The Southington | Plainville Citizen

CAR THEFT & BREAK-INS

Local police say new law doesn’t go far enough

By Jessica Simms Record-Journal staff

As new provisions for com bating car thefts and breakins involving juveniles took effect this month in Con necticut, local police contin ued to report high numbers of auto crimes, often at the hands of juvenile offenders.

In Meriden, the number of cars stolen from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30 of this year was 71, nearly double the 37 vehicles reported stolen during the same period last year.

A string of juvenile arrests related to reports of stolen vehicles in Meriden this month seemed to illustrate the challenge law enforce ment faces when the alleged perpetrators are juveniles.

On Oct. 3, six juveniles were ultimately chargedand four stolen vehicles recovered as officers investigated inci dents across the city.

For many people, like Plainville resident Danielle Afonso, decorating for Halloween is a highlight of the year. Nicole Zappone, The Citizen

Friends create Facebook group to show off local Halloween home haunts

By Nicole Zappone The Citizen

Wanting to do something special for Halloween this year, buddies Eddy Fritz and Jerrod Delagrave cre ated the Facebook group J&E Hauntings, which shines a light on local homes elaborately deco rated for the spooky sea son.

Fritz, a Plainville resident, and Delagrave, who re sides in Plantsville, state on the J&E Facebook page:

Scavenger hunt draws residents to open spaces

By Christian Metzger Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON Along with enjoying the fall col ors, area hikers can em bark on a scavenger hunt this year sponsored by the town’s Open Space Com mittee, called Project Float, to promote the town’s open space parcels. The project is named for the scavenger hunt’s reward, glass fishing floats bound in twine, that have been left along the trails for in trepid hikers to find. The aim, officials say, is to give local residents a reward for heading out to explore the varied nature paths around the community that often go overlooked.

See Scavenger hunt, A4

Tyler Quinones, of Plainville, hikes the trails at Crescent Lake while searching for glass fishing floats placed there for the Project Float scavenger hunt in Southington.

Photos by Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

State Senator Rob Sampson

State Representative Donna Veach

Representative Gale Mastrofrancesco

Morrison

2022, Tony Morrison

by Gale Mastrofrancesco.

by Veach2022, Sal Bordonaro, Treasurer.

by Donna Veach. Paid for by Morrison for CT, Wayne Stanforth, Treasurer, Approved by Tony Morrison.

Proven conservative leadership to defend America and rebuild Connecticut

Candidate for State Representative Tony Morrison

Sgt. Stephen Jaques shows the holding cell at the Wallingford Police Department. A new law that addresses motor vehicle theft increases the amount of time a youth can be held in the police department awaiting a judicial ruling on a detention order from six to eight hours.

Car crimes

From A1

Due to the charges not meet ing the criteria for a serious juvenile offense, five of the suspects were issued a court date and released to their parents. A sixth suspect was released to parental custody as stipulated by the terms of an outstanding warrant. “There certainly is a concern especially with the juveniles because there’s no way to hold these juveniles ac countable,” Meriden Police Chief Roberto Rosado said recently. “Sometimes we’re seeing juveniles arrested multiple times on stolen mo tor vehicles and they contin ually get released from our custody to their parents.”

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that nationally car thefts in creased 16.5% in 2021 com pared to 2019 and close to 29% compared to 2017.

A new state juvenile justice law effective Oct. 1 gives po lice the ability to hold young people accused of crimes for an additional two hours for a maximum of eight hours while police seek a detention order. The law also requires quicker arraignments to put

said. “The less time someone spends here, the less time we have to have supervision on the individual juvenile one on one.

“It ties up our resources, so holding someone here a couple extra hours longer there’s really no benefit,” Rosado said. “It just causes more manpower issues, shortages, you’re allocating resources to this juvenile while they are in our cus tody.”

Critics of the recent juvenile justice bill felt youth crime would be better addressed through additional resources and funding for troubled children.

Protect yourself

McKay said it’s up to the community to protect them selves and their belongings.

“It doesn’t show any signs of slowing right now so the best thing to do is individuals tak ing the best precautions they

could to protect their own vehicles,” McKay said.

Officers have noticed certain makes and models being tar geted more frequently than others, such as Hyundais and Hondas, McKay said.

Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

child offenders in front of a judge within five days of their arrest.

Another provision lets judges mandate the elec tronic monitoring of arrested children who are charged with subsequent offenses while awaiting resolution of an existing case.

The law also increases the penalties for certain serious juvenile crimes including murder, sexual offenses and gun-related crimes.

The law passed with biparti san support and was signed by Democratic Gov. Ned La mont in July.

“These updates to Connecti cut’s criminal justice statutes make juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings swifter with more informa tion for courts to review, provide more intensive re sponses to the small number of juveniles with serious and repeated charges, and re structure motor vehicle theft laws to focus on people with prior offenses,” Lamont said in a statement.

But according to Rosado, be ing able to keep juveniles in police custody for an extra two hours does not help.

“We are trying to get them out of our custody,” Rosado

Pursuit policy

Wallingford police Sgt. Stephen Jaques said officers are further limited by a statewide pursuit policy that does not allow officers to pursue if the driver is a juve nile and their offense is not “a violent felony.” The pur suit model policy that was adopted in Connecticut on Dec. 6, 2019. “A pursuit shall be terminated if the police officer knows or is reason ably certain, that the fleeing motor vehicle is being oper ated by a juvenile and the suspected offense is not a vi olent felony,” the policy states.

“A lot of our suspects in these cases typically tend to be juveniles and obviously our ability to apprehend these juveniles is somewhat limited because of our poli cy, because of the statewide policy,” Jaques said. “They basically know we can’t chase when they flee in a motor vehicle.”

Meriden police spokesman Lt. Darrin McKay said some times Meriden police officers arrest the same juvenile multiple times for car thefts/ burglaries. “Oftentimes, un fortunately, with the laws set up the way they are, for the juvenile law, we’ve got a lot of repeat offenders,” McKay said.

He also stressed the impor tance of keeping tabs on key fobs since some cars have been stolen right out of the owner ’ s garage.

“People need to remember that that key fob needs to be far enough away from the ve hicle to not start it because if you put your car in your garage and somebody makes entry into your garage and your key is either hanging in your garage even if they don’t find it and they push the button and start it, they’re taking off,” McKay said.

Cheshire

Deputy Chief Frederick Jort ner of the Cheshire Police Department said there is no “100% foolproof method” to prevent car burglaries or thefts.

However, he said people should get into a nightly rou tine making sure their vehi cle is locked and protected.

“Make sure your car doors are locked at night before you go to bed,” Jortner said. “Make sure your valuables are secure, your car is locked. That will reduce vic timization.”

The Cheshire Police Depart ment recently rolled out a data dashboard on its web site of crimes that have taken place in town. “You can ac tually look for anything that you want,” Jortner said.

So far in 2022, Cheshire had 21 motor vehicles stolen. Since Aug. 1, there have been six. In 2021, there was a total of 39 stolen motor vehi cles, with 34 of these vehicles

stolen by the end of Septem ber.

“If you look, it has the date, the case number, the type of vehicle,” Jortner said of the data dashboard. “There’sa lot of analytics there.”

The dashboard also shows various types of crimes and their statistics, including theft from a motor vehicle.

So far in 2022, there have been 35 car burglary cases and in 2021, there was a total of 41.

In 2020, the total number of cases was 73.

“There’s really no pattern or rhyme or reason to how and when these crimes occur be

cause otherwise if that was the case, we’d be able to do a more proactive targeting policing model. But because of the random nature of it, it makes it a lot more difficult,” Jortner said.

Southington

Southington police also have a data dashboard where offi cers log crimes, including where they took place and the day it happened.

From Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, Southington has had 16 mo tor vehicle thefts and 39 car burglaries, including “smash and grabs,” which Lt. Keith Egan said are in higher num bers than in past years.

“The issue there is that peo ple are locking their car, so they are doing the right thing, which is great, howev er, they are leaving a valu able item in plain view, typi cally, and then the thief is going by the car, sees the item and it’s a crime of op portunity,” Egan said.

Wallingford

In Wallingford, there were 29 reports of thefts from auto mobiles from Aug. 1 to Sept. 20. Twelve motor vehicle thefts were reported.

For the same time period last year, there were 27 thefts from vehicles reported, while the number of motor vehicle thefts was seven.

In 2020, the estimated num ber of thefts from autos was 20, while the estimated num ber of stolen vehicles was 10.

“Those roundabout stats do show a slight uptick in those types of thefts,” said Jaques. “Nothing egregious, nothing really noteworthy.”

Jaques said people protect ing themselves is the main way that the community can combat car thefts and bur glaries.

If possible, Jaques suggests community members invest in surveillance cameras or a security system.

jsimms@record-journal.com 203-317-2279

Twitter: @jessica_simms99

Scavenger hunt

From

“I had seen them as decora tions and thought it might be a great opportunity to use those as a scavenger hunt to incentivize people to get out and see our open space trails, the open space parcels, and get out there and do a healthy activity,” said Paul Chaplinsky, Open Space Committee chairman.

The fishing floats were hid den at seven open space parcels, all of which are list ed on the town website along with a virtual map of Southington open space lo cations.

At each location there is a box hidden along the trails with the floats inside, along

with a QR code to send an email to the organizers to let them know you found it so they can put out more for other visitors. Organizers ask that hikers only take one float per group. “It's a great opportunity for somebody to see that parcel and see all the work that we've been do ing there to really preserve the farming heritage in our community,” Chaplinsky said, “It gets people out there to see some of the work that's been going on in the various committees and our various private partners that we're working with.”

Assistant Town Planner Dave Lavallee was the chief organizer of the scavenger hunt, and was responsible for placing the floats around the properties for people to search out. Residents have already been finding the floats and expressing enjoy

Tyler Quinones, of Plainville, explores the Grosky Farm while searching for glass fishing floats placed on the property for the Project Float scavenger hunt in Southington.

ment in exploring these overlooked trails.

“I definitely think it is very important to have these spaces, ” said Plainville resi dent Tyler Quinones, who enjoys hiking along wilder ness trails.

“If people knew more about them, a couple of the spots I

visited today like [Grosky Farm], that's a perfect spot to have a picnic or some thing like that or throw a football around. I can't imagine not having natural spaces. We would just be a big concrete parking lot,” he said.

Some parcels have better signage than others, though, making it difficult to find where they are or where the trails begin making some of the locations of the floats more difficult to find than others, according to Quinones. “Some of the ones that I've been trying to find these floats at don’t seem to be labeled very well, to where you almost wouldn't even know they were there.”

See Scavenger hunt, A5

Scavenger hunt

From

All the parcels of land that are part of the scavenger hunt were purchased by the town as part of its Open Space Plan, which is an ini tiative by officials to preserve areas of natural and histori cal significance around the town.

Since the start of the pro gram, more than 700 acres of land across Southington have been preserved. These parcels are tended to in or der to safeguard the envi ronment for local wildlife, along with being used by hikers and other community events.

The scavenger hunt isn’t the only thing offered for visitors who want to see the proper ties. There’s also letter boxes to find along the trails. In November, officials hope to resume bus tours of the dif ferent plots of land, which

ferry residents to the differ ent sites around Southington while explaining the histori cal and environmental sig nificance of each plot of land.

Preserving the land is a worthwhile investment, town officials say, as it en sures the area isn’t overde veloped causing financial strain on residents.

“From a financial perspec tive, it also is huge. The pur chasing open space is a great way to prevent overdevelop ment,” said Chris Palmieri, a member of the Open Space Committee, “If houses go on some of these proper ties it could put more bur den on our residents pay ing for roads and potentially people with families where they're needing the school system or police and fire protection. So it just general ly helps the community.”

Tyler Quinones, of Plainville, shows a glass fishing float he found at the Novick Open Space.

The scavenger hunt will only be available through the fall. Though committee mem bers are also discussing the possibility of making other activities at the sites avail able in the future, such as geocaching spots.

Those who find floats are al so encouraged to take pic tures with them and send them in for a collage the committee plans to put to gether at the end of the sea son.

Fiscal leadership

Editor:

Please join me in voting for Francis Rexford Cooley for State Representative in our 22nd District, and state Sen. Henri Martin, running in the 31st District. Henri Martin and Francis Rexford Cooley oppose the never-ending tax burden on all of us in Connecticut, and will fight for taxpayers by way of growing revenues through econom ic development. Please vote for common-sense fiscal leadership on Nov. 8.

Gayle Dennehy, Plainville Republican Committee chair

A

health career

at HHCcareers.org. RSVPs

but not required. To reserve a spot or ask questions, email HHCRecruiting@hhchealth.org.

RUSHFORD CENTER HIRING EVENT

Licensed and non-licensed clinicians, registered

health workers, and customer service representatives.

Thursday, October 27, 2022 from 2:30pm – 5:30pm

Hartford

Group, 61 Pomeroy Ave,

Bazaar, tag sale

Holy Trinity Church, 200 Summer St., Plantsville, will host a Holiday Bazaar Satur day, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a tag sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, a Polish

dinner (golumbki, pierogi, kielbasa, sautéed cabbage and rye bread) will be avail able for $16. Eat in or take out. To place a dinner order, call Sandy at 860-6815483. For more information, call 860-628-0736.

In Brief

Garden club

The next meeting of The Or chard Valley Garden Club of Southington is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Ameri can Legion Hall, 64 Main St. The program will feature Dr. Jeffrey Ward, CAES, who will

present “The History of Con necticut’s Forests.” Doors open at 9:45 a.m. and the program begins at 10. Guests are welcome for a $5 dona tion. For more information, visit orchardvalleygarden club.weebly.com or follow the club on Facebook.

50th reunion

The Southington High School Class of 1973 50th re union planning committee is looking for classmates. If you are a 1973 SHS graduate, or know of one, email SHS73_50threunion@ aol.com.

Boxes to Boots

Berlin non-profit Boxes to Boots creates care packages

for military personnel serv ing abroad. Volunteers will gather Saturday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at McGee Middle School, 899 Norton Road, Berlin, to help get the care packages ready to ship. To learn more about Boxes to Boots, visit boxesto boots.org.

Voter registration

Registrars of Voters' offices in Connecticut will take part in a statewide voter registra tion session Tuesday, Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. This will be the final regular ses sion for admission of elec tors who have turned 18, be come a U.S. citizen or moved to Connecticut before Nov. 1. Contact your local Regis trars' of Voters office for de tails.

In Brief

Youth basketball

Registration for Southington Youth Basketball’s 2022-23 season will be accepted on line through Monday, Oct. 31. The fee is $85 ($170 fami ly maximum).

The program is open to Southington boys in grades 1 through 12 and girls in grades 1 through 9. Players on a team sanctioned by the CIAC are ineligible to com pete in the youth basketball league. Visit sybahoops.org for more information and to register.

Snowflake Fair

The Congregational Church of Plainville, 130 West Main St., will host its Snowflake Fair Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Crafters are sought. Call 860-747-1901 or email churchoffice@ucc plainville.org.

Transfer station

The Transfer Station on Granger Lane in Plainville is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Satur days only. Plainville resi dents must show identifica tion. For more information, visit plainvillect.com.

CTPrepares

The CTPrepares mobile app provides information and alerts in emergency situa tions, and incorporates text messaging, email, and social networking. Also, the app al lows residents to communi cate with family members during an emergency.

Crisis network

The Adult Crisis Telephone Intervention and Options Network is available to peo ple in distress 24/7. For adults, call 1-800-HOPE-135 or 2-1-1. For those under age 18, call 2-1-1.

Walk with Me

Walk with Me is a special ized outpatient treatment track for LGBTQ+- identify ing people age 10 to 25 who are seeking therapeutic, medical, and/or peer sup port. Call 888-793-3500.

FACEBOOK.COM/ RECORDJOURNAL NEWSPAPER TWITTER.COM/ RECORD_JOURNAL INSTAGRAM.COM/ RECORDJOURNAL

Thanks to

Brief

Nzinga Center

The Queen Ann Nzinga Center, Inc. provides arts enrich ment activities for children age 5 to 17. The center pro motes positive development among children of all races and abilities primarily in the greater Plainville, Berlin, Bris tol and New Britain area. Visit QANC.org.

Call Before You Dig

Call Before You Dig is a program established to protect the public safety with regard to excavations near underground facilities by providing a communications link between exca vators, public agencies and public utilities. To have your utilities located, contact CBYD by calling 811 or 1-800-9224455.

Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapolo getically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges. To join Girl Scouts, volunteer, reconnect or donate, visit gsofct.org.

From

True advocate

Editor:

Our children's mental health should be a top priority for lawmakers. Representa tive Donna Veach cares deeply for our children and has taken measures to pro mote mental health services in schools. Donna co-spon sored Public Act 22-47, "An Act Concerning Children's Mental Health." Included among the many provisions are: Grant for Hiring School Mental Health Specialists, Grant for Delivery of Student Mental Health Services, and Student Trauma Assessment added to the Strategic School Profile. Please vote to re-elect Donna Veach so she can continue advocating for our students.

Nina DeDominicis, Berlin

Dangerous laws

Editor:

Recently CT legislators passed laws which make our roads less safe by lowering safety standards and the ability of police to act. Also, Clean Slate laws, which al low many crimes, including felonies, to be wiped from criminal records, enable pre viously-convicted drug and violent offenders to apply for teaching, police and other positions we should have faith in. These laws were passed by the Democrat-ma jority. Ironically the self-pro claimed anti-gun party in troduced bills that allow pre viously-convicted felons to apply for a gun permit once their record is wiped clean. Do we need another Democrat in Hartford?

Jeff Veach, Berlin

Letters,

Halloween

“We have created this group for Plainville, Southington and more nearby towns to post their Halloween haunts and decorations. The goal of this page is to share as many houses that are set up for Halloween, with their loca tion, so people can drive by and enjoy their creativity. This is a nice way to start some Halloween fun. Happy Haunting!”

Plainville resident Danielle Afonso was happy to share her Halloween decorations on the J&E page.

One can see Afonso’s haunt just about the moment they get to her road, Rockwell Av enue. The 12-foot skeleton and pumpkin lineup at her front door are hard to miss.

“I just like Halloween,” she said.

Afonso and her husband started going all out with Halloween decorations about three years ago. After bringing the giant skeleton home, “It just took off from there,” she said.

A hard-to-find witch decora tion which Afonso said she and her husband drove to Massachusetts to obtain is new to her setup this year.

The J&E Hauntings Face book group has amassed more than 240 members, and Fritz and Delagrave do their best to keep the page fresh.

Fritz said the duo spent four hours one night tracking down local haunts.

“We had an amazing night driving around taking pic tures of all the Hauntings. You guys rock and put in a lot of work,” Fritz stated on Facebook.

nzappone@record-journal.com 203-317-2212

Eddy Fritz’ Pickney Avenue home in Plainville is all decked out for Halloween. Fritz and his friend Jared Delagrave created a group on Facebook, J&E Hauntings, where area residents can show off their decorations.

Jared Delagrave’s home on Prospect Street in Plantsville.

Welcome to the Cadillac Ranch Restaurant! As their slogan says: “We invite you here to come on in, dance and have some fun. There are no strangers, just friends you haven’t met!”

After undergoing extensive renovations and remodeling, Cadillac Ranch now has enough square footage — 15,000 plus — to host your dream event. From an intimate gathering to large crowds, from casual to rustic elegance, Cadillac Ranch will accommodate any size party, event, meeting or gathering. The picturesque setting, with spectacular mountain views, is ideal for any photo opportunity.

They can design an event menu to suit your taste and style using the finest ingredients. Their staff will work with you to host your perfect event, while catering to your every need.

Holiday corporate party? Look no further than Cadillac Ranch. With pool tables, cornhole, karaoke, games and more Cadillac

Ranch can turn your party into a lively get-together.

Cadillac Ranch frequently hosts a number of charity events benefitting the Southington Community. On October 26, they will host the Southington Education Foundation’s Halloween Trivia Bee and on November 14 they are host to the ever-popular Southington Chamber of Commerce Annual Wing Fest.

Owner Graham Nicholson states, “We have a passion for giving back and have hosted many events for charity including a number of events for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an organization very close to my heart.”

Cadillac Ranch has hosted music greats like Miranda Lambert, Wynonna, Brad Paisley, Luke Combs, Marshall Tucker and many, many more. They are known as an event destination in central Connecticut. Check out the event page on their website to see who is scheduled to perform.

Located at 45 Jude Lane in Southington, with easy access to I-84, ample parking and within walking distance of one nearby hotel and a short drive from several others, Cadillac Ranch is conveniently located for you and all your party guests.

Want to learn a new skill? How about line dancing? Cadillac Ranch offers free dance lessons weekly! It’s a great way to learn a new skill, while enjoying great music and great company!

For more information and to schedule your next event, please call the Cadillac Ranch at 860.621.8805 or visit the website: caddyranch.com.

Get a Grip on Your Business – Chamber Offers Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) Program

The Southington Chamber of Commerce is offering area CEOs, business owners, and their top leadership an opportunity to participate in a unique and proven program to help you Get a Grip on Your Business!

Are you an entrepreneur who’s feeling burned out or stuck? EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating System®, is a complete set of simple concepts and practical tools that has helped thousands of entrepreneurs around the world get what they want from their businesses. EOS isn’t a computer operating system. It’s a people operating system that harnesses human energy through a simple set of tools and principles.

Join us on November 10, 2022, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. as professional EOS implementer® Ralph Riccio introduces you to the Six Key Components™ of a successful business.

Ralph will help you understand how EOS gets you “unstuck” by organizing the hundreds of challenges you face every day and making them more manageable. At the conclusion, you will walk away with a set of simple, practical tools that you and your leadership team will use immediately to focus on priorities, get clear on issues and gain traction together, as a healthier leadership team.

For more information and to register for

the program visit the events calendar at southingtonchamber.com or call the Chamber office at 860.628.8036.

Scan the code to the right to register. The event will be held at Homewood Suites, 1096 West Street, November 10, 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Shop Local This Holiday Season and Support the Businesses That Support Your Community!

With the holiday season approaching, the Chamber encourages your to support our community by shopping local. Everything you need is right here in Southington! The 2022 Business Directory & Community Guide is a great resource for highly recommended businesses offering a variety of products and services.

A free copy of the guide may be obtained at the Chamber office or by visiting southingtonchamber.com The guide is also available in digital format on the Chamber website.

OFFICERS:

CHAIRMAN: Susan Urillo Larson / Perfect Type, LLC

VICE CHAIRMAN: Robert Thomson / Thomson Financial Services

PAST CHAIRMAN: Dana Rickard / CompuMail Corp.

TREASURER: Lucia Chubet / Mugford & DiBella, LLC

SECRETARY: Mar yAnn Stanley / Asphalt #1 Paving

DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE: Michael Hartman / Chick-fil-A

LEGAL ADVISOR : Matthew O’Keefe / Jackson & O’Keefe

David Girouard / Hospital of Central Connecticut Kaylah Milligan / Community Foundation of Greater New Britain Kevin Moriarity / Rogers Orchards, Inc. Gilbert Wade / Southington Security Services

CHAMBER NEWS is a monthly publication of the Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Businesses interested in advertising or contributing editorial content should email social@southingtonchamber.com or call the office at 860.628.8036.

SouthingtonChamberofCommerce

& CEO:

EVENTS: Jordan P.

DIRECTORS: Courtney Appell / Atlas Preservation

Taylor Deegan / Worldwide Wine & Spirits

Michelle Dziubina / Liberty Bank

ADVERTISING DEADLINE PUBLICATION DATE November 7, 2022 November 18, 2022 December 5, 2022 December 16, 2022

Johanna Furgalack / CPA

Library on Referendum for Mid-Term Elections on November 8

District Changes May Affect Your Voting Location

2022 mid-term elections will be held on Tuesday, November 8. With the recent redistricting of constituent areas, voters are encouraged to visit the Town website for polling locations. Sample ballots and referendum information may also be found at southington.

org.

Included in the referendum is a Town of Southington charter revision question. The ballot question will read as follows: Shall Chapter 284 of the Southington Town Charter be amended to permit the Board of Directors

of the Southington Public Library and Museum to be responsible for the activities, programming, materials, and usage policies of the Southington Public Library and Museum and the Town Manager to be responsible for management of staffing, finances, building opera-

UPCOMING Chamber Events

Visit the events calendar at southingtonchamber.com for more details.

EVENTS:

• WING FEST COMPETITION – Monday, November 14, 5:309 p.m., Cadillac Ranch. Blazing Hot Sponsor Calcagni Real Estate returns for the all the fun! Plus WingAddicts will be judging the compe tition! Vendor and ticket information southingtonchamber.com.

• HOLIDAY SIP & SHOP VENDOR SHOW – Tuesday, November 29, 5:30-9 p.m., Aqua Turf Club. Vendor, sponsorship and ticket information: southingtonchamber.com. Evergreen sponsor: Realty 3CT.

• CHAMBER PRESENTS VALENTINE’S TOY EXPRESS T OY DRIVE – Thursday, December 8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Follow us as

tions, and collective bargaining of the Southington Public Library and Museum operations?

Both the current and proposed language may be viewed on the Town and Library websites, southington.org and southingtonlibrary.org.

we visit Chamber member businesses collecting toys to benefit families of Southington Community Services.

PROFESSIONAL LEADS & NETWORKING:

• CHAMBER IN THE MORNING – Wednesday, November 16, 8-9 a.m., Titanium Theatre, 447 N. Main St. Registration required at southingtonchamber.com.

MEETINGS:

• WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP NETWORK – Thursday, November 10 and 17, 8-9 a.m., Chamber community room. Confirm attendance by calling 860.628.8036.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:

GET A GRIP ON YOUR BUSINESS – EOS: Program for CEOs, Business Owners and Top Tier Leadership. Thursday, Novvember 10, 8 to 9:30 a.m., doors open at 7:30 a.m. Held in the Chamber Community Room. Register at southingtonchamber.com | 860.628.8036

Welcome New Chamber Members!

Please join the Chamber Board of Directors of the Southington in welcoming these new members. Membership information and applications are available by calling the Chamber at 860.628.8036 or visiting southingtonchamber.com.

Happy’s Indoor Golf

All players are welcome at Happy’s Indoor Golf. Come play golf for your first time or your 500th time at our premier indoor facility located in downtown Southington. Happy’s will have two state-of-the-art golf simulators that allow users to play real rounds of golf. From driving to chipping to putting, players can perfect their game or enjoy time with friends all while inside our building. Opening November, 2022. Happysindoorgolf.com hello@happysindoorgolf.com 22 Center Street | Southington, CT 06489

Infinity Health & Beauty

Infinity Health and Beauty is a health and medical spa aimed at meeting all our client’s beauty and wellness needs at a single location. Walk in with a purpose and leave feeling refreshed, satisfied and

even more beautiful and healthy than when you came in! With our well-trained and experienced nurse and practitioner, we specialize in a multitude of services including neuromodulators and fillers, IV hydration, body contouring and micro-needling. Infinity Health and Beauty will provide you with the comfort and expertise required to fulfill your aesthetic and wellness desires.

860.795.4727

eileen@infinityhealthandbeauty.com 98 Main Street, Suite 003 Southington, CT 06489

RES Consulting & Tax Services LLC

With more than 25 years of tax preparation experience, Ruth Stanley-Cyr, E.A. has moved her practice from her home to the heart of Southington.  Tax time can be quite stressful for so many taxpayers. It is important to keep the in-home feel for her longtime and loyal clients, so she worked hard to design the office to be comfortable and relaxing. At RES Consulting &Tax Services, Ruth can

guide you through federal, state, and local tax filings, tax planning, audit letters, and more. She specializes in business, nonprofit and retirement filings. Other services offered year-round include small business bookkeeping and start-ups.  Initial consultations are always free of charge.  Call or email to schedule an appointment today!    860.538.7711 | resconsults.com 98 Main Street Suite 106 Southington, CT 06489

Rhino Garage Doors

Rhino Garage Doors is your trusted garage door professionals. We service Residential and Commercial garage doors across the entire state of Connecticut. We offer free estimates and also Lifetime Warranty on all brand-new garage doors and garage door openers. We service, install, and replace anything garage door related. We have two locations, a warehouse in Naugatuck and our office in Southington. 860.450.6173 | rhinogaragedoorsct.com 725 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike Southington, CT 06489

Tier 1 Real Estate

Tier 1 Real Estate is an independently owned and operated real estate brokerage with offices located in Bristol and Avon, Connecticut. Tier 1 was founded in 2009 by current CEO Ryan D. Smith with a commitment to personalized service, transparency, and results. 860.869.9911 | tier1realestate.com 34 Church Street | Plantsville, CT 06479

The Salty Dog Tavern

The Salty Dog Tavern (formally the Tipping Chair Tavern of Southington ) is an upbeat Sports focused Tavern featuring great food, domestic / local craft beer and delicious handcrafted cocktails. Our menu will also feature vegetarian and gluten-free items for the sports fans not looking for the same old bar selections. Whether you’re cheering for your favorite sports team or just enjoying a night out with some great food and cocktails.

860.426.9688 | thesaltydogtavern.com 1783 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike Milldale, CT 06479

Join us at Sip & Shop on November 29, 2022 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Plus, shopping with more than 40 vendors and DJ, pasta stations, hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, desserts, raffles, spirit pull and more!

All ticket purchasers are eligible to win a 55” smart tv and receive special gifts. Our generous sponsors include:

• Realty 3 CT

• Community Foundation of Greater New Britain

• Connecticut Appliance and Fireplace Distributors

• Atlas Preservation

• ION Bank

• Century 21 Allpoints Realty

• Johanna Furgalack, CPA

• Tops Marketplace

• Costco

• Perfect Type, LLC

• Aqua Turf Club

• Worldwide Wine & Spirits Tickets are on sale now.This popular and highly attended community-wide event is hosted by the

on

Chamber’s Women’s Leadership Network. T

The event is a great way to gather with family and friends in the spirit of the holidays. Tickets make great gifts as well! Vendors including handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, home and auto goods, specialty spirits, leisure and sporting, personal care items, and unique gifts for that hard to buy for person on your list.

Your ticket includes music, pasta stations and a variety of hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, dessert, raffles, spirit pull, give-aways (new this year and included in your ticket purchase), big ticket item door prize drawing including a 55” smart tv (new this year and your chance to win included in ticket price), and more!

To purchase your ticket, visit the events calendar at southingtonchamber.com or scan the QR code above. For more information call the Chamber office at 860.628.8036.

Chamber members volunteered recently as celebrity waiters at the annual Leading Ladies Luncheon. Pictured from left, Ralph Riccio, Jordan Clemens, Town Manager Mark Sciota and Mike Riccio.

EVERGREEN SPONSOR

2022 Celebrity Judges

Farm to Table Salsa Recipe a Hit with Chamber Leaders at Business After Hours Hosted by Lewis Educational Agricultural Farm (LEAF)

Lewis Educational Agricultural Farm hosted business leaders this month for the Chamber’s Business After Hours Professional Leads & Networking Group. Participants were treated to a culinary class and tasting led by Chef Dan Varano who shared his recipe for roasted corn salsa. All ingredients were freshly picked that day right outside the doors of the venue.

LEAF is a seventh-generation farm here in Southington run by Mark Ramsey and his family.

LEAF believes the education and production of safe, sustainable food supply is one of the most important factors in the health of our community. They strive to make an impact by responsibly producing a diverse range of nutritious agricultural products while shortening the food chain by selling directly to the consumer. This means the products you purchase at the LEAF are grown using sustainable practices, picked when ripe and sold fresh directly to you the consumer.

LEAF also works to promote education through agriculture experiences by bringing the classroom subjects to life, incorporating agricultural farming practices that are socially and ecologically beneficial while connecting learning through hands-on education. Through education and the products cultivated at the LEAF, they work to establish the relationship between community and the impact of having a healthy, sustainable food supply. The LEAF is a place of inclusion, where experiences connect us to each other and to the land that sustains us. Visit LEAFCT.com to learn more or sign up for their CSA – Community Supported Agricultural Program where you can pick up the freshest, best tasting, nutrient rich foods each week.

The Chamber’s monthly business after hours professional leads & networking group is open for free to all employees of Chamber member businesses.

Non-Chamber members may purchase a ticket for $25 per person which will be applied to their membership should they join in the same month. Reservations are required each month and may be made through the events calendar at southingtonchamber.com For more information on attending or hosting an event call Jordan Clemens, Events Coordinator at 860.628.8036.

Food Items Needed to Help Stock the Shelves at Southington Community Services

With food insecurity at high levels and lingering supply chain issues, the Southington Community Services food pantry is experiencing great difficulties in maintaining sufficient quantities of non-perishable food items for

clients. We currently have over one thousand families registered to utilize the food pantry, and while our local grocery stores and donors have continued to be incredibly generous, our supplies are running low. The food pantry is

very low on macaroni and cheese, canned ravioli, jarred or canned pasta sauce, canned vegetables, canned fruit, cereal, and snack foods. We greatly appreciate any assistance from the Southington community in restocking our

pantry shelves. Donations may be dropped off at Southington Community Services, 75 Main Street, Southington, CT 06489 or the Chamber office at 31 Liberty Street, Suite 210.

Chamber members from Realty 3 CT, left to right, are real estate agents Diane Epps, Mary Bouchard and Erica Larson.

Chef Dan Varano shows Chamber members how to make salsa using LEAF’s farm fresh ingredients.

Chef Dan Varano tastes the salsa to ensure his seasonings are correct.

From

Tax fighter

Editor:

State Rep. Donna Veach has proven that she will always vote against tax proposals by the House Democrat majori ty. Example: The Highway Use Tax passed and begins on Jan. 1. This additional tax on trucks will be passed on to consumers through the goods being transported. Donna voted no, and cosponsored the bill, "An Act Repealing the Highway Use Tax." Unfortunately, it was not successful. To see real change in our economy, we need to elect more fiscallyresponsible Republicans. Reelect Veach!

Andra Millerd, Berlin

Tax and spend

Editor:

In her recent mailer, Demo crat Denise McNair states she will practice fiscal disci pline to curb inflation. Her history of overseeing Berlin’s finances as Town Manager is to the contrary: debt and un funded pension swelled to $117 million, the highest in town history and three times the target amount of a town our size. During her tenure, there was a 50 percent prop erty tax increase, averaging 5 percent annually. In Mc Nair’s final year as Town Manager, Moody’s Investors Service gave Berlin a nega tive outlook. If elected, she will be another tax-and spend Democrat, making Connecticut even more un affordable.

Corey S. Whiteside, Berlin

See Letters, A20

ALGERIAN

Grant supports Plainville Blue Dolphins

Press Release

In 2021, the Manning/Sisson Memorial Fund was estab lished at Main Street Com munity Foundation as a donor advised fund, allow ing for grants to be made at the recommendation of the donors. The fund honors the memory of Mary M. Sisson and her parents, Dennis and Anna May Manning.

The Mannings raised their seven children in Bristol and were involved in each sport their children competed in, especially swimming. For that reason, while grants will be made from this fund to charitable organizations at the recommendation of the donors, there is a preference for programs that foster the sport of swimming through team competition and skillbuilding at the municipal recreational level for the City of Bristol or the Town of Plainville, and/or to support swim team programs at the collegiate level.

This year, MSCF’s Manning/ Sisson Memorial Fund awarded two $1,000 grants: One to the City of Bristol Parks & Recreation for the Bristol Splash Swim Team, and another to the Town of Plainville Recreation Depart ment for the Blue Dolphins Swim Team. The grants were presented to each depart

ment by MSCF staff, along with Mary Sisson’s husband and sister Don Sisson and Clare Wight.

The Main Street Community Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for both present and future generations in the commu

Letters

Short on results

Editor:

Connecticut residents can not afford to have Denise McNair in the legislature. During her tenure as Town Manager, residents were saddled with hefty tax in creases, and the town’s bonding soared to over $100 million, which more than doubled our debt, handcuffing future budgets. Also, under her stewardship, the town’s pension liabilities went grossly underfunded. The last thing we need is another lawmaker who touts their experience but comes up short on real re sults. I encourage you to support our current State Representative Donna Veach. Our wallets depend on it.

Brenden Luddy, former Deputy Mayor, Berlin

Common-sense candidate

Editor:

I fully support Donna Veach and can’t say enough how much we need her back in Hartford. We need a knowledgeable individual with a com mon-sense approach to move our state for ward, and that’s what Don

na will continue to bring to Hartford if re-elected. I en courage you to support the candidate who knows what it takes and will put in the work needed to get Con necticut back on track.

John F. Diakun

Veach cares

Editor:

At the Berlin Fair I asked two candidates how they would lower taxes for resi dents and businesses.

Denise McNair touted La mont’s short term political tax reduction gimmicks. When informed the CT Mileage Tax kicks in Jan. 1 and costs to every one will go up, she walked away and ignored me.

Conversely, Donna Veach’s response to the question was filled with concrete methods to reduce govern ment spending that would directly affect my cost of living. She was sympathet ic, while being polite. Don na gets my vote, and you should join me!

Jim Phelps

Support for Poulos

Editor:

I am writing in support of Chris Poulos for state rep resentative. Chris has been raised in Southington and attended our schools, he

The Plainville Recreation Department’s Blue Dolphins Swim Team is the beneficiary of a $1,000 grant from the Main Street Community Foundation Manning/Sisson Memorial Fund.

See Grant, A22

Joan Jude Abt

SOUTHINGTON-

Obituaries Rep. Petit joins Cheshire Academy Board of Trustees

Joan Jude Abt, 75, of Southington, passed away on Monday, October 17, 2022, at her home. She was the beloved wife of Peter Abt. Joan was born to the late Anthony and Estelle (Spaulding) Pisano on February 15, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York. Joan cared dearly for her friends and family, both of which meant the world to her.

Joan and Pete moved to Southington in 1977. She dedicated over twenty-five years to education as a grade school teacher and ESL specialist where she helped dozens of students learn the language and culture of their new country. Joan was a deeply faithful person and was an active member of St. Dominic’s Church where she served as a member of the parish council. Joan found great joy in wine tasting, playing bridge, nature walks, and trips to the beach. Most important to her were the people she shared these activities with. She will be dearly missed. In addition to her beloved husband Peter, she is survived by two sons: Kevin Abt and his wife Abigail of Atlanta, and Michael Abt and his wife Julia of Philadelphia; three grandchildren: William, Hazel and Isabel

Abt; a brother: Michael Pisano of NY; two sisters: Agnes Jackson and Ann Musselman both of NY.

Her funeral will be held on Saturday, October 22nd at 8:15 a.m. from the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Southington to St. Dominic Church, 1050 Flanders Rd., Southington, for a Mass of Christian burial at 9 a.m.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday, October 21, 2022 from 5-8 pm at the funeral home. If you so choose, donations in Joan’s memory can be made to The Ovarian Cancer Institute, 1266 W. Paces Ferry Rd., NW #339, Atlanta, GA 30327, www. ovariancancerinstitute. org. For online condolences and directions please visit www. dellavecchiasouthington. com.

PHS hosts Learning Adventure Day

Press Release

Plainville High School stu dents participated in a "Learning Adventure Day" on Oct. 7, a concept de signed to provide unique learning experiences that al low students to exercise the school district's Portrait of the Graduate skills (Commu nicative, Collaborative, Inno vative, Mindful and Re silient). Ninth grade students spent the day as a group working on team-building and collaborative skills with

Empower Leadership, while sophomores, juniors and se niors were able to select from a wide variety of activi ties based on interest. The sessions ranged from fullday experiences to several two-hour programs. Sessions included a construction/re model project of the PHS athletic ticket booth, a UConn campus tour, a tour of Trumpf Inc., a hike at Sleepy Giant, a hands-on ex perience with the National Guard, and more.

PHS, A25

Press Release

The Cheshire Academy Board of Trustees recently elected four new trustees, including Dr. William A. Petit Jr.

Petit is currently serving his third term as Connecti cut state representative of the 22nd District, repre senting the towns of Plainville and New Britain. From 2019-2002, Petit has served as a ranking mem ber of the Public Health Committee, and as a member of the Education and Energy and Technolo gy committees.

Petit has a wealth of knowledge in the medical field, having previously op erated a practice in Plainville from 1989-2007.

In 1997, Petit was chosen to become the medical di

rector of the Joslin Dia betes Center at what is now the Central Hospital of Con necticut. He also served as Plainville’s director of public health from 1994-2008.

Petit has strong ties to Cheshire Acade my, as his wife, Jennifer Hawke-Pe tit, previously served as the school’s codirector of the Richmond Health Center. After the loss of Jennifer and his two daughters, Hayley and Michaela, Dr. Petit with the help of friends and family formed the Petit Family Foundation in their memory.

In addition to his profes sional and charitable work, Petit serves on countless

Grant-funded nursing program

Press Release

Hartford HealthCare Se nior Services is accepting applications for a grantfunded five-week program for those seeking a career as a certified nursing assis tant. The grant funds tu ition, books, scrubs and the Connecticut Certi fied Nurses Aide Exam. Orientation begins Mon day, Dec. 5 and classes start Monday, Dec. 12.

This free program is the perfect opportunity for those seeking to start a ca reer in healthcare, or change careers. Applicants must have their high school diploma, be 18 or older and have their own transportation. Classroom education is held on

Zoom, labs are held in Southington and clinical training is held in Newing ton and Southington.

Acceptance into the pro gram will be contingent upon a background check, fingerprinting, in terview, physical and refer ence check.

Grant funding was provid ed by Jefferson House, 1 John H. Stewart Drive, Newington, which offers short-term/outpa tient rehabilitation, skilled nursing and palliative care.

Space for the Certified Nursing Assistant Program is limited. For more infor mation and to receive an application packet, email CNAtraining@ hhchealth.org.

committees and boards for the sciences, domestic vio lence, education, and other efforts.

A graduate of Plainville High School, he earned an undergraduate de gree from Dart mouth University, a medical degree from University of Pitts burgh School of Medicine, and com pleted a fellowship in en docrinology at the Yale School of Medicine. He cur rently lives in Plainville.

ll of whom bring immense knowledge, skills, and expe rience from their profession al and personal lives.

Cheshire Academy’s other new trustees are Mitchell Herman, Suparna Mody and Todd Savage.

We miss you every day, and cherished memories of you will remain in our hearts forever.

Love always, Mom, Dad, and Ellen

Petit

Food truck regulations working, say Southington leaders

By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON Town planners said there’s no need to change zoning rules for food trucks after a review of recent applications.

Christina Volpe, a Planning and Zoning Commission member, said current rules are working fine. She led a

study of nine food truck ap plications that came before the Zoning Board of Appeals over the past two years. “It isn’t that the ZBA is inundat ed with food trucks,” Volpe said. “Only one food truck applicant since 2020 has come before this commis sion,” she said. “That’s be cause our regulations are pretty well outlined.”

Bob Hammersley, the com mission chairman, said the review was valuable but agreed no changes need to be made.

“With that I’d like to put food trucks to rest for the time being,” he said.

Food truck approval

The zoning appeals board grants approvals for food trucks, which are allowed on private land. Of the nine ap plications since 2020, Volpe said four were for temporary events.

In 2021, food truck owner Marty DiVito got ZBA ap proval to set up on land that he purchased at 2156 Meri den-Waterbury Turnpike. The request was unique in that DiVito wasn’t setting up on someone else’s property

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Greg Albert, of Wolcott, picks up two chili dogs from Marty DiVito, owner of Marty’s food truck located at 2156 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike in Southington in June 2021. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

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and board officials debated whether he should be con sidered a restaurant. Town leaders granted his variance with some stipulations, such

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Looking for a longer-term arrangement, DiVito asked the Planning and Zoning Commission for approval. Hammersley told him that the town’s only long-term approval process would be to treat DiVito’s business as a brick-and-mortar restau rant which would bring on other regulations. DiVito de clined to continue with his request, but it prompted the commission to undertake a study on food truck rules.

Grant

From A20

nities served by encouraging and promoting gift planning, prudent stewardship of as sets, effective grantmaking and community leadership. A nonprofit public charity, created by private citizens, the foundation works with donors in Bristol, Burling ton, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Wolcott who wish to build perma nent charitable endowments to support their communi ties. Since its founding in 1995, the foundation has provided over $23.4 million in grants and scholarships.

For more information, call 860.583.6363 or visit main streetfoundation.org.

See Food trucks, A24

VISIT

GRIFFIN DEPALMA MALONEY CROSS COUNTRY

Griffin DePalma’s triumph at this year’s Mer iden cross country championship meet qual ified as a surprise. DePalma had never won a previous varsity race. In time, it could prove to be the first of many for the junior. DePalma covered the 3.1-mile course at Hubbard Park last Tuesday with a personal-best 18:18. He won by 30 seconds and, in the process, led the Spartans to a seventh straight Meriden team crown.

SAMIR DISHNICA CHESHIRE SOCCER

Samir Dishnica has been spinning magic off his feet since his freshman year. A key piece to Cheshire’s run to the 2021 Class LL state final as a junior, the forward/midfielder is ramping it up even more as a senior. He and the Rams are 10-2. They’ve won six straight. They scored 24 goals in three games last week and Dishnica scored seven. On the sea son, the captain has 18 goals and 9 assists.

ROLANDO GOMEZ

PLATT SOCCER

It’s been a challenging year of transition on the pitch for the young Panthers. They’ve got almost twice as many freshmen (11) on the roster as they do seniors (6). Those upper classmen, though, are program guys — such as Rolando Gomez, a four-year veteran. Last Friday, Gomez connected on his first goal of the season in a home game against North west Catholic

EVA DUDLEY PLATT VOLLEYBALL

Eva Dudley was already in the midst of a solid junior volleyball season. Then, over the past week, just like Cheshire’s Samir Dishnica in soccer, she simply went into overdrive. The outside hitter ripped off a career-high 22 kills in a 3-1 win over Berlin on Friday night. She followed it up with 20 kills in Monday’s 3-1 win over Bristol Eastern. For the season, Dud ley leads the 11-5 Panthers with 199 kills.

LEAH HERPOK LYMAN HALL FIELD HOCKEY

It had been nearly two years since the Lyman Hall field hockey team had won a game. The long streak ended Wednesday when the Tro jans went to Middletown and beat Mercy, 3-1, in a SCC matchup. Senior goalkeeper Leah Herpok held up her end to make sure LH got the job done. While Emilie Weir, Kaylin Findley and Caroline Serra provided the scoring, Her pok stymied the Tigers with 15 saves.

RILEY PROZZO

SOUTHINGTON SOCCER

Riley Prozzo has serious soccer bloodlines. Her mom Jen and her Aunt Margaret were high school All-Americans, stars at UCo nn, pro players in WUSA and now coach in college — Jen at CCSU, Margaret at UCo nn. Riley is upholding the legacy. The junior scored in Southington’s wins last week over Farmington and Newington to run her season goal total to 4. The Blue Knights entered the week at 6-2-3.

TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE NOMINEES!

AOTW WINNERS AS VOTED BY YOU!

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MALONEY VOLLEYBALL

CARDONA SHEEHAN SOCCER

Food trucks

Happy with arrangement

DiVito said business has been good and that he’s not concerned about his zoning variance. While it was initial ly for one year, he said he’ll only have to go before the board again if there are problems at his property.

DiVito said he’s been abid ing by the stipulations and keeps the property tidy.

“They’re working with us, they really are,” he said of town officials.

DiVito didn’t see a problem with how the town has han dled approval for his food

truck or other local food truck owners that he knows. “You get the approval. As long as there’s no com plaints and I follow the vari ance, that’s fine,” he said. “If there is a problem, then you’ve got to go back in front of the board.”

DiVito bought the property next to his on Meriden-Wa terbury Turnpike for a planned expansion. He’s go ing to talk with town officials about what that’ll be, but said it’s the “next step up” for his food truck.

jbuchanan@record-journal.com 203-317-2230 Twitter: @JBuchananRJ

In order to continue

we need to have each

or business let us know that, by filling out our on-line requester form at myrecordjournal. com/southington-plainville-requester

Or, you can call us at 203-634-3933 and we can mail you a postage paid postcard to fill out and return. Without the necessary requester information, delivery of your Southington & Plainville Citizen to your home or business, will end.

PHS

From

The goal of the next Learn ing Adventure Day, on Dec. 16, will focus on col lege/career exploration. As such, Plainville High is seek ing local professionals, busi nesses and organizations to visit the school to talk about their career/career field, and/or to host a group of students at their place of business. For more informa tion, contact Jen DeLorenzo at delorenzoj@ plainvilleschools.org or 860793-3220.

From A20

knows our town. During his time on the Town Council, he has proven multiple times that he is bipartisan; consistently doing what he believes is best for the com munity, not his party. And if that isn’t enough, he is kind. I have never seen nor heard him lash out, be rude or an swer anyone’s question with sarcasm (unlike his oppo nent). Most people are sick and tired of the divide and Chris is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Stacey Dolan, Southington

Vote Cooley

Editor:

I was sadly disappointed that state Rep. Dr. William Petit did not seek re-elec tion to the 22nd House Dis trict. He has always worked hard for his constituents. I am glad though that Francis Cooley decided to run. A lo cal educator, Francis is bas ing his campaign on “ common sense solutions” to is sues facing us taxes, the cost of living, doing busi ness in the state, education, and rampant crime. That is a lot to tackle, but with his drive and tenacity he will work hard to find solutions to them. Vote for Francis Cooley.

George Fensick, III, Plainville

Welcome to On The

celebration, date night,

list

just

LEGAL NOTICE

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT

The Town of Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. at the Plainville Municipal Center, One Central Square, Plainville, CT to consider the follow ing item:

1. Consideration of opt-out provision of CT General Statute 8-2p permitting the Town of Plainville to opt-out of the condition to re duce parking requirements for certain resi dential uses.

Information is available for public inspection in the Planning Department, Plainville Municipal Center. 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 September 28, 2022.

R255674

LEGAL NOTICE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT

On Tuesday, October 11, 2022, the Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission took the following actions:

APPROVED a special exception and site plan modification application for 260 South Washington Street, LLC, for various site plan modifications including parking, drain age landscaping, and fencing at 260, 276 and 306 South Washington Street in a Gen eral Industrial Zone.

Respectfully submitted, Matthew Weimer, Secretary, Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission. Dated at Plainville, CT this 14th day of October 2022.

R256199

LEGAL NOTICE

TOWN OF PLAINVILLE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

The Plainville Zoning Board of Appeals con ducted Public Hearing(s) and other action(s) on Tuesday October 11, 2022, and rendered the following decision(s):

1. Application #22-10-01, Imperial Motors of 152 Whiting Street approved a request for an Automobile Repair License(s) auto mobile repair license as required by Section 14-54 of the Connecticut General Statues for property located at 152 Whiting Street with stipulations.

Dated at Plainville, Connecticut this 13th day of October Peter Autunno, Chairperson Plainville Zoning Board of Appeals R256177

Need to Earn Income ASAP? Earn up to $1,200 mo. + Tips!

The perfect and easiest part time job - Newspaper Delivery Routes Available - Earn up to $600.00 every Two weeks +Tips (Depending on area) Routes available in the following towns: MERIDEN, WALLINGFORD, SOUTHINGTON/ PLANTSVILLE, CHESHIRE AND MIDDLETOWN

Must be 18 or older. Must have valid drivers license, reliable vehicle and be available early mornings. Make extra cash before you go to work making early morning newspaper deliveries using your own vehicle. NO experience necessary. Must able to deliver early mornings, 7 days a week. MUST be dependable, and be able to read a route list with specific delivery instructions. We will demonstrate the route to you. Routes average 1.5 to 3 hours daily. No collections required.

Not Temp Work. Retirees, Stay at Home Mom’s, and Veterans are also welcome to apply. Make extra cash to pay rent, mortgage, bills, save money, or a great vacation. Text or call Peter at 860-846-0216 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and start as soon as tomorrow morning.

DRIVERS - Needed Im mediately, part-time, 26’ box truck to deliver fresh produce to sever al grocery stores. Po sition includes loading and unloading truck. Able to lift 50 pounds, power and hand jack operation needed (will train). Valid Driver’s li cense and clean driving record, CDL desired but not required. Must be friendly to custom ers and co workers. Please respond in per son between 9:00 and 3:00 at Norton Brothers Fruit Farm, 466 Acade my Road, Cheshire.

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

TOP CASH PAID For any Toyota any condition, running or not, crashed okay. Will take other makes and models. (203) 600-4431.

TOP CASH PAID

For Junk or unwanted vehicles, Toyota’s etc. Please call Mike @ 203284-8562 8am-5pm.

MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION

Screened Topsoil $25/ per yd; Sand-$18 per yd; Millings-$22 per yd; Screened Millings $30 per yd; $100 minimum delivery. No pickup truck service. Minimum 16 yd pickup at our yard. Call Jim @ 860-982-4819 for delivery

PREMIUM SCREENED TOPSOIL

$25/yard delivered, 3 yd, $100 min. delivery Call Jim 860-982-4819

ALWAYS BUYING OLD TOOLS - Old, used & antique hand tools wanted. Machinist, engrav ing, woodworking & workbench hand tools & tool chests. Hunting equipment also of interest. Fair & respectable offers made in your home. Call w/confidence, Cory, 860.322.4367.

ANTIQUES - Always buying old; Toys, military, jewelry, art, watches, musical instruments, signs, arcade games, cameras, pre 1970 sports memorabil ia, plus more. One item or entire estate contents. Call 860718-5132.

BUYING ALL - Costume Jewelry, Old Watches, Gold Jewelry, Silver Jewelry, Gold & Silver Coins, Sterling Flat ware, In Any Condition. Please Call Jude M. Dichele @ (203) 8681816.

‘08 MONACO DIPLOMAT Diesel Pusher Class A Motorhome. Low Miles. 4 slides. Price $30,400. Call/Text: 203-493-7239.

MERIDEN - Room for rent, utils incl., shared BA. Free Wi-Fi. Call (203) 217-7122.

PINE CONES - Great for holiday crafts, dec orations and wreath making. 3 cubic foot (16”x18”x19”) box of 4-5” pine cones. $28. (203) 694-4135.

BUYING MACHINIST TOOLBOXES - Tools & tooling, contents of machine shops, home workshops and small lathes. Call anytime 860-985-5760

COSTUME JEWELRY WANTED - Old, New, Napier, Etc. “I Pay Top Cash For Your Grand ma’s Costume Jewelry Stash” I’ll come to you, 203-443-9602 Julie.

LIC. HVAC SERVICE TECH, S or D LIC. Must have experience in residential start up, troubleshooting & pro duction install. RTU & Mini-split background a plus. Benefit pack age includes medical, dental, LTD/STD, 401K, sick, holiday and vacation pay. Call 860-633-3353 or email hr@hartmech.com

LOST CAT In Southington. Thin adult female, black, short haired, with green eyes and small patch of white on her chest. Her back legs show a wobble when she walks and she is not wearing a collar. Went missing weeks ago. Please call Southington Animal Control 860 6288053, or 860 655-5707.

BOSCH NEXXT SERIES WASHER & DRYER

500 Series Washing Machine & Dryer. Dryer has under unit storage drawer. Asking $400. (203) 715-6489.

ACCELERATED PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

AARON’S BUYING

Old Machinist Tools, Lathes,

PART-TIME DRIVER - 3 nights a week, approx imately 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., starting asap. Call Rich, 203-927-9305.

FREE CLEAN FILL AVAILABLE FOR COST OF TRUCKING! PRICED PER LOAD DEPENDING ON LOCATION $100 minimum. CALL JIM 860-982-4819

FREE - 3 FERNS. Call 203-265-0342.

ALWAYS BUYING CASH PAIDVintage Electronics, Musical Instru ments, Amps, Ham Equipment, HiFi, Radios, CB, Gui tars, Audio Equip ment, Antiques. 860-707-9350

Cheshire Citizen

North Haven Citizen | Plainville Citizen | Southington Citizen | Town Times | The Post

Connecticut’s Newest College Now Accepting Applications

On October 1, Connecticut State Community College began accepting applications for the Fall 2023 semes ter. CT State, as it is more commonly known, is the result of the pending consolidation of Connecticut’s 12 community colleges. The merger will become official July 1, 2023.

Students can apply online and choose any CT State location. Classes will be held on campus, online or as hybrids for maximum flexibility when design ing a course schedule. Services for students will also be available both in person and virtually.

“We are excited to welcome the first CT State students, both those new to our campuses and the thousands returning in the fall. This new college – whose foundations are built on over 60 years of academic excellence and student success delivered by the best community college system in the nation – will help Connecticut’s resi dents achieve their educational goals, while meeting the state’s workforce needs,” said Middlesex Community College Interim CEO Kimberly A. Hogan.

Connecticut’s 12 community colleges serve approximately 60,000 students a year. As one institution, CT State will be the largest community college in New England and one of the largest in the nation, as well as the leading provider of higher education in Con necticut.

Students will have access to all the programs, services and support that

are available today but will benefit from access to classes on any campus without having to reapply or trans fer. Aligned statewide programs also means that prerequisites and courses required to earn certificates and asso ciate degrees are consistent.

Access to free community college through PACT will continue to be available to Connecticut high school graduates who have never attended college before. Accessing PACT and financial aid start with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at FAFSA.gov. (Students planning to start in Fall 2023 should use school code 007635.)

CT State will continue to offer a full array of non-credit programs and classes for personal and professional development at its many campuses. Additionally, students can enjoy lec tures, readings, concerts, intramurals and other student and community enrichment activities.

Each of the 12 CT State campuses have dedicated admissions, financial aid and advising staff that can help students navigate the enrollment pro cess. Assistance is available in person, online or on each location’s website. Click here for more information: CTState.edu.

La Universidad Más Nueva de Connecticut Ya Está Aceptando Aplicaciones

Este 1 de octubre, Connecticut State Community College comenzó a aceptar aplicaciones para el semestre de otoño de 2023. CT State, como es frecuentemente conocido, es el resul tado de la consolidación pendiente de las 12 universidades comunitarias de Connecticut. La unión será oficial el 1 de julio de 2023.

Los estudiantes pueden inscribirse en línea y escoger cualquier localidad de CT State. Las clases se llevarán a cabo en el mismo campus, en línea, o en modo híbrido para mayor flexibilidad cuando esté planificando su calen dario de cursos. Los servicios para los estudiantes también estarán dis ponibles en persona o virtualmente.

“Estamos emocionados de poder darle la bienvenida a los primeros estudiantes de CT State, los que son nuevos en nuestros campus, y los que están regresando este otoño. Esta nueva universidad - cuyos cimientos se construyeron sobre más de 60 años de excelencia académica y estudian til, por el mejor sistema de universi dades comunitarias en la nación - le ayudará a los residentes de Connecti cut a lograr sus metas educativas, y a la vez satisfaciendo las necesidades de la fuerza laboral,” dijo Kimberly A. Hogan, Directora Ejecutiva Interina de Middlesex Community College. Las 12 universidades comunitarias de Connecticut sirven a aproxima damente 60,000 estudiantes al año. Como una institución, CT State será la universidad comunitaria más grande en New England y una de las más grandes en la nación, así como el principal proveedor de educación superior en Connecticut.

Los estudiantes tendrán acceso a todos los programas, servicios y apoyos que ya están disponibles, pero se beneficiarán del acceso a las clases en cualquier campus sin tener que aplicar o transferirse. El alinear los programas a nivel estatal significa que los requisitos y los cursos necesarios para obtener las certificaciones y los títulos asociados serán consistentes. El acceso a la universidad comunitar ia gratuita por medio de PACT seguirá estando disponible a los graduados de las escuelas preparatorias de Connecticut que no han asistido a la universidad anteriormente. El primer paso para acceder a PACT y a la asis tencia financiera es completar la Free Application for Federal Student Aid en FAFSA.gov. (Los estudiantes con planes de comenzar en el otoño de 2023 deben usar el código 007635.)

CT State continuará ofreciendo una gama completa de programas que no otorgan créditos y clases (non-cred it programs and classes) para el desarrollo personal y profesional en sus múltiples campus. Además, los estudiantes pueden disfrutar de lec ciones, lecturas, conciertos, deportes intramuros, y otras actividades de enriquecimiento para los estudiantes y la comunidad.

Cada uno de los 12 campus de CT State tiene personal dedicado a la admisión, asistencia financiera y consejería, que le puede ayudar a los estudiantes a recorrer el proceso de inscripción. Hay asistencia disponible en persona, en línea o en el sitio web de cada localidad. Haga clic aquí para más información: CTState.edu.