By MICHAEL LETENDRE STAFF WRITER PLAINVILLE – Both the Plainville boys and girls soccer teams should be competitive seasons this year with one of the squads possibly contending for the CCC South title once again. The boys team is certainly a Class M contender and there’s some talent there that could lead the Blue Devils to another successful campaign. Plainville’s win total should be in double figures again and the squad has a boatload of talented seniors and juniors. This will not be a rebuilding year for the program. Offensively, the team will turn to senior Shane Pugliese and junior Quentin Lux. The duo are tough and offensively proficient and both tallied two goals apiece in Plainville’s opening day win against Hall. Last season, the crafty Pugliese tallied 18 goals while Lux went for 10 and piled up 14 assists to lead the Blue Devils. Already on the season, Pug has tallied three goals and could be the leading scorer on this talented Plainville club before things are said and done. Others also know how to put the ball into the net includes junior Nick D’Amico Expect some excellent play in the net as well thanks to senior keeper Alex [...]
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Plainville High ready for action in boys, girls soccer
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Planning for safe graduation begins again
By LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER Although the new school year began a few weeks ago, planning for the 2014 Plainville High School Project Graduation is now in full swing. Project Graduation is an all-night drug and alcohol-free party held at Wheeler Regional Family YMCA for high school seniors on graduation night. The event offers activities, prizes and food. There is even a grand prize of $1,000 to one lucky senior. Kris Dargenio, a member of the planning committee, is the parent of two sons who both graduated from the high school. She said the committee raises about $20,000 each year to pay for entertainment, prizes, goodie bags, and decorations. Restaurants from town also donate all the food for the event. Dawn Angelillo, who serves as chairperson for the event this year, said about 40 to 50 parents volunteered on the planning committee last year, and she encourages all parents to help out—whether they are freshmen or senior parents. “It is extremely important for them to get involved,” Angelillo said. “There is a lot of planning.” Between decorating the rooms of the YMCA and organizing activities, Angelillo and Dargenio said the parent volunteers work hard to make the night memorable for [...]
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Sale of Blvd. school fails to get past council
By KAITLYN NAPLES STAFF WRITER 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, which 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, and also to preserve the building’s historic integrity. “This is a good and fair proposal to the city and its taxpayers,” Councilor Eric Carlson, who heads the council’s Real Estate Committee, said at last week’s meeting. Since the council did not approve the sale of the school, it did however approve to send the matter to the city planner to review options for the vacant building. City Councilor Dave Mills is against the sale of the school, and said [...]
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Affordable Care Act brings changes to coverage in state
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer With the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as “Obamacare,” come changes to Connecticut’s health insurance system, starting October 1. Connecticut has a new health insurance marketplace, or exchange, called, “Access Health CT,” which provides health care coverage options for individuals, families and small employers. Access Health CT is the only marketplace in the state “where individuals and smalls businesses can seek help with their health insurance costs,” according to a press release from the Connecticut General Assembly, House of Democrats. All residents in Connecticut, despite any pre-existing conditions, can have access to health coverage. “Accesshealthct.com is going to be a place where people can go online, answer all their personal information…and then the exchange will allow them to comparison shop among the private insurance companies that sell insurance through the exchange,” said broker Michael Leone of Associated Insurance Benefits, LLC during a recent ACA workshop presented by the Southington Chamber of Commerce. Although the state encourages residents to apply for coverage through the insurance exchange, Leone said they can still obtain health coverage through the insurance companies directly. “These companies can sell through the exchange and/or they can sell outside of [...]
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Pulitzer-winning comedy, ‘Harvey’ coming to Bristol Eastern
By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR Although Jim Parsons of television’s “The Big Bang Theory” appeared in a Broadway revival last year, the play “Harvey” is bit off the beaten path for most teen audiences and teen performers. All the same, the students of Bristol Eastern Theater Arts will be tackling the hilarious stage chestnut, which was written in 1944 (and subsequently won a Pulitzer Prize). The play is about one Elwood P. Dowd, whose best friend is a 6-foot tall invisible rabbit. Since Harvey is invisible to everyone else, everyone else thinks Elwood is a bit off his rocker. Although the play is going on 70 years old, the cast of the BETA production feels that it still speaks to their generation. Janey Czertak, one of the cast members, said, “‘Harvey’ may have been written a long time ago but it’s still relateable. The way I interpret the story, the theme is all about fitting in. Veta Simmons and Myrtle Simmons are ashamed of their brother and uncle, Elwood P. Dowd, because they fear he and his ‘friend’ will interfere and impact, negatively, their social lives. Eventually, Veta realizes she loves Elwood just the way he is and she has [...]
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Mother and daughter take bike trip across country
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer When Southington resident Liz Dietz wanted to pursue a bike trip across the nation last summer, she knew it would become the adventure of a lifetime, seeing popular landmarks and meeting new faces in unfamiliar places. But she struggled to find a biking partner. After consulting multiple friends, no one came through until Liz contacted the person who knows her best: her mother, Sharon Vocke, an energy columnist for the Observer. “To be honest, I never thought she would go with me,” said Liz, who attends Williams College in Massachusetts. “So many potential bike companions had fallen through that I figured it was not going to happen.” Liz said she felt shocked and excited when she told her mother through a text message she had no choice but to take on the challenge too. “Oh I know—I have been planning on it for a month,” Sharon told her daughter through a text message. The mother and daughter adventure launched July 9, and continued through the end of August. Carrying all their belongings in knapsacks strapped behind their backs while pedaling over a thousand miles, Sharon and Liz traveled from Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado [...]
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Cyber Knights have new practice home
By Ed Harris Editor The Southington High School robotics team will have a new practice space thanks to Mohawk Northeast. The engineering company, based in Plantsville, recently stepped forward to provide the team a place to practice after it lost its former space at Saucier Mechanical, an issue that the team had an agreement on and knew was coming ahead of time. The team still has six classrooms, a shop and meeting space donated through Saucier. “We’re really excited to sponsor the kids,” said Joe Ortowski, public relations administer for Mohawk. “The Southington team is very successful. There are a lot of bright minds there.” The Cyber Knights team is now in its 17th year and currently consists of 65 students. The team is supported by more than a dozen mentors that donate their time to help teach the students. Over the years, the team has traveled the country, winning titles and creating a legacy of success. Last year, the team made a return trip to the world championships, held in Missouri. In 2006 the team finished second in the global competition. In March, the team will host its first FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics [...]
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Who will be Miss Connecticut USA and Miss Teen Connecticut USA
Last year’s Miss Connecticut USA pageant gave the state Erin Brady, who went on to win Miss USA and then finish in the top 10 at Miss Universe earlier this month. Brady is back at the Miss Connecticut USA pageant and she and Miss Teen Connecticut USA Kendall Leary will see who their successors are today. The Miss Connecticut USA finals are today at the Stamford Marriott Hotel and Spa. The Teen finals are at 1 p.m. and the Miss finals are at 4 p.m.
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Former Southington resident wins Miss Connecticut Teen USA crown
Sydney West, a former Southington resident, now Vernon resident, won the Miss Connecticut Teen USA crown on Sunday afternoon in Stamford. The pageant, which is part of the Donald Trump brand of pageants that includes Miss USA and Miss Universe, was whittled down to the top 10 on Sunday after a day of preliminary competition in swimsuit and evening gown categories. The contestants also competed in private interview. West beat out 20-plus other teens for the crown. The new Miss Connecticut USA also was crowned. Desiree Perez took that honor. She succeeds last year’s Miss Connecticut USA, Erin Brady, who went on to win Miss USA and then finish in the top 10 at Miss Universe in Moscow earlier this month. Both West and Perez head onto the national competitions as Connecticut’s representatives.
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Students start candy drive for uncle overseas
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer Besides participating in a Veteran’s Day celebration last week, students at Kelley Elementary School worked together to create a candy care package for three local platoons serving in Afghanistan. With the help and support of faculty and staff, students Colton and Analeigh Thorpe spread the word about their uncle’s deployment overseas to collect boxes of leftover Halloween candy as a surprise through morning announcements and memos. Colton, a third grader, along with his sister Analeigh, a first grader, said they wanted to show their uncle and 120 other servicemen appreciation for their duty. “People in the army do not get Halloween or candy,” they said. Between November 1 and November 8, students piled at least several boxes with sweet treats. Jillian Thorpe, Colton and Analeigh’s mother, helped her children organize the project, delivering the care packages once the drive finished. “I like to give kids moments where we can celebrate the good things we do,” Jillian said. “It is amazing how everyone pulls together and supports one another.” Jillian’s brother, Thurman Musshorn, also known as “Uncle TJ,” serves as a specialist for the 344th Military Police Company. She said TJ left for Afghanistan this past [...]
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Battle of the Bell: Central is under the radar, and dangerous
By MICHAEL LETENDRE STAFF WRITER What to expect from Central A football team that’s flying under the radar is a dangerous team and Bristol Central is a squad that’s looking for a big upset come Thanksgiving. The Rams’ coaching staff knows exactly what Eastern brings to the table and getting a victory over the Lancers, which is certainly possible, will be a near monumental task. “It’s the biggest challenge of the year,” said Central coach Sal Cintorino. Here’s what Central is looking at on the Turkey Day challenge: Head Coach: Sal Cintorino (still looking for his first Thanksgiving Day victory as Central’s head coach). Date and Time of the event: The squads will duel at 10:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Last Year: Central dropped a 17-6 decision to the Lancers The Series: The Rams lead the all-time series 31-21-2 but haven’t won the event since a 20-7 win back on Thanksgiving 2005. Series Fact: From 1975 to 1993, Central went 17-2 against the Lancers, a stretch that included all but one Colonial Conference game into 10 CCC South showdowns. Players to watch: Jarrett Michaels (sr, QB); Tyler Burrow (sr, TB); Nate Hamm (sr, RB/DB); Ashon Anderson (jr, QB), Kevin Boi [...]
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Listings for Nov. 22
Performance listings NOV. 22-24 OTHER ‘ANY DREAM WILL DO,’ A MUSICAL THEATER REVUE. Performed by The New Britain Youth Theater Teen Company. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. An evening of songs celebrating dreams, wishes, thinks, and the power of imagination. Trinity-on-MainPerformanceCenter, 69 Main St., New Britain. $13 for adults, $11 for children, students, and seniors. (860) 515-8115, NBYT.org SATURDAY, NOV. 23 BRISTOL 16TH ANNUAL TURKEY SHOOT BASKETBALL CONTEST. Sponsored by Bristol Parks and Recreation Department. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. with event beginning at 10 a.m. Parent/ child duos compete in a basketball foul shooting contest for a chance to win a Thanksgiving turkey. Divisions are 8/9, 10/11, 12/13. Other prizes available. Chippens Hill Middle School, Minor Road, Bristol. Free. Pre-register www.BristolRec.com. (860) 584-6160. Adult and child should register. JoshuaMedeiros@ci.bristol.ct.us YOGA FOR KIDS CLUB. 10 to 10:45 a.m. For children ages 5 to 10. Presented by children’s yoga instructor Heather Tartarelli. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. No charge. Registration required. Limited to 18 participants. Wear comfortable clothing. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. (860) 584-7790. NOW thru NOV. 24 OTHER ‘THE MAIN STREET KIDS CLUB. A MATH [...]
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Rumors of Fates Warning’s death were greatly exaggerated
By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR You’re excused if you thought the band Fates Warning had called it a day. After all the band’s last album was nine years ago, 2004’s “FWX,” and their profile in the U.S. has been pretty low-key ever since. But the group never took an official split, said its erstwhile leader vocalist Ray Alder. And the band is back with a new album, “Darkness in a Different Light.” The album recently reached the Billboard 200 and the top 20 on the Current Hard Music chart. The band, which is now Ray, Jim Matheos and Frank Aresti (guitars), Joey Vera (bass), and Bobby Jarzombek (drums), is on a tour across the states. That tour lands in Hartford on Nov. 22. Although the band’s profile had waned in the states in the near decade since “FWX,” Ray, in a phone interview, said fans of their particular brand of progressive metal overseas have had plenty of opportunities to catch the band over the years. “We’ve been touring constantly in Europe, just doing things for us,” said Ray. The absence of new material over the past nine years was not due to a lack of trying, explained Ray. “We could [...]
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Police blotter for Nov. 15
The Bristol Police Department reported the following arrests: •Nelson Quinones, 38, of 20 Adna Rd., Apt. No. C11, Bristol was arrested on Nov. 12 and charged with third degree sexual assault. •Howard E. Castle, 43, of 85 Lawndale Ave., Bristol was arrested on Nov. 11 and charged with disorderly conduct and threatening. •Benn Mancini, 34, of 356 Burlington Ave., Bristol was arrested on Nov. 11 and charged with third degree assault, second degree breach peace, injury/risk/ impairing morals, interfering with 911 call, and second degree strangulation. •Thomas N. Agritelly, 23, of 11 Cassidy Dr., Plainville was arrested on Nov. 10 and charged with disorderly conduct. •Lauren K. Crouse, 26, of 503 Emmett St., Apt. No. B14, Bristol was arrested on Nov. 10 and charged with disorderly conduct. •Amanda Nelson-Gwara, 27, of 269 Main St., Apt. No. 15, Bristol was arrested on Nov. 10 and charged with third degree assault, second degree breach of peace, and criminal violation of protective order non threatening. •Devon P. Crussana, 27, of 324 Park St., Apt. No. B, Bristol was arrested on Nov. 9 and charged with sixth degree larceny. •Megan L. Emmette, 28, of 67 East Main St., Apt. No. C, Stafford Springs was [...]
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Listings for Nov. 22
Performance listings NOV. 22-24 OTHER ‘ANY DREAM WILL DO,’ A MUSICAL THEATER REVUE. Performed by The New Britain Youth Theater Teen Company. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. An evening of songs celebrating dreams, wishes, thinks, and the power of imagination. Trinity-on-MainPerformanceCenter, 69 Main St., New Britain. $13 for adults, $11 for children, students, and seniors. (860) 515-8115, NBYT.org SATURDAY, NOV. 23 BRISTOL 16TH ANNUAL TURKEY SHOOT BASKETBALL CONTEST. Sponsored by Bristol Parks and Recreation Department. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. with event beginning at 10 a.m. Parent/ child duos compete in a basketball foul shooting contest for a chance to win a Thanksgiving turkey. Divisions are 8/9, 10/11, 12/13. Other prizes available. Chippens Hill Middle School, Minor Road, Bristol. Free. Pre-register www.BristolRec.com. (860) 584-6160. Adult and child should register. JoshuaMedeiros@ci.bristol.ct.us YOGA FOR KIDS CLUB. 10 to 10:45 a.m. For children ages 5 to 10. Presented by children’s yoga instructor Heather Tartarelli. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. No charge. Registration required. Limited to 18 participants. Wear comfortable clothing. Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central St., Forestville. (860) 584-7790. NOW thru NOV. 24 OTHER ‘THE MAIN STREET KIDS CLUB. A MATH [...]
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United Way: Advocating for what you believe in
By DONNA OSUCH UNITED WAY OF WEST CENTRAL CT To advocate is to support or speak in favor of something. When you advocate for United Way, you show your support for the common good. You let people know that you care about making positive changes in West Central Connecticut. For many, advocating will be word of mouth. For others, it’s simply wearing the LIVE UNITED shirt. For some, it will be sharing your story on social media such as Facebook or Twitter, writing a letter to the editorm or speaking up in a community forum about how to better our community. United Way is one of the few places that people can come to the table to tackle community issues regardless of their political views. Our goal is to help bridge the gap between those driving policy decisions and the agencies and individuals impacted by those decisions. We also help to educate both policy-makers and community members about important issues to promote informed decisions. United Way seeks long-term solutions that improve education, income and health, as well as those that strengthen the non-profit sector and ensure that basic human needs are met. You might think that advocating means lobbying on [...]
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Electric vehicle charging stations receive state grants
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer Governor Dannel Malloy has announced the awarding of grants for 56 publicly-available electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations statewide, a major step forward in ending “range anxiety” for EV drivers, according to a press release. Funding for the grants total $135,946, which comes after a prior announcement of an agreement among the Governors of Connecticut and seven other states to encourage the use of zero-emissions vehicles with the goal of placing over three million of them on the road in the next ten years. “These grants will help fulfill my vision of a cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable energy future for the families and businesses of our state,” said Gov. Malloy, in the release. “A recent federal Department of Energy study shows that it costs less than half the cost of using gasoline to operate an electrical vehicle—and the availability of more charging stations helps provide a wider choice of vehicles for our residents.” The grants range from $1,000 to $5,000, which depend on the specific requirements of each project and the technology used, the press release said. Each grant will make up a partial amount of the total cost of installation costs and hardware, so [...]
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Another title holder from area crowned
By Mike Chaiekn Editions Editor STAMFORD– High school senior Sydney West may be living in Vernon now, but the now-Miss Connecticut Teen USA had lived in Southington until earlier this year. Sydney, who was crowned on Sunday in Stamford and now attends Rockville High School, had been a student at Hartford Academy of Math and Science until her junior year. “I love school. I’m a little bit of nerd.” The former Miss Southington’s Outstanding Teen, during a break on-stage for the Miss Connecticut USA finals, said of her new title, ““I’m so excited to be here. I’m so thankful for all of the things that have come my way today and for the experience. I can’t believe this happened to me.” By winning the title on Sunday, Sydney is keeping up a family tradition. Her sister, Logan, was the 2012 Miss Connecticut Teen USA. Logan went on to win the national crown as Miss Teen USA. On stage, Sydney said her sister’s legacy does put a lot of pressure on her as the new title holder. She said if it wasn’t difficult enough stepping on the stage, and competing in evening gown, swimsuit, and on-stage interview categories, she held the [...]
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Building blocks; Wilcats are looking for points, rebounds, and community service
By John Goralski Sports Writer Preston Beverly looked back over his shoulder with quiet satisfaction as his Lincoln College New England men’s basketball team raced for the locker rooms at halftime. It wasn’t his team’s five point lead that brought a smile to the athletic director/coach. It was the swarm of kids from the Bristol Boys and Girls Club that flooded onto the Bristol Eastern basketball court with a small group of college students. Beverly’s team has surged out to a 4-2 record in the opening weeks of the winter season. The Wildcats have already toppled a nationally ranked program, and their two losses have come by a grand total of three points. Lincoln fans have had a lot of things to cheer about in the early season, but it’s the total package that has Beverly smiling at halftime. For the first time in years, it feels like the little known sports team has finally found a home. “On the weekends, we were able to get in here [at Bristol Eastern] so that we can try to build that sense of community,” he said. “We do a lot of work here and in Southington. We wanted to find some place [...]
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Re-use, re-purpose, and upcycle your sense of style
By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR There’s something to be said for fashion that is nothing like what anyone else is wearing. And what better way to create this unique fashion than to take everyday items, and redirect them for new use as something fun to wear. That’s what Julia Sloan of Connecticut’s Brazen Betties does. Sloan, who used to own a brick and mortar boutique in Torrington that featured items created by other designers and crafters, has morphed her business so the spotlight is on herself. And the key words for her creations are re-use, repurpose, and upcycle. “I like the challenge of creating something new, unusual, and stylish from antique and vintage items,” said Sloan via an email when asked why she liked the process of repurposing objects and giving them new life as something wearable. “I really admire the workmanship and quality of old pieces and like to reinvent its intended use. I feel it’s a clever departure from using traditional materials like beads. You will see vintage keys, watch parts, drawer pulls, buttons, cabinet hardware and more upcycled into jewelry for men and women.” The basis of her work started in more traditional terms, Sloan explained. “I [...]
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