www.southingtoncitizen.com
Volume 17, Number 15
Friday, April 10, 2020
YMCAs help hospital workers, first responders By Matthew Zabierek Record-Journal staff
MERIDEN — Two local YMCAs are participating in a new state-led initiative to provide child care for children of hospital employees and first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state Office of Early Childhood is using a $3 million donation from Dalio Philanthropies to launch “Project 26” — which matches the state’s 26 hospitals with a nearby day care center. The centers will receive money from the Office of Early Childhood to pro-
vide child care at no cost to hospital workers and first responders. Locally, the Meriden YMCA’s Early Learning Center has been approved by the state to partner with MidState Medical Center, and the Southington/ Cheshire YMCA has been paired with Bradley Hospital.
“These first responders and medical professionals are working hard and going through difficult times, and we’re just trying to make it easier so they can do what they do,” said John Benigni, CEO of the Meriden-New Britain-Berlin YMCA. See YMCAs, A2
Town goes on a ‘Bear Hunt’ By Jessica Simms Special to the Record-Journal
Local children and families have been participating in a scavenger hunt to find teddy bears. The “Bear Hunt” is also taking place globally, encouraging children to look for the bears on windowsills. It is inspired by the 1989 children’s book “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” by Michael Rosen. In Southington, Heidi K. Lounsbury organized the hunt. “I talked to the two or
Teddy bears sit in the window of the Southington Public Library on Friday. The bears and other plush animals placed in windows around town are part of a scavenger hunt game for children during school closures and social distancing. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
See ’Bear Hunt’, A5
Parks draw crowds, officials suggest alternatives
By Devin Leith-Yessian Record-Journal staff
Local and state officials are limiting access to parks or closing them entirely to reduce crowding which poses the danger of encouraging the spread of coronavirus.
Kent Falls State Park, which has a popular, but narrow walking trail along its waterfalls, was the first state park to be closed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. On Monday, the department posted on its website that the park will be closed for the duration of the
public health emergency, citing “challenges in maintaining appropriate social distancing.”
In Meriden, additional signs have been placed along Mirror Lake Drive, the western entrance to Hubbard Park, instructing visitors that
parking is only permitted along the side of the road fronting the lake. The road was closed Sunday afternoon due to vehicles parking on both sides of the road, making the area dangerous for cars and pedesSee Parks, A4