The Southington Citizen April 30, 2021 by Record Journal

www.southingtoncitizen.com

Volume 18, Number 18

Friday, April 30, 2021

Baseball’s Spring Street eternal With two founders, Southington West LL celebrates 50 years By Brendan O’Sullivan Special to the Record-Journal

SOUTHINGTON — Little League opening day ceremonies can often be perfunctory. Not this year at Southington Western Baseball Little League. Players, coaches, fans and their families joined together

Saturday with two of the men instrumental in getting the league off the ground to celebrate Southington West’s 50th anniversary at its complex off Spring Street. Technically, last year marked the 50th season, but when the pandemic postSee Little League, A4

Southington West Little League celebrated its 50th anniversary Saturday by having two of its founding members, Bill DellaVechia (left) and Joe LaPorte, throw out first pitches during Opening Day ceremonies. Brendan O’Sullivan, special to the Record-Journal

Parish mergers include closing St. Thomas

Playground ready for dedication

By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff

Area Catholic parishes are preparing for mergers brought on by the retirement of priests and expensive building repairs.

With the finishing touches complete on the Veterans Memorial Park playground, community groups that fundraised for the facility are planning a dedication next month.

St. Thomas Church on Bristol Street in Southington will close its building and its pastor, the Rev. Joseph Cronin, will instead lead the Church of St. Dominic on Flanders Road. The Rev. Ronald May, priest at St. Dominic, is retiring on Aug. 1. St. Thomas’s church building needs expensive repairs, Cronin said. The money would be better put toward See Parishes, A9

The Rev. Ronald May, pastor of Saint Dominic Parish in Southington, poses for a photo on April 23. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

The Rotary Club of Southington committed to raising $100,000 for a new playscape in early 2019. The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain contributed $50,000 to the project. Plaques recognizing the See Playground, A2

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Friday, April 30, 2021

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In addition to private donations, the town contributed to the new playground. Town workers helped with the site preparation at the Woodruff Street park.

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“This was a tremendous project for us,” he said.

Fundraising and COVID Rotary’s largest fundraisers are its golf tournament, Mardi Gras celebration and the Apple Harvest Festival. The latter two were cancelled last year with only the golf tournament taking place. That slowed fundraising efforts for the playground although the club did receive community donations for the project. The club is paying its $100,000 in installments. Kate Terricciano Sirignano, a club past president, said

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“It was our biggest service project,” he said. “Our fundraisers have been dedicated to that ever since.”

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Dawn Miceli, a former councilor, said the town had hoped to replace the playground and move it to a better location within Memorial Park. Fred Kuriger, a past club president, said the amount was a big goal but that club members wanted to take on something ambitious.

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A plaque on the new playscape.

there’s been enthusiasm among club members despite the challenges. “A few years ago, we decided that we really wanted to do something big that would impact the entire town,” she said. “It’s been a project that the entire club has gotten behind.” “We have a lot of members of our club that do have families and kids,” Terricciano Sirignano said. ”It’s a project that’s near and dear to our hearts.”

Community foundation Miceli helped coordinate the town and Rotary efforts and also helped bring in the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. While a councilor, Miceli said she was always on the lookout for projects that could be completed with private partners.

The new playscape has an aquatic theme.

The new playground is closer to the parking lot, easier to get to and more visible. The new pirate-themed playscape was also designed with expansion in mind. Miceli is hoping to add a swing set and other features in future years.

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The playscape also allows access for children in wheelchairs. Miceli said the new playground is overall a big improvement for the park.

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“I love the fencing, I love the signage. It’s a really nice looking playscape,” she said.

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Memorial Park’s existing playscape was built in the 1970s and was in need of repair. In 2019, Rotary Club leaders committed to raising $100,000 for a new structure.

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Little League From A1

son significantly involved with the league’s creation, poned the 2020 Little League was not at the field. season until summer, Southington West’s anniverCurrent league president sary was pushed off to 2021. Garrett Ludden began the event introducing the 2021 “It really is an honor to be teams as they lined up along able to come up here and the grass on the infield and see what everybody’s done outfield. Then, DellaVecchia over the years,” said Bill and LaPorte each threw out DellaVecchia, one of the ina first pitch. dividuals instrumental in creating the league. “They’ve done a wonderful job,” LaPorte said. “If you DellaVecchia was present travel the state, you’ll never Saturday for the opening day see a place like this.” ceremony alongside Joe LaPorte, who also had a major DellaVecchia said Southinghand in starting the league. ton West began play in Don Stepanek, a third per1969 at a field on Mill Street

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The land on Spring Street was initially set to be a school site, DellaVecchia said. When the school was not built, the committee that created Southington West made plans to move to Spring Street. “We met at the YMCA several times and came up with this, and then went out getting volunteers, donations from corporations for help,” DellaVecchia said. “Look what it’s turned out to today: one of the nicest complexes that we have around.” While DellaVecchia and LaPorte reminisced on the

beginnings of the league, they acknowledged the importance of why it was created in the first place: for the kids. Southington West became the third Little League in town, giving more kids opportunities to play baseball. Ludden said about 170 kids are playing this year.

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Aside from offering more teams and more chances to play, LaPorte said he made numerous relationships through Southington West that he appreciates to this day. “Well, I knew (DellaVecchia) before, but you’ll meet so many nice people,” said LaPorte. “And it’s a forever thing. Kids that played here, now I see them (and) they remember, they remember. So, it’s a lot of satisfaction.”

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SOUTHINGTON — Arrests reported by the Southington Police: April 6 Luis Medina, 22, 11 Summer St., Bristol, sale of controlled substance, 7:15 p.m. April 7 Matthew Lagasse, 51, 1210 Flanders Road, two counts violatoin of a protective order, 8:39 a.m. Francis Pepe, 65, 690 Marion Ave., second-degree breach of peace, reckless endangerment, 6:30 p.m. April 8 Chad Bezio, 40, 37 Norton St., Bristol, second-degree larceny, 8:25 a.m. Katherine Colon, 37, 32 Skipper St., New Britain, sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny, 11:43 a.m. Justin McGovern, 22, 1165 Old Turnpike Road, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substance, 7:54 p.m. April 12 Jeremy Olivera, 334, 169 Allen Ave., Meriden, violation of a protective order, 11:15 p.m. April 13 Elaine Walker, 35, 229 E. Main St., Meriden, sixth-degree larceny, 2:19 p.m. April 15 Michael Busto, 30, 284 Stevens St., Bristol, sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny, 10 a.m. April 17 John Salerno, 42, 219 S. Broad St., Meriden, disorderly conduct, interfering with a 911 call, 7:50 p.m. April 18 Ryan McCormack, 41, 50 Cardinal Drive, interfering with an officer, violation of a protective order, 6 a.m.

Email letters to news@thesouthingtoncitizen.com; mail to 500 South Broad St., Meriden, CT 06450 or fax to 203-6390210. Letters are limited to 300 words. The Citizen will print only one letter per person each month. We reserve the right to edit letters. We do not list names of people, organizations and businesses being thanked. Names of businesses are not allowed. Letters must be signed and names will appear in print. Include a phone number so The Citizen can contact you for verification. Letters must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Monday to be considered for publication the following Friday.

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Friday, April 30, 2021

Pepe hired as assistant superintendent By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff

woman, said she was confident that Pepe would continue the board’s vision for graduates.

Frank Pepe will be leaving his position as Southington High School principal this summer for the district’s central office following his promotion to assistant superintendent.

“We’re glad to have you join this wonderful team and continue the work you’ve done in Southington for the last 16 years,” Carmody said. Pepe had worked well with other administrators during the challenges of the pandemic, she said.

The Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday night, April 22, to appoint Pepe to the role vacated by Steve Madancy, chosen by the board to become district superintendent. Superintendent Tim Connellan is leaving the district this summer.

Principal Frank Pepe greets students on the first day of school at Southington High School on Aug. 29, 2019.

Pepe has been high school principal since 2019 and served as DePaolo Middle School principal for the 12 years prior.

Before that, he served as a teacher and administrator in the Hamden School system. His new annual salary will be $185,000.

Dave Zajac, Record-Journal file photo

During the meeting, commission members praised Pepe’s dedication and leadership. Terri Carmody, board chair-

“You did it with such grace and understanding,” Carmody said. Bob Brown, a board member, said Pepe always put students first. During talks with board leaders, Pepe showed concern for the high school teachers he’d worked with,

according to Brown. “It meant a lot that you mentioned that to us,” said Brown, a former teacher. “I know you’ll continue to work with them and help them, although in a different capacity.” Pepe said he was lucky to have the position offered to him. “I’ve been surrounded by talented, creative, passionate and dedicate staff and students and administrators,” he said. Pepe took over leadership of Southington High School from Brian Stranieri. jbuchanan@record-journal.com 203-317-2230 Twitter: @JBuchananRJ

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Friday, April 30, 2021

Town Council settles lawsuit against officer over 2015 fatal crash By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff

Town leaders have agreed to settle a lawsuit against a police officer over a fatal crash in 2015.

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Kayla Torres was headed home to Meriden, from Bristol, in December 2015 after picking up her children Veronica Martinez, 7, and Yvette Martinez, 4, and her cousin. Her vehicle was struck by a minivan driven by Michael Luponio, injuring her and a passenger, Miguel Melendez. Both children died in the crash.

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over Luponio but didn’t. Vose told investigators that a van drove by him at a "noticeably faster" speed. He turned his cruiser lights on, but did not make them flash or strobe. Vose opted not to pursue the vehicle, however, "as the speed violation was minor and he did not want to pursue it outside of his jurisdiction," Luponio's arrest warrant said. Vose was then flagged down by a man who told Bristol investigators he was getting off Interstate 84 at Exit 31 when his vehicle was nearly struck by Luponio's minivan. Luponio yelled an expletive at the man and threw a glass bottle at his vehicle, the warrant said. The man said Luponio was driving "at a high rate of speed" on West Street in Southington and that he stopped to talk to Vose after Luponio "blew by" the officer. Settlement recommended by outside attorneys Town Attorney Jeremy Taylor said council members were briefed on the lawsuit and possible settlement last week. The case was being handled by attorneys with the town’s insurance carrier. “Outside council has recommended a settlement,” Taylor said. The unanimous vote took place without discussion. Taylor said the settlement See Council, A8

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Friday, April 30, 2021

Drive-In organizers hope for summer season By Devin Leith-Yessian Record-Journal staff

For those longing for a return to pre-pandemic recreation activities, the Southington Drive-In is readying plans to open this summer. An official opening date for the town-owned drive-in on Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike will be set at the next

meeting of the drive-in committee, which Recreation Director Dave Lapreay expects will be held in the next few weeks. Members will take into account Gov. Ned Lamont’s announcement last week that most of the state restrictions on businesses and gatherings will be lifted

on May 19.

ful the relaxed restrictions on outdoor gatherings will The committee also will con- allow the town to resume its sult with the PlainvilleMusic on the Green concert Southington Community series, which was canceled Health District. last summer. “I would imagine that we Mike Fasulo, Drive-in Comwill be open this summer, mittee chair, said he’s hopwe just have yet to detering for a June 5 opening mine that,” Lapreay said. and a fairly normal summer Lapreay also said he is hope- season. He expects the local

’s

health district may recommend capacity restrictions and not opening the concession stand. Organizers are already planning to spread cars out so customers can maintain social distancing. Though the drive-in was unable to show movies last summer, it was able to work with Encore Live to host a handful of concerts. Drive-in Committee Vice Chair Dawn Miceli said the concerts provided lessons that will be used this year, including spacing out vehicles. Miceli said organizers are currently working on a schedule of movies, which normally show at the drivein every Saturday until around Labor Day. Since new releases are expensive, the drive-in typically shows older, classic films.

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Friday, April 30, 2021

Parishes

merger in another way. Cronin said church leaders are still deciding how to implement the final merger. Until then, priests will travel between church buildings.

From A1

the eventual goal of one Roman Catholic church in town by the summer of 2022.

Consolidating into one location would require a church building of about 1,000 seats to hold parishioners from all five existing churches, Cronin said. None of the five have that capacity, although St. Dominic is close at 800 seats.

With fewer priests than parishes, pastors will be traveling to the five Roman Catholic churches in town to celebrate mass until the final merger, according to May. He and Cronin are holding a meeting on Monday to explain the merger to St. Thomas and St. Dominic parishioners and to answer questions.

“Those are all discussions for the future,” Cronin said.

Wallingford parish mergers

“Most people don’t understand what that means. It doesn’t mean all the other churches are closing,” May said. “There would be multiple churches that would still be open.”

In March, Wallingford’s Most Holy Trinity Church on North Colony Street linked with Our Lady of Fatima Church on Hope Hill Road. The two will later merge with Church of the Resurrection on Pond Hill Road.

The meeting will take place at St. Dominic Church, 1050 Flanders Road, at 7 p.m. To sign up, visit www.saintdomincchurch.com.

The Rev. Ronald May, pastor of Saint Dominic Parish, stands in the sanctuary of the church in Southington on April 23. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Cronin said many towns and

program.”

Church leaders are also streaming the meeting live on the St. Dominic Facebook page.

Church buildings

While parishioners are returning to church as the pandemic subsides, declining numbers of church-goers plus a lack of priests means changes for local parishes, May said.

St. Thomas church needs a new heating system for the fall. Cronin said despite reluctance to part with the building, parish leaders agreed that the money would be better served expanding an existing building or helping fund the eventual

“We might get five ordained” in that time, May said. The archdiocese and the town’s parish leaders have been meeting for more than a year to determine what to do about the shortage. Merging parishes allows priests to serve at multiple locations. May said programs will also consolidate. Daily masses are already taking place only at Immaculate Conception Church on Summer Street. The religious education program and youth ministry will also be consolidated.

“None of that should ever take your eye off why we’re going to church,” Leary said. “Whichever location you go to, we are all members of one unified, holy, Catholic and apostolic church.” Despite efforts to keep it open, Leary said his Catholic high school in Waterbury was closed down. Elsewhere church buildings have been sold and parishes merged. “It’s certainly not shutting down our religion,” Leary said. “Our religion remains strong. That’s what we have to remain focused on.” jbuchanan@record-journal.com 203-317-2230 Twitter: @JBuchananRJ

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“We use our resources more efficiently,” May said. “Not every church can have every

John Leary, a parishioner of St. Dominic, said organizational changes shouldn’t shake people’s faith. While parishioners have attachment to churches where they’ve gone for a long time or had significant moments, attendance shouldn’t be tied to just habit.

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In addition to May, the Rev. A. Waine Kargul of Mary Our Queen Church in Southington will also retire in the coming year. May said the Hartford Archdiocese will lose 25 priests to retirement in the next five years.

‘Committed to the faith’

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Retiring pastors, few new priests

cities in Connecticut experienced parish mergers or closures in recent years. Southington hasn’t yet.

A10

The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

Friday, April 30, 2021

Drive-In From A8

Fasulo said his favorite part is talking to moviegoers, some who drive from other parts of the state for the drive-in experience. “People have a lot of good memories about coming there as a kid and they want their kids to experience it too,” he said.

At left: Parking for the Southington Drive-In on Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike in Southington is seen here on April 26.

dleithyessian@ record-journal.com 203-317-2317 Twitter: @leith_yessian

Photos by Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

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The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

Friday, April 30, 2021

A11

Access to quality care has never been easier. Or closer. Bristol Health offers the highest-quality primary and specialty care and outpatient lab services to Southington, delivered with your safety and comfort in mind. You can now visit your provider virtually, from the comfort of your home, or if needed, have an in-person visit at our office, where we’ve implemented rigorous safety measures. Primary Care | Cardiology | General Surgery | OB/GYN | Orthopedics Pain Management | Podiatry | Pulmonology | Urology | Outpatient Lab Services

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A12

The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

Friday, April 30, 2021

Restaurants look to ‘new normal’ as restrictions lift By Faith Williams Record-Journal staff

About 61 percent of state residents over 18 have received at least their first vacLocal restaurants are prepar- cine dose. The state is curing to get back to some type rently ranked number two in of normalcy after it was anthe nation in vaccinanounced that starting next tions per capita. month most business restricDouble Play Cafe, a sports tions are expected to lift. bar and restaurant in WallOn Monday, Gov. Ned Lam- ingford, has plans now that ont said most restrictions restrictions are expected to will end May 1. The 11 p.m. lift. curfew for restaurants, the“I think this is great,” said aters, entertainment and Double Play General Managrecreational venues will change to midnight. Alcohol er Jeff Gagne. “We’re going to have some live music outcan be served without food and limits on table sizes will side this summer so we’re excited for what is coming.” end. For 35 years, our family taking care of your family!

For the second year, Double Play will have an outdoor tent that seats 90 people. The business also has a new kitchen manager and is planning some new specials for the menu. Weekend brunch is also expected to return. Sandra Arnold, co-owner of AJ’s Oasis in Meriden, also expects the end of the restrictions will bring some changes. “We used to do late night kitchen, Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. – to midnight,” Arnold said. “We’ll probably start that again, but from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.” AJ’s late night menu includes pizza and wings.

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Friends, left to right, Riss Crann, of South Meriden, Rachael Kosicki, of Meriden, and Nikki Calabro, of Wallingford, share in a laugh at the bar inside Double Play Cafe, 320 Main St., Wallingford, on Tuesday, April 20. Local restaurants are preparing to get back to some type of normalcy after it was announced that starting next month most business restrictions are expected to lift. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

decide their own social distancing guidelines, gathering limits and curfew. The governor said after May 19 masks won’t be required outdoors but will continue to be strongly suggested indoors, unless a person is

vaccinated. The state Department of Health will issue recommendations for large outdoor events and clarifying mask See Restaurants, A13

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The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

Friday, April 30, 2021

A13

Area camps plan for summer The Arts at Angeloria's

By Jessica Simms Special to the Record-Journal

With the school year beginning to wind down, area summer camp staff are making plans to operate for a second season with COVID-19 precautions.

YMCA Camp Sloper Local restaurants like Double Play Cafe, seen here on April 20 at 320 Main St. in Wallingford are preparing to get back to some type of normalcy after it was announced that starting next month most business restrictions are expected to lift. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

Restaurants rules after May 19. In Southington, Hop Haus owner Michael Miller is eager to get more use out of the patio. He also recently opened a second location in Plainville. “In both of my locations, I still plan on keeping things pretty close to where they’re at right now,” Miller said.

“I am not going to go crazy with packing people in here. A lot of people come to my restaurant because they feel safe and I don’t want to take that away from them.” Hop Haus Plainville opened at 24 Whiting St. in late March. fwilliams@record-journal.com 203-317-2373 Twitter: @faith_williams2

Hubeny said he is hoping bus transportation will resume and expects the staff will still be wearing masks. Placing campers and staff in small cohorts last summer helped prevent COVID-19. “We think our program plans and the modifications we had to make was helpful and worked,” Hubeny said. “Based on that, we’re going to go off of what the state is telling us to do, what some of our other organizations like the American Camping Association and others are sharing and telling us to do as well as what other camps around us are doing … As COVID19 changes everyday, the plans change.”

“For this year with COVID-19, we are being extra careful to maintain those cohorts so that brings our numbers down to six to maximum 10 kids in a group,” Holm said. Last summer the Arts at Angeloria’s did not host its summer camps. For this summer, the staff redesigned the front porch to make it another open air space. Games and activities are now designed to be more COVID-friendly and a picnic table area is going to be used as a classroom. Parents will not be allowed to walk their child into camp this summer. “We’re actually going to have parents leave their child at the check-in point and then one of our counselors will walk the kids down to the picnic area where we start our day after we do our temperature checks and all of that,” Holm said. The camp will also feature a new program See Camps, A15

VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED

Words of Wellness

Senior Transportation Services, Inc. is looking for safe, reliable volunteers willing to use their own car to help some of Berlin, New Britain, Meriden, Wallingford, Southington & Plainville’s elderly residents get to medical appointments in the area.

by Dr. Stacey Raya

A BAD BACK PUTS YOUR LIFE AT RISK A 2015 survey found that the prevalence of chronic back pain more than doubled between 1992 and 2006, and that chronic back pain was more common among women aged 40 to 80 years than among men. This led to further research involving 8,000 older women for an average 14 years. Announced as the first study to measure disability following diagnosed back pain, the study followed the women’s ability to conduct everyday activities, from walking to food preparation. Over the follow-up period, over half of the study’s participants died. Approximately 65 percent of women with frequent and persistent back pain died compared with 54 percent of those without back pain, indicating a strong link between back pain and mortality.

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From A12

At Camp Sloper in Southington, the summer program is still being planned, said Justin Hubeny, outdoor center director. Last year the camp accommodated about 500 kids a day.

At the Arts at Angeloria’s in Southington, Lori Holm, executive director and owner, said she expects to have a maximum of 30 children in summer camp. The Wizard World Camp, with a Harry Potter theme, runs June 21 to 25 and July 5 to 9, with participants split into small cohorts.

CHIROPRACTIC NUTRITION ACUPUNCTURE SPINAL DECOMPRESSION

The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

Friday, April 30, 2021

COVID-19 VACCINE

News You Can Use Noticias Que Usted Puede Usar Acerca de las Vacunas de COVID-19

alrededor del estado.

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CVS: CVS está ofreciendo la vacuna en

vaccine at many locations across the state. To make an appointment using this system, click go to https://www.walmart. com/cp/1228302

Para programar una cita para recibir la vacuna, los que son elegibles pueden contactar a:

Para programar una cita usando este sistema, vaya al https://www.cvs.com/vaccine/ intake/store/covid-screener/covid-qns

Meriden Health Department:

El sistema en línea VAMS: El

Sistema de Manejo de Administración de Vacunas se puede usar para programar citas en múltiples clínicas alrededor del estado.

Walmart: Walmart también está ofreci-

How to Schedule an Appointment for a COVID-19 Vaccine

CVS: CVS is offering the vaccine in

To schedule a vaccination appointment, eligible people may contact:

Walmart: Walmart also offers the

VAMS online system: The Vaccine Administration Management System can be used to schedule appointments at multiple clinics across the state. To make an appointment using this system, click on https://portal.ct.gov/ Coronavirus/COVID19-Vaccinations--VAMS-Support COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Assist Line: Connecticut’s COVID19 vaccine appointment assist line is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. To make an appointment, call 877-918-2224.

Hartford HealthCare: Hartford

HealthCare has multiple locations throughout the state, including large vaccine clinics in Wallingford and New Britain. To make an appointment using this system, go to https://hartfordhealthcare. org/vaccine

Yale New Haven Health: Yale New Haven Hospital has multiple locations throughout the state, including large clinics in the New Haven area. To make an appointment using this system, go to https:// www.ynhhs.org/patient-care/covid-19/ vaccine/get-your-covid-vaccine.aspx Walgreens: Walgreens is currently

offering the vaccine at 12 different locations and will soon be adding many more across the state. To make an appointment using this system, go to https://www.walgreens.com/topic/ covid19vac/CT.jsp.

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The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

Friday, April 30, 2021

A21

In Brief Autism event Autism Services and Resources Connecticut (ASRC), the first exclusive Connecticut autism advocacy organization for individuals and families, will hold the 24th Annual Walk and Festival for Autism Sunday, May 23 at the North Haven Fairgrounds. The event will include a short walk with three staggered start times, food trucks, a classic car show, raffle and

other socially-distanced entertainment. For more information, visit ctasrc.org.

Food drive The annual food drive in honor of a late Southington teacher will again support Bread for Life’s summer lunch program, as the nonprofit strengthens its outreach efforts and continues to navigate through the

coronavirus pandemic.

rialized with Jankura.

The third Cheryl A. Jankura Memorial Food Drive will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 8, at Bread for Life, 31 Vermont Ave.

The items collected during the contactless food drive will help supplement the summer meals program, according to BFL executive director Donna Ayer. Needed items include water, juice boxes, individually-packaged fruit cups, granola bars, instant macaroni-and-cheese, pudding, fruit snacks, cookies, chips and other

To help reach – and surpass – this year’s collection goal, veteran professional photographer Art Rich and real estate developer Mathew Florian, both who died in 2020, will be memo-

See Briefs, A22

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You’re Invited! ... to the Blessing of the new outdoor Our Lady of Guadalupe, section at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Meriden, by Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt, on Tuesday, May 11 at 10:00 AM. A small reception will follow. The Sacred Heart Cemetery address is 250 Gypsy Lane, Meriden, CT 06450.

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The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

Friday, April 30, 2021

Southington, 860-426-3992. You do not need to be a member in order to be eligible. Applications must be returned by May 14.

cult challenge of sustaining programs and services during lean fiscal times. The InitiaFrom A21 tive also provides organizations with access to an on-site snacks. To help cover the cost library and resource center of perishable food items, growith free access to printAnnual art exhibit cery store gift cards are weled and online resources focomed, as are monetary doThe Cheshire Art League’s cused on securing and writing nations that can be made by Annual Art show will take grants, governance, and a vacheck or online. place Saturday, May 1 riety of professional areas. through Saturday, May 29, at During the pandemic, some The drive each year honors the Southington Community Jankura, a popular visual arts Cultural Arts Center, 93 Main of these resources are availteacher who spent her 36-year St. Hours are Tuesday through able online. Visit cfgnb.org/ capacity-building-for-noncareer in Southington, the Friday, 12 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, profits for more information. bulk of it at the high school. 12 to 3 p.m. An opening reShe retired in 2005 and died ception will take place SunRed Cross in 2011 at the age of 63 after a day, May 16, 3 to 6 p.m. Meet battle with cancer. the artists and enjoy light reThe Red Cross is teaming up freshments. with INDYCAR to urge people Those wishing to donate beto help keep the blood supply fore or after the drive can on track by donating blood or Workshop sessions drop items at Bread for Life platelets. Schedule a donation weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 The Capacity Building Initiaappointment by downloading p.m. For more information, tive of the Community Foun- the Red Cross Blood Donor visit southingtonbreadfordation of Greater New Britain App, visiting RedCrosslife.org or call Ayer at 860was started in 2018 to provide Blood.org, calling 1800-733276.8389. local nonprofit organizations 2767 or enabling the Blood with resources aimed at Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo strengthening organizational device. functioning. In 2021, Respite grants the CFGNB will host an allMeet the Bradleys The Arc of Southington is ofnew series of workshops for fering a limited number of Meet the Bradleys. Gather at nonprofits to continue the respite grants to caregivers work of the initiative and aid the Ichabod Bradley House who have a family member for an unforgettable experiorganizations in current living at home with an intelence, May 15 and 23, and June fundraising techniques. lectual or developmental dis- Since the initiative began, lo- 19 and 27, 10 to 10:30 a.m. You ability. Grants can be for will be greeted in the Tavern cal nonprofit organizations amounts up to $250 per fami- have benefited from multiple Room of the Bradley Home — ly. For information on becom- trainings, workshops and we- a historical treasure that is on ing a member of The Arc of binars designed to help them the National Registry. The Southington or for a grant ap- address the increasingly diffi- room has nine working fireplication, contact The Arc of places and seven authentic colonial murals. Learn about the history of the Bradley family that lived in the house for 120 years, and the Tuttle family that lived there for another 80 years. Tours are offered throughout the year. Visit bradleymountainfarm.com for more information.

Mini-Hawk Camp

CHET update

The Southington Recreation Department partnered with Skyhawks Sports Academy to offer the Mini-Hawk Sports Camp for children age 5 to 7. The program will run Monday through Friday, June 28 through July 2, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily at DePaolo Middle School, 385 Pleasant St. Students will be taught the essentials of baseball, basketball and soccer. The fee is $135. Registration and payment are due by Wednesday, June 23. Visit southington.org/departments/recreation for more information.

Connecticut State Treasurer and Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust, Shawn T. Wooden, has relaunched the state’s 529 college savings plan under new program manager, Fidelity Investments. New enhancements to the CHET plan include no minimum amount to open a CHET Direct 529 account, no annual account fees, and free planning and guidance for families in their college savings journey. For more information, visit AboutChet.com.

Energy monitoring

Apple Harvest Festival

Eversource is making it possible for customers to monitor their energy use with the Kill A Watt electricity usage meter. The Apple Harvest Festival Along with the meter, each kit tradition is planning a come- contains an instructional back to celebrate its 52nd booklet that explains how to year. Organizers are optimeasure and record the mistic that pandemic guideamount of electricity being lines will be in line with the used and offers tips to reduce event dates, Oct. 1-3 and Oct. energy use and costs. The Kill 8 -10. Sponsor contributions A Watt kits are available for play a big part in the success borrowing from nearly 200 liof the event. If you are a local braries around the state. A list business that wants to make a of participating libraries can positive contribution to this be found at eversource.com. 52nd celebration, contact Customers can also take adMelissa Cocuzza, sponsorship vantage of the Green Button – coordinator, at appleharvest- an online tool that allows cusfest@aol.com; 860-276-1966. tomers to download their energy usage data so they can easily share it with energy-efWheeler golf ficiency experts to make home improvements. Wheeler's 36th Annual Golf Classic will be held WednesUtility assistance day, Sept. 15 at the Country Club of Farmington. Proceeds Eversource customers can enwill benefit Wheeler Clinic’s roll in one of its payment Basic Needs Fund, which adplans or assistance programs dresses a range of environto protect them from service mental and social factors that disconnection by calling 800interfere with a patient’s 286-2828. Both residential health and well-being, but Basement Waterproofing Services s e c i v r e S g n i f o o r p r e t aW tnnonresidential emesaB and customers which are not addressed by are eligible for payment arOver 36 Years combined experience. . e c n e i r e p x e d e n i b m o c s r a e Y 6 3 r e v O other means of funding. Visit Fully Transferable Written Guarantee*,wheelerclinic.org Sump Pumps,,spmuP pmfor uS ,details. *eetnarauG netrangements tirW elbarefsnarTatythis lluF time. Customers can learn more about Pumps Eliminated in most homes. .semoh tsom ni detapayment nimilE spmuprograms P and enroll Deal Direct with owner - no middle man. .nam elddim on - renwoathtEversource.com/BillHelp. iw tceriD laeD

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The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

Friday, April 30, 2021

Expert: Cicadas to pose no problems By Joy VanderLek The Citizen

There will be a new cycle of cicadas emerging this year, but despite some alarmist rumors of a large-scale infestation and devastation, A Brood X cicada. there’s really nothing to worwikicommons ry about according to an expert. a natural strategy to avoid competition within the variThe non annual cicadas, also known as the periodicals, ous species. belong to the species magiThat abundance of cicadas is cicada, the 17-year cicada. a bonanza for the ecosysThese are the ones that will tem. “It’s an unlimited food be coming out this year in source and a quick source of the East. These cicadas are protein,” Simpson said. The the type with specifically main predators are birds, separated broods of 13 or 17 but bats, mammals and even years. fish will eat cicadas, as well. Entomologist Ray Simpson Brood X, or Brood 10, is bawith the Yale-Peabody Musically the only one that’s seum of Natural History in coming out this year, SimpNew Haven says there won’t son said, and that will be be a grand-scale emergence outside of New England. of these arthropods appearWhen you hear the term ing in Cheshire. Even in ar“brood” it means the emereas where cicadas are exgence of one of these three pected in large numbers, the species. “The only brood dramatic headlines are simrecorded in Connecticut is ply overkill, he said. Brood 2,” said Simpson. The “People in Connecticut will last emergence was around 2013. The next time we see be aware of the Dog Day cithem will be in 2030, so we cadas, the ones you hear are pretty much guaranteed during the heat of the sumnot to see a periodical this mer. They make the really year, he said, adding that if high-pitched trilling, buzzing that you hear during you do see one, it should be reported. “That would be the day,” Simpson very significant,” he said. said. These annual cicadas are, 99% of the time, the The broods are region spekind of cicadas Connecticific. Brood 10 is faircut residents see or hear. ly widespread, although distribution tends to be patchy In the order Hemiptera, pewith some hotspots within a riodical cicadas (magicicaregion, said Simpson. “We da), there are three species of the 17-year cicada (decim, see them (Brood 10) in the mid-Atlantic and from Long cassini and decula). The Island and New York, west to three are synchronized in their emergence. They come Illinois and down through the Appalachians to Georout in the millions, flying, gia.” and singing. “The cicadas come out in such huge numThere is concern about the bers that predators are overLong Island broods going whelmed. The army of extinct, said Simpson. The predators out there are taken theory is that if a brood gets by surprise,” said Simpson. too small, it can go extinct. “They (predators) can’t eat For example, Simpson rethem all. They go to town on calls a Brood 11 that did live the cicadas.” in Connecticut. A few peoThe staggered emergence of ple went out to look for it in the 13 and 17- year-cycles is

A23

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Ryan Dorin, MD

Board certified in urology The Hospital of Central Connecticut

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call 1.855.HHC.HERE (1.855.442.4373) or go to HartfordHealthCare.org/Webinars After you register, you’ll receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.

See Cicadas, A26

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4/23/21 3:25 PM

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The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

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The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

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Friday, April 30, 2021

VISIT MYRECORDJOURNAL.COM/ATHLETES TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE NOMINEES!

BRANDON CAHILL

ERIN BRENNAN

It’s hard to nominate one Athlete of the Week from Platt baseball because the Panthers get so many contributions from so many guys. We’re going with the big right-hander, Brandon Cahill. The 6-foot-2 junior, 3-0 on the season, was a one-man wrecking crew in Thursday’s 11-4 win over Middletown. He held the Blue Dragons to four hits over five innings while striking out nine and doubled twice and drove in three runs.

Erin Brennan won the long jump, triple jump and pole vault Saturday vs. Maloney, making it 3-for-3 for the junior in all three events in the first three meets of 2021. Brennan is also rewriting the Sheehan record book. The 36-2 she landed in the triple jump Saturday broke an 18-year-old record. Brennan already holds the long jump mark at 16-10¾ and, at 10-6, is closing in on Steph Phoenix’s record of 11 feet in the pole vault.

DANTE D’AMORE

MILYTZA PEREZ

Whether pitching or batting, Dante D’Amore knows the strike zone and he commands it. In helping SHS get off to a 5-0 start, the senior was 2-0 with a 0.78 ERA and averaging .636 (7-for-11) with two HRs. With nine walks, D’Amore had an on-base percentage of .800. He threw a 5-inning no-hitter at South Windsor and, in his first nine innings on the year, had allowed two hits and two walks while striking out 14.

Just as she’s done since her rookie season, Milytza Perez is delivering in the circle and at the plate for Maloney’s softball Spartans. The senior fired a two-hitter Monday against Middletown as she and the squad improved to 6-2. Perez struck out 11 and went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. For the season, Perez has 63 strikeouts and is batting .333 with two HRs and seven RBI. She is going on to play at Molloy College.

RYAN SCIALABBA

CLAIRE RICCITELLI-PESTANA

The top players in a bumper crop of SCC baseball seniors were recently profiled by GameTime CT, and among the group was Cheshire’s Ryan Scialabba. Rightly so. Scialabba has been a varsity starter since his freshman year and is Cheshire’s leading light in 2021. A sampler: Scialabba was a triple shy of the cycle last Monday in North Haven and he tripled home the winning run in Friday’s wild 11-10 win over LH.

Lyman Hall did it right on Senior Night last Thursday. The Trojans pinned a 10-6 decision on visiting Jonathan Law and they got a game-high six goals from one of their leading upperclassmen, Claire Riccitelli-Pestana. The senior captain scored just over three minutes into the game and LH was off and running to its third straight victory. Riccitelli-Pestana is going on to play lacrosse at Eastern Connecticut State.

PLATT BASEBALL

SHEEHAN TRACK

SOUTHINGTON BASEBALL

MALONEY SOFTBALL

CHESHIRE BASEBALL

GO ONLINE AND VOTE. CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK TO SEE WHO YOU VOTED THE ATHLETES OF THE WEEK! Winners will be posted here as well as your next group of nominees. WWW.

MYRECORDJOURNAL.COM/ ATHLETES

LYMAN HALL LACROSSE

THIS WEEK’S AOTW WINNERS AS VOTED BY YOU!

BRIANNA PEARSON

CHESHIRE SOFTBALL

EVAN AVERY

MALONEY BASEBALL

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The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

Friday, April 30, 2021

Pandemic may lead to long-term changes in school calendars Connecticut officials say the impact of the pandemic on students and their families could lead to long-term changes in how the school day and school year look in the state. Gov. Ned Lamont was joined Thursday, April 15 by federal

and state political leaders along with local and state education officials in a roundtable to discuss the future of education and how they plan to use the tens of millions of dollars in federal funds being earmarked to combat pandemic-based learning loss. They focused on changes that could go beyond this summer or the

next school year. School superintendents said that absenteeism during the pandemic has had numerous causes, including housing problems, language barriers, day care issues and technology gaps. They suggested that some of the federal money from the American Rescue Plan be used to make the school calendar more flexible through tutoring, online learning and offhours education programs. “We really have to use this opportunity, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to really shake up how we think about student learning,” said Matt Geary, Manchester’s school superintendent. “Students don’t only learn from 8:30 to 3:00, Monday to Friday. There’s a lot of other opportunities that potentially create more beneficial situations for students and families.”

Secretaries Dael Szypulski, top, and Catherine Vega, bottom right, decorated their office window with a "We Miss You" message to students at Casimir Pulaski Elementary School in Meriden on May 5, 2020. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal file photo

previous federal funding to set up summer learning proHartford Mayor Luke Bronin grams in conjunction with said it’s important that officamps, libraries, aquariums cials creating new learning and museums that will be programs make sure they designed to help catch up address the social losses stu- students who have fallen bedents have suffered and put hind because of chronic abthem in situations, especially senteeism and other issues during the summer, that related to the absence of bring some joy and fun to full-time in-person learning. learning. The Learner Engagement Gov. Ned Lamont has aland Attendance Program ready announced his inten(LEAP) also will send mention to use $10.7 million in tors and counselors directly

into the homes of struggling students in 15 hard-hit districts to work with their families.

Cicadas

have wings and don’t even look like cicadas during that stage. They have five instars, five times they collapse, grow and shed. Seventeen years is a long process to develop, feeding off the juices of tree roots, before they get to emerge. Once they come out, a short period from April to May, they shed into their adult form. Their only purpose is to reproduce. Two weeks is about the lifespan. The female oviposits (lays an egg) into the bark of a tree. They do not lay eggs on anything else. As a precaution, it may be best to wait to plant a new, young tree until fall. Otherwise, the cicada does no harm.

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1954 and found just a few individual insects and determined that small hatch was the last of the brood. Seventeen years later, the brood could not be found and was determined to be extinct, Simpson said.

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Extinction generally comes as a result of habitat fragmentation and human development. Most of their life cycle is spent underground. “You don’t even know they are there,” Simpson said. So, when you dig and develop for a new store, or mall or housing development, it’s

possible that activity is destroying a specific cicada population. Cicadas can’t bite humans as they don’t have mouthparts. There are approximately 3,000 cicada species in the world, with the real focus of cicada diversity in the temperate tropical areas of the world, said Simpson. That includes New Zealand, where there are species of cicada unique to that country. There are, overall, fewer cicadas in the U.S. These insects stay underground so long due to an extremely long time in the larval development stage. They don’t

Lamont said the state needs to reconsider using an agrarian calendar for its school year. “I think we’ve got to rethink the 12 months,” Lamont said. “I think it could make a big difference and I hope this is a year we can experiment.”

The Southington Citizen | southingtoncitizen.com

Friday, April 30, 2021

COVID-19 VACCINE

If I had COVID-19, do I need to get vaccinated?

The two reasons to get vaccinated are to keep yourself from catching COVID-19 and to keep yourself from transmitting it to other people who might then get very ill. This pandemic can only end in two ways. One would be allowing millions more people to sicken and die. The other is through a very high percentage of vaccination. COVID-19 is new and there’s a lot we don’t know about it. It began a year and a half ago, 141 million cases have been documented and 3 million people have died. Through all of this, there has been the ability to gather information. The most useful data I’ve found was published just last month in Lancet. The majority of the country of Denmark was extensively tested. The study looks at people tested in their first wave (March to May) and their second (September to December), a range of 4-8 months. Their conclusion was the following: “We found protection in the population to be 80% or higher in those younger than 65 years, but to be approximately 47% in those aged 65 years and older.” So there is protection for most people who’ve had COVID, but it’s not as strong as we get with our vaccinations. We also don’t know how long the protection lasts after getting COVID-19. We know people can get sick with a second infection. We know most people who get vaccinated after formerly having COVID-19 develop a robust immune response. We expect that any protection from the disease won’t last forever. The mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) get us nearly 100% protection against severe COVID, 94-95% protection against getting mild to moderate disease and

over 80% protection against asymptomatic transmission. There’s evidence that the protections from the vaccination are quite long-lasting. Due to viral mutations/variants, COVID-19 is becoming more contagious and probably more aggressive. The vaccines are highly effective at protecting us from variants, but we don’t know the same about prior illness. After hundreds of millions of doses of the mRNA vaccines, we know them to be very safe. The J&J vaccine is on “pause” for a possible side effect that has shown up as 1 per million. Though we’re worried about that, it should be seen as emphasizing the high level of safety that is going into the observation for any dangers. We also know that people are getting tired of COVID-19 restrictions and want to return to life as they knew it.

¿Si ya tuve COVID-19, tengo que vacunarme?

Las dos razones por las cuales debe vacunarse son para que usted no contraiga el COVID-19 y para que usted no se lo pase a otras personas que puedan enfermarse seriamente. Hay solo dos maneras para que esta pandemia pueda terminar. Una sería permitir que millones de personas se enfermen y se mueran. La otra es con un porcentaje muy alto de personas vacunadas.

El COVID-19 es nuevo y no sabemos mucho acerca del virus. Comenzó hace un año y medio, se han documentado 141 millones de casos, y han muerto 3 millones de personas. A través de todo esto, ha You can be vaccinated for habido la oportunidad de COVID-19 as soon as you recolectar información. are no longer contagious La información más útil from your infection. que he conseguido fue However, it is generally publicada el mes pasado agreed upon that reinen Lancet. La mayoría de personas en el país de Difection within 90 days is namarca fue extensamente exceedingly uncommon. So the CDC indicates that Dr. Daniel Wilensky examinada. El primer estudio examinó a las perwaiting 3 months from Community Health Center sonas durante la primera the time of the infection is oleada (marzo a mayo) y reasonable. This delay has been importla segunda (septiembre a diciembre), un ant in that there haven’t been enough rango de 4-8 meses. Su conclusión fue la vaccines to go around. As we get closer siguiente “Vimos que la protección fue to supply meeting demand, there is less 80% o más alta entre las personas menores reason to delay. Anybody who received de 65 años, pero aproximadamente el Monoclonal antibody infusions during 47% en aquellos de 65 años o mayores”. their COVID-19 illness does need to wait Así que hay protección para la mayoría de 3 full months. personas que han tenido COVID, pero no tan fuerte como la que recibimos cuando So, in summary, protection from COVID nos vacunamos. Tampoco sabemos cuánto from previous disease isn’t terrible. But dura la protección después de contagiarse it’s not as good as you need and we need. con COVID-19. If we all get vaccinated, the epidemic in Sabemos que las personas se pueden the U.S. will disappear and we can lead enfermar con una segunda infección. the less wealthy countries to end the Sabemos que la mayoría de las personas pandemic altogether. que se vacunan después de haber tenido