
CIA veteran John Lauder drew on his experience in intelligence and arms control monitoring for a program at the Kent Town Hall Saturday, March 9. Seated is Kent native Sarah Chase, who served as moderator for the discussion.
Leila Hawken
CIA veteran John Lauder drew on his experience in intelligence and arms control monitoring for a program at the Kent Town Hall Saturday, March 9. Seated is Kent native Sarah Chase, who served as moderator for the discussion.
KENT — The threat and the reality of nuclear proliferation around the world drew the interest of Kent residents presented with a pair of events sponsored by the Kent Memorial Library.
A screening of the Oscar-winning film “Oppenheimer” was held at the library Friday, March 8, well-timed in advance of the Academy Awards programming scheduled for the following Sunday.
The film showing was scheduled as a companion to a talk Saturday, March 9, at the Town Hall that drew an audience of 50 residents to hear CIA veteran John Lauder recount his experience in intelligence and arms control monitoring. Serving as moderator for the program was Kent native Sarah Chase.
Titled “The Oppenheimer Legacy: Nuclear Threats, Deterrence, and Arms Control in Today’s World,” Lauder’s focus, guided by Chase, was just that.
Using the film as a springboard to discussion, and in reply to Chase’s first question, Lauder said that the movie raises new important questions about the impact of the spread of nuclear weapons around the world.
“This will not be a feel-good talk,” Lauder cautioned his audience.
“If Oppenheimer came back, he would be astonished that 80 years have passed and we haven’t blown up the world, nor have we had major conflicts between nuclear powers,” Lauder said.
“It’s still a very scary world,” Lauder noted, adding that with the spread of nuclear capability to other countries including North Korea, Iran, India and others, “a world free of nuclear weapons is now perhaps out of reach in the modern day.”
“It’s not that nuclear war is unimaginable; it is not imagined enough,” he said.
About national security, Lauder said that during the 1980s, when the U.S. and Russia were the sole powers with massive nuclear stockpiles, the state of affairs was “perilous but predictable.”
Now, nuclear weapons have proliferated in other more volatile regions, Lauder explained.
As for artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, they can complicate nuclear deterrence, Lauder said, opening the possibility of tampering with signals that could warn of an impending attack.
“There is good news and bad news in all of these advances,” Lauder warned.
When the floor opened to audience comments and questions, the Kent audience rose to the moment with well-informed questions. Topics included the environmental and health effects surrounding the handling of radioactive materials at Los Alamos in New Mexico, growing global mistrust of government entities, polar divisiveness among peoples, and the threat of nuclear war breaking out because of a mistake or miscalculation.
“I love the town of Kent,” Lauder said of his first visit to the town, noting that he had worn a nuclear physics-themed necktie for the occasion. In conversation following the program, he said that he has another tie from Great Britain depicting swords being beaten into plowshares, but the designer leaves in doubt whether it might be the other way round.
Lauder and Chase are alumni of Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio, home of the James A. Garfield Center for Public Leadership, founded by Lauder to prepare students for careers in public service. The center is named for President Garfield, also a Hiram graduate, who served as an early head of school.
Lauder is now associated with the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control.
TORRINGTON — USA Waste & Recycling’s $3.25 million offer to purchase the Torrington Transfer Station was conditionally accepted by the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority Dissolution Authority at a meeting of its board of directors May 14.
Torrington Transfer Station was one of two facilities in the state, along with Essex Transfer Station, that was still owned by MIRA-DA following the closure of the Hartford trash-to-energy plant in 2022. Municipalities in these service areas were given until July 1, 2027, to establish alternative solid waste contracts.
The Northwest Hills Council of Governments has been working for more than a year to create a regional resource authority using the Torrington Transfer Station as a central hub for hauling. This public option was approved by MIRA-DA with a non-binding agreement in February 2025 and NHCOG expected to take over the facility by June 30, 2025.
The expense to MIRA-DA over the next two years for the public option was estimated by its board members at $2.9 million.
Days before a scheduled public hearing May 19 in Torrington to finalize the formation of the Northwest Regional Resource Authority, MIRA-DA accepted an offer from USA and entered into a term sheet for the private company to purchase the transfer station.
During public comment of the May 14 board meeting, numerous leaders from the Northwest Corner urged MIRA-DA to reconsider the private sale.
Torrington Mayor Elinor Carbone spoke of the risks that exist when municipalities lose local control. “We have every confidence that the public option is the most responsible way to control costs.” She continued, “We stand at the ready to proceed with the establishment of this regional waste authority.”
Sharon First Selectman Casey Flanagan said, “The short-term financial implication for MDA may be unbalanced in the two proposals, but the public option will ensure price stability for the Northwest Corner towns for many years.” He said the private sale to USA would likely eliminate any hope for a public option in the future. “I can’t see another facility being permitted and we would be beholden to whoever the incumbent is.”
"This whole process has been extremely discouraging," said Salisbury First Selectman Curtis Rand. "I thought that the money partly came from us as 30- and 40-year members of MIRA, from our taxpayers. It's not from the state as far as I know."
Cornwall First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said, "We have to question why a private company would pay a premium price for the transfer station without a reasonable expectation of being able to get that money back with interest from their customers."
“Maintaining the status quo in Torrington with the transfer station is the way to go,” as evidenced by the unified voice of leaders in the region, said North Canaan First Selectman Brian Ohler. “If [USA is] given the chance to purchase that Torrington Transfer Station, they now own the entire trash cycle from residential pick, commercial pickup, streetside pickup to the hauling and now owning the transfer station.”
Falls Village First Selectman Dave Barger echoed the sentiments of his colleagues and emphasized the importance of public oversight. “I am concerned about the accountability and transparency and I think a public option keeps that alive.”
In support of the sale, Todd Arcelaschi, mayor of Winchester, explained his town opted out of the regional effort earlier this year in an effort to “blaze our path forward with municipal solid waste disposal.” He said the public option has gotten more expensive every year, from $86 per ton in 2019 to $130 per ton in 2025. “These costs are back breaking,” he said. “We need to keep those fees reasonable.”
Edward Spinella, attorney representing USA, said, “MIRA Dissolution Authority is to do two things: Have an orderly transition of the transfer station and, two, preserve assets and reserves. Our proposal does both of those things.”
Spinella continued, “This MIRA Dissolution Authority is not a regulator. It’s not for you to decide whether or not USA or any other company has too much market control.”
Following public comment, MIRA-DA board members entered into a nearly four-hour executive session. The board unanimously accepted the term sheet from USA.
Board member Michael Looney said, “This decision today is a difficult one given the many different interests that this board needs to balance.”
He said MIRA-DA requires the funds from the sale to “pay toward ameliorating our longstanding environmental impacts from our legacy of solid waste management.”
“We do need to recognize the fiscal and environmental benefits of having a larger amount of funds in the MDA reserve fund,” Looney said.
In its decision, MIRA-DA approved up to $50,000 to reimburse NHCOG for its legal fees accrued while developing the previous agreement.
Despite the setback, the City of Torrington held its public hearing for the formation of the Northwest Regional Resource Authority on May 19.
At the hearing, Raymond Drew, director of public works for Torrington, stated that establishing the NRRA offers long-term benefits for both the City and the broader region. He emphasized that it remains a worthwhile initiative, even though the City will not own any of the facilities.
In a follow up conversation May 21, Ohler said he is still in favor of a public option and NHCOG is planning a special meeting to discuss what comes next.
Joan Anderson Turnure, 91, died after a long illness on May 3, 2025, at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, CT. She was the loving widow of Michael DeBurbure Turnure.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Church in Salisbury on June 1, at 1:00PM, followed by a reception at The White Hart Inn.
To view the whole obituary please visit www.kennyfuneralhomes.com.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
CANAAN — The Lord welcomed Liz home Sunday, May 4, 2025, after leading a long life of faithful service, to Him and to us. She loved life and people. While living in Dunnellon, Florida for her waning years, she remained attached to her roots in Canaan, Connecticut.
Though small in stature, Liz was big in heart. After a successful long career as a hairdresser, she remained active and involved. A consummate homemaker, baker, cook, reader and world traveler, Liz enjoyed her several Pomeranians, especially Queen Sheba and Sweet Pea, her final pups. Her hobbies included crocheting, gardening, walking and picking flowers for the table. Liz’s service to others included being a Life Lioness, a Daughter of Isabella, a VFW Auxiliary Life Member, a VA Gainesville Hospital Volunteer as well as service ministries of bereavement and bingo at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Her survivors include sisters, Stephanie Togninalli (Louis), and Elsie Zucco (Oliver) and many nieces and nephews, grand, great grand, and great great grand nieces and nephews, and her loving, longtime companion, Walter J. Fleck. In Heaven, Liz will join her beloved husband of over 40 years, Frank J. Zucco, parents, Alice and Dazzi Colli, and sisters Anna Smith, and Mary Tyler.
A 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, May 23, 2025. Services will be held and she will be interred with Frank in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Canaan, Connecticut at a later date. Elizabeth appreciated the love, prayers, and support she received throughout her life.