Volume 19, Number 51
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
www.TownTimes.com
Friday, May 1, 2015
DeLauro lauds award-winning Perk on Main By Mark Dionne Town Times
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and officials with the Small Business Association visited Perk on Main in Durham, April 27, to meet owner Katie Hughes after the restaurant won the SBA’s 2015 Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year award for Connecticut. DeLauro and SBA Regional Administrator Seth Goodall and State Director Bernie Sweeney toured Perk’s upstairs kitchen, met employees, and got a look at the downstairs second kitchen. “This is no small deal,” DeLauro said of the whole Small Business Association State Director Bernie Sweeney, Perk on Main owner Katie Hughes, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, and SBA Regional Administrator Seth Goodall talked operation. The SBA award recog- about small business success during a tour of Hughes’ Durham restaurant. nizes stability, growth and | Mark Dionne / Town Times employment. “It’s all about job creation,” Goodall said. To be eligible for the a micro-loan from the Com- Wheels food truck and open “The best way to encourage award, a business had to re- munity Economic Develop- her second kitchen. The entrepreneurship is to share ceive an SBA micro-loan. ment Fund, which allowed second kitchen supports their success.” Perk on Main was awarded Hughes to start the Perk on the food truck and catered
events. During the tour, Goodall asked how many jobs grew out of the loan, and Hughes estimated four or five. Goodall said, “And it’s a loan, so it’s being paid back. So it’s terrific.” During the tour, DeLauro and Hughes talked about the number of employees at the business and the hours a restaurant owner works. Hughes showed the congresswoman and officials the composting and recycling stations and explained how the environmental efforts have grown along with the business. D eLauro, always ani mated, got even more lively touring the second kitchen when she recognized some of the equipment. DeLauro’s family owned a pastry shop in New Haven called Canestri’s, where DeLauro spent time workSee Award / Page 4
Three questions on Clothing drive tradition continues May 5 referendum By Mark Dionne Town Times
By Mark Dionne
ure of $35,954,697, a 2.21 percent increase over the current budget. First put There will be three ques- forward by the administions at the referendum trative team with a 2.96 for Durham and Middle- percent increase, the budfield voters on Tuesday, get dropped to the current May 5. In addition to the 2.21 figure, largely due to traditional yes or no vote reductions in the health on the school budget, two benefit costs and a switch questions concerning ren- away from a School Reovations at Brewster Ele- source Officer. The budget features a net mentary School will be put reduction of 4.2 positions, before voters. The budget proposed for 2015-2016 has a net figSee Referendum / Page 3
Town Times
The Parents of Performing Students, or simply “POPS,” held its traditional clothing drive April 25 and 26 in the Strong school parking lot. POPS holds two clothing drives per year, one in the spring and one in the fall, and the event has been going on long enough, volunteers said, that residents expect it. Linda Braga of Durham packed her Volkswagen Beetle with spare clothing, leaving just enough room for a driver. “I knew it was coming,” said Braga, who was able See Drive / Page 3
CRHS juniors James Predom, left, and Michael Brady rest on top of bags of collected clothing. Predom plays trombone in the concert band, jazz band, dixieland band, brass choir and pep band. Brady performs with the show choir, concert choir, chamber choir, and boys a cappella group. | Mark Dionne / Town Times