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In This Issue• EAST WINDSOR: Cash-strappedlibrary’s turn to borrow? ............p. 4• A gift from the Better Business Bureauon return and exchange strategies ..p. 6• ELLINGTON: Superintendent castsvote against booths in schools ......p. 7• ENFIELD: Who can the town’s myste-rious Recycler be? ........................p. 13• ENFIELD: Asnuntuck CC “ChangingLives” every Thursday................p. 14• SOMERS: Cool beans! A benefitChili Cookoff in January ............p. 17

• SUNDAY DRIVE: Local blogger says‘Ciao!’ to Italian wine ..............p. 25• Don’t get burned; advice on properfirewood purchasing ......................p. 26• State warns against scammers pos-ing as charities ............................p. 26• STAFFORD: Holiday decorationcontest winners shine ................p. 28• STAFFORD: Mold mitigation hastown police on the move ..........p. 30• AUTOS: Beetle Convertible warms upto winter months ........................p. 33• CLASSIFIEDS: ...........................p.35

• NEXT ISSUE •DEADLINE: Jan. 25, 2013

(860) 698-0020www.thenorthcentralnews.com

Wolters Visits Stafford Middle SchoolNeil Hoss, a selectman and president of youth basketball, invited former UConn and gold medalist basketball player Kara Woltersto Stafford Middle School on Dec. 14 to run a clinic for the SMS girls basketball team, as well as the St. Edwards and youth bas-ketball travel girls. After learning many techniques and drills from Kara, she spoke to all the girls and let them all look at andhold her gold medal. The girls all got autographed pictures from Kara at the end of the clinic.

Schools FareWell on NewTest Index

By Linda Tishler LevinsonSchools in North Central Connecticut

generally fared well on the SchoolPerformance Index, the newest measure ineducational performance instituted by thestate Department of Education.In May, the state received a waiver on

the federal No Child Left Behind Act’srequirement that schools make adequateyearly progress. In its place, the GeneralAssembly adopted a Common Core ofStandards for education this summer. TheSchool Performance Index is part of thatinitiative.Scores are based on three years of stu-

dents’ scores on the Connecticut MasteryTest and the Connecticut AcademicPerformance Test. The EducationDepartment released the performanceindex in December. Scores on the indexrange from 1 to 100.According to the stateEducation Department, the state target is88. Goals are set for improvement basedon current scores.The index comes with a higher standard

for schools. While NCLB sought for thestudents to reach the proficient level on

SCHOOLS/page 3

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the mastery test, the index aims for thegoal level.

East WindsorEast Windsor Superintendent of

Schools Teresa Kane said, “We sawgrowth in all of our schools last year”using the SPI. She said the scores demon-strated a dramatic increase over the three-year period.The scores did designate Broad Brook

Elementary School as a focus school forblack students. Overall, Broad Brook stu-dents scored 70.6 on the index. Next year’sgoal has been set for 72.East Windsor Middle School received a

three-year SPI of 77.3 with a target of78.2.The three-year average SPI for East

Windsor High School was 70.7. The targetSPI for the 2012-13 school year was set at72.1.Kane said the overall scores show that

the school’s academic improvement plansare working.

Ellington“Overall, we’re pleased with the

scores,” Ellington Superintendent ofSchools Stephen Cullinan said.“I think the system is better than the

previous system,” he said, since it meas-ures multiple bands, not just movingtoward proficient.Cullinan also said that while the state

target for some schools is to maintain theirscores, the schools will continue to workto improve.Center School received a three-year

average SPI of 85.1 with a target of 85.4.Crystal Lake School received a three-yearaverage SPI of 84.4 with a target of 84.7.Windermere School received a three-yearaverage SPI of 89.7 with a target to main-tain the score.Windermere Intermediate School

received a three-year average SPI of 92.2with a target to maintain the score.Ellington Middle School received a three-

year average SPI of 92.4 with a target tomaintain the score. Ellington High Schoolreceived a three-year average SPI of 83.3with a target SPI of 83.7.

EnfieldAnne McKernan, chief academic offi-

cer for the Enfield Public Schools, saidthat all of Enfield’s schools scored in fair-ly comparable positions. She said thegreatest differences were in the SPIs of thetwo high schools.Edgar H. Parkman School received a

three-year average SPI of 87.3 with a tar-get to maintain. Eli Whitney Schoolreceived a three-year average SPI of 84.7with a target of 85. Nathan Hale Schoolreceived a three-year average SPI of 81.2with a target of 81.7. Prudence CrandallSchool received a three-year average SPIof 85.5 with a target of 85.8.John F. Kennedy Middle School

received a three-year average SPI of 84.4with a target of 84.7.Enfield High School received a three-

year average SPI of 71.2 and a target of72.6, while Fermi High school received athree-year average SPI of 77.3 and a targetof 78.1.

SomersKathleen Pezza, curriculum director for

the Somers Public Schools, said the scoreswill be used to help principals put togethertheir building goals. She said the middleschool made targets in all subject areas andwas “very successful.”Somers Elementary School received a

three-year average SPI of 83.1 with a tar-get of 83.5. Mabelle B. Avery MiddleSchool received a three-year average SPIof 90.7 with a goal to maintain. SomersHigh School received a three-year averageSPI of 86.9 with a target of 87.

StaffordStafford Public Schools Curriculum

Director Michael Bednarz said he will usethe targets as part of each school’simprovement plan. “It certainly is impor-tant data,” he said, adding in future yearsthey will be able to use them in context asthey get comparisons within each schoolto measure progress.Stafford Elementary School received a

three-year average SPI of 81.6 with a tar-get of 82.1. Stafford Middle Schoolreceived a three-year average SPI of 91.1with a target to maintain. Stafford HighSchool received a three-year average SPIof 82 with a target of 82.5.

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January 2013 North Central News 3

RegionalRegionalSchools Pleased With Results of State Test

(continued from page 1)

Library OffersNursery RhymeProgram

ENFIELD - On Tuesday, Jan. 8 at6:30 p.m. the Enfield Public Librarywill host a half-hour program of nurs-ery rhymes, songs, and finger plays.This is a drop-in program that isdesigned to promote early languageskills for ages birth to 2, accompaniedby parents or caregivers.Please call the library at 860-763-

7518 for more details or visit thelibrary’s website: www.enfield publi-clibrary.org.


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By Linda Tishler LevinsonEAST WINDSOR — The Warehouse Point Library

may need town funding to continue its operations.Cindy Miller, trustee of the Library Association of

Warehouse Point, spoke at the Dec. 4 Board ofSelectmen’s meeting. According to the minutes of themeeting, Miller said while the library traditionally hasbeen funded by a $1.5 million endowment, this no longer

provides adequate support for the library’s needs. She said expenses have been rising over the years, and

it is becoming difficult to sustain its expenses.In addition to the endowment, Miller said the library

holds fundraisers, the proceeds of which are used to buybooks.Discussions about the library’s needs involved ways

the town might be able to assist, including letting the

library piggyback on the town computer upgrade and pur-chasing with the town to gain savings.The selectmen asked the library association to return

during budget presentations. They also asked the group tocontact the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities toresearch how towns comparable to East Windsor fundtheir libraries.

Library Asks Town for Ongoing Support Due to Shortfall

EAST WINDSOR - On Monday, Nov.26, the East Windsor Lions Club presenteda check for $1,000 to the CT Lions LowVision Centers. The check was part of theproceeds of the East Windsor Lions Club’sinaugural Bike Ride For Sight, the Tour deEast Windsor, which was held on Sunday,Sept. 30. The Tour de East Windsor is a non-com-

petitive, community bike ride, whichoffers organized rides of varying lengths toride participants over low-traffic, ruralroads in East Windsor and Broad Brook.The ride lengths offered for this inauguralride were 20 miles, 10 miles, and 5 miles,all starting and finishing at the EastWindsor Park on Reservoir Road. The 30riders who participated in this year’s ride,from 9 years of age up to 68 years of age,along with significant support from the

former New England Bank (now known asUnited Bank), enabled the club to raisemore than $2,800 from this event for thesight-related causes it supports. Since the club’s founding in 1953, its

members have diligently worked onfundraising events to benefit sight relatedcauses. The club has sponsored eyescreening available to the public, providedlarge print books to the East WindsorPublic Library, and provided eyeglasses toresidents in need. In addition, the club hassupported the CT Lions Eye ResearchCenter at Yale University, the FidelcoGuide Dog Foundation, and the CT LionsLow Vision Centers. Lions Low Vision Centers, which are

located in Bristol, Danbury, New Britain,New Haven, Stamford and Torrington,teach visually impaired persons new ways

to use their remaining eyesight. They pro-vide aids and devices that can increase

their independence and ease their daily liv-ing activities.

Tour de East Windsor Raises $1000 for Lions Low Vision Centers

EAST WINDSOR – The East WindsorParks and Recreation Department hasannounced the following programs.Outdoor Skating Rink: The portable

skating rink will be located on the northside of the East Windsor High School.This facility will be available for use bypeople of all ages, and provides a free fam-ily recreational activity. The rink is available after school hours

during the week, and during the evening aswell. The rink is also available at any timeduring the weekends, or during schoolvacation. Check with the Parks andRecreation Department for the openingdate.Winter Yoga: Classes will be held at

East Windsor High School in Room D-4from 6:15 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday classeswill be held Jan. 7 to March 11 with noclass on Jan. 21 and Feb. 18. Wednesdayclasses will be held Jan. 9 to March 6 with

no class on Feb. 20. The cost of this program is: residents

$25 once a week or $40 twice a week;non-residents $30 once a week or $45twice a week. Registration is through the Parks and

Recreation Office or online with itsWebster Bank Payment link. Please call860-627-6662 with any questions.Winter Zumba: Classes are being held

at the Town Hall Annex from 6 p.m.-7p.m. Monday classes will be held fromJan. 7 to Feb. 25. Wednesday classes willbe held from Jan. 9 to Feb. 27.Registration is through the Parks andRecreation Office, or online with itsWebster Bank Payment link. Please call860-627-6662 with questions. The cost of this program is: residents

$35 once a week or $60 twice a week;non-residents $40 once a week or $65twice a week; daily walk-ins are $5.

Winter Programs Offered by Parks and Recreation Department

Expires 1/31/13 Expires 1/31/13

ELLINGTON - The 2013 TaxPreparation Program is being held at theTown of Ellington Human ServicesDepartment (Arbor Common in the con-ference room). Appointments will beginThursday, February 7 and end onThursday, April 11. Appointment timesare 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (last appointmenttaken). You must pre register for this pro-gram. Sign-up is at the Ellington SeniorCenter. Call (860) 870-3133 to secureyour appointment time.

A Lunch & Learn program is scheduledon Tuesday, January 22 at 12:30 p.m.Guest speaker is State RepresentativeChristopher Davis who will bring every-one up to date on legislative issues. Sign-up for this program is requested byJanuary 15. Best Buy Technology classes now

forming. Free classes will be held onWednesday afternoons for the followingdates. Basic Computer, Intro – Session 1,Jan. 23, Feb. 13 and 27. Basic Computer,Intro – Session 2, March 13 and 27; April

10. To register, sign up in person at theSenior Center with Sam on Jan. 8 and 16.Pre-registration is required.Calling all Husky Fans! The Senior

Center will be showing selected UCONNMen’s and Women’s Basketball games onthe big screen at the center. Bring yourown sandwich, snack and soft drink andjoin Rich and Desh for a day or night out.Contact the Senior Center for scheduleddates and times of the games. There is also a trip planned for

Saturday, April 27 to the West Point Dress

Parade. West Point Academy CadetReview. These reviews/parades are part ofWest Point tradition and instill disciplineand order within the Corps of Cadets.Lunch is served buffet style at the HotelThayer on the grounds of the U.S. MilitaryAcademy at West Point. The Hotel Thayeris a national historic landmark. Cost ofthis trip is $93.00 per person. Thisincludes all taxes, gratuities. For reservations contact the Ellington

Senior Center in person or call (860) 870-3133.


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VERNON - The ConnecticutAssociation for the Education of YoungChildren recently honored the IndianValley Family YMCA Vernon andRockville Child Care Programs at theirAnnual Connecticut Early ChildhoodProfessional Development Reception.The Indian Valley Family YMCA Child

Care programs in Vernon and Rockvilleare NAEYC Accredited Centers servingchildren age 6 weeks through 6 years old.NAEYC accreditation of programs foryoung children represents the mark ofquality in early childhood education.NAEYC accreditation began in 1985 withthe goal of providing an accrediting sys-tem that would raise the level of earlychildhood programs. Accreditation is a long process where

the center does self evaluation and mustpresent portfolios of work. Assessors fromNAEYC take a full day evaluating more

than a year of work. There are only a fewNAEYC accredited programs in Vernon. The Indian Valley Family YMCA is one

of 12 branches of the YMCA of GreaterHartford. The Indian Valley FamilyYMCA serves children, adults and fami-lies in the towns of East Windsor,Ellington, Enfield, Somers, SouthWindsor, Tolland, Willington, and Vernonwith a full membership facility inEllington, a childcare center in Vernon anda childcare center in the Rockville sectionof Vernon. The YMCA of Greater Hartford is a

non-profit 501 (c) (3) charitable organiza-tion, which served more than 95,000 peo-ple in 33 towns of the Capital Region in2011. For more information about the Indian

Valley Family YMCA and applying forfinancial assistance, please contact LisaReinhardt at 860-871-0008.

YMCA Child Care Centers Honored with Award

Senior Center Offers Tax Help, Trips & More

‘Santa’sLittleHelpers’

Saint Martha Schoolstudents (icturedfrom left-to-right:Asha Patel,Alessandra Good,Emma Palmer,Tanner Guzie, FrankRoberts, and EmilyRougeot) donatedtoys and otherChristmas gifts to area families in need this holiday season. The project was part ofthe school’s “Families 4 Families Project” which combines students from Grades Kthrough 8 into ten ‘families’ to build community and provide service to others.

Not every gift we gave or received overthe holidays is going to fit or be useful.Gift recipients may want to exchange it,get a refund or obtain a store credit for anyone of a variety of reasons. However,Connecticut Better Business Bureaureminds holiday shoppers that there aresteps to take to make the returns processgo smoothly.While retailers are under no obligation

to take back merchandise, most do withsome exceptions, such as hats, intimateapparel and items that are marked downfor clearance. In some cases, a store mayoffer a credit rather than a refund and otherlimitations and exceptions may determinewhat may be returned and under what cir-cumstances. Keeping this in mind, it isvital to know exchange and returns poli-cies before making a gift purchase,whether buying a gift in-store or online.Familiarize yourself with stores’ poli-

cies – The terms, conditions, requirementsand restrictions can vary widely, evenwithin a chain. Some may allow a returnfor no reason at all at any time. Returnspolicies are usually prominently displayedat the checkout counter or on websites ofonline sellers. Print out a copy for your

records. Online gift returns may come at a

cost – Shipping costs for returns to onlinevendors are usually borne by the personmaking the exchange. If you buy an itemfrom a retailer’s online catalog, find outwhether the gift can be returned directly tothe store. Proof of Purchase and Packaging – At

the very least, a receipt is usually requiredto return a gift. Keep all original packag-ing and accessories. If the gift is beingreturned in a sealed or hard shell packagethat has been opened, such as an electron-ic gadget, the store may impose a re-stock-ing or “open box” fee of anywherebetween one percent and 50 percent of itsvalue, because the items cannot be re-soldas new. The highest re-stocking chargesare usually associated with made-to-orderitems.Don’t wait too long - While it is not

necessary to run out to the store the dayafter you receive an unwanted gift, manystores have a limited timeframe from thedate of purchase during which you mayreturn an item. Ask about the length of thegrace period for gift returns.You may require identification - A dri-

ver’s license is the most common type ofidentification needed for a return orexchange. However, other forms of IDmay be accepted, along with your name,address and telephone number to completethe return.The Cooling-Off Rule - The Federal

Trade Commission (FTC) Cooling-OffRule allows consumers to return itemsover $25 within three days of purchase.However, this applies to sales at a locationthat is not the seller’s permanent place ofbusiness. Exemptions and other informa-tion about the Cooling-Off Rule are avail-able on the FTC website. If you run into a problem with a return

at the customer service desk, ask to speakwith a supervisor. In addition, merchantsmay be able to accommodate loyal cus-tomers, or customers with a credit account.Founded in 1928, Connecticut BBB is

an unbiased non-profit organization thatsets and upholds high standards for fairand honest business behavior. BBB helpsconsumers find and recommend business-es, brands and charities they can trust,offers objective advice and a wide range ofeducation on topics affecting marketplacetrust. BBB also offers complaint and dis-pute resolution support for consumers andbusinesses. Today, 114 BBBs serve com-

munities across the U.S. and Canada, eval-uating and monitoring more than threemillion local and national businesses andcharities. For more advice on finding com-panies and businesses, start your searchwith trust at www.bbb.org.


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Monthly Teen WritersWorkshop

ENFIELD - Fiction for Fun, an ongoingwriters’ workshop for teens, will be held atthe Enfield Public Library on the secondTuesday of each month at 4 p.m. Each 90-minute session will introduce teens to top-ics such as planning your plot, developingcharacters, finding the right words, andusing dialogue. No registration required. Participants should be age 12 to 18, but

they do not have to be experienced writersto join this series. Teens of all ability lev-els have benefited from sharing ideas,receiving individual attention, or honingtheir craft. The workshop is conducted byPaula Sharon, a former Enfield residentwho has published her own young adultnovels. For more information about this or

other events for young adults, please callthe Enfield Public Library at (860) 763-7517 or visit the library’s website atwww.enfieldpubliclibrary.org.

By Linda Tishler LevinsonELLINGTON — Superintendent of

Schools Stephen Cullinan wants theschools to stop being the town’s pollingplaces.Having voters going in and out the

schools during the day is a safety issue,Cullinan said. To allow voters access to theschool, the standard security system whichlocks doors automatically must be dis-

abled. This creates a lapse in security whenvoting takes place on a school day. Elington High School and the Crystal

Lake School are currently used for voting.“This was prior to Newtown,” Cullinan

said of the request, noting that he made asimilar suggestion in 2007.During the November elections, a pro-

fessional development day for teachers isscheduled. That way, students are not in

the schools when voting is taking place.“I can’t do it two, three, four, five times

a year,” Cullinan said, adding voting alsotakes place for the townwide budget refer-endum, other referendums and primaryelections.“Please do not misinterpret anything

about not cherishing the voting process,”he said. Instead, he is just asking that thetown investigate other possible venues forthat process.“We know that there are some incon-

veniences and probably some securityconsiderations,” First Selectman MauriceBlanchette said. Blanchette has brought the matter to the

attention of the Board of Selectman and ofresidents through the town newsletter. Heis asking the town to see if there are othersolutions, but questioned if there are any.“There are no great alternatives. They

all come with limitations,” he said. Thereare about 9,400 registered voters in townand few large, nonpublic buildings, headded.

Farm building tax exemptionThe farm building tax exemption was

approved unanimously at a Dec. 10 TownMeeting. The exemption applies to build-ings solely used for farming up to a valueof $100,000. The property must be active-ly used for farming and have expenses orgross receipts of at least $15,000 a year.The exemption would have to be approvedannually for each farmer, most likely withapplications taken in October orNovember.


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Roadrunners Sprint to Championship

On Sunday, Nov. 18, the EllingtonRoadrunners A team defeated theColchester Cougars 14-6 to win theNCFL championship. TheRoadrunners team is made up of 12-13-year-old players from Ellington,Somers, East Windsor and Vernon.This is the team’s sixth NCFL champi-onship in nine years under head coachBrian Skeels.

Superintendent Wants Voting Moved Out of Local Schools

New Women’s Club Members

ELLINGTON – The EllingtonWomen’s Club is happy to welcome twonew members into its community serviceorganization. Members were given theirGFWC membership pins at the Dec. 5meeting. The new members are JoanRobinson and Cheryl Nicewicz. For additional information about The

Ellington Women’s Club, visit its websiteat ellingtonwomensclub.weebly.com,


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The Ellington Ad Hoc Patriotic Committee conducted its third annual ceremony onDec. 15, in participation with the national Wreaths Across America campaign, by plac-ing wreaths on the graves of local veterans. This ceremony provided an opportunity toHonor, Remember, and Teach about the special lives and sacrifices given by our localveterans. The Ellington Women’s Club participated in the event by placing wreaths to

honor three of its family members. Ellington Center Cemetery has more than 450 vet-erans interred who are available for recognition. Pictured, from left, Ellington Ad HocPatriotic Committee (EPC) member Wiley Dumas, Alan Lewandosky, EllingtonWomen’s Club (EWC) member Lenice Ellis, Darlene Hull, Pat Tardif, Lois Goodin,(EPC) Wilson Flynn, David Grim, Jeffrey Martin, and Leonard Johnson.

Remember, Honor and Teach

ELLINGTON - The Indian ValleyFamily YMCA facility in Ellington will beholding a Life Guarding CertificationClass, which will start this month. Ever wanted to learn the skills to save a

life? With the YMCA and American RedCross lifeguard certification courses youcan do just that. Participants will learn lifeguarding skills, how to perform CPR on anadult, child and infant, how to use anAED, and necessary first-aid skills. This six-week class, to be held in the

Y’s Aquatics Center in Ellington, runs Jan.

7 to Feb. 13. For more detailed informa-tion or to register, contact the Y at 860-871-0008 or www.indianvalleyfamily.org.Upon successful completion of the

course the participant will be certified in:• YMCA or American Red Cross Life

guarding • American Red Cross CPR/AED for

the Professional Rescuer• American Red Cross Basic First Aid

and Oxygen AdministrationCost: Y facility members $295, pro-

gram members $335.

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ENFIELD - The Tobacco ValleyTeachers Federal Credit Union (TVTFCU)donated a variety of toys that were collect-ed from credit union members and staff, tothe Enfield Police Department’s Toys forJoy program. This program has provided new toys for

children in the Enfield area for over 56years. Last year more than 1,000 childrenreceived toys due to the charitable dona-tions of this program.“We have been holding a toy drive

annually to support the Toys for Joy pro-gram. I would like to thank our membersand staff as well as non-members for theirgenerosity. We always receive a greatassortment of toys!” said MyrijamMeserve, Manager/CEO, Tobacco ValleyTeachers Federal Credit Union.For more information about the “Toys

for Joy” program contact the EnfieldPolice Department at 860-763-8913.For more information about TVTFCU,

visit their website (www.tvtfcu.org), findthem on Facebook, call them at 860-253-4780 or stop by their office, which is locat-ed at 182 South Rd. in Enfield. TVTFCU is a not-for-profit, member-

owned, financial co-operative that hasbeen serving its members since 1936.Financial services include savings andchecking accounts, youth accounts. onlineaccount management, a variety of loans,mortgages and more. TVTFCU’s field of membership

includes: All public and non-public school

employees who work in the towns ofEnfield, East Windsor, Windsor, Windsor

Locks, Suffield and Somers; Enrico Fermi High School and Enfield

High School students; Employees of Community Health

Resources; and

Employees, commissioners and volun-teers of the Enfield Fire Department.Other members include spouses of per-

sons who died while within the field ofmembership of this credit union, persons

retired as pensioners or annuitants fromthe above employment, members of theirimmediate families and organization ofsuch persons.

Teachers Federal Credit Union Donates to ‘Toys for Joy’

TVTFCU staff members Mireille Marquardt and Carol Love pose with the many toys that were donated by their credit union mem-bers, non-members and staff.

WILLIMANTIC - In 2008, EasternConnecticut State University’s Center forEarly Childhood Education (CECE) wasawarded a three-year, $3.9 million EarlyReading First (ERF) grant from the U.S.Department of Education to implement theCommunity Partners for Early Literacy(CPEL) project. Eastern was one of only31 agencies and public school districtsthroughout the United States to be chosenfor “Early Reading First” grants out ofnearly 400 applicants.In partnership with the Windham Early

Childhood Center (part of the WindhamPublic Schools) and the Child and FamilyDevelopment Resource Center (CFDRC)at Eastern, the CECE provided profession-al development and literacy coaching to 50teachers and paraprofessionals and sup-ported families in engaging in literacyactivities at home. The CPEL program helped approxi-

mately 600 preschool-age children inWillimantic and provided Eastern under-graduate and graduate students from vari-ous majors with important experiential

learning opportunities. The studentsworked as oral language assessors, class-room substitutes and literacy kit managers,and were considered critical to the pro-ject’s success.Danielle Nardone ‘09 of Stafford

Springs, participated as an oral languageassessor and classroom substitute for theproject.Under the leadership of CECE Program

Coordinator Julia DeLapp and MaureenRuby and Ann Anderberg, assistant profes-sors of education, the project worked toimprove the language and literacy skills ofnearly 600 preschool-age children inWillimantic/Windham through an inten-sive, bilingual, family-based language andliteracy preschool intervention program -with impressive results. According to Anderberg, the project

was designed with Windham’s diversecommunity in mind. While Latino resi-dents constituted 13 percent of theConnecticut population in the 2010Census, the percentage of Latino residentsin Willimantic is nearly 40 percent and the

percentage of the school-aged populationthat is Latino exceeds 60 percent.Approximately 37 percent of the town’sresidents speak a language other thanEnglish in the home.At the end of the study, the research

showed positive results. Both the teachersand the paraprofessionals who participatedin the project improved their literacyknowledge by more than 15 percent overthe course of the project.

In addition, the children made tremen-dous gains in their “receptive vocabulary,”“rhyming” and “quality of book reading” -with Spanish-speaking students makingthe most gains. Such findings enabled the researchers to

draw conclusions about lessons learnedfrom the project that can be implementedin preschool classrooms throughout thestate.


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RegionalRegionalNew Promotions Announced at Allied Community ServicesThe Board of Directors of Allied

Community Services Inc., has appointedDean M. Wern as CEO and Carol Bohnetas Chief Operating Officer, effective Nov.26. Each had served in interim roles sinceSeptember for the Enfield-based humanservice agency.Both Wern and Bohnet have extensive

experience at Allied. Wern served as CEOfrom 1988 until his retirement in 2011.Bohnet joined Allied in 1994 as director ofrehabilitation services and was appointedexecutive director of the corporation’sAllied Community Resources (ACR) sub-sidiary in 1999. As COO, she is responsi-

ble for operational oversight of both sub-sidiaries: ACR in East Windsor and AlliedRehabilitation Centers in Enfield.The Allied Board also announced the

promotion of Donald M. Waddell Jr. fromdirector to vice president of financial man-agement services at ACR. Waddell joinedAllied in 2002 as an accounting manager.As vice president of ACR, he is responsi-ble for the administrative and contractualoversight of ACR’s programs and services.Allied has provided services and sup-

ports to children and adults with intellectu-al and other disabilities since 1964.Offices are located in Enfield and East

Windsor; group homes are in those twotowns as well as South Windsor. TheAllied group employs more than 200 staffmembers and has a combined operatingbudget of over $12 million. Services provided by the Allied

Rehabilitation Centers subsidiary includeresidential, employment, day enrichment,school transition, transportation and busi-ness support. Allied operates several busi-nesses including Allied’s Attic ThriftStore, Different by Design Jewelry andAllied Transportation Services, employingprogram participants while providinggoods and services to the community.

Through its Allied CommunityResources subsidiary, the corporation alsosupports several state Medicaid Waiverprograms as a financial management serv-ices agency. ACR provides services tomore than 4,000 individuals annually inConnecticut and Alabama. Their inde-pendence is enhanced through communi-ty-based support services, which allowthem to remain in their own homes andlive in their communities.More information and a further descrip-

tion of Allied’s extensive services can befound at www.alliedgroup.org.

Nardone Assists in ECSU’s Community Early Literacy Program

email your news to [email protected]

WEST WARWICK, RI - CoxCommunications' employees recentlyselected 21 nonprofit organizations toreceive $21,000 in grants as part of itsCox Charities Employee GrantProgram, an extension of the company'sphilanthropic work in the communitieswhere employees live and work.Cox employees have a well-earned

reputation for being ambassadors intheir communities. Annually, employeesare given an opportunity to nominateorganizations throughout Rhode Islandand Connecticut that support educationfor $1,000 Employee Advisory grants.An advisory group comprised of Coxemployees review and rank each of thenominations submitted. The committeeevaluates and ranks each application onseveral key criteria before final selec-

tions are made.“We are proud to support our employ-

ees who donate their time and talent topositively impact our future genera-tions,” said John Wolfe, senior vicepresident and general manager of CoxCommunications New England-Cleveland. “The Cox CharitiesEmployee Advisory grant program isjust one of the many ways Cox remainscommitted to its employees and thecommunities we serve.” Since 2001, Cox Charities New

England has invested more than $5 mil-lion in grants and in-kind services tonon-profit organizations benefiting theyouth and education.The 2012 Cox Charities Employee

Advisory grant recipients are the Boys& Girls Club of Meriden, Connecticut

Autism Spectrum, East Windsor FamilyResource Center, Enfield Loaves andFishes, Family Resource Center ofSouthington, MARC, and the NetworkAgainst Domestic Abuse of NorthCentral CT. Cox Communications is a broadband

communications and entertainmentcompany, providing advanced digitalvideo, Internet and telephone services

over its own nationwide IP network. Thethird-largest U.S. cable TV company,Cox serves approximately six millionresidences and businesses. CoxBusiness is a facilities-based provider ofvoice, video and data solutions for com-mercial customers, and Cox Media is afull-service provider of national andlocal cable spot and new media advertis-ing.


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RegionalRegionalCox Awards 21 Grants to Employee Nominated Organizations

Storm PrepSomers Public works employee Bill Haiko (left) waits in his dump truck asUConn student and Somers Public Works Department part-time employee JohnMachnicki (not pictured) dumps ClearLane enhanced deicer with a bucket loaderat the Somers facility in preparation for the upcoming winter storm that hitConnecticut between the holidays.

Photo by David Butler II


EnfieldEnfield

Foster Parents Needed� e Village for Families and Children is seeking to � nd dedicated and compassionate Foster Parents

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St. Bernard Mitten TreeThe students at St. Bernard School collected hats, gloves, and mittens as part of their school-wide service project for Advent. The donated items will be given to the St. VincentDePaul Society at St. Bernard Church to be distributed with their holiday baskets. Back row, from left to right, Rebecca Villanueva, Hannah Grossi. Middle row, from left, GinaBrooks, Priyanka Maharaj, Anna Brown. Front row, from left, Alek Pozzuto, Norah Lyke, Faith Daigneau, Justin Arnold.

ENFIELD - St. Bernard School inEnfield has released its first quarter honorroll. The following students were named tothe list, according to a list provided by theschool.

Grade 6 High HonorsTyler Esposito

Grade 6 HonorsKishan Bhasin Nicholas CampEthan ChefferRiley DoernerJenna FaheyMegan FerrieraHannah GrossiMichael KaliffJack MacDonald

Julia MorinEmmalie Pierz-GaudetGianna RosatoCathryne TronskyRebecca Villanueva

Grade 7 High HonorsEmily MillerKayla RandolphJohn Riley

Grade 7 HonorsAurelie BarryCian BeaulieuKiley BrennanMiriam DugasKillian GomeauQuincy JacquesOwen Kinne

Cooper LorenzBrandon LukacsEmily Noll

Grade 7 Principal’s ListGeorge CampLuciana KaufmannXochitl LlanasHaley MarinelliNaomi Rosado

Grade 8 High HonorsSarah Alaimo

Grade 8 HonorsSalvatore LastrinaMeghan BrennanErienne DoweLilyanna Lingua-CutlerLillian Post

Grade 8 Principal’s ListMaansi AgheraTabetha BenjaminLeah CothranKamryn DesrosiersJamison CoteNina MacDonaldRose MichaudJoseph OleskyElizabeth SantyNolan SkehanJessica Williams

By Linda Tishler LevinsonENFIELD — Who is the Recycler?Mayor Scott Kaupin is asking residents

to help identify the mysterious recyclingresident who has been rewarding goodrecyclers with gift cards to area restau-rants.“I’ve heard a lot lately about the myste-

rious recycling figure in Enfield. This indi-vidual has been taking out forgotten recy-cling barrels and keeping tabs on the recy-cling efforts of our residents,” Kaupin saidin a written release.Kaupin asked residents to go to the

town’s website, enfield-ct.gov, where they

can vote on who they think the recycler is.“Random people doing good acts of

recycling are getting rewards,” said ChrisCasey of Chris Casey Concepts, who isworking with the town on its recyclingefforts.The Recycler has so far given out gift

cards to Hazard Grille, Country Diner andLuLu’s Restaurant.Dan DeGray, of Enfield, is among those

who have received the gift cards. DeGraysaid he has to credit his wife, Dina, fortheir good recycling efforts. “She recycleseverything,” he said.He said the gift card he received came

with a letter with a paw print on it, thank-ing his family for recycling well. “Itlooked like a third-grader wrote it,” hesaid.Casey said the Recycler might have

been inspired by the town’s recent cam-paign to encourage recycling, followingthe introduction of single-stream recy-cling.The town is working with local schools

to teach children about recycling. They arebeing asked to help name the panda that isEnfield’s recycling mascot. The class thatsubmits the winning name will get a pizzaparty.

In addition, children are being asked tobring in plastic bags, which cannot berecycled in the town bins. These can bemade into construction materials, such asthat used to make decks, Casey said.


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North Central Publisher This Month on ‘Changing Lives’ENFIELD - There are always new

things happening at AsnuntuckCommunity College, and now there aretwo new faces as well! Want to meet them?Tune in to Cox Public Access Channel 15on Thursdays in January at 7 p.m. or visitwww.asnuntuck.edu/changinglives.In the first half of the episode, we're

introduced to Matt Hall, the new director oflibrary services at Asnuntuck. Halldescribes the path that led him to ACC, aswell as outlining the changes he'd like toimplement to the library and the serviceshe’d like to provide to students and faculty.

Gary Carra, from the college's Office ofWorkforce Development and ContinuingEducation, appears on the second half ofthe episode. Carra, who heads up theoffice’s marketing efforts, reviews hiscareer and shows off some of his efforts toget students to the college.“Changing Lives” is a monthly public

access series hosted by AsnuntuckCommunity College president Martha

McLeod highlighting the programs andachievements of Asnuntuck CommunityCollege and its students and faculty.“Changing Lives” airs Thursday eveningsat 7 on Cox Communications Channel 15in the towns of Enfield, Suffield, Somers,Stafford, Union, Hartland, East Hartland,Granby, East Granby, and Holland, Mass.Clips from the show can also be seenonline at

www.asnunutck.edu/changinglives. Asnuntuck Community College, locat-

ed in Enfield, was established in 1972.ACC offers associate degrees and certifi-cate programs to prepare students forcareers, transfer opportunities and lifelonglearning. The mission of the college is to offer

quality education in an accessible, afford-able and nurturing environment.

Gary Carra, from Asnuntuck’s Office of Workforce Development and Continuing Education, left, and Matt Hall, the new director oflibrary services at Asnuntuck, with “Changing Lives” host Martha McLeod, president of Asnuntuck Community College.

Mediation WorkshopSlated For Jan. 9

ENFIELD - The Connecticut ChineseCulture Association will present a ChineseMeditation Workshop at the Enfield PublicLibrary on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. Theworkshop will include a slide presentationintroducing Falun Dafa and teaching of thefive sets of movements and meditation.All programs at the Enfield Public

Library are free and all are welcome. Toregister for this program, please visit theCirculation Desk, or call 860-763-7512. Formore inforamtion on upcoming events,please visit enfieldpubliclibrary.org


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At left, State Sen. John A. Kissel (center) speaks with members of the Patriot GuardRiders at the “Wreaths Across America” ceremony held Dec. 11 at Enfield’s ParkmanElementary School. Wreaths Across America’s large tractor trailer full of wreaths,escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders, made one of its few Connecticut stops at theschool while en route from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery. One hundred thou-sand wreaths will be placed on the graves of our nation’s fallen soldiers at Arlington.Students, teachers, veterans and local residents attended the event. After students wel-comed the truck’s driver and honor guard outside the school, a program was heldinside the school. Patriotic songs were played, students read letters to deceased veter-ans and Gold Star families were presented with wreaths. The ceremony was “solemn

and celebratory all at once,” Sen. Kissel said. The wreath tradition started in 1992 byMorrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreaths in Maine. The mission’s theme is“Remember, Honor and Teach” the value of freedom in today’s world. For more infor-mation visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Among the attendees at the Dec. 11“Wreaths Across America” event at Enfield’s Parkman Elementary School, from left toright: Enfield Mayor Scott Kaupin, Sen. John A. Kissel, Enfield Town Councilor CindyMangini and Enfield Town Councilor Tom Kienzler.

Wreaths Across America

ENFIELD - Please join Sam’s Soldiers,Fermi High School’s Rachel’s ChallengeClub, and Kids First as they Zumba forSam. Fourteen-year-old Sam is currentlyundergoing aggressive treatment for braincancer. Help them to spread awareness andhelp defray his family’s mounting medicalcosts. Zumba with ZIN instructors Ana Ferris,

Kiernan Rushford and Kelly Swanson at

Fermi High School’s gymnasium onSaturday, Jan. 12, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Don’t Zumba? Come on out and showyour support. There will be great rafflesand items to purchase, with all proceeds tobenefit Sam. Tickets are $15; $25 includesa tee shirt. For more information or to purchase

tickets call 860-508-7081 or email [email protected].

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Library Hours:

Monday – Thursday 10:00-8:00Friday 10:00-5:00Saturday 10:00-3:00Sunday 1:00-5:00

Library Closed:

January 1, New Year’s DayJanuary 21, Martin Luther King DayFebruary 18, Presidents’ Day

’Like’ us on Facebook and your name will beentered into a drawing for a gift certi�cateto a local business!

Book DiscussionsThe next book discussion at the library will beMurder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie onWednesday, January 30 at 7:00 p.m. with a snowdate of February 6. Denise Stankovics is the discus-sion leader. Copies of the book are available forloan. Also join us for a discussion of a popular non-fiction book on the third Thursday afternoon ofeach month beginning in February. Titles to be dis-cussed will be available soon. Please call 860-763-3501 to register or for further information.

Book Talk with CT Author Robert SteeleFormer U.S. Congressman Robert Steele will discuss his new novelThe Curse: Big-Time Gambling's Seduction of a Small New Eng-land Town on Wednesday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. The novel is setagainst the casino gambling explosion that hit southeastern Connecti-cut during the 1990's and comes at a time when Connecticut's casinosface the prospect of heavy new competition from New York, Massa-chusetts, and Rhode Island. Signed copies of the book will be avail-able for purchase at the library the evening of Mr. Steele'sappearance. Snow date is scheduled for Thursday, January 17.

Monday MatineesWe will show the recently released film Hope Springs on Tuesday,January 8 and Magic of Belle Isle on Tuesday, January 22. Themovies will be shown with closed captioning in the Blake Commu-nity Room beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Identity Theft: What You Need to KnowSam Chang, a representative from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans,will present a program on identity theft at the Somers Library onThursday, January 31 at 4:00 p.m. Participants will learn how identitytheft can occur, tips to protect themselves, and steps to take if identitytheft happens to them. Please register online (www.somerspublicli-brary.org – Events Calendar) or by calling 860-763-3501.

Free Opera AfternoonJoin opera teacher Mike Cascia for a screening ofVincenzo Bellini’s Italian “Bel Canto” operaNorma on Sunday, February 3, from 1:00-4:30p.m. On Sunday March 3 Mr. Cascia will presentPuccini’s Madama Butterfly, a 1904 “verisimo”(true to life) Italian style opera. Light refreshmentswill be served. The programs are free and open tothe public.

Great Decisions Foreign Policy DiscussionsAre you interested in joining a series of discussions on world affairs?Call 860-763-3501 or come in to the Somers Public Library for a list-ing of foreign policy topics being discussed in 2013. If there isenough interest, the library will provide the books which will serve asthe focal text for the discussions which will begin in the winter.

eBooks for LoanThe library subscribes to the Overdrive downloadable eMedia catalogwith items available for loan to Somers residents. Titles may bedownloaded to either the Kindle or Nook eReaders, or other devices,for a 7 or 14 day checkout. You will need your Somers Public Librarybarcode and there is a limit of 5 titles per patron. Because of the highdemand, most bestsellers have waiting lists. Overdrive is easily acces-sible from the library’s website, www.somerspubliclibrary.org.

Family Movie MatineeSaturday, January 5, 1:00 p.m.We will show the movie Diary ofa Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, ratedPG, 94 minutes. No registrationrequired. Children under 12 mustbe accompanied by an adult.

Winter Storytime SessionRegistration for the Somers Public Library winterstorytime session will begin the week of January 7.Somers residents can register beginning Monday,January 7 and non-residents can register beginningTuesday, January 8. Storytime sessions will run foreight weeks January 14 –March 15. Registration isrequired for all storytimes.

Children ages 12-24 months will meet on Thurs-days at 10:15 a.m.Children ages 24-36 months will meet onWednesdays at 10:15 a.m.Children ages 3-5 years will meet on Thursdaysat 1:30 p.m. or Fridays at 10:15 a.m.

Snow Fun Storytime!Thursday, January 17, 3:30-4:30 p.m.A storytime for students in grades K-2. We willread Martin MacGregor’s Snowman and make awinter craft. Cookies and hot chocolate will beprovided. Registration is required.

Pancakes & PajamasFamily NightTuesday, January 22, 6:00 p.m.Wear your winter pajamasfor some pancake making,stories and songs. All agesare invited. Registration isrequired for this event.

Winter Reading Program January 7- February 28Pick up your first reading sheet beginning Monday,January 7 and check out five books from the li-brary. Return your completed reading log to the li-brary for a special surprise.

Candy Kiss Contest January 7 – February 13 Stop in and take a guess at the number of candiesin the jar. Closest guess wins them all!

February is Love Your Library Month!Celebrate the love for yourlibrary by filling out a heartfor our children’s room bul-letin board. Your name willbe entered for a chance towin a gift basket! Stop in thechildren’s room beginningFebruary 1.

Take Your Child to the Library DaySaturday, February 2• Dads & Donuts at 10:30 a.m.Children ages 2 & up are invited to bring theirdads for stories, songs & a craft. We will also beserving donuts, coffee and juice. Registration is re-quired.• Family Movie Matinee at 1:00 p.m.We will show the movie, Ice Age: ContinentalDrift, rated PG, 88 minutes. No registration re-quired. Children under the age of 12 must be ac-companied by an adult.

Celebrate the Chinese NewYear - Year of the Snake! Saturday, February 9, 1:00 p.m.Meet numerous species ofsnakes. Learn about these fasci-nating but often misunderstoodreptiles. How do they locateprey? How do they eat? Howbig do they grow? Presented by Riverside Rep-tiles. Recommended for ages 4 & up. Registrationis required for this event.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day!Thursday, February 14, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.Students in grades K-2 are invited to make a craftand special treats with chocolate! Registration isrequired for this event.

February School Vacation Week Activities Watch for details on these special events:

Dr. Seuss Family Night!Tuesday, February, 19, 6:00 p.m.

Lego® ClubWednesday, February 20, 1:30 p.m.

Musical Petting Zoo with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra Thursday, February 21, 10:30 a.m.

SOMERS – Somers’ First SelectmanLisa Pellegrini recently signed a pledgeto commit the town to the Clean EnergyCommunities program, an EnergizeConnecticut initiative that incentivizesConnecticut municipalities to improveenergy efficiency and promote the use ofclean and renewable energy.Energize Connecticut helps homes and

business save money and use clean ener-gy. It is an initiative of the EnergyEfficiency Fund, the Clean EnergyFinance & Investment Authority, theState, and local electric and gas utilities,

with funding from a charge on customerenergy bills. Under the expanded CleanEnergy Communities program, Somerspledges to reduce its municipal buildingenergy consumption 20 percent by 2018,and to voluntarily purchase 20 percent ofits municipal electrical needs from clean,renewable sources by 2018.“By embracing energy efficiency and

clean energy technologies, Somers hasthe opportunity to save money, saveenergy and help improve the environ-ment,” Pellegrini said. “We are commit-ted to achieving significant levels of pro-

gram participation and con-tinuing to educate our resi-dents, businesses and institu-tions about the benefits ofenergy efficiency and clean,renewable energy.”Through participation in

energy-saving and renewableenergy programs, Somerscan earn points towardsrewards. For example, whenresidents or businesses inSomers install a clean energysystem, enroll in theCTCleanEnergyOptions pro-gram, or sign up to receive aHome Energy Solutionsassessment, they earn pointsfor the town.For every 100 points

earned for renewable initia-tives, Somers will earn aclean energy system equiva-lent to a 1 kW solar photovoltaic system.Earned systems could include a solarphotovoltaic array, solar hot water sys-tem, solar trash compactor or solar-pow-ered lights. Similarly, points are earned when res-

idents, businesses or municipalities par-ticipate in energy efficiency programs,such as the Home Energy Solutionssm,Small Business Energy Advantage orRetro Commissioning programs, all ofwhich are energy improvement servicesdesigned to help people or businesses useenergy more efficiently and save moneyon their monthly energy bills.

For every 100 points earned throughparticipation in energy efficiency pro-grams, Somers will receive a “BrightIdea Grant” of $5,000 that can be usedtoward a community-selected energy-saving project, such as hiring an energyauditor to assess/benchmark municipalbuildings or to leverage existing funds tomake energy-saving improvements to aschool. CL&P and CEFIA, the Clean Energy

Communities program administratorswill work with Somers to help the townmeet goals laid out in its ComprehensiveEnergy Plan.


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By Linda Tishler LevinsonSOMERS - After the school shootings in Newtown,

Michael Freedman, of Somers, wanted to do something tohelp.“I’ve heard from a lot people in town who want to do

something,” said Freedman, chairman of the NewEngland Regional Chili Cookoff, whose father lives inNewtown.The result is a Chili Cookoff to benefit the Sandy Hook

Fire Department in Newtown. The event will be heldindoors on a smaller scale than the outdoor cookoffs and

will feature the first 40 cooks who sign up.“In less than 12 hours, we had 28 cooks sign up,”

Freedman said. Freedman was amazed at the response, hesaid, with most of what is needed to run the event havingbeen donated.The Chili Cookoff will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jan. 19 at Pleasant View, 452 South Rd., Somers.Admission is $8. For information, contact Freedman [email protected].

Four Town FairThe 175th Anniversary Four Town Fair will be held

Sept. 12-15. Organizers are seeking historical photo-graphs, references, newspaper articles, stories and agri-cultural artifacts to document the fair’s history.They also are looking for residents, civic organizations

and local businesses interested in becoming involved inthe event. Interested persons may contact Marie Letellier at: 168

Prospect Hill Rd., East Windsor, CT 06088, 860-627-0216, [email protected] or P.O. Box24, Somers, CT 06071. The deadline for submissions isMay 1.

Chili Cookoff Will Benefit Sandy Hook Fire Department

Town of Somers Commits to Clean Energy Communities Program


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SOMERS - At its December ChristmasLuncheon meeting, the Somers Women’sClub continued its tradition of giving witheach member contributing a gift to theToys for Tots program.

In 2012, the women exhibited theirgenerosity and industriousness in manyways. Members knitted numerous helmetliners for servicemen in the armed forcesand “chemo caps” for women undergoingtreatment for cancer. Hundreds of com-fortable splints were sewn for childrenrecuperating from reconstructive facialsurgery provided by Operation Smile.Called “no-no” bands, the splints preventthe patients from touching their faceswhile recovering.On an ongoing basis, members con-

tribute food at the monthly meetings todistribute to local food shelves. TheDomestic Abuse Prevention Network inEnfield has been the beneficiary of 150pairs of socks donated on October 27,which is “Make a Difference Day.” Theclubwomen also continually collect toi-letries and prepare personal care packetsfor the abused women.In November, the Somers club assisted

with the General Federation of Women’sClubs of Connecticut two-year project,Homes for the Brave, a non-profit thatprovides homeless veterans with transi-

tional housing and vocational and casemanagement services. Along with itsjuniorette branch, Earth Angels, theSomers Women’s Club was able to donate25 blankets to the 42-bed facility locatedin Bridgeport.For more than 90 years, the members of

the club have helped wherever a need wasfound. The Somers Women’s Club is aproud member of the General Federationof Women’s Clubs of Connecticut. Anyoneinterested is invited to attend the regularmonthly meetings and consider joining thegroup. The Jan. 3 meeting will feature aBingo game. Please call Charlotte Stopa at860-749-3190 for further information.

Somers Women’s Club Once Again Supports Toys for Tots

Arlene Yarnes, First Vice-President of Somers Women’s Club, stands with a bin of toyscollected for Toys for Tots.

Women’s Club SeeksScholarship ApplicantsSOMERS - The Somers Women’s Club

is seeking candidates for a $1,000 scholar-ship to be awarded to a town resident fromthe General Federation of Women’s Clubsof Connecticut. Applicants must befemales who have completed two or moreyears in an accredited institution of higherlearning with a 3.0 average (or better) andare matriculating for a Bachelor’s or post-graduate degree. Applications are available by calling

Maureen LaFlamme at 860-749-7518 or Charlotte Stopa at 860-749-3190.

SOMERS — The Somers FireMarshal’s Office has received a $1,500fire prevention grant from FM Global, oneof the world’s largest commercial propertyinsurers.FM Global representatives presented

the award to Fire Marshal RobertMorpurgo and Deputy Fire Marshal GlenReynolds at the Somers Fire Departmenton Dec. 6. The award will be used to assistwith prefire planning to efficiently collectand track data related to local communitybuildings. The information will help thefire service respond in an emergency situ-ation.Because fire continues to be the leading

cause of property damage worldwide, dur-ing the past 35 years FM Global has con-tributed millions of dollars in fire preven-tion grants to fire service organizationsaround the globe. Locally, the companyhas awarded grants to a number ofConnecticut-based organizations.“At FM Global, we strongly believe the

majority of property damage is preventa-ble, not inevitable,” said Michael Spaziani,manager of the fire prevention grant pro-gram. “Far too often, inadequate budgetsprevent those organizations working toprevent fire from being as proactive asthey would like to be. With additionalfinancial support, grant recipients areactively helping to improve property riskin the communities they serve.”Through its Fire Prevention Grant

Program, FM Global awards grants quar-terly to fire departments—as well asnational, state, regional, local and commu-nity organizations worldwide—that bestdemonstrate a need for funding, where

dollars can have the most demonstrableimpact on preventing fire, or mitigatingthe damage it can quickly cause.To learn more about FM Global’s Fire

Prevention Grant Program, or to apply fora grant, please visitwww.fmglobal.com/grants.For more than 175 years, many of the

world’s largest organizations have turnedto FM Global to develop cost-effectiveproperty insurance and engineering solu-tions to protect their business operationsfrom fire, natural disasters and other typesof property risk. With clients in more than130 countries, FM Global ranks #572among FORTUNE magazine’s largest

companies in America and is rated A+(Superior) by A.M. Best and AA (VeryStrong) by Fitch Ratings. The companyhas been named “Best Property Insurer inthe World” by Euromoney magazine,

“Best Global Property Insurer” by GlobalFinance magazine and was voted “BestCommercial Property Insurer” in BusinessInsurance’s 2010 annual Readers ChoiceAwards.


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From left, Deputy Fire Marshal Glen Reynolds, Michael Spaziani of FM Global, Fire Marshal Robert Morpurgo.

Fire Marshal’s Office to Bolster Fire Prevention Efforts

20 North Central News January 20132 North Central News January 2009

Is It Time to Take a Closer Lookat Your Financial Picture?Sometimes it’s hard to tell exactly whose best interests some financial advisorshave in mind. My financial advice is based on fees instead of commissions, andbecause our firm offers no proprietary investment products, I am free to choosethe products and services that best meet my clients’ needs – which helps to pre-serve the integrity of my investment advice.

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By Stacey Lyn McDonaldSOMERS - On Jan. 23, Harold “Tiny”

Parker was honored for 50 years of dedi-cated volunteer service to the Somers Fire

Deptartment. Parker joined the fire servicein 1960 and during his tenure was involvedin specifying every piece of fire apparatuspurchased by the town during the last halfcentury.

He served as chief engineer for 30 of hisyears of service. Proclamations from theState of Connecticut and the Town ofSomers were presented by state Rep.

Penny Bacchiocci and Somers FirstSelectman Lisa Pellegrini. The departmentmembers and officers also presented a fewspecial gifts to Parker. He will still beinvolved with the fire department as a LifeHonorary Member and Active MemberEmeritus, the first member to hold that dis-tinction.

16 North Central News March 2010

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SOMERS - Jump into spring and checkout the Somers Village Players spring pro-duction of Over The Checkerboard byFred Carmichael. The dinner theatre willbe at Joanna’s Restaurant April 9, 10, 16,17, 23 and 24. Directed by David Crowell

and Gus Rousseau, and produced by DianePreble and Steve Stoyer, the cast featuresJoyce Benson, Ron Blanchette, NancyEdmonds, John Lepore, Ed Lewis, SherrySamborski, and Doug Stoyer. Informationis available by calling (860) 749- 0245.

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SOMERS – Somers High School hasannounced the first quarter honor roll. Thefollowing students were named to it,according to a list supplied by the school.

Grade 9 High HonorsMary BaumannVeronika BedardEthan BelisleHaley BurgmyerJames ChaissonMichael EmeryEmily FawthropJacob GrahamNicholas GrayMadeline GrigerRebecca HellerSamantha HojnowskiDanielle HollisterMegan JewellHolly KingAbbey MaloneyMatthew McGuaneFaith McNameeNoah MorinEmily PrudenEmily RossiniAlexander SmithlineMichael SzleszynskiAllison TarboxAiden TiernanHannah Tyler

Grade 9 HonorsAmber ArchambaultAnthony BarileSpencer BeebeGeorge BosomworthCorey BrownThomas BurgessIsabel CesareRahul DeshmukhDinea FrascaJadzia GeneceTyler HannanAshley HinckleyBridget LoganChristopher MailhotJenna MartinKristen MunsonMary PetersenJohn PoitrasJohn PorterFrancesco Rinaldi

Stephen SalvadorMichael SchoberCameron ScottCatherine ThresherMichael TolisanoNicholas TomsonDanielle UrbonMatthew VecchiarelliEllen Wheeler

Grade 10 High HonorsLindsey BlaisMelanie BonneauHannah CollinsAlexander CoverdillBailee CrisinatiAlec KapinoMorgan KnightJeffrey KrolAndre LevesqueJames MorelloMelissa MortonSamantha PrudenBenjamin RanelliEmily RocheSamantha SalvadorSarah SchonEthan SettjeSolvej SichlerAmanda SloanSarah SquillaceTyler Tolisano

Grade 10 HonorsDarcy AndersonZachary BeebeMaria BernierMackenzie ColemanTimothy CraigErin EastwoodKirsten GueretteMeaghan HannaKayla HeveyBrian HollisterAnita HuangNicolaus LaValleeMichael LescoShawn MarquardtConnor MarstersKenneth McCarthyAlaina MurphyJaclyn O'GradyJason PaleyNathan Parks

Samantha PercoskiJessica ReedJulia RinaldiRoss RubleMichael RyanBrooke SharlandSierra SimpsonAustin StinsonKyle TruschZachary VarnauskasDominic WolfJohn Yarrows

Grade 11 High HonorsBrianna AllardAndrew BakerStephen BosomworthMichael CascianoKimberly CiscoChristopher DeGrayAustin FicaraJulianne FolgerSamantha GayChristine GossSarah HayowykEmily JewellCaitlin LealeAmanda LefemineRebecca NovakHelena RheaultAmanda RobertsAnna SibiliaKristen SteidlerCorey TomsonOlivia TylerLauren VanFossanWyatt VanFossan

Grade 11 HonorsMitchell AndersonCarley BallardMarc BeaulieuErika BusheyLaura DeCarliChristopher EastwoodKaitlin GagneCaroline GambleMegan GuerretteJamie HeinDominique HerbertAram KerrMatthew KopecKevin LauritaKathryn LaVallee

William McCloskey Jr.Anthony MottoleseHannah MulvihillAllison NowakKaitlyn PruckerMatthew RafalaBrian RossiniJessalyn SamsonBrandon ScanlonTori TottenJessica TruschAndrew VibbertsKara WilliamsConnor Wyllie

Grade 12 High HonorsKristine AikinsJulia AlexanderGabrielle BernierJoshua CaswellJane ChesleyRyan DeAdderDominic DeFilipiNicholas EliaMark ErwinMarisa FortiNicole GayJennifer JablonskiPaige LaDueVictoria LyonsJulianna MasameryShannon McCallumSarah McCollumDominique MinerKathryn O'ConnorJessica OlynciwWilliam PaskewitzCayla RossiniNicholas SalvadorJulianna SamsonKayla SavageMichael SawickiMegan SeagraveKelsey SloanHeather SmithJenna VarnauskasTimothy WatersNick Zachary

Grade 12 HonorsAnthony AndradeMark Ceppetelli


SomersSomersSomers High School Announces First Quarter Honor Roll

SOMERS/page 23

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Brian McDuffeeJessica MinikowskiJennifer MongilloTaylor MorganCameron MorinAndrew MorseSean MurphyRyan NasonSethu PalmerEmma PantoJoseph PantuoscoAneta PaszekEllen PfeiferColleen ReganDomonique ScibelliZachary SzymkoKaren Trescott

Somers High School Honor Roll(continued from page 22)

Somers Lacrosse Spring Registration SOMERS – Somers Lacrosse will hold an information day and walk-in registration onSaturday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kibbe Fuller Community Center in Somers.You can also register online from Jan. 2 to Feb. 15. There will be lacrosse programinformation, equipment rentals and uniform samples. Somers lacrosse clothing will beavailable for purchase. Contact Elaine Beebe at [email protected] with gener-al questions. For questions regarding sign-ups, financial assistance or donations con-tact Kevin Foye (director, boys league) at 860-749-8029 or [email protected] or JoleenSpeight (director, girls league) at 860-803-6441 or [email protected]

SOMERS - Scent-Sations Inc. has justreleased a special “In Memory Of” candleto honor the victims of Sandy HookElementary School. This 16 oz. jar candlefeatures white wax, a lilac floral scent anda special label with two children holdinghands with a tagline of “A brief time in ourarms ... Forever in our hearts.” This is a

powerful reminder of just how fragile lifecan be. All proceeds (approximately $20per jar) will be donated to the families ofthose affected. The candle is $25 and may be ordered

online at www.SandyHookCandle.com orlocally from Meg Munson at 860-305-6530.

Local Store Unveils Newtown Benefit Candle

SOMERS - A family style roast porksupper, served with mashed potatoes,gravy, winter squash, salad, breads/rolls,beverage and apple crisp will be hosted bythe Congregational Church ofSomersville, 22 Maple St., on Saturday,Jan. 12. Two seatings are offered, at 5 p.m.and 6:15 p.m.

Reservations should be made by callingthe church at 860-749-7741 or [email protected]. Cost is $12 for adultsand $5 for children ages 5-10. The churchis handicap accessible. Take out orders canbe placed ahead of time and picked upbetween 5:15 p.m. and 7 p.m. on theevening of the dinner.

Congregational Church Hosts Roast Pork Supper

WASHINGTON, DC – CongressmanJoe Courtney and the House ofRepresentatives today passed the FY13National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA), bolstering eastern Connecticut’sindustrial base.The bill includes measures drafted by

Rep. Courtney as a member of the HouseArmed Services Subcommittee onSeapower and Expeditionary Forces –andsupported by the bipartisan CongressionalShipbuilding Caucus – to ensure steadysubmarine production in 2014, and author-izes up to 10 Virginia Class Submarines aspart of the Block IV multi-year contractfor 2014-2018. The NDAA sets the feder-al budget for the Department of Defensefor the fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1,2012.The NDAA includes $4.8 billion in

funding for the Virginia-class attack sub-marine program, including $3.2 billion tobuild two submarines in 2013 and $1.6 bil-lion in advanced production funding forsubmarines in 2014 and 2015 -- including$777.8 million above the President’s budg-et request to restore a second 2014 subma-rine that was removed as part of the budg-et request earlier this year. The bill marks the third-consecutive

year of fully funding doubled submarineproduction – a goal Courtney worked on

for nearly five years, beginning in his firstyear in Congress – and ensures a stable,two-a-year production rate through 2018.“Steady production of two submarines a

year is not just good for Electric Boat; italso has a massive economic impact thatripples across our state and our country,”said Congressman Courtney. “I am proudto have worked on a bipartisan basis toreverse a misguided decision to removeone of the 2014 submarines from the ship-building plan. “Additional design work on the OHIO

replacement program has already directlyled to EB’s expansion into Pfizer’s NewLondon complex, and fostered a hiringboom that is obvious on EB’s online jobpostings. The new work already underwayand the work bolstered by today’s votesolidify those gains, providing security forour region’s economy and for the men andwomen of EB who routinely complete sub-marines ahead of schedule and underbudget.”Below are selected provisions of the

bill:Virginia Class Submarine. The

NDAA authorizes $4.8 billion for theVirginia Class submarine program. Thistotal includes $3.2 billion for two sub-marines in 2013, and $1.6 billion foradvanced procurement of additional sub-

marines. Of that total, $777.8 million isprovided to restore a second 2014 subma-rine that was removed from the plan aspart of the budget request. In addition, thebill provides the navy with multiyear pro-curement authority to enter into the next“block” of submarines, maintaining a sta-ble 10 boat, 2-a-year production ratethrough 2018. The bill also permits theNavy to use incremental funding forVirginia class submarines to be procuredduring fiscal years 2013 through 2018 ifthe secretary determines that such anapproach would permit the Navy to pro-cure an additional Virginia class subma-rine in FY 2014 and intends to use thefunding for that purpose.Development of the replacement

Ohio-Class SSBN. The bill authorizes$565 million for the Ohio ReplacementProgram, which will develop the replace-ment of the current fleet of Ohio ClassSubmarines. These submarines are expect-ed to begin construction in 2021, with sig-nificant research and development work atElectric Boat over the next several years.Joint Strike Fighter. The conference

report authorizes $5.9 billion for 29 F-35Joint Strike Fighters, which are poweredby Pratt and Whitney engines. Of thattotal, the report authorizes $3.4 billion for19 Air Force variants, $1.1 billion for theNavy variant, and $1.5 billion for theMarine Corps STOVL variant.Helicopters:UH-60 Black Hawk — $1.2 billion for

59 Black Hawks for the Army and Guard,equal to the president's request.MH-60S Knighthawk — $454 million

for 18 Navy Knighthawk helicopters,equal to the budget request. The multi-mission Sikorsky MH-60S is used by theNavy for combat search-and-rescue, spe-cial-warfare support and airborne minecountermeasures.MH-60R Seahawk — $1.01 billion for

24 Navy Seahawk helicopters, $170 mil-lion and five more than the budget requestto equip Navy cruisers that are retained aspart of the report. The MH-60R featuresadvanced radar, missiles and low frequen-cy sonar.Connecticut Air National Guard. The

final conference report supports an AirForce plan to base eight C-130H cargo air-craft at the 103rd Airlift Wing of theConnecticut Air National Guard at BradleyAirport. In the 2013 budget, the Air Forceproposed eliminating the unit’s plannedmission –the C-27J cargo aircraft – andassigning it a unit of MC-12 intelligencegathering aircraft as part of a larger reor-ganization of the Air National Guard. However, that plan was heavily criti-

cized for its unbalanced approach to theGuard, and both the House and Senate ver-sions of the bill froze the plan pending fur-ther review. A subsequent plan submittedby the Air Force to Congress on Nov. 2made substantial changes to their originalplan. The conference report allows the Air

Force to implement that plan, includingthe eight C-130H aircraft for theConnecticut Air National Guard, withadditional changes meant to augment theairlift capabilities of the Air NationalGuard as a whole.


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RegionalRegionalCourtney Applauds Defense Authorization Act as Victory

The SundayDrive is retitled“ S u n d a yDrive/MondayFlight” for thismonth’s issue.Local wineblogger JoelMack shares apersonal reflec-tion onBrunello diMon t a l c i n o ,one of Italy’s greatest wines. It is based onobservations and conversations during arecent media trip to the region of Tuscany,sponsored by Consorzio Brunello diMontalcino.Before Montalcino became an interna-

tional food and wine destination, before itslands hosted great vineyards, there wereother things:When the vine blight phylloxera arrived

in the 1930s to devastatethe vineyards, interrupt-ing whatever early fameBrunello may have won,there was despair. Andthere were hard timeswhen post-war poverty held Montalcino inits grip, and tears, too, for what the earthwould not give. Weary parents and chil-dren, silently uncertain they could carryon. Abandoned farms. Isolation. Doubt.If you want to know anything at all

about Brunello, if you want to really tasteBrunello di Montalcino, then you mustfirst know its history and not forget it.Because the Italians have certainly not for-gotten, nor have the newcomers to this ter-ritory. As if they ever could. Brunello’shistory, the traditions and values whichderive of it, flow somehow from the earth

and up into the feet of thesehappy, resilient people, runsthrough their veins and out fromtheir hands to imbue Brunello diMontalcino with a soul so deep asto be inaccessible to mere lan-guage. If you want to experiencethe deepest dimensions of one ofthe world’s greatest wines,Brunello di Montalcino, you mustembrace its history. One cannot beknown without the other.It was during the 1950s when a

handful of visionary local wine producers,understanding of Brunello’s great poten-tial, began bottling their own wines whichgot things back on track. Italy’s appella-tion system of wine law was passed in July1963 and in July 1980, Brunello diMontalcino was the first Italian wine to beawarded DOCG status or Denominazionedi Origine Controllata e Garantita, Italy’smost elite category of wine, guaranteeing

authenticity.Brunello di

Montalcino sets itselfapart as a wine madefrom a single vine calledSangiovese, locally

referred to as “Brunello.” The varied soilsand microclimates of Montalcino transmitto Brunello a unique, terroir-driven finger-print. Interpreted by each producer, theBrunello wines I tasted were deliciouslydifferent and yet maintained the typicityrequired by Italian wine law, reflecting thegreatness of the Montalcino territory, itspeople, history, traditions and culture, in awine that can be produced only there andnowhere else.You can learn more about Brunello di

Montalcino and other outstanding wines ofthe region – Rosso di Montalcino,

Sant’Antimo and Moscadello diMontalcino - by navigating to the excellentwebsite maintained by Consorzio del VinoBrunello di Montalcino, available inItalian, English and Chinese, atwww.consorziobrunellodimontalcino.it.Not able to travel to Italy to sample its

fine wines? A local alternative is theupcoming Mohegan Sun Winefest Jan. 25

to Jan. 27. Find out all the details atwww.mohegansun.com/sitelet/winefest/Joel Mack writes about Italian wine at

wine blog www.vintrospective.com andcontributes content to other Internet andprint interests. He conducts specializedwine tastings for private and corporateclients and teaches a series of wine class-es at Asnuntuck Community College.


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Local Blogger Travels to Sample Italy’s Outstanding Wine

HARTFORD - Connecticut Departmentof Consumer Protection (DCP)Commissioner William M. Rubenstein andAttorney General George Jepsen are cau-tioning residents that scammers mayalready be seeking to exploit the SandyHook Elementary School tragedy for theirown purposes.“This is a time of mourning for the peo-

ple of Newtown and for our entire state,”said Attorney General Jepsen.“Unfortunately, it’s also a time when badactors may seek to exploit those copingwith this tragedy. We are very thankful forall of the offers to help and urge thoselooking for ways to help to take some sim-ple precautions to ensure that their dona-tions will find their way to those in need.”“In the wake of the shocking and horrif-

ic shooting in Newtown, tremendouslycompassionate individuals and groupsfrom across the nation have stepped up toassist,” said Commissioner Rubenstein.“Donors should apply a critical eye andtake precautions before providing anymoney in response to emails, websites,door-to-door collections, mailings or tele-phone calls in the name of helping thosedevastated by the tragic Newtown shoot-ings. We are extremely grateful for thegenerosity shown to the people ofConnecticut, and especially the Newtown

community. We want donors to be certaintheir support is going to the appropriateplace.”The State offers the following sugges-

tions for donating on behalf of victims:Donate to well-known, established

charities; it is the best way to ensure thatyour donation is used appropriately. Find acharity with a proven track record that ismaking help available to the families andcommunity of Newtown.When giving to any organization, spec-

ify the purpose of your donation (e.g “forthe victims of the Newtown shooting”),and do so in writing whenever possible.Be extra cautious when responding to e-

mail and telephone solicitations on behalfof supposed victims. These methods ofsolicitation are more likely to be part of ascam.Delete unsolicited e-mails and don’t

open attachments, even if they claim tocontain video or photographs. The attach-ments may be viruses designed to stealpersonal financial information from yourcomputer.Watch carefully for copycat organiza-

tions. Criminals are likely to set up bogussites to steal the identities and donations ofgenerous, unsuspecting individuals. Whengiving online, be sure to find the charity’slegitimate website. You can access accu-

rate links to the sites of each bona fidecharity at Charity Navigator(www.charitynavigator.org).Social media sites can also perpetuate

scams. Do not blindly give via these vehi-cles. As with any charity, investigate thegroups behind such pleas to ensure thatthey come from a legitimate organization.Both the need for donations and the

opportunity for giving will be present forsome time. Therefore, do not feel pres-sured into making contributions; reputablecharities do not use coercive tactics. Ifyou feel pressured at all, you are most like-ly being scammed. Do not give your personal or financial

information to anyone who solicits contri-butions.Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay

by debit or credit card, or write a checkdirectly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individ-

uals.The Department of Consumer

Protection maintains information on chari-ties that are registered with the state andthe minimum percentage guaranteed to goto that charity. The Department’s website,https://www.elicense.ct.gov, providescharity registration information and dis-plays any active solicitation campaignnotices for a registered charity or their paidsolicitor.Additional information is also available

at Charity Navigator,http://www.charitynavigator.org; theFederal Trade Commission:http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/charityfraud; and the Better BusinessBureau’s Wise Giving Alliance athttp://www.bbb.org/us/charity.While the outpouring of grief, concern

and support for the families affected bythis tragedy will be enormous, so will bethe potential for fraud. Please report suspi-cious solicitations to your local police andto the Department of Consumer Protectionat 1-800-842-2649.


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HARTFORD - Here are a few tips for making sure youget a fair load of quality firewood without getting burned.First, you need to know the length of wood that you

need. The standard length for firewood is 16 inches, butsome larger wood-burning stoves can take wood as largeas 20 inches or more. Make sure you specify the lengthwhen ordering.You need seasoned firewood, which has been stacked

and dried for at least six months or more.By law, wood should be sold only by the cord or half-

cord, not by the truckload. This protects you from gettingshorted. A cord is a stack of wood that measures 4 feethigh by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long and totals 128 cubic feetin all. A standard half cord measures 4 feet high by 4 feetwide by 4 feet long and is 64 cubic feet.

Cord = 128 cubic feetHalf Cord = 64 Cubic Ft.Whether you order your wood chopped into lengths to

fit your stove or fireplace, once it’s delivered and stacked,it still must measure a total of 128 cubic feet in order to bea full cord.Before you buy, check prices with multiple wood deal-

ers in your area. Seasoned firewood in Connecticut is sell-ing between $220 to $300 a cord, depending on the typeof wood and area of the state.If you have access to a truck, go down to the wood lot,

check out the wood, and take it home yourself. Make sureyou stack your firewood on pallets to keep it off theground. You won't get a true measurement unless it’sstacked.

If you’re going to have firewood delivered, be homewhen it arrives, pay a little extra to have it stacked upondelivery, and then measure it. If you ordered a full cordand it isn't 4 feet high, 4 feet wide and 8 feet long or a totalof 128 cubic inches, don't pay for it until the full cord isprovided.Finally, be sure to obtain a signed receipt for your fire-

wood, which includes the name, address and phone num-ber of the business, the name of the business owner, theamount of wood delivered and the amount you paid. Itnever hurts to cover every angle when making a purchaseof this type.If you have any problems or concerns, please give the

Department of Consumer Protection a call at 1-800-842-2649.

Consumer Protection Dept. Offers Firewood Buying Advice

State Cautions Residents on Charitable Giving: Beware of Potential Scams

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HARTFORD – Governor Dannel P.Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wymantoday unveiled a new state website createdto give military veterans one-stop access tothe wide range of veterans’ services andbenefits offered by the state and federalgovernment agencies. The website – veterans.ct.gov – will

link veterans and their families to other

state and federal agencies offering servicesin areas such as employment and job train-ing, health care and education.The announcement was made at Tunxis

Community College’s Veterans OasisCenter, a dedicated space on campus forveterans and active military service menand women to study, network and socializeas they integrate into the college experi-

ence.“Since becoming governor, one of my

greatest honors has been to interact withservice men and women both when theyleave for active duty and when theyreturn,” Malloy said. “With two warswinding down, we have a responsibility tomake sure that state government is in aposition to honor their service. Creating aone-stop resource for veterans to accessbenefits and services is a small but impor-tant step in that effort.”For example, the website will contain

information about the governor’s directiveto agency heads to make every effort tointerview qualified veterans for approvedpositions where appropriate.Malloy also announced the creation of

the 14-member Governor’s VeteransCabinet, which they will co-chair.Composed of relevant agency commis-sioners and other executive branch repre-sentatives, the cabinet will meet periodi-cally to report progress and create strate-gies to improve delivery of services to vet-erans and their families. The cabinet alsowill seek input from veterans and privatemilitary-support organizations.The members of the Governor’s

Veterans Cabinet are:

Governor Dannel P. Malloy – Co-ChairLt. Governor Nancy Wyman – Co-ChairAdjutant General, Connecticut National

GuardCommissioner, Department of Veterans

AffairsCommissioner, Department of LaborCommissioner, Department Mental

Health & Addiction ServicesCommissioner, Department Revenue

ServicesCommissioner, Department of Motor

VehiclesCommissioner, Department of

Administrative ServicesCommissioner, Department of Public

HealthCommissioner, Department of Social

ServicesCommissioner, Department of BankingPresident, Board of RegentsExecutive Director, Office of Military

AffairsIn April, Malloy issued a directive to the

heads of each state agency instructingthem to consider hiring and recruiting vet-erans who have recently returned frommilitary service or will be returning in thenear future and are looking for employ-ment.


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HARTFORD - As the New Year starts, RevenueServices Commissioner Kevin B. Sullivan and AttorneyGeneral George Jepsen are reminding Connecticut tax-payers to be more vigilant in protecting themselves andothers from identity theft and fraud.“Hardly a week goes by that my office doesn’t hear

about a data privacy breach where hackers or scam artistsattempt to gain access to social security numbers, creditcard numbers, and bank accounts,” said Attorney GeneralJepsen. “Some use sophisticated cyber attacks to get informa-

tion, while others may search garbage cans, use mislead-ing emails or fake Web sites, or even just look over anunsuspecting consumer’s shoulder.”Said Commissioner Sullivan, “The Department of

Revenue Services (DRS) is continuously improving ourprotection of taxpayer information and our efforts to fighttax fraud. In 2012, we were able to stop more than $7 mil-lion in fraudulent refunds from being issued. But cybercriminals become more sophisticated all the time.”

Commissioner Sullivan noted that the agency workedwith Attorney General Jepsen’s office to create websiteinformation that helps taxpayers help themselves notbecome victims of identity theft. The site links to theFederal Trade Commission (FTC) where taxpayers canobtain free credit reports and to the Attorney General’swebsite identity theft page where individuals can find outwhat to do if they may be victims of identity theft. TheDepartment as also adopted a zero tolerance policy foremployees who compromise taxpayer identity informa-tion and is now requiring participation in an extensivecyber-security training program across the agency.

“An ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure,”Attorney General Jepsen said. “By becoming informedand taking simple steps, consumers can help ensure thantheir personal information is protected – be it when filingtheir tax documents in the coming months or when justgoing about a day-to-day routine.”

Commissioner Sullivan also thanked Governor Malloyand the State Legislature for action during the recent spe-

cial session to support a new anti-tax fraud initiative pro-posed by the Department. "Some taxpayers may experi-ence a small delay in refunds and some additional securi-ty review but before getting their refunds because of ourimproved anti-fraud screening. But I know our taxpayerswill agree that any inconvenience is more than out-weighed by preventing fraudulent refunds from beingstolen by criminals.”

Attorney General Jepsen and Commissioner Sullivanalso urged federal and state taxpayers to file early. SaidSullivan, “More and more taxpayers who delay are dis-covering that criminals using stolen identity informationhave already beat them to their refunds. Filing early is oneway taxpayers can help themselves not to be the victimsof identity theft and tax fraud.”

For more information on protecting yourself fromidentity theft and secure income tax filing through thestate’s Taxpayer Service Center, visit the new identitytheft web page at www.ct.gov/DRS/identitytheft.

Attorney General, Commissioner Warn of Identity Theft Dangers

Administration Creates State’s First Veterans Cabinet to Coordinate Services


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StaffordStafford

Holiday Decoration WinnersTwo of the winners of the Stafford Community and Civic Affairs Commission's HolidayHouse Decorating Contest. First-place winners were the Dadalt Homestead of 59Willington Ave., above, and third-place winners George and Charlotte Avery of 158West Stafford Rd.

Photos by Barbara Bresnahan


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STAFFORD - In January Nenad Bachand Marci Geller are performing at theBen Muzio Town House (Old Town Hall,221 East St., Stafford) at 7 p.m. on Jan. 27.The Stafford Arts Commission sponsorsthe monthly coffee house series. Nenad Bach is a folk/blues/soul artist

whose albums have reached No. 1 inEurope. He has performed with LucianoPavarotti, Bono and The Edge (U2), Brian

Eno, Indigo Girls and many other famousartists. He performed at Woodstock ‘94and he opened for the Miss UniversePageant in Europe. Marci Geller is a contemporary

singer/songwriter. Her first solo projectsince the disbandment of her popular trio“Lucky 13” has received wide praise. TheIndependent Songwriter Magazine namedher “Editor’s Choice” for its favorite song-

writer of the last decade. Please come andenjoy these free performances in Stafford.

Coffee and tea will be provided. Live Music Coffee House Features Nenad Bach, Marci Geller

Nenad Bach is performing Jan. 27 in Stafford.


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By Linda Tishler LevinsonSTAFFORD - The police have a temporary home on

Levinthal Run.The headquarters for the department has been moved to

the new building in the school complex, First SelectmanRichard Shuck said.The move was due to environmental issues in the per-

manent police building. “We’re working to mitigate themold that was in the police department,” Shuck said.While the move was made prior to the Newtown

tragedy, Shuck said the stronger police presence near theschools came at a time when the town is reconsideringschool safety. “We want to make sure that we make theright decision,” he said. “We want to reassure the parentswe are being proactive.”

Flood mitigationThe town is working with the Capitol Region Council

of Governments on a flood hazard mitigation plan.Stafford has about 30 percent of the Class C dams in

the state, Shuck said. Class C dams are those whose fail-

ure could lead to loss of life or property. CRCOG hasreceived a flood mitigation grant.“That will also open us up for other avenues of grant

money,” he said.The town is working on road drainage, culverts and

cleaning of stream beds to help limit the possibility offalling trees that could destroy bridges.“The more we can save the river banks from eroding,”

the less sedimentation will get into ponds, he said.

Mold Mitigation Prompts Temporary Move for Stafford PD

Checking Out The GoldFormer UConn basketball player and gold medalist Kara Wolters went to StaffordMiddle School on Dec. 14 to run a clinic for the SMS girl's basketball team, as well asthe St. Edwards and youth basketball travel girls. After learning many techniques anddrills from Kara, the girls got a chance to look at and hold her gold medal. The girlsall got autographed pictures from Kara at the end of the clinic.


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STAFFORD - Kenneth Valentine, prin-cipal of Stafford Middle School,announces the names of the following stu-dents who have achieved honor roll statusfor Term 2.

HIGH HONORS GRADE 6Paige BeaudoinTyler Jay CamposAshlyn CartierJulianna DeSantis-RaymondSteven DownsEmma Everhart-DeckardIsabelle GarreffaMarissa KallenbachLynesey MaloneyAbby RoseLauren SmidaGabrielle Thayer

HONORS GRADE 6Sydney BascomKyle BradleyColton EngelAshley FeckoGrace GardnerCody GeboRyleigh GilmanTiahna GuzzoConnor HartnettJeffrey KologyJoshua LehmertJulia LybargerMelanie MacfeatLoren PontzJulien RivasElizabeth SladekZachary SladekTalia SzozdaMichael VincentiNicholas Wyse

\HIGH HONORS GRADE 7Nicole Barber

Adrianna BarnettSarah GallisonAbigail HatchAlexandra KulmanStephanie RamseyDarby Villar

HONORS GRADE 7Zachary BriggsSamantha CampanaroAdam CarterHannah DavisCarlie DreyfusLauren Everhart-DeckardTerrell FlintNathaniel FlynnAutumn GagnonHaley GrantColin LanaganMichaela LaufJacob LerouxKathryn LieblerMason MessierKaylee MillerBlair StuartJennifer TitusRachel UlitschHIGH HONORS GRADE 8

Michael BachiochiRachel BergeronJacob ConklinMatthew FrankDanielle GarnelisValerie GirardJustin GrantKatelyn HendersonEthan LawlorMegan LueckelCameron MacGregorWendelin MarmolSaylee MissellTimothy Noto

Sarah ProvencherHONORS GRADE 8

William BernierLuke BroadhurstBailey CampbellJenna CastonguayNoah CombsAshley DempseyCarley EvansMatthew FaberConnor FayChristopher FishChristopher FletcherBrianna GillMegan GregoryNiomi Hunter-MuellerBrandon Kallenbach

Julia LaChanceSchuyler LamoureuxNathan LawsonJacob MokrzeckiVictoria MolitorisNicholas OuelletteHaylie PruckerSana QureshiDamon ReynoldsCourtney RidzonTaylor RinaldiAndrew SyphersSummer SzallAlvah ThompsonHannah VailChase WalbridgeNicholas Zamsky

Stafford Middle School Second Quarter Honor Roll Announced

STAFFORD - The Stafford ArtsCommission is sponsoring a series of NewEngland Barn Dances which will takeplace at Memorial Hall (275 OrcutvilleRd, in Stafford) on Jan. 19, Feb. 16, March16, and May 18 at 7:30 p.m. No experi-ence is necessary to join the dancing.There are a variety of excellent callers andmusicians for the events. Ralph Sweet willbe calling in January with “The ReelThing.” In February, Sue Hill & Friendswill perform with Bob Livingston calling.

In March, Tony Parkers is calling with SueHill & Friends.

New England Barn Dances With Live Music

Scouts Spaghetti DinnerSTAFFORD - The Boy Scouts of Troop

81 in Stafford will be sponsoring aspaghetti dinner on Jan. 12. It will be heldat the St. Edwards church hall on ChurchStreet in Stafford from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniorsand $5 for kids. Take-out dinners will beavailable.

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OK, so it's obviously winter here inNew England, which begs the question:why write about a convertible when tem-perature are at or below freezing? Well,most people are going to live with a con-vertible 12 months a year and Volkswagenjust introduced the Beetle Convertible.It's a vehicle I'm comfort-

able pronouncing ready forNew England winters, espe-cially the TDI version that hasmore than enough torque totug you threw snowy condi-tions. And, cold weather orwarm, it's always nice to dis-cover a base model that's morethan satisfactory.Automotive journalists

aren't supposed to like the base engine. Itgoes against our arrogance for more powerand sophistication. Give us a V12, twinturbos, a dual overhead cam that makessushi. Anything but the base engine.Well, count me among what will proba-

bly turn out to be a small minority butwhen it comes to the 2013 VW BeetleConvertible, recently introduced at the LosAngeles Auto Show, sign me up.While there are perfectly good reasons

to purchase a VW Beetle with the frugal2.0-liter TDI that gets 41 mpg highwaywhen mated with the six-speed manualtransmission (yet producing 236 lb. ft. oftorque); and the powerful 2.0-liter TSIturbo that makes 200 horsepower and 207lb-ft of torque, the base engine with its 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder that makes 170horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torqueis the right choice. My driving partner during the Beetle

Convertible media launch around SantaMonica, Calif., said he didn't want to drivethe 2.5-liter base engine because it woulddilute how much he liked the BeetleConvertible overall. My initial sentiment

was to agree with him but then after a short15 minutes behind the wheel it dawnedone me – this is a great engine that is prob-ably going to make 80% of BeetleConvertible owners happy, especiallybecause it's the least-expensive optionwith a starting price of $24,995.

OK, so there is more to sayabout the powertrains but letsdwell for a moment on otheraspects of the VW BeetleConvertible, now in its thirdgeneration since its resurrec-tion. Compared with the 2006version, the latest BeetleConvertible is 3.3 inches widerat 71.2 inches; 1.1 incheslower at 58.0 inches tall; and

6.0 inches longer at 168.4 inches overall.From the outside there's no mistaking

this vehicle for what it is. After all, theBeetle is iconic for Volkswagen. You'renever going to have trouble identifyingone. But the changes for 2013 bring the carforward without detracting from its her-itage. Smoothing the roofline makes itlook less a bubble you want to pop.So, how does it drive? Could you use

the VW Beetle Convertible as a daily driv-er in New England? Normally that wouldbe tough to judge from driving it aroundSouthern California but for once theweather gods weren't smiling sunshinedown on the Golden State. The cabin wasquiet in a steady rain. Plus, I felt confidentdriving it on foggy roads in the hillsaround Malibu.There are practical touches on the

Beetle Convertible. A split-folding rearseat—new on this Beetle—allows the carto carry bulkier and larger items than isnormal with a convertible. There's anothernice engineering touch. The optional windscreen folds into quarters and has its ownshelf in the trunk. It doesn't take up valu-

able space, which encourages its more fre-quent use. On a sunny winter day, a windscreen and heated seats realistically allowsone to drive a convertible at the freezingpoint. (OK, a knit cap helps, too.)Embrace your summer self. Get a

Beetle Convertible to help you plowthrough the winter. And, as a reminder, thisis not your mom's VW Beetle. Men shouldfeel perfectly comfortable driving one –especially the TDI on twisty roads with themanual transmission left in third gear.

VITAL STATISTICSWheelbase: 100.0 inchesLength: 168.4 inchesWidth: 71.2 inchesHeight: 58.0 inches

Curb weight: 3206 to 3340 lbs. depend-ing on modelEngine: 2.0-liter turbo, 2.5-liter inline

five cylinder, or 2.0-liter turbodieselHorsepower: 140 to 200 depending on

modelTorque: 177 lb. ft. to 236 lb. ft.EPA estimated mpg city/highway: 21-

28/27-30 (depending on model)Base price: Starts at $24,995 (before

options)As-tested price: Goes up to $27,895 for

TDI model (before options)Also consider: (a comparative vehicle)

Fiat 500c, Mini Cooper convertible, FordMustang convertible – in the base trimlevel


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UConn all levels of voice,

beginning through intermedi-

ate piano. Contact Sarah in

Stafford Springs for more info:

[email protected]

207-460-0128

NRAPISTOL PERMIT

CLASSESCertified NRA Instructor with

27 years experience. Offering

both group and one-on-one

instruction.

Ken Millerwww.ctpistolpermit.org

860-729-1212

ROUGHLUMBER

FOR SALE 65! - 70!per board foot

SAW DUST$10 P/U Load

860-684-3458

PETERSBUILDING &

REMODELINGSpecializing in all your build-ing needs. Interior & Exterior.

Over 30 years experience.

Licensed and insured.

Call for your

FREE ESTIMATESummer Special on Decks!

860-751-8044

SOUTHERNAUTO

AUCTIONClerical Help

NeededWednesdays

$10/hourCall for interview!

860-654-8783

YOUR AD HERE!

Send your classified text and check to:

North Central News

PO Box 427

Somers, CT 06071

by the 20th of the monthfor the following edition.

$19.95 - No Border

$24.95 - With Border

FRONTLINEScreenprinting &

Embroidery

From sports and bandsto civic organizations and

corporate apparel,we’ll get your “team”

in the game!

860-698-9860

MUSICLESSONS

Piano GuitarFlute Voice

LynneCertified Music Educator

Member AGO-Organist’s GuildB.S. from UMASS-Lowell/Hartt

Vocal/Instrumental Study

Somers, CT

860-749-2654

URBONREMODELING

& HOMEIMPROVEMENTS

Bathrooms, kitchens,countertops. One call does it all! Call now and complete your project for the holidays!

Call Larry860-402-3528

MATTRESS SETS

Brand name pillow top

mattresses and foundations.

NEW in plastic!

Queen sets starting at

$150.00Call/Text Jim

860-709-7667

GEOTHERMAL HEATING & COOLING

SYSTEMSAND

INSTALLATIONS

StaffordMechanical

Services, Inc.CT LIC # 303633 SM102

860-684-9485

FIREWOODCut, Split, Dry

$84.00 a Pick-Up Load

FREELocal Delivery

Also8/4 Western White Pine

PlanksFurniture Grade

860-966-8262

! !

LOCALPRINTING SERVICESFlyers, Forms, Letterhead,

Envelopes, Menus, Newsletters,

Business Cards, & more.No job too small!

Free Pick-up & Delivery

Email: [email protected]

Allard Business Systems

860-394-6138

ClassifiedsClassifieds


SSeenndd YYoouurr CCllaassssiiffiieedd AAddvveerrttiisseemmeenntt TToo:: NNoorrtthh CCeennttrraall NNeewwss,, PP..OO.. BBooxx 442277,, SSoommeerrss,, CCTT 0066007711 bbyyJJaann.. 2255 ffoorr tthhee FFeebbrruuaarryy eeddiittiioonn.. CCoosstt iiss $$2244..9955 bbooxxeess,, $$1199..9955 nnoo bbooxx.. 3300 wwoorrddss oorr lleessss//nnoo llooggooss..

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SEND YOUR CLASSIFIED TEXT AND CHECK TO:

North Centra l News, P .O. Box 427, Somers , CT 06071by January 25 for the February edition.

$19.95 - text only • $24.95 boxed • 30 words or less (no logos)

january 2013 north central

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