Friday, March 12, 2021
www.towntimes.com
Volume 27, Number 11
Firm proposes solar power plant project By Nadya Korytnikova Town Times
An upcoming solar power plant project might soon bring clean energy to about 430 homes in Durham.
The Durham Volunteer Fire Company has begun its 90th year in operation. The Fire Company was established in 1931. Photos courtesy of Durham Volunteer Fire Company
Fire Company marks 90 years By Nadya Korytnikova Town Times
Since 1931, the Durham Volunteer Fire Company has been protecting residents and their property. “The men and women in our company work tirelessly to provide the best for the town that we live in,” said company secretary Shannon Carey. The role of the Fire Company goes beyond just fighting fires. Volunteers also respond to a wide range of incidents, from car crashes and emergency medical events to rescue calls and hazardous materials mitigation. The history of the Fire Company actually dates back to 1926.
In March of 1931, the Durham Board of Selectmen established the town’s first volunteer fire company and purchased its first fire truck.
In March of 1931, after five years of prolonged meetings and discussions, the Board of Selectmen voted 34-4 to purchase a $3,500 fire truck and to establish Durham’s first volunteer fire company.
According to Fire Chief Robert Chadd, a third-generDuring a town hall meeting, ation firefighter, Durham a lifelong Durham resident Fire is one of the few compaand an active member of the nies that continues to concommunity, Francis Edwin duct in-person drills during Korn, suggested the possibil- this precarious time. ity of obtaining a fire appa“You have to stay sharp with ratus for the town.
your firefighting skills because the fires are not going to stop due to the pandemic,” said Chadd. “You have to continue the drills. But we take all safety precautions.” Chadd joined the company 30 years ago and in 1998 helped put out one of the town’s biggest fires – a blaze that engulfed and destroyed a portion of the Merriam Manufacturing Co. plant on Main Street. See Fire Company, A16
“A project of this size takes thousands of tons of CO2 out of the air and also erases hundreds of pounds of other pollutants from the air,” Band said.
The solar power generating facility will operate at a The solar power generatrelatively low sound level, ing facility will be consaid Brad Parsons, a manstructed by Louth Callan ager of civil engineering Renewables, a Suffieldat All Points Technology based company that speCorporation. Transformers cializes in renewable ener- might make about 70 decigy projects. The company bels of noise, which is plans to start construction equivalent to noise proin the spring of next year. duced by an air conditioner, he said. The solar panels will be set up on a 49-acre field “Sound will decrease over parcel fronting Haddam a certain distance,” said Quarter Road and Johnson Parsons. "A 70-decibels Lane. While the contractransformer over a distors might take down tance of 25 feet away some of the trees, the for- drops down to about 42 est bordering Hersig Brook decibels, which is equivawill remain, said Daniel lent to a light rain.” Band, Louth Callan Renewables director of development. See Solar, A14
Diversity committee meets, names officers By Nadya Korytnikova Town Times
Durham’s newly-formed Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee held its first meeting recently, where members got to know one another and officers were determined. Bob Donahue, elected to the position of chairman, said he has always been interested in fostering a diverse and inclusive community. “Committees like this are very exciting to me be-
cause they represent what my true passion is about; I enjoy working toward issues that are related to social justice,” said Donahue, who also serves as chairman of Durham’s Board of Finance. “I’ve been involved in other historic and communityrelated boards that have worked toward bringing to light the stories and struggles of the unheard.” Leslie Paoletti was appointed vice-chair of the committee. See Diversity, A17