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Ellington Residents Will Decide Fate of Senior Center, School Projects By Linda Tishler Levinson ELLINGTON – Residents will vote on the senior center and Crystal Lake and Windermere school projects in a February referendum. The town has voted to place both items on the Feb. 14 referendum ballot. Voting will be from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Ellington High School. The $2.5 million senior center proposal involves the construction of a new senior center facility. The current senior center, which is located in a strip mall, no longer serves town seniors’ needs, First Selectman Maurice Blanchette said. “It’s clearly not well laid out for today’s expectation of a senior center.” The senior center proposal is for a 10,600-square-foot facility that would be built across from Ellington High
School. The building would include offices, a kitchen, health area, activity area and two multi-purpose rooms. The schools referendum involves $21.04 million for renovations and additions. “The project is critically important for our school system to be completed in the next five years,” said Tracey Kiff-Judson, vice chairperson of the Board of Education. Windermere School is at capacity, even as the student population is growing, she said, and Crystal Lake School is in dire need of repair. At Winderemere, she said. “Classrooms are tight, and a computer lab had to be dismantled this year to create another classroom. Ellington’s student population continues to grow at a time when other towns are closing and consolidating schools.
“This proposal will address both of those concerns,” she said. Once Crystal Lake has its addition and renovation, Kiff-Judson said the plan is to realign students at the town’s elementary schools to create neighborhood schools for children in kindergarten through grade 6. She said that if the referendum fails, the town would need to begin using portable classrooms within the next two years to handle the anticipated increases in the student population. The age of Crystal Lake School also is a factor, she said, with repairs and updates needed throughout the school, as well as safety concerns about the entrance to the school on Route 140.
Senior Center Offers Tax Preparation Help and Other Programs ELLINGTON - Winter is upon us, but take the time to come to the Ellington Senior Center and enjoy the many programs/activities we offer. The 2012 Tax Preparation Program is being held at the Town of Ellington Human Services Department (Arbor Park). Appointments will begin Thursday, Feb. 2, and end on Thursday, April 12. Appointment times are 9 a.m. to noon. A sign-up sheet is available at the Ellington Senior Center.
Please call 860-870-3133 to secure your appointment. State Rep. Christopher Davis will be at the Ellington Senior Center on Friday, Feb. 3, at 10 a.m. to discuss up-to-date issues happening within the state of Connecticut. Contact the Senior Center to sign up for this important program. Programs Ellington Singers, 31 in number, and their director are housed in the Ellington Senior Center. Ellington Singers meet
every Wednesday at 10 a.m. to rehearse the music scheduled for the “Spring Musicale” to be held at Ellington High School on Thursday, April 19. The group performs many interesting musical selections. You are all cordially invited to participate. Better Age Club of Ellington - The Better Age Club of Ellington meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. at the Ellington Senior Center. The dues per year are $3, payable in September. The membership is not limited to the Town of Ellington and welcomes all
to participate. The next business meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 9. The presenter at this meeting is CL&P. The Feb. 23 meeting is a special afternoon of entertainment by Paul Recker as he performs his music along with the accompaniment of his guitar. Memories & Creative Writing is held the third Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. at the Ellington Senior Center. All age levels are encouraged to come on Thursday, Feb. 16, to share their written or spoken language creations with this group.
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February 2012 North Central News
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