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Volume 20, Number 50
Friday, December 15, 2023
Longo, longtime salon owner and town official, dies By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
SOUTHINGTON — Dolores Longo, a hair salon owner and the first woman to lead the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission, died last week at 88 years old. Construction continues on the new Southington Public Library on Main Street on Nov. 8. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
Southington gets first look at library redesigns By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
dering for people to see,” he said.
SOUTHINGTON — The new look for the town’s library was slated to be revealed last Wednesday.
A design subcommittee that includes local developer Mark Lovley and local engineer Sev Bovino has been considering colors, design features and materials that could improve the library.
A state grant this fall provided $5 million more to the $17 million library project, which allowed an increase to the square footage as well as design improvements and other upgrades. Additional money also allowed an upgrade to the exterior aesthetics of the proposed library, criticized by some town officials and residents. Jim Morelli, a Town Council Republican and Library Building Committee chairman, said some of the committee members have been determining what improvements could be made. “It looks totally different now. We’ll have a nice ren-
No more factory look The original building was described by Planning and Zoning Commission members as looking like a factory. Morelli said the redesign includes an architectural feature at the roofline.
bates with the full committee, Morelli said a smaller group was convened that included construction professionals. “Better to narrow it down to the professionals and let them decide,” Morelli said. “Their input was really well regarded.” Lovley said the “factory look” to the building is gone in preliminary redesigns. “We’re happy with the way it came out,” he said. “It’s going to make it look a lot better than it did before.”
“It looks like a big crown moulding. It really dresses the look of the building up,” he said. “There’s so many options of materials and colors and even textures. The way you combine all that can really change the appearance of a building.”
Design subcommittee members are waiting to get samples of new finishes that they’ll consider in a few weeks. Lovley said the new building better fits with the surrounding area.
Rather than have lengthy de-
See Library, A6
Bovino is also pleased with
Dolores’ Hair Styling on Eden Avenue was not only a career for Longo but a local hangout and politician’s club where many local and at least one nationDolores Longo is shown in al politician, U.S. Sen. her Eden Avenue Salon in Chris Murphy, went for advice. Southington on Aug. 25, Longo started the business in Plantsville in 1961 with her husband Peter. They moved it to a Center Street location that was destroyed by a fire and then to Eden Avenue, now a residence. Trish Potter, Longo’s daugher, said her mother loved going into work and talking with clients or anyone else who might stop by. Longo always had a pot of coffee on, her daughter remembered. “Never once did I ever hear her complain about
2010. Rob Beecher, Record-Journal
going to work,” Potter said. “She loved it.” Potter worked as a hair dresser with her mother for 26 years. She described her mother as fun to be around and who turned the salon into a social hub. The Longos owned the building on Eden Avenue and a town zoning battle prompted Dolores Longo’s interest in politics. She was asked to run for the Planning and Zoning CommisSee Longo, A7
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