Town Times May 3, 2013

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Volume 20, Number 4 Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall

www.TownTimes.com

Friday, May 3, 2013

All about Durham Photo by Lee Roski

This week the Town Times launches a three-part series about the towns it covers. These special features are one of the ways we plan to celebrate our communities as we enter our 20th year publishing this newspaper. (The spotlight next will go to Middlefield and then Rockfall.) At right, a welcome sign holds the emblems for some of the many community groups that operate in Durham and add to its vitality: Durham Fair, Durham Fair Foundation, Knights of Columbus, Durham VFW Post 10169, American Legion, Durham Historical Society, Lions International, Durham Volunteer Fire Co., Durham Exchange Club, Durham Garden Club. Inside today’s edition, on pages 9 and 10 is a photo journal and almanac to highlight the town of Durham. For more about this series see an editorial on its development page 8.

Pent Road construction should be done by end of June By Mark Dionne Town Times

Season starts for 2013 Little League Town Times photo by Mark Dionne

Beautiful weather greeted assembled teams, coaches and parents for Coginchaug Little League’s opening day on April 27. In this photo, Caroline Fournier, left, and Kailey Lipka come off the field after throwing - and catching - the ceremonial first pitch. See more photos page 20.

Calendar ..........................7 Commentary ...................8 Durham ...........................9

Obituaries...........16, 17, 19 Seniors...........................27 Sports.............................20

The road will always be passable during construction. The road will not be widened. Those who use Pent Road, either in a car or on foot (disclosure, this includes the reporter), are familiar with the high speed traffic on the narrow road. A single walker creates alternating traffic. The rubberized chip seal will look the same as traditional asphalt. In addition to the safety claims, press releases from other states using the material claim it is

See Pent, page 3

We are looking for the biggest Boston and New York fans!

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In this issue ...

Months ago residents of Pent Road received letters warning of upcoming significant construction. During the week of April 8, signs went up on both ends of Pent Road warning of impending construction and potential delays on the frequently travelled road. During the week of April 15, the Pent Road construction project got off to a modest start, with equipment moved in, certain trees close to the road taken down, and drainage culvert openings cleared. “We are making improvements on drainage, signing, road surface and fixing some roadside geometry to make it safer,” said Durham First Selectman Laura Francis. The paving surface will not be a traditional asphalt, but rubberized chip seal. “The adhesion is better, the traction is better, the longevity is better,” Francis said. “The new material is supposed to

last ten years.” Traditional asphalt lasts five to seven years. The rubberized chips seal is more expensive, but lasts longer. According to Francis, the project costs $280,000. The project received both state and federal funds because Pent Road, which provides a connection between routes 17 and 68, is considered a “collector road”. Durham’s share of the project came to 20 percent, or $56,000. “We’re hoping this will be complete by the end of June,” said Francis, “and that’s giving ourselves a lot of leeway.”

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