering to small deliveries. Call Bob (203) 415-0723

ANTIQUES WANTEDComic books, toys, adv. signs, military items, motorcyles, mini bikes, etc. All items considered, appraisal & estate sale services, incl. clean-outs. 40 years exp. Call or text, Gary at 203-237-4124.

BUYING ALL - Costume Jewelry, Old Watches, Gold Jewelry, Silver Jewelry, Gold & Silver Coins, Sterling Flatware, In Any Condition. Please Call Jude M. Dichele @ (203) 8681816.

BUYING MACHINIST TOOLBOXES - Tools & tooling, contents of machine shops, home workshops and small lathes. Call anytime 860-985-5760

WANTED Individual firearms, collections & estates including military & related items.Federally licensed firearms dealer. Gunsmith, appraisals, Richard Pleines, (860) 663-2214.

CHIHUAHUA PUPPY3-month-old male, intact, UTD on vaccines. $700. Call Fred 203676-4538.

/SubscriberServices

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”

- Emilie Buchwald

GARY WODATCHDemolition Svs Sheds, pools, decks, garages, debris removal. Quick, courteous svc. All calls returned. Ins. #566326. Cell, 860-558-5430

GOOD RATES

BEST SERVICE

Fully ins. Free Estimate. Call Ed, We’ll take it to the dump for you!

CARPENTRY

Repairs, Decks & Porches, Sheetrock & Taping

Water Damage Repairs. Free Est. Ins. MC & Visa. Call Bill (203) 901-2136. CT. Reg. # 0647093

INSIDE & OUTSIDE

REPAIRS - Decks, porches, sheetrock, taping, bath & kitchen remodels, finished basements. Call Erik, 203.592.4242. HIC 0565857.

DECKS & PORCHES

Give some new life to your old decks and porches. We can repair or replace stairs, deck boards, railings. We also construct new decks. HIC#647093 Insured. Call Bill for a free estimate, (203) 901-2136.

TEC ELECTRICAL Service LLC All Phases of Electrical Work. 24 hr. Emergency Service. Small Jobs Welcome. 203.237.2122

GUTTERS

DON’T WORK

If they’re dirty! For gutter cleaning, Call Kevin (203) 440-3279 Fully ins. CT# 569127

Let Us BEAR Your Junk! Junk Removal in CT

steps, brick, stone, chimneys. Lic#580443. 203-2320257

RT RELOCATION

Your moving and storage specialists. Call for a free estimate. 833-668-3978.

GUTTERS PLUS 25+yrs. Exp. Call today for Free estimate.

203-440-3535

Ct. Reg. #578887

HOME DOCTOR - 48 yrs exp. Odd jobs & remodeling, former US Navy, 15 yrs, #640689, 203.427.7828.

Gutter cleaning, brush removal, comm. snow plowing, HIC0622783. (203) 530-4447.

OVER 35 YRS EXP Stonewalls, patios, sidewalks, chimneys, pool areas, fireplaces, fire pit steps. Free est. 860.274.4893.

#1 PAINTER’S EDGE Ext. & Int. Painting. Sheetrock.Popcorn Repair. Wallpaper Remv’l. Decks. 25 yrs exp. Free est. Sr. disc. #0656136. Ins. 860.538.5520

JM Lawn Care Lawn Mowing, Fall Cleanup, tree service, junk removal. 860.796.8168

JT’S LANDSCAPING LLC - Spring CleanUps, we specialize in weeding all types of beds, mulching, top soil work, pruning hedges & shrubs, & all your landscape needs. Residential & commercial. Lic. #616311. Call today for free estimate, 203-213-6528.

PATIOS, WALKWAYS, Stonewalls, Steps, Concrete, Repairs, Etc. Free Ests. #0648556 203.808.6886 arnoldsmasonry.com

#1

EDGE MOBILE WASH Chemicals safe for house & plants. House wash, roof cleaning, decks. 25 yrs. exp. Sr Disc. #0656136 Ins. 860.538.5520

TREE REMOVAL Storm Damage, Stump Grinding, Chipping, Lots Cleared, Trees/ Shrubs Inst’d, Free Ests. Fully Ins’d. Lic #558031. 203.619.2301.

A pressureless house washing system can save you money, ask how! The Power-Washing Kings. House & roof washing, decks, patios, etc. Others Wash We Clean! 860.839.1000 thepowerwashing kings.com

POWER WASHING Is Spring Cleaning on THE OUTSIDE FREE Estimates

#569127 Call Kevin 203-440-3279

ALEX EUROPEAN MASONRY - 30 yrs. exp. Patios, ret. walls,

or 203-596-0652

PAINTER’S

Pumpkin spice

took the winter holidays by storm in 2002. Customer surveys suggested chocolate or caramel drinks, but Starbucks noticed that pumpkin scored high for “uniqueness. ” That would turn out to be prescient.

In the spring of 2003, a team gathered in a lab in Starbucks’ Seattle headquarters, bringing fall decorations to set the mood. They sipped espresso between bites of pumpkin pie, figuring out which spices most complemented the coffee. After three months, they offered taste tests; pumpkin spice beat out chocolate and caramel drinks.

Starbucks tested the Pumpkin Spice Latte in 100 stores in Washington, D.C., and Vancouver, British Columbia, that fall. The company quickly realized it had a winner and rolled it out across the United States and Canada the following fall. And in 2015, a watershed: The company added real pumpkin to the recipe.

These days, Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte has its own handle on X formerly known as Twitter with

82,000 followers, and a Facebook fan group called the Leaf Rakers Society with 43,000 members. And it has fans like Jon McBrine, who drinks black iced coffee for most of the year but eagerly awaits the latte’s return each fall.

“I love the flavor and I love the subculture that has evolved from this huge marketing campaign,” says McBrine, a graphic designer and aspiring author who lives in the Dallas area.

It’s hot through the end of October where he lives, so McBrine typically orders his with ice. But at least once a year, he gets a hot latte, savoring memories of the autumns of his childhood in Delaware.

“It’s part of getting into the season, ” he says. “It’s almost like a ritual, even if you’re just waiting in the drivethru.”