Volume 19, Number 34
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
www.TownTimes.com
Friday, Januar y 2, 2015
The Coginchaug Cephalopods in Seattle. | Submitted
A look back at memorable 2014 happenings By Charles Kreutzkamp Town Times
The Town Times featured several memorable human interest stories in 2014, from a rapping job interview candidate to some heartwarming acts of charity. When a fire ruined the home of Jeff Siena’s neighbors, Karen and Ted Dyndiuk, Siena helped bring the community together to help the family through the difficult weeks that followed. A dinner held June 5 at the Middletown Elks club raised more than $6,000 to help with medical bills and “to help them rebuild their lives,” Siena said. “I was absolutely amazed,” Karen Dyndiuk said. “One of the nice things about the dinner was that most of the servers and workers were all our neighbors. I was just so surprised that so many of them wanted to help out.” Ted Dyndiuk is a veteran, and Karen Dyndiuk is active in the United Churches of Durham community, according to Siena. “I’m only 51, and I wouldn’t want to have to rebuild my whole life,” said Siena, expressing sympathy for what his 72- and 79-year-old neighbors are going through. “That’s our Jeff,” Karen Dyndiuk said. “He’s just the kind of neighbor who would do something like this … I keep telling him, you don’t have to do this, and he says, ‘but I want to,’” Dyndiuk said. *** In May, it was announced that the CoginSee 2014 / Page 2
At the Durham Fair Talent Show on Saturday, Sept. 27, Alex Woznyk danced her way to a first prize with her high-flying, tumbling routine to the Disney Creulla de Vil song “I’m Gettin’ Good at Being Bad.” | Mark Dionne / Town Times
The year in review By Mark Dionne Town Times
Since I’m in no position to make New Year’s resolutions for Durham and Middlefield, I’ll use the turn to 2015 to look back on some of the projects and events covered in 2014. Although the 2014-2015 winter so far can be described as “shorts in December weather,” heavy snow storms in early 2014 punished homeowners and the snow removal budgets of Durham, Middlefield, and District 13. You can plan for snow in 2015, and you can cross your fingers. The swing bad weather can cause in snow removal budgets and school schedules is nothing compared to the swing four sunny days can bring to the Durham Fair. After a string of fair week-
ends with at least one washout day, the fair has had two years in a row with beautiful weather. Instead of exchanging stories about getting towed out of a cornfield and feeling like the advance ride bracelet purchase is a risky gamble, fair-goers enjoyed a slightly overcast Thursday and then three days of beautiful weather and healthy crowds. Civic organizations running booths felt the impact. Instead of worrying about losing money at the fair, many civic organizations sold out of items. Middlefield First Selectman Jon Brayshaw said the Middlefield Republicans’ booth was down to its last tank of lime rickeys, which had never happened before. “We’ve sold a lot of lime rickeys,” said Brayshaw. “I’m tired of hearing the name.” Civic organizations were also busy outside of the fair.
The Coginchaug Valley Education Foundation held a “Flights of Fancy and Song” fund raising event, selling artistic birdhouses and creatively altered musical instruments. CVEF awarded 10 grants in 2014, their highest number yet. CVEF executive board member Betsy White Booz said of the grant winners, “It’s a good cross section of arts, [public] schools, private school, libraries, and towns.” Some of the projects from our civic organizations have become tradition, things we expect at certain times of the year. Go Far held its annual Go Far Go Fast race, the Public Association of Library Supporters drew in restaurants, caterers, and eaters to the Durham Public Library for the Taste of Durham, and See Review / Page 4