Volume 29, Number 17
Friday, April 28, 2023
www.towntimes.com
EVERYONE OUTSIDE
State adopts new I-691 exit numbers By Mary Ellen Godin Record-Journal staff
New owners, same spirit at Star Light Gardens By Nicole Zappone Town Times
In 1999, Durham residents David and Ty Zemelsky opened Star Light Gardens behind their Fowler Avenue home. In the beginning, the farm mainly grew salad greens for local restaurants. Over time, however, Star Light Gardens began producing an array of vegetables, and flowers. Recently, after nearly a quarter century in business, David Zemelsky decided to sell his beloved Star Light Gardens. His wife, Ty, died in 2018, and the farm wasn’t the same without her. “I have been doing this for a while and decided it was time to pass the baton to someone else,” Zemelsky said.
Star Light Gardens’ new owner Joel Smith, on the left, is pictured with previous owner David Zemelsky. Located on Fowler Avenue in Durham, Star Light Gardens grows Nicole Zappone, Town Times See Gardens, A25 organic vegetables and flowers.
For instance exit 8 at Broad Street in Meriden is now exit 2A, and exit 7 for downtown Meriden is now exit 2B. The old exit numbers will also remain on highway signs for the foreseeable future, according to the state Department of Transportation. The DOT announced that exit numbering would be revised on Interstate 691 both eastbound and westbound from Middlefield to Cheshire last month. The changes went into effect on Monday. The exit number changes on I-691 coincide with an ongoing project that includes resurfacing, drainage upgrades, guiderail replacement, mi-
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Join Women of the Woods for a 3-mile hike at the Highlawn Forest in Middletown Sunday, May 7 at 2 p.m. The flat and gentle trails at the preserve make this an ideal hike for less experienced or less able hikers. We will visit two vernal pools and learn about some of the creatures that live there. Women of the Woods (WoW), a program of Everyone Outside, offers monthly hikes/programs. For additional information, and to register for the May 7 hike, visit EveryoneOutside.org or email Lucy@EveryoneOutside.org. Submitted
The Department of Transportation began re-numbering the exits on Interstate 691 Monday as part of a larger, statewide effort to make exit numbers align with mile markers on the highways. New signage shows the new exit number as well as the old exit number on Interstate 691 for Broad Street in Meriden. Richie Rathsack, Record-Journal
nor bridge work, lighting upgrades, new traffic cameras and sign replacement. “The numbers are reversed,” said city Economic Development Director Joseph Feest, who noticed the sign placement starting Sunday evening. But he noted, Cheshire to Middlefield are not the only towns impacted. Changes to exits on Route 9 were recently completed and more are expected See Exit numbers, A7
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