VOLUME XLI, No. 5 JUNE 2018 The Hampton Gazette MEETINGS EVENTS RD 11 Tri-Town Meeting, PHHS Library VOLUME XLI, No. 5 JUNE 2018 Monday, June 4, 6:00PM EDITOR Board of Selectmen, Town Hall Community Room THUMBS UP to the Fire Department Dayna McDermott-Arriola and Ambulance Corps, and to their Monday, June 4, 7:00PM rapid response in rescuing a BOARD OF DIRECTORS RD 11 Referendum, Town Hall Community Room Juan Arriola, Interim Chair Tuesday, June 5, 12-8PM Goodwin trailblazer who suffered a Patricia O’Neill Boss, Treasurer stroke a half a mile into the woods. Renée Cuprak, Secretary Library Board, Fletcher Memorial Eleven EMTs arrived mid-morning, Angela Fichter Thursday, June 7, 4:00PM Diane Gagnon including the fire chief with the Peter Witkowski Board of Finance, Town Hall LL gator, to transport the patient to Tuesday, June 12, 7:00PM PRODUCTION the hospital where he is recuperating, Green Committee, Town Hall Conference Room Mary Oliver, Art Direction thanks to their prompt and expert Wednesday, June 13, 7:00PM The Hampton Gazette is published monthly, actions. and as a non-profit 501(c)(3) venture, it is Senior Luncheon Potluck, Community Center, LL registered with the State of Connecticut and Wednesday, June 13, 12:00PM THUMBS DOWN to the disappearance IRS, and is supported by advertising revenues of signs around town. Spring is a and donations. All contributions are tax- PHHS Board of Education, PHHS Library busy time, and residents are deductible. Tuesday, June 19, 7:00PM advertising schools, fairs, flings, CONTACT INFORMATION Editorials, Planning & Zoning, Town Hall Community Room plant sales and votes in our public articles, calendar or event information, press Tuesday, June 25, 7:00PM releases or questions: please email to spaces. Please respect your neigh- [email protected] in Word format HES Board of Education, HES Library bors’ right to use these areas and (not pdf) or to Editor, Hampton Gazette, PO Wednesday, June 27, 7:00PM leave their signs alone. Box 101, Hampton, CT 06247, by the 15th of each month. All submissions to the Gazette For more information on Hampton Happenings, please There’s plenty of room for are subject to editing. The Gazette reserves visit our Town online at www.hamptonct.org everyone’s message. the right not to accept submissions. CIRCULATION The Hampton Gazette is Dear Readers, available online at hamptongazette.com, and As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, our retrospective review of the subjects and in print by request, free of charge, to every home in Hampton. Domestic subscriptions organizations we’ve covered through the years illustrates the importance of our town are available by requests at cost; international newspaper in keeping residents apprised of happenings, such as those recounted in may be charged extra postage. To subscribe, the Annual Report in this issue, and in preserving our history. What is most apparent or receive email notification of the current however, are the contributions of residents to our newspaper. Since the Gazette’s issue on the Web, contact the Editor at hamptongazette.com inception in 1978, 91 residents have served as board members, 385 people have penned letters of opinion, and every year, approximately one hundred present and former ADVERTISING Please contact us by email townsfolk contribute information in the form of notices, articles, columns, and for advertising policies and rates. Payments should be mailed to PO Box 101, Hampton, photographs. CT 06247 Though less newsworthy or artistic, charitable contributions also keep the newspaper in PHOTOS print. The first request for donations was in the third edition of the Gazette in June 1978, (jpg high resolution, please) may be emailed to [email protected] 40 years ago, in an article that detailed costs, $120 per month at the time, expenses supplemented with the many local businesses in town. With far fewer advertisers, the EDITORIAL POLICIES $700 monthly amount to publish the town newspaper today has been augmented with Each letter to the Gazette must be signed and various fundraisers –occasional galas, Stop & Shop cards, the “Gathering Place”, the include and address & telephone contact for Memorial Day Barbecue, and most recently the community calendar, which featured local verification. Signing all correspondence to the artists, and which, because of its success, we plan to continue in future years. Gazette is encouraged, but at the request of the writer, a signature may be withheld. Letters And the generous donations of our patrons. We’ve enclosed a coupon and an addressed written on behalf of an organization require envelope in this edition and thank you, in advance, for your continued support. Your the signature of an authorized spokesperson. All letters submitted to the Gazette are subject charitable contributions, and your contributions of articles, columns, announcements, to editing and the Gazette reserves the right to opinions, poems and photographs, are what make The Hampton Gazette a community reject any or all letters. Readers should be newspaper. aware that the opinions of individual writers The Gazette are not necessarily those of the Gazette. The Gazette will not print letters it regards as libel- ous. Photographs and articles published here CONTRIBUTORS: Deb Andstrom, India Arriola, Jamie Boss, Anne Christie, Stan Crawford, Matthew Gailey, Dave Goodrich, are the property of the individual photogra- Angelika Hansen, Sarah Heminway, Sue Hochstetter, Ethan Jacobson, Marcia Kilpatrick, Lisa LaBelle, Christina Mazza, pher or writer and may not be reproduced Michelle Mlyniec, Charlene Randall, Jasper Sha, Janice Trecker, Leslie Wertam. Cover photo: Randy McMahon without express permission of the contributor. Time Capsule In Hampton 40 Years Ago: 10 Years Ago: · In “Little River Not So Little” Lois Kelley describes our town’s · “They Hatched!” announces that “All is well tributary as BIG on beauty, purity and brook trout. with the (wren) family at Trail Wood”. · “The Store: a Vital Link” provides a history of the General Store · The front page details a community walk from its opening in 1816 to the present. along the Cohantic Ledges with the State · “Lights at Chelsea Inn?” answers the question of the revival of the Archeologist. village’s historic public house. · Pete Vertefeuille’s local photographs illustrate 30 Years Ago: Wendell Davis’ article on “Farm Lanes”. · The new elementary school is approved by a vote of 292 – 256. · “A Century of Grange Membership” recognizes 50 year certificate recipients Margaret Hoffman and Alfred Vargas. · Consolidated school students plant a sugar maple tree for their friend, Frannie Wade. 20 Years Ago: · Pearl Scarpino describes a first in "Grandma Goes to a Hockey Game", where she learned, among other things, that "checking isn't necessarily a bank transaction, and icing isn't something you always put on a cake." · The front page announces the Cub Scouts receipt of the Little River Grange Community Service Award. · EarthCare encourages gardeners to “Take It Easy” with advice on raised beds, slopes and plant types. Hop aboard the bus to travel Nationally to Tanglewood in Lenox, MA, 40 Years Ago: for a concert celebrating · One of only 21 known complete copies of Gutenberg’s Bible composer and impresario sells in London for the equivalent of $2.4 million US dollars. Leonard Bernstein’s 100th · The film “Grease” starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John birthday on August 25. The opens. “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb begins its run as the top song for seven weeks. concert will feature classical · The rainbow flag is first used as a symbol of gay pride in a parade artists Midori Gotō and Yo-Yo in San Francisco. Ma, plus the Tanglewood 30 Years Ago: Festival Chorus. Among others · The movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” premieres. George conducting the Boston Michael’s “One More Try” holds the top spot on Billboard Symphony Orchestra: Keith Magazine’s song list. · Baltimore Oriole’s baseball player Cal Ripken plays his 1,000th Lockhart, John Williams, and consecutive game. Michael Tilson Thomas. 20 Years Ago: · The movie “The Truman Show” is drawing crowds and everyone is Tickets: $50 and must be listening to “The Boy is Mine” by Brandy and Monica. reserved by June 15 (the $25 · Terry Nichols is sentenced to life in prison for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing. ticket price is nonrefundable), · Actress Maureen O’Sullivan dies at age 87. by emailing: hamptontownac- 10 Years Ago: [email protected], writing to · Bill Gates steps down as Chairman of Microsoft to work full time Rec Commission, Town of at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Hampton, Box 143, Hampton, · Several box-office hits premiere during the month including CT 06247. For more information, “Sex and the City”, “Kung Fu Panda”, “The Incredible Hulk” and “WALL-E”. and reserve your space, please · French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent (72) and musician Bo call 860.455.9875 Diddley (80) pass away. 3 After Board of Education Chairman Rose Bisson’s brief presentation on the elementary school’s $2,174,969 proposal, there was discussion concerning the school’s decision to eliminate the full-time reading teacher. Though Superintendent Olah explained the alternative plans in delivering reading instruction, Bisson did admit that the teachers voiced opposition to the decision, as did some of the residents in attendance. The need for an additional $17,000 for a Business Manager to oversee the school’s finances was also questioned, as there have been, reportedly, no problems with the school’s Business Office. The issue of school buses, a perennial theme, was also raised. The school currently has 94 students and uses three school buses which accommodate 70 students each. Board of Finance member Perry Matchinis urged the board to conduct an independent analysis of utilizing two buses instead of three. The school’s studies of this issue have thus far been conducted by bus companies.