The Plainville
Cit itiz ize en
Volume 9, Number 47
Plainville’s Only Weekly Newspaper
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Downtown celebration lights up the holidays in Plainville By Julie Sopchak The Plainville Citizen Plainville will be gearing up for the holiday season as it holds its 18th annual downtown Christmas tree lighting event on Thursday, Dec. 2. Starting at 5 p.m., students from Plainville High School chorus and band will perform Christmas songs with the crowd invited to join in, followed by holiday messages from officials representing the town, the fire company and the police department, according to Plainville Chamber of Commerce Office Manager Maureen Saver-
Citizen photo by Robin Lee Michel
Bows and garlands adorn downtown in preparation for the tree lighting. ick. She said Santa Claus will also be making an appearance for the children.
“We have a child who will be turning on the lights, and Santa comes down the road on the fire truck,” said Saverick, who organizes the tree-lighting portion of the event. “He goes inside the firehouse and children get to talk to him.” Each will receive a treat after chatting with Santa to tell him their Christmas wishes. Jo Moreno, who owns Elite Jewelry Gifts and Awards on Whiting Street, will be organizing which businesses will be sponsoring the event. Moreno also arranges for the horseSee Lights, page 13
Senior center celebrates official grand opening and its 35th anniversary By Robin Lee Michel The Plainville Citizen
It was a two-fold celebration Nov. 18 at the Plainville Senior Center: an official grand opening of the newly renovated building and the 35th anniversary of the program. The facility, located at 200 East St., has come a long way since it was a courthouse and police station. Ruth S. Hummel, town historian, had articles and a display of photos predating the center from her personal collection and Plainville Historical Society. Recently located was an aerial photograph of open land where the center, senior housing and businesses are
Citizen photo by Robin Lee Michel
Terry Smiarowski, left, and Alice Libby, both of Plainville, work on knitting projects during the See Center, page 7 Plainville Senior Center celebration held Nov. 18.
Citizen photo by Julie Sopchak
General Electric employees unload boxes of groceries at Plainville Community Food Pantry just in time for Thanksgiving.
Community volunteers deliver Thanksgiving By Julie Sopchak The Plainville Citizen This year, the Plainville Community Food Pantry is doing no different than it does every other year by collecting food and organizing bags of food to give out to needy families for Thanksgiving dinner. So far, about 117 families have been adopted and will be picking up packages that consist of three grocery bags filled with food. Basic Thanksgiving fixings like turkey, stuffing and canned goods are put in the bags along with pastas and soups. General Electric chipped in and adopted 70 families, bringing boxes upon boxes of
food to the pantry last Friday. “We get a lot of support in the community, especially this time of year, it’s really nice,” said food pantry Executive Director Susie Woerz. “They’ve [General Electric] been doing this for a few years, they do a big food drive too. Without the community, we wouldn’t do much.” “I can remember about seven years I think we’ve been doing that,” said Luis Herrera, product purchasing manager at the General Electric in Plainville. “We have about 13 projects that we do, but this is the signature event and we make sure we
See Pantry, page 27