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Black Bear Visits Shady Rest Neighborhood

With no sense of urgency, a black bear came out of the woods and meandered yard to yard in search of bird feeders.

A lone bear came out of the woods and stood below the tall deck of the Budman family.  He stayed in the driveway for quite a while, undeterred by their barking dogs.  

After a while he meandered across the street to the Gaffney family home, where several bird feeders hang along the periphery of the large yard.  While the bear checked feeder after feeder, the family came out onto the deck and snapped these awesome photos.  

When the bear gave up on the feeders, he walked to the end of Barker Drive, made a left, and lazed about a yard on the corner, walking around the house, probably in search of more feeders.  Several children on bikes came out to take photos, and some played not more than 20 feet from the bear, who seemed very nonchalant about the company.

Eventually, the bear returned to the woods, having made the day of many of the Shady Rest neighbors. "He had no fear of us, and he wasn't threatening in the least. It was a joy to see him," Bob Gaffney said.

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Jeff May 18, 2013 at 02:50 pm
Town Clerk Aurelia is already causing the town to needlessly spend money defending her derelictionRead More of duty: "An attorney representing the town, with the law firm Cohen and Wolf, issued an opinion in response to the, (New York), Post's request stating that the public is only allowed to view death and marriage certificates that are "at least one hundred years old." Cost aside she is pushing for a state law that would restrict access to a minors birth certificate for 6 months, she originally wanted them sealed for 10 years. The only thing the proposed law is going to accomplish is the healing that has been accomplished is going to be undone when the seal expires. This is much ado about nothing. http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Newtown-officials-withhold-death-certificates-4526713.php
Jeff May 18, 2013 at 02:07 pm
While I have no desire to view any of these death certificates, the law is the law. I have neverRead More viewed a death certificate, I doubt there is anything listed beyond the name of the decedent, dates of birth & death, parentage, and cause of death. Town Clerk Aurelia is clearly in violation of her oath of office. Her job is not to be administered based on feelings. In doing this she is opening the town up to F.O.I. violations, potential litigation, and fanning the flames of the crazy conspiracy theories. To quote the article, "we feel its an extreme invasion of privacy for these families." Should someone take this to F.O.I. or put it before a judge the town will lose. Do your job as required by statute.
Common Sense May 18, 2013 at 08:19 am
Exactly why do you need to read these reports Elmer Davis? The cause of death was gunshot wounds.Read More Why do you need more than that, and why do you feel your curiosity for details outweigh the need for privacy? I agree with Aurelia and support her. You're acting like the Connecticut Council on Freedom is a government agency. It is a non-profit foundation and the quote from James Smith is only an opinion. It certainly does NOT carry any more weight than anyone else's, including mine, the victim's families, and the vast majority of decent people living in this town.