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Volume 23, Number 46
Friday, February 14, 2020
Seniors reflect on decades of marriage
GRASSROOTS POLITICS
By Everett Bishop Town Times
Valentine’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect back on our relationships. Recently, some senior citizens spoke about their long marriages during a lunch at Middlefield Senior Services.
Quinnipiac University students, from left, John Hangen, of Cheshire, Joshua Gorero, of Durham, Jonathan Rosenblum and Nicholas Ciampanelli were among the campaign volunteers ahead of Tuesday's presidential primary in New Hampshire. Contributed photo
Students hit the campaign trail in New Hampshire Hangen, an 18-year-old freshman from Cheshire, and Gorero, a 21-year-old juMANCHESTER, N.H. — It nior from Durham, were was a mostly clear day, with among 19 Quinnipiac stutemperatures in the upperdents, traversing the Granite 20s, as Quinnipiac University State, knocking on doors, students John Hangen and holding campaign signs, and Joshua Gorero embarked on attending town halls, rallies the next assignment in their and other events. public service course — The students arrived in New working for a presidential campaign days ahead of the Hampshire Friday, Feb. 7 and planned to leave state primary election. By Michael Gagne Record-Journal staff
Wednesday, the day after the Feb. 11 primary. The course, offered every four years, is taught by Scott McLean, a political science professor who led the trip. Hangen and Gorero worked for Democrat Andrew Yang. Their classmates worked for other candidates, including President Donald See Campaign, A17
In 1972, Angela Downes went on a date to a local dance hall in Meriden with a young man. She recalled sitting in a booth with him when she noticed another young man staring at her from inside the dance hall. “I lifted my head and looked around and there he was right at the end of the bar,” Downes said. “Handsome fellow, he had a black suit, black hair and a little grin on his face and he was just staring. I was so flustered when I saw him.” The “handsome fellow” was Ronald Downes. He walked over, extended his arm and asked Angela to dance. The couple married on Jan. 31,1973.
The late Ronald Downes is pictured with his wife, Angela. The two were married after being engaged for a month in 1973. Photo courtesy of Angela Downes
Gwen Brayshaw is pictured with her husband, Jon. These photos show the two when they were in high school in the early sixties. The Brayshaws were married a year after they graduated. Photo courtesy of Gwen Brayshaw
“And we danced through 40 years of marriage together,” she said. “We were also both understanding and patient See Couples, A16
History comes alive at the library, with a visit from Mrs. Lincoln By Bronwyn Commins Special to Town Times
By now, most people know I cannot discuss any topic without sneaking in a movie reference. So here goes: if you have ever seen the 1984 film Teachers with Nick
Nolte, then you might remember that the best teacher in the entire movie was the one who threw the history book out the window, dressed up as George Washington, and invited his students on a virtual trip down the Delaware River.
I love you, Mr. Gower. Those in attendance at the Durham Library’s recent presentation of “Mary Todd Lincoln: Wife and Widow” were invited to the same transformative experience as those students in Mr. Gow-
Through immersion in the role, Mummey conveyed the extent to which Lincoln, like many women of her era, was Yes, Mary Todd Lincoln died defined by her role of wife, in 1882, but her story surdespite her intent to be outvives, thanks to the artful de- spoken, which led to her bepiction of her life by actress Sally Mummey.
er’s history class: meaningful learning through interaction with a historical figure.
See Lincoln, A15