Friday, May 14, 2021
www.towntimes.com
Volume 27, Number 20
Middlefield records zero COVID cases in recent stretch The state’s most recent twoweek COVID-19 report, issued May 6, showed just seven positive cases in Durham and four in Middlefield. In Week 2, Middlefield recorded no positive cases. In the previous report, Durham and Middlefield
each had seven positive cases. As of May 6, the total of laboratory-confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases reported among Connecticut residents was 342,718, and 309 patients were hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.
Free drink promotion
tary drinks to patrons beginning on May 19.
To take part in the promoThe Connecticut Restaurant tion, which will run through Association is partnering the end of May, customers with the State of Connecticut to launch the #CTDrinksOnUs campaign, where participating restaurants will offer complimen-
simply show that they have received either one or both doses of a COVID vaccine, at which point they can select See COVID, A5
Earthly Goddess studio opens at The Red Barn Three Connecticut artists with a shared vision of building a community art center have opened a new studio, Earthly Goddess – A Clay Co-op, at the Red Barn, 352 Main St. in Durham. Marcy LaBella, Cheryl Tuttle and Paula Murphy have many years of teaching experience, not only in clay, but also in painting, jewelry, mixed media and fiber arts.
grounded and helped me to destress during a difficult year," said LaBella. "Our goal with this new studio is to create a space for others to have a place to nurture peace and self-expression through creativity.”
The modern and comfortable Earthly Goddess studio will accommodate smalland medium-sized classes focused on individual attention and personal creative “The pandemic really clariexpression. Classes and fied a lot of things for me; art workshops will begin in and having a creative pracJune. tice really helped me stay — Press Release
Members of the Connecticut House of Representatives applaud House Minority Leader Robert Ward as the House adjourns its regular 2006 session. Ward, a key player in state government for decades, died Sunday, May 9 at age 68. AP Photo, Bob Child
‘Gentleman’ lawmaker remembered Robert M. Ward, an unassuming leader of the House Republican minority who rose above partisanship at crucial junctures, helping to fund the reimagining of the University of Connecticut’s dowdy campus in 1995 and to nudge a corrupt governor from office in 2004, died Sunday in hospice care at his home in North Branford. He was 68. A kidney transplanted from his brother gave him a decade of a good health, but the organ failed about a year ago, requiring home dialysis. He had been in failing health since Christmas. His death was announced by friends who served with him in a long and varied career in state government. Ward was first elected to the Connecticut House in 1984 from the 86th House District,
which includes North Branford as well as parts of Guilford, Durham and Wallingford. His three decades in public service started with 22 years in the state House, followed by four as the commissioner of motor vehicles and nearly six as one of the two auditors of public accounts, the legislature’s primary oversight agency. “Bob is one of those few who had an impact on the House of Representatives and on state government,” said Brian Flaherty, one of Ward’s deputies in the House. “There are millions of people who live in this state and will never know his name, but owe him a debt of thanks for his stewardship.” See Ward, A21
A clay creation by Marcy LaBella.