Thursday, March 8, 2018
cheshirecitizen.com
Volume 6, Number 20
Trolley tour upgraded this year By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
Rail beds, bridge supports, a trolley shelter, and stone foundations are among the remnants of a trolley line and railroad that brought riders to area towns a century ago. In April, history enthusiasts can get a tour of the routes and the remains of the long-abandoned lines.
By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
Education officials are considering how to spend a state school security grant of nearly $500,000.
The Cheshire Historical Society is offering a bus tour of the routes, building on interest from similar tours. Diane Calabro, society president, said they’ve upgrade the amenities for guests since the first tour. “It was just a trial to see if people would like it,” she said of the first tour.”People loved it except for the fact that it was a school bus designed for elementary school children.” April’s trip will take place in a tour bus and stop for a buffet lunch at Senor Pancho’s in Prospect. The location is related to the tour — rail lines are visible from the restaurant, according to Calabro. “You can still see the bed of
Schools mull use of security grants
It is one of several school security grants Cheshire has received since the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012.
A westbound Meriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River train nears the notch in Cheshire in 1889. Robert Belletzkie
where the rail tracks were laid,” she said. Stone supports for the trolley line, near the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, also serve as visible reminders. Walk about five minutes north on the trial from West Main Street, Calabro said, and you can see the foundations of what was a high trolley bridge. Much of the trolley line and railroad was wood and is long gone, but stone foundations and supports remain.
The tour will include information on both the Cheshire Street Railroad trolley line and the Meriden, Waterbury, and Connecticut River Railroad Company. The trolley company closed in 1934 and railroad in 1924. Prior to the advent of automobiles, traveling from Cheshire to Waterbury could be a multiple-day ordeal. Calabro said Stella See Tours, A12
Opioid seminar aimed to save lives By Terry Sutton Special to The Citizen
event Feb. 26 in the council chambers at Town Hall.
As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage Connecticut and the United States, law enforcement, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations are battling this crisis through various programs.
The session was free to the public with instruction on how to implement various strategies to prevent overdoses and resources about battling addiction. Jennifer Dewitt, executive director of the Regional Action Council for the A diverse group participated. The 20 Central Naugatuck Valley, conducted attendees included Town Manager Michael Milone, members of the
In Cheshire, the Human Services Department hosted a drug education
Town Council, law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, a student representative from a local private school as well as individuals who had loved ones struggling with addiction.
See Opioid, A12
The money has been used to install cameras and video communication devices at school entrances, as well as a kiosk behind the main doors of Cheshire High School to monitor visitors. Cathy Hellreich, school board chairwoman, said there is a list of possible purchases, but priorities may change based on public input. The school district is planning a public forum on safety and mental health. “We’ll see what comes out of this forum,” Hellreich said “We’d really like to hear from the public as to what their concerns are.” She also didn’t want to discuss some possible measures because she doesn’t want the school’s safety efforts publicized. Hellreich said security is always on the minds of school officials, but they particularly wanted residents to weigh in following the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. See Grant, A12