Volume 16, Issue 48
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
A reporter’s notebook
Wysowski ‘going home’ to be principal of Bristol Eastern By Stephanie Wilcox Town Times
Six years ago I shook the hand of my principal, Dr. Steve Wysowski, after walking across the stage as a new graduate of Coginchaug Regional High School (CRHS). This week, now an adult in the working world, I shook his hand again, this time for his sake, as Dr. Wysowski himself will soon be leaving District 13. As a former student of his, Dr. Wysowski thought it was very fitting that I conducted the interview and wrote this story. “It makes me very proud,” were his exact words. “And that’s exactly what it’s about.” On July 1, Wysowski will become principal at Bristol Eastern, a high school in Bristol, the town he has lived for most of his adult life. During his 10 years as Coginchaug’s principal and two years be-
Friday, March 12, 2010
Amazing generosity for Amazing Grace
fore that as assistant principal, Wysowski says it’s been most rewarding to see his students grow. Leaving District 13 does not come easy for Wysowski. “In some ways it’s very sad because I’ve sunk my heart and soul into this place,” he said. “But I’m leaving with a warm feeling, and I’m happy that I will continue working with students and making a difference.” In addition to making a difference with young people, Wysowski says his position at Bristol Eastern will be his way of saying thanks, thanks because his own two children attended Bristol Eastern and are now successful adults. “That school did wonderful things for my two kids,” said Wysowski. “They both had people who inspired them at Bristol Eastern, and my philosophy is to give back.” See Wysowski, page 21
A family’s sweet success
Above, half of Maureen Hamilton’s Memorial School sixth grade poses outside of the Amazing Grace food pantry in Middletown with boxes of non-perishable food items they collected. From left, Katelynn Branicforte, Gunther Wallach, Klea Patushi, Shaun Whitaker, Steven Fumiatti, Joshua Dalo, JC Costa, Hailey Starr, Emily Smith, Olivia Marran and Alex Taylor. See story and more photos on page 10. Photo submitted by Maureen Hamilton
Where did we come from in our towns? By Stephanie Wilcox Town Times On St. Patrick’s day, everyone believes they’re Irish, or
In this issue ... Photo by Stephanie Wilcox
The Hassmanns, from left, Leslie, Cory, Russ, Erin and Kyle in their Durham Sugarhouse. See story and more photos on page 6.
Calendar............................4 Durham Briefs ...........12-13 Libraries .........................18 Middlefield Briefs...........19 Obituary..........................25 Reviews ...........................20 Sports ..........................28-30
pretends to be, at least for a day. But back in the day, when the Irish emigrated to America, they were made fun of and unwelcome, especially because they were Catholic. By celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on the anniversary of his death, the Irish were able to create their own self publicity campaign, making it fun to be Irish. And it caught on. But how many of us are really Irish? (See our unofficial online poll results on page 9.) Just as we suspected, resi-
dents of Middlefield and Durham are a great mix of backgrounds and heritages. In Durham, a history committee put out a book called Century of Change, 1866 to 1980 that said: “Today (1980), Durham is composed of practically every race and ethnic group, and this town is finally representative of a microcosm of America.” Durham’s heritage Until the Civil War and shortly thereafter, Durham’s See Where?, page 24