Bill allowing bear killing advances; hunt shelved

Associated Press

HARTFORD Connecticut lawmakers voted Friday, March 17, to allow special state permits to kill bears that threaten or damage crops, livestock or bees. However, they shelved a more contentious proposal to allow a limited bear hunt supported by state environmental officials grappling with an increase in humanbear conflicts.

The proposed annual bear hunt, which would have been limited to a northwestern Connecticut county, was pulled following outcry from animal rights advocates who argued it was inhumane and wouldn’t reduce the number of incidences.

Data from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which supported the hunt, show the number of reported conflicts between humans and bears has more than doubled in recent years, with less than 1,000 in 2015 to more than 2,000 in 2022. The number of towns where these interactions, such as the 67 home entries reported last year, have occurred has also increased.

There were two bear attacks last year, including an incident where a 250-pound black bear mauled a 10year-old boy playing in his grandparents’ backyard.

The bill, which cleared the General Assembly’s Environment Committee and awaits action in the Senate, also makes killing a bear justified if the animal is inflicting or about to inflict great bodily harm to a human or is injuring or killing a pet. The proposal further prohibits intentional and unintentional feeding of a potentially dangerous animal.

In this 2006 photo, a black bear chews on a garbage container in Wolcott. State lawmakers voted last Friday to allow special state permits to kill bears that threaten or damage crops, livestock or bees.

Hank & Gloria Fornwald

Obituaries

SOUTHINGTON - Raymond “Hank” E. Fornwald and Gloria (Orr) Fornwald, both of Southington and formerly of Cheshire, were reunited on October 2, 2022, when Gloria passed away. Hank predeceased her on December 16, 2020. They were married for 72 years. Gloria and Hank are survived by their two children; daughter, Tracey Malootian (Timothy) and son, Richard “Mark” Fornwald, 3 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life for Hank and Gloria will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 4 - 7 p.m. at The Farms Country Club, 180 Cheshire Rd., Wallingford, CT. In order to RSVP to this event, please follow this link. http://evite. me/RypDsytCCM. Plantsville Funeral Home has been entrusted with handling the arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com.

Marlene Bergamo

WATERBURY Mrs. Marlene (Dietsch) Bergamo,89, ofWaterbury, passed awaySaturday, March 25, 2023, surrounded byher family, atthe VITASUnit atSt. Mary’s Hospital.She wasthe wifeof Ronald Bergamo, her high school sweetheart.

Marlene was bornin Waterbury, March 31, 1933, daughter of thelate Harry Dietsch and Lucille (Northrop) (Dietsch)Miller. She was alifelong resident of Waterbury and a graduate of local schools. She was anavid fanof UCONN Women’s Basketballbut wasmost fanaticalabout her family.They werethe focus ofher life.She cherished her role as a devoted and lovingwife, mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother.She willbe greatlymissed,andmemories of her treasured, by all who loved her.

Besidesher husbandof 68years, Marleneleaves herfoursons,RonaldBergamo, Jr., andhis wife Sharon of Cheshire, Paul Bergamoand hiswifeSusan ofWestford, MA, Michael Bergamoand his wifeCeleste ofWinsted, and Peter Bergamoand his wife Doris ofLitchfield; her two daughters, Kathleen Bergamo ofNiantic, and JudithPappalardo andher husbandCarl ofSouthington;her brotherAlfred Miller and his wife Janette ofWaterbury; hersister

Verna Dietsch of Waterbury; her former daughter-

Herbert J. Roberge

in-law, Nanette Bergamo of TN; 14grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Inadditiontoherparents, Marlene was predeceased by her brother,Harry Dietsch, and her sister, Elaine Dietsch.

Funeralservices willbe held Tuesdaymorning 10 a.m., at theHickcox FuneralHome,195MainSt.,Watertown. Burialwill followin Evergreen Cemetery,North St., Watertown. Friends may call at the funeral home Tuesday morning 910 a.m.until the timeof the service.

Inlieu offlowers,memorialdonationsmaybemade to The Michael J. Fox Foundation forParkinson’s Research (www.michaeljfox.org), orthe Smilow Cancer Center(www.ynhh.org/smilow).

For additionalinformation orto leavean online message ofcondolence, please visitwww.hickcoxfuneralhome.com.

SCOTTSDALE, AZHerb J. Roberge passed away at home on 3/11/23, leaving his beloved family in Scottsdale, AZ. Herb was born in Waterbury, CT, on 2/13/39, the son of Herbert A. and Anne C. (Egan) Roberge. Herb and his wife Cheryl (Morgan) Roberge were married for 56 years. They have two children Scott Roberge (Joelita) and daughter Janet Vasiliauskas (Paul). He had two adoring grandchildren, Morgan and Erik Vasiliauskas. Also, part of the extended family with Evie Roberge and Vince Volini. Herb is also survived by his beloved brother James Roberge (Penny) and sister Joanne Perrine (John). He was predeceased by his sister Ellen Bates. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Herb graduated from Cheshire High School, Cheshire, CT, attended UCONN for 3 years. He joined the Army in 1961 and was in the USASA, he spent most of his enlistment in England. He returned in February, 1964. He met Cheryl seven months later. He went on to graduate with his BS in Business from the University of New Haven.

Herb worked all of his life, starting his first job at 13 as a weekend dishwasher and paper boy. He worked for Sears Roebuck & Co for 30 years, most of the time at their corporate office in the Sears Tower in Chicago, IL. He retired from Sears in 1993 and began his own manufacturer’s representative business in the juvenile products industry. He ran that business for 17 years and helped launch Bugaboo strollers in the Midwest. His son in law Paul beckoned him to come to Arizona to be near the grandchildren. Herb and Cheryl moved to the Valley of the Sun in 2010. Herb went to work at Vasco RX and loved every minute for 11 years. He left the pharmacy in 2021 due to health issues at the age of 82.

Herb’s passions were the Boston Red Sox, UCONN basketball, thoroughbred racing, his Hummel collection, and he was a lifelong Jazz enthusiast. He enjoyed life, he liked to make others laugh with his joke telling prowess. He has many lifelong friends scattered all over the country.

Donations in Herb’s name may be made to Hospice of the Valley (hov. org), the Salvation Army and St. Mary’s Food Bank (firstfoodbank.org)

A memorial service was held on Saturday, March 25 at 11am at Messinger’s Pinnacle Peak Mortuary in Scottsdale, AZ and was laid to rest on March 27th at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, AZ.

La Leche League of Hamden/North Haven will meet Wednesday, April 12, 9:30 a.m., at Grace & St. Peter’s Church, 2927 Dixwell Ave., Hamden. RSVP to Anne.M@LLLCT.org.

Led by accredited LLL leaders, our group meets the second Wednesday of each month in the upstairs church living room. Attendees from throughout the greater New Haven area are welcome.

We also provide phone and online help and can give you information on additional meetings held in Connecticut.

Obituaries

Claudia J. Terese

CHESHIRE Claudia

J.Terese, 67,beloved wifeof the late David Terese,of Cheshire, passedaway on Thursday, March 16, 2023, atMidState MedicalCenter.BorninSouthington,on April20, 1955,she wasa daughterofthe lateFrederickand Claire(Smith)Hobson.Claudia workedfor Barker’s Museum in Cheshireand alsoworked atCheshire Lanes.Sheenjoyedknitting,bowling,collagingandthebeach.Claudia servedas acounselor forSACS (SexualAssault Crisis Services) Claudia is survived byher beloved sons, RosarioDiDato of Savannah,GA andJames DiDato of Blufton, SC; her siblings, MicheleHeany (Joseph) of South Meriden, Kenneth Hobson (Kathy) of Hoosick Falls,NY and Mark Hobson (Teri)of West Hartford; aswell asnumerousextended familymembers andcherished friendsincluding her niece and nephew, Jessica Heanyand JoshuaHeany. She waspredeceased by hergrandmother, AliceV. Smithof Cheshire.Clau- dia’sfamily willreceiverelatives and friendsin The Yalesville FuneralHome, 386 Main St. in the Yalesville sectionof Wallingford, on Thursday, March 30th from 9:0010:30am. AMass ofChristian Burial willbe celebrated at 11:00amat Holy Angels Church, 585Main St., South Meriden. Entombment inSacred HeartMausoleumin Meridenwillfollow. In lieu of flowers, gifts in hermemory maybe sent to: Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish,22 Goodwill Ave., Meriden,CT 06451. www.yalesvillefh.com

Cheshire Land Trust

The Cheshire Land Trust is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization committed to conservation. The organization is wholly funded by members. For more information, email CheshireLandTrust@gmail.com.

Boxes to Boots

Berlin-based non-profit Boxes to Boots, 28 Chamberlain Highway, sends care packages to members of the U.S. military serving overseas. To learn more about the organization and its needs, visit boxestoboots.org.

Reading challenge

The Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Club, in partnership with Eversource, has announced the return of a student reading challenge for the 2023 season. Students (K through 8th grade) who read five books outside of the school curriculum will earn two tickets to a Yard Goats game at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford. Parents/guardians can register students on the Yard Goats website (yardgoatsbaseball.com) through May 6.