July 2024 North Central News

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JULY 2024

FREE Guide INSIDE!

Decide what’s ‘Best’ Readers get their say on top businesses, attractions The North Central News loves to hear from its readers, and in the June and July issues we do just that — asking you to vote for your favorites in a multitude of catagories in the annual Best of North Central CT Readers Poll.

Look for the Readers Poll on Page 4 of this issue.

Winners in the poll this year — the 22nd year the North Central News has conducted this survey — will be announced in August.

— Gary Carra, Publisher

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Make way for the new grad Somers High School Senior Tikeira Naylor makes her way to accept her diploma during the 2024 Somers Commencement on June 11. More photos from the Somers graduation ceremony, Page 28.

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East Windsor

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EWHS grads are going places Story, photos courtesy of East Windsor Public Schools EAST WINDSOR — Our East Windsor High School graduates are going places. Here’s a capsule look at some of our grads.

Ryan Willey Ryan will be attending Assumption University in the fall.

“I am planning on majoring in something business related,” he says. “I am not quite sure exactly what yet.

I am interested in science, math and sports.” Those interests are obvious when one looks at Ryan’s high school resume: He was a member of both the Jazz Band and Concert Band. He participated in Student Government and played on the soccer, basketball and golf teams.

“The size of EWHS is something unique about the school. ... I am very close to everyone and this is why the school is almost like my home. I can

truly be myself and work my hardest to improve my education at the same time.”

Vincent Hernandez Vincent is going to Williams College to study astrophysics.

He was president of the Class of 2024, a member of EWHS’s student government, and the National Honor Society. In addition, his high school resume includes Model Congress, Band and Jazz Band. He was captain of the indoor and outdoor track teams and is the student representative to the Board of Education.

“Get involved,” he offers as advice for incoming freshmen. “School is only as valuable and fun as you make it. Play an instrument, sing, cook, paint pictures!

Participate in after school clubs too.

There are clubs for all sorts of interests!

Drawing, diversity, automotive, Model Congress — there’s something for everyone. And if there isnt? Make a club that

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There are plenty of teachers willing to help make that happen as long as you are putting in the effort to get involved.”

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Nohely Santana Nohely is headed to Westfield State University. “I am going to go there for the full four years to play basketball and to major in criminal justice,” she says. She was a member of the EWHS volleyball, basketball, and softball teams. She is active in Read Across America, Aces Day and Unity Day. She enjoys working with the elementary and middle school students.

“I feel like the amount of connections that I have made here have helped me or pushed me past my limit in some sort of way. Especially from teachers like Mrs. Pacheco, Mrs. McClelland, Mrs. Kotula, Mr. Shelton, and Mr. Masters.”

We are a free, monthly publication that is direct mailed to r East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Somers, Stafford and Suffield, Conn. We are also available at more than 100 high traffic locales throughout Vernon and Windsor Locks for free pick up. The North Central News was created in June of 2002 and continues to be both family-owned and locally operated.

Spencer Percoski

*OUFSO

Spencer is headed to Lincoln Technical Institute-Auto Service Technology to study automotive engineering. A member of “gasoline alley,” the automotive club, he also participated in unified basketball.

“Stay on top of your work, don’t change yourself for others, find ways to make it happen, and don’t let peer pressure make you fall into dropping grades,” he says to incoming freshmen.

GRADS/page 7

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Allison Carra Publishers Policy Information presented in the North Central News is presented for your consideration and does not necessarily represent views of the publisher or its advertisers. All information is checked for accuracy, but cannot be guaranteed.

Liability for errors in advertising is limited to rerun of the ad. Errors in advertising should be brought to the attention of the publisher in writing, within seven days of publication for appropriate credit.

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2) Your complete name, address and phone number have to be included on each ballot for entry into the contest. Ballots without this information will not be accepted. Winners will be notified by telephone.

3) The deadline for entries is Friday, July 21, 2024. The ballot will appear in the June and July 2024 issues of the North Central News Winners will be announced in the August 2024 issue.

4) All entries must be sent to: BEST OF: The North Central News, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071.

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East Windsor First Selectman’s Corner

Town keeps making quality-of-life improvements EAST WINDSOR — The town had a pair of tremendous successes in June.

On June 2, the town held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Jason Bowsza playground at East Windsor Park. This is a significant investment in our town’s quality-of-life offering, and we were delighted to have hundreds of families there to join in the day, play on the playground, listen to live music, play games, enjoy food trucks and much more.

Funding for this project was made possible through state bond funds secured for the town for the playground by our legislative delegation, Reps.

Foster and Hall, and Sen. Anwar. We appreciate their support to help continue to make East Windsor a welcoming place for families to live, work and relax.

Building a sense of community and investing in our own infrastructure has been a key focal point for the town over the last several years, and the new play-

ground marks a significant step forward for young families.

We are continuing to look for opportunities to build a sense of community, with some exciting improvements planned at Osborn Park in Warehouse Point — including installation of pickleball courts planned for late summer/early fall. We also plan to make pedestrian and gazebo improvements at Volunteer Park, all of which are possible through funds awarded to the town by the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Quality-of-life improvements are important to foster a sense of community, but one of government’s foremost obligations is to provide for public safety.

On June 7, at the urging of Representative Foster, the State Bond Commission awarded the town $8 million (!!) in state bond funds for replacement of our emergency radio system.

The approach undertaken by the town to replace our antiquated system has been identified by state leaders as a model solution to emergency communications,

Call for picking updates.

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First Selectman Jason Bowsza at the East Windsor Park ribbon-cutting on June 2.

First Selectman’s Office photo and the support of Representative Foster in securing the funding is a tremendous boost to the town. This will help ensure our first responders are as safe as they can be as they perform their work. The town’s hope is to work collaboratively with Windsor and Ellington to develop a communications system that strengthens all emergency response needs in the North Central Connecticut area, which state funding will help ensure becomes a reality.

Looking ahead, the town also plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the fall for the newly installed lights at Abbe Road Soccer Complex, which will enhance the experience of youth soccer, high school soccer and adult recreational soccer for many years to come. This

also would not have been possible without bond funds made available to the town by our state delegation.

And finally, work on the Ttown’s Community Center is progressing on schedule. As of this writing, interior demolition work is completed, some interior framing has begun, and site work for the pouring of the exterior foundation is nearly completed. Partnering with the federal government (which provided 80% of the project funds), the town looks forward to opening this multigenerational amenity in mid-spring 2025.

There are a ton of great projects completed or underway in East Windsor, and our dedicated town staff look forward to continuing the good work which serves as a promise that our best days are still ahead.

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East Windsor Honor roll EAST WINDSOR — These students were on the East Windsor Middle School honor roll in the fourth quarter.

Grade 8 High honors: Emma Carter, Sara Daigle, Skyla Gonzalez, Kidest Kassa, Kassie Keyes, Kylie Keyes, Giuliana Lagana, Jalexis Mercado, Aubrey Nordell, Kirk Taylor, Wyatt Temple.

Honors: Thomas Bloznalis, Daniel Castro, Isaiah Crespo, Rialynn Hernandez, Giannah Hutchins, Cody Lefelar, Kelly Lemus-Herrera, Janiyah Mathews, Jason Neill, Dorian Robeiro, Francis Scheuermann.

Grade 7 High honors: Kylie Bartholomew, Blake Castor, Benjamin Ferrick, Kendall Johns, Beniam Kassa, Abigail King, Emily Kolodziej, Jameson Parent, Jacob Provost, Isabella Rosales, Swapnil Sahoo, Lorelai Standish, Delaney Tepper, James Thompson, Micah Vong.

Honors: Jace Arre, William Braman, Alexia Chilel Matul, Christopher Clark, Jack Clifford, Mikaela Diaz-Martinez, Natalie Dionne, Christopher Godin, Tierney Mehan, Elyse Nordell, Collin Raymond, Reyduan Sanchez-Moreno, Kingsley Tang, Darius Turcin, Victoria Vazquez, Hunter Wilson.

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Grade 6 High honors: Robert Belforti, Haley Carpenter, Charlotte Hebert, Jackson James, Brayden Macsata, Ailyah Mohammed, Sabrina Ortiz, Eloise Rocca, Jayliannis Rosa Honors: Jameson Barber, Jacob Blanchard, Joel Gill, Berra Gocmez, Mackenxie Guilbe, Azurae McCluster, Gabriella Mendez, Nana Adwoa Nyarko, Nariah Ortiz, Olivia Page, Brooklyn Pouncey, Angelous Walton, Mykala Welch.

Grade 5 High honors: Genesis Abudo, Kendra Bartholomew, Isabella Bloznalis, Daniel Bober, Ryan Borrelli, Justin Carballo, Olivia Collins, Augustus Craig, Sara Dirgo, Saeed Elmedani, Riley Fox, William Howard, Caroline Hubbard, Victoria Kooharian, Abigail Mannette, Ky’mani Morgan, Lane Neidlinger, Harsh Patel, Savannah Perez, Juliette Provost, Annett Recinos, Samuel Rodriguez, Nathan Roman, Mackenzie Streeter-Winn, Sahana Vijayakumar.

Honors: Spencer Anderson, Jaxson Bosley, Daniel Burnham, Michael Carballo-Reyes, Peyton Colbeck, Geneva Forsythe, Jacob Gomez, Austin Hinkle, William Loos, Lucas Page, Jackson Parent, Luzmery Rodriguez Ramon, Shreenitha Senthilkumar, Jeruciel Valentin Lorenzo, Nella Wojcik.

It's Independence Day And we’ll all sing and dance Today and we'll remember our Loved ones who fought for Our freedom and it Came with A heavy price War is not pretty nor is it nice.

So let’s take a minute To remember our Brave men and women Who sadly passed away Fighting for our freedom And the fireworks Has just begun and The kids are having so Much fun waving American flags And while the adults have a few Beers and Hug and kiss each other And everyone is full of love.

So raise your glass or your can Of beer and Toast for the 4th of July And it’s a beautiful And perfect day to Celebrate our Independence Day Fourth of July Fourth of July.

And this special day is Forever inside our hearts Our freedom And liberty we won so let’s Get this party started And we’ll have so much fun and we'll never forget our true heroes who died for this day so scream out loud happy 4th of July and God bless you all and peace and love to every American on our Independence Day.

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East Windsor Grads are heading places Continued from page 3

Alyssa Clancy Backpack program Signups for the 2024 Back to School Backpack Program are open until July 28. Forms are available through Social Services by downloading the form from Facebook, the website, requesting one by email or at the office at 25 School St. To participate you must be an East Windsor resident and your child/children must be registered in the East Windsor School System. Income guidelines and conditions apply. For details, visit: www.eastwindsor-ct.gov/social-services.

Farmers Market Farmers Market cards are now available. Cards can be used to purchase fresh fruit, vegetables, cut herbs, eggs and honey at participating farmers markets.

Participants must be 60-plus years old or younger disabled and residing in senior and disabled housing Income guidelines apply.

For details, call East Windsor Social Services, 860-623-2430.

Alyssa is headed to the University of Connecticut to major in psychology. Alyssa was a member of the indoor and outdoor track teams, student government, yearbook, LEO Club, Model Congress, and Diversity Club. She is also in the National Honor Society. “Some may see a tiny school like ours to be a negative thing, but it helps to create closer bonds with your teachers, and make good friends because you'll be surrounded by the same small group of people everyday.”

Austin Jamrog Austin is headed to Central Connecticut State University this fall. He is a member of the Stafford Springs East Windsor Bulldogs co-op Football team, the LEO Club, and the Powderpuff team. “Our little tight knit community is what makes this school special for me,” he says. “It’s small enough where everybody knows eachother. For the most part, we all coexist pretty well.”

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Brianna Corsetti Brianna will be attending Wheaton College, with plans to study psychology with a pre-medical track. Her was president of National Honor Society, vice president of student government, and participating in both Model Congress and Model She was a member of the girls swim team, the marching band, jazz band, concert band, and is a safe school leader. “One of my biggest pieces of advice (to freshmen) would be just to enjoy the time you have here.”

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Ellington First Selectwoman’s Corner

Emmet Smith of Ellington High School represented Connecticut with an exhibit at the National Museum of American History as part of National History Day events.

National History Day photo

Q&A highlights budget; library parking lot expands

Lori Spielman ELLINGTON — Prior to the second referendum vote, a budget questionand-answer session was held at the Senior Center with our finance officer, public works director, superintendent of schools and the director of finance and operations of Ellington Public Schools.

This forum was open to the public for those who had questions about the proposed budget. In addition to this session,

numerous meetings of the Board of Education, Board of Finance, and Board of Selectmen were held over the prior six months to develop the budget proposal.

I attended a ribbon-cutting for the new bottling plant at Oakridge Dairy; multiple generations of farmers were present.

A repurposed free-stall dairy barn was modernized into a state-of-the-art bottling plant, including a refrigerated warehouse for Modern Milkman’s operations.

(See Page 9 for more on Oakridge).

Hall Memorial Library has undergone a great renovation, including parking lot expansion and new landscaping including outdoor furniture. This was completed by grant funding awarded to the town.

Students fare well in history event HARTFORD — Ellington students fared well at the National History Day Contest last month.

Emmet Smith, a 9th grader at Ellington High School represented Connecticut with his exhibit “A Battle of Rights for the Incarcerated: The Legacy of the Attica Prison Riot’ at the National Museum of American History.

The museum hosted a daylong special exhibition that featured student projects from each of National History Day’s affiliate programs.

“I’m so impressed with the hard work of our students and the dedication of’Connecticut teachers," said Rebecca Taber, state coordinator of Connecticut

History Day. “Team CT conducted research into some fascinating topics and their thoughtful, historical interpretation and analysis is on full display. I’m proud of how well each of them represented our state.”

Ellington winners included: Senior (High School) Group Documentary: “The Creation of Sesame Street: A Turning Point in Educational History,” Maura Armstrong and Teagan Dieterle of Ellington High School, first place.

Junior (Middle School) Group Exhibit: “The Capital Crawl: A Climb for Disability Equality and the Push for the ADA” Julianne Pashee and Katie Smith of Center School, fourth place.

Large Inventory of New & Used Truck Caps, Tonneau Covers, and Trailers Work has expanded the parking lot at Hall Memorial Library.

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Ellington

Oakridge Dairy celebrates opening of new creamery ELLINGTON — Oakridge Dairy, Connecticuts largest dairy farm, celebrated the opening of its new milk processing plant, Oakridge Creamery, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 13.

The event, attended by media representatives, state dignitaries and dairy industry leaders, marked a milestone for the farm and community.

“The new Oakridge Creamery will allow us to get more great quality milk directly to consumers all over Connecticut, Massachusetts and maybe even New York, said Kaylee Hill, public relations and tour director at Oakridge Dairy.

“This will allows us to bring our vision to life of being the farm of the future in a world where people know their farmer. We want our consumers to

know where their milk is coming from.”

Brief speeches highlighted the new facility’s features and benefits.

Keynote speakers included CEO of Oakridge Dairy Seth Bahler, Connecticut’s Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Ellington’s First Selectman Lori Spielman, state Sens. Jeff Gordon (35th District) and Saud Anwar (3rd District), state Rep. Jaime Foster (57th District), and members of Oakridge’s operations and creamery team Steve Moser, David Moser, and Josh Luginbuhl.

Attendees participated in a guided tour of the state-of-the-art plant, which showcased Oakridge Creamery’s advanced dairy processing technology.

The ceremony concluded with a toast

Oakridge Dairy and local and state officials gather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Oakridge Creamery on June 13.

Oakridge Dairy photo using Oakridge Creamery milk, freshly. produced in the new facility.

As a member of Dairy Farmers of American, Oakridge Dairy ensures that its milk reaches consumers in retail locations throughout Southern New England.

The new creamery also enables Oakridge to bottle “excess” milk and sell it directly to consumers in Connecticut and

Massachusetts through its delivery service, The Modern Milkman.

“We are so thrilled to share this new operation with our community, employees and owners,” Hill said. “We could never have done it without the help from local businesses and we are forever grateful for the support we have received.

Workers and dignitaries raise a glass of milk to toast the opening of Oakridge Creamery.

Oakridge Dairy photo

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JULY1-10.qxp_NCN new template 7/1/24 7:39 AM Page 10

Ellington Singing grads’ praises in the rain

Ellington resident performing July 5

A sudden, driving rain could not stop Ellington Superintendent Dr. Scott Nicol from graduating his seniors at the Ellington High School Athletic Field June 7. Or dampen the spirits of the proud friends and family in attendance.

Ellington High School photo

VERNON—Jacob’s Well Christian Coffeehouse will feature Ellington singer and acoustic guitarist Danny Petrozza on Friday, July 5. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the event will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The coffeehouse will be held in The Oasis, a renovated 1800s storefront adjacent to Union Danny Petrozza Church, 3 Elm St. in Rockville.

Petrozza is a long-time resident of Ellington who plays original and popular praise and worship music. He is active in the praise band at Ellington Baptist Church and works for Hartford HealthCare.

Founded in 1995, Jacob’s Well is patterned after the “Jesus Revolution” coffeehouses in the 1960s and 1970s and is one of the oldest continuously operating coffeehouses in Connecticut.

For details, call Drew Crandall at 860-871-6500 or visit www.JacobsWell Coffeehouse.com.

Taking a look at EHS valedictorian, salutatorian David Pack, valedictorian Throughout his high school career, Pack displayed a profound dedication to both academics and extracurricular activities.

Pack has a passion for music and has been a part of the Vocal Ensemble and various bands, including the Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Wind Ensemble, where he played the euphonium, trombone, and piano. He has been honored to participate in multiple regional music festivals, such as CMEA, NEMFA, and All-State. Pack’s involvement in school clubs was extensive and academically he received numerous awards.

Pack plans to serve a two-year full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Upon completing his mission, he intends to attend Brigham Young University in Utah, to pursue a degree in computer science.

10 North Central News July 2024

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Ellington State Representative Round-up

Sometimes bills are born from constituent suggestions When I'm interacting with the public, I take your suggestions back to Hartford. One of those suggestions became law this past session.

Jaime Foster Constituents Al and Charlene Trujillo suggested that they would like to see veterans’ tax exemptions.

The House and Senate both unanimously passed legislation establishing a tax exemption for veterans with a service-connected permanent and total disability rating.

Beginning with the 2024 assessment year (and first applicable to tax bills due July 1, 2025), the new law, Public Act 24-46 requires municipalities to fully exempt a primary residence or motor vehicle for each of these veterans who served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force or Space Force of the United States, who have a permanent and total disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

To qualify, veterans must file for the exemption with their town assessor. The exemption may also be transferred to a deceased veteran’s surviving spouse or minor child.

There is a retroactive part to this legislation as well, as veterans may apply for a tax abatement or refund for up to three years if they meet the eligibility criteria.

This legislation is effective Oct. 1 of this year.

When I hosted a veteran resource discussion in Ellington recently with fellow State Rep. Kevin Brown (D-Vernon), this bill was a topic of discussion.

Another piece of legislation tied to our military, Public Act 24-57 expands eligibility for grants from the Military Relief Fund for essential household goods or services if payment for such goods or services would be a hardship to a serious injury or illness, or the death, of an eligible service member or an immediate family member thereof.

The Military Department shall use the

fund to make grants to eligible members of the armed forces or their immediate family members for essential personal or household goods or services in this state if the payment for such goods or services would be a hardship for such eligible member or immediate family member because of the military service of the eligible member, or a serious injury or illness, or the death, of such eligible member or immediate family member. The department shall not make any grant that exceeds $5,000 or the balance available for grants in the fund The Senate and House both showed this bill unanimous support.

This legislation is effective July 1.

I will continue to work to listen and learn, to hear from all of you about what issues you would like me to focus on next, so as always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you have.

As you can see, the tax-exemption bill was born out of a concern brought about by constituents.

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Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ronald P. Welch and Reps. Jaime Foster and Kevin Brown spoke to veterans about programs and resources at a recent resource event in Ellington.

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Enfield Parks and Recreation For details on these and other programs, contact the Enfield Recreation Department at 860-253-6420 or visit on the web at www.enfield-ct.gov/recreation.

The Recreation Department’s Summer 2024 program information is now available online. The department has a variety of programs that range from classes for preschool, youth, teens and adults to special events, camps.

Family Entertainment Series Enfield Recreation will be hosting a summer entertainment series for families in July at the JFK Middle School Auditorium. Performances include Showtime Steve, Magic By George and a laser light show by Prismatic Magic.

Shows will be Wednesdays, July 10, 17 and 24, at 6:30 p.m. at JFK Middle School Auditorium, 155 Raffia Road, Enfield. All shows are free; seating is on a first come, first serve basis. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.

All ages are welcome, Enfield residents only.

Open swim The Enfield Recreation Department is offering weekend open swim at the Enfield Annex indoor pool.

The pool will be open on Saturdays, July 13 to Aug. 10. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Daily fees apply.

Home Alone Safety Home Alone Safety for youth entering grades 5-8 in the fall is a class for children who may stay home alone (or with an older sibling).

This interactive course will cover major and minor safety concerns parents have when their children are by themselves, while helping kids feel more comfortable about being home alone.

This course will be Tuesday, July 23, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Enfield Annex.

The fee is $32 residents/$40 nonresidents. Preregistration is required.

Food Explorers Cooking Camp Youth entering grades 3 - 6 in the fall will explore new flavors, cooking techniques and recipes. Participants will make their own pasta dough from scratch and turn it into a meal along with a fresh

salad every day. Program will be taught by registered dietitians and nutritionists.

The camp will be July 15 to 19, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Enfield Annex.

The fee is $173 residents/$216.25 nonresidents. Preregistration is required.

Skyhawks Volleyball Camp Skyhawks Volleyball is for ages 10 to 14. All aspects of volleyball are taught through drills and exercises that focus on passing, setting, hitting and serving.

This coed program is designed for the beginner to intermediate player and incorporates essential life-lessons such as teamwork and sportsmanship. The camp will be July 8 to 12 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hazardville Memorial School Gym. The fee is $140 residents/$150 nonresidents.

Registrations will be taken through the Skyhawks website at www.skyhawks.com. Preregistration is required.

Skyhawks Track & Field Camp Skyhawks Track & Field Camp was developed to introduce young athletes ages 7 to 12 to the sport. This program combines technical development and

fundamental techniques, with safety and a focus on fun.

Exercises and drills will prepare athletes for a future in cross-country or track and field, while inspiring a love for running.

The fundamentals of body positioning, stride, proper stretching, and cool-down techniques are all covered. The camp will be July 15 to 19 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Enfield Annex Track. The fee is $140 residents/ $150.00 for nonresidents.

Registrations will be taken through the Skyhawks website at www.skyhawks.com. Preregistration is required.

Skyhawks Flag Football Camp Using a curriculum developed by the experts from USA Football, coaches will teach skills like passing, receiving, kicking and flag pulling. Participants ages 5 to 7 will gain confidence and learn life lessons in a fun, positive environment. The camp will be July 22 to 26 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hazardville Memorial School Gym. The fee is $140 residents/$150 nonresidents.

Registrations will be taken through the Skyhawks website at www.skyhawks.com. Preregistration is required.

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Dr. Jeffrey Thompsen, MD, Cardiologist was voted the Best Specialty Practice for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and Hall of Fame 2023!

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Enfield

Rotary Foundation awards $12,000 in scholarships ENFIELD — The Enfield’s Rotary Memorial Scholarship Foundation honored the accomplishments of 10 college students from Enfield on June 18. The Foundation awarded a total of $12,000 in scholarships to students who have completed at least two years of post secondary education.

Congratulations to recipients Alicia St. Peter, Grace Farris, Sydney Hamre, Sydney Ball, Aislin Farris, Jaymes Bachand, Dylan Lawson, Samantha Ceniglio, Audra Sferrazza and Kaylee Hunt.

Thank you to the scholarship committee and Foundation Co-Presidents Milt Rosenberg and Mary Arcouette for their work with this evening.

Want to make a donation?

Send donations to Enfield Rotary Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 1, Enfield, CT 06083. Have questions? Contact Milt Rosenberg at 860-883-7520.

The Rotary Club of Enfield also installed its new President. President Julie Cotnoir passed the gavel to Aimee Nieroda.

Rotarian Dick Stevens and grandson Chase Stevens presented Alicia St. Peter with the Stevens Family Award.

Aislin M. Farris’ mom Joan accepted The Charles “Charlie” Nirenberg Award from Rotarian Rich Tkacz. Aislin was unable to attend since she was swimming in the U.S. Olympic qualification trials.

Grace Farris was presented the Irma and Robert Squires Family Award by Rotarian Bill Squire.

Rotarian Joe Fallon presented Sydney Rotarian Karen Foley O’Connor present- Ball with the Robert B. Berger Award.

Rotary Club photos ed Dylan Lawson with the John D. Adams, Esq. Award.

50 Weymouth Road Enfield, CT 860-817-9933 Samantha Ceniglio Audra Sferrazza received her received the Joyce Theodore P. Keating Family Tenerowicz Family Award from Award from Rotarian Rotarian Joyce Julie Cotnoir.

Keating.

26 North Central News July 2024

Ed Palomba presented Sydney Hamre with the Palomba Family Award.

Licensed & Insured Lic. #0625222

Rotarian Joe Muller presented the Peter Jaymes Bachand O’Keefe Award to Kaylee Hunt’s Mom and his daughter accepted the Omer Dawn. Kaylee was unable to attend since Muchmore, Jr. she is taking classes at Award from Rotarian Champlain College. Kim Quinn.

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Enfield School budget slashed, then somewhat redeemed

By Laura B. Hayden

The King is back Hometown hero Sage King will be performing at the Enfield Fourth of July Celebration on the Town Green Sunday, July 7 at 1:30 p.m.Other entertainment offerings throughout the weekend long event include a kick-off parade at 11 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. nightcap with Led Zepplicators Kashmir on July 6, Planet Pro Wrestling on July 5 and a taste of the town’s finest food and beverage.

The area’s own Johnny Six Gun band will prime attendees prior to the eventclosing fireworks finale July 7. For a full rundown visit enfieldcelebration. org Admission is free.

Enfield Fourth of July Celebration photo

ENFIELD — A devastating 7-3 Town Council vote along Republican/ Democratic party lines slashed the Board of Education’s 2024-2025 budget increase request of $6.5 million for next year to $1.5 million.

The end-of-May vote disregarded weeks of visible support by teachers, parents and students at board and council meetings, as well as on social media sites, backing the board’s requested increase of 8.68%, a significantly lower amount than the 12.76% increase that would have been needed to simply maintain current services.

Instead, the council passed a 2% increase that required interim Superintendent Andrew Longey to cut over 120 positions and many programs to compensate a $5 million shortfall.

Enfield Mayor Ken Nelson maintains that in recent years the school board has blatantly overspent, hiring employees with federal pandemic relief dollars despite knowing those funds would run out.

Nelson told the Harford Courant that expecting the town to now raise taxes to

Interim Superintendent Longey maintains, “Next year will have its challenges but Enfield is full of dedicated and passionate professionals who are ready to meet the needs of our students and families.” maintain the board’s request — in spite of a 16% tax increase over the last two years — is not the solution.

Longey attributed the increased education expenditures to unanticipated costs, including a $2.1million increase in insurance.

Special education is costing the town an additional $500,000 due to a readjustment of state funds, according to the district. Other professional service costs for school psychologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists have also risen.

In addition, Longey told the Hartford Courant, “This year we were promised 91% in the excess cost sharing grant, so we budgeted off of that for next year.

Just a couple months ago, we found out the state had a readjustment for everyone and we went down to 67%. That’s half a million dollars that we did not adjust for in our budget.”

Initially, the reality of the shortfall was expected to result in cutting over

120 staff positions and the elimination of middle school and some high school sports programs.

Then, in an unexpected move on June 17, the Town Council agreed to send an additional $5 million to the Board of Education.

The funds are expected to come from the town’s general fund services reserves.

As part of the agreement, the Board of Education has promised to reimburse the town almost $2 million through a payment plan.

Interim Superintendent Longey maintains, “Next year will have its challenges but Enfield is full of dedicated and passionate professionals who are ready to meet the needs of our students and families.”

Even with the loss of many services, activities, and staff, Longey says “we are determined to provide a positive experience for all members of the Enfield Public Schools.”

northcentralnews@aol.com

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July23-36.qxp_NCN new template 7/1/24 12:50 PM Page 28

Somers

SUFFIELD PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS

Capping it off Above, Somers High School grads Elizabeth Grondin (left) and Kristina Haraga hold up their diplomas as they exit the 2024 Somers High Commencement on June 11. Right, seniors toss their mortarboards at the end of the ceremony.

NCN staff photos

KNOWLEDGEABLE. AFFORDABLE. High quality healthcare does not have to come at a high cost.

Dr. William S Garrity is one of about 12 doctors in the state board-certi昀ed in Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine.

He is Board-certi昀ed in family medicine, belongs to numerous professional organizations, and he is your hometown doctor - right here in Suf昀eld!

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28 North Central News July 2024

Call for opening date Fresh picked blueberries are also available at Dzen Garden Market in Ellington.

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Lawn & Landscape Installations Bobcat Service • Spring Cleanups Patios & Retaining Walls Stump Grinding Brush Chipping • Brush Clearing Light Excavation

July23-36.qxp_NCN new template 7/1/24 12:50 PM Page 29

Somers Town offering fraud deterrent SOMERS — Town Clerk David Marti has announced that Somers has implemented Cott System’s PropertyCheck in an effort to combat property and mortgage fraud.

This 24/7 service allows residents to sign up on the Cott System’s RECORDhub website (https://recordhub.cottsystems.com) to receive notifications when official documents are recorded on their property. Residents can activate alerts based on their name.

This is a free service for Somers citizens.

Cott System’s PropertyCheck works in the background of the Somers records management RECORDhub software, automatically alerting on an enrolled record if a document with matching name or address is recorded.

Property owners need to opt-in by creating a RECORDhub account, create alerts for their name and choose the preference of alerts – email or text message.

To activate this benefit, residents of Somers can simply sign up for PropertyCheck alerts at: https://recordhub.cottsystems.com

A show of support for NETTTS Career Education College and Universities (CECU) is the national association representing the proprietary sector of higher education. CECU has more than 1,100 campuses and affiliate members throughout North America. On June 25 the organization visited NETTTS in Somers, and State Rep Kurt Vail attended to show his support for the trades and the training NETTTS provides. Above, from left: State Rep. Kurt Vail, 52nd District; Kelly Blanchard, CECU; Carl Stebbins, NETTTS; Dr. Jason Altmire, CECU. Rep. Kurt Vail’s Office photo

Caribbean Vibes for Juneteenth Caribbean Vibes from New Haven came to Somers to celebrate on June 20 to take part in the town’s fourth Juneteenth celebration event put together by the Somers Cultural Commission. The event was held at Somers Congregational Church due to the excessive heat. However, the dynamic duo of the Caribbean Vibes from downstate heated up the place with folks swinging, swaying and bobbing their heads to a real treat of The Caribbean islands.

Cultural Commission photos

Healthcare for Your Pet Through all Stages of Life

860-763-1000 www.somersveterinaryhospital.com

July 2024 North Central News

63 South Road (Route 83) Somers, CT 06071

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Let us help you build the backyard of your dreams!

• RENOVATIONS • LINER REPLACEMENTS • NEW INSTALLATIONS • SERVICE & MAINTENANCE Call now for a Free Consultation

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The Connecticut Trolley Museum 58 North Road, East Windsor, CT 06088 More info: 860-627-6540

www.ct-trolley.org July 2nd -

2024 Summer Fun at the CT Trolley Museum September 2nd Saturday Evening Hours - Saturday, July 6th - Saturday, August 31st 5pm-8pm

Come and visit our New Lego Station Lego Workshop Friday, July 12 & August 16 10:30 am-12:30pm

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30 North Central News July 2024

Dino Trolley - July 20th & 21st Super Hero & Princess Day - August 17th Storytime Trolley All ages are welcome. Every Tuesday & Thursday At 11 am starting the week of July 2nd and throughout the summer.

Become a New Museum Member On July 1st or after and membership will be valued rest of year and Next Year.

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Half Off Admission To The Following Towns: East Windsor July 2-7 • Suf昀eld July 16-21 Ellington July 23-28 • Somers July 30-August 4 Windsor August 6-11 • En昀eld August 13-18 Not valid on Special Events Days

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Regional

Neighbors Make The Difference Day Neighbors Make The Difference Day is one of KeyBank’s most visible community volunteer initiatives. The company-wide day of service is a longstanding annual event that demonstrates KeyBank’s commitment to helping its neighbors and communities thrive. Nationally, KeyBank closed the majority of its branches at noon to enable an estimated 4,600 teammates to complete more than 550 projects with nonprofits amounting to over 18,400 community service hours in a single day. Area projects included, at left, Network Against Domestic Abuse in Enfield, with Erin Bradley (left) and Abigail Gawron assembling golf tournament registration; and, at right, cleaning aircraft at the New England Air Museum.

Key Bank photos

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Regional Credit Union names scholarship recipient

32 North Central News July 2024

ENFIELD — The Tobacco Valley Teachers Federal Credit Union has announced the recipient of its 2024 Scholarship Award.

TVTFCU member Thomas Kennedy of Granby Memorial High School received an award of $1,000.

After graduation Kennedy will continue his education in the area of heavy construction equipment technology.

“We offer this scholarship each year to our youth members so that we can assist in helping them continue their education as well as help them work toward achieving their goals. All of us at the credit union wish Thomas the best of luck in his future endeavors,” said Lori Triba, manager and CEO of the Tobacco Valley Teachers Federal Credit Union.

For more information about the credit union, visit the website www.tvtfcu.org, find it on Facebook at Tobacco-Valley-Teachers-Federal-Credit-Union or visit YouTube Channel: tvtfcuinenfield.

You can also call Tobacco Valley Teachers Federal Credit Union at 860-253-4780 or stop by the office at 182 South Road in Enfield.

College honors Bryant University Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, has named these area students to the Spring 2024 Dean’s List.

Students must have a GPA of 3.4 or better for at least 12 semester hours of work.

Ellington: Andrew Heyman, John Rood, Vincent Sivo.

Enfield: Julia Purdue, Keegan Reim, Jack Sweeney.

Somers: Allison Carra, Robin Gaskell, Jack Gebo.

Stafford Springs: Cory Bradley.

Vernon: Mason Brown, Lauren Haddad.

Salve Regina Univeristy These students were named to the Dean’s List during the spring 2024 semester at Salve Regina University. To qualify students must earn a semester GPA of 3.6 for full-time students or 3.8 for part-time students.

Enfield: Riley Esposito.

Vernon: Tara Dagesse, Erica Ryan, Luke Woodward.

Thomas Kennedy

Western New England University The Western New England University chapter of Pi Alpha Theta National Honor Society welcomed 14 students on April 18. These students were inducted: Ellington: Colton Falletti, history Somers: Julia Catellier, secondary education history; Jeffrey Devlin, economics.

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Regional

Crews quickly extinguish fire at homeless shelter VERNON — A small electrical fire broke out at Cornerstone’s New Hope House Homeless Shelter on June 21.

Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of Cornerstone staff, local emergency services, and supportive community members, all 26 residents were safely evacuated and the fire was quickly contained.

At 3:16 am, Cornerstone's Security monitoring service alerted Alexis Flint, programs and operations firector at Cornerstone, about potential trouble at New Hope House.

Shortly after, Jenn Kirchmeier, Cornerstone’s homeless shelter director, confirmed the presence of smoke on the shelter’s second floor.

Diandra, Cornerstone;s shelter monitor, immediately took action, safely evacuating 18 adults and eight children to Cornerstone’s Lodge Homeless Shelter. Vernon Police arrived within minutes, followed by the Vernon Fire Department, while the Tolland Fire Department provided backup support

Assistant Fire Chief Rob Babcock facilitated coordination with the Red Cross, ensuring that the displaced families received immediate assistance and temporary lodging. The Red Cross team arrived promptly and worked diligently with each family throughout the morning.

Community support was overwhelming. Josh Virkler of LuAnn’s Bakery responded to Cornerstone’s social media post about the fire by checking on the shelter and contacting local electrician Kevin Gottier. Gottier swiftly assessed and addressed the electrical issues, allowing the shelter to restore power to unaffected areas. Virkler returned with breakfast for staff and residents, providing much-needed comfort and support.

Firefighters work at the scene of the Cornerstone New Hope House Homeless “We are incredibly grateful for the Shelter on June 21. rapid and selfless actions of our staff, Photo courtesy of Cornerstone emergency services, and community for incoming calls to Vernon. showering room. Due to their prompt members,” said Alexis Flint. “Their colFirefighters quickly identified and response, the fire was contained to one lective efforts ensured the safety and extinguished a small electrical fire orig- room, with minimal smoke and water well-being of our residents during this inating from a ceiling fan in an upstairs damage. challenging time.”

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Business Briefs Carr Family Farm marks 6th anniversary STAFFORD — Carr Family Farm celebrated its sixth anniversary last month. To mark the occasion, the farm shared this poem it posted on June 16, 2018, when it opened.

Once upon a time...

UConn students Zack & Jess both, Commuted to class by way of the Gulf.

Little did they know, that just before Burbank, Their dream home, and farm, rested in wait.

On your way to Soapstone, or just passing through, We hope you stop by on your Gulf commute too!

Thank you for supporting our farm!

The Carr Family – Zack, Jess and Evan Evan is son at left in photo.

The small family owned business began at UConn in the Agriculture Department where Zack and Jess first met each other. Together with their son Evan they bought their home with a small piece of farmland on it. From there they combined their passions of horticulture and animal science and opened their farm business in 2018.

Since then they have been providing the area with all natural, pesticide free products grown on the farm. They produce compost, vegetable and berry plants, pumpkins, berries, flowers, eggs and a large variety of vegetables and greens. Last fall they started growing living microgreens.

Their farm is at 6 Gulf Road.,Stafford Springs. The farm stand is open daily 8-7, from April to November.

Grand Street Liquors opens in Suffield Bakulesh and Pinakshi Patel are the new owners of Grand Street Liquors in Suffield. The official grand opening and ribbon-cutting took place June 10 with, among others, state Sen. John A. Kissel, First Selectman Colin Moll and members of North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and Suffield Economic Development on hand.

Grand Street Liquors photo

July 2024 North Central News

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36 North Central News July 2024

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Stafford Victory lap Per tradition the graduating class at Stafford High School made one final lap through all of the towns public schools. Pictured here are SHS seniors receiving well-deserved applause from the students and staff at Stafford Elementary School.

Jennifer Phillips photos

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Stafford First Selectman’s Corner

It’s a busy, productive time of year in town

It’s been a busy and productive spring and early summer seasons, with plenty of updates to share: The Board of Selectmen continues Bill Morrison to hold constructive, informative, and transparent meetings, prioritizing the interests of town taxpayers and striving for fiscal responsibility. I have actively engaged with every department alongside town CFO John Lund to review budgets, propose savings, and monitor expenditures.

Currently, all departments remain under a budget freeze, with spending

Lauren Caricchio is congratulated by First Selectman Bud Morrison after leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

closely monitored and limited to essential needs at this stage of the fiscal year.

Alongside my fellow board members, I anticipate closing the year with savings rather than a deficit. It’s too early to determine the exact amount, please stand-by!

Residents will soon be invited to discuss the potential transition of town clerk and tax collector positions from elected to appointed roles. Of 169 towns across the state, 74 positions are elected and 95 are appointed, with 8 elected and 20 appointed in Tolland/Windham counties. This discussion will weigh reasons for and against such a change.

The BOS has approved a pilot program to extend transfer station hours, opening Sundays for an 8-week period to gauge community interest. The BOS is also exploring possibly consolidating voting districts to potentially achieve significant cost savings, noting that early voting remains available for 14 days at Town Hall.

Currently, this is only a topic of discussion.

Our request to the owners of the old Cumberland Farms at 10 River Road to donate the building and land to the town was denied. The BOS will revisit this matter at our next regular meeting on the first Wednesday in July. We will explore possi-

bly acquiring the land through purchase.

The Department of Public Works has completed paving on New City Road.

The DPW director outlined upcoming plans for the fiscal year at the June BOS meeting. Additionally, extensive road work on state roads in town has been underway, with Main Street sidewalks nearly complete. We await installation of ordered crosswalk indicators. Paving from the Rotary area to Spring Street began in mid-June and another project to mill and pave from Route 319 and 32 to Spring Street is scheduled. There are discussions about culvert replacement/ repair at the intersection of Route 190 and Hamden Road, with updates to follow.

With town staff, I’m actively addressing the geothermal issue at the Middle School and High School and will provide more updates as progress continues.

We expect a more definitive resolution

by September and will keep everyone informed regularly.

Additionally, we’ve submitted funding requests to both state and federal governments to enhance accessibility at the Town Hall. The state request is pending, and the BOS will continue to advocate for the necessary funding. We’re

Main Street constuction is nearing completion.

First Selectman’s Office photos pleased to announce that the town has already secured a $500,000 grant from the federal government to kick-start this important ADA accessibility project at the Town Hall At our recent BOS meeting, I was my pleasure to have more youngsters lead the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. I extend my thanks to everyone who continues to support this initiative. It’s always a source of pride for me to witness the youth of our community taking the lead in our meetings.

SELECTMAN/page 41

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Stafford College honors Western New England University Western New England University held its College of Engineering Senior Awards Ceremony on May 18 . The university honored 11 graduating seniors selected for their performance.

Dante Talamini of Stafford Springs received the Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Senior Award.

This award is given to the outstanding senior in mechanical engineering.

Per university requirements the student must have a minimum of a 3.30 grade point average and has at least 60 Western New England University credits. Talamini is working toward a BSE in mechanical engineering/mechatronics concentration.

Dante Talamini of Stafford Springs received the Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Senior Award at Western New England University.

WNEU photo

University of Maryland Global Campus Lewis Wilder of Stafford Springs was named to the Dean’s List for the spring 2024 term at University of Maryland Global Campus.

Selectman encourages involvement by all can keep Stafford moving forward.

All BOS meetings are open to the public. I encourage all who have an interest to attend; it’s my pleasure to give you an opportunity to discuss important issues that affect our community and are ultimately important to our town government. I encourage all taxpayers to be involved in the government that leads our town. I am always open for discussion on how to make life in Stafford not only enjoyable but also prosperous for the citizens that live and work in our town.

Continued from page 39 Special gratitude to parents, guardians and family members who attended the meeting and encouraged their children during the pledge. At that meeting, the Stafford Housing Authority presented a revitalization initiative for 85 West St. (Avery Park), and a substantial number of boards and commission appointments were made.

Thank you to everyone who voluntarily serves on these committees, giving time and expertise to better our town. Together we

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Stafford Library news Summer Library Adventures 2024 will continue through Aug. 17. Summer Library Adventures is a celebration of reading and literacy and helps prevent the “summer slide.” Stafford Library will again be logging our reading using Beanstack (available online, and as an app on iOS and Android devices.) For every 60 minutes of reading logged you earn a small prize from the library and a digital raffle ticket that you can use to bid on prizes donated by local businesses and attractions and by the Friends of Stafford Library. There is have an array of in-person programs all summer. For details on all summer programs and the listed items below, go to staffordlibary.org.

Sat. July 6, noon: LEGO Club. A monthly child-led program that provides an opportunity to build, collaborate and display your creation in the library. Lego Club is on the first Saturday each month.

No registration required.

Tues. July 9, 2 p.m.: Drumming About You with Bob Bloom. Bloom is bringing a lovable and colorful cargo of drums for everyone to get their heart and hands around. Register on the

events calendar at stafford library.org.

Sat. July 13, 10:30 a.m: Read to the Dogs. Children, ages 5 to 12, are invited to read a short story or chapter of a book to the Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs.

These pups are trained to be great listeners. Children are encouraged to bring a book from home they are comfortable reading or they may choose one from the library's collection. Registration is required.

Tues. July 16, noon: Princess Visit: Rapunzel and Anna! Rapunzel and Anna will perform songs, tell stories and pose for photos. Register in advance.

Sponsored by the Friends of Stafford Library.

Thur. July 18, 1 p.m.: Hooping with Miss Jenn. If you’ve seen her downtown during Arts on Main, you know Miss Jenn loves to share her passion for hooping with the community! Children ages 4-10 are invited for an introduction to this fun and energetic activity. Sign up on the events calendar at staffordlibary.org.

Thurs. July 18, 6:30 p.m.: Friends of Stafford Library Meeting. New members are always welcome. No prior registration necessary.

Flag Day celebration The American Legion conducted a Flag Day event on June 14, presented by Paradisio Insurance, with a barbeque, t-shirts and replacement flags during an afternoon event (right) and a performance by Nashville recording artist Chris Monhollen, who was at the Palace that night in front of an estimated crowd of approximately 300 people.

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Suffield

Grads enjoy brilliant sendoff; teacher of year named SUFFIELD — The Suffield High School Class of 2024 enjoyed a beautiful sun-splashed day for its graduation on June 8 at the school’s Beneski Field.

The school’s valedictorian was Emma Conway and the salutatorian was Ava Aube.

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Newsletter on the school’s website at shs.suffield.org.

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Brothers Andrew, left, and Matt Tini were named to the Eagle Scout Court of Honor of Troop 260 / 262 Suffield Scouts on June 13. Andrew is a junior at Suffield High School. His Eagle Scout project was designing and constructing a manger for the Nativity scene at Sacred Heart Church in Suffield. Matthew is a sophomore at SUNY Cobleskill. His project was to raise money to purchase and install a bike repair station at the Suffield head of the Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail.

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