By KEVIN ROBERTS STAFF WRITER Southington American Legion baseball got off to a slow start last week in the defense of its senior division title. Post 72 was rained out on June 11 in West Hartford, then dropped home games against West Hartford Post 76 and Simsbury Post 84. Southington lost 6-3 to West Hartford on June 15, then was defeated 14-3 by Simsbury in six innings on June 16. Post 72 dropped to 0-2 on the season. Here’s what happened in each game: Good start, tough finish JUNE 15—Southington scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but couldn’t hang on in the loss to West Hartford at Southington High School. Post 96 scored single runs in the second and third innings to tie the game, then erupted for four in the fifth to overcome a 3-2 deficit. Daniel Fitzsimmons drove in two runs for West Hartford while Bryan Renker singled, doubled and drove in a run. Maxwell Main also had two hits. Nick Borkowski started, pitched 4.2 innings, and took the loss for Southington. He struck out six and walked one. Jake Weed threw 1.1 scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts and a walk. Jason […]
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Baseball: Legion’s off to a slow start
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Obituary: Jean (Ohrnstedt) Woolverton, 91
Jean (Ohrnstedt) Woolverton, 91, of Plainville, wife of Gene F. Woolverton for more than 63 years, passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side on Sunday, June 16, 2019. Born in New Britain on December 5, 1927, she was one of two daughters to the late Maurice and Marie (Retz) Ohrnstedt. Raised in Bristol, she was a 1945 graduate of Bristol High School on the Memorial Boulevard, and went on to work at the former New Britain Machine Company for the next ten years. She then worked in the administration field for the Rourke-Eno Paper Company and retired from the Congregational Church of Plainville after 17 years as their head secretary. Jean and Gene were married in 1955, and moved to Texas for two years, returning to Plainville where they settled for the next 62 years and raised their family. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Plainville until 1993, when she became a member of the Liberty Baptist Church in Bristol, where she leaves many friends. Her many interests include painting, sewing, quilting, and rug braiding. She and Gene were longtime members of the Plainville Choral Society. In addition to her husband, […]
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Obituary: Gregory J. Jackson Jr., 38
Gregory J. Jackson Jr., 38, of Bristol, passed away in Bristol on Wednesday June 12, 2019. Gregory was born in San Diego, CA on February 11, 1981 and was the son of Gregory J. Jackson, Sr. of Wolcott and Patricia (Mollett) Jackson of Puyallup, WA. He resided in Bristol most of his life and was employed at Metallurgical Processing, New Britain. In addition to his parents, Gregory is survived by a daughter, Sariah Jackson of Wolcott, a son Gregory J. Jackson, III of Wolcott; his maternal grandmother, Pat Mollett of Coos Bay, OR; two sisters, Shawnna Jackson of Puyallup, WA and Sherea Parnell of Medford, OR; two brothers, Aaron Parnell of Lacey, WA and DaMarkus Milner of Kenosha, WI; a grandson, Messiah Thomas; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation at Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave. Bristol, on Monday, June 17, 2019 between 5 and 6:30 PM followed by a Funeral Service at 6:30 P.M. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Please visit Gregory’s memorial web-site at www.FunkFuneralHome.com
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Obituary: Grace (Carlson) Forsberg, 93
Grace (Carlson) Forsberg, 93, wife of the late Edward G. Forsberg, died Tuesday (June 18, 2019) at Bristol Hospital. Born in Bristol on March 16, 1926 to Axel and Signe (Anderson) Carlson, she was a lifelong Bristol resident. She graduated from Bristol High School in 1944 with a specialty in commercial stenography. She was an administrative assistant for most of her career, having worked for Beach & Calder Attorneys at Law, as well as United Technologies in Farmington before retiring in 1980. Grace and her husband enjoyed a 49-year marriage filled with many happy memories. She was known for being a great party hostess and an incredible cook. Grace also enjoyed crafts including knitting, and sewing, as well as dancing with Edward at the Bristol Polish Club and the Bristol Swedish Social Club. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church was very important to Grace, throughout her life she participated in many of their committees and clubs. Grace is survived by her two sons: Thomas Forsberg and his wife Jane of Bristol, RI and Richard Forsberg and his wife Tina of Hebron, CT; five grandchildren: Brian, Mickey, Hanna, Kirby and Matthew Forsberg; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by two brothers: […]
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Obituary: Stephen Joseph Rudzinski, 98
Stephen Joseph Rudzinski, 98, of Forestville, husband of Ida Lisotto Rudzinski, passed away at home on Tuesday June 18, 2019 surrounded by his family. Steve was born in New Britain on January 3, 1921 to the late Frank and Rose (Klimowska) Rudzinski. He grew up in New Britain and attended local schools. At age 18 he joined the Navy, serving his country during World War II and the Korean Conflict. Steve was employed at the former Grimes Aerospace Co. in Plymouth as a quality control manager and a member of the Federal Aviation Administration, retiring in 1986. He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed woodworking and was a history buff. He was a Patriots and Yankees fan. Besides his wife Ida, he leaves his daughter Nancy Rudzinski Whittle; granddaughter Courtney Whittle and her spouse Al Dance; grandsons Stephen Whittle (Melissa Cipriano) and Jonathan Whittle (Kathy Olszewski). He was predeceased by his son Stephen H. Rudzinski; and his three sisters and four brothers. As he would always say: “Better days are coming” There are no calling hours and funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, […]
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Obituary: Newman J. Masse, 78
Newman J. Masse, of Bristol, beloved husband of Muriel (Rossignol) Masse, passed away at home on Thursday June 13, 2019. Newman was born in Van Buren, ME on December 18, 1940 and was a son of the late Alfred and Ozite (Lajoie) Masse. He formerly lived in Van Buren and New Britain before moving to Bristol in 1966. He was a co-owner and operator of H & N Construction Co., Plainville, established in 1968 until retiring. A dedicated member of the Knights of Columbus, he was a member, past Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator of the Palos Council #35 and a 4th Degree Knight with the M.B. Roddan Assembly #108. He was also a member of the St. Jean de Baptist Society in New Britain and the French Businessmen’s Association. He was a parishioner of St. Matthew Church, Forestville, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister and was a member of the Men’s Retreat League. In addition to his wife of 54 years, Newman is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law: Eric and Kim Masse of Southington and Dean and Michelle Masse of Bristol; two daughters and sons-in-law: Deborah and James Healey of Bristol, and Charlene and Alan Key of […]
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Obituary: Walter ‘Archie’ Zajac, 89
Walter “Archie” Zajac, 89, of Southington, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, June 17, 2019 at the HOCC at New Britain General. Born in Southington on March 31, 1930 to the late Matthew and Anna (Uliasz) Zajac, he had been a lifelong Southington resident. Archie was a lifetime member of the VFW and a member of the American Legion Post 72 in Southington for over 50 years. He was an avid sports fan but especially loved the Boston Red Sox, Men’s and Women’s UCONN basketball and he was a huge college football fan. Archie is survived by his sister Helen Locks and his niece Susan Locks, both of Southington and his dear friend, Linda Aube of Wethersfield. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Stella Zajac and his brother-in-law, Ray Locks. The family would like to extend a special thank you to his caregiver Shannon for her kindness and compassion. Donations in Archie’s memory may be made to the Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church, 200 Summer St., Plantsville, CT 06479. A funeral service, with an American Legion service, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. […]
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Honoring Vietnam veterans
The Southington veterans committee held a Vietnam-era commemoration recognition ceremony last Saturday at Mary Our Queen Church. Officials recognized local men and women who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and presented the Vietnam Service Medal to qualified recipients. Committee member Peter Longo, left, shakes hands with Vietnam veteran Darryl Meier at the ceremony. To learn more, contact the Southington veterans committee at SouthingtonVets@southington.org or at (860) 276-6299. Photos by JANELLE MORELLI
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Committee focuses name change on South End school
By SHERIDAN ROY STAFF WRITER After a petition from the community was brought forth, a five-member ad-hoc committee was charged with determining if it was appropriate to re-name a school facility after the late Zaya A. Oshana. The committee determined that he met the qualifications, and they recommended to the superintendent that South End Elementary School be named “The Zaya A. Oshana School at South End Elementary School.” The ad-hoc committee, made up of three sitting BOE members and two people who helped submit the original petition, considered three schools as possibilities—South End, Flanders and Plantsville Elementary Schools. A public hearing brought out PTO members, students and parents of all three schools. Many who spoke out were concerned about the schools’ histories, along with school pride and personal time invested into the schools. “This is not an easy discussion,” said former superintendent Angelo Coppola, who was involved with the original petition. He said parents get involved in their children’s schools, and make personal investments. “Zaya invested in schools as well. He left us with much good—much of which still exists today.” Coppola said naming a school after Oshana would be a permanent reminder of the kind of role model kids […]
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Officials honor 7 graduates of adult education program
By SHERIDAN ROY STAFF WRITER The 2019 Plainville adult education graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of five graduating students along with the accomplishments and dedication of several adult students in the continuing education program on June 12. Diplomas were awarded to Sierra Alicea, Olivia Guardarrama, Dustin Heinzman, Tynnasia Mills and Yomaira Taveras. “It is my privilege to acknowledge the support of superintendent Dr. Maureen Brummett, assistant superintendent Steve LePage, board of education members, parents, friends, administration and staff,” said Mills in a welcoming statement. “Thank you for helping us achieve our goals.” Several awards were handed out to students from the adult high school credit diploma program, as well as students of the adult and continuing education program. In recognition of their dedication to their studies, their unique stories that brought them to where they are, and their sacrifices made in order to continue their education, the following students were recognized with awards: Dustin Heinzman, Vanso Lim, Gisela Baran, Suk Cousineau, Kyle Dougherty, Voctor Flores, Nurto Hassan, Alena Karnilovich, Ricardo Mayatoshi, Babubhai Patel, Nirmala Patel, Alba Nidia Toro, and Tynnasia Mills. Keynote speaker Gary Smith, who has a background in engineering, engineering management and operations management and has since found […]
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Painting a beautiful life
Ivonne Ortiz practices her painting at an event sponsored by Beautiful Lives at the Art Studio of Connecticut at 1850 West St. last Tuesday. The Beautiful Lives Project gives people with disabilities the opportunity to actively participate in activities and events that may not have been available to them previously due to physical or facility limitations. To learn more, visit www.BeautifulLives.org. Photo by JANELLE MORELLI
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Obituary: Paul F. Marseglia, 90
Paul F. Marseglia, 90, of Bristol, husband of Patricia (Nicoletti) Marseglia, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, June 17, 2019. He was born November 12, 1928 in Bristol and was a son of the late Diodato and Filomena (Pascone) Marseglia. Paul worked as an electrician before retiring and was an avid fan of the UCONN girl’s basketball team. He will always be remembered for his unconditional love for his family and friends. In addition to his beloved wife, Paul is survived by his two sons: Paul Marseglia and his wife Katheryn of Maine, Chris Marseglia and his wife Laurie of Branford; his daughter: Susan Bernier and her husband Tom Lavigne of Bristol; his sister: Carolina Marseglia of Cape Cod; His grandchildren and great grandchildren Nate Marseglia, Zack Marseglia, Maggie Marseglia, Sarah, Brian, Aidan and Addison Canina, Amy, Marc, Jake and Mae Calandruccio, Dan, Anita and Caroline Weeks, and several nieces and nephews along with Emma Tavera who is a special part of the family. In addition to his parents, Paul is predeceased by his brothers: Angelo Marseglia and Joseph Marseglia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM on Monday, June 24, 2019 at St. Anthony […]
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Commentary: When one door closes, another opens
As many Southington residents may already know, Steve Nyerick, a staple in the Southington Public School System for many years, will be retiring at the end of this school year. Although he will be greatly missed, we could not be happier for Steve and his family. When our community suffered multiple tragic losses 12 years ago, the STEPS Coalition was formed to create a safety net for our kids. The intention was to connect our community sectors so it became all of our responsibility—just like the saying, ‘it takes a village’ to raise a child. Since kids spend a majority of their time at school, we needed to find a way to bring our efforts and the 40 developmental asset model into our district. We were told then that if we wanted something to get done and get done right, go find Mr. Nyerick. From a simple phone call to Steve with an idea to now a district-wide movement, Asset Building Classrooms in an initiative that is very special for the Southington community. We credit this success to Steve’s dedication and leadership. In addition to asset building classrooms, we also have asset building cops, asset building congregations, asset building coaches, […]
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Schools recognize volunteers at annual dinner
More than 100 school volunteers, Board of Education members, administrators and staff converged on Plainville High School on May 22 for the annual volunteer recognition dinner and awards program. The event provided school officials an opportunity to thank Plainville’s school volunteers for their time and commitment that they make to students across the district. Volunteers share their time and talent in many capacities including mentoring, tutoring, serving as classroom helpers and reading partners, in parent-teacher organizations, as athletic backers, and more. Dean Barucci of Webster Bank and Nancy Gennett were singled out with special awards from the district. “Mr. Barucci and Ms. Gennett have done outstanding work in our district and are most deserving of these honors,” outgoing Plainville superintendent Dr. Maureen Brummett said in a press relesase. “We could not do many of the programs and services that we do in Plainville, such as our mentoring and reading partners, without the talents and dedication of all of our volunteers.” Barucci was the recipient of the 2018-19 Mentor of the Year Award for serving as a mentor at Linden Street School. Barucci has been a district mentor for five years. This year, he was partnered with third grader Julian Tessada. […]
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Sipping some cocktails where it’s all a ‘Wonder’
by MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR For those who love a good cocktail, and who are always on the look out for a new taste to add to their repertoire, Foxwoods Resort Casino’s “The Wonder of the Cocktail” was the place to be June 19 to 21. In addition to the opportunity to taste spirits from across the globe, the three day event at the casino in Mashantucket, Conn. also offered classes such as “The Art of Blending,” which explored the distillation process for Distillation Collection rums; “Agave Lab,” where guests learned about the history of tequila and mezcal; and “Sip-Savor-Swagger,” where chefs offered up their take on the best cocktails to go with certain foods. On the final day of the event, “The Wonder of the Cocktail” gave aficionados the opportunity to sip special cocktails, such as “Last Mango in Paris,” poolside with “Vanderpump Rules” star Scheana Shay. Then in the evening, the Grand Tasting was held where there was a plethora of spirits like gins, vodkas, whiskeys, and tequilas from well-known brands such as Bacardi and Jim Beam, local brands such as Litchfield Distillery, and aspirational brands such as Highland Park and Cragganmore. And many of the brands at […]
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Sipping some cocktails where it’s all a ‘Wonder’
by MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR For those who love a good cocktail, and who are always on the look out for a new taste to add to their repertoire, Foxwoods Resort Casino’s “The Wonder of the Cocktail” was the place to be June 19 to 21. In addition to the opportunity to taste spirits from across the globe, the three day event at the casino in Mashantucket, Conn. also offered classes such as “The Art of Blending,” which explored the distillation process for Distillation Collection rums; “Agave Lab,” where guests learned about the history of tequila and mezcal; and “Sip-Savor-Swagger,” where chefs offered up their take on the best cocktails to go with certain foods. On the final day of the event, “The Wonder of the Cocktail” gave aficionados the opportunity to sip special cocktails, such as “Last Mango in Paris,” poolside with “Vanderpump Rules” star Scheana Shay. Then in the evening, the Grand Tasting was held where there was a plethora of spirits like gins, vodkas, whiskeys, and tequilas from well-known brands such as Bacardi and Jim Beam, local brands such as Litchfield Distillery, and aspirational brands such as Highland Park and Cragganmore. And many of the brands at […]
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Patriots celebrate another perfect fall
DePaolo girls volleyball was recognized earlier this spring for its undefeated volleyball season in the fall of 2018. The Patriots compiled a record of 10-0.
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Southington boys capture indoor division
The Southington Soccer Club U11 boys team U11 Boys won their indoor division this past winter at the Farmington Sports Arena, finishing with a record of 6 -1.
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Revaluation is underway for local homeowners
The appraisal firm of Vision Government Solutions, Inc. has been hired by Southington to perform the 2020 town-wide revaluation project as mandated by the State of Connecticut. In the coming weeks, data mailers will be sent to verify property information. It is essential that all data mailers be returned. Over the next year, representatives from the appraisal firm will be verifying information currently on file with the town assessor’s office as well as visiting properties that recently sold, with open building permits, or known physical changes. All Vision representatives will be wearing an identification badge and their vehicles will be registered with the Southington Police Department. Homeowners are encouraged to ask for this identification prior to admitting anyone into their homes. If a homeowner has a question as to the identity of a Vision representative, they may call the police or the assessor’s office for further confirmation. For more detailed information concerning the revaluation process, contact the assessor’s office at (860) 276-6205.
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Plantsville school will be renamed after Oshana
By SHERIDAN ROY STAFF WRITER The Southington Board of Education has voted to rename Plantsville Elementary School after former long-time BOE member Zaya A. Oshana, who passed away in 2017. The decision was made after an effort on the board to designate South End Elementary School failed. Oshana served the BOE for 34 years. An ad-hoc committee was formed to determine, first, if Oshana met the criteria to have a school facility named after him. Then, the committee was charged with bringing forth a recommendation of which school should be re-named. The committee deliberated between Flanders, Plantsville and South End Elementary Schools. A recent population study had suggested Flanders may close at some point in the future, so Flanders was ruled out, and some community members argued Plantsville School had historic ties to the Plants brothers of Plantsville. Others argued South End was historic in itself as it was named after an original schoolhouse of Southington. Ultimately, the committee felt the historic background of South End Elementary School was preserved in the original South End Schoolhouse. They brought forth the recommendation to rename South End after Oshana. “I thought about South End’s slogan, ‘The small school with a big heart,’” […]
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