www.towntimes.com
Volume 26, Number 25
Friday, September 18, 2020
9/11 remembrance unites community By Bronwyn Commins Special to Town Times
People explore Lyman Orchards' apple orchards, which are open for pick-your-own now, on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Photos by Bailey Wright, Record-Journal
Apple picking’s still popular
That “doing of good” is visible on a daily basis in our community, but most meaningfully on the anniversary of Sept.11, when we live among those who are driven by the motivation to bring neighbors together, when the pull of television coverage would otherwise keep them apart.
By Bailey Wright Record-Journal staff
MIDDLEFIELD — Apple picking, a crowd favorite fall activity, has gone largely untouched by the ongoing pandemic this year, with visitors to Lyman Orchards saying they still got the full experience. Christina Hallinan, of Cheshire, said she’s been visiting Lyman Orchards on and off for years, since she was young. On Wednesday, Sept. 9 she went apple picking with her son Benjamin, 5. “It's a nice fall activity,” she said. “There's not too many people here so it's safe.” After picking their own apples, the pair planned to visit the Apple Barrel and see if they could find some ducks at the lake across from the store. It’s the additional family fun that also attracted the Malson family all the way from
If you were fortunate enough to read “This is Where You Belong” last year, when it was adopted as a celebration of community, then you are familiar with the analysis of what makes a great town. Author Melody Warnick writes extensively about buying local, meeting your neighbors, and becoming involved in politics. Most importantly, though, she reminds readers that if you love the place where you live, “you should do what’s good for it.”
the Fairfield area in Newtown. Dave and Bridget Malson, with their son Adam, 2, visited with Adam’s grandmother.
Karen Kean, in her patriotic mask, moments before leading the annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Durham. Photos by Bronwyn Commins
An interesting phenomenon happens when you talk to these fine individuals. Interviews take on a life of their own, extending outward like one of those expandable sphere toys that you played with at the store checkout. You start with one idea, and one list of questions, and within seconds, that list has branched out in all directions, transformed in completely nonlinear fashion. See 9/11, A5
The Malsons said they would normally use some of the apples to bake — like they did with peaches from Lyman Orchards earlier in the season. They may not have time, however, as they were moving out of state within days.
After picking apples, the family said they would grab donuts and apple cider from the Apple Barrel and maybe “We'll either eat them on the do the corn maze too. This year’s maze theme is a thank you to frontline workers. See Lyman, A16
The 9/11 memorial in Middlefield contains portions of the North Tower.