Volume 18, Issue 14
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
What will happen to White’s Farm? Meeting attempts to sort out options By Cheri Kelley Town Times Though the agenda was lengthy, a discussion of the White’s Farm property was the most contentious item of business — yet again — at the regular Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting held in Durham on Monday, July 11. Residents filled nearly every seat in the third floor meeting room, in attendance to speak on concerns about what’s next for White’s Farm as well as concerns about the Request For a Proposal (RFP) of the surplus property on Birch Mill Road. There was to be a special town meeting at the close of the regularly scheduled meeting to vote on the funding for the salt shed and the Fire building maintenance, also a heated subject. Due to the amount of passionate discussion on the aforementioned topics, the regular
meeting was paused for the voting process and resumed afterwards. Senator Ed Meyer was in attendance urging the board to “consider the White family’s offer very seriously,” which is to legally transfer the property back to the family due to the opinion that the farm has been neglected under the town’s stewardship. The reasons Meyer gave in support of their proposal were that it would give local farmers the ability to be involved in a co-op opportunity; there would be a public-private enterprise that would give the town water supply, fire protection and parking for the fair; and that the White family has made a commitment to putting the brook back in its original banks. Selectman Jim McLaughlin said that he believes the town is capable and willing to do all those things locally without putting the burden back on
the White family. At the beginning of the meeting, First Selectman Laura Francis asked the crowd to listen to both proposals that they had before them on how to get the farm back to working order. Francis said, “Why the town has fallen short on some of these properties, I don’t know, but this board is willing to work with the Conservation Committee closely on the open space properties.” Francis confirmed that the flooding is so bad that the town is unable to use the farm in the way it was meant to be used.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Too cool for a hot summer Right, John Lyman School enjoyed “Beach Day,” the last school spirit day of the year, on June 21. Students enjoyed sand table sculptures, beach ball volleyball, Go Far Hawaii luau day and more. Below, the school also had Field Day at Peckham Park on June 20 with ob-
The first proposal is for the town to act as a general contractor for the project and hire contractors to clear out and maintain the brook routinely on an annually or biannually basis. The town feels if they complete a very conserSee White’s, page 5
Pets at the Durham Library The Durham Library held its second summer pet show on July 9 in the parking lot. About a dozen proud dog owners put their pooches through their paces to impress the panel of judges from DART (Durham Animal Rescue Team). Ellie Castiglia leads the family beagle Molly around the ring, followed by brother Alex at a trot. For more photos of the pet show, trot over to page 3. Photo by Sue VanDerzee
In this issue ... Calendar ................................4 Durham Briefs.....................12 Middlefield Briefs ...............13 Sports...............................20-23 Libraries.................................11
stacle courses and shipwreck with scooters. Photos submitted by Elizabeth Hadlock
Sun and Surf Week at BASREP found the children creating a variety of arts and crafts, playing fun water games and slipping and sliding down the giant inflatable slide, like Gavin Mattison at left. Submitted photo