Friday, June 4, 2021
www.towntimes.com
Volume 27, Number 23
Durham recognized by Sustainable CT
LGBTQ community flags are pictured as part of a display set up by the Gay–Straight Alliance Club at Maloney High School in Meriden. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
June is Gay Pride Month By Nadya Korytnikova Town Times
The Durham Board of Selectmen passed a proclamation Tuesday designating June as Gay Pride Month. The motion passed unanimously. The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee was recognized as a supporter of the proclamation.
“The Town of Durham accepts and welcomes people of diverse backgrounds and believes a diverse population leads to a more vibrant community,” the proclamation states. “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) communities contribute to the cultural, civic and economic successes of the Town of Durham. See Pride, A7
Library sets sights on major remodel By David E. Foster
Many parents who bring their children to story time at the Durham Library were children themselves in 1995, the last time the library received a significant interior update. The scene of a beloved librarian reading “Green Eggs and Ham” or “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel” to a group of enraptured children has changed little since then. But to those children in 1995, the sound of technology was the beeping of a dialup modem and the gentle voice from a computer that alerted a family member: “you’ve got mail!”
Now grown up, when they take their own children to story time, they bring along their personal laptop computers, connect wirelessly to the library’s network, and read and check out books on their mobile phones. As technology and community needs change, the library must adapt and grow. But it must do so while holding on to the classic, charming elements that patrons have always loved. Recognizing this need, the Connecticut State Library Board awarded the Durham Public Library a grant of $146,957. This money is to be used to renew the library’s interior space to best meet the community’s cur-
Cheshire and Durham are two of the latest towns to be certified by Sustainable CT, a statewide initiative that inspires and supports communities in becoming more inclusive, resilient, and vibrant. The two communities met high standards in a broad range of sustainability accomplishments to qualify for bronze-level certification. The highest level of certification currently offered is silver. Sustainable CT, managed by the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University, provides a framework to help towns and cities build their local economies, support equity and respect the finite capacity of the environment. The program's action roadmap and support tools are especially relevant as towns seek practices and resources to promote racial justice and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. "Congratulations to our newest Sustainable CT certified communities," said
See Library, A26
Certified communities demonstrated significant achievements in at least 11 sustainability impact areas, ranging from community building, thriving local economies and vibrant arts and culture, to clean transportation and diverse housing. In addition, certified municipalities addressed issues of belonging, equity, diversity and inclusion when implementing sustainability acSee Sustainable, A7
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rent needs, while honoring the historic institution’s past. A key requirement of the grant is that it must be matched by contributions from the town and the community, so public and private fundraising will be important next steps.
Lynn Stoddard, executive director of the program. "They join a growing number of certified towns and cities that are demonstrating municipal practices that make our communities more inclusive, healthy, connected and strong."
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