Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page 60

I B4 THE HARTFORD COURANT: Monday, August 8, 1994 4 Firefighters want full-time chief 7 fix returned. Of those sent back, however, only 6, or 16 percent, disapproved of the change. Seventy-four percent embraced it and 10 percent were unsure. Fifty-five percent responded that they are not confident about continuing with the chief as volunteer. Almost 80 percent recommended the chiefs performance be evaluated yearly.

i- p. Hi rv: vTl By LIZABETH HALL Courant Correspondent GLASTONBURY Bolstered by survey of local firefighters, the board of fire commissioners is advising that the fire chief position be changed to full time. Commissioners voted unanimously to elevate the position from volunteer to salaried status at its meeting July 28. A survey revealed that 74 percent of firefighters favored the establishment of a full-time fire chief. "The biggest thing is the increase in time a fire chief spends," said Chairman Gilbert D.

Spencer. "He spends a lot of time on administrative work and training. He also answers fire alarms and works side by side with the firefighters." The commission initially made the suggestion three years ago, when former Fire Chief Mario Ac-cornero retired. The town council at the time wanted to further consider the issue. But the commissioners believe that it's time for review since Accor- nero's replacement, Fire Chief Bernard Dennler, will retire next year, Spencer said.

The commission will ask the town council for approval this fall, Spencer said. The department, with 150 firefighters staffing four fire companies and one rescue company, would remain volunteer. Pay would be determined by the council. The commission will most likely advise a residence requirement. The work week would probably be 35 to 40 hours, Spencer estimated.

Cities and larger towns have abandoned volunteer departments while smaller, rural communities continue the tradition. But Spencer said as Glastonbury grows, it needs someone who can devote his or her full attention to fire work without having to worry about it interfering with their livelihood. Firefighters also respond to accidents and other emergencies. In the first half of 1994, the fire department logged 483 incidents. About 27 percent or 38 of the 1 40 surveys sent to firefighters were 14.

George-Edward Ruhe Special to The Courant When Clara Ursin was recovering from surgery, her cheery message board in front of her Route 6 home sat silent. This summer, her messages have returned. Chalkboard chat spreads cheer Study focuses on oldest buildings philosophical: "Trust your hopes, not your fears." She is walking on her recovering knee and writing those messages again when the spirit moves her. Ursin, a peppy woman who smiles a lot, said knowing that people missed her words has kept her active. "Now I'm trying again because people have been so nice to mention it," she said.

Ursin began the tradition in 1988 after she got the sign from a relative in Maine. Soon she began receiving fan mail and strangers began stopping in her driveway. Most visitors said they could relate to the messages. One of Ursin's favorite stories is about a memo that circulated in the state legislature. A friend who works there mentioned that one of the state legislators had noticed the message "Yuck," which referred to a rainy, dreary day several years ago.

Ursin said the legislator also thought the word described the legislature at the time of the state crash course in success income tax debate. But the mother of five said she tries to stay away from controversial or political messages, with the exception of her stand on proposed adjustments to Route 6. (She favors Alternative 54, the plan that is the most similar to the one approved by the Army Corps of Engineers.) Ursin said she usually writes her messages in the afternoon if weather permits. "Think cool," was last week's message, referring to the humid- itv- Ursin said most of her messages come from daily meditation and from suggestions. One year a retired school principal from Columbia sent Ursin a list of proverbs he collects.

Ursin said she is content as long as her words make others smile. As she stood by the sign recently, a motorist in a black Nissan honked the horn and waved. She waved back and smiled. "If you do something for someone else, you think less of your own cares and concerns," she said. ences and critical reasoning skills.

Bagwell said students in the STEP program were chosen because they possess attributes that, with some polish and hard work, could lead to very successful academic and professional careers. "We try to instill that if you're really interested in getting a quality education, you have to put forth a solid effort," he said. STEP monitors the students throughout their four years at the university, offering advice, tutoring and "cheerleading," Bagwell said. had low bacteria levels. Lake Terramuggus is the cleanest it has been in years, town officials say.

Marlborough meetings Town Hall, 26 N. Main 295-9547. All meetings will be held in town hall unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: Today: Lake advisory committee, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: Planning commission, 7 p.m.

Wednesday: Board of finance, 7:30 p.m.; zoning board of appeals, 7:30 p.m. Colchester meetings Town Hall, 127 Norwich Ave. Today: Aging commission, 1 p.m., senior center Tuesday: Board of education, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday! Conservation commission, 7 p.m.; utilities commission, 7 p.m. Thursday: Board of finance, 8 p.m.

Bolton meetings Town Hall, 222 Bolton Center. Today: Public building commission, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday: Zoning commission, 7:30 p.m.; senior citizen commission, 7:30 p.m., K-8 Library. Glastonbury meetings Town Hall, 21 55 Main 659-271 1 All meetings are held in town hall unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: Wednesday: Community beautifica-tion committee, 7:30 p.m.; water pollution control authority, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: Conservation commission, 7:30 p.m.; board of fire commissioners, 7:30 p.m., Company 1. to the development of Tolland. Barton said the study will create an overlay map of historic sites that can be used with the computer-mapping geographic information system the town is developing. "It will give us another layer of information," along with map overlays of wetland areas and topography, she said. The survey also will help identify cultural resources and could determine which buildings the town should seek to add to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Babcock Tavern and the Old Court House are on that list, said Barbara Palmer. The Benton Homestead and the old County Jail are listed on the state historical register. Tolland meetings Town Hall, 21 Tolland Green, 671-3600. Public meetings this week: Tuesday: Council, public hearing on proposed sewer regulation, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday: Board of education, 7:30 p.m.

ville Road, 429-3302. All meetings are held in town hall unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: Tuesday: Transportation advisory committee, 7:30 p.m.; youth service advisory board, 1:15 p.m.; public hearing Mansfield Training school environmental impact, 7 p.m.; fire emergency services, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday: Zoning board of appeals, 7 p.m. Thursday: Solid waste advisory, 7:30 p.m.; open space, 7:30 p.m.; public safety-correctional facility liaison committee, 3 p.m.

Ashford meetings Town Hall, 25 Pompey Road, 429-7044. All meetings are held in town hall unless otherwise noted: Public meetings this week: Tuesday: Babcock library board, 7 p.m., in the library. Eastford meetings Town Hall, Wesrford Road, 974-1885. All meetings are held in town hall unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: Tuesday: Planning commission, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: Eastford library board, 7:30 p.m.; Eastford public library; recreation commission, 7:30 p.m. Chaplin meetings Town Hall, Route 198, 455-9455. All meetings are held in town hall unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: Today: Board of finance, 7 p.m. Hampton meetings Town Hall, 164 Main 455-9132.

All meetings are held in town hall unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: Today: Inland-wetlands commission, 7:30 p.m. Scotland meetings By ROSALINDA DeJESUS Courant Staff Writer ANDOVER When Clara Ur-sin's messages on the framed chalkboard in fropt of her house became less frequent last summer, passersby noticed. People were worried about Ursin. They began asking what happened to her and the cheery messages outside her Route 6 home.

Ursin, 71, was recovering from knee surgery at the time. Her husband, Steve, was confined to a wheelchair with Parkinson's disease. So she had volunteers write on the 2-by-3-foot blackboard at times, but the messages became infrequent. This summer, the messages are back. "It gives you a chuckle or a lift," said Patrica Bain, a long-time resident who travels by the sign at least three times a week.

"It's something you look forward to." The chalkboard sits on the edge of Ursin's front lawn in a flower garden near the Andover Plaza. Most of her messages are simple: "Be cheerful" or "Smile at someone today." Others are more EGSU offers By EJ. GONG JR. Courant Staff Writer WINDHAM About 70 high school graduates got a jump on their college education this summer in a preparatory course at Eastern Connecticut State University. The STEP Program, which ended Friday, is an "academic boot camp" said program director Floyd E.

Bagwell Jr. The program is for students who have "the potential to succeed in college but who don't meet the Marlborough news notes Lake Terramuggus topic of meeting Land-Tech the company testing the water of Lake Terramuggus, is urging the public to attend a ques-tion-and-answer session tonight before the Lake Advisory Board. "It's their lake. It's their shed," said Robert Jantos, a partner in the Southbury firm. "We're trying to help them understand how it works." The more they know, he said, the better they will "understand why Colchester news notes Bands to play on the town green The arts commission will be host to Funky Butt Jazz, a Dixieland jazz band, in a concert on the town green Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m.

The band is Bolton news notes Registration starts for nursery school Registration is currently being ac By SHERMAN TARR Courant Correspondent TOLLAND At least 90 of the town's oldest buildings are going to be photographed and studied this fall as part of a first-ever townwide historic and architectural survey. The survey will start in mid-September and probably conclude by the end of the year, said Christie Barton, the town's wetlands agent and a leader in the study. She said the project will be funded by a $3,000 federal grant administered by the Connecticut Historical Commission, with the town providing an equal amount of in-kind and volunteer services. Much of those services will come from town historian Barbara Palmer and her son, Peter, an attorney in Tolland who specializes in property title searches. Barton said both Palmers are trained in the kind of research required and are approved by the state.

Providing professional expertise will be an architectural historian, yet to be chosen. The town has invited bids from experts, with selection scheduled for Aug. 23. Mansfield news notes Department to mow along Plow Route 3 The public works department will begin mowing roadsides on Plow I Route 3 this week. Plow Route 3 includes Codfish Falls Road, Ellise Road, Gurleyville Road (from Codfish Falls Road to Wormwood Hill Road), Lorraine prive, Lorraine Drive East, Lor-I raine Circle, Charles Lane, Summit Manchester meetings Lincoln Canter.

444 Main St R47-31 23 -All meetings will be held in town hall un- jess otnerwise notea. Public meetings this week: weanesaay: uneney nan rounaa--ttion, 5 D.m.. Chenev Hall. South Windsor fey meetings Town Hall, 1540 Sullivan 644-2511. All meetings are held in town hall unless otherwise noted.

Public meetings this week: Wednesday: 1-291 construction, 3:30 3.m., Sprenkle room. Andover meetings Town Office Building. 17 school Road, -742-7305. All meetings are held in the rawn gmce Duiiaing unless otnerwise noised. Public meetings this week: Today: Wetlands commission, 7:30 "p.m.

Tuesday: Board of selectmen, 4 p.m. Lebanon meetings 1 Town Hall corner of Routes 207 and 87, 642-731 9. All meetings will be held in town unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: Wednesday: Planning and zoning commssion, 8 p.m. Thursday: Board of finance, 8 p.m.

Coventry meetings Town Hall, 1712 Main 742-6324. All meetings are held in town hall unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: The survey will provide photographs and documentation of the construction, condition, integrity and landscape features of each structure and related outbuildings. The Tolland Green Historic District Commission will oversee the project and help put together a document that can be used for historical research. This will be kept on file at the state library, with copies available at town hall and the town library, Barton said.

The survey will provide photographs and documentation of the construction, condition, integrity and landscape features of each structure and related outbuildings. All of the structures are at least 50 years old. Along with these details will be a narrative on the historical background of the community, including how the buildings surveyed related Road, Woodland Road, Nipmuck Road, Knowlton Hill Road, Wormwood Hill Road (from Town Line to Gurleyville Road), Mount Hope Road and River Road. Residents with special problems or needs should call the town garage at 429-3676 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Mansfield meetings Audrey P. Back Building, 4 S. Eagle- Brooklyn meetings Town Hall, 4 Wolf Den Road, Brooklyn, 774-9543. All meetings are held in town hall unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: Today: Board of finance special meeting, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: Brooklyn town meeting, 7 p.m., community center on Tiffany Street; committee on Quinebaug-Shetucket Rivers Heritage corridor, noon, Windham City extension center, 139 Wolfton Road, Brooklyn; school building committee, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Middle School. Killingly meetings Town Office Building, 172 Main 774-8601. All meetings are held in town hall unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: Today: Public hearing, 7 p.m., courtroom; planning and zoning commission, 7:30 p.m., courtroom. Tuesday: Special council meeting, 7 p.m., courtroom; public hearing, 7:15 p.m., courtroom; town council, 7:30 p.m., courtoom.

Thursday: Zoning board of appeals, 7 p.m., courtroom. Columbia meetings Yeomans Hall, Route 87, 228-3284. All meetings are held in Yeomans Hall unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: No meetings were scheduled by publication deadline but emergency sessions can be called at any time. Today: Finance committee, 7:30 p.m.; planning and zoning commission, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Conservation commission, 7:30 p.m. Thursday: Board of education, 7:30 p.m.; arts commission, 7:30 p.m.; open space preservation, 7:30 p.m. regular admissions requirements," Bagwell said. These soon-to-be college freshmen were accepted into ESCU on the condition that they take the six-week course this summer, he said. The students, who come from towns all over the state, lived on campus while they were taught how to succeed in college.

Procrastination is often a problem, Bagwell said. The students took classes in behavior modification, time management, public speaking, writing, sci the water does what it does." Tonight's session is at 7:30 at town hall. On Saturday at 3 p.m., company representatives will demonstrate water-testing techniques at the lake. The company will be conducting a survey of the lake to determine the extent and distribution of aquatic vegetation, Jantos said. "We're trying to educate the public as part of the activity to participate as part of the survey and also to give them a chance to identify some of the plants out there so they can perhaps do some of the work in the future," Jantos said.

"It's just for anybody who's interested." So far this summer, the lake has sponsored by NAPA Colchester Auto Parts Supply. In case of rain, the concert will be held next Monday at the same time. The Debbie Weyl Band will play country-western music on the green Aug. 2 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. The band is sponsored by Boyden Co.

Real Estate and Tri-Town Foods. In case of rain, the concert will be held Aug. 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. cepted for spots in the Children's Co-operative Nursery School. Classes at the school, on Hebron Road, start Sept.

8. Parents who would like to register their children, or are seeking more information, can call 647-0681 or 228-4106. Town Hall, 9 Devotion Road, 423-9634. All meetings will be held in town hall unless otherwise noted. Public meetings this week: Tuesday: Baord of selectmen, 7:30 p.m..