Volume 18, Number 19
www.southingtoncitizen.com
Friday, May 7, 2021
Sloper pond to be open for camps
Voters pass golf course land rights purchase By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
After high costs upended a plan to improve Camp Sloper’s pond, YMCA officials are looking at another approach that will help preserve the water feature and keep it usable for this summer. Mark Pooler, Southington-Cheshire YMCA executive director, said he’s looking for town approval to modify dredging plans for the pond.
Sloper’s Pond is seen here on Monday at YMCA Camp Sloper in Southington. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
from the pond by draining and dredging it. Pooler said the work is necessary to keep the pond from turning into a marsh and becoming unusable to camp-goers.
The YMCA had wanted to remove 125,000 cubic feet of silt and sediment He’d hoped to spend no more than $3
million on the project, which also included boardwalks, nature view platforms and other camp amenities. Estimates for the dredging portion alone were far higher than expected.
About 10 percent of eligible voters turned out for the referendum held at Derynoski School. There were 2,419 yes votes and 719 no votes.
See Pond, A2
Turnout was better than the last mid-year special referendum according to Republican registrar August Palmer. Less than seven percent of voters came out for the March, 2012 referendum that approved nearly $90 million for the renovation of the town’s middle schools.
Apple blossoms out early By Jessica Simms Special to the Record-Journal
The pink and white flowers marking the start of the apple blossom season are popping up earlier this year because of the mild winter weather. “Apple trees need a certain amount of chilling hours and then as spring thaws out, air temperature and soil
temperature have gotten warmer in March and April and as things warm up, both air and soil sets things up in motion on the growing side for an apple tree,” said Peter Rogers, owner of Rogers Orchards in Southington. Rogers said the apple blossom period is about five to seven days earlier this See Blossoms, A2
Voters approved a land rights purchase for Southington Country Club in Tuesday’s referendum, a $4.5 million deal that prevents housing development on the 100-acre golf course.
“This was a pretty good turnout,” Palmer said of Tuesday’s participation. Apple blossoms on a tree off South Street at Lyman Orchards in Middlefield. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
In addition to in person votSee Golf, A23
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