Friday, February 12, 2021
www.towntimes.com
Volume 27, Number 7
TERRA MOUNTAIN BIKE AND SPORT
Diversity and inclusion panel is ready to go By Nadya Korytnikova Town Times
More people than anticipated volunteered to serve on Durham’s newly-approved Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Durham has a new bike shop. Terra Mountain Bike and Sport, 360 Main St., is owned by bike enthusiast and Durham resident Aaron Kestenbaum. Photos by Nadya Korytnikova
Durham welcomes new shop By Nadya Korytnikova Town Times
Whether you’re brand new to biking or gearing up for your next ride, Terra Mountain Bike and Sport has got you covered. The newly opened bike shop at 360 Main St. in Durham specializes in mountain bikes, but also offers a great selection of pedal-assisted e-bikes, road bikes, and kids' bikes. Store owner Aaron Kestenbaum, who is an avid cyclist himself, says biking trails are abundant throughout the area and offer a unique opportunity to enjoy nature. “I always see people biking around here, so I thought it would be a good place to give it a shot,” said Kestenbaum. “Rockland Preserve Singletrack, Wadsworth Falls State Park, Millers Pond State Park – I think these are just some of the great biking places we have here.”
Selectman John Szewczyk said he was happy to see so many people come forward to serve their community after “this awful year.”
“I think having a good diversity and inclusion comThe Board of Selectmen mittee can lead to other voted recently to appoint people wanting to get in10 members, instead of the volved in other town originally-planned-for boards and commissions five. Appointed members because they will, hopefulinclude Leslie Paoletti, Pe- ly, feel that their opinions ter Cascini, Bob Donahue, might not be agreed-upon Heather Ram, Camilla but are actually respected, Zamboni, Tonya Buddie, which some people cerAlison Atkin, Mariah Roy, tainly haven't done,” Michael D'Agostino and Szewczyk said. Jennifer Keyes-Smith. Committee members will First Selectman Laura be tasked with organizing Francis said each member and supporting events “comes with a unique per- and programs aimed at spective that would be promoting and encouragvaluable to the committee.” See Panel, A5
Residents 65-plus can sign up for vaccine
Aside from the bicycles, Terra customers can browse a wide selection of safety gear, tires, repair tools, and accessories. In addition, the shop offers tune-ups, repairs and fitting services. As the business grows, Kestenbaum hopes to start accepting used bicycles and stock his inventory with
more pedal-assisted e-bikes. “E-bikes are great and I really want to introduce them to more people,” he said. “They allow you to ride more, and if you can ride more, you can have more fun and explore more places.” See Bike shop, A12
Thursday, Feb. 11 marked the first day Connecticut residents age 65 and older could officially sign up for COVID-19 vaccination appointments. News that a new cohort of people are eligible for the shot comes as the state reports 56 percent of residents age 75 and older are already vaccinated. “I’d like to think that we’ll be able to move through the 65 and above population relatively quickly,”
Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday, noting that some of those people may already have been vaccinated because they live in nursing home or assisted living facilities. He predicted everyone in the age group could receive at least one vaccine in four weeks. “Our only limiting factor is the number of vaccines that we’re getting,” said Lamont. See Vaccine, A8