The Cheshire Citizen

Area schools keep watch on student absences

By Jessica Simms Record-Journal staff

Students are considered chronically absent after they have missed 10% or more of the school days. And missing so many days can make it harder for them to catch up.

In the aftermath of the disruption caused by the pandemic, some area school administrators are

reporting absentism rates that are even higher, but all of them are keeping close watch and working to reduce the number of days students miss.

In Cheshire, Superintendent Jeff Solan said the school system monitors absences, reaching out to families when the school is not aware why a child is

See Absent, A6

Cheshire launches ‘age-friendly’ survey

Press Release

The Town of Cheshire has launched its AARP AgeFriendly Community Survey. The town asks residents aged 45 and over to take the survey in order to collect at least 300 responses between now and March 27. The information collected will be used to inform the town’s ef-

forts towards becoming more livable for residents of all ages.

The survey is part of the town’s commitment to becoming more age-friendly through enrollment in the AARP Network of AgeFriendly States and Communities.

See Survey, A5

Isabel O’Connor, 6, of Cheshire, at a recent piano lesson with Choate Rosemary Hall student Peyton Li, 15, at the school’s campus in Wallingford. Isabel is participating in the newly re-opened Teach Music Program, a collaboration between the Spanish Community of Wallingford and Choate Rosemary Hall. See story page A4.

Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

Area YMCAs offering free swimming lessons

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By Jessica Simms Record-Journal staff

Through $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding administered by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 14 Connecticut YMCA sites are offering free swimming lessonsto qualifying children.

The free lessons are offered to children 17 and under who are “living in Qualified Census Tracts and/or receiving SNAP benefits, or recommended to the program, are eligible to register for the free swimming lessons at participating YMCAs,” according to a statement announcing the program.

Locally, the SouthingtonCheshire YMCA, the Wallingford Family YMCAand the Meriden YMCAare among the 14 participating Ys. Swim lessons are “ something that they wouldn’t have been able to afford and they really are happy the children are going to have some knowledge of swimming and they feel safer because that is a huge fear that they are going to go swimming and they don’t know how to swim and the potential for drowning,” said Cathy Lewis, aquatics director at the Meriden YMCA.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading

cause of death for children between 1 and 4. For children 5 to 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death. Lewis said through swim lessons, kids not only learn the skill of swimming, but also water safety. “I’m hoping that (swim lessons) bring them to the water to learn, rather than being afraid of it, to learn how to protect themselves, to prevent drowning for themselves and their family members,” Lewis said. “If we give them the skill set to know what to do when they are in trouble, but also to know how to help somebody else that’s in trouble without endangering

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Noah Medeiros, 7, of Southington, leaps into the Southington Community YMCA pool. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

Energize CT

The Energize Connecticut Community Partnership Initiative is accepting applications for its second round of funding supporting energy efficiency outreach in Connecticut communities. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 3. The Community Partnership Initiative assists communitybased and nonprofit organizations in their efforts to raise awareness and educate residents about Energize Connecticut’s energy efficiency programs. Visit energizect.com.

Mentoring

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the 119-year-old national youth mentoring organization. Based in Hartford, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut offers life-changing programs to at-

risk children in all of the state’s 169 municipalities. Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters by visiting ctbigs.org.

Ballpark jobs

The Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, will hold its annual job fair at Dunkin’ Donuts Park, 1214 Main St., Hartford, Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Yard Goats are seeking applicants to fill a wide range of game day positions and are looking for upbeat, fan-friendly individuals to help make the upcoming season a success.

Crisis prep

Masonicare will host the program “Planning Before a Crisis” Wednesday, March 15, 3 to 4 p.m., in the Knapp Auditorium at Masonicare at Ashlar Village, 74 Cheshire Road, Wallingford.

Attorney Steven L. Rubin will discuss the legal aspects of having a plan for your future care vs. making decisions at the time of a health crisis. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP by calling 203-679-6460.

Wellness expo

Exhibitors and speakers are sought for the 10th Bi-Annual Passport to Health & Wellness Expo, which will be held April 23 at The Bristol DoubleTree by Hilton. Also, vendors are sought for expos taking place May 21 and Sept. 17 at the VFW in Plainville. Contact Shirley Bloethe at 860-989-0033 or yourholisticevents@ gmail.com, or visit yourholisticevents.com.

Alert system

Residents can register to receive emergency notifications from the town. Examples in-

clude evacuation notices, bioterrorism alerts, boil water notices and missing child reports. Visit cheshirect.org to register.

Land trust

The Cheshire Land Trust is an all-volunteer, private 501(c) 3

non-profit organization committed to conservation. The land trust is not affiliated with the Town of Cheshire and does not receive taxpayer money. The organization is wholly funded by members. For more information, email CheshireLandTrust@gmail.com.

Music program back in session after hiatus

By Crystal Elescano Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD After a three-year hiatus, the Teach Music Program between the Spanish Community of Wallingford and Choate Rosemary Hall is back in session.

Choate students teach piano, guitar, violin and trumpet lessons every Wednesday at the Ann and George Colony Hall on the Choate Rosemary Hall campus, located at 333 Christian St., from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The 14-year-old music program has been collaborating since 2009, after SCOW Music Director Evangeline Mendoza Bourgeois started her first private music school, Escuela Guadalu-

pana de Música. The school opened in 2008, and Javier Cerna, owner at the time of San Juanito Mexico Store in downtown Wallingford, let Bourgeois use his storefront, free of cost, in order to practice.

The school was originally going to teach classical music, but Bourgeois quickly realized there wasn’t enough community interest.

According to Bourgeois, Cerna asked her “Why don’t you teach mariachi?” and so she decided to enroll in a mariachi program where she received instruction on how to successfully teach the music to her students. Bourgeois kept returning to the program every summer for five years.

In 2009, Bourgeois called the then director of Choate and asked if there were volunteers available to teach vio-

lin to her students. Two students would walk down from Choate and teach the students how to play.

In 2010, Maria Campos-Harlow, then executive director

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Quetzalli Fuentes-Kilburn, 10, of Southington, right, takes a violin lesson from Choate Rosemary Hall students Gigi Chen, 17, left, and Yoo Wang, 15, at the Ann and George ColonyHallontheChoateRosemaryHallcampusinWallingford. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

Residents can take the survey online at cheshirect.org. Responses are confidential. Paper copies of the survey are available at the Senior Center, library, Parks and Recreation department, and the Town Hall lobby. Paper surveys can be dropped off in several locations including:

•The Senior Center drop box – located outside of the main Senior Center entrance.

•The Human Services drop

box – located outside of the main Town Hall entrance.

•The Cheshire Public Library lobby – see the person at the main desk.

•Parks and Recreation – see the person at the main desk or use the mail slot located outside of the main entrance.

Contact the Senior Center at 203-272-8286 or email stheroux@cheshirect.org with questions or to request the survey link or a paper copy. Assistance is available through the Senior Center for those who are unable to independently complete the survey.

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Don is one of the most experienced and respected antique and estate jewelry experts in the country. He has over 37 years of experience and understands that selling your jewelry is a personal and sometimes sentimental experience. He will fully explain the process and make you feel comfortable about selling to his firm.

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absent. “We are continuing to closely monitor student absences as we continue to believe that the best way for our students to make progress is to be in school,” Solan said. “We contact fam-

ilies when a student is on track to exceed 18 days out for the year particularly if we are not aware of an obvious reason such as a broken bone or significant illness.”

Rich Aroian, ninth grade assistant principal at Southington High School, said the reasons for students being chronically absent are “a lit-

tle bit of everything,” including students being sick or struggling with their mental health.

“That’s why we try to take a look at each individual case, boil it down to what actually is the root cause of what’s going on and how can we address the root cause,” Aroian said.

In Southington, according to EdSight, the percentage of chronically absent students last year was 12.9%, with the 2020-21 school year having a percentage of 6.7. Aroian said that “numbers are trending in the wrong direction.”

Aroian and Jennifer Discenza, director of school counseling for grades six through 12, work together on the district-wide truancy committee, which was created during the 2019-20 school year. It’s a community committee, with members representing the police department, the school district, juvenile probation, Wheeler Clinic and more.

“Everyone has their own expertise, so when the conversations with the families start, it gears toward one person or another and if it’s a medical issue or if it’sa mental health issue or just a school refusal on the child, whoever has that expertise would usually chime in and help guide the conversation,” Aroian said.

Aroian added a family meets with the truancy committee after the student violates an attendance support plan that they create with their school’s administrator.

“We try to narrow down exactly what the problem is,” Aroian said. “Is it about getting up in the morning? Is it

about a long bus ride?

They’re sick? Is it some social anxiety? Some reason that they don’t want to come to school. What we will do is take those barriers away, so we come up with a plan that the student would agree to. We’ll tell the parent what the plan is, the counselor is in involved and then we’ll make a deal.”

At Casimir Pulaski Elementary School in Meriden, last week, two students’ desks remained empty in Christy Rich’s first grade class as she started a math lesson that incorporates various interactive activities such as stations and partner/group work.

Due to the rigor in the curriculum and how hands-on the lessons are, Rich said students need to be in class to really understand what is being taught.

“Many times students need to be there for the mini lesson, explicit skill instruction and group work in order to understand the strategies and concepts being taught,” Rich said.

“At times it can get confusing for students who have been absent often, as there is a scope and sequence to our curriculum, with skills and content that build upon each other.”

Cheshire Trail Trekkers

Register for Cheshire Trail Trekkers walks via the Cheshire Parks and Recreation Department website. For more information, call 203-2722743 or 203-592-6660.

Saturday, March 4, 11 a.m.

Panthorn Park, 485 Burritt St. in Plantsville (Southington). Burritt Street is a left hand turn off Canal Street (which continues straight from Peck Road in Cheshire). We will meet near the tennis courts. It is our honor to have wildlife biologist Peter Picone from CT DEEP lead us. He authored the official text of this walk for the town. The charming trails have numerous wooden plank walkways and beautiful scenery. Scientist Eric Nelson is expected to attend. Afterwards, we plan to have pizza.

Wednesday, March 15, 2 p.m.

Meriden Linear Trail at the Red Bridge. Travel on Route 68 East from Cheshire Route 10. Go past Diamond Hill Road on the right and go around a bend to the left. See the Red Bridge to the left. Take that left turn. Park across the street in the large lot at Hanover Pond. That’s where we will meet. This walk will be led by Environmental Commissioner Karen Schnitzer.

Saturday, April 1, 11 a.m.

DeDominicus Preserve Loop Trail. This is located on Old Lane Road and is .8 of a mile from the left turn from Route 10 in Cheshire, past the Cheshire Nursery. The turn from Route 10 is at the Cheshire/Hamden line. We are planning to go to a local restaurant nearby following our walk.

Wednesday, April 19, 3 p.m.

Quinnipiac Trails,1325 Cheshire St., located at the Quinnipiac Park Recreation Area. Cheshire scientist Eric Nelson will lead us along with our other noteworthy leader, retired geology professor Charles Dimmick from CSCU.

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themselves, that’s a huge thing for kids is knowing how to throw something to somebody and help save them without endangering yourself.”

The Meriden YMCA started offering the free swimming lessons about four weeks ago prior to the grant. So far, she said they have had about 33 participants. The goal for the next session is to have 75 swimmers participate in the DEEP Swim Lessons.

When it comes to getting eligible students, Lewis said the Meriden YMCA has been promoting the program on social media, sending information to local daycares, talking to members when they come through the doors and talking to the school system.

Barbara Glaude, aquatics director at the Southington Community YMCA, said they committed to the program at the end of 2022 and currently have eight families participating in the upcoming spring session, with the goal to get that up to at least 10 families.

“The ability to reach out to these families and be able to say, ‘Hey you don’t have to pay ’ is a huge thing,” Glaude said.

Jay Jaronko, branch executive director, said the Southington-Cheshire YMCA applied for 30 spots over a three session period.

The funding is expected to last for three years, but participating YMCAs have to apply every year to receive the funding. Connecticut YMCAs applied directly to the Greater Waterbury YMCA, which is the fiduciary of the grant from the state to be able to distribute the money to the other YMCAs.

Jim O’Rourke, chief executive officer of the Greater Waterbury YMCA, said his YMCA was working with John Cattelan, vice president of government relations at the Connecticut and Rhode Island Alliance of

YMCAs, when DEEP reached out.

“The Waterbury YMCA worked with DEEP to get the contracts and figure out a way to administer the grants,” O’Rourke said.

Jaronko said one primary way to find the children that qualify for the program is through the school systems.

“If the schools are aware of kids that would benefit from the financial assistance because they are qualified for free or reduced lunch through SNAP benefits, whatever their criteria is, they can write a letter on the kid’s behalf that would get them to qualify,” Jaronko said.

Along with that, Jaronko said the YMCA has been working with the Karen Smith Academy in Southington, which is an alternative high school.

“To see if we can get a couple of high school kids who have never learned how to swim to come to the Y to not only learn how to swim, but hopefully fulfill phys ed credit and perhaps depending on how capable swimmers they become, maybe this is the first step toward job training,” Jaronko said.

Sean Doherty, executive director of the Wallingford Family YMCA, said his Y applied for 140 slots that will be available until June 30. The Wallingford program will kick off on March 6 and will also include North Haven residents. It will run concurrently with the regular swim lessons, with classes added as needed.

“The reason why we have not kicked off our program just yet is because the pool was closed,” Doherty said. “We wanted to wait until the pool was reopened.”

Doherty is anticipating 70 for this session and 70 for the next swim session through the grant. Registration for swim lessons will start Feb. 19 for DEEP Swim Lesson participants.

Along with reaching out to its own membership base to find families that qualify for the free swim lessons, Doherty said the Wallingford YMCA has already connected with the school districts and Youth and Social Services will be another avenue to find eligible residents.

“It’s a must-have as far as kids learning how to swim,” Doherty said.

See Swim, A15

Karen Elizabeth Rodman

CENTERVILLE, MAKaren ElizabethRodman, 83, passed away on Feb 7th,2023 aftera shortillness. Karen wasborn to Raymond August Theodore Anderson and BarbaraMae(Baker)inWaterbury, CT, onSept 13th, 1939.

Karenwas blessedto havegrown upin theHoneypot Glen neighborhood of Cheshire, Connecticut, whereshe madelifelong friendsandcreated alotof memories.

In theearly 1960’s, Karen movedtoCapeCod,where she worked as a Pharmacy TechforCapeCodHospital for 25years.

Karen wasa compassionate and outspoken person unafraidto champion the causesimportant to her.Afteralonganddrawnoutroadtodiagnosiswitha rarecancer knownasCarcinoid Syndrome,she founded and facilitated a local cancersupport group knownas “Polly’s Place.” Through “Polly’s Place” shecame toknow,love andbe lovedbyhundreds of people whom she helped through the most difficultoftimes. Intheearly 1990’s herhusband was diagnosed withAsperger’s syndrome, a condition on the autism spectrum. She founded anew group calledFAAAS (Familiesof Adults Affected by Asperger’sSyndrome)andworked tirelessly toprovide support to thefamilies and friends of those with the syndrome. At the time, support was only available for the parentsof children with this disorder. FAAAS responded to callsfor help fromthousands asfaras Sweden andAustralia, becameinternationallyrecognizedby experts,andheld

Doran G. Anderson

several conferencesattracting speakers and attendees from around the world. Part of her work can be found on the FAAAS website andin herbook, Asperger’s Syndromeand Adults...Is AnyoneListening?

With aneye forcomposition,Karenwasalsoknown forher award-winningphotographs. Those who regularly read theCape Cod Times, willrecognize her name from lettersto the editor of whichshe was a prolific writer.

Karen is survived by her son, Thomas Rodman and his family, aswell as a daughter, Shaun (Callahan) Linde and herfamily. She will also be missed by many cherishedfriends and neighbors. She is predeceased byher latehusband Edward “Ted” Rodman, Jr., herfather Raymond Anderson, her mother Barbara Baker,and her maternal grandmotherLulu Ossinger Bean.

Asmall memorialwillbe held later in theyear at a time and placeTBD. In lieu offlowers, donationscan besent totheMSPCA

(Massachusetts Society for thePreventionofCrueltyto Animals).

Toleaveanonlinecondolenceor memory,please visit www. doanebealameshyannis.com

BURLINGTON, VT - Doran GeneAnderson, aformer long-timeresident of Cheshire, passed away peacefullyonDecember16, 2022 inBurlington, VT,surrounded byloving family members aftera briefillness.DoranwasborninFort Madison,Iowa, onDecember 10, 1927,the only child of ObadiahEugene Snyder andElizabeth JaneSnyder (Caswell).

Doran grew up in Oak Park,Illinois andFort Wayne, Indianaand attendedpublicschoolswhereshe wasrecognized forher quick witand aptitudefor math. Doran attended Lawrence College and the University ofIndiana. Doran marriedHarold W. Anderson, agraduate of BrownUniversity, onJanuary 12,1952, andwent on toraiseafamilyinCheshire, Connecticut.Asherchildren grew,Doranworkedasasenior administrative assistant,tookartandinteriordesign classes and enjoyed beatingfriendsandfamilyat various card games. Doran wasknownforherindependent spirit,determination, and financial acumen. An avidreader, sheenjoyed taking her sonsBrook and Bryanskiinganychanceshe couldtoenjoyquiettimerelaxingina skilodgereading a collectionof novels.She alsoloved spendingtime withfamilyandfriendsatthe OldLymeBeachClubandat CopperValley Clubin Cheshire,CT, whereher sonslearned toswimand playtennis.Takingaspinon the dance floor to tunes by her favorite jazz musician Illinois Jacquetor ather grandson’s wedding at the ageof93wasoneofherfavoritethingstodo.Shewas known forher no-nonsense attitude-“Sayitlikeyousee it” - oftenentertaining her grandchildren and friends. Shewasanaccomplished card player, learningto play poker ata veryyoung age andmasteringthegamesof pinochle andbridge.

Travelwas oneofDoran’s

Dean Wentworth Spencer

CHESHIRE - Dean

favorite activities, most notablyherlast triptoPeruat theage of89.Doran wasa devoutsupporterforthehumane treatmentof animals and,also,contributedtothe arts. After her husband passedawayin2015Doran moved toWilliston, Vermont,tobeclosertohertwo sons.Shewas notafanof theVermontwinters,butshe was able toget almost anywhere inher redPontiac Vibe, still driving at the age of 95.

Doran ispredeceased by herhusband HaroldW.Anderson andher youngest sonBryanH.Andersonwho passedaway inOctober 2022.

Doranleaves behindher son BrookD. Andersonand hiswifeLauraB.McNallyof Essex, VT and five grandchildren: TaylorMcNallyAnderson and wife Agne Rapkeviciute (Copenhagen, Denmark); ChristopherMcNally-Anderson andwife Lauren Neller(Long Beach, NY); KylaMcNally-Anderson andher fiancéAaron Fish(Watertown,MA);Jared Anderson (EastNorthport, NY) andTeagan Anderson (South Burlington,VT); brother-in-law Michael Gluse (Chesapeake, VA), nieceShellyBrooks(Chesapeake,VA)andnephewEric Gluse (Columbia, SC).

A Celebration ofLife will be heldat afuture date.In lieuof flowers,donations may be madeto the HumaneSocietyofChittenden County, 142Kindness Court, South Burlington, VT or the FlynnTheatre in Burlington, VT.

W. Spencer passed away on December 3, 2022. Dean was born April 3, 1947, he was the son of the late Muriel and Granville Spencer. A lifelong Cheshire resident, Dean attended Darcy Elementary School, Dodd Junior High, and graduated from Cheshire High School in 1966.

Dean joined the U.S. Navy where he traveled the world on the U.S.S. Yorktown and was most proud of his Vietnam service.

After his military service, Dean was employed at Yale University at the Computer Center until his retirement in 2010 after 40 years.

Dean had a long interest in old clocks and as K1FRD was an avid ham radio operator and a life-long member of the Mattatuck Fife and Drum Band.

He’ll be missed by all who knew him, especially his breakfast waitresses at Paul’s and Grace’s.

There are no calling hours, burial will be at sea.

Donations in Dean’s name can be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104.

DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 690 Woodtick Rd., Wolcott, is assisting with arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.dellavecchiawolcott. com

In cases where a child is absent and then returns to the classroom, Rich has to find time throughout the day to get the student caught up.

“We have to keep the pace of our curriculum moving, but it’s trying to find a couple minutes here, a couple minutes there to really meet with that student so that they can understand those strategies that they did miss in order to complete the assignments that they have to during their work time,” Rich said.

Rich said teacher-family collaboration is essential and represents a team invested in the child’s education.

“We want to work together as closely and as effectively with the parents as possible in order to provide the best education for their child as possible,” she said.

Because high absences may or may not be in the parent’s control, Rich said communicating with parents through ParentSquare, the school app, is something she does. “We want them to know that their student is a valuable part, an integral part of our school community and that when they are not here even for one day, that they are missed,” she added.

Daniel Crispino, director of school leadership for Meriden elementary schools, said it’s hard for teachers when they have to “navigate the lost instruction” when students are out of the classroom for a few days.

Students are considered chronically absent after they have missed 10% or more of the school days and for elementary students, missing many days can make it harder for them to catch up.

“A lot of it is developmental, so if you’re missing certain lessons and units in math, it’s very hard to stay on grade level and not fall behind if you’re missing core content,” Crispino said.

Prior to COVID-19, Crispino said the schools had about 10% of the student population considered chronically absent.

“Now we’re fighting to be under 30%,” Crispino said.

“It’s a challenge, it’s an everyday grind on communicating with families, sharing our policies, offering incentives, reaching out by admin and clerical. We have family school liaisons who are meeting with families on an almost daily basis,” he added. “We used to have monthly meetings on attendance. We now have weekly meetings on attendance.”

Fran Thompson, assistant superintendent for personnel for Wallingford Public Schools, said the district is being proactive when it comes to decreasing the number of students that are considered chronically absent.

At each school, Thompson said there is an attendance committee, which looks at students and their absenteeism, addressing each situation individually.

“The administrator at each building needs a team that would include their counselors, support staff, folks who might have a connection with the family, with the community and we do everything from home visits to holding meetings to provide some support and we are very fortunate here in Wallingford because we have so many outside agencies that are partners with us to help families in need,” Thompson said.

Wallingford also saw an increase in chronically absent students since the pandemic.

According to EdSight, in the 2021-22 school year 20.4% of the student population was chronically absent. The year before, that number was 10%.

“We’re trying to get kids to get back into the routine of being in school,” Thompson said.

“COVID is still out there. For the little ones, RSV was really tough in the fall. It’s been a tough flu season, so there’s big parts of that as well,” he added.

Six-year-old students Isabella Caban-Serrano and Joshua Correa work out a math problem in their first-grade class at Casimir Pulaski Elementary School in Meriden.

Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

of SCOW, invited Bourgeois and her students to be part of the non-profit organization. It was then that the Teach Music Program became official, with students from Choate coming to SCOW. Her music school’s name also changed and was then called the Mariachi

Academy of Connecticut.

“We then realized that we didn’t have much room, and Choate offered to have the lessons there since they had so many private rooms for music lessons,” Bourgeois said.

Gene Wie, instrumental ensembles director at Choate, said the program was brought back in November 2022.

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“We brought it back and now students have the opportunity to learn an instrument,” he said. “This is important for the student teachers as well because it gives them the skill of teaching an instrument.”

“I want my students to understand how difficult it can be to explain different components in music, especially if the student is a beginner,” Wie added.

Student coordinator Joyce Liu, a sophomore at Choate, said the program has about 15 SCOW students and 10 instructors. “It varies every week depending on who is available, but one thing that has been an amazing experience is seeing the same students come back every week,” she said.

Jenny Lopez, program assistant at SCOW, enrolled in the program when she was 8 years old.

Now, Lopez is 17 and signs the students in for the pro-

gram. “I started by playing the violin and it was nice because we would work in groups back then,” she said. “Now, I also take singing lessons.”

Lopez is graduating from Sheehan High School this year and plans to pursue music in college. “I’m not sure which school I’m going to yet, but I want to stay close so that I can stay at SCOW and continue helping out with the program,” she said.

The program is free, and students don’t need any knowledge about the instrument. In addition, instruments are provided to the students.

According to Bourgeois, the program is open to all students in the Wallingford community. “We want to have a variety of students join,” she said.

Students just have to sign up through SCOW. The goal of the program is to help build the mariachi program at

Dave

Record-Journal

SCOW. According to Bourgeois, the mariachi program had to rebuild itself since most of the students graduated during the pandemic. In 2012, 52 students were part of the mariachi, and now only nine students are in the main group, while four are learning.

“I really encourage students outside of SCOW to join and learn an instrument,” Bourgeois said.

celescano@record-journal.com

Jenny Lopez, 17, of Wallingford.

Zajac,

ANNA HURLBUT CHESHIRE BASKETBALL

At 4-14, the math was clear for Cheshire. The Rams had to win their last two games or the season was over. Cheshire did just that, with the key victory coming Friday against 13-6 Amity. Senior forward Anna Hurlbut had 14 points that night, then added a team-high 9 in Monday’s playoff-clinching win over Career. Hurlbut also played on CHS’s Class LL runner-up girls soccer team.

ZULAL KANGAL

WILCOX TECH BASKETBALL

The Wildcats head into their regular-season finale this afternoon at 12-7, looking for one final boost in seeding for both the CTC conference tournament and the Class M state tournament. Zulal Kangal is one of the players who’s been doing the heavy lifting for coach Mallorie Michalak. The senior forward had a team-high 13 points last week vs. Abbott Tech and 11 vs. Cheney Tech.

SHAELYN MURPHY

MALONEY TRACK

The postseason is go-time for Maloney high jumper Shaelyn Murphy. The reigning outdoor state champ finished second in Friday’s Class L indoor meet with a jump of 5 feet, 2 inches. (Winner Avery Pitts of E.O. Smith also hit for 5-2, but had fewer attempts). Heading into Saturday’s State Open, Murphy is one of seven contenders who are all standing at a season-best 5-2.

COLTON THORPE SOUTHINGTON WRESTLING

Southington, ranked No. 11 in the Connecticut Wrestling Online poll, also has a number of state contenders. Competing in Class LL in Trumbull, the Blue Knights will be led by Colton Thorpe. The senior 132-pounder compiled a monster regular season that featured championships at the Timberlane Invitational and the CCC Tournament. Thorpe was the area’s lone conference champ.

OWEN RICH

LYMAN HALL TRACK

One of the top area performers at the state class meets this side of Class L 1000-meters champ Bria Benigni of Maloney was Lyman Hall’s Owen Rich. The sophomore was second in Class M in the 55 hurdles and ran on LH’s fourth-place 4x400 relay and seventh-place sprint medley relay. In the hurdles, Rich ran 8.26 seconds in qualifying, then dropped his time to 7.94 in the finals.

AHMED HERNANDEZ PLATT WRESTLING

After a 20-win regular season capped by Wednesday’s rivalry win over Maloney, the Platt wrestling team looks for team and individual glory at this weekend’s Class L state tournament in Guilford. One of Platt’s leading contenders is Ahmed Hernandez. The senior captain was 34-4 in the regular season and he placed second in the Central Connecticut Conference at 170 pounds.

Winners will be posted here as well as your next group of nominees.

WEEK’S AOTW WINNERS AS VOTED BY

GO ONLINE AND VOTE. CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK TO SEE WHO YOU VOTED THE ATHLETES OF THE WEEK!

Carolyn D. Tucker

CHESHIRE-CarolynClark (Davison) Tucker, 89, of Cheshire,passedawayTuesday,January31,2023,ather homesurroundedbyherfamily.Shewasthelovingwifeof EdwinMarshall Tucker.CarolynwasbornJuly14,1933in BadAxe.,Michigan.whileher parents, thelate William Franklinand Virginia(Vary) Davison and family were vacationing.Shegrewupinseveral townsin upstateNew York, includingCortland, Rome,andRochester,where she attended Monroe High

School.from1945-1947.Her Junior andSenior yearsof High School werespent in Newark, NJ, whereshe attended Barringer High School.She attendedBuck-

Obituaries

nell University,graduating in 1955 asan ElementaryEducationmajor.Whilethereshe formed manylong-lasting friendshipsthat shemaintainedintoher80s.Carolyn’s firstteaching jobwas inMt. Healthy, Ohio, where she taughtsecond gradefrom 1955-1956.Inthefallof1956, shejoinedtwo ofhercollege friends whohad beenteachingayearintheNorthHaven, CT,school system.Shewas assignedtothesecondgrade inRidgeRoadSchool,where she taught for several years. On June 28, 1958 Carolyn wasmarried toEdwinMarshall Tucker, a banker, whom shehadmetonablinddatein Septemberthe yearbefore. They were barriedby Carolyn’sfather,aBaptistminister,in Newark,NJ. Aftera lovely honeymoon to Nova Scotia, they settledinto their first little home in Cheshire, CT.Afterthebirthoftheirfirst child,William,andbeforethe birth of their second, Robert in 1961, theymoved across towntoalargerhome,where

they stayed for40 years. While raisingher familyshe enjoyedtheflexibilityoftutoringhomebound orhandicappedstudents inthe CheshireSchool systemand did someprivate tutoringas well. As the college years for herboysapproachedCarolyn looked fora steadypart time job and becameOffice Managerinadentist’sofficefrom 1978 to 1995. Carolyn loved traveling with family and friends. Someof herfavorite tripsweretotheCaribbeanIslands,Switzerland andEngland,aswellasAlaskaandthe Southwest. Throughout her life, since herteens, she looked forward to spending time every summer at the familycottage,CherryLodge, in the Thousand Islands. Manygreattimeswerespent therewithfamily,andithasalwaysbeenthecenterofvacation times andcarries many fondmemories. Alongwith her husband, Carolynwas a longtimememberoftheFirst Congregational Church of Cheshire whereshe wasa

choir member,Sunday Schoolteacher,andmember of manydifferent committees. Manyof herclosest friendsweremadewithinthe church family.Besides her husband Marshall,Carolyn leaves hersons, WilliamM. Tucker of Chicago, IL and Robert I. Tuckerand his wife Jennifer Heustisof Woodbridge,hergrandsons,Ethan andGeorgeTucker,herbrother,JamesV.DavisonofMadison,WI, herbrother-in-law, RobertBinhammer, hersister-in- law Beverly Davison bothofMadison,WIandnine nieces andnephews. She waspredeceased byher brother AndrewDavison and hersisterAnneBinhammer.A memorialservice incelebrationof Carolyn’slife willbe heldSaturday, February18, 2023at10:00a.m.,inNelson Hall at theElim Park Baptist Home,150CookHillRoadin Cheshire, CT. Burialwill be held privately.The AldersonFord Funeral Home of Cheshirehascareofarrangements.

How the program came to be

Rep. Liz Linehan joined the legislative Water Safety Task Force in 2017, which helped develop a water-less water safety course in 2018.

“So that young kids could learn about water safety in their gym class, even if a pool wasn’t available because we do know that access to swimming is one of the main factors to whether or not you learn how to swim,” Linehan said. “We wanted to be able to create a program that didn’t rely on access to water.”

The Task Force then wanted to make legislation that would create free swimming lessons, but was never appropriated for the funding.

Once COVID-19 hit, Linehan said the need for children to learn how to swim increased.

“Kids weren’t necessarily able to be in school if their schools had pools or if they were doing the water-less water safety course,” Linehan said. “From there, we worked with the Y’s and they said they will absolutely be able to do it if we can just get the appropriation.”

In late 2021, they got the appropriation through DEEP with ARPA funds.

im“And the Ys were just a natural partner and so here we are in the beginning of 2023 and we’re kicking it off,” Linehan said.

Linehan said that offering this program to families who could not afford swim lessons is telling them that their child’s water safety is a priority.

“This is a life saving measure and we’re going to take care of it for you,” Linehan said.

jsimms@record-journal.com

SwFrom A9

Skylar Prinzhorn, 17, instructs during a swimming lesson with fellow Southington resident Annie Deen, 5, at the SouthingtonCommunityYMCA. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

Clearing up misconceptions

In New England, and the Meriden area, there is no shortage of strange tales. Local stories include that of the Leatherman and the Black Dog of West Peak. Tales involving witchcraft can seem similar, but they are also often rooted in actuality, and for some they

contain a lot more meaning.

The Record-Journal recently highlighted the efforts of Sarah Jack, a ninth generation greatgrand daughter of Winifred Benham St., who with daughter Winifred Benham Jr. was the last of Connecticut residents to be accused of

witchcraft. They were charged, but not convicted, in 1697. An organization is trying to establish exonerated status for the victims of witch trials in Connecticut.

Jack is a Colorado resident who was researching her genealogy when she came across a Facebook group that focuses on the witchcraft trails. Through that and other study she came to see that those accused of witchcraft in Connecticut were not as well known as other New England cases, including the famed ones out of Massachusetts, and that they are not exonerated. “There was like all of this attention in Boston,” said Jack. “Nobody knows our first hanged witch in our country was in Connecticut.”

See Witch, A17

Obituaries

Marsha Damiani

CHESHIRE -Marsha Damiani, 76, passed away Saturday,February 4,2023 atApple RehabMiddletown.She wasthe wifeof thelateDonaldC.Damiani.

Mrs.Damiani wasborn March 28,1946, inWaterbury,daughter ofthelate Tobin andMaureen (Casey) Cosgrove.She wasaretired Registered Nurse. Mrs. Damiani wasa longtimeresident ofCheshireand a communicantof St. Bridget of Sweden parish. Shewasanavidreaderand lovedtospend timeonthe Cape withher family.

Mrs. Damiani leaves behindher son,JeffreyDamiani, and hiswife, Jennifer, of Ashland, MA,and her daughter, Robin Murawski, and her husband,Lee, of Middletown; Shewill also bemissed byhergrandchildren, KyleMurawski of Orono,MEandTeaganMurawskiof Middletown.In addition to her parents, Mrs. Damianiwas prede-

ceasedby hersister,Janet Curry.

Arrangements-AMemorial will be held at a later date andthere areno calling hours.A privatecommittal will beheld in Cheshire Hillside Cemetery.TheAlderson-FordFuneral Home of Cheshire is assisting with arrangements. Memorialcontributions maybe madeto Shriner’s Hospitalfor Children,516 CarewSt., Springfield, MA011042396. Foronline condolences,toshare aphotoor astory, pleasevisit www.fordfh.com.

Bob Beaumont, president of the Wallingford Historical Society, looks over pages of information about accused witchesofWallingfordonJan.26. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

Witch

From A16

A Connecticut Witch Trail Exoneration project is the result, part of a movement called End Witch Trials.

It’s certainly worth supporting efforts to exonerate those accused of witchcraft. Jack told the R-J her group is also working to keep such situations from occurring in the future. “We’re looking to amplify the messages so that we don’t repeat those historical wrongs again here, so that we can help stop it with our world neighbors,” she said.

The Benhams left the area after facing accusations of

witchcraft. There’s limited information about them at the Wallingford Historical Society.

Bob Beamont, society president, said “he has no problem with doing something to honor the Winifreds if the state officially exonerates those accused of witchcraft during the seventeenth century,” according to the R-J report.

“There never should have been a black mark (on the name) to begin with and that’s the part that is too bad,” Beamont said.

Such misconceptions are worth clearing up, and the efforts of descendants and others merit support.

BARBERINO NISSAN

Is looking for a Parts

Driver ASAP! Must have a clean driving record. Call Pete to apply. (203) 265-1611 ext. 343.

WATER QUALITY INSPECTOR

Performs responsible specialized work in protecting the quality of the water supply and distribution system for the Town of Wallingford, CT. Requires an Associate’s degree in environmental science or sanitary engineering, plus 3 years of experience in a water utility. Successful candidates must have a valid Connecticut driver’s license and be in possession or be eligible for a Class I Water Treatment Plant or Distribution System

Operator Certification and Certification as a General Backflow Preventers, Tester and Cross-Connection Survey Inspector issued by the State of Connecticut.

The Town offers a competitive pay rate of $27.79-$33.76 per hour plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main St., Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or maybe downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. The closing date will be that date the 50th application form/resume is received, or March 7, 2023 whichever occurs first. (203) 294-2080. Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

PLANT MAINTENANCE MECHANIC

Highly skilled mechanic needed in the repair and maintenance of all plant equipment to include pumping station equipment and motor vehicles for the Town of Wallingford Sewer Division. Requires graduation from a high school/trade school and 4 years experience in the repair and maintenance of mechanical equipment. Must obtain a CDL Class B motor vehicle operator license within 6 months of employment. $30.85 to $36.18 per hour plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Application forms may be obtained at the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from Town of Wallingford

Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone: (203)-2942080. Fax (203)-2942084. The closing date will be February 28, 2023 or the date the 50th application is received, whichever occurs first. EOE

SECRETARY SENIOR CLERK

Performs a wide variety of responsible clerical duties in a municipal government office. The position requires 4 years of office work experience of a responsible nature and a H.S. diploma. $23.72 to $28.28 hourly plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Applications may be obtained at the office of the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. The closing date will be that date the 50th application form/ resume is received, or February 22, 2023, whichever occurs first. EOE.

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203-238-2149

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GRASSY HILL AUCTIONS, - an Estate

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Sale, Liquidation, Attic & Basement Cleanout Company is Always Buying and providing services all over Connecticut. These are just a FEW of the things we are looking for: Antiques, Collectibles, Old/ Vintage Toys, Musical Instruments (Saxophones, Trumpets, Violins, Flutes, Clarinets, Trombone & SO MUCH MORE) Advertising Items, Wristwatches (Broken or Not), Pocket Watches, Tools (Machinist, Woodworking, & MORE) Doorstops, Clocks, Oil Paintings, Old Signs, Old Photographs, Old Postcards, Brewery Items, Hunting & Fishing, PEZ Dispensers, Costume Jewelry, Broken Jewelry, Gold & Silver Jewelry, Gold & Silver Coins, Military Items, Swords & Bayonets, Helmets & Patches, Medals & Uniforms, Pocket Knives, Lighters & Pipes, Fountain Pens, Mechanical Pencils, Fraternal Order Items, Religious Items, Industrial Items, Winchester Items, Sikorsky Items, Pratt & Whitney Items, Colt Items, Native American Items, Vintage Electronics, Slot Cars, Toy Trucks, Matchbox & Hotwheels, Barbie’s, Folk Art, Statues, Bronzes, Trains, Cameras, Mid Century Modern Furniture, Straight Razors, Shaving Items, Political Items, Comic Books, Sports Cards & Autographs…& THE LIST GOES ON! So please give us a call at your earliest convenience. Grassy Hill Auctions 203-868-1816 - Grassy HillAuctions.com

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PREMIUM SCREENED TOPSOIL

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Launch Your Career with CT State

A new year often means new resolutions and a fresh start. If you’ve been considering a change, look no further than CT State’s 12 community college locations. Whether you plan to change careers, move up in your current one, or simply to further your education, CT State can help you achieve your goals.

CT State’s offerings are affordable, accessible and available across the state. Career training is available for those looking to start, enhance or change their careers. Each campuses’ programs allow students to obtain the skills for a new career in weeks or months rather than years. Manufacturing, health care,personal services and IT programs provide training for in-demand jobs with great salaries and growth potential. CT State continues to focus on building statewide capacity, programming and partnerships. Starting in January, CT State will be providing training through CareerConneCT to help residents get on the path to agreat career.

“CareerConneCT funding is available to qualifying Connecticut residents for free short-term training leading to in-demand jobs in the fields of IT, healthcare, manufacturing and green energy. CareerConneCT represents a major investment in workforce development in our state. It’s a great opportunity for anyone looking to reskill or upskill. There are employers in all these sec-

Lanze Su Carrera con CT State

tors waiting to hire the graduates of these programs,” said Eileen Peltier, Chief Regional Workforce Development Officer,Northwest Region CT State. She added, “For those who might not qualify for CareerConneCT, we have other tuition-assistance options.”

CareerConneCT covers the cost of tuition at CT State for in-demand programs including Certified Nurse Aide, Central Sterile Processing Technician, Medical Billing and Coding, Phlebotomy, Pharmacy Technician, Manufacturing, IT User Support, Web Developer (non-credit), Information Security and Networking, as well as line worker and arborist.

Employee training programs are available and can also be customized to fill an employer’s needs,whether that be at the work site or at a local campus. These programs do not earn college credit. Childcare is available at several locations and financial assistance may also be available through CareerConneCT to students receiving SNAP benefits and those who apply through their local American Job Center for Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds. Visit https://www.ctstate.edu/ce to learn how CT State can support you on your educational journey in every corner of Connecticut. CT State will help you start your new year in the right direction.

Un nuevo año frecuentemente significa nuevas resoluciones y un nuevo comienzo. Si ha estado considerando un cambio, no tiene que ir más allá de las 12 localidades de las universidades comunitarias de CT State. Si planifica cambiar de carrera, ascender en su carrera actual, o simplemente continuar su educación, CT State le puede ayudar a obtener sus metas. Las ofertas de CT State son económicas, accesibles y disponibles a través del estado. La formación profesional está disponible para aquellos que están interesados en comenzar, mejorar o cambiar su carrera. Los programas en cada campus permiten que los estudiantes obtengan las destrezas para su nueva carrera en semanas o meses, en vez de años. La manufactura, los servicios sanitarios, servicios personales y programas de informática proveen capacitación para trabajos de alta demanda con excelentes salarios y el potencial de crecimiento.

CT State continúa su enfoque en la capacidad estatal, la programación y las alianzas. Comenzando en enero, CT State estará ofreciendo capacitación por CareerConneCT para ayudar a los residentes en el camino hacia una excelente carrera.

“La financiación de CareerConneCT está disponible para los residentes elegibles de Connecticut, para recibir capacitación gratuita de corto plazo, que conduce a trabajos de alta demanda en áreas de informática, servicios sanitarios, manufactura y energía limpia. CareerConneCT representa una inversión importante en el desarrollo de la fuerza laboral en nuestro estado. Es una excelente oportunidad para todos los que estén interesados en recalificar o mejorar

sus habilidades. Hay empleadores en todos estos sectores esperando para contratar a los graduados de estos programas,” dijo Eileen Peltier, Jefe Regional del Desarrollo de la Fuerza Laboral, Región Noroeste de CT State. Ella añadió, “Tenemos otras opciones para asistencia para pago de matrícula, para aquellos que no califican para CareerConneCT.”

CareerConneCT cubre el costo de la matrícula de los programas de alta demanda de CT State, incluyendo Asistente de Enfermería Certificada, Técnico de Procesamiento Esteril Central, Facturación y Codificación Médica, Flebotomía, Técnico Farmacéutico, Apoyo de Usuario Informático, Desarrollador de Web (no otorga créditos), Seguridad de Información e Interconexión, así como trabajador de línea y arborista. Los programas de capacitación de empleados están disponibles y se pueden personalizar para cumplir con las necesidades de los empleadores, ya sea en el lugar de trabajo o en el campus local. Estos programas no otorgan créditos universitarios.

El cuidado de niños está disponible en varias localidades y puede haber asistencia financiera disponible por medio de CareerConneCT para estudiantes que reciben beneficios de SNAP, y para aquellos que apliquen por medio de su American Job Center local para los fondos de Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA). Visite https://www.ctstate.edu/ce para aprender como CT State puede apoyarlo en su jornada educativa en cada esquina de Connecticut. CT State le ayudará a comenzar su nuevo año en la dirección correcta.