Friday, November 10, 2023
www.towntimes.com
Volume 29, Number 45
Rea wins First Selectman seat in Durham
CANVAS AND CUPCAKES
Times staff
It was a good night for Durham Republicans on Tuesday, Nov. 7, as the local GOP earned wins in First and Second Selectman races, as well as two of three contested seats on the Board of Education. In the race to replace outgoing First Selectman George Eames, Republican Brendan Rea defeated Democrat Christopher Balay by a vote count of 1,323 to 1,035. The race for Second Selectman, See Durham, A5
Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services Canvas and Cupcakes Halloween event attracted plenty of creative – and hungry – participants on Saturday, Oct. 28. The artists had a chance to design their own paintings as well as cupcakes, all in the name of spooky holiday fun. Photos courtesy of Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services, Facebook
Road work causing traffic headaches in Middlefield By Michael Savino Special to The Times
work site is where a train track crosses the road.
The Department of Transportation has closed a portion of Route 147 at the intersection with Main Street for road work, causing concerns for both area businesses and local residents.
First Selectman Robert Yamartino said the DOT found the embankment was eroding due to washout and the agency made an emergency repair order.
The DOT is repairing an embankment along Route 147, also known as Baileyville Road, where a stream runs nearby. The
“At the time that they initially inspected the job, it was their belief that the repair — we’d be able to keep the road open with a flagman and one-way traffic,”
he said. Yamartino said further testing found the DOT would actually need to do more extensive work, including excavating one half the road, and the agency decided to shut down the entire road. The town found out in late September. Yamartino said the town didn’t have time to hold a public hearing before road work started on
Oct. 9, but he included a discussion as part of the Board of Selectmen’s Oct. 2 meeting. Baileyville Road is only closed at the intersection of Main Street, or Route 157, but the DOT can only detour traffic from state roads to other state roads. The DOT’s detour is steering traffic onto Main Street See Road work, A4
Board of Selectmen stays the same in Middlefield Times Staff
Little will change after Tuesday’s election in Middlefield, as First Selectman Robert C Yamartino easily held off a challenge from petition candidate Robert A. Bascom and Republican Jim Irish fended off current Third Selectman Carol L Bufithis to retain his Second Selectman seat. Yamartino won a relatively See Middlefield, A2