Volume 20, Number 33
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
www.TownTimes.com
Friday, November 29, 2013
New First Night plans for Middlefield iday season on Nov. 30. The event is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., alMiddlef ield Park and though the centerpiece of the Recreation has planned multi- tradition festivity, the tree ple activities around the town lighting, will be significantly green area to usher in the hol- different this year. A pine tree, that has dominated the Middlefield town green for many years and served as a Christmas tree for many ceremonies, has been dead for several years and is scheduled to be taken down before Nov. 30. At the Nov. 19 Middlefield Board of Selectman meeting, First Selectman Jon Brayshaw This pine tree has long been prominent noted that the on Middlefield’s town green as well as the tree had been inspected Christmas tree at the center of the annual tree lighting ceremony. It will be taken down by arborists and had to before this year’s holiday event, according come down. to town officials. |(Mark Dionne\Town Times) Town Times
DURHAM
According to Brayshaw, the town is considering recommendations for a replacement tree. According to Middlefield Park and Recreation Director Chris Hurlbert, Middlefield Federated Church officials also had to agree to the tree’s removal since the land is church land. As a substitute for the tree lighting ceremony a pair of much smaller, newly-planted trees will be used. “We’re going to use all the lights that used to be on the big one,” Hurlbert said. “Hopefully, you can see those babies from space.” The tree lighting ceremony used to be run by the Junior Women’s Club, but was taken over on short notice last year by Park and Recreation. This year multiple activities in different locations have been planned. “We’ve expanded it quite a bit,” Hurlbert said. Activities will start at 4:30 p.m. with Story Time and crafts at the Levi Coe Library and a Craft Bazaar at the Middlefield Children’s Center. According to Jen Hogan at Middlefield Children’s Center, See Tree / Page 9
Three Coginchaug alums at UMass, ready to perform. From left: Greta Wilt, Kyle Backus, Alex Holderman |(Alex Holderman / Submitted)
Coginchaug alums to march in Macy’s parade By Charles Kreutzkamp Special to The Citizen
At 2:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, three Coginchaug alums planned to rise out of bed to prepare their musical instruments. Alex Holderman, Greta Wilt, and Kyle Backus were to march in the 87th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This year, the University of Massachusetts Marching Band applied to participate in the parade and was accepted. Although the band has marched in three presidential inaugural parades, this is the first time it will march in New York City on Thankgiving Day, broad-
cast on televisions around the world. After rising at 2:30 a.m., band members were scheduled to rehearse in front of Macy’s at 4 a.m. before they would begin the parade march at 7:45 a.m.. Songs selected include “God Bless America”,” the school’s fight song, “Roll Down The Field,” and, to honor the Red Sox winning the world championship, “Sweet Caroline.” Alex Holderman says for him the march is “just another gig, but this time we’re performing for our biggest audience ever.” See Parade / Page 9
Small Business Saturday, November 30th 52542R
By Mark Dionne