The Southington Citizen

Southington resident reflects on Louis Armstrong impersonator career

By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON After a 10-month stint in prison on drug charges in 1995, Milton L. Jordan said he was praying for “new tools” to turn his life around. Performing Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” at a Red Lobster karaoke session in California, Jordan realized he’d found one.

“People who were leaving were coming back. People were coming out of the kitchen to see who was singing,” Jordan, 70, said. “I noticed the attention the song got. I said, ‘Thank you God, I’m going to take this and run with it.’”

Jordan, a Southington resident, turned impersonating one of his musical heroes into a career that has him touring in Europe yearly with Stars in Concert.

Your Big Break

For a few years, Jordan and his wife Cara Rogers hosted karaoke nights in southern California with Jordan per-

forming as Louis Armstrong in contests. Jordan’s day job was construction, and the early mornings at time made staying up for late gigs difficult. Rogers thought Jordan was such a match for the jazz singer and trumpet player that she urged him to

audition for Your Big Break, a talent show created by television host Dick Clark.

Jordan sang just a few words at the audition in 1999 before being sent home. He thought he’d gotten cut until

See Jordan,

With the end of the school year in sight and the pandemic in the rearview, Plainville Community Schools’ volunteer appreciation event returned this spring. Held at Plainville High, the evening included dinner, a raffle, a “make your own floral bouquet” station, and special recognitions for outgoing Superintendent Steven LePage and longtime Board of EducationmemberFosterWhite. Contributed photo

Southington college up for sale at $9.5M

By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON Both national and local real estate firms are marketing the former Lincoln College property, a campus that’s for sale for $9.5 million. The property has been mostly dormant since the

for-profit college closed in 2018.

Mendel Paris, a New Haven developer, is one of the owners who bought the 32-acre Mount Vernon Road property in 2022 for $3.5 million. He’s marketing the property locally

See College, A7

Milton L. Jordan, a Louis Armstrong impersonator from Southington, smiles in character while visiting family in Cheshire, Friday, May 26, 2023. Jordan turned impersonating one of his musical heroes into a career that has him touring in Europe yearly with Stars in Concert.

Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

RJ veteran Eric Cotton named executive editor

Record-Journal staff

Eric Cotton, who has held a variety of reporting and editing posts at the Record-Journal over the last 25 years, has been named the media organization’s next executive editor.

Cotton, who served as the paper’s managing editor for the last decade, was named executive editor in May and now will lead the newsroom’s high-quality investigative and accountability journalism in print and online at www.myrecordjournal.com

“I’m thrilled to get the opportunity to lead such a talented and special group of dedicated journalists,” Cotton said. “I am a passionate believer in the power of factual, independent journalism that can strengthen our communities and I’m thankful the White family is putting this trust in me.”

Liz White, publisher and executive vice president of the Record-Journal Media Group, said she’s excited to work with Cotton, who will be charged with growing and serving current and new audiences, while also accelerating the Record-Journal’s digital growth.

“We greatly appreciate all that Eric has meant for our company the last 25 years,” she said. “I am confident that he is the right person to lead the Record-Journal Media Group newsroom. I can’t wait to see where he takes

Cotton

The top editor position at the Record-Journal was held by Ralph Tomaselli for the last 17 years. Unfortunately, last fall, Tomaselli suffered a stroke that will keep him from returning to the position. Today, he contributes to the Record-Journal by advising senior leadership as Editor Emeritus.

“I have worked closely with Eric for the last 25 years and I am pleased that he emerged as the best candidate,” Tomaselli said. “I love the Record-Journal and am glad that the senior editing position will be in such competent hands.”

Cotton’s resume at the Record-Journal is filled with work that has shined a light on the public’s right to know, as well as leading the paper to prestigious journalism awards. He got his start at the Record-Journal in 1997 as a reporter and covered beats including Meri-

den City Hall and Meriden education before his promotion to an editing role.

Early in his career as an editor, Cotton led a project investigating the role of bullying in the suicide of a 12year-old Meriden boy, which resulted in statewide legisla tive reform and earned the Theodore Driscoll Investiga tive Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. He has fought to preserve public records, including ini tiating a Freedom of Information case against increased government secrecy that reached the state Supreme Court in 2021. And he was a key leader in help ing the company earn the prestigious honor of Newspaper of the Year from the New England Newspaper & Press Association for the last two years in a row. He also helped establish and support the launch of the Record-Journal’s Latino Communities Reporting Lab. “Eric has lived in both Meriden and Wallingford for several years, and now in Southington, so he knows our communities well, which contributes to the strength of our products and stories,” White said.

Cotton grew up in Southington, where he currently resides with his wife Katie and their two children Julia, 6, and Madeline, 2.

You can reach Cotton via email at ecotton@recordjournal.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

to your home or business, will end.

CT’s long, winding trip to fix a stretch of Route 9

By Mark Pazniokas The Connecticut Mirror

On the first day of summer in 2016, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and transportation officials greeted reporters on a sunny parking deck in Middletown, a spot affording views of a placid bend in the Connecticut River and a treacherous half-mile of state highway.

They came to announce a solution to a puzzle: How to remove two sets of traffic lights on Route 9, a contributor to about 260 crashes in three years on what otherwise is a limited-access highway, without cutting off the city’s riverfront or its rebounding downtown.

Building two bridges to allow northbound traffic to exit into the downtown under raised southbound lanes was the “minimalist” answer, as described then by the state’s chief highway engineer. Malloy urged patience: A final design and construction would take years, completion unlikely before 2023.

Seven years later, Connecticut has a new governor, the state Department of Transportation has a new commissioner, and Middletown has a new mayor. But as another summer approaches, the signals remain on Route 9, snarling traffic on a highway connecting I-91 and I-84 in Greater Hartford to Old Saybrook, I-95 and shoreline beaches.

It turns out the Rubik’s Cube nature of highway do-overs how to fix one problem without creating two others is harder than it looks.

Responding to concerns about the concept Malloy presented and revisions that followed, the DOT is now working on Alternative 11, assessing suggestions by Middletown officials in November. Alternative 1, the plan presented in 2016 and revised after public input, remains in contention.

DOT now aims to settle on a conceptual design by June

2024, produce construction drawings by November 2025, seek bids a few months later, then start construction in June 2026 exactly one decade after Malloy’s press conference.

The complexities of re designing a relatively short stretch of highway to the sat isfaction of myriad stake holders around Middletown, a city of 47,000 at the center of the state, has been an in structive, if humbling, un dertaking for a short-staffed DOT with far greater ambitions and challenges.

Notably, the delay hasn’t drawn criticism from Middletown’s mayor, Ben Florsheim, or his predecessor, Dan Drew, who both attended the 2016 news conference. Or from Rep. Roland Lemar, a New Haven Democrat and close observer of the DOT as co-chair of the Transportation Committee.

“It’s because DOT has been responsive and open to sug-

gestions from the local com munity about how to ensure that that roadway serves the city of Middletown, not di

Spring

but

designers

a good one.” Highway

Drive-In movies

The 2023 summer season at the Southington Drive-In runs every Saturday from June 3 through Sept. 9. Admission is $20 per carload and $5 for walk-ins, cash only. Gates open at 6 p.m, with the films beginning after sunset. Ahead of every movie, local gym coach Eric Korp will host activities for children on the multi-purpose field adjacent to the drive-in park. Coming up -June 3: “Jaws,” Southington UNICO; June 10: “Inside Out,” Southington Education Foundation; June 17: “Aladdin” Southington Rotary; June 24: “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” Mill Foundation.

Marines sought

The Marine Corps League, Hardware City Detachment, New Britain CT is actively looking for new members. You do not have to live in New Britain to be a member.

The Hardware City Detachment regularly supports local veterans and their families in need, and participates in many local celebrations and remembrances. The Hardware City Detachment meets the first Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m., at the Berlin VFW, 152 Massirio Dr. For more information, contact Sal V. Sena Sr. (860-6146188, 4mermarine69@ gmail.com) or Al Urso (860747-0677, alurso@cox.net).

Balloon fest

The Plainville Fire Company’s Hot Air Balloon Festival will take place at Norton Park the evening of Friday, Aug. 25, and all day Saturday, Aug. 26.

Anyone interested in helping is encouraged to sign up. Volunteers are needed from Friday through Sunday. To access the volunteer application, visit plainvillefireco.com.

Year Round Tree Service

he heard from the show’s producers a few weeks later. Jordan was surprised, saying he’d only gotten to sing five words.

“They said, ‘That’s all we needed to hear,’” Jordan said.

While he didn’t win the grand prize on Your Big

Break, the show did turn out to be just that for Jordan. The exposure there got him a spot with Oprah Winfrey, during which Dick Clark surprised him via satellite video with the news that Legends in Concert, a tribute show company, wanted to add the Satchmo impersonator to their lineup.

“They loved it. They want to hire you to be a part of the show,” Clark told Jordan during the Oprah episode in

2000. “Yesterday you were in construction. Tomorrow, you may be a huge star.”

Rogers never doubted it.

“It’s his calling. I might have been part of it happening but I think he would have

gone into this or something musical regardless. He’s an entertainer,” she said.

Learning entertainment by being entertained

Jordan grew up in Columbus, Ohio singing at his Bap-

tist church and with musical ambitions common among his family and friends.

“The Motown thing was big, everybody wanted to be a singer,” he said.

Louis Armstrong in a particular was a favorite in Jordan’s house growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s. If the singer was on TV, everyone watched.

“The name Louis Armstrong would stop arguments in my house,” Jordan said. “You know you’re going to come away smiling, he was such an entertainer,”

He also grew up admiring

A promotional photo of Milton L. Jordan impersonating Louis Armstrong.

Photo courtesy of Milton Jordan

See Jordan, A8

with Chozick Realty of Hartford and nationally and internationally with Colliers.

Todd Noel, director of Colliers’ Education Services Group, is marketing the property to schools. He and his team have experience marketing school properties and said there’s demand internationally, particularly from Asia and the Pacific.

“We’re having good conversations with boarding schools. We’re getting a lot of interest from international boarding schools,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of success in selling a vacant or closed college campus and bringing on a local stakeholder to help with marketing and tours.”

He believed a sale to a school would be unlikely this year however, since a school would want to be ready to open for the school year. That leaves little time

this year but he hoped to be in talks with a prospective buyer this year for a closing in 2024.

“They want to minimize their carry cost,” Noel said.

There are seven buildings on the land at the corner of Welch Road and Mount Vernon Road. Noel said they’ve been well maintained both by the previous owner and Paris.

Two years ago, a Jewish summer camp used the property.

He estimated the cost of building such a campus between $30 million and $40 million, plus the cost of the land. That cost, plus sales of comparable sites, was used to determine the price.

Converting the campus to housing

Noel said he’s casting a wide net to prospective buyers. The land is zoned residential and that’s still a possibility, Noel said. Residential halls could become multifamily

housing while classroom buildings are demolished to make way for houses.

“We have garnered a fair amount of interest from single family home developers,” he said.

A developer could build single family homes without any special town approval since the property is in a residential zone. For multi-family housing, acting town planner Dave Lavallee said a developer would need approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission.

“A zoning text amendment through PZC would likely be the route to take to try and get higher density there,” Lavallee said.

A private school or college would require a special permit from town planners, he said.

Previous development attempts

Paris had the property for sale for $6.9 million last year.

Owners prior to Paris made several attempts to return the property to use after failing to secure a new school. The town’s zoning rules allowed them to seek approval for medical, rehabilitation, veterinary and other uses. Opposition from neighbors over the potential for a drug rehabilitation center and hesitation from town planners caused property owners

Garden’s

to withdraw the proposal.

Without a school and another way to reuse the campus buildings, the previous property owners then got town approval for age-restricted cluster housing. Their intent was to develop the land with Mark Lovley, a local developer, but those plans were curtailed by Paris’ offer to buy the property.

Paris wanted to return the property to its original residential designation and remove the age-restricted cluster housing zone. He got approval for the zoning change two years ago.

jbuchanan@record-journal.com

203-317-2230

Twitter: @JBuchananRJ

entertainers like Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig and more, who could represent a host of characters.

“I’ve always been an imitator of people even in the neighborhood I grew up in,” Jordan said.

He described himself as a concert chaser during his hippie days, seeing top acts of the 1970’s in all kinds of genres.

“I’d like to think I learned to entertain by being enter-

tained,” Jordan said.

Performing in Europe

For a while Jordan toured around the United States with Legends in Concert. Now he’s with Stars in Concert, a company that tours in Europe and offers impersonators for Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, the Blues Brothers and others.

“I worked with a Marilyn Monroe that would fool Joe DiMaggio,” Jordan said. For his set, Jordan does all the vocals while video and instrumentals of Louis Armstrong and his band plays on screens behind him. He’s taken on the whole persona

with the mannerisms, gestures and costume of the singer. While Jordan has a white beard when he’s not on tour, he’ll go cleanshaven for his gigs and add hair to complete the look.

“I can’t take people to the Louis Armstrong address but I can get them in the neighborhood,” Jordan said. He describes his work as homage to Armstrong. He and his wife have lived all over the country but moved to Connecticut to be closer to her parents who live in Cheshire.

Jazz is popular in Germany and many of his shows are there. Louis Armstrong, Jor-

dan said, was able to infuse blues into other genres which hadn’t been done yet in his time.

One of those concerts drew Danny Barcelona, the drummer of Louis Armstrong’s All-Stars. Barcelona told Jordan than the concert made him feel “like old times.”

“That was one of the highlights of my life,” Jordan said. His set list includes some hits like “High Society,” “Hello Dolly” and “When You’re Smiling.” Of all the songs, “What a Wonderful World” may have the widest recognition and has an important message, according to Jordan.

“It catches everybody, everybody knows that song from young to old,” he said.

“We’ve become so preoccupied with everyday life we forget to look at God’s artwork,” Jordan said. “We forget to look at the artwork before our eyes.”

Jordan will travel to Europe in October for his next tour.

Understanding addiction

Whether on tour or not, Jordan said he looks for opportunities to talk to groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Having experienced addiction, he said he’s got credibility with those going through it that others don’t.

Jordan’s mother died when he was 19, leaving him “pissed at the world.” In the music scene that Jordan followed, drugs were part of the lifestyle.

“We can fool ourselves into thinking we’re having fun,” he said. It wasn’t until after his incarceration that he realized he was headed down a dark road.

“I was tired of lying to myself,” he said.

Jordan said he’s now scrupulously law-abiding.

“I don’t even jaywalk,” he said.

jbuchanan@record-journal.com

203-317-2230

Twitter: @JBuchananRJ

vised plans repeatedly at the request of Middletown, meeting monthly with city officials as they attempt to balance concerns about river views and access with potential impacts on downtown traffic, historic properties, railroad tracks and an isolated and long-neglected neighborhood, MillerBridge.

“It feels to me like we’ve been listened to,” said Florsheim, who succeeded Drew as mayor in 2019. Drew offered a similar assessment and added, “I think everybody knew it was a very complicated project that required a lot of public input.”

Still, others have stopped following the twists and turns of a slowly evolving reality show about a highway makeover. They just want to know how it all ends.

“I am horribly cynical at this point about the process, and I don’t think without reason, ” said Dmitry D’Alessandro, the owner of a downtown framing shop and a Miller-Bridge resident. “I don’t care anymore. They’ve said that they’re going to finally do it. I will believe them when they finally do it.”

Don Shubert, the president of the Connecticut Construction Industries Association, said the painfully slow process of birthing highway projects, often more tied to regulatory and permitting issues than public reaction, long has frustrated an industry with an insatiable appetite for work.

“Ten years from conception to construction all over the country is far too long,” Shubert said. “We need a process where we’re not doing everything, then stepping back and doing it all over again.”

Shubert was speaking generally, not about the repeated reviews and revisions of the Route 9 project. He acknowledged that remaking highways in built-out areas is especially complicated.

“There’s no easy digging in Connecticut,” he said.

Connecticut, like much of the U.S., is deep in a reappraisal of how the construction of tens of thousands miles of highways in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s hollowed out American cities, carved up neighborhoods and walled off natural assets like the Connecticut River in Hartford and Middletown.

Much of that highway infrastructure, such as the I-84 viaduct that bisects and overshadows a long swath of Hartford, is nearing the end of useful life. The need for rebuilding comes in a time when best practices call for transportation plans that are multi-modal tapestries, woven to connect communities.

Michael Calabrese, the chief of highway design, said the DOT has been paying increasing attention to “ context-sensitive design” for 25 of his 27 years at the agency.

“Basically, it’s go out and talk to the public,” he said.

“The more you talk to people, the more you can figure out the best solution for everybody. So for Connecticut, it’s not a recent mind shift. We’ve been doing this for a long time. So projects just take a while.”

Earlier generations of highway designers focused on the most efficient ways of moving cars from Point A to Point B, less so with the impacts on the communities through which they passed, destroying some neighborhoods and isolating others.

“There has been a cultural change,” said Garrett Eucalitto, the commissioner of DOT.

With a background in transportation planning and finance, both in Hartford and in Washington, Eucalitto embodies and reinforces that change. He was recruited by his predecessor, Joseph Giulietti, and groomed to take over when Giulietti retired in January at the start of Gov. Ned Lamont’s second term.

See Route 9, A10

“We’ve seen the impact of the past decisions. You look at what happened to Hartford,” Eucalitto said, referring to the impact of highways built a half-century ago. “And it had lasting damage on the community that now we’re going to have to undo.”

Three years ago, the DOT halted work on how to replace the Hartford viaduct and accepted a challenge from a public-private partnership to think more broadly and much, much bigger.

Designers shifted to working on a conceptual plan for reconstructing not just I-84 but its riverfront interchange with I-91, a section of I-91 that stands between the

downtown and river and, possibly, the clover-leaf exchanges that consume acres of valuable land on the other side of the river in East Hartford.

Costing billions and requiring 15 years to complete, it would be the mother of all highway makeovers.

“The goal is this summer to roll it out publicly: ‘Here are early-action projects. Here are the pieces. And here’s what the future of Hartford can look like if all this is completed,’” Eucalitto said.

The Middletown project is a smaller-scale dress rehearsal for the more ambitious pro-

duction in Hartford, which most likely would have to be designed, funded and built in stages, given its cost and size.

With more than 500 vacancies, the DOT is hampered by staffing shortages. Eucalitto said staffing has not been an issue in Middletown but is a factor in the projects lining up behind it.

Over time, the redesign and reconstruction of Route 9 through Middletown has both grown in scope and split into smaller projects: two are complete, one recently broke ground, and another is cleared to go to

the bid in the fall. Each possesses an “independent utility.”

In other words, they are worth doing on their own, even if the final piece of the puzzle how to eliminate two signal-controlled intersections while maintaining safe access on and off the highway still is being designed.

“So if we never get rid of the signals, all these projects still have a purpose and a need, and they’re beneficial to the environment,” said Steve Hall, the project manager.

Construction recently began on a $56 million project to remake an awkwardly angled ramp that connects Route 17 to Route 9. From a stop sign, drivers must look over their left shoulder for an opening to dash into northbound traffic with no acceleration lane.

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It was the site of 319 crashes over a recent three-year period, even more than the 260 attributed to the nearby traffic signals.

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Hall said the on-again, offagain conversation over the feasibility of removing the Route 9 lights gained traction in 2014, when the public reacted skeptically to DOT plans to fix the Route 17 ramp without touching the two nearby traffic signals.

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The design back then was pretty similar to what we’re Hall said. But we got comments back then saying, ‘You got to do something about these signals. How can you fix that, and we have two traffic signals on Route 9?’ So we kind of shifted focus.”

The ramp project, which requires a new bridge and other changes, was put on hold.

Two years later, Malloy, and James P. Redeker, then the DOT commissioner, came back with a fast-track plan to not only fix the ramp but remove the traffic lights.

“Real simply, it was just a let’s-look-at-this-from-aminimalist-scope,” Thomas A. Harley, the chief engineer,

See Route 9, A13

Four grants distributed through Plainville Community Fund

Press Release

The Plainville Community Fund was established at the Main Street Community Foundation in 2006 by a group of community leaders to create a permanent resource of assets for charitable programs and projects that enhance the quality of life for Plainville residents.

Recently, the Main Street Community Foundation awarded four grants totaling $11,086 from the Plainville Community Fund:

Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center, was awarded a $2,000 grant to continue their Imagine Nation Loves Plainville STEAM outreach program for Plainville children, allowing them to engage with science, technology, engineering, art and math in a fun and collaborative way.

Plainville Community Food Pantry was awarded a $5,000 grant to fund its Intervention, Outreach, and Referral Program, which

provides food and other basic needs items for Plainville residents.

A $1,586 grant was awarded to the Plainville Senior Center for The Caregivers Toolbox program, a fiveweek dinner education series on topics pertinent to caregiving for the elderly.

Lastly, The Congregational Church of Plainville received a $2,500 grant to support the Music Sacred Project, a new concert series featuring various genres and musicians that will be open to the public.

The Plainville Community Fund was established at Main Street Community Foundation in 2006 by a group of community leaders to create a permanent resource of assets for charitable programs and projects that enhance the quality of life for Plainville residents and emerging needs.

Over the past 17 years, the Main Street Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling $129,186.

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Hall of Fame

Entering the Plainville Sports Hall of Fame this year are Christie Matteo (Class of

1992), Brian Sparks (Class of 2000), Todd Pagano (Class of 2001), Vito Barbagallo (Class of 2003) and Desiree Pina (Class of 2008). The 2008

Plainville High School baseball team will also be inducted and longtime director of athletics John Zadnik will be presented with the

Distinguished Service Award.

The induction dinner will be held Sept. 30 at The DoubleTree by Hilton in Bristol. For additional information, visit plainvillesports.com, find the Hall of Fame on Facebook, or contact Phil Cox (860-250-6484) or Mike Bakaysa (860-573-8015).

Renters rebate

State law provides a reimbursement program for Connecticut renters who are elderly or totally disabled, and whose incomes do not exceed certain limits.

Persons renting an apartment or room or living in cooperative housing, or a

mobile home may be eligible for this program.

Applications are accepted between April 1 and Oct. 1. Visit portal.ct.gov/OPM.

Mentoring

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the 119-year-old national youth mentoring organization.

Based in Hartford, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut offers life-changing programs to at-risk children in all of the state’s 169 municipalities.

Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters by visiting ctbigs.org.

Route 9

said then. “When you look at it from that perspective, you come with ‘let’s just raise the southbound [lanes] so the turns can be made underneath it.’”

It was not entirely minimalist. Keeping traffic flowing as it comes off the highway at Washington Street also would require construction of a rotary. Early reviews were not good.

The community complained that one flyover destroyed views of the river when looking down Washington Street from Main Street and that other aspects compromised historic properties, complicated riverfront access and appeared to overwhelm the downtown with traffic that no longer could easily access Route 9.

“Whatever we do on Route 9, there’s a perception that means Main Street will bear the burden of what we’re doing,” Hall said. “There’sa perception DOT wants to fix the Route 9 problem by sending all the traffic to Main Street.”

Engineers experimented with revisions that would move a flyover north and use an open structure instead of retaining walls, opening river views. They also have considered closing off one of the two downtown exits to either north or south traffic, simplifying the design.

Seven of the 11 alternatives were discarded after internal scrutiny. Three others have been subjected to detailed and sophisticated reviews designed to measure how traffic flows would be changed, using big data sold by cell phone providers to a Virginia company, Streetlight Data.

The fourth, Alternative 11, is now getting the same analysis.

Cellphones act as tracking devices, their movements collected over time. The data feeds into animated simulations showing DOT engi-

neers where traffic now goes and how it would be affected by variables ranging from the closure of an exit to changing the cycles of traffic lights blocks away.

“Anytime we close highway access, those cars have to go somewhere, and we have to figure out where they go and then evaluate the impacts,” Hall said. “So with that traffic model we have, we’re able to basically plug in a closure of that exit ramp and see where these vehicles go.”

As engineers considered options, decisions were made in 2018 to break out portions into separate projects.

Sidewalk “bump outs” at intersections along Main Street were installed as safety measures that calm traffic and shorten the distance for pedestrians crossing the street, an immediate improvement that anticipated increased traffic once the Route 9 lights are removed.

Turning lanes were added at St. John’s Square, where Hartford Avenue takes traffic up a hill from Route 9 to the north end of Main Street, improving traffic flow now and preventing traffic from backing up onto the highway

once the signal-controlled intersection becomes an exit ramp.

A broad pedestrian bridge to the river is in the design.

And the DOT listened to public suggestions that it do something for the residents of Miller and Bridge streets, a neighborhood literally in the shadow of the Arrigoni Bridge. The only access is directly off Route 9, which is dangerous and would become impractical without the traffic lights.

Two decades ago, Middletown tried buying out homeowners with the intention of erasing the neighborhood.

“We were told we didn’t matter,” said D’Allesandro, the merchant who owns a home on Bridge Street.

They do now. The neighborhood has taken on the status of an “environmental justice” community under federal law, requiring the DOT to ensure it does not suffer from the final design.

The plan now is to connect Miller-Bridge to the rest of the city by building an atgrade crossing over the railroad tracks. It is a less-thanideal solution the DOT long

As far as the last piece of the puzzle, the removal of the traffic lights?

The choices are narrowed to Alternative 1, the revised original with a largely finished conceptual plan, and Alternative 11, the latecomer that, among other things, would exit traffic further south and use local roads for access to the downtown. The traffic analysis of Alternative 11 is underway, slated to be finished in September.

“We’re going to reevaluate One and Eleven to get them on the same page, so we can really go apples to apples, Hall said.

Public comment will be opened in the fall. Once again, Middletown will be asked its opinion.

This story originally appeared at ctmirror.org.

resisted but eventually deemed safer than continued access to Route 9.

Hall said the rail crossing had its own complications, requiring negotiations with the railroad and a vote of the General Assembly. It goes to bid by year’s end, with construction next year.

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Route 9 in Middletown. The state Department of Transportation has for decades been struggling with how to reconfigure the divided highway and surrounding areas to remove twotrafficlights. Stephen Busemeyer, The Connecticut Mirror

LEGAL NOTICE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT

The Town of Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at the Plainville Municipal Center, One Central Square, Plainville, CT to consider the following item:

1. PZ 04/23 #12 – Zone Change – The Gardens, LLC – Lot 2 and #90 Unionville Avenue (Tyler Farm) From R-20 to Rte. 177 Corridor Zone (PDD).

2. PZ 04/23 #13 – Text Amendment – The Gardens, LLC – add section 3.06 – Rte. 177 Corridor Zone Regulations.

3. PZ 04/23 #14 – Special Exception –The Gardens, LLC – Lot 2 and #90 Unionville Avenue (Tyler Farm) Rte. 177 Corridor Zone Master Plan.

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 May 15, 2023.

R261485

LEGAL NOTICE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT

On May 23rd 2023, the Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission took the following actions:

APPROVED an 8 lot Resubdivision for Trumbull Homes, LLC at 161 Camp Street in a R-20 Zone.

Respectfully submitted, Matthew Weimer, Secretary, Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission. Dated at Plainville, CT this 25th day of May, 2023. R261883

TOP CASH PAID

For Junk or unwanted vehicles, Toyota’s etc.

Please call Mike @ 203284-8562 8am-5pm.

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS

Needed for Southington/ Meriden/Berlin/Rocky Hill - Must be 21yrs or older and possess a driver’s license for at least 3yrs – Paid training to acquire CDL license and endorsements available –The opportunity to bring your children to work, No

Childcare$$ - Contact Sheila at New Britain

Transportation (860) 8280511 ext. 221 or visit us at, 257 Woodlawn Rd., Berlin, CT

A-1 SERVICE - Is what you will receive from me when purchasing your Old Costume & Fine Estate Jewelry. Napier, QVC, ETC, Jewelry Wanted! “I Pay Top Cash For Your Grandma’s Costume & Fine Jewelry Stash!” I’ll come to you. Julie, 203.443.9602.

ALWAYS BUYING CASH PAIDVintage Electronics, Musical Instruments, Amps, Ham Equipment, HiFi, Radios, CB, Guitars, Audio Equipment, Antiques. 860-707-9350

MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION

Screened Topsoil $30/ per yd; 2.5” screened gravel, $18 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 @ 860-9824819 for delivery

PREMIUM SCREENED TOPSOIL

$30/yard delivered, 3 yd, $100 min. delivery Call Jim 860-982-4819

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.

GRASSY HILL AUCTIONS, - an Estate Sale, Liquidation, Attic & Basement Cleanout Company is Always Buying and providing services all over Connecticut. These are just a FEW of the things we are looking for: Antiques, Collectibles, Old/ Vintage Toys, Musical Instruments (Saxophones, Trumpets, Violins, Flutes, Clarinets, Trombone & SO MUCH MORE) Advertising Items, Wristwatches (Broken or Not), Pocket Watches, Tools (Machinist, Woodworking, & MORE) Doorstops, Clocks, Oil Paintings, Old Signs, Old Photographs, Old Postcards, Brewery Items, Hunting & Fishing, PEZ Dispensers, Costume Jewelry, Broken Jewelry, Gold & Silver Jewelry, Gold & Silver Coins, Military Items, Swords & Bayonets, Helmets & Patches, Medals & Uniforms, Pocket Knives, Lighters & Pipes, 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

MR. BASEBALL - Buying sportcards, call 203767-2407.

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

WANTED - 30+ HP Tractor with Loader & Backhoe; Also,

(203) 600-4431.

ANTIQUE SEWING / YARN CABINET - Dark wood, 4 drawer, $99. Call 203.376.0400.

FREE FIREWOOD - You split and haul away. Call (203) 535-5851.

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

ADORABLE YORKIE POM CHIHUAHUA MIX - 2 fems, Ready to go to their new home. $450 Ea. Call 603.630.2258.

1, 2, 3 CASH FOR YOUR ANTIQUES & JEWELRY - Call Todd Shamock at 203-494-1695.

TOP CASH PAID For any Toyota any condition, running or not, crashed okay. Will take other makes and models.

FOR ADOPTION - 5 month old female Lab Mix, all shots/spayed. Call 203-217-7658, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

GARY WODATCHDemolition Svs Sheds, pools, decks, garages, debris removal. Quick, courteous svc. All calls returned. Ins. #566326. Cell, 860-558-5430

CARPENTRY

Repairs, Decks & Porches, Sheetrock & Taping Water Damage Repairs. Free Est. Ins. MC & Visa. Call Bill (203) 901-2136. CT. Reg. # 0647093

HOUSECLEANING

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

GOOD RATES BEST SERVICE

Fully ins. Free Estimate. Call Ed, We’ll take it to the dump for you!

#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

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

DECKS & PORCHES

Give some new life to your old decks and porches. We can repair or replace stairs, deck boards, railings. We also construct new decks. HIC#647093 Insured. Call Bill for a free estimate, (203) 901-2136.

TEC ELECTRICAL Service LLC All Phases of Electrical Work. 24 hr. Emergency Service. Small Jobs Welcome. 203.237.2122

GUTTERS

DON’T WORK

If they’re dirty! For gutter cleaning, Call Kevin

(203) 440-3279 Fully ins.

CT# 569127

GUTTERS PLUS 25+yrs. Exp. Call today for Free estimate.

203-440-3535

Ct. Reg. #578887

HOME DOCTOR - 48 yrs exp. Odd jobs & remodeling, former US Navy, 15 yrs, #640689, 203.427.7828.

OVER 35 YRS EXP

Stonewalls, patios, sidewalks, chimneys, pool areas, fireplaces, fire pit steps. Free est. 860.274.4893.

BLACK MAGIC - Sealcoat, asphalt repair, line striping, stone drives instal’d. HIC0666763. Ins. 860.997.0637.

Let Us BEAR Your Junk! Junk Removal in CT

GARY WODATCH

Hedge & tree trimming. Trim overgrown properties. Calls returned. #620397. 860.558.5430

JT’S LANDSCAPING

LLC - Spring CleanUps, we specialize in weeding all types of beds, mulching, top soil work, pruning hedges & shrubs, & all your landscape needs. Residential & commercial. Lic. #616311. Call today for free estimate, 203-213-6528.

PATIOS, WALKWAYS, Stonewalls, Steps, Concrete, Repairs, Etc. Free Ests. #0648556 203.808.6886 arnoldsmasonry.com

W. BOOBER MASONRYOver 35 Years Experience All Types of Masonry CT License #626708 (203) 235-4139

#1 PAINTER’S EDGE

MOBILE WASH Chemicals safe for house & plants. House wash, roof cleaning, decks. 25 yrs. exp. Sr Disc. #0656136 Ins. 860.538.5520

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

GARY WODATCH - Tree Removal. All calls returned. CT# 620397. Quick courteous service. 860-558-5430.

TREE BROTHERS TREE EXPERTS - Specializes in all aspects of tree removal and trimming with twenty five years of experience. We offer a free quote and military and first responder discount. Call 203-5122453.

ALEX EUROPEAN MASONRY - 30 yrs. exp. Patios, ret. walls, steps, brick, stone, chimneys. Lic#580443. 203-2320257 or 203-596-0652

LUNO MASONRY - We deal in all types of masonry, repairs & new projects, decks. Refs. avail. Free ests. Lic. HIC0643330 & Ins. Call 203.770.9273.

RT RELOCATION

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

POWER WASHING

Is Spring Cleaning on THE OUTSIDE

FREE Estimates

#569127 Call Kevin 203-440-3279

50th reunion

The Southington High School Class of 1973 will celebrate its 50th reunion Oct. 7 at the Back Nine Tavern. Tickets are $50. RSVP to Shs73_50threunion@ aol.com. Send checks payable to Maureen Cassidy to: 46 Dunham St., Southington, CT 06489.

Class of 1973

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

Transfer station

Plainville’s transfer station on Granger Lane is open for the season. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays only. The transfer station is for Plainville residents only. ID is required. Direct questions to 860-7930221 ext. 7176.

Certification

Eversource is partnering with Housatonic Community College and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Unions 420 and 457 to prepare the next generation of electrical lineworkers in Connecticut.

The Lineworker Certificate

opportunity to progress into Eversource’s paid apprenticeship program. For details, visit Eversource.com.

Boxes to

Boots

Berlin-based non-profit Boxes to Boots, 28 Chamberlain

Highway, sends care packages to members of the U.S. military serving overseas. To learn more about the organi-

Welcome

Adelphia Café

476 Washington Avenue North Haven, CT 06473 203-535-0149

Family owned/operated. Former proprietors of the Neptune Diner in Wallingford. Extensive menu for all tastes. Breakfasts, luncheons and special dinners. All baking on premises.

Colony Diner 611 N Colony Road Wallingford, CT 06492 (203) 269-9507 colonydiner.com Wallingford’s place to go for oldfashioned breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Proudly serving up delicious and hearty meals daily. Voted Best Diner 4 years running by Record Journal. Open seven days. Breakfast served all day.

zation and its needs, visit boxestoboots.org.