Volume 23, Number 45
www.towntimes.com
Grammy winner to headline fair By Lauren Takores Town Times
Melissa Etheridge will headline the Durham Fair’s Friday concert. The Durham Fair Association announced Monday the singer-songwriter is scheduled to play Sept. 28 on the main stage.
Area health officials are considering the addition of Middlefield to the PlainvilleSouthington Regional Health District. Middlefield’s health director resigned on Dec. 31 and the town’s sanitarian is scheduled to retire this summer. Edward Bailey, Middlefield first selectman, said the town has the opportunity to consider joining the regional group.
Etheridge’s 30-year career includes hits “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” for which she won a Grammy Award in 1995 for Best Rock Song, from her six-times platinum album “Yes I Am.”
“It’s a good time to transition,” he said. “We don’t really need full-time staffing given the size of our town.”
She also won a Grammy in 1993 for Best Female Rock Vocal for her song “Ain’t It Heavy” and an Oscar in 2007 for Best Original Song.
See Fair, A9
Health districts consider alliance
By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
Wendy Manemeite, the fair’s entertainment coordinator, said she has wanted to bring Etheridge to town for some time. “This year we were early enough,” she said. “We were able to get onto her schedule.”
“She works very well for
Friday, April 6, 2018
Middlefield has fewer than 4,500 residents. Southington has more than 40,000 and Plainville has around 20,000. Melissa Etheridge rehearses July 3, 2017, for the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade in Boston. Associated Press
See Health, A9
Parents oppose plan to close Lyman school By Lauren Takores Town Times
Nearly 300 people, including dozens of parents, packed into the library of Coginchaug Regional High School Wednesday, March 28 and voiced their concerns over a proposed school closing. The hearing came just two days after the Regional School District 13 Board of Education approved a facilities plan, with a 6-3 vote,
that would close John Lyman Theresa Weimann, a Lyman School, a K-4 elementary parent who lives in Durham, school in Middlefield. distributed flyers encouraging people to attend the Many of the speakers opMarch 28 meeting. posed the decision and expressed frustration that they “They were supposed to send out a survey asking were unaware of the vote. The agenda for the Monday, parents’ input,” Weimann said. “Most of us were waitMarch 26 special meeting ing for a survey.” did not indicate the board would take action on a plan John Lyman School on March 29. Nearly 300 people for Lyman, the oldest build- The plan approved by the attended a school board meeting that day and many ing in the school district and board would close Lyman voiced their concerns over a proposal to close Lyman. one identified for closure in the past. Lauren Takores, Town Times See School, A3