Adventures in gardening

There’s a houseguest at my Durham home. Well, “yardguest.” Her name is Esmerelda and she is most welcome.

Okay, let me backtrack a bit. When I first moved here, all those many years ago, I was so thrilled to be a homeowner, and in that vein I became the epitome of a master gardener, reveling in my first vegetable garden. I was good back then. I did the research. I “limed” when I was supposed to. I tucked all my plants in with compost. I tested for alkalinity of the soil. I weeded every day. I watered every evening. This garden was my baby, my pride and joy. It sprawled over a goodly portion of my fifth of an acre, and it provided sustenance throughout the summer. But alas, as the years rolled on, my garden took it upon itself to shrink. Well, I took it upon myself to shrink it. I realized that I am not a fan of weeding. And then my yard grew more and more foliage, so there was less and

No place to ride

Editor: less room for a garden. One year, it well, let’s just call it my overgrowth ate my garden. I could not find it. So the past few years I have been gardenless.

But as I was sitting on my chaise lounge this past Mother’s Day, enjoying the lovely weather, I noticed a spot of yard just a spot, mind you that could be home to one tomato plant. Well, that certainly wouldn’t require much work! I’m in!

When I told my friend, who lives just down the road, about my exciting plan, she said to come over and she would give me one of her tomato plants.

So I came home with Esmerelda and I planted her in my tiny little patch of bare ground. (I figure if I name her she might be more inclined to grow those beautiful cherry tomatoes for my salad; you know, because we are on a first name basis.) I treated her to an ample amount of chicken manure, I watered her in the evening. I sat on my chaise lounge and looked lovingly over at her.

Letter to the Editor

When I was a teenager I had a dirt bike that I rode every day, but I was lucky, because I lived on a farm and there was plenty of space and fields to ride. The kids today have no place to ride.

Dirt bikes are fun, and they are dangerous; something I learned after taking a spill and

We were already bonded. And then a friend told me that animals might dig her up. She said her grandmother wrapped hair, which she snatched from her brush, around her plants, and that did the trick. Naw, I thought to myself. What animals eat tomatoes? To the best of my knowledge they don’t eat salads. I gave the warning no heed.

And what do you know? The next morning there was my girl, plucked out of her cubbyhole, lying on her side. Still intact, though, thank heavens. I put her back in her rightful place, surrounding her with logs and rocks so as to make the task of ripping her out of the ground more laborious for anything passing through.

And yes, I put a clump of my hair, scraped out of my brush, on one of her little stems. I tried to find a clump that was not gray. She didn’t need to look like an old lady who needed a trip to the salon. She looks a little bit like she’s wearing a wig.

So every morning I tiptoe out my back door, afraid I will find Esmerelda’s lifeless body. So far, so good. I am happy to report that my hair is scaring away all life forms.

You can contact Diana Carr at 860-349-9542 or princessdi7@sbcglobal.net.

GIANT TAG SALE!!!

Church of Epiphany

196 Main St. Durham

Saturday, June 3rd 2023

8:00am – 2:00pm (Sorry-NO early birds!)

Accepting donations: Thursday, June 1st and Friday, June 2nd 3:00pm to 9:00pm NO TVs, computers, clothing, or large appliances. NO items that are broken or damaged. Small WORKING appliances accepted.

For information, call Liz, 860.349.6533

Help Keep

cracking a few ribs. I’m not going to knock a teenager for wanting to have fun, and I wonder where the parents are when the kids are illegally riding the streets. No mom and dad? There must still be places where a kid can ride a dirt bike and be free, like I was when I was that age. If there isn’t, provide one for them, and let them ride there and get them off the roads.

Mark Czaja

Coming to your home or business

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 home or business, will end.

HELP US HELP YOU, CONTINUE RECEIVING “YOUR” LOCAL WEEKLY.

Faith Services

Rock of Refuge Church is located at 350 Main St., second floor, in Durham. Sunday services 11 a.m.; Tuesday Prayer Meetings

6:45 p.m.

United Churches is located at the corner of Route 68 and Main Street in Durham. Sunday services 10 a.m. (in person and live streamed).

Church of the Epiphany is located at 196 Main St. in Durham. Sunday services 9:30 a.m.

(Houses of worship are welcome to send items to news@towntimes.com).

Good Neighbors

Durham Public Library

Youth:

The June Scavenger hunt is ready to be solved! Present completed hunts at the Circulation Desk for a small prize.

Adults:

Field trip. New Britain Museum of American Art, Saturday, June 3, 10 a.m. Meet at the museum and enjoy a free guided tour. Register at durhamlibrary.org.

Book club. Monday, June 5, 6:30 p.m. (in-person). “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter” by Hazel Gaynor. Register at durhamlibrary.org.

Drop-in Mahjong. Tuesdays, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Durham Community Center (former Korn School). For novices or pros. If you have a Mahjong set, please bring it.

Recycle

Please & Thank you.

Recently, Pack 33 of Middlefield-Durham showed its appreciation to three special people who supported the pack’s efforts this year. Ed Holden and Eva Cudmore of Middlefield Federated Church were recognized for their support of Pack 33 with their “religious knots,” and a generous man was lauded for his donations of food at numerousPack33events. Submitted photo

The retail cannabis market was approved by the General Assembly in June 2021 and was officially launched in early January of this year.

Press Release

Drinking & driving

In May, chairs of the Trans- portation Committee, state Sen. Christine Cohen (DGuilford) and state Rep. Roland Lemar (D-New Haven), and other lawmakers, joined representatives from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to share their support for lowering Connecticut’s BAC limit to .05 for drivers.

“The unfortunate reality is Connecticut has a drunk driving issue, ranking third nationally in fatalities due to impaired driving,” said Cohen. “I’m so pleased to be joined by so many fierce advocates for road safety in support of this proposal. It is important to note that we are not looking to prevent people from going out and enjoying our robust restaurant and entertainment industry. Instead, we are wanting to create a culture shift if you are going to be drinking, make a plan for how you will be getting home.”

Currently, the legal BAC limit for drivers is .08 and Con- necticut ranks third nationally in fatalities due to impaired driving. Press Release

Financial literacy

Deputy Republican Leader Paul Cicarella (R-North Haven) applauded the House of Representatives’ recent adoption of S.B. 1165, which is a measure that promotes financial literacy for the state’s public high school students.

Cicarella and State Sen. Henri Martin (R-Bristol) introduced the original concept of the bill (Proposed S.B. 18) that requires high school students to complete a one-half credit course in personal financial management and financial literacy for graduation.

Cicarella said, “After many meetings with stakeholders and colleagues over the past year, we’re seeing the positive results of collaboration and hard work. This cooperation led to this next step in advancing our workforce development agenda. This is an agenda to help our future generation to make educated decisions on the next steps in their life.”

The measure awaits Gov. Ned Lamont’s signature to become law. Press Release

Rabies clinics

Durham Animal Response Team D.A.R.T. is sponsoring its annual rabies clinics for cats and dogs June 4 and 25, 9 a.m. to noon, at Brenda’s Main Street Feed, 58 Main St. Proof of previous vaccination required for a three-year rabies vaccine. There’s a $20 fee, cash or check. Bring your animals in carriers or leashed. For more information, call 860-3490410.

Get your diploma

Ready for a second chance to earn your high school diploma? Middletown Adult Education will help. Register at any time.

Be Kind

Middlefield Lions’ “Be Kind” signs are $30. To place an order, e-mail Lions President Birdie Curtis at curtisbirdie@ hotmail.com. Include your address and phone number.

Payment can be made via Venmo (@Middlefield-Lions) or check (payable to Middlefield Lions Club). Send checks to: Middlefield Lions, P. O. Box 1, Middlefield CT, 06455. Include your address, e-mail and cell number.

Giving Garden

Help is welcomed and appreciated at the MiddlefieldDurham Giving Garden, located behind the Middlefield Community Center. For further information, contact Betsy St. John at 860-8075242 or Jen Huddleston at 860-716-0464.

Cat Tales

Join a wonderful and dedicated group of people a few hours a week to help care for homeless cats at Cat Tales’ main shelter. Must be age 15-plus or be accompanied by a parent/guardian. The volunteer application can be found at cattalesct.org. For more information, email: in- fo@cattalesct.org.

Volunteer

The Middlefield Fire Department 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 also has an Explorer program for youth ages 14 to 18.

Tag sale

Durham Animal Response Team D.A.R.T. is sponsoring a Town-Wide Tag Sale to be held throughout Durham on July 22. For a donation of $20, your personal tag sale will appear on the Town-Wide Tag Sale map. Registration forms are available at Brenda’s Main Street Feed, 58 Main St. Or, call 860-349-0410. Registration ends July 1.

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.

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.