Volume 21, Number 4
www.towntimes.com
Friday, June 17, 2016
Lyman Orchards celebrating 275 years By Mary Ellen Godin Record-Journal staff
As the 12th oldest family business in the U.S., the Lyman family has endured devastating crop failures, poor weather and farming conditions, and 17-year cicadas. Family members also knew when to buy land, invest in manufacturing, and rail, commit to community, take a stand against slavery, adapt to changes and build a longlasting brand based on family values. Clusters of apples growing at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield on Tuesday. Lyman Orchards is celebrating its 275th anniversary. | Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
The history of Lyman Orchards reflects much of the grit, determination and adaptability of the Lyman See Lyman, A6
Coginchaug honors graduates, outside By Mark Dionne Town Times staff
Tuesday, June 14, the Coginchaug Regional High School Class of 2016 held their graduation ceremony on the artificial turf of the athletic fields and became the first class with what Superintendent of Schools Kathryn Veronesi called an “official, plannedfor, outdoor graduation.” Thanks to a powerful freak storm and downed trees, last year’s seniors held their graduation a day late and on the Wesleyan campus. The outdoor experience was pleasant enough that administrators decided to do it on purpose. Ticket holders got seats on the turf while the stadium stands held general admission. In the event of rain, ticket holders would be
Salutatorian Matt Sawicki (left) straightens his outfit and leads the | Mark Dionne, Town Times See Graduates, A24 procession with valedictorian Kyle Adams.
Anthony Pilla of Middlefield looks through photos from Korn’s history in the cafeteria. | Mark Dionne, Town Times
The last ‘last day of school’ at Korn By Mark Dionne Town Times staff
In keeping with principal Deb Stone’s approach, the last day of school at Korn Elementary School was not a sad occasion but, like most last days of school, marked by parties, yearbooks, and playing outside in the sun. Students left with shouts of “Summer!” and “We’re free!” But June 14, 2016, the last day of the 20162017 school year, marked the last day Korn will be used as a school. Facing declining enrollment in the district, the Board of Education voted to close the school as part of a multi-phase plan to convert the district to a model of two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. And Korn was the first to go. All of the 2015-2016 students from Korn, which taught third and fourth grade stuSee Korn, A14