Volume 14, Number 35
www.plainvillecitizen.com
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Petit focusing on budget, business By Ashley Kus Citizen staff
Dr. William Petit Jr. is knocking on doors and talking to residents as he campaigns for the 22nd House District.
“We need to balance the budget and restructure business to make Connecticut more attractive to businesses,” said Petit, a Republican. He says the main complaint he’s heard from the See Petit, A2
New school year, new administration By Ashley Kus Citizen staff
Local high school students have a new principal and assistant principal. Plainville High School held a meet and greet event last week so the community could meet new Principal Roberto Medic and new Assistant Principal Carl Johnson. Medic is the former assistant principal at Watertown High School. “What appealed to me most was that there was going to be a lot of support in place,” he said about the new position. “There’s good leadership here.” Medic also served as Watertown’s athletic director as well as a social studies teacher. “It’ll be great to have the kids back and see everybody,” he said. Johnson worked as a social
studies teacher and student activities director in Farmington. He was hired to replace Rosa Perez, who is the new director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment for the school district. “I look forward to getting to know the community,” Johnson said. “There’s great stuff happening here.” Johnson joins the high school’s other assistant principal, Jonathan Coe. Superintendent of Schools Maureen Brummett, also new to the job, attended the Tuesday, Aug. 23 meet and greet along with Board of Education chair Andrea Saunders. Brummett, former assistant superintendent, took over for Jeffery Kitching, who resigned in spring. Plainville High School Principal Steven LePage was promoted to assistant superintendent. A new school business manager See Administration, A2
Last Penny lifts off for tethered rides during the 32nd Annual Plainville Balloon Festival at Norton Park in Plainville Aug. 26 | Photos by Justin Weekes, For the Record-Journal
Balloon festival sets sail By Ashley Kus Citizen staff
People gathered at Norton Park Friday night to get a chance to ride in a tethered hot air balloon as part of the town’s weekend-long festival. “We’re waiting for the wind to die down,” said Pat Anderson, the Last Penny hot air balloon company. Bill Colyer, the pilot, led his crew as they worked to lift the balloon. The colorful balloon was one of more than 20 at the festival from companies all around the state. For 32 years, the Plainville Fire Company-sponsored festival and corresponding outdoor arts and crafts show has been a popular end of summer event.
Hailey McDonald, 11, left of Canton, Jennifer O’Koski, of Litchfield, and Ron Gravelle, of Berlin, pull the Last Penny balloon out of its bag on Friday, Aug. 26.
More than 500 people were in the park Friday night, an hour after the festivities had kicked off. “It’s going to get a lot busier,” said Jonathan Cappellino, volunteer at the Plainville Fire Company food tent. It
was the 14-year-old Plainville resident’s second year volunteering at the annual festival, which is put on by the fire department. He said he was happy to help out at the tent See Balloons, A10