may 2012 north central news

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In This Issue• BUSINESS: ‘Shred Day’, scout fun-deraiser & a ‘Taste’-y tidbit ........p. 3• EAST WINDSOR: Voters will decidefate of town spending May 8 ............p. 4• EAST WINDSOR: Wine/beer tastingevent to benefit trolley cars ........p. 5• ELLINGTON: Town meeting, referen-dums in May for taxpayers ............p. 7• ELLINGTON: High school announceshonor roll students ......................p. 8• ENFIELD: Discussions wrap up on2012-2013 town budget ...........p. 14

• REGIONAL: Wounded marine getsnew home constructed ..............p. 17• SOMERS: Spending plan attracts littleopposition at town meeting ..........p. 23• SOMERS: From ‘Cirque’ to Somers,guitarist to play Joannas ..........p. 26• SUNDAY DRIVE: Audio & edibles atInfinity, Cirque and Lord Jeff ........p. 27• STAFFORD: Images of opening daysoftball in Stafford ....................p. 32•STAFFORD: Budget on hold........p. 33• CLASSIFIEDS:.....................pp.37-39

• NEXT ISSUE •DEADLINE: May 24, 2012

(860) 698-0020www.thenorthcentralnews.com

Sobering Lessons for StudentsSomers Fire and Rescue workers feverishly work to help Kerisa and other victims of a Mock Car Crash as if it were a real acci-dent. The mock crash and emergency response staged on April 27 on the recreation fields near the high school were meant toshow the students from Somers High the dangers of drinking and driving. More photos, story on page 24.

Photo by Barbra O’Boyle

Towns OfferDiverse CampExperiences

By Linda Tishler Levinson

It’s not your older brother’s summercamp.

At least that’s the way Amy Saadahopes Somers campers will feel this sum-mer. Saada, Somer’s human services andrecreation director, said they have workedto make summer camp more exciting fortown children.

“We’re trying to up it a little,” she said.Recreation directors in other North

Central Connecticut towns agree, sayingthey are trying to offer new, more interest-ing field trips and new sports offerings toappeal to youngsters.

Somers

In addition to its traditional summercamps, Somers is introducing Skyhawkscamps. Skyhawks camps are run by anational sports camp organization and fea-ture a variety of sports, including flagfootball, golf and multi-sport programs,Saada said.

The sport camps are held for one-weeksessions with fees varying by sport, butmost in the $90 to $129 range.

The Recreation Department summercamp has new field trips and new equip-ment and supplies this year, Saada said. It

CAMPS/page 6

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2 North Central News May 2012


North Central Publishing, LLC dba

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERSBarbara Bresnahan

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Linda Tishler-LevinsonDeborah Stauffer

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Stacey Lyn McDonald

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Rockville Bank Hosts‘Shred Day’

SOUTH WINDSOR - Rockville Bankemployees helped members of the com-munity to unload their cars at the bank’srecent Shred Day to help the public takesteps to protect their identities. At theevent, held at the branch at 1645 EllingtonRd. in South Windsor, people were invitedto bring boxes of outdated personal docu-ments such as medical and financialrecords, credit card statements, canceledchecks, insurance forms, and old taxreturns. Rockville Bank hired Infoshred ofEast Windsor, one of Connecticut’s largestprofessional shredding companies, to pro-vide the service.

Rockville Bank hosts two or moreShred Days every year to help local resi-dents keep their identities safe and offersthis service at no cost to everyone – notjust for their customers. Identity Theft isthe No. 1 consumer complaint accordingto the Federal Trade Commission (FTC),and as many as nine million Americanshave their identities stolen every year.

Rockville Bank currently is a 21-branch

community bank serving Tolland,Hartford, and New London counties inConnecticut. It provides a convenientbanking lifestyle for Colchester, Coventry,East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield,Glastonbury, Manchester, Rockville,Somers, South Glastonbury, SouthWindsor, Suffield, Vernon, seven days aweek in Tolland, and at two Big Y super-market locations. A New Haven County

Commercial Banking Office is now openin Hamden to provide an array of commer-cial products and services for businesseslocated in New Haven County and sur-rounding areas. Rockville Bank will opena full-service branch in West Hartford laterthis year. For more information aboutRockville Bank’s services and products,call 860-291-3600 or visitwww.rockvillebank.com.

From left are Rockville Bank employees: Diana Capece, payroll specialist/HR assis-tant; Gwen Reale, assistant vice president, Financial Intelligence Unit Manager; andRichard Venditto, credit analyst.

Eagle Scout CandidateHosting Fundraiser

ENFIELD - Eagle Scout candidateMichael Reilly, from Boy Scout Troop108, Hazardville, is completing his Eagleproject, which is to build a 10-foot x 12-foot garden shed for Enfield Loaves andFishes, a soup kitchen. To build the shedhe needs to raise about $3,000. He will behaving a luncheon fundraiser on Saturday,May 12, from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. at ChicagoSam's in Enfield. Twenty percent of allproceeds will go towards his project.

Third Annual Taste of Manchester

MANCHESTER - Whether you lovedogs, great food, supporting local busi-nesses or all three, the third annual Tasteof Manchester is for you. The event bringshundreds of people to 16 participatinglocally owned and operated one-of-a kindrestaurants in greater downtownManchester. With affordable ticket prices,free and stylish transportation, a feast offood, and proceeds that benefit a new dogpark, the Taste of Manchester is a truecommunity celebration that offers some-thing for everyone.

The third annual Taste of Manchesterwill be held on Tuesday, May 15, from5:30 p.m.-9 p.m., rain or shine, beginningand ending at The Army Navy Club ofManchester. Entertainment at the ArmyNavy Club will be provided by Mass-Conn-Fusion Jazz Duo, featuring LizRoberts and Jim Healy.

Ticket prices, reduced from 2011, are$20 for adults and $12 for kids under 12years old. Tickets are limited and on salenow at www.tasteofmanchesterct.comthrough PayPal and in person at theCustomer Service & Information Centeron the first floor of ManchesterTown Hall.



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EAST WINDSOR — Having unani-mously passed the Board of Finance, theproposed town budget will face the votersin a May 8 referendum.

“It looks like as fair a budget as we canpossibly have,” First Selectman DeniseMenard said.

There was little opposition to the budg-et at a sparsely attended public hearing,she said, adding, “It was a much more pos-

itive process than in the past.”Under the proposed $34,438,525 budg-

et for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, spendingwould increase $1,191,047 or 3.58 percentover the current fiscal year.

The General Government budget wouldincrease from $13,737,215 to$13,860,574, a 0.91 percent increase. TheBoard of Education budget would increasefrom $19,406,451 to $20,577,951, anincrease of 6.04 percent.

The largest percentage line itemincreases would be for insurance and ben-efits, which would increase from $363,700to $518,328, a 42.52 percent increase; andthe Capital Improvement Plan, whichwould increase from $485,667 to$601,620, a 23.88 percent increase.

The largest percentage reductionswould be for debt service, which woulddecrease from $1,778,924 to $1,571,471,an 11.66 percent decrease; andConservation of Health, which would

decrease from $352,453 to $320,517, a9.06 percent decrease.

The proposed mill rate is 25.2159 com-pared to 24.3756 for the current fiscalyear, an increase of 0.8403 mills. A millrepresents $1 in tax for every $1,000 ofassessed property value.

The budget referendum will be heldfrom noon to 8 p.m. May 8. Voters inDistrict 1 will vote at the Town HallAnnex, 25 School St. Voters in District 2will vote at Town Hall, 11 Rye St.

Voters Will Decide Fate of Town Spending Plan on May 8

BROAD BROOK - Park Hill ElderlyHousing will be having a Community TagSale on Saturday, May 19, from 9 a.m.-2p.m. (rain date May 26). They will be sell-ing numerous used air conditioners at rea-sonable prices along with lots of house-hold items. Park Hill is located in the

Broad Brook section of East Windsor andis non-profit.

For more information, contact CindyDelaware, Resident Service Coordinator(East Windsor Housing Authority) [email protected] or call 860-623-8467.

Tag Sale Features Used Air Conditioners

EAST WINDSOR - The Maine FishMarket & Restaurant is holding its ninthannual Charity Golf Tournament this yearto continue with the idea of helping feedthose less fortunate.

The tournament will be held onTuesday, May 22, Elmcrest Country Clubin East Longmeadow, Mass., with thetournament registration and lunch com-mencing at 11 a.m.; dinner and awards tofollow.

The cost to golf in the tournament withlunch and dinner included is $125 per per-son. All proceeds from this event will bedispersed among Enfield Loaves & Fishes,Enfield Food Shelf and the 5-CornerCupboard in East Windsor.

Awards will be given for: the tourna-

ment’s top finalists; longest drive; closestto the pin; and if anyone should score a“lucky hole-in-one.” In addition, there willbe a number of donated and purchaseditems raffled off during the banquet at thepost-tournament reception at the ElmcrestCountry Club.

Sponsors are still being accepted for thetournament with a tier format: $100 (RedTee Sponsor), $150 (White Tee Sponsor),$250 (Blue Tee Sponsor). For additionaltournament information, you may contactNick at 860-623-2281or 860-930-7696.

From the generous support of our localbusinesses, golfers, customers, vendorsand friends our total collected and givenout to date, since the first golf tournamentin 2004, is $130,000.

Ninth Annual Maine Fish Charity Tournament



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EAST WINDSOR - The ConnecticutTrolley Museum is planning a fundraiseron Friday, May 11, from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.Together with Joe’s Fine Wine and Spiritsof East Windsor, a wine/beer tasting event

will be held on the museum grounds. Allmonies raised will go to restore the carsthat were destroyed in the theft of metalearlier this year and to upgrade the securi-ty system to prevent this from happening

again. For 70 years, this non-profit organiza-

tion has been operated almost entirely byvolunteers. These dedicated people pro-vide labor and time for operations, mainte-nance and management. They also providea “living experience” for their visitors, athree-mile round trip trolley ride throughthe Connecticut countryside. During 2011,over 22,000 people enjoyed this “experi-ence.”

One of the barns housing the trolleyswas broken into and three trolleys werestripped of their wiring and original brassand copper components, plus extensivedamage was done to their interiors.

The three trolleys destroyed were:• Connecticut Company Car 1326, the

“Birthday Car,” a special place for chil-dren to have their parties

• Connecticut Company Car 840, oncepart of the famous Yale Bowl Fleet

• Centerville Albia & Southern Car 101,an electric freight motor that the museumhad just purchased in 2009.

Tickets to this fundraiser are $25 perperson and can be purchased at the muse-um or at Joe’s Fine Wine & Spirits.

Additional information is available atwww.ct-trolley.org or contact the museumoffice at 860-627-6540 or by email [email protected].

Wine/Beer Tasting Event Benefits Damaged Trolley Cars

EAST WINDSOR – The public is invit-ed to participate in the 24th annual EastWindsor Community Day that takes placeSaturday, May 12, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. atEast Windsor Middle School, 38 Main St.,Broad Brook.

The day’s festivities will be kicked offwith a 10 a.m. parade along Main Street,Broad Brook. People are invited to enter avehicle, float or participate by marching inthe parade. The theme of the day is “TheGreatest Wealth Is Health.” Prizes will beawarded for the most creative parade dis-play of Healthy Family Lifestyles.

The annual Photography Contestreturns and is open to all East Windsor res-idents in grades 5-8. This year adults areinvited to submit their photos to be includ-ed in the display for everyone’s enjoymentthroughout Community Day.

All entries to the contest for grades 5-8will be on display and the winners will beannounced by the end of the day.Everyone attending Community Day willhave an opportunity to cast their vote fortheir favorite photo. Please contact DebbieTalamini at [email protected] for more

information on contest rules. The Community Day Fair will have

clubs, businesses, schools and other localagencies to present products and servicesavailable in East Windsor. Talented localcrafters will display and sell their wares.The day is a great way to kick off thewarm-weather season with games, facepainting and activities with friends andneighbors. The local celebrities will beentertaining you throughout the day whileyou enjoy some favorite summer treats.

Community Day continues to be a self-supporting event. Businesses and craftersentering the fair will be charged a fee of$50 per space, which includes up to twotables. Fees are non-refundable and needto be returned with the registration form.There will be a limited number of electri-cal connections available on a first-come,first-serve basis.

In case of rain, all exhibitors and ven-dors will be located inside the school. Anybooth selling or providing food mustarrange to complete health permit require-ments by contacting Carol Fox at 860-623-3346.

Plans Announced for 24th Community Day

Auditions for ‘The Mystery Of Edwin Drood’EAST WINDSOR - Opera House

Players, Inc., located in the Broad Brooksection of East Windsor, announces audi-tions for the musical “The Mystery OfEdwin Drood.”

Auditions will be held at the BroadBrook Opera House, 107 Main St., BroadBrook, on Sunday, May 13, from 6 p.m.-9p.m. and Monday, May 14, from 7 p.m.-10p.m.



RegionalRegional

is offered from July 2 to Aug. 17. The costis $125 per week, with additional fees forbefore- and after-camp care.

Somers also offers half-day art campsand camps for preschoolers. Also new thisyear is online registration atwww.somersrecdesk.com/recdeskportal.

Enfield

Enfield offers the Summer Escape daycamp from July to Aug. 10 at John F.Kennedy Middle School.

According to Clair Hall, executivedirector of ERFC, which runs the camp,they are happy to be back at JFK. Theschool reorganization forced them to be atFermi High School last year. In addition,Hall said the camp program has expandedfrom four weeks to six weeks. Campincludes field trips to Lake Congamond inSouthwick, Mass., and a Rock Cats base-ball game. Other popular features areFamily Fun Fridays, when campers put onpresentations for their parents, and theend-of-the-year barbecue.

Fees include breakfast, lunch andsnacks, Hall said. The cost is $140 perweek for the full-day program or $55 a

week for afternoons only. There are addi-tional charges for the extended-day option,and there are discounts for families eligi-ble for free or reduced school lunches.

To register, visit www.erfc.us or call860-253-9935.

East Windsor

East Windsor offers an eight-weekSummer Fun Camp beginning the firstweek of July, in addition to a variety ofsports camps. “That’s our most popularsummer camp,” said Lori Titus, an officeassistant for Parks and Recreation.

“We are offering different sports campsas well,” she said, including the Skyhawkscamps.

Fees are $85 a week for the first child ina family and $80 per week for additionalchildren. There is an additional $10 fee forextended hours.

Fees for the athletic camps vary bysport and age group.

For registration information, call 860-627-6662 or visit the website atwww.eastwindsor-ct.gov/Public_Docu-ments/EWindsorCT_Recreation/index.

Ellington

Ellington offers its Ultimate SummerCamp Extravaganza day camp from June

25 to Aug. 17. Fees are $75 per child perweek with $40 per week for the half-dayprogram. There are additional fees forebefore- and after-camp care. There is areduction of $10 per week for the secondand third children from the same house-hold.

The town is currently revamping itscamp program, and further details wereunavailable. A brochure is expected to beout the first or second week of May.Registration information is available at

http://ellington-ct.gov/Plugs/summer-camp.aspx.

Stafford

The Stafford Summer RecreationProgram is held in two blocks, from June25 to July 20 and July 23 to Aug. 10. Thecost is $75 per block or $150 for both.Swimming lessons and tae kwon do areoffered for additional fees.

Registration is from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. May11 and June 1 and 10 a.m.-noon May 12and June 2 at Town Hall.

(continued from page 1)

Camp Offerings this Summer Serve Varied Youth Interests

STAFFORD - Membership in a CSA(Community Supported Agriculture) pro-vides a way for residents in the NorthCentral towns to buy local, organic, sea-sonal food directly from the farm inStafford. The farm will grow approximate-ly 30 kinds of vegetables this year. Thefarm is located at 5 Michelec Rd. inStafford.

Members join the CSA for the entireseason in advance. Throughout the sum-mer and early fall, they receive their shareof fresh organic vegetables every week.

A typical share is enough for a family offour and has about 10-12 pounds of freshvegetables and melons a week from mid-June through November, weather permit-ting.

The Down To Earth CSA is currentlyaccepting applications for its 2012 grow-ing season. A share in the farm is $400 forthe season (about $20 a week) andincludes a work commitment to work onthe farm for two hours every other weekand participate in at least two of the farmworkdays. Half shares are available for$200 for small families. All shares may bepaid in installments, with the last paymentbefore June 1.

Applications, more information, a listof vegetables and melons, and many pho-tos are available at its website(www.getdowntoearth.org).

Please email at [email protected] or call Caroline Brown at 860-684-3460 with questions.

Down To Earth CSA Grows Local Vegetables



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ELLINGTON — There will be a budget referendum.The Board of Selectmen voted April 23 to set a May 8

Annual Town Meeting at 8 p.m. at Ellington High School,which will adjourn to a May 15 budget referendum.Voting will be from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters in District 1will vote at the high school. Voters in District 2 will voteat Crystal Lake School.

The selectmen voted to schedule the budget referen-dum because they are requesting an increase in taxes,First Selectman Maurice Blanchette said. He added thatdespite the proposed increase, they have not heard much

public response to the proposal.“There’s quite a modest increase in the tax rate,” he

said.The total town budget proposal for the 2012-2013 fis-

cal year is $48,198,154, an increase of $1,652,070 or 3.55percent over the current fiscal year. It would bring a millrate increase of 0.5 mills to 28 mills. A mill represents $1per $1,000 of assessed property value.

The Board of Education budget request is$33,133,990, an increase of $1,451,394 or 4.58 percent.The General Government budget request is $15,064,164,an increase of $200,676 or 1.35 percent.

Selectman Calls Tax Increase Modest Prior to Referendum

ELLINGTON - Bright orange carrots with green hearttops are popping up in driveways and gardens all overtown as the Ellington Farmers' Market prepares for itsseason opening Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m.-noon atArbor Park, corner of Arbor Way and Main Street. The“Carrot Campaign” is a fundraiser to help the marketexpand advertising and offer special events, weeklythemes and entertainment throughout the market season.Carrots are available at several sites in town, includingRockville Bank, the YMCA and the Hall MemorialLibrary.

Returning 98 percent of its vendors from last year,including the popular Luann's Bakery and Copper HillFarm (certified organic), the market also boasts an excit-ing array of new vendors, including The Fish Market(fresh fish from our own coastal waters), Say CheeseConnecticut, Yummy Hummy and a host of others thatwill offer a variety of local produce, food products and

artisan wares from fresh nuts and coffee to maple prod-ucts, handmade soaps, and locally produced hot sauces.

Ellington’s Teresa Cavanagh was the winner of theFacebook slogan contest sponsored by the market. Out ofmany slogans submitted, her expression “local and fresh,our community at its best” was voted the saying that bestexemplifies the spirit of the market, and will be usedunder the official logo in all advertising this season. EachSaturday guest vendors and special events will focus ona particular theme for that day, such as “BarnyardBabies,” “Happiness is a Warm Puppy,” “GardeningGrows the Spriit” and “All's Wool that Ends Wool.”

The schedule of events and much more informationabout weekly market happenings can be found atwww.ellingtonfarmersmarket.com, or on the EllingtonFarmers’ Market Facebook page. Both sites provide alink to subscribe to the market’s weekly newsletter thatlists vendors, entertainment, and weekly theme events,

Ellington Farmers’ Market Opens for the 2012 Season


ELLINGTON – The following studentswere named to the second quarter honorroll, according to a list provided by thehigh school administration.

GRADE 9

HIGH HONORS

Andrew Bahler, Jeremy Baouche,Emily Breen, Kristen Breen, BasudhaChaudhuri, Paul Gresh, Katherine Lee,Allison Letizia, Derek Litty, MeganNicoletti, Kevin Sisco, Albert Tebbetts,Nicholas Topor, Isabella Viega, JonathanWing

HONORS

Alisha Albee, Myra Anderson, TimothyBahler, Jonathan Bailey-Francois, JustinBerak, Kerri Bergeron, Brandon Bogrette,Erin Breen, Robert Brisson, Emma Carr,Megan Chamberland, Neil Chamberland,Ian Chandler, Kelly Coffey, JohnConnelly, Emily Costanzo, JamesCostanzo, Zachary Couturier, ShaneDeptula, Jordan Dixon, Olivia Duval,

Gabriela Ewald, Katrina Frazer, NicoleFrench, Anne Fulton, Morgan Gill, KellyGorman, Kristine Gouin, AaliyahGraboski, Rachel Greenberg, KatherineHany, Daniel Hayes, Elizabeth Johnson,Shannon Jones, Thomas Kindall, AshleyKuehn, Grace Kuraska, Kylie Lallier, JuliaMack, Thomas Mackintosh, ErinMagnuson, Justin Malley, Macie Martin,Hayley McDonald, Shane McGowan,Sean Milligan, Jessica Mocadlo, BriannaMuir, Megan Niger, Annika Nordmark,Andrew Oliwa, Riley Palozej, GwendolynPaseka, Gina Rizzuto, Jennifer Roy, JuliaScavetta, Holly Schipper, Kelsey Sgarlata,Kierra Shain, Lilia Shea, Kathryn Sisco,Katherine Snyder, Gabrielle Stein,Gayathry Sunil, Anthony Tournaud,Hannah Traynor, Lesley Van Deventer,Christopher Vieweg, Matthew Vieweg,Alyssa Walters, Christian Welti, KyleWesley, Ryan Willis, Allasyn Wingard,Hao Xu

GRADE 10

HIGH HONORS

Austin Binkowski, CourtneyBinkowski, Jamie Choate, TimothyDaigle, Spencer LeBel, MicaelaLuginbuhl, Rosanna Macchiarella,Kimberly McCoy, Amy McDonnell,Nicholas Pigeon, Kathryn Roets, NicholasSchipper, Erin Schirra, Sailesh Simhadri,Rachel Ziter

HONORS

Amber Agnew, Alexis Amundarain,Rebecca Anderson, Samantha Anthony,Jonathan Bassett, Jessica Cargill, WinstonChow, Elizabeth Collin, Megan Crane,Aubrey Cycenas, Tyler Daly, HelenaDelfino, Alissa DelPiano, Sarah DiResta,Steven Duguay, Elisha Feenstra, BrianFitzsimons, Brian Gerber, Emily Gerber,Julia Gillis, Samantha Greco, NicholasGreika, Zachary Hazzard, Derek Hill, JamiKeroack, Joseph Leslie, Joshua Luginbuhl,Travis McBreairty, Erin McGrath, AlexiaMerkouriou, Emily Miller, MatthewMoser, Matthew Nolan, Delani Oliver,Douglas Parent, Andrew Pearce, BrandonPho, Bradley Pospisil, Katherine Quinn,Katie Remenik, Kyle Ross, MargaretRussell, Samantha Salwa, Kelly Savage,Lanae Schneider, Laura Schneider,Brendan Sherba, Melanie Stone, AlyssaTournaud, Shelby Trapp, Nicole Vanagas,Sorawis Veskijkul, Alexander Wachter,Yutao Wang, Rachel Wardrop, Devonney

Waters, Allison Wylie, Brittany Yates,Vincent Zullo

GRADE 11

HIGH HONORS

Kevin Arbeiter, Margo Bailey, JessicaBaker, Julie Bezanson, Andrew Cohen,Joshua Feldman, Leah Gerber, JustinGraziani, Janna Grinaski, Blaire Herter,Jennifer Hulstein, Karli King, HannahKogut, Luke LaBranche, Ryan Lagan,Alexandra Larew, Emily Lorenzet, JessicaMalone, Andrew Parker, Kaitlyn Powers,Carissa Raver, Sophia Rubino,Christopher Savona, Ann Sawamura,Carolyn Schafer, Tiffany Simkewicz, AnnSkorulski, Kevin Stein, Kiara Stone,Nathan Sumislaski, Tong Ye

HONORS

Hayley Babineau, Zachary Baskin,Jeffrey Bird, Rachel Blinn, GarrettBoulanger, Brandon Capello, DavidCohen, Amanda Conti, Shannon Cottle,Lisa DeConti, Olivia DeForge, AngelinaDiBacco, Brandon Ellsworth, BenjaminFriedman, Renee Gayton, Alexis Gilliland,Zachary Glassner, Devin Goldsnider,Robert Gosselin, Sarah Gosselin, KyleGresh, Jordan Guida, Keri Halloran, KaylaHickman, Amy Hornish, Danielle Hubley,Neal Hulstein, Neal Janiga, Emilie Judge,


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HIGH SCHOOL/page 9

Students Named to the Honor Roll at Ellington High School


Allison Lee, Brittany Lemire, MaxMarholin, Lyndsey Masterson, CourtneyMatthews, William McAllister, LeahMcCarthy, Gabriella McGuirl, ShannonMcIlrath, Jonathan McPartland, CameronMozzer, Rachel Oakes, Alexander Pallotti,Zachary Palmer, Margaret Quinn, HannahRiley, Samantha Roberts, GabriellaRubino, Troy Russell, Thomas Sack,Robert Schiessl, Kayla Sgarlata, KristynStauffer, Allison Steinmetz, Joseph Taft,Benjamin Tempelman, Quang Truong,Rachel Tshonas, Gregory Ussery, KevinVincens, Joshua Weintraub, Taylor Welti,Evan Willis

GRADE 12

HIGH HONORS

Kathryn Angelica, Haley Brown, EmilyCohen, Kelly Conley, Ryan DeLand,Cayla Dixon, Alyssa Gilson, AustinHeffernan, Courtney McGowan, NishantPatel, Jeffrey Patrick, Catherine Payzant,Lyndsi Skewes, Venessa Steinmetz-Samuel, Alexandra Stephan, Brian Tiedt,Travis Wallace, Jessie Zwiesler

HONORS

Nicole Angelica, Michael Bahler,Robert Bahler, Oliviana Bailey, ElizabethBedson, Amanda Bellezza, DavidBergeron, Nicholas Binkowski, BrianaBogrette, Daniel Browne, AmandaCaouette, Chelsea Champ, MichaelCleary, Katherine DeForge, Jessie

Donnelly, Erica Feenstra, Monica Ferrara,Cassandra Flint, Jake Gagne, ZlataGallant, Gordon Gamble, Nicole Geick,Jennifer Gentile, Josie Gerber, JustinGottier, Robert Gworek, Rachel Hardy,Robert Herold, Ryan Holmes, FrederickHoule, Tessa Jacques, Kristen Joyse, ElinaKaha, Samuel Kim, John Kloter, KaylaKnudson, Joseph Korzeb, SavannahKresge, Meredith Kuraska, Nicole Liggon,Benjamin Lorenzet, Amanda Luce,Meaghan Maguire, Victoria Martins,

Matthew Mashayekhi, Rebecca Moser,Kelly Mulka, Hannah Naumec, AlexanderOliwa, Garrett Palmer, Katrina Parker,Kasey Pekala, Jennifer Poulin, Shea Riley,Aleksandra Rossa, Cali Russell, JacobSchneider, Alexander Smith, NicoleSpada, Kevin Stabinsky, MichaelThibodeau, Zachary Topor, SierraUnsworth, Holly Van Wyck, TylerVanagas, Natalie Vazquez, DaronVillanova, Michaela Whiting, TaylorWoronecki, Robert Wyse, Sumaira Zaman


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High School Honor Roll Students Announced for the Second Quarter(continued from page 8)

ELLINGTON - A Bag of Books Salewill be held at the Hall Memorial Library,93 Main St. in Ellington, on May 18-20.This event is open to the public with freeadmission. Purchase a Special FOL bagfor $8 and fill it with books and otheritems of your choice. The sale featurespaperback and hardcover adult and chil-dren's fiction and non-fiction, CDs, DVDs,audio books and puzzles.

The sale hours are Friday, May 18, andSaturday, May 19, 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m. andSunday, May 20, 1 p.m.-4:45 pm. For

more information, contact the library at860-870-3160.

The sale is sponsored by The Friends ofthe Library. The proceeds of the sale willprovide programs and materials to thelibrary, which would not otherwise beavailable.

Donations of good used books, CDs,DVDs, puzzles and audio books areaccepted at the library whenever thelibrary is open. The Friends do not selltextbooks, magazines, condensed books orbooks not suitable for resale.

Bag of Books Sale at Hall Memorial Library


ELLINGTON - Recently, WindermereIntermediate School sponsored its 14thannual Career Day for its 6th-grade stu-dents. This is a culmination of a month-long career awareness program presentedin each of the 6th-grade classrooms. TheWindermere school counselors, MarilynToback-Reveley and Jessica Marshall, andtheir School Career Day PlanningCommittee spent all year planning for thisone day.

Twenty-two speakers from Ellingtonand the Greater Hartford area volunteeredto share information about their careerswith the students. Many different occupa-tion fields were represented such as artist,banking, journalism, vehicle collisionrepair, real estate and dentistry to name afew. The students attended four differenthalf-hour presentations chosen accordingto their interests.

They enjoyed watching a chef cookcrepes as he discussed the job require-ments for a food service manager. Theytried equipment brought in by a physicaltherapist and viewed x-rays of animalsshown by the veterinary technician. Therewere samples of sculptures by an artist andthey also learned about three dimensionalprinting done through computer-aideddesign software. In addition, there wassomeone there explaining the juvenilecourt system and even how to predict theweather. The committee succeeded at hav-

ing someone there for just about everyinterest imaginable.

Six of the speakers were parents ofEllington children. One speaker on realestate, Daniel Keune, who is also thechairman of Ellington’s Board ofEducation, shared information about hisprofession. Keune has been volunteeringas a career speaker for almost the entiretime the program has existed. He finds itexciting each time he volunteers and feelsit truly is a privilege to come and talk tothe students.

“With how energetic and open thesestudents are I think I learn more from themthan they learn from me,” says Keune. Healso reflected on how things have changedsince he first started volunteering forCareer Day. “All I can say is with howtechnology and my industry have changed,my presentations are very different nowfrom where they were when I first started.”

Toback-Reveley felt the day was a suc-cess and that it offers students the opportu-nity to see the connection between whatthey are learning in school and the skills

that are required to succeed in the workworld. She was pleased that many studentsasked questions and took notes. “Theywere actively engaged in each session,”said Toback-Reveley. “It will hopefullyinspire them to work hard in school so theycan achieve success in their futurecareers.”

To learn more about WindermereIntermediate School and to see more pho-tos of Career Day, visit their website atwww.ellingtonpublicschools.org and go toWindermere and Student Life.


EllingtonEllingtonWindermere Intermediate Career Day Brings in 22 Guest Speakers

Daniel Keune, who is also the chairmanof Ellington’s Board of Education, sharedinformation about his profession.



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Women’s Clubs Annual Meeting Set For May 9ENFIELD - The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)/The Woman’s Club

of Enfield will hold their annual meeting and spring luncheon at Grassmere CountryClub, Town Farm Road in Enfield, on Wednesday, May 9. The social hour will begin at11:30 a.m. with the luncheon following at 12:30 p.m.

Installation of new officers for 2012-2014 will take place.Anyone interested in becoming a member of The Woman’s Club of Enfield may con-

tact Lorraine at 860-253-9163.

Charity Golf Tournament For Autism May 18EAST LONGMEADOW, MA - The sixth annual golf tournament and dinner for

Autism (Radcliffe is the Reason, Arthur, too) will tee off of at the Elmcrest Country Clubin East Longmeadow, MA on Friday, May 18. For tickets or more information, e-mail:[email protected]

‘Lady Js’ Raise Funds For The 2012 LunchBunch Kids

“The Lady Js” General Federation Woman’s Club of Enfield Juniorettes plannedand conducted a benefit pancake breakfast with the guidance of advisers GailWence and Trudy Fleck. The event raised more than $800 for the summer freefood outreach project for children to be held at St. Patrick’s parish hall. TheEnfield Food Shelf serves as the site host for the project. “The Lady Js,” theGeneral Federation of Woman’s Club of Enfield, the Enfield Food Shelf, and theLunch Bunch 2012 kids and parents extend their deepest appreciation to thedonors, sponsors, and attendees.Pictured here are Andrea Colca, Rachel Testoni, Stephanie Wence, Jen Sulewski,Katrina Wermter and Aleena Burnell.

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ENFIELD – The Town Council willbegin its final discussions on the proposed2012-2013 budget in May.

The proposed $115,608,244 GeneralFund budget would bring an increase ofless than 1.1 percent over the currentspending plan.

Town Manager Matthew Coppler pre-sented the budget proposal to the TownCouncil March 19.

The proposed budget for the 2012-2013

fiscal year includes $52,466,888 for townappropriations, an increase of 1.5 percentor $795,121 over this year's budget, and$63,141,355 for the Board of Education,an increase of 0.7 percent or $430,349.

The proposed budget would carry a taxrate of 27.84 mills, compared to the cur-rent 23.88 mills. A mill represents $1 per$1,000 of assessed property value.

At the April 5 community conversationon the budget, most of those who spokewere concerned about having sufficientschool funding.

Board of Education member TimothyNeville said that the school board has hadeven budgets for four years and that he isconcerned that cutbacks over those fouryears are resulting in the school systemlosing ground.

According to the minutes of the meet-ing, Neville said that the school system isnot faring well compared to other districtsand that the town is at a critical point. Evenin this economy, he said, the school budg-et needs a modest increase.

Sue Braun of Light Street said educa-tion has taken a hit every year. She saidthat without staff, there is no educationalsystem. She added a good school systemwill cut down on the need for more policeofficers and keep well educated people in

town.Councilman Thomas Kienzler II said

that most of the money spent on educationgoes to teacher salaries and benefits. Hesaid he would like to see more moneyspent on the children instead.

Sandy Donelan of Circle Drive askedwhy teachers are constantly being criti-cized. She urged the town to think aboutthe message being sent to the teachers. Shesaid they work hard and that it saddens herthat education isn’t valued in our society.


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Enfield Lion ClubPancake Breakfast

ENFIELD - The public is invited to jointhe Enfield Lions Club on Saturday, May5, for its annual All You Can Eat PancakeBreakfast from 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at theEnfield Senior Center. Thanks to everyonewho helps us give back to help local char-ities in our town. Get your tickets at thedoor: adults $5, seniors $4, under 12 $3.Bring in a pair of used eyeglasses andreceive $1 off your ticket.


ENFIELD – The following studentshave been named to the third quarter honorroll at St. Martha School, according to alist provided by the school.

HIGH HONORS

Grade 8

Mary BaumannBridget Logan

Grade 7

Leanna BeaulieuApurva GangakhedkarKennedy O’Hara

Grade 6

Mary Clark

Grade 5

Joseph DeVitoNiko FordTabitha Hinkle

Isabella LarameeAmy MistriMelissa Scanlon

Grade 4

Joseph AyotteAthena BaumannAmanda CoderreAlessandra GoodAshley HardingCassidy O’HaraAsha Patel

HONORS

Grade 8

Peter BarbalichMaeve FearonMadeline LarameeIva Sinai

Grade 7

Christine Becher

Rachel BriggsEthan ClarkeDiego ClaudioEnrique ClaudioNatasha ClaudioAllison HaydenEllen LambertSarah McGuinnessVeronica MooreRebekah NevarezKatherine PhillipsNoah VeilleuxColin Wright

Grade 6

Maria Vianney BarbalichGabriella BragaiaRachel CutterRiley DubchyNicholas GoodElijah Smyth

Grade 5

Shelby ArcouetteNihal BaijuJoseph BishopJohn Paul EckelRachel Lagasse

Madison LanghCiara LoganErin McGuinnessChristopher SniffinAlexander TorresSophie Veilleux

Grade 4

Brieanna BernierNora JonesAlexandra Tomkiewicz

PRINCIPAL’S OUTSTANDING

EFFORT

Grade 8

Thomas AngellAaron CoteAlicia GriswoldLuke Trombetta

Grade 7

Elizabeth HurlburtEthan Langh

Grade 6

Megan RooneyGrade 4

Vanessa ClearyImani Nieves


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ELLINGTON - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. GregoryCaron, 26, of Ellington is receiving a new home fromLong Island non-profit Building Homes for Heroes.Caron and his family were told of this gift on Feb. 23 atBuilding Homes for Heroes’ second annual HonoreeDinner at Battery Gardens Restaurant in New York City.

“I think it's the greatest present I will ever receive.I’ve watched TV shows where contractors remodel ahome or build a new house and never would havethought that one day it would be my dream come true,”says Caron, who is currently at Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Caron isexpected to be there at least through May of this year.

On Nov. 11, 2011, while serving his second tour,Caron lost both of his legs below the knee, and a tip ofhis finger, received shrapnel to the right side of hisbody, and broke his collarbone from an IED inAfghanistan.

Andy Pujol, president and owner of VIPInternational, an international transportation companylocated in Valley Stream, N.Y., founded BuildingHomes for Heroes in 2006. After having volunteered inthe rescue effort at the World Trade Center site and rais-ing money throughout the following years to donate tocharities that support military veterans, Pujol decided toform his own charitable organization.

“We realized how desperate the situation really wasand joined Andy and created Building Homes forHeroes,” says Tony Sigillito, a member of the Board ofDirectors and a childhood friend of Pujol’s. “It is his

vision, his drive, and his financial resources that havedriven this charity,” says Sigillito of Pujol.

Building Homes for Heroes has built and refurbishedapproximately 11 homes so far along the Easternseaboard. Professional architects donate their time todesign the homes based on the needs of the individualsoldiers. Other volunteers include servicemen andwomen, police officers, firefighters, and local residents.

Pujol has met and interviewed all of the soldiers cho-sen to receive homes and personally gets to know them.“We get a lot of applications and lot of people who con-tact the charity. The most severely wounded heroes iswhere we try to go first and foremost,” says Sigillito,adding that location is also an important factor becausethe veterans need to be close to military hospitals dur-

ing their recovery process.“It is very, very important to us to have the soldier

and his family welcome into their community. Noteveryone is as lucky as Greg and Nina, where they areliterally going home. Others have had to move theirfamilies,” says Sigillito. “We are looking forward to theproject to get started and I'm sure Tank, our dog, will beexcited to see that his new home will give him a lotmore room to run around,” adds Caron.

The homes are given to the soldiers mortgage-free.Because of this, Caron plans on going back to schooland possibly studying to become a physical therapistonce he leaves Walter Reed Medical Center. “Now thatmy new home will be mortgage-free I don't have toworry about working to pay my bills and I can focus onschool,” he says.

Greg and Nina found of a piece of land in Ellingtonthat they liked and the organization is currently in thecontract phase for that land. A construction meeting willbe held in the first week of May. According to Sigillito,it takes between nine months and a year to build thehomes. Caron looks forward to being back inConnecticut during construction and seeing his housebeing built. “It's going to be hard not to pick up my toolbag and help out myself, so plan on me participating onthe project,” he says.

“It’s quite frankly a pleasure to work under these con-ditions; it’s sad, but it’s a pleasure to work with thesesoldiers because their attitude is exemplary. I havetremendous respect for these heroes and their familiesand what they’ve done for us,” says Sigillito.

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SOMERS - Ye Olde BlacksmithShoppe, located at the intersection ofPinney Road and Maple Street inSomersville, will be open each Saturday inMay and June from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. TheShoppe offers a wide variety of new andgently used merchandise including tools,books, housewares, puzzles and games,small furniture, etc., and there's always atable of fresh home-baked goodies.

Donations from the community are wel-come (no TVs, electronics or clothing,please). Please contact Marge (860-749-0418) or Barbara (860-749-4153) to makearrangements for drop-off.

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Spending Plan Attracts Little Opposition before Town MeetingBy Linda Tishler Levinson

SOMERS — The budget is moving onto the Annual Town Meeting.

In what First Selectmen Lisa Pellegrinidescribed as a “very calm and noneventfulmeeting,” the public hearing on the budgetwas held April 23.

Town officials presented a proposed$29,241,201 spending plan for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. The proposal representsan increase of $986,679 or 3.49 percentover the current fiscal year.

The Town Government budget proposalis $6,742,645, an increase of $323,823 or5.04 percent. The Board of Educationbudget would be $19,827,174, an increaseof $365,000 or 121.67 percent. CapitalExpenditures would be $665,000, anincrease of $365,000 or 121.67 percent.Debt Service would be $2,006,382, adecrease of $195,001 or 8.86 percent.

The substantial increase in CapitalExpenditures is attributed to the purchaseof highway and fire equipment and build-

ing improvements.“The CIP Budget has been severely

underfunded for several years. Thisincrease puts us back on track,” Pellegrinisaid.

The Annual Town Meeting will be heldat 7 p.m. May 8 in the Town Hall auditori-um. A budget referendum is tentatively setfor May 22 at Somers Town Hall. Thatdate will be finalized at the town meeting.

Quickspend Energy GrantThe town will receive an American

Recovery & Reinvestment Act EnergyEfficiency & Conservation Block Grantthrough the DEEP Quickspend EnergyEfficiency and Conservation Programtotaling $27,793.49 for the Town Halllighting retrofit and firehouse photovoltaicextension project.

This grant will allow energy-efficientlighting to be installed in Town Hall at nocost to the town. This grant allows thetown to complete the Town Hhall lightingretrofit.

“The solar panelsat the firehouse are aresounding success. So much so that wehad an expansion project on our wish listand have been looking for funding sourcesduring the last year. This Quickspend

Grant allows construction of solar photo-voltaic panels that will produce an addi-tional 2600 kWH/year of power. They willalso be constructed at no additional cost tothe taxpayer,” Pellegrini said.

‘Dog’ Day AfternoonNorman Mayette has begun doling out dogs, burgers and more at his new Whoop DeDoo Hot Dog stand – located at the intersection of Rt. 190 and Hall Hill Road inSomers. Photo by Gary Carra


By Barbra O’Boyle

SOMERS - It was an all-too-familiarscene behind Somers High School, withrescue workers swarming to pull bodiesfrom a car crash, twisted metal, brokenglass and young lives snuffed out in theirprime. Numerous friends and family mem-bers were all impacted by one person’sdecision to drink and drive.

Fortunately, this time the whole sce-nario was fake, and no one was reallykilled, but the impact on the witnesses wasnearly the same as it would be in real life.

The mock crash and emergencyresponse staged on April 27 on the recre-ation fields near the high school weremeant to show the students from SomersHigh School the dangers of drinking anddriving. It was used as a reminder for themto stay safe during their upcoming promweekend.

“We go into this exercise every otheryear with the hopes that by the studentsactually seeing the devastation, the amountof rescue personnel, their friends injured –all of this will impact enough students tomake them think twice before getting intoa vehicle after drinking, and even more so,getting into a vehicle with someone whohas been drinking,” said SADD (StudentsAgainst Destructive Decisions)Coordinator Tammy Bley-Gowash.

"There are more than 40 rescue workers,firefighters, ambulance personnel, andpoliceman who were involved with thisexercise, and that is about what it takes fora real accident.”

On April 26, one student was pulled outof class every 33 minutes. The number wasmeant to signify that one person dies dueto a car crash every 33 minutes of the day.The students chosen as the victims hadtheir faces painted white and wore blackclothes. When the students returned toclass, they were not allowed to talk to theirfriends, as a way to show the students thatshould their friends die in a car accident,they will never be able to talk to themagain.

“It was very emotional,” said Caitlyn, astudent. “My friends could not talk to methe rest of the day. It was lonely. I’ll neverwear that prom dress or get my diploma orgo to college or get married or have a fam-ily. They would all be broken dreams.”

According to SAMHSA's NationalSurvey on Drug Use & Health, during thepast month (30 days), 26.4 percent ofunderage persons (ages 12-20) used alco-hol, and binge drinking among the sameage group was 17.4 percent.

Alcohol use remains extremely wide-


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Students Learn Sobering Lesson from Mock Fatal Car Crash

STATISTICS/page 25

18th ANNUAL

PLANT SALESaturday, May 19th - 8 a.m. till Noon

At Grower Direct, 164 Hampden Road, Somers, CT

Somers Beautification will hold itsThe sale will

only be open to the public for this

one day.

Grower Direct, our local wholesale plant grower, will open its multiple greenhouses for this one morningwhere you may view and purchase plants from this wonderland of flowers. You may purchase beautiful,healthy plants for your yard or to give as gifts while you support the work of the volunteers who keep thepublic areas of Somers colorful and attractive. Pell Farms will have shrubs and trees available. Meadow-brook Farms will bring young vegetable plants for your gardens. There will also be selections of perennialsas well as acres of annuals in every size. Full and partial annual trays will be available.

Please come to the plant sale, enjoy a free cup of coffee and doughnut, meet members of

Somers Beautification, Grower Direct, Somers High School Beta Club, Somers Fire Department,

and purchase beautiful plants for your enjoyment all year.



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spread among today’s teenagers. Nearlythree quarters of students (72 percent)

have consumed alcohol (more than just afew sips) by the end of high school, andmore than a third (37 percent) have doneso by eighth grade.

Past-month alcohol use rates declinedbetween 2002 and 2008 for those ages 12-13 (4.3 percent to 3.4 percent), 14 or 15(16.6 percent to 13.1 percent), 16 or 17(32.6 percent to 26.2 percent), and 18-20(51.0 percent to 48.7 percent).

In 2008, 56.2 percent of current under-age drinkers (ages 12-20) reported thattheir last use of alcohol occurred in some-one else’s home; 29.6 percent reported thatit occurred in their own home; and amongunderage drinkers (ages 12-20), 30.8 per-cent paid for the alcohol the last time theydrank – including 8.3 percent who pur-chased the alcohol themselves and 22.3percent who gave money to someone elseto purchase it. Among those who did notpay for the alcohol they drank, 37.4 per-cent got it from an unrelated person oflegal drinking age; 21.1 percent received itfrom a parent, guardian, or other adultfamily member.

Statistics Reveal Teen Drinking and Useage Problems(continued from page 24)

Caitlin, one of the Somers High Schoolstudents portraying a drunk driver, isarrested and placed into a State Policevehicle.

1st Dep. Chief Frank Falcone Jr. talks to Caitlyn and assesses her injuries after shewas ejected from the back window of the vehicle during the Mock Car Crash atSomers High School on April 27. Photos by Barbra O’Boyle


SOMERS - Music Studio 307 hasannounced that tickets for the Desiree’Bassett concert on Saturday, June 2, atJoanna's are now available for purchase.An Ashford native, Desiree’ tours with theBoston Legends, and is the lead guitaristfor the Michael Jackson Immortal worldtour 2011-2012.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 atthe door.

Bassett was born in New Haven. In2005, age 12 was major for Desiree. Shewas voted Talent America’s Musician ofthe Year in New York City. She was theninvited to play on the side stage at Ozzfestin Hartford. At the Ozzfest performanceshe met Rob Zombie, the Playstation spon-sors, The Haunted, and As I Lay Dying.

After these successes, Desiree’ startedplaying at open mics around Connecticutwith some of the local blues greats andnational players, gaining recognitionamong them.

At 13, she played at an outdoor party inher home town of Ashford, where she wasthe featured artist. Desiree’ played forsome of the best musicians in the area,some of whom offered their services asband members.

This group is made up bassist DavidStoltz, a former member of the DickeyBetts Band, and Robert L. Gottfried, whois nationally recognized. In November,Desiree’ prepared and presented herself fora showcase at the Hungry Tiger inManchester.

At age 15, Desiree’ was given theopportunity to sit in with the MarshallTucker Band at a benefit concert inWillimantic, even though she was original-ly placed to sit in with the Shaboo All

Stars. She played with them for almost theentire set, only having to give RickDerringer the opportunity to play withthem on a song.


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SOMERS FARMERS’ MARKETreturning for 6th year to SOMERS CENTER, corner of Main and Battle Sts.

Looking for interested Specialty Vendors, Organic Farm Vendors, Woodworker, Community Groups and Volunteers to participate.

Contact Ann Levesque 860-749-2630

Opening Saturday, May 510 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Saturday, October 19th

Maple Syrup, Honey, Eggs, Rhubarb, Herbs, Potted Plants, Hanging Baskets, Spring Plants as well as several Specialty Crafters.

SOMERS - On Tuesday, May 22, at 7p.m., Somers resident Culver Modisette, aDartmouth College graduate, Navy Veteran,and Alaskan guide, will present his new bookHonored Enemy.

Modisette developed sympathy for theNative American Indians and their extremepoverty. His book is the story of theComanche, Kiowa and Cheyenne tribes inthe Southwest in the late 1800s. Ten years inthe referencing and writing, the book

recounts the battle of the Indians to preventthe slaughter of their buffalo herds and theusurpation of their homelands by white set-tlers and land sharks.

The book sheds light on little-knownevents of the era, culminating in Quanah’sfriendship with President TheodoreRoosevelt. Everyone is welcome to attend.There is no admission charge. The meetingtakes place at Kibbe Fuller CommunityCenter, 9 Battle St., Somers.

Author Will Address Somers Historical Society


Welcome back to the Sunday Drive, thecolumn that aspires to inspire you to get yourmotor running and head out on the highwayto some of the region’s lesser known haunts.

As promised, we begin this month’ssojourn with a trek to Norfolk, Conn’sInfinity.

Now, by all outwardappearances, IMDB listingsand bank statements, KevinCostner has it all.

But as revealed in a seriesof anecdotes during his April11 Infinity Hall (infinity-hall.com) performance with his band,Modern West, even a Tinseltown titan is notimmune to misunderstandings with offspring,woman woes and daddy issues.

“I was working all of these odd jobs, andmy father was constantly on me: 'Whatchagonna do with your life?’ ” he recalled as theband vamped behind him. “And when I final-ly told him I wanted to be an actor, I couldsense he was worried for me, embarrassed forme. I think there’s almost something biblicalabout fathers and sons, the father’s desire to

help them achieve their dream...and he knewhe couldn’t help me with this. But I did it,then I told him I wanted to direct. He said‘You know, this acting thing is going prettygood, buster. Why do you want to take achance and mess it up now?’ Then I knew Iwanted to make music, and I didn't even tellDad. I figured he’d find out like everyone

else—and I’d be 90miles an hour down theroad already, the title ofthis next song.”

Other tunes like“Indian Summer” and“Let Me Be The One”

proved equally palatable, with passable per-formances by all—with the notable excep-tions of violinist Bobby Yang and Costner'sdaughter Lily on vocals, both of whom weredownright exceptional.

The poignant “I Know These Hills” was aparticular standout, and one that Costner saysmay be featured in his upcoming Hatfield &McCoys miniseries, airing in 2013 on theHistory Channel.

“People think of the beards and fightingand [think] these were somehow ignorant

people,” Costner says of the infamous feud-ing families. “But these were soldiers whohad fought together in the Confederate Army.And they say it’s silly, neighbors fightingover a pig ... Well, a pig fed a family for 30days. There are people who take their neigh-bors to court now because the addition totheir house partially obstructs their view ofthe ocean.”

Adding to the Infinity experience is theBisto - the perfect stop for a pre-concert din-ner or post-show hors d’oeuvres. Officiallyopened on May 1, 2009, the Bistro - under thedirection of Executive Chef Dan Fortin -serves up an ambitious array of modernAmerican sandwiches, salads and entrees.Small plates run the gamut from daikonradish adorned ‘Crispy Calamari’ to the tran-scedent ‘Lobster Hushpuppies’ - replete withpobalno peppers and creole remoulade.

In other news.. it was a steamy Julyevening at the MGM Grand at Foxwoodsback in 2008. Ex-Van Halen frontmanSammy Hagar had just invited local guitaristDesiree Bassett onstage to unleash her muchballyhooed fretboard fireworks amidst abackdrop of Led Zep’s “Rock N’ Roll.”

True to form, the then-15-year-old wun-derkind did not disappoint.

“Somebody put that on YouTube!” Hagardeclared at jam’s end.

Somebody did, and to date, more than onemillion people have watched it.

But perhaps no viewers would have such abearing on the E.O. Smith High School grad-uate’s future than the small team of peoplewho viewed it from a particular office of notein Canada.


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continued, PAGE 28Busch


“Sure, we still get resumes from people allthe time,” Cirque Du Soleil’s MaximeCharbonneau tells the Sunday Driver, seatedacross from Bassett in the Hartford Hiltonlobby, “but we are definitely finding anincreasing amount of our talent on YouTube,yes. I mean, you can describe what you do -how you perform - in words all day long, butthere is truly nothing like seeing it. So, yes,we surf around even and say, ‘Look at thisguy....we gotta have him.’ ”

At the time, the Cirque casting team wason the lookout for members of its upcomingMichael Jackson: Immortal production. Andwhen they happened upon a few Bassett

uploads, they knew they had filled their six-string void.

“I remember my father took the phone call,and he sat me down and said ‘Desiree, youhave just been presented an amazing oppor-tunity,’ ” Bassett says.

Her father - now manager - Daniel andmother Myrna were instrumental in her musi-cal mastery of...well, instruments, she adds.They bought her her first guitar, a half-sizedLotus, at the age of 2. A full scale IbanezRoadstar by 5.

“My father played, too, so we would playtogether and he would show me things backthen,” she recalls with a smile. “I think it wasaround age 8, when I entered this talent showand how I taught myself to play Joe Satriani’s

‘Always With You, Always With Me,’ that heknew this was more than a hobby for me.”

Bassett would go on to not only meet heridol, Joe Satriani, but share stages with mem-bers of Living Colour, The Allman BrothersBand and Aerosmtih, to name a choice few.

For now, though, she says she is bothenjoying and learning from her currentCirque experience.

“Of course, production is amazing andeverything has to go off like clockwork,” sheconcludes. “But still, the music team didallow a few little pockets in the program

where I can be Desiree and work my ownsolos.”

Cirque Du Soleil’s Michael Jackson:Immortal tour comes to the XL Center(xlcenter.com) in Hartford on May 2 and 3.On Saturday, June 2, she will utilize the occa-sion of a Cirque night off to play a Somersshow at Joanna’s Cafe with her own band,Desiree & The Time Machine.

For more information on the latter, kindlypoint your browser to dbassett.com

Send your ‘Sunday Drive’ suggestions to:[email protected]


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continued from page 27

Stay tuned nextinstallment whenthe Sunday Driverwill chronicle hisrecent stay atAmherst’s historicLord Jeffery Inn.General ManagerRobert Reevesdetailed the proper-ties’ massivemakeover and pro-vided an in-depthlook at its crowningjewel - the 30Boltwood eatery.


SOMERS - The Somers Women’s Clubis celebrating its 90th anniversary with achronological display of the club’s activi-ties and accomplishments from its forma-tion in 1921 to the present. The display ison display at the Blake Center in the

Somers Public Library until April 11 dur-ing regular library hours.

Founded by Mrs. Walter Bliss and sup-ported by hundreds of female residentsthrough the years, the club has consistent-ly lived up to its motto, “To promote the

physical, the moral, and the intellectuallife of the home and community.”

As the town of Somers grew from arural community of 1,782 to a populationof over 9,000, the Somers Women’s Clubhas been sensitive to local needs andhelped wherever possible. Beginning withits original donation to purchase librarycards, then cooking and serving hot lunch-es to students in the 1920s, moving on to adrive during the 1930s to create a firedepartment and assisting with the purchaseof the town’s first fire truck, the members

have worked diligently raising funds andproviding assistance during the previous90 years.

The group was instrumental in organiz-ing the Visiting Nurses Association, theGirl Scout Troop, the PTA, and the Friendsof the Library. Since 1957, yearly collegescholarships have been awarded to gradu-ating high school seniors. To appeal to ayounger generation, a local JunioretteClub was formed and accepted into theGeneral Federation of Women’s Clubs in2010.


SomersSomers

At the reception held for the Somers Women's Club on March 31 at the Somers PublicLibrary to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Somers Women's Club. Seated,Charlotte Stopa and Jane Barbieri, long-time members and former presidents of theSomers Women's Club. Standing, Karen Anderson, current president of the club

Somers Women’s Club Celebrates 90 Years of Serving Others

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ENFIELD - Asnuntuck CommunityCollege and Hayes Racing Group will besponsoring the college’s inaugural carshow on Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m.to 3:30 p.m. Asnuntuck is a partner withthe Hayes Racing Group for its No. 9NASCAR Limited Late Model car thatraces at Stafford Motor Speedway.

The free show, to be located onAsnuntuck’s front lawn, will feature theHayes Racing Group’s new car, as well asother muscle cars, including cars fromMark’s Auto Club. Asnuntuck’s fall 2011marketing class did a full marketing analy-sis for the racing group and this semesterACC’s Advertising and Promotions classis working on promoting the inaugural carshow. The day-long event will be gearedfor all ages.

Advanced tickets to Stafford Motor

Speedway will also be on sale at the show.Individual tickets will be sold for $13,with a two-pack priced at $25 and a four-pack available for $49. A percentage of theticket price is being donated to AsnuntuckCommunity College’s Foundation for stu-dent scholarships.

The comedy movie “Talladega Nights:The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” and Disney’sanimated film “Cars” will also be featuredon the big screen in ACC’s auditorium andCafé 2 during the car show with free pop-corn being served.

The following weekend, on May 18, thecollege will be sponsoring a VIP Event atthe Speedway with proceeds benefitingACC’s Foundation. For information onsponsorship opportunities for that event,contact Chris Casey from Chris CaseyConcepts at 860-698-6267.

ACC to Sponsor Inaugural Car Show



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On Saturday, April 14, Three Graces Boutique and Gallery held an Opening Receptionwelcoming all of its artists’ works. Three Graces offers original paintings, photogra-phy, jewelry, carvings, handcrafted furniture, prints and much more by talented localand regional artists, as well as vintage clothing for men and women. The shop is openWednesday – Thursday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday 10-5, Saturday 11-5 and Sundaysfrom 11a.m.-3 p.m., and is located at 68 Main St., Stafford Springs. Owner, Lisa Tumelstands between her two daughters, Reanna and Melissa.

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StaffordStaffordOpening Day

of Softball in Stafford

SpringsFather/Coach Todd with his daugh-ter/player Abbey of Stafford Little Leaguesoftball Majors league team Thunder onOpening Day, April 21, at Hyde Park.

Stafford’s First SelectmanRichard Shuck also helpedkick off the season.

Photos byAmy

Hartenstein

Rachel Gallison, one ofthe pitchers on theStafford Little Leaguesoftball senior team theRiptide, in action.

State RepresentativePenny Bacchiochi throwsout a ceremonial firstpitch during the StaffordLittle League softballopening day ceremonieson April 21 at Hyde Parkin Stafford. Behind her isState Senator TonyGuglielmo, who alsothrew out a pitch.


To the Editor:What an assault on the arts and a cre-

ative vision of Stafford. The Board ofSelectmen has chosen to annihilate theStafford Arts Commission in its actions toreduce the budget. Rather than spreadingthe reductions amongst many commis-sions, the selectmen targeted the ArtsCommission by reducing its budget from$17,210 to $5,000. Other commissionshave proposed reductions of only 9 percentwhile the Stafford Arts Commission budg-et was slashed by over 70 percent. Whilethe selectmen may have several rationali-zations for this inequity, it can have no jus-tification.

The inequity and short sightedness ofthis action is staggering. Here is a com-mission that has flourished and signifi-

cantly expanded the number, variety andquality of artistic venues offered to thecommunity. The commission has madeevery effort to bring events to all areas ofthe town, thus promoting local business.The events sponsored have brought affir-mative attention to the town, includingprominent news articles shining a positivelight on Stafford.

It is, unfortunately, an easy road to sac-rifice the arts. The selectmen seem to be amember of the thoughtless power elite (i.e.those who have little vision for what is cre-ative, thought provoking and challenging).

To quote the poet Adrienne Rich, “Ibelieve in art’s social presence-as breakerof official silence, as a voice for thosewhose voices are disregarded, and as ahuman birthright. In the end, I don’t think

we can separate art from overall humandignity and hope.”

Shame on you, Board of Selectmen.

Chris White16 Crystal Lake Rd.Stafford Springs, CT


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Budget Decision on Hold Pending Two Boards’ DiscussionBy Linda Tishler Levinson

STAFFORD — The budget is on hold.Following the second public hearing on the proposed

town budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year on April 23, theBoard of Education requested a meeting with the Board ofFinance. A meeting to discuss the school budget with theFinance Board is set for 7 p.m. May 2 at the StaffordCommunity Center. With that delay, no date has been setfor the Annual Town Meeting.

As of April 9, the Board of Education had been seekinga $849,008 or 3.3 percent increase over the current$24,830,913 school budget. The largest increase was inthe Personnel Services-Benefits account, which would

increase by $247,354 or 6 percent over the current$4,306,309 budget.

Superintendent of Schools Patricia Collin said in herbudget presentation that much of the proposed increaseresults from a loss of the Education Jobs Fund Grant thisyear. She said that a tax increase of $1,422,572 or a 5.7percent increase would be needed to offset the loss of the$537,564 grant, as well as other cost increases to theschool system.

“Prior to this request, there has been a taxable increaseof only $342,551 to the Stafford Public Schools budgetsince June 30, 2009,” she said in the presentation.

The school board cut is budget proposal by $248,172

on Feb. 27. The largest savings came from staff retire-ments, a reduction of $80,000 and the elimination of anew maintenance position at $46,000.

On the General Government side of the budget, thetown is seeking a budget of $8,244,294, a reduction of$200,000 from the original budget proposal. The DebtService budget proposal remains at $2,299,903 and thePublic Library budget at $514,153.

The total Board of Selectmen budget proposal is$11,058,350, compared to $10,621,058, the approvedexpenditures for the current fiscal year, a difference of$437,292 or 4.1 percent.

Selectmen Took the Easy Road to ‘Annihilate’ the Arts Commission



StaffordStaffordDecision to Cut Arts Funding with Discussion was Wrong

To the Editor:Times have been harder than many peo-

ple can ever remember. Many are workinglonger hours, but actually have less moneyto show for it at the end of the day.

More and more communities are pullingtogether, bonding around common issuesof everyday life. Neighbors are findingthat they have each other to depend on -politicians, not so much. Recently, the

Stafford Town Selectman, Richard Shuck,decided to slash the Stafford ArtsCommission budget, severely, without theconsideration of that action on the peopleof the town that elected him.

For many, many years the ArtsCommission has provided quality exhibits,concerts, coffeehouses, workshops, trips,comedy shows, plays, and much, muchmore, all for FREE.

The members of the Arts Commissionwork tirelessly-no volunteer, so that thepeople of Stafford are offered outstandingopportunities to experience many and var-ied artistic events.

Not only was the Arts Commissionbudget slashed, it was done without dis-cussion with, or input from theChairperson, or any other members of theArts Commission. Now, Mr. Shuck, that

seems downright UN-neighborly, doesn'tit?

Many people in town depended on thefree events that allowed them to have somefamily fun, despite the fact that they hadlittle to no money. The various workshopsand artist's receptions allowed our localtalent a venue.

The outdoor concerts and fall festival inthe park provided hours of safe, familyentertainment for those who might not oth-erwise have any, and showcased local tal-ent as well. Is this good for a community?Apparently, the Selectman felt otherwise... Well, I guess we can stay home andthink about the next Board of Selectmanelection...

Sundai Barahona Lawrence1 Greaves Rd. WestStafford Springs, Ct.

Support Walk for Lupus Now Chair from StaffordSTAFFORD - Sunday, May 20, is this

year’s Walk for Lupus Now in West Hartfordto benefit the Lupus Foundation of America(LFA) CT Chapter and one local resident isactive in the cause as its chair.

“I was diagnosed with lupus about fouryears ago and my life hasn't been the samesince. My family, friends and I walk and raisemoney to help Lupus Awareness and to helpresearch for a cure. I am the Chairperson forthe West Hartford Walk and would like toinvite anyone who would be interested to vol-unteer at this year's event. Please contact meif you are interested,” said Natalie Oullet ofStafford Springs.

Last year's event raised more than $45,000allowing the CTLFA to provide educationand support services to people living withlupus, and support much needed lupusresearch. Lupus is an acute and chronic (life-long) autoimmune disease in which theimmune system is unbalanced, causinginflammation and tissue damage.

Making a difference starts with one step. Ifyou have a family member or friend who suf-fers from this debilitating disease, you canshow your support through this fundraiser tohelp them. There is hope on the horizon, andwith your help we can find better treatmentsand a cure for lupus.

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After having spent a couple days at theNew York International Auto Show mediadays recently, I've come away with a fewimpressions. OEMs are really focusing onfuel efficiency, design, and technology likenever before.

Here's a look at some of the more com-pelling models from the show, which is thelast major auto show in the U.S. until theLos Angeles Show inNovember. Maybe if I play mycards right, I'll be giving youan update in seven months’time from the L.A. show.

Chevrolet Impala

This is an important newmodel for Chevrolet becausethe Impala is a popular car.The Impala was America’sbest-selling full-size sedan in2011, with sales of more than 171,000,which also made it one of the 10 best-sell-ing cars overall in the United States.

Normally, it would be risky tomakeover such a high-volume car butChevrolet needed to do something. TheImpala had a bland exterior and interior.Improvements to both will, I hope, removethe rental-car-fleet stigma from theImpala, truly an iconic nameplate, andmake it a car people want to park in theirdriveways and not just in hotel parking lotswhen traveling for business.

Lincoln MKZ

The Impala isn't trying to resuscitate theChevrolet brand but the Lincoln MKZ is.Time will tell if the American buying pub-lic embraces the new MKZ, which hasstunning touches like a front grille inspiredby a bird's wings and beautiful wrap-around LED taillights.

This is a car that is going to look beau-tiful coming or going, but is it going to beenough to stand out from a crowded pack

of competitors? Lincoln needs it to. As oneauto journalist I respect put it, “Why buy aLincoln when you can buy a Ford thatlooks like an Aston Martin?” One Fordexec I spoke to didn’t entirely refute thatclaim.

Nissan Altima

This is another big seller for Nissan.Make that Nissan's biggest seller. Also, it

was the second best-selling carin the United States in 2011.(Silver Nissan Altimas are theunofficial car of GreaterHartford it seems.) So, whatdoes Nissan do with this bigseller? They turn it into anamazingly fuel-efficient sedanthat gets 38 mpg on the high-way from the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine.

It also features something calledNASA-inspired “zero-gravity” seats,whatever that means, as well as next-gen-eration Safety Shield Technologies,including blind spot warning, lane depar-ture warning and moving object detectionsystems. All for what seems like a greatstarting price of $21,500.

Hyundai Santa Fe

I'm including the Santa Fe because Ithink it's one of the more comfortablecrossovers on the market. Now the goodnews is there are two versions: five-pas-senger and seven-passenger. Hyundai hasintroduced a long-wheelbase version ofthe Santa Fe that should be an absolutemonster when it comes to interior space.

The standard Santa Fe will have 108.0cubic feet while the LWB version has146.6 cubic feet. Total interior volume isgoing to be 143 cubic feet vs. 160 cubicfeet. This is going to be a massive five-passenger crossover for the family thatlikes to it the road for vacations.

Mazda Mazda6

Mazda got a good whack with theunlucky stick when it introduced theMazda6 back in 2008 when the secondgeneration was introduced. The economystarted to tank and then competing carcompanies like Hyundai and Kia intro-duced midsize sedans that were betterlooking and more fuel-efficient. A greatsedan soon became overlooked.

That's going to change. Mazda showedoff the Takeri concept at the New Yorkshow that is going to be the 2014 Mazda6.Sure, that sounds a long way off butaccording to Mazda, the new Mazda6 is

going to be debut early in 2013. That's notthat long to wait for what is going to be astunning sedan. Put your deposits down.

Honda Crosstour

For the 2014 model year (it goes on salethis fall), the Honda Crosstour features amore capable, SUV-like styling directionfor Honda's mid-size crossover. Therevised tailgate sports a more horizontaldesign to add visual width to the sculptedlines at the rear of the Crosstour. Plus, theV6 engine gets better fuel economy.Maybe this styling refurbishment and bet-ter fuel economy will finally get theCrosstour the respect it deserves.


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