The Plainville
Cit itiz ize en Plainville’s Only Weekly Newspaper
Volume 8, Number 35
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Bolo Bakery & Cafe set for grand opening By Ken DiMauro The Plainville Citizen
Antonio Abrantes, a classically trained baker and chef whose family is getting ready to open Bolo Bakery & Café at 33 Whiting St., is looking forward to the shop’s first day Sept. 19, which not coincidentally is the date of the Downtown Block Party. Abrantes, 25, said he is pleased his family has decided to open a second bakery in the former Bantam Bread Co. building. “It’s a good location,” he said Monday, adding it was a no-brainer to tie the
grand opening to a successful downtown event that attracts 4,000 people to the central business district. Abrantes said the downtown region is being improved and renovated and the area has real potential. He’s been associated with the baking business much of his life, but has been in the kitchen for 15 years. He described the Hartford bakery as being “Portuguese influenced,” but said the Plainville location will have affordable breads, pastries, See Bolo, page 11
Citizen photo by Ken DiMauro
The Plainville Fire Department will host the annual hot air balloon festival this weekend Friday, Aug. 28 through Sunday, Aug. 30. For the first time, there will be fireworks on two nights. See the balloon festival section on pages 22-23.
Balloon festival ready for launch this weekend By Lindsay Fetzner Special to The Citizen
Citizen photo by Ken DiMauro
Antonio Abrantes, left, head baker, and his sister, Cristina Abrantes, are excited about the opening of Bolo Bakery & Cafe at 33 Whiting St. on Sept. 19.
Inside Bus Routes . . . . . . 12-14 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 History by Hummel . . . . 4 Marketplace . . . . . . 38-43 Mini Pages . . . . . . . 35-36 Obituaries . . . . . . . 19, 28 Opinion . . . . . . . . . 20-21 Schools . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 29-31
Readers’ Poll: Are you attending the hot air balloon festival? Total votes: 49 Yes: 29 (59%) No: 10 (20%) What festival?: 10 (20 %) Visit www.plainvillecitizen.com for this week’s question!
This upcoming year will mark the Plainville Fire Company’s 125th anniversary. In celebration of the commemorative year, the department has put together different events spanning all year long, with celebrations kicking off this summer. The annual hot air balloon festival, planned for Friday, Aug. 28 to Sunday, Aug. 30, is the largest event and one of the only balloon festivals in New England. “This year, we are going above and beyond,” said Peter Crowe, chairman of the planning committee. There will be four live bands, entertainment and an added night of fireworks in addition to the hot air balloon launches. In past years, the festival has drawn crowds of more than 30,000 people. On Friday, Aug. 28, the balloons will be inflated at dusk and illuminated for the ‘night glow’ at 6 p.m. The balloons will be
launched again Saturday, Aug. 29, at 6 a.m. and again at 6 p.m. The balloons will be visible one last time on Sunday, Aug. 29, from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., for the culmination of the festival. All events are weather permitting. The proceeds that are raised are given back to the community through scholarships given to graduating seniors and those pursuing continued education. In years past, between $5,000 and $6,000 has been given in the form of scholarships, Crowe said. “It is our way of giving back to the community,” Crowe said. Each year, donation letters are sent out See Festival, page 11