Mountain bikers gather for a ride Saturday over the trails at Ives Farm. Local enthusiasts were looking at the event as a first step in a larger presence for the sport in town. Steven Scarpa, for the Record-Journal
Mountain bikers hope to expand sport’s presence By Steven Scarpa Special to the Record-Journal
Mountain biking enthusiasts hope that the ride over the trails at Ives Farm, held Aug. 3, will be the first step in a larger presence for the sport in town.
Thursday, August 8, 2019
cheshirecitizen.com
Volume 6, Number 43
About 30 riders took the jaunt through the woodland trails, co-sponsored by Bike Cheshire and the Cheshire Land Trust.
like the one on Saturday is to encourage people who have not ridden in a while to come out and give it another try.
Jim Jinks, executive director of Bike Cheshire, said the goal of his group and events
“We just wanted to try to get people out and enjoying a See Biking, A6
Councilors discuss land acquisition, capital budget By Michael Gagne Record-Journal staff
Discussions on the town’s proposed capital budget continue this month. While the school department capital request was a focus earlier last week, discussion during a more recent meeting focused on the town’s lands for public use and a capital budget request that would earmark another $400,000 for future land acquisition. Town Council chairman Rob Oris Jr. made clear he was not in favor of funding more land acquisition at this point, noting the town’s previous acquisitions. “I don't think we've done as good a job as we could have of making these parcels more available to
the community. I would like to take the money, and use it in an existing facility,” Oris said. Oris suggested using those funds to develop the Chapman property near Bartlem Park, which was acquired three years ago. Oris also recommended using those funds to make other recent acquisitions more usable. He also suggested enhancing the town’s existing recreational facilities for youth sports and other activities. “We need places where kids can participate,” Oris said. “We have limited facilities.” “We have one facility that has lights in it,” he said. Oris said he feels other See Council, A7
Tanzania travels changed student’s perspective By Charles "Alex" Housemann Special to The Citizen
(Charles “Alex” Housemann, a Cheshire High School graduate, lives in town with his parents Robyn and Chuck Housemann. An Eagle Scout, Housemann is in his senior year studying engineering at the University of Rhode Island.) On July 5, I embarked on a 10-day journey that has im-
pacted me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. I have visited other countries and continents but none have broadened my worldview as much as my time on the African continent. Africa is a completely different world when compared with European countries or Canada. It is a beautifully distinct culture with its own rich history that many of us have never learned about or even con-
sidered. This distinctiveness is lost to us (Americans) due to our lack of knowledge of the African continent and its people. My recent trip to Tanzania helped fill part of that gap for me. I was exposed to a new continent, gaining firsthand experience with a country, its culture, people, environment, educational system and way of life. My purpose for this excur-
sion was to volunteer at the Maasai Joy Children’s Centre. MJCC was launched in 2006 with the mission to “break See Travels, A15
Charles “Alex” Housemann with students at the Maasai Joy Children’s Centre in Arusha, Tanzania, during a visit in July.