Owners renovating former W. Main pharmacy building

By Christian Metzger Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON message: “to keep going no matter what the challenges are. ”

Plantsville realtors aim to bring new residents and business to the downtown area with the recent refurbishment of 7 W. Main St. Owners are currently in talks with several prospective tenants for the space and expect it to be filled sometime this summer.

“Our residents live this every day – showing us that no matter what ails them, they are still thriving,” said Toombs.

Plantsville-based Precision Realty bought the building in March of last year and began renovations in late January. There will be four apartments on the second floor and a new retail business space on the ground floor.

Constructed in 1890, the building sits prominently on the corner of West Main and Main streets. Co-owned by cousins Chester and James Potrepka, the property housed Plantsville Pharmacy for more than 60 years having been originally purchased back in 1958. After the pharmacy closed in December of 2018, the building remained vacant until recently.

With limited parking available in the area, the group seeks to fill it with a retail or a professional services space. They want to keep in conversation with the other businesses in downtown Plantsville, to bring more foot traffic along that section of town along with the restaurant spaces.

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“My partner and I own five buildings, right in that downtown Plantsville area, ” said Michael Dziedzic, a broker with Precision Realty and a Southington resident. “We’re very strategic about who we kind of wanted to bring in as tenants. And our longterm goal for that area is to kind of extend people who come down and park in Plantsville to now continue to walk through at least where the pharmacy building was.”

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Dziedzic’s aim is to draw visitors in to explore the whole of Plantsville’s downtown to benefit all the businesses along that stretch of road. “So your foot traffic can start from the trail area in the summertime, past the coffee shop, whatever restaurant eventually goes back into Zingarella's, and you kind of bring the foot traffic back. Eventually you get the foot traffic turned to South Main Street to those buildings, and then now you have a bit of a renaissance of downtown Plantsville,” Dziedzic said.

See Renovation, A11

Arthouse

Join the Congregational Church of Plainville, UCC, 130 West Main St., the third Sunday of the month for The Arthouse at Coffee Hour, where local artists are invited to showcase and sell their work.

Each month will feature a different artist from the community.

To inquire about being showcased at an Arthouse event, email churchoffice@uccplainville.org.

Plainville United Methodist Church

56 Red Stone Hill; 860-747-2328 improvement efforts,” Superintendent of Schools Steven LePage said.

Lenten soup suppers. Thursdays, March 9, 16, 23 and 30, 6:30 p.m.

American Red Cross Blood Drive. Wednesday, March 8, 1 to 6 p.m. To make an appointment, call 1-800-7332767 or go to redcrossblood.org.

From A3

three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

“Elizabeth H. Norton Fund grants have been an incredible, long-time resource in support of school district

“We extend our sincere thanks to the Elizabeth H. Norton Fund Grant Committee for their unwavering support to so many programs and services that benefit our students each year.” loriobrien@bhhsne.com

LoriOBrien.bhhsneproperties.com

Scholarship

The Orchard Valley Garden Club of Southington is accepting applications for a $1,500 scholarship which will be granted to a graduating senior from Southington who will continue their education with any of the following majors: agronomy, botany, city planning, conservation, environmental studies, floriculture, forestry, horticulture, land management, landscape design, plant pathology, or allied subjects.

For more information and an application, visit orchardvalleygardenclub.weebly.com or southingtonschools.org. Applications must be postmarked by Saturday, March 4.

St. Baldrick’s

A St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving fundraiser will take place Saturday, March 4 from noon to 4 p.m. at

Blackstone Irish Pub, 1678 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, Milldale.

St. Baldrick’s is a not-forprofit organization with the aim of raising funds to help find cures for children with cancer.

Irish dinner

Holy Trinity Church, 200 Summer St., Plantsville, will host a corned beef and cabbage dinner with all the fixings Wednesday, March 8 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door. For reservations, call Sandy at 860-681-5483.

Pierogi sale

Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church, 200 Summer St., Plantsville, is selling homemade pierogi (cheese, sauerkraut, potato and cheese, and sweet cabbage). Call Kathy at 860-977-5010 to place your order.

Local theater

Southington Community Theatre will present the Jones Hope Wooten comedy “Farce of Nature” March 3 and 4, 7:30 p.m., at DePaolo Middle School, 385 Pleasant St. Tickets are $15. Tickets are available online at southingtoncommunitytheatre.org and at Just For You Gift Shoppe, 979 MeridenWaterbury Road, Plantsville; The Music Shop, 405 Queen St., and at the door. For more information, visit southingtoncommunitytheatre.org or email southingtoncommunitytheatre@ gmail.com.

Concert

The Plainville Wind Ensemble presents an all-John Williams concert Sunday, March 12, 2 p.m., at Plainville High School, 47 Robert Holcomb Way. Directed by Ken Bagley, “A Tribute to John Williams” will encompass several popular pieces, including four from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Harry Potter Symphonic Suite and A Hymn to New England. The theme from “Schindler’s List” will feature guest violin soloist Shannon Webster. Attendees at the performance will be greeted at the door by Darth Vader’s storm troopers and other Star Wars characters. Also, concert-goers are encouraged to come dressed as a character from a John Williams movie. Admission is free. Donations gratefully accepted. For more information, visit plainvillewindensemble.com.

Prom wear

Plainville High School’s Social Change Association is hosting a “Prom Wear Drive” through Tuesday, March 7. The group is collecting new or gently worn formal dresses, skirts and tops, suits, jackets, slacks, shoes, jewelry, and handbags, as well as monetary donations. For each item someone donates, they will be entered into a raffle to win a Craft Kitchen gift card. Prom attire and cash donations may be dropped off at Plainville High, 47 Robert Holcomb Way, weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. Donations are also accepted via Venmo at: @phs-blue-devils (note “Prom Wear Drive”). For more information, email wasleye@ plainvilleschools.org.

Class of 1973

The 50th reunion planning committee for the Plainville High School Class of 1973 is looking for classmates. If you are a 1973 PHS graduate, or know of one, email contact information to crczellecz@ comcast.net.

Veteran assistance

The Town of Southington Veterans Service Office is located in Town Hall, 75 Main St. Veterans may seek assistance with an array of issues. Office hours are Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon, and the first and last Thursday of the month, 5 to 7 p.m. To make an appointment outside of these hours, leave a message at 860-276-6299 or e-mail veteranscommittee@southington.org.

Grants available

Main Street Community Foundation invites nonprofit organizations serving Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and/or Wolcott to apply for grants through its General Grant Cycle. To learn about the application process, guidelines and eligibility criteria, visit mainstreetfoundation.org. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 24.

Renovation

The news comes after the recent closure of Zingarella’s Pizzeria & Ice Cream Cafe and Fireside on Main, two restaurants that occupy prominent spaces in Plantsville center. Both have had to shutter due to the difficulties of rising costs of food, deliveries, and staffing leaving residents to worry about the future of Plantsville village.

Despite the recent hardships for the area, community representatives remain optimistic about what the new business will bring to the area after the long vacancy period, restoring vibrancy to that prominent intersection of town.

“I think it's exciting news that someone has purchased the building,” said Joanne Alfieri, a co-chair of the Village of Plantsville Association.

“I think that when the building at Plantsville Pharmacy is finished, it's probably going to look really nice and blend in with the aesthetics of the community down there. So I think it's all positive. It's good news for Plantsville, that's for sure.”

Alfieri said that, while it’s unfortunate that Zingarella and Fireside on Main closed, with how nice the properties are and in a prominent section of town they won’t remain vacant for long.

“They are two really nice buildings. Hopefully somebody's going to come in and put restaurants in there and Plantsville will start to become more vibrant. It's unfortunate that that happened, but hopefully they'll be able to get some new businesses in there,” said Alfieri.

Precision Realty will make details available about the property on its website in the coming months as it’s developed, Dziedzic said.

Kelley School on Ridgewood Road was also favored among the options presented as the best candidate to be demolished and rebuilt as a brand-new facility.

While separate from the construction projects themselves, all of the plans presented featured redistricting, with the aim of eliminating pocket districts and satellite areas to feed students between elementary and middle schools better, a process that could save the schools money long term in additional transportation costs. While the members of the board didn’t decide on which plan they would choose, a plan must be finalized and presented to the Board of Finance by May so Town Manager Mark Sciota can make preparations to put the item on November’s referendum ballot.

“Let it be known that this is a feasibility study, no deci- sions have been made. It’s not a decision about how we came to this. This is just informational, to us, to make the decisions,” school board member Sean Carson said.

“It’s critical to this community and to this board to make a decision.”

School Superintendent Steven Madancy expressed a desire to host public forums with the community, not just the parents, to inform them about what the different options entail and hear their input about what they’d like to see from the project.

“I think it’s beyond the parents we have prospective parents that don’t even have students in our schools yet and we also have taxpayers that care about what they vote for at referendum and what’s going to be the return to the community if they support it,” Madancy said.

Time is of the essence, board members acknowledged, with just under three months to make a decision on the construction projects.

“There’s a lot to think about here, and we don’t have a lot of time,” board Chair Colleen Clark said.

The study, undertaken by the architecture firm SLAM Collaborative, analyzed the impact of future elementary school construction projects versus continued redistricting.

Three pocket districts have been created to re-route children into other schools two to Flanders and the other to South End School, on Maxwell Noble Drive in Plantsville.

The push for the new construction was brought on by figures that enrollment in Southington schools would continue to grow overall in the coming years, pushing the older elementary buildings further past their capacity. Especially with the pending construction of more apartments in town, student numbers could swell.

To mitigate this, four different plans looked at the impacts between renovating, new construction, and adding extensions to pre-existing buildings.

Across three of the four plans, Flanders is slated to close, citing the building’s age as well as issues with the property that make it a less ideal candidate to keep or renovate the building.

Of the data collected by SLAM, their third plan would provide the best overall impact to the schools. The project would see the closure of Flanders, and the complete reconstruction of a new school on the Kelley site, with Derynoski School on Main Street slated for improvements in a future referendum.

The plan would even out student enrollment between the schools in town. The redistricting that would come from the plan has the potential to impact upwards of 19.1% of the district’s ele- mentary students.

Madancy wished to separate the conversations about redistricting from the construction itself, noting that they can plan on redistricting whether or not the referendum does pass.

“I think we do need to start doing some initial planning for redistricting, because we’ve got issues right now. And those issues are costing us in transportation” said David Derynoski, a member of the board who has been through three redistricting situations during his 30-year tenure. “They’re painful, but they’ve always worked out fine. Once they’re done everyone seems to be happy and glad it was done. But I think it’s something we have to start looking at right now.”

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for March 23.

Dorothy L. Mann Rehm

WALLINGFORD -

Dorothy Leora (Mann) Rehm, 94 of Wallingford, formerly of Southington and Meriden, passed away Sunday, February 19, 2023, peacefully surrounded by her sons and daughters in-law after battling pneumonia.

Dorothy was born on a Sunday morning, 11:00 AM when the church bells were ringing in New Britian, May 27, 1928, a daughter to the late Bernard Deane and Rebecca (Ellis) Mann and sister to the late Ralph G. Mann. After many years in Southington, she married the late Robert L. Rehm and lived in South Meriden where together they built a beautiful family life. Dorothy was an active member of her church, United Methodist in South Meriden where she often attended bible study classes, sang in the choir and volunteered in many women’s groups. Needlepoint was one of her favorite hobbies and she made many beautiful, framed pieces. Dorothy loved to read and write poetry. Dorothy volunteered as a Boy Scout Den Mom, Brownie Leader, PTA and enjoyed her bridge club. She was an avid pet lover. Dorothy’s favorites included her two dogs, Thumper and Lucy and while she had many cats and her three favorites were an orange and white long haired, Sunny Jim and her “Tuxedo” Cats, Teddy and Timmy. She loved the arts and playing the organ, piano and enjoyed classical music.

After many years they moved to Southington and became active members of the Grace United Methodist Church. Both

Obituaries

Joan K. Lyman

SOUTHINGTON - Joan (Kohler) Lyman, 92, of Southington, passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at the Ludlowe Center for Health & Rehab in Fairfield. She was the loving wife of the late Walter Lyman. She was born February 11, 1930 in Hartford, a daughter of the late John and Alice (Hitchings) Kohler.

lationship with the client – catering to their needs rather than by strict parameters set by one of the major real estate chains. Offering a comforting atmosphere also helps people better digest information.

Dorothy and Bob loved to travel and spend time with their ever-growing family. In addition to her predeceased husband and her late beloved daughter, Linda D. (Rehm) Wiegert of Wallingford, she is survived by her eldest son, John Robert Rehm and his wife CarrollSue Cassella Rehm of Vero Beach, Florida, son Daniel E. Rehm and wife Rachael Rehm of Bristol, son in-law, Brian Wiegert of Wallingford, sister in-law Meredith Mann of Southington, grandchildren Christopher Wiegert and wife Casey, Michael-John Rehm, Kimberly Wiegert, Christina Rehm Spencer and husband Jonathan and her sweet greatgrandchildren, Elizabeth, Max, AJ, Jedrick and Raegan along with nieces and nephews.

A service and celebration of life will take place on May 20, 2023, at the Grace United Methodist Church, 121 Pleasant Street, Southington. In lieu of flowers, please donate, in Dorothy’s memory and name to her favorite charity, the CT Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111 www.cthumane.org

Joan was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church in Southington for many years, where she made many wonderful, long lasting friendships. She enjoyed singing in the church choir, was an active member of the Women’s Group and the Red Hatter’s. Joan loved to read and was a member of the Church book club. She loved music, especially classical music, which she played on the piano as a young woman. She also enjoyed crocheting, quilting and knitting. Joan enjoyed many activities during her lifetime, but was most happy when surrounded by her family and friends.

She is survived by her two children, Linda Anzaldi and husband William of Stratford and Philip (Buddy) Merriam, Jr. and partner Kathy DeVine of Sound Beach, NY; sister Marion Miller and husband Howard of Granby; four grandchildren, Matthew Anzaldi and wife Anna, Amy Hopkins and husband Ian, Michael Anzaldi, and Harmony and husband David Dileo; five great-grandchildren, Jack, Liam, Juliana, Charlie and Bradyn; and two nephews, John Miller of Newington, and Mark Miller and wife Gretel of Fountain Hills, AZ.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 121 Pleasant St., Southington. Burial at Oak Hill Cemetery will be private. The DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Southington, is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joan’s name to Shriner’s Hospital. For online condolences and directions please visit, www. dellavecchiasouthington. com

”I think people like when you associate things to everyday life Not necessarily what a company or brand is telling you how you have to approach someone, your approach or more on a personal level,” Evjen said.

“I think that if you just come at people with a different perspective than what's given to you that everyone has available online, people appreciate that. Everything is out there these days on Zillow and Realtor and Trulia. It's just nice when you give them a different perspective that they can already find online.”

Despite opening its doors recently, Best Realty has seen success in the location, even in spite of the recent downturn in the real estate market. The owners attribute the centralized location as part of their growth, alongside their community ties and business acumen.

Kelly Harvey was a real estate regulator for the state of Connecticut for 12 years, and Joe has lived in Southington all his life. Together, they want to bring more people into town and enrich the local area.

“It's important to be able to give back to the community in a town that's provided so much for our family, Joe Harvey said.

Obituaries

Charlene A. Valente

COLCHESTER - Charlene

A. (Knapp) Valente, 68, of Colchester, CT, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, after a courageous battle with Glioblastoma.

Charlene was born on July 23, 1954, in Southington, to the late Edward and Gladys (Uliasz) Knapp. She was raised in Southington and then moved to Fairfield, where her children grew up. She then moved to Colchester, CT and recently moved to Palm Beach Gardens, FL, to be closer to family.

Charlene A. Valente COLCHESTER Charlene A. (Knapp) Valente, 68, of Colchester, CT, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, after a courageous battle with Glioblastoma. Charlene was born on July 23, 1954, in Southington, to the late Edward and Gladys (Uliasz) Knapp. She was raised in Southington and then moved to Fairfield, where her children grew up. She then moved to Colchester, CT and recently moved to Palm Beach Gardens,FL, to be closer to family. Charlene cherished her family dearly and enjoyed every moment she was able to spend with her grandchildren and greatgrandson, Joey. She was an exceptional mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother who careddeeply for her family and friends. She did this not out of obligation but because of who she was. Her dog Lucy of 13 years was one of her greatest joys and

Charlene cherished her family dearly and enjoyed every moment she was able to spend with her grandchildren and greatgrandson, Joey. She was an exceptional mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother who cared deeply for her family and friends. She did this not out of obligation but because of who she was. Her dog Lucy of 13 years was one of her greatest joys and one of her best friends. Charlene also had a passion for cooking and was always complimented for her delicious meals. It was important to her that there was a homemade meal on the table for her family every single night and that’s exactly what she did. She was always the first to offer to help anyone in need and was a compassionate spirit whose passion was caring for others. She volunteered numerous times at the soup kitchen with her granddaughters, Melanie and Ashley. She will be remembered for her kind heart, selflessness one of her best friends. Charlene also had a passion for cooking andwas always complimented for her delicious meals. Itwas important to her that there was a homemade meal on the table for herfamily every single night and that’s exactly what she did. She was always the first to offer to help anyone in need and was a compassionate spirit whose passion was caring for others. She volunteered numerous times at the soup and determination. She is survived by her daughter Andrea Colon and husband David, along with Lucy, her 13-year-old Shih-Tzu, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, son Anthony Valente of Boston, MA, 3 granddaughters, Marisa Lello and her fiancé David Hawley, Ashley Lello and Melanie Lello and one cherished great-grandson, Joseph Birky. She is also survived by her sister, Ann Cole and husband George of Old Lyme, CT and her nieces and nephews; Bridgette Lee and husband Chris and their children Madison and Thomas, Rebecca Cole and her daughters, Allison and Quinn and Mark Cole and wife Kelly and their daughter, Mackenzie. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charlene’s memory may be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation, P.O. Box 62066, Durham, kitchen with her granddaughters, Melanie and Ashley. She will be remembered for her kind heart, selflessness and determination. She is survived by her daughter Andrea Colonand husband David, along with Lucy, her 13-year-old ShihTzu, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, son Anthony Valente of Boston, MA, 3 granddaughters, Marisa Lello and her fiancé David Hawley, Ashley Lello and Melanie Lello and one cherished great-grandson, Joseph Birky. She is also survived by her sister, Ann Cole and husband George of Old Lyme, CT and her nieces and nephews; Bridgette Lee and husband Chris and their children Madison and Thomas, Rebecca Cole and her daughters, Allison and Quinn and Mark Cole and wife Kelly and their daughter, Mackenzie. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charlene’s memory may be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation, P.O. Box 62066, Durham, NC 27715 (https:// glioblastomafoundation.org/). PlantsvilleFuneral Home was entrusted with handling the arrangements. For online condolences, please visit www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com.

Sandra M. Rinehart

SOUTHINGTON - Sandra M. (Pekunka) Rinehart, 75, of Southington, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. She had been the loving wife of Thomas J. Rinehart for 51 years. Sandra was born on September 15, 1947 in Greenport, NY, to the late Michael and Anna (Mysliborski) Pekunka. She graduated from the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in Newark, New Jersey and worked as a Registered Nurse at Cheshire Convalescent Home for over 30 years. Sandy enjoyed being involved in her neighborhood and community and was a member of Southington’s Welcome Wagon group and Mom’s & Tot’s. She was a big NY Yankees fan and enjoyed watching games almost every night. She also enjoyed cooking, going to the casino and traveling. In addition to her husband Tom, Sandy is survived by her son, Brian Rinehart and his wife Amy Clark of Southington, her brother, Michael Pekunka of Greenport, NY and her niece, Dawn Cokeril and husband Tom and their children, Dahlia and Trevor,

SOUTHINGTON Sandra M. (Pekunka) Rinehart, 75, of Southington, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. She had been the loving wife of Thomas J. Rinehart for 51 years. Sandra was born on September 15, 1947 in Greenport, NY, to the late Michael and Anna (Mysliborski) Pekunka. She graduated from the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in Newark, New Jersey and worked as a Registered Nurse at Cheshire Convalescent Home for over 30 years. Sandy enjoyed being involved in her neighborhood and community and was a member of Southington’s Welcome Wagon group and Mom’s& Tot’s. She was a big NY Yankees fan and enjoyed watching games almost every night. She also enjoyed cooking, going to the casino and traveling. In addition to her husband Tom, Sandy is survived by her son, Brian Rinehart and his wife Amy Clark of Southington, her brother, Michael Pekunka of Greenport, NY and her niece, Dawn Cokeril and husband all of Beaumont, TX. She was predeceased by her son, John T. Rinehart, her sister, Barbara Marceszski and her nephew, Clint Marceszski. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sandy’s memory may be made to the Henry Low Heart Center Fund, P.O. Box 5037, Hartford, CT 06102 (https://giving. hartfordhospital.org/ donate/). A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at St. Thomas Cemetery, Southington. Plantsville Funeral Home has been entrusted with handling the arrangements. For online condolences and directions, please visit www. plantsvillefuneralhome. com.

Tom and their children, Dahlia and Trevor, all of Beaumont, TX. She was predeceased by her son, John T. Rinehart, her sister, Barbara Marceszski and her nephew, Clint Marceszski. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sandy’s memory may be made to the Henry Low Heart Center Fund, P.O. Box 5037, Hartford, CT 06102 (https:/ /giving.hartfordhospital.org/donate/). A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at St.Thomas Cemetery, Southington. Plantsville Funeral Home has been entrusted with handling the arrangements. For online condolences and directions, please visit www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com.

Southington has received a total of $53,825 in the last year, including $31,307 for the six-month period, and Wallingford received $59,442 in the last year, of which $32,443 is for the six-month period.

Cheshire hasn’t decided yet what to with the money, ac- cording to Assistant Town Manager Arnett Talbot.

“The Solid Waste Committee of the Town Council is considering a combination of programs and some cleanup events,” said Talbot. “They are in the process of planning how to spend this money and any future money we might get. Hopefully within the next month or so we will have that in place.”

In Wallingford, the issue came up recently when Long Hill Road resident Bob Gross asked the Town Council and Mayor William Dickinson Jr. how the town would be spending its share of the money.

“We have received the money, ” Dickinson said. “It hasn’t been appropriated yet. My chief concern now is the 2023-24 budget, so that’s occupying time and concerns. ”

“It’s a shame it’s just sitting there,” Gross said. “It could be used to fix parks.”

According to the State Office of Legislative Research, “the law requires municipalities receiving the funds to use them for environmental efforts to reduce the amount of solid waste generated in the municipality or impact of litter. These efforts can include such things as hiring a recycling coordinator; installing storm drain filters to block debris or buying a mechanical street sweeper, vacuum, or broom to remove litter from streets, sidewalks, and abutting lawn and turf areas. ”

“It’s not working,” Mushinsky said. “They’re all over the streets and people like me and volunteers, we clean them up every year, but I get tired of cleaning up the liquor in the streets. I really get tired of it.”

“They’re all over the place. My personal preference would be either to put a deposit on them as soon as possible or if we can’t do that, to ban them. But they’re here now and they’re all over the streets of Wallingford, I can tell you that,” she said.

It’s a problem that is costing taxpayers money because municipalities and the state have to devote time and staff to cleaning them up, Mushinsky said.

While the payouts are supposed to fund those efforts, Mushinsky hasn’t yet seen any results, she said.

“When the stuff is left along the roads and parks, the public volunteers, the Department of Public Works, the Parks Department and the Department of Transportation, they all have to clean up this stuff,” Mushinsky said.

“And it’s every year, and in some of these neighborhoods it’s every week depending on how close you are to the liquor store, and it’s pretty bad. So I don’t think this fund works very well. I’m not a fan of this fund because it doesn’t make a dent in the problem.”

Last week’s gathering largely focused on three bills referenced throughout the hearing as starting points that would establish the popular voting method as soon as 2023. Each bill would mandate 10, 14 and 18 days of early voting.

“It is time for Connecticut to listen to their voters,” said Chen, speaking in support of the bill that would establish 14 days of early voting. “It is time for Connecticut to give its constituency the choice of education and training to support early voting procedures. It is time for Connecticut to catch up and be at the forefront of sustaining democratic institutions.”

Stephanie Thomas, the state’s top election official, was the first to publicly testify in favor of early voting on Feb. 22, specifically backing the bill that would allow for 10 days.

Thomas said she settled on the time after reviewing a recent study that showed longer periods of early voting having less success over time, “because people tend to appear the first couple of days.” The former legislator also said people she spoke with expressed a desire for more weekend time to vote.

The legislation she endorsed would also provide sameday election and same-day primary registration during early voting periods, as well as require her office “to undertake efforts to educate the public” and “train registrars of voters” on the matter. She’s also recommending one polling place per town during the early voting period.

Regardless of which bill gleans the most support, she said, the two most important components of any of the legislation are the need for state funding and timely passage “so that there is time to implement it seamlessly.”’

“We believe all three versions are a solid starting point and include many of the Secretary Office’s logistical considerations and policy proposals that our election staff have weighed in on, ” said Thomas, a Democrat. “We think this will help to create a program that can be instituted seamlessly while providing voters with greatly increased access to the ballot box.”

Without an agreed-upon framework for early voting, it is unclear how much the effort will cost. Gov. Ned Lamont also did not include funding for the measure in his proposed budget.

At the public hearing last week, Republicans Sen. Rob

Sampson and Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco both of whom represent Wolcott and have publicly opposed expanding voting access, while Sampson has raised baseless claims of election fraud prompted questions to speakers about how the state would fund the effort, accommodate election workers and maintain election security.

Both GOP lawmakers indicated that they favor a shorter early voting period, around three to five days.

Read the full story on the website of The Connecticut Mirror, ctmirror.org.

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Legal Notice Plainville

Planning and Zoning Commission

The Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chase Auditorium of the Plainville Public Library, 56 East Main Street, Plainville, CT to consider the following items:

1. PZ 01-23 #02 – Site Plan and Special Exception for the Town of Plainville to construct/reconstruct a sanitary sewer pump station at 0 Suttle Meadow Road (MBL 48J-18) in an R-11 Zone.

2. PZ 01-23 #03 – Special Exception for Premier Cricket Academy LLC to operate an indoor recreation facility at 86 Whiting Street in a GC Zone.

3. PZ 01-23 #04 – Zoning Text Amendment for Fahey & Landolina Attorneys LLC to revise Art 9 and Sec 2.02.12.7 to define and add car wash use to the GC Zone.

4. PZ 02-23 #05 – Zoning Text Amendment for the Town of Plainville to revise Art 9 and Sec 2.04.A to define and amend drive through facilities regulations where permitted.

Information is available for public inspection in the Planning Department. At this hearing, interested persons may appear and be heard, and written communications may be received. Respectfully submitted, Mathew Weimer, Secretary, Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission. Dated at Plainville, CT February 21, 2023.

R259208

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

TOP CASH PAID

For Junk or unwanted vehicles, Toyota’s etc. Please call Mike @ 203284-8562 8am-5pm.

LIBRARIAN

Cheshire Library seeks qualified candidates to apply for 35 hr/wk position in its Youth Services department. Starting minimum hourly rate: $36.31 Successful candidate must have considerable experience planning & performing programs for children 0-18 years & their families. MLS required. For further information including job description & application process, see the Town’s web site at www.cheshirect.org . Deadline for applying is 3-10-23. Cheshire is an EEOE. M/F/D/V

School Bus Drivers

Needed for Southington/ Meriden/Berlin/Rocky Hill - Must be 21yrs or older and possess a driver’s license for at least 3yrs – Paid training to acquire CDL license and endorsements available –The opportunity to bring your children to work, No Childcare$$ - Contact Sheila at New Britain Transportation (860) 8280511 ext. 221 or visit us at, 257 Woodlawn Rd., Berlin, CT

RETIRED COUPLE -

From NC seeking to rent Mother-in-Law apartment in Wallingford, CT area, to be used as home base, when visiting area. If interested, contact by email: manduffer@ya hoo.com

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

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

MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION

Screened Topsoil $25/ 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 @ 860-982-4819 for delivery

TOOLBOXES - Tools & tooling, contents of machine shops, home workshops and small lathes. Call anytime 860-985-5760

GRASSY HILL AUC-

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.

TIONS, - 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, Foun tain Pens, Mechanical Pencils, Fraternal Or Items, Religious Items, Industrial Items, Win chester Items, Sikorsky Items, Pratt & Whitney Items, Colt Items, Na tive American Items, Vintage Electronics, Slot Cars, Toy Trucks, Matchbox & Hot wheels, Barbie’s, Folk Art, Statues, Bronzes, Trains, Cameras, Mid Century Modern Fur niture, 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

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

CarpetCare Solutions 2 rooms, $89. Sofa, $75. 20% disc. new customers w/ad. 203-427-5165.

HOUSECLEANING

Condos, offices, windows. Oven & Fridge free. Refs. 16 Years Exp. Fabiana, 203.565.7745.

JUNK REMOVAL

Hot Tub Removal, Furniture, appliances, entire contents of: homes, sheds, estates, attics, basements, garages & more. *SPRING YARD Clean-ups* FREE ESTIMATES. LIC & INS. DUMPSTER RENTALS 203-535-9817 860-575-8218

IF YOU Mention

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SPRINGYard Clean-Ups

Brush, branches, s torm damage

**JUNK REMOVAL**

Appl’s, Furniture, Junk, Debris, etc WE CAN REMOVE ANYTHING Entire house to 1 item removed! FREE ESTIMATES

Sr. Citizen Discount LIC & INS. DUMPSTER RENTALS 203-535-9817 860-575-8218

FRONTLINE PLUMBING - Plumbing repairs & replacements, toilets, tubs, sinks, showers, 30 yrs exp., 100% free quotes. #0286296-P1. Bob 203-213-0691.

Let

Junk Removal in CT

GUTTERS CLEANED Painting Int. & Ext. Powerwashing Free Ests. Ins. Refs. Rodrigo, (203) 565-7745.

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

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

CustomColonial Painting.com Since ‘99 Lic’d 0630904 & Ins’d Senior Discount Warranty. Financing 860-306-0270

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