Volume 5, Number 48
www.cheshirecitizen.com
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Ruocco, Walsh win local GOP primaries By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
Republicans Tom Ruocco and Don Walsh prevailed in low-turnout Town Council primary elections held Sept. 12. It was the first Town Council primary in about 25 years, with Republicans choosing Ruocco candidates for two council district seats ahead of November’s election. Ruocco bested Sandra Pavano, 194-66, in the second council district. Walsh defeated Andy Falvey, 78-38, in the third council district.
Walsh said this was his first campaign, and he was pleased with the victory. He said he’d done everything he knew to do, although he had hoped for a better turnout. “It’s been a long six weeks. I put everything I had into this campaign,” Walsh said. Walsh said he had a list of 100 people who had said Walsh they would vote for him, and most of them did. The victory was a “big jump for November,” he said, speaking of the general election. Of the candidates, only See Primary, A11
Hold on to your hats! Cheshire beats NFA NORWICH — The Cheshire football team got three rushing touchdowns from Jake McAlinden, big plays in the secondary from Eric Angelone and clutch special Cheshire 35 teams work NFA 29 from punter Ethan Bronson to win a wild non-league shootout at Norwich Free Academy on Friday night, 35-29. The road victory, coming on the heels of last week’s big home win over Shelton, has coach Don Drust and his Rams at 2-0 and ranked in the state polls.
On Friday night, the Rams absorbed four touchdown passes from NFA quarterback Shea McManaway, who had beaten Xavier on opening night with a TD pass in the closing seconds. NFA had a chance to pull this one out late after McManaway threw a 39-yard TD to Tyler Briggs with just under four minutes to play. Cheshire’s defense, however, rose to the occasion on the Wildcats’ final possession. McAlinden’s touchdown runs came from 19, 3 and 63 yards. The 3-yarder, comSee Football, A18
Avery Gambardella, 5, waves to her parents on a carnival ride with her sister, Daylene Gambardella, 8, at the Cheshire Fall Festival at Bartlem Park Sept. 15. | Devin Leith-Yessian, Special to the Record-Journal
Fireworks, food trucks add extra fun to Fall Festival By Devin Leith-Yessian Special to the Record-Journal
The fireworks returned to Bartlem Park for Cheshire’s Fall Festival held at Bartlem Park over the weekend. The pyrotechnics took place alongside a carnival, entertainment and more food trucks than ever. “Everyone seems really excited to have the fireworks back,” said Cheshire Chamber of Commerce Chairman Derek Gromko, who also manages the Cheshire branch of State Farm Insurance. The Cheshire Chamber of Commerce organizes the festival. The fireworks were canceled last year due to safety concerns, but the expansion of the park this year gave the committee which organizes the festival the space they needed to bring them back. Sponsors and a raffle helped raise money for the fireworks. The chamber and businesses around town sold raffle tickets for $25 to help raise money for the fireworks. On Saturday evening, organizers also held
Cheshire resident Ben Chaback grabs a bite from a food truck with his wife Carla Chaback, and their baby, at the Cheshire Fall Festival at Bartlem Park on Sept. 15. | Devin Leith-Yessian, Special to the Record-Journal
a drawing for four cash prizes, from $1,000 to $250. Last year the festival had a laser light show as a safer alternative to prevent damage to the Community Pool roof. This year See Festival, A16