Volume 19, Number 27
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
www.TownTimes.com
Friday, November 7, 2014
Durham/Middlefield votes lean to GOP For a mid-term election, voter participation was strong at Korn School in Durham and at the Middlefield Community Center in Middlefield.
By Mark Dionne Town Times
In Durham and Middlefield, where registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats, GOP candidates did well, even those who lost their races. In the gubernatorial race that at press time appears likely to be won by Democratic incumbent Gov. Dannel Malloy, Durham and Middlefield voters favored Republican challenger Tom Foley over Malloy by 2,856 to 2,147, according to unofficial results. That split held in both towns, with Durham voting
for Foley over Malloy, 1,773 to 1,263, and Middlefield at 1,083 to 884. For the Congress’ District 3 race, incumbent U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro beat Republican challenger James Brown,
Fantastic five to convene at Talk of the Towns By Charles Kreutzkamp Town Times
A pair of Egyptologists, a volcano chaser, an E.R. doc, and a children’s book author walk onto a golf course... It may sound like the set-up to a joke, but is in fact what is planned for Friday, Nov. 14 at the Indian Springs Golf Course. The Talk of the Towns, an event put on by the Coginchaug Valley Educational Foundation, will give attendees a chance to hear from some of the most interesting local residents, including author Leslie Bulion, Egyptologists Colleen and John Darnell, Yale emergency room doctor Andrew Taylor, and volcano-chaser and scientist Joop Varekamp. “Yes, at times it is dangerous,” Varekamp, a professor of Earth Science at Wesleyan University, said when asked
about his work with active volcanoes. Varekamp has needed to, for example, obtain samples of gas streams in Indonesia that can be as hot as 800 degrees Centigrade – 1472 degrees Fahrenheit, and more than hot enough to melt aluminum. Varekamp and his colleagues also encounter toxic fumes and volcanic lakes with PH measurements around zero – values comparable to battery acid. In comparison, even concentrated sulphuric acid has a PH around 1. “You wouldn’t want to stick your hand in (the lakes),” Varekamp said. But for Varekamp the dangers of his occupation are relative, as well as mitigated with safety precautions. “Flying is dangerous too, and riding your bicycle is dangerous,” he said. The goal of the research See Talk / Page 2
reportedly with more than 60 percent of the vote, but scored only narrow victories in Durham and Middlefield. Durham went for DeLauro 1,588 to 1,434 with Middlefield voting 1,143 to 823 for
The District 12 seat belonged to retiring Senator Ed Meyer. In the State House 101 District race, Durham voters supported Republican incumbent Noreen Kokoruda over | Mark Dionne / Town Times Democratic challenger Alex Taubes 1,076 to 880. With nearly 45 percent of DeLauro. The Connecticut’s State the Durham vote, though, Senate District 12 race, which first time candidate Taubes includes part of Durham, was performed better in town closely watched because of than in the rest of the race, the name of the Democratic where he finished with 43 candidate, Ted Kennedy, Jr. percent overall. Middlefield voters gave Although Kennedy won the seat overall, Republican can- slightly more support to Redidate Bruce Wilson, Jr. tal- publican Len Suzio than to lied more votes in Durham, 1,135 to 1,043. See Election / Page 15
BLUE DEVILS THINK PINK
The Coginchaug Blue Devils cheerleaders surpassed their goal and raised $571 during their Susan G. Komen Passionately Pink Event during October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Lady Blue Devils sold homemade pink treats, such as cupcakes, Rice Krispy squares and pink chocolate covered popcorn at home football games. Thanks to the Blue Devil football fans and families for their continued support.