2-5-2010 by Town Times Newspaper

Volume 16, Issue 43

Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall

Local grand lists ‘flat,’ with budget implications Durham By Stephanie Wilcox

Durham’s grand list, the list of taxable property in town, went down by only .06 percent, according to assistant tax assessor Beverly LeVasseur. Real estate and motor vehicle rose by .37 percent and 4.3 percent respectively while personal property fell by 15.6 percent. This drop is partly due to Connecticut Light and Power overestimating their declaration for personal property last year (they are able to set their own assessment by declaring their ownership of equipment, etc. on a personal property form). The actual amount of taxable property on the new grand list totaled $780,772,117. The top 10 taxpayers with the largest real estate assessments on the new grand list include Stonegate Springs LLC followed by Durham Manufacturing Co, Tilcon Inc, Lynch Diana VKS and Theodore B, Dinatale Rentals LLC, The Signature Gordon

Over a year ago, Middlefield First Selectman Jon Brayshaw applied for a Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) state grant to allow the town to upgrade the electric service and septic capabilities of the then recently acquired Powder Ridge Ski Area property. The theory was that these upgrades would allow the town to market the property more successfully. Last Thursday Brayshaw found out that the grant, which he had pleaded with state officials to either approve or reject, would be funded. Last Friday, Governor Jodi Rell traveled to Powder Ridge to announce that Middlefield would receive $540,000 for infrastructure improvements. As she made the 10:30 a.m. announcement, she was flanked by Brayshaw, Middlesex Chamber of Commerce president Larry McHugh,

Snow doesn’t stop good news — or good deeds

LLC, Aesthetic Structures LLC, Greenbacker Charles and Sons LLC, Perma Treat Corp and Spero Richard Trustee. The top 10 taxpayers with the largest personal property assessments on the new grand list include Connecticut Light and Power Co, Durham Manufacturing Co, Hobson and Motzer Inc, TD Equipment Finance Inc, Morgan Crucible, Tyco Healthcare Group LP, Bond Brothers Inc, Perma Treat CORP, Leonard Lumber Co and Gargiulo Construction Co Inc.

Middlefield By Sue VanDerzee Depending on how you look at it, Middlefield’s grand list as of Oct. 1, 2009, on which the tax rate for fiscal year 2010-11 will be based, either dropped by .47 of a percent or .16 percent. In either case, said assessor Steve Hodgetts, for practical, budgetSee Grand lists, page 7

Middlefield to get state grant for Powder Ridge infrastructure By Sue VanDerzee Town Times

Friday, Februar y 5, 2010

State Representative Matt Lesser and Peter Simmons of the DECD. The announcement was made, appropriately, under snowy skies, which Rell asked Brayshaw whether he had ordered. Brayshaw chuckled and said, “I ordered the snow, but I ordered it to stop at 10 o’clock. Nobody listens to me!” Brayshaw expressed town appreciation for the grant, noting that it would make it easier to continue the 50-year legacy of Powder Ridge into the future. “The last three years (when the ski area has been closed) we’ve been m i s s i n g In this issue ... jobs, we’ve Calendar.................4 been miss- Durham Briefs .....14 ing taxes, Healthy Living 11-13 but most of Mfld. Briefs...10 & 13 all we’ve Obituaries ............20 been miss- Puzzles ..........15 & 16 Sports ...............21-23 See Ridge, page 7 Spotlight...........18-19

Top, Gov. Jodi Rell, flanked by, from left, Middlesex Chamber of Commerce president Larry McHugh, State Rep. Matt Lesser, Middlefield First Selectman Jon Brayshaw and state Department of Economic and Community Development rep Peter Simmons at Powder Ridge in Middlefield last Friday for an announcement by Rell that the town will get a $540,000 grant to improve infrastructure at the ski area. Right, Megan Locasio and birthday girl Martha Meigs walk for Haitian earthquake relief on Sunday, Feb. 7. Story on page 5. Left, Middlefield Federated Church homeless awareness sleep-out on Saturday, Feb. 6. Story on page 3. Photos by Sue VanDerzee, Jan Leisner and Trish Dynia

Town Times Community Briefs

Art demo

Jack Montmeat, a local portrait painter, illustrator and drawing instructor with a studio in East Lyme, will be giving a demonstration at the Middletown Art Guild on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. Montmeat is planning a basic portrait drawing demo in charcoal on toned paper from a model in a one-hour format.

Crock pot dinner United Churches of Durham crock pot family supper will be held Friday, Feb. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall (snow date, Feb 13). All are welcome! The cost will be $7 for adults and $3 for children. Tickets are available at the door. Seating

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vres, mini-entrees and desserts. Tickets are $30 and include three wine tickets. This is an adult-only event, and patrons must be 21 or older. Call PALS president Laurie Stevens at 860-349-1916 for more information.

Durham/Middlefield Youth & Family Services Unless noted, all events take place at the Youth Center in the Middlefield Community Center. New office Hours: 3:30-5:30 Tuesdays-Fridays! Kids’ Game Night Friday, Feb. 5; 7 to 9 p.m.; $5 admission. Kids only game night drop-off. Game room and gym will be open, dodge ball and many other games will be played. Ages seven and up only. Pizza and snacks for sale. 7th and 8th grade dance Friday, Feb. 12; 7 to 9:30 p.m.; $5 admission. Pizza and snacks for sale. Babysitting Class DMYFS and the American Red Cross will present a class for students to become certified babysitters, Feb. 17, 18 & 19, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Students must attend all three classes to become certified. Cost is $65; a deposit of $30 must be received by Feb. 5. You can mail in a check made out to DMYFS. Bingo Family bingo will be played on Friday, Feb. 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. $4 per person. Call to reserve your spot by Feb. 12. 5th and 6th grade dance Friday, Feb. 26; 7 to 9:30 p.m.; $5 admission. Pizza and snacks for sale. Father/Daughter Dance On Friday, March 12, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. enjoy a father/daughter dance and fun night. Listen to great music, enjoy arts and crafts, or just hang out in the game room.

Taste of Durham this Saturday PALS, the friends of the Durham Library, invite you to their annual food and fun

Corrections If you see something in Town Times that isn’t quite right, give our news department a call at 860-349-8000, and we’ll do our best to make things right.

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Friday, February 5, 2010

fest at the library on Feb. 6 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The 14th annual Taste of Durham will feature more than 20 restaurants and caterers, including a handful of new ones to join old favorites. All will prepare their specialty hors d’oeu-

is limited. The supper will feature a very kid-friendly menu of great homemade items including beef stroganoff, chicken and dumplings, buttered noodles, tossed salad, applesauce, bread, dessert table, coffee, tea, juice and water. Fred and the Fijis will provide musical entertainment and lead a sing-a-long! If you would like to donate a baked good for the dessert table – cookies, brownies, cupcakes – bring it along when you come. If you have questions, call Liz Cipollina at 860-685-0207.

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Caroline Howe will talk at the Durham Public Library about the Copenhagen Climate negotiations on Monday, Feb 8, at 7:30 p.m. The focus will be about her experience at the negotiations, and on moving forward after Copenhagen and climate action in 2010.

Concepts that will be shown will include placement of the head on the page, essential proportions, likeness, as well as anatomical landmarks, lighting and tips for drawing all of the features in a naturalistic manner. To see some of Jack’s work, go to www.jackmontmeat.com. This exciting demo will take place at the Middlefield Federated Church hall, 390 Main Street, Middlefield. Everyone is invited, and a donation of $3 is suggested for non-members of the Guild.

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Town Times

Friday, February 5, 2010

Homeless in Middlefield By Trish Dynia Special to the Town Times

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Pictured on page 1, from left, are Middlefield Federated Church participants gathered around the fire — Tammy, Madison, Tim and Jacob Burt, Jesse Azevedo, Rick Mach, Marilyn Keurajian, Reverend Dale Azevedo, Jo-Ann Halibozek, Joyce Dowling and Elizabeth Azevedo. Barely visible between Jo-Ann and Joyce is Sunny Bay, the Azevedo’s ‘Labradoodle’ who helped keep his family warm during the long cold night.

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dlefield participants opted to sleep out in their church’s parking lot. By 8 p.m., the adults and children (and one family dog) gathered around a burning barrel for warmth. The brave campers later retired to their automobiles, a common sleeping arrangement for the homeless. According to Middlefield participant Joyce Dowling, “None of the campers cheated by using their car heaters for warmth during the night because the homeless cannot afford such a luxury.” Marilyn Keurajian, of Durham, is also a member of Middlefield Federated and serves as youth group director. Said Marilyn, “I barely slept, so I began meditating on all the options I have if I were to find myself homeless.” Marilyn’s options turned out to be many, unlike so many people

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As evening temperatures dipped toward single digits and public safety personnel mounted special efforts to bring the homeless inside for the night, approximately 50 brave souls from Middlesex County area churches dined on a simple supper of soup and bread at the South Congregational Church in Middletown. The dinner represented their last chance to warm up before spending the night outdoors to raise the level of awareness about homelessness in Middlesex County. During the dinner, South Congregational Church’s Associate Pastor Sue LaTourette reviewed the disturbing statistics: Census data collected in 2007/2008 indicates that 1,078 children from birth to age 5 stayed in emergency shelters. In January of 2009, volunteers counted 259 homeless individuals in Middlesex County and 4,000 statewide. Unemployment and eviction were cited as major factors contributing to their

homelessness. In Connecticut, 40 percent of children live at or below the poverty level and are at high risk for becoming homeless. St. Vincent DePaul Place director Ron Krom spoke next and reviewed the programs offered by the center, including the soup kitchen, which serves breakfast, hot lunch and dinner sandwiches six days per week. Sunday dinners are provided by area churches and other non-profit groups. St. Vincent also runs the Amazing Grace Food Pantry and the Next Steps Program, which provides housing opportunities and support for the chronically homeless. Eleven members of Middlefield Federated Church participated in the event. Due to space limitations on the South Congregational property, Mid-

who have no options due to distance or estrangement from family. A few quick phone calls revealed something that may surprise residents in our predominantly well-to-do communities of Durham and Middlefield. We do have families who are already homeless or one paycheck away from being homeless. If you would like to make a difference on a local level, please contact Durham Social Services director Janet Muraca at 860-349-3153 or Middlefield Social Services director Antoinette Astle at 860-3497121. Each town has a discretionary fund that is used to provide assistance in paying for fuel, medical bills, prescriptions, vehicle repairs,

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Town Times & Places

4 FRIDAY

February

February 5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

TGIF Memorial School’s TGIF event for sixth grade students begins at 6:30 p.m. Dancers at St. Colman Dancers from Middlesex Dance Center will participate in the American Academy of Ballet Performance Awards at St. Colman Church in Middlefield. Founder and director of the American Academy of Ballet, Mignon Furman, will attend from New York City to judge the event. Call 860-3457586 for info. Admission is one can of food for the food pantry or animal shelter.

SATURDAY

February 6

Trails Workshop The Winter Trails Workshop, at Connecticut Forest & Park Association, 16 Meriden Rd. in Middlefield, will focus on the organizational level for groups who wish to build and maintain their own trails. The workshop is from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Bring lunch and dress for a lunchtime walk. CFPA will provide coffee, chips and drinks. Register by calling 860-346-2372 or e-mail to info@ctwoodlands.org. Winter Farmers Market The Dudley Farm winter farmers’ market will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the yellow barn at 2351 Durham Rd. (Route 77) in Guilford. There will be local organic produce, artisan breads, baked goods, honey, jam, eggs, cheeses, handcrafted soaps, baskets, knitted items, jewelry, photography and more. For information, call 860-349-3917. Birds of Prey The Bauer Lecture Series begins at St. Andrew’s Church, 232 Durham Rd. in Madison, with Todd Secki from A Place Called Hope presenting a red tail hawk and other birds of prey at 10 a.m. The talks are appropriate for all ages, and light refreshments follow the talk. For info about the series, call Dr. Don Rankin at 203-245-9192. Women’s Hike Meet at Wadsworth Fall State Park at 10 a.m. to hike from the Big Falls, along a beautiful stream, over old stone bridges with a stop to

admire the Little Falls. In addition to walking, take time to appreciate the natural beauty and enjoy each other’s company. For info, contact Lucy at 860-395-7771 or visit www.womenofthewoods.org. Valentines for Veterans At 10 a.m. at Church of the Epiphany in Durham, 79 Main St., the Wadsworth Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will participate in Valentines for Veterans. Guests and prospective members are welcome to make valentines for the residents of the state Veterans Home in Rocky Hill. Please bring supplies. Slimey and Scaly Potapaug Audubon and the Westbrook Library will present “Slimy and Scaly” at 1 p.m. at the Westbrook Library. Meet slimy frogs, salamanders, scaly snakes, turtles and lizards. There will be refreshments served at this free program. For more information, call 860-399-0136. Basketball Tryouts The Ct. Bulldogs basketball team will hold tryouts for girls ages 11 to 13 from 2 to 2:30 p.m. and boys 10 to 15 from 4 to 5 p.m. at Memorial School in Middlefield. For info, call Macy at 860-613-0051. The Emperor’s New Clothes The Emperor’s New Clothes will be presented at the Middlesex Academy for the Performing Arts at the Independent Day School, 115 Laurel Brook Rd. in Middlefield, at 2 p.m. and tomorrow at 3:15 p.m. All tickets are $5 at the door. For info, call Shelley Sprague at 860-638-3973. A Taste of Durham The 14th annual Taste of Durham will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. More than 20 restaurants and caterers will prepare their specialty hors d’oeuvres, mini-entrees and desserts. Tickets are $30. This is an adult only event and patrons must be 21 or older. Call Laurie Stevens at 860-349-1916 for more information. Hot Jazz The Arts Center at Killingworth will present Jazz Night Out at 7:30 p.m., featuring New York saxophonist Eli

Degibri and the shoreline’s own drummer Tom Briggs and his group CT4. The concert, set in a cafe-style environment, will be held at the Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main St. in Ivoryton. For tickets and information, call 860-6635593 or visit www.artscenterkillingworth.org. Parents Night Out Brewster/Korn PTA and John Lyman PA will hold a parents night out from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Raccoon Club in Durham. There will be dinner, dancing, dessert and a silent auction. BYOB. Tickets are $25 per person. For info, email bkpta@rsd13.org.

SUNDAY

February 7 New Orleans Jazz The Greater Middletown Concert Association presents Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band at MHS Performing Arts Center in Middletown High School at 3 p.m. Adult tickets are $15; student tickets are $10, available by calling 860-347-4887 or 860-3463369 or at www.greatermiddletownconcerts.org.

MONDAY

February 8 Free Movie Every Monday the Middletown Senior Center, 150 William St., offers a free movie at 12:30 p.m. Today’s movie is Whip It with Drew Barrymore and Marcia Gay Harden. Call 860-344-3513 for more information. Open House Week Middlefield Children’s Center, in the Middlefield Federated Church education building, Main Street in Middlefield, will have open house hours all week between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Learn about the new options available for the preschool and kindergarten programs. Kids ages three through five and kindergartners are welcome. Call 860-349-0202 or e-mail middlefieldkids@sbcglobal.n et or visit www.middlefieldchildrenscenter.com. Durham 60+ Club The Durham 60+ Club will meet at noon in the United Churches fellowship hall for a Valentine’s potluck luncheon. Members are asked to bring a favorite dish. Newcomers are welcome. Doors

Friday, February 5, 2010

will not open until 11:45 a.m. Church is located at the corner of Rt. 68 and Main Street. Copenhagen Climate Negotiations Caroline Howe will talk at the Durham Public Library about the Copenhagen climate negotiations at 7:30 p.m. The focus will be about her experience at the negotiations and on moving forward after Copenhagen and climate action in 2010. Memorial School Parents The Memorial School Parent Council will meet at 7 p.m.

TUESDAY

February 9 B/KPTA The Brewster/Korn Parent Teacher Association meets at 6 p.m. at Brewster School. Small Business Seminar The Middlesex Chamber of Commerce will present “Ten Ways To Improve In-House Collections-Profit Recovery” from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., 393 Main St. in Middletown. Tickets are $25 for Chamber members. To register, send an e-mail to danielle@middlesexchamber.com. Auditions Middle City Stage is proud to announce its third production, Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, with performances in April and May. Auditions will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. For information on location, send an e-mail to dadavanya@hotmail.com.

WEDNESDAY

February 10 TOPS Durham TOPS Club meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the Durham Town Hall. For info, call Naomi Klotsko at 860-349-9558 or Bonnie Olesen at 860-349-9433. Honor Society The Coginchaug Regional High School National Honor Society induction ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. at CRHS. It Happened in Connecticut The Middlesex County Historical Society will present historian Diana Ross McCain speaking about her book, It Happened in Connecticut: From Witchcraft Trials to the Invention of Modern Football, Twenty-Five Events That Shaped the Nutmeg State. Her talk will be held at 7 p.m. at Russell Library, 123 Broad St.

in Middletown. This program is free and open to the public.

THURSDAY

February 11 Art Demonstration Jack Montmeat, a local portrait painter, illustrator and drawing instructor, will give a demonstration at the Middletown Art Guild at 7 p.m. at the Middlefield Federated Church hall, 390 Main Street, Middlefield. To see some of Jack’s work, visit www.jackmontmeat.com. Everyone is invited, and a donation of $3 is suggested for non-members of the Guild.

FRIDAY

February 12 Business Networking The local chapter of Business Networking International will meet in the United Methodist Church, 24 Old Church St. in Middletown, at 7:30 a.m. Contact Kirk Hagert at 860-349-5626 for info. Crockpot Family Supper United Churches of Durham crock pot family supper will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children and are available at the door. Feel free to bring along a baked good for the dessert table. For questions, call Liz Cipollina at 860-685-0207. School Vacation D13 students will have early dismal today, and schools will be closed until Monday, Feb. 22.

SATURDAY

February 13 Saturday Synema All are invited to Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, 55 East Kings Highway in Chester, to view the movie A Serious Man, a dark comedy based on the Book of Job. Dinner and discussion included. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a Havdalah ceremony, followed by a not-soserious dinner of Hebrew National hot dogs and He’brew, the Chosen Beer. The movie will begin at 7:30 p.m. after an open discussion of the Book of Job led by Rabbi Goldenberg. A donation of $10 is suggested. Make reservations by Feb. 10, by calling 860-5368920.

Town Times

Friday, February 5, 2010

Haiti walkathon is birthday celebration for Martha Meigs By Sue VanDerzee

Inspired by family example and a recent story in Town Times about Lex Sorrell, who used his birthday party as a way to raise money for Meriden Rotary programs, 11-yearold Martha Meigs decided to literally follow in their footsteps and turn her birthday celebration into a Helping Haiti walkathon. “Every other year for my birthday we try to do something to help others,” Martha explained. “It was my mom’s idea for a walkathon, and I thought of helping Haiti. My grandmother helped after Hurricane Katrina, and we helped her group raise money for a school.” Clearly, helpfulness is a family tradition. About 25 kids participated and 15 adults walked and/or helped with the walkathon on Sunday, Feb. 7 at Indian Springs. Martha’s mom Lucy was especially impressed with how many small gifts ($5-25) there were. Some of the kids

had worked quite hard to get sponsors. Most kids walked two miles in the cold and some walked/ran three miles. Parents really appreciated the event making it more “real” for their kids. By col- Above, Charlotte Meigs, Kate Schulten and lecting dona- Abbi and Becky Ford enjoy pizza. Right, tions and walkthe whole group. ing, they had to make an effort to “earn” the everyone received a certificate money to help Haiti. The kids of participation and awardclearly had fun doing it and felt winners were announced. The psyched about doing some- kids who raised the most money was the team of Megan and thing to make a difference. After walking (or running!), Sarah Locascio and Cassidy everyone returned to the Indi- White Ryan, all of Durham; toan Springs club house for piz- gether they raised $238. Morza, warm drinks and visiting. gan Whalen, of Middletown, Once people had their fill of gathered the most sponsors DaVinci’s yummy pizza, (13). Peter Schulten, of Middle-

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The Meigs family would like to thank Jen Huddleston for the use of Indian Springs, DaVinci Pizzeria for pizza (they had to open early to accommodate the group), Lyman Orchards for cider and Perk on Main and Carmine’s Pizza, both of Durham, for gift certificates for prizes.

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field, ran the most laps – over three miles. There was cake to celebrate the collection for Haiti and Martha’s birthday. The walkathon raised $2,060; with a matching grant of $2,000 from the Aetna Foundation Disaster Relief Program, Martha’s birthday celebration raised $4,060 which will be donated to Doctors without Borders for Haiti.. “I hope all the children and other people will be rescued and get their lives back,”

• INSURANCE • INSURANCE • INSURANCE

Town Times

Friday, February 5, 2010

Public weighs in on what they’d like to see in Board of Ed budget By Chris Coughlin Special to the Town Times

The Board of Education held their bi-monthly meeting this past Wednesday, Jan. 27, at Coginchaug High School. The meeting was promoted as a chance to directly address board members before they present their budget in March, an opportunity which many residents took advantage of. Durham resident Scott Wheeler voiced concerns about construction projects currently underway in District 13, most notably the proposed athletic facilities near Coginchaug, along with con-

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cern about the solvency of the projects. Another resident, Lucy Meigs, requested that the Board of Education alert the public of any budget cuts. Superintendent Sue Viccaro said that this request would be possible to accommodate at a later time, but that the budget wasn’t at the point where major changes had been proposed. Next up was Jeremy Renninghoff, a new member on the Middlefield Board of Finance. Renninghoff first pointed out the decreasing enrollment in district schools. There is a proposal to add another teacher to the K-5 pro-

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gram, and Renninghoff questioned why another teacher is being added to these grade levels where fewer students will be enrolled rather than at schools with more students. Renninghoff also addressed the fact that the school system has a fund balance of $2.2 million, which some people feel is an excessive amount. As of now the Board of Education decides how to use those funds, and this has caused trouble for another town in a similar situation. The Haddam-Killingworth Board of Education had an excessive fund balance, and the board ended up using the money to pay for the district’s health insurance. Once this misappropriation was brought to light, a portion of the school district’s funds were refunded to the towns. Renninghoff proposes that our Board of Education lower the available fund balance from $2.2 million to a more reasonable $1.2 million by redistributing the funds back to the towns, which could surely use that extra money. Bob Yamartino, also a new member on the Middlefield Board of Finance, was concerned over how the budget is calculated. Currently, the budget is based on the previous year’s projected budget, rather than how much was ac-

tually spent. Yamartino showed that there was a projected need for a 5.8 percent increase for expenses put into the budget for 2009-10; in actuality, the district only spent 3.7 percent more. This practice has resulted in the past three projected budgets exceeding the actual needs of the district by a total of approximately $1 million. Yamartino suggested that the district should base their budget on the actual expenses to date. That would more or less mean looking at how much the district has spent by this approximate half way point in the school year, and then figuring that a similar amount would be needed to get through the rest of the school year. This in turn would give the town a budget that has more context, based on current data, which should result in a lower surplus. Yamartino also urged the board to think outside the box when it comes to cutting costs. He pointed out that there is an extended vacation in April but only one threeday weekend in January. The district would save money by not heating the entire school district during the coldest time of the year if vacation days were moved around so that there is a week-long vacation in January. Yamartino said that this was just a sug-

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gestion, and that “we need to keep teachers and programs in place, and look at the overhead costs and in other places for savings.” Durham resident Rick Parmelee stated that, as a long-time active member of our community who has sent three children through our school district, he has strong feelings about the upcoming budget. Parmelee stated that unlike the first selectman or other town committees, he feels that the Board of Educations limits, and to an extent, discourages the public’s participation in their meetings. “It’s like biting the hand that feeds you,” said Parmelee, and for that reason he was especially thankful for this opportunity to speak directly to the board. Parmelee noted that salary information for employees has been dropped from the official school budget as of last year. Although salaries can be estimated based on previous data, the residents pay for employees’ salaries, and Parmelee feels that it is the public’s right to have easy access to this information. Parmelee echoed Renninghoff’s concerns about the $2.2 million fund balance, saying there is a need for more oversight and that he would like the public to have a say on how those funds are spent, rather than leave that up to a vote of the Board of Education. Parmelee also brought up the funding for the new athletic facilities proposed near Coginchaug. Some local businesses have said that they would donate labor, supplies and funds, and Parmelee would like to have more explicit details about the extent of this outside funding, the concern being that if these donations and funds from outside sources fall through, then the town will be left holding the bag when it comes time to pay for the project. Parmelee questioned why bonds are being used to fund these construction projects. Parmelee was cut off by a board member who stated that the bonds were old news and decisions regarding them were already made, although the district can review and change their decisions until

See Budget, page 16

Town Times

Friday, February 5, 2010

Grand lists

By Sue VanDerzee Town Times The moment many people have been waiting for is near at hand; on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. at Memorial School there will be a public hearing on the town’s proposal to sell the ski area portion of Powder Ridge to Snow Time, Inc. and CDF Associates LLC, whose principal is Dan Frank. Frank, who in a phone interview seems very excited about restoring and reopening Powder Ridge as a fourseason recreational area, will present his plans and town officials and Frank will answer questions. Following the public hearing, either a town meeting or a referendum will be set to vote on selling the property. This has been a long and winding road, as exemplified by the special Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Jan. 28, called for the purpose of setting a public hearing. Public comment, however, took dis-

Several members of the ad hoc committee were present and contended that they had indeed finished their job and passed it off to the selectmen to negotiate, as the committee charge and the town charter require. Jen Brown noted

that the committee waited over a month for another potential buyer to submit required documents, which didn’t happen. “We have only one bidder, but he’s a good bidder,” she said. Carl Zanoni, another member of the ad hoc committee, congratulated the selectmen on the state grant that they will receive (see story on page 1). He asked that everyone work together and get on with it. First Selectman Jon Brayshaw noted that notice

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ing the happy sound of children on the hill. Now we start a new chapter,” he said. Joan MacDonald, DECD commissioner, told those gathered amidst the snowflakes that the money would not only help Powder Ridge but would spill over into the surrounding community, providing a boost to area restaurants, gas stations, stores and other attractions. Rell added that the grant was all about jobs – 25 full time and 200 part time jobs at Powder Ridge itself and lots of other jobs on construction and reconstruction.

cussion all over the lot – from whether the ad hoc committee that developed the Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQ) over a year of work had in fact finished their job, to whether or not there are other qualified buyers out there just waiting to enter the fray.

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ment and other things at the applicable tax rate. Hodgetts, however, is unsure that the state will actually come through with all of the reimbursements due to the state’s own budget woes. “That would be tough,” he admits. Adding the grand list figures plus the reimbursable exemptions brings Hodgetts to the adjusted true tax base, which is $459.56 million. At the current tax rate of 25.69 mills, that would bring in $11,805,992 with a tax rate collection of 100 percent (generally, it’s 97-98 percent). Last year’s budget was $14,543,524 with $3.4 million in non-tax revenues. Those are the numbers that officials will keep in mind as they begin the 2010-11 budget process. Top four tapayers based on gross assessments for 2009 are Zygo Corp., Connecticut Light and Power, Lyman Farm Inc. and Rogers Manufacturing, the same as last year. Numbers 5 and 6 — TET Manufacturing/SMCC and Cooper Atkins Corp. — switched places. Number 7 remained the same — United Holdings/United Cleaning, while those in spots 8, 9 and 10 moved around but remained in the top 10. In 2009, the rank is Meadowview Farm/ Magee/Magner at number 8, Xenelis Construction at number 9 and Ramar Hall Inc./KVF Realty at number 10.

Middlefield selectmen move forward with Powder Ridge proposal

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making purposes, the grand list is flat. The difference between taxable real estate is either plus-.2 and minus-.15 depending on how Powder Ridge is calculated. Taxes have not been paid on the property in several years so even though it was listed on the 2008 grand list of $398.8 million in taxable real estate, the property was involved in bankruptcy proceedings and the town didn’t expect to get taxes. Minus the 2008 assessment for Powder Ridge, the 2008 real estate grand list would have been $397.4 million so the 2009 real estate grand list figure of $398 million (without Powder Ridge, which is now townowned) represents a tiny rise. Of the three categories of property measured for the grand list, taxable real estate either went up .15 or down .2 depending on the Powder Ridge calculation. Personal property went down 2.48 percent (from $35 million to $34.1 million), largely because businesses are not buying new equipment and the equipment they already own is depreciating in value. Motor vehicle assessments rose 1.41 percent, mostly because of the “Cash for Clunkers” program Hodgetts believes. The other sticky wicket in Middlefield’s calculations are the reimbursable exemptions; these have risen from $12.8 million to $13.6 million. What that means is that the state government should reimburse the town for exemptions on behalf of veterans, farm equip-

(Continued from page 1)

Town Times Opinion

Friday, February 5, 2010

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Town Times is published every Friday by the Record-Journal Publishing Co. and is delivered to all homes and businesses in Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall. Sue VanDerzee, Editor Stephanie Wilcox, Reporter Brian Monroe, Advertising Director Joy Boone, Advertising Sales Wendy Parker, Office Manager Contributors: Betsy White Booz, Chuck Corley, Chris Coughlin, Trish Dynia, Kathy Meyering, Judy Moeckel.

We feel blessed and privileged to live in “one brick at a time.” We hope to be able to such caring towns. Just a quick glance bring you those photos and stories in the through these pages tells a near future. partial story. Read about And opportunities still Sue VanDerzee glasses donated to the Lions abound... Bring a canned good Club (below), a walkathon to – for people or pets – and come benefit earthquake victims in enjoy the Middlesex dancers at Haiti (page 5), a homelessness St. Colman’s Church in Midawareness sleep-out (page 3), dlefield tonight at 5 p.m. Bring and runners for Toys for Tots (page 13). some supplies and join the DAR on Saturday, Then there’s the ones that didn’t fit this Feb. 6, at 10 a.m. at Church of the Epiphany week – two local doctors who spent a week on Main Street in Durham, to help make in the Dominican Republic bringing basic valentines for residents of the Veterans healthcare, Boy Scouts who served a comHome in Rocky Hill. Or, if you’re the outmunity meal, professionals who volundoorsy type, attend a workshop at the Ct. Forteered to share their knowledge at a Girl est and Parks Association on Route 66 in MidScout career night, students at Lyman dlefield from 8:45 a.m. till 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 6 School selling healthy snacks to raise monand learn how to create and care for trails. ey for Haitian relief, students at the IndeWhatever your interest or talents, there pendent Day School selling specialty foods are people out there who need you, and one for the same purpose, and kids at Korn of the best cures for the winter doldrums is School bringing in dollars to rebuild Haiti doing something for someone else.

From The Editor’sDesk

Letters to the Editor Eyeglasses on a mission

Thank you to all Middlefield residents for recycling your eyeglasses. The Middlefield Lions have just shipped 365 pairs of eyeglasses to the Lions International recycling center in Roanoke, Virginia. Because of you, we have the ability to make a difference in someone’s life. The eyeglasses are cleaned, the prescription is determined by using a lensometer, then packaged and stored for the next eyeglass dispensing mission. Please continue your good work and drop off your unused eyeglasses in the purple Lions mailbox located at the Middlefield Post Office. Thank you. Lion Debi Berry, Middlefield

153 Million Reasons Lions Recycle for Sight According to The World Health Organization, 153 million people have uncorrected refractive errors (near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism). Most of these vision impairments are quickly diagnosed and easy to treat with corrective lenses. Still, millions of people in developing nations are pushed deeper into poverty simply because they don’t have glasses. They can’t learn because reading is difficult. They can’t work to the best of their ability because they can’t see clearly. It costs Lions less than eight cents to provide a pair of recycled eyeglasses and change someone’s life. For children, clear vision means a better education, healthier development and a better quality of life. For adults, it means greater employment

Letters policy The Town Times intends to present a forum for the lively exchange of ideas and issues. To facilitate the publication of your contributions, several guidelines should be followed. Letters to the editor must be signed, with a phone number included. The writer will be called to confirm authorship. No anonymous letters will be printed. Contributions by any individual or group will not be published more frequently than once a month. Every effort will be made to print all letters received. However, the selection and date of publication will be at the discretion of the editor. Finally, the opinions expressed by our letter writers are not necessarily those of this newspaper. Deadline: Tuesday noon for Friday publication.

opportunity and economic strength. For seniors, it means less dependence on others.

VFW salutes Troop 33 The members of Middlefield/Rockfall VFW would like to congratulate Boy Scout Troop 33 and recognize Boy Scouts of America’s 100th anniversary. Founded on Feb. 8, 1910, other youth organizations come and go, but scouting is a permanent part of the American landscape. I salute you all, and offer my best wishes in years to come. John Capega, Post commander

One view of Powder Ridge First, we need to be realistic about the Powder Ridge situation. There are not a lot of qualified operators hotly interested in taking over and upgrading Powder Ridge. Happily, we have one that looks pretty good. Importantly, most townspeople would agree that the town of Middlefield would certainly not be a good alternative to rehab, open and run this ski area. We don’t have the experience or skill, we don’t want the risk or expense, and we would then forgo the needed tax revenue.

We need to give someone (Snow Time and Dan Frank) a chance to invest money, which they will only do with a reasonable expectation of business success and profit. We need to recognize it will be their money at risk, and they probably won’t specifically do precisely what any of us want, but they will create and operate a desirable recreational business, and pay property taxes. We can only hope that includes skiing. I don’t think the citizens of Middlefield can ask for or expect more than that. Unfortunately, what is likely to happen here is that a few vociferous individuals will howl about and obstruct every proposal at every step, and nothing will happen. The only people who will be happy with that will be those who don’t want more traffic on their particular street. We – the town elected officials and the majority of the citizenry which they represent – should support, encourage, demand and insist that a deal gets done. Yes, we all want a reasonable and practicable deal, but we want a deal, and one done soon. Of course, that must be a deal that will fully abide by the laws and regulations. Anything else will only assist the obstructionists who will seek to block any action, and the inevitable few whose narrow self-interest will lead

them to oppose every plan or proposal, regardless of its overall community benefit. Bottom line: Let’s all help the fellow we empowered to lead our town government, and those who would assist him, to bring us a deal we can support and approve. Then let’s move forward and have a facility our children can enjoy. Dale Robinson, Middlefield

Found A flash drive/memory stick was found at Brewster School in Durham last week. If you think it is yours, call 860-349-0778 to describe it.

Found cat A local family at 26 Sand Hill Road in Durham found a kitty on Friday, Jan. 29. C u r rently it is safely in their garage. The cat is mostly gray with a little white on the nose and the paws. The cat is slightly overweight and very scared. Its gender is unknown. If you think this may be your cat, please call Min or Frank at 860-349-0281.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Town Times Columns

Strategic planning: moving Priority one – job creation toward the future in District 13

One of the halled a cost-benefit Carol Luckenbach, marks of Regional analysis for each acDirector of Curriculum and District 13 over the tion plan, the teams Professional Development past two decades has have determined been the developthose actions whose ment, implementabenefits clearly outtion and periodic reweigh the costs, both newal of the District tangible and intangiStrategic Plan. Few ble. school districts that undertake the Two more phases remain before the strategic planning discipline are able fourth strategic plan becomes a realito sustain it over the long term; with ty. First the original planning team changes in leadership at the Board of must reconvene to consider the work Education or district level, it is all too of the action teams. Each action plan easy to allow strategic planning to fal- will be carefully scrutinized to be sure ter. District 13 has been unique in its that it meets the original intent of the ability to sustain the strategic plan planning team and shows clear benethrough good budget times and bad, fits to the students of District 13. Ultithrough significant changes in leader- mately the planning team will reach ship, and through major changes in consensus on the revised mission and the education landscape. objectives, beliefs and parameters, Last spring we began the process of strategies and sets of action plans that developing the fourth five-year strate- will define the educational direction gic plan for District 13. A 30-member of District 13 for the next five years. planning team representing the dis- This final version of the plan will be trict’s diverse stakeholders met for presented to the Board of Education, two-and-a-half days to craft the outline which will carefully consider the plan of the strategic plan for the next five as a whole and will act to accept or reyears. Five different strategies were ject each component. identified as critical for achieving the In this time of economic uncertaindistrict’s mission. We then began the ty and great change, it is more imporprocess of recruiting action teams to tant than ever to be sure that as a diswork on fleshing out each of the five trict we retain a highly focused view strategies. of our mission to prepare each student Nine months later our action teams for a future we cannot yet imagine. have finished their work. More than Our strategic plan is the vehicle for 80 individuals – teachers, administra- providing the highest quality of edutors, parents, students, Board of Edu- cation in the most fiscally responsible cation members – have given count- manner. Once the plan has been apless hours of their time doing re- proved, it will be widely publicized, search, brainstorming ideas and care- and we hope that everyone in our two fully crafting action plans that repre- towns will take the time to become fasent the essential steps that must be miliar with the priorities we have estaken to ensure that all five strategies tablished for teaching and learning in will be fully realized. Having complet- District 13.

A View From District 13

Web update We are not surprised. Fifty-nine respondents answered our current poll question — “Have you donated money for Hatian earthquake relief? — and more than half, 56 percent to be exact, said “yes.” Two percent intend to donate but haven’t done so yet, and 42 percent have not donated. This fits in with what we know about our communities as evidenced by the articles on the pages of this issue. Coming issues will include more photos and articles detailing local generosity that did not fit in this issue. This is truly something to be proud of and something to build upon. To answer next week’s poll question, go to www.towntimes.com. We love to hear what you think!

Obituary fee reminder Due to rising costs, the Town Times will be charging a processing fee of $25 for printing obituaries starting Feb. 1, 2010 — this issue. The fee is not dependent on length and will not apply to memorial announcements. Town Times publishes weekly and is mailed free to every home in Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall. We can accommodate obituaries received up until noon on Wednesday for publication in Friday’s newspaper.

As this year’s legislative session begins, there is virtual consensus our state’s priority must be job retention and creation as we continue through extremely difficult economic times. Incredibly however, in this climate, Connecticut’s vo/tech high schools, a prime source for well-educated, highly trained, ready-to-work young State Senator people and a priority of mine for years, appear to have languished under the current administration. It is counterintuitive to allow this lynchpin of economic development to waste away; my intention is to vigorously defend our vo/tech schools and programs this session and work to restore their viability. My great fear is that my efforts, already made difficult with limited funding, will be an uphill struggle against what sometimes seems like institutionalized bias. Last year, Wright Tech in Stamford was targeted for outright closure, even though its students had no comparable alternative nearby and the community protested. Then, even before the school’s fate was determined, its faculty scrambled for new positions, effectively dismantling the program. Its operation is currently in limbo while an attempt to preserve it has been mobilized. Serving greater New Haven, the 50year-old Eli Whitney vo/tech school now shamefully features inadequate science labs and equipment, an ineffective heating and cooling system, and substandard restrooms and locker rooms. The legislature authorized renovation bonding in 2006 but the administration has not yet allocated the funds. Meanwhile, the school thrives despite it all: officials cite a threefold increase in the six-year-old culinary arts program as an example. In eastern Connecticut, approved plans for an addition and renovation at the H.H. Ellis vo/tech school in Danielson date back to 2002, but a July 2009 status report still describes “bids being reviewed.” Last fall it was brought to my attention that H.C. Wilcox vo/tech in Meriden didn’t have enough buses to transport students to their off-site job training commitments. I was incredulous: those placements are at the very core of the vo/tech system and were being ignored.

Making matters worse, the interim superintendent of the vo/tech system (yes, there isn’t even permanent oversight for this essential component of our public schools) wrote at the time that any shortage of buses had not been brought to her attention. I could go on with this evidentiary list; last summer the govTom Gaffey ernor’s budget office was content to replace only half the vo/tech teachers who accepted terms of the state’s Retirement Incentive Program. I fought that then, because it would have rendered these vital learning centers – and their 10,000-some-odd students – the devalued and overlooked step-children of our public school system. The shortsightedness of this neglectful approach extends far beyond the obvious slight to worthy students in viable, albeit alternative, schools. These schools provide invaluable lessons, hands-on experience, internships and proficiency in a wide variety of trades and professions. The expertise acquired by students is an essential part of the well-educated, highly trained workforce we’ll need to move forward in Connecticut. The high quality of our vo-tech trained workforce will attract new businesses to our state and convince existing businesses to expand here. Our economic recovery – our future – depends in part upon the well-prepared students in our vo-tech system. This is precisely the wrong time to ignore its needs. With that in mind, I recently convened an informational forum at which officials of the vo/tech system and the state Department of Education appeared before the Education Committee to answer questions about these and other reported shortfalls. Suffice it to say, our exchange was spirited and lively. I remain hopeful that my voice, along with those of thousands of vo/tech students, parents, teachers and administrators, will help our governor and her administration see the urgent need to restore and then maintain vibrant, well-funded vo-tech high schools for the future prosperity of our state. Gaffey represents the13th Senatorial District, which includes Middlefield.

From The State Capitol

We’re on the Web: http://www.towntimes.com

Middlefield Town Briefs

Middlefield Government Calendar Senior Center (Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held in the Community Center.) Wednesday, February 10 6:30 p.m. — Planning and Zoning 7 p.m. — Water Pollution Control Authority 7:30 p.m. — Board of Education at Korn School Tuesday, February 16 7 p.m. — Public Hearing at Memorial School to discuss plans for Powder Ridge 7 p.m. — Conservation Commission Wednesday, February 17 7 p.m. — Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency Thursday, February 18 7 p.m. — Board of Finance 7 p.m. — DMIAAB Monday, February 22 7 p.m. — Freedom of Information workshop for all board and commission members and the public Tuesday, February 23 7 p.m. — Zoning Board of Appeals Wednesday, February 24 7:30 p.m. — Board of Education at Memorial School

The Middlefield Senior Center is offering quarterly cholesterol and blood glucose screenings starting in February. The next screening will be on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 8 a.m. Fasting is recommended. Appointments are not necessary. A nutrition update is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 12:30 p.m. Topic is “Chock Full of Nuts.” Jane Coggins, a registered dietician from Community Renewal Team, will discuss the benefits of nuts in your diet. No reservation necessary. Setback games are played every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and bridge games are offered every Thursday and Friday at

SPEEDIER ADMISSIONS. QUICK RECOVERY TIMES.

Friday, February 5, 2010

12:45 p.m. Everyone welcome. The Middlefield Senior Center annual snowflake BBQ will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at noon. Beat the winter doldrums with a hot sizzling lunch of burgers off the grill. Following lunch, warm up with sizzling bingo games with prizes or enjoy games of setback. The cost per person is $2, and you are asked to bring a yummy side dish, salad or veggie to share (no desserts, chips or soda please). The side dish should feed eight people. Make your reservation, and decide what you are bringing, by Tuesday, Feb. 16. Call 860349-7121 or stop in. (Snow date is Thursday, Feb. 25.) Free income tax assistance will be available every Tuesday, February through April. This income tax preparation service is provided by AARP. The IRS-trained counselor will help those 60 years and older with low or moderate income by appointment only. Call the Senior Center only after you have received all your

documents and paperwork for filing; appointments will not be made without them. The Middlefield Senior Café is open for lunch three days a week. Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday a hot nutritious lunch is served by volunteers. A monthly menu is available at the Center or the Town Hall. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance. The suggested donation is $2. Call Antoinette Astle at 860-349-7121 if you have any questions or would like to sign up for lunch or any program.

P&Z passes new regulation

The Planning and Zoning Commission held their final discussion on an amendment to allow for the demolition and reconstruction of multiple non-conforming buildings on one lot during their meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

See P&Z, page 13

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Town Times

Friday, February 5, 2010

Healthy Living Healthy Living Healthy Living Healthy Living Healthy

Keeping fit and heart healthy — it’s personal for Sheila Garvy By Betsy White Booz Special to the Town Times

logical step, which was to become a certified personal trainer in 2005 “because I wanted to help them,” she asserts. Sheila works with her individual clients – currently, she has five – at their homes. “A lot of people are intimidated

by the gym, or they say they just don’t have time,” she points out. So she helps them by coming to them, working out with them, having them keep a food journal, educating

See Healthy, page 12

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walked five miles the day before my surgery. And then, afterwards, I was up and moving so much quicker. The recuperation was easier. I was kickboxing again the first week in November.” This personal journey has translated into Sheila’s desire to help others, or as she states, “Everyone needs to have control over their own life.” Starting as a kickboxing student, Sheila soon became the teacher (she has been teaching cardio kickboxing since 1998, currently at Maximum Fitness in Wallingford). Then, when her students and others started asking her questions about fitness and health, Sheila took the next

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eight years before more extensive surgery was required, she went on to have two children and also to make working out part of her life. Sheila’s kids are now 12 and 15. And Sheila just had that second surgery last September because the first “fix” ended up lasting twice as long as was first promised. She credits exercising and leading a healthy lifestyle for those extra eight years. “It brought my heart rate down,” she notes, “and that made a big difference.” Turns out it also made a dramatic difference in her recovery time from the second operation last fall. “I was so much healthier going into it this time,” Sheila admits. “I

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Town Times

Friday, February 5, 2010

Healthy Living Healthy Living Healthy Living Healthy Living Healthy Healthy (Continued from page 11) them, empowering them. “It’s amazing what people don’t know,” she comments. Recalling one of her firstclients, Sheila said the first thing she did was have the woman wear a pedometer to measure how far she walked each day. “In the beginning, it was only 1,500 steps a day!” she marvels. That was four years ago, and they are still working together. The key to personal training, says Sheila, is that it really is tailored to the individual. The workouts can be twice a week or three times a week, perhaps in the morning, but maybe evenings work better. In the warm months, she likes taking it outside at the client’s home. While being a wife and mother, not to mention working in a small CPA firm in

Sheila Garvey Middlebury, fills up the hours for Sheila, it is the kickboxing instruction and work as a personal trainer that balances

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out this already-busy schedule. “I like that part of my life,” she reflects. “It becomes very personal for me – these clients become my friends…their issues are often centered on something emotional.” The journey continues for Sheila, and she is looking forward to it. As she points out, particularly with February being “Heart Health Month” – and with heart disease being the number one killer of women in the U.S. – “working out and eating healthy is just so important.” And it’s something, literally, near and dear to Sheila’s heart. If you would like more information either about either the kickboxing classes Sheila teaches or about working with her as a personal training client, she can be reached at sheila.garvy@snet.net or 860349-2321.

From our Rec Departments, fun things to do

Four-day teen cooking program Durham Recreation is sponsoring a special program at Strong School during winter break for kids in grades five through eight, Tuesday through Friday, Feb. 16-19. The week-long, hands-on cooking classes will culminate in a luncheon on Friday, to which each student can invite a guest. On the menu will be Sunny Acres corn chowder, Welsh rarebit over fresh tomato slices on a toasted English muffin, individual spring salads with fruit and nuts and stove-top baked apples a la mode, plus beverages. Students will learn basic cooking skills and techniques such as peeling, chopping, rendering, braising, basting, creaming and measuring, as well as ingredients information and selection,

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safety and sanitation. Recipes will be provided so menu items can be recreated at home. Program hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon, and on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fee for the four-day cooking program is $75 per student and includes all ingredients, materials, snacks and Friday lunch for student and one guest. Participation will be limited to 12 students. Please call Durham Recreation at 860-343-6724 for information.

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Park and Rec is sponsoring a movie marathon and sleepover party for Sunday, Feb. 14. The program is open to kids ages six to 11 and will be held at the Middlefield Community Center. Drop off the kids at 6 p.m. on Sunday night and pick them up 9 a.m. Monday morning. There will be pizza and juice and lots of popcorn and pancakes in the morning. Have them bring sleeping bags, pillows and some sort of mattress/padding if you have it. Chaperones are still needed. The cost is $5, and the party is limited to 30 kids. Call 860-349-9926 to reserve your spot and/or volunteer. Powder Ridge Rock Festival - This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the Powder Ridge Rock Festival. Park and Rec will hold a oneday event on Saturday, July 31, to mark the occasion. The event will be similar to Old Homes Day. Call Chris at 860349-9926 if you would like to help out. People are needed to head up acts, vendors, security, stage and sound, promotions and sponsorship and more. The first meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 7 in the Middlefield Community Center. All welcome.

Public hearing on Powder Ridge plans: Tuesday, Feb. 16, at Memorial School Come and hear the latest and comment.

Town Times

Friday, February 5, 2010

P&Z

Healthy Living Healthy Living Healthy Living Healthy Living Healthy (From page 10)

should go forward with any against Monarca for encroaching on town property. However, Colegrove added that the commission first needs to look at the entire industrial park for any infractions and suggested that it may be more appropriate for the selectmen to handle it as a matter of trespassing. In other business, the commission briefly discussed the proposal for a two-lot subdivision at the corner of Jacksonville Road and Stowe Street. Engineer Pat Benjamin said that .31 acres of the property are planned for a conservation easement, while one of the lots will contain a two-bedroom house with a garage-under. As this is a resubdivision, it must go to a public hearing, scheduled for Feb. 10.

Running to help

In December local runners participated in the Christopher Martins Christmas Run for Children to benefit Toys for Tots. Runners pictured, from left, Ryan Gossart, Ben Gossart, Mary Jane Montz and Bernadette Lecza. Submitted photo

Last on the agenda was selection of officers for 2010. Mike Turner was approved as chairman, Bob Johnson as vice-chair and Bill Waff as secretary. (In attendance/Chuck Corley)

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The final language requires that a parcel have more than one residential building on it at the time the amendment takes effect. It also prevents any reconstruction project from increasing the number of residential buildings on the site with a minimum distance of 20 feet maintained between dwellings. Various restrictions on coverage and setback must also be met by anyone taking advantage of the amendment, and the number of bedrooms must not be increased. What qualifies as a bedroom will be judged by a commission designee. With these details finalized, the amendment was approved by all members except Bill Waff, who voted against it. It will go into effect on Feb. 14. The other major item that the commission discussed was a request from the Board of Selectmen to approve an 824 review for the Powder Ridge property. This review will be required when the transfer of the property is voted on. The main issue the commission had with approving the review was whether they had enough information to vote. While the commission doesn’t need to know the financial details of the transfer, they do need to know if it conforms with the Plan of Conservation and Development. This includes information such as the activities on the site, deed restrictions, driveway issues and other similar matters. In light of that, members such as Waff felt that the commission didn’t know enough details to vote on the review. However, town planner Geoff Colegrove was on hand and informed the commission that the developer, Dan Frank, intends to take down all current structures and spend at least $2 million to get up and running again. The facility will be used year-round, with banquet facilities, a pool and other uses planned for the site. While a water park isn’t currently planned, commission member Bob Johnson noted that one could be opened as the pre-existing special permits for the site allows for one. The commission also had concerns about the transfer as the

inclusion of skiing at Powder Ridge has not yet been committed to by Dan Frank. Waff remarked that a ski area was required in the bonding referendum voted on by the town. Colegrove noted that whether or not there’s a ski area on the property isn’t up to the zoning commission. Until such time as the commission knows more about the site activities, though, they chose to hold off on a vote on the 8-24 review. Instead, they want to see at least a draft version of the Memorandum of Understanding before putting the matter to a vote. The commission has 35 days from their Jan. 27 meeting to vote, after which no action counts as positive action. The possible transfer of town property to Monarca also came up during the meeting. Colegrove reported that Monarca’s attorney is apparently not authorized to work on the details of the sale, thus leaving it in “limbo.” Speaking on behalf of the first selectman, Colegrove informed the commission that they

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Durham Town Briefs

Durham Government Calendar Passport day (All meetings will be held at the Durham Library unless otherwise noted. Check the town Web page at www.townofdurhamct.org for agendas and last-minute changes.) Monday, February 8 6 p.m. — Public hearing on a grant application to establish a revolving loan fund for income-compliant homeowners to allow them to improve their proerties; at Town Hall 7 p.m. — Board of Selectmen at Town Hall 7:30 p.m. — Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency Wednesday, February 10 3 p.m. — Board of Selectmen budget meeting at Town Hall 7:30 p.m. — Board of Education at Korn School Tuesday, February 16 6:30 p.m. — Board of Finance at Town Hall Wednesday, February 17 7:30 p.m. — Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday, February 18 7 p.m. — Compensation Review/Personnel Policy Commission at Town Hall 7 p.m. — DMIAAB at Middlefield Community Center 7 p.m. — Durham Animal Response Team (DART)

The Durham Town Clerk’s office will, once again, be participating in National Passport Day on Saturday, March 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact the town clerk at 860-349-3453.

2010 canvass of registered voters The Registrars of Voters for Durham have begun their annual caucus of citizens registered to vote in the Town of Durham. If you receive a notice from the Registrars, please fill it out and return it promptly, so the voter registry list will be updated and complete. If you have any questions about this year’s can-

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Stolen equipment found on Route 68 Police recovered six stolen plows and one stolen pickup truck in Durham on Sunday, Jan. 24. According to Resident State Trooper Pete DiGioia, eyewitnesses saw a plow being stolen from a business on Commerce Circle and loaded onto a pickup. The eyewitnesses recognized the truck, and upon calling the cops, the owner of the vehicle was contacted who led authorities to where the plow was being brought: a Lake Grove pool at 459R Wallingford Road. Plows stolen from Cromwell, Middletown, East Haven, Wallingford, Durham

and Middlefield were recovered. The origin of one more has not yet been determined. The owner of the plow stolen from East Haven also had his pickup stolen and recovered. According to DiGioia, other vehicles were stolen while transporting the stolen plows and were then stripped down and dumped at various sites, including Route 68 and Miller Road. The robbery is still under investigation and no arrests have been made; however those involved have been identified.

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Town Times

Friday, February 5, 2010

Used Hitchcock Furniture store moves to Middlefield By Stephanie Wilcox Town Times

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If you’ve been searching for a unique piece of Hitchcock furniture or would find it exciting to simply browse through pieces of history, you can now do so at Used Hitchcock Furniture in Middlefield. Scott Silver, of Durham, is a collector of Hitchcock furniture, both antique and revival. He recently moved his 1,500-square-foot Hitchcock showroom from Winstead to the top floor of the Old Lyman Gunsight Factory building at 140 West Street, Middlefield. His 600 Hitchcock pieces are now sprawled out over 3,000 square feet. But wait, who’s Hitchcock? “A lot of people don’t know him,” said Silver. “His furniture has a cult following — you love it or hate it. If you love it, you really love it.” In the early 1800s, Lambert Hitchcock opened a furniture factory in Riverton, Connecticut, then called Hitchcocksville. At first he made chair parts, but then began mass producing chairs using assembly lines. Before this, chairs were unaffordable and most people only had stools and benches. “He was like the Henry Ford of furniture,” said Silver. “They were called Fancy Chairs because they were stencil-designed instead of painted, and that’s what he was most known for.” Though he made other furniture pieces, chairs are the most popular example of Hitchcock’s craftsmanship —

ternet. “It all stemmed from there,” he said. Today, he finds most of the items online. Silver has traveled all around New England collecting for himself and others. He’s shipped furniture pieces to all 50 states and even to Great Britain, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Germany. Unique pieces, like the New England Whalers, Norman Rockwell and 40-year chairs are hard to find — at least the authentic ones. Antique Hitchcock furniture has a signature on it and a stamped code, “and they’re truly a treasure,” adds Silver. Used Hitchcock Furniture

Silver has about 500 of them in his Middlefield showroom. Silver’s business of buying, selling and restoring Hitchcock furniture began eight years ago out of his garage, before moving to a location in Winstead. “For me this was a hobby that got out of control,” said Silver, who owns about 30 Hitchcock pieces himself. It started as a quest to win a Hitchcock rocking chair at the Riverton Fair, the location of Hitchcock’s factory. Though he bought several raffle tickets, Silver never won the rocking chair, so he decided to find it on his own through tag sales and the in-

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Town Times

Budget (Continued from page 6) the point where construction actually begins. Several residents spoke about student activity fees. There was a general consensus that extra-curricular activities not only look good on a college application, they also can enrich and change a child’s life. Residents like Parmelee felt that these fees

had no place in public schools, and that all students should have access to extracurricular activities. Other parents of students mirrored this sentiment, but also said that if it came down to choosing between paying a fee or dropping an activity, they’d much rather pay the fee. Another topic was consolidating bus routes. Theresa Opalacz stated that, as of right now, the district is not considering bussing students from Lyman Elementary School

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and Memorial Middle School together because of concerns over mixing such wide age groups. Opalacz pointed out that many other school districts have successfully implemented this program, and that it could be an opportunity to reinforce our core ethical values and encourage kids to be nice to one another. Opalacz also observed that it often seems like a school bus will make an excessive amount of stops on a road in one mile. Although everyone wants the bus to stop in front of their house, it is a headache going to work in the morning, and the district could probably realize some savings by making their bus routes more efficient. Susan Michael, a science

Friday, February 5, 2010 teacher at Coginchaug and parent of a son who attends Coginchaug, spoke about class sizes. Michael reported that her son has a class with 29 students in it, and that she has heard reports of classes with 31 students. Although this may not be indicative of the average class size, Michael was concerned that cutting any teachers would only make it harder for students and teachers to connect. Michael also said that she had been told that field trips for next year were cut from the school budget. “This is where students experience education,” said Michael. “The experiences that we remember most from being kids are the ones that are out in the field and hands-on, and I hope the

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board will think about the value of field trips.” Program on using student data/proposed calendar Carol Luckenbach gave a presentation on Scientific Research Based Interventions (SBRI). SBRI is a program where teachers observe how their students react to certain material and teaching methods, and then meet in data teams to discuss their results and create common assessments. The end result should be a more effective approach to education, whether that means preparing for exams or identifying where students need extra help. The data teams should meet once a week or a minimum of once a month, but several teachers commented that it is difficult to coordinate these meetings, and they usually end up taking place at lunch, when the teachers should be on break. This segued into a discussion of the 2010-11 school year calendar. The proposed calendar has five days added as either an early dismissal or late opening, allowing teachers extra time to focus on their data teams for the SBRI. A consensus of parents and teachers agreed that it would be easier for the students, parents and teachers if the board ended up making those days late openings. The board agreed, and after a vote with only board member Nancy Boyle against it, the 2010-2011 school calendar was passed with the following changes: There will only be three full professional development days instead of four, occurring on Aug. 31, Nov. 2 and April 1. There will also be a half day on May 27 for teacher development, where students will be dismissed approximately one hour and 50 minutes early.

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Town Times Jumps

Friday, February 5, 2010

Writing

(From page 14)

Has a Story to Tell”and more recently “Memoir Writing.” Class size will be limited; seniors can register by calling Jan Muraca at 860-349-3153.

Homeowners First Selectman Laura Francis is encouraging homeowners to attend a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m. in Town Hall to learn about a possible town grant to establish a revolving loan fund to allow income-compliant homeowners to borrow interest-free for property improvements. The selectman’s office, 860-349-3625, can answer questions. If you’re interested, a letter will be sufficient to allow the state to consider the town’s application.

Budget

(From page 16)

(Continued from page 7) of the grant was a “dealchanger” in that the contract the town has been working on with Frank was based on Frank and Snow Time having to fund all of the infrastructure work needed. Now that the town can do a lot of that, the numbers will change, but Brayshaw is confident that a final proposal will be inked and ready to go by the Feb. 16 public hearing. Meanwhile, bond counsel Fasi will be asked whether a town meeting or a referendum on the proposal would be best. Feb. 1 meeting At their regular meeting on Feb. 1, the selectmen further solidified the Feb. 16 public hearing by choosing a time – 7 p.m. – and a place – Memorial Middle School gym on Hubbard Street. They also decided that they

street lights. Brayshaw noted that after the Energy Task Force floated this idea, he was deluged by negative comments from the public. Bob Yamartino, a member of the finance board, added that perhaps it was time to “just do it” and take complaints after the fact. Brayshaw also explained that there has been some concern that building fees have been raised when, in fact, what the selectmen did recently was to standardize how the same fees that were in existence since 2001 would be applied. Before the standardization, fees were based on how mush the applicant said the project was going to cost rather than how much the finished project would be worth. Building official George Stronkowsky noticed that if an applicant said that they were constructing a twocar garage and their brotherin-law was supplying the labor, then that applicant paid less than the ordinary family

having a two-car garage constructed by a contractor. Since the fees are based on the value of the finished building project, this was not fair, and the selectmen corrected it. However, the fees themselves remain the same as they have been since 2001. Finally, the selectmen voted unanimously in support of a resolution declaring Friday, Feb. 5, Wear Red for Women’s Heart Health Day in Middlefield, and approved a line of succession for handling the office of first selectman in the absence of Brayshaw. First in line will be selectman Ed Bailey, followed by selectwoman Mary Johnson and chair of the Board of Finance Rebecca Adams.

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There will be 182 full days of school instead of 181. There will be four days for inclement weather, instead of five. There will be five delayed opening days this year so that teachers can meet in data teams for a new program being implemented in the school district, Scientific Research Based Interventions. School will begin approximately two hours later than usual on these days, which will occur on Oct. 25, Jan. 14, Feb. 3, March 4 and May 4. Mary Jane Parsons of the Finance Committee gave a brief update, stating that they had met with a Merrill Lynch representative and that investments were slightly ahead of last year. Communications committee member Nancy Boyle reported that there was discussion of creating a master schedule between academic activities and sporting events. Board member Bill Currlin asked whether the finance boards receive the minutes from Board of Ed meetings because they should have access to the information if they don’t already. Board member Nancy Boyle said that the minutes were posted on the town of Durham’s website, but that she would ask BOF members whether they would like copies sent directly to them. The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Korn School.

should re-open the annual town meeting in the near future to accept the town report, which is now printed, and to consider an ordinance for parking at Peckham Park and rules for the Lake Beseck town beach. First Selectman Brayshaw noted that there has been interest from an international company that would be totally compatible with Zygo for part of the town-owned industrial land between Hubbard Street and Brookside Road. There was some discussion with audience members about what might be acceptable for the land closest to Hubbard Street since one condition of the road easement granted by Zygo to allow the town to reach the property from Brookside Road was to prohibit any through road. Open space or residential housing were two options discussed. There was also a discussion about saving town tax money by turning off some

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Town Times Spotlight

The following area residents were recently named to the dean’s list at Central Connecticut State University. Dean’s list recognition is awarded each semester to undergraduate students who carry at least 12 academic credits and earn a 3.50 GPA (out of a possible 4.0). From Durham, Chelsea Ahearn, Joseph Benson, Victoria Edwards, Jessica Hall and Jonathan Herzig. From Middlefield, Joel Copperthite, Charles Corley, Ramona Hylton and Adriana Perovic. From Rockfall, Maria Mastrangelo, Brenda Weise and Deanna Zanelli.

Kelsie Annelli and her horse Sports Lounge, aka Bobby, placed in the top 10 at the All American Quarter Horse Congress held in October. They placed seventh out of 105 riders in the novice youth 14-18 equitation class. Kelsie has been riding since she was eight years old and

Cameron Bradley, both of Durham, have been placed on the dean’s list at Tufts University for the fall 2009 semester. Rachel Lang, of Middlefield, has been placed on the dean’s list as a member of the Class of 2013 at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Attorney and Mrs. Edward G. Lang and a graduate of Coginchaug Regional High. started showing when she was 10. She is a member of the Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Empire State Quarter Horse Associations and the National Snaffle Bit Association. She has been training with Erin Cecchini, owner of Five Star Performance Horses in Guilford. Kelsie is a junior at Coginchaug and the daughter of George and Joy Annelli of Durham. Nicholas Morganti and

Caitlin Handley and Taylor Larese, both of Durham, have been placed on the Curry College dean’s list for the fall 2009 term. Meghan Woolley, daughter of Joy and David Woolley of Durham, has been named to the dean’s list at Hamilton College for the 2009 fall semester. Woolley is a 2009 graduate of Coginchaug High School. Keene State College has named Sarah Elizabeth

Friday, February 5, 2010

Frey, of Durham, to the dean’s list for the fall 2009 semester. Nicholas Cuneo, of Durham, currently studying finance, and Jessica Robison, of Middlefield, currently studying speech, language and hearing sciences, have both been named to the fall semester dean’s list at Hofstra University. More than 700 University of Connecticut students earned bachelor’s degrees this fall, among them were the following local students: from Durham, David Medbury Bennett, Elizabeth Appleton Pickering, Tegwyn Rees Bennett, Michael Paul Luce, Stephanie Ann Mesick and James Daniel Veronick and John Adam Lyman from Middlefield. The Central Connecticut Aquatics Team (CCAT) swimmers competed in the Charter

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Michelle Post, of Durham, is a junior in Accounting at Bryant University where she has been placed on the dean’s list.

Lafayette College students who have been named to the 2009 fall semester dean’s list include Zachary Roberts and Lindsey Ryan, both of Durham, and members of the Class of 2012.

Patrick Kokoszka, a second year English student at the College of the Holy Cross, has been named to the dean’s list for the first semester of the 2009-10 academic year. He is the son of Michael and Karen Kokoszka of Durham.

Eric Muir, of Durham, graduated from the University of New Haven on Jan. 16, with a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering.

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Andrew D. Bellemare, of Durham, has been named to the dean’s list at Western New England College for the fall semester of 2009. Bellemare is a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering at the college. Students are named to the dean’s list for achieving a semester grade point average of 3.30 or higher.

Erin Bisceglia, of Durham, running for the track team at Brandeis University as part of the relay team, has reached NCAA qualifying marks at the Reggie Poyau Memorial Invitational.

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Oak Pentathlon swim meet on Saturday, Jan. 23, Each swimmer competed in five events. The top 12 cumulative scorers in each age group were awarded trophies. Among them were Scott Romeyn of Durham.

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Sharon M. Dahlmeyer, of Durham, is in the Clinical Mental Health Graduate Program at Southern CT State University, where she has achieved a GPA of 3.92 for the fall quarter earning her a place on the dean’s list. She is the daughter of Sharon Dahlmeyer-Giovannitti and step-daughter of Joseph Giovannitti. Proud grandparents are Frederick and Marjorie Dahlmeyer of Durham.

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Town Times Spotlight

Friday, February 5, 2010

Paulsons celebrate 50th

Lilley and Poetzsch wed May 30 Jessica Marie Lilley and Ryan Christopher Poetzsch were married on May 30, 2009, in an outdoor ceremony at The Woodwinds in Branford. The bride is the daughter of Edward Lilley, of Middlefield, and Donna Lilley, of Middletown. The groom is the son of Norman Poetzsch, of Port St. Lucie, FL, and Marcia Hart, of New Britain. Presented in marriage by her father, the bride was attended by her long time best friend, Christina Liudvinaitis, of Middletown, as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were sister of the bride, Christine Lilley, of Middlefield; and friends Jessica Hovan, of Cromwell; Jackie Carter, of Durham; and Amy Nigro, of Wallingford. Brother of the bride, David Lilley, of Middlefield, was the best man. Groomsmen were

in Middletown as a Registered Nurse on the surgical floor. The groom is a 2003 graduate of E.C. Goodwin Tech and completed a four-year apprenticeship with the Sheet Metal Workers Local 40 where he earned his SM2 license. He is currently employed by Yankee Sheet Metal in East Hartford as a Journeyman. The newlyMr. and Mrs. Poetzsch weds honeymooned in Bermuda immediately following their wedWe’re on the Web: ding and reside in their new http://www.towntimes.com home in the Lake Beseck area of Middlefield.

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brother of the groom, Peter Serrano, of Plainville; cousin of the groom, Larry Riley, of Gilman; and friend of the groom, Michael Ruimerman, of Wallingford. Sister of the groom, Melynda Serrano, of Plainville, served as junior bridesmaid and flower girls were cousin of the bride, Rebecca Lis, of Middletown, and family friend Emily Farnsworth, of Middlefield. One hundred and thirty close friends and family attended a reception at The Woodwinds in Branford in celebration of these high school sweethearts’ marriage. The bride is a 2004 graduate of Coginchaug Regional High School and a 2008 graduate of Southern Connecticut State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She currently works at Middlesex Hospital

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On Oct. 10, 1959, Robert and Elizabeth Paulson were married at Christ Lutheran Church. They have spent 50 beautiful years together residing in Rockfall. Bob and Betty enjoy projects around their home, helping those in need and spending summers in New Hampshire camping at Forest Lake. On Oct. 17, 2009, Bob and Betty celebrated their 50th anniversary at St. Frances Parish Hall surrounded by family and very dear friends. They have three children — Debi Kulpic and her husband, John; Chris Paulson and his wife Fran; and their beautiful angel in heaven, Kathleen Paulson. They also have four adorable grandchildren — Nico, Kiyah, Alex and Luke. Mom and dad, we wish you continued happiness, love and health. Thank you for being the wonderful parents you are.

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Town Times Obituaries

Mary C. Milardo

Mary C. Milardo, 58, of Wildwood Circle, Rockfall, beloved wife of Salvatore (Torry) Milardo, died on Monday at Middlesex Hospital. She was born Dec. 7, 1951, in New Haven, daughter of the late Frank and Joyce (Hanynes) Illingworth. Mary lived in Rockfall many years and was the former owner of Advanced Care Services. Besides her husband, Mary is survived by her loving family: a son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Karen Comstock of Middletown; a stepson, Tom Milardo of Rockfall; a brother, Frank Illingworth of Phoenix, Ariz.; six sisters and brothersin-law, Judy and Fran Germinaro of Gilbert, Ariz., Laura and Stuart Phillips of Phoenix, Ariz., Harriet and Kevin O’Connor of Phoenix, Ariz., Cindy and Art Meehan of Phoenix, Ariz., Joyce (O’Neal) Illingworth and Jim O’Neal of Middlefield, Susan

Labry of Mannford, Okla.; a grandson, Jake Milardo; also several nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held on Monday evening, Feb. 1, at Coughlin-Lastrina Funeral Home, 491 High St., Middletown. Burial will be private.

Magdalena H. Noack Magdalena (Hum) Noack, 91, of Middlefield, passed away Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 at Midstate Medical Center with her family by her side. She was the beloved wife of 47 years to the late Kurt O. Noack. Magdelena was born on March 7, 1918 in Engelsbrunn, Romania to the late Anton and Magdalena (Steingasser) Hum. Hand in hand, Magdalena and her husband Kurt opened Noack’s Meat Products, first in New York and then locally in Meriden where it is still open today. She en-

joyed crocheting, cooking and spending time with her family and friends. She loved her family, especially her greatgrandchildren. She was an accomplished cook and businesswoman and a member of the Meriden Turner Society. Mrs. Noack is survived by her daughter, Therese Herteux and her son-in-law Herbert, of Middlefield; four grandchildren, Richard Herteux and his partner Pierre Chabot, of Cheshire, Tania Eaton and her husband Scott, of Southington, Kurt Perl and his wife Charlene, of Orange Park, FL, and Renee Copeland and her husband Michael, of Middlefield; eight great-grandchildren, Kristofer, Spencer, Ashley, Paige, Katerina, Katelyn, Adam and Jessica; and several nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by a daughter, Johanna Noyes and three sisters, Theresia Wendt, Katharina Schmidtt and Gertrude Kauker. The funeral was held on

Friday, February 5, 2010

Feb. 2, at 10 a.m. in St. Marys Church for a Mass of Christian Burial. Burial followed in Gethsemane Cemetery on Bee Street in Meriden. Donations in Magdalena’s memory may be made in the charity of ones choice.

James Pettit James Pettit (Ol’ Jim), 72, of Durham, passed away at Middlesex Hospital after a brief illness on Jan. 31, 2010, surrounded by his beloved family. Jim is survived by his best friend and wife of 46 years, Linda Pettit; his three children, James (Jay) Pettit of Harwich, Mass., Veronica Pettit, of Cromwell and Cynthia Barraford, of Rockfall; his daughter-in-law, Kate Lockyer, of Harwich, Mass.; his son-in-law, James Barraford, of Rockfall; his sister, Karen Young, of Norwalk; his two grandchildren, Sadie Marosz and Caleb Pettit; and many nieces and nephews. Jim worked as an office

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A graveside service will be held on Friday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m. at Mica Hill Cemetery in Durham. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Lung Associiotn in Jim’s name. D’Angelo Funeral Home, 22 S. Main Street, Middletown, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences available at dangelofuneralhome.com.

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Jim’s most cherished roles in life, however, were that of husband, father and grandfather. Home and family were the center of his life. He leaves us with many gifts: the ability to laugh in the face of adversity, the value of honesty and integrity, love of language and the fearlessness to make it one’s own, generosity of heart and gentleness of spirit. At a recent family gathering, his granddaughter asked the family to write down what we were thankful for; Jim’s list included his beautiful granddaughter, marvelous family, coffee and his stuff. He was a funny and tender man. He was love, he was dear ole dad and he was grampy.

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manager for Mathieu Corporation for nearly 20 years before working for Regional District 13 for the last 17 years. He attended Sacred Heart High School and the University of Connecticut. Jim was a resident of Durham for 42 years and served as a member of the Durham Lion’s Club and was still an active and long-term member of the Benchwarmers (or as he called them, Ben Swarmers) organization. Jim was responsible for sending out monthly meeting notices for the club that rivaled any popular humorist. He also served in the National Guard. Jim was known in his community for his unique sense of humor and style. He enjoyed Dixieland jazz, cooking, being in his kitchen and family gatherings. Most weekends found Jim engaged in one of his favorite activities: puttering around in his garage.

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Obituaries on the Web:

Town Times Sports

Friday, February 5, 2010

Devils - girls’ and boys’ teams - each win two out of three By Alan Pease Special to the Town Times

First they topple East Hampton

The second period started very slowly, as neither team could connect in the first two minutes. Edinger finally broke the drought to give the Devils their first lead since 2–1 early in the game, at 19–17. Old Saybrook went ahead again, dropping in a shot from beyond the arc, and the lead was traded twice more as a Boyle bucket was answered by the Lady Rams. Finally, Elizabeth Meiman put Coginchaug on top for good, converting a Mancinelli assist

into a 23–22 lead. On the Lady Rams’ next possession, Meiman blocked the shot, then converted on the Mancinelli rebound and assist to extend the lead. Over the final two minutes of the period, Biesak hit a charity try and a basket before Mancinelli finished the period by dropping in a bucket to give the Devils a 30–26 lead at the half. The third period is where Coginchaug went crazy – Lauren Esposito hitting on all six of her shots from the field, Mancinelli scoring one bucket, assisting six times, and gathering in five rebounds and two steals, Biesak dropping in a trey to open the period and a two a bit later, Jones scoring four points, and Cassie Cade two, all while holding the Lady Rams to one field goal and four successful See Lady Devils, page 22

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On Monday, Jan. 25, the Coginchaug girls hosted the

brook surged ahead again, bracketing a two and a three around a single Biesak free throw, but after a Mancinelli steal, Biesak hit back-to-back treys, both assisted by Taylor Edinger, to tie the game at 15all with a minute left. The Lady Rams went ahead again on a rebound put-back, but Esposito closed the quarter out with another basket, assisted by Mancinelli, to close the period at 17 apiece.

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Overwhelmed Old Saybrook

boys’ is to the left, explaining the difference in orientation between the home benches. The next thing I noticed is that attendance was relatively sparse – perhaps in part due to the weekday evening. But, folks, this is a team that can be tenacious on defense and explosive on offense, and has the lead for the regular season title in the Shoreline Conference – they’re undefeated in conference. Believe me, they are fun to watch. After saying that, the Devils did get off to a slow start – only a Samantha Mancinelliassisted bucket by Erica Jones interrupted a 10–2 run by the Lady Rams. But then Coginchaug finally figured out how to get the ball in the basket. In quick succession, Amanda Boyle scored off a Mancinelli assist, Lauren Esposito stole the ball and converted, then Esposito scored again on a Biesak assist, all in less than 30 seconds. Old Say-

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On Thursday, Jan. 21, the Coginchaug girls managed to maintain their unbeaten status in the Shoreline Conference when they traveled to East Hampton and came away with a convincing 50–38 win. The Devils jumped on top early, going ahead 14–8 after one period. Samantha Mancinelli, Audrey Biesak and Taylor Edinger led a tough defense that allowed only two points in the second period. Key steals by Mancinelli and Biesak turned into a quick eight-point run, as Coginchaug scored 16 in the period, to make the halftime score 30–10. The third period was a bit more even, with the Devils outscoring the Bellringers 10–7, resulting in a 40–17 lead going into the final period. East Hampton must be given some credit, as led by Kelsey Booth, they were able to make a run at the visitors, but the Devils’ defense responded, and a couple of quick hoops by Lauren Esposito stopped the bleeding, as Coginchaug came away with the victory despite being outscored 21–10 in the final period. A defensive rotation of Taylor Edinger, Cassie Cade and Amanda Boyle was able to hold Booth in check for much of the game, allowing the Devils to build what would prove to be an insurmountable lead. Booth of East Hampton led all scorers with 22 of East Hampton’s 38 points, but most of that was in the final period when the game was effectively over. Biesak led Coginchaug with 15 points, while Lauren Esposito notched 14 and Mancinelli rounded out the double digit scorers with 12. Edinger scored five points and Jones scored four.

Lady Rams of Old Saybrook in a Shoreline Conference contest. After a slow start, and falling behind by as much as eight points, the Devils hit the accelerator in the third period, and put away the Lady Rams by a score of 74–51. I must admit that this is the first Coginchaug girls’ game that I have attended – my earlier game summaries came from coach Tony Calcagni. I’ve always been a huge fan of the UConn women, and when I noticed how successful the CRHS girls were so far this year, I decided to see for myself. The first thing I noticed when I walked in the gym was that the home team sits on the “wrong” end of the gym. Fortunately, as I walked in, I ran into John Biesak (father of Lauren), who I knew. John steered me in the proper direction to sit behind the home team bench for the girls. Apparently, the girls’ locker room is to the right, and the

22 Lady Devils (Continued from page 21) free throw attempts, resulting in a 25–6 advantage in the period and a 55–32 lead going into the last quarter. In the final period, Coach Calcagni used his bench freely, and they outscored the visitors 19–9, resulting in the final score of 74–41. Notable performances were turned in by Andrea Braga, who assisted on Mancinelli and Meiman baskets, and Kara Levine, who assisted on Benson’s baskets. Benson also converted on a free throw for an old-fashioned three-point play and grabbed a couple of rebounds. For the game, I’d give Mancinelli MVP, as she just missed a triple double with 12 rebounds, 12 assists, but “only” eight points. She had three steals and a block. Esposito was the leading scorer with 20, and she added five rebounds, three steals and two

Town Times Sports

Friday, February 5, 2010

chaug lost to a strong Husky team by a final score of 43–38. The Devils managed a tie at the end of the first period at nine apiece, and led at the half by a 19–18 count. That one-point lead was reversed after three periods, as Morgan led 28–27. In the final period, Coginchaug missed a couple of key opportunities, and was outscored 15–11 in the period for the final score of 43–38. Audrey Biesak led the Devils with 15 points, while Samantha Mancinelli scored 14 points. Cassidie Cade scored four points, Lauren Esposito scored three points and Taylor Edinger scored two. This was the Devils’ first league loss, and they are now 13–2 overall and 11–1 (and still in first place) in conference. The girls have two away games next week – Monday, Feb. 8, at Hyde and Thursday, Feb. 11, at Valley Regional.

syl adding a steal and a rebound. Andrew Markoski scored three, grabbed three rebounds and had two assists and a steal. Off the bench, Ethan Donecker grabbed three rebounds and scored one point, while Ed Ruddy had an assist and a rebound. EJ Luther also played.

assists. Biesak scored 17 points and had two assists, a rebound and a steal. Jones rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10, three rebounds and a steal. Edinger was the second leading rebounder with 10, adding four assists, two points and a steal. Meiman scored six points, three rebounds, blocked two shots and had one steal and one assist. Benson scored five points, two rebounds and had a steal. Boyle had four points, three rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist. Cade scored two, two rebounds and stole a ball. Braga had three assists, a block, a steal and a rebound. Levine had two assists. Amy Solomon and Jessica Solomon also played.

Fall at Morgan On Friday, Jan. 29, the girls visited the Huskies of Morgan. In a game that was nip and tuck the entire way, and in a gym that is always difficult to win in, Cogin-

Boys lose to

Old Lyme On Saturday, Jan. 23, the Coginchaug boys hosted the Wildcats of Old Lyme in a Shoreline Conference game. Despite being ahead for much of the contest, the Wildcats managed a tie going into the final period, and outscored the Devils 26–10 in that final period, sending CRHS to only their second defeat of the year by a 55–39 score. At the end of the first half, Old Lyme, trailing by seven points, heaved up a half-court shot that somehow dropped through, both narrowing the half-time margin and changing mindsets going into the locker rooms for both teams. Eric Hewitt led Coginchaug in scoring with 13 points, adding two rebounds and a steal. Jeff Tiedemann scored eight points, and had five rebounds and two steals. Tommy Ryan and Erikson Wasyl scored seven points, with Ryan adding three assists and a rebound and Wa-

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Boys dominate at Westbrook

On Tuesday, Jan. 26, the Coginchaug boys traveled to Westbrook to take on the White Knights, winning convincingly in wire-to-wire fashion by a 63–45 final score. Eric Hewitt had two blocks in the first Westbrook possession, then Jeff Tiedemann scored the first points of the game, a lead they would never surrender. Coginchaug led by 15–8 after one period, 34–21 at the half, 47–35 at the end of three, and ended with the final score of 63–45. Tiedemann was both the leading scorer, with 18 points, and leading rebounder with nine. Jeff also had an assist. Eric Hewitt scored 17 points, grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots, assisted twice and had a steal. Tommy Ryan scored 13, took in three rebounds and assisted once. Erikson Wasyl scored eight points, and had four rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Andrew Markoski scored five points and added two rebounds, an assist and a steal. Off the bench, Ethan Donecker scored five and had three rebounds, two assists and a steal. EJ Luther also scored five, and added two assists and a rebound. Ed Ruddy scored two points and added a steal.

Boys win over East Hampton

On Jan. 29, the Coginchaug boys hosted the Bellringers from East Hampton in a Shoreline Conference game. Before I get into the game, however, let me talk a bit about what happened before the game. First of all, it was family night — a sparsely attended family night, probably because there was a function going on at Strong School that

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Off the bench, Ethan Donecker pulled in five rebounds, scored two points, and had a steal and an assist. Ed Ruddy scored four points. EJ Luther scored two points and had an assist.

Coginchaug is 10–2, 8–2 in Shoreline Conference (SLC) play, in fourth place behind Cromwell, Hyde and Valley. The play at Morgan on Friday, Feb. 5, and host undefeated Cromwell on Tuesday, Feb. 9. Get out there on Tuesday and give them some support in this important SLC games!

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the leading rebounder with 12 and added four points, two steals, a block and an assist. Hewitt had eight rebounds, seven points, two steals and a block. Wasyl had eight points, a rebound and an assist. Markoski scored six points, grabbed three rebounds and had two steals and two assists.

night it was Tiedemann’s 12 rebounds that made it in. For a 19-point win, coach was a bit down. But Coach’s comment that the Devil’s won because they had better talent, not because they played a better game, did hit home. They outshot the Bellringers from a percentage standpoint from the line, from inside the arc and from outside the arc. If they expect to advance in the post season (they have already qualified), they will need to out-hustle their opponents, not just out-shoot them. One area coach could take some comfort from was that they did take care of the ball pretty well – they had only eight turnovers, as compared to their season average of 18.5. That’s got to be a good sign. Ryan led the team with 21 points, three rebounds and two steals. Tiedemann was

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night. I hope that in future years, there is an effort to coordinate so that there is no conflict between family night and other school related events. Also, before the game, the Benchwarmers made the dedication of the annual program they publish for the basketball program. The dedication was to Coginchaug principal, Dr. Steve Wysowski, for being a dedicated fan and friend to the basketball programs and the other sports programs at Coginchaug. I know I go to quite a few home games, and I do not recall ever not seeing “Dr. W” around. Well done and well deserved, Dr. Wysowski. Recognition went to former Coginchaug player, Jim Veronick, who went on to UConn, achieved walk-on status with the basketball team in his sophomore year, and in his senior year, played in three NCAA tournament games, made the front page of ESPN.com with a picture that the Town Times published last year, and scored four points, blocked a shot and grabbed both an offensive and a defensive rebound, all in less than three minutes of playing time. I was fortunate enough to be able to get a quote from UConn coach Jim Calhoun concerning Jim Veronick’s contribution to the Huskies: “Jim Veronick has been a great addition to our squad over the past several years. He is physically imposing, and has made every single one of the 300-400 practices he’s participated in incredibly competitive. He has also been a tremendous positive influence on every kid in our program during his time here. As an honors student in biomedical engineering, he is truly an example of what a student-athlete is all about. He is one of

the finest people I’ve met, and will continue to be part of the Connecticut basketball family after his graduation this year.” Congratulations to Jim for his well-deserved recognition. And on to the game. East Hampton scored first, going up 2–0 and 4–2, but that second basket was the last they would score in the first period. Tommy Coach Salva with Jim Veronick Ryan dropped in 10 points, includthe lead, with five points from ing two treys, and Eric Hewitt Ryan and two each from converted on a Jeff Tiede- Tiedemann, Markoski, Wamann assist to give the Devils syl, Ruddy and Ethan Donecka 12–4 lead after one quarter. er, to push the score to 38–25. In the second quarter, The final period saw four Coginchaug got baskets from points each from Hewitt, Andrew Markowski, Erikson Ryan and Wasyl, and two Wasyl, Tiedemann, Ed Ruddy each from Markoski and EJ and Ryan, plus a free throw Luther, to offset 10 from East from Hewitt to offset 10 points Hampton, making the final from the visitors, giving the score 54–35. Devils a 23–14 lead at the half. After home games, I norThe third period saw the mally go down to share any Bellringers ring up 11 points, key stats with Coach Salva for but the home team expanded his call to the papers – this

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