The Cheshire Citizen

BALL & SOCKET FACTORY

Local resident recognized for restoration

By Christian Metzger Record-Journal staff

CHESHIRE For the past decade town resident Ilona Somogyi has dedicated herself to bringing arts into the community and preserving a valuable piece of Cheshire’s history.

Somogyi is the current president of the Ball & Socket Arts facility, a restoration project that seeks to revitalize the old factory building at 493 W. Main St. The building served the community as a button factory for over a hundred years, 1850 to 1994. However, after the business closed the facto-

ry was left abandoned and deteriorating.

When Somogyi and several others saw the property for sale in 2014, they decided to purchase the building, seeing its potential as a community arts center. Somogyi has been involved in the arts and theater for many years

and is currently an instructor at the Yale School of Drama, where she went to school.

Having traveled across the world for theater, she’s seen the good that large art centers can bring to the local area, and wanted to en-

Holocaust survivors’ daughter shares podium with granddaughter of Nazis

By Nicole Zappone Record-Journal staff

CHESHIRE Judy Kopman-Fried has often shared the story of her parents’ experience during the darkest of times so that people can better understand the human toll of the Nazi genocide and the challenges Holocaust survivors faced as immigrants.

On Sunday, April 2, KopmanFried was joined for a talk at Temple Beth David in Cheshire by someone who shares a similar goal of increasing awareness of the Holocaust and anti-semitism, but with a deeply divergent background.

Elim Park residents reflect on over 105 years of life

By Christian Metzger Record-Journal staff

CHESHIRE Fern Parks and Dolly

Peabody are not only longtime residents of the Elim Park retirement community, Parks living there for 10 years and Peabody for 28, but they are also the community’s oldest members. Both were born in Maine in 1917, only months apart, Parks being age 105, and Peabody 106.

They are the oldest of eight residents at Elim Park over 100, all of whom the community plans to recognize at its

Luxury Retirement Living

Somogyi

Judy Kopman-Fried of Cheshire, left, and German born New Yorker Claudia Kiesinger wait to be introduced on Sunday, April 2, at the Temple Beth David in Cheshire during an anti-semitism panel discussion featuring descendants of both Nazis and Holocaust survivors. Photos by Bill Shettle, Special to the Record-Journal See Talk, A2 See Elim Park, A20

See Ball & Socket Factory, A8

Claudia Kiesinger is the granddaughter of a Nazi Wehrmacht soldier who was an ardent follower of Adolf Hitler.

To understand the dark cloud that is part of her family legacy, Kiesinger took part in the first March of Life, a memorial march at historic locations of the Holocaust in 2007. Today, she serves as the national coordinator for the March of Remembrance in New York, where she lives.

“I cannot turn back time,” Kiesinger said. “Loved ones are lost, the property was taken away, dignity was destroyed, and hatred spread.”

More than 150 people attended the April 2 discussion. Kopman-Fried invited Kiesinger to the event after reading a newspaper article that talked about her family from the Nazi side and knew that she had to meet her. The two connected over video chat in 2020 and met for the first time in person just before their discussion at Temple Beth David.

Fight to survive

Kopman-Fried’s parents were raised in Poland and suffered like so many others following the German invasion in 1939 and the start of World War II.

Over the next six years, the conflict would take more lives and destroy more land and property around the globe than any previous war.

It was estimated that 45-to60 million people were killed, and of that number, six million Jews were murdered in Nazi concentration camps as part of Hitler’s “Final Solution.”

During the war, families did everything they could to survive.

where many Jews were murdered.

“I wanted to bring back a part of my family, so I took a film container and scooped up some of the ashes,” Kopman-Fried said. “I wanted to believe that part of my family was still there and that I could bring them back.”

Judy Kopman-Fried, of Cheshire, holds up a piece of metal as she talks about being a descendant of Holocaust survivors on April 2 during a anti-semitism panel discussion at the Temple Beth David in Cheshire.

To that point, KopmanFried’s parents were in an arranged marriage. Her father came from a family that owned a bakery, and her mother’s family saw that as a positive, as “she would be able to eat,” Kopman-Fried said.

“My mother would say that Hitler was her matchmaker, because my parents came together because of the war,” Kopman-Fried said.

Life after war

Kopman-Fried said her parents came to the United States for a better life in 1952. Her mother left the camps at age 21, weighing only 60 pounds. She told the audience her mother spent quite some time recovering from various medical issues because of what she faced in the five camps.

Her parents eventually settled in Manchester, Connecticut, where KopmanFried was born and raised. It was a difficult adjustment for the family. “My mother already knew five different languages, and learning English was challenging for her,” Kopman-Fried said. “In school, everyone was so different from us.”

Kopman-Fried reflected on going to Poland years later and visiting a crematorium

Kiesinger’s family history

Kiesinger was born in Tübingen, a university city in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

She spoke about her two grandfathers who served in World War II in the Wehrmacht, Nazi Germany’s army.

She said they were not directly involved in the Holocaust, but they did know about it.

“To be silent is not an option anymore, ” Kiesinger said. “We can’t undo what has happened, but we can talk about it.”

Out of a growing effort to understand her family’s past, Kiesinger took part in the first March of Life in 2007, where more than 350 participants from 14 nations walked over 200 miles from Bisinger, a concentration camp near Tuebingen in southwest Germany, to Dachau, in upper Bavaria. This route recreated the final death march of the Jews imprisoned in those camps.

Kiesinger has been a part of the march movement ever since and is also a representative of the UN Prayer Watch, a Christian prayer and advocacy initiative at the UN for Israel.

She moved to the United States only 13 years ago and recently returned from Germany after a five-week trip to celebrate her parents’ birthday.

nzappone@record-journal.com

203-317-2212

Resources for infants, toddlers and preschoolers available at the Cheshire Public Library, 104 Main St.

Parenting collection. This collection covers a wide range of relevant topics for parenting, including pregnancy, developmental milestones, styles of discipline, homeschooling and potty training.

Library Resources

Lit Kits. A great way to take storytime and learning home with you. These kits help support success in school by providing families with hands-on strategies for building pre-reading and literacy skills while having fun and bonding with your child. Our Early Lit Kits are designed for our youngest “readers,” and contain three or four books on a theme,

Library Happenings

Upcoming events at the Cheshire Public Library, 104 Main St.

Wags & Tales (Grades K3). Monday April 24, 4 to 5 p.m. Gromit, a NewtownStrong Therapy Dog will be available to be read to by independent readers. Reading aloud in a relaxed environment is a confidence booster to all readers. 15-minute visits will be available. Registration is required.

No-Sew Upcycled T-shirt Tote (Grades 6-12).Thursday, April 13, 3 to 4 p.m. Create your own customized t-shirt tote bag made out of recycled materials. Bring your own t-shirt to upcycle or choose from a selection of washed, thrifted t’s. Registration is required.

Cat Tales Writers Group. Thursday, April 13, 6:30 to 8 p.m. A monthly open writing group that can help answer your questions on writing,

toys or manipulatives, and a caregiver guide with suggested songs and activities. Talking books. These combine picture books and nonfiction with audio recordings that capture children’s attention and make learning and literacy development fun. The permanently attached reader transforms an ordinary print book into an

all-in-one read-along. There’s no need for computers, tablets or CDs. Children simply push a button to listen and read.

Playaway Launchpads: PreK Academy. Launchpad Pre-K Academy gives preschool-aged children five different paths to explore on their way to kinder-

garten. Using this Academy can help little learners develop the skills needed to enter their first year of school and inspire them to try new things with confidence.

Books on DVD. These audiovisual adaptations bring

See Library, A4

editing, grammar and publishing. Read a selection of your work to the group for general constructive feedback, or discuss a book you’ve read that might help someone else. Registration is required.

Builder’s Block (kids of all ages). Friday, April 14, 10 to 11:15 a.m. Block off some time to build freely with LEGOs, Duplos, KEVA Planks, Strawbees, and more. No registration required.

The CJK Foundation is a Cheshire based non-profit organization that supports mental health in your community. The CJK Foundation was built to create positive change and hope in the darkest of times through advocating awareness, supporting patients and their families undergoing treatment, and raising funds for research. Our Co-pay Program and educational supports provide a direct impact in your community. We were also the Cheshire Chamber of Commerce Non-Profit of the Year in 2021 and received a Congressional Recognition Certificate in 2020.

TREE WORK & TAKE DOWN, GUTTER CLEANING WALLS, WALKS, + PATIO INSTALLATION

Full Landscape Design & Installation

New Lawns • Complete Yard Restoration

Library

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outstanding children’s picture books to life and help children fall in love with books and reading. Our DVDs are word-for-word adaptations of the books they are based on, and help all readers improve

their fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Lit Tips for Littles. Miss Ali demonstrates some songs and activities that will help your child get ready to read. These videos are available for free on YouTube.

PROVIDE A SERVICE?

Get Found. List it here.

Senior Center Programs

The Cheshire Senior Center, 240 Maple Ave., can be reached at 203-272-8286. Senior Center staff is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Elderly nutrition program. Grab and Go lunches are available to be picked up Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 11 a.m. Reservations must be made by noon on Friday the week prior by calling 203-2720047. There is a suggested donation of $3 per meal. Social Services. Social Services provides information and runs support groups for caregivers as well as providing social support, investigative and referral services to our seniors. Social Services also assists with Medicare counseling (CHOICES), en-

ergy assistance, Renters Rebate, long term planning, application completion and navigation of communitybased services. The Social Worker also works with Crisis Intervention and the police department. For more information, call 203-2728286.

Transportation. The Senior Transportation Services offers Elderly and Disabled Transportation for medical appointments, grocery/ pharmacy shopping, personal appointments and Senior Center programs. Transportation for out-of-town doctor appointments is available on a limited basis.

Senior transportation is available to residents over the age of 55 or those over 21 years of age who are tem-

porarily or permanently disabled. All four buses are liftequipped to handle wheelchairs and individuals who have trouble with steps.

Riders make a suggested donation of $1 for in-town service and $3 for out-of-town service per each van entrance. Arrangements for rides can be made by calling 203-272-0047 at least 24 hours in advance.

Also, free transportation is available to seniors and disabled adults every Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., through the Greater Waterbury Transit District Dial-A-Ride. Passengers may go anywhere in Cheshire, Wolcott, Waterbury, Watertown, Naugatuck, Middlebury, Prospect and Thomaston. To apply for this service, call 203-272-0047.

Since 1867

In Brief Night for Kyiv

On Friday, April 14, Cheshire Academy, 10 Main St., will host A Night for Kyiv fundraiser at Richardson Lecture Hall. The event, spearheaded by student Sasha Nikanova, will feature performers, traditional Ukrainian baked goods and a lively atmosphere. Proceeds will be donated to the Leleka Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that procures and distributes medical supplies to paramedics, emergency crews and hospitals in Ukraine. Ticketing and further info about the event can be found on the Cheshire Academy website.

Plant sale

twenty EAGLE STUMP GRINDING

Letters Policy

Letters to the Editor are limited to 300 words. Letters must be signed and names will appear in print. We reserve the right to edit letters. Include a phone number so The Citizen can contact you for verification. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Friday to be considered for publication the following Thursday. Send submissions to news@thecheshirecitizen.com.

Elim Park Place welcomes you to enjoy an Check-in and coffee at 9:45am Program begins at 10:00am

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→ Learn about the lifestyle and pricing. → Tour our one-of-a-kind campus and apartment homes. → Try a taste of our unique dining venues. → Get answers to your questions. Reservations are required. Come see what makes Elim Park so “eggs-traordinary!” R256958

Wednesday, April 26, 2023 A not•for•profit Life Plan Community 150 Cook Hill Rd., Cheshire, CT 06410

203.303.4567 elimpark.org

Street sweeping

The Cheshire Public Works Department planned to begin sweeping town roads Monday, April 3. A map of the areas in the order they will be swept is available on the town website. Residents can assist Public Works by sweeping sediment from sidewalks into gutters and moving cars which would interfere with sweeping operations. Sweepers cannot pick up brush, branches or yard waste. Operations are expected to be completed by midJune, weather permitting.

Municipal office hours

Most Town of Cheshire offices are open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the following exceptions: the Registrars of Voters office is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; the Human Services office is open 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment; the Collector of Revenue office is open for extended hours on tax deadline days.

Counseling

Youth and Family Counseling is provided at no cost to Cheshire school aged children and their families. Individual, family and group therapy sessions are available. Clients are seen either in the Town Hall or at school. Daytime or evening sessions can be arranged. For more information or to make a referral or an appointment, contact the Youth and Social Services Department at 203-2716690.

Fingerprinting

Cheshire residents and individuals employed by, or seeking employment with, a business in town may come to the Cheshire Police Department and have their fingerprints taken.

Fingerprinting services are available Mondays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is a $5 fee. Photo identification is required. Applicants are required to pre-enroll with the Connecticut Criminal History Request System (ct.flexcheck.us.idemia.io/ cchrspreenroll).

Fingerprints for pistol permit applicants will only be taken when a complete application packet is ready to be turned in.

Car seat inspection

To schedule an appointment, contact Cheshire police officer Kristian Johnson

at 203-271-5544. Arrange to bring your child and all safety seat instructions to the inspection. For more information on child safety and safety seats, visit Safekids.org.

ART HEALS

ART HEALS is a free program for Cheshire adult residents who are temporarily or permanently homebound because of medical, emotional or physical difficulty. The confidential program was suspended during the pandemic and is now open. It involves up to six lessons with a professional art teacher from Artsplace in the client’s home. No experience or art ability is necessary. At the conclusion of the program the artwork is framed and returned to the client.

For more information or to enroll in the ART HEALS program, contact Joan Pilarczyk at 203-272-2787, or jpilarczyk@cheshirect.org.

Certification

Eversource is partnering with Housatonic Community College and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Unions 420 and 457 to prepare the next generation of electrical lineworkers in Connecticut. The Lineworker Certificate Program provides students valuable training in the electric utility industry and the opportunity to progress into Eversource’s paid apprenticeship program. Visit Eversource.com for more information on the certification program and to stay updated on the next available class.

Theater

Castle Craig Players, Meriden is celebrating its 30th season. Shows on sale now: “The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On,” May 5 to 20; “Into The Woods,” July 28 to Aug. 12. For ticket information, visit castlecraigplayers.org.

La Leche League

La Leche League of Hamden/North Haven meets the second Wednesday of each

month at Grace & St. Peter’s Church, 2927 Dixwell Ave., Hamden. Attendees from throughout the greater New Haven area are welcome.

RSVP to Anne.M@ LLLCT.org.

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.

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 lifechanging programs to at-risk children. Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters by visiting ctbigs.org.

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.

Year Round Tree Service

Alert system

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

ples include evacuation notices, bio-terrorism alerts, boil water notices and missing child reports. Visit cheshirect.org to register.

Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

Ball & Socket Factory

After having her son, Somogyi decided to return to her hometown of Cheshire. It was then that Somogyi became aware of the Ball & Socket factory’s dilapidated state and determined that it could find a better use as a community arts center.

During her time abroad, Somogyi saw that many old factory structures had new life breathed into them after being repurposed as arts and cultural centers.

“I've spent a lot of time going to museums and galleries around the world and the

space that is really impressive to show art (in) are these large spaces,” Somogyi said. “There are a lot of former mills that have been converted to spaces to show art for art installations, and they're beautiful for that. You've got a lot of light, you've got a lot of room overhead, and it has this sort of no-frills kind of structure of brick and metal and concrete that just becomes like a really neutral place to show art in.”

Often, old factory buildings are converted into apartment complexes due to the rectangular design that makes them easy to segment.

However, the Ball & Socket factory was largely ad hoc, leading to an unconventionally designed series of buildings that made it ill-suited for residential space but perfect for an arts center.

“It's kind of exciting. It's set up for discovery, it's set up for different uses simultaneously. And honestly, it felt like when we walked in and saw the building (and it) was telling us what it wanted to be. And that original vision for it hasn't changed since we first saw it in 2011,” Somogyi said.

After Somogyi and a group of partners purchased the building, they managed to win a grant from the Connecticut Economic & Community Development Department through their brownfield remediation project, which is geared toward the restoration and redevelopment of abandoned factory structures in urban areas. With that significant funding, they were able to begin the process of bringing the building back to life.

Somogyi is the last of the original members of the team who initially bought the building, and still continues to work hands-on in seeing the project through.

While currently Sweet

Claude’s Ice Cream is the only tenant on the property, the upper floor of the second building has been completed and will soon see a new tenant an arts education facility that will open in the near future. The third building, one of the smaller structures on the property, is also receiving finishing touches for an opening in May or June. It is expected to be home to a gift shop and permanent headquarters for the Ball & Socket administration team.

Other developments on the property are progressing steadily. Somogyi is thankful for both the community and town officials for having supported the endeavor over the past decade. While the project has not been inexpensive, the fact that the town and others have remained

supportive shows that they see as much value in the restoration and what it could mean for the future of the community.

“We've had volunteers and donors from the beginning who have just been willing to just say, ‘Keep going, keep going, do it, do it’, and give us enough money to keep it going and make a real impact,” Somogyi said. “So I'm very, very grateful that I'm not alone in this. I really have incredible teammates. I'm very happy for the partnership we've developed with the town sector at this point. Like, it took a little while to get them on board, but now I really feel like they’re behind this hundred percent. It's a place that's gonna draw people in.”

Further updates about the project are available online on Ball & Socket’s webpage and Facebook, where they also accept donations for their continued restoration efforts.

cmetzger@record-journal.com

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Building

of the Ball & Socket Arts facility at 493 W. Main St. in Cheshire.

SUDOKU

Legislature begins quiet, crucial phase

By Mark Pazniokas The Connecticut Mirror

The 2023 session of the Connecticut General Assembly entered a quiet and crucial phase last week. All but the tax and budget committees have reached their deadlines for reporting bills to the floors of the House and Senate. Complicated and contentious bills on wage and workplace standards, energy regulation, gun control, affordable housing, climate change and recycling all made the initial cut, winning favorable committee votes.

“This part of the legislative session now is very busy, but it’s mostly behind the scenes, ” said Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, a lawmaker for 42 years and the Senate’s top leader for eight.

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Cheshire Pollinator Pathway volunteers are shown on Friday, April 7, their first work day of the season. The group tended to the original garden at 487 North Brooksvale Road, across from Lock 12. Members cut back perennials to allow pollinators venturing out now a spot to nest. The leaves were left for cooler nights when pollinators still need cover. Also, the group cut back multiflora rose and pulled out invasives, including garlic mustard. Pictured, foreground: Anne McNulty. Back, from left: Joanna Giddings, Amy Russell, Jo deBear, EdSzechtmanandBarbaraSpencer.

Photo by Joy VanderLek

Some committee approvals were conditional, less an endorsement of a finished product than a decision to keep them alive for further polishing, negotiation or wholesale revamping. What happens now can broadly be described as screening, a process for assessing the policy and political implications of the committees’ output, as well as whether they have the broader support sufficient for a floor vote.

“Now it’s time to sort out and prioritize,” said House Minority Leader Vincent. J Candelora, R-North Branford. “There’s only so much time on the clock, and what are the priorities?”

Unlike Congress, where bills can gestate over two years, the life cycle of a bill in the Connecticut General Assembly is surprisingly brief, akin to the growing season in a hostile climate.

General Assembly sessions are five months in odd years, three months in even ones. Three of this year’s five months are now gone, and the pace will begin to quicken as more bills ripen, vetted by committees and the nonpartisan staffs at the Office of Fiscal Analysis and Office of Legislative Research. The former must produce fiscal notes for every bill, the latter a plain-language summary.

“People often raise the question: ‘Why is it you guys are in session doing marathons in the last several weeks of the session and not in session much early on?’” Looney said. “But really, it’s built into our process, because we do respect the committee process, and bills are vetted through the committee.”

Anything with a tax implication or significant cost must be voted on by the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee or the Appropriations Committee, whose respective deadlines are April 20 and 21.

While the non-partisan analysts do their work, there also is a political analysis, a less formal screening by legislative leaders to measure the broader support for a bill in their caucuses and the risks and benefits of calling a vote.

Connecticut voters maintained the Democrats’ firm control over lawmaking in November, easily reelecting Gov. Ned Lamont and electing Democratic majorities of 97-53 in the House and 2412 in the Senate.

With the huge majorities come challenges of potentially conflicting priorities

and goals: For example, House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, leads a caucus whose members represent some of the richest and poorest census tracts in the U.S. What bills come to floor vote are the purview of Ritter in the House and Looney in the Senate. Assessing the ramifications of those bills is a dynamic process, one that weighs whether legislation is calibrated to do too much or little, in search of a majority. Lawmakers referred to major bills sent to the floor this year as a “work in progress” and a “conversation in progress ” at this time of the year.

Take the long-running struggle to increase multi-family housing in Connecticut, which lacks more than 89,000 units of housing that are affordable and available to the lowest income renters, according to estimates from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

A bill endorsed by the Housing Committee would create a process for setting regional goals for housing produc-

tion, which would be updated every 10 years, and press communities to meet them.

One question now in talks: Exactly how would communities be pressed?

The Labor and Public Employees Committee, which tends to be both progressive and aggressive with its agenda, sent 50 bills to the floor, some attempted in previous

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9 AM—2 PM Rain or Shine

Smitten Kitten celebration

Press Release

Members of the Cheshire Chamber of Commerce gathered at Smitten Kitten Beauty on Wednesday, March 8 to celebrate the salon’s one-year Chamber anniversary.

CHILDREN’S CARNIVAL RIDES

Saturday & Sunday, April 22 & 23

11 AM – Closing (weather permitting)

$25 wristbands available.

Individual tickets also available.

11 AM–Closing (weather permitting)

PARKING IS PERMITTED IN HUBBARD PARK FOR ALL EVENTS ON SAT, APRIL 22 & SUN, APRIL 23

Refreshments available for purchase on Saturday, April 22.

www.daffodilfest.com

Located at 1097 South Main St. (Country Plaza), Smitten Kitten offers a variety of beauty-enhancement services. As a collective of certi-

fied specialists, business owner Kat Medley and her partners are prepared to assist clients with skin care and medical aesthetics. Some of the services they provide are lash lifts, lash extensions, body waxing and brow treatments. Visit smittenkittenbeauty.com for more information and a list of products and services available.

sessions, including measures that would provide jobless benefits for strikers and predictive scheduling for shift workers.

Predictive scheduling is a prime example of a bill whose future will rest on its reach which businesses are covered. As written, the bill would apply to companies that employ at least 500 in the U.S. or globally, but it would also cover small restaurants that might be individually owned under the banner of a national franchise.

Some lawmakers are unwilling to include small restaurants, even if they are franchisees in a national chain. A version passed the Senate two years ago but never has

come to a floor vote in the House, where the ideologically and geographically diverse Democratic majority failed to coalesce around parameters for whom the law would apply. “We have caucused predictive scheduling for few years now, and each time it falls short,” Ritter said.

Advocates declined deals for passage in other years, complaining the proffered parameters were too tight, he said.

Organized labor also is pushing hard this year for a labor committee bill that would revamp how the minimum wage law is applied to restaurants, where tips offset what businesses must contribute to maintain a minimum wage. Connecticut’s minimum wage will go to $15 on June 1 under current

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Under the Festival Tent Hubbard Park, West Main Street, Meriden, CT

BRANFORD - Paul M. Cran, of Branford, died suddenly at his home on Thursday, March 30, 2023. He was the beloved husband of Barbara Hentz Cran. Paul was born in New Haven, on August 12, 1953, son of the late Herbert J. Cran, Jr., and Denise Paillard Cran, growing up in Cheshire, CT. He worked in a variety of positions at Colonial Toyota, the most recent as Warranty Administrator, until retiring. Besides Barbara he is survived by his daughter Alexis Cran of Branford, his stepchildren, Erica Lindblad (Chris) DeJongh of Orlando, FL and Douglas (Ashley) Lindblad of Bluffton, SC; his sister Cynthia Cran (John) Richards of South Yarmouth, MA, and many nieces, nephews and so many wonderful friends.

Paul was not a guy to sit around, he was always keeping busy, whether at home or someone else’s house. He would be filling bird feeders, stoking the fire, working on the lawn, or going to the dump. He often stopped by elderly friends and family to just say hi and see if they needed anything.

He was a lover of cars, snowmobiles, jet skis anything that he could

Obituaries

drive fast. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle on the New Hampshire back roads with his good friend, Will. His greatest love was his wife and daughter where he instilled their love of travel. He especially enjoyed his home on Lake Winnipesaukee and loved St. Thomas, and Switzerland.

Paul had many wonderful qualities, compassion, quick witted, productive, and love. Paul was a proud family man who was loyal to his close friends and would always be there to give advice or lend a helping hand. He was always quick to make friends anywhere he went, as he had the gift to gab. When out he often wandered off to talk to someone new, with Barbara always shouting, “Where’s Paul?”. She now knows where he is and will be greatly missed by all. Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation Wednesday evening from 4:00 - 6:30, with a prayer service at 6:30 at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter, 749 East Main Street, Branford, CT 06405. For directions and online memorial see www. wsclancy.com.

tions into wage and hour claims of all types.

Theodore “Ted” Pappas

CHESHIRE - Ted Pappas, 74, of Cheshire, died of complications from COVID-19 on April 3, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Manchester, NH, he graduated from Central High School and Keene State College. He worked as a pharmacy technician where he greeted customers and friends with a welcoming and comforting smile. He also served as a paraprofessional in public schools, positively influencing and supporting students that needed it the most.

Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Susan (Deegan), and children Andrew (Leah) and Megan (John) Coggshall, and grandchildren Xander, Ainsley, Ronin, Makayla, and Matthew. He also leaves his brother Bill and sister Francine; and Peter and Tracey Deegan. Short in stature but long in heart, Ted was immediately likable, keen to mend homes and hearts. A sociologist to his core, Ted was a student of human nature and most adored being a husband, father, and Papou. In 2001, he received a second

Musical tribute

Jack Lynn will perform songs by Dean Martin on Wednesday, May 3, 7:30 p.m., at the Cheshire Grange Hall, 44 Wallingford Road. There is no charge for the event and the public is invited. A tea cup auction will be held at the conclusion of the performance.

Yard clean-up

chance at life with a liver transplant, for which he was deeply grateful. Endlessly supportive of his family, he loved his dogs, books, music, and tinkering.

Ted will be remembered by his family and friends for his calming nature, always having a story to share, and an open heart.

Arrangements - Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 14, 2023, at 6 pm at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 S. Main St. Visitation will be held from 4 pm until the start of the service at 6. Memorial contributions in Ted’s name may be made to the Hartford Transplant Program, Attn: Gina, 85 Seymour St., Suite 324, Hartford, CT 06106. For online condolences, to share a photo or a story, please visit www.fordfh. com.

The Town of Cheshire is providing a container at 1304 Waterbury Road (adjacent to the Town Garage) for disposal of residential grass clippings and leaves. There is no charge. Please note that no other items will be accepted. Disposal by commercial operations is not permitted. The container will be accessible Mondays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. beginning May 1.

Roundnet tourney

From A12

law, but the minimums for tipped workers will stay where they’ve been for four years: $6.38 for wait staff and $8.23 for bartenders.

By law, restaurants are required to pay the difference on days when tips fall short of the minimum wage.

Ritter said the strongest argument for passage is whether the state can adequately enforce that law, given a backlog in investiga-

Thomas Wydra, who supervises wage-and-hour investigations at DOL, declined to speculate how frequently restaurants shortchange tipped workers but acknowledged that the backlog in investigations was significant.

Since Jan. 1, 503 wage and hour complaints were assigned for investigation, including 32 against restaurants, Wydra said. A dozen of those involved the tip credit or minimum wage for tipped workers.

“Our current wait time from the time a claim is submitted to the time it starts to be investigated is approximately four to six months, which is is a long wait time and not something that we’re happy about,” Wydra said.

The state Department of Labor’s Division of Wage and Workplace Standards currently has 17 wage enforcement agents, six wage-andhour investigators and two open positions.

One of the 50 bills approved by the Labor and Public Employees Committee would

require the state to employ no fewer than 45 wage-andhour inspectors.

Rare among the committee’s bills, it generated no written testimony in opposition. Its fiscal impact has yet to be calculated.

This story originally appeared on the website of The Connecticut Mirror, www.ctmirror.org.

CJK Foundation, a central Connecticut-based nonprofit focusing on depression and mental illness, has announced that the CJK Classic Roundnet Tournament will be held at YMCA Camp Sloper in Southington Saturday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In Roundnet, teams of two take turns ricocheting a ball towards their opponents off of a round net on the ground. Similar to volleyball, teams aim to return the ball so their opponents cannot control it and send it back, enabling them to score. To register a team, visit cjk-foundation.org. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Paul M. Cran

BRANDON ALVARADO WILCOX TECH BASEBALL

Wilcox baseball opened the season with an 11-5 win over Platt and followed with three CTC victories to stand at 4-0. In the vanguard of this fairly young team is senior Brandon Alvarado. With two hits in four at-bats in Monday’s 11-1 win at Whitney Tech, Alvarado raised his average to .563 (9-for-16). Six of his nine hits have been doubles. Alvarado also earned the pitching win vs. Bullard-Havens.

RYAN BARBIERI CHESHIRE BASEBALL

This past Monday turned out to be all about the walk-off for area baseball teams. Three locals won in their last at-bat, none more loudly than Ryan Barbieri and the Cheshire Rams. After letting a 4-2 lead get away against Fairfield Prep in a 3-run top of the seventh, the Rams pulled out a 6-5 victory when Barbieri followed Bennett Crerar’s leadoff single with a home run over the left field fence.

TYLER DUFFY MALONEY BASEBALL

The Spartans took down two potent neighbors, Southington and Berlin, to open the baseball season at 2-0. Junior left-hander Tyler Duffy was in the middle of both wins. He pitched 6 2/3 innings of four-hit ball to earn the win against Southington and also drove in two runs. Against Berlin, Duffy scored the winning run after doubling to lead off the 8th. He also pitched 5 2/3 innings in that game.

VOTE AND WIN!

Vote for your favorite AOTW and automatically be entered for our year end $500 drawing! One lucky person will be randomly selected as our $500 winner. A single vote gets you entered, vote every week to earn more chances to win!

CALLIE CHORDAS LYMAN HALL SOFTBALL

It seems like we were just talking about Callie Chordas and her accomplishments in basketball. Now it’s softball season, the game the Lyman Hall senior is going on to play at Keene State. On Saturday, on the road against Weston, Chordas belted two home runs to fuel a 14-4 Lyman Hall victory. Batting out of the No. 3 slot, the center fielder went 3-for-5 on the day and drove in three runs.

BROOKLYN CIVIDANES PLATT SOFTBALL

When Brooklyn Cividanes connected for a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning against East Hartford last Wednesday, it helped the Panthers grab a 6-0 lead in a game they would win 15-0. There was added significance to the ball Cividanes deposited over the center field fence at John Phostole Field. It was the 10th career HR for the senior catcher, and that’s the new program record.

CHLOE ENGER WILCOX TECH SOFTBALL

Chloe Enger has been excellent so far this season for Wilcox Tech. Actually, she’s been better than excellent. She’s been nigh perfect. In guiding the Wildcats to a 4-0 start, the sophomore has thrown three 5-inning perfect games. In 20 total innings, she’s struck out 45. Enger is also tearing it up at the plate. She’s got 13 hits on the season, including two HRs, and has had a pair of 5-RBI games.

Elim Park

yearly Centenarian Celebration on May 17 at 1:30 p.m.

Both women are in good health and high spirits, with Peabody already looking to make plans for her 110th birthday, alongside her ongoing efforts to write about her life and experiences.

“It’s been a good life – still is!” Peabody said. She moved 13 times across eight states and traveled to many more places during her lifetime including Alaska. “I’m glad to be planted here now, but it was an exciting life. We took everything with us. ”

Peabody was born in January 1917 in Bangor, Maine as an only child. Peabody’s father worked for the Main Central Railroad his work giving them access to free trips along the train lines. With that access, Peabody often traveled. One of her most memorable trips on the train was to the 1934 World’s Fair in Chicago during high school.

Parks, on the other hand, grew up in a poor rural family who lived together on a farm. Born on Aug. 4, 1917, she was raised in a farmhouse without running water or heating, having to fetch water from a well and even having to chop down trees in the wooded area behind their house for wood to fuel their stoves in the winter.

The youngest of 10 siblings, her eldest brother ended up fighting in the first World War. Parks would often help her mother with the farm, which her father was illequipped to do due to his blindness, helping raise the sheep and plant potatoes out in the fields. Parks said her mother was very particular about her garden, and it was from her that she gained a passion for cooking.

Her favorite dish to cook was a boiled stew with kielbasa sausage in a pot with carrots, potatoes, and other vegetables.

Parks considers her mother’s vegetables and her faith, as the reasons for her long life.

“My secret is Jesus is my heart. That's the most important thing in my life. And the vegetables from my mother's garden that I grew up on, ” she said.

Growing up, Parks’ family didn’t have a car, and she had to walk to their oneroom schoolhouse that had eight grades packed into it simultaneously. After completing the ninth grade, she would end up eventually getting married and moving to Middlebury, Connecticut, so her husband could find

work farming potatoes, and raising their two children.

Parks has volunteered throughout her life, mostly for the school system, using her talent for cooking to prepare meals at the school her sons attended. She also spent much of her time at a small church, faith being one of the most important parts of her life.

Peabody went on to attend the University of Maine and received a home economics degree, though she expressed she also went to school there in hopes of finding a husband she could settle down with, which she

did. Peabody’s husband was an electrical engineer, which caused them to move all across the country. He would eventually be drafted into World War II, and Peabody would live at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey for four years. He would become a major and would serve in the Philippines for a time.

For all her experience, Peabody said her secret to life is just riding along with it and seeing where it takes you. Having moved so many times and seen so much technological change, she’s learned to go with the flow.

“I ride with it, and as I say, I'm out for a good time. Moving so much, meeting new people,” Peabody said. “I've grown with it.”

Since moving to Elim Park, both Parks and Peabody have become fast friends, spending much time together around the community. Having first moved into independent living at the complex, the pair met over meals, and have continued their friendship since.

From her time at Elim Park, Peabody developed a talent for photography, enjoying taking photos of nature and her friends, always carrying around her iPad in her walker. She also was savvy with computers and other technology, teaching the community’s technology class for several years. Taking creative writing courses, Peabody often writes about her own life story and the experiences she’s had through the years. At 106, she still continues to live independently at the complex.

“It's wonderful to be part of an institution that is growing and serving so many people,” she said, having been with Elim Park since 1995 when she was 78, back when it was only three buildings.

Both women have taken several trips during their time at the complex and play cards with each other on occasion. Despite their age, and different backgrounds, they maintain their friendship and are enthusiastic about what the future will bring.

cmetzger@record-journal.com

Fern Parks, 105, left, and Dolly Peabody, 106, of Cheshire, pose for a photo at Elim Park in Cheshire.

Photos by Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

Dolly Peabody walks back to her room at her Elim Park residence in Cheshire, on April 5.

Club treated to timely program

Press Release

Members of the Cheshire Garden Club who attended the April 3 meeting at the Hitchcock-Phillips House were treated to a unique floral design program by Peggy Townsend, a nationally-accredited flower show judge and winner of many design awards.

The emphasis of Townsend’s recent talk was making a spring bouquet in different shapes and sizes of floral containers, and using a variety of colors and combinations of foliage and flowers such as roses, calla lilies, anthuriums and Limonium statice.

All the while, Townsend

passed on valuable hints about how to condition the flowers and how to reshape some of the larger leaves into geometric shapes.

Club members were thrilled to learn they would be able to take home one of Townsend’s beautiful spring designs, just in time for Easter.

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Peggy Townsend.

Cheshire Garden Club members with presenter Peggy Townsend, third from right. Photos courtesy of Vicky Brady

TOP CASH PAID For any Toyota any condition, running or not, crashed okay. Will take other makes and models. (203) 600-4431.

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For Junk or unwanted vehicles, Toyota’s etc.

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DISPATCHER

The Town of Wallingford is seeking responsible candidates to perform 911, police, fire and EMS emergency dispatching duties. Must be able to work under stressful conditions and be able to type information with a high rate of speed and accuracy. Must be able to work all three shifts including weekends and holidays and be able to work additional shifts beyond the regular shift schedule. Requires a H.S. or business school diploma with courses in typing and 2 years of responsible office work experience. Wages: $ 23.72 ~ $28.28 hourly plus shift differential and excellent fringe benefits. Closing date is April 24, 2023, or the date of receipt of the 50th application, whichever occurs first. 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 may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone: 203-294-2080, Fax: 203-294-2084. EOE

ELECTRIC

Metering and Substation Maintenance Supervisor – The Town of Wallingford’s Electric Division is seeking a highly qualified supervisor whose responsibilities will include the supervisory and administrative work involved in the supervision and management of the meter and electrical departments of the Electric Division, including substation operations and maintenance. The utility serves approximately 24,500 customers in a 50+ square mile distribution area with a peak demand of 143 MW. The position requires a bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university in engineering, plus five years of progressively responsible supervisory or management experience in a utility, or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. Must possess and maintain a valid State of Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator’s License. Salary: $ 93,254 - $ 119,313 plus an excellent fringe benefit package.

Apply to: 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 the Department of Human Resources Web Page.

Fax #: (203) 294-2084.

Closing date will be May 9, 2023 EOE

LINEMAN M/F (FIRST CLASS)

Electric utility is seeking highly skilled candidates for First Class Lineman M/F. Applicants must be a H.S. graduate with 4 years’ experience as a second-class lineman in electric line construction and maintenance. Also, must be experienced with energized 13,800volt equipment and must be able to work extended periods of time off the ground and under conditions requiring extreme care. Hourly rate: $41.46 to $46.09, plus an excellent fringe benefits package. The closing date for applications is May 9, 2023 or the date we receive the fiftieth (50) application whichever occurs first. Apply: Human Resources Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request form the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone: (203) 2942080, Fax: (203) 2942084. EOE.

FERRIS 48” WALKBEHIND LAWNMOWER - 5 SPEED KAWASAKI 14 HP ENGINE W/ GRASS CATCHER, $300. (860) 302-2561. -

. Top Soil . Compost . . Wood Chips . FOR SALE. Catering to small deliveries. Call Bob (203) 415-0723

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1, 2, 3 CASH FOR YOUR ANTIQUES & JEWELRY - Call Todd Shamock at 203-494-1695.

ALWAYS BUYING CASH PAIDVintage Electronics, Musical Instruments, Amps, Ham Equipment, HiFi, Radios, CB, Guitars, Audio Equipment, Antiques. 860-707-9350

ALWAYS TOP CASHFor Your Grandma’s Costume Jewelry Stash. I’ll Come to You. Julie, 203-443-9602.

ANTIQUES - Always buying old; Toys, military, jewelry, art, watches, musical instruments, signs, arcade games, cameras, pre 1970 sports memorabilia, plus more. One item or entire estate contents. Call 860718-5132.

GRASSY HILL AUCTIONS, - an Estate 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

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BUYING ALL - Costume Jewelry, Old Watches, Gold Jewelry, Silver Jewelry, Gold & Silver Coins, Sterling Flatware, In Any Condition. Please Call Jude M. Dichele @ (203) 8681816.

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In one location under the Festival Tent on Saturday, April 22, 2023, 9AM to 2PM Hubbard Park, 999 W. Main Street, Meriden, CT

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Vote For Your Favorite Local Businesses!

Our Annual Best of Awards reader’s poll is back. This is your chance to nominate and vote for your favorite people, places and businesses in your local area. It’s a great way to support your local businesses.

VOTE: Online voting begins April 13 and ends Sunday, April 23.

WIN $250: If you nominate at least 25 businesses you will be entered to win a $250 gift card. A random drawing will take place at the end of the contest. We will also give away a $250 gift card for the voting round!

myrecordjournal.com/BestofAwards