Southington police are asking for the public’s help in an investigation into an armed robbery at Sam’s Quick Mart on Meriden-Waterbury Road. On Thursday, August 22, at 9 p.m., a store clerk reported that a black male suspect entered the store and walked behind the counter. The suspect then pointed a handgun at the clerk and told him to give him all of the money. The clerk handed the suspect money from the cash register. The suspect then ordered the clerk to lay on the ground and the suspect fled the scene. An undetermined amount of money was taken during the robbery. There were no injuries reported during the robbery. The suspect is described as a black male in his mid 20s to early 30s, approximately 5’9″ wearing a white button down long sleeve shirt, baggie blue jeans and a white baseball hat with a New York Yankee logo. It appears that the suspect fled the scene in a red sedan with a Connecticut license plate on the rear of the vehicle. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Southington Police Department Detective Div. Detective Kyle Dobratz at 860-378-1654.
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Police seek armed robbery suspect
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Police searching for missing Southington man
The Southington Police Department is looking for the public’s help in locating Harold Smith. Smith, who is mentally challenged, walked away from his home on the northwest side of Southington yesterday morning. Smith is very social and is known to frequent the businesses in both downtown Southington and Plantsville. He also spends a great deal of time walking the linear trail in Southington. Smith, 67, is described as being 5’8” and weighing 210 pounds. He has gray hair with hazel eyes. Anyone with information or who sees Smith is asked to call the Southington Police Department at (860) 621-0101.
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Opinion: Let the lights shine at high schools’ football fields
By MICHAEL LETENDRE STAFF WRITER In a few weeks, the fall scholastic sports season will be upon us and all of its teams – including football – will take the fields for the 2013 campaign. In fact, some of our fine athletes are already getting into preseason form and a football team or three has hit the fields in Bristol. But I want to go back to something I’ve touched upon over recent years in writing sports for the Bristol Observer. It’s about Bristol Eastern getting lights for its football fields, an endeavor that still has a full head of steam and, truly is so important to sports in our city. And that fact is something people don’t – or can’t – understand. The most common question is why do they need lights at Bristol Eastern when they have them at Muzzy Field? Can’t you just keep playing football down there and forget about this issue? What about the money…it’s not cheap. (Next week, we’ll find out how close Eastern is in getting those lights and how the fundraising efforts are proceeding.) Sure, the Lancers can keep playing down at Muzzy and there’s no problem with that. But there’s a [...]
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What is that smell?; Town works to fix odor coming from wastewater treatment plant
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer The heat wave that took over Connecticut this summer left an unpleasant odor coming from Southington’s wastewater treatment plant, near the Southington Drive-in. Town Manager Garry Brumback said at a recent Town Council meeting that during this major heat wave, organisms in the anaerobic digester that eat the sewage underwent a growth spree and stopped eating. “The organisms more than doubled in size then they were not performing the function they were supposed to perform and odor developed,” Brumback said. Residents have reported smells of sewage, which comes and goes sporadically. Since the heat wave, the engineers and wastewater treatment staff have worked together on a number of solutions. Brumback said there are two parts of the solution, managing the odor in the short term and and recreating a healthy environment for the bacteria to grow in the long term. For the short-term plan, workers tried rerouting the waste stream, which failed, and they also added chlorine to the waste stream, which only worked intermittently, Brumback said. Brumback said now the town is in the process of finding sources of liquid permanganate, a rare commodity that may ease the odor for a short while. “The [...]
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Chamber hosts annual Pizza Fest
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer More than 500 local residents chowed down on their favorite pizza pie during the fourth annual Pizza Fest, sponsored by the Southington Chamber of Commerce. The event took place at Hawk’s Landing Country Club where ten area restaurants featured sample slices of pizza for the public to judge as the best in town. Participating restaurants included Bertucci’s, Giovanni’s, Price Chopper, FirePlace, Angela’s, Machiavelli’s, People’s Choice, Wood-n-tap, Bonterra Italian Bistro and Zingarella’s. Throughout the night, pizza lovers submitted their ballot for their favorite participating vendor. They also enjoyed lived music by Jennie ‘B’ while entering their names into a raffle that provided the winners with two tickets to an upcoming Red Sox game. From peanut butter and bacon pizza to steak and gorgonzola pizza to buffalo chicken pizza, each restaurant offered a diverse assortment of pies, which ran out quickly every half hour of the night. Catherine Dawson, a local resident, said she was impressed by the unique variety of pizzas that each restaurant had to offer. Catherine’s friend encouraged her to come for the first time this year. “Bertucci’s has phenomenal, very unique combinations—I like the creativity,” Catherine said. Catherine also said the Pizza Fest [...]
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The Blue Knight; After 3 decades Ernie Blue remains the measuring stick for Southington scorers
By John Goralski Sports Writer Bloomfield raced to a 26-17 lead in the first quarter of the 1971 season opener, so Blue Knight coach Ed Nardi gave Ernie Blue ‘the signal’ at the break between quarters. Blue had already scored nine of Southington’s 17 points against the fast-breaking Bloomfield squad, but the first year Southington coach gave his senior captain the go ahead. Bloomfield never knew what hit them. Blue converted eight of his first nine shots from the three point line like a long range sniper. He scored 15 baskets in 25 attempts like a cowboy in a gunfight. Blue missed the target just three times in his 18 free throw attempts, but even he was surprised when officials whistled a stop in the action midway through the third period to signal his record-setting day. Six years earlier, Greg O’Connell set a single game scoring record for his 36 point effort. As the 1960s came to a close, Tom Leahy matched that varsity effort. But in the first game of his senior season, Blue had shattered the former measure with a 45-point barrage in Southington’s opening day loss. “What a shooter he was,” said Art Secondo, a former sports [...]
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PHS principal lays ground work for next step in career
By LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER When Steven LePage became the principal of Plainville High School, he did not believe in the idea of reaching for a post as school superintendent. Until now. “I always thought that being a high school principal would be the end of the road for me, where I would want to stop my journey,” LePage said. But learning from Plainville’s superintendent, Jeffrey Kitching, and other superintendents in the past, LePage has been inspired to consider the possibility of a new journey in the field of education. “Seeing Kitching move positive change forward while still maintaining strong relationships with community members and with kids was an inspiration to me,” LePage said. Principal LePage just began the University of Connecticut Executive Leadership Program, a 13-month program that requires participants to complete five three-credit courses that include an internship. LePage is an intern for Dr. Joseph Erardi, the superintendent of Southington Public Schools. Between shadowing Dr. Erardi during administrative meetings and observing the superintendent’s interactions with the community, LePage said he has come to admire his mentor’s ability to lead the Southington school system. “He is an extremely strong communicator [and] has an obvious commitment and passion for what [...]
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Piece of city history finds its way home to library
By KAITLYN NAPLES STAFF WRITER The Bristol Public Library History Room has a new addition to its photograph collection, thanks to the great, great, great niece of Captain Newton S. Manross, who died in his first battle of the Civil War. Marcia Eveland of Burlington grew up in Bristol and is a member of the Manross family, the first family to settle in Forestville. She has accumulated a multitude of family heirlooms, and just recently donated a photograph of her great, great, great uncle, a book that was written about him, and also donated his dress sword to the Bristol Historical Society. Newton Manross was born in 1825, and was the second son of Elisha Manross, a clockmaker in Forestville, and the great, great grandson of Nehemiah Manross, who was Forestville’s first settler, Historical Research Librarian at the Bristol Public Library Jay Manewitz said. Newton Manross graduated from Yale University in 1850, earned a Ph. D. in chemistry from the University of Gottingen in Germany, and became a professor at Amherst College. He became captain of Company K, which was a troop of 16 men from Connecticut. He was elected to be captain, and the first battle he fought in [...]
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Council honors quarter midget driver
At the age of just 5-years-old, Caterina Labella, of Plainville, was introduced to her first racing car. Last week, she was recognized by the Plainville Town Council for earning the title of Heavy World Formula National Champion at this year’s 2013 Quarter Midgets of America Eastern Grands, held in Georgia. The 15-year-old was the only female to win a championship title in the 2013 Grands.
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STEPS planning events for Halloween drive-in event
By Ed Harris Editor The Southington Town wide Effort to Promote Success (STEPS) group is currently planning a hauntingly good time for the upcoming Halloween double bill at the Southington Drive-in. This is the third year that the Drive-in Committee has held a special Halloween screening, showcasing two horror movies. Two years ago, the year that the drive-in reopened, an unexpected winter storm canceled the showings. “Instead of taking a night during the summer we asked STEPS if they would take the whole Halloween festival,” said Dawn Miceli, a member of the Drive-in Committee. This means that STEP volunteers will not only take tickets and run the concession stands, but also be in charge of the entirety of the festival. STEPS coordinator Kelly Leppard said the Halloween activities will include a haunted hayride, pumpkin painting and a pie eating contest. “It’s all in the works,” Leppard said. Leppard said she is looking for community groups to step up and help with the haunted hayride. These groups, of six to ten people, will each man a station along the hayride. The groups are tasked with coming up with their own ideas and props, though Miceli said the Drive-in Committee may be [...]
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Summer break’s over for students
By LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER Plainville Community Schools kick off the new school year on Tuesday, Sept. 3, with a full day of school. Below is a list of schools along with their addresses, phone numbers and times. Start and end times for a regular day of school (Monday through Friday): Pre-K Program: 8:50 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. or 12:40 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Elementary Schools: 8:50 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Middle School: 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. High School: 7:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. The town’s schools are: Linden Street School: 69 Linden St., (860) 793-3270 Louis Toffolon Elementary School: 145 Northwest Dr., (860) 793-3280 Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School: 15 Cleveland Memorial Dr., (860) 793-3290 Middle School of Plainville: 150 Northwest Dr., (860) 793-3250 Plainville High School: 47 Robert Holocomb Way, (860) 793-3220 and (860) 793-3221
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Giving Back Girls help hand out backpacks
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer The Giving Back Girls kicked off another backpack drive as part of the Southington Smart Start Program, providing at least 400 backpacks to students in need throughout the community. Created in 2010 by high school freshman Erin Gibney, the Giving Back Girls spent hours filling each backpack with school supplies, gift cards to Walmart and gift certificates for a hair cut. With the help of the Southington Fire Department, The Giving Back Girls loaded each backpack onto the fire truck before bringing them to Derynoski Elementary School. Between Jansport backpacks and Barbie backpacks, the girls offered a variety of them to students of all grades. They also displayed a table full of children’s books and other school supplies, like rulers and lunchboxes. As parents entered with their children, they had a number of options to choose from, since each backpack had its own style. “We like to give them a fun experience,” Erin said. About 50 families in need walk turn to Southington Community Services on a daily basis to receive bags of food and other donations, according to Assistant Mark Fasarrelli. Erin said helping these families brings her a sense of joy and accomplishment. [...]
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School district announces launch of new STEM resource
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer The Board of Education announced the launch of its “Virtual STEM University,” a web-based educational resource for teachers that will provide easy access to lesson design plans in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEM University is a partnership between The Southington Education Foundation (SEF) and the Board of Education. The uploaded lesson design plans for the classroom will cultivate greater aptitude in STEM education for students in grades K through 1, according to a press release from the Southington Education Foundation. “This university will have lessons designed by which all teachers within our district can access, share and create for the benefit of our students,” said Board of Education Committee Member Terry Lombardi. STEM University will also prepare students move towards becoming digital and global citizens as technology becomes a more thorough understanding of complex concepts in the 21st century. Calling the instructional website “exciting,” Southington Schools Supt. Dr. Joseph Erardi said STEM University is a “cutting-edge,” opportunity for students and teachers. “We are changing how students learn best,” he said. “It is important for teachers to understand those changes.” STEM University will allow teachers to work together collaboratively not only within [...]
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Learn about ladies’ wristwatches next Wednesday
Are you into all things vintage? Do you pine for a lovely retro wristwatch to add to your collection? Then head to the AmericanClock & WatchMuseum on Wednesday, Sept. 11 to learn everything you ever wanted to know about ladies’ wristwatches. The event is slated for 6 to 8 p.m. and will begin with an informational presentation by watch expert Andy Dervan. There will be a break with delicious crepes that will be provided by Gina Scalia of Crepes and Corks. The evening will culminate with an informal talk by Micah and Mary Tasker—vintagewatchman.com and Boardwalk Empire—about the ways to navigate and negotiate your way to owning vintage timepieces and jewelry. The space for this event is limited, so call the museum no later than Monday, Sept. 9th, (860)583-6070, to secure your spot. Ticket prices for this event are $15 for non-members and $10 for members. The museum is at 100 Maple St. You can learn more about the museum by viewing its website, www.clockandwatchmuseum.org
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Candidate wants windfall used for code enforcement
City Councilman Ken Cockayne, the Republican nominee for mayor this November has sent a letter to Mayor Arthur J. Ward asking him to put an item on next Tuesday’s City Council agenda to send a request to the Board of Finance to create a $250,000 revolving fund for code enforcement, a press release from Cockayne’s campaign announced. The money would come from a windfall check received last week from the State of Connecticut for the Municipal Revenue Cost Sharing Account that was not budgeted as income in this year’s budget, said Cockayne’s release. The City of Bristol received $493,000 as its share of this account. “As it has been well documented over the years the major problem with code enforcement in Bristol is the lack of dollars allocated to it,” Cockayne said in his release, “This unanticipated revenue can and should be used to start the process of real code enforcement in Bristol.” Cockayne said in the release, “These dollars should be used immediately in the West End and Federal Hill areas of Bristol to deal with our absentee landlord problem, and we should also be looking at homes that have been foreclosed in Bristol and are now owned by [...]
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Obituaries for Sept. 6
The following obituaries will be published in the Friday, Sept. 6 Observer. For further details, look to our e-edition or the print version on Friday Mary G. (Jensen) Witkovic, 59, of East Haven, widow of Richard A. Witkovic, died Thursday, Aug. 15 after a long battle with cancer.
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Obituaries for Sept. 6
The following obituaries will be published in the Friday, Sept. 6 Observer. For further details, look to our e-edition or the print version on Friday. Lilleth Maud Pedler-Anderson of Bristol, Conn. and Queens, New York, also of Hampstead, St. Mary, Jamaica died on Monday, Aug. 26. Renald “Ray” E. LeBlanc, 66, of Terryville, died Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Bristol Hospital. Helene Bycoski, of Hartford, formerly of Terryville, died Saturday, Aug. 24 at St. Francis Hospital, Hartford. Chester Rzonca, 95, of 131 Vance Dr., Bristol died Aug. 27 at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. He was the husband of Norma (Cook) Rzonca. Mary G. (Jensen) Witkovic, 59, of East Haven, widow of Richard A. Witkovic, died Thursday, Aug. 15 after a long battle with cancer. Marlene L. Cross, 64, of Bristol, died at her home on Wednesday, Aug. 21. William “Bill” Lyga of Wolcott, husband of the late Mary Margaret (Manca) Lyga died Thursday, Aug. 29 at Wolcott View Manor, Wolcott. Ronald M. Kompienski, 69, of Terryville, died Thursday, Aug. 29 at Connecticut Hospice, Branford.
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Bristol man arrested for narcotics
A Bristol man was arrested last week after an ongoing investigation into narcotics activity in the city’s West End neighborhood. A press release said Ryan C. Gonzalez, 33, of 372 Park St., was arrested and charged with two counts of sale of narcotics and was held on a $300,000 bond. The release also said the narcotics detectives seized the vehicle Gonzalez had been using.
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Union negotiations on tap for special BOE meeting
The Bristol Board of Education has slated a special meeting for Thursday at 6 p.m., in Room 36 of the Board of Education Administrative Building, 129 Church St., Bristol. The board is expected to convene in executive session to discuss its negotiations with AFSCME Local #2267.
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Chamber president leaving his post
The Central Connecticut/Greater Bristol Chambers of Commerce, one of the largest of the eight Metro Chambers of Connecticut, announced in a press release today that its president and chief Executive Officer, Michael Nicastro, will be stepping down at the end of September to return to the private sector. Nicastro will join Connecticut Online Computer Center, Inc. (COCC) as its headquarters relocate to Southington. Nicastro will be the executive leading all sales and marketing activities for COCC. Nicastro will be with the chamber through Sept. 30. The chamber’s executive committee has an active search and review underway and plans to fill the position as soon as it is practical to do so.
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