SOUTHINGTON The Library Capital Campaign Committee has begun charting a plan to fundraise for the pending library construction project. Despite significant cutbacks, rising construction costs caused by supply chain issues have caused the building to go over the $17 million approved by voters during the November referendum in 2021.
Despite recent closures of nearby restaurants in Plantsville, Hop Haus owner
Mike Miller remains optimistic about the future and plans to expand on the suc-
cess of his business by growing into other towns. Pressing supply chain issues have caused price hikes in food and transportation for restaurants nationwide, forcing closures of smaller, family-owned restau-
rants. Despite that, Miller said he remains successful due to a loyal customer base and collaboration with other local businesses for their food and craft beer. Having recently begun
See Hop Haus, A14
Town Manager Mark Sciota and other members of the library building committee have looked toward fundraising to help make up the difference, to pay for essential interior furnishings for the new building upwards of $700,000. With the help of Danosky & Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in working with nonprofits, the committee sifted through data sheets during a March 9 meeting
See Library, A21
NAUGATUCK Four years ago, Jennifer Harding had a scare no mother should have to experience. Her son, Derek, who was 8 years old at the time, disappeared one day. The boy, who is on the autism
spectrum, walked away from his grandfather’s house with his mother's phone in hand, wearing nothing but a diaper. Derek was found safe soon after, but Harding knows this situation could have had a tragic outcome.
See Derek, A12
SOUTHINGTON – Town of-
ficials are looking to secure state money to continue maintaining the Merriman Burying Ground, an old cemetery on Marion Avenue. Local Boy Scouts and the Southington Genealogical Society have cleaned up the cemetery from time to time. Last year, the town got a $3,000 state grant to straighten and repair stones and conduct landscaping work. The town is now looking for a similar amount of state money to continue straightening headstones as well as wash the stones.
Liz Kopec, an Oak Hill Cemetery board member, said the Merriman Burying Ground could use expert work on the headstones that are obscured or leaning. Such work has been done at
Oak Hill, greatly improving the readability of headstones from hundreds of years ago.
“I think that’s what the Merriman cemetery needs,” Kopec said. “Every time I drove by there it was a mess. ”
The most recent is 1887.
See Cemetery, A11
Press Release
In recognition of Women's History Month, the Plainville Historical Society will present the program "Writing Women" which will highlight a diverse and fascinating group of women authors and journalists with Plainville connections.
Cedar Mountain Commons, an independent and assisted living community located at 3 John H. Stewart Drive, Newington, will host an open house Sunday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is recommended. To reserve a time, call 860-665-7901.
The program will feature poet Anna Granniss, mystery writer Doris Miles Disney, children's author and Caldecott Medal winner Margaret Wynkoop Musgrove, romance novelist Marion Suess Ekholm and journalists Geraldine Bronkie and MaryEllen Fillo (Wazorko).
The program will also feature three "next generation" women writers; young adult novelist Crystal Maldonado, children's and young adult author Cindy Rodriguez, and Heather Provost, who is writing for film and television.
take place Saturday March 25, 1:30 p.m., at the Plainville Historic Center, 29 Pierce St. Elevator access is available.
Arbor Rose at Jerome Home, an independent and assisted living community located at 975 Corbin Ave., New
The "Writing Women" program will
Britain, will host an open house Tuesday, March 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. Registration is recommended. To reserve a time, call 860-229-3707.
Register by sending an email to plvhistorical@gmail.com with your name, contact information, and number of people attending. RECYCLE YOUR
Please & Thank you.
CLUB
SOUTHINGTON SOCCER CLUB
Spring 2023 Registration for Academy & Small Stars Programs
Spring Teams now forming for the 2018 SEASON
Boys & Girls born between 1999 & 2014
Boys & Girls born between 2016 & 2020
For more information & to register, visit southingtonsoccer.org
For more information & to register, visit southingtonsoccer.org
The following Holy Week services have been scheduled: April 2 at 10 a.m.Palm Sunday Worship, April 6 at 7 p.m. - a Taize (Contemplative Christian) service with Communion, April 7 at 7 p.m. - Good Friday Service with the Rev. DJ Don, April 9 at 7 a.m. - Sunrise Easter Service at Tomasso Nature Park (weather permitting).
Lenten soup suppers will be held Thursdays, March 23 and 30, at 6:30 p.m.
The third Sunday of the month, the church hosts The Arthouse at Coffee Hour, where local artists are invited to showcase and sell their work. To inquire about being showcased at an Arthouse event, email churchoffice@uccplainville.org.
The church will host a Community Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 8 at 4 p.m. This is a free event and all ages are welcome.
An American Red Cross Blood Drivewill be held Monday, April 10, 1 to 6 p.m.
Call 1-800-733-2767 or go to redcrossblood.org to make an appointment.
On Monday, Attorney General William Tong’s office urged the court to reject the basis of part of Hartford HealthCare’s argument to dismiss an antitrust case filed against the hospital system.
The original proposed classaction lawsuit filed in February 2022 alleged the network uses its market dominance to charge higher prices to the state’s commercially insured residents.
“As one of Connecticut’s major hospital networks, the result of HHC’s anticompetitive conduct has been a dramatic increase in prices on acute care and in the cost of commercial health insurance for commercially insured individuals and their employers,” stated the lawsuit.
Hartford HealthCare
cember, filed a motion to dismiss it, arguing that among other points, the plaintiffs can’t sue under the Connecticut Antitrust Act because they are “indirect purchasers” of the hospital’s services. The motion stated that patients don’t qualify as “direct purchasers” because they are paying for hospital services through an insurer or an employer.
tual or legal issues in the case, ” wrote Hartford HealthCare spokesperson Rebecca Stewart in emailed comments. “We continue to believe that this lawsuit has no merit, and we await the court’s action.”
But, in the brief filed Monday, the AG’s office disagreed with that interpretation. The brief explains that, in 2018, Connecticut passed a state law affirming the right of indirect purchasers to sue under the Connecticut Antitrust Act.
Connecticut is one of thirtysix states that have passed such a law.
“In his recently filed brief, the Attorney General wrote for the limited purpose of addressing Conn. Gen. Stat. § 35-46a and explicitly took no position on any other fac-
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an Universalist Society: East in Manchester, which has struggled to provide health coverage for its employees in the face of increasing premiums. See THE Everything you’re looking for now all in one event as the Chamber’s Health Fair, Business Expo and Career Fair come together on one convenient day. FREE TO ATTEND VISIT THE AER LINGUS BOOTH TO ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A ROUNDTRIP FLIGHT FROM HARTFORD TO IRELAND.
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Plainville Community Schools’ “All-Star” award winners for the month of January were staff members Ashley Carl, Sharyn Lavore, David Levenduski and Matthew Guarino. The honorees were recognized at the Jan. 19 Board of Education meeting. Plainville Community Schools’ “AllStar” award recognizes students, faculty, staff and community members who go above and beyond in modeling the school district’s “Portrait of the Graduate” characteristics and demonstrating excellence in alignment with the school district’s team goals. Pictured: Board of Education chair Lori Consalvo, Food Services Director Ashley Carl and Superintendent of Schools Steven LePage.
Photo provided by Plainville Community Schools
The Connecticut Mirror
Connecticut took a step Tuesday towards its second overhaul of electric utility accountability and regulation in three years with a bipartisan legislative committee vote to send to the Senate a complex and stillevolving bill.
Senate Bill 7 goes to the floor as an amalgam of at least three bills, two authored by Democrats and one by Republicans on an Energy and Technology Committee where party-line votes often give way to compromise and negotiation.
The handful of negative votes came from Republicans who praised the ambitions of the bill but declined
to vote for a measure deemed “a work in progress” by the committee’s co-chair, Sen. Norm Needleman, DEssex. “I am confident we will get to yes on this bill for everybody,” Needleman said.
The approval came in the committee’s last meeting be fore its Thursday deadline for acting on bills. The ad ministration of Gov. Ned La mont generally has endorsed many of the provisions, while reserving judgment until a final version is pro duced.
The session opened in January with the Democratic majority and Republican minority proposing competing bills aimed at addressing the high cost of electricity, the reliability of its generation, and regulator oversight.
“The negotiations have been in good faith, said Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich, who is in his first term as the rank ing Senate Republican on the energy committee.
Senate Bill 7 is intended to give the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority more discretion over rate setting and to shift responsibility for some costs from ratepayers
to utility shareholders, including compensation for executives and lobbying at the state Capitol.
See Utilities, A8
To our valued existing and soon-to-be patients: Your health is very important to us. Your loyalty to us is reflected in our loyalty to you. We know your names and your needs because we are the community pharmacy.
We wouldn't be doing our job to the best of our ability if we were only available part of the time. We have two full time pharmacists on duty.
When you need a prescription filled or have a question, we're here for you. Always.
With over 35 years of experience as a PA, he prides himself on his kind and empathetic care.
Stephen is excited to join doctors Peter Harris, David Roy, Oosman Tariq and Ashley Bogue, PA-C to continue to serve the Plainville community.
For an apponitment, call 860.747.5766 or visit starlingphysicians.com for information.
Adelphi University, Garden City, N.Y., named Gizem Tartici to its dean’s list for the fall semester.
Bryant University, Smithfield, R.I., named Nicholas Grabowksi to its dean’s list for the fall semester.
Clark University, Worcester, Mass., named Ethan Wellington to its dean’s list for the fall semester.
Emerson College, Boston, Mass., named Mackenzie Ramsey to its dean’s list for the fall semester.
Emmanuel College, Boston, Mass., named Wiktoria Galazyn to its dean’s list for the fall semester.
Husson University, Bangor, Maine, named Beau Lasher to its dean’s list for the fall semester.
University of Hartford, W. Hartford, named the following students to its dean’s list for the fall semester: Madison Albright, Delaney Beausoleil, Alec Couture, Emily Desantis, Aidan Plourde, Tessa Susco.
The spine is typically curved to reduce shock and distribute weight evenly along the length of the back. However, in some people, the natural curves in the spine are overly pronounced. This can cause pain and spasms in the lower back muscles, leading to a lower quality of life. Called lordosis, or sway back, the condition most often occurs in the back’s lumbar region, but it can also appear in the cervical spine. While it’s often congenital, obesity, pregnancy, poor posture, and osteoporosis can also contribute. Seeing a skilled chiropractor is a good idea. Chiropractic care can help reduce or eliminate lower back pain caused by lordosis through chiropractic adjustments, or spinal manipulation may be utilized to restore normal functioning.
Maintaining proper body alignment, from head to toe, is important to overall health. For optimal musculoskeletal health, chiropractors help align not only the spine but the extremities as well. Many people visit a chiropractor because they are in pain, have poor posture, or are looking for injury prevention or pain relief. Our goal is to educate you on the benefits of the chiropractic adjustment, so you in turn can educate others.
To schedule an appointment, please call 860-621-2225 or visit us at 200 Queen St., Southington.
P.S. Lordosis can be common in children.
The answers you need. The Care you Deserve. Visit our website: RayaClinic.com
At the start of the meeting Tuesday, Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, the House co-chair, raised expectations for what negotiations will produce.
“I just want to comment for a moment, to impress upon all the committee members, just how consequential this bill is,” Steinberg said. “If you’re gonna go back to your constituents and say what did we accomplish the session, we have fulfilled, or we’re in the process of fulfilling, our obligation to hold the utilities accountable.”
Rep. Bill Buckbee, R-New Milford, the ranking House Republican, said legislators are driven by consumer frustration over electric costs, which are the highest in the continental U.S. “I think that the people of the state have come to us and said, ‘Enough is enough,’” he said.
Legislators passed the “Take Back Our Grid Act” in a special session after Tropical Storm Isaias in 2020. Among other things, it directed PURA to establish performance-based regulation that is tied to specific goals and metrics, not simply the cost of providing service.
Senate Bill 7 is a recognition that the 2020 bill has not been as transformative as lawmakers hoped.
“What it is is a very significant regulatory enhancement bill. It is Take Back Our Grid, Part Two,” Needleman said. “We are hoping that at the end of this we add some tools in the toolbox for our regulatory authority.”
The compromise bill offers a nod to Marissa P. Gillett, the PURA chair who dissented in the authority’s 21 vote to accept a $103 million settlement that Eversource negotiated with the Lamont administration in 2021 over its bungled response to Isaias.
She told lawmakers this year the settlement evinced a bad habit of relying on negotiated settlements rather than formal rate proceedings that would allow regulators a deeper dive into the utility’s inner workings and finances.
Needleman said the final version of the bill will set parameters for the use of settlements, but he offered little insight as to how.
“And that’s an ongoing conversation,” Needleman said. “I spoke to the attorney general, who’s speaking to his staff. I have not heard from the governor.”
Senate Bill 7 has elements of the Democrats’ Senate Bill 966 and the Republicans ’ Senate Bill 123.
Katie Dykes typically speaks for the Lamont administration on energy issues as the commissioner
“Connecticut consumers ultimately pay the price for anticompetitive actions by health care conglomerates, and the General Assembly gave those consumers access to the Connecticut court system,” stated Jamie Crooks, partner at Fairmark Partners LLP, one of the law firms representing the plaintiffs.
The move by the attorney general’s office comes in the
midst of a legislative session where Gov. Ned Lamont has made hospital costs and competition a priority.
A pair of cost containment bills proposed by the governor include a proposed ban on what health care advocates call anticompetitive contract language in negotiating with insurance agencies, including “all-or-nothing contracts,” “anti-steering and anti-tiering” and gag clauses. Lawmakers considered a similar proposal last year.
The antitrust suit against Hartford HealthCare alleges that the company employed
these tactics to stifle competition, which in turn drove up prices for patients.
In submitted written testimony, the Connecticut Hospital Association said that banning all-or-nothing contracts and anti-steering clauses could impact patient access and continuity of care.
“Hospitals and health systems are still facing the extreme aftershocks of a staggering once-in-a-century public health crisis, and this is not the time to consider the significant changes to the health care delivery system that are proposed in SB
983,” stated the testimony. Other measures proposed by the governor include a ban on outpatient facility fees that cost Connecticut consumers $400 million annually, a cap on out-of-network patient costs and a commitment to join a multi-state program that offers lower prices through the bulk purchase of generic drugs.
“The system is broken,” said Lamont at a press conference last month.
This story originally appeared on the website of The Connecticut Mirror, www.ctmirror.org.
Housing advocates are concerned that a bill, which has garnered bipartisan support from members of the Housing Committee, would allow towns to include existing units temporarily in their calculations of affordable housing instead of putting new affordable units on the market.
House Bill 6777 got approval from the Housing Committee at the beginning of March. It would offer prop-
erty tax relief to senior citizens who volunteer to deedrestrict their homes as affordable.
“I think this is one of the most imaginative, creative, thoughtful proposals in the entire legislature and I see it as an opportunity to provide real property tax relief for seniors who are hoping to age in place, to incentivize more affordable housing in exactly the communities where we have largely failed to get more affordable housing into those communities by looking at the existing hous-
ing stock,” said Rep. Geoff Luxenberg, D-Manchester, chair of the Housing Committee, during a committee meeting.
But advocates worry that the measure would allow those existing units’ affordable designation to be reversed at any point and raised concern that a plan to allow those homes to add points toward a moratorium on new units would weaken the state’s 8-30g affordable housing law.
Connecticut’s 8-30g allows towns that are making progress toward creating more affordable housing to gain points based on the number of new units that go on the market. Those points add up to “moratoriums,” or a set number of years that a town is exempt from court remedies.
Some legislators on the committee said they wanted to see additional tweaks as the bill goes through the lawmaking process.
“If there was ever a time to invoke the work-in-progress doctrine, I think this may be the case, because the concept is good,” said Rep. Joe Zullo, R-East Haven, who voted in favor of the bill.
It’s gained bipartisan support from members of the Housing Committee and comes as lawmakers have been under political pressure to change the decadesold affordable housing law 8-30g.
H.B. 6777, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Osborne, DSimsbury, allows seniors with incomes of up to 80% of the area median income to opt in to the program that deed-restricts their homes as
affordable. In exchange, they wouldn’t pay municipal property taxes. The towns could count the unit toward their 10% goals, and the homes count for two points each toward an 8-30g moratorium.
The goal, Osborne said, is to allow seniors to age in place, preserving the affordability of their homes by shielding them from increasing property taxes. It’s not the way to solve the state’s affordable housing crisis, but one approach to help a certain group, she said.
“I really felt that I needed to solve a bunch of concerns to make it amenable to both sides of the aisle,” she said in an interview. “And I really tried to listen to concerns from both groups, because I think it’s important to have community buy-in and buyin from both sides of the aisle.”
But, advocates say, the homes are already occupied. The tax credits are also revocable, meaning the homes don’t actually have to stay affordable for the set 40-year period required under 8-30g.
The deed restriction also counts as two points toward a moratorium. The point system as it stands is weighted toward multi-family housing, housing for people with lower incomes and family housing, a system that aims to incentivize towns to zone for the types of housing that they’ve historically been reluctant to allow.
“I see its attractiveness to alleviate the tax burden on more moderate-income seniors that are homeowners,” said Sean Ghio, policy director at Partnership for Strong Communities. “The state already has laws that allow towns to do that, property tax credits for low income senior homeowners.
See Housing, A18
The society tries to organize a cleanup and landscaping day in the spring and fall, although some years it only happens once. Lafferty said it’s mostly raking up the pine needles that pile up around the headstones.
A study conducted with ground-penetrating radar in 2014 showed that there are graves at the cemetery that no longer have headstones. Others, made of soft brownstone, are deteriorating or are leaning.
While the society can clean it up every so often, more involved work is beyond their capabilities.
“We really don’t have the money, ” she said.
Town Manager Mark Sciota said the town, which owns the cemetery land, is tasked with maintaining burial grounds if there are no other groups to take on the role.
“For many years, the Merriman family was maintaining the burial ground but sadly the last remaining family member, Peter Merriman, passed away in December of 2021,” Sciota said.
The cemetery is named for Rev. John Merriman, the founding pastor of First Baptist Church on Meriden Avenue. Merriman is among those buried at the cemetery.
He died in 1784.
While his wife Jemima’s grave is identifiable, those of his children and other relatives possibly buried there have yet to be identified.
The First Baptist Church congregation has a tradition of holding Easter sunrise services at the cemetery.
jbuchanan@record-journal.com
Twitter: @JBuchananRJ
Sadly, such incidents are not uncommon for parents raising autistic children. “When we moved to Naugatuck, a 16-year-old autistic individual took off on his parents from Naugatuck on foot and ended up picked up in Oxford by state troopers,” Harding said. “Once that happened, I knew I had to get this done.”
What Harding did was design a simple tool that members of law enforcement can use should an autistic child in their community go missing. The “Walk with Derek” Autism Safety Alert Form Harding conceived of in 2022 allows parents to describe their special-needs child, including their common behaviors and communication style. Parents may also indicate specific things that may trigger the child, and methods which may calm them. Also, caretakers are encouraged to supply a photo of the child.
The “Walk with Derek” information is then filed with the family’s local police department.
“Being a single mom raising Derek alone, it took me time to get the design right and figure out how to approach
it,” Harding said. “Naugatuck welcomed it with open arms, and it took off from there.”
Currently, the “Walk with Derek” form is available in more than 20 Connecticut communities, including Plainville.
“Our plan is to advertise the form on our social media, as well as have the form available on our website and at the police department,” Plainville Chief of Police Christopher Vanghele said. “We would ask parents and guardians of individuals on the autism spectrum to voluntarily complete the form and drop it off at the PD. We would keep the completed form in a binder that could be referred to should our officers have an interaction with the individual.”
North Haven Police Department Lieutenant Matthew Falcon said the “Walk with Derek” program is another example of police departments adapting to the needs of the community to better serve their residents.
Jennifer Harding said local legislators have contacted her about making the “Walk with Derek” document available across the state.
SOUTHINGTON - Jean Sheppard Mongillo, 92, of Southington, passed away surrounded by her family on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the HOCC, New Britain Campus. Jean was born on August 10, 1930 in Plantsville, to the late William and Amanda (Brayfield) Sheppard and was the wife of the late Marcello “Mickey” Mongillo. She was a proud graduate of Lewis High School, Class of 1947. Some of Jean’s favorite memories were spent with Mickey visiting her daughter and family in California and their late night adventures to the casino. Jean is survived by her two daughters, Sandra and husband David Picone of Plantsville and Lori and husband Mark Crevier of Santa Clarita, CA. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Colleen Picone, Marcy and Christopher Kelly, Michelle Crevier, and Lesley Firmwalt; and great grandchildren, Aviyana, Emilio, Adrian, Nicholas, Michael, Andrew, Lalaina and Silas. She was predeceased by her grandson
Plainville High School’s Prom Wear Boutique, located at the PHS Learning Commons, will be open Friday, March 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. More than 100 gowns will be available. Prices range from $1 for jewelry to $20 for floor length gowns.
Pfizer COVID-19 Bivalent Boosters will be offered by Wheeler’s Family Health & Wellness Center Monday, March 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Plainville Senior Center, 200 East St. This walk-in clinic is open to the public. Bring your insurance
Michael Crevier. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean’s memory may be made to 4 Paws for Ability, 207 Daytona Ave., Xenia, OH 45385, www.4pawsforability. org/. A funeral service will be held at 12 noon, on Friday, March 17, 2023, at the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main Street, Plantsville. A calling hour will be held from 11-12 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow in the South End Cemetery, Southington. For online condolences and directions, please visit www. plantsvillefuneralhome. com
and vaccine cards. There must be a two-month time span from your last COVID19 vaccination to receive this booster.
Plainville’s transfer station on Granger Lane is set to open for the season Saturday, April 8. Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays only. The transfer station is for Plainville residents only. ID is required. Direct questions to 860-793-0221 ext. 7176.
Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church, 200 Sum-
SOUTHINGTON - Donna E. (Gardner) Chase, 90, of Southington, passed away peacefully at Southington Care Center on Saturday, March 11, 2023. She was the beloved wife Norris A. Chase, who predeceased her in 2002. Donna was born on September 16, 1932 in Masardis, ME, to the late Owen and Iva (Snow) Gardner. After marrying the love of her life, Donna became a homemaker, raising 6 daughters. She enjoyed crosswords and puzzles. She was known for being an avid bowler in her younger days. Donna is survived by her daughters, Sharon Emery and her husband Jimmy of Southington, Brenda Hoffman and her husband Charles of Bristol, Patricia Chase of Plantsville, Deborah Wilcox of Vernon, and Sheila Berdebes of Ellington. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, Donna was predeceased by her daughter, Noreen Goulet,
June 1, 1962-March 18, 2013
her brother, Donald Gardner, her sister, Greta Paszek and her son-inlaw, William Wilcox, Sr. A graveside service will be held at 12 noon, on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in South End Cemetery, 200 South End Rd., Southington. Memorial calling hours will be held from 5 - 7 p.m. on Monday, March 20, 2023 at the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main St., Plantsville. For online condolences and directions, please visit www. plantsvillefuneralhome. com.
We think about you always We talk about you still You have never been forgotten and you never will We hold you close within our hearts and there you will remain to walk and guide us through our lives
Until we meet again. Its been ten years without you Donna, your loss is immeasurable but so is the love left behind.
Mom, Dad, Susan, Paula, Pamela
mer St., Plantsville, is selling homemade pierogi (cheese, sauerkraut, potato and cheese, and sweet cabbage). Call Kathy at 860-977-5010 to place your order.
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.
plans to open another Hop Haus location in Berlin, Miller also mentioned looking to expand further.
The Salty Dog Tavern, which Miller opened in the former Tipping Chair Tavern space on Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike in Southington late last year, will be opening a second location in Plainville sometime in the near future, replacing the Plainville Hop Haus location, which moves to Berlin.
Hop Haus is still grappling with the same issues as the rest of the industry, though, which has caused margins to slim over the past year. Yet Miller remains confident about the future of his businesses due to strong community relations and advertising efforts.
“My margins are shrinking and shrinking. I make less and less money almost every month now. We also have been going up in price. We've been trying not to go up too much to (avoid hurt-
ing) our customers. We want people to keep coming in, but between small price increases and shrinking margins, it's definitely getting harder and harder for business,” Miller said. “But we've been doing a lot with advertising. Hop Haus is very focused on supporting local whether it's local breweries, local farms, or just local charity organizations and different local sources around town. So all those people are very grateful for our support and they, in return, give us support.”
Hop Haus sources beer from local breweries Alvarium and Five Churches Brewing in New Britain, 12% Beer Project in North Haven among many others fostering a network of local businesses supporting each other.
In the past they’ve also collaborated with organizations like Wing Addicts, a Connecticut-based group that sprang up during the pandemic that supports local restaurants by driving around the state and advertising their wings.
For Barbara Coleman-Hekel-
er, president of the Southington Chamber of Commerce, the success of Hop Haus and Salty Dog is built off solid community outreach and advertising. Miller’s locations for his new restaurants were strategic in that they filled a void in the market for a local gastropub, growing not only his business but the surrounding areas as well.
“Mike is a huge supporter of the Chamber and of the programming we do here. He's a huge supporter of many causes in the community,” Coleman-Hekeler said. “We're always thrilled to see our businesses that start here locally to be able to grow and establish in other communities as well, because when our surrounding communities thrive, obviously that helps support our community as well. So we're not myopic that way, we like to see those success stories.”
For the chamber, West Main Street in Plantsville and Main Street in Southington are elevated by the presence of local businesses, while Queen Street is where most of the chain brands reside.
The loss of both Zingarella and Fireside on Main in February struck a significant blow, as both restaurants occupied significant tentpole properties that played a role in local community events like Halloween and Christmas in the Village. Though
Mark Zommer expressed plans to fill the vacant Zingarella with a new tenant in the near future, plans for Fireside on Main are currently unknown.
Hop Haus still aims to remain a pillar in the Plantsville area, due in part to the continuing support of the patrons.
“We've maintained a lot of loyal customers over the years, and the customer base has just been growing and growing,” Miller said. “The Plantsville community's always been great to Hop Haus and having the other restaurants closed down around us was definitely a shame. We were very good friends with all of them, and it's definitely bad to see good friends close their businesses.”
cmetzger@record-journal.com
From
A10 Housing
“It seems like a partial solution to the affordable housing crisis that doesn’t involve any change.”
Osborne said she’s still working on the bill, to ensure that it’s not creating a loophole for people “acting in bad faith” to get around 830g.
“This is not meant as an end run around 8-30g,” she said.
The affordable housing law, 8-30g, gives developers court remedies if towns deny their affordable housing proposals.
Towns are exempt if at least 10% of their housing stock is deed-restricted as affordable, and when new affordable units go on the market, they can gain points toward a moratorium.
Town officials, particularly in Fairfield County, have argued that 8-30g circumvents local zoning and puts undue burdens on certain towns to deal with an influx of multifamily housing applications. And Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski brought the issue to the forefront of his campaign by proposing a repeal of the law.
Republicans this session also proposed a bill that would mean major changes to the law; the proposal did not get a vote from the Housing Committee, which has no more scheduled meetings this session.
Housing advocates and some Democrats have argued that 8-30g works as it’s supposed to, a tool for creating more affordable units in towns that have imposed zoning ordinances that largely work to keep people with low incomes out.
How
Osborne’s bill requires that all towns allow seniors to opt in, although she says adding the deed restriction won’t make sense for everyone. It could reduce resale value for heirs, and reduce generational wealth-building that comes with home ownership, she said.
She instituted an option to pay a fee to remove the deed restriction in case the home value rises and the family wants to build wealth, she said. In order to revoke the deed restriction, homeowners would have to pay back the taxes and half of the difference between the deedrestricted value at the time of the sale and the non-deed restricted value.
The funds can go towards upgrades to make affordable homes in town more accessible and energy efficient or towards buying new affordable units, Osborne said.
Osborne said the program was inspired by a need she saw in her community: more affordable housing for seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes. Nationally, more than 10 million households headed by someone who is 65 or older are housing cost burdened, or paying more than a third of their income to housing costs.
She’d also seen too many single-family houses sold by seniors who couldn’t afford to stay, that were then flipped by investors and sold at an increased price. “I was trying to think about how we could make it more affordable for seniors to age in place and live at home,” Osborne said.
The tax credit would end if the house is sold or inherited, unless its new owner is also an income-qualified senior, she added.
The revocable element of the tax credits is one of the things that have housing advocates concerned.
The concern is that people could use the tax credit, then soon after remove it, and that it wouldn’t preserve affordability in the long-term, according to public testimony.
“The bottom line is the state needs way more housing supply to actually solve this problem. Just counting the home that is already fairly affordable doesn’t help,” Ghio said.
Osborne says she thinks the fees will be enough to keep people from revoking the credits.
Saverio DeGiorgio, a member of the Pemberwick Glenville Association in Greenwich, submitted testimony in favor of the bill.
“Please give the town, that I have proudly resided in for the past 30 years, the empowerment to continue serving all its residents, including its lower income population,” DeGiorgio wrote.
Some towns opposed the measure, saying it would cut down on tax revenue.
“The majority of municipalities are concerned with eroding its property tax base any further and this bill does not have enough check and balances to ensure that those who avail themselves of this opportunity are eligible,” wrote Brian O’Connor, director of public policy and advocacy for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, in public testimony.
said. “I spoke to the attorney general, who’s speaking to his staff. I have not heard from the governor.”
Senate Bill 7 has elements of the Democrats’ Senate Bill 966 and the Republicans ’ Senate Bill 123.
Katie Dykes typically speaks for the Lamont administration on energy issues as the commissioner of DEEP, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. She offered measured support for SB 966 in written testimony.
“DEEP supports many of the principles reflected in this bill, including ensuring that utility and utility executives’ compensation is based on performance and macroeconomic conditions; greater transparency on the cause of outages and the incidence of accidents; and clarity regarding which business expenses should be allocated to utility shareholders versus ratepayers,” she said.
Both SB 966 and SB 123 address “rate decoupling,” a mechanism that addresses the utilities’ disincentives to encourage energy efficiency and rooftop solar by ensuring utilities’ compensation is not strictly based on the amount of electricity they sell. Rate decoupling currently is mandated by state law.
In testimony, Dykes warned against giving PURA too much discretion in how to enforce rate decoupling.
“Divorcing a utility’s compensation from its volume of sales through revenue decoupling is considered one of the foundational aspects of a performancebased ratemaking regulatory paradigm that seeks to encourage distributed energy resources, ” Dykes said. “As such, giving PURA wide discretion to reverse revenue decoupling, without clear objectives or implementation guardrails, could have the potential to undermine demand reduction policies and programs. ”
Connecticut has limited authority over the electric rates charged by Eversource and United Illuminating, regulating only the cost of distributing electricity to homes and businesses, not the source of its supply.
More than half of consumers ’ bills are the cost of generating electricity, which is set by a competitive market.
Elements absent from the compromise bill include language that would have reestablished PURA as independent of DEEP.
This story originally appeared on the website of The Connecticut Mirror, www.ctmirror.org.
to curate who they aim to solicit for funds previous donors, members of the Facebook page, and others. Sharon Danosky, president of the firm, advised that the committee should focus on local foundations like the YMCA and American Savings Foundation for larger grants, along with individual donors.
She advised being cautious of relying on corporate donors, despite their heavy presence along Queen Street, as they are far less likely to contribute.
“If you’re looking at corporations, really look at their giving guidelines. And if you don’t fall smack within them, don’t even waste your time,” Danosky said. “Corporate giving, just for some perspective, about $485 billion was given to charities last year, 4% came from corporations. So it kind of gives you a sense, corporations aren’t very generous. I think you’re better off if you have a really good local relationship.”
She also cautioned against soliciting civic organizations, as they generally don’t have significant money to spend for large-scale donations to projects of their size.
“You might get $5,000 from them, but if you’ve got to raise a million $5,000 doesn’t go very far. So they’re at the later stage of the campaign. We’re really trying to see who can give you $100,000,” said Danosky. “That’s ideally what we’re looking for.”
Local banks and financial organizations seemed to be other groups the committee seeks to solicit for their campaigning efforts, which will roll out sometime in the next few months.
“We’re going to be out to advertise maybe in a couple months,” said Mary Baker, a member of the committee.
For the immediate future, the committee aims to review its comprehensive donor lists as they narrow down those most likely to contribute to the fund. Though the details have yet to be finalized, Todd Chaplinsky, vice chair of the Capital Campaign and Library Building committees, spoke at their last meeting of making a multi-pronged network of advertisements over social media and elsewhere to tar-
get residents of all income levels accentuating the importance of the library as a flexible community center. The members considered bringing on members from other town committees to provide further input on the decision-making process, though no determination was made during the meeting.
cmetzger@record-journal.com
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/southington-plainville-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 Southington
The Town of Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at the Plainville Municipal Center, One Central Square, Plainville, CT to consider the following item:
1. PZ 02-23 #06 – Zoning Map Amendment – TWM Development Co. – 109 Park Street – Split GC and R-10 zones to R zone.
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 March 2, 2023.
R259608
GRASSY HILL AUCTIONS, - an Estate
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.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
At Geremia Greenhouse. Available positions include, truck drivers, driving 26’ box truck, CDL helpful but not required and shipping team member. Must have reliable transportation and be willing to work flexible hours, including some weekends. Apply in person Mon.-Fri., 9am to 12pm at 415 Barnes Road, Wallingford, CT.
The Town of Wallingford Electric Division is seeking a highly technical individual to work in the design and development of overhead and underground power distribution lines. The utility serves 24,700 customers in a 50+ square mile distribution area with a peak demand of 130 MW. The position requires a B.S. degree in electrical engineering plus 2 years of responsible experience in utility engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting on a year-for year basis. Salary: $84,586$108,221 annually 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 Phone #: (203) 2942080, Fax #: (203) 294-2084. Closing date will be April 11, 2023. EOE.
Contact Tony at 203-807-9908.
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
CNA/HHA - Needed to care for a 57yo female with a severe brain injury to provide assistance with ADLs, meal prep and light housekeeping. Please call 860680-1476 to arrange an interview.
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.
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
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
PREMIUM SCREENED TOPSOIL
$25/yard delivered, 3 yd, $100 min. delivery Call Jim 860-982-4819
TREE LENGTH
FIREWOOD CALL FOR DETAILS
203-238-2149
TOOLBOXES - Tools & tooling, contents of machine shops, home workshops and small lathes. Call anytime 860-985-5760
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.
1,
3 CASH FOR YOUR ANTIQUES & JEWELRY
- Call Todd Shamock at 203-494-1695.
WANTED Individual firearms, collections & estates including military & related items.Federally licensed firearms dealer. Gunsmith, appraisals, Richard Pleines, (860) 663-2214.
BOXER PUPPIES - Brindle/black, 2 males, 1 female avail. Call (860) 329-4210
CARPENTRY
Repairs, Decks & Porches, Sheetrock & Taping Water Damage Repairs. Free Est. Ins. MC & Visa. Call Bill (203) 901-2136. CT. Reg. # 0647093
SPRING SPECIALSWhole House up to 5 rms. $269. 6’ sofa, $109. CarpetCare Solutions, 203.427.5165.
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
HOME DOCTOR - 48 yrs exp. Odd jobs & remodeling, former US Navy, 15 yrs, #640689, 203.427.7828.
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 This Ad 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
#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
Let
CustomColonial Painting.com Since ‘99
Lic’d 0630904 & Ins’d Senior Discount Warranty. Financing 860-306-0270
FRONTLINE PLUMBING
- Plumbing repairs & replacements, toilets, tubs, sinks, showers, 30 yrs exp., 100% free quotes. #0286296-P1. Bob 203-213-0691.
Specializing in tree removal, trimming, chipping & grinding. Call for free estimate. 203-945-1808.
JM Lawn Care Comm. & Res. Lawn Mowing, Spring Cleanup, Hedge Trimming, Tree Service, Mulch, any color. 860.796.8168
ALEX EUROPEAN MASONRY - 30 yrs. exp. Patios, ret. walls, steps, brick, stone, chimneys. Lic#580443. 203-2320257 or 203-596-0652
Insurance claim.storm damage.roofing.siding. gutter.chimney flashing. Office:203.754.3071 Cell:203.510.3830
Stormshieldct@gmail. com HIC.0664452
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.
NOMINATE: Nominate your favorite businesses online March 9 through March 19.
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!
