Volume 16, Issue 26
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
Flu vaccinations: Why? When? Where? Who? By Stephanie Wilcox & Sue VanDerzee Town Times There has been a lot of confusion over flu clinics in Durham and Middlefield. When and where are they? Is the H1N1 vaccine or seasonal flu vaccine being administered? Are there clinics available just for seniors? Will the towns have their usual annual seasonal flu clinics available to their residents? Who needs flu shots? Here’s what available to citizens of Durham, according to First Selectman Laura Francis and town sanitarian Bill Milardo. A Seasonal Flu Clinic (not H1N1, or swine flu) will be held on Friday, Oct. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to administer seasonal flu vaccination. The clinic will be held at the Emergency Operations Center, Canfield Lane, Durham Fairgrounds, and Durham residents 18 and older are eligible to receive the vaccine. Registration is NOT neces-
sary but bring insurance cards or Medicare and Medicare supplement insurance cards, proof of residency and wear comfortable, short-sleeved clothing. If residents have no insurance, the cost of the vaccination will be covered. There is no clinic strictly for senior citizens in Durham. The town’s contracted provider, Middlesex Home Care/VNA, believes that it has an ample supply of vaccine. Current medical theory encourages seasonal flu shots for adults, not because the flu is dangerous for most people, but because it is dangerous for some and to help stop the swift spread of the disease. Here is what is available to residents of Middlefield, according to town sanitarian Lee Vito, senior services director Antoinette Astle and First Selectman Jon Brayshaw. The Middlefield seasonal flu clinic scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Community
These little piggies went to the Durham Fair ...
Center was canceled. In addition, the senior citizen clinic scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 8, has been canceled. According to Brayshaw, it seems to be a timing issue and that the town’s contracted provider, Middlesex Hospital, does not have enough seasonal flu vaccines at this time and is waiting for more shipments. The town hopes to reschedule both clinics in the near future. Check Town Times and on the web at www.towntimes.com for further updates. “It is confusing but not a major problem,” said Brayshaw. “Every year Antoinette (Astle) sets up a day for seniors and Lee (Vito) sets up day for the other residents.” Middlesex Hospital’s lack of seasonal flu vaccine might be the reason that the following was submitted to Town Times: “Coginchaug Family Practice (which is part of the Middlesex Hospital system) regrets to announce that its See Flu, page 6
By Chuck Corley Special to the Town Times
In this issue ...
Photo by Kate VanDerzee-Glidden
What’s up at Coginchaug?
Nick D’Aquila, left, and Steve DelVecchio pointing at a camera set up to guard the perimeter of CRHS. See pages 15-22 for this year’s first Devil’s Advocate and find out about new security measures at Coginchaug.
Durham P&Z approves D-13 athletic upgrades The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously passed District 13’s athletic facilities renovation and improvement plan at a special
See our last Durham Fair photos on pages 24-25.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Calendar............................4 Devil’s Advocate ........15-22 Durham Briefs ...........11-12 Libraries.....................30-31 Middlefield Briefs...........13 Property Transfers.........39 Sports ..........................34-35 Spotlight..........................33
meeting on Sept. 30. Before discussing the main application for improvements at Pickett Lane facilities, the commission went over District 13’s proposed text amendment that would allow 80’ light poles for the fields. The commission noted that the school official’s justification for the poles is they would reduce the amount of light spilling onto neighboring property, as well as offer more safety by reducing the glare for anyone playing on the field. The commission’s only major issue with the proposal was that it may cause more 80’ poles to be used around town. While commission member
Dick Eriksen pointed out that the text specifically says “may” approve rather than “must,” Eugene Riotte felt that the school’s baseball field would soon have 80’ poles, then the practice field. He took issue with 80’ structures going up when there’s nothing else of similar size around them. Otherwise, the commission had no significant problems, and they approved the text amendment. Riotte was the only member who voted against the proposal. It will go into effect on Oct. 17. As for the main application for the athletic facilities, the See Durham P&Z, page 7