The Southington
Cit itii zen
Volume 7, Number 47
Southington’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Friday, November 19, 2010
Customers flock to new ShopRite, a family business By Julie Sopchak The Southington Citizen
The sun was barely up, but Southington residents were lined up outside the door to await the grand opening of the new ShopRite at 750 Queen St. where the old Shaw’s supermarket used to be until it closed in 2006. Since that year, the lot has been vacant with other business tenants in the plaza hoping for a store to bring customers back to the area.
“There’s gonna be more traffic there, that’s for sure,” said Don Drust, owner of the new Southington business as well as the ShopRite in Wallingford. “It’s been empty for along time and I know other tenants have approached us and they were very excited; even throughout construction we generated business for them.” Drust said the decision to buy the lot was because it looked like a See ShopRite, page 12
BJ’s Wholesale Club to open Nov. 28 in town By Brian Woodman Jr. Special to The Citizen
BJ’s Wholesale Club will be opening up one of its newest locations on Spring Street this month that will bring several benefits for the community with it, said Southington Economic Development Coordinator Louis Perillo III. Company sources
stated they were still confirming which guests would be present at the store‘s grand opening. The company sells retail goods ranging from electronics to clothing at wholesale prices. Customers are required to sign up for annual memberships ranging from $45 to $90. The See BJ’s, page 23
Are you ready for some football?
Photo by Matt Leidemer
Alex LaPorte runs the ball up the middle for the Southington Powder Puff team during a practice for its annual game, which will take place Monday, at 6 p.m., at Southington High School, against New Britain.
Citizen photo by Julie Sopchak
Customers arrive steadily at the new ShopRite supermarket that opened Wednesday morning in the former Shaw’s store.
Gladys Wood: woman of faith, visionary, pioneer educator dies By E. Richard Fortunato Special to The Citizen While the passing of Gladys Mary (Dolan) Wood on Nov. 3, 2010, at age 70, fills her devoted family and many friends with a deep sense of loss, sadness and love, there are thousands of school children Wood whose young lives she helped shape throughout her quarter of a century as founding principal of Saint Dominic School. So many of them today honor Wood and her colleagues who set them on an early path to high educational standards, a strong faith foundation and a responsible work ethic, while always respecting others. That is what she lived and taught. A native of Naugatuck, the youngest of the three children of the
late Thomas and Gladys (Gamble) Wood, she is survived by her husband, Robert Wood; her daughter, Suzanne Wood, of Plainville; her son, David and his wife Celia Wood, of New York City; her sister, Sr. Mary Ida Dolan R.S.M. (Sisters of Mercy); and brother, Thomas Dolan, of Tennessee. Bob Wood’s voice is filled with tender words while his heart pours out with courage the poignant memories of a gentle man whose loss is beyond words. “We had 48 years of a solid marriage,” he said. “Gladys was my wife and my best friend.” The two met at Western Connecticut State University in 1961 where she earned her bachelor of science and later, her masters of science degrees. “Our relationship grew fast,” Bob pointed out, “and we were engaged on Dec. 8, 1961 and married on Aug. 8, 1962.” Gladys taught in the
See Wood, page 24