3-9-2012 Town Times

Volume 18, Issue 48

Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall

TownTimes.com

Friday, March 9, 2012

Residents hear plan for Powder Ridge winter sports park

By Stephanie Wilcox Town Times Cooperation. According to Sean Hayes, managing director of Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park LLC in Portland, this is the only thing that will bring

Powder Ridge back to life.

Hayes, accompanied by Brownstone representatives, including investors, his “entrepreneurial spirited” brother, and others, was the man of the hour during a March 6 public hearing. Middlefield and Rockfall resi-

dents watched a presentation and listened to his proposal for Powder Ridge, which is, in a nut shell, to get skiers down the mountain

by December 2013. Many residents were in favor of this See Sports Park, page 12

Public hearing set in Middlefield to vote on DMIAAB agreement and Regional Planning Organization

By Stephanie Wilcox Town Times

Photo by Sue VanDerzee

A festival of fun or ‘Leggo my Legos’

By Sue VanDerzee Special to the Town Times On Saturday, March 3, Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services hosted a giant family Lego build program. Twenty-six families and 115 participants spent 90 minutes producing a fantastic array of windmills with over 60,000 Legos.

Starting at 2 p.m., the Middlefield Community Center auditorium was filled with chattering children of all ages and their adult companions — moms, dads, grandpas, grandmas and neighbors. With each family group

or two settled around a table, the building began. Ideas flowed, laughter bubbled and family representatives visited huge plastic buckets of Legos strategically placed around the room for refills so that they could bring their very individual windmill visions to life.

The event was organized as a way to bring a healthy, family bonding activity to the towns as well as to raise consciousness about green, renewable energy. Greenskies, a renewable energy contractor in Middletown, See Legos, page 7

See Hearing, page 11

In this issue ...

Calendar............................4 Durham Briefs................12 Middlefield Briefs...........13 Schools........................15-17 Scouts..........................18-19 Sports ..........................20-23

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Mike Kalinowski and Joey participate in Saturday’s DMYFS LEGO build. See more pictures on page 7.

At a Middlefield Board of Selectmen meeting on March 5, a public hearing was set for Tuesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. followed by a town meeting. Two items will be on that agenda. The first is to adopt the layout of the new Regional Planning Organization (RPO). According to the Office of Policy and Management, “the municipalities within each of these planning regions have voluntarily created one of the three types of Regional Planning Organization allowed under CT statute... to carry out a variety of region-

The map denotes the new layout for the Regional Planning Organization in which Durham and Middlefield are located.

This layout will be voted on at a March 20 town meeting.

MONDAY, MARCH 5 Thru FRIDAY, MARCH 9 SEE OUR AD INSIDE FOR THE DETAILS!

Town Times Community Briefs

2

Corrections We strive to bring you the most accurate information available, but if you see something that isn’t quite right, call 860-349-8000, and we’ll do our best to make things right.

In the Feb. 17 issue, the Board of Selectmen article reported that Partridge Lane resident Donia Viola has been working with the town Health Department on the polluted well situation for many years. In fact, it has only been approximately 18 months.

Index of Advertisers To advertise in the Town Times, call Joy Boone at 860-349-8026

The Coginchaug Regional High School Scholarship Fund Committee announces its annual Scholarship Ball/Social on Saturday, March 24, from 7 p.m. to midnight. The location of the ball is at Zandri’s Stillwood Inn in Wallingford. Come to this event where you will dance to the sounds of Prelude, enjoy a cheese and cracker table, buffet dinner and coffee and dessert. A full open bar will be available all night (you asked … we listened). All profits to benefit college or trade school-bound seniors.

Everyone is invited. Seating is available for singles and couples. Reserve your table today by contacting Kim Donecker at (860) 3499840 or pgdonecker@comcast.net (ask about becoming a table hostess); or committee chair Joanne Kotlarz 349-2418 or jkotlarz@comcast.net.

Positive Discipline Join an Independent Day School Parent Association sponsored workshop called Positive Discipline in Your Home on Saturday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Independent Day School, 115 Laurel Brook Road in Middle-

Your

field. This program is for parents who are looking for longterm parenting skills that will encourage their children to think for themselves, become more responsible and have a greater respect for themselves and others. The teachings of Positive Discipline are filled with nonpunitive, respectful methods that will incorporate kindness and firmness into parenting, help parents get to the core of their child’s misbehavior, bring more joy into the home and give parents a sense of accomplishment.

This program, presented

by Teresa LaSala, certified positive discipline trainer, is useful for all parents with children of all ages - 1-20. It will be uniquely designed to fit our needs in our group.

Due to limited seating, registration is required along with a fee which includes six hours of interactive program, a book, Positive Discipline, written by Jane Nelson, Lynn Lott, and other handouts/tools. Register by March 16 online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/LLTZTC6.

For fee info or more details, visit independentdayschool.org or call Marie Benedetto at (860) 324-4237 or mbenedetto329@gmail.com.

You may also visit the Positive Discipline website, www.positivediscipline.org/ , to learn more about the methodologies taught.

Complete

Auto

School records to be destroyed The Pupil Services of Regional School District 13 are scheduled to destroy the confidential special education records of all former students form the class of 2005.

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 of the student before May 31. Letters should be written to Amy Emery, director of Pupil Personnel Service, Regional School District 13, P.O. 190, 135A Pickett Lane, Durham, CT 06422.

IDS open houses The Independent Day School, Middlefield, has scheduled open houses for prospective students.

The open house Sunday, March 25, is scheduled from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and features a student art show and a performance of Fiddler on the Roof. The open house Tuesday, April 3, features math and science night from 6 to 8 p.m.

Call (860) 347-7235 for info.

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. . . . . . . .19 FUEL & SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 GLAZER DENTAL ASSOCIATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 GRACE LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 GRISWOLD PLUMBING SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 IANNIELLO PLUMBING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 IDS PARENT ASSOCIATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 JAY LANDSCAPING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 JENKS PRODUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 LINO’S MARKET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 LYMAN ORCHARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 MASONICARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14, 17 MEADOWS, PATRICIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 MELVIN LANEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 MICHALOWSKI AGENCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 MICHELI UNISEX STYLING SALON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 MIDDLEFIELD REMODELING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 MIDDLESEX OB/GYN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 MIMS OIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 MOVADO FARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 NEIL JONES HOME IMPROVEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 NEW ENGLAND DENTAL HEALTH SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 OLSEN, LEIF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 PLANETA ELECTRIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 RANEY, DMD, JASON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 RLI ELECTRIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 ROBLEE PLUMBING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 ROCKFALL CO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 RSDL HOME IMPROVEMENTS & REPAIRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 SALKA OFFICE FURNITURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 SHARON MCCORMICK DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 SINGLES ALTERNATIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 SISTERS CLEANING SERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 SPLIT ENZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE & BODYWORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 TONYS MASONRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 TORRISON STONE & GARDEN . . . . . . . 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Scholarship Ball

Friday, March 9, 2012

MON., TUE., & FRI 8-5:30; WED. & THUR. 8-7

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Friday, March 9, 2012

3

Town Times

Rating the towns

7

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Store Baked Ham

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Boar’s Head Virginia Baked Ham

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5 lbs. Chicken Legs 5 lbs. Bone-In Chicken Breasts

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FISH SPECIALS Frozen Calamari (Tubes & Tentacles) 2 1/2 lb pkg. $9.99 ea.

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Fresh Clams $3.69 lb. SAVE $2.00/lb.

Carando Hard Salami

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Boar’s Head Bologna

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Martin Rosol’s Veal Loaf

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And when Huscher works in nearby Killingworth, she may well whip out those listings again. Our neighbors to the south just eeked their way into the top 10 this year.

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This week, we asked our online readers, “Are you a distracted driver?” Here are the results: Yes- I send/receive text messages or phone calls while driving: 10 percent Yes- I eat and drink while driving: 20 percent Yes- All of the above or “other distractions”: 30 percent Sort of- I use a hands-free device while driving: 10 percent No- All distractions are nowhere in sight: 30 percent Be sure to vote in our next poll at www.towntimes.com

But in Durham and Middlefield, residents seem to be taking the ratings change in stride. “We’re not scarred or anything like that,” Huscher says, pointing out that both towns still boast a strong school system and a central location — in the country, but not far from jobs in Hartford or Fairfield.

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www.carminesdurham.com for our menu

ed in it and like to see how their town performed,” she says. “It gets a great deal of attention.”

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A major factor for Durham this year was that three smaller towns moved up into the listings for municipalities with between 6,500 and 10,000 residents based on the 2010 census numbers. The newcomers, New Hartford, Middlebury

Grandjean admits that it is an imperfect science. Crime statistics, for example, are based primarily on larcenies, since the small towns don’t have many major crimes. Comparing a town with a major highway — and the thefts that come with that — with a more isolated borough is like comparing apples and oranges.

Still, the ratings do have their place. And some people take the results to heart. One year, residents of Bethany made a funny YouTube video rapping about their fall from the top spot. Occasionally, Grandjean says, a town official even will lodge a complaint about the criteria.

“As much as we try to say this is not the be all and end all, people are very interest-

INSURANCE

Patricia Grandjean, a senior editor, who wrote this year’s story with Andrew Brady, says much of the interest comes from — surprise! — small town newspaper reporters, wondering why their home base rose or fell.

and Killingworth, had strong showings that bumped Durham down.

Pricey Easton, in Fairfield County, came in number one. In our immediate area, Haddam finished 13 and Portland came in 15. In the smaller town category, Marlborough finished first, while nearby Chester and Deep River were seventh and eighth, respectively.

The ratings are determined by a formula comprised of data on education, the economy, cost of living, crime and leisure.

Durham’s strongest showing was in recreation, where it finished 10, buoyed by generous spending on the town library, and the presence of the Durham Fair. Its weakest was in cost, where it was 17. Middlefield, too, benefited from a strong score in recreation (third in its category) and suffered in crime and economy (both coming in at 17).

Although the towns are grouped together by size,

INSURANCE

It’s the issue of Connecticut Magazine that realtors wait for with baited breath: “Rating the Towns.” But this year, the news wasn’t so great for Durham, which dropped from 9 to 16 among towns between 6,500 and 10,000 in population.

“When I saw it, I thought, ‘I can’t do it. I can’t use it at all,’” says Debbie Huscher, a real estate agent at William Raveis in Middletown, who sells frequently in Durham and Middlefield.

Three years ago, it was a different story: Durham was in the top 10 for places its size — alongside tonier towns like Easton and Essex — and Huscher played up the fact by including a copy of the rankings in her marketing materials.

Middlefield stayed nearly the same in the article, which ran in the March issue, moving up one slot — from 18 in the last poll to 17 this year. Middlefield competes in the category of towns with between 3,500 and 6,500 residents.

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Town Times & Places

4 FRIDAY

March 9 Bridge Night Come join in at the Durham Activity Center every Friday night at 6:30 p.m. for a fun night of bridge with great people. If you are not sure how to play, Jim will teach you. You may call Jim at (860) 346-6611 with bridge questions.

Call Durham Rec at (860) 343-6724 with further questions.

Hungry Hearts Middlefield Federated Church is presenting the opportunity for adults to wear their hungry hearts on their sleeves for Haiti. Similar to the youth event, adults are challenging themselves to go without food for 30 hours and come together in prayers and fellowship.

They are asking friends and family to support this famine by donating money to the HELO Orphanage in Haiti (helohaiti.org). Join us at the church from 6 p.m. today to 6 p.m. tomorrow. For more info, please call Middlefield Federated Church at (860) 349-9984 or e-mail Tammy Burt at tamburt@comcast.net.

Saturday

March 10 Chili Tasting Party Come to Indian Springs Golf Club on Mack Road in Middlefield from 6 to 9 p.m. for music by Middlefield Ukulele Players Club, a 50/50 raffle, chili judging and prizes and local celebrities. Sponsored by the Democratic Town Committee.

SUNDAY

March 11 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS Be sure to set your clock ahead by one hour!

Community Supper The Church of the Epiphany will host a free community supper today from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the church hall at 196 Main Street in Durham. The meal is being prepared and sponsored by Boy Scout Troop #27. All are invited, all are welcome. Information is available by calling (860) 349-

9644 or by e-mailing office@epiphanydurham.org.

Purim Purim, one of the most joyous and fun holidays of the Jewish calendar, will be celebrated today at Congregation Adath Israel, Broad St., Middletown. The Lisa Goodman Purim carnival will be held for the children of the Hebrew School from 10 a.m. to noon. Games, prizes and food will be provided for all the youths. At 12:30 there will be adult festivities including the “Spiel Café” in the Nester Center. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails will be served while entertainment like skits, songs and comedy from other congregants will be provided. The evening will feature prizes for costumes, desserts and loads of fun surprises for those attending. RSVP for dinner at (860) 346-4709.

MONDAY

March 12 Durham 60 + Durham 60 + will meet at 1:30 p.m. today at the Durham Activity Center, 350 Main Street. A blood pressure clinic will be held.

There will be a musical program presented by the Humble Bees. Newcomers are welcome.

Durham Senior Lunches Every Monday and Wednesday, hot lunches are available for seniors over 60 and their spouses at the Durham Activity Center (350 Main St.). Follow-

ing the lunches on Mondays is game time which includes billiards, Wii and cards. Bingo starts at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. For pricing info and to make a reservation, call Amanda Astarita, senior café manager, at (860) 349-3153.

Middlefield Senior Lunches The Middlefield Senior Café is serving lunch three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Reservations are required 24 hours prior, and their monthly menu can be picked up at the center, Town Hall, or at www.middlefieldct.org.

St. Patrick’s Day Meal Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day at the senior center with a traditional Irish meal on Thursday, March 15, at noon. Tom Stankus will entertain everyone with the sounds of Ireland. Reservations for this luncheon need to be made by today; call (860) 349-7121.

Breakfast at the Center Middlesex Health Care Center in Middletown will be sponsoring a breakfast at the Senior Center on Tuesday, March 20. Reservations for this breakfast must be made by today.

Space is limited for this popular event. Please call the center at (860) 349-7121 if you would like to come to the breakfast, and, as always, we ask that you “lug a mug” to help us go green so that we can cut down on paper waste.

Friday, March 9, 2012 WEDNESDAY

March 14 TOPS Meeting TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the Durham Town Hall. Contact Naomi Klotsko at 860-349-9558 or Bonnie Olesen at 860-3499433 for more information.

FRIDAY

March 16 Grades 5-6 Fun Nights and Dance Durham-Middlefield Youth & Family Services (DMYFS) will host a finalFun Nights tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Activities include an open game room with ping pong, basketball and air hockey; a board game room and line dancing with Sound Spectrum. The event takes place at the Middlefield Community Center (405 Main St.).

For prices or more info, please contact DMYFS at (860) 349-0258 or e-mail jmoen.dmyfs@comcast.net.

TOT Time Bring your babies, toddlers and preschoolers to join other moms and children in your community.

Event hosted every Friday

by MOMS (MOMS Offering Moms Support) Club of Durham/Middlefield at the Middlefield Community Center at 10 a.m. Tot Time is only open to residents of Durham and Middlefield.

For more information, con-

February birthdays celebrated The Durham Activity center held a senior luncheon Valentine’s Party where February birthdays were celebrated. From left, Mary Rubendunst, Joe Hall and Evelyn Dean. Not pictured is Lainy Melvin who also has a February birthday. DAC will have a St. Patrick’s Day party on Thursday, March 15, with a luncheon provided by CRT. We will have no Wednesday lunch on March 14.

Photo by Amanda Astarita

tact momsdurhammiddlefield@gmail.com.

Matt Lesser at Perk State Representative Matt Lesser (D-Durham/Middlefield/Middletown) will be at Perk on Main, 6 Main Street in Durham, today from 8 to 9:30 a.m. to meet with people and discuss issues in an informal setting. Those who cannot attend may reach Rep. Lesser by e-mail at Matthew.Lesser@cga.ct.gov or call him at 1.800.842.8267 to arrange a private meeting or for any other matter.

SATURDAY

March 17 HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY Corned Beef Dinner Come to St. James Episcopal Church (corner of Route 81 and Little City Road in Higganum) for the annual corned beef dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. The dinner includes corned beef and cabbage, potatoes and homemade desserts. Takeout dinners available. For info, call (860) 345-2445.

Irish Night The Middletown Elks will hold a St. Patrick’s Day dinner-dance celebration 2012 at the Middletown Elks Lodge on Maynard Street.

The cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., with Irish Step Dancers from the Griffith Academy of Irish Dance performing at 7 p.m. A Irish corned beef dinner will follow at 7:30 p.m. with music and dancing until 11 p.m.

Tickets available at the Elks Lodge or from Dennis Murray at 347-5122 or Gerry Daley 347-9315.

Taste of Cross Street Cross Street Church AME Zion Church, 440 West Street in Middletown, is sponsoring a Benefit Fund Raiser & Silent Auction from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

There will be a food competition with community judges. Donation suggested.

Robert Strickland American Legion There will be a meeting of the Robert Strickland American Legion at the Durham Library today at 10 a.m. In addition to current members, any former military members are welcome to join the meeting. Call Bob Francis, 860-349-0881, with any questions.

Friday, March 9, 2012

5

Town Times

Strengthening the community: The Middlesex Y’s Community Support Campaign

By Jessica Carso YMCA Director of Development and Middlefield Resident

The Middlesex Y has officially kicked off its Community Support Campaign. This year, we’re raising awareness and financial support for three of our important focus areas: Strong Kids, providing local children in need with access to the many life changing programs such as Summer Camp, Before and After School Care, Youth Sports, Swim Lessons and Youth Enrichment; Building Healthy Communities, beyond traditional exercise and movement, working to address some of today’s most critical health needs including diabetes, arthritis and obesity and assuring that everyone in our community, regardless of their ability to pay, has the opportunity to live healthier lives; Lessons for Life, providing swim lessons and water safety instruction for any child or adult who wishes to learn this critical lifesaving skill.

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It is with you that the Middlesex Y will continue to be so much more than just a gym and a pool. It will remain an essential part of our community, providing accessibility for children and teens, for families, for residents and for active older adults.

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As a non-profit organization, the Middlesex Y relies on the generous contributions from you, members, friends, participants and community members, ensuring that all of our programs remain accessible to all. To learn more about how you can contribute to the Middlesex Y’s 2012 Community Support Campaign, please visit: www.midymca.org/giving.ht ml or call me (Jessica) at 860343-6232, via e-mail at jcarso@midymca.org.

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During this time, we encourage everyone to join our cause,” said board chair Richard Carella. “When we

all pitch-in and help our neighbors, we make a meaningful, enduring impact in the lives of children and families, and ultimately strengthen our community.”

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When you stop and think about the YMCA, what comes to mind?

Did you know the most frequent answer is: a gym and a pool? While it’s true that the Middlesex Y boasts two swimming pools and impressive gym facilities, there is so much more to our story.

Since 1886, the Middlesex Y has been instrumental in providing positive, healthy, lifechanging opportunities and accessibility for all who seek to reach their full potential.

The Middlesex Y continues to serve the community through its programs and services, ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to develop, learn and succeed today.

Each year, more than 11,250 youth, families and residents participate in programs such as Kids Korner, Camp Ingersoll, Barracuda Swim Team, Youth Fitness and Exercise, special Family Nights and Events, Therapeutic Mentoring, Personal Fitness and Housing for Men. For many individuals and families, these life changing programs would not be accessible without financial assistance. “Contributions from generous donors is critical to the Y’s goal that everyone has

an opportunity to receive the support, guidance and resources to learn, grow and thrive,” said Middlesex Y CEO and President, Frank Sumpter. “Each year, more than $300,000 is given in financial assistance to our community members, ensuring that each and every person who wants to participate and become involved is able.”

Periodicals Postage Paid at Meriden, CT and at additional mailing offices.

P O S T M A S T E R: Send address changes to Town Times, P.O. Box 265, Middlefield, CT 06455.

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Friday, March 9, 2012

Town Times

Isabella, Jayden and Dorcas — why we were given these names

By Diana Carr Special to the Town Times “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” We are so much more than our names, Juliet is telling Romeo, in her impassioned plea for him to not be imprisoned by the family name that was forbidden to her.

Juliet’s philosophy aside, most of us would agree that, upon hearing a name, we immediately conjure up an image of the person it goes with. Names are important.

Just ask the poor soul who was taunted for his on the school playground.

And, like fashion, names rise and fall in popularity and are often a sign of the times. Parents are influenced by a variety of factors when it comes to naming their babies. Some choose biblical names. Some choose more mainstream names, in an effort to spare their child that playground taunting. Some name their babies after a character in a book or a movie or a television show,

after a popular song, or after an admired public figure.

And some choose names that express their creativity and their break with convention.

All births in the United States since 1879 are registered with the Social Security Administration, thereby making it easy to see what names have held sway over the years. In 1880, the names John and Mary topped the list. In 1950, James and Linda. The 1960s, with its air of social revolution, saw the beginning of more non-traditional names, like April and Sunshine. Today the most popular names are Jacob (of Hebrew origin, meaning supplanter) and Isabella (of Italian origin, meaning God’s oath), and they’re the names of the lead characters in the Twilight movies. Jayden, the name of Britney Spears’ son, is the fourth favorite name in the U.S. The names that have seen the biggest increase in popularity are Maci and Bentley, which are the names of a teenage mother and her baby on the hit reality show, Teen Mom. Kellan, the name

of one of the actors in the Twilight movies, has also seen a surge in popularity.

Other favorite names are Sophia, Emma and Olivia for girls and Ethan, Michael and William for boys. And for the first time since 1954, the name Elvis didn’t make the top 1,000 list. It seems that Elvis has finally left the building.

But not everyone is a slave to the media when it comes to choosing a name for their bundle of joy. Felicia Jones, of Wallingford, simply liked the name Isabella. “Her father and I couldn’t agree on a name before she was born, seven months ago,” she said.

“My best friend’s name is Rose, and I wanted that to be the baby’s middle name, so I wanted something that would go well with that. And I found it — Isabella — when I was looking through a book of baby names.

“My sister calls her Izzy and the rest of the family, including me, calls her Bella.

When she’s older, and she gets in trouble, I’ll call her Isabella.”

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And it looks like the name may stop with her. She has two granddaughters, and “Dorcas” is not in any part of their names. “I always said that it wasn’t expected,” she says, “but there’s a twinge. It would have been nice to carry on the family name.”

Fontaine has taken her fair share of ribbing, but it hasn’t fazed her. “I like my name because of its family history, and now that I’m older, I like having a different name, and I get a kick out of people’s reactions.

The name suits me, even though I don’t sew.”

So, Juliet, not to be cantankerous, but it looks like there’s quite a lot in a name.

The Board of Education budget was presented on March 7. Go to www.towntimes.com to read details of the budget.

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It’s a family tradition Fontaine almost missed out on. Her mother was going to name her Bonnie Jean, until she saw the name (Bonnie Jean) on a ketchup bottle.

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My friend, Dorcas Fontaine, a Madison resident, has often been called upon to explain her name. I met her in the fifth grade and never gave a second thought to her name, but she says introductions often result in raised eyebrows. Says Dorcas, “When I was growing up in Madison, there were four of us - me, my grandmother, and two other Dorcases. One of them was four years older than me, so by the time I got to school everyone had heard the name and they didn’t make a big deal out of it. I didn’t realize it was a different name until I was involved in activities that took me out of town, and people would ask, ‘What kind of a name is that?’

Some people say they really like it and it’s a nice name, and some people have been rude with their questions.

Friday, March 9, 2012

7

Town Times

Building windmills with Legos

Center, Steve Schwartz, workshop leader, gives windmillbuilding pointers to one of the participating families in Saturday’s DMYFS Lego build.

Behind Schwartz is DMYFS program director Jane Moen, who planned the event.

Stephanie Coutsouridis

All of the windmills in Block Island Sound

Legos Moen, the response was so outstanding that the organi-

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was a major sponsor, allowing DMYFS to bring workshop leader Steve Schwartz to oversee the program. After explaining that each family would be building a windmill in honor of what promises to be the first offshore wind farm in the USA, off the shore of Block Island, Schwartz wandered from table to table, encouraging the builders.

Finally, 90 minutes into the program, he unrolled a room-size map of the Connecticut, Rhode Island and Long Island shorelines and Block Island, gave participants a few more minutes to put on their finishing touches, and then invited them to place their windmills on the map around Block Island.

The sight of the 26 windmills, splendid in their originality, colorful and creative in design, was a delightful photo opportunity. After snapping and posing, the builders trooped into the DMYFS room next door for a well-deserved snack of juice and cake, celebrating a lovely afternoon.

According to DMYFS program director Jane

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Friday, March 9, 2012

Town Times

IDS third graders record Connecticut history

Third graders at the Independent Day School studied Connecticut and completed an assignment on the snow storm of Oct. 2011 which will go down in history. Below are a selection of personal narratives about how the storm affected, or didn’t affect, them and their families.

Submitted by JoAnn Rider

The Storm

By Francesca Antonopoulos, Durham, CT The devastating, scary snowstorm, Alfred, of Oct. 29, 2011 surprisingly had a tremendous effect on Connecticut. I live in Durham, and 100 percent of the people in my town lost power. Before the power went out, my mom was making apple pie and the light was flickering. We had to keep deciding if we should bake it or not. My dad and I were playing a Monopoly game when the power was still on. Then the power went off so for three days we played in candlelight. I was very cold at night so I slept under five blankets and wore warm pajamas and a sweater. My mom helped my sister, brother and me make three snowmen that were each four feet tall. To flush the toilets my mom melted snow on our gas stove, which took a long time. My grandpa and I walked on my street to look at the power lines, but it was not a safe thing to do, so we had to go back inside. My uncle who lives in Massachusetts got my grandparents a generator, so

on Wednesday I went up to Massachusetts with my grandparents to get it. Trickor-treating was cancelled in the town of my friend, Julia, whom I was going to go trickor-treating with, so my sister gave me some of her candy that she got at her school. I was surprised we got 12 inches of snow in October. I felt excited, scared and depressed about the snowstorm because we had no school for four days, but at the same time I got a mini vacation. I spent those four days with my grandparents because they had a generator. Snowstorm Alfred was very unexpected for October in Durham, Connecticut.

The Devastating Snowstorm

By William Foster, Durham, CT The devastating, scary snowstorm of Oct. 29, 2011 surprisingly had a tremendous effect on Connecticut. After the snowstorm, when I was sleeping, the power went out, and when I woke up the power was still out. All of my town, which is Durham, lost power, Since the power was out we had no electricity and no water so we couldn’t do lots of things. It was hard without power because lots of things we used had to have power to work, like a refrigerator and a stove.

Without power we had no school because lots of things in the school use power, like computers and lights. We used flashlights because we couldn’t use lamps since

Russell Library Russell Library, located at 123 Broad St. in Middletown, is open from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

From Page to Screen: Great Movies from Great Books How many times have you heard this: “The movie wasn’t as good as the book”? But, even though some great stories have been wrecked by Hollywood, a number of film adaptations have been as good as the books on which they were based. In some cas-

lamps use electricity. The snow made lots of trees and branches fall down and some fell on power lines. I went to a friend’s at Halloween because they had a generator so they had power. Since we didn’t have power, we played games that we didn’t need power to play, like card games and board games. I felt worried about losing power, and I wondered when we would get power back because it was hard without power. The snowstorm of Oct. 29, 2011 was one of the most destructive storms I’ve ever experienced.

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Town Times is published every Friday by the Record-Journal Publishing Co. and delivered to all homes and businesses in Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall.

Stephanie Wilcox, Editor Marsha Pompino, Office Assistant Olivia L. Lawrence, News Editor-Weeklies Kimberley E. Boath, Advertising Director Joy Boone, Advertising Sales Contributors: Diana Carr, Trish Dynia, Elisabeth Kennedy, Karen Kean, Judy Moeckel, Mark Dionne, Michelle P. Carter and Christine Foster

Paws Place: Raymond

es, the films were even better.

Russell Library gives you the chance to judge for yourself when it presents “Great Movies from Great Books” on the first Tuesday of the month through May. Film critic Richard Alleva will introduce four of the best adaptations ever made and will pinpoint just how, in each case, a great moviemaker has preserved the essence of a great tale. Showings will be at noon in the Hubbard Room of Russell Library. The remaining three films selected for viewing and discussion are: Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) on March 6, The Fallen Idol (1948) on April 3, and The Dead (1987) on May 1.

Hi, I’m Raymond. I am about two years old. Aren’t I handsome? I’m very appreciative that Catales rescued me, but I would love to get a forever home as soon as possible! I do not get along with these other cats, and I hiss and growl at them constantly. I really just want a home of my own where I can be the only cat and get all of the love and attention I crave, I am a very friendly guy and very affectionate as long as there are no other cats around me. I’d also rather not be with young children because they may make me a little nervous. Once I get to know you, I love to be petted and get attention. I’d love a home to run around and play in. Please consider adopting me. I will love you forever.

If you are interested in adopting this cat, please call Catales, Inc. at 860-3449043 or e-mail info@catales.org.

Bring a sandwich, and the library will provide beverages and dessert.

How could Truman Capote’s novella, a minor masterpiece with a gay sensibility, become a completely heterosexual romance which secured Audrey Hepburn’s stardom and made the “little black dress” the most astonishing stroke of high fashion of the 20th century? Did you know that Marilyn Monroe was considered for the role of Holly Golightly? Or that George Peppard, the male lead, was practically shunned by the rest of the cast?

Town Times Columns

Friday, March 9, 2012

9

Bon appetit

The web of life

scene in our own dinI admit it. I’m a Sue VanDerzee ing rooms several sucker for House times a week, but it Hunters Internationcan be a struggle. al. Almost every After all, there are weekday evening at sports, and iPhones, 10:30 on HGTV, I tune and iPods, and TVs, in to watch some usually American family decide to pick and PCs, and dance lessons, and up and move somewhere else on the scouts, and overtime, and Chris doesglobe. Their reasons for doing so are n’t like vegetables and Tracy doesn’t almost never financial or even job-re- eat meat, and, and, and …

Hold on a minute now … In keeping lated, but rather a kind of longing for connection and immersion, first with with our 21st century opportunities, their own families and secondly with take a moment to Google “family dincultures that seem somehow slower, ner time.” The results are quite amazmore attuned to natural human ing; everyone from Time magazine to Dr. Oz to Fox News to mommy blogs rhythms.

Face it. We all have a need for con- extol the virtues of the family dinner nection, and short of packing up and table. It’s not hard to see why. Releaving the US, where can we find it? search conducted by the National CenPerhaps one of the simplest, and ter on Addiction and Substance Abuse therefore most overlooked, places is at at Columbia University shows that the family dinner table. We can all the more often families eat together, close our eyes and picture that dinner the less likely the children are to table, whether from our own early drink, do drugs, experience depresmemories, or iconic TV shows or Nor- sion, contemplate suicide or develop man Rockwell calendar pages. Perhaps we even manage to assemble that See Appetit, page 10

very carefully. I feed I am an organic gardener. Despite nearly Nancy DuBrule-Clemente the soil life by applying compost and organic 40 years of studying the fertilizers. I respect the natural world, I insect populations by humbly admit that I have only scratched the surface of never blanket spraying my garden understanding the complex ecosys- with any substance, organic or not. If tem that exists in my own backyard. I have a pest problem, the first thing There are two approaches that one that I do is identify the pest. Then, I can take to the craft of gardening. learn as much as I can about it. I try The first approach is basically “man to understand its life cycle. Does it versus nature.” The gardener sets feed at night? Does it pupate in the himself up to control his backyard. soil in the spring or fall? How many Any insects or animals that are not life cycles does it have each year? If part of his scheme are not only un- the pest population reaches a level of welcome, they are destroyed. Bugs damage that I feel I cannot tolerate, I are considered bad; powerful poisons examine my options, seeking out the are purchased and the entire yard is least harmful material to control it. sprayed on a regular basis to elimi- Then, I spray only the affected plants. This insures that the benefinate them.

I take a very different approach. I cial insects, which naturally prey strive to walk lightly upon the earth. upon this problem pest, are spared, I realize that my garden is a man- thus able to do their work. Eventualmade creation that has been set ly, the beneficial insect population down in a greater natural world that increases and the bad bugs decrease. existed on this spot long before I Then, my work is reduced or elimicame here. Even the smallest one- nated and a balance is restored.

Organic gardening inspires the square-foot parcel of my yard contains more life that I can imagine. My gardener to learn as much as possisoil is teaming with life-beneficial ble about their “enemies.” It also bacteria, fungi and thousands, per- teaches tolerance and understandhaps billions of microorganisms. ing. If you see a caterpillar devouring Earthworms tunnel down deep in the your parsley plants, your first inground, digesting organic matter stinct would be to destroy the caterand leaving nutrient-rich castings pillar and protect parsley. If you look behind. The leaf litter slowly decom- up the caterpillar in a basic reference poses and releases nutrients to feed book, you will find it is the larval the soil microorganisms. Birds, stage of a beautiful swallowtail buttoads and many other creatures feed terfly. You will also find that it will on the insects in my garden. Hawks soon form a chrysalis and the damand foxes feed on the birds. And the age to your parsley will stop. Your cycle continues. It fascinates me, and parsley will grow back; you will I try to study it, but I realize that the eventually have a butterfly pollinatintricacies of these complex interac- ing your flowers. If skunks are digging up your lawn, they are most tions are perhaps beyond my grasp.

With this knowledge, I choose the materials that I apply to my yard See Life, page 11

Local Wellness Council

Mozart’s School For Lovers comes to Middletown March 16

By Larry Kellum Special to the Town Times

human emotions felt in this piece (love and sex, infidelity and betrayal) subtlety come across as more universal and timeless when presented in this manner.

The sextet of principals all sang and acted well and are to be commended for blending so nicely in this ultimate ensemble work where every duet leads to a trio, every trio to a quartet, and so forth. Three of the artists are CLO favorites — Juarez, Romano and baritone Luke Scott — and three were making debuts with the company — Rind and soprano Dana Schnitzer from the Boston area, and mezzo Aleksandra Kaminska, a rising star in Poland. Both being tall, blond and handsome, Kaminska and Scott each brought Salzburg-worthy, world class vocalism and Hollywood good looks to Dorabella and Guglielmo. Schnitzer (the other sister Fiordiligi) was also beautiful to behold (remember the 1980s actress Phoebe Cates?) and her voice soared effortlessly into the upper reaches of this role’s difficult yo-yo tessitura. However, like most lyric sopranos in this part, her emphatic low notes lacked the rock-solid kick-youin-the-gut thrust of, say, a Marilyn Horne, which is necessary for the runs and octave leaps of a “defiant” aria

Larry Kellum

Opera Review

The CT Lyric Opera presents the second production of its 2011-12 season, Mozart’s charming masterpiece Cosi fan Tutte, at the state-of-the-art Middletown High School Performing Arts Center on Friday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m. As is always the case with this exciting company, its operas premiere at New Britain’s Trinity on Main, and that March 2 performance is reviewed here.

Composed in 1790, Cosi is a classic and classy comedy — in other words, a farce, even a satire, and in the hands of a good stage director (here Eve Summer), is not the silly, three Stoogestype slapstick that often creeps into some of the Rossini and Donizetti comedies. Cosi fan tutte is an Italian expression, loosely translated, that means “all women are like that”— in other words, fickle and untrustworthy. Yes, it can drag at times (like every Mozart opera), and there are all the complex plot twists and characters in disguise typical of the genre. However, when cleverly cast with dark chocolate (as opposed to milk) voices in certain roles — Daniel Juarez’s beefy tenor as Ferrando, Alexandra Romano’s woodwind mezzo as the maid Despina, Miles Rind’s genuine bass as Alfonso — the very real and

See Mozart, page 10

Natureworks

February police statistics Motor Vehicle AcciMiddlefield Calls for Service: 647 Eric Kelly, Middlefield RST dents without Injuries: Criminal Investiga- Pete DiGioia, Durham RST 9 Motor Vehicle Intions: 6 fractions: 111 Motor Vehicle AcciMotor Vehicle dents with Injuries: 1 Warnings: 9 Motor Vehicle AcciMotor Vehicle Accident DWI’s: 0 dents without Injuries: 5 DWI’s On Sight: 0 Total Motor Vehicle accidents for In the month of February we had no February 2012: 6 Motor Vehicle Infractions: 293 is- residential burglaries in Durham, we had one larceny of two-way radios on sued.

Commerce Circle and a several comMotor Vehicle Warnings: 33 issued. plainants to vandalism to mail boxes.

Motor Vehicle Accident DWI’s: 0 Traffic Enforcement was conducted On-sight DWI’s: 1 on the following Streets: Rt. 157 near the Middlefield line, Pent Road near Rt. Durham 68. Tuttle Road near Brewster School, Calls for Service: 470 Rt. 17 near Rt. 147, Rt. 17 near Strong Criminal Investigations: 7 Motor Vehicle Accidents with In- School, Rt. 17 near Little Lane and Maple Ave north of Rt. 68. juries: 3

Trooper Talk

10

Friday, March 9, 2012

Town Times

Appetit

(from page 9)

eating disorders.

Research also shows the flip side of the family dinner time coin. The more often families eat together the more likely that their children will do well in school, delay sex and report that their parents are proud of them. They are also more likely to eat fruits and vegetables and try new foods. And they learn at least rudimentary table manners.

This holds true regardless of income, gender or educational level and whether there is one parent or two.

So, if something seems so patently good, why don’t we do more of it? Actually, statis-

tics also show that there is a trend toward more families eating together more often, and that’s a very good thing.

It doesn’t have to be hard; picking up a pizza and sitting down to eat it, with TVs and cell phones off, counts. Eating out together counts. If dinner doesn’t work, breakfast and/or lunch count.

Having the kids help prepare meals helps everyone.

It’s cheaper, by and large, to eat in together. Portion control is easier thus reducing the national tendency toward obesity. Talk about a winwin-win.

It does make great TV to watch a family from the United States heartland pack up and move to sunny Italy in order to slow down and recon-

nect, but there is an easier way — just sit down to a meal together at least once a day.

Bon appétit!

The Durham Middlefield Local Wellness Council is a coalition of local volunteers engaged from every sector of the community in an effort to educate, implement strategies to prevent and reduce substance abuse and other risk taking behaviors. The council works to promote programs that build positive assets in youth and healthy lifestyles through community collaboration. For further information about the Local Wellness Council, contact Betsy Dean, chair and executive director of Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services, at bdean.dmyfs@comcast.net

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like “Come scoglio” to hit with full impact. Sets and costumes, all in period, were unusually lovely and refreshing to look at, to top off the evening.

As is also always the case with the CLO, the orchestra of choice was maestro Adrian Sylveen’s CT Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. Magnificent as his forces have been in Puccini here in the past, they are really in their true element in Mozart, allowing the singers to make it all sound so easy (which it isn’t!) and natural.

For tickets to this Middletown performance, please call 860-347-4887 or visit thevirtuosi.org. For more information and/or tickets to the Lyric Opera’s eagerly-awaited final production of Verdi’s grandiose Otello in May, please visit the above website or ctlyricopera.org.

All are encouraged to attend. This hearing is accessible to the handicapped.

Friday 5pm-9pm • Saturday 10am-9pm • Sunday 10am-5pm

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Any disabled persons requiring special assistance or non-English speaking persons should contact Laura L. Francis, First Selectman at 860-349-3625 at least five days prior to the hearing.

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Laura L. Francis First Selectman

Guest Celebrities Jeff Devlin

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 catalog, 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.

YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS Wii Wednesdays: Every school day Wednesday from 3 to 4 p.m., come to the library after school to play on the library’s Wii! Snack provided.

The purpose of this public hearing is to present information and discuss proposed Right to Farm Ordinance and to provide an opportunity for public comment.

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(from page 9)

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Friday, March 9, 2012

Life (Continued from page 9)

make contributions should contact Summer Spencer from the Lions Club.

A brief discussion took place regarding a letter from the Park & Recreation Department who is requesting a change in ordinance to allow for two additional members to the group’s six-member team who will be alternates. The letter explained that Park & Recreation has a hard time getting a quorum at regularly-scheduled meeting.

The selectmen all agreed this was a good idea and would also benefit other commissions with the same problem — like Conservation. But they recognized that it would be no easy or quick task. “This is a charter issue,” said Brayshaw.

“To change the ordinance is no small thing.”

At the March 5 meeting, Girl Scouts received a proclamation, and two reappointments were approved — Jerry

Russ to Planning & Zoning; and Daria Vander Veer to Inland Wetlands Watercourse Agency. Brayshaw reported that the Conservation Commission is looking for three members.

Scholarships available Coginchaug High School Scholarship Fund applications for 2012 scholarships are available at www.rsd13ct.org. Seniors may also access the application from the school website through the guidance tab. Graduating seniors who will be attending a two or four year college, university or trade school are eligible.

Applications must be submitted to the guidance office in duplicate by 9:30 a.m. on March 30.

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al planning and other activities on their behalf.” First Selectman Jon Brayshaw said half of the other towns in the new RPO have adopted the new layout, and there have been no issues. He expects the same in Middlefield.

Also that night, the public will hear about the proposed DMIAAB agreement and will vote on it. “(The new agreement) has been vetted for over a year,” Brayshaw reported, confessing that he will be happy to get it off the table.

Brayshaw informed the board of the Miller Road bridge project and gave a brief history. In 2008, the four town-owned bridges were inspected, and two were deemed in need of repairs. The town put in for a grant and ultimately received $250,000 to make repairs for the Miller Road bridge.

Currently, Brayshaw is looking into what the bridge needs. “The question is,” he said,” can we get the whole thing (the repairs) done for $250, 000?”

The answer, he said, will be determined when town engineer Brian Curtis looks more closely into the details.

The bridge, which is 80

years old, poses no safety concerns at this time.

In new business, the selectmen approved a resolution for a CT State Library Historic Preservation grant that town clerk Donna Golub has requested. The town applies for this grant every year.

Brayshaw announced that the Lions Club is looking for contributions in order for the group to sponsor “Welcome to Middlefield” signs at Guida’s restaurant and Connecticut Forest and Park Association headquarters. Recently, the Planning & Zoning Commission changed its zoning regulations having to do with signage, giving the Board of Selectmen the responsibility to approve details of signs.

Brayshaw applied to the Department of Transportation to install the signs, and “now all we need is money,” he said. Those wishing to

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It all comes down to understanding your enemy and learning all about them and trying to coexist in harmony.

As we head into the 2012 growing season, you are at a fork in the road. This could be your year to choose the organic approach. If you haven’t explored these methods before, consider it now.

Before you begin another season of applying chemicals to your lawns and gardens, before you spread any more petroleum-based chemical fertilizers, before you blanket spray your gardens without contemplating the web of life that exists there… educate yourself. As a very tiny part of the web of life, we should be in awe and walk as lightly on the earth as you possibly can.

Hearing (From page 1)

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likely going after grubs. Instead of spreading toxic poisons to kill the grubs (and perhaps threaten the safety of your cats, dogs and visiting birds as well), learn more about the grubs, which are the larval stage of many beetles, including Japanese beetles. Try using beneficial nematodes, microscopic parasitic insects that will kill the grubs without hurting anything or anyone else. Spread Milky Spore powder on your lawn to give the grubs a disease that will kill them and remain active for up to 10 years in your yard. This, too, is non-toxic to humans and animals. If rabbits and other creatures are eating your ornamental plants, think about why they have chosen your yard. Have you stripped away all of the cover that these creatures used to hide in? Do you have an acre or two of open lawn instead of hedgerows and thickets that these animals love? Consider returning part of your lawn back to native plants and habitat gardens — rather than trapping the rabbits and simply relocating them to somebody else’s backyard.

11

Town Times

Tues. & Thurs. 8-8 • Wed. 8-5:30 Fri. 8-5 • Sat. 6:30-12:30

Senior Citizen Discount Wed. & Fri. 193 Strickland Road, Middlefield

Town Briefs

12

Cemetery Durham Government Calendar Durham notice (Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held in the Durham Library. Check the town website at www.townofdurhamct.org for updates.)

Monday, March 12 9 a.m. — Public Works Building Oversight Committee at Town Hall 7:30 p.m. — Inland Wetlands Tuesday, March 13 7:30 p.m. — Library Board of Trustees 7:30 p.m. — Conservation Commission 7:30 p.m. — Clean Energy Task Force Wednesday, March 14 7:30 p.m. — Board of Ed at Strong School Thursday, March 15 7 p.m. — DMIAAB

Wine tasting fundraiser The Fundraising Committee of Coginchaug Little League has scheduled a wine tasting fundraiser for Saturday, March 31, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Esca Restaurant, Middletown. Parking for this event is available behind the Kid City Children’s Museum off of Broad Street.

Admission includes a ticket for five samples of either red or white wine at individual wine stations, as well as a variety of appetizers. In addition, the upstairs bar will be open throughout the fundraising event to purchase soft drinks, beer or other cocktails.

The fundraising committee also will sell raffle tickets during the wine tasting fundraiser for gifts and services that have been donated by local businesses. The raffle drawing is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. All proceeds will benefit new dugouts at the Girls’ Minors field in Durham.

For more information and tickets, visit www.coginchaugll.org or contact Michele Wenchell at mgwenchell@comcast.net. Tickets will be on sale via the website through Monday, March 26.

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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 1. 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, contact Gerry Brown, president of the Durham Cemetery Company (860) 349-3023.

Speed limit change Notice is hereby given that permission was received from the state of Connecticut, Department of Transportation, State Traffic Commission approving the town of Durham’s request to change the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph for both directions of travel on Maiden Lane, from Route 17 easterly

Friday, March 9, 2012 to Haddam Quarter Road, a distance of 1.84 miles.

Sports park (Continued from page 1) plan, although some had qualms, mostly over the numbers.

In recent weeks, some items have changed from the original letter of intent, and residents are concerned over the drop in price from $1 million to $700,000 as the town will now keep a 22-acre piece of land. Attorney Ken Antin said the 22-acre piece is “probably the most valuable property of the Powder Ridge area.” Taking that piece out of the equation for Brownstone brings their price to $700,000.

Hayes will pay $100,000 at closing and $100,000 on the mortgage during each of the first two years after sale.

Brownstone will come up with an extra $200,000 of its own money during the first three years.

The town still has a $500,000 state grant from the Department of Economic and Community Development for infrastructure improvements that must be used by Dec. 31, 2014.

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Sean Hayes snowboarding by the end of 2013, the two-year restoration plan includes restoring the existing lodge, converting the hotel rooms into day rooms and restoring the restaurant building for a third party lease, though Hayes said the restaurant is not a top priority.

Hayes touched on snowmaking, saying he will make snow by dredging the pond and making it deeper and possibly larger for increased snowmaking abilities.

The three-year expansion plan was less detailed, as Hayes said he will let the market tell him how to handle the expansion plan. He is counting on expanding terrain park features for more advanced jumps, rails and ¼ pipes, adding some summer activities, sporting activities and additional retail outlets to expand the draw.

Attorney Antin reminded everyone that this is an informational meeting and the information presented is pre-contract. He described it best as “the second inning — not the ninth.”

Within the next 75 days, the town of Middlefield and Brownstone representatives have to negotiate a binding contract.

Ultimately, Hayes said he can create a new model for adventure sports 12 months a year with Powder Ridge.

“It comes down to synergies,” Hayes said during the meeting. “Summer and winter facilities can and will support each other.”

Go to www.towntimes.com for the full article with residents’ reactions to the proposed plan.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Middlefield Town Briefs

Middlefield Government Calendar (Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held in the Community Center.)

Wednesday, March 14 6:30 p.m. — Planning & Zoning 7 p.m. — WPCA 7:30 p.m. — Board of Ed at Strong School Thursday, March 15 7 p.m. — DMIAAB 7 p.m. — Board of Finance

Public hearing The Middlefield Board of Finance will hold a Public Hearing at 7 p.m. on March 15 in the Middlefield Community Center, 405 Main Street, Room 2, on the 2012-2013 budget proposed by the First Selectman.

Copies of the budget will be available in the Office of the Town Clerk; the Middlefield Community Center Building Dept,; and at the Levi Coe Public Library.

Levi E. Coe Library Quilt How-to Program (registration preferred) — Saturday, March 24, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Mary Lachman, president of the Heritage Quilters of Wallingford, will introduce you to the art of quilting. Artist Carol Eaton, of the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective, will also be joining Mary Lachman for this morning’s event. Carol Eaton will be available to answer questions on dyeing fabric and will bring some hand-dyed cottons and silks that will be available for sale. Additionally, for those who are interested, there will be 100 percent cotton fabric samples for sale.

13

Protecting the land The Connecticut Yankee Conservation Project is an effort to protect 582 acres of land on a peninsula located at the confluence of the Salmon and Connecticut Rivers in Haddam Neck, CT. In 2009, the Middlesex County Community Foundation became the fiscal sponsor for the CY Project as part of its mission to support local efforts with “good people doing great things.” In a signing ceremony, pictured here, MCCF has officially passed the torch of fiscal sponsorship for the CY Project to the Connecticut Forest & Park Association. CFPA has a mission of connecting people to the land to conserve forests, walking trails and open spaces that it has pursued since becoming the first nonprofit conservation organization established in Connecticut in 1895. Pictured left to right are: Eric Hammerling (CFPA), Cynthia Clegg (MCCF), Amy Paterson (CLCC), Stanford Brainerd (CYCP) and Thayer Talbott (MCCF). Contributions to the CY Project can now be made to CFPA/CY Project at 16 Meriden Road, Rockfall (Middlefield), CT 06481 or online via www.ctPhoto by CFPA woodlands.org.

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Friday, March 9, 2012

Town Times

Locals honored at Middletown Elks event

By Stephanie Wilcox Town Times A handful of standout members of the Middletown Elks Lodge #771 were honored on March 3, including a few of our own Durham and Middlefield residents, including Fred Paladino, Jennifer Siena, Seth Miller, Jeff Siena, William Currlin and Wendy Manemeit.

The Exalted Ruler Award was given to Fred Paladino.

Elks Exalted Ruler Daniel Miramant said: “Fred always comes to the aid of the lodge.”

Jennifer Siena was awarded Youth of the Year.

“Jen is always here, always

stepping up and helping out here at the lodge,” said Miramant. Durham First selectman Laura Francis added that Siena is an “outstanding youth.”

Seth Miller received a

Grand Exalted Ruler Award.

“Seth does not know the meaning of the word ‘no’ — he is a quite and unassuming individual,” said Miramant.

A Grand Exalted Ruler Award also went to Jeff Siena. Said Miramant: “He

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Brayshaw noted Currlin’s “unwavering contribution to the elks”... and at the state and local level.

Finally, Wendy Manemeit was named Elk of the Year. It was said by Miramant that “there is not enough time tonight to discuss the work Wendy does

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is a loyal member with 29 years of service to the lodge.” Francis said, “I don’t know where his civic life starts and ends.”

William Currlin was named Officer of the Year.

“He is a real deal patriot; a loyal and dedicated elk,” stated Miramant. Middlefield First Selectman Jon

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for this lodge... The majority of her time is spent doing something for her community.” When Francis spoke about Manemeit, she got teary-eyed and said, “Wendy is one of my favorites! She is an inspiration to me. I turn to her when I have questions, doubts and fears. She has never failed me or the town of Durham.”

Wendy is the first woman Elk of the Year for Lodge #771.

John and Judy Clark of WCNX Radio earned Citizen of the Year award.

Submission reminder The Town Times welcomes submissions regarding upcoming events happening in the community (e-mail news@towntimes.com by Mondays at noon). We do our best to run submissions at least one time. However, due to space constraints, we cannot guarantee a submission will be published on a specific date. To ensure your submission runs exactly as you would like it to, contact our sales representative, Joy Boone, at 860-349-8026 or e-mail advertising@towntimes.com for a paid ad. Thank you.

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Schools in Town Times

Friday, March 9, 2012

15

Postcard bonanza

Exploring the ocean at John Lyman

cakes on a large United States map and enjoyed celebrating their accomplishment together.

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The third and fourth graders in Mrs. Elizabeth Hadlock’s class at John Lyman School started a project to collect postcards from all 50 states and the District of Columbia back when school started in September 2011. On Feb. 1, 2012, the 50th state card arrived. The last state received was Arkansas (the first was Pennsylvania). Altogether, the class received 149 postcards. The state of California had the largest total with nine cards sent. To celebrate, Ella DiBernardo, Sophie Cassarino and Anna Dubowchik baked mini-cupcakes for each state and frosted them in colors according to geographical region. Each cupcake had a small toothpick flag with the state’s abbreviation on it. All the children placed the

These photos are from Ms. Valerie Swiantek’s class at John Lyman School on Friday, Feb. 10. The class shared facts on ocean creatures that they learned during independent project studies. Above left, Hamed Yaghi, Kaden Atwell and Max Czellecz show off their creatures. Above right, Jeremy Mangiameli, Kareena Patel, Julia Gavin and Henry Mattison pose with their fish.

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Schools in Town Times

16

A sea of love for Valentine’s Day

Northford Community Nursery School’s two-day session students made this “School Filled with Love” board for Valentine’s Day, decorated with a “school” of fish made out of different shaped hearts. The kids are so proud of their work and couldn’t wait to show everyone.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Does hungry make you crazy? Maybe!

Above, teens who fasted for 30 hours at Middlefield Federated Church as a challenge by World Vision to raise funds to support the effort to end death by hunger across the globe. Participants included: Jesse and Seth Azevedo, Marissa Berry, Kevin Bjarnason, Jacob Burt, James and Samara Chapman, Delia Ernst, Anna Flaws, Becky Ford, Michelle Hargeaves, Patrick Holden, Victoria Johnson, Kayla Keathly, Victoria Koch, Mary Kulasenki, Megan Locascio, Sierra Manning, Samantha Michaud, Tim Morris, Michael and Isabella O’Keefe, Ben and Colin Plant, Wendy Smith, Alexander and William Staddon, Samantha Turley, Cassidy White-Ryan, Troy Willis, Madeline and Ben Wooding and Thien Wrang. The kids raised close to $5,000 for the cause and learned about clean water, adequate food and medical care and why the world would be so much better if all the children had it.

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Schools in Town Times

17

Greek gods inspire

National Honor Society inductees

The performing arts play a special role at the Independent Day School. Just as each grade works in the theater to communicate a story, fifth graders performed an ambitious production about the ancient Greek gods. These children applied their knowledge and understanding of this civilization from the classroom to the stage in a drama where the ancients use modern technology. Hermes need not deliver messages because the gods use cell phones and social media. The Muses inspire mortals, but they have no real talent to display when asked. Along with music, dancing and a few sight gags, the students brought their characters to life and learned a number of important life skills in the process. Gaining confidence to speak in front of people, collaborating with adults and peers to express a story and working as a team, the fifth grade thoroughly enjoyed producing this comedy for the school community. Emily Dell’Orfana, of Middlefield, and Elise Gendrich, of Middletown, are receiving results from the Greek judges.

Coginchaug students were inducted into the National Honor Society last week.

A reception followed.

Photo by Karen Kean

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Friday, March 9, 2012

Troop 27 in Bar Harbor, Maine: Summer memories Left:Troop 27 reaches the summit of Cadillac Mountain.

Below: Yuri Funaro, first mate Submitted photos

By Yuri Funaro Troop 27 Boy Scout

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Last August, Boy Scout Troop 27 of Durham went on an amazing week-long visit to Bar Harbor, Maine. Our trip group consisted of five adult leaders — Yusza, Nickel, Sayah, Smigel and Phencie — and 13 scouts: Yuri Funaro, Zach and Tristan Sayah, Jacob and Wilson Nickel, Calvin Alderete, Geoff Meiman, Andrew VanSteenbergen, Joe Ertle, Jacob Adams, John Yusza, Jacob Barton and Emory Mazo. The week was planned with nonstop activities centered around Acadia National Park.

What beautiful scenery. Our first experience was the Beehive Trail. This trail was challenging because it rained the night before making the rocks a little slippery. Also, some parts of the trail had a vertical climb with iron rungs sticking out from the rocks. After hiking, we visited Thunder Hole and took our bikes through the nearly 45 miles of Carriage Trails. These trails were great because they don’t have any cars on them and are used exclusively for walking, jogging and biking. We also hiked to the summit of Cadil-

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Friday, March 9, 2012

Troop 27 in Bar Harbor, Maine: Summer memories Left:Troop 27 reaches the summit of Cadillac Mountain.

Below: Yuri Funaro, first mate Submitted photos

By Yuri Funaro Troop 27 Boy Scout

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“No jobs too big or small” Mike Gerchy

Last August, Boy Scout Troop 27 of Durham went on an amazing week-long visit to Bar Harbor, Maine. Our trip group consisted of five adult leaders — Yusza, Nickel, Sayah, Smigel and Phencie — and 13 scouts: Yuri Funaro, Zach and Tristan Sayah, Jacob and Wilson Nickel, Calvin Alderete, Geoff Meiman, Andrew VanSteenbergen, Joe Ertle, Jacob Adams, John Yusza, Jacob Barton and Emory Mazo. The week was planned with nonstop activities centered around Acadia National Park.

What beautiful scenery. Our first experience was the Beehive Trail. This trail was challenging because it rained the night before making the rocks a little slippery. Also, some parts of the trail had a vertical climb with iron rungs sticking out from the rocks. After hiking, we visited Thunder Hole and took our bikes through the nearly 45 miles of Carriage Trails. These trails were great because they don’t have any cars on them and are used exclusively for walking, jogging and biking. We also hiked to the summit of Cadil-

“Complete Jobs From First Stud To Last Touch Of Paint” Fully Insured & Licensed HIC #614488

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Friday, March 9, 2012

(Continued from page 18)

Seven scouts and three leaders from Troop 33 went winter camping at Mount Norris Scout Reservation in Waterbury, Vermont in January. It was freezing cold, and the temperature went down to -18 degrees Fahrenheit, so we had to wrap up warmly when we were outside.

The activities that we did were archery, snowshoeing, tomahawks, shotgun, rifle, rope making, fire making and rock climbing. My favorite activity was rifle because it was easy to load and to fire. The hardest activity for me was snow shoeing because you have to go down a hill with no way to stop. One way that I stopped was to go straight into a tree and then

From Left to right: Michael O’Keefe, Kyle Strang, Spencer McCoy, Alexander Staddon and Brian Blake in a snow hut at the camp.

Submitted photo to fall down.

I would go to this camp next year if we do it again.

Thank you, Heath, O’Keefe and Staddon, for arranging this trip.

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On our last night, we headed into town. We wanted to visit the town’s shops and get something to eat. Afterwards, we decided to all go and do an activity, so we went to a nearby miniature golf course and played 18 holes of golf. Each of us had a great time that week because it was something different — challenging and fun every day.

Troop 33 winter camping trip

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lac Mountain. The scenery was unbelievable, and the trails at that time of year were filled with blueberries.

Next, we went on a Sea Kayaking adventure to Frenchman’s Bay. Our guide gave us a brief history lesson of each of the Porcupine Islands and how they got their names. We kayaked about 12 miles. In Frenchman’s Bay, we saw porpoises, harbor seals, mackerel and bald eagles. We noticed that, as the porpoises and the harbor seals moved in on schools of mackerel, the water looked as though it was boiling. In fact, the fish were jumping out of the water everywhere.

The nearby bald eagles saw this from their perch and swung in and did some easy fishing just a short distance from our boats. What a sight!

We even took a break on one of the Porcupine Islands in Frenchman’s Bay for some lunch. I couldn’t believe how fast the tide came in. In less than five minutes, the tide rose a foot.

Another day, we went out fishing for cod and pollack.

The captain of the boat not only ran a charter for fishing, but he was also a licensed lobsterman. After we fished, the captain gave me the title of first mate. He let me bring in each lobster trap, empty it out and measure each lobster to see if it was legal. We got to keep all the legal lobsters, and the others were thrown back. We left the boat with 20 lobsters and about 10 pounds of fish. Another great experience! I learned just how tough lobstering really is.

That night in camp, we had a fish fry that couldn’t be beat, with lobster, fish, corn

on the cob, baked potato and blueberry pie. Each night we ate like kings. The last day of our trip we kept it light.

Some of us were tired and hung around camp to either relax or do some wash. Others went back into the national park and hit the Carriage Trails. That week I put 50 miles on my bike.

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Scouts

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Town Times Sports

20

Friday, March 9, 2012

Why the first day of the NCAA tournament should be a holiday

By Mark Dionne Special to the Town Times One of my favorite holidays will take place on March 15, but don’t bother checking your calendar; you’ll find nothing printed

there because, technically speaking, it’s not a holiday.

That Thursday morning, the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament starts, and it doesn’t stop until after midnight. First Thursday is the greatest

sports day of the year and should be a national holiday.

All our official holidays are connected with positive character traits. We have holidays that try to make us grateful (Thanksgiving), patriotic (Fourth of July) and

Great place The Coginchaug cheerleading squad (non-tumbling division) won first place in their division at East Haven High School this past Saturday.

Photo by Karen Kean

generous (Christmas). Our holidays are disturbingly similar to parental lectures.

Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with being grateful and generous patriots. It’s also worthwhile, if not fun, to reflect on the contributions of our military, certain presidents, the labor movement and trees. Now how about a holiday that only asks that you watch TV and maybe fill out a bracket?

Here’s another thing about official holidays — you have to get dressed up for them. Do I want a holiday that says, “Tuck in your shirt.” “Wear that sweater with the reindeer on it.” “Jesus rose from the dead and you think you’re wearing sneakers?”

No, I don’t. I want a holiday that says, “Hey, nice sweatpants. Need a beer?”

Another unwritten rule about official holidays is that

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you have to spend them with relatives. Now, I’m a big fan of relatives. Your extended family does all kinds of things for you. They help you out when you need it, lend you tools and help you move.

They also read things that you write for the paper, so I’m not going to say anything bad about spending holidays with relatives. But wouldn’t it be great to carve out one holiday that you could spend with whomever you want?

Husband, wife, college friend, neighbor, bookie, whomever.

Not that you need a bookie on First Thursday. Gambling is so acceptable on First Thursday that we don’t even call it gambling. (And by acceptable, I mean socially not legally.) Even people who say they don’t gamble fill out a bracket and put a few bucks into an office pool. Would Thanksgiving be more exciting if you could bet on whether your Dad would fall asleep on the couch? Of course it would.

The brackets draw people into the tournament who would otherwise not care about Richmond playing NC State. The brackets give you a chance to delight in someone else’s misery like when your know-it-all college roommate loses to his wife, who picked teams based on their mascots.

The Super Bowl is the closest comparison to First Thursday. It’s a big deal and the spectacle draws in casual and even non-fans. Even people who have little knowledge of football and no rooting interest in the game — for example, Jets fans — will watch the Super Bowl.

Unfortunately, the Super Bowl is just one game and a frequently disappointing one at that. What comes on after the Super Bowl? Some awful TV show. “Grey’s Anatomy” or “CSI: Toledo.” Everyone has been at a Super Bowl party and heard an announcement like, “Stay tuned after the game for a special 90 minute episode of “Ally McBeal!””

You know what comes on See NCAA, page 23

Town Times Sports

Friday, March 9, 2012

21

Boys lose to Valley in SLC semis

By Alan Pease Special to the Town Times

swered by a bucket from Wasyl, but that still left the Devils with a seven point deficit with just over two minutes remaining. Valley went into a slowdown and, despite two turnovers, were able to keep Coginchaug off of the scoreboard until, after two free throws by the Warriors, Donecker hit from beyond the arc to make the final score 56-50, with the Valley Warriors on top.

Valley went on to play the Cromwell Panthers in the Shoreline championship game on Friday, which I can report that Cromwell won by a 64-48 score.

This was by and large a well-played and exciting game, but I confess that I was dismayed at the level of defensive contact that was allowed as the ball was being brought up-court, and even in the half court set. It’s cer-

tainly not that the game wasn’t called consistently — both teams were allowed the same level of contact — but the constant pressure on the ball handlers clearly affected Coginchaug more, as they had a great deal of difficulty first in getting the ball across half-court, and second in working the ball inside to their big men. I was under the impression that handchecking was illegal, and actually leaning into a ballhandler would eventually result in a blocking call, though maybe I don’t really understand those rules.

Wasyl led the Devils with 18 points, also contributing three assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block. Donecker scored 10 points, and led the team in rebounding with nine. He also led the team in steals with four and had three as-

sists. Hoyt scored 11 points, and added five rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Corazzini had three rebounds, two points and a blocked shot. Tietlebaum had two points, two steals and a rebound and was also the most leaned on player for the game.

Off the bench, Bongiorno had five points and three assists, Sam Baker had four rebounds and a blocked shot and Gawron had two points and two rebounds.

By the time you read this, the boys will have played a round two game in the state class S tournament, and if they are fortunate enough to advance past that, will play tonight, Friday, March 9, at a site to be determined depending on the seed of the winner in the other round two game. Check out the ciacsports.com website for details.

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All season long, the Coginchaug boys worked to maximize their placement in the Shoreline conference standings to get the best possible placement in the Shoreline conference tournament, and did it in magnificent fashion, losing only twice in conference play. Just one week ago, they hosted and defeated the Valley Warriors by a 69-58 score, to lock up a home game in the SLC semi-finals.

That game was played on Tuesday, Feb. 28, against those self-same Warriors, but unfortunately, with a different and infinitely less desirable outcome.

This game saw six ties and an astonishing 15 lead changes. Particularly in the first period, almost every basket saw the lead swing from one team to another. In that first period, Erikson Wasyl scored 10 points, Brock Hoyt five points and Jake Tietlebaum two, with Tietlebaum’s two opening the period, and giving the Devils the first lead, and Wasyl’s final two coming just before the buzzer to put the home team on top 17-16 after one quarter.

The second period saw five players score for Coginchaug, as Ethan Donecker opened the scoring for the period with a two, and Kevin Gawron and Alec Corazzini each had a basket around a three-pointer from Mike Bongiorno. Again, Wasyl closed the scoring for the period with a two that put the Devils on top with a 28-26 advantage.

For the first five minutes of the third quarter, the game continued to be a back and forth affair. Valley tied the score at 28 all, with a single Donecker free throw again giving the Devils an advantage. Another two from the Warriors gave them the lead, with Hoyt’s rebound put-back giving the Devils a lead. Valley hit on one of their six threes for the night to again switch the lead, but Hoyt tied the game at 33 all with two successful tries from the charity stripe.

Valley again went ahead with a bucket, and Coginchaug tied one last time with a Wasyl two. Over the next two minutes, Valley went on a 7-0 run with a basket, two free throws and a trey, and there would be no more lead changes or ties for the rest of the game. Bongiorno did drop in two from the free throw line before the quarter ended, but the Devils trailed by a 37-42 count to end the period.

In the final period, Coginchaug could never get closer to the Warriors than five points. Valley hit their first four shots, two of those from beyond the arc, and they were ahead by 11, despite a basket from Donecker and two free throws from Hoyt.

Donecker and Wasyl each converted two from the line to draw within seven points, and a Valley two was an-

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22

Friday, March 9, 2012

Devils Top Saints in Girls Class S

By Alan Pease Special to the Town Times On Friday, March 2, the Coginchaug girls hosted the Saints from St. Bernard in a round two game in the Girls’ class S tournament. St. Bernard got to this game by

defeating Wilcox Tech 65-38 in an opening round match.

Coginchaug, as the top seed, had a bye for the first round.

The Saints actually broke out on top, hitting a threepointer to offset a Sam Mancinelli basket, scoring again from the field to lead 5-

2. Lauren Esposito got the Devils close by hitting two from the line, and Mancinelli put the Devils on top for good, connecting on an old-fashioned three-point play for a 75 lead. Baskets by Esposito and Andrea Braga advanced the lead to 11-5, but the Saints

IDS Girls’ basketball team triumphs at Mooreland Hills tournament

marched back to within one, hitting on a trey and a two. A Mancinelli basket before the buzzer, however, gave the Devils a 13-10 lead after one period. One item of note for the first period — Lauren Esposito was all over the boards, gathering in six of the Devils’ nine rebounds for the period, and on her own out-rebounding the Saints, who had five.

The second period was a defensive gem for the Devils, as they really put the clamps on the Saints. St. Bernard hit only one of 11 shots in the period, and missed both of their free throw attempts. Meanwhile, Audrey Biesak scored seven points in a two-minute span, Esposito continued her assault on the basket with six points and three rebounds and Kim Romanoff scored four leaving the Devils with a 30-12 advantage at the half.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, the Independent Day School girls’ basketball team fought an impressive battle to become champions of the Mooreland Hill tournament. In their first game, they came out red-hot to defeat Cheshire academy 13-4. In their next game, they came up short losing to Ethel Walker by one point. Having gotten a bit rusty after watching the next three games, they lost to Chase 8-4 but bounced back and defeated Mooreland 8-4. During lunch, Betty participated in the foul shooting contest and made five out of 10, one shy of the winner! After lunch, the IDS team was seeded third based on their two and two record and had to face Ethel Walker, once again, in the semifinals. After an eight-eight tie, the game went into a two-minute overtime. With 24 intense seconds left in the game, Ethel Walker was leading 10-8. Then, the crowd exploded with excitement when Sam made a three-point shot launching the team ahead by one point! Winning 11-10 put the team into the finals. Playing outstanding basketball against their previous rival, the IDS girls defeated Chase 5-2 and proudly took home the championship trophy. Kudos to the IDS girls’ basketball team and congratulations to Sam for being selected as a member of the All-Tournament Team and to Michael Elizabeth for being chosen as the tournament MVP. Submitted

The third period was only marginally more favorable to the Saints offense, as they connected twice from the field on eight attempts, and hit one of four from the stripe for five points. Coginchaug, meanwhile, got four more from Esposito, along with another rebound, two each from Mancinelli, Romanoff and Braga, and six points, all in the final two minutes, from

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The final period was played a little more evenly, as Coach Rett Mancinelli rested the starters and gave more of the team’s sophomores and freshmen some time. Biesak dropped in a three, and Esposito canned another two before the seniors left the court, then Romanoff and Corazzini each scored two, and Alison Luther hit one from the charity stripe to make the final score 56-25, with the Devils on top. I don’t even want to think about the religious implications of the Devils coming out on top of the Saints in this contest — it is, after all, only basketball!

Esposito led the team in both scoring, with 16 points, and rebounding, with 10, for the double-double. She also had a steal, an assist and a blocked shot. Mancinelli had nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals, leading the team in those final two categories. Biesak rounded out the double digit scoring with 10, adding two steals and a rebound. Romanoff scored eight points, adding three steals, two rebounds and two assists. Jessica Solomon had five rebounds, a steal and an assist.

Off the bench, Kuehnle had six points, five rebounds, a steal and an assist. Braga scored four points, grabbed two rebounds, and blocked a shot. Luther pulled in three rebounds, stole the ball twice and scored a point. Olivia Corazzini scored two and had two steals, an assist and a rebound. Caryn Sibiskie blocked two shots, and Sydney Trusty had one rebound.

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Morgan Kuehnle, giving the Devils a commanding 46-17 advantage.

This win advances the girls to a quarter final game against Hyde, to be played last night at Coginchaug, Thursday, March 8. If they do advance past Hyde, there will be a semi-final game at a neutral site on Monday, March 12. Check the ciacsports.com website for details.

Town Times Sports

Friday, March 9, 2012

Durham Dental on a roll with four straight wins

By Scott Strang Special to the Town Times

SUDOKU ANSWER

10 foul shooting to finish with 21. Mike Baranowski has struggled for several weeks, but made up for it this night with a 17 point effort. John Mazarella’s 10 points and Mike Malcolm’s 9 were the bright spots for Scott Tax (15) on this tough night.

Time Out Taverne 55, Snowservices 44 Scott Penney had his biggest night this season, hitting four three-pointers and 16 overall in the first of two wins for Time Out this week.

Brandon McGoldrick and Dave Torres led the Snowservices (3-3) scorers with 11 a piece, and while Scott Chesmer added the same for Time Out. Time Out Taverne 47, Allstate Fire Equipment 33 Time Out fought off a very solid challenge from Allstate (1-6) for their second win of the week to move to threefour on the season. Mike Bertrand and Matt Thompson led Allstate with 15 and 10 respectively. Jay Norton, Jay Connelly and Scott Chesmer all dropped in 11 to share the top honors for Time Out.

Coginchaug Little League softball clinics Coginchaug Little League has scheduled two clinics for softball players. The first is a pitching clinic for softball players’ league age 8 to 12 for the 2012 season. The clinic is scheduled for four consecutive Sundays, March 11, 18, 25 and April 1 at Stonegate at Rushford gym (formerly Lake Grove School) in Durham. Beginner pitchers are scheduled for 9 to10 a.m. and advanced pitchers are scheduled for 10 to11 a.m. Girls must be registered for the 2012 little league season to participate in this pitching clinic. In addition, a parent is required to be present during the clinic in order to catch for their daughter. A fee will be charged.

The second clinic, run by the CRHS Varsity Softball coaches and players, is offered to both girls’ minors and girls’ majors little league players. The clinic is scheduled for three consecutive Sundays, March 18, 25 and April a at the CRHS gymnasium. Clinic hours are from noon to 1:30 p.m. The clinic covers all aspects of play, including hitting, fielding, pitching and catching. This clinic is an opportunity for players to get warmed up for the season and practice their skills. A fee will be charged.

For more information and to sign up for either of these clinics, visit www.coginchaugll.org or contact Michele Rulnick at mrulnick@midymca.org.

after a great basketball game on First Thursday? Another basketball game!

onion dip with a knife and a three-point shot is arcing through the air giving you a chance to lift twenty bucks off your boss, you know that First Thursday is the best holiday that isn’t even a holiday.

By the time you’re deep into your fourth basketball game, your kids are in the kitchen gleefully eating

Will no one else publicly support a holiday that encourages you to drink, gamble and watch TV? Just me?

NCAA (Continued from page 20)

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For their first year in the Durham Men’s basketball league, Durham Dental has quickly moved into second place with a pair of wins over tough opponents this past week. While they have no single offensive scoring star (Scott McGuiness who ranks ninth in scoring with 11.1 ppg is their leader), defensively they have held opponents to the lowest scoring (42.6 ppg) and second lowest three-point shooting (3.9 per game) in the league. However, they are set to face their toughest challenge this Thursday against undefeated Torrison Stone. Here are the recaps of the six games from the past week. Playoffs start March 22.

Durham Dental 57, Around the Clock 55 Scott McGuiness and Mark Crayton combined for 36 points and Durham Dental held on to defeat an Around the Clock team that was missing three of their top four scorers. Steve Markoski scored a game high 26 for ATC, and Carl Schlicker added 18 to make up for some of the lost offense. Dental made nine of 12 in the second half from the foul line.

Durham Dental 41, Laser Engraving Svcs 34 LasEngS could find no answers to the solid Dental defense, fell behind 26-13 at halftime, and could never recover. McGuiness led with 11, Chris Haywood scored 10 and Crayton added nine for Durham Dental (5-2). Mark Fong and Anthony Puorro

each scored nine for LasEngS (3-4) in the loss.

Torrison Stone 69, Around the Clock Heating 53 Around The Clock (4-3) offered the toughest test so far for Torrison, but it wasn’t enough as TSG pulled ahead 12 at the half and finished with a 16 point victory. Steve Markoski again led with 18 and Pete Donecker added a hard fought 11 points against the Torrison big men. Dave DeSanti took over the game, beginning with a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half, and following with 14 more in the second half to finish with 20. Matt Lynch and Adam Poturnicki also provided 12 points each for Torrison (7-0).

Shadow Room 78, Scott Tax Group 34 Shadow Room (3-3) had everything working this week, from fast breaks to three-point shooting to solid defense, as they crushed Scott Tax Group in the most lopsided win of any league game this season. Jason Williams had a great night, with six baskets and nine of

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Friday, March 9, 2012

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THE XFINITY EDUCATIONAL SERIES SERIES 1 is all about On Demand

SERIES ONE

Do you want to watch a new movie in the privacy of your home, but were afraid of how to do it, or what you get charged for?

Do you want to know how to set parental controls?

On Demand

This is your opportunity to become an expert and the master of over 60,000 VOD titles available through XFINITY On Demand.

Join us for an exciting educational series! Come down and check out the new XFINITY Sales Center – demo the 3D TV’s, find out how to control your TV with your IPAD and much, much more.

DATE

TIME

Saturday March 10th

10:00 am, 11:00 am & 12 noon

Monday March 12th

5:00 pm and 5:30 pm

Wednesday March 14th

5:00 pm and 5:30 pm

PLACE Cromwell Service Center 4 Willow Brook Road Cromwell, CT

comcast.com/digitalnow 1236024

DIV102-V1A1