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Town warns residents of vaccine scams
Persistence key to these small businesses surviving COVID-19 By Laura B. Hayden North Central Connecticut small businesses have never faced as many challenges as in the past year. Persistence and creative thinking have kept many of these businesses in
Mark Dion, owner of recently opened Mark’s Tavern in the Warehouse Point section of East Windsor, stands with bar manager Kim Grady. Photo by Laura B. Hayden
operation — and some have even managed to launch through these challenging times. Area residens can best support establishments such as the two restaurants featured here by ordering take-out and shopping locally as COVID-19 regulations continue to remain in place. Something old returns to Windsor Locks The Windsor Locks Pizza Parlor was experiencing hard times even before COVID-19 limited restaurants to takeout sales last spring. Eight months earlier, Pizza Parlor owner Gus Kostantakis passed away after a long illness. Gus’ wife, Connie, a nurse by trade, struggled to learn the pizza-making trade her husband had perfected for 35 years. “I wanted to keep it going,” said Connie. “It’s been rough.” Even with the help of her sons, John and Michael, and
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Connie Kostantakis’ son Michael prepares fresh dough for the Pizza Parlor’s reopening in Windsor Locks. Photo by Laura B. Hayden others who she refers to as “good friends,” the Pizza Parlor wasn’t able to return to regular hours until the summer of 2020 — that is, until a vehicle traveling on Route 159 lost control and drove into the building at 255 Main St., damaging the dining area storefront and interior. After extensive repair and renovation, the Pizza Parlor now looks like new on the outside and emanates a classy, refurnished vibe indoors. The restaurant’s most recent Facebook review from late December reads, “We had Pizza Parlor tonight and I am so happy to say that the pizza is as good as it was when Gus was running the show.”
BUSINESSES/page 4
ELLINGTON — The town is warning residents about COVID-19 vaccination scams. Residents are reminded that: • No one from a legitimate vaccine distribution site will ever ask for your Social Security number or bank information in order to receive a vaccine. • Nobody will ever need to pay to get early access to the vaccine. • While patients may be asked to provide health insurance information when they receive the vaccine, health insurance is not required to receive it. • Patients will never be asked to pay to put their name on a list to receive the vaccine. • Internet scammers may post as legitimate businesses or organizations related to distribution of the vaccine in an effort to steal personal or financial information. • People should ensure that emails related to the vaccine are coming from legitimate sources before clicking links or opening attachments. • When providing personal information, people should double check the URL to ensure its legitimacy. • There are a limited number of federally approved vaccines and treatments.
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