Thursday, April 23, 2020
www.plainvillecitizen.com
Volume 19, Number 11
Local restaurants putting safety first By Bailey Wright Record-Journal staff
Plainville resident Axel Sundberg, 10, gets some help getting into a hot air balloon basket for a ride during the first night of the 2019 Plainville Fire Company Hot Air Balloon Festival at Norton Park. Bailey Wright, Record-Journal
Balloon festival cancelled The Plainville Fire Company cancelled its annual hot air balloon festival Monday, citing concerns and uncertainties due to the coronavirus. “It's very, very difficult for us to make this decision but … we’re a public safety organization so we’re kind of compelled to do the right thing,” festival coordinator Jim Lenois Jr. said. The 36-year-old festival has never been cancelled in its entirety before. It usually runs for a full weekend in August.
Lenois said the fire company felt it would be dangerous for the usual 30,000plus people to gather while the coronavirus is likely to still be prevalent. They also didn’t want to ask local businesses and people for donations when so many are struggling. "In our heart of hearts, (we know) you can’t go ask people to help you when they’re struggling themselves,” he said. The fire company usually brings in about $20,000 through its food booth at the festival. Those funds go to
help run the department, but are also donated back to the community.
Many decided to temporarily close, others have been embracing the change and some tried take-out only at first, only to close weeks later for monetary or safety reasons.
But co-owners Cheryl Moran and Barry DePaolo are still taking things day by day. Every morning they touch base See Restaurants, A12
The company donates about $7,000 in scholarships every year and helps fund sports leagues in town. Not collecting those funds this year will definitely be a hit, Lenois said, but “not devastating” thanks to rainy day funds. The fire company still plans to hold the festival in 2021. “Next year it’ll be even better,” Lenois said. bwright@record-journal.com 203-317-2316 Twitter: @baileyfaywright
Anthony Jack's co-owner Barry DePaolo, left, brings a lunch order to Stephen D'Amato, of Southington, in front of the Center Street business in Southington, Wednesday, April 15. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
Plainville’s oldest funeral home with over 130 years of serving the community. Blaire L. Bouchard – Funeral Director 48 Broad Street Plainville, CT 06062 • 860-747-2295 • Bailey-FuneralHome.com
R225886
By Bailey Wright Record-Journal staff
For restaurant owners, the last month hasn’t been easy. After the governor issued a COVID-19 related mandate that closed all eateries to dine-in customers, business owners had to decide if moving to a take-out only model was worth it.
The owners of Anthony Jacks Wood Fired Grill and Tavern 42, both in Southington, made an immediate decision to temporarily close Tavern 42 when the mandate came out, consolidating efforts at Anthony Jacks only, which was already conducive to a take-out model, as about 10 percent of its business before the virus was takeout.