The Cheshire Citizen

IT’S SHOWTIME

Busy first quarter for Cheshire FD

The following was compiled by Richard Schiavi, an active member of the Cheshire Fire Department.

The Cheshire Fire Department continued to provide fire and rescue services to the community through the first quarter of 2023. In addition to emergency responses, the CFD’s members have continued to attend comprehensive training, perform equipment upkeep and administrative duties and provide fire safety outreach throughout the town.

During January-March, the CFD answered 216 calls for help. The two largest categories were false alarms (38%) and hazardous materials calls (19%).

Around Town

Preservation grant

The Cheshire Symphony Orchestra will perform a pops concert, “Let’s Go to the Movies!,” Friday, May 12, 7:30 p.m., at St. Peter’s Church, 59 Main St. Attendees will be treated to musical selections from a variety of well-known films, including “Lord of the Rings,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “E.T.”, “Star Wars,” and many more. Admission is $15; $10 for students and seniors. Now in its 37th season, the Cheshire Symphony Orchestra is comprised of volunteer musicians from throughout central Connecticut. For more informationaboutthegroup,visitcheshiresymphony.org. Cheshire Symphony Orchestra, Facebook

Preservation Connecticut, in cooperation with The 1772 Foundation, has announced its 15 grant recipients for 2023. Among the historic sites selected was Ball & Socket Arts, Inc. in Cheshire, which received $10,000 for window restoration.

All told, The 1772 Foundation granted $134,000 for maintenance and repairs to 15 historic Connecticut sites. Available to Connecticut’s nonprofit organizations, these maintenance and repair grants provide for exterior work on beloved community assets.

Summaries of notable calls related to motor vehicle incidents that were posted to the CFD’s Facebook page: The CFD responded to a vehicle rollover on Cook Hill Road on Jan. 4 and to a vehicle fire off Main Street on Jan. 6. On March 31, the CFD responded to two separate See Fire, A8 See

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Irizarry’s career-high 48 assists power Rams

By Sean Krofssik Record-Journal staff

CHESHIRE Cheshire used a balanced scoring attack and pinpoint passing in a 31 non-conference boys volleyball win over Southington on Thursday night, May 4.

The Rams dropped the first game 25-23 before winning the next three 25-23, 25-22 and 25-22 to improve to 11-3 on the season and extend their winning streak to seven.

Cheshire also snapped Southington’s winning streak at eight. The Blue Knights fell to 10-2. The border rivals will meet again, this time in Southington, on Tuesday, May 16. Last Thursday, Cheshire senior setter Matt Irizarry set the table with a career-high 48 assists. He was finding hitters Matti Lilback (16 kills, 2 blocks), Connor Hayes (12 kills, 3 blocks, 2 digs) and Will Allen (14 kills, 4 digs, 3 blocks) all match.

“Tonight, I thought we did a really nice job of passing and getting to the hitters,” Cheshire coach Sue Bavone said. “My only criticism is our serving. We are still a work in progress and there is room to improve. We have a lot of balance this year. We want to have five guys with 100 kills. That’s the push every year and this year I think we have a legit shot at it. “It’s a good win for us because Southington is a strong program and they are always tough and it’s a good challenge for us,” Bavone added. “We’ve already played Darien and we already played Masuk. We’re

playing tough teams and this will only help us down the road.”

Irizarry is a first-year starting setter with the varsity squad. He was a defensive specialist last season.

“It didn’t feel like that many assists, but the transition from pass to set felt clean,” Irizarry said. “We’ve gotten better and our chemistry has been so great all year. We want to keep it going. We are Rams and we are going to keep head-butting it to the next match.”

Southington and Cheshire were never separated by more than three points in the opening set as the match was tight throughout.

Cheshire held a 19-16 lead when Southington coach Lou Gianacopolos called a timeout and his team responded with a 9-4 run to close out the set.

Southington setter Ben Roper (45 assists) dished to Dylan Bouteiller (10 kills, 6 blocks) and Collin Martin (14 kills) to get the Knights going.

Connor Snow (10 kills, 7 blocks) had a big say in deciding the opening game. He provided three of the last five points for Cheshire. Snow had a kill to tie the match 21-21 and a go-ahead block to put the Knights up 22-21.

After Cheshire fought off two set points, Snow had a kill to put the game away for the visitors.

Cheshire bounced back with a come-from-behind win in Game 2.

The Rams trailed 23-21 and closed out the set on a 4-0 run.

See Rams, A9

From left: Will Allen, Jason Cafourek and Matt Irizarry played key roles in Cheshire’s 3-1 victory over visiting Southingtonlastweek. Greg Lederer, Cheshire Herald

When you feel forced into a divorce settlement

When a divorce case is settled before trial the terms of the settlement are contained in a written agreement that the spouses sign. A basic requirement of a valid settlement agreement is that it is “freely and voluntarily entered into.”

To establish that, before the judge approves the agreement making it a court order, the judge will ask both spouses if they are freely and voluntarily entering into the agreement.

Said another way, the settlement agreement wasn’t the result of duress, coercion or threat.

A Supreme Court case set the test. Duress exists where one spouse engages in misconduct that induces the other’s agreement because the other believed there was no reasonable alternative in light of the circumstances as

he or she perceived them –there can be no exercise of free will. You might be surprised that duress claims were rejected in cases where one spouse was the victim of an abusive marriage, or was weakened by physical or mental illness, or claimed her lawyer pressured her to settle, or didn’t have the funds to continue the litigation.

Cases based on fear of what might come out at trial or one spouse’s threats to make

things difficult or deprive access to children were also unsuccessful. There are only a few cases where a duress claim was successful. In one, the wife had suffered from depression, anxiety and panic disorder. She took significant amounts of prescription drugs to deal with her condition. The husband had intimidated his wife throughout the marriage and during the settlement negotiations.

The husband was found to have used the wife’s condition against her to further his custody claim. He also got a financial advantage by threatening trial when he knew she couldn’t defend herself in a courtroom because of her condition and was too intimidated to have a lawyer represent her. Keep in mind, if you tell the judge – or the settlement agreement says –you are freely and voluntarily agreeing to

the settlement, you will be taken at your word. You will have to overcome your admission as part of the heavy burden to prove duress. A consultation with an experienced divorce lawyer will help you determine if you can meet the burden to have the agreement terminated on account of duress.

Lisa J. Cappalli is Of Counsel at Cappalli & Hill, LLC and Freed Marcroft LLC. She can be reached at lcappalli@cappallihill.com or 203-2713888. This column should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion by Attorney Cappalli, Cappalli & Hill, LLC or Freed Marcroft LLC. The content is intended for general information only and you are urged to consult an attorney to advise you personally concerning your own situation and any specific legal questions you may have.

In order to continue delivery to your home or business, we need to have each resident or business let us know that, by filling out our on-line requester form at myrecordjournal. com/cheshire-requester

Or, you can call us at 203-634-3933 and we can mail you a postage paid postcard to fill out and return. Without the necessary requester information, delivery of your Cheshire Citizen to your home or business, will end.

Cappalli

BASEBALL

RBI triple, clutch pitching propel Cheshire

By Kwame Colecraft Special to the Record-Journal

WATERBURY Cheshire

skipper Alex LeFevre wanted his baseball team to bounce back from another loss to Guilford on Friday, May 5 and the Rams responded within 24 hours. The Rams defeated Holy Cross 5-3 on a sunny Saturday morning, May 6, at the scenic Municipal Stadium in Waterbury.

The victory featured a gamewinning RBI triple by Bennett Crerar in the top of the seventh inning, clutch pitching by varsity newcomer Alex Convertito, and a stellar performance by shortstop Jackson Enders, who reached base three times.

Cheshire improved to 10-5 with the non-league decision while knocking the host Crusaders to 12-4.

Cheshire started the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Cleanup hitter Ryan Barbieri delivered a sacrifice fly and Enders hustled out a ground ball to force an error and allow the second run to score.

In the bottom of the first, Holy Cross cut the gap in half. Cheshire misplayed a ground ball by Dillon Fernandez and it led to a run. It was the first of two errors in the inning. LeFevre was not happy and had a huddle-up with his team.

“Lately we’ve been struggling fielding the baseball, and we talked about not letting it happen again,”

LeFevre said. “We had a couple of errors in the first inning and it came back to bite us again later in the game. We have to find a way to field the baseball better.”

Defensive struggles aside, Cheshire’s offense responded in the top of the third after Charlie Dusek’s triple and a double by Enders gave the Rams a 3-1 lead.

“All I saw was green grass, so I was flying,” Enders said of

the double. “I knew immediately that it was going to be an extra-base hit.”

LeFevre praised Enders’ atbat. “He’s really good at staying on the baseball and driving it,” LeFevre said. “He has power and he did a great job getting a pitch he could handle and powering it to right center field in a huge spot for us. It was two outs

and he got a run for us. Twoout RBIs often lead to winning baseball games, and that was a big moment in the game for us. He was great today.”

It would not get any easier for the Rams as another costly error in the bottom of the third led to a sac fly by Fernandez. In the bottom of the sixth, the Crusaders fought

back to tie the game at 3. With one out and the bases loaded, LeFevre turned to sophomore reliever Convertito in a pressure situation to get the team out of the inning. Convertito, who recently got called up to varsity, threw two pitches and got two flyouts with no damage done. “For a sophomore to come in and do that in his first appearance, that is very impressive,” LeFevre said.

Cheshire responded to Convertito’s heroics in the top of the 7th, when Crerar’s RBI triple put the Rams up 4-3. He added an insurance run by scoring on a wild pitch.

“He’s a big, tall guy and our power hitter,” LeFevre said of Crerar. “He gets a lot of pitches away and a lot of breaking balls. He stayed on one and he drove that baseball. He can run, too, and he was flying around the bases for that triple.”

The pesky Crusaders of Holy Cross refused to give in. Their cleanup hitter, Dario Sosa, singled to bring the tying run at the plate with no outs in the seventh.

Sosa was replaced by pinchrunner James LeFleur, and it led to a moment of redemption for Cheshire’s defense. After a pickoff attempt, LeFleur took off for second base, but a perfect throw by catcher Christopher Kobylanski to Enders caught the Holy Cross speedster before he could swipe the bag.

“That was huge for our team,” Enders said. “That could have led to a couple runs and it could have been a different ball game, but I’m proud of our team and how we did today. It was a good bounceback win from yesterday.”

From there, Convertito got the final two outs of the game to earn his first save. LeFevre hopes that this win will bring the team together moving forward.

“We did enough to win a baseball game,” the head coach said. “Bouncing back on a quick turnaround time and coming out playing like we did and bouncing back even in this game with the errors we made it was a great performance from the guys today.”

Cheshire manager Alex LeFevre saw his team rebound from a 12-6 loss in Guilford with a 5-3 victory over Holy Crossthefollowingday. Bill Shettle, Special to the Record-Journal

Conn. cities and towns could save millions under new pension reforms

By Mark Pazniokas The Connecticut Mirror

Comptroller Sean Scanlon announced municipal pension reforms last week that could save 107 participating communities $32.3 million

in the coming fiscal year and $843 million over the next three decades.

A labor-management working group Scanlon convened six weeks ago produced a six-point plan that drew bi-

partisan praise from Gov. Ned Lamont and legislative leaders for the process and product.

“This is what trying looks like. This is the result of people trying to fix things,” said Scanlon, a former Democratic lawmaker who has been comptroller for four months.

The savings, some of which will require the passage of

legislation to achieve, primarily would come from changing how cost-of-living increases are calculated and by re-amortizing the unfunded liability of the municipal pension fund from 17 to 25 years.

The plan also would create a deferred retirement option aimed at keeping employees working longer, addressing both a labor shortage and taking some pressure off the

retirement system.

The deal was rolled out at a press conference that drew attention to a constitutional office whose duties are relatively arcane: Tracking the state’s expenses and administering state employee benefits.

House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford, said Scanlon had addressed a long-neglected issue that threatened to destabilize CMERS, the state-run Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement System.

“We have always talked about that collapse on the horizon. But it really hasn’t gotten the attention it has needed,” Candelora said.

CMERS was created in 1947 and is used by at least some

Reform

A6

bargaining units in 107 of the state’s 169 cities and towns.

Two decades ago, Gov. John G. Rowland and the legislature decoupled cost-of-living adjustments from investment performance, pegging them exclusively to inflation. The combination of high inflation and a down market drove a need for higher contributions to the pension fund.

The regular contributions required annually of member municipalities grew from a collective $82 million in the 2017-18 fiscal year to $134.8 million in 2021-22. The system is administered by the comptroller’s office.

Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett said the deal struck by the working group could save her community $3 million next year and $40 million over the coming decades.

Cost of living increases still will be pegged to inflation, though to a lesser degree. No longer will increases have an annual minimum, a change that mirrors a deal negotiated years ago with state employees. Retirees had been getting a minimum annual increase of 2.5%, regardless of inflation.

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Fire

From

calls on I-84, a camper rollover and a truck fire.

During the three-month period, three new Regular Members were sworn in, and one Regular Member (T. Brown) moved to Life Member status. Additionally, G. Stover was elected as Lieutenant, N. Bremer was elected Assistant Director of Training and M. Schmidt was elected Superintendent of Communications.

Late winter drills and training covered a wide range of

topics, including: ice rescue, building search, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hazardous materials response, ropes/knots/rigging, overturned vehicle stabilization, standpipe operations and Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) training.

RIT is used in the event a firefighter is injured or incapacitated at a fire and is need of rescue.

The CFD is also pleased to be hosting Connecticut Firefighter I, Firefighter II and Fire Officer classes, all of which began early in 2023 at Cheshire Fire Headquarters.

Other recent CFD highlights include the following: In March, several dozen CFD members toured the AT&T facility on Higgins Road to increase familiarity with the facility in the event of a emergency call. Similar tours are held regularly at facilities across Cheshire so

that the CFD can be bestprepared to provide emergency assistance. Also in March, Lt. G. Stover was honored as the CFD’s Firefighter of the Year by the Cheshire Chamber of Commerce. This annual award is given to a deserving CFD

member based on nominations and votes from the membership.

New applications for membership with the Cheshire Fire Department are always welcome. Please contact Fire Headquarters if you or someone you know might be interested in volunteering.

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Eleanor E. Ratchelous

CHESHIRE Eleanor E. Ratchelous, 87,passed away on Sunday,April 30, 2023,at herhomesurroundedbyherlovingfamily. Shewas the wifeof the late WilliamRatchelous whopassedawayin1970.

Mrs. Ratchelous was born in Hempstead,NY, in 1936andwasthedaughter ofthe lateAndrewand LouiseHoegl. Shewasa graduateofHofstraUniversity class of1957 and pursueda Master’s of Science degree fromQuinnipiac University.Mrs.Ratchelous was a researcherof parasitology andtoxicology at two major drug corporations. She opened one of the firstindependent hematology/chemistrylaboratories inCT. Priorto retirement in2017 she worked asa Laboratory Technician for Quest Diagnostics.

Obituaries

asmany cousins.Shewas predeceasedbyhersister’s Margaret Cherry and Lynne Schrage.She isalsosurvived by her beloved cat, Daphne.

From A2

Lilback started with the run with a kill and served the final three points. The clincher was a block by Connor Hayes.

midway point of the set to put the Rams up 18-12.

Southington rallied to within 20-19 with a block by Snow. Cheshire answered with a Hayes kill and then went up 22-19 following a Southington hitting error.

Mrs.Ratchelous issurvived by herson William Ratchelousand hiswife Loriof Cheshire;her daughter Aimee Ratchelous andher husbandMartin Holznerof Lexington, MA; hergrandchildren Giulia,Andrew, William,Kinsey, and Thomas Ratchelous;herbrother-in-lawBrian Schrage; her nephews AlanCherry andBrian Schrage Jr.; her nieces Jennifer Cherry,June Damadeo, Tracey Schrage, and TaraSchrage; aswell

Mrs. Ratchelouswas an active member of Cheshire Women’sClub andwasan avid gardener,bridge player and artist.She also enjoyed sailing, skiing, and hikingbut mostlyloved spending summerswith her family in Hampton Bays,NewYork.

Arrangements Funeral services will be held at the convenience ofthe family and thereare nocalling hours. TheAldersonFord Funeral Homeof Cheshire, is assisting with arrangements. Memorialcontributions maybe madeto Friends of Feral Cheshire Cats,672QueenSt.,#1021 Southington, CT 06489. Foronline condolences,to shareaphoto orastory, please visit www.fordfh.com.

Rams All the right

Earlier in the second game, Southington led 15-11, Cheshire responded with four straight kills dished from Irizarry to Hayes, Allen and two to Jacob Daddona. Cheshire surged again midway through the third set. Southington led 12-10 before Cheshire responded with a 5-0 run to go up 15-12 and never looked back.

That run was served by Jason Cafourek. Daddona had two late kills for Cheshire and Cafourek had a critical kill after Southington closed to within 22-21. Hayes sealed the set with a slam. In Game 4, the Rams rode the hot hand of Irizarry, who slammed four kills at the

The Knights closed within two points twice late before kills by Lilback and Allen finished off the match.

“Our serve-receive was a little off tonight,” Gianacopolos said. “We weren’t passing as well as we normally would. Our defense was a little iffy, but because Cheshire played well ... Everyone wants to play Southington and we are always going to get their ‘A’ game. That’s what we expected. They played well today. Their middles were hitting all around us today. Our outsides weren’t as productive as they normally could be. Give it to Cheshire: They played their butts off and played really well.”

Judith Barone

CHESHIRE JudithAnn

“Judy” Barone diedpeacefully on Saturday,April 29, 2023, at herhome in Cheshire, surroundedby her family. Fornearly two years Judystruggled against pancreaticcancer. Inherlastdaysshewasalso comfortedby thecompassionatehospice careofthe FranciscansofMeriden.

Judy was a native of Waterbury,thedaughterofSalvatoreMerluzzi andAda Bartolini, and the wife of RichardBarone,alsoofWaterbury. The couple, who

Obituaries

most recentlycelebrated their fiftiethwedding anniversary, movedto Cheshire in1979, having livedpreviously inWolcott andWaterbury.JudyissurvivedbyherbrotherJoseph (Lorraine)ofTampa,Florida, her daughtersSusan (David) and Rebecca of Cheshire, herson Richard ofWaterbury, andtwo grandchildren, Madison, andDevon.

Judywasadevotedwife, mother, and confidant to many friends. Shewas at heart ateacher ofyoung children, who served in the Cheshire School System

Meet OverDrive’s ‘Libby’

from 1969to 2007,spendingnearlyallofherteaching years ina kindergarten classroomatDarcySchool. Shewasalso amemberof DeltaKappaGamma,aprofessional societyof women educators. Outsidethe classroom, Judy enjoyed hosting familygatherings, andwasalife-longaficionado ofquilting and theart of quiltdesign.

Arrangements:AMassof ChristianBurialwasheldon Friday, May 5,2023, at 10:30a.m. atSt.Bridget Church, 175 Main St., Cheshire.Friends metat thechurch,withaburialthat followed atCalvary Cemetery in Waterbury. There werenocallinghours.Inlieu offlowers, thefamilysuggests thatcontributions be madeto eitherFranciscan Home andHospice Care, 267 FinchAve., Meriden, CT06451, oronline tothe Pancreatic CancerAction Network, atwww.pancan. org.Youmayalsoshareonline condolences at www.fordfh.com.

On May 1, the OverDrive reading app was discontinued. The Cheshire Public Library is advising patrons to switch to Libby, OverDrive’s newer app. The following is from the cheshirelibraryblog.com:

Libby is made by the same people, with the same goal of connecting you to your favorite books, audiobooks and magazines, and is streamlined to make finding and downloading digital materials easier than ever!

Why is the original app going away? Libby has actually been around since 2017, and for that period of time OverDrive offered both options. Since then, Libby has seen much more use than the older OverDrive app, and it no longer made sense to maintain both apps. Making the switch is easy. Simply download the app on your mobile device to get started. Good news, once you add your library card to

Libby, all your loans and holds will be waiting on your Shelf. You won’t lose your place in line for any items you have on hold. If you have a Wish List, you’ll be prompted to import it from OverDrive via an inapp notification. Your wish list items will become a tag that’s available on your Shelf.

After checking out a digital item with Libby, you can read/listen right through the app. If you’re more comfortable using a computer instead of a mobile device to access our digital collection, don’t worry, Libby works on a computer, as well! Visit libbyapp.com to browse, search, read or listen, and more, on your computer. For more details about the switch to Libby, visit cheshirelibraryblog.com.

Library update

A major renovation to the Cheshire Public Library parking lot is taking place this month. The new arrangement will add more parking spaces, improve lighting and swap the current entrance and exit to allow for safer traffic circulation.

The parking lot will be inaccessible during the renovation. Also, library hours may be altered. Before visiting, check cheshirelibrary.org or call 203-272-2245.

Yard clean-up

The Town of Cheshire provides a container at 1304 Waterbury Road (adjacent to the Town Garage) for disposal of residential grass clippings and leaves.

There is no charge. Disposal by commercial operations is not permitted. The container is accessible Mondays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

Tree trimming

Eversource has contracted with Lewis Tree Service, Inc. for the annual tree trimming to ensure the safety of overhead wires. Lewis Tree Service will be contacting homeowners in Cheshire, and will be trimming and removing debris over the next several months. Approximately 20 miles of corridor will be inspected and trimmed as necessary.

Shred-It Day

Egidio Lennon Wealth Management, 20 Realty Dr., Cheshire, will host its Annual Free Shred-It Day Saturday, May 13, 9 a.m. to noon. Residents are invited to bring up to three boxes or bags of documents. All papers are shredded on site by Shred-It. Donations for the Cheshire Community Food Pantry and Animal Haven in North Haven, a no-kill shelter, will be accepted and appreciated. For more infor-

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mation, contact Joanne Daley at 203-533-4968 or joanne@egidiolennon.com.

Memorial Day

The 55th Annual Cheshire Memorial Day Parade will be held Sunday, May 28 at 1:30 p.m.

The parade theme recognizes the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. The parade committee asks Korean War veterans to contact Leslie Marinaro at lesliem@snet.net or 203-6317762.

Street sweeping

The Cheshire Public Works Department is in the process of sweeping town roads.

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 mid-June, 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.

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For more information or to make a referral or an appointment, contact the Youth and Social Services Department at 203-2716690.

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“A Pathway Through Grief” is an eight-week program for those who have lost a loved one or dear friend. This program affords one the opportunity to share and discuss those issues that are of greatest concern at this time. It is intended to help you understand your emotions and problems; support and comfort for those who have shared the same experience and to cope within the mainstream of society. Through our journey together, you will discover that life can be satisfying, rewarding and full of joy.

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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.

From A1

Businesses honored

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal was in town Monday to congratulate a pair of awardwinning local businesses, Cheshire Equestrian Center and Element 119.

In recognition of Small Business Week 2023, Carol DiCarlo’s Cheshire Equestrian was named Microenterprise of the Year by the Small Business Association of Connecticut, and Andrew Zeppa's Element 119 earned the SBA's Exporter of the Year distinction.

The Small Business Resource Expo and awards ceremony was held May 4 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.

LORENZO DEFILIO

SHEEHAN LACROSSE

Lorenzo DeFilio is all about filling up nets for Sheehan, whether it’s in hockey or lacrosse. Last Saturday, the sophomore had his most prolific varsity lacrosse game to date, going off for seven goals in a 17-10 win over Holy Cross. It was Sheehan’s fourth straight win, and DeFilio has had 15 goals and 4 assists in that run. For the season, he’s at 24 goals in 12 games played.

DYLAN MILLER

MALONEY GOLF

The first Meriden city match of the season went to Maloney last Tuesday with a familiar name at the top of the card: Dylan Miller. The city’s reigning junior champ earned a share of the medal with a 40 a week after blazing the back nine at Hunter with a 1-over 37. His round of 41 Monday at Chippanee GC led the Spartans past Bristol Eastern and improved their record to 9-1.

NATHAN RININGER

LYMAN HALL TENNIS

Nate Rininger is doing pretty good for himself considering he just started playing tennis last year. More than pretty good: The sophomore has elevated to No. 1 singles and, after going 3-1 last week, he’s 10-5 on the season. He certainly learns quickly. The one loss Rininger suffered last week came Wednesday vs. West Haven. In a rematch Saturday, he won in straight sets.

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

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

STELLA BLANCHARD

SOUTHINGTON SOFTBALL

There was no mercy-rule repeat when Southington and Bristol Central met Monday in a rematch of last year’s Class LL final. But with Stella Blanchard in the circle, the Rams still came up on the short end and suffered their first loss. Blanchard threw six scoreless innings vs. a team averaging nearly 10 runs a game, allowing just two infield hits and striking out 13 in a 3-0 SHS win.

MAYA MASSORES

Tears were plainly visible on the cheeks of Maya Massores as she rounded third base Friday afternoon at Platt. Make no mistake: Those were tears of pure joy. Massores had just put a ball over the fence for her first varsity home run. The junior went 2-for-3 on the day and drove in five runs in Maloney’s 22-5 rivalry romp, raising her batting average to .424 on the season.

AZAYLA YEARWOOD

WILCOX TECH TENNIS

The azaleas are in bloom and so is Wilcox girls tennis — in particular, Azayla Yearwood. The sophomore opened May winning three of four matches, each of which featured a tiebreaker. Alternating between No. 2 and 3 singles, Yearwood posted wins vs. Platt Tech, Abbott Tech and East Haven. The latter win avenged a three-set loss the day before. She’s 10-2 on the season.

TOP CASH PAID For any Toyota any condition, running or not, crashed okay. Will take other

MAINTAINER III COLLECTIONS SYSTEM

The Town of Wallingford Sewer Division is seeking qualified applicants to supervise and perform highly skilled tasks in the operation, mainteconstruction of sanitary sewers, including CCTV inspection and high velocity flushing. Requires a H.S., trade school or vocational school diploma or H.S. equivalency diploma,ment in a field related to sanitary sewer construction, operation or maintenance, or 1 year of training in a skilled trade substituted for 1 year of experience up to 2 years plus a minimum of 2 years

the construction field with work experience

equivalent combination of experience and training. Must possess State of Connecticut Class B CDL. NEWEA

Certification Grade II ed.

benefits package that includes pension plan, medical insurance, life insurance, paid sick and vacation time.

Applications may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page to the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, 06492, or emailed to: wlfdhr@wallingfordct.

2023. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203)

OFFICE POSITIONWe are looking for a self-motivated, friendly and responsible person who has strong customer service skills and computer knowledge to work in our Self Storage office. Secure facility with longterm tenant base.

Part Time: Friday, 9-5 p.m., Saturday 9-2 p.m. (can be alternate Saturdays). Call 203-605-1494.

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TREE LENGTH

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Screened Topsoil $30/ per yd; 2.5” screened gravel, $18 per yd; Sand$18 per yd; Millings-$22 per yd; Screened Millings $30 per yd; $100 minimum delivery. No pickup truck service. Minimum 16 yd pickup at our yard. Call Jim @ 860-9824819 for delivery

PREMIUM SCREENED TOPSOIL

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

FREE - Replacement glass for Jalousie windows. 11 pcs, 247/8” x 4”. Call (860) 628-7370.

PISTOL PERMIT - Certification class for CT Pistol Permit, 1 session only, small groups, $140. (203) 415-1144.

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

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.

ANTIQUES WANTEDComic books, toys, adv. signs, military items, motorcyles, mini bikes, etc. All items considered, appraisal & estate sale services, incl. clean-outs. 40 years exp. Call or text, Gary at 203-237-4124.

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.

BUYING MACHINIST TOOLBOXES - Tools & tooling, contents of machine shops, home workshops and small lathes.

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 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

PREMIER ESTATE JEWELRY - Is interested in buying your fine jewelry, watches, coin collections, silver flatware, and costume jewelry. Call Bill, (203) 4942496.

TIMELESS TREASURES ESTATE AUCTIONSIs looking to purchase estate contents. From single items to entire estates. Clean-out services available. Call Bill (203) 494-2496.

WANTED Individual firearms, collections & estates including military & related items.Federally licensed firearms dealer. Gunsmith, appraisals, Richard Pleines, (860) 663-2214.

GARY WODATCHDemolition Svs Sheds, pools, decks, garages, debris removal. Quick, courteous svc. All calls returned. Ins. #566326. Cell, 860-558-5430

CARPENTRY

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DECKS & PORCHES

Give some new life to your old decks and porches. We can repair or replace stairs, deck boards, railings. We also construct new decks.

HIC#647093 Insured. Call Bill for a free estimate, (203) 901-2136.

TEC ELECTRICAL Service LLC All Phases of Electrical Work. 24 hr. Emergency Service. Small Jobs Welcome.

203.237.2122

GUTTERS PLUS 25+yrs. Exp. Call today for Free estimate. 203-440-3535 Ct. Reg. #578887

HOME DOCTOR - 48 yrs exp. Odd jobs & remodeling, former US Navy, 15 yrs, #640689, 203.427.7828.

Let Us BEAR

Your Junk!

Junk Removal in CT

JM Lawn Care Lawn Mowing, Spring Cleanup, Hedge Trimming, Tree Service, Mulch, any color. Comm. & Res. 860.796.8168

JT’S LANDSCAPING LLC - Spring CleanUps, we specialize in weeding all types of beds, mulching, top soil work, pruning hedges & shrubs, & all your landscape needs. Residential & commercial. Lic. #616311. Call today for free estimate, 203-213-6528.

IF YOU Mention

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#1 PAINTER’S EDGE Ext. & Int. Painting. Sheetrock.Popcorn Repair. Wallpaper Remv’l. Decks. 25 yrs exp. Free est. Sr. disc. #0656136. Ins. 860.538.5520

Insurance claim.storm damage.roofing.siding. gutter.chimney flashing. Office:203.754.3071 Cell:203.510.3830 Stormshieldct@gmail. com HIC.0664452

JASPER’S GENERAL CONTRACTOR - Roofing, painting, siding and remodeling, free estimates. 10% off with this ad. (203) 535-9817.

JUNK REMOVAL

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SPRING CLEANUPS JUNK REMOVAL Tree Removal, Fence Work & more! No job too small or large. 860.719.3953

ALEX EUROPEAN MASONRY - 30 yrs. exp. Patios, ret. walls, steps, brick, stone, chimneys. Lic#580443. 203-2320257 or 203-596-0652

PATIOS, WALKWAYS, Stonewalls, Steps, Concrete, Repairs, Etc. Free Ests. #0648556

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W. BOOBER MASONRYOver 35 Years Experience

All Types of Masonry CT License #626708 (203) 235-4139

#1 PAINTER’S EDGE

Roof Repair or Replacement, Chimney Repair, Skylight Replacement. Free est. CT #0651199 (860) 877-3006

RT RELOCATION Your moving and storage specialists. Call for a free estimate. 833-668-3978.

A pressureless house washing system can save you money, ask how! The Power-Washing Kings. House & roof washing, decks, patios, etc. Others Wash We Clean! 860.839.1000 thepowerwashing kings.com

Specializing in tree removal, chipping & grinding. Call for free estimate. 203-945-1808.

TREE BROTHERS TREE EXPERTS - Specializes in all aspects of tree removal and trimming with twenty five years of experience. We offer a free quote and military and first responder discount. Call 203-5122453.

TREE REMOVAL Storm Damage, Stump Grinding, Chipping, Lots Cleared, Trees/ Shrubs Inst’d, Free Ests. Fully Ins’d. Lic #558031. 203.619.2301.

Long-lost ring back in family’s hands