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Volume 20, Number 47
Thursday, November 25, 2021
Health district has a new leader By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
SOUTHINGTON — Susan Bencivenga-Lonczak is the new director of the Plainville-Southington Regional Health District. Previously, she worked for the Chesprocott Health District , which serves Cheshire, Prospect and Wolcott. A look under the Tomlinson Avenue bridge in 2016. File photo
Long-discussed bridge project moves forward Among the new business discussed at the Nov. 15 Town Council meeting was an old topic in the community – the replacement of the Tomlinson Avenue bridge. Town staff recommended the long-talked-about project be awarded to the low bidder – Dayton Construction – and the council voted 7-0 to authorize the Town Manager to execute a Project Authorization Letter with the Department of Transportation. Dayton Construction’s proposal was for $1,296,849.50, which is more than $100,000 less than the engineer’s estimate for the project. Also, it was pointed out that the Watertown company completed the replacement of another Plainville bridge – on Stillwell Drive – several years ago. The Tomlinson Avenue bridge project involves the installation of a twin pre-cast concrete box culvert. According to the meeting minutes from Nov. 15, “Over 10 years ago the town secured a federal grant to pay for 80 percent of the cost of the replacement. Due to many factors, including bridge re-design and additional analysis required by the Corps of Engineers, the project was delayed.” But things began moving this fall. On Oct. 21, nine bid proposals were received for the project. The minutes from the Nov. 15 council meeting state the remaining cost of the bridge replacement – the town’s share, 20 percent – to be $308,156. The current balance of the Tomlinson Avenue Bridge Fund is said to be $157,000. As stated in the meeting minutes, the remaining $151,158 needed for the project will be paid from the Town Aid Road account. See Bridge, A11
Southington leaders were impressed with her experience, familiarity with the area and ideas for advancing the health district. “I think she’s going to bring a really positive vision to the district,” said John Barry, a regional health district board member. “Susan’s experience will be able to move the district forward in ways that will be very beneficial to the general public.”
Susan Bencivenga-Lonczak is the new director of the Plainville-Southington Regional Health District.
See Director, A12
Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
Fallen police officer remembered at Nov. 21 graveside vigil As they do each Nov. 21, members of the Plainville Police Department and VFW gathered at St Joseph Cemetery to remember Plainville Police Officer Robert Holcomb. Holcomb was killed in the line of duty Nov. 21, 1977. He was just 28 years old. The Officer Down Memorial Page website states, "Patrolman Holcomb was on a residential burglary call at a home in Plainville when two men ran out of the house. Patrolman Holcomb chased one man, who was waiting for him in the woods across the street. The burglar shot him once in the arm and then stood over him and fired four more shots into his chest.” Holcomb left behind his wife and 3-year-old son. Gerald Castonguay was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for Holcomb’s murder. He was granted parole in 2015 which was quickly revoked after the community expressed disappointment in the decision. — Citizen report
Holcomb