Dear EarthTalk: I was wondering how toxic chlorine is, because my well water was just chlorinated yesterday and today the smell is still strong. I have a 4-year-old daughter and I’m concerned. —Rose Smith, via e-mail

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), chlorine levels of four parts per million or below in drinking water — whether from a private well or municipal reservoir — are acceptable from a human health standpoint. Inexpensive home drinking water test kits (from $5 on up) that can detect levels of chlorine and other elements in water are widely available from online vendors. Administering the tests is easy and can provide parents with a way to involve kids in science for a practical purpose right at home.

Chlorine was first used in drinking water to reduce waterborne infectious diseases in Jersey City, N.J. more than a century ago. It was so effective at destroying potentially harmful bacteria and viruses that the practice soon spread far and wide. Today some 98% of water treatment facilities in the United States use some form of chlorine to clean drinking water supplies.

The American Water Works Association (AWWA), a trade group representing water utilities across the country, credits the presence of chlorine in drinking water with a 50% increase in life expectancy for Americans over the last century. Indeed, some consider the chlorination of drinking water to be one of history’s greatest public health achievements.

But others aren’t so sure that any chlorine in drinking water should be considered safe. Opponents of chlorination point to studies linking repeated exposure to trace amounts of chlorine in water with higher incidences of bladder, rectal and breast cancers.

The problem lies in chlorine’s ability to interact with organic compounds in fresh water to create trihalomethanes (THMs), which when ingested can encourage the growth of free radicals that can destroy or damage vital cells in the body. Besides cancer, exposure to THMs has been linked to other health issues including asthma, eczema, heart disease and higher miscarriage and birth defect rates.

Those with their own private wells who are skittish about chlorine have other options for disinfecting their water. One baby step would be to replace chlorine with chloramine, an ammonia derivative that doesn’t dissipate into the environment as rapidly as chlorine and has a much lower tendency to interact in bad ways with organic compounds in the water.

However, traces of chloramine in the water may not be to everyone’s liking either, because it causes rashes after showering in a small percentage of people and can apparently increase lead exposure in older homes as it leaches the heavy metal off old pipes.

Another option, though somewhat costly, would be to purchase a machine to purify the water. Ozonation units, which disinfect by adding ozone molecules to water and leave no residues, start at around $9,000. Another choice would be a UV light treatment machine at $6,000 or more-which cancels out viruses and bacteria by passing the water through UV light rays. The Clean Water Store is a reputable vendor and good online source for such water treatment equipment.

Perhaps the most sensible and affordable approach is to filter the water at the faucets and taps. Carbon-based tap- or pitcher-mounted filters can work wonders in removing impurities from drinking water. They can even be installed on shower heads for those with sensitive skin.

Contacts: AWWA, www.awwa.org; The Clean Water Store, www.cleanwaterstore.com.

EarthTalk is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E-The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial. 

Another group home for the disabled is in the early planning stages, and First Selectman Rudy Marconi has a town-owned site on Prospect Ridge where he can envision two, eventually.

“People with disabilities who live in Ridgefield have little in the way of options with respect to housing, and in most cases end up living with their parents,” Mr. Marconi said.

“With the baby boomers moving into the age of retirement, baby boomers with handicaps and disabilities, as well, are a very large number, and we need to begin thinking and addressing that issue.”

Two nonprofit organizations operate group homes in town now, each with six residents, Mr. Marconi said. Ability Beyond Disability has a home on Ritch Drive, and there’s Sunrise Cottage on Sunset Lane.

Mr. Marconi said he’s had talks and is interested in collaborating with both organizations.

“We had looked at this possibility several years ago, to use a piece of property over on Halpin Lane where a lot of the housing is, and to build one, maybe two houses — nice homes, conventional, small, not large.”

The site the first selectman has in mind is at the corner of Prospect Ridge and Halpin Lane, across from the softball field where the men’s and women’s leagues play.

“It’s about a half-acre of land,” he said.

“Ability Beyond Disability is ready to move,” Mr. Marconi told the Board of Selectmen. “They’re ready to build a house there.”

Danielle Hundt of Ability Beyond Disability’s development department confirmed this week that the group was talking to Ridgefield officials.

“We’re in the early stages of discussion with the first selectman and the town,” she said.

“I know there are next-step meetings that have been scheduled about the potential for another group home in Ridgefield,” she said.

“Obviously, we’re very excited about the prospect of developing another home in Ridgefield,” Ms. Hundt said. “We have a great relationship with the town.”

The organization, which has provided employment services for people with disabilities since 1953 and opened its first group home in 1968, is headquartered in Bethel and Mt. Kisco, N.Y. It serves about 1,500 people a year, with disabilities ranging from physical handicaps to brain injuries to autism and mental illness. It has more than 100 residences and provides services ranging from transportation to employment training and support.

Mr. Marconi mentioned the idea of a group home or two on Prospect Ridge to the Board of Selectmen at its last meeting, and later elaborated in an interview.

“Both Sunrise Cottage and Ability Beyond Disability have asked about the possibility of housing in Ridgefield and that’s what this piece of property would be used for,” he said of the half-acre site.

Many groups that serve the disabled are struggling with, and worried about, further federal budget reductions as well as state belt-tightening.

“There’s less money available to commence a project like this,” Mr. Marconi said. “So Sunrise is continuing to ponder the possibility. Ability, on the other hand, is ready to move forward and would love to be able to do so.”

Still, he thinks the town could accommodate both organizations there — adjacent group homes might work well together, he said.

Mr. Marconi said he’s setting up joint meetings with Ability Beyond Disability’s representatives and Town Planner Betty Brosius to discuss “what zoning restriction there may or may not be, and understand what the parameters are for that piece of property.”

He thinks Ridgefield’s other selectmen will support a well-thought-out plan — although things aren’t that far along yet.

“We discussed it and the board seemed to be receptive,” Mr. Marconi said. “Everyone is, I believe, on board — I hope they are.”

The Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET), the state’s direct-sold 529 college savings plan, has made it easier to contribute to college savings accounts. CHET is among the first 529 college savings plans in the country to launch e-gifting, an option that allows account holders to invite friends and family to donate to a CHET account with a few simple clicks online.

“When you think of all the occasions when parents are asked for gift ideas — birthdays, holidays, graduations — e-gifting provides a convenient way for family and friends to give a gift that truly lasts. Toys inevitably fall out of favor and children outgrow clothes all too quickly, yet a college education is a gift that helps a child’s dreams come true,” said state Treasurer Denise L. Nappier, trustee for CHET.

The CHET e-gifting option can be completed securely online without account or Social Security numbers. Gifts of $25 or more may be made, and if a gift giver is a Connecticut taxpayer, he or she may be eligible for a Connecticut income tax deduction.

The process is initiated by an account owner, who e-mails a link to family and friends. A gift giver can then click on the link, enter a gift amount and banking information, and the payment is made into a CHET account.

The account owner receives notification of the deposit, and the gift giver has the option of downloading a “gift of education” certificate that may be wrapped, framed or inserted in a card and presented as a gift.

The CHET direct-sold 529 college savings plan was established in 1997 and as of March 30 has grown to more than $1.9 billion in assets and more than 86,300 individual accounts.

For more information about e-gifting, visit aboutchet.com/egift.

Julie Gold, left, and Geri Schneider

Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association nurses Julie Gold and Geri Schneider have been named 2013 recipients of the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing.

Ms. Gold, who joined RVNA in July 2012, was honored “for her passion to achieve the highest patient outcomes for her clientele as well as her quality of work and dedication. Julie’s ability to both address her patients’ needs and to be a supportive trainer sets her apart,” the association said.

Ms. Schneider, also with RVNA since July 2012, was honored for “her dedication and commitment to our flu clinic,” the association said. “She has taken on the responsibility of managing and planning the flu clinics. Her patience and kindness is profusely commented on and she is always willing to do whatever is asked of her, wearing a smile no matter how difficult or time-consuming the job may be.”

“They are both skilled nurses who have studied long, and worked hard, to earn this well-deserved recognition,” said RVNA President and CEO Theresa Santoro. “Geri and Julie practice nursing based upon the premise that the patient and/or client comes first.”

The nurses received their awards last week at a gala reception and dinner at the Stamford Marriott Hotel sponsored by Stamford Hospital.

The Stray Birds, a young trio of musicians from rural Pennsylvania, performs acoustic Americana Mountain music.

CHIRP, the series of free Tuesday evening concerts in Ballard Park, begins its season of outdoor concerts tonight Tuesday, May 28 with the Stray Birds, a trio of artists quickly gaining wide repute with their original but traditional sounding mountain music.

If there’s rain, the concert will be moved to the Ridgefield Playhouse.

CHIRP, begun in 2002, is now in its 12th season of fulfilling its mission of presenting  musicians who would not normally otherwise have a venue in the area. Its primary goal is to help preserve and further build a strong sense of community through opportunities for people of all ages, ethnicities and economic strata to come together to enjoy music that is affordable to everyone.

CHIRP’s lineup this summer includes 10 groups new to Ridgefield as well as many acts that its audience has loved and requested back. (This season’s schedule can be found in the Datebook.)

CHIRP hopes to present 23 concerts in all.

CHIRP is still seeking underwriters for several of this summer’s concerts, but many of its most reliable supporters have returned. Once again a number of Ridgefield families and foundations are helping as well as local businesses Ridgefield Music, Ridgefield Cleaners and Purkiss Capital Advisers, LLC all of whom have underwritten for many years.

In 2013 CHIRP welcomes new underwriters Ridgefield Pet at 23 Danbury Road and The Bayou North, in Copps Hill Commons, a new Cajun/Creole restaurant that has live music on selected evenings.

Co-underwriting businesses again include the law firm of Cohen & Wolf P.C. as well as The Ridgefield Thrift Shop, along with new co-underwriter Fairfield County Bank. To become one of CHIRP’s major donors,   contact Barbara Manners, CHIRP’s producer at info@chiirpct.org.

The entire series is co-sponsored by The Ridgefield Press and the town of Ridgefield through its Parks and Recreation Department.

To make a contribution, send a check to CHIRP c/o Town Hall, 400 Main Street, Ridgefield CT 06877.

David R. D’Addario, 30, of Danbury, grandson of a Ridgefielder, died unexpectedly on Thursday, May 23, at his home.

He was born Jan. 28, 1983 in Danbury, the son of Ross and Barbara Shutak D’Addario of Danbury. He  graduated from Danbury High School, Class of 2001. He also attended Western Conn. State University.

He was employed with Stanley Black & Decker Inc. (Heli-Coli Corporation) of Danbury.

Mr. D’Addario truly enjoyed fishing, loved watching the New York Jets and Mets and spending time with his family and friends. Most of all, he will be remembered for his sense of humor, his family said.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by a sister, Diane D’Addario of Danbury; his paternal grandmother, Mary D’Addario of Ridgefield; his maternal grandmother, Theresa Shutak of Keller, Texas; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

His paternal grandfather, Dominic D’Addario, and his maternal grandfather, Paul N. Shutak, died before him.

Donations may be made to the American Heart Association .

The family will receive friends in the Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home, 9-11 Granville Ave., Danbury on Wednesday, May 29, from 4 to 7.

James Thompson

James W. Thompson, 52, of Danbury died on Friday, May 24, 2013.

James was born in Queens, New York, June 13, 1960, son of the late William H. and Jane E. (DuFlon) Thompson. With his family, he moved to Ridgefield at an early age, attended Ridgefield schools, graduated from Ridgefield High School in the Class of 1978, attended college in Florida, then went on to attended Western Connecticut State University.

James spent his early career in the auto parts industry as manager and owner of several stores.  He then went into the IT consulting business and was most recently employed by KForce of Shelton, CT.

James’ career at KForce progressed over the course of 8 years. He started as an Account Manager where he sold IT consulting solutions to clients throughout Connecticut. While in this role he achieved national top performer status on multiple occasions. In 2012, James took on the Account Executive role.   He partnered with Account Managers to expand their business relationships into other solutions and projects, mentored junior team members and was integral to the growth of the Shelton Connecticut office.

James’ philosophy on life was driven by his study and practice in the art and way of the martial arts, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and others.  His over 20 years of study took him all over the country to study under many great Masters.  His primary place of study was the Temple of I Cheng, Rhinebeck, NY.   While under the direction of close friend and mentor Chung Si William Lapham. James attained the title of Si Bok.

He is survived by two daughters, Jamie Thompson and Samantha Thompson, both of North Salem, NY; longtime girlfriend, Lisa de Burgo of Danbury; sister and brother-in-law, Diane and Joseph Fossi of Ridgefield; brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Laura Thompson of Sandy Hook, CT; nephews Alex and Brendan Fossi; nieces, Ashley and Courtney Thompson; an uncle, Robert Thompson, and cousin, David Thompson, formerly of Ridgefield; and many other close cousins.

The family will receive friends in the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah St., Ridgefield, CT on Thursday, May 30, from 4:00 to 8:00pm.

A memorial service and celebration of life led by Lama Tashi Topgyal of Temple Kunzang Patchen Ling, Tibetan Buddist Center of Red Hook, NY, will take place at the Ridgefield Community Center Lounsbury House, Main Street Ridgefield, on Friday, May 31, at 2:00 pm.

Warren Kaffka, AIA

Warren E. Kaffka of Whitingham, Vt., an architect and a World War II veteran, died on May 21, at his home. He was 86 years old, the husband of Frieda Kaffka, and a former longtime Ridgefielder.

Mr. Kaffka was born on April 17, 1927 in Brooklyn N.Y. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and went on to graduate from Pratt Institute in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture.

Mr. Kaffka had retired in 1993 from the Real Estate and Construction Division of the IBM Corporation where he was the project manager and designer for numerous assignments throughout the world.

Previous associations were with Eliot Noyes and Associates, New Canaan; Keith Hibner, Lloyd Neck, N.Y.; Daniel Schwartzman, N.Y.; and partner in Kaffka/Kistler, Ridgefield.

He was a member of the American Institute of Architects.

Besides his wife of 62 years, Mr. Kaffka is survived by   his sons, John W. and James R. Kaffka, and his daughter Susan, all of Connecticut; his grandson, James M. Kaffka of Kingman, Kans.; a brother, Richard Kaffka, of Lakeland, Fla.; sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews

Covey and Allen Funeral Home of Wilmington, Vt., was in charge of private arrangements.

George Hulnick

The family of George H. Hulnick is sad to announce his passing on Saturday May 4 at his home in Lake Worth, FL.

George was born on December 10, 1916, and grew up on Staten Island, NY. He was one of seven siblings, children of Isaac and Katie Friedman and grew up in a close-knit, loving family. Working in his family’s news and candy store was the fount of his work ethic, and he enrolled and completed his degree in business at NYU.

World War II beckoned him to military service, which he fulfilled around the States, ultimately becoming a respected teacher to officers and enlisted men alike in Fort Sill, OK. The War could not keep him apart from the love of his life, a fellow student from NYU, Elsie Post, who traveled from New York to Oklahoma to marry George.

The happy couple moved back to New York to be close to their extended families. George found his path in the business world, and through his hard work, perseverance, personal charm, and business acumen, he founded and grew several related building maintenance companies. Moving his young family from the Bronx to New Rochelle, NY, he fulfilled his wish for more open space and room to grow.

It was always family first, but he also loved to play golf and was a member at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, NY, and then at The Fountains Country Club in Lake Worth, FL. He was a stalwart at Temple Beth-El in New Rochelle and at Temple Beth-Tikvah in Florida.  Dignified, steadfast, always impeccably attired, with a wonderful sense of humor, warmth, and integrity, he was a friend to so many, and a shining example to all who knew him.

George was predeceased by Elsie, his wife of 65 years, five years ago.  After a period of deep mourning, his resilience and indefatigability allowed him to find new joy and meaning in the last years of his life.

George is survived by his proud children, Dr. Donald Hulnick (Nancy Moore) of Ridgefield, and Alice Buchsbaum  (Irving) of New Rochelle, NY, beloved grandchildren Blake and Molly Hulnick, Michael and Mark Buchsbaum, and great grandchildren Andrew, Emily, and Evan Buchsbaum.

George was a contributor to so many causes, but his request was that, if so desired, contributions be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York.

A dealer in marijuana is arrested for selling a pound of this drug to someone who gladly paid his fee. If that transaction was in New York state, and he was caught and convicted, he could be incarcerated for up to 15 years and pay a fine of $15,000.

A professor of medicine is paid $2,000 to hawk an expensive drug at dinner and has an unwritten, but well known, quid pro quo arrangement with that pharmaceutical company to prescribe their drug as part of this well understood agreement. Some of these paid speakers will prescribe a drug that will ultimately cost the patient, or taxpayers, as much as a few thousand dollars more for each year, for each patient prescribed, when compared to its generic equivalent. A top doctor might therefore prescribe 1,000 patients a drug that could have been prescribed a generic that cost pennies. Do the math and you’ll realize that this lecture “scam” just cost the healthcare system more than a million dollars. Who is the drug dealer here? Who will penalize the sick and the elderly more?

Unlike the marijuana dealer, the doctor’s patients did not seek out this drug, they didn’t request it, and moreover, if they realized there were alternative drugs, they would not be happy to pay for it. And yet, it is the marijuana dealer that goes to jail and the doctor that is regarded as a compassionate caregiver.

In 2012 a cardiologist practicing in New York was arrested for allegedly selling prescription drugs in exchange for his permission to “bill their insurance providers for unnecessary tests.” Shortly after his arrest I saw two of his patients in my office, both with congestive heart failure (CHF), who were treated by this doctor before his arrest. Both of them were prescribed a drug called Bystolic as part of their therapy. Bystolic is a drug that belongs to the beta-blocker class and is a brand name drug, marketed in the United States by Forest Pharmaceuticals. It has never received FDA approval for the treatment of congestive heart failure.

The two beta-blocker drugs commonly used to treat CHF, and approved for that use, Carvedilol and Metoprolol Succinate, are available as generic drugs and cost a fraction of what Bystolic sells for. Both patients told me it was a great expense for them, paying an additional $60  each month, compared to an appropriate beta blocker like Carvedilol. With the click of my pen, they received the better drug and saved almost $700 for a year’s supply.

This doctor might have been arrested for selling prescription Oxycodone to a willing participant, but will receive no penalty for defrauding patients who got the wrong drug for their heart failure; a drug that not only cost his patients money but may have cost some of his patient’s lives. Bystolic has not been established to help patients, with CHF, and so patients with that disease who were prescribed that drug not only paid more money for it but also may have paid the ultimate price.

This year I saw a patient whose cardiologist, a man well known in the cardiology community and a full professor of medicine at a top university, had retired. For the past 10 years this patient has been treated for his hypertension with a drug named Tarka that was marketed here by Sanofi-Aventis. This drug, he told me, cost him $90 in co-pay every three months (it would cost around $150   every month for someone without insurance) or $3,600   in total for the past 10 years. It’s one of the most expensive medications marketed for hypertension and since almost every good drug used for hypertension is now generic and costs as little as $4 a month without insurance (sometimes even less for those with a prescription drug plan), I’ve never prescribed it. This patient would later tell me that he paid $5 for a three month supply of the generic medication I prescribed. His blood pressure remains well controlled on an inexpensive, every bit as good, generic medication.

Many of you likely read last month, that the United States Department of Justice filed a complaint against Novartis Corporation for what they believe were “kickbacks to doctors to induce them to prescribe Novartis pharmaceutical products that were reimbursed by federal health care program. The payments and lavish dinners given to the doctors were, in reality, kickbacks to the speakers and attendees to induce them to write prescriptions for Novartis drugs,” the DOJ said in the press release.

But what about the physicians who are involved? What about some of the top doctors, the elite physicians who are professors of medicine and in charge of teaching medical students and residents, who are just as guilty as Novartis — guilty of manipulating patients into accepting costly prescription drugs?

It’s time for these physicians to be held accountable for their duplicitous behavior and especially, for making medical decisions based on their own monetary gain, at the expense of their patients’ health and pocketbooks.

Fairfield County Bank Insurance appoints two top executives

Fairfield County Bank Insurance Services’ board of directors has selected Mark R. Connelly as president and chief executive officer, effective July 1.

Concurrently, Robert E. Spadaccia will transition from president and chief executive officer to vice chairman. He will remain on the insurance board, manage key relationships and work with the board on strategic priorities.

Dan Berta, president of Fairfield County Bank, said, “I am pleased with the new roles that Mark and Bob are moving into and look forward to the positive effect it will have on our Insurance division.”

Mark R. Connelly

Mr. Connelly joined Fairfield County Bank Insurance Services in 2012 with the acquisition of The Connelly Agency Inc. in Fairfield, where he was president. The Connelly Agency has been in operation since 1948. In his new role, he will assume responsibility for all day-to-day operations of Fairfield County Bank Insurance Services.

Mr. Spadaccia was appointed president and chief executive officer of Fairfield County Bank Insurance Services in November 2004. During his tenure, he successfully advanced the Insurance division.

Robert E. Spadaccia

“In his nine years of service, Bob made significant contributions to the Insurance division’s growth, including the expansion of Insurance Services’ operating presence throughout Fairfield County,” said Mr. Berta. “He enlarged the Insurance division’s footprint in Fairfield and Stamford, Conn., and provided existing customers and prospects with enhanced insurance solutions.”

“It is my goal to ensure a smooth transition, and we are fortunate to have such an experienced executive to guide our team,” said Mr. Spadaccia. “It has been my privilege to lead the company, and I am confident that Mark Connelly will continue to lead Fairfield County Bank Insurance Services to success by continuing to grow and effectively serve the personal, commercial, and life and health insurance clients.”

Results offers talk on sports nutrition

Results Personal Training & Fitness Center at 17A Governor Street will offer a free wellness workshop on Thursday, May 30, at 12:30 p.m., covering sports nutrition and micronutrients.

Dr. Chris Mascetta DC of Ridgefield Chiropractic & Wellness Center will speak.

A healthy meal from Nature’s Temptations will be served.

“If you’ve ever wondered what to eat before a workout or how the right nutrition can infuse you with more energy to help get the most out of life and athletics, proper nutrition and micronutrients can have a positive impact,” said Dr. Mascetta.

“Micronutrient deficiencies can be caused by various factors, including age, occupation, diet,, and lifestyle. Micronutrient deficiency can lead to a variety of health issues, including pain, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and muscular dystrophy.”

The workshop will explain the importance of pre- and post-competition meals, show why nutrition is an essential part of a healthy, active lifestyle and offer tips to optimize athletic performance.

Summer specials are still available, including complimentary three-class passes and May through August unlimited classes and facility use ($199 for students/$299 adults).

For more information and to register for the talk and lunch, visit resultsptridgefield.com or call 203-438-8771.

Turning Point Reiki expands its services

Turning Point Reiki is expanding its services to include a range of support groups offered under the larger framework of Turning Point Healing Arts.

As part of this expansion, JoAnn Duncan of Ridgefield and Susan Ahlstrom will offer programs that provide support, healing, advocacy, resources, and education in a series of issue-based group sessions.

The SHARE Divorce Group is being offered for women in the process of ending a marriage, considering divorce, recently divorced, or still healing after this challenging life transition. “Meetings will provide an opportunity for women to share resources, experiences and hope, while exploring positive, proactive ways of managing stress and embracing change,” said Ms. Duncan. “The goal of the group is to help participants feel fortified, empowered and confident as they move forward toward a healthier, more positive life of independence and greater awareness when building new relationships.”

Each month the group will focus on a different topic, such as Legal Differences Between Mediation, Collaborative and Adversarial Divorce and Parenting Agreements, Conscious Parenting Through Divorce and Afterwards, Financial Issues and Planning During and After Divorce (June 12), Law of Attraction, Guided Meditation, Energy Healing Tools for Grounding, Focus and Relaxation, Heart Math, and much more.

Meetings are the second Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Redding Center for Mindfulness and Meditation, West Redding. For information and to register, contact JoAnn at 203-438-3050 or jduncan@turningpointhealingarts.com, or visit turningpointreiki.com.

Laurel Ridge sponsors session

The Leir Retreat Center at 220 Branchville Road sponsored an orthopedic interventions conference on lower extremities in older patients today, Thursday, May 23.

This was the second such clinical conference geared toward medical and health care professionals with presenters from both Danbury Hospital and Laurel Ridge Health Care Center.

The objective was to provide the most up-to-date information on orthopedics as it relates to joint injuries, surgery, pain management, and rehabilitation.

Speakers included orthopedic surgeons Drs. Robert Deveney, John Dunleavy and F. Scott Gray, with Rose Haklits and Elizabeth Hicks, all representing Western Connecticut Health Network (Danbury Hospital). Robert Messina and Laura French, will speak on behalf of Laurel Ridge Health Care Center on rehabilitation in the sub-acute setting.

Three top agents at Coldwell office

The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in Ridgefield reports that Ridgefield Realtors Amy Grossfeld, Annette Cicinelli and Lonnie Shapiro have achieved the Sales Associates of the Month award for achieving the highest volume of business for April.

“They are each committed to their clients’ best interests and continuously work to ensure that their goals are met,” said Joe Maymi, manager of the office.

Tops in April at Raveis office

Deb McCarty was recognized as the Top Listing Associate and The Morris Group was awarded the Top Listing Team in the Ridgefield/Redding office of William Raveis Real Estate Mortgage & Insurance for April.

Ms. McCarty was recognized as the Top Selling Associate and The Morris Group was Top Selling Team for April.

Chris Horky was Top Producing Associate and The Morris Group was recognized as the Top Producing Team.

Tracey Baines was honored for Excellence in Customer Service.

The town’s sewage treatment plant off South Street serves the village area, and the Water Pollution Control Authority is planning an upgrade of the facility. It’s capacity has become a contentious issue in the debate over high density housing. —Jake Kara photo

With the pressure that high density housing proposals have been putting on the village now that traditional zoning limits have been undermined by the state’s affordable housing law, and with a required 20-year upgrade of the District I sewer plant in the early study stages, the selectmen are taking a look at how decisions concerning the town sewer system are made.

An interview and re-appointment of longtime Water Pollution Control Authority member and chairman Max Caldwell was pulled from the agenda of May 15 Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

First Selectman Rudy Marconi said later that the re-appointment had been held up to give the selectmen time to study the authority and see if there’s anything they’d like to see changed in the agency — a Charter Revision Commission is due to be created in the fall.

“I received a call from one member of the Board of Selectmen, who expressed a concern about the current structure of our sewer approval process, and perhaps prior to re-appointing anyone, we should review that process, and how the WPCA is structured,” Mr. Marconi said Tuesday.

“Right now, based on that request and other input, I am proceeding with town counsel to review the structure of the WPCA, and how it could perform differently in the future,” Mr. Marconi said. “And I don’t have any preconceived idea at this point how that would be.”

The idea is look at how Ridgefield’s Water Pollution Control Authority operates, at how other towns in Connecticut make those decisions, and at what latitude there is in state statutes for doing things differently.

“We are really just taking a look at it, and comparing Ridgefield to other communities,” Mr. Marconi said.

“We’re also going to be structuring a Charter Revision Commission for 2014 some time in the fall of this year,” Mr. Marconi said. “Maybe there are some changes to be made in the charter.”

The first selectmen praised Mr. Caldwell’s service on the authority and his knowledge of authority’s work. About a month ago, before the chairman left for a vacation in Africa, Mr. Marconi said, the two had discussed the re-appointment in light of the studies that have begun for the upgrade of the District I sewage treatment plant, as required every 20 years by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

“I had spoken with Max and, given the fact that our 20-year review as required by DEEP has begun, that having someone like Max with his engineering background would be helpful in seeing this application through the process,” Mr. Marconi said. “He said maybe I’ll retire once this application is completed.

“And that was just before he left for Africa.”

Asked about a matter recently before the authority, Mr. Caldwell answered in an email this week but noted that he was no longer sitting on the authority since his term expired in April.

“It is pretty clear that WPCA members are appointed for a set term and when that period is up, the Board of Selectmen is required to appoint someone for another term. As my term has expired and there has not been another appointee, I believe it would be improper for me to vote on issues coming before the WPCA.

“I am preparing the budget for next year as I am just assembling information provided by Finance (and I have done this for many years) and the sitting authority will need to set rates at the next public meeting.”

Mr. Marconi said later that, since no action had been taken to fill the seat, he believed Mr. Caldwell remained on the authority and had full rights to continue acting as a member.

“He’s on,” Mr. Marconi said. “Our charter reads that when your term expires and there has been no appointment or re-appointment, you continue to serve in that capacity.”

A couple of other selectmen reached on the issue, Maureen Kozlark and Andy Bodner, both said they hadn’t asked that Mr. Caldwell’s re-appointment to be withdrawn from the agenda. As they described the situation, it wasn’t that the board or any members had a problem with Mr. Caldwell so much as a feeling that the whole set-up ought to be reviewed.

“It’s not directed at Max, per se, his just happens to be the first name that came up,” Mr. Bodner said.

The Board of Selectmen is concerned with the way the authority works, he said.

Lately the authority has tried to maintain a technocratic approach to applications, and  not get into making land use policy decisions which it views as more properly the purview of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Under the state’s affordable housing law 8-30g, however, developers can ignore most local zoning regulations by meeting state affordability guidelines on 30% of the housing units they propose.

The result, perhaps inevitably, is to put the authority on the front lines of battles over housing density. There’s  a feeling among people concerned by what seems a potential for runaway change in town that the Water Pollution Control Authority could act as more of a gatekeeper.

This is exacerbated by differing perspectives on the sewage treatment plant’s capacity. Judged by average flows, the plant is at less 70% of its design capacity of a million gallons a day. But the plant, serving a century-old sewer system with many leaks and other “inflows” in times of heavy rain, has a long history far exceeding its design capacity during storms.

“Here we’ve been told for years we’re running out of sewer capacity, and yet the projects are magically being approved, whether there’s sewer capacity or there’s not,” Mr. Bodner said.

“They’re doing a study right now of a sewer upgrade. The number’s as high as $15 million, I’ve heard,” Mr. Bodner said. “If they’re sitting here nearing capacity, are you exacerbating the problem by approving these projects?

“I think the Board of Selectmen would like a better understanding from the WPCA of where we stand relative to sewer capacity and constraints, in the face of the potential for a large expansion/upgrade in the near term, and in the face of all these high density projects they’ve been approving — 15 units on a acre, 20 units on a acre.”

Ms. Kozlark agreed that the board’s concern was more with the process than with people.

“It’s not an angry situation,” Ms. Kozlark said. “I think the Board of Selectmen is just looking at the situation that surrounds the WPCA and we wanted to get more clarification on what their role was before we started interviewing for the next round of appointees.”

With appointed agencies, she said, there’s always a balance to be maintained between keeping people who’ve been doing a job well and giving others who are interested a chance to serve.

“You have to respect all the years someone has put in and the experience they bring, but you also have to be sure everybody has the opportunity to apply and come forward if they want to,” she said.

If a Charter Revision Commission does look at the authority and its function, it might review the history of the agency. A couple of decades back the authority was elected — its functions were handled by the elected Board of Selectmen.

“In ’94 it was formally changed from the Board of Selectmen to an appointed WPCA under Connecticut State Statute,” Mr. Marconi said.

The selectmen had a Sewer Advisory Committee to help.

“There’s a lot of work, a lot of meetings. It is kind of technical,” Mr. Marconi said. “It wasn’t a bad set-up. We had a Sewer Advisory Commission — the representatives on that commission were the ones who made recommendations to the Board of Selectmen. And it worked very well.”

Ridgefield’s public schools are preparing their students for a world that doesn’t even exist yet.

That was the message Craig Tunks, the district’s director of technology and operations development, delivered during an hourlong technology in education presentation at the Board of Education meeting to a room of more than 25 people recently.

He was helped in his message by several students who also spoke to the board.

“There’s a lot of talk among educators about technology in the classroom, weaving diverse forms of media into curriculums and gathering information from the Internet,” said Mr. Tunks. “As a district, our goal is to get students ready for a world that doesn’t exist — the world our kindergartners will inherit one day.

“And we have to work in that direction together.”

He stressed the core four principles of the International Society for Technology in Education — communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.

Teachers and students from Scotland Elementary School, East Ridge Middle School and Ridgefield High School assisted Mr. Tunks in his annual technology report to the board, displaying real-life classroom applications.

Pam Lavender, a fourth grade teacher at Scotland, and one of her students, Ella Kagan, discussed the concept of “flipping the classroom,” which provides students mini video lessons, known as “Educreations,” to watch outside the classroom.

Ms. Lavender said her students watch the videos at home and when they come to school the next day, she’s able to check their comprehension of a certain subject right away.

She added that her instructions for a particular assignment are delivered online and questions are posted along with the video to answer after the students have watched the lesson. “They can check their answers against mine, and I’ve found that my kids are eager to watch videos at home,” she said. “I am able to maximize my time in the classroom with them so much better.

“This is cutting-edge and innovative technology that needs to be implemented across the board.”

Ella said that technology in the classroom has many benefits, including watching a lesson in repetition, allowing her parents to watch with her, and making her own videos with friends to show she understands a subject.

“Kids feel as if I’ve come into their home to teach,” Ms. Lavender said.

She concluded that she was working to expand “flipping the classroom” to all classes.

Scott Wallace, a science teacher at RHS, showed the board how Google technology has helped him teach chemistry more effectively and efficiently.

He said that before the 2012-13 school year, a majority of the projects he assigned were papers and that he was concerned this was an “inefficient method — research, write, grade.”

However, this year, the projects he has assigned have been made all virtual with no paper materials, thanks to Google applications, such as Google Docs, that allow students to access information from anywhere and to collaborate all at the same time.

“The efficiency Google technology provides both students and teachers with won’t make learning chemistry any easier,” he joked. “But I can now spend more time teaching more interesting tasks and less time on tedious items.”

One of those tedious items is lab reports, which Mr. Wallace said he’s been able to switch into an all-digital process.

“The formerly dreaded lab reports are now easy to access, easy to edit and easy to grade,” he said. “I can return the document to the student edited and graded immediately.

“It’s seamless interconnectivity,” he added. “And it’s a piece of cake to set up.”

Mr. Wallace concluded that in addition to his chemistry classes, Google applications have helped him facilitate student government elections, which he controls at the high school, into being “paperless” and “secured, completely online.”

East Ridge Middle School Spanish teacher Karen McGown joined eighth grader Aneeka Britto to tell the board how technology is being used to teach foreign language skills.

Ms. McGown assigned her students to create a digital “how to” presentation to help them learn informal commands and apply them in a real-world situation.

Aneeka played the board members her video project “How to make a Valentine’s Day Card” using Spanish commands.

When board members asked if she felt Spanish was easier to learn and more fun to practice with the presence of technology, Aneeka said the process of making a video project at home allowed her to have time to learn the language and then apply it to her project with a “creative and unique touch.”

Ms. McGown added that the video project provides both students and teachers with many positive outcomes.

“Technology in the classroom helps eliminate performance anxiety, which happens a lot when a student is trying to speak a world language to his or her classmates,” she said. “Also, it’s easier for me to correct them and highlight what pronunciations they are having a difficult time understanding.”

While video projects help teach her teach the curriculum day to day and month to month, she said, the digital impact in the classroom can be seen over a longer period of time.

“Our goal is for students to have digital portfolios that start in sixth grade and show everything they’ve created in their three years here,” Ms. McGown said. “This way they can see the progress they’ve made with a particular language and carry that with them to the high school.”

After the three presentations were given, Mr. Tunks returned to the board and answered any additional questions they had about technology in the district.

One board member quipped that technology was becoming so advanced that it one day may replace the teacher in the classroom.

Mr. Tunks assured the board that all the progress they had just seen wouldn’t have been possible without the teachers’ mastery  of the new technology.

“Technology is not designed to be the teacher,” Mr. Tunks concluded. “We still need great teachers to make this work, and I think we have plenty of them here.”

An autopsy conducted yesterday revealed that the victim of Friday’s shooting on Ridgebury Road died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Office of the Chief State’s Medical Examiner.

The officer involved in the shooting was identified as Jorge Romero, a seven-year veteran of the department, said the state police in an updated statement released yesterday afternoon.

“As per department policy, Officer Romero is being assigned to departmental administrative duty pending a review of this incident,” the statement said.

The state police investigation is ongoing.

On Sunday, the state police revealed the identity of the victim as John Valluzzo, the owner of the home.

According to the state police statement, Ridgefield officers responded to a domestic dispute call Friday around 5:15 p.m. and found Mr. Valluzzo, 75, wielding a gun in the yard of the home.

Officers ordered him to lower his weapon, but he refused. When he raised his gun to the officers, Officer Romero fired his weapon at Mr. Valluzzo, according to the statement.

Mr. Valluzzo was the founder and president of the Military Museum of Southern New England in Danbury. He served three years in the Army during the Korean War.

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding residents and visitors of ways to enjoy outdoor celebrations this summer in an environmentally friendly manner.

DEEP offers the following tips on how to have an environmentally-friendly backyard barbeque, graduation ceremony, wedding, or when enjoying the outdoors with family and friends.

While balloons are a popular celebrating tribute, do not release helium balloons into the air.

Under Connecticut General Statutes, it is illegal for any person or any group to intentionally release 10 or more helium balloons per day.

In Connecticut, a summer breeze can transport balloons released in inland areas all the way to Long Island Sound.  Once in the ocean, the deflated balloons – just like plastic bags and other floating plastic garbage – look like food (mainly jellyfish) to some sea creatures.  When marine animals, particularly sea turtles, eat the floating plastic, their digestive systems become blocked and the animals die.

Balloon ribbons cause problems of their own when they are picked up by birds, such as osprey, as nesting material.  The ribbons in nests can get wound around the birds or nestlings, causing death by strangulation or starvation.

The “Balloons Blow… Don’t Let Them Go” website (www.balloonsblow.org) is one resource for learning more about the dangers of helium balloons, environmentally friendly alternatives, and ways to spread the word about balloons.

Here are more suggestions for environmentally-friendly celebrations:

• Use reusable plates, cups and cutlery if possible.
• If you use disposable plates or napkins, look for those made from recycled content.
• Avoid polystyrene foam products.
• “Compostable” utensils and plates are only “greener” if you have made arrangements for composting them.
• For light snacks, try to serve “finger food” or food that can be served with minimal plates and utensils.
• Use cloth or reusable tablecloths.  These can be rented along with tables and other event supplies so that you don’t have to buy a lot of items unnecessarily.
• Serve drinks from pitchers or bottles rather than individual drink bottles.
• Serve locally grown foods whenever possible.  It is possible to find many different fruits and vegetables, cheeses, breads, dips, beers and wines. Check CT Dept. of Agriculture’s website www.ct.gov/doag for the Connecticut Grown program.
• Provide separate containers for trash and recycling and have them clearly marked.  Make sure trash containers are paired with recycling containers.  For information on event recycling, go to www.ct.gov/recycle.
• For favors or centerpieces, choose edible or plantable items, which are less likely to end up in the trash.  Buy local flowers or plants from farmers markets or farm stands, or, for real freshness, find a “pick your own” location.  Check CT Dept. of Agriculture’s website www.ct.gov/doag, for a listing.

Here are some of the stories and features in this week’s Ridgefield Press, out today in print and e-edition.

• The investigation of the shooting of a Ridgebury man by a Ridgefield police officer continues.
• Suddenly, Relay for Life has a new location this year.
• How sellers are looking for the ‘edge’ to make their homes shine in a competitive market.
• Rudy Marconi hopes the full $7 million spent on Schlumberger can be returned to the taxpayers under plans being worked on.
• Sarah Bouissou of Bernard’s is Rotary’s Citizen of the Year.
• Robert Scherl has overcome a childhood bone condition that required four surgeries, and will play college baseball at the University of Chicago.
• The new Rides for Ridgefield has begun some of its services to seniors and others in need of transportation.
• Mattie Joyner shed a tear at the post-parade ceremonies Monday — her last, for a while, at least.
• For security reasons, the school board has jiggered the school calendars for the next few years just a tad.
• The new owners of the water system that supplies the Knolls discovered a long-forgotten valve that had been shut off.  They turned it and the neighborhood now has much better hydrant service.
• Ridgefield Remembers Sunday will celebrate deceased friends and family.
• The Ridgefield Library has honored several for service.
• Who was that Civil War soldier talking to?
• The recent production of Les Miserables at RHS has won 29 award nominations.
• A Ridgefielder will add more than a dash of magic to the Keeler Tavern’s birthday party.
• At least three Ridgefielders have won the Congressional Medal of Honor — in Civil, Indian, and Vietnam wars.
• The schools are now projecting a $129,000 year-end balance.
• Noah’s Ark was rebuilt — in a most unusual fashion — at Temple Shearith Israel.
• Amy Wendel has won a Fulbright to work and study in Nepal.
• Several Ridgefield gardens will be open Sunday, including one at a church.
• June is the time to renew your dog licenses.
• Here’s an unusual summer camp: Cake baking (at The Cake Box).
• School officials were in budget-cutting agony — 25 years ago.
• The MacDonald-Pin Dancers will celebrate 40 years of dance this weekend.
• RHS artists are showing their work at the Guild.
• Birgitta Stone helps local businesses handle Twitter, Facebook, and other social media — as well as websites.
• Steven Macoy test drives the 2013 Jaguar XJL Portfolio, a car of substance and luxury, and even pretty good fuel economy.
• The Ridgefield Press is on Facebook — become one of more than 1,455 friends and get news updates. Facebook.com/RidgefieldPress.
• 7,216 people have signed up for Ridgefield Press news bulletins via Twitter. You can, too, by stopping by twitter.com/RidgefieldPress.

For newsstands carrying The Press, click here.

May is a month of giving, and not just on Mother’s Day.

Ridgefield Public Schools received three gifts from the Ridgefield Education Foundation recently.

Avery Costigan, the non-profit foundation’s president, presented  $1,500 for an elementary level e-Book collection in the library at Farmingville School, $750.04 for physic lab stations at Scotts Ridge Middle School and $2,310 for iPads to be used in science labs at the high school.

The board unanimously acceptions the donations following a 15-minute presentation that discussed the foundation’s progress over the past year.

The foundation was established in 2011 and consists of residents, teachers and administrators “whose mission is to strengthen the bridge between the community at large and our public schools by encouraging philanthropy to enhance the educational experiences of Ridgefield’s learners of all ages.”

“We’ve come a long way — we raised $4,560.04 this year which is more than double what we presented this time last year,” she said. “We are building slowly to help innovate Ridgefield Public Schools.”

She added that the education foundation differs from Parent Teacher Associations because their goal is “to move education forward.”

“Our criteria is always ‘Is this new? Is this different? Is this moving education forward? For all three of these gifts the answer is yes,” she said.

Ms. Costigan said the education foundation received nine grant requests over its second grant cycle but could only fund three.

“What we can fund is totally based on what comes in,” she informed the board. “These three projects met our criteria and allowed us to give a gift to each level of the school district.”

Her goal is to once again double the foundation’s total grant donation for the spring of 2014.

In addition, the foundation is planning multiple events in the upcoming year, including teacher appreciation awards this year, an innovation and science expo in the winter of 2014 and a RPS-hosted “Googleposium” on June 7, 2013, that will have teacher educate the public on Google technology.

“We are excited to help students gain a deeper education and support the schools and the town,” Ms. Costigan concluded.

For more information on the foundation, visit www.ridgefieldeducationfoundation.org.

Anthony Orazio and Courtney Doak

Ken Doak of Ridgefield has announced the engagement of his daughter, Courtney Doak, to Anthony Orazio, son of James and Donna Orazio of Fairfield.

The future bride graduated from Ridgefield High School in 2005 and from Bucknell University in 2009 with a bachelor of arts degree in economics and psychology.

She is pursuing a J.D. at Columbia University Law School in New York City, where she has one more year remaining. She will be working as a summer associate at the law firm Goodwin Procter LLP this summer.

The future groom graduated from Fairfield High School in 2003 and from Swarthmore College in 2007 with a bachelor of arts degree in economics.

He works in New York City as an associate at Oak Hill Capital Partners, a private equity firm.

The couple plans a September 2014 wedding in Connecticut.

Dr. Philip R. Pitruzello, superintendent of schools, gave the Memorial Day address on the Community Center porch flanked by a color guard and a firing squad, the June 6, 1963, Press reported.

“The church, the school, the civil government, veterans organizations, and the ladies auxiliaries,” he said, “all combine to impress upon youth and society that a price, indeed high, has been paid for all that we enjoy.”

Voters supported the Board of Finance by a margin of three to one in the referendum on the school budget. With a 65% turnout, it was the largest referendum in the town’s history, as well as the most decisive, and it approved the board’s decision to cut $100,000 in the 1963-64 school budget. It was the third successive year in which large reductions were made by the finance board in the school budgets.

Varian Fry, Ridgefield author, was honored by the International Rescue Committee at its 30th anniversary luncheon at the Overseas Press Club in New York City. Fry was cited for his heroic activities in 1940-42, when he headed a dangerous mission in Vichy, France, to rescue anti-Nazi leaders who were marked for extinction by the Gestapo. Fry, a journalist, built the “underground railway” that would take them to freedom from headquarters in Marseilles. The mission succeeded in saving 1,500 prominent people who had been marked for death by the Nazis, including Giuseppe Modigliani, Marc Chagall, Max Ernst, Hannah Arendt, Wanda Landowska, Hans Habe, André Masson, and Jacques Lipchitz.

The Ridgefield Playhouse on Prospect Street featured Billy Budd followed later in the week by The Ugly American. The Danbury Drive-In offered Damaged Goods, “the tender and tragic story of teenage love and parental neglect,” starring Dolores Faith.

David Evans, Ridgefield High School Student Council president, presided at the high school annual student awards assembly. Bif Nash received the Nutmeg Boys State recognition from First Selectman Leo F. Carroll, and Judy Byram received the Laurel Girls State prize from   the American Legion Auxiliary. Principal Harold Healy gave the Sons of the American Revolution Citizenship award to Evans, and Mary Meeker received the Daughters of the American Revolution award. Dale Tulipani, Mary Venus, Beatrice Seeman, Lynn Bacchiochi, Jeanne Besse, Terri Carboni, Carol Franks, Sandra and Sheila Mulvaney, Toni Frulla, and Jayanne Sheehan each received National Red Cross Nursing awards. Chemistry teacher James Menosek presented George Leeman with the American Chemical Society award. Fred Grossfeld received the mathematics award from Hope Gilchrist, chairman of the mathematics department. Michael Ryba received the Rotary Highest Academic Award as the top-ranking student in the senior class.

Forty-one students graduated from St. Mary School, including Marilou Serfilippi, Paula Marconi, Dorothy Carboni, Katherine Casagrande, Pamela Bennett, Joseph Hahn, Dennis Moylan, Brian Sullivan, Walter Valentine, and James Corrie.

The confirmation class of the Congregational Church included Theodore and Margaret Nash, Tom Hill, Wendy Ochsner, Nancy Gasparino, Amy Saville, and Karen Hoerner.

George Hancock’s second historical fiction novel, “A Killing At The Inn,” was released this spring. The book is set in Ridgefield during the Civil War and is the second of a three-part series.

As the town marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Ridgefield writer and historical re-enactor George Hancock has released his second novel, reflecting how the war affected Ridgefield.

A Killing At The Inn is the sequel to Mr. Hancock’s first story, This Quiet Place, which appeared last July.

The story ranges from 1858 to New Year’s Day in 1863, explaining what town looked like in the years prior to the conflict and how things changed when southern states began to secede, beginning with South Carolina in December 1860.

“People here couldn’t understand why southern states were seceding, they didn’t see it coming until January 1861, and they didn’t think the war would last more than three to six months when it began in April 1861,” Mr. Hancock said. “This was a very sheltered town back then, with people minding their own business.”

Although the effects of the war on the town took nearly two years to be felt, Mr. Hancock believes the period was an important to write about.

“We were secluded here, but there’s enough history here to show that the war did affect us,” Mr. Hancock explained. “We had to bury sons who lost their lives and we displayed a tremendous amount of national pride in wanting to keep the Union together, no matter what the cost.”

Besides the backdrop of the Civil War, the main difference between the two works of historical fiction is that A Killing At The Inn has an inciting incident — murder — that takes place in 1859.

“I really wanted to get the history in there and have the Civil War be a part of the background,” Mr. Hancock said. “I also really wanted to include this story of espionage and deceit that expands on the fact that the town was changing from this quiet place to one that was a lot more noisy.”

While a murder triggers the plot, he said, the story doesn’t include much violence.

“The violence is just part of the plot — there’s nothing in there about a gun fight or anything like that,” he said. “It’s a device used to kill this character, Captain Joseph Nathan Hale, and it happens quickly.”

Mr. Hancock’s protagonist from the first book, Keeler Dauchy, has aged more than 30 years and now has a son Jacob, who has enlisted to fight.

“He has seen so much of the town’s history and learned a lot over the years,” he said. “He’s much more mature voice at this point in his life. He wants to make things right around town and be a good citizen, but he’s worried about his son, who’s fighting in this war and doesn’t know if he will return or not.”

Mr. Hancock doesn’t want to ruin the surprise, but a third novel is in the works to be released as early as the end of the year. Its tentative title is Until Jacob Comes Marching Home. 

“The first chapter is written along with the introduction,” he said. “I’d like to have it completed by the end of the year if I can get it written.”

The story will take place from 1863 to after the end of the war in June 1865, a eriod which saw the town take a lot more active role in the war, according to Mr. Hancock.

“The third book will focus on the aftermath of the war and how Ridgefield reacted to these guys’ coming home,” he said. “There were no parades or big celebrations, just a few quiet reunions and life continued on.”

Mr. Hancock  hopes the trilogy will give the town an oral legacy it can pass on, even if it’s based on a fictional story.

“I hope these stories become staples in the community,” Mr. Hancock said. “I am having fun with them. I really like writing about Ridgefield and I like to be a story teller whether its vocally in a theater performance or on the page…

“Oral tradition is important and it’s important for us to remember our history — the families who once lived here and their stories — and what has happened here over the past 200-300 years.”

Mr. Hancock will be dressed as Keeler Dauchy during the Soldier’s Fair on June 8  at the town’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

 A Killing At The Inn can be purchased at Bissell’s Pharmacy, the Keeler Tavern, Books on the Common, and Bella Home.