3-18-2011 TownTimes by Town Times Newspaper

Volume 17, Issue 49

Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall

Friday, March 18, 2011

Powder Ridge sale contract Coginchaug essay winners at Capitol signed; check in hand By Sue VanDerzee Town Times “I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders,” sighed Jon Brayshaw the morning after a contract of sale was signed with Alpine Ridge LLC at a special meeting on March 15. The contract has been years in the making, started by a foreclosure proceeding against former owner Ken Leavitt and continuing through a landslide (1,097151) referendum on April 10, 2007 authorizing the town to spend up to $2.85 million to buy the ski area. Two potential buyers later, the town finally has a contract with Alpine, represented at the meeting on Tuesday by Alpine principal Dennis Abplanalp and local attorney John Corona. At the cordial 30-minute session on March 15, the selectmen unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the sale, and a check for $25,000 was handed over to be deposited in the escrow account of town attorney Ken Antin, who has represented the town in the continuing negotiations with Alpine. The contract and the

check start a 90-day “due diligence” clock during which either party to the deal can back out. During that 90 days, one or more public hearings and a town meeting must be held, and townspeople must vote affirmatively to go forward with the sale, which would transfer ownership of the entire 267 +/acres to Alpine for $1 million. In return, the contract stipulates that Alpine will invest at least $2 million in the property over the first years of ownership and re-establish a ski area on the premises by Dec. 31, 2013. The money will be paid $275,000 (plus the deposit check of $25,000) at closing with $100,000 due annually thereafter for seven years. Toll of vandalism and illegal use While Brayshaw is sighing with relief, there is also a See Powder Ridge, page 6

In this issue ... Calendar............................4 Durham Briefs................12 Middlefield Briefs...........13 Obituary..........................21 Sports ..........................22-23

Two Coginchaug High School students won a statewide essay contest sponsored by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. Hannah Fowler and Emily Spence, both seniors, were joined by their families and their English teacher, Kris Nystrom, at the annual Women’s Day at the Capitol in Hartford on March 9 where State Representative Matt Lesser presented the Young Women’s Leadership Program essay contest awards to the young women. The first-place essay was written by Hannah Fowler, at right in photo, of Middlefield, who wrote about her aunt, Susan Lee Fowler, whose “bold attitude, confidence and selflessness” have inspired Hannah to decide to become a nurse practitioner, incorporating functional and holistic medicine so she may “enhance the lives of as many people possible.” Second-place was awarded to Durham’s Emily Spence, at left, for her essay about Mirinda Carfrae, who won the 2010 Ironman Kona Hawaii World Championship. Emily wrote that Carfrae inspired her “to stop focusing on who’s better than me and just make the best version of myself.” Submitted photo

Trooper position reduced, housing authority fees reinstated and increases in energy fees: all in Middlefield proposed budget By Cheri Kelley Town Times Middlefield First Selectman Jon Brayshaw proposed his 2011-12 town budget to the Board of Finance (BOF) during a special BOF meeting on March 10. The proposed budget at the time of the meeting called for a possible increase in the mill rate from 27.43 to 28.41, though new reviews to the

Board of Education’s (BOE) budget will increase that rate. At $15,592,488, the proposed total town expenditures represent a six percent increase over the current year. Brayshaw said the budget is always a work in progress and there aren’t any radical changes in this particular one. “The policies and goals expressed in this budget focus on maintaining appro-

priate levels of service and employment to provide for that assortment of services at the lowest cost to taxpayers,” stated Brayshaw. As far as new or increased revenues in the budget goes, the biggest factor was the sale and first payment on Powder Ridge. After speaking with Joe Guruch, the Financial Director for Middlefield, since the contract was signed at the Board of Select-

men (BOS) meeting held on Tues, March 15, the town will receive a $25,000 down payment, and they will enter into a 90 day due diligence period. At the end of the 90 days, if Alpine decides to purchase the property, a closing date will be set for around June 15. At the closing the town will receive the remaining $275,000. If Alpine decides by June 30 that they don’t want to continue with

the purchase, they may or may not receive the down payment back. For the next seven years the town will receive $100,000 per year to equal a total sum of one million for the purchase of Powder Ridge. There is also a minimum of two million dollars to be spent on infastructure on the property by the new owners. See Mfld. budget, page 24

Town Times Community Briefs

RSD13 discarding records The Pupil Services Office of Regional School District 13 will be destroying the confidential special education records of all former students from the class of 2004. This action is allowed by state regulations per authority of the State of Connecticut Office of Public Records Administration and Federal Regulation 34 CFR 300.573. Copies of these special education confidential records of all former students are available following submission of a written request by the student before May 31, 2011. Letters should be written to Mrs. Amy Emory, director of Pupil Personnel Services, Regional School District 13, P.O. Box 190,

135A Pickett Lane, Durham, CT 06422.

Durham Fair scholarship applications Applications for graduating high school seniors who live in Durham, Middlefield or Rockfall are now available through the guidance offices at Coginchaug Regional High School, Vinal Regional Technical High School, Xavier High School and Mercy High School. The deadline for submission of the scholarship applications is Friday, May 6, 2011. If you are either a resident who does not attend any of these schools, or if you have any questions, please contact Barbara Miller at 860349-1181 or 860-622-9474.

Index of Advertisers To advertise in the Town Times, call Joy Boone at 860-349-8026 Langer Contractors ...............3, 24 Lema, William, J., DMD...............6 Lino’s Market ...............................3 Lyman Orchards........................13 Masonicare................................21 Middlesex Community College ....11 Mike & Pats Crafts ....................13 Mims Oil.....................................10 MLT Painting .............................26 Molecular Neuroimaging ...........12 Morning Brews............................20 Movado Farm ............................25 Neil Jones Home Improvements ..25 New England Dental Health......19 PD Home Care And Repairs.....23 Perrotti’s Country Barn................7 Petruzelo Agency Insurance.....23 Quality Oil..................................18 Raney, Jason, DMD....................7 Realty Associates......................27 RLI Electric ................................26 Roblee Plumbing.......................23 Rockfall Co ................................24 RSDL Home Improvements......26 Solutions By Hypnosis ..............24 Split Enz ....................................25 Sugarloaf Mountain Works........17 T-N-T Home & Lawncare..........24 Torrison Stone & Garden ..........23 VMB Custom Builders...............22 Whitehouse Construction..........25 Wildwood Lawn Care ................22 Windows Plus............................12

Have a great idea, but need help with funding? CVEF can help! The Coginchaug Valley Education Foundation (CVEF) has grant money available for the third community grants application cycle. The deadline for submissions is July 15, 2011. Grant applications are at Durham and Middlefield Town Halls and libraries, www.coginchaugvef.com or by contacting Renee Edwards at REdwards29@comcast.net. Applicants are encouraged to focus on the two major themes: the arts and mentoring/networking across generations.

Corrections We strive to bring you the most accurate information available each week, but if you see something in Town Times that isn’t quite right, give us a call at 860349-8000, and we’ll do our best to make things right. Nick Faiella, public relations director for Durham Middlefield Falcons was the author of the article printed in the March 11 issue on page 30 titled “Falcon football makes historic move to new field”.

Durham Cemetery Plot clean-up Notice is hereby given to the patrons of the Old Durham Cemetery, Center Cemetery and Mica Hill Cemetery that all winter covers and decorations must be removed by April 15. The planting of trees, shrubs or perennials or the installation of permanent containers shall be made only by the Durham Cemetery Company. Due to maintenance and mowing constraints and possible safety concerns, the use of plastic flowers or plastic greens is prohibited at all times. Patrons are also reminded that each gravesite used for burial must have a permanent marker. For more information and/or questions, please contact Gerry Brown, Presi-

dent of the Durham Cemetery Company 860-349-3023.

DMYFS new mailing list Did you know that Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services has new youth and parent programs available to all families of Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall? From youth programs and a youth job bank to community service projects and family education programs and events, there is something for everyone. Please join the new Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services mailing list to receive all the news first! Go to www.dmyfs.org and click on “join our mailing list”! We look forward to bringing you information about our growing programs for our community’s children, teens and parents.

Devil’s Advocate correction In The Devils' Advocate's latest issue (volume 16, Issue 5) an article on the front page ran a headline that made a judgment that our news section should never make. Student writer sophomore Mike McShane wrote the headline that read "Replacement for the Better" over his article that profiled new Coginchaug girls' basketball coach Rett Mancinelli and his achievements. In publishing the headline, Mike and the editorial staff who reviewed his work published a headline that made a professional judgment that they are not qualified to make. In response to this headline, we plan to implement a stronger peer editing system and change the format of our class on deadline day. - Devil’s Advocate staff

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of Durham and Middlefield Land in 2009, 2010 & 2011 Data from CTMLS For All Your Real Estate Needs Call (860) 349-0344 Visit www.berardino.com

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ACE Oil......................................17 Addy& Sons...............................22 Allan’s Tree Service ..................23 Anthony Jacks...........................13 APEC Electric............................22 B & R Construction......................3 Berardino Company Realtors...2, 27 Binge, Bruce..............................25 Black Dog ....................................7 Boylin, William, MD .....................6 Brenda’s Main Street Feed .........7 Brick Construction .....................23 Cahill & Sons.............................26 Carlton Interior...........................10 Carmine’s Restaurant .................3 Centurion Exterminating............24 Conroy, John, DMD...................17 CT Fitness Coach .....................22 DCA Home Improvement................................10 Durham Dental ............................6 Durham Family Eyecare .............5 Exchange Club Of Durham.........3 Family Tree Care ......................26 Fine Work Home Improvement....24 Fuel & Service .............................5 Fugge, David, M........................23 Glazer Dental Associates............5 Golschneider Painting...............23 Hannoush Jeweler ....................19 Hansen Contracting ..................22 Home Works..............................26 Ianniello Plumbing.....................25 Independent Day School.............5 J & J Gutter Systems ................22 KDM Kitchens............................22 Keep Me Home .........................18

CVEF grants available

Friday, March 18, 2011

Town Times

Cuts could affect RSD13 Durham selectmen tackle local accreditation process traffic authority requests cut, rather replacements for retirements reflect reductions in salary, and there is a reduction of 1.5 positions. Mary Jane Parsons asked about the reduction in State Trooper funding, and Viccaro explained that troopers will only be used for dances and graduation while other security will be used for sports and other activities. Hennick asked the board to continue to explore ways to reduce expenditures to mitigate the six percent impact to taxpayers that is due to the loss of revenue (funding and fund balance). Viccaro offered a proposal for reducing transportation costs by going from a three-tier system to a two-tier system, indicating that there are a number of problems associated with the proposal, such as the impact on after-school sports and activities. Hen-

Elisabeth Kennedy Special to Town Times Budget discussion monopolized the March 9 Board of Education (BOE) meeting after chairman Tom Hennick stated that the board was asked to find ways to mitigate the affect on taxpayers. Bill Currlin praised Superintendent Susan Vicarro’s terrific job on the proposed budget with a 1.74 percent increase, especially with the increase in health insurance costs. But the board quickly got down to business.

See BOE budget, page 24

Town Times

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For the intersection of Maiden Lane and Wheeler Hill Road, the selectmen agreed to accept the recommendation that all three remain in place due to the extent of site disturbance and

MIDDLEFIELD APT. FOR RENT 2 BR w/spacious rooms in quiet setting. No pets. No smoking. $875/mo. & heat. 2 mos. sec. req. 1 BR unit also available $775/mo. Call 860-982-3000

re-grading required to improve intersection sight distance (ISD) from Wheeler Hill. The selectmen also approved a motion for the Parmelee Hill Road/Tri Mountain Road/Pent Road intersection to cut/re-grade the northerly road embankment on Parmelee Hill Road, clear and maintain vegetation and request a re-inspection from the town engineer. Addressing speed control on Foot Hills Road/Johnson Lane, the motion passed to follow a recommendation for police enforcement, additional speed limit signs and a new intersection warning sign posted. See Dur BOS, page 27

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As for reduction in employee salaries, Viccaro explained that no salaries were

At their March 14 meeting, the Board of Selectmen reviewed a list of Local Traffic Authority requests on which the town’s engineer, Brian Curtis, weighed in. While the board approved all the motions on Curtis’s recommendations, one item in particular stood out. For the Maple Avenue/Cemetery Road intersection, it was determined that stop signs should not be used for vehicle speed control purposes, and therefore that stop sign should actually be removed from the Maple Avenue intersection and police enforcement used for vehicle speed control. Along with this recommendation, the town will consider additional speed limit signs and intersection warning signs to help with speed control. There was a motion to post a legal notice in the paper as well as a sign posted

at the site saying that the stop sign will be removed within 30 days. However Szewczyk was eager to reach out to the residents who brought the initial speed concern to the selectmen as he said this was “such a vocal group.” First Selectman Laura Francis felt that it was the appropriate decision to follow the given recommendation, and selectman Jim McLaughlin said speed control is the wrong use of a stop sign. Ultimately the motion was approved.

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Elizabeth Gara asked about the decision to hire an IT tech and if it would come with long-term implications. Viccaro indicated that it is a zero increase as she proposes replacing a two-day per week contractor with a five-day per week entry level employee. She indicated the position will always be entry-level, so salary will not go up a lot, and with the district’s technology needs increasing as everything becomes automated, the need for this position will not diminish.

Stephanie Wilcox Town Times

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Event Sponsored by the Durham/Middlefield Exchange Club Tickets may be purchased at the door OR from an Exchange Club member. Proceeds from this event benefit CRHS Athletics and the Prevention of Child Abuse.

CRHS musical groups will provide continuous entertainment.

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USDA Choice, Whole or Half Boneless Rib Eye, Avg. Wgt. 14-16 lbs. Whole.....$5.99 USDA Choice, Whole or Half Beef Butt Tenderloins, Avg. Wgt. 7-8 lbs..............$6.99 USDA Choice Bottom Round Roast.......$3.29 USDA Choice Rump Roast....................$3.49 Whole, Boneless Pork Loins, Avg. Wgt. 9-10 lbs. . $2.49 Boneless Center Cut Pork Roast ........... $2.99 Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops .......... $2.99 Veal Shoulder Chops (Bone-in)..............$3.49 Whole Bone-in Chicken Breasts ............ $1.39

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Town Times & Places

4 FRIDAY

March 18 Girls Outside The Girls Outside program will be held at Wadsworth Mansion and Snow School in Middletown from 2 to 4 p.m. Volunteers are needed. Call Lucy at 860-395-7771 for more info or to volunteer. Dinner & Game Night Vinal Technical High School’s Diversity Club is hosting a Family Pasta Dinner & Game Night from 6 to 8 p.m at Vinal Technical High School Cafeteria, 60 Daniels St. in Middletown. There will be board games, Wii, food and lots of fun, so bring the family and come support the Vinal Diversity Club. For more info, call 860-344-7100.

SATURDAY

March 19 Scholarship Ball The annual Coginchaug High School Scholarship Ball is tonight from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Marriott in Rocky Hill. Highlights include a twohour open bar and buffet dinner, dancing to the sounds of Prelude, silent auction and dessert and coffee bar. Call Kim Donecker at 860-349-9840 to reserve your spot. American Legion Meeting The American Legion will have a meeting at the Durham Library at 10 a.m. Call Bob Francis for more info at 860349-0881.

SUNDAY

March 20 Spaghetti Dinner The Exchange Club Spaghetti Dinner with music by the Jazz Ensemble is at CRHS from 3 to 7 p.m. Call Mike Cheney at 860-301-8992 for tickets or more information. Tea Time The 11th annual Tea at the Mansion will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown. The doors will open at 1 p.m. A three-course tea menu from Kim’s Cottage Confections will be served with an estate tea from The Green Room. Area hostesses set the tables for the event with china, linens and silver befitting the

elegant setting. A boutique of selected vendors adds an opportunity for shopping. Admission is required and seating is limited. Call 860-3499521 for more info. Women’s History Month Meet the Wild Women of Middletown’s Past presented by the Middlesex County Historical Society. This walking history tour starts at 1 p.m. at the General Mansfield House, 151 Main St. in Middletown. Call 860-346-0746 for more info.

MONDAY

March 21 Parents Forum Coginchaug will host a parents forum tonight at 7 p.m. Free Eye Clinic Middlesex Community College in Middletown is having a complimentary eye glass clinic today and Wednesday from 12:30 to 5 p.m. in the lower level of Chapman Hall. No transportation will be provided. The free eye exam and glasses will be provided to people who are unemployed or those with no insurance. For more info, contact Jan Muraca of Durham Human Services at 860-349-3153.

TUESDAY

March 22 Sport Banquet The CRHS winter sports banquet begins at 6 p.m. Help Willy’s Friends Ben & Jerry’s is teaming up to raise money for Help Willy’s Friends from 12 to 9 p.m. at their 978 Main St., Branford location. They will be donating a percentage of profits throughout the day, and from 6:30 to 9 p.m., volunteers from Help Willy’s Friends will be scooping the ice cream. Destination Durham Every Tuesday at 7 p.m., on Comcast channel 19, Destination Durham will be aired for those living in Durham. DVDs are also available at the Durham and Levi libraries; call for availability. Zumba® For A Cure Durham Fitness and Durham Women’s Club have teamed up to help raise money with their first annual Zumba® For A Cure. This event will take place at Brew-

Friday, March 18, 2011

ster Elementary School, 126 Tuttle Rd. in Durham. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and Zumba® is from 6 to 7 p.m. To pre-register, visit Durham Fitness at 6 Main St., and for additional info, call 860-3492480.

Senior Showcase The Coginchaug senior arts showcase event begins at Coginchaug at 6:30 p.m.

Cromwell Dog Park Fundraiser

FRIDAY

The Cromwell Dog Park Committee and the Cromwell Friendly’s have teamed up to host a fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. All you have to do is eat dinner; it’s that easy! For everyone who visits the Cromwell Friendly’s, 48 Berlin Rd. (Route 372), between 5 and 8 p.m. with the special flyer, the restaurant will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Cromwell Dog Park Committee. Help support the efforts to build a dog park in Cromwell. To get a copy of the flyer, e-mail dogpark@cromwellct.com.

WEDNESDAY

March 23 Parent-Teacher Conferences RSD13 will have an early dismissal at 12 p.m. today and tomorrow for elementary students for parent-teacher conferences. Knit Club Come knit or crochet at the Durham Activity Center every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Healing Eucharist Come to the Church of the Epiphany, Main Street in Durham, at 9 a.m. for the weekly Holy Eucharist with healing. TOPS Join the TOPS meetings every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Durham Town Hall third floor meeting room. For more info, call Naomi at 860349-9558 or Bonnie at 860-3499433. Safe Dates Team Dinner DMYFS is hosting a Safe Dates Team recognition dinner and celebration from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the DMYFS office in Middlefield. Come for an Italian-dinner buffet, celebrate DMYFS accomplishments and look to the future together.

THURSDAY

March 24

March 25 Tot Time The MOMS Club of Durham and Middlefield sponsors a weekly Tot Time at the Middlefield Community Center, every Friday from 10:30 a.m. to noon. This openage playgroup is available for all residents and their children of Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall. No RSVP is required. For more info on the MOMS Club, please contact Ann at momsdurhammiddlefield@yahoo.com. Renaisance Dinner Coginchaug will host a Renaisance Dinner at 6:30 p.m. at CRHS. The snowdate is March 27. TGIF Memorial School’s TGIF evening for fifth grade students is tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. IDS Musical Independent Day School is performing High School Musical, starring Middlefield’s Betty Smith, tonight and tomorrow night at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Order tickets or get pricing info by calling 860-347-7235. Frog Fridays Everyone Outside invites people of all ages to observe the amazing transformations that occur in the vernal pools in Field Forrest in Durham. Over several outings, the group will see frogs, frog and salamander eggs, tadpoles, salamander and insect larvae, etc. Additional vernal pool visits will be on April 8, 17, 29 and May 1. Registration required. For more information or to register, contact Lucy at info@EveryoneOutside.org (email preferred) or 860-3957771.

SATURDAY

March 26 Semi-Formal Coginchaug will have their Semi-Formal Dance tonight at Memorial School starting at 7 p.m.

Women’s Health Conference From 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cross Street Zion Church, 440 West St. in Middletown, attend a women’s health conference. There will be motivational speakers, a nutritionist, phychologist, APRN, cardiologist, beauty consultant, free massage, screenings, Weight Watchers, Zumba and more. For info and pricing, contact the church at 860-344-9527.

SUNDAY

March 27 Free Community Supper The Church of the Epiphany will host a free community supper from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the church hall at 196 Main St. in Durham. The supper is being sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 27. Parishioners from Epiphany and Notre Dame Church will provide desserts. All are invited; all are welcome.

TUESDAY

March 29 Ensemble Night The Memorial School Ensemble Night begins at 7 p.m. at CRHS. The snowdate is March 30. Destination Durham Every Tuesday at 7 p.m., on Comcast channel 19, Destination Durham will be aired for those living in Durham. DVDs are also available at the Durham and Levi libraries; call for availability.

WEDNESDAY

March 30 Knit Club Come knit or crochet at the Durham Activity Center every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Local Author Reads Come celebrate strange denizens of the deep with local author Leslie Bulion as she launches her brand new, humorous science poetry collection At the Sea Floor Cafe at 7 p.m. at the Durham Library. Leslie will share juicy science stories, undersea photos from her March SCUBA trip, sea treats, and will lead the group in a raucous sea creature singalong! Signed books will be available for purchase.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Town Times

What is a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;transfer stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and how how much does it cost? By Judy Moeckel Special to Town Times Anthony DeFilio, of Durham, has a passion for his work as a Certified Public Accountant. He also is passionate about being chairman of the DMIAAB (Durham-Middlefield Interlocal Agreement Advisory Board) Task Force, which is currently revising the 40year-old interlocal agreement that established Durham and Middlefieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collaboratively-run transfer station. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at an interesting and exciting point in our discussions regarding the transfer station,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Officially, we held our first meeting on Sept. 14 of last year at the Durham Town Hall; however, the discussion actually began last May

when Laura Francis, Jon Brayshaw and I met to discuss how to approach reviewing DMIAABâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past, present and future.â&#x20AC;?

so they can make informed decisions about its future operations. For example, he asks, just what does it cost to get rid of an old mattress or refrigerator? What about all those â&#x20AC;&#x153;recyclablesâ&#x20AC;?? Who makes sure they get recycled and what does this cost? Above all, DeFilio says, he and the task force are aiming for transparency in the operations of the transfer station, and the townspeople play an important role in this openness.

The transfer station represents a large expense to both the town of Durham and the town of Middlefield. For the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2010, Durham and Middlefield contributed $362,114 and $207,964 respectively; altogether, a total of $570,078 is provided by the towns to operate the transfer station. For state fiscal year 2010, the total operational cost for the towns of Durham and Middlefield is $756,572.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want people to be curious about how this all works, about where their money is going,â&#x20AC;? he adds.

Chairman DeFilio says he and the task force have a clear goal: to help residents of Middlefield and Durham better understand exactly where their money goes in running the transfer station

The DMIAAB Task Force is almost done reviewing and recommending additions and/or deletions to the inter-local agreement between the towns of Durham and Middlefield. The next

phase in the process will be to look at the operations of the facility and recommend possible improvements. DeFilio says this will involve the expertise of different members of the DMIAAB Task Force, as well as open and possibly difficult discussions among the members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will not always agree on things, evident from the minutes posted on the websites of Durham and Middlefield, but in the end we will offer a number of clear and definitive suggestions that will benefit the transfer station,â&#x20AC;? he said. DeFilio says that he and the task force members hope to propose a new DMIAAB agreement that will bring about, above all, a more efficient transfer station operation. This, he is confident, will not only save money for

taxpayers, but will also be a model for other towns to follow. Look for more information from the DMIAAB Task Force in the coming months, as well as for opportunities to give them your input.

Happy St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day!

Karl Rubendunst helped out at the DAC St. Pattyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day event this week. See more photos on page 21. Photo by Cheri Kelley 1193205

USPS 021-924 Published weekly by Record-Journal Publishing Co., d/b/a Town Times, P.O. Box 265, Middlefield, CT 06455. Periodicals Postage Paid at Middlefield, CT and at additional mailing offices.

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Friday, March 18, 2011

Town Times

Middlefield First Selectman Jon Brayshaw faces opposition for Powder Ridge short-term bond By Chuck Corley Special to Town Times The Middlefield Board of Selectmen (BOS) met on March 7, at which time Jon Brayshaw came under heavy criticism for maintaining a short-term bond for the Powder Ridge property rather than opting for a permanent bond. Residents such as Seb Aresco pointed out that bond rates will likely go up, which may leave the town paying double-digit interest rates on its current short-term bond. Aresco and other residents, like Paul Pizzo and Marianne Corona, recommended going to a permanent bond in order to secure the interest rate. Brayshaw responded that the town currently can’t take out a permanent bond on the Powder Ridge property due to the results of the initial bond referendum for Powder Ridge. According to Brayshaw, the town must guarantee that a ski area will go onto the site before it can apply for a permanent bond. Although Alpine is currently in negotiation to purchase the property, Brayshaw remarked that there is currently “no accurate representa-

tion of who will buy Powder Ridge,” and that the town would need another referendum to broaden the potential uses for Powder Ridge in order to implement a permanent bond for the land. Although other issues, such as going with a taxable bond, came up, Brayshaw repeatedly explained that going with a taxable bond or a permanent bond would require another referendum. While this may change with Alpine’s recent agreement to purchase Powder Ridge, the matter was as-yet undecided as of March 7. Pizzo questioned why the town needed to hire a financial advisor for Powder Ridge. While the town already has a Financial Director with Joe Geruch and bond counseling for Powder Ridge with Joe Fazi, board member Ed Bailey explained that the town needs to hire a professional for financial advice regarding Powder Ridge. Brayshaw also previewed the budget that evening, though he noted that it hadn’t factored in the full increase from the school budget, as the town underestimated the increase. He explained

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Powder Ridge (Continued from page 1) real concern about the state of the property. Residents who remember skiing there or taking their kids to ski there have no idea of the destruction of the property that has occurred since the ski area closed. There has been major vandalism to buildings and infrastructure while Leavitt was in the bankruptcy process (documented with photos in Town Times previously) and damage continues with quads and dirt bikes damaging the slopes. The Middlefield Police Department has been asked to see what they can do about further securing the property, and residents who notice vehicles on the ski slopes are asked to call the police. Tearing up the slopes with quads and other vehicles will make it more difficult and expen-

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matter should be looked into further, it didn’t come up for additional discussion that night. Two proclamations were also issued that night, with Brayshaw commending Kyle and Kevin Onofreo on attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. As a final matter of business, Brayshaw then closed the meeting by appointing Pat Olzewski to the Zoning Board of Appeals. This appointment met with unanimous approval.

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that, while there is some question about whether the town will receive $179,000 from the state for manufacturing equipment, the town should receive it for the next budget cycle but that it won’t receive it in any following years. Additionally, Brayshaw’s budget includes the use of $75,000 from the over $1 million fund balance to offset the budget. As various town employees working in the Community Center have complained about not being able to work in the center during an election, Brayshaw informed the rest of the board that he sent a letter to RSD13 Superintendent Sue Viccaro about using Memorial School for elections, but that he’s still waiting for a response from her. Brayshaw also remarked that the town has almost spent the last of its fourth $300,000 housing rehabilitation grant from the state, and that if the grant fails to receive more interest from residents, it may be the last such grant the town receives. The town’s purchasing policy also came up for discussion, with Brayshaw suggesting that the board increase the amount of money the first selectman is authorized to spend without needing approval from other boards or the town. Mary Johnson disagreed with the suggestion, stating that the purchasing policy is meant to avoid a “good old boy’s network” and to make the town’s purchases transparent. While Brayshaw felt the

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sive for any new owner to reestablish safe skiing. Officials believe that much of the recent “use damage” with quads and dirt bikes is caused by local people even though it hurts the chances of future skiing on the property. Brayshaw attributes this more to thoughtlessness than destructiveness, but the end result is the same. In that regard, the next 90 days are extremely important because continued destruction could impact the eventual sale of the property. Price and financing questions Brayshaw noted that he has heard people say the “property is worth much more than $1 million.” What they are not considering, added Brayshaw, is the amount of expense and work needed on the property as well as the fact that “the difference between the price paid by the town ($2.85 million) and Alpine is really the price of the development rights for the property. Townspeople definitely did not want this property to turn into housing.” Brayshaw further notes that besides the actual money that will accrue to the town at closing and over the next seven years, the town will gain annual taxes and avoid costs for insurance, Wallingford and Meriden taxes and other expenses that the town currently has to pay. “That’s a $50,000 or so annual nosebleed that will stop,” Brayshaw declared, “plus we’ll begin to collect taxes again.” A side issue that has surfaced repeatedly in recent meetings has been the financing question. Residents have taken up the chorus that permanent financing (bonds) should have been secured long ago for the purchase. (See article this page.) “What people don’t seem to understand,” Brayshaw explained, “is that any financing has to follow strictly the parameters in the approved referendum, which means that we can’t purchase permanent bonds until we have a buyer willing to establish a ski area. At the

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See Powder Ridge, page 16

Friday, March 18, 2011

Town Times

Middlefield welcomes new Resident State Trooper Eric Kelly By Cheri Kelley Town Times

The opportunities that come with the position of Resident Trooper made him want to work in a town like Middlefield. “I have worked with Officer Halligan and Officer Polansky before and look forward to working

with them again. They were here when I worked at Powder Ridge. They are an asset to town,” Kelly stated. He is looking forward to becoming DARE certified because he enjoys working with kids. He participated in the DARE program when he was a child and still remembers his DARE teacher, Trooper Fred Briger, who was still on the job when Kelly graduated from the academy. Trooper Briger attended his graduation but has since retired. Briger was someone he considered a role model as a child, and he feels that the program is an important one. For fun, Kelly and his family like to travel to upstate New York, the Glens Falls area, as well as Boston and the Caribbean. He enjoys hiking and all the autumn-

Middlefield First Selectman Jon Brayshaw with new Resident State Trooper Eric Kelly at their first meeting at the Town Hall. Photo by Dee Wilcox season activities in New England, including the Durham, Haddam Neck and Portland fairs. Kelly is also an avid Red Sox and Bruins fan and assists with little

league baseball in Portland. While traveling about in Middlefield, if you happen to see Trooper Kelly, stop and welcome him to town.

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Kelly has lived in Portland for the past 25 years. He moved there when he was seven and attended and graduated from Portland schools. He worked at Powder Ridge in the rental department throughout high school and was a member of the Portland Volunteer Fire Department Company 2, but left after joining the State Police.

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The newest member of our community is Trooper Eric Kelly whose position began on Friday, March 11, as the town of Middlefield’s Resident State Trooper. Kelly has been with the state police since 2002. After graduating from the academy, he was assigned to Troop F in Westbrook, which he considers his “home” troop. Kelly worked patrol at Troop F for six years, primarily during the midnight shift. He specialized in commercial motor vehicle enforcement. Kelly stated, “In 2008, I transferred to the Central District Major Crime Squad, which covered the central part of the state.” There, he was involved in investigations, including homicides, sexual assaults, suicides, explosions (Kleen Energy), the Hartford Distributors Inc. shooting in Manchester, fatal motor vehicle accidents, etc. “I took extensive crime scene processing and interview/interrogation classes,” he said. “I spent three years with Major Crimes with the majority processing the earlier mentioned crime scenes. I am glad to be back at my home troop.” As part of his new role in Middlefield, Kelly said that he is trying to meet as many people as he can. He is looking forward to being back in a more proactive law enforcement roll. Kelly feels that Major Crime was chiefly reactive. “I know it’s cliché, but to have the opportunity to help someone is what is rewarding the most,” he shared. The best part of being Resident State Trooper in Middlefield, for Kelly, is the opportunity to work with people in a small, close-knit community atmosphere, similar to that of Portland,

CT, which is were Kelly lives with his wife Pam and their three children. He also feels that the challenges that come with being the Resident Trooper in town will all be part of the package.

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Town Times Opinion

Friday, March 18, 2011

Damage at Powder Ridge makes town’s job more difficult This is your property, Middlefielders. And this is a picture of the damage caused by quads and dirt bikes to the ski slope. Now that a contract has been signed for the purchase of the property, it is hoped that residents will help maintain the condition of our ski area so that someday there will be ski trails rather than quad trails. Stephanie Wilcox, editor

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Letters to the Editor Historical Society needs your help! The Middlefield Historical Society needs your help. You have all probably seen those sepia-toned books at Walgreens and elsewhere that feature images and stories of local towns. Well, we are trying to put one together for Middlefield. We are looking for old images of town, anything prior to 1970 or so. Maybe you had a greatgrandmother who was an apple blossom queen? Or a relative who lived in Rockfall and worked at the pistol shop? Or maybe you marched in the Middlefield Centennial parade back in 1966? Have an old picture of

one of the original schools in town? Did your great-great grandfather march with the Middlefield Cornet Band? (Huh?) Were you in Little League, scouts or 4-H as a kid? Please share your bevy with us! All photos will be scanned and returned to the owner, and your ownership of the image will be noted in the book. So please, go up into the attic and do a little searching for photos, albums, scrapbooks or diaries. Head down to the basement and pore through those boxes of “old stuff.” (You know you have been meaning to anyway. Besides, it’s spring cleaning time!) Whether it’s one image or a boxful, all contributions will be greatly appreci-

Letters policy The Town Times intends to present a forum for the lively exchange of ideas and issues. To facilitate the publication of your contributions, several guidelines should be followed. Letters to the editor must be signed, with a phone number included. The writer will be called to confirm authorship. No anonymous letters will be printed. Contributions by any individual or group will not be published more frequently than once a month. Every effort will be made to print all letters received. However, the selection and date of publication will be at the discretion of the editor. Finally, the opinions expressed by our letter writers are not necessarily those of this newspaper. Deadline: Tuesday noon for Friday publication.

ated. You might even find something worthwhile to donate while you’re at it. Please contact me at 860349-0618 and I’ll be glad to come and get the goodies! Ken Twombly, President, Middlefield Historical Society

Board of Ed, please go back to the drawing board As a working housewife and mother who has been able to work full-time, raise a family and run a household efficiently and effectively, I would be more than happy to assist you in cutting expenses and becoming more economical in your annual budget — 6.25 percent is 6.25 percent too high. Margaret Neri, Middlefield

They called on the phone. Stopped by when our papers began to pile up. A town ambulance member called. A man who belongs to our fire department knocked on our door to check on us. A young man from Guilford helped me get back up the driveway. I had fishtailed and gotten stuck and could not go forward or back. There have been a couple of other incidents; you get the picture. I cannot thank these folks again personally, but I can say “you have touched me deeply” through this letter to the editor of our community paper. These people are special, and I want them to know that I know, and now our town knows. Sincerely, Marianne Selander, Durham

How about a Unusual winter life tax? I’ve had lots of folks askand acts of ing me to write a little something inapropriate and unackindness ceptable, filled with vitriol

By all standards, this has been an unusual winter. It has also been a winter with unusual acts of kindness from people we do not know.

and in a mean spirit, very intolerant, a rant or a diatribe. Of course, that’s what the response will be from my “head in the sky” liberal friends out there in la la

land, including, perhaps even our govenor whom you elected, whose solution to a $3.4 billion deficit is to gee, guess what? Hey, I have a novel idea for the state, let’s try raising taxes! Yeah, yeah, we don’t produce anything on our own, and we spend money like a drunken sailor year after year, and now we need money because of our own irresponsibilty. So sure, let’s steal more of it from the common man, and then next year we will steal more of it, and then the following year even more. Is there anything in Connecticut that is not taxed? Beer, ciagarettes, the air we breathe, gas, chewing gum, water, sewage? Can someone out there find me something that isn’t taxed? Please, there must be something that isn’t taxed. Are you in love? Look to the future of a love tax. They’ll hook you up to a machine that will read your emotions. Yup, you’re in love, pay up. There’s a death tax. How about a life tax? From the first dollar you earn to your last breath and even after that. Tax, tax, tax, borrow money and spend. That’s all they can do. Tax and spend. But wait!

See Tax, page 25

Town Times Columns

Friday, March 18, 2011

“Do Tango with the Rango” The smell of popcorn and candy welTanya comed us as I entered the theater hand-in-hand with my five-year-old son. This would be our first one-on-one outing, the first of many to come, since his baby sister was born in November. Needless to say, it was a very special day for both of us, and one we enjoyed to the hilt with our bottles of water and bags of M&Ms. My son and I aren’t anything if not chocoholics. We are also fans of Johnny Depp, and no, I haven’t tricked the poor lad into admiring my favorite actor. He happened to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory one day on ABC Family, and I wasn’t even the one holding the remote control! The oddity that was Willy Wonka amused him to the point that we watched the film every day for two weeks. The rest is history. Now whenever we point out Johnny Depp in another movie (Alice in Wonderland, Pirates of the Caribbean, Corpse Bride) and ask who he is, his answer is always a resounding “Willy Wonka!” That said, what better first date for us to have than to see Willy Wonka as Rango. Rango is one wily chameleon, though truth be told, we never really learn the true name of the charming reptile. The name is an alias for the charismatic pet living a superficial life in a toy terrarium. His days of play-acting (his audience is a windup goldfish, the torso of a Barbie doll, and a dead bug in the terrarium) are turned upside down when tragedy befalls him on a highway near the Mojave Desert, setting the little guy free under the scorching sun. The adventure truly begins when an armadillo directs him to the town of “Dirt” where he goes in search of water. The story is ripe with metaphors and a few expected clichés, but the delivery is altogether delightful.

Adults will appreciate the philosophical Feke crisis of identity as Rango tries to make his way in a whole new world. Children will appreciate a plethora of action and silly jokes. Everyone will appreciate the brilliant animation, absolutely stunning, and not ruined by attempts to put it into 3D. The score, too, is a perfect backdrop to this feisty Western and deserves a round of applause. I must say that certain jokes and references made me raise my brow: The mention of a prostate followed by a character putting on a latex glove? The mention of a mammogram? The repeated mentions that Rango would die – and I’ll ruin it for all of you now and say that he doesn’t die in the film, but we all will die someday. Otherwise, the film does a good job in staying child-friendly while engagingly entertaining for adults. Yes, my son does enjoy a Johnny Depp movie or two, and this one definitely gets added to the list. I wonder what he will say the next time we ask him who our favorite actor is. His answer may no longer be “Willy Wonka” but an enthusiastic “Rango!” Rango: 3 stethoscopes

Diagnosis: Movies

Tanya Feke is a physician at Middlesex Hospital Primary Care Durham and guest columnist for the Town Times. She has been press credentialed to the LA Film Festival and continues to pursue a love of film. Diagnosis: Movies reviews are rated on a five stethoscope scale.

Greening your home one room at a time – steps to a greener closet As Earthwise conwith just a few new tinues its room-byitems here and there. Claudia O’Connell room green tour, let’s For those of us who open the doors of the aren’t slaves to fashbedroom closet and ion and can afford a explore. The first more resourceful apthing we may notice is how many proach to covering our birthday fall-by-the-wayside trends are repre- suits, shopping for pre-owned clothsented on hangers and shelves. Don’t ing from consignment shops is a fanget me wrong, looking stylish is great, but many of us can get away See Green cleaning, next page

Earthwise

Budget woes 2011-2012 mitigate the overall From the federal increase in taxpayer government down to Susan L. Viccaro, liability for those the local level and Superintendent years. Our fund baleverywhere in beance, similar to the tween, everyone is reserve funds that struggling with budgthe towns of Durham ets this season. Reand Middlefield have, duced revenue and higher expenses are the main reasons, is used for emergency projects just as the towns use them. In addition, and this is true in District 13 as well. There are some positive factors they allow the reserve to build up so that contribute to the proposed 2011- they can fund capital projects with2012 Region 13 budget. First, 221 em- out the need to secure bonding. Any ployees will receive a zero percent additional funds that are not expendsalary increase next year. This in- ed at the end of the school year are cludes our teaching staff, who will used to offset the budget the followalso not see any step movement; our ing year. Over the past two years we ABA therapists; and our nurses. have utilized just under $1.4 million Couple this with zero percent in- of our fund balance, leaving a large creases for administrators, support hole; consequently, our net budget staff and central office personnel in increase is 6.25 percent. Compare our current year, and you can see this with 2009-2010 when our net that District 13 employees under- budget increased by .68 percent and, stand the difficult economic times 2010-11 when our net budget inwe are all experiencing. A second creased by 2.10 percent, because we positive factor is that we are experi- applied a significant amount of our encing declining enrollment. This is fund balance. This year we are pronot a concept that is unique to Dis- jecting a year-end fund balance cartrict 13 but is being seen in many ryover of $489,215. This, again, is a communities across the state. Our much lower number than in previenrollment is such that I have been ous years. The board is also cognizant that in able to eliminate 1.5 teaching positions for next year while remaining the spring of 2013, a team from the within our class size guidelines. A New England Association of Schools third factor is that our health insur- and Colleges (NEASC) will visit ance is increasing by 10.6 percent. Coginchaug High School to evaluate While that may seem high, it is be- the school’s compliance with the low the industry average of between NEASC’s Standards for Accredita13 and 14 percent. This, coupled with tion. They will provide a report sevincreased co-pays — 19 percent for eral months after their visit that will teachers in 2012-13 and 20 percent in contain commendations and recom2013-14 — is helping to keep costs mendations and will ultimately dedown. Finally, we have decreased termine our accreditation status. our debt service for next year by The budget for 2011-12 must include $132,421 by rebonding some of our ex- funds to support the school’s isting debt and receiving favorable preparatory self-study and must also maintain the programs and services interest rates. On the expense side, the portion required by the NEASC Standards we can control, I have recommended for Accreditation. This year, even salary concesa 1.74 percent increase for next year. This is prior to the Board of Educa- sions from the majority of our staff tions making any additional cuts. and a proposed expense line increase Administrators across the district of just 1.74 percent aren’t enough to did an excellent job of prioritizing mitigate the depletion of our fund and keeping expenses to a minimum, balance and decreasing state revwhile still maintaining a focus on enue. Nevertheless, the budget is a work in progress, and I expect that student learning and support. Our difficulty in the 2011-12 budg- the Board of Education will make adet is one of limited receipts and our ditional changes, including reducdeclining fund balance. Our interest tions, over the next couple of weeks. income is down by $19,000. Our state As they deliberate, they will strive to grants in the areas of transportation maintain their focus on the educaand special education excess costs tion we are charged with providing are currently down by $74,485, with and the need to maintain current additional cuts in these areas still services, even as they keep the impossible. These are the preliminary pact on the taxpayers in mind. I urge figures we have been given. By far, everyone to come to the meetings on the biggest impact on next year’s the budget so that you can better unbudget is that we have used up the derstand the issues that are having majority of our fund balance over such a significant impact on this the last two years in an attempt to year’s process.

A View From District 13

Friday, March 18, 2011

Town Times

Seminar at Country Flower Farms in Middlefield

Green cleaning

Join Lori Davis from Sunny Border Nurseries to learn about one of the latest trends in gardening (as seen in the March/April issue of Fine Gardening Magazine) – alpine trough gardens! You will hear about the easy culture and adaptability of these hardy alpine plants for use in planters and rock gardens. Then choose from a wide selection of beautiful, plants and design, and plant your own trough to take home. So come create an instant, colorful, care-free mini-garden by attending. Location is Country Flower Farms, 320 Baileyville Rd. in Middlefield, on April 7 from 7 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. Send an email to cffseminars@yahoo.com to sign up for the event.

tastic strategy for keeping good quality threads out of the landfills. The average American pitches 68 pounds of clothing every year. When you donate clothing, sell on consignment or repurpose a garment with some creative alterations, you are saving energy and resources that are consumed when new clothes are produced and the emissions needed to ship those items to retail outlets. And even if you cling to your dog-eared copy of Vogue, there are always wardrobe staples that don’t vary too much from year-to-year. For instance, I always look for classic, quality leather belts at consignment stores. Saving animal hides without sacrificing quality is a strategy that culminates with a fiscal fashion homerun. Next, let’s look at our relationships with the local dry cleaner. You probably know already that many dry cleaners continue to use hazardous chemicals, including highly toxic solvents such as perchloroethylene (or perc). If you rely on the dry cleaner for a crisp press, consider having clothes laundered and pressed instead, avoiding the use of solvents altogether. When it comes to wire hangers, always return them to the dry cleaner for

Web update Our most recent poll question asked, “Have you ever utilized the open space properties in Durham/Middlefield?” As of press time Wednesday, 26 people responded to this. Sixtynine percent said “Yes,” 23 percent said “No” and 8 percent said “I’m not familiar with the open space properties.” For these folks, we hope that you found the article on page 3 of the March 11 Town Times issue useful in outlining the various uses of open space property, and we encourage everyone to get outdoors this spring to check the properties out. To answer our next poll question, go online to www.towntimes.com.

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(Continued from page 9) reuse. Manufactured from steel, they have great value for the scrap steel industry. Each year, landfills in our country are deluged with wire hangers. Americans carelessly toss 3.5 billion wire hangers weighing in at 195 million pounds of steel. Scrap steel is a thriving industry and reduces air and water pollution and mining wastes by 70 percent. The steel industry’s annual efforts save enough energy to power 18 million homes for a year. Another product to watch for (or recommend to your dry cleaner) is the EcoHanger, made from 100 percent recycled paperboard. These hangers can be imprinted for added value in marketing and advertising. Reusable dry cleaning bags are another great idea. Best Cleaners, with a facility in nearby Middletown, sells a reusable dry cleaning bag for just a couple of dollars. The bags are oversized and built for stuffing with two week’s worth of business clothes. Its clever design is two-fold: a generous drawstring duffel for hauling soiled clothes to the cleaner, and a fitted garment bag to transport your clean items back home. By using this rugged item every week, you will take a step toward lowering the number of single-use plastic bags entering U.S. landfills each year. By the way, that number is around 300 million. There are always more steps to take to attain a green closet. Of course, you can dry clothes on a line or rack, wash and dry only full loads using Energy Star appliances, use green detergents and avoid bleach and phosphates, and wear clothes until they are soiled. And by shopping for organic cotton and linen and cruelty-free silk (that sounds like another column), you will make a huge environmental impact. Rest assured, the small steps you take can quickly become habits, and before you know it, you will take on even more. Keep up the good work, and stay tuned for more greening your home strategies as Earthwise goes roomby-room. See my blog: kidstodayoyvay.blogspot.com.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Celebrate the spring equinox! By Cheri Kelley Town Times

raw egg on its end. My mother heard this once and, of course, as kids we thought it was pretty silly. So there we sat for hours trying to balance those eggs. It was hilar-

Tulips coming up through the ground in Rockfall. Photo by Cheri Kelley ious, and in the end my mom was the only one who got hers to stay put. The neighborhood kids were all in on it, and we had a great time. To create your own vernal equinox celebration with kids, one particular idea also has to do with eggs. Carefully take the tops off of a few eggs, empty the contents, and clean the eggshells carefully with warm, soapy water. Let the eggshells dry and then fill with a bit of soil. Plant a sprinkle of grass seeds in the little eggieplanter and cover with a bit more soil. Place the eggs in a fun and fantastic hand-painted or decorated repurposed egg carton section on the windowsill. Water to keep it moist, and soon the green grass will have sprouted up and created a lovely fresh burst of life indoors to match the new growth outside. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re feeling extra creative, you can add fun faces to the eggshells before they are planted to add a touch of whimsy. Another fun activity is to have your kids brainstorm and come up with all the things they want to do in the upcoming months. Just take a big poster board, crayons and markers and write up the ideas. If the kids are too young to write, the adults can help with that, and the kids can illustrate their ideas and goals. Some examples might be, â&#x20AC;&#x153;To walk with my toes bare in the warm grass;â&#x20AC;? another may be, â&#x20AC;&#x153;To

help Dad grill fresh veggies outside, and smell the sweet smells as they fill the breezes.â&#x20AC;? This poster can be placed on the refrigerator for a reminder of all the things there are to do and all that there is to enjoy in the warmer months ahead. Everyone loves a celebration, and this year, spring is definitely welcome to come and warm the grass and soil and bring days of chasing butterflies and watching little league games while snacking on grilled hot dogs at Peckham and Allyn Brook parks.

The impact of winter on our local maple sugarers By Cheri Kelley Town Times Connecticut is home to many maple syrup makers, and Durham in particular has many families that participate in the fun. The maple sugaring season starts in the late winter and goes into early spring. With the wacky weather, many people have wondered if the sap processing was affected, and how our syrup would taste this year. Russ Hassmann and his family have a sugarhouse in Durham, and he talked

about the weather and its effects on the sap. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has been a harsh winter, but the season hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been too bad. There have been a lot of starts and stops, but the flow has been pretty good, better than last year,â&#x20AC;? he said. The starts and stops are due to the changes in temperature. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a quick review of how the process works: when the tree senses that it is time for spring, it sends the sap up to the leaf system to prepare for spring; this happens in the day See Maple syrup, page 27

'ER =SYV ;SVOJSVGI &IRIÂ˝X *VSQ 7SQI 2I[ 7OMPPW# Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x203A; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ÇĄ Â&#x192;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2026;Â&#x203A;ÇĄ Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2030;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x153;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x160;Â&#x192;Â&#x2022; Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022; Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013; Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â? Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2021; Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x2122; Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â?Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2022;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022; Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013; Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2039;Â&#x201D; Â&#x2021;ĆĄÂ&#x2021;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x203A;Ç¤ Â&#x160;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D; Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â?Â&#x2020;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013;Â&#x201D;Â&#x203A; Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022; Č&#x2039; Č&#x152; Â&#x160;Â&#x192;Â&#x2022; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;Â? Â&#x2020;Â&#x2021;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x2026;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x153;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2020; Â&#x2013;Â&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x2018;Â?ÇŚÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D; Â&#x2020;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Ç¤ Â&#x2021; Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021; Â&#x192;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x192;Â&#x201E;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018; Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2021; Â&#x203A;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2014; Â&#x2122;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x160; Â&#x192; Â&#x2C6;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2026;Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2022;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2030;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x153;Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x192;Â&#x17D; Â&#x192;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â?Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2013;Ç¤ Â&#x2021;Â&#x192;Â&#x201D;Â? Â&#x192;Â&#x201E;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2013; Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2021; Â&#x2013;Â&#x201D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022; Â&#x2039;Â? Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2026;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2026;Â&#x192;Â&#x17D; Ć¤Â&#x2021;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2022;ÇĄ Â&#x17D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x192;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2019; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x201E;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2020;Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030;ÇĄ Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x192;Â? Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2021; Â?Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x192;Â&#x2030;Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2021;Â?Â&#x2013; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â&#x2022;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2021;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â?ÇĄ Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â?Â&#x192;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2013;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2026;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2030;Â&#x203A; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2020; Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2021;Ç¨

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Spring is finally here! The vernal equinox is March 21, and for many it is just another day. However, this year may be different for some because of the incredible winter, full to the max with fluffy frozen flakes. Indeed most are ready for a change. Spring truly is a time for people to enjoy new beginnings, to look for those treasured signs of the season â&#x20AC;&#x201D; crocuses pushing up through the soil, reaching for the warmth of the sun, and the return of the birds from their long flight from the south. The vernal equinox is the day where the sun crosses the equator, and there is an equal amount of daylight and night in the northern hemisphere. In many cultures the vernal equinox is a time for celebration. In Christian beliefs, Easter is always the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Nowruz is the Persian New Year, and this celebration is always on the first day of spring. The celebration is 13 days long and is part of the Zoroastrianism tradition. The legends of the ancient Greeks tell the tale of Persephone, daughter of Demeter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every year, when Persephone left her, Demeter grieved, nothing grew, and there was winter on earth. But as soon as her daughterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light footsteps were heard, the whole earth burst into bloom. Spring had come. As long as mother and daughter were together, the earth was warm and bore fruit.â&#x20AC;? This was taken from a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book, Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Aulairesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Aulaires. In this story the child was the joy in her motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life, and it was she for whom the world grew for. Many other cultures and religions use the ideas of rebirth and fertility as a basis for their spring celebrations, many of which are centered on the symbol of an egg. It is said that on the vernal equinox one can balance a

Town Times

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Durham Town Briefs

Durham Government Calendar (All meetings will be held at the Durham Library unless otherwise noted. Check the town website at www.townofdurhamct.org for updates.) Wednesday, March 23 7:30 p.m. — Board of Education at Strong School 7 p.m. — Public Hearing on Water Extension Feasibility Study Thursday, March 24 1:30 p.m. — Senior Citizen Board at the Durham Activity Center Monday, March 28 7 p.m. — Board of Selectmen on the third floor of the Town Hall Tuesday, March 29 7 p.m. — Ethics Committee

P&Z rejects zone change application The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) held a public hearing on March 2 regarding a proposed zone change at 999R New Haven Road to turn .45 acres of farm/residential property into a commercial lot. The applicant, Richard Kaika, explained that he initially purchased the property with the understanding that it was “light industrial,” only for it to be reassessed as farm/residential in November of 2010. Town planner Geoff Colegrove stated that the property was zoned as farm/residential back in 1974 and the

assessor’s office failed to correct this error until last year. While the property was near the minimum size for a commercial lot, the zone change came under protest from resident John Forline, who cited a number of reasons why a commercial lot was inappropriate for the area. He stated it “would create a small island of commercial property within a farm/residential space” and would negatively impact the value of neighboring properties. He added that the presence of wetlands on two sides of the property may also pose a problem for commercial use. Another matter Forline brought up was that Kaika’s trucks were parked along the right of way, as they fail to fit

on the lot itself. Kaika explained that they were only along the right of way due to snow, rather than an inability to fit the vehicles on his own property. Before making their decision, the commission also asked Kaika what he planned on using the lot for. Kaika explained that he wants the land for outside storage for his fencing business. Commission member Lisa Davenport noted that such a business doesn’t create any hazardous waste or other problems and said, “I’d hate to see him move to another town,” rather than keep his business in Durham. While chairman George Eames agreed that the commission wants Kaika to stay in town, he reminded Davenport that they are a land use commission, rather than an economic one, and they need to abide by their regulations. As such, when the matter came to a vote, the commission unanimously turned down Kaika’s application. The only other matter of note discussed that night was regarding the signage at Lake Grove. Member Dave Foley informed the commission that two signs were on the property in violation of the town’s regulations. Colegrove agreed to issue a cease and desist order regarding the signs. (Chuck Corley)

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Friday, March 18, 2011

Community supper The Church of the Epiphany will host a free community supper on Sunday, March 27, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the church hall at 196 Main St. in Durham. The supper is being sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 27. Parishioners from Epiphany and Notre Dame Church will provide desserts. All are invited; all are welcome.

Storm assistance If you need the assistance of the Durham Volunteer Fire Company for a flooded basement, please call Valley Shore at 800-6186711 or 911 if is an emergency. We are collecting data for a potential FEMA claim for any damage caused by early March rain storms. If you have any uninsured damage to your home or business, please see PreAssessment Individual Assistance and Business Form and send that information to Jen Keogh in Building/Health/Engineering department. Do not hesitate to call 911 if you see a dangerous situation on our roads, such as standing water over the road or any accidents.

Durham Library Hours: Regular library hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Visit www.durhamlibrary.org to search the cat-

alog, review your account, register for a program or renew your materials online. For information or to register for a program by phone, call 860-349-9544. Facebook: Receive daily updates on library news and events by becoming a fan on Facebook. Click on the Facebook link on the library’s website. Evening Adventures: The Kids’ Book Club spring session for grades 1 through 3 will meet on Thursdays through April 7. Each week a different book will be discussed along with crafts, snacks and games related to the book. Participants are required to read the book prior to the discussion. DPL Book Talk: Introducing the Durham Library’s new book blog. View staff and guest picks and share your comments with everyone, or recommend a book yourself. It’s easy and fun. Just click on the DPL Book Talk link on the library’s website. Exciting Music Event: The award-winning duo Atwater-Donnelly will perform a unique and thrilling blend of traditional American and Celtic folk music and dance, along with original songs and poetry on Saturday, April 9, at 1 p.m. Teen Book Club: The teen book club will meet on Tuesday March 29, at 7 p.m. when The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier will be discussed. Copies of the book are available at the library.

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Middlefield Town Briefs

Friday, March 18, 2011

WPCA discusses sewer rate increase During a Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) regular meeting on March 9, one item discussed was of particular interest — an increase to the sewer rates to Meriden. The Lake Beseck sewer goes to Meriden, and the town pays a per gallon charge. This per gallon charge is the biggest factor when the sewer use charge is set, which is to be paid by the residents of Lake Beseck. Ed Bailey stated that Meriden has raised their rates by 27.56 percent; this is in addition to the 12 percent increase a year ago. Bailey noted that there was a 65 percent increase over a five-year period and that Middlefield pays the highest sewer rate in the state of Connecticut. The only thing that residents can do is to notice that the more water is conserved the less that has to be paid out. The board is looking into creative conservation ideas, including conservation kits and incentives for new toilets. (From Minutes/ Cheri Kelley)

The Middlefield Park and Recreation Department is sponsoring a movie night on Friday, March 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Middlefield Community Center auditorium. The movie is free and snacks will be sold or you are welcome to bring your own. Parents can drop kids off or are welcome to stay and enjoy the film. Megamind, starring Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill, will be the featured film. Please RSVP to Chris at middlefieldpr@aol.com.

Senior programs

Hours: The library is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Visit www.leviecoe.com or call the library at 860-349-3857 for information or to register for any program. You can also renew, reserve and check your library record on the website. Special Closing: The library will be closed Saturday, March 26, for the Homeschoolers’ Art Gala. Wish List Books: Donate one or both of the following Wish List Books to our library: Bel-Air Dead by Stuart Woods or The Fifth Wit-

Middlefield Government Calendar (Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held in the Community Center.) Tuesday, March 22 7 p.m. —Zoning Board of Appeals 7 p.m. —Board of Selectmen Wednesday, March 23 7:30 p.m. — Board of Education at Strong School 6:30 p.m. —Planning and Zoning Monday, April 4 7 p.m. —Board of Selectmen Tuesday, April 5 7:30 p.m. — Midstate Regional Planning Agency at 100 DeKoven Dr., Middletown Wednesday, April 6 7:30 p.m. — Board of Education meeting at CRHS 8 p.m. — Board of Education at CRHS public hearing on budget Wednesday, April 13 6:30 p.m. —Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday, April 14 7 p.m. —Board of Finance ness by Michael Connelly. If you chose to donate one or both of these books, you will get to be the first one to check them out! We will also

add a bookplate to acknowledge your kind donation. Call 860-349-3857 or stop by the library for details.

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With the recent heavy rains, we want to pass along some information to property owners about Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department’s basement pumping services. When called, the MVFD will respond to any home or business in Middlefield where flooding has occurred or has the potential to create a hazard to a building’s electrical or heating system. We will

Levi Coe Library

1194860

Free income tax assistance will be available every Tuesday until April 12. This income tax preparation service is provided by AARP. The IRS-trained counselor will help those 60 years and older

Flooding information

assist the property owner with removal of water from basements and help to identify solutions the homeowner can take to prevent or limit flooding from reoccurring. The MVFD receives many calls for service during heavy rain storms, and we have a limited number of resources available for basement pumping. Due to the number of requests, the MVFD will respond once in a 24-hour period to your request to pump out a flooded basement. We will make every effort to consider hardships affecting each homeowner. Keep in mind that we are a completely volunteer organization, and the fire station is not staffed. If you need assistance, do not leave a message on the fire station message machine. Please call 911 when you need help from the fire department.

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Park & Rec movie night

with low or moderate income by appointment only. Please call the senior center once you have received all your documents and paperwork for filing. Boomer program The second part of our “Get Ready for Retirement, Baby Boomers” will be held on Tuesday evening, March 22, at 6 p.m. This is a free seminar, “The Missing Link in Retirement Planning — Why and When to Consider Long-Term Care Insurance,” with guest speaker Aldo Pantano, from the Office of Policy and Management. Longterm care should be part of your retirement plan. Find out how this insurance works, how it pays for your care and can protect your assets and how it can help you plan for your financial future. There will be no sales or solicitations allowed, just the information that you should know. This seminar is geared for those 45–65 years old. Please call Antoinette Astle to reserve a seat at 860-349-7121. Hearing screenings will be held, by appointment only, on Wednesday, March 30, by Richard Lastrina, BS, BCHIS, ACA, from Beltone New England. He will also be available to clean hearing aides. Foot care is available every third Wednesday of each month at the center. The foot care nurse from Connecticut Visiting Nurse will soak, assess, massage and clip toenails. The cost is $30. Appointments are required and fill up fast. To sign up for any programs or to have lunch in the café on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, call Antoinette Astle at 860-349-7121

Friday, March 18, 2011

Town Times

Round One

Town Times

TOWN TIMES LOGO - Composite

THE CHAMP IS HERE!!

Round Two

Round Three

UT-San Antonio/Alabama St./Paint Imporium George Mason/Moran’s TV & Appliance

Round Three

Round Four

Round One Kansas/Lido’s Restaurant Boston Univ/Waste Material Trucking Co. UNLV/Phil’s Lock Shop

Round Four

Illinois/Meriden Pawn Shop

Villanova/Hunter’s Pool West Virginia/Tuxis-Ohrs Fuel

Vanderbilt/Billings Sports

UAB/Clemson/Brothers Pool

Richmond/Meriden Hyundai

Kentucky/K.T. Baxter’s

Louisville/Sal’s Pizza

Round Five

Princeton/Rosie’s Cafe

Round Five

Marehead St./Danby’s A-1 Service

Xavier/Dad’s Restaurant

Georgetown/Foucault’s

Marquette/Dowling Ford

USC/VCU/YMCA of Wallingford & Duchess

Syracuse/Uncle Bob’s Garden Center

Purdue/Miller Accupuncture & Chiropractic

Indiana St./Quality Time Food & Spirits

Saint Peter’s/Wireless Zone of Meriden

Washington/Bella Luna Pizza

Texas A&M/Berlin Bicycle

Georgia/Michael’s Trattoria

Florida St./Four Points by Sheraton

North Carolina/Horton Insurance Services

Championship Game

LIU/Dino’s Seafood & Zandri’s Stillwood Inn

Round One Duke/Darrell’s Auto Hampton/Josie’s Hair Salon Michigan/MJ Duke’s

Notre Dame/Aresco’s Superette

Championship Game

Akron/Valencia Liquor

Round Two

Round Three

Round Four

Round One Pittsburgh/Meriden Self Storage UNC-Ash/Ark-LR/TJ’s Auto Body Butler/Silver Mill Tours

Tennessee/Case Handyman

Old Dominion/CT Power & Sport

Arizona/Middletown Toyota

Kansas St./North Haven Bike &First Base Sports Cards Utah St./Prestige Cleaners

Memphis/V. Nanfito Roofing & Siding

Wisconsin/Vine’s Distinctive Wines

Texas/Ives Road Wine & Spirits Oakland/Roberts Chrysler Dodge

Round Five

Belmont/601 Deli St.John’s/Colony Pizza

Cincinnati/Gionfriddo’s Tailoring Missouri/Suzio Insurance

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2011 Ohio State/Catherine & Co.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Gonzaga/Ted’s Restaurant

UConn/K. LaMay’s Steamed Cheeseburgers

BYU/Carlton’s Interiors

Bucknell/Avanti Restaurant

Wofford/Amore Apizza

Temple/Stephen Toyota

UCLA/Ace Oil

Penn St./Executive Kia

Michigan St./Star Auto Sales

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Florida/Paul’s Deli & Catering

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Friday, March 18, 2011

Town Times

Venture Crew’s 2011 winter trek was a huge success! By Kaitlin McKernan Recently, Venture Crew 169 of Durham, went to Eden Mills, Vermont to participate in an exhilarating campout in the snow. “The weekend went especially well, and I think the crew is prospering in team development,” said crew president Brent Beckert of Durham. Eleven people attended the 2011 winter trek from our crew. Along with Brent, the youth who attended were Ethan Damuck, of East Haddam, Aaron Mele, Brian Ewing, Mike DeMore of East Hampton, and Kaitlin McKernan of Durham. The adults were Mr. and Mrs. Long and Mr. Ewing from East Hampton, Mr. McKernan and Mr. Bergstrom of Durham. Bright and early Friday morning the crew took off on a four-and-a-half hour drive to Vermont. After stopping at multiple Dunkin Donuts eateries, we finally made it to Vermont. We arrived at our cabin surrounded by sevenfoot tall snow banks for the snow caves we were going to build. All of the youth and Mr. Bergstrom were outside for a few hours Friday afternoon building the snow caves to sleep in that night. Aaron by far built the most impressive snow cave, which was renamed a snow condo, but Mr.

Bergstrom came in a close second, building not only his own but assisting in building two others. While allowing our snow caves time to freeze, we took a trip into the center of town for dinner. To our surprise we found a restaurant willing to take 11 people at a time. Mr. Bergstrom, Aaron, Kaitlin and Ethan were the only four people to sleep in their snow caves that night. The next morning everyone woke up at 6 a.m. to go down for breakfast and then to begin the events of the day. Our first event was shotgun shooting where everyone shot the gun five times. At archery, some would

The climbing wall

say that the peanut gallery took control of the situation and made it very entertaining. After archery, the crew found their way down to tomahawk throwing. While we waited for the group before us to leave, we had a small snowball fight! “The crew learned the fundamentals of tomahawk throwing from an experienced scouter.” said Mr. McKernan. “Before you knew it everyone was consistently striking the target.” One of our crew members, Brian Ewing, had doubled the seven pace throwing distance, and at 14 paces got a bull’s eye. Our final morning event was the indoor climbing wall. Here, four people climbed the hard rock wall, five people did the medium and six people did the easy. After this, we went to lunch in the dining hall where we had 12 different Dutch oven meals that had been assembled by each group and cooked by the staff. After lunch we had a rope-braiding session, during which each crew member braided several feet of rope with five strands. When the rain started to come in, we made the long haul up the hill to rifle shooting and fire-starting. Everybody shot

Powder Ridge

Building snow caves 15 rounds, and we were all successful in hitting the target. The final event was firestarting where Red (an elder Scouter) showed us how to start a fire with a bow drill. It took a lot of effort, but in the end it was all worth it. “Fire-starting was hard work,” said Brent. “We all got a hard upper body workout trying to make embers.” We all eventually found our way back to the cabin where we rested until dinner. At dinner we had all-you-can-eat Italian grilled chicken, veggies and baked potato. Following dinner was an enthusiastic and entertaining campfire where there were a number of skits, songs and run-ons. Waking up for the third day in a row at 6 a.m., we quickly and quietly packed up and got on the road. Around 12:30 in the afternoon, we arrived

home to indoor plumbing and a nice view of grass. Overall the weekend was exciting, special and quite an opportunity. The crew looks forward to next year’s trip with hopefully even colder weather so we can sleep outside both nights. We would like to thank our charter organization, VFW Post 10169, for their continued and active support of our Venturing program. Our calendar is full through to the end of the year with many new and exciting things on tap. If any young men and women ages 14 – 20 years old are interested in participating in more advanced scouting activities, please contact the Crew at venturecrew169@sbcglobal.net. Our next adventure takes us to the annual West Point Camporee in the spring.

(Continued from page 6)

time of the referendum, there was a buyer waiting in the wings, but that potential buyer, Robert Switzgable of Ski Sundown, withdrew his offer as the bankruptcy proceedings wore on.” After that, another buyer came forward and subsequently withdrew; thus the town has continued with temporary financing. Brayshaw does not regret that course. “We couldn’t have done it any differently because of the need for a buyer,” he said, “but temporary financing has cost us only two percent while perma-

nent financing is running at six percent. That’s almost $70,000 per year we’ve saved. I can’t imagine taxpayers would be happy to have spent $70,000 more each year for the same thing. “When we have a contract with Alpine, then we will go to permanent, 15-year financing for the entire amount authorized at the referendum, or $2.85 million, which will cost us about $300,000 each year, essentially for the development rights and to have a ski area,” he concluded.

St. Mary’s Chuch trip to Poland St. Mary’s Church in Middletown is putting together a trip to Poland from July 10 through 21, 2011. The cost covers a double-occupancy 10 night hotel accommodation and daily breakfast and dinner. Call Father Mark for more info at 860-347-2365. The registration deadline is April 30.

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Friday, March 18, 2011

Schools in Town Times

IDS artwork adorns Russell Library

A staircase of books at Lyman

During the month of March, a sampling of three-dimensional clay artwork from students of the Independent Day School will be on display in glass cases at the Russell Library in Middletown. The artwork includes kindergartenersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Very Hungry Caterpillars,â&#x20AC;? first gradersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pinch-pot animals, fifth gradersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Greek inspired pots, sixth gradersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mimbres black-on-white bowls (displayed in photo) and eighth gradersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tribal masks. Photo submitted by JoAnn Rider

High School Musical at IDS

IDS scientists prepare for the state fair

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an over-the-top Six eighth graders from the Independent Day School are busy moment for Sharpay (Bet- touching up their projects and sharpening their presentation ty Smith, of Middlefield) skills in preparation for the Connecticut State Science Fair. and Ryan (Alex DeMeo, of Guilford) in the Independent Day Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production of â&#x20AC;&#x153;High School Musicalâ&#x20AC;? which will be

Students are excited about reading at John Lyman School! The quote below is the creative vision of fourth grader Matthew Johnson. He collaborated with two friends: third grader Hugh Barrett, and fourth grader Connor Satton to create this poster entitled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Staircase of Books.â&#x20AC;? The quote reads: â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you read, there are different steps to take. You start at one level. You can go up the stairs-a staircase of books. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impossible to get to the top because there are so many books. You can never read them all.â&#x20AC;? Photo submitted by Karen Brimecombe

In the front row, Olivia Ransohoff, of Hamden, grew and tested crystals. Insia Naqvi built and tested a hovercraft. In the back row, Will Cutrone, of Wallingford, tested human concentration in different environments. Tyler Mulberry, of Middletown, tested the placebo effect on students. Ricky Murphy, of Durham, compared taste buds in children and adults, and Danielle Shubat, of East Haddam, built and tested fuel cells. These students will compete with students from all held on Friday, March 25, over the state on March 15-19 at Quinnipiac University. at 7 p.m., Saturday, Photo submitted by JoAnn Rider March 26, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 27, at 2 p.m. Order tickets or get ORTHODONTICS pricing info by calling 860-347-7235. Submitted by JoAnn Rider and Michael Garner

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18 Anna Maria College announces that the following Durham students made the Dean’s List for the fall 2010 semester: Emily Viola Field, Cody W. Given and Michael S. Sbona. Caitlin Farrell, of Durham, was named to the College of Saint Rose Dean’s List for the fall 2010 semester. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has announced that Jeffrey Ducki, of Middlefield, a freshman majoring in Mechanical Engineering, was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2010 semester. Erin Bisceglia, of Durham, has been recognized by the University Athletic Association as a 20102011 UAA Winter All-Academic Recognition Honoree. James Eurto, of Durham, graduated from the University of New Haven in January with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Raymond Battipaglia, of Durham, was awarded Dean’s List designation at Eastern Connecticut State University for the 2010 fall semester. He is a junior majoring in Business Administration. Coginchaug Regional High School honor roll for second quarter: HIGH HONORS: Seniors: Alec Bandzes, David Bedding, Cassidie Cade, Josef Danczuk, Taylor DelVecchio, Gretchen Donovan, Zhining Fang, Maura Fehon, Hannah Fowler, Jamie Garuti, Julia Gossner, Hannah Goulis, Roe 1192130

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Fontaine, Melanie Frank, Brenna Goldberg, Erin Mallinson, Kara Mather, Kaitlyn Mentlick, Julia Orosz, Jeffrey Peracchio, Deanna Puchalski, Jeffrey Roblee, Kimberly Romanoff, Megan Sirois, Jennifer Skaaning, Ian Stewart, Sydney Trusty, Samantha Turley, Emily Tuttle, Luke Whalen, Kasi Whitaker. HONORS: Seniors: Darryl Abbott, Kaylie Adams, Kelsie Annelli, Jennifer Benson, Kelsey Bogen, Tyler Cassidy, Jonathan Champagne, James Crompton, Parker Dumont, Kelli Dupre, Zachary Faiella, Raymond Graham, Marissa Johnson, Amritpal Khalsa, Jessie Maniscalco, Andrew Markoski, Taylor Maus, Jason Monnes, Larissa Mozzicato, Lauren Mozzicato, Timothy Murphy, Melissa Ober, Jennifer Roth, Jocelyn St. Pierre, Nathaniel Szymanski, Nicole Timbro, Mark Vanaman. Juniors: Megan Andrulis, Nicholas Augeri, Stacey Backstrom, Melanie Badin, Lucas Bogdanski, Andrea Braga, Kasey Crompton, Myrna Crompton, Nicole DeBaise, Shawn Donovan, Lauren Esposito, Rachel Foley, Melissa Gerardi, Alec Giacco, Emily Halligan, Derek Heer, Katelyn Hill, Brock Hoyt, Abigail Kotlarz, Emma Lerman, Kara Levine, James Malcolm, Samantha Mancinelli, Alexis Martowski, Andrew Paxton, Tanner Pedersen, Ashley Pen, Natalie Perez, Justine Plourde, Frank Posca, Brandon Russ, Carley St.Amand, Alyssa Tiedemann. Sophomores: Lindsay Artkop, Jacquelyn Benson, Michael Bongiorno, Melanie DeFilippo, Kelly Donovan, Alison Doolittle, Jackson

sophomore with High Honors from Durham, Julia Kannam, a senior with High Honors from Durham, Flannery Keenan, a freshwoman with First Honors from Durham, Jennifer Kennedy, a sophomore with High Honors from Durham, Allison Kennedy, a senior with First Honors from Durham, Jane Landy, a sophomore with High Honors from Durham, Rebecca Ludecke, a senior with First Honors from Durham, Alexa Marks, a junior with High Honors from Durham, Melissa Marks, a senior with High Honors from Durham, Madison Marone, a sophomore with First Honors from Durham, Caitlin McAuliffe, a freshwoman with High Honors from Durham, Shannon McAuliffe, a senior with High Honors from Durham, Ashley McLaughlin, a sophomore with Second Honors from Durham, Gabrielle Pakech, a freshwoman with High Honors from Durham, Allison Pearson, a senior with High Honors from Durham, Kelsey Pietruska, a sophomore with First Honors from Durham, Sara Richardson, a sophomore with High Honors from Durham, Sara Rosborough, a junior with High Honors from Durham, Cassandra Santoro, a sophomore with First Honors from Durham, Ashley Scotto, a freshwoman with Second Honors from Durham, Morgan Cahill, a freshwoman with First Honors from Middlefield, Jillian Chongruk, a sophomore with First Honors from Middlefield, Bernadette Conroy, a junior with First Honors from Middlefield, Emily Dzialo, a junior with First Honors from Middlefield, Delia Ernst, a sophomore with First Honors from Middlefield, Sara Gmyrek, a senior with High Honors from Middlefield, Mary Neidhardt, a sophomore with First Honors from Middlefield, Alice Ochterski, a freshwoman with High Honors from Middlefield, Kathryn Overturf, a junior with First Honors from Mid-

Granger, Benjamin Hamilton, Laura Hargreaves, Erin Holden, Mackenzie Hurlbert, Nicole Jubelirer, Aubree Keurajian, Lora Manley, Aleksandr Morin, Jean Ochterski, Sarah Oppelt, Michelle Palma, Tresa Roberts, Thomas Ryan, Amy Solomon, Emily Spence, Gina Stratmann, Henry Willis. Juniors: Emily Carria, Melissa Conway, Alec Corazzini, Tyler Davis, Elizabeth DiVincentis, Ethan Donecker, Sarah Ertle, Kevin Gawron, Marielle Handley, Meagan Hettrick, Devin Kokoszka, Zachary LaVigne, Monika Malek, Maria Manna, Shelby Matus, Benjamin Plant, Colin Plant, Amanda Presutti, Marissa Puchalski, Emily Romanoff, Spencer Root, Jesse Siegel, Jacob Teitelbaum, Adam Twombly, Erikson Wasyl, Rebecca Weir. Sophomores: Connor Bates, Michelle Berry, Skyla Bradley, Caitlynn Chabot, Kristen Ciarlo, Justin Etheridge, Mallory Figoras, Annalee Forline, Donald Guenther, Melissa Handy, Elizabeth Harlow, Sean Harper, Mackenzie Kane, Rachel Kowalski, Anne Linden, Abby Lohmann, Floriana Manna, Colleen McLaughlin, William Neri, Victoria Orozco, Aleah Querns, Evan Rand, Katherine Scibilia, Leah Slawinowski, Jessica Solomon, Lauren Trombetta, Ashley Vanaman, Kayla Votto, Brian Walker, Carli Wallace, Jessica Williams, Greta Wilt, Jessica Zerillo. Freshmen: Philip Anderson, Jesse Azevedo, Kevin Bjarnason, Hayley Brant, Kristen Burtt, Richard Chi, Olivia Corazzini, Danielle Drop, Mikaela Dumont, Anna Ferrari, Matthew

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Town Times Spotlight

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Doyle, Kyle Dupre, Molly Fehon, Samuel Gossner, Nicole Ianniello, Benjamin Kelly, Jonathan Levine, Kaylee Powers, Natalie Spence, Korinne Stockdale, Christopher Sullivan, Benjamin Taber, David Trombetta. Freshmen: Jenna Barton, Tyler Bjarnason, Katelyn Boris, Katherine Chi, Morgan Dickson, Jessica Dontigney, Abigail Eisner, Lara Ellison, Carolyn Fetchel, Dana Foley, Lucas Fowler, Elizabeth Gable, Katherine Hamilton, Mara Hintz, Leandra Hylton, Morgan Kuehnle, Molly MacDuff, Alexander Markoski, Bryan Paxton, Timothy Rausch, Emma Roth, Caryn Sibiskie, Ryan Spitzmacher, Jack Temple, Katelyn Williams. The following students were named to the Roger Williams University Dean’s List for the fall 2010 semester: Antonio Cuomo, of Durham, a third-year student majoring in Management, and Alyssa Sirois, of Durham, a second-year student majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. Alexandra Turley, of Durham, a senior majoring in food science and technology at the University of Delaware, has been named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2010 semester. The following students were named to the Marist College Dean’s List for the fall 2010 semester: Katherine Clark, of Middlefield, Class of 2013, majoring in Psychology, and Eric Murphy, of Middlefield, Class of 2013, majoring in Mathematics. Mercy High School has announced its honor roll students for the second marking period: Sarah Bower, a junior with High Honors from Durham, Molly Breen, a freshwoman with High Honors from Durham, Margaret Bruno, a junior with First Honors from Durham, Shannon Egan, a junior with First Honors from Durham, Kerry Egan, a sophomore with High Honors from Durham, Catherine Kannam, a

Continued on next page

Town Times Spotlight

Friday, March 18, 2011 (Continued from page 18)

Tap Company and received the Rosamund F. Lange Award for Tap. Meghan Crocetto (7 years old) is cast in the role of Gretel as well as a Summer dancer in a seasons-based piece. Meghan is in her fifth year of dance and is studying ballet, tap and jazz. Both dancers are from Middlefield. The performances will be June 4 at the Carol Autorino Center at St. Joseph College in West Hartford. Photo submitted by Toni-Lynn Miles -

Thomas Linden, of Durham, who attends Xavier High School, will be honored as a scholar athlete on April 8. He is shown with his parents, Robert and Mary, sister Anne and Coach Sean Marinan.

Greenbacker and Peterson to wed Joe and Lois Greenbacker, of Durham, announce the engagement of their daughter, Amy Michelle Greenbacker, to Nathaniel Lee Peterson, son of Alfred Peterson II, of North Branford, and Sharon Peterson, of Cromwell. The bride is a 1995 graduate of Coginchaug Regional High School and a 1999 graduate of Quinnipiac University. She is currently employed by Dolphin Days Learning Center and Berardino Realtors. The groom attended Coginchaug Regional High School and Vinal Technical High School. He is a graduate of New England Tractor Trailer Training School. The couple is planning a summer 2012 wedding.

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dlefield, Victoria Piscatelli, a senior with High Honors from Middlefield, Mary Wojtowicz, a senior with High Honors from Middlefield and Alexia Mazzotta, a sophomore with High Honors from Rockfall. Trinity College has announced that James McCullough, of Middlefield, made its Faculty Honor list (GPA 3.667+ and no B-) for the fall 2010 semester. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouts. As an award with national standards, it represents an individual’s time, leadership, commitment, creativity and effort contributed to making their community a better place to live. Julia Kannam, of Durham, made a project that addressed the need for computer literacy in young children. As a long term volunteer at “I Have a Friend Youth Center” in Middletown, she transformed one room into a technology lab and media room. By organizing donations of supplies, materials, and computer equipment, she built a space where kids can access the modern educational resources that will help them with their education for years to come. Sarah Bugai, of Durham, was named to the Dean’s List for this past fall semester at Simmons College in Boston. Sarah, a freshman, is majoring in nursing. She is a 2010 graduate of Coginchaug High School. Kristyn Kowalski, of Durham, has been named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2010 semester at Salve Regina University. Kristyn is a junior at Salve. Southern Connecticut State University has announced its fall Dean’s List: Courtney Acker, Emilia Caturano, Katharine Conroy, Jessica Embacher, Jillian Francis, Alyssa Funaro, Alicia Giacco, Brittany Hill and Gina Monti, all from Durham,

Kristen Charpentier from Middlefield and Katheryn Mitchell from Rockfall. Dancers from the Middlesex Dance Center have been cast through auditions in a new one-act contemporary ballet Grimm’s Fairy Tales being staged by CONNetic Dance. Kayleigh Crocetto (13 years old) will perform in a pointe dance as one of the Sleeping Beauty dancers. Kayleigh is a member of the MDC Junior Ballet Ensemble, Junior Jazz Troupe, and Senior

Friday, March 18, 2011

Town Times

Local students participate in 30 Hour Famine to fight hunger By Marilyn Keurajian Middlefield/Durham/Mid dletown students are “Love Hungry!” They recently banded together to fight hunger and save lives. Nearly 8,000 children die each day because of hunger. Wars and natural disasters dominate the world’s daily headlines, but behind

the scenes and far from the spotlight, hunger and preventable diseases claim the lives of 24,000 of the world’s children every day. More than one billion people go hungry every day. More than six billion live on the planet. One in six will go hungry tonight. Why so many? For some families, the only food they

have is whatever they can grow themselves. One drought or flood can wipe out a year’s harvest. When it does, there’s no supermarket or food bank they can turn to. Others can barely afford food despite their best efforts. Either way, hunger is anything but yesterday’s problem. For one billion people, it’s a problem right now. But world hunger is 100 percent preventable, and 40 teens from the Middlefield Federated Church were ready and willing to help. On March 4 and 5, they joined the efforts of hundreds of thousands of young people all over the nation who set aside the usual “stuff” that fills their daily

lives. Instead they did World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine because they are “Love Hungry” – the theme for this year. By going without food, they got a taste of what the world’s poorest children and families face every day. Prior to the event weekend, and the week following, students raised funds with the knowledge that every $30 they raise can help feed and care for a child for a month. As part of the Famine, the teens gathered blankets, beans and books to support the ongoing mission work of the church. This is the fifth year the church has participated in this event. Funds raised by 30 Hour Famine participants help

feed and care for children in communities in need around the globe through World Vision. A portion of the funds raised assist families in need in the United States. Famine funds contribute to World Vision’s response in areas where famine, conflict and other crises make children vulnerable to hunger and preventable disease. Since 1992, 30 Hour Famine has raised close to $140 million, representing countless lives saved. World Vision works in nearly 100 countries, helping approximately 100 million people every year.

Trophy fish awards for Middlefield residents

On January 19, at the third annual Trophy Fish Award Ceremony of the DEP Inland Fisheries Division was presented to Harry C. Barber, of Middlefield, at right in photo above left, an award for receiving the most Trophy Fish Awards in one year. Mr. Barber earned nine awards for his skill in harvesting Channel Catfish in 2010. In addition he was awarded the first Lifetime Achievement Award ever issued by the Agency for being the recipient of 74 Trophy Fish Awards. Since 1983, Harry has earned awards for Winter Flounder (one), White Catfish (one), Largemouth Bass (three), Northern Pike (five), Brown Trout (11) and Channel Catfish (53). Barber is pictured with Bill Gerrish of the DEP.

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At the same banquet, Judy Muszynski, of Middlefield, was given an award for catching and releasing the largest Channel Catfish (28.0”) of any adult in 2010. She is at left in the photo above, standing with Peter Aarrestad, director of DEP’s Inland Fisheries Submitted photo Division.

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at DAC

Friday, March 18, 2011

Town Times Obituary Seth E. Campisi Seth E. Campisi, 88, of Trinity Hill Drive, Durham, husband of the late Josephine (D’Amico) Campisi, died Sunday, at the Masonic Care of Wallingford.

Durham Activity Center held a very green St. Patrick’s Day party during the Senior Cafe on March 16.

He was born Feb. 15, 1923, in Middletown, son of the late Mario and Anna (Bartolotta) Campisi. He was a member of the Notre Dame Church and the AARP, Prior to his retirement he was employed by Travelers Insurance and Finley Bros. Printing of Hartford.

Jan Muraca and Karl Rubendunst dancing to Irish tunes from Brian Russel, photo at bottom left. Photos by Cheri Kelley

He is survived by his two daughters and their spouses, Susan and Stefano Chiavaroli of Darien, and Carole and Gary Bernard of Melbourne, FL, and his beloved grandchildren, John, Matthew and Nathalie. A Memorial Mass was held Wednesday at Notre Dame Church in Durham. Burial will be private. There are no callings. Donations in his memory may be made to The Shiner’s Children’s Hospital, 50 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114. D’Angelo Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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Town Times Sports

Friday, March 18, 2011

Another overtime as Around the Clock beats LasEngS By Scott Strang Special to Town Times Around the Clock 69, LasEngS 65 (OT) – For the second straight game, Around the Clock Heating & Cooling (5-4) needed overtime to defeat Laser Engraving Services, and again Tim Shuler hit a pair of crucial free throws in OT to help secure the win. John Biesak returned for his second game of the season and contributed 16

points. He had lots of help from David Blair and John Szewczyk, who had 18 and 17 respectively, and who each had big overtime buckets. Tim D’Aquila and Nick Hulkias combined for 43 of the 63 LasEngS (1-8) points, but D’Aquila’s lay-up was the only scoring for LasEngS in the extra period.

Young Gunz 75, Snowservices 49 – The Young Gunz secured a first round playoff bye and ended a five-game win streak for Snowservices with a dominating 26-point win. Alex Schade had 24 to lead the Gunz (54). Ryan Cove had his best game in over a month, leading Snowservices (5-4) with 17

points. Brian Baranoski hit on five 3-pointers, and Greg Bereski finished with 10 to help the Gunz in the victory. Torrison Stone 74, Allstate Fire Equipment 61 – Allstate played another spirited game against their division rival but fell to Torrison by 13. John Parke had his best game of the year with 21 points, and Marc Sutterline also finished with 16 for Allstate (2-7). Adam Poturnicki led Torrison (8-1) with 25, in-

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cluding six of seven from the foul line, to bring his leagueleading free throw average to 88 percent. Jeremy Lobo seemed to be in the middle of just about every foul call on Allstate but managed 14 points, and Pete Lynch added 18 for Torrison.

Durham and Middlefield youth invited to participate in grade-based youth football The Shoreline Youth Football Conference is a grade-based football program with no size restrictions. Participants compete with kids in the same grade and age. North Branford Youth Football is a participating member of the Shoreline Youth Football Conference. NBYF is approved to accept residents from North Branford, Northford, Durham and Middlefield. Your child will receive quality coaching in a well-organized, well-respected and competitive program. We have had the opportunity to coach local players such as David Wheeler (Coginchaug ‘11), Walt Augur (Xavier ‘11), Mike Mastrioanni (Xavier ‘12, Shoreline Champion ‘04 and ’06), Ryan Murphy (Xavier ‘12, SC ‘04 and ‘06) Dan Piscatelli (Choate ‘13, SC ‘04 and ‘06), Tim Boyle (Xavier ‘13, SC ‘04 & ‘06), Ian Augur (Coginchaug ‘13, SC ‘05), Alex Corazzini (Coginchaug ‘12), and Matt DeKoeyer (Xavier ‘12, SC ‘04 and ’06). All home games/practices are less than a 15-minute drive from Coginchaug Registration will be held at the North Branford Intermediate School on Wednesday, April 2; Thursday, April 28; Wednesday, May 4; and Thursday, May 5. Email nbyf@comcast.net or for price info visit ww.eteamz.com/nbyfootball.

Town Times Sports

Friday, March 18, 2011

Coginchaug boys win two in the state tournament By Alan Pease Special to Town Times

frustration for the Devils as they tried to run a spread offense just about the entire way but could not convert on the lay-ups or short jumpers they got. Fortunately Tommy Ryan did manage to convert once, about two minutes into the period, giving the Devils a 53-44 lead at that time. Although that was to be their final bucket of the night, it proved to be the points that gave them the score they ultimately needed for the win.

After the Raiders had managed to block four shots in the period, and the Devils had three key turnovers, Windsor Locks made it a one-point game with just under a minute left at 53-52. Twice Coginchaug had opportunities to advance the lead from the charity stripe but missed the front end of a one-and-one, then after a Donecker rebound, Ryan hit the front end of the one-andone, but missed the second, to make the score 54-52. After

a Windsor Locks time out, with only seconds left to play, the Patriots managed to get exactly what they were looking for, getting the ball to their big man right under the basket for a point-blank lay-up from the right side. Miraculously, the ball rolled over the back of the rim, dropping off to the left, but the Patriots’ big man was there again with another try from point-blank range. This

See Boys, page 27

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On Tuesday, March 3, the Coginchaug boys hosted the Patriots of Coventry in a first round state Class S tournament game. The Devils got off to a bit of a slow start, falling behind 10-9 after the first period, with EJ Luther pacing the attack with four points. The second saw five different players score for Coginchaug, paced by Ethan Donecker’s four, as they forged ahead to a 23-18 half-time lead. Erikson Wasyl caught fire in the third period, scoring nine points, and Tommy Ryan notched four as the Devils moved to a 38-32 lead entering the final period. The Devils dominated in the final period, allowing only seven points, highlighted by two steals from Donecker, one leading to a coast-to-coast lay-up, and five seconds of the most intense one-on-one defense I’ve seen this season, as Ryan forced a five second call. Brock Hoyt scored eight in the period, while Ryan added seven, as the Devils finished with a comfortable 58-39 win. Tommy Ryan led the team in both scoring, with 17, and rebounding, with eight, also adding an assist and a steal. Erikson Wasyl scored 15 points, adding two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Brock Hoyt rounded out the double digit scoring with 10 points, adding three rebounds and a block. Andrew Markoski had six points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. EJ Luther scored four points, adding three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Off the bench, Ethan Donecker, fresh off the injured list, looked pretty healthy, scoring six and adding four rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block. Alec Corazinni had a rebound and a steal. On Thursday, March 10, the boys traveled to Windsor Locks to take on the Raiders. It was a remarkable coincidence that the boys had to take on the same school that had ended the girls’ season

exactly one week earlier, and Coginchaug fans were hoping for a different outcome on the boys’ side. In point of fact, it ended up being a wire-to-wire win, as the Devils scored first on an Ethan Donecker rebound put-back and never trailed. But the game was tight the entire way, as Coginchaug led 14-12 after one, 26-24 at the half and finally getting out to a 51-40 lead entering the final period. But that final period was an exercise in

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Town Times

BOE budget (Continued from page 3) nick asked if Dattco can update the proposal to provide a more accurate estimate of savings (the price of gasoline in the proposal was $3 per gallon). Viccaro indicated that this proposal will now go to the administrative council for review. Viccaro also handed out enrollment data, explaining that the district is close to class size policy in every area, so any decrease in staff will put the district over its goal. The board then considered stipends and student involvement in clubs and activities. While it is costly to provide athletics, it is essential to round out students’ experience, Viccaro said. She added that NEASC’s (New England Association of Schools and Colleges), 10-year accreditation process that will be completed in spring of 2013 is looking at all reductions. Boyle in-

dicated that she is a huge proponent of the activities and is unwilling to cut any. Viccaro reported that impactful cuts would be either staff or programs. Currlin agreed but indicated there is not a whole person to take out. He expressed hope that the public will support the budget as additional cuts may damage the district’s accreditation. Coginchaug principal Andre Hauser confirmed that any program not offered will be held against the district in the accreditation process, and with NEASC in process, much attention will be given to all cuts in programs and staffing. Norm Hicks reported that the proposed magnet school budget, due to funding from the state, was only a 1.13 percent increase. He added that recent conversations brought an additional cut of one-half of a special education teacher, which brought the increase down to 68 percent. The cost per student for RSD13 will be $51,149.35 next year. Boyle said the Communica-

tions Committee will put a survey out and on the website allowing the public to submit suggestions on ways to cut. Meetings are being coordinated with the Boards of Finance, and information will be distributed through the Town Times. The next budget meeting of the Board of Education will be on March 16 at Strong School at 7:30 p.m. Other issues addressed by the board included classifying some courses as honors courses to recognize students in A-level classes; it was brought up at the forum on the college application process that having no honors programs hurts students in a very competitive college application process. Hauser indicated that they are currently researching how other schools determine honors classes and if a similar classification could be used for A-level classes.

Mfld. budget (Continued from page 1) that the Middlefield Housing Authority was given a decrease in the Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) which takes care of minor services by the town, like snow removal. This was done during hard times in years past, and that reduction was not increased back to what would be normal as of date. He proposed reinstating the regular PILOT, which would be an increase of 91.7 percent. Concerned residents felt that this might not be the appropriate time for such an increase. One resident stated, “There are at least 30 people living there, and it would be very difficult for people there to have the rents increased. If the taxes go up, the costs for maintenance would require them to raise their rents.” Expenses included two percent raises for those who have not received them in that last two or three years. Some salaries are still in negotiations,

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and so increases were not accounted for in the budget. Brayshaw said that more information on the subject would be presented in the next couple of months. There was to be a savings to the town for the removal of streetlights, but due to the increase in energy fees there is now an increase of 37.5 percent. He noted that the high cost of electricity ate away any savings that the removal of about 10 percent of the lights would have saved. The cost of health insurance for employees went up by five percent. The town employee health benefits are tied in with the Regional School District 13 (RSD13) employees as well as the employees of the town of Durham. It was stated in the meeting that Durham looked into breaking away from the schools, and the numbers were not favorable. A hot item discussed was the idea to decrease the Resident State Trooper by half. The other half would be shared with Durham. The proposed budget in Durham allowed for an increase of half a trooper, which would give Durham one and one half troopers, and Middlefield would then have half a trooper plus the two constables. This would save the town of Middlefield 47.4 percent, which is a savings that many residents said they are not interested in making, not while they feel the safety of the town is undermined. One resident questioned the proposal: “What logic says that we can get away with half a trooper?” Brawshaw responded, “Because we are a thoroughfare and have so many roaming troopers in the area.” One resident shared that in all his time living in Middlefield, he had to call the police twice, and both times the police had to come all the way from Troop F in Westbrook, and it took a very long time. Residents in attendance made it clear that prompt service from emergency services is necessary, and a reduction in personnel may or may not affect this. A savings to the town from the sale of Powder Ridge would also come in the form of property taxes to the towns of Meriden and Wallingford. With the sale the taxes will no longer need to be paid. The taxes combined from last year were about $11,000, and so these savings were included in the budget.

More Letters to the Editor

Friday, March 18, 2011 (From page 8)

The unions will give back $1.5 billion in concessions! They will? How nice of those union folks to be so generous with my tax money and give some back. Right. The odds are greater for a snowball in hell to survive than for any union giving back one red cent, emphasis on red, as in commie red. Don’t worry, there’s always hope and change. China has plenty of money, and we can always print more if we need it. So there it is for the people who have been asking me to write something. Hope you enjoyed it; I did. I need to get a haircut tomorrow — soon they will be taxing that! Mark J. Czaja, Middletown Institute of Armed Rebellion

Global warming does not stem from an “agenda”

David Meyering, Middletown

Man-caused denial With all due respect for opinions that I may not agree with, I’d like to correct a few points written by the climate change denier from two weeks ago. The letterwriter claims that “It has been proven that scientists,

such as those at East Anglia University, cooked the books when it came to representing the global temperatures.” While that would be awful if it were actually true, it still would not put a dent in the vast volume of data captured by the work of climatologists around the globe. But the reality is that the data amassed and analyzed by researchers at East Anglia has not been discredited by anyone. The writer in fact is referring to a “scandal” that broke out in 2009 after private e-mail was obtained by the illegal hacking of UEA computers. While there were a few unflattering comments made in private e-mail communications from UEA researchers, three separate investigations found no wrong-doing nor evidence of scientific malpractice, (i.e. misrepresentation of global temperature records). As of 2009, a PEW re-

nancial incentive of researchers making “millions selling a gullible public a false bill of goods.” I’m pretty confident that any climate researcher would be quite surprised to find out that they are making millions more than the university stipend that barely pays their weekly food bill, and I am equally puzzled as to why these same millionaires can’t accumulate equal wealth while denying global warming. Al Gore is certainly wealthy, but Al Gore is also not a research climatologist. He was also wealthy long before the film An Inconvenient Truth and has turned his earning from that film around into funding the Climate Change Project, which trained over 1,000 activists to educate the public in climate change issues … not a very profitable investment. Mr. Gore has injected

search poll found that 84 percent of scientists agreed that global warming is affected by human activity. As of 2010, the official journal of the National Academy of Sciences stated that almost 98 percent of researchers actively involved in the field of climate change agree with the premise that human activity is adversely affecting our climate. My own personal research has shown nearly 100 percent of conservative talk show hosts and the dozen or so people involved in the writing of ancient religious tombs (which the above-mentioned Have they no shame writer puts his climate change beliefs in) believe mankind cannot possibly affect our own climate. I have a tendency to listen more closely to those who have achieved academic excellence in the field. This, of course, leads me to the author’s derision of Al Gore and the purported fi-

See Denial, next page

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With due deference to David Glueck’s letter in the 3-4-11 issue responding to the article “Global Warming: Winters past and Present,” I’m afraid there are some fundamental misunderstandings about the process of scientific scrutiny that may have escaped his notice. Repeated scientific observation allows us to make generalized predictions based on trends we see from the past and suspect in the future, not sweeping conclusions about the direction the global climate will definitely take. With that in mind, concern about global warming does not stem from an “agenda” of any kind. Researchers into earth science receive grants to perform their studies regardless of what the findings are; indeed, science always assumes a “null” hypothesis (the concept that the researcher’s suspicions are incorrect) until the evidence can overwhelmingly (or at least strongly) support the contrary. Additionally, if the whole science of global warming is in fact bunk, as Mr. Glueck suggests, wouldn’t it serve humanity better to prepare

for the possibility that we may face global warming, even if it isn’t true? I would invoke the old adage “It’s better to have a gun and not need it than it is to need a gun and not have it.” If we ignore the warning signs and do nothing, the potential negative repercussions will be monumentally greater than if we took action, and, God forbid, wound up not needing all our new renewable green-energy infrastructure and the jobs it would create.

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More Letters to the Editor

Denial

(From page 25)

himself into the global warming debate, not as a climate expert, but as a spokesman for all of us concerned with the future of the planet. Financially he would have been better off investing in conservative talk show hosts. Chris Bartholomew, Durham

RSD13 budget Tip O’Neill said all politics are local. In the discussion of our school budget, the local effects of national politics are being minimized. Regional School District 13 business manager Ron Melnik phrased it diplomatically as “structural changes,” but one reason the RSD13 health care costs rose 10 percent was Obamacare’s mandate that covers “children” until they are 26. This mandate increased the education cost

for every taxpayer in the district. Let’s be clear about the impact of national politics on our local economy. Obamacare just cost you money. Dave Foley, Durham Editor’s Note: “Obamacare” is the slang term for the Affordable Care Act, which was established in March 2010 as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress and signed by President Obama. It states, “All insurance plans must offer young adults up to age 26 options for being covered under their parents’ plan.”

CRHS basketball is great value I have not found a greater entertainment value than a season ticket to Coginchaug Blue Devils’ Basketball. I would like to thank both the girls’ and boys’ program for helping me and my family get through a difficult winter

season by providing us with many nights of exciting and competitive basketball. Congratulations to the Lady Blue Devils for winning the Shoreline Championship and to the boys’ program for making it to the quarter-finals in the CIAC State Tournament. We will miss all the seniors whose careers have come to an end: Amanda Boyle for her ferocious play under the boards, Tommy Ryan for his consistent offensive performance, Andrew Markoski for his unbelievable hustle and heart and EJ Luther for his court generalship. I commend Coach Rett Mancinelli and his staff for delivering a league championship and Coach Todd Salva and his staff for the outstanding season they had in the face of injuries to key players. In particular I would like to recognize three seniors who have shown a level of strength and character that

Friday, March 18, 2011

speaks well of the fine young adults who are being raised in our community. Cassidy Cade was injured near the end of soccer season yet she continued to participate in the basketball program, attending every game, encouraging her teammates, even though her injury prevented her from playing. Roby Granger played his senior season after sustaining a serious injury playing football. Jay Norton played his senior season after the tragic loss of his father. These young adults displayed a level of class in the face of adversity well beyond their years, and the way they carried themselves through this season provides a lesson that even us “so-called” adults can learn from. Michael Doyle, Durham

A bridge to Uganda In 2008 our community had the pleasure to experi-

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ence the joy and talent of Destiny Africa Children’s Choir. The choir performed for RSD13 students at Strong and Memorial, spent the day with students at Coginchaug and had an amazing community concert in the evening at CRHS. All who attended the concerts were touched by the children’s stories and blessed by their hope for the future. We wept together as these young children shared stories of overcoming great tragedy in their lives. These children were orphaned by war, AIDS and violence. Their US tour raised money for Kampala Children’s Centre (KCC), the orphanage and school in Wakiso, Uganda where the children live. I have the privilege to travel to Kampala Children’s Centre in May. I will be taking a professional leave of absence from my job as a teacher in Glastonbury to work with the students and teachers there. One of the goals is to form a connection or bridge to Uganda between the children in RSD13 and the children at KCC. The students at KCC have shelter, food, loving caretakers and schooling. The team I am going with wants to teach, mentor and connect these students with the outside world. To accomplish this, we are raising money for the purchase of laptop computers and hardware to bring with us. I have worked with RSD13 to get students involved in fundraising efforts at their schools, and it is my hope to have Destiny Africa Children’s Choir return to our community when they tour the Northeast next year. Once connected to the internet, the possibilities for our RSD13 students to learn about a community in Africa are exciting and endless! This project is about connecting kids and changing lives in the process. If you would like to be a part of the “Bridge to Uganda,” donations toward the purchase of computers are tax deductible, and 100 percent of your donation will go toward this effort. Donations can be made to National Destiny Enterprises (NDE-USA) and sent c/o Denise Brennan, 73 Wheeler Hill Drive, Durham, CT 06422. www.kampalachildrenscentre.org. Denise Brennan, Durham

Friday, March 18, 2011

(Continued from page 23) time, he did not get enough on his shot, and it fell off the rim, with Tommy Ryan securing the rebound and the win as the buzzer sounded.

when it is above 40 degrees. When it gets colder than 20 degrees at night, the sap goes back down the tree and, if there is a tap in the tree, it flows out into a collection basin. Even though the temperatures haven’t been consistently above 40 degrees in the day and under 20 at night, the run has been good. “Last year was a bad season because it got warm too fast and stayed warm. This year the sugar content is good and the sap run is good,” said Hassmann.

harder than most years. Here is a fun recipe to try using some local Durhammade natural maple syrup:

in ice cream. Add the warm but not too hot milk very gradually.)

Pecan and Maple Creamy Dreamy Ice Cream

Return this mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard coats the back of a spoon (170 to 175 degrees F).

The weather did cause problems as far as collecting the sap from the trees goes. The snow pack was so deep that it was hard to maneuver. “Getting around in the woods was difficult,” Hassmann shared. The recent downpours also caused a collection nuisance. Hassmann lives on a hill so it hasn’t caused any flooding issues, but it was a pain to be out all day long collecting in the cold rain. This season started about the average time — they tapped the first trees on Feb. 13 and 14 and had the first boil on Feb. 15. The syrup is looking to be tasty as ever, even though the collection process was

Pour the heavy cream into a large bowl or container. Strain the custard into the cream. Mix well, then chill thoroughly. Freeze according to the directions of your ice cream machine. After it starts to harden (about 1 to 2 minutes before it is done), fold in the remaining 1 cup of pecans and drizzle an additional tablespoon or so of room-temperature maple syrup in the mix.

Dur BOS

(Continued from page 3) Finally, the Pisgah Road/Dead Hill Road recommendation was to request permission from the homeowner to clear vegetation and small trees and for re-inspection from the town engineer. The motion passed. The selectmen voted to approve making Town Times the paper of record for publishing legal notices and using the Middletown Press as an alternative in cases of timing issues. The selectmen were advised that Karen Andrukiewicz, the part time clerical support to the Resident State Trooper, will be retiring effective May 1, 2011. Paul Griese, Sue Michael, Katharine Conroy and Michael Gaffney were appointed to the Clean Energy Task Force.

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This recipe requires an ice cream machine. Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups pecans, -(chopped) 1-1/2 cups milk 8 egg yolks 1 cup maple syrup 1-1/2 cups heavy cream, (cold) Preparation: Heat the milk with 1/2 cup of pecans in a heavy saucepan. When the milk is close to boiling, remove from the heat. Cover and let steep for 20 minutes. Strain and discard the pecan pieces. Whisk the egg yolks and maple syrup together. Add the warm milk gradually, stirring constantly, until all the milk is added. (Be careful when adding the milk, you do not want scrambled eggs

1185116

Read Alan Pease’s girls’ hoops story online at www.towntimes.com.

(Continued from page 11)

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Erikson Wasyl was huge for Coginchaug, scoring 22 points, and adding three rebounds and an assist. Ethan Donecker showed no ill effects of his injury layoff, securing a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, adding a block, a steal and an assist. Andrew Markoski rounded out the double digit scoring with 13, adding seven rebounds, two steals and an assist. Tommy Ryan grabbed six rebounds, and while he didn’t score a lot, with five, he had the team’s only points in the final period and also assisted once. EJ Luther had four assists, two rebounds and a steal. There were no bench points, but Brock Hoyt was the second leading rebounder with nine, and Alec Corazinni also had a rebound. And unfortunately their tournament road was stopped by a 71-55 loss to St. Paul’s.

Maple syrup

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Town Times

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Friday, March 18, 2011

Town Times

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6 Way Road, Middlefield (Near Powder Ridge Ski Area)

William J. Lema, D.M.D.

NANCY C. FERRERO, LMFT, LLC • • • • • •

P: (860) 349-7003 FAX: (860) 349-7032 CT LICENSE #000932

Hourly Fee-Only Advice Financial Check Ups/Second Opinions Investment Planning Social Security Planning Learn more at www.JimSeagrave.com Saturday & Evening Appointments Available

Jim Seagrave, ChFC, CFP®, AIF® • 860-349-7036

CLINICAL MEMBER OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPY

PAUL T. MALAVENDA

Carl Marable

Principal

CORE INSURANCE SERVICES For All Your Insurance Needs

Competitive rates for: Auto, Home, Life, Disability and Business

Northeast Financial 6 Way Road Suite 133 Middlefield, CT 06455 Phone / (860) 349-7025 Fax / (203) 413-6240 Cell / (860) 857-0186 marable@commercialct.com

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David E. Rosenberg, Esq. 1194969

6 Way Road, Middlefield, CT 06455 Tel: (203) 404-7287 • Fax: (203) 413-5777 david@rosenbergattorneys.com www.rosenbergattorneys.com

Sr. Mortgage Consultant

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1194963

Phone: 860-349-7071 Fax: 860-499-5034 e-mail: paulm_core@sbcglobal.net

Representing: Travelers, The Hartford, Tower, Ace, Progressive, One Beacon, Arrowhead, Main Street, Safeco, Zurich, Lexington, Liberty Mutual, CNA, Foremost, Farmers, Markel, General Casualty, USLI, Penn Millers, RLI, Fireman’s Fund, Selective, Great American, Peerless, Hanover, Utica National, Infinity, Dairyland, Met Life, and many more ...

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6 WAY ROAD MIDDLEFIELD, CT 06455 nferrero.lmft@gmail.com

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INDIVIDUAL MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY