www.towntimes.com
Volume 23, Number 43
Friday, January 24, 2020
Xavier-bound student named a Ryken scholar By Everett Bishop Town Times
Andrew Foster, of Durham, has been awarded a prestigious scholarship to Xavier High School in Middletown.
Tracks leading to Middletown run in a tunnel under the Berlin Turnpike at Baldwins Pond in Meriden. Lawmakers are proposing to develop the Central Connecticut Loop trail, a 110-mile long multi-use trail. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
Lawmakers seek funding for central Connecticut bike trail By Mary Ellen Godin Record-Journal staff
State lawmakers are seeking funds to engineer and construct the Central Connecticut Loop, a 111-mile trail from the Arrigoni Bridge in Portland to the commuter rail stations in Hartford and Meriden. Much of the trail is finished in sections, except for 16 miles that needs to be constructed and connected. The largest portion is the 5 miles from Middlefield to Meriden. As part of the effort, Middletown is building a new route through Newfield Road along an abandoned trolley line.
run from the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in Cheshire through Meriden, Portland and East Hampton to join the Air Line Trail that runs from Bolton to Hartford. Supporters believe the trail will be a strong attraction for cyclists from in- and out-ofstate. Because it passes by rail stations in Meriden and Hartford, it would encourage transportation by bicycle and train. “What’s amazing is how much regional cooperation there is,” said state Sen. Matt Lessor, D-Middletown. “Cities and towns are putting in funding and resources.”
The Central Connecticut The new Central ConnectiTrail was designated about cut Loop Trail connector will six months ago through a
public act, with no funding attached. The lawmakers are hoping the state Department of Transportation and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will back the plan. State Sen. Mary Abrams, DMeriden, supports the project. “It would allow residents to bike or walk to work in some situations, giving them some increased choice of transportation,” Abrams said in remarks at a public hearing. “It would also lead to economic benefits for the state as it would become a tourist attraction ... The trail would facilitate the creation of trailside businesses to serve the trail’s runners, bikers, and walkers.” See Bike trail, A21
On Friday, Jan. 10, the school named Foster and 14 other eighth grade boys Ryken scholars as they became members of Xavier’s class of 2024. The Ryken Scholarship is awarded to those who have scored between the 95th and 99th percentile in the High School Placement Test, which is used by private schools nationally.
Xavier High School is a private, Catholic all-boys school. Ryken scholars are named in honor of the founder of the Xaverian Brothers, Theodore James Ryken. The scholarships cover school tuition and are renewable for four years for students who take honors classes and manage to maintain a 3.25 GPA or above. Tuition to Xavier is around $15,000 annually.
Xavier Principal Brendan Donohue said, “The young men who have earned distinction as Ryken scholars are challenged to honor his memory by holding true to that “I chose Xavier because mission. We are very the academics are really proud of these scholargood,” said Foster, a stuship winners of the Class dent at the Independent of 2024 and look forward Day School in Middleto their continued success field. “I toured the school throughout their Xavier and I really liked the comcareers.” munity there.” See Scholar, A6
Durham resident Andrew Foster, an eighth grader at the Independent Day school, was one of 15 boys named Ryken scholars by Xavier High School in Photo courtesy of Christine Foster Middletown.