7-29-2011 town times

Volume 18, Issue 16 Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall Friday, July 29, 2011

In this issue ...Calendar ...........................4Durham Briefs ...............13Middlefield Briefs....12, 14-15Obituary..........................26Summer Memories........23

By Michael A. TorelliSpecial to Town Times

One morning, RobinHeath, Troop 33s ScoutMaster, was enjoying coffeeat Peckham Park in Middle-field when he noticed thatthe bricks around theperimeter of the pavilionrepresented various peoplein the town. What could hedo to add to the names? hewondered.

After proposing an idea toSummer Spencer, presidentof the Lions Club, a projectwas underway: Boys fromtroop 33 who had become afull-fledged Eagle Scout

(through a com-munity project)would be able tohave their nameplaced on asmall brick dedi-cated to thempersonally for the jobs theyhave done to serve the com-munity.

On Wednesday, July 20,members of the Lions Cluband Troop 33 gatheredaround the pavilion to dedi-cate the Eagles Nest,bricks naming each of thetroops Eagle Scouts.

Heath, who has been amember of the scouts sincehe was a child, got involved

again when his son joined atsix years old.

Im an Eagle Scout forlife, Heath said with asmile.

Now, representing Troop33, he listed the names onthe bricks that includemembers as far back as1941s Eagle Scout MickeyFowler. Members are going

Petrella to take on Brayshaw inMiddlefield first selectmans race

By Elisabeth KennedySpecial to the Town Times

The Democratic TownCommittee of Middlefield-Rockfall met on July 26 topresent its slate of candi-dates for Novembers elec-tions. The nominating com-mittees recommendationswere approved as presented:Lucy Petrella, first select-man; David Burgess, secondselectman; Jim Irish, Boardof Finance; Mary Wolak,Board of Finance; Donna

Golub, town clerk; Anne Ol-szewski, tax collector; EllenWaff, treasurer and MarkMyjak, Board of AssessmentAppeals.

Lucy Petrella addressedthe audience, thanking thenominating committee for adiverse slate of familiar andnew faces, stating that theknow-how of the candidateswill be a strong asset to thetown. She thanked the mem-bers of the Town Committeefor their support, DaveBurgess for his commitment

to the town and her familyfor their encouragement andsupport. Petrella shared thatshe is looking forward tocampaigning with Burgess,citing their combined expe-rience with the boards of fi-nance, planning and zoningand land use, together withcontract negotiation skillsand 24 years residing in thecommunity as strong quali-ties for selectmen.

Petrella further cited the

See Petrella, page 5

Francis will run again asfirst selectman; Eamessteps down from P&Z

By Chuck CorleySpecial to the Town Times

The Republican TownCommittee endorsed its slateof candidates for the Novem-ber 2011 election during theirmeeting on July 25. Incum-bent Laura Francis willagain run for first selectman,with John Szewczyk remain-ing as her running mate forthe board. Meeting modera-tor Robert Poliner remindedthe committee that Francishas served Durham sincemoving to the town over 19years ago, having acted asthe assistant town clerk be-fore later moving on to thetown clerk and finally FirstSelectman. Francis herselfstated, I dont think therehas ever been a more prolificboard than our board, ex-plaining that the Board of Se-lectmen has both kept costsdown and created a number

of new committees to bettermanage Durham during herpast term. She noted that thetowns gross expense budgethas only risen by $40,000 inthe past four years, thanks tothe efforts of herself, Szew-czyk and Democrat JamesMcLaughlin, along with theother town departments in-volved in town finance. Shevowed to hold down expens-es should she serve anotherterm.

The Board of Finance willalso see incumbent Rose-

See Francis, page 25

Durham selectmen dontwant town divided overWhites Farm

Stephanie WilcoxTown Times

What Im asking you is togive us a chance, First Se-lectman Laura Francisavowed to Sue White in frontof a packed Board of Select-men meeting on July 25. Themajority of the audience including White was in at-tendance to discuss theWhites Farm proposal,which is to have the nowtown-owned open spaceproperty transfered back tothe White family. I dontwant this topic to divide thetown over whether the town

should own this property orthe White family should ownthis property. Francis con-tinued. We could lose sightof the goal.

The goal is to rehabilitatethe 110-acre farm after main-tenance complaints from theWhite family and other resi-dents. The selectmen havenot disagreed about its con-dition. Selectman JimMcLaughlin said at themeeting that he feels the con-dition of the property is ablack eye on this communi-ty, and that its a criminal

Eagle Scouts honored with bricks in their name

See Eagle Scout, page 8

See Whites, page 21

Town Times Community Briefs Friday, July 29, 2011 2

Index of AdvertisersTo advertise in the Town Times,

call Joy Boone at 860-349-8026

243 Main St.Durham, Rt. 17Corner Main & Maiden

Experienced DoctorsSmall Town Service

Eyecare Glasses Contacts860-349-2323

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Addy & Sons..............................26Adworks.....................................12Allans Tree Service ..................20APEC Electric............................24Appraisal One Associates.........21Berardino Company Realtors....27Binge, Bruce..............................26Brockett Paving & Construction...20Cahill & Sons.............................26Carlton Interior...........................12Carmines Restaurant .................5Celltell Communications............19Centurion Exterminating............25Classic Wood Flooring ..............25Conroy, John, DMD...................10Country Landscaping ................25Currlin, Nancy............................21CV Enterprises ..........................22Desjarlais, Marsha ....................27Didatos Oil ................................14Durham Auto Center .................11Durham Dental ..........................11Durham Family Eyecare .............2Durham Naturopathic Health ......3Durham Town............................11Durham Veterinary Hospital........5Easter Seals Goodwill ...............16ERBA Landscaping...................24Erie Construction Mid-West ......14Fosdick, Gordon, MD ................12Four Points By Sheraton...........28Glazer Dental Associates............3Grant Groundscapes.................25Griswold Plumbing Services .....25Honduras Childrens Project .......6Huscher, Debbie .......................21Ianniello Plumbing.....................20Jay Landscaping .......................22JC Farm & Greenhouse ..............3Kleeman, Carol-Berardino ........21Let The Games Begin ...............24Linos Market ...............................3Lyman Orchards..........................5Masonicare..........................13, 18Michalowski Agency..................15

Micheli Unisex Styling Salon.....19Middlefield Childrens Center ......3Middlefield Remodeling.............26Middlesex Community College .15Middlesex Dance Center...........17Movado Farm ............................20Natureworks ................................6Neil Jones Home Improvements..20New England Dental Health......18Oshana, Elliot ............................27Paint Spot..................................19Pet Sitting By Samantha ...........25Petruzelo Agency Insurance.....26Phillips, Marilyn .........................21Pizza King....................................5Planeta Electric .........................22Raintree Landscaping ...............23Raney, Jason, DMD..................12Realty Associates................21, 27Remodeling Durham Style........24RLI Electric ................................22Roblee Plumbing.......................23Rockfall Co ................................23Rockwell Excavation & Paving...22Roman Oil Co............................20RSDL Home Improvements......24Rudolphs Landscaping.............10Sharon McCormick Design .......16Singles Alternatives...................12Snow Services...........................15Split Enz ....................................23T-N-T Home & Lawncare..........22Take Off Pounds Sensibly ..........6Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork ...24Time Out Tavern .........................7Torrison Stone & Garden ..........23Uncle Bobs Flower & Garden.....6VMB Custom Builders...............23Wesleyan University..................17Whitehouse Construction..........26Window Man..............................18Windows Plus............................17

CorrectionsWe strive to bring you

the most accurate informa-tion available each week,but if you see something inTown Times that isntquite right, give us a call at860-349-8000, and well doour best to make thingsright.

The correct spelling ofthe new Strong Schoolprincipals name is ScottSadinsky.

Local womanperforms inMiddletown

Kelly Megan Boylin, a 2004graduate of CRHS, will be ap-pearing at Brewbakers Cafin Middletown to sing songs

from her new CD, Fear MyPiano. Her music is original,captivating and passionate.Come support a hometowngirl. Please stop in and listento her perform this Satur-day, July 30, from 12:30 to2:30 p.m.

The trains arerunning atAmatos

Bring the family to see thesummer operating modeltrain display at Amatos Toyand Hobby on Main Street inMiddletown. The Amatotrain engineers have created

a wonderland of operatingmodel trains and Antiquetoys in their Middletownstores lower level. See the gi-ant Lionel Train layout withinteractive accessories foryou to operate! The kids andyoung at heart can hear thesounds of the railroad comealive with our new interac-tive push buttons. Recaptureyour childhood with thesounds of model trains chug-ging along the multilevel lay-out, puffing smoke, lightsand sounds of days gone by.The kids will love the newThomas the Tank layout. Seethe antique toy train collec-tion of Vincent Amato featur-ing pre-war lionel. Watch thegiant G gauge trains run onthe huge three-train layoutbrought in by the CentralConnecticut G Gauge club.Come marvel at the antiqueErector sets whizzing andwhirling amidst a large dis-play of antique Erector setsfrom the AC Gilbert companyof New Haven. Throughoutthe 3,000 sq-foot train roomyou will find Connecticutrailroad historical artifacts,and antique Buddy L metal

toy trucks.Come to the summer oper-

ating model train display onFriday, July 29, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. or Saturday, July30, from 12-4 p.m. For details,call 860-347-1893, or visit Am-atosToyandHobby.com.

The Amato family invitesyou to enjoy this exhibit andasks that for your admissionyou bring some nonperish-able food items, which willbe donated to the AmazingGrace Food Pantry. Cash do-nations will also be acceptedfor the sponsored charity ofthe week.

LeveragingLinkedIn andyour digitalidentity

More than 80 percent ofhiring managers and re-cruiters are Googling jobseekers. LinkedIn is used byat least 50 percent of thesepeople in vetting candidatesbefore a call to interview.

Does your online identityposition you optimally? Orare you disqualified beforeeven getting the call? JanMelnik, M.A., will present afast-paced program on theright way to use todays so-cial media tools to your bestadvantage when job-seeking.

She has been coachingclients in job searches fromAbsolute Advantage, her pri-vate practice in Durham, formore than 20 years. Melnikis a Master Resume Writer,credentialed Career Manag-er and certified professionalResume Writer. The author

of Executives Pocket Guideto ROI Resumes and JobSearch, Jan is the career ex-pert on NBC. Join us at Rus-sell Library on Tuesday, Au-gust 2, at 6 p.m. for this free,informative program.

Calling allartists!

The Arts Center of Killing-worth is holding an AutumnArt Trail, Open Studio Trailand Outdoor Arts Festivalon the Madison Green and isseeking New England realistand modern painters, sculp-tors, jewelers, crafters, fab-ric artists and photogra-phers for the Arts Center atKillingworths 7th AnnualAutumn Art Trail, Oct. 8-9.There are two ways to partic-ipate: 1) Exhibit at the two-day Outdoor Arts Festival onthe highly visible MadisonGreen in Madison, CT. 2)Open your working Art Stu-dio to visitors. Artists partic-ipate both days of the festi-val or Open Studio Trail asthey demonstrate, discussand sell their artwork.

The registration form andparticipation fee are dueSept. 9. Please mail to theArts Center at Killingworth,276 N. Parker Hill Road,Killingworth, CT 06419.There is a limited number ofartists per medium, so earlyregistration is suggested.Download the prospectusand registration form atwww.artscenterki l l ing-worth.org. For more info andfee prices, call 860-663-5593 ore-mail [email protected].

Give me some of that hair.... . . L o n gb e a u t i f u lh a i r ! D u r h a mr e s i d e n tV i r g i n i aB e n b o w ,11, hadbeen grow-ing her hairfor a longtime to giveto Locks of Love. She finally had it cut at SalonElante in Middletown so it can be used as a hair-piece for financially disadvantaged children suffer-ing from long-term medical hair loss. Submitted photo

Friday, July 29, 2011 Town Times 3

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Brayshaw to run for fourth term asMiddlefield first selectman

By Chuck CorleySpecial to the Town Times

The upcoming Novemberelections will again see JonBrayshaw running for theposition of first selectman,having been nominated bythe Republican Town Com-mittee during their July 26meeting. If elected, this willbe the fourth term thatBrayshaw serves Middle-field. Republican Town Com-mittee chairman KathyKokoszka laudedBrayshaws three terms thusfar by stating he has a histo-ry of trying to keep our tax-es down by nickel and dim-ing our budget to death.

Brayshaw will be joinedby Edward Bailey, whoseeks a second term on theBoard of Selectmen. In addi-tion to his service on theBoard of Selectmen, Baileyis also the current chairmanof the Water Pollution Con-trol Authority.

As for the Board of Fi-nance, the Republican TownCommittee endorsed the un-affiliated Frank St. John tocontinue acting as a Board ofFinance member. St. Johnjoined the board earlier thisyear and was noted as havinga long history of public serv-ice, thanks to his time onthe Planning and Zoning

Commission and the CharterRevision Commission. Run-ning with St. John will benewcomer Marie Benedetto.While she only moved toMiddlefield less than a yearago and has not served withany of the towns boards yet,the current Finance Boardchairman, Rebecca Adams,stated that she is so excitedthat Marie is running asBenedetto is a Certified Pub-lic Accountant.

Jean Gay was also en-dorsed by the Republicanparty for a seat on the Boardof Assessment Appeals. Com-mittee secretary MelissaKowal descried her as awoman willing to give ofher time, adding that Gayalso has decades of experi-ence working in real estate.

The name Schmaltz isalso prominent on the Re-

publican ticket, as KimberlySchmaltz will be running fortown treasurer and VanessaSchmaltz is seeking the posi-tion of town clerk. Both werenoted for their experience asmortgage underwriters,with Kimberlys backgroundin finance and Vanessas his-tory in mortgage bankingalso pointed out. This is notthe first time VanessaSchmaltz has run for townclerk, having been endorsedin 2005.

The one position the partywont be running a candidatefor is that of the tax collector.While the committee didntendorse current tax collectorAnne Olszewski on theirticket, Kokoszka did men-tion the partys satisfactionwith Olszewskis perform-ance thus far.

Town Times & Places Friday, July 29, 2011 4SATURDAY

July 30Blood Drive

St. Colman Church, locat-ed at 170 Hubbard St. in Mid-dlefield, is holding a blooddrive for the American RedCross today from 8 a.m. to 1p.m. Potential donors are en-couraged to pre-register toensure quick and efficientprocessing, but walk-ins arealso taken. Go to www.red-crossblood.org/make-dona-tion and put in the sponsorcode 5189a (or zip code 06455)to sign up for an appoint-ment, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Be sure to drink lotsof water and bring yourblood donor card or any oth-er form of identification.

Farmers Market& Flea Market

Farmers and flea mar-kets are on Saturday morn-ings in July and August atPeckham Park from 8 a.m. tonoon. Come visit local ven-dors and see the best infarm-fresh produce, bakedgoods, arts and crafts andtag sale items. Contact [email protected] for ven-dor info.Dudley Farmers Market

The Farmers Market atthe Dudley Farm, corner ofroutes 77 and 80 in NorthGuilford, is held every Sat-urday from 9 a.m. to 12:30p.m. through Oct. 29. Localand organic produce,herbs, eggs, flowers, bakedgoods, honey, maple syrup,soaps, jewelry, knittedthings, gift items and morehomemade and homegrownitems are sold.

Local Girl Performingat Middletown Cafe

Kelly Megan Boylin, a2004 graduate of CRHS, willbe appearing at BrewbakersCaf in Middletown to singsongs from her new CD, FearMy Piano. Stop in and listento her perform today from12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

July 31Spaghetti Dinner

Honduras ChildrensProject will be hosting aSpaghetti Dinner from 5:30to 6:30 p.m. at the UnitedChurches Fellowship Halllocated at 228 Main Street.

All are welcome. Donationsat the door will directlybenefit the non-profits goalto hire a teacher for thechildren of Copprome Or-phanage in El Progreso,Honduras. For more info,visit www.honduraschil-drensprojet.org.

Sunflower MazeOpening today and contin-

uing through Aug. 28, getlost for fun and help supporta great cause! The 5th Annu-al Sunflower Maze featureswinding pathways etchedinto three beautiful acres ofmulti-colored sunflowers.Enjoy a birds-eye view ofthe maze from a viewingplatform and from the peaksof the surrounding orchardhills. One dollar of each ad-mission ticket is donated tothe pediatric cancer unit atConnecticut Childrens Med-ical Center in Hartford.Group visits are welcome.For hours, pricing, discountcoupons or more info, callLyman Orchards at 860-349-1793 or visit www.lymanor-chards.com. In addition tothe Sunflower Maze, ifweather and wind condi-tions allow, the Remax hotair balloon will be at Ly-mans both days from 9 to 11a.m., offering tethered bal-loon rides with spectacularaerial views of the butterflymaze, Lymans thousand-plus acres of orchard fieldsand an awesome sweepingview of the scenic Connecti-cut River Valley. For moreinfo and ticket pricing, callLyman Orchards at 860-349-1793 or visit www.lymanor-chards.com.

Special Service andIce Cream Social

The Cross Street A.M.E.Zion Church, 440 West St. inMiddletown, is holding a spe-cial service, Re-ignite theFire Lifestyle StewardshipCampaign, at 10 a.m. today.There is an ice cream socialfollowing the service. All areinvited. For more info, pleasecontact the church office at860-344-9527 or visitwww.crossstreetamezion.org.

MONDAY

August 1Durham Senior Lunches

Every Monday andWednesday hot lunches areavailable for seniors over 60and their spouses at the

Durham Activity Center, lo-cated at 350 Main St. inDurham. Following thelunches on Mondays is gametime which includes billiards,Wii and cards. Bingo starts at1 p.m. on Wednesdays. Forpricing info and to make areservation, call Amanda As-tarita, senior caf manager, at860-349-3153 by noon onThursdays and Tuesdays.

Middlefield SeniorLunches

The Middlefield SeniorCaf is serving lunch threetimes a week, on Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridays.Reservations are required 24hours prior, and the month-ly menu can be picked up atthe Center, Town Hall or onthe website: www.middle-fieldct.org.

TUESDAY

August 2Womens A Cappella

SING! Valley Shore Cho-rus of Sweet Adelines Inter-national invites women tosing in our four-part harmo-ny a cappella group. Practiceincludes basic music theoryand styles. Our memberscarpool together from allover CT. Check us out onTuesdays at 7 p.m. at St. PaulLutheran Parish Hall, 47Oak St, Middletown. CallJoan at 860-767-8540 for info.

Destination DurhamEvery Tuesday at 1 and 7

p.m. on Comcast Channel 19,Destination Durham will beaired for those living inDurham. DVDs are alsoavailable at the Levi Coe andDurham libraries.

WEDNESDAY

August 3Historical Tours

Every Wednesday from 2to 4 p.m., the WadsworthMansion is open for tours.Docents from the Friends ofLong Hill Estate lead guidedtours of the Mansion pro-viding a narrative that de-tails the history of the Es-tate and the five million dol-lar renovation. Furnituredonated by the WadsworthFamily is on display in theHistory Room. Please call860-347-1064 to confirm thetours are being held. Forlarge groups and bus tours,please call ahead.

Durham Senior LunchesEvery Monday and

Wednesday hot lunches areavailable for seniors over 60and their spouses at theDurham Activity Center, lo-cated at 350 Main St. inDurham. Following thelunches on Mondays is gametime which includes bil-liards, Wii and cards. Bingostarts at 1 p.m. on Wednes-days. For pricing info and tomake a reservation, callAmanda Astarita, seniorcaf manager, at 860-349-3153by noon on Thursdays andTuesdays.

TOPSJoin the TOPS meetings

every Wednesday at 6:30p.m. at the Durham TownHall third floor meetingroom. For more info, callNaomi at 860-349-9558 orBonnie at 860-349-9433.

Free Jazz ConcertThe Hartford Jazz Orches-

tra will play a free outdoorconcert at the WadsworthMansion at 6:30 p.m. as partof the Music at the Mansionseries. The grounds open forpicnicking at 5:30. Parking isat the Mansion (421Wadsworth St.), SnowSchool (299 Wadsworth St.)and Mercy High School (1799Randolph Rd). Their previ-ously scheduled appearancewas cancelled because ofrain. All Music at the Man-sion concerts are subject tocancellation in the event ofthunderstorms

THURSDAY

August 4Summer Concerts

The Kerry Boyss FinestIrish Duo are performingtonight at 6:30 p.m. at Peck-ham Park Pavilion.

Farmers MarketThe Durham Farmers

Market is every Thursdayfrom 3 to 6 p.m. on the towngreen through Sept. 8. To-days theme is the DogDays of Summer. Visitwww.durhamfarmersmar-ket.org for more info.

FRIDAY

August 5Tot Time

The MOMS Club ofDurham and Middlefieldsponsors a weekly Tot Time.It is held every Friday from

10:30 a.m. to noon at Peck-ham Park, or, if its rainy, atthe Middlefield CommunityCenter. This open-age play-group is available for all res-idents and their children ofDurham, Middlefield andRockfall. No RSVP is re-quired; just feel free to comeon down and join the fun.For more info on the MOMSClub, please contact Ann atm o m s d u r h a m m i d d l e [email protected].

Baked Bean Supper

Take a break from the hotkitchen. Come enjoy an old-fashioned, home-cookedmeal without the cooking.Come to the baked bean sup-per held at the UnitedChurches at 6 p.m. in the air-conditioned FellowshipHall, located at 228R MainSt. in Durham. The bakedbean supper is a local tradi-tion, featuring dishes suchas baked beans, scallopedcorn, macaroni dishes, sal-ads and homemade breadsand pies. All are welcome;call 860-349-3683 for pricesand more information.

4-H Fair at DurhamFairgrounds

The Middlesex and NewHaven County 4-H Fair isback! Come join Connecti-cuts 4-Hers on August 5, 6,and 7 at the Durham Fair-grounds. The fair has a lot tooffer this year, whether itsthe wide variety of farm ani-mals, the annual tractorpulls, the enjoyable country-style entertainment or themuch-anticipated array ofdelicious fair foods. Also, the2011 Middlesex and NewHaven County 4-H Fair ishome to the first ever JustJam Music Festival! Makesure to stop by Saturday af-ternoon to watch this awe-some event. Local bands areinvited to participate and alltypes of musical groups andsoloists are welcome. Makesure to mark your calendarsand bring your whole familyto this years 4-H Fair. Thefair is open Friday from 5 to10 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m.to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 8a.m. to 5 p.m. There is asmall parking fee. For moreinfo, visit us at www.face-book.com/Middlesexand-NewHaven4HFair.


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New social service coordinator in DurhamBy Michael Torelli

Special to the Town Times

Amanda Astarita, the newsocial services coordinatorfor Durham, started her newposition on June 20. Astaritatook the place of Janet S. Mu-raca, who served the town forover 30 years.

What exactly does she do asa social services coordinator?Astarita is in charge of the Se-nior Center, making sure thatthe seniors have luncheonson Mondays and Wednesdaysand working with the townand state to see that the pro-gram is in compliance withregulations.

Theyre nutritional mealsand a good way to socialize,Astarita stated about theluncheons. With the help ofthe local Senior Center, resi-dents are able to enjoy themeals and a have a good time.Astarita feels that the seniorsare very nice and the volun-teers, are like a well-oiledmachine.

Astarita stressed that themeals were not only for sen-iors, but for other locals aswell. Seniors can get theirmeals for free, but people un-der 60 years of age have to pay$4.50. On Mondays after themeal, diners can play Wii inan air-conditioned environ-

ment, and onWednesdays theycan play bingo.

Astarita is alsoin charge of help-ing seniors withother needs, in-cluding food, oil,rent and energyassistance.

She coordinatesthe senior bus,which takes themto places all acrossthe state through-out the year. In August, therewill be trips to ChristmasTree Shops in Manchester,Blue Back Square in WestHartford, and HammonasettState Park, among others. OnMondays, Thursdays and Fri-days, the bus makes out-of-county medical trips, visitingneighboring towns, such asNewington and Wallingford.

Astarita also helps out withthe Elderly and DisabledRenters Tax Relief Program,which, under the right circum-stances, can send rebates backto eligible applicants.

Astarita welcomes every-one to her office. She will helpguide people in the right di-rection if she is unable to helpthem herself. Right now,shes just trying to get a com-plete understanding of all thedifferent programs that flow

in and out of theoffice, she said.

A goal shehas this year isto have a safetyprogram forseniors. I thinkits very impor-tant, she stat-ed. The pro-gram will teachseniors how todispose of oldprescriptionswith help from

Resident State Trooper PeteDiGioia.

I enjoy being in touchwith other departments, As-tarita said. She enjoys peopleand being able to talk to a lotof different folks fromDurham and neighboringtowns.

Astarita, who attended andreceived her undergraduateand graduate degrees in edu-cation and reading at CentralConnecticut State University,has worked with people allher life. She was a teacher atEdna C. Stevens ElementarySchool in Cromwell for nineyears, teaching both secondand third grades.

She also taught preschooland worked with the commu-nity services for NorthHaven, helping low to moder-ate income families by tak-

ing care of children duringthe day.

Astarita is willing to helpfolks with any kind of need.Located in the Town Hall, sheworks 20 hours per week, (notFridays). To contact her, call860-349-3153, or send her an e-mail at [email protected].

Its a fun job, I love it, As-tarita said with a smile.

Amanda Astarita

Petrella(Continued from page 1)

strong work ethic and civicresponsibility instilled byher parents as an asset andcommitted to bring thosevalues to the position offirst selectman. Petrellasaid she decided to run forfirst selectman because ofher love for the community the abundance of naturalresources, agriculturalheritage, recreational land-scape and wonderfultownspeople, and becauseshe believes that some-thing has been missing intown for a long time management, adding it iscritical in this economy forthe first selectman to be fis-cally responsible. Petrellapromised to not sit backand react but to be proac-tive with the towns re-sources, always keepingthe welfare of the townsresidents her priority,pledging proactive man-agement and fiscal respon-sibility.

Powder Ridgeclosing delayed

The closing date for Pow-der Ridge has been delayedfor a month in order to giveenough time for the surveyof the property to be com-pleted and the water diver-sion permit to be signedand submitted. The sale issaid by both First Select-man Jon Brayshaw andAlpine president DennisAbplanalp to be movingalong and in order, with theclosing not far off.

(Cheri Kelley)

Town Times Friday, July 29, 2011 6

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Development of One Lorraine Terrace will proceedBy Chuck Corley


It was over a year ago thatMiddlefields Planning andZoning Commission grantedTradewinds Property Man-agement, LLC a special per-mit allowing them to developOne Lorraine Terrace forcommercial purposes.Tradewinds would build aday spa, self-service laundryand other retail space on theproperty.

Would but did not, thanksto Lorraine Terrace proper-ty owner Patricia Rogers fil-ing an appeal against theZoning Commissions deci-sion. After a year, the courtfinally reached its decision.

The verdict? Not toRogers favor. Every lastcomplaint issued by Rogerswas shot down by the court,which dismissed the appealon every count. Rogers madefour major points in supportof her appeal, each one ofwhich was successfullycountered.

Traffic was both a promi-nent concern of hers during

the initial permit hearingsand the court case. Rogerstried claiming that the Zon-ing Commission ignored hertraffic concerns for the prop-erty. While a number of Lor-raine Terrace residentsspoke in support of Rogersclaim, the court noted thatno expert testimony wasbrought against Tradewindsduring the public hearings.Residents concerns rangedfrom the development in-creasing the time to turnonto Route 66 to the addition-al number of cars posing asafety hazard to children liv-ing on the street.

These concerns were ad-dressed by individuals, suchas traffic engineer BruceHillson, who performed atraffic study along LorraineTerrace. Hillsons studyfound that the businesses atOne Lorraine Terrace wouldonly delay vehicles fromturning onto Route 66 by 16seconds or less. Hillson alsonoted that direct access fromOne Lorraine Terrace toRoute 66 was unadvisabledue to the local topography.

Ronald Cormier, the trans-portation maintenance di-rector of the Connecticut Bu-reau of Highway Operations,also said in a letter that theConcept that has been pro-vided to this office looks ac-ceptable at this time. There-fore, the court felt that theZoning Commission appro-priately addressed trafficconcerns by accepting Hill-sons testimony.

Another charge Rogersbrought against the commis-sion was that the develop-ment would not fit the char-acter of the neighborhood.Only the developments en-trance onto Lorraine Ter-race was noted as specifical-ly harmful by Rogers, whofelt that the entrance shouldbe on Route 66. This chargewas dismissed, thanks toHillsons testimony on thedifficulty of building an en-trance onto Route 66.

Rogers also contendedthat her due process rightswere violated whenTradewinds submitted newplans on the last day of thepublic hearing, as residents

were prevented from review-ing the plans with enoughtime to develop a response.However, based on thecourts review of the statesGeneral Statutes and Mid-dlefields zoning regula-tions, Lorraine Terracesresidents, Right to a funda-mentally fair hearing wasnot violated in this case. Allthat was required for a fairhearing was for the commis-sion to give proper notice ofthe public hearing, to allowthe public to present testi-mony and to allow the publicto cross examineTradewinds witness testi-mony. As the commission al-lowed this, the court decidedno rights were in violation.

The appeal also claimedthat the permit was invalidbecause the commission re-quired Tradewinds to abideby 19 conditions in order toreceive the permit. Theseconditions preventTradewinds from opening adrive-through window atOne Lorraine Terrace. Theyalso require Tradewinds tomake certain allowances for

the neighbors benefit, suchas by requiring only certaintypes of windows, by pre-venting lights and noisefrom intruding onto abut-ting properties and by keep-ing various utility struc-tures out of sight from therest of the neighborhood.The court noted that the con-ditions, Indicate a level ofengagement and concern onthe part of the commission toensure that the proposed de-velopment is not unduly in-trusive on the health, safetyand property values of theabutters.

Based on that and all ofthe above, the court found noreason to reverse the deci-sion of the Planning and Zon-ing Commission, thus allow-ing the development of OneLorraine Terrace to proceed.

DurhamMiddlefield

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The full menu at Time Out Taverne features fine Angus beef, poultryand savory pasta dishes; lighter fare includes burgers, pub-stylesandwiches and meal-sized salads, plus a special menu for the kids.Relax in cool comfort in the Tavernes handsomely appointed diningroom or beautiful sports-themed lounge, or dine al fresco on theshady deck or sunny patio. Affordable wines, fine brews and inventivecocktails - delivered by a friendly staff - complete a very enjoyabledining experience!

Letters policyThe Town Times intends to present a forum for the live-

ly exchange of ideas and issues. To facilitate the publica-tion of your contributions, several guidelines should befollowed. Letters to the editor must be signed, with aphone number included. The writer will be called to con-firm authorship. No anonymous letters will be printed.Contributions by any individual or group will not be pub-lished more frequently than once a month. Every effortwill be made to print all letters received. However, the se-lection and date of publication will be at the discretion ofthe editor. Finally, the opinions expressed by our letterwriters are not necessarily those of this newspaper. Dead-line: Tuesday noon for Friday publication.

Town Times Opinion Friday, July 29, 2011 8

Town Times488 Main St., P.O. Box 265, Middlefield, CT 06455

http://www.towntimes.comNews (860) 349-8000 [email protected] (860) 349-8026 [email protected] (860) 349-8027Marketplace (877) 238-1953 (toll-free)Town Times is published every Friday by the Record-JournalPublishing Co. and delivered to all homes and businesses inDurham, Middlefield and Rockfall.

Stephanie Wilcox, EditorCheri Kelley, Reporter

Kimberley E. Boath, Advertising ManagerJoy Boone, Advertising Sales

Michelle P. Carter, Office ManagerContributors: Chuck Corley, Elisabeth Kennedy, Mark Dionne,

Dee Wilcox, Tori Piscatelli, Alexandra Ceneviva,Michael Torelli and Sue VanDerzee.

Letters to the EditorWhites Farmneeds to bemaintained

My family and I have en-joyed the benefits of thetown-owned Whites Farmsince moving to Durham in1972. Whether we were walk-ing our dogs or just enjoyingthe stream and fields, it has al-ways been good to know thatthis open space was there forall residents to enjoy.

The maintenance nowneeded is well within the ca-pability and resources of thetown of Durham.

I feel that the town shouldproceed with the neededmaintenance of the stream toallow the water to drainproperly.

This town-owned openspace can be maintained

properly by the town andshould continue to stay intown ownership for all resi-dents to enjoy.

Robert Horn, Durham

Keep WhitesFarm clean,regardless!

While walking my dog thisevening as I do regularly atDurhams OpenSpace/White Farm, I wasdisgusted and dismayed tocome across a syringe on theroad near the rear entranceto the Durham Fairgrounds.While there is plenty of talkthese days about who andwhat to do about the proper-ty, and its trash as well, thiswas the most offensive situa-tion I have come across inmany years of using the open

space.If the town of Durham is

presently responsible for up-keep, it is shameful!

I dont have the answers,but I do know somethingmust be done and quickly. Ishudder to think of the direconsequences that may oc-cur!

Politics must be put aside,and safety and responsibility as well as common sense must occur!

I am a disgusted resident!Jane Greebel, Durham

HondurasChildrensProject

This summer, I started anon-profit organization, Hon-duras Childrens Project, toraise money for the childrenof Copprome Orphanage inHonduras. My love for Hon-duras started five years ago,when I was first introducedto the country and its peopleon a medical-dental mission-ary trip. Since then, I have re-turned twice and am makinga fourth visit in a few weeks.

On my first trip to Hon-duras, I met the children ofCopprome Orphanage andmy love for them keeps bring-ing me back. Over the years, Ihave come to realize that al-though they may lack par-ents or guardians, the chil-

Meet the Town Times Staff: StephanieMeet the editor of the Town Times staff,

Stephanie Wilcox. As the editor of the newspa-per, its Stephanies job to, well, edit the TownTimes. Stephanie says that about 60 percent ofher time at the paper involves reading and re-searching while the other 40 percent involvesworking on the papers web presence, which in-cludes the website, Facebook and news alerts.She also deals with the publics news requestsand comes up with the stories for the paper andorganizes and assigns them to the writers. Addi-tionally, she covers the Durham Board of Select-men meetings and pops in and out of varioustown meetings and venues. Stephanie has beenat the paper for almost three years, when shestarted as the reporter, and has been the editorfor 10 months.

She was born and raised in Middlefield andloves working so closely with the community. Ilearn something new every single day, she said. When Stephanie isnt working at the paper,she enjoys freelance writing on the side and teaches fitness classes, including Pilates, cardioand sculpting. To contact Stephanie or if you have story ideas, email her at [email protected] or call her at 860-349-8000 ext. 3306. (By Alexandra Ceneviva)

to be remembered in a parkwhere many have gottentheir hands and knees dirtyto make it a communityplace. One of the members,Thomas DOrvilliers,cleaned up around the soc-cer fields, which helpedspike Heaths idea.

The Eagle Scouts of 2011are Andrew Carter, ThomasDOrvilliers, Jayson Gribko,Ben Hamilton and LeeHoule. Heath also listedmembers from 2001, 1996 andyears prior.

Melissa Kowal, whowatched the presentation,noted how great the scouts inMiddlefield are. Theyre anexceptional group of boys,Kowal said. The scouts havesigned up with the joint ef-fort of the Lions Club to helpbetter the town in local pro-grams.

They work really closetogether, Heath stated.Working with these youngfellows is really special.

Heath hopes that throughthe laying of bricks and theLions Club bi-annual OldHome Days program,scouts will be able to seeeach other more often andwill always remember whattheyve done and will for-ever be engraved in thetown.

Eagle Scout(Continued from page 1)dren there are truly some of

the brightest. Their wonder-ful smiles and endless play-fulness, their passion forlearning and desire to exceland their love and compas-sion have always shownthrough.

It is the childrens passionfor learning that HondurasChildrens Project strives todevelop into a concrete andpowerful education. The goalof our non-profit is to raisemoney to hire a teacher andestablish a curriculum withthe necessary school materi-als for the children who liveat Copprome.

Our first fundraiser is aSpaghetti Dinner, this Sun-day, July 31, from 5:30-6:30p.m. at the United ChurchesFellowship Hall on MainStreet in Durham with a sug-gested donation of $10. Formore information, visit ourwebsite: www.honduraschil-drensproject.org, call me at860-754-7447, or come to ourSpaghetti Dinner.

Charlie Proctor, DurhamPresident of Honduras

Childrens Project

Town TimesYour source forlocal news and

events

Friday, July 29, 2011 Town Times Columns 9

Public Works building projectThe Public Works

Department (PWD) isresponsible for one ofthe core missions of lo-cal government, themaintenance of townroads and infrastruc-ture. The PWD is alsoan important compo-nent of our public safe-ty system. This pastwinter was a vivid re-minder of just how in-tegral our publicworks crew is to oureveryday lives.

Our town crew iscomprised of seven em-ployees who work atthe town garage site onCream Pot Road. It is our responsi-bility to provide and maintain a safeworking environment that fostershigh productivity. This year, thatwas compromised tremendouslywith the collapse of the saltshed/storage shed during a severewinter storm.

When I took office, I discoveredthat the town of Durham was non-compliant with the Stormwater Dis-charge Permit required by DEEP,and we quickly began work to rectifythe situation. The plan that was de-veloped and approved encumberedthe property by 20 percent, whichcreated a necessity to make the en-tire site more efficient. We soonstarted working on a long range planfor a site redesign. Both the Board ofSelectmen and Board of Finance hadseveral site visits to fully under-stand the deteriorating condition ofthe site. Both boards were preparedto add site improvements to our cap-

ital plan this year.Mother Nature had an-other idea however,and now we have to ex-pedite our plan. Forseveral months, aworking group consist-ing of Kurt Bober, roadforeman, Brian Curtis,town engineer, DickMcManus, building of-ficial/facilities manag-er, Bill Milardo, sani-tarian, John Jenkinsand Jim Quilty, PWDand Geoff Colegrove,town planner and ScottWright, Durham EMShas met almost weeklyto come up with bidda-

ble plans first for the salt shed/stor-age shed and two other utility build-ings. In addition, our Finance De-partment and my office have beenworking with our insurance compa-ny. All approvals from land useboards have been secured, includingPlanning & Zoning, Zoning Board ofAppeals and Inland Wetlands.

The old salt shed/storage shedwas not code compliant and consist-ed of the salt shed and four otherbays used for storage. The buildingwas insured at replacement value.We now have the opportunity to re-build the structure to current codeand situate it on the site to better uti-lize the remaining space. The saltshed will be big enough for propermixing and storage of materials. Thefour bays will be for storage of PWequipment and vehicles and will in-clude a wash bay and vehicle main-

Budget storm clouds forming(again) in Hartford

As I write this col-umn, the clarifiedversion of the pro-posed agreement be-tween state govern-ment and its unionemployees is beingdistributed for anoth-er vote, having beenrejected by 43 percentof state employees inthe first round. Theannouncement of theclarified proposal hasbeen greeted withmuch relief by the po-litical leaders inHartford.

But the relief of those in charge atthe state capitol may be prematurefor three reasons.

First, there is no guarantee thatstate employees will approve thenew agreement, even with the clari-fications.

Second, a lawsuit instituted byany group of state employees wouldthrow a huge monkey wrench intothe process, all but guaranteeingthat any potential ratification of thedeal may be delayed too late for thestate to depend on it in its currentbudget.

Finally, even if the deal is ap-proved it contains well over a halfbillion dollars of dubious savingsthat the states non-partisan budgetoffice cannot substantiate. For exam-ple, they say they will magically save$180 million by creating a State Em-ployee Suggestion Box. These bogussavings could lead us all into an-other financial crisis in 2012.

I have spoken withmany state employeeswho told me theywere willing to makesubstantial conces-sions to help balancethe state budget.

Many of them weresurprised that theproposal did not con-tain unpaid furloughdays.

Most also were sur-prised by the continu-ation of the longevi-ty bonuses for em-ployees who stay intheir jobs for an ex-

tended period of time, regardless ofjob performance.

Quite a few were willing to paymore for medical insurance. But allof them were confused by the convo-luted structure of the deal and thepoor and confusing explanationsthey received from union leaders.

I believe the confusion, poor com-munications and complicated struc-ture of the deal led to mistrust anddoubt in the minds of many who vot-ed No. This may be resolved in thelatest communiqu. But many em-ployees told me they would prefer amore straight-forward approachrather than initiatives like valuebased health care that are in theproposal.

Any potential revote may be con-tested by disgruntled employees. Forexample, a state corrections officeris trying to organize fellow employ-

State Sen. Len Suzio

From TheState Capitol

A $750,000 salt shed? Youve got to be kidding me!See Suzio, next page

Last March, during what I refer toas a week from hell, Durham expe-rienced a major 18 inches of snow-fall. This was followed by anotherstorm that coated everything withapproximately an inch of rain. Notto be outdone, another blizzard, to-taling an additional 22 inches ofsnow, fell three days later. This ex-treme display of Mother Naturesfury contributed to a complete fail-ure of the roof system on an out-building at the Public Works facilitylocated on Cream Pot Rd.

This building served three dis-tinct functions. One section of thebuilding was dedicated to what wereferred to the as the sign shed. Thisarea stored all the replacementstreet signs, poles and hardware forour town-wide roadway system. Inaddition, this area housed our re-

placement tires fortown vehicles as wellas an assortment ofequipment used tomaintain our townparks and buildings.

The next section tothe north was a 40-foot by 40-footarea that was divided to contain aworking amount of salt as well as asupply of mixed sand and salt. Thiswas our supply that was used to treatour roads when winter weather wasupon us.

The final section of the buildingcould be best described as dividedinto four single enclosed bay areas.This area contained minimal roomto park several small utility typetrucks as well as quite a bit of sea-sonal-type equipment.

Shortly after the collapse, the

building was de-clared unsafe by ourtown Building De-partment. Furtherinspections by thetown engineer and anindependent inspec-

tion by our insurance carrier con-cluded that the building was de-clared a total loss and that the build-ing needed to be demolished. Our in-surance carrier oversaw and author-ized the demolition and removal ofthis building. The cost of this re-moval and some short-term storagewas borne by the insurance carrier.

By May, the town was in the plan-ning stage for a new replacementbuilding that needed to be in serviceby the fall of 2011. Weekly staff meet-ings were held to map out a timelinefor the replacement structure. These

meetings included representationfrom our building and health depart-ment, our town engineer, first select-mans office, finance director andmembers of our Public Works staff.

Phase one of this plan called for areplacement building to not only sat-isfy our current needs but also to an-ticipate the towns needs for the fore-seeable future.

Simultaneously, meetings wereheld with representatives from ourinsurance carrier (CIRMA) to helpdetermine what level of insurancefunding may be available to help off-set the building replacement cost. Asof July 5, final figures have not beennegotiated. However we do know afew basic facts.

The building was insured. The

Kurt Bober

Durham PublicWorks

See Bober, page 11

See Francis, page 11

Laura Francis, Durham

From TheDesk

Of The FirstSelectman

Town Times Columns Continued Friday, July 29, 2011101204525

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ees to join in and fund a law-suit to challenge any ratifiedagreement based on a revote.I dont know how strongtheir case would be, but thestate is in a position that itcannot wait for monthswhile a legal challenge is ad-judicated.

It all boils down to dollarsand cents after all, itsyour money and thatswhere we see major troublebrewing. Right now, ourstates $20 billion budget isonly $1 million below thestate constitutional spend-ing cap. As I mentioned, theproposed union agreementcontains hundreds of mil-lions of dollars of alleged sav-

ings that cannot be verified.That means that if only afraction of that fictitious sav-ings in the union deal is notrealized, the state will befaced with a constitutionalspending crisis sometime be-fore June 30, 2012. The statebudget could be in a deficitsituation once more, fewerthan 12 months after thebiggest tax increase in thehistory of Connecticut.

I hate to be the bearer ofbad news, but this is whathappens when games areplayed with your tax dollars.We have got to get complete-ly honest in our budgeting.Only then can we dig ourway out of this fiscal hole. Inthe meantime, I will contin-ue to fight for you, the tax-payers, and demand betterresults at the State Capitol.

Suzio(Continued from page 9)

Friday, July 29, 2011 Town Times Columns Continued 11

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LEGAL NOTICETown of Durham, CT

Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of the Town ofDurham that the Town Tax on the Grand List of October 1,2010 is due and payable in two installments, July 1, 2011and January 1, 2012. All Motor Vehicle Taxes and Taxes inthe amount of $100 or less are due and payable in full July1, 2011. If the first payment is not paid on or before August1, 2011, interest must be charged from July 1, 2011 at 1.5%per month (payment on 8/2/11 will have 3% added) with aminimum interest charge of $2.00.

No bill is sent for the second installment.Payments may be mailed to:

Town of Durham, P.O. Box 428, Durham, CT 06422The Tax Collectors office hours are Monday, Wednesday,Thursday 8:30-4:30 pm, Tuesday 8:30-7:00 pm and Friday8:30-3:00 pm. Additional hours for this collection period willbe Saturday, July 30, 10:00 am-12:00 pm.Martin French, CCMC Tax Collector, Town of Durham

1206362

tenance lift, two features wecurrently do not have. Thenet cost of this project afterinsurance will be approxi-mately $500,000. This is thefirst major investment tothat property since we pur-chased it, aside from the costof the stormwater improve-ments. The Board of Financehas recommended the fundsto come from undesignatedfund balance.

The rest of the improve-ments will have to beplanned for, possibly as partof a more comprehensivecapital proposal that wouldinclude bonding. This firstphase is more time sensitive.Although we received per-mission to temporarily usethe State of Connecticut saltshed on Route 17 at the end oflast winter, it is not a viablelong term solution, even forone year. It would be a seriousstrain on our staff and respon-siveness to winter storms.

A more comprehensivepresentation of this projectwill be held at a public hear-ing on Monday, August 8, at 8p.m. at the Durham TownHall. There will also be moreinformation posted soon onour website. The referendumto approve this expenditurewill be held on Tuesday, Au-gust 23, 2011 at Korn Elemen-tary. I urge your support forthis project.

Francis (From page 9)town had replacement costcoverage for this building.The carrier would cover alike-for-like replacementstructure and would alsocover needed upgrades tomeet todays building codes.It would not pay for any addi-tional improvements thatwere not contained in theoriginal collapsed building.

The original building waswood frame with a metalroof. It had a footprint of5,200 square-feet. After nu-merous discussions, it wasdecided and agreed uponthat the new replacementbuilding would be designedwith a standard wood trussand wood sheathing exteri-or, covered with asphaltshingles. This building wasalso increased by 1,600square-feet. Most notablywas an increase of the saltand sand storage area, a new60 x 60 area to house our win-ter supplies. The additionalconnected 3,200 square-footarea adjacent to the north ofthe salt shed would be madeup of the following: four 20-foot wide by 40-foot deep en-closed maintenance bays.Unlike the original building,these bays will provide thePublic Works Departmentwith proper areas tostore/wash andrepair/maintain our fleet ofvehicles and equipment.

This, however, comes at acost. Since these improve-ments dont fall under thelike-for-like replacementclause, we as taxpayers mustfoot the bill to include themin the new building.

By law, a municipalitymust state the total completecost of any project paid for bythe taxpayer. The total not-to-exceed cost must be madeknown publicly in order forknowledgeable taxpayers toapprove regardless of anyother monies that may be re-ceived to offset the price ofthe project. This is helpful ininsuring a successful comple-tion of the project if antici-pated monies did not come tofruition in a timely fashion.

In June, bid specs were fi-nalized and distributed to ea-ger vendors in a public fash-ion. The initial response wasencouraging. However, whenthe bid opening deadlinecame, only four bids were re-ceived. Additional monieshave also been requested toequip the new building withthe needed supplies and for allthe site work needed to makeup the complete project. Thisdollar figure is placed at not toexceed $750,000.

After several discussionsbetween the Board of Select-men and the Board of Fi-nance, it was determinedthat the best way to fund thisproject is that this moneyshould come out of the townsFund Balance.

Fund Balance monies area towns savings account.This money is accrued overtime. Budget surplus, invest-ment returns and non-oper-ating capital are what makeup the fund balance. This ismoney that the town alreadyhas in its bank. No addi-tional tax money needs to belevied in order to fund thisproject. In fact, any moneyreceived from our insurancecarrier will be placed backinto the fund balance. For ex-ample, if this project costs$750,000 and we receive a set-tlement of $200,000 from theinsurance company, the$200,000 would be placedback into fund balance. Thiswould reduce the amountneeded to fund this project,and in the end it would ap-pear that only $550,000 wasremoved from fund balance.Obviously, if a larger dollaramount is negotiated withthe insurance company,

then that money would beplaced back into the FundBalance, leaving a smalleramount to be removed in or-der to complete the project.

The town of Durham isfacing numerous growingpains. The town needs tomap out its future plan for allof the capital expenditures.This plan must be acceptableto the people who fund it. I,along with most of our tax-payers, feel the financialburden of our current econo-my. However, this time itmay be acceptable to takeour money, along with insur-ance contributions, and re-place a building that really isa necessity. The taxpayersare the ones who need to ap-prove or reject this plan.

If anyone has any questionsor concerns that I can answer,please contact the PublicWorks office at 860-349-1816 orsend an e-mail [email protected].

Bober (From page 9)


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Middlefield WPCA sewer rates increasingBy Chuck Corley


Sewer rates are on the rise.Middlefield residents hookedinto the Lake Beseck sewer areawill now pay over $40 more peryear to benefit from the sewer,while sewer users along Route66 shall pay an additional $100 tobenefit from the system. Beseckusers now owe $650 per year andthose near Route 66 owe $374.

These new rates were approvedby the Water Pollution ControlAuthority (WPCA) during theirJuly 13 meeting.

WPCA chairman Ed Baileystated, This rate increase isdefinitely because of the Meri-den charge, as the wastewaterfrom Lake Beseck is sent toMeriden to handle. Over thepast five years, Meridenscharge for handling waste-water has risen 65 percent.Though Route 66 sends itswastewater to Middletown, thattown has also raised its rates.

While Bailey attributed thewastewater discharge rates asthe main cause of the increas-es, he also noted that the sew-er pumps are no longer underwarrantee and now requirethe town to pay 100 percent ofany maintenance costs. Oth-erwise, Bailey said most of thesewer costs are flat.

However, the WPCA haslowered sewer costs in thepast, as it did two years agowith the Route 66 sewer users.To ensure this happens again,the WPCA recommends sew-er users to conserve water, asit reduces the amount ofwastewater sent to Meridenand Middletown. While thiswont affect an individualscharges, a significant enoughreduction from all sewerusers would result in a lowerrate for everyone.

To aid in water use reduc-tion, the WPCA will be mak-ing a number of conservationkits available at the LakeBeseck picnic this Saturday,July 30. At a cost of $1 or $2,sewer users will receive a wa-ter-saving showerhead, afaucet aerator and a swivelspray attachment for thekitchen sink.

Bailey stated the purpose ofthe kits is to try and get peo-ple more aware of their waterusage.

Submission reminderThe Town Times welcomes submissions regarding up-

coming events happening in the community ([email protected] by Mondays at noon). We do our bestto run submissions at least one time. However, due to spaceconstraints, we cannot guarantee a submission will be pub-lished on a specific date. To ensure your submission runsexactly as you would like it to, contact our sales representa-

tive Joy Boone at 860-349-8026, or e-mail [email protected] for apaid-for ad. Thank you!

Friday, July 29, 2011 Durham Town Briefs 13

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Medical staff is on-site 24/7.e

Medicare and mane y other insurers offer ahospice benet for specic inpatient staysrequiring skilled intervention. The rangeof diagnoses that may qualify includescancer, renal disease, Parkinsons, ALS,Alzheimers and heart failure.

For years, Masonicares continuum of care has included an AcuteCare Hospital Unit in Wallingford and a Home Hospice servicestatewide. Weve built on the experience of these two esteemedprograms to create a special, enhanced Inpatient Hospice Unit atMasonicare Health Center in Wallingford.

If hospital-level hospice care is needed, be assured that patients and their loved ones willexperience comfort, skilled clinical care, and emotional and spiritual support from ourexperienced hospice team.

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Durham Government Calendar(Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held in the

Durham Library. Check the town website atwww.townofdurhamct.org for updates.)

Monday, August 17 p.m. Fire Department Trustees at 41 Main Street

7:30 p.m. Clean Energy Task Force8 p.m. Historic District Commission

Tuesday, August 26:30 p.m. Public Safety Committee

7:30 p.m. Midstate Regional Planning Agencyat 100 Dekoven Dr. #139Wednesday, August 3

6:30 p.m. Durham Volunteer Ambulance Corpsat 205 Main Street

7:30 p.m. Planning and ZoningThursday, August 4

7 p.m. Public Safety Facility Renovations PlanningCommittee at the Durham Volunteer Firehouse

7 p.m. Durham Animal Response Team (D.A.R.T.)

P&Z reviewszoningregulations

The Durham Planning andZoning Commission contin-ued their revision of the zon-ing regulations during theirJuly 20 meeting, at whichtime they reviewed the regu-lations for the industrial zoneand the design developmentdistrict. The commission fo-cused on just what the designdevelopment district shouldbe, with chairman GeorgeEames noting that the defini-tion is pretty loose now.Members like Mike Geremiafelt that the district is meantto be a mix of residential andcommercial use, while LisaDavenport thought the dis-tricts purpose was for moreunique applications. Camp-bell Barrett took issue withthe name itself, noting that itdoes not adequately describethe sort of uses already in thedesign development district.

Though the purpose of thedesign development districtremains undefined for now,the subcommittee has alsobeen working on a use tablefor the district and the indus-trial zone. The commission re-viewed most of the uses with-out comment, but Barrettpointed out that #14 on the listof uses would allow a develop-er to use 25 percent of a prop-erty for retail, thus allowingfor construction of a big boxstore like Stop & Shop on asufficiently large piece ofproperty. Barrett added thatthe zone regulations lack anyof the limitations that thecommercial zone has for suchdevelopment and found theregulation too broad inwhat it allows.

Members also looked atitems #8 and #16 on the usetable, which allow for truckand freight terminals alongwith excavation and earth re-moval. Members voiced theirdisapproval of both, but spokeout in particular against #16.Dick Eriksen pointed out thata developer could use the ex-cavation use to guise a miningoperation. Town planner Ge-off Colegrove replied that theregulations still require a per-mit for anyone removing over1,000 square-feet of materialfrom a property, and that min-ing is a separate use from ex-cavation. Still, he acknowl-edged that past developers

have claimed they were mere-ly excavating when setting upa mining operation.

No decisions about the reg-ulations were made as of yet.The commissions commentswill enter into the regulationsubcommittees next round ofdiscussion in August.

Signs also remain an issuefor the commission, due to thenumber of business ownersputting signs in the stateright-of-way or otherwise notfollowing the regulations forsigns. While Colegrove ini-tially planned on sending aletter to those businesses cur-rently in violation of the regu-lations, the commissionasked that he instead addressall businesses to remind themof what they can and cannotdo with their signs. The com-mission also proposed remov-ing any signs in the stateright-of-way should any busi-nesses remain noncompliant

with the regulations.In other business, Sally Pa-

sicka-Stoetzle applied for ahome occupation permit torun a massage therapy busi-ness at her 185R Mica HillRoad residence. She said itwould take up less than 300square feet of the buildingand approximately six clientsa week. Beyond remindingher of the sign regulations,the commission took no issuewith her application and gaveit their unanimous approval.

An informal discussionwas also held with MazharHussain, who wants to addthe sale of lottery tickets andcigarettes to his 459 MadisonRoad property. The ButchersWife previously sold sand-wiches, milk and other goodsat the location, which Hus-sain also plans to continuewhen he reopens the businessas a Krauszers. Hussain alsonoted that he does not plan to

expand the building itself,merely how it is used. Withno formal application,though, the commission sim-

ply wished Hussain luck inhis endeavors.

(Chuck Corley/In atten-dance)

Middlefield Town Briefs Friday, July 29, 2011 14

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Middlefield Government Calendar(Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held

in the Community Center.)Tuesday, August 2

6:30 Park & Recreation7:30 p.m. Midstate Regional Planning Agency

at 100 DeKoven Dr., MiddletownWednesday, August 10

7 p.m. Water Pollution Control AgencyTuesday, August 16

7 p.m. Board of SelectmenWednesday, August 17

7-10 p.m. Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Agency7 p.m. Metacomet Regional Windfarm Committee

Park & Recsummer activities

All programs/events arealso open to Durham residents.Movie Night at Peckham

On Saturday, July 30, P&Rwill be hosting movie nightat the park. Come at 8:30 toget a spot to watch the clas-sic Will Smith comedy ad-venture Men In Black. Re-freshments will be sold .This program is open to all.Concerts at Peckham

Though budget cuts havebeen tough P&R is still doingits best to offer wonderfulconcert entertainment!CTs Favorite Irish Duo

Thursday, Aug. 4, theKerry Boys will be per-forming at Peckham Park.Family Fun & Sing Along

Thursday, Aug. 11, -at 6:30p.m. The Humblebees willbe taking center stage alongwith the MiddlefieldUkulele Club for a tripdown musical memory lane.

Country MusicThursday, Aug. 18 Jack-

son Hill will be performingat the park. This is a newband made up of local resi-dents who perform the bestof country music.Sports Camp

Sportime with Alex Ed-wards takes place the morn-ings of Aug. 8-12 at PeckhamPark. You can still sign up!Tennis Camp

Round two of tennis campand sportime camp with AlexEdwards is still available.

Swim lessons are going onat Lake Beseck Beach. Go towww.middlefieldparkan-drecreation.com for info.

Tennis camp with AlexEdwards is Aug. 15-19 in themornings at MemorialSchool.Party on The Beach!

On Sunday, Aug. 21, from12-5 p.m. there is a Luau Partyat Lake Beseck Beach. Therewill be music, games, and a lotof fun. Only 100 tickets will besold! Contact Amy Poturnicki

for fee/ticket info [email protected] / Flea Market atPeckham Park

Come on down to Peck-ham Park early Saturdaymornings where folks areselling delicious items. Themarket opens at 8 a.m. andvendors have been sold outby 9:30 sometimes. So getthere early!

There have been home-made chocolates, pies andjams, fresh vegetables, tagsale items, hand made bagsand pocketbooks. The mar-ket is open to all vendors.The cost of the space is re-duced to $10; your first weekis free. The market will con-tinue Saturday morningsthrough August. For moreinfo, [email protected]

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Renninghoffs qualifications to fill in as finance director questionedBy Elisabeth Kennedy


The July 25 Board of Fi-nance (BOF) meeting wasdominated by public com-ment, initially concerningPowder Ridge bonding, fi-nancing and closing date. Se-lectman Ed Bailey was in theaudience and reported thatthe closing is still set for Au-gust 1 pending permit andland use issues (easement onpipeline, aquifer). Whenasked why there is no budgetshortfall for the $75,000 bud-geted from Alpine, Bailey ex-plained that the $75,000 inlast years budget was neveranticipated, but was a placeholder. He further explainedthat the town holds a $25,000deposit, and an additional$50,000 is due at closing.

Public comment turned toJeremy Renninghoffs quali-fications to stand in for fi-nance director Joe Geruchand whether it constituted aconflict of interest. Chair-woman Rebecca Adams ex-plained that Geruch under-went emergency surgery fora detached retina, and Ren-ninghoff has volunteered histime to help while Geruch re-covers. A lengthy discussionensued, with questions suchas whether Renninghoff wasappointed, did First Select-man Jon Brayshaw approve,whether the BOF filling infor the finance director was aviolation of a separation ofduties and whether a resolu-tion was passed for Renning-hoff to access the computer.Frank St. John indicated thatthere is no such separation ofduties and the BOF can assistthe finance director in anyway. Renninghoff explainedthat he has not taken over theduties of the finance directorbut is helping out so thattown business did not cometo a screeching halt. Adamsindicated that no resolutionor appointment was neces-sary as all the informationaccessed is public informa-tion. Renninghoff reassuredthe audience that Brayshawgave his approval andGeruch gave him access tothe computer. Bailey asked

Renninghoff if he had powerto write checks or transfermoney, which Renninghoffconfirmed he had no powerto do. Bailey extended hisgratitude to Renninghoff forhelping the town throughthis emergency, noting Ren-ninghoffs exceptional volun-teerism.

Public comment thenturned to sewers the agingBrookside sewer system,Route 66 and Lake Besecksystems and Water PollutionControl Authority (WPCA)revenue and expenses, in-cluding payments to thetown. Adams explained thatthe town pays insurance, thebond and recoups those andother expenses from WPCA.

Hearing no additional pub-lic comment, the board movedto transfers of funds needed to

close out the fiscal year. Ren-ninghoff indicated that therecould be more changes assome payroll pay periodswere interrupted by the fiscalyear end date. First a motionwas made to move the balanceof $37,801 from 9801 (RSD13Contingency) to 9800 Board ofFinance Operational Contin-gency, which was approved.Thereafter motions weremade to transfer funds from9800 Operational Contingencyto cover end of year expenses.All transfers were approved,leaving a balance of $27,933.28in the Operational Contin-gency fund, which will rollover to the new fiscal year.The board will consider the

best use of funds in considera-tion of neglected items (roads,police cruiser) and discussedwhich was the best policy forthe town (cushion for emer-gencies vs. over taxing). Also

part of their fiscal year wrapup, the board reviewed rev-enue and expenses lookingfor large surpluses to high-light areas to be worked onthis year.

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Southern dogs: changing adoption, changing lawsBy Mark Dionne


Most of the dogs scamperdown the ramp out of thetruck, wagging their tails.They wiggle and jump. A fewof them lick whoever greetsthem. They should be happy.Their trip is over, and forsome of them it started inClermont, Florida, over 1,200miles from Glastonbury, CT.

The truck is from PetersonExpress Transportation Ser-vices (PETS). The dogs havecome up north with the aid ofrescue groups, foster homesand animal control officers.Waiting for them in the Parkand Ride lot is a collection offoster families and adoptivefamilies, saving the dogs fromthe high kill shelters in theSouth.

Jennifer Perron ofCrossville, TN, who works onthe PETS truck, makes thisrun once a week. According to

Perron, their trucks complywith Department of Agricul-ture and state regulations.She points to the three airconditioners humming on thetop of the truck. An air filtra-tion system also runsthroughout the trip to helpprevent illnesses from devel-oping or spreading.

Glastonbury is usually oneof the biggest stops. As manyas forty dogs, over a third ofthe truck, can meet their peo-ple here.

Its great to see the fami-lies, Perron says. The kidseyes light up.

The dogs have no idea howlucky they are.Why the South?

Adopting dogs from theSouth began in earnest abouta decade ago. Before that,New England had too manydogs and too few homes andlocal, overcrowded animalshelters euthanized a largepercentage of their dogs. Cul-

tural and legal changes havealleviated the dog populationproblem in this part of thecountry.

According to the Dakin An-imal Shelter in Massachu-setts, Twenty years ago,nearly 6,000 puppies floodedthe five MSPCA animal shel-ters throughout the state ofMassachusetts. In 2004, only400 puppies came in to thosesame shelters. Clearly, NewEnglanders have received theall-important message aboutnot allowing their companiondogs to roam or breed.

Rescue organizations cite alack of emphasis on spayingand neutering in the southernstates as a factor creating amuch worse dog overpopula-tion problem there.

Adopting a rescue dog,once viewed as exotic or evendangerous, is now consideredmuch more routine. SaidCathy Hinsch of Middlefield,who brought home a two-year-old puggle from a shelteron July 17, We always toldthe kids that if we ever got adog it would be a

7-29-2011 town times

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