Volume 18, Issue 2
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
Back to nature for Earth Day
Race to Nowhere documentary coming to Durham, Middlefield By Mark Dionne Special to the Town Times
Memorial School students (L-R) Lexi Raffles, Hannah Amirault and Mitchel Paduano release trout into the stream at Wadsworth Falls State Park on April 15. See more trout photos from Korn and Memorial schools on page 22. Photo by Stephanie Wilcox
Friday, April 22, 2011
Imagine you’re trying to get a promotion. You’re not exactly sure how to qualify for this promotion so you have to do everything better than anyone else. Imagine that this promotion is a couple of years off so you have to work steady 12 or even 14hour days until then, trying to please multiple bosses at the same time. Along the way, you’re told repeatedly what tiny percentage of employees actually get the promotion you want, and yet it will shape the rest of your life.
Now imagine you’re 16. The promotion sought by high-schoolers across the country is admittance to a desired college. Many think the pressure of that lengthy and hyper-competitive race has put the modern teenager under unhealthy amounts of stress. School days are filled with as many AP courses as possible; nights and weekends crammed with high-level athletics and community service; leftover space in the schedule is filled with extracurricular activities, religious instruction and some sort of artistic achievement. All to impress a faceless admissions officer.
Will we see wind energy in Middlefield’s future? By Elisabeth Kennedy Special to the Town Times As prices for oil and gasoline soar, we as a country and a community must work to break our dependence on oil, natural gas and coal by developing clean energy alternatives from natural
sources such as wind, sun and water. Wind energy is now one of the most cost-effective sources of new electricity generation, costing less than coal or nuclear power. In an effort to bring wind energy to Connecticut, the Metacomet Regional Wind
Farm Committee was formed to study the feasibility of generating wind energy in our area. This joint-town committee is spearheaded by Robert Yamartino, along with Dick Boynton, Dwight Fowler, Jennifer Huddleston of Middlefield, along with membership from the city of
Middletown, to acquire stimulus money earmarked for projects in which municipalities work together to solve energy problems. In 2010, the committee applied for an Energy Efficiency Block Grant through the
After witnessing the difficulties of her own three children, Vicki Abeles conducted interviews with parents, teachers, experts and kids themselves to create the documentary Race to Nowhere, which will be screened at Coginchaug Regional High School (CRHS) on Monday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. Race to Nowhere examines the world of students immersed in the high-pressure competition for college spots and finds problems, such as stress-induced illnesses, depression, cheating and students who ironically are not See Documentary, page 19
In this issue ... Calendar ...........................4 Durham Briefs................16 Libraries.........................15 Middlefield Briefs ..........17 Sports ..............................27 Spotlight..........................14 Honor Roll.......................26
See Wind, page 19
Candy hunts, golden eggs and hopping feet. Happy Easter!
See more photos from the candy hunt on page 21. Photos by Dee Wilcox