NEWINGTON
LOCAL
A book lover’s bonanza at Senior Center
Town Crier
Page 12
Good Scouts
Cubs help pack truck full of toys for needy By ALEX SYPHERS STAFF WRITER
Among the flashing red lights of Newington fire trucks, the Cub Scouts of Pack 347 donated toys to Newington Human Services during their pack meeting last week as part of their first Stuff a Fire Truck toy drive, giving the boys a chance to help other children while exploring the bright red fire trucks. “We are teaching kids that giving back is a good thing,” said Ernie Field, Pack 347 leader. “There are some kids in this town who unfortunately may not get a Christmas or a holiday celebration so if I can teach the kids that giving back is something that’s great Alex Syphers — kids helping kids — I think Matthew Rethis,6, holds onto a teddy bear he brought to the Cub Scout Pack this is the best way to do it.” 347 Stuff a Firetruck toy drive. He, along with 50 other Cub Scouts with the Every Scout and family in Help of Newington Volunteer Fire Dept. Co. 3, donated toys to the Newington the pack was to come to their Human Services last Thursday. Volume 51, No. 44
Friday, November 26, 2010
Free
meeting at Elizabeth Green Elementary School with an unwrapped toy, gift or food donation to cram into the cab of one of the two fire trucks from the Newington Volunteer Fire Department Co. 3. The 51 Scouts in Pack 347, who range in age from 6 to 11, sat eagerly in their chairs as Field congratulated them on their recent success in Rocky Hill where they held a food drive for veterans. Some Scouts clutched teddy bears and sleds, and others examined the boxes of micro cars and toy soldiers. The toy drive was a continuation of the pack’s citizenship lesson for November, said Field. “What better way to teach (citizenship) than giving back to the community,” said Field. “This is something where we can say See Cub Scouts, Page 5
The really, really big 1-oh-oh
WEST HARTFORD — Gertrude Helene Seifert Thomas Garufi recently celebrated her 100th birthday at Hughes Health & Rehabilitation, where she has lived seven years. Ms. Garufi was born Nov. 15, 1910, in Hartford. The oldest of four children, she attended local Hartford schools. Ms. Garufi was married to Armand Thomas in 1932 until his death in 1945, leaving her as a single mother to raise two children, Elaine and Arthur. She married again in 1954 to Anthony Garufi who died in 1983. Ms. Garufi was employed by Arrow Hart for many years and retired at age 65 in 1975. She loved her home in Newington and was very active in the Newington Senior Citizens Club where she started a knitting group and lunch program. Ms. Garufi loved to go to WestFarms up into her 80s to enjoy lunches with four generations of girls in her family. In addition to her children, Elaine Lyons and Arthur Thomas, Ms. Garufi has five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. On her birthday, Ms. Garufi received a proclamation from Gov. M. Jodi Rell and an official citation by the Connecticut General Assembly.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID At Hartford, CT