Newington Town Crier 01-16-2015

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towN CRieR Friday, January 16, 2015

Getting her way

By ERICA SCHMITT STAFF WRITER

NEWINGTON — Town officials and friends of Town Councilor Myra Cohen praised the longtime volunteer Tuesday night before naming a new road in her honor.

“Myra Cohen Way” is now Volume 55, No. 3

Free

the official name of the access road connecting Fenn Road to CTfastrak’s new Cedar Street station, which is scheduled to open at the end of March.

After serving over 25 years as a town councilor and on numerous other boards and commissions, Cohen fell ill earlier this year.

She’s now in 24-hour nursing care, but family members made certain she could watch Tuesday’s council meeting on Newington Community Television.

Before friend and fellow See STREET, Page 6

Alexandra Kubko at a beach in Old Saybrook in October 2014.

Community rallies around young woman with brain tumor

By ROBERT STORACE STAFF WRITER

NEWINGTON — During their years at Newington High School, Alexandra Kubko and her friends Kayla Marcinczyk and Rachel Fravel were nearly inseparable.

The three found an interest in music and shared each other’s company through good times and bad. After Kubko and Marcinczyk graduated in 2013 and Fravel a year later, they kept in touch and — until recently — all three worked at the New

Britain-based Flight Trampoline Park on Production Court.

Then, on Nov. 28 their world was shaken when Kubko, 19, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Kubko fainted Nov. 1 and started to have signs of a See OUTPOURING, Page 4

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2| Friday, January 16, 2015

NEWINGTON POLICE BLOTTER Sean O’Brien, 26, of 13 Lurton St., New Britain, was charged Dec. 28 with sixth-degree larceny.

Robert Jordan, 58, of 22 Smith Farm Road, Weston, was charged Jan. 5 with second-degree assault on an elderly person, two counts criminal violation of a protective order and disorderly conduct.

Jessica Suarez, 28, of 85 Franklin Ave., Hartford, was charged Jan. 5 with second-degree failure to appear.

Scott Lauzon, 35, of 100 Hubbard St., Ludlow, Mass., was charged Jan. 6 with third-degree burglary, sixth-degree larceny and second-degree criminal mischief.

John Papin, 32, of 150 London Terrace, Stamford, was charged Jan. 6 with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny.

Jessica Ortiz, 27, of 361 Gracey Ave., Meriden, was charged Jan. 7 with second-degree failure to appear.

Michael McCoy, 49, of 41 High St., East Hartford, was charged Jan. 7 with four counts third-degree burglary, three counts sixth-degree larceny, three counts third-degree criminal mischief, illegal use of a credit card, third-degree identity theft and fifth-degree larceny.

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Copyright 2013, Central Connecticut Communications LLC. No reproduction or reuse of material without the express written consent of the Newington Town Crier. All rights reserved. To request permission to reprint any material from this publication, write to: 188 Main St., Bristol, CT 06010 The Newington Town Crier (USPS 618-380, ISSN 0745-0796) and Wethersfield Post (USPS 703-860) are published weekly each Friday except the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for $31 per year ($52 for out-ofstate) by Central Connecticut Communications LLC, 188 Main Street, Bristol, Connecticut 06010. Periodical postage paid at New Britain, CT, and additional mailing offices.

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NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

State Rep. Byron takes oath of office SPECIAL TO THE TOWN CRIER

HARTFORD — A new era for Newington began last week with Republican state Rep. Gary Byron taking the oath of office, outlining his determination to get Connecticut’s spending habits under control with common sense governing and responsible reasoning.

Byron, a lifelong Newington resident, raised his right hand in the historic Hall of the House of Representatives and promised to serve his district for the twoyear term. One of 19 House Republican freshmen, Byron joined the 64-member minority after being elected in November to a longtime Democratic district.

“My priorities are Newington priorities,” Byron said.

“Newington needs to be at the bargaining table on issues that directly impact life in our town.

Our state is facing some serious spending and policy decisions, but I believe we can streamline the way state government operates and make intelligent, long-term decisions that will create lasting financial stability.”

In December, House Republican Leader Themis Klarides appointed Byron to the General Assembly’s committees on environment, housing and human services. Byron will examine issues close to the heart of Newington, like busway housing and open space preservation.

After four years of one-party rule in Hartford, including the largest tax increase in state history in 2011, Connecticut taxpayers face a $3 billion deficit.

State Rep. Gary Byron taking the oath of office for his two-year House term.

Byron said on the campaign trail, which he echoed Wednesday, that state government needs a “smarter approach to spending.”

“It definitely isn’t too late to make better use of our revenue.

State government needs to learn that it cannot spend more than it

takes in. It doesn’t work for you and me and our families — some who are struggling in this sluggish economy — and it shouldn’t be any different for government,” he said.

The 2015 legislative session runs from Jan. 7 to June 3.

PET OF THE WEEK: CATHERINE SPECIAL TO THE TOWN CRIER

This colorful kitty is Catherine.

She is a 1-year-old domestic shorthair waiting patiently for her new family.

At only 1 year old, Catherine has lots of energy to play and look for attention. Come and visit with Catherine, have some fun and see if she will be your next lap warmer this winter!

Remember, the Connecticut Humane Society has no time limits for adoption.

Inquiries for adoption should

be made at the Connecticut Humane Society located at 701 Russell Road in Newington or by calling (860) 594-4500 or toll free at 1-800-452-0114.

The Connecticut Humane Society is a private organization with branch shelters in Waterford, Westport and a cat adoption center in the PetSMART store in New London. The Connecticut Humane Society is not affiliated with any other animal welfare organizations on the national, Catherine regional or local level.

Friday, January 16, 2015 | 3

Local News

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

Local woman turns 106

By ERICA SCHMITT STAFF WRITER

NEWINGTON — The spirit never fades. That’s what the 100plus children and grandchildren of Benedetta Boccaccio remind themselves when she seems distant.

Benedetta (“Benny” for short) just turned 106 years old, and doctors say she’s in perfect health — aside from a dementia diagnosis she received around three months ago.

A resident of the Newington Health Care Center, Benny still has her blunt sense of humor.

Her son Tom, 70, is the only one of her four children who lives in Newington year-round, so he visits his mother at least every other day. She still recognizes him, since her long-term memory is intact. It’s the short-term that’s worsening.

“She’ll ask me, ‘are you married yet?’ and I’ll say ‘no, mom,’ and she says, ‘well you better find somebody before it’s too late!’” said Tom, who lost his wife several years back.

Nurses, who refer to her as “grandma,” painted her nails a rosy pink for her birthday Jan. 5.

A few relatives brought her a cake to celebrate, and she made sure staff and fellow patients were all offered a piece.

The oldest of 12 children and one of only three still living, Benny always cared for others more than herself. Raised during WWI, she was later pulled out of school at age 13 to work in a factory. She can still recall a lamplighter igniting the street lamps every evening back then, and the city’s parade to mark the end of the war. When this particular memory arises, Benny always relays how much more people

“I live day to day. I don’t plan. When it’s my time, I go.

No problem.”

BENEDETTA BOCCACCIO

respected their country than they do now.

She also lived through the Great Depression. “She’s been through a lot,” Tom said, adding, “Talking to her is like a history lesson. You hear these things and it makes you realize how we take things for granted now.”

She and her late husband, Gaetano, raised their family in a project in the north end of Hartford, later moving to the

south end. Since they were both Sicilian, there was never any shortage of fresh bread, pizza and cookies around the house.

Neighborhood kids would hang around the family’s back porch waiting for Benny’s handouts.

“She used to can everything so we’d have fresh vegetables all winter long, and she even made her own beer,” Tom said.

Once, she turned down a chance to open her own pizza shop, saying she was happy simply feeding her family.

Nowadays, Benny is the oldest resident in the nursing home. She likes to relax in her room and has a few favorite daytime television shows.

“Why a 106-year-old woman would want to watch Jerry Springer beats me,” Tom said.

“She enjoys a good laugh.”

When she’s not surprising people with her sprightly humor, Benny is an endless source of wisdom. It doesn’t matter that she didn’t go through school, her son said, because strong character is not learned in books.

“When I was young, I went to work in the tobacco fields and I’d come home and give her my paycheck,” he remembered. “Then the day I got married, she handed me that money. It was only a couple hundred dollars, but she saved

Erica Schmitt | Staff

Benedetta Boccaccio, 106, a resident of the Newington Health Care Center, with her son Tom.

it all for me.”

Fairness, honesty and kindness comprised the moral foundation Benny instilled in her children.

Now in her old age, all they can do is try to somehow return the favor.

“Give back everything you got,” said Tom, who urges others who discover a parent has dementia to make them as comfortable as possible.

“Find out all you can about it,” he continued. “Don’t argue with them, just agree. Just be kind and understanding.”

Even when they’re not saying a word, people with dementia can often understand those speaking around them. Having visitors to sit and hold their hand is sometimes just enough. For Benny,

that’s usually Tom. “I think it’s nice for people to know you can still have this quality of life no matter how old you are,” he said.

Doctors say her blood pressure and heart are good and she’s not on any medication, but no one can really say if Benny will be around for her 107th birthday. She says her faith in God is strong, and when she turned 105, Benny made it clear she had no fear of the future.

“I live day to day,” she said. “I don’t plan. When it’s my time, I go. No problem.”

Erica Schmitt can be reached at (860) 801-5097, or eschmitt@ newbritainherald.com.

Two Newington residents inducted into National Honor Society SPECIAL TO THE TOWN CRIER

New National Honor Society members Oliver Hasson ’16 and Erin Feeney ’16.

WEST HARTFORD — Newington residents Erin Feeney ’16 and Oliver Hasson ’16 were among the 77 Northwest Catholic students inducted into the Aquinas Chapter of the National Honor Society on Jan. 8 during a ceremony in the Rice Auditorium.

Northwest Catholic religion and social studies teacher Bill Tressler was the guest speaker.

He told the students not to be afraid of failure and to move beyond their comfort zone. He also encouraged the students to make a positive difference in the world and show love to everyone they encounter.

The inductees — who were recognized for outstanding scholarship, admirable character and leadership, and generous service to NWC and their communities — came from over a dozen towns and included nine seniors and 68 juniors. The complete list appears on the school web site: www. northwestcatholic.org.

To be invited into membership in NHS, students must maintain a 3.5 grade point average and must demonstrate exemplary character, leadership and service to their school, parish or town. A selection committee of five teachers reviews the applications and qualifications of all eligible students.

“These students represent the

highest in academic achievement and leadership,” said Terri Turley, a member of the school’s math department and the National Honor Society moderator. “They serve as role models for the entire student body and their communities.”

Since 1961, Northwest Catholic’s mission has been to educate the whole person — mind, body, spirit and soul.

Enrollment for the class of ’19 is now underway, and prospective students are invited to the take the entrance exam at Northwest Catholic on Jan. 24, 2015.

For more information, contact Andrew Selig (860-236-4221, Ext. 140 or aselig@nwcath.org).

4| Friday, January 16, 2015

Outpouring of support for woman with brain tumor

difficult process for us who all concussion. An MRI revealed found out about her diagnosis the tumor the day after this past during college finals, but seeing Thanksgiving.

Alex be so strong through this Kubko immediately stopped entire process has encouraged working at the trampoline us to also be strong.” park, left the University of Fravel said that “whenever I Connecticut at West Hartford need advice, I turn to Alex. She where she was majoring in psy- is very funny, considerate and chology and began looking for understanding. She’d tell jokes answers to an affliction that has and make you feel better. We stumped doctors. joked about everything. We had “They initially thought it was a lot of inside jokes. We have a astrocytoma [where the tumor friendship where you can make is at the brain stem and affects fun of each other a lot.” the part of To date, the body that about $10,500 controls everyhas been raised thing from for Kubko’s breathing to treatments and talking],” said for gasoline to Fravel. “Now, travel all over they are not the East Coast sure what it is. for medical They need to opinions. decide before A fundraiser they go to the at the trampoJENAI PELLERIN next step.” line park will Kubko and Flight Trampoline Park events be held from her mother, and marketing coordinator 6 to 9 p.m.

Iwona, have Friday. Twenty traveled to John Hopkins in five percent of the proceeds Baltimore, Sloan Kettering in raised will go to the Kubko New York City and Connecticut family.

Children’s Medical Center in “I expect there to be several Hartford seeking answers. hundred people Friday,” said Her friends say doctors Jenai Pellerin, the park’s events would rather hold off on doing and marketing coordinator. a biopsy because it could limit “We also have donation jars her quality of life. that we will keep at the park.”

But, those who have spent Pellerin said she spoke to time with Kubko since she was Kubko Tuesday and “she was diagnosed say it will take more very upbeat. She is happy to be than a brain tumor to limit her around friends. She misses us life, spirit and sense of humor. and we miss her. She’s keeping Marcinczyk, whose friend- her chin up even in this dark ship with Kubko dates back time.” to the seventh grade at Martin Those interesting in donating Kellogg Middle School, said to help defray Kubko’s medWednesday, “Alex is very adven- ical costs can log onto www. turous. In her free time she gofundme.com/i0l7kc. went snowboarding, cliff jumping and camping. She is witty, Robert Storace can be reached at (860) 801-5202, or at rstorace@ full of life and very caring.”

Marcinczyk said “it’s been a newbritainherald.com.

Continued from Page 1

“[Kubko] is happy to be around friends...

She’s keeping her chin up even in this dark time.”

Local News

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

State of the Town presented Feb. 26 SPECIAL TO THE TOWN CRIER

NEWINGTON — The State of the Town, sponsored by the Newington Chamber of Commerce, will be presented

by Mayor Stephen Woods and Town Manager John Salomone on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 8:30 a.m. in the Newington High School cafeteria, 605 Willard Ave. If Newington schools are

delayed or canceled due to inclement weather, this meeting will be held Friday, Feb. 27.

Catered breakfast will be provided by the Newington High School Culinary Class. Cost is $15 per Chamber member and $20 per non-Chamber member.

7:45 a.m. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m., followed by an 8 a.m. breakfast. The program with

Q&A begins at 8:30 a.m.

R.S.V.P. by Friday, Feb. 20, by faxing your registration to (860) 665-7551, or you can mail the registration form below to the Newington Chamber of Commerce, 1046 Main St., Newington, CT 06111. For more information, call (860) 666-2089.

Reservations are required.

Name: _________________________ Company: _________________________ Name: _________________________ Company: _________________________ Phone: _________________________ E-mail:

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GFWC Newington/Wethersfield Woman’s Club members deliver hearts for the Heart to Heart project. From left, social worker Caryn Bradley, club members Rosemarie Capuano and Edyie Steimer, and Jennifer Gerich, RN, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

Kingswood Oxford student advances in geography bee SPECIAL TO THE TOWN CRIER

WEST HARTFORD — Seventh-grader Matthew Marottolo placed first in Kingswood Oxford Middle School’s Geography Bee on Jan. 7, and will now continue on to statewide competition.

Marottolo, the son of Elisa Griego and Paul Marottolo of Wethersfield, was the top finisher among 11 finalists from the entire middle school.

Tom Betts ’19, son of Michael Betts and Eileen Godbout of Wethersfield, and Calvin Beck ’19, son of Jonathan Beck and Jodie Sprague of Tolland, came in second and third, respectively.

In the next round of the competition, which is sponsored by the National Geographic Society, Marottolo will take a statewide written exam.

Friday, January 16, 2015 | 5

Local News

The other finalists in KO’s Geography Bee were Ned Blanchard ’19, Eryk Jones ’19, Josh Leshem ’19, Ethan Levinbook ’20, Ahana Nagarkatti ’21, and Jacob Scheinblum ’21, all of West Hartford, and Garrett Mastella ’21 and Clarisa Merkatz ’19 of Farmington.

Kingswood Oxford has long left, Tom Betts ’19 of Wethersfield, Matt Marottolo ’20 of Wethersfield, and Calvin Beck ’19 of Tolland were been known for educating From the top three finishers in Kingswood Oxford Middle School’s Geography Bee. Marottolo, who placed first, will now clear, confident communicators; compete in a statewide written exam. resourceful problem solvers; and innovative and ethical leaders.

For information about September 2015 enrollm e n t , contact the Admissions Office (860-7275000).

Only those applications received by Feb. 2, 2015, will be eligible for merit scholarships, for which financial need is not a prerequisite.

Matthew Marottolo will take a statewide written exam in the next round of competition.

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6| Friday, January 16, 2015

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

Street named after longtime town volunteer Continued from Page 1

councilor Clarke Castelle read a proclamation in her honor, several people praised Cohen for her dedicated service to the town.

“Myra has put in so much effort and time with the town, you couldn’t even measure it,” said Rod Mortensen, a former Newington mayor.

Cohen first got involved with town business in the 1970s to oppose the closure of Kimberley Road, a road on the West Hartford town line that served as a quick bypass for emergency responders and residents alike. Since then, she’s served on numerous building committees, advocated for the rights of seniors and the youth alike, and was a valuable resource during the recent rewriting of the town charter.

“The word that comes to mind when I think of Myra is ‘lady;’ she is a true lady,” Lee Ann Manke, a resident and fellow volunteer, said.

Speakers also thanked Al Cohen, Myra’s husband, for understanding his wife’s dedication to town business.

“The amount of time she put in, I’m glad it was an unpaid position because the town could never afford to pay for all that overtime,” joked Al, who accepted the proclamation alongside the couple’s daughter, Francine.

Francine, who lives in Somerville, Mass., said of the street naming, “Myra Cohen finally got her way.”

“The knowledge your wife, Al, and your mother, Francine, has is remarkable,” Mayor Stephen Woods said, later adding, “She’s one of the strongest and tallest

4-foot-11 women I’ve ever met in my life.”

Sickness hasn’t kept Cohen, 90, from staying up-to-date on town business; she reads the meeting minutes on a regular basis.

“When Clarke [Castelle] comes to visit, she wants a full report,” said Al, who spends days by her bedside and turns 97 this Friday.

The couple has two other children, a daughter Marlene, who lives in Norwalk, and a son Steven, who lives in New Jersey.

“Her kids are very proud of her,” he continued. “I wish this would help her health. It does help her morale. It brings a smile to her face.”

Erica Schmitt can be reached at (860) 801-5097, or eschmitt@ newbritainherald.com.

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“She just loves animals and goes above and beyond,” said Errera, adding, “She loves them like we love them, which is important to us when we go away.”

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By ERICA SCHMITT

Friday, January 16, 2015 | 7

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

Local News

8| Friday, January 16, 2015

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

Martin Kellogg making strides with biomedical academy

By ERICA SCHMITT STAFF WRITER

“Newington is leaps and bounds ahead. I haven’t seen anything like this in other districts,” said Kim Davis, the schools’ director of extended learning.

It was Davis who developed the academy at Martin Kellogg, along with the aerospace academy at John Wallace Middle School and the academies coming to Newington High School.

“We revamped the curricula so it’s all standards-based and much more rigorous than it has been in the past,” she added.

The 25 seventh-graders currently enrolled at Martin Kellogg will be joined by 25 more next fall when they continue their special studies in eighth grade. It is during middle school that they hone their interests, officials say. They will have an opportunity to explore these deeper at NHS, where a health science academy is slated to open in fall 2016, just in time for their arrival.

“What they’re doing particularly well in Newington is setting up students for recruitment into the high school programs,” said Maria Alutto, educational consultant for Paxton/Patterson.

Through their four years, they’ll have a mentor in the industry and do job shadErica Schmitt | Staff owing.

Andriy Grynyk, a seventh-grader at Martin Kellogg’s Biomedical Academy, studies veterinary “We also want to develop their inter- medicine Wednesday. viewing and resume-building skills,” Davis said. “We’re really trying to prepare our students for careers that aren’t even out there yet.”

But for now, students are experimenting, failing and trying again. This is where the learning happens, according to Freese.

“They have to go back and re-evaluate to find a solution,” she explained. “And they love it. They’re totally engaged and excited about what we’re doing.”

NEWINGTON — Newington is “leaps and bounds” ahead of other school districts in preparing its students for some of the fastest-growing jobs, thanks to the new Biomedical Academy at Martin Kellogg Middle School.

The school won “Best in Practice” by Paxton/Patterson for its implementation of the company’s Health Science Careers educational model.

Company leaders joined Newington administrators and school officials from other districts Wednesday to demonstrate what students are learning.

“We’re trying to showcase what we have here so other schools can follow suit,” said Jenn Freese, program leader and a science teacher at the academy, which opened in the fall. “We’re trying to expose students to as many careers as we can in the time they’re with us,” she added.

During the Health Sciences Careers Explorations class, students are exposed to eight different modules. They rotate between biomedical engineering, clinical lab practices, EMT services, forensics, medical imaging, nursing, sports medicine and veterinary medicine.

Seventh-grader Andriy Grynyk was one of three working on veterinary medicine Wednesday. He said his favorite so far, however, is nursing.

“There’s a lot to do with safety of other people,” Andriy said, adding, “We learned about properly washing your hands and performing a phlebotomy.”

On Wednesday, students demonstrated for visitors the process of conducting this procedure by extracting “blood” from a large stuffed toy dog. They also conducted an endoscopy, viewing the inside of a pouch via camera, from which they retrieved small Erica Schmitt can be reached at (860) 8015097, or eschmitt@newbritainherald.com. objects.

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A model of a leg that students use to practice performing a phlebotomy.

Erica Schmitt | Staff

Friday, January 16, 2015 | 9

Local News

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

Kingswood Oxford robotics team wins multiple awards SPECIAL TO THE TOWN CRIER

Kingswood Oxford’s varsity robotics team members, from left, Jack Zeligson ’16 of West Hartford, Luke Mills ’16 of Wethersfield, co-captain Robert Scappaticci ’15 of Bristol and co-captain Claire Halloran ’15 of Ivoryton huddle over Robot 36, the Wyverns’ entry in robotics competitions.

Rep. Byron proposes eliminating pension, Social Security taxes SPECIAL TO THE TOWN CRIER

HARTFORD — Seeking ways to keep retirees and seniors in their Connecticut homes, state Rep. Gary Byron (R-Newington) is proposing eliminating personal income tax on pensions and Social Security benefits.

H.B. 5152 would give the state’s seniors and retirees — the population fleeing the state for less expensive regions — a relief from Connecticut’s burdening costs. Byron, a freshman lawmaker, said his hometown of Newington is witnessing declining numbers in specific demographics, namely residents who are weary of having their hardearned, longtime income being unfairly targeted by the state.

“The people collecting pensions and Social Security had to deal with Connecticut’s

high taxes and incredibly difficult business climate their entire lives in the workforce,” Byron said. “We need to give them a break, some reprieve, especially after living their entire lives here. It’s time to make a move that will encourage retirees and seniors to stay here.”

Byron, who was appointed to the legislature’s committees on environment, housing and human services, ran on a platform in 2014 aimed at encouraging residents young and old to stay in Connecticut.

One of Byron’s campaign pledges was to work in a bipartisan manner to make the cost of living more affordable.

Byron’s proposal has been referred to the tax-writing Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

The legislative session ends on June 3.

WEST HARTFORD — The new year is off to a great start for Kingswood Oxford’s varsity robotics team, which returned from winter break with news of a number of impressive awards.

In mid-December, the team traveled to Potsdam, N.Y., to compete in the Northern New York Championship FIRST robotics tournament at Clarkson University.

FIRST is an acronym for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.”

The Wyverns beat 23 other teams to win the prestigious Connect award, given to the team that best “connects the dots” among the school and local engineering communities, FIRST and the business world.

In addition, after a full day with six qualifying matches, KO made it through the semifinals and into the final round of competition, where the team captured second place.

In a separate nationwide competition, the robotics team won an EKOCYCLE 3D printer, a highly sought-after and valuable tool for creating the parts for the team’s robot (among other uses). To enter,

the students had to write a compelling essay explaining how the team and the community would benefit from the acquisition of a 3D printer. The contest was organized by FIRST and sponsored by 3D Systems and Coca-Cola. This will be KO’s third 3D printer.

The Wyvern robotics program has exploded since it first began at KO eight years ago. There are 13 students on the varsity team — which is co-captained by Robert Scappaticci ‘15, Peter Baczyk ‘15 and Claire Halloran ‘15 — and an additional 20 students on two different junior varsity teams. At the middle school, eighth-graders can join an FLL (FIRST Lego League) team on which they learn skills that will be needed for high school competition.

Kingswood Oxford has long been known for educating resourceful problem solvers; clear, confident communicators; and innovative and ethical leaders.

For information about September 2015 enrollment, contact the Admissions Office (860-7275000). Only those applications received by Feb. 2, 2015, for which financial need is not a prerequisite.

Opinion

10| Friday, January 16, 2015

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

Breakfast: the most ‘Not so good’ thing happening in town important meal of the day To the Editor:

By CLARE L. SALERNO

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES (SECONDARY)

We have all experienced the hustle and bustle in the morning — parents getting ready for work and children getting ready for school.

In addition, there are the many distractions, such as finishing last minute homework assignments, writing notes to teachers, reviewing the day’s schedule and taking care of the family pet. After all of the commotion and disarray, we sometimes forget to provide a healthy opportunity for breakfast for not only ourselves, but more importantly our students.

Consequently, we have to stop to take a few minutes and recognize the significance of breakfast and why it is the most important meal of the day. Having a healthy, balanced breakfast is essential in preparing our students for a day of learning. Throughout the school day, students are being presented with new concepts and ideas, practicing skills and interacting with their peers and teachers, which require concentration and stamina.

According to “No Kid Hungry, Center for Best Practice,” studies show that breakfast, “is the most important meal of the day for children’s health, academic achievement, cognitive development and mental health.”

Furthermore, studies also show that, “eating a healthy breakfast improves brain function — particularly memory and recall.” These functions are essential in students being able to retain knowledge.

(September 2014). Retrieved from http://www.eatright.org/ kidsarticle.aspx?id=6442477998.

We frequently sacrifice breakfast because we just do not have enough time to order to make it.

Furthermore, many of us do not feel hungry until mid-morning, at which point we do not have the opportunity to eat. Unfortunately, it is estimated that, “12 to 34 percent of children and adolescents regularly miss the morning meal.”

(September 2014). Retrieved from http://www.eatright.org/ kids/article.aspx?id=6442477998.

Breakfast does not have to be an elaborate event with a buffet of choices. It can be any foods that will provide nourishment to

the body in order to prepare for the day. A balanced breakfast can consist of any combination of foods from the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains and protein.

Below are some helpful tips for ensuring that we have time to have a nutritious breakfast every morning:

∎ Have “grab-and-go” foods, such as fruit, granola bars and trail mix. These can be eaten on the way to school. ∎ Have the “grab-and-go” breakfast foods ready to go the night before to save time in the morning. ∎ Have input from all family members to decide what will be for breakfast. This can increase the chances that everyone will want to eat in the morning.

As a result, in order to promote the success of our students, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It provides nutrients to the body after a long night of sleep, and more importantly, wards off any feelings of mid-morning hunger when students are at school learning. Furthermore, breakfast can be the easiest meal of the day to prepare, that children of all ages can quickly eat, or even eat on the way to school.

Every parent wants their child to be ready to learn; therefore, it is important in providing a healthy, well-balanced meal which allows them to have the stamina to learn and interact throughout the day.

Teaching our children the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet, starting with breakfast, sets the foundation for lifelong healthy habits. Going forward, let’s make a collective effort to provide every opportunity for our students to have a successful day.

Moore, Marisa. “5 Reasons For Your Teen To Eat Breakfast.” Kids eat right. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, September 2014, Jan. 1, 2014. http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442477998. Benefits of School Breakfast (Dec. 30, 2014) Retrief from http://bestpractices. nokidhungry.org/school-breakfast/ benefits-school-breakfast

As I have written before, I have lived in Newington a long time, and over the years have seen many “good” and some “not so good” things happen in town.

I am now seeing a “not so good” thing.

The Town Hall renovation committee wants to take an 8-foot width of Mill Pond Park land to a length of approximately an acre from Mill Pond Park to reconfigure Garfield Street and make a “speedway” in place of the meandering road we now have. They seem unable to decide where to put the front

door of the new Town Hall, yet they are suggesting to have the road reconfigured.

They say they don’t need a budget. Anytime a building is renovated or built, isn’t there a budget plan to follow? Am I missing something here? Are they assuming they can have over $30 million?

On Sept. 9, 2014, a referendum defeated any changes to Mill Pond Park — no $33 million separate parks and recreation building in the park.

Nothing was to be done to the park. Is there a memory lapse here among the members of the committee? Have they forgotten

the referendum was defeated by 85 percent of the voters? Are they listening to anything that came from the focus groups or are they establishing a plan and attempting to bulldoze it through?

I would hate to see another disastrous plan go to referendum, only to be defeated again. That could happen. Please attend the renovation committee meetings in the Helen Nelson room of the present Town Hall on the first and third Tuesdays of the month to voice your concerns.

Thank you.

Iris Larsson Newington

Passing cars a danger to students To the Editor:

I work as a tutor at the Newington Transition Academy which is housed in Town Hall. As the school year progresses, there has been an increase in the number of cars passing school buses with their red lights flashing while loading and unloading students in the parking lot.

The staff of the Transition Academy has tried to prevent cars from passing by holding a stop sign, which resulted in a staff member almost getting hit by a driver who apparently believes they are above the law.

Another driver in her overzealous quest to avoid the stopped bus, turned around and drove backwards through the parking lot, almost hitting a car entering the lot driveway. Recently, four cars passed the school bus while flashing the red lights and stop sign.

Not only are the students and staff at risk, but there is a group of high school students walking through the parking lot at the same time the buses are loading.

With winter here and the icy and slippery conditions, this issue needs to be addressed now. I propose a police officer be assigned to the Town Hall parking lot to

stop the drivers who violate the law by passing a stopped school bus flashing red lights. Maybe the sight of a policeman writing a ticket will have more of an impact than getting a ticket in the mail.

It is becoming increasingly clear that drivers believe they are above the law or should not be “inconvenienced” a few minutes by waiting for our students to safely board school buses. We need to address this issue before someone is injured or killed.

Kathy Roemer, M.Ed Newington School employee New Britain resident

Honored to represent Newington To the Editor:

I am regularly asked what was going through my mind while my right hand was raised in taking the oath of office Jan. 7. While it may seem a little cliché, it’s true: the entire time my mind was on my Newington constituents.

I want to take the time to thank you, the people of Newington, for trusting me to be your voice at the state Capitol. You are the ones that have made this possible. And I am not only appreciative, but I am also incredibly honored to be

Newington’s representative.

Additionally, I would like to thank my predecessor, former state Rep. Sandy Nafis. Because of her, Newington has a respected voice at the Capitol, and I hope to build on what she has accomplished.

We have a lot of work to do in Hartford. Although every issue will not necessarily be a Newington issue, Newington deserves to have its voice at the table and the state needs to respect Newington values.

This job is an honor I take

seriously and ambitiously, and I encourage you to be actively engaged with me.

Please do not hesitate to reach my office at 860-240-8700 or by email at Gary.Byron@housegop. ct.gov. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter and stay informed by visiting www.RepGaryByron. com.

I look forward to hearing from you and, again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Newington.

State Rep. Gary Byron 27th Assembly District

NEWINGTON K OF C TO SPONSOR YOUTH FREE THROW CHAMPIONSHIP: All boys and girls ages 9 to 14 are invited to participate in the council level of competition for the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship. The council level competition will be held Saturday, Jan. 17, at 10 a.m. at St Mary’s School Gym, Willard Avenue. The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually, with winners progressing through council, district, and state competitions. International champions are announced by the K of C headquarters based on scores from the state-level competitions. All boys and girls will compete in their respective age and gender divisions. Since its beginning in 1972, over 2.5 million youths have participated in the contest. Participants are required to furnish proof of age and written parental consent. For additional information, contact Dick Losh at (860) 667-0832.

NEWINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CHAMBER CHOIR: On Sunday, Feb. 8, at 4 p.m., the Newington High School Chamber Choir under the direction of Christopher Clark will perform at Church of Christ, Congregational, 1075 Main St., Newington. The program will be an entertaining mix of accompanied and a cappella songs, including material from their recent CD. The Newington High School Chamber Choir has a long tradition of dedication, talent and pride. This group is made up of 30 auditioned singers. The NHS Chamber Choir has performed at the White House for President Clinton and the following New York City churches: St. Paul’s Chapel, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity Church on Wall Street and the Holy Redeemer Church. They have been a featured choir at the CT Association of Board of Education conferences, the American Association of School Personnel Administrators conference, and many other public performances in and out of school. This year they were invited to perform at the Empire State Building and the Governor’s Mansion in Hartford.

In addition to their performances, the group is very active in outreach projects. This will be their 12th year of working with the Ronald McDonald Houses in New Haven and NYC, bringing holiday spirit, music, and hope to the children and families. sFree-will offering and reception. newingtonucc.org (860) 666-4689

NEWINGTON LIBRARY For Adults and Teens BROWN BAG IT WITH A DOCUMENTARY — FETCHING DOCUMENTARIES: Thursdays, noon. This year the winter reading theme is pets and animals. What better way to celebrate this theme than to show a series of documentaries about some very special animals during this five-week program. No registration necessary. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Jan. 22 — And Man Created Dog — National Geographic explores the genetic journey from wolf to dog.

90 minutes.

Jan. 29 — Cats: Caressing the Tiger — A National Geographic film reveals that domestic cats are never far removed from their cousins in the wild. 50 minutes.

Feb. 5 — Fabulous Frogs — Sir David Attenborough takes us on a journey through the weird and wonderful world of frogs. 60 minutes.

Feb. 12 — DisneyNature: Bears — Showcases a year in the life of a bear family as two impressionable young cubs are taught life’s most important lessons. 78 minutes.

SONGS OF FREEDOM: Tuesday,

Jan. 20, 7 p.m. (Snow Date: Jan. 27) Soulful soprano Jolie Rocke Brown will help us celebrate Martin Luther King Day by singing Songs of Freedom. The late Maya Angelou wrote, “Jolie Rocke Brown sings with such passion … and compassion.” Brown has graced the stages of Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Bushnell Hall with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and Connecticut Opera and the Houston Ebony Opera. No registration required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

TECH 4 U: Thursday, Jan. 22, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Do you need help downloading an eBook or searching for work on the Internet? Make an appointment for a 45 minute session with a librarian for help with your specific technology questions. Stop by the Adult Information Desk or call (860) 665-8700 to make your appointment today!

ENCORE: USING THE NEW LIBRARY COMPUTER CATALOG: Monday, Jan. 26, 6:30 p.m. or Tuesday, Jan. 27, 10:30 a.m. Learn how to use Encore. Some of the topics covered will be searching for library materials, placing and freezing holds, making lists, and accessing your library account.

This class will be a demonstration.

Call (860) 665-8700 to register.

WETHERSFIELD EVENTS DINING AND ACTIVITY BOOKS FUNDRAISER: Newington/Wethersfield Woman’s Club (GFWC) is selling Taste Dining & Activity Books for $25. The books feature local family and finer dining as well as activities for the entire family. Proceeds from the sale of the books support community service projects. For more information, call (860) 666-8862 or (860) 665-7981.

COMEDY NIGHT: Comedy Night is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 23 at CenterPoint Community Church, 840 Silas Deane Hwy. Join us as we watch an evening of fun and laughter as we watch Tim Hawkins’ “The Worst.”

Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend. Coffee and tea

will be served prior to the 7 p.m. show time. Consider inviting a friend and bringing a dessert to share. For more information, contact Pastor Chris Skowronek at (860) 571-8415.

CHRISTMAS TREE DROP OFF LOCATIONS: The town of Wethersfield will not be picking up Christmas trees curbside. Residents can drop off their Christmas trees at Mill Woods by the skate park, the transfer station (Monday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.) and 30 Greenfield St. in the pool parking lot. For additional information, visit the town of Wethersfield’s website at wethersfieldct.com or contact the Physical Services Department at (860)

721-2846.

SOUPER BOWL: “SOUPer Bowl Sunday – With A Twist”: Join the fun Sunday, Feb. 1 at CenterPoint Community Church, 840 Silas Deane Hwy. Bring your favorite homemade soup to be judged by an impartial juror, prior to watching the Super Bowl game on our large screen. Prizes will be awarded for the best soup. Doors open at 5 p.m. Jurying begins at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend. Coffee and tea will be served. Consider inviting a friend and bringing “half-time” snacks and/or a dessert to share. For more information, contact Pastor Chris Skowronek at (860) 571-8415.

WETHERSFIELD LIBRARY TIME TO TALK: Wethersfield Library’s “Time to Talk,” a free conversation group for new English language speakers meets Jan. 20 and 27 at 7 p.m.

Adult English language learners are invited to come develop conversation and speaking skills in a warm, friendly environment. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. For more information, call

the library at (860) 257-2811, or visit the library at 515 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield.

TUESDAY NIGHT MOVIE: Join us Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6:15 p.m. at the library for a free showing of “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” starring Gary Oldman and Keri Russell. Ten years after a pandemic disease, apes who have

survived it are drawn into battle with a group of human survivors. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief strong language. (130 minutes) Tuesday Night Movies are free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but seating is limited. For information, call the library at 257-2811, or visit the library at 515 Silas Deane Hwy.

ROCKY HILL EVENTS MEMORY IMPAIRMENT PACKETS AVAILABLE: The Atrium at Rocky Hill is offering information packets for those needing more information and resources on memory impairment, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. For more information, contact For more information contact Erin Hall with The Atrium at Rocky Hill, (860) 563-5588, or email, ehall@benchmarkquality.com.

HEALTH DISTRICT OFFERS FREE DENTAL CLEANINGS: Are you over the age of 60, live in Berlin, Newington, Rocky Hill or Wethersfield and are in need of a dental cleaning? If so, the Central Connecticut Health District (CCHD) has a service for you! In partnership with the North Central Agency on Aging, CCHD is providing free dental cleaning clinics to individuals age 60 and over who live in Berlin, New-

ington, Rocky Hill or Wethersfield. To find out the schedule and book your appointment in your town, call the following numbers: Berlin: Contact Tina Doyle at (860) 828-7006; Newington: Contact Charlene Magnano at (860) 665-8778; Rocky Hill: Contact Lori DiPietro at (860) 721-2824; Wethersfield: Contact Lisa Gallipo at (860) 721-2979. Donations are generously accepted for this service.

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NEWINGTON EVENTS DINING AND ACTIVITY BOOKS FUNDRAISER: Newington/Wethersfield Woman’s Club (GFWC) is selling Taste Dining & Activity Books for $25. The books feature local family and finer dining as well as activities for the entire family.

Proceeds from the sale of the books support community service projects. For more information, call (860) 666-8862 or (860) 6657981.

Friday, January 16, 2015 | 11

Local News

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

Sports

12| Friday, January 16, 2015

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

Newington’s Dante Gugliotti advances the puck during the first period of a game between Newington-Berlin-Manchester and Northwest Catholic.

Kevin Bartram | Staff

Indians improving after holiday tourney

By CAMERON MCDONOUGH STAFF WRITER

NEWINGTON — It’s been over two weeks since the Newington-Berlin-Manchester boys hockey team returned from New Hampshire where it played in the Heuchling & Swift Memorial Hockey Classic in Durham, but the team is still riding high from the event.

The Indians came in second place in the tournament, which included some of the top high school hockey teams in New England.

Newington started off the tournament with a 2-1 win over York (Maine) and followed it up with a 3-2 overtime win over Portsmouth (New Hampshire).

The Indians did end their run with a 3-2 loss to St. Thomas

Aquinas (New Hampshire), but that doesn’t mean NewingtonBerlin returned to Connecticut wondering what could have been.

Instead it was the complete opposite. The Indians suddenly felt like they could compete with any team in the state after its showing at the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore Center.

And they did just that in their first game back against local competition. They breezed past Wethersfield-Rocky HillMiddletown with a 4-0 win. Then they followed that up with a dominant first period against Northwest Catholic. The Indians ultimately lost the game, 4-3, but it was against a tough Division I opponent, just like the championship game up in New Hampshire.

“That was a big boost for us,” Newington-Berlin coach David Harackiewicz said. “There were some very good teams up there.

We ended up playing a Division I team in the championship game.

They won in a one-goal game late.

We won two games and out of eight teams we were the second team. So I think it really boosted our confidence.

“Then we got back and we beat Wethersfield Saturday night. We knew this was going to be a tough one, but they got the last goal but it could have gone either way.”

The trip didn’t just help the performance and skill on the ice, though.

It was a bonding experience for many of the players, too. And that closeness they gained as a team is

also helping with the Indians’ play since they returned.

“It helps chemistry a lot,” Newington-Berlin goalie Cam Criniti said. “I definitely brings everyone closer together. A lot better competition, which makes everyone skate a little harder and a little better. And you hope to come back with some points and that’s what we did. I thought we got a lot better from the beginning of the tournament to the end.”

While the tournament and the two subsequent games have helped Newington-Berlin come together as a unit and play better, there is still plenty of work left to be done.

In the Indians’ loss to Northwest Catholic, they committed far too many turnovers, which cost them the game.

“Well obviously we have to cut down on some of the defensive mistakes that we had in our defensive zone,” Harackiewicz said. “So we will work on that. Offensively we had opportunities. We have to work on our rebound opportunities.”

Criniti added: “We have to score more, we have to play better team defense. We just got to work together. We really have to put it all together and keep working hard.”

They put it all together for the three games up in New Hampshire.

Now the goal is for that to translate back against local competition.

Cameron McDonough can be reached at (860) 225-4601 ext. 272 or at cmcdonough@newbritainherald.com.

On Twitter: Cam_McDonough.

Friday, January 16, 2015 | 13

Sports

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

Newington rides fast start to win Indians best Plainville in dual meet

NEWINGTON 90, PLAINVILLE 65

At Plainville High School HIGHLIGHTS: Newington: Robert Nagy, Viet Dau, Adam Seguro, Elias Bitzarakis (first in medley relay), Michael Allo (first 200 freestyle), Dau (first 200 individual medley), Seguro (first 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly), Bitzarakis (first 100 freestyle), Ray Neistat (first diving).

Plainville: Lorenzo Samperi (first 500 freestyle), Trevor Roy, Cam Bielawski, Jarred Karal, Julius Brown (first 200 freestlye relay), Josh Schilling (first 100 backstroke), Roy (first 100 breastroke), Karal, Bielawski, Schilling, Samperi (first 400 freestyle relay).

By CAMERON MCDONOUGH STAFF WRITER

PLAINVILLE — The Newington boys swimming and diving team picked up a dominant victory over an undermanned Plainville squad on Jan. 9.

The Indians defeated the Blue Devils 90-65, picking up an early road victory.

But while the victory was nice, Newington coach Peter Orschiedt was more concerned with the individual performances from his team.

“Well it’s always nice to win,” he said. “This is a sport though where winning doesn’t always tell you the whole story. It’s an individual sport, it’s not a ball sport, there’s no offense or defense. I tend to look at personal improvements and how people are swimming more than I do the scoreboard.”

And there were plenty of strong

Cameron McDonough l Staff

The Plainville and Newington boys swimming and diving teams competing.

individual efforts for him to be happy about. Newington had a swimmer or team of swimmers come in first place in the first seven events of the day.

The team of Robert Nagy, Viet Dau, Adam Seguro and Elias Bitzarakis came in first in the medley relay to kick off the dual meet.

Other first place finishers

included Dau (200 individual medley), Seguro (50 freestyle and 100 butterfly), Bitzarakis (100 freestyle) and Michael Allo (200 freestyle).

All three divers who competed were also from Newington, so the Indians gained 13 points from that. Leading the way in the diving was Ray Neistat, who broke a school six-dive dual meet record.

And there were also some other swimmers who had strong days despite not coming in first for Newington.

“I am very proud of Billy Ropes, who is a young guy who has worked his fanny off and had a great swim in the 100 butterfly,” Orschiedt said. “Robert Nagy in his backstroke, which is an event he hasn’t swum in for a while, he looked real good in. ... Elias Bitzarakis in the shorter events I thought swam real well. Dorian Zawisza I thought swam real well. And I’m especially pleased for one of our captains, Viet Dau, who had a 200 IM good swim and a 100 breaststroke good swim, along with his brother Vinh Dau who swam the 200 IM for the first time.

“You can’t take anything away from our wonderful divers. We had a school record out of Ray Neistat.

So any time you can get that you

Neistat excels against Blue Devils

By CAMERON MCDONOUGH STAFF WRITER

PLAINVILLE — While the majority of the Jan. 9 match between Plainville and Newington consisted of individual and relay swimming events, the diving board also played a key factor.

Only three divers participated in Friday’s match and they were all from Newington. So almost by default, the Indians gained 13 points to pad up its eventual 90-65 win.

And one of those divers had an especially big afternoon.

Ray Neistat had the best overall diving score and in the process, he broke a school record for a combined dual meet score consisting of six dives.

His coach Peter Orschiedt was very happy for the junior after the meet.

Cameron McDonough l Staff

Newington dive team preparing.

“I think he’s an exceptional athlete,” he said. “I think he has leg strength, and I mean I don’t really know a lot about diving but he can jump. If somebody can jump in the

sport of diving to me that seems like half the battle. He takes it very seriously and he works really hard.

Some days he coaches himself. All credit to Ray.” Neistat said he didn’t know what to expect once he hit the diving board because he said he did not have a strong performance in warmups. But once he got on the board, he put that behind him and had one of the best performances of his life.

He wasn’t aware that he broke the school record until all of his teammates started to congratulate him after the diving portion of the meet. That’s when it really sunk in for him.

“It was great,” Neistat said. “I was not overtly told I had broken it until my teammates were cheering for me. Then it clicked with me that I had broken the record and it

was pretty great.”

Normally, Plainville would have had at least two divers that would compete against Neistat and his two teammates, but that wasn’t the case Friday.

Due to injuries and illnesses, Blue Devils coach Chris Zagorski was left with zero options on the diving board.

“Both of my divers are out,” he said. “One has a concussion and the other has been out of school sick. This time of year, a winter sport indoors in a pool, it happens.

“You just have to role with the punches. We’re not the only team that has to deal with that. Both divers were out which hurt us a lot.”

Cameron McDonough can be reached at (860) 225-4601 ext. 272 or at cmcdonough@newbritainherald.com.

are doing alright.”

Plainville did attempt a comeback late in the match with a string of five first-place finishes.

Lorenzo Samperi started things off in the 500 freestyle, and then Trevor Roy, Cam Bielawski, Jarred Karal and Julius Brown put in the best time in the 200 freestyle relay.

Josh Schilling then had the best time in the 100 backstroke and so did Roy in the 100 breastroke. The team of Karal, Bielawski, Schilling and Samperi closed out the match with a win in the 400 freestyle relay.

“I think we did well,” Plainville coach Chris Zagorski said. “We have a lot of injuries but the kids who didn’t were able to get in the pool and get off the block and swam well. ... This early in the season to already be getting personal records is a great thing for any of them to do. The one thing I keep telling them is to not be satisfied with their times, and to keep working at getting better.”

Cameron McDonough can be reached at (860) 225-4601 ext.

272 or at cmcdonough@newbritainherald.com. On Twitter: Cam_McDonough.

Numbers crunch for Plainville

By CAMERON MCDONOUGH STAFF WRITER

PLAINVILLE — Before the Jan. 9 match between Newington and Plainville, it was clear that the Blue Devils were starting at a disadvantage.

The Indians brought far more players than Plainville had to compete with. And that’s becoming a trend for the Blue Devils. But it’s one they are trying to fight through against tough competition.

“It is and it’s something I’ve come to used to at Plainville as much as I work outside with the rec team and try to build a program,” Plainville coach Chris Zagorski said.

NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER

14| Friday, January 16, 2015

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