Volume 2, Number 16 Cheshire’s Hometown Newspaper www.cheshirecitizen.com Thursday, December 26, 2013
It was pretty much agreed by those attending the Cheshire Public Library on Dec. 9, that the cheeky ti-tle, “Jerks in Connecticut,” was what hooked them and brought them in to the program.
“What a clever title. It’s great,” said Ron Faoro, a Cheshire resident who noted that the word “jerk” isn’t heard that often anymore Although, Faoro admitted, “I use it all the time.”
The program, a book sign-ing and discussion, was for, “Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Connecticut History,” by long-time Connecticut Magazine edi-tor, Ray Bendici. The author, a father of two young boys, presented himself every bit “above board” and “charm-ing,” quite unlike the cads,
curs and jerks he would talk about that evening.
Nevertheless, Bendici made it clear that he was “well-qualified” to write the book. “I am a jerk,” said Bendici to the delight of the audience, “Just ask my sisters.”
Just a few years ear-lier, Bendici had penned a book with publisher Globe-Pequot. It was a collection of odd and interesting loca-tions in Connecticut, called “Connecticut Curiosities.”
A brief history of jerks, Connecticut-style
Author Ray Bendici, left, talks about his latest book with Oliver Cherbut at the Cheshire Public Library recently.| (Joy VanderLek\The
Cheshire Citizen)
By Joy VanderLekThe Cheshire Citizen
See Jerks / Page 13
As students entered Ralph Zingarella’s class on the Vietnam War era, they laughed and joked with one another.
But in just a few short min-utes this class, held recently at Cheshire High School, turned somber, as shocking images of war, passionate protests and young soldiers flash across a screen.
“That could be you. These are 18-year-old kids. College? Forget about it. You’re going to war,” Zingarella tells the
class of juniors and seniors. “There was a lot of violence in Vietnam, and here at home with the protests.”
Zingarella teaches stu-dents about America’s role in Vietnam and how the war in-fluenced events in the United States. The class is so popu-lar that nearly 100 students are on the waiting list, school officials said.
More students than ever went to U.S. colleges in the 1960s, morals and standards for young people became looser, and “trust no one over 30” became a mantra for youth.
“Before that time, in the ’50s, we had to wear collared shirts and you couldn’t wear blue jeans to school,” said Zingarella, who grew up in the 1950s and was in college in the ’60s. He took part in some protests but wasn’t that active, though he did grow his hair long.
“The Vietnam War was such a decisive war,” he said, as students watched “Two Days in October,” a PBS doc-umentary about two separate events in 1967 that changed people’s perceptions of the war. Based on the book “They Marched Into Sunlight,”the
documentary tells the story of a Viet Cong am-bush that caused some elected leaders to ques-tion whether the war could be won and pro-tests at the University of Wisconsin against Dow Chemical, makers of napalm.
Vietnam War class resonates with studentsTeacher Ralph Zingarella speaks passionately about the Vietnam War era. | (Eve
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A2 Thursday, December 26, 2013 The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com
Grant funds Chromebooks for Dodd students
All 750 students at Dodd Middle School are expected to have brand new Google Chromebooks in February thanks to a state grant.
“We’re very excited about that,” said Scott Detrick, school curriculum director.
The portable personal computers, designed to be used while connected to the Internet, will be purchased with a $209,000 grant the school system recently won.
“Yeah, we were surprised,” said Dodd Principal Michael Woods. “Quite frankly, here we are in Cheshire and we didn’t think we’d get it.”
W o o d s s a i d t h e Chromebooks will benefit the students in a number of ways. Students are scheduled to take this year’s state stan-dardized test on computers, which would be a logistical nightmare with only two computer labs in the school.
“It’s not only exciting from a technology perspective, but it also completely levels the playing field for Bring Your Own Device,” Woods said. “That works better at the high school level. In middle school, sometimes the type of device you bring is a sta-tus thing.”
The Chromebooks will be given to students around the middle of February. The stu-dents will have a month to get familiarized before they take the state’s new standardized
test. The Chromebooks are set up with the applications the students need, including virus protection. They won’t be allowed to download ex-tra applications, Woods said.
Students will be able to take home the Chromebooks and can do their homework on programs like Google Docs.
“Nowadays they can’t say the dog ate my homework or the printer ate my home-work,” Woods said. “It will all be done in the cloud.”
With Chromebook, sup-port applications and pro-grams reside on the web and all data is stored in the “cloud.”
When the students gradu-ate the Chromebooks will be given to incoming students.
“We’ll be recycling them,” Woods said. “In talking to other districts who have them, their damage rate was less than 5 percent.”
This past summer, offi-cials originally applied for a $437,000 grant, said Director of Management Services Vincent Masciana.
The larger grant would have been used to outfit stu-dents from fifth through eighth grade with computers, Detrick said.
The middle schoolers would still have received Chromebooks, and the stu-dents in the elementary schools would have received less sophisticated computers that they could only use at school, Detrick said.
By Eve BrittonThe Cheshire Citizen
T h e y d e c i d e d o n Chromebooks because of the applications installed, the price and the compati-bility with programs used by teachers.
Distr ict off icia ls are looking at four different Chromebook manufactur-ers: Samsung, HP, Acer and Lenovo. Plus, Dell is ex-pected to come out with one soon, Masciana said.
The Lenovo one costs the most at $350 per unit, while the other companies charge $250.
“We’re actively explor-ing our options,” Masciana said, explaining that a ven-dor spoke to district leaders Wednesday about the com-puters. “We got some tech specs. The Lenovo is more durable, but costs more.”
One of the questions is in-
surance, Detrick said. They may offer parents extra in-surance for the devices.
The Cheshire Symphony Orchestra is looking for oboe, viola and violin players who are able to play advanced repertoire. Orchestral experience is preferred but not required.
The Cheshire Symphony Orchestra is composed of students and profession-als from diverse fields including medicine, sci-entific research, and ed-ucation. Musicians come from Cheshire and many
surrounding communities and volunteer their efforts to work with a profes-sional conductor on chal-lenging and accessable programming.
Rehearsals are sched-uled for Monday nights from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Dodd Middle School. For more information, call Cary Jacobs at (203) 915-1568 or Sue Lonergan at (203) 651-9074 and leave a message.
Oboe and string players needed
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A4 Thursday, December 26, 2013 The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com
Three people accused of stealing items valued at $8,000 from a local home while the residents visited China are seeking accelerated rehabilitation.
Christopher Adams and Gabriella Watstein, both 19 and residents of Cheshire, and Kori Cleveland, 20, of Meriden, were arrested in October and face charges including third-degree bur-glary, third-degree larceny and using a motor vehicle without permission.
A local family went to visit relatives in China for a few weeks in July, according to police reports. When they returned, they found items out of place in their home, other items stolen and that the house smelled of cigarette smoke. Items reported stolen include a laptop and jewelry including wedding rings and a Rolex watch.
The family told police no
one had permission to be in their home while they were away. A daughter told police some of her friends knew about an unsecured window in the rear of the home, the report said.
Pol ice spoke wi th Watstein, who admitted be-ing in the home while the family was away, the report said. Watstein told police she went with at least four other friends. After she went through the window, she un-locked the rear door so the others could get in.
Watstein said a group stayed at the home for two nights, the report said. Watstein told police the sec-ond night the three of them took the father’s new Infiniti to the Sonic Drive-In in Wallingford. Watstein said she knew she did not have permission to be in the home or to use the car, but denied knowing anything about the missing laptop.
Police spoke with Adams and Cleveland, who both gave the same story as Watstein,
Burglary suspects seek accelerated rehabBy Lauren SievertSpecial to The Citizen
adding that the second night they opened a bottle of wine.
Police found the fa-ther’s Rolex watch had been pawned for $750 at a local pawn shop by Adams, the re-port said. When questioned, Adams said the three were going to split the money.
Adams and Cleveland ap-peared in Meriden Superior Court Monday. According to statements in court, all three defendants are asking to enter the accelerated rehabilitation program, which if granted by a judge and successfully com-pleted would result in a dis-missal of charges.
The family also spoke in court Monday. The daughter said she suffers from anxi-ety and feels betrayed by her friends, whom she has known for more than 10 years. The daughter said her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently go-ing through chemotherapy, and can’t focus on healing because of this case. Adams wrote a letter apologizing to the family for his actions. The family requested no con-tact orders for the three de-fendants and for restitution for the items taken, which she said roughly amount to $8,000.
Judge Philip Scarpellino continued all the cases to Jan. 13, saying he will decide on the program applications of all three defendants then.
Three entry-level police officers have been hired.
Jose Rocha, 24, of Stratford; Sam Decapua, 24, of Hamden; and Tracy Gonzalez, 40, of Wallingford were selected from an initial pool of nearly 300 applicants, said Lt. James Fasano.
The three hires will be sworn in Dec. 30 and start training at the Police Academy on Jan. 3.
“They all have a strong sense of commitment to community,” Fasano said. “I think they are a great addition.”
Rocha, who gradu-ated from Sacred Heart University a week ago, is working in retail.
“I’ve always wanted to go into patrol,” he said. “I like interacting with the community.”
Decapua is currently working in the dietary de-partment at Elim Park res-
idential care facility. He graduated this summer from Central Connecticut State University.
“I always wanted to be in law enforcement, ever since I was 10 years old and realized I couldn’t play professional sports,” he said.
“It’s an exciting career. You’re not stuck behind a desk from 9 to 5 and there’s the relationship with the community.”
Gonzalez has been a dispatcher at the Police Department for the past three years.
“I want to get more hands-on with the town, jump in with both feet and get out there,” she said.
T h e t e s t i n g w a s challenging.
“It was difficult and do-ing the physical test for a 40-year-old is a real chal-lenge,” Gonzalez said.
The department is in the process of filling three more open positions.
Town hires three police officersBy Eve BrittonThe Cheshire Citizen
The Cheshire Citizen charges a $50 fee for obituaries. For more information, call The Citizen at (203) 317-2240.
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The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com Thursday, December 26, 2013 A5
Seasonally cold weather is returning to Connecticut and with it comes an increas-ing need for home heating. Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas encourage customers to consider how they’ll conserve energy to save on their winter heating bills now, before the bitter cold arrives. The companies offer several programs to help customers lower their energy bills and have experts who can assist in finding and signing up for the programs best suited for them.
Setting efficiency goals can be challenging without enough information about where the most energy is be-ing used in a home. To help customers get started, the companies recommend sign-ing up for the Home Energy Solutions program. The pro-gram starts with a top-to-bot-tom assessment of the home
by an authorized home en-ergy expert who will test for drafts and air leaks. The en-ergy expert can also make on-the-spot improvements such as caulking and seal-ing air leaks, installing com-pact fluorescent light bulbs and water-saving, low-flow showerheads. In addition, customers will also receive in-formation about money-sav-ing rebates for appliances and heating and cooling sys-tems. Depending on the cir-cumstances, some customers may receive these services at no cost. To learn more about the program, call 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873).
In addition to making im-provements in energy ef-f iciency, customers may consider payment plans and other programs offered by CL&P and Yankee Gas. Any customer can receive help managing their utility
expenses with the Budget Billing program, which helps avoid seasonal peaks associ-ated with heating and cooling by equalizing monthly utility bills based on a customer’s annual energy usage.
A winter protection pro-gram is also available for income-eligible customers. The program protects quali-fying customers from having their electricity or natural gas shut off for nonpayment from Nov. 1 to May 1. Customers will still receive monthly bills and are encouraged to pay what they can each month to avoid a large balance becom-ing due when the protection period ends.
For more information about programs that can help save energy and money, visit www.cl-p.com and www.yan-keegas.com.
— Submitted by CL&P and Yankee Gas.
Help for utility bills
Elim Park, 140 Cook Hill Rd., is seeking vol-unteers willing to share their time.
Volunteer positions offered are visitor/com-panion , wheelcha ir transport assistant, rec-reation activity assis-tants, and clerical/office assistant. Training and orientation is provided.
For more information, contact Allyson Palma, at (203) 272-3547, ext. 370 or email [email protected].
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A6 Thursday, December 26, 2013 The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com
Junior Colin Thorne and Senior Wes Robertson, are entranced with a video about the Vietnam War era . | (Eve
Britton/Special to The Citizen)
Vietnam
“War is not good, but don’t blame the messengers, the soldiers,” he said. “It’s the people in charge. The 59,000 people on the Vietnam Wall shouldn’t be there.”
Student have a chance to write about what weapons should be allowed in war and what companies should be allowed to recruit on college campuses.
“I teach them they have a voice. If they see something wrong, to say something,” he said. “I want them to examine their own morals, what they think of themselves morally.”
Many of the students said they took the course be-cause classmates had recom-mended it.
“It opens my eyes,” said ju-nior Skyler Sklenarik. “After this class I’ve seen how war is terrible. I wish we did stuff like the protesters. I think our generation just isn’t that feisty.”
Junior Ellie Senft took the class because she didn’t know
From Page 1
much about the Vietnam War.“It surprised me that peo-
ple protested the war and that the vets were ignored when they came home,” she said. “It upset me that people didn’t appreciate their service.”
Senior Joe Strollo said he is learning about the govern-ment’s role in the war.
“I feel badly that they had to go through all that and they didn’t even need to be there,” he said of the soldiers. “The (fighting in Afghanistan and war in Iraq) is not that no-ticed by kids my age because there’s no draft.”
Junior Colin Thorne said his mother, father, and brother all had Zingarella for a teacher.
“Some of the stuff that hap-pened in Vietnam is pretty gory,” he said. “It’s shocking to see what happened.”
Some of the students said they were saddened, but felt enlightened.
“It’s interesting to learn about the war. They don’t really cover it in American history, probably because America wants us to forget about it,” said senior Wes Robertson. “It’s shocking to see the things we did. He (Zingarella) makes it per-sonal and when it’s personal, it means something.”
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As winter settles in, head out for an outdoor winter adventure. The American Heart Association recom-mends 30 minutes of heart healthy exercise most days of the week—even during winter—to help prevent heart disease, the nation’s number one killer.
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e A m e r i c a n H e a r t Association, exercising in cooler weather has some distinct advantages over working out in the warmer weather. First, there is no heat and humidity to deal with. In fact, winter’s chill can make you feel awake and invigorated. Also, you can work out harder in the cold weather—which means you burn even more calories. Heading outside in the winter is also a great way to take in the sunlight during those shorter win-ter days. Not only does light dramatically improve many people’s moods, it also helps you get the vitamin D your body needs.
The AHA encourages walking as a primary heart healthy activity since peo-ple are more likely to stick with walking than any other exercise. Why walking? It’s efficient. Just 30 minutes of walking a day can improve your circulation, lower your cholesterol and blood
pressure, and help you lose weight.
Walking is free, simple and convenient. The only thing needed to start is a pair of supportive walk-ing shoes. There’s nothing complicated to learn. Just step outside. Run errands, walk the dog, take a lunch-time walk, catch up with friends, or bundle up the kids and walk as a family. By changing up the time, dis-tance, pace and route, you can create the right walking program for you.
There are many of ways to get physical activity in-side, too—no gym required. Weights (such as a set of 5-pound and 10-pound dumbbells) are a great ad-dition, but not absolutely necessary.
Adding in an exercise cir-cuit (a cycle of 5–6 moves, run a few times through) is a great way to stave off boredom and get a lot done in a short amount of time. You can create your own mini-circuits at home if you don’t belong to a gym. Ideally, your circuit will in-clude a cardio burst of 1–2 minutes, followed by 3–5 exercises that work various parts of your body.
For example:• Jump rope, jog in place
or run your steps (start with 1 minute and progress to 2).
• 10 push-ups (You can modify with knees down if you are having trouble holding a straight body push-up position; remem-ber to keep your palms flat on the floor.)
• 20 crunches (with feet flat and knees up, legs bent in the air at 90 degrees or straight up, or your favorite variation)
• 20 hip lifts (flat on your back, arms down on the ground at your sides with fingertips pointing toward feet, feet flat with knees bent at 90 degrees; press feet and shoulders into floor as you lift your hips as high as you can; lift and lower)
• 30-second plank hold (holding a push-up posi-tion; body as a straight line, or with knees down)
• 10 triceps dips on a chair/couch (Sit on chair with feet flat and knees bent at 90 degrees; hands at sides, palms pressed into the chair with fingertips facing forward; take one large step with right foot, and join left foot beside it. Bend your arms to 90 de-grees as you lower and lift; keeps abs tight.) The beauty of exercise circuits is that you can be creative. Mix and match different moves.
Take 30 minutes for your heart this winter!
Keep exercising to prevent heart disease
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The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com Thursday, December 26, 2013 A7
HOLIDAY MUSICAL REVIEW
In a recent appearance at the Cheshire Public Library’s Sunday Showcase Series, musical historians Jim and Maggi Dalton’s “300 Years of Christmastide in America” program took audience members on a seasonal music tour of the ages from the 1600s to the 1800s. The duo, together since 1981, specialize in music of the 19th and 20th centuries with historical commentary and period-appropriate instruments. In their performance, banjos, acoustic guitar, sleigh bells, and other percussion instruments are used, including a South American drum called the “charango.” An historical commentary was given about the earliest forms of music associated with the Christmas season.
Library Briefs
One on one computer instruction
Cheshire Public Library has scheduled one-on-one com-puter instruction for adult novices. Topics include ba-sic internet, basic computer, and registering for an email account.
Sessions are one hour and are by appointment only. Appointments are available for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 2 or 3 p.m. and Thursdays at 1 p.m. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call (203) 272-2245, ext. 4.
The Town Council canceled its special meeting sched-uled for Dec. 17. Items on the agenda included a presen-tation by the pension actuary and a presentation on the pre-budget for fiscal year 2015.
The meeting was rescheduled for 7 p.m., Jan. 7, 2014, in Town Hall Council Chambers.
— Lauren Sievert
Council reschedules special meeting
The Cheshire Public Works Department is scheduled to accept Christmas trees at the former Transfer Station, 1286 Waterbury Road, on Saturday, Jan. 11, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The collection is for Cheshire residents and only Christmas tress will be accepted. There is no charge for the collection.
Christmas tree disposal
Boy Scout Troop 51 has scheduled a bottle and can drive for Saturday, Jan. 4, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cheshire First Congregational Church on the green.
Proceeds benefit Troop 51 camping supplies and equipment.
In the event of inclement weather, the bottle and can drive will be rescheduled.
Bottle and can drive
Town Briefs
Each month the Cheshire Women’s Club meets on the first Thursday of the month for a general business meeting with a luncheon, followed by a program that is open to the public. For more information about joining the Cheshire Women’s Club, call Paulette at (203) 272-8779 or attend any meeting.
Women’s Club
Be a good citizen. By helping others you’re helping yourself.
A8 Thursday, December 26, 2013 The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com
Faith
Churches, patriotism and peaceThe season of Advent
back in 1941 soon brought news in striking contrast to the Christmas message of “peace on earth.” On Dec. 7, 1941, we had attended church, enjoyed a big din-ner, and were relaxing in the living room. Dad was napping in front of the radio, which was broad-casting symphonic music, when suddenly an impas-sioned announcer broke in. Pearl Harbor had been bombed. The next after-
noon boys in our 8th grade met in their clubhouse up-stairs in our barn, renamed our group the Defenders of Democracy, and wrote a letter to the two Vermont senators in Washington, pledging our zealous aid in the war effort.
My father had argued against American participa-tion in the European conflict that had been raging for two years, and today many historians would unfairly label him an “isolational-ist.” He detested Hitler, but had no affection for the British empire, its monar-
chy and rigid class system. Dad had expressed the hope that Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union that sum-mer would lead to the col-lapse of both Nazism and Communism. Mom had told us that his main reason for opposing our intervention (and hers, too) was their four sons, all subject to mili-tary service if we became in-volved and the war dragged on.
Our local pastor had a strong pacifist bent, as did many ministers of that era. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he and others were faced with the deli-cate decision of how to re-spond to this sudden crisis. Vigorously or reluctantly en-dorse the war? Or, continue to oppose it in principle, probably in silence, while supporting the military per-sonnel and their families?
And how much patriotism
should be incorporated into worship? That still can be an issue. A few would say “none,” that Christianity is an international faith that transcends national borders. More might suggest that surely American democracy, even American “exception-alism,” must be favored by God. Others would argue for some middle course.
Like many other ministers over the years, I wrestled with this question, particu-larly when I disagreed with our foreign policy. Yet, my patriotism runs deep, and when a national holiday came along, I would give it attention in the sermon and hymns. My favorites include “America, the Beautiful” and “A Song of Peace,” sung to that poignant tune “Finlandia” by composer Jean Sibelius.
The patriotic selection that I most enjoy singing is
“The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which congrega-tions would belt out. However, I always sang it with mixed feelings. The lyr-ics serve as an exhilarating clarion call to join in holy battle against injustice. At the same time, is it blessing the brutality of war when it speaks of God’s wrath and his “terrible swift sword”?
Prior to the Civil War, a song to the same tune was popular at revivals in the South, whose opening stanza asked: “Say brothers, will you meet us on Canaan’s happy shore?” In 1861 Union troops replaced those words with “John Brown’s body lies a-moldering in the grave, but his soul is marching on!” John Brown, of course, had been executed after lead-ing an effort to foment a slave rebellion by attacking Harpers Ferry in 1859. He had been born in Torrington, Conn.
In November 1861, Samuel Gridley Howe and his wife, Julia Ward Howe, a prominent poet, both avid abolitionists, vis-ited Union encampments in Washington. When one Army unit began to sing “John Brown’s body,” a minister suggested to Mrs. Howe that she could pen more suitable lyrics. That night, she later wrote, “I awoke…and to my astonish-ment found that the wished-for lines were arranging themselves in my brain.” She quickly scribbled them down, and they met with wide acclaim throughout the North. Once bitter memo-ries of the Civil War faded away, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” became popu-lar across the country and is included today in numerous patriotic observances.
By Ralph Lord Roy Special to The Citizen
Ralph Lord Roy
See Peace / Page 9
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Peace
Some controversy is likely to continue to surround the song. Jesus is prominent in its lyrics and opposition to public use of sectarian texts increases as America’s secular and non-Christian population grows. Those with pacifist inclinations remain uncomfortable with its seeming endorsement of warfare along with its gen-erous dose of apocalyptic imagery.
Many other words have been sung to the same mel-ody. For years “Solidarity Forever” served as an an-them of the labor movement. Children return from sum-mer camp singing: “I wear
my pink pajamas in the sum-mer when it’s hot!” We used to shout out another parody back in elementary school. The chorus began: “Glory, glory, hallelujah, teacher hit me with a ruler.” Fortunately, I can’t remember the rest of it - something about a gun, a loaded .44.
Interested in more infor-mation on this topic? Check out the engaging new book titled “The Battle Hymn of the Republic: A Biography and the Song That Marches On,” written by John Stauffer and Benjamin Soskis.
Ra l p h L o rd Ro y o f Southington is an author and retired United Methodist min-ister. Email: [email protected].
From Page 8
Faith Briefs
Temple Beth DavidTorah Study at Temple
Beth David. Join Rabbi Josh Whinston for Torah Study every second through fifth Saturday of each month to delve into that week’s parsha.
Temple Beth David, 3 Main St. (203) 272-0037 or www.tbdcheshire.org.
Support group at Calvary Life
Recover Me, a support group for mothers, wives, daughter and sisters, deal-ing with addiction in their homes, is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Jan. 7 at the Calvary Life Worship Center, 174 East Johnson Ave. The group will meet for eight weeks, 6:30 to 8 p.m. and helps women who put other’s need before their
own and let a loved one’s be-havior, as a result of addic-tion, affect their life.
The meetings are free. Pre-registration is required.
For more information and to register, call Cindy at (203) 758-0545 or email [email protected].
Cornerstone Church
The Cornerstone Church, 1146 Waterbury Road, is scheduled to offer three Sunday morning services, 8:30, 10, and 11:30 a.m. For more information, call (203) 272-5083 or visit www.cor-nerstonecheshire.com.
The Preaching Hour“The Preaching Hour”
has scheduled a new three month series on “The Book
of Hebrews: If You Know Jesus You Will Persevere” airing Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Public Access Cox Cable Channel 15. The show is hosted by Cheshire resident Br. Tobin Hitt, founder of Zion Pentecost Mission.
Congregation Kol Ami
H e b r e w c l a s s e s - Congregational Kol Ami plans basic and advanced Hebrew classes, along with conversion and ritual prayer reading. Classes will be an-nounced as classes form. A fee is charged for non-mem-bers. For more information, contact Limor Shefer at [email protected].
Congregational Kol Ami, 1484 Highland Ave. (203) 265-1198.
Religious Services
Calvary Life Family Worship Center, 174 E. Johnson Ave., Saturdays, 6 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m. (Gate 43 - Children’s Church and nursery available); Mid-week service on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.; The Loft (junior and senior high) meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. (203) 272-1701.
C h e s h i r e L u t h e r a n Church, 660 W. Main St., Sunday – 8 and 10:30 a.m. ser-vices. Education for all ages, 9:10 a.m. (203) 272-5106.
C h e s h i r e U n i t e d Methodist Church , 205 Academy Road, Sunday school, all ages, 9:30 a.m.; worship, 10:45 a.m. (203) 272-4626.
C h r i s t C o m m u n i t y Church, 120 Main St., Sunday – 10:15 a.m. service; Sunday school, 9 a.m. AWANA, Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m. (203) 272-6344. www.cheshireccc.org.
Church of the Epiphany, 1750 Huckins Rd., Mass scheduled for Sunday through Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 a.m.; Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday, 4 p.m. Vigil.
(203) 272 - 4355. www.epiph-anyct.org.
C o n g r e g a t i o n K o l Ami, 1484 Highland Ave., Wednesday, 6 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m.; Friday, 7:30 p.m. Shabbat service; Saturday, 10 a.m. service with Torah Study at 9 a.m. (203) 272-1006.
Cornerstone Church , 1146 Waterbury Rd., Sunday services 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Nursery provided at all services. Children’s church at the 10 and 11:30 a.m. ser-vices. (203) 272-5083. Cornerstonecheshire.com.
Fe l low s h i p of L i fe Church, 150 Sandbank Rd., Sunday - 10 a.m. Worship and teaching, nursery and classes for youth; Wednesday - 7:30 p.m. Revival prayer. (203) 272-7976. www.folchurch.org.
First Congregational Church, 111 Church Drive, Sunday – 9 and 11 a.m. ser-vices. Nursery and child care provided at both ser-vices. (203) 272-5323.
Grace Baptist Church , 55 Country Club Road, Sunday - Worship, 9:15 a.m. in Mandarin, 1 1 a .m. in
English; Sunday School for all ages - 9:15 a.m. English, 11 a.m. adults Mandarin; Tuesday - 7:30 p.m. Prayer meeting: Wednesday - small group; Friday - 7:30 Chinese Fellowship/youth program in English. Joint worship ser-vice first Sunday of month at 10:30 a.m. (203) 272-3621.
Oasis, 176 Sandbank Rd., Sunday, 10:15 a.m. Children’s church and nursery available. (203) 439-0150. www.celebra-tethejourney.org.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 59 Main St., Sunday – 8:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I; 10:30 a.m. Rite 2 with choirs. (203) 272-4041.
St. T hom a s B ecket Catholic Church, 435 No. Brooksvale Rd., Masses: Vigil (Saturday) 4 p.m. EST, 5 p.m. DST, Sunday 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., Confession: Saturday, 3 p.m. EST, 4 p.m. DST, (203) 272-5777. www.stthomas-becket.org.
Temple Beth David , 3 Main St., 7:30 p.m. service Friday, except first Friday of month when family ser-vices are at 6:30 p.m. (203) 272-0037.
Send your faith news and photos to us at:The Cheshire Citizen
Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts plans to award a total of $50,000 to 25 local high school seniors this academic year through its scholarship program. Eligibility requirements for the RMHC scholarship are be eli-gible to enroll in and attend a two-or four-year college with a full course study and reside in a participating area.
Scholarship recipients will be selected on the basis of academic achievement, fi-nancial need and community involvement.
Applications are available by calling 1-855-670-4787 or online at www.rmhc-ctma.org/schol-arships. Deadline to apply is Jan. 21, 2014.
Sacred Heart honor roll
Cheshire students named to the first marking period at Sacred Heart Academy.
High honors - Lauren Celentano, Olivia Emerson, Alexa Fiala, Francesca G u a r n i e r i , M a d e l i n e Hekeler, Katherine Mackey, Emily Mancini, Christina Mercugliano, Jaime Robinson, Samantha Sansone, Jenna Tubby.
Honors - Maryanne Bowman, Rebecca Donahue, Gina Guarnieri, Samantha Hekeler, Erin Kent, Julia Mayer, Clare Nasti, Allie O’Brien, Cara Walsh.
Like us on Facebook: TheCheshireCitizen
Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Exp. 1/31/14.
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A10 Thursday, December 26, 2013 The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com
Opinion
www.cheshirecitizen.com11 Crown St.
Meriden, CT 06450
Reporter – Eve BrittonFeatures – Joy VanderLek
News Editor – Olivia L. LawrenceAssistant News Editor – Nick Carroll
Executive Vice President and Assistant Publisher – Liz White
Senior Vice President of Operations and Major Accounts – Michael F. Killian
Senior Vice President and Editor – Ralph Tomaselli
Advertising Director – Kimberley E. BoathAdvertising Sales – Christopher Cullen
Published every Thursday by the Record-Journal Publishing Co. Delivered by mail to all homes and businesses in Cheshire.
Government Meetings
Monday, Dec. 30Energy Commission, 7 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 6Historic District
Commission, 7:30 p.m.Zoning Board of Appeals,
7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 7Inland/Wetlands and
Watercourses, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 8Beautification Committee,
7:30 p.m.Environment Commission,
7 p.m.
Park & Recreation, 7 p.m.Public Building
Commission, 7 p.m.Public Safety Commission,
7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 9Human Services
Committee, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 14Town Council, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 20Historic District
Commission, 7:30 p.m.Library Board, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 21Economic Development,
7:30 p.m. Inland/Wetlands and
Watercourses, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 22Water Pollution Control
Authority/Food & Erosion Control Board, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 27Energy Commission, 7 p.m.
Planning & Zoning, 7:30 p.m.
Youth Services Committee
I f e v e r you were to look for a how-to book on knitting Christmas ornaments, there is one at the Cheshire Public Library. Its title is “55 Christmas Balls”. The call number is 746.432. The cover is easily recogniz-able. Pictured sitting on an old fashioned Swedish sofa are Arne and Carlos, the au-thors, with knitting needles in their hands. Actually I have the same book, a Christmas present to me from my niece Sidsel three years ago when I spent Christmas with her family in Oslo.
Except, of course, the title on my book is the original “Femti-fem Julekuler.” The pictures, directions, diagrams and anecdotes are the “same”. That is, the English version is a direct translation of the Norwegian. In fact, the book is available in 13 languages.
Arne and Carlos were al-ready highly successful in-ternational fashion designers when they stumbled onto the idea of putting traditional knitted designs into orna-ments. They developed a basic pattern in which they incorporated designs with names like hjerter (hearts) and reinsdyr (reindeer). They favor red and white but use other bright colors as well. Each completed ornament is about the size of a medium apple. Their ornament-knit-ting workshops are popular in major European cities. Their
home and studio is a con-verted railroad station in a small town in the mountains of southern Norway.
At home with my gift, I de-cided I would knit all 55 dif-ferent designs, no matter how long it took. Arne in a mag-azine article alleged that he can knit three ornaments a day. I do not knit so quickly, I persuaded a yarn store owner to order four colors of the recommended Norwegian wool yam and got started. I soon became addicted and like many confirmed knitters didn’t put the needles away until the project was com-pleted. I can even say, I went beyond my goal, creating de-signs of my own and buy-ing some expensive glittery French yam to knit additional balls. I had imagined the col-orful Christmas balls would be an item that would sell at the heritage fair my Sons of Norway lodge was known for.
Unfortunately, the group was not able to hold the fair these last two years. So I have given away most of the Christmas balls I knitted.
At the Grange Fair this fall I was delighted to find that another local knitter had entered three Christmas balls of unmistakable Arne and Carlos design. The craft judges awarded a blue ribbon for her work.
Arne and Carlos continue to create. Their latest books are “Strikkedukker” (knitted dolls) and “Knit and Crochet in the Garden”. They have a Facebook page and a website.
I, too, have moved on. The most recent gift from Norway is a book on knitting luer, sok-ker, votter and pulsvarmere (caps, socks, mittens and wrist warmers).
A well-knit Christmas taleBy Laura Clementsen Special to The Citizen
Clementsen
Commentary
I’m declar-ing Dec. 26 to Feb. 2 the first annual S e a s o n o f Taking.
From Thanksgiving to Christmas, w e ’ v e a l l e n j oye d a s e a s o n o f gratitude and giving. Food pantries have been filled, charities have received do-nations, and gifts have been exchanged. Those who ar-en’t religious often partici-
pate in gift giving too, and although the time frames dif-fer, gifts also are exchanged for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Eid. Even strangers on the street are friendlier during the most wonderful time of the year.
For most Americans, the Season of Giving starts on Thanksgiving, when we cel-ebrate the peaceful union of pilgrims and Native Americans. But that season of harmony didn’t last long, and neither does our annual Season of Giving.
The Season of Taking really isn’t a radical proposal if you think about it. Throughout the holiday shopping sea-
son, gifts are purchased for others, but on Dec. 26, shop-pers flock to spend gift cards and attempt to return sing-ing wall fish and horrifying sweaters.
The Season of Taking re-ally starts to shine on New Year’s Eve, a delightfully self-centered holiday which is celebrated not with a fam-ily meal that includes yams and stuffing, but by staying up late partying, usually with alcohol, usually with friends.
Both of the most popular New Year’s traditions are totally self-involved. Many people kiss their significant
Give and take of the season By Charles KreutzkampSpecial to The Citizen
Commentary
See Season / Page 11
Find us on the Web: www.northhavencitizen.com
Charles Kreutzkamp
The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com Thursday, December 26, 2013 A11
HISTORICAL SOCIETY CHRISTMASThe spirit of the holiday season was in force for the Cheshire Historical Society’s Dec. 15 Christmas party at the Phillips-Hitchcock House. Local residents came to view rooms beautifully decorated in the season’s greenery by the Suburban Garden Club, and gingerbread house masterpieces from Diane and Dave Calabro. Town Historian Jeanné Chesanow and Inge Venus are shown at the event amongst the seasonal handcrafted works at the Cheshire Historical Society. Greenery in period holiday fashion are shown displayed on the front door and mantelpiece. | (Joy VanderLek/
The Cheshire Citizen)
Season
other at midnight — if they have one; those that don’t are left in the literal cold. Even the most benevolent New Year’s Resolutions fo-cus on changing the self and “Losing Weight” is the most popular resolution of all, ac-cording to the University of Scranton’s Journal of Clinical Psychology’s 2012 statistics. Vanity, vanity.
Another one of the top five resolutions is to “Enjoy life to the fullest.” After all that exhausting generosity, people just want to focus on
themselves. So why not ex-tend the Season of Taking out another month to match the Season of Giving?
Celebrants of the Season of Taking can forgive them-selves if they forget about their New Year’s resolutions — that’s the first perk to en-joy. Participants can follow it up by giving themselves a break on cooking and order-ing take-out, or buying them-selves that shiny new whatsit that no one gave them for Christmas. It’ll be good for the economy. Businesses can promote some revenue-rais-ing self-indulgence with spe-
cial offers on dinners for one —tis the season!
Food banks and charities will weather the storm of selfishness with the well-stocked shelves and savings from the holidays.
The best part of the Season of Taking, however, is that it ends. On Feb. 2, everyone celebrating the season wakes up, confronts their shadow in the mirror, and realizes that it isn’t good to be selfish for-ever. We already set aside just one month of the year for giving — if we don’t have a season for taking, isn’t that just our default attitude?
From Page 10
Police Blotter
C h e s h i r e P o l i c e Department reported the following arrests. Arrests do not indicate convictions.
Dec. 11Axel Zunigaloor, 20,
95 Giles St., Waterbury, fourth-degree larceny.
Joseph Gonzales, 21, 884 Highland Ave., violation of probation.
Dec. 12Evan Pinciaro, 18, 1262 Rice
Ave., possession of marijuana less that 1/2 oz - first offense.
Dec. 13David Milton, 37, 1264 Lilac
Ct., second-degree breach of peace.
Dec. 14Bonys Vargas-Rodriquez,
25, 30 Amhearst, Hamden, failure to drive in proper lane multiple land highway; oper-ating under the influence of drugs/alcohol.
Advertise with The Cheshire Citizen:Call 203-317-2324.
A12 Thursday, December 26, 2013 The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com
Seniors
Senior Menu
Lunch reservations must be made 48 hours in advance by calling (203) 272-0047. A donation is requested.
Monday, Dec. 30: No el-derly nutrition program.
Tuesday, Dec. 31: No el-derly nutrition program.
Wednesday, Jan. 1: New Year’s Day. Senior Center closed.
Thursday, Jan. 2: Oven fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans, wheat dinner roll, fruit cocktail.
Monday, Dec. 30: Sweatin’ to the Oldies exercise, 9 a.m.; 9 to 5 Cards, 10 a.m.; Lunch and a movie (pizza at 11:45 - a fee is charged, Christmas in Connecticut at 12:30 p.m.); Poker, 1 p.m.
Magic show - Thursday, Jan. 9, 1 p.m. Performance by magician Kayla Drescher. Registration required by Jan. 7.
Positivity and Energy Medicine (part 2) - Sunday, Jan. 12, 3 to 5 p.m. Cynthia Streit Mazzaferro has sched-uled a free program regard-ing your life - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. (Participants must have attended part 1.) Register by Jan. 6 by calling (203) 272-8297.
Choosing the right ther-apy program post OP - Monday, Jan. 15, 11:30 a.m.
learn what to expect when you return home as well a improving overall functions, home therapy techniques and more. Registration is re-quired by Jan. 9.
Photo ID - Monday, Jan. 13, 1 to 3 p.m. First come, first serve basis.
Hospitality meeting - Tuesday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m. new members always welcome.
Affordable Care Act Q&A - Tuesday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m. Forum to address ques-tions and concerns affect-ing seniors and healthcare. Register by Jan. 9.
How to prevent finan-
cial abuse - Wednesday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. learn how to pro-tect against financial abuse. Topics include f inancial abuse, warning signs, scams and more. The public is wel-come. The program is free of charge; registration is re-quired by Jan. 9.
W hist Card Party - Thursday, Jan. 16, 1 to 3 p.m. A fee is charged.
S e n i o r B o o k wo r m s are Hooked on Reading - Tuesday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m. Book discussion: Fatal Vision by Joe McGinnis. Group meets in the Senior Center.
Cheshire Senior Variety Players - Tuesday, Jan. 21, 1 p.m. New members always
welcome.Beat the Winter Blues -
Thursday, Jan. 23, 1 p.m. Bob Mel is scheduled to provide entertainment. Dancing in-cluded. A fee is charged. Register by Jan. 21.
Chinese food and movie - Monday, Jan. 27. Lunch at 11:45 a.m. (a fee is charged for lunch). Movie Red at 12:30 p.m. Registration is required by Jan. 23.
Foot care program - Thursday, Jan. 30, 10:30 a.m. Registration required by Thursday, Jan. 23.
Monthly Dance Party - Thursday, Jan. 30, 1 to 3 p.m. Entertainment by Vinnie Carr.
We welcome your submissions!Send your news, photos and letters to us at:
The Cheshire Citizen11 Crown Street, Meriden, CT 06450
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The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com Thursday, December 26, 2013 A13
Jerks
After proving himself with that effort, Globe-Pequot en-couraged Bendici to write “Jerks.”
Thinking the book had real potential, Bendici signed on. “Everyone loves a good train-wreck,” he said, adding that sometimes, bad guys make for better stories. While he was sure those mentioned in the book were jerks, he couldn’t be so sure they were necessarily dead—especially in the case of one jerk, this one a mobster, who went “missing” some years ago.
As might be expected, Bendici found an almost un-limited supply of jerks in Connecticut to write about. He decided he needed to cast a wide net to catch a variety of jerks and not end up with a bunch of the same sort of jerks. The jerks in this book, for example, fall into many categories: clever con art-ists, self-indulgent zealots, all kinds of murderers, ac-cused witches, plus a whole lot more.
The book, which took a year to research and write, includes more than a dozen jerks, and offers thumbnail sketches of each character. The short-format lends itself to wanting to know more, so Bendici has supplied links to original stories and other
From Page 1 publications in order to al-low readers to find out more on their own.
One jerk with ties to many Connecticut towns, includ-ing Cheshire, was Brother Julius Schacknow. He was a cult leader and prophet, who later “promoted him-self to God,” Bendici said. On his way to omnipresence, Brother Julius amassed piles of money, and many wives, and referred to himself as “The Sinning Jesus,” who thought he should experi-ence vice in order to be a better leader for his people. It didn’t end well.
Then there’s the case of the deranged bomber, a.k.a. the Mad Bomber of New York, George Metesky, from Waterbury. Metesky turned to terrorism as revenge for the loss of his ConEd job. He started setting off small pipe bombs in the 40s in NYC, stopping for a period during WWII “to show his patrio-tism,” and then starting up again in the 50s.
Bendici said the bomber “had some mental issues” and his habit of leaving notes behind and sending notes to
the press would prove to be his undoing. When captured in his Waterbury home, pho-tos show Metesky smiling as he is arrested. The author commented that the bombs began to get more sophisti-cated with time, so it’s lucky no one had been killed.
P.T. Barnum also shows up as one of the jerks in Bendici’s book. The author calls P.T. “a loveable jerk.” Bendici tells the story of a young, impressionable P.T. Barnum, who as a boy, was promised a desirable piece of land by his own father. The land would be his when he reached the proper age. That day finally came, but, instead of a treasure, Barnum found himself with a worthless, swampy island. “I loved that guy who conned thousands of others,” Bendici said. “He, himself, was conned as a kid.”
Bendici’s books can be found in local bookstores and on Amazon.com. The award-winning author and Connecticut Magazine edi-tor and columnist is online with “Welcome to Rayality” at RayBendici.com.
Silk’n Sounds Chorus welcomes new members. Women are invited to any rehearsal, scheduled for Tuesdays, from 7 to 9 p.m.,
at the Spring Glen United Church of Christ, 1825 Whitney Ave., Hamden. For more information, call Lynn at (203) 623-1276.
Silk’n Sounds
State Sen. Joe Markley and state representatives Al Adinolfi and Lezlye Zupkus have scheduled a pre-ses-sion town hall meeting for Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Cheshire Senior Center, 84 South Main St.
The event is open to the public. The 2014 legislative session will be discussed.
For more information, call 1-800-842-1421 or email [email protected].
Town Hall meeting
Creating Cooperative Kids, a talk show for parents and teachers, is scheduled for Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Cox PATV-15.
Host Bill Corbett addresses parenting questions, in-terviews and demonstrates parenting tips for a live audience.
For more information, visit www.CooperativeKidsl.com.
Parenting TV show
Advertise with The Cheshire Citizen:Call 203-317-2324.
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Happy Holidays from Our Family to Yours!
Have fun with us in 2014
With Love, Julia-Melissa-Erica-Desiree-Caterina-Corey-Brooke Allyson-Roxie-Stacie-Claire-Tara-
Maura-Christopher-Maria-Katie-Cristina P.-Tania-Brooke Michelle Missing from photo: Christina M. & Mollie
Come see our Newly Remodeled Salon & Spa!
1114 North Colony Road Wallingford, CT 06492
203.269.0636 www.msalonandspa.com
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A14 Thursday, December 26, 2013 The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com
CalendarFriday, Dec. 27
Boys basketball - Cheshire vs. Southington at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 30Wrestling - Cheshire vs.
Trumbull, Westhill, Norwalk, Norwich Free Academy at Trumbull, 9 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 2Wrestling - Cheshire vs.
Branford at Cheshire, 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 3Boys basketball -
Cheshire vs. Lyman Hall at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball - Cheshire vs. Lyman Hall at Lyman Hall, 7 p.m.
Boys swim, dive - Cheshire vs. Daniel Hand at Madison Swim and Racquet Club, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan 4Bottle drive - Boy Scout
Troop 51 has scheduled a bottle and can drive for
Saturday, Jan. 4, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cheshire First Congregational Church on the green. Proceeds benefit Troop 51 camping supplies and equipment.
Boys ice hockey - Cheshire at Warde Invita-tional at Fairfield Warde High School, 9:30 a.m.
Wrestling - Cheshire vs. Branford at Cheshire, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 7Boys basketball -
Cheshire vs. Sheehan at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball - Cheshire vs. Sheehan at Sheehan, 7 p.m.
Boys swim, dive - Cheshire vs. West Haven at WHHS, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan 8Boys ice hockey
- Cheshire vs. Water-town-Pomperaug at Wes-leyan University Ice Rink, 6 p.m.
Wrestling - Cheshire vs. Shelton at Shelton High School, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 10Boys basketball -
Cheshire vs. Amity at Amity High School, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball - Cheshire vs. Amity at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
Boys swim, dive - Cheshire vs. Sacred Heart, Brookfield at Kennedy High School, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Jan 11Boys ice hockey -
Cheshire vs. Amity at Wes-leyan University Ice Rink, 6 p.m.
Wrestling - Cheshire vs. East Haven, New Haven, Stratford, Brookfield at East Haven High School, 9 a.m.
Monday, Jan. 13DAR - Daughters of the
American Revolution Lady Fenwick Chapter is sched-uled to meet Monday, Jan. 13, at noon, at the Prospect Library, 17 Center St., Bring a donations for the Cheshire Food PAntry.
Boys basketball - Cheshire vs. Fairfield Prep at Fairfield University, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball - Cheshire vs. Guilford at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 14Boys swim, dive -
Cheshire vs. Notre Dame-West Haven at Wilbur Cross, 4 p.m.
Wrestling - Cheshire vs. Amity at Cheshire, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 15Girls basketball -
Cheshire vs. Guilford at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
Boys ice hockey - Cheshire vs. North Branford at Northford Ice Pavilion, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 17Boys basketball -
Cheshire vs. Career Magnet at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball - Cheshire vs. Foran at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
Monday, Jan 20Boys ice hockey -
Cheshire vs. North Haven at
Wesleyan University Ice Rink, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 21Boys basketball -
Cheshire vs. Hillhouse at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
Boys swim, dive - Cheshire vs. Amity at Orange Community Center, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 22Wrestling - Cheshire vs.
Jonathan Law at Jonathan Law, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 24Boys basketball -
Cheshire vs. Foran at Foran, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball - Cheshire vs. Jonathan Law at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan 25Boys ice hockey -
Cheshire vs. Branford at Northford Ice Pavilion, 4:40 p.m.
Wrestling - Cheshire at Silver City Duels at Platt High School, 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 28Boys basketball -
Cheshire vs. Xavier at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball - Cheshire vs. Sacred Heart Academy at Sacred Heart Academy, 7 p.m.
Boys swim, dive - Cheshire vs. Fairfield Prep at Fairfield University, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan 29Boys ice hockey -
Cheshire vs. Milford Coop at Wesleyan University Ice Rink, 7 p.m.
Wrestling - Cheshire at New Haven Wrestling at Cheshire, 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 31Boys basketball -
Cheshire vs. Lyman Hall at Lyman Hll, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball - Cheshire vs. Lyman Hall at Cheshire, 7 p.m.
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The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com Thursday, December 26, 2013 A15
Sports
For many towns artificial turf school athletic fields are a popular, less-expensive al-ternative to natural grass despite continuing studies on whether turf poses safety and environmental risks.
Wallingford’s Lyman Hall High school may become the latest area school to put down artif icial turf. The board recently approved a plan for upgrading the school athletic complex that includes a turf field. Across town, Sheehan High School had artificial turf installed in 2006.
In Meriden, teams use an artificial turf field at Falcon Field. Both Cheshire and Southington, Berlin high schools also have artificial turf fields.
A growing number of stud-ies question how safe the
fields are to the students and environment.
Nancy Alderman, presi-dent of North Haven-based Environment and Human Health Inc., is cautioning school systems about artifi-cial turf because of environ-mental concerns posed by the rubber material used to make the turf, know as “fill in.” The fill-in for most fields consists of recycled tires.
“We don’t like the 40,000 ground up tires that are put into the fields,” Alderman said. “Rubber tires have toxins.”
Alderman’s organization completed a study in 2007 that found “tire crumbs and tire mulch release chemical compounds into the air and ground water,” which can cause irritation of the lungs, skin and eyes.
Another study by New Jersey’s Department of Health found the fields in
Turf fields: Popular, but are they safe?By Eric VoSpecial to The Citizen
the state contain potentially unhealthy levels of lead dust. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention isn’t certain how much lead is absorbed, but warned that enough could cause neuro-logical problems.
Marc Deptula, buildings and grounds supervisor for Wallingford schools, be-lieves artificial turf fields are safer. The fill-in used in artificial turf “poses no en-vironmental problem at all,” he said.
“I haven’t seen any data on any increases of injuries to players or to the severity of injuries,” Deptula added.
“The artificial turf fields are much more consistent throughout the playing surface.”
With a grass field, there’s a possibility a section of the field can become so worn down that it is similar to falling down on concrete, Deptula said.
With football and boys and girls soccer teams often us-ing the same fields in inclem-ent weather, area athletic directors have complained that grass fields are unplay-able and dangerous because they become so worn.
A number of studies sup-port Deptula’s stance. A
three-year study of game-re-lated college football injuries on turf versus natural grass was conducted by Penn State University in 2010. The re-searchers found “(turf) is in many cases safer than natu-ral grass.”
Another Penn State study, conducted in 2004 featuring high school football players, studied the incidence, causes and severity of high school football injuries on turf and natural grass fields. The five-year study was less conclu-sive, finding “similarities existed between (turf) and natural grass” and “both sur-faces also exhibited unique injury patterns that warrant further investigation.”
But A lderman’s con-cerns are broader than en-vironmental issues. On a hot summer day the tem-perature of an artificial turf f ield can exceed 100 de-grees. While a study by the state Department of Public Health in 2010 found this to be true, the agency advised coaches to take precaution on hot days and to install “new crumb rubber in cooler months to avoid the peak exposure that might occur with fresh rubber in the hot weather.”
The Department of Public
Health’s study also found no health concerns from inhaling chemicals on out-door fields. The study also showed “lead levels were low and not a health concern” at the fields investigated.
Despite this, Alderman believes towns should in-vest in grass fields for prac-tical reasons. Maintaining a grass field is going to be more work, she said, “but it isn’t going to cost the school a million dollars.”
Despite the price tag, school officials often opt for artificial turf, saying the high initial investment is offset by savings on maintenance.
“When you put a synthetic field down, you put down layers of gravel for drainage and layers of other stuff,” she said. “If you ever do that for a nice grass field — if you did a tenth of the layers for a grass field that you put in synthetic fields, think what we’d have.”
When Wallingford was looking into an artificial turf field for Sheehan, Deptula said the board looked into the warnings and con-cerns. There was debate in Southington for the same reasons, but after the state released its f indings, the school system installed an artificial turf field last year.
Stephen Barmore com-pleted 22 of 33 passes for 346 yards and four touch-downs and also scored on a 1-yard run and a 67-yard interception return as Southington rallied to beat Fairfield Prep Dec. 19, 52-34, to win the CIAC Class LL championship at Ken Strong Stadium.
It was the second state title for the fourth-seeded Blue Knights (12-1). The other state title came in 1998.
Alex Jamele had 10 catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns for Southington. He finished with a state-record 29 touchdown catches.
The No. 7 Jesuits fin-ished 11-3.
The Blue Knights were giving up considerable size to Prep and trailed, 28-14, at halftime.
Southington’s defense toughened up in the sec-ond half. They allowed 162 yards, but almost half came on Colton Smith’s 70-yard run. It also had four interceptions.
“We made a couple of adjustments defensively,” Blue Knights coach Mike Drury said. “We just told our guys, ‘we’re not going to stop. We have to be te-nacious. We have to be fe-rocious. We have to get to the ball. We have to con-tinue our pursuit,’ all of that good stuff.”
Knights prevail in long-awaited LL title gameciacsports.com
A16 Thursday, December 26, 2013 The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com
Three state champs crowned in football
Three Connecticut state high school football champi-ons were crowned this past weekend. The fourth, and fi-nal, champ is slated to be de-
termined Thursday, Dec. 19.
Class SNEW BRITAIN -- Almost
as soon as it had begun, it was all over.
Ansonia snagged two take-aways on Woodland’s first
two offensive plays and con-verted both into touchdowns as the Chargers claimed the Class S championship with a 51-12 victory over the Hawks on a frigid Friday night at Central Connecticut State University’s Arute Field.
Ansonia (15-0) became the first team in Connecticut his-tory to play and win 15 games. The Chargers also won their record 19th state champion-ship--including their third straight--and extended their winning streak to 43 games.
Woodland (12-3) dug it-self a hole right off the bat as Tanner Kingsley’s first pass wobbled into the arms of Tyler Bailey for an inter-ception. Arkeel Newsome cashed in on the turnover with a 6-yard touchdown run to make it a 7-0 lead less than 3 minutes into the game.
On the Hawks’ first play of their next drive, Bailey crashed in on Jack Pinho to force a fumble after Pinho caught a short pass. Witold Gul scurried down from his safety spot and completed the scoop-and-score with a 27-yard runback for a 14-0 lead.
Woodland clawed its way back into the game with a pair of defensive stops and a solid drive to open the second quarter. Tanner Kingsley hit Joe Poeta with a 37-yard strike
to get the Hawks into the red zone, and Kingsley popped a 14-yard run on the next play to make it a 14-6 game with 10:26 left in the second.
That was as close as Woodland got, though, as Newsome added touchdown runs of 2 and 8 yards later in the quarter to make it a 28-6 lead. Between those scores came Bailey’s second inter-ception of Kingsley, this one in the end zone, to end the Hawks’ momentum.
Newsome concluded his record-setting career with 259 yards and four touch-downs on 34 carries. He also threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Tom Majchrzak in the fourth quarter.
Newsome sits atop record charts for all-time rushing yards (10,672) and touch-downs (187).
Class MNEW BRITAIN - For the
third time in the last five sea-sons the St. Joseph Cadets are state champions, rolling over Brookfield, 54-8, Saturday at Central Connecticut State University’s Arute Field.
Musfasha Abdul Basir rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half, leading the way for the Cadets in the snowy conditions.
St. Joseph’s quarterback Jordan Vazzano started the game off throwing two in-complete passes. He then completed his last five passes, four of them for touchdowns.
The Cadets were able to do what they wanted to against the Bobcats defense all game.
Class LSTA M F O R D - Ne w
Canaan’s Alex LaPolice re-turned the kickoff 61 yards to start Saturday’s CIAC Class L championship.
LaPolice’s play set the tone the rest for the game for the Rams. They scored on that drive and went on to rout Darien, 44-12, to win the pro-gram’s ninth CIAC state title at Boyle Stadium and atoned for a Thanksgiving Day loss to their rival.
The fourth-seeded Rams f inished 14-1 and also won the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference title.
It was a CIAC state-record ninth state championship for coach Lou Marinelli.
Senior Nick Cascione com-pleted 14 of 24 passes for 226 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Rams. He also ran 11 times for 76 yards and a score.
LaPolice had four catches for 86 yards and a touchdown and also scored on a 43-yard punt return.
Frank Cognetta ran 12 times for 68 yards and a score for New Canaan and Cole Turpin added four catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. Peter Swindell also kicked a 30-yard field goal.
Zach Allen deflected a pass at the line of scrimmage, caught it, and returned it 44 yards for the Rams’ final touchdown.
Silas Wyper ran for two touchdowns for the top-seeded Blue Wave (12-2).
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The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com Thursday, December 26, 2013 A17
One way to take a powderBlack powder hunting
in Connecticut has come along way since its incep-tion back in the 70s. Using some of those black powder long guns for the hunting of whitetailed deer was an ad-venture in itself. One never knew if the charge of black powder was going to go off or not when a deer arrived on the hunting scene.
Probably no one could at-test to that more than your old outdoor writer.
My first black powder rifle was what is referred to as a “Kit Gun” that I received one Christmas from my darlin’ Edna. Admittedly, it was a thing of beauty when it was finished thanks to my old friend Paul Cichowski, but back then everything else, especially the primer caps used to set off the charge of black powder, was as unreliable as the New England weather.
The loading procedure of a black powder rifle also left a lot to be desired. The first thing you did was to put a percussion cap on the primer nipple and fire the cap to make sure that the hole in the nipple was clear. You then loaded the rifle, and it was not considered to be loaded unless it had a percussion cap on it, so many hunters loaded them at home before they hit the woods.
The amazing thing about this procedure is that when setting off the cap on an empty rifle, it always ig-nited on the first try. For me, “Murphy’s Law” (anything that can go wrong will at the wrong time) always popped up its ugly head when it came time to shoot a deer.
I had my first run-in with this particular quirk of black powder hunting back in the 70s while hunt-ing Housatonic State Forest up in the Cornwall area of Connecticut. I had picked a spot that overlooked a cou-ple of intersecting deer runs
and figured I would simply sit and let the deer come to me. Back then, muzzle-loaders had the first crack at deer and the state forest had enough hunters in it to keep some of the herd moving.
It wasn’t too long before a small four-point buck came ambling up the trail towards me. I had been practicing how to thumb the ham-mer back on the rifle with-out allowing it to making a distinctive “CLACK” that accompanied cocking the hammer on a black powder rifle, so I was ready when that buck came into shoot-ing range.
It stopped to munch on some acorns down in front of me and I set my sights on the critters and squeezed the trigger. I was rewarded with a resounding “CLICK” as the hammer hit the %@*@*^ percussion cap, which did not ignite.
The young buck’s head popped up and he looked squarely at me before disap-pearing into the surrounding forest!
This was only a preview of some of the frustration I was about to experience in the early days of black pow-der hunting. Don’t go away, I have a bunch of them.
Like I said, the main vil-lain was the percussion cap back then, and I and a lot of
other black powder hunters were experiment-ing with all kinds of makes and brands of the #11 percussion caps back then, look-
ing for one that was virtu-ally foolproof. But it wasn’t always the percussion cap. Murphy’s Law seemed to have its hold on my entire ri-fle and everything that made it dysfunctional.
Another time I had a per-mit to hunt Skiff Mountain on a piece of property owned by Northeast Utilities, but managed by the DEEP. I had scouted the area for both turkey and deer and really liked the area. That muzzleloader season I was ready to harvest my first deer.
I had gotten up early to make the one-hour trip to my hunting area, and had loaded my muzzleloader at home before depart-ing for Skiff Mountain. An old friend of mine, Jack Seitlinger, had made me a nifty brass ramrod for load-ing my muzzleloader to replace a wooden one that came with the muzzleloader. I entered the Skiff Mountain
woods ready for action that morning just knowing I was going to get my first black powder deer.
That’s when Murphy’s Law popped up his ugly head again.
I had scouted the area quite thoroughly and knew just where I wanted to hunt, so I made my way to the spot in the early morn-ing darkness. As it began to get lighter I glanced at my shooting iron to give it a last check and then I saw it: My ramrod was missing from its holding slot on my rifle!
I knew I had put it back after I had loaded the gun at home, so what could have happened to it? I figured that I had not seated the ramrod properly into the holding slot on the rifle and it had slipped out during my dark trek to where I wanted to hunt.
Now I was in a quandary. I had one shot in the rifle, but what if the deer I shot re-quired another round?
For me, the solution was simple. I decided not to hunt that morning and headed dejectedly out of the woods,
kicking myself for making such a dumb mistake.
And no, I never found the ramrod.
Had enough yet? I’ve got more.
Once again while hunting Skiff Mountain, I was hunt-ing the side of a mountain, slowly making my way back to where I had parked my truck. I had paused next to an old stonewall that cut through the old farm prop-erty I was on. The area had returned to forest over the years yet there were many of these old stonewalls criss-crossing the woods and I liked to use them to hunt along.
A touch of movement up ahead of me caught my eye. It was a small six-point buck. My heart started to race a bit as I settled down to watch the buck as it slowly fed my way. This was going to be too easy, I thought.
The buck was about 35 yards out when it gave me a broadside shot at its vitals. I settled the sights on the buck, squeezed the trigger
By Mike RobertsSpecial to The Citizen
Commentary
Mike Roberts
Woods ‘n Water
See Powder / Page 18
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A18 Thursday, December 26, 2013 The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com
Powder
and the cap exploded with a resounding “POP”!
But that was it. The pow-der did not ignite!
The buck snapped its head up looking for the source of the cap igniting as I fumbled into my pocket for another cap. Having found one, I again put it on the nipple of the muzzleloader and again took aim at the buck as it stood riveted, looking for the source of the exploding cap.
Once again I touched off the round and was again rewarded with the cap and not the powder charge going off. This time the buck had nailed me and was headed off in another direction as I stood there wondering what the heck had just happened? Two caps and no powder ignition!
After the buck had vacated the area, I decided to try it one more time and I kid you not, the powder charge went off. I know for a fact that this has happened to many
muzzleloader hunters in the early years of the sport. Just ask them.
As the years progressed, so did the quality and re-liability of the black pow-der rifles that were used for hunting. In fact, today they are state of the art and as reliable as any regular rifle being used for hunting large game.
I finally relented and gave up my first muzzleloader, but I did get to take one deer with it in the Housatonic Forest before retiring it.
My next black powder ri-fle was a Lyman Tradesman that I purchased from Blue Trail Range and I found it to be quite a bit better for my hunting forays. I took four more deer with that rifle before I purchased the one I use today.
Today, muzzleloader hunt-ing in Connecticut and sur-rounding states is no longer a trip into frustration. The guns are lot easier to use and their dependability is unbelievable.
Starting Dec. 11, Connecticut deer hunters will be using muzzleload-ers to harvest some deer for the winter months ahead. Private land black powder hunters will be able to hunt from Dec. 11-31. They must have the proper private land permits and they will be able to take two deer, one antler-less and one either sex, or they may fill both tags with antlerless deer.
State land hunters will be able to hunt state lands from Dec. 11-24 a one-tag limit on a deer of either sex. One of the best things about the state land muzzleloader hunting is that as long as you have a state land muz-zleloader permit you can hunt just about any piece of state land that allows black powder hunting (page 38 to 35 of your 2013 CT Hunting & Trapping Guide).
That’s it gang, good hunt-ing! See ya’ and God Bless America and watch over our troops wherever they may be serving.
From Page 17
Advertise with The Cheshire Citizen:Call 203-317-2324.
StatePoint – Parents are always in search of original activities to do with their kids. With seemingly end-less hours to fill, finding enough fun and practical ideas to entertain kids can seem hard.
From outdoor physical activities to indoor crafts and fun with food, there are countless family activities for kids.
Try these options the next time you’re looking for something to do:
Fun with FoodKids love pasta. It comes
in various shapes, sizes and colors--plus it’s easy to make and good to eat. In her new kids cookbook ‘Noodlemania!’, Melissa Barlow serves up 50 imagi-native recipes for adults and kids to prepare together. Barlow’s book includes pasta recipes for hot and cold main dishes, salads, and even desserts.
‘Noodlemania!’ also in-cludes interesting math facts, cooking tips, colorful photos and fun pasta trivia to keep kids learning while whipping up their playful pasta creations.
Try this Little Ladybug Salad recipe with your kids:
• 2 cups mini penne• 1 container cherry or
grape tomatoes• 1 can sliced black ol-
ives, drained• ¾ cup mini pepperoni• ¾ to 1 cup Bernstein’s
Cheese Fantastico salad dressing
• 2 whole olives, cut in half
Cook the pasta; drain and rinse with cold water and then let cool completely.
Wash the tomatoes and then set three of the biggest and most oblong-shaped to-matoes aside. Cut the rest in half or quarters.
In a large bowl, combine the pasta and the cut to-
matoes. Add the drained sliced olives, keeping sev-eral slices out with the re-served tomatoes. Stir in the mini pepperoni. Toss with the dressing and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Knock, KnockEncourage your young
jokesters to spend the after-noon crafting some unique stand-up routines. To create an authentic comedy-club feel, find a brick wall to use as a backdrop, lend your kids your loudest sports coats and punch up their punch lines with your best ba-dum-TSH.
A child who doesn’t want to tell jokes can be the em-cee, introducing the per-formers and encouraging the crowd to enjoy the show.
Scavenger HuntChildren enjoy hunting
for hidden treasure. A scav-enger hunt gives them a chance to explore, get some
exercise and think cre-atively. Select some com-mon things for your kids to find -- playing cards, pine-cones, or shiny rocks -- and hide them around the house and yard.
Compile a list and give point values to each item -- the harder the hiding spot, the more points it’s worth.
Have children take bags and start hunting! Once time is up, check the found items and add the points.
For a free sampler of ac-tivities, recipes and crafts for parents and kids visit www.Quirkbooks.com.
Fun activities for parents, kids
With a little imagination, even the most boring day can quickly turn memorable!
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The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com Thursday, December 26, 2013 A19
Cheshire Citizen Service Directory
With winter just around the corner it is time to imple-ment any plans for protecting those plants most susceptible to winter injury. While there is not much we can do about extreme cold, plants can be protected from winter desic-cation, breakage, frost heav-ing and salt.
B r o a d - l e a v e d e v e r -greens like holly, boxwood, Andromeda, rhododendrons and mountain laurel are most prone to drying or des-iccation. One might notice browning on the tips, edges or even the whole leaf of in-jured plants as winter days go by. Evergreen plants will still lose water through their leaves during the winter especially on warmer, sunny days. If the soil is frozen, the roots can’t take up water to replace that which is lost and the leaves, and sometimes stems, dry out.
You can help any recently planted perennials, trees or shrubs survive the winter by making sure they go into the winter well watered. It has been a relatively dry fall in many areas so make sure the soil around fall planted stock is moist. If not, give them a good drink.
A two to three inch layer of mulch will give your plants a couple of extra weeks to draw water from the soil before it freezes. The mulch will also decrease the depth to which the soil freezes.
Avoid locating broad-leaved evergreens on partic-ularly windy or exposed sites. If they are already there and have experienced winter dam-age in the past, perhaps you can erect a burlap or lathwork fence on the windward side of them. For individual plants, set four stakes around them to which burlap can be sta-pled. Leave the top open and allow the bottom few inches to remain uncovered for air circulation. Do not use plastic bags to protect your plants as high temperatures may occur on warmer days injuring them.
Purchase an anti-transpi-rant such as Wilt-Pruf, Vapor Guard or Transfilm to apply to broad- and needled-leaved plants. This product can be sprayed as directed when
temperatures pretty consis-tently stay below 50 degrees F. Anti-transpirants forms a waxy coating on the leaves which reduces the water loss. It would be reapplied in late winter – usually during a February thaw.
Do note that anti-transpi-rants should not be used on Colorado blue spruce or other blue leaved or needled plants. Curiously, the blue color is due to a naturally-occurring, waxy covering that functions as an anti-transpirant. I have not tried it but supposedly blue needled plants sprayed with an anti-transpirant will turn green.
Damage from heavy snow or ice most often happens to evergreens located under the dripline of the house and next to driveways or walkways where the snow is shoveled. Take this into account when planning any new plantings and set your plants out of harm’s way or plant on pro-tecting them.
Wooden supports can be placed over established ever-greens. Make sure plants still receive enough light. Another alternative is to insert nee-dle-leaved evergreen boughs (second life for that Christmas tree!) into broad-leaved ever-greens like rhododendrons. This will cushion the impact of heavy falling snow to some extent. Upright or formally sheared evergreens will ben-efit from tying so they won’t split open. Use a heavy, soft cord and wrap around firmly but loosely at about eight-inch intervals.
Frost heaving can be a problem for shallow rooted and recently planted perenni-als, shrubs or trees. Alternate freezing and thawing breaks the plant’s roots and may re-sult in plants being forced out of the ground exposing and drying out the roots and often killing the plant. This is more of a problem when snow cover is scarce.
Since we don’t know what kind of winter we will have, your best protection is to mulch susceptible plants af-ter the ground freezes. If two or three inches of bark mulch were applied after planting, more care is usually not nec-essary but if no mulch was put down around fall plant-
Provide winter protection for plantsBy Dawn PettinelliSpecial to The Citizen
A frame of wood and burlap can held help protect your plants in your landscape from winter snow and wind damage.
ings, it really is a good idea to put some mulch, evergreen branches, straw or pine nee-dles around the base of these plants.
While you can’t do much to cut down on the amount of salt used on the roads, you can control what is used on your walkways. Cat litter and sand are one alternative although they can be easily tracked in-side the house. Less toxic salts like calcium chloride and cal-cium magnesium acetate as well as alternatives like corn-based products and amide/glycol mixes are now avail-able. Check out what your lo-cal store offers.
As a rule of thumb, hem-locks, white pines and sugar
maples fare poorly when ex-posed to sodium chloride from road salts compared to yews, cedars and white spruce. Whenever siting plants where they might come in contact with road salt, melt water from salted roads or salt spray from snowplows, it really makes sense to look at the salt toler-ance of the plants before they are purchased and planted.
For questions about plant winter protection, deicing al-ternatives or for your other gardening questions, feel free to contact us, toll-free, at the UConn Home & Garden Education Center at (877) 486-6271, visit www.ladybug.uconn.edu or contact your local Cooperative Extension center.
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A22 Thursday, December 26, 2013 The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com
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203-317-2308 - after 5 pm call 203-317-2282Ad#:CLASS FILLER (PLEASE CHECK)
Pub:PERM Date:02/13/02
Day:WED Size:1X4.5 Cust: Last Edited By:EALLISON on 7/9/13 4:18 PM. Salesperson: Tag Line: Color Info:
CLASS FILLER (PLEASE CHECK) - Composite
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203-238-1953before 5pm Mon-Fri
30 year old family owned company seeking licensed E-2 Electrician and Ap-prentice with 1-2 yrs. ex-perience. Applicant should have experience in all facets of electrical work, Residential, Industrial and Commercial. Must be self motivated and able to work independently. Local work primarily in Central Connecticut. Medical In-surance, Retirement Plan, Paid Holidays and Vaca-tion. (203) 272-9521 EOE.
2006 John Deere 5525 ask-ing $9700, has cab heat air, 91HP, FWD, 540 PTO, [email protected] (860) 598-0410
WINTER SPECIALMERIDEN- 1BR $750/month.
HEAT, HOT WATER & ELECTRIC INCLUDED.
Private Balcony. 203-639-4868
Find everything at our Market-place.
Find your dream home in Marketplace.
ROMAN Oil Company is looking for a seasonal oil driver for the winter months. CDL w/Hazmat re-quired. Competitive wages and excellent work envi-ronment. Please call 203-235-3371.
MER. 1 BR, ground flr, new carpet, W. side, prvt back-yard, w/d, stove/refrig & dw incld. $867/mo. + sec. 203-634-1195 12pm-8pm
BEAUTIFUL Contemporary
Mahogany Hutch Excellent Condition $350
LG Wooden Kitchen Table 56 x 39” W/4 Chairs & Leaf $150
Dry Sink w/Slate Top $50 203-238-4964
MER. Furn. Apts. East Side Incl Heat, HW, Elec. 2nd flr. Studio, $180/wk+ sec. 203-630-3823 12pm-8pm www.meridenrooms.com
AGC Acquisition LLC is seeking a Human Resource Manager for our facility in Meriden CT which will report directly to the Pres-ident. Position Summary: This business leader will lead the development and execution of the Human Resources strategic plan and oversee all human re-source management and operations. This position includes: planning, devel-oping, hiring, retention, ter-minations, recordkeeping, legal compliance, com-pensation, benefits, and manpower planning strat-egies, directing and eval-uating the organization’s human resource functions and performance. Position Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree, 5-7 or more years of HR experience in a com-parable manufacturing setting (Aerospace being a plus). Send resume to: [email protected]
SUMMER JOB OPENINGS! Cheshire Parks & Recre-ation now accepting ap-plications. Apply early. Starting pay rates listed. Deadline February 6: Camp Director ($13.50); Camp Assistant Director ($11.50); Camp Counselor ($9); Camp Lifeguard ($10.50); Theatre Professionals (stipend); Theatre Coun-selor ($9). Deadline March 5: Park Maintainer ($10); Therapeutic Camp Director ($20); OT ($20); Therapeutic Counselor ($10-$15). Dead-line May 1: Tennis Director ($15); Tennis Instructor ($9.25); Mixville Weekend Lifeguard ($10.50); Mixville Gate Attendant ($9.50); Pool Lifeguards ($10.50); Water Safety Instructors ($12.50). Employment du-ration and age requirement varies. Call (203)272-2743 or visit www.cheshirect.org/parkrec for more infor-mation and to download application.
MERIDEN. 1BR: $675 Loc. on Broad St. Next to Stop & Shop. On site parking/laun-dry. Utilities NOT included. Conv to Wallingford. (914) 562-3959.
MERIDEN. 2 BR, east side, 1st flr, stove & refrig, no pets. $750 plus security deposit. Credit ck. 203-237-0035 or 203-623-5684.
MERIDEN- 4 bedroom, in 2 family home, $1350 + utili-ties. located near shopping and highways, Call 203-710-2000
MERIDEN Clean 1 Room Effi-ciency 2nd Fl. Randolph Ave. Utils included. No pets. $450. 2 mos sec. Credit check re-quired. 203-284-0597
AGC Acquisition LLC is seeking a Director of En-gineering/Quality for our facility in Meriden CT with aerospace experience which will report direct-ly to the President. AGC is an ISO 9001, 2008 and AS9102 Rev “C” accredited company. Position Sum-mary: This business leader will be responsible for the developing, implementa-tion and coordination of all Engineering and Quality functions. Which includes: maintaining accurate processes for aerospace products, technical sales and marketing of compa-ny capabilities by working directly with customers and sales, coordinates all engineering and quality employee duties and per-formance, measurements and analysis of key func-tions, provide leadership for all Quality-related ac-tivities including AS 9102 series certifications, FAA, NADCAP as well as AGC policies and procedures. Position Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree, or M.Sc in Engineering, Chemistry (a plus), or a related techni-cal discipline. 7-10 years of engineering experience in a comparable manufacturing setting (Aerospace being a plus). Send resume to: [email protected]
Houses For Sale MERIDEN Stop Your Search! Refurbished 1 BR, Cottage St. Hdwd flrs, driveway. $825 incl electric. 203 639-8903.
WALLINGFORD SEE What $165,000 BUYS YOU!Less than renting. Move-in condition. In-town 3 BR, 1.5 Bath 2 story home. Walk-up attic/full basement. Detached garage. All hdwd flrs. Updated mechanicals. Must see to appreciate.
Call 203-265-1070
MERIDEN Nice, Lg 2 BR, Top Fl. Balcony, Laundry facilities, off street parking. E. Main Street. 2 mos sec & credit ck. $850/mo. No pets. 203 284-0597
WALLINGFORD 1 BR. 4 Rms, 3rd Fl. Off st park-ing. WD hookup. Close to Center, Train and Bus. (203) 269-1865
WLFD. 3rd flr, 2 BR, nice lo-cation. New carpet. $850 + 1 mo sec. Avail 1/1. Water/trash incl. 203-269-1426.
Rooms For RentCommercial
and Industrial MER Clean Safe Rms. In-clds. H, HW, Elec, Kit Priv. E side. off-st park. $125/wk.+ sec. 12-8pm 203-630-3823 www.Meridenrooms.com
FURNITURE FOR SALE - Crib, dresser and changing table $400. Butcher block table with a tri-fold. $75. 203-645-0661.
CHESHIRE Industrial Zoned Multi Use. Near 691. 1100+ sq ft Offices (2 lavs/show-er) and 1100+ sq ft Ware-house/Shop (15ft overhead door). Will consider just leasing offices. $6.50 /per sq ft nnn. Call 203-272-6478
North Haven Meadowstone Motel- Off I-91.
Satellite TV. Short Stay/Daily/Weekly. On Bus Line.
203-239-5333
The Cheshire Citizen | cheshirecitizen.com Thursday, December 26, 2013 A23
Carpentry
Siding
Plumbing
Roofing
Home Improvement
Kitchen & Baths
Siding, Roofing, WindoWS,
deckS, Remodeling gutteRS
ct Reg#570192(203) 639-1634
JAZ Plumbing & Heating. Residential & comm. Boil-ers & water heaters our specialty. Call for best pric-ing. Tony (203) 537-1017
REPAIRS & Replacement Lg/Sm, Int/Ext. Stairs, Railing, Decks, Entry Door, Window, Finish Basement. I can fix it. Work done by owner. 40+ years exp. Free Est. Ins. #578107 (203) 238-1449 www.marceljcharpentier.com
CHLOE’S Home Solutions High end remodeling needs at a fair price. Lic, Ins. HIC 631419
Call Mike 203 631-2991
Landscaping
Electrical Services
Gary Wodatch Landscape Svs. Hedge/tree trimming. Trim overgrown properties. Est 1985. All calls returned. #620397. Office 203-235-7723 Cell 860 558-5430
Siding, Roofing Windows, Decks
Sunrooms, Additions203-237-0350
CT Reg. #516790
T.E.C. ElECTriCalSErviCE llC
All Phases of Electrical Work 24 hr. Emergency
Service SMALL JOBS
WELCOME203-237-2122
Roofing, Siding, WindoWS,
Decks, Remodeling Gutters
CT Reg#570192(203) 639-1634
Cornerstone Fence & Or-namental Gates. All types of fence. Res/Comm. AFA Cert. Ins’d. Call John Uvino 203-237-GATE. CT Reg #601060
