Volume 19, Number 46 Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
Student project turns out to be good for community
Photo by Diana Carr
Local photographer Jen Schulten with photographs for a student-senior project she orchestrated. By Diana Carr Special to Town Times They may have been nervous when they walked in, not knowing what to expect, but the sixth graders walked out smiling. It had been a day of hugs and open hearts and hands reaching across the years to bring two generations together. It all began last April
when Jen Schulten, of Middlefield, a portrait and freelance photographer, was taking pictures of Memorial School students for their 1830s Day (as the name implies, they live a day reminiscent of the 1830s, including dressing in the garb of that era), and was thinking how nice it would be to conSee Project, page 16
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Project Graduation committee continues safe celebration tradition By Mark Dionne Town Times This June, Project Graduation will throw a celebration for graduating Coginchaug students for the 24th year in a row, thanks to the efforts of parent volunteers. Started in 1990 as a way to reduce the risks of teen drinking and driving, Project Graduation will host the CRHS 2013 senior class at Quassy Amusement Park for an all-night party combining rides, a DJ, food, games and prizes. As described by Project Graduation Committee President Cris Donovan, the celebration begins on the night of graduation when seniors gather back at CRHS. “They’re all together in the gym one last time. They come through the front door to music and a community sendoff.” The seniors are bused to the park for the substancefree party, where they will have access to the rides and a pavilion dedicated to the CRHS graduating class. The night will also be filled with activities like volleyball,
Durham to update sign regulations By Mark Dionne The Town Times
regulated. “It’s very important that we hear from all of you. What works and what doesn’t?” said P&Z’s Joe Pasquale. Both DeFelice and Town Planner Geoffrey Colegrove compared regulating signs to being on a tightrope between business and other parties. “We’re interested in what perks people’s interest in stopping,” said Colegrove, who noted that
whiffle ball in the dark, game show contests, and Texas Hold ‘Em. Late into the night or early in the morning, depending on how you look at it, prizes will be raffled off. Seniors start the night with prize tickets and earn or win more depending on their skill at things like trivia and poker. While hesitant to reveal too much about the prizes, Donovan does note that there are impressive items donated. “We carry all this stuff up in a big van,” Donovan said. To foot the bill for the party, Project Graduation runs multiple fundraising efforts throughout the school year and makes direct appeals to CRHS parents. “[T]his parent organized committee receives no funding from the school budget,” declares the letter to parents in bold type. “We’re a very small committee. We work very hard to pull this off,” Donovan said. Repeating some of the
fundraising events from the past, Project Graduation hosted comedian Dave Riley in October, held a Zumbathon in January, and will bring in hypnotist Dan LaRosa on March 22, sell Mother’s Day Flowers in the Strong School parking lot on May 11-12 and wash cars the first weekend in June.
See Graduation, page 2
Photo courtesy of Project Graduation
Some of the CRHS class of 2012 throw their hands in the air on Quassy Amusement Park’s Wooden Warrior roller coaster at last year’s party.
In this issue ... Calendar ..........................6 Government ....................8 Obituaries .....................18
Schools...........................14 Seniors...........................11 Sports.............................22
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“There’s an entire chapter of Planning and Zoning that deals with signs,” Frank DeFelice told a recent meeting of the Economic Development Commission and a handful of Main Street business owners. “There’s room for improvement,” noted DeFelice, who serves on the Planning and Zoning subcommittee that deals with signs and will make recommendations for updates.
One of the Main Street business owners at the meeting, the Core Club’s Cheryl Salva, told officials that businesses depended on their signs. “If you want us to be around, we need to be able to do some things,” Salva said. “I think people going through town would rather see businesses thriving rather than ‘For Rent,’ ‘For Sale,’ or ‘Going Out Of Business.’” The size of the signs, how signs are illuminated, and temporary (sandwich board) signs are among the issues
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See Sign, page 2