Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
Volume 17, Issue 32
Middlefield selectmen ‘outraged’ by vandalism By Cheri Kelley Town Times During the Middlefield Board of Selectman’s meeting on Nov. 16, First Selectman Jon Brayshaw gave an update on the sale of Powder Ridge. Brayshaw noted that attorney John Corona said things are “really looking good.” “They are expecting a contract to be in my office before Thanksgiving,” Brayshaw said. On a more unfortunate note about Powder Ridge, Brayshaw noted that there has been a lot of vandalism to the old lodge and even up the Ridge itself. Apparently people are trespassing and riding quads, dirt bikes and recently, a person in a stolen truck drove straight up the
Friday, November 19, 2010
A Veterans Day handshake
ridge causing damage. (See more info on this incident on page 15.) Selectwoman Mary Johnson felt that trespassers and vandals should be arrested and prosecuted to make an impact, so others know vandalism will not be tolerated. The board will be looking into this matter in the future. Brayshaw also commented on the DMIAAB committee, “The committee is doing well,” he said. “I am really proud of the group that Durham and Middlefield have put together. They are the best of the best.” New Business A motion was made to make the official call to the annual town meeting on Dec. See Mfld. BOS, page 10
Spelling Bee bee-auties
Veteran Arthur Goddard, left, and Boy Scout Thomas Kannam Jr. at the Veterans Day ceremony on the Durham town green. See more Veterans Day photos on page 16. Photo submitted by Thomas Kannam Sr.
Football and softball teams address the Board of Education Elisabeth Kennedy Special to Town Times
Seen at the CVEF Spelling Bee on Friday, Nov. 12. This trio, Carolyn Wallach, Alice Blair and Nancy Senick won Most Entertaining. All three were products of RSD13 who now have children in the district now. See more photos of the community spelling bee on page 17. Town Times photo by Karen Kean
The Nov. 10 meeting of the Board of Education (BOE) was well-attended: co-captions of the football team, parents, members of the Coginchaug Football Club, players and fans requested that the final game of the 2010 season be played on home field and pledged support, manpower and resources to make that happen. Chairman Tom Hennick told the audience that the decision was not the board’s to make, but he invited the athletic director to answer questions and explore facts. Building Committee chairman Bill Currlin explained that the referenced
game would be played on Nov. 23, and that until the field is “substantially” complete, the contractor legally “owns” the project. The district’s insurance will not cover any claim until the contractor deems the field substantially complete and hands the project over to RSD13. Currlin presented a letter from the project manager recommending against using the field and added that the insurance company also recommended the field not be used at this time. Athletic director Ted Lombardo spoke at length about the game, which he referred to as “a game of great magnitude” with tournament implications, concluding that Middletown High is better
suited to accommodate the crowd, and the state-of-theart facilities are better suited to a game of this importance. Board member Elizabeth Gara stressed that the board has a fiduciary responsibility, and although they support the team and want this home game, doing so could See BOE, page 28
In this issue ... Calendar............................4 Thanksgiving.............11-13 Durham Briefs................14 Middlefield Briefs...........15 Sports ..........................30-32 Spotlight..........................22