cheshirecitizen.com
Volume 12, Number 50
Thursday, December 16, 2021
COVID numbers climb locally Connecticut on Friday, Dec. 10 reported 3,280 new COVID-19 infections detected in 53,948 tests, up from 2,679 infections found in 41,361 tests the previous day. The positivity rate was slightly higher than 6 percent both days. The state's most recent COVID-19 report, which includes two weeks of data, showed 169 positive cases in Cheshire, which kept the community in the coronavirus red zone. The trigger for top-of-thechart red status — where nearly all Connecticut towns and cities now stand — starts at 15 cases per 100,000 people per day. In the previous report, Cheshire had 112 cases. Gov. Ned Lamont said Friday he has no plans to impose new mandates on wearing masks or showing evidence of vaccination, instead promoting the coming availability of a voluntary “digital health card” offering proof of vaccination. “What I want to do is get that digital health card and make it available to every single business, restaurant, store. Let them make the right decision in terms of allowing people into their facility,” Lamont said. “I don’t think we need more mandates than that.” See COVID, A2
Cheshire Academy announces new director of diversity
Volunteer Maureen Rose lends a hand in wrapping a gift picked by this boy for his parents, during the Cheshire Community Food Pantry Kids Holiday Bazaar, an event the organization offered, for the first time, over the weekend. Kerry Walsh, for The Citizen
Youngsters pick gifts for others at pantry’s Kids Holiday Bazaar By Joy VanderLek The Cheshire Citizen
Spirits were high and smiles abundant at the premier of a Kids Holiday Bazaar hosted by the Cheshire Community Food Pantry over the weekend of Dec 11. The sole purpose of the bazaar was to give children of pantry clients a chance to personally choose gifts to give to their parents and siblings.
local support of the project. “The Cheshire community has been incredibly generous in donating gifts and we would like to publicly give them thanks,” Miller said.
Outside and in front of the building, clients pulled up and were met by CCFP volunteers, including Maria Colacrai and her husband Bill, who greeted them, behind a canopied table. It held brandnew sweatshirts, pants and other clothing neatly laid out. A nearby rack was CCFP Director Kerry Walsh said this is something the children would not other- filled with knit caps and hats, scarves, and gloves. Emma Hyland, 3, grandwise be able to do. All of the gifts were offered free of charge, and children were daughter of CCFP manager Judy Collins, showed her holiday spirit with a hearty allowed to freely choose the presents “Merry Christmas,” as she accepted a they wanted. free hot cocoa, a treat that along with doughnuts, was donated from the In order to make the event happen, Cheshire Lions Club and served by volWalsh originally asked the communityat-large for items they may have received unteers Al Barkley and Luciano Della Porta. as a gift but never opened or used. “Regifted joy,” is the phrase Walsh usAwaiting the families just inside the es. Instead, and to her happy surprise, building was more holiday spirit. In the Cheshire outdid itself and really came pantry anteroom stood a dazzling silver through, she said. Christmas tree welcoming clients as they Coordinators Patricia Miller and Sue Barkley, long-time volunteers at the pantry, said they were pleased with the
were led by volunteers to shop at table
See Bazaar, A3
Cheshire Academy recently hired a class of 2009 alumnus, Tanasia Lea, as its new director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, to begin in January “I am ecstatic to welcome Tanasia back Lea to the Cheshire Academy campus as the new director of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Head of School Julie Anderson. “Tanasia’s diverse professional experiences will no doubt make positive change within the school community as we continue to ensure that all voices and perspectives are heard, respected, and appreciated. ” The academy is a college preparatory boarding and day school approximately 300 for boys and girls in grades nine through 12 and postgraduate. Lea, a consultant and professional athlete, previously has worked as a leadership, diversity, and inclusion consultant and speaker for business and academic instituation, since 2018. She also worked remotely as a college preparation counselor for Misongi, a nonprofit organization in Cameroon, Africa, that helps develop youth to take on leadership roles. See Academy, A2