After over one year of debating what to do with the former Memorial Boulevard Middle School, the issue is being sent to the City Planner. Last week, the council was unable to pass the sale of the school to Summit Real Estate Strategies, who was proposing to turn the building into a housing facility. While four of the seven councilors voted ‘yes’ on the sale, the matter needed five approving votes from the council, since the city’s Planning Commission voted against the sale. Under Summit’s proposal, it would purchase the building for $300,000, the city would own the athletic fields, and Summit would lease the theater, gymnasium, and cafeteria for 99 years for $1 per year. Look for more details in a story in next Friday’s issue on Sept. 20.
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No sale for Memorial Boulevard school
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Police department schedule computer maintenance
On Monday Sept. 16 the Bristol Police Department will be performing maintenance on its computer system throughout the day. During the maintenance process some police reports and criminal history checks will not be available. The police department is asking anyone who needs a police report or criminal history to call the Records Division at (860)584-3061 prior to coming to the police department. Records staff will notify the individual looking for the police report or history check if it is available to be picked up. The Bristol Police Department apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.
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Governor and Lt. Governor remember Sept. 11
Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman today released the following statements regarding the 12th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. “With each passing year, it is imperative that we never forget the innocent lives lost, the families who faced tragedy, and the brave and selfless acts of our first responders and civilians who committed extraordinary acts of heroism on that day twelve years ago,” Governor Malloy said. “Let us pray for the brave men and women of the military that our state has lost in the ongoing battle to keep us safe since September 11, 2001, including most recently an airman from New Fairfield who last week lost his life in Afghanistan while serving our country. For families and countless friends in Connecticut and in our neighboring states who lost loved ones that day – no amount of time will fill the void in their hearts. No amount of time will ever cause us to forget.” “For those who lost loved ones on that horrible day and in the military conflicts that followed, the pain will not disappear even as years stretch into decades,” Lt. Governor Wyman said. “That is why it is so important [...]
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Public against Beecher Street proposal; Council tables decision until next meeting
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer Local residents voiced their opinions Monday at a public hearing, opposing the potential sale of 49 Beecher Street, the former home of the school system’s administrative offices. Nearly a dozen residents stood up to the podium before the Southington Town Council, rejecting the sale of 49 Beecher Street for $220,000 to Beecher Street, LLC. Under the proposal, members of Beecher Street, LLC, Ralph Monti of Wolcott and William Martin of Watertown, would turn the property into 30 units of affordable housing for senior citizens. Their agent Louis Martocchio, who also serves as a Republican councilor, recused himself from the public hearing. Monti said the proposed rent of a two-bedroom unit would cost around $800 while a one-bedroom unit would cost around $700, with all utilities included except for phone and cable. Besides a laundry room, Monti also said he has other plans for the building besides turning it into apartments. “In the existing structure, we would like to include a community room with a cooking facility,” Monti said. “We would also like to have an emergency generator that is gas-fired in the event there is a power outage or if something happens in the community.” [...]
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AHF officials: Do you have the best granny in town?
Apple Harvest Festival officials want to know: Do you have the best granny in town? The annual Granny Apple contest returns and officials are looking for children’s submissions. In their own words and handwriting, children must describe why their grandmother is so special to them and explain why she should be the Granny Apple of the Apple Harvest Festival. The contest is open to Southington residents in fourth, fifth and sixth grades only. All grandmothers nominated need to be Southington residents. The entries must be in the child’s own handwriting, at a maximum of 150 words. All entries must be submitted by Friday, Sept. 20. Entries must include the author’s first and last name, school, grade, home address and daytime phone number, along with the first and last name of the grandmother. A panel of judges will select the best essay and the winning Grandmother will be designated the “Granny Apple” for the 45th Apple Harvest Festival. Winners will be notified by phone. The winner and grandmother will be introduced at the festival’s opening ceremonies and will appear in the parade. Entries can be mailed to Apple Harvest Festival, P.O. Box 907, Southington, CT, 06489 or they may be hand [...]
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Local veteran donates 56 cases of water to state event
For Al “Chops” Cianchetti, doing various projects to benefit his city and the military is only about serving his country, and nothing else. He just completed his 18th project where he collected 56 cases of water to donate to the annual Stand Down event, a day devoted to giving homeless or low-income veterans the opportunity to receive needed assistance. Every year the Connecticut Department of Veterans’ Affairs holds this event, and provides veterans with medical screenings, benefit information, employment assistance, and more. Cianchetti found out the event was in need of bottles of water for the veterans, about 1,200 he said. So, he went to the local stores to seek donations. “I went to Aldi’s, Price Chopper, Shop Rite, the two Stop and Shops, and the two Wal-Mart’s,” and was able to collect 56 cases of water, which were all donated. The total number of bottles came to 1,464, which Cianchetti said he was proud of. The annual Stand Down will be held on Friday, Sept. 20, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Veterans Home in Rocky Hill, 287 West St., Rocky Hill. For more information, or to pre-register or get information on transportation, call (860)616-3802 or 3803. [...]
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Team Lauryn to return to Apple Harvest Festival Road Race
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer Team Lauryn will return to the Apple Harvest Road Race this year in memory of Lauryn Ossola, a former YMCA Stingray and Lady Knight’s swimmer at Southington High School who died tragically in car accident two years ago. Team Lauryn will participate in the 5K/5 mile Road Race at the 45th Annual Apple Harvest Festival on Sunday, Oct. 6 to raise money for an academic scholarship in Lauryn’s memory. A graduating swimmer of the high school’s Lady Knights Swim and Dive Team who will be a student of a four-year university or college receives the scholarship. In May, Team Lauryn awarded the scholarship to high school senior Molly Potter. Lauryn’s father, Jerry Nickodemski, said he will never forget that moment when he made a difference in someone else’s life. “We’ve done a lot of things to make sure no one ever forgets Lauryn, but handing Molly the envelope with the check touched me in a way that made me feel like we did something that ensured that Lauryn would live in the heart and mind of an individual for the rest of her life,” Nickodemski said. Lisa Ossola, Lauryn’s mother, said roughly 130 people joined [...]
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The great unknown; Girls Soccer is looking for answers
By John Goralski Sports Writer Coach Sal Penta pauses when a visitor asks about his expectations this fall. A puzzled expression washes across his face as he stares out at his team warming up for a preseason practice. Last year, Penta’s high expectations seemed to tumble toward the season finale when an experienced senior class fell just short of a postseason berth. Gone is one of the program’s most prolific scorers. Gone are the midfielders and some talented defenders. They’ve been replaced by a talented batch of unknowns. Penta has high expectations every fall, but memories of last year have made him hesitant to cast big predictions. “This is a season where my expectations are unknown because this team is unknown,” he said. “There are a lot of different pieces to the puzzle. We talk about getting back to the tournament each year, and that’s going to continue to be our main goal. After we get there, we’ll talk about our expectations. I’m as excited to find out as anybody else.” Team chemistry will be a top concern as 16 or 17 varsity players compete for every position on the field. No spot is secure as opening day looms. No [...]
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Protecting their turf; Field Hockey is ready for the next challenge
By John Goralski Sports Writer Last year, the Lady Knights seemed to scowl each time the ball skipped off a tuft of grass to spark an official’s whistle. Each time an offensive rush was stalled by a string of whistles, the girls would glance longingly at the construction of Southington’s artificial turf field. It was a long wait for everyone, but nobody wanted it more than the field hockey girls. “It would make us better,” their coach would wail as perennial powerhouse teams out-lasted us with superior skills. “It’s going to be different,” they charged as the losses piled up. On the last day of the season, officials finally opened the gates. The win made believers of even their harshest critic. “It’s a completely different game on the turf,” said Lady Knight coach Erin Luddy. “Soccer is still pretty much the same thing. Football is similar, but in this sport it allows the ball to stay completely on the ground. No matter how good the grass is, that can’t happen. There are irregular pop-ups that change the speed of the game. It changes how you run, how you pass from offense to defense, and how you field quickly. The impact [...]
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Kid Dynamite; Luigi Camputaro will be inducted into the CT Boxing Hall of Fame
By John Goralski Sports Writer It was almost like a flashback when a figure darted from the crowd to confront Luigi Camputaro at a recent event at Mohegan Sun, and the former boxer almost broke into his stance in self-defense until he saw the smile from his old friend. A steady string of fans began to shower the Southington resident with congratulations and praise. “For what?” he asked in confusion. That’s when he heard the news that he would be inducted into the CT Boxing Hall of Fame in an induction ceremony this fall. “I didn’t know anything about it,” he said. “I think it’s very nice. I think that all the hard work I did came through.” Camputaro, or “Kid Lightning” as he’s known in boxing circles, never set out to be recognized by boxing organizations or halls of fame. He was simply a boxer trying to fight his way out of his brother’s shadow. As the younger brother to an Olympian, it’s no surprise that Camputaro entered the boxing world. But how he landed in Southington is a totally different story. His brother made a splash at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal as a young Italian boxer, and [...]
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State rep. invites residents to forum on health assessment, improvement planning
State Representative Betty Boukus (D- Plainville, New Britain) invited constituents to a public forum as part of the state’s health assessment and health improvement planning process. A coalition led by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is developing a plan to help Connecticut residents become healthier by the year 2020. “We will discuss our state’s overall health, and want to hear what issues and problems affect you and your family,” said Boukus, who will attend the hearing, in a press release. The forum will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 6 to 7 p.m. in room 2-C of the Legislative Office Building on Capitol Avenue in Hartford. For more information, see www.ct.gov/dph/SHIPCoalition.
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Connecticut Icon returns to the stage
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer Southington will soon start the search for its next music star. Auditions for the next Connecticut Icon will take place Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Derynoski Elementary School. All auditions will be in the form of A cappella. Formerly known as Southington Icon, the competition invites all residents ages nine and up to audition. Twelve finalists from audition day will compete on multiple days during the 45th Annual Apple Harvest Festival. Based on the audience’s vote and judges’ input, the winner receives $1,000 in cash along with the opportunity to record his or her voice professionally at Onyx Soundlab recording studio in Manchester. Several record companies may receive these recordings. Winners may also have the opportunity to sing at a variety of local restaurants and venues. Judges will announce the winner on the last day of the festival, October 13. New Britain resident Jomo Majka was the winner of last year’s Connecticut Icon competition. His daughter pushed him to try out after taking a nearly 20-year hiatus from singing. A native of Poland, Majka sang in rock bands before coming to the United States. “I was surprised I got in, [...]
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Youth’s lemonade stand raises money for hospital
By Ed Harris Editor A local youth recently raised more than $600, in only two hours, to help out the NICU at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Skylar Prinzhorn, 8, recently held her second annual Skylar’s Stand to raise money for the medical center on behalf of her younger sister Madelyn, 3. Madelyn, born three months premature in 2010, had spent her first few months in the NICU. Katie Prinzhorn, Skylar’s mother, said Madelyn was the sole survivor of identical triplets and that it was doubtful that the child would even survive the pregnancy. Madelyn did survive and she is now a healthy, happy preschooler. “I always wanted to have a lemonade stand to raise money for myself,” Skylar said. “But then after my sister spent three months in the hospital, I decided to raise it for the children’s hospital. And this year, I decided to put it directly into the NICU.” Skylar said she spent three weeks preparing for her stand, which was set up in the family’s front yard the Sunday before Labor Day. The stand was open on Sunday, Sept. 1for two hours and sold baked goods and juice, along with a decorate your own cookie table and [...]
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Obituaries for Sept. 20
The following obituaries will be published in the Sept. 20 Observer. For further details, look to the print edition on Friday or the e-edition published on Friday. David A. Hutchins, 63, of Canton, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at his home. Dorothy M. (Labrecque) Gagne, 94, of Bristol, widow of Philip J. Gagne, died on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at The Pines of Bristol. Thomas Patrick Boyce, 80, of Bristol, died on Sunday, Sept. 8. Lucina Collins, 74, of Bristol, died at her home on Wednesday, Sept. 11. John Carbone, 67, of Terryville, died Sept. 8 after a brief illness. He was the husband of Mary (Cilibert) Sparks Carbone . Denis B. “Poppy” Gauthier, 84, of Bristol, husband of Mary Gauthier, died Sept. 7 at Sheriden Woods. Randal A. Wilson, 52 of Bristol, died on Saturday, Sept. 7. Annette (Pelletier) Oakes 84, of Bristol, died Sunday, Sept. 8 after a brief illness. Daniel F. Oparowski, 64, of Bristol, husband of Nancy (Mosser) Oparowski, died on Monday, Sept. 9 at Bristol Hospital. Philip E. Leary, 80, of Bristol, died at home after a long struggle with dementia. He was the widower of Filomena Angelillo Leary. Shirley (Marselle) Thompson, 85, of Bristol, [...]
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Obituaries for Sept. 20
The following obituaries will be published in the Sept. 20 Observer. For further details, look to Friday’s print edition or e-edition. Daniel F. Oparowski, 64, of Bristol, husband of Nancy (Mosser) Oparowski, died on Monday, Sept. 9 at Bristol Hospital.
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Tombstone with Sloper ties found in Meriden
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer What started out as a cleanup day in a basement turned into an excavation site for Meriden resident Shawn Hard. About four years ago, Hard was cleaning up the basement of his home on Reservoir Avenue one day when he came across a tombstone with a name familiar to Southington: Cornelia Sloper. Hard found the tombstone hidden in a dark corner of his basement. As he dusted off the 400-pound tombstone, Hard read the inscription: “Cornelia, wife of David R. Sloper, died Feb. 4, 1837.” Underneath, he read another inscription that said their daughter, also named Cornelia, died in May that same year. “That’s pretty wild,” Hard said. “We had no clue how it got here or how long it was there for.” Hard and his wife Kelley Ingram said they wanted to find the rightful owners of the headstone, but did not know about the history of the Sloper family. They called Eddie Siebert, a constituent worker from Mayor Michael Rohde’s office. When Siebert inspected the tombstone, he recognized the name, and had a feeling it was connected to the Southington YMCA. “This is neat,” Siebert said. “This is certainly the most unique—dealing with [...]
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‘A Moveable Feast’ topic at book discussion Sept. 24
One of the most famous literacy reminiscences will be the topic of the Friends of the Plainville Public Library Book Discussion Group. “A Moveable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway, sketches of the author’s life in Paris in the 1920s, will be the next topic. Hemingway thought that if you were a young man in Paris your experiences would last for your entire life, like a moveable feast. Hemingway provides nostalgic reminiscences of his first marriage and the discipline of developing his own literary craft. The book is about the slightly rag-tag circle of artists and writers, some also fated to achieve fame and glory, other to fall into obscurity who were his friends in those years. It is an evocation of the Paris that Hemingway knew as a young man, a map drawn in his distinct prose of the streets and cafes and bookshops that comprised the city in which he, as young writer, sometime struggling against the cold and hunger of near poverty, hold the skills of his craft. It is at once an elegy to the remarkable group of expatriates that gathered in Paris during the ’20s and a testament to the risks and rewards of the [...]
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Commercial vehicles cited during inspection
On Wednesday, the Bristol Police Department’s traffic officers, and inspectors from the Department of Motor Vehicles conducted a joint operation for truck safety on Enterprise Drive. The inspection required commercial vehicles carrying loads to be stopped and inspected for safety violations, and the vehicles were also weighed on portable scales, a press release said. During the operation, five vehicles were cited for exceeding their total vehicle and axle weights. Other violations included hydraulic leaks, medical certificate violations, defective axles, and defective tires, the release said. Two of the vehicles were taken off the road until emergency repairs could be made. All were issued infractions and released. The total fines for the infractions were approximately $7,500. “This operation is part of the departments overall commitment for public safety on our roadways,” the release said. The companies cited included: CWPM LLC, of Plainville; Paines INC, of East Granby; Oliver Rubbish Removal LLC, of Oakville.
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Commercial vehicles cited during inspection
On Wednesday, the Bristol Police Department’s traffic officers, and inspectors from the Department of Motor Vehicles conducted a joint operation for truck safety on Enterprise Drive. The inspection required commercial vehicles carrying loads to be stopped and inspected for safety violations, and the vehicles were also weighed on portable scales, a press release said. During the operation, five vehicles were cited for exceeding their total vehicle and axle weights. Other violations included hydraulic leaks, medical certificate violations, defective axles, and defective tires, the release said. Two of the vehicles were taken off the road until emergency repairs could be made. All were issued infractions and released. The total fines for the infractions were approximately $7,500. “This operation is part of the departments overall commitment for public safety on our roadways,” the release said. The companies cited included: CWPM LLC, of Plainville; Paines INC, of East Granby; Oliver Rubbish Removal LLC, of Oakville.
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Passing the test; Scott Otis defied the odds to make the NFL
By John Goralski Sports Writer Scott Otis felt a twinge of satisfaction as he stood in the shadow of Fontana Field while track officials scrambled to measure his javelin throw at a cold spring meet in 1991. For three years of varsity football, he maintained that his arm could beat most teams. This throw certainly proved it. Former Blue Knight track coach Pete Sepko remembers that day because the record-setting throw should have been even farther. Officials had to reach up the hill at the edge of the soccer field because Otis had stuck the javelin into the hill like a dart in a bullseye. “I was going to throw the whole area back about 20 feet or so because I felt that Scott was going to start launching big ones pretty soon,” said Sepko. “Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to do that. The throw was 221 feet, 10 inches, but it landed part way up the bank for that upper soccer field. It would have probably gone about 230 feet if I had moved the mark.” Don’t feel too badly for Otis. After more than 20 years, his throw still ranks as the best by a Knight. Southington boasts [...]
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