Volume 10, Number 7
Southington’s Hometown Newspaper
www.southingtoncitizen.com
Friday, Februar y 14, 2014
Man thanks Y staff for saving his life By Farrah Duffany
Albert Stavidlo, 38, thanks Chris Prus, left, and John Ryan, right, for helping him when he had a heart attack during a workout at the Southington YMCA last month.
Special to The Citizen
Albert Stavidlo used to complain to his wife, Anita, that turning 39 meant he was getting old. After suffering a heart attack last month, his outlook has changed. “Now I’m happy I’m going to be 39,” he said. He also realizes that he probably wouldn’t be celebrating any more birthdays if it wasn’t for the efforts of the Southington-Cheshire YMCA staff on Jan. 14. Employees used an automated external defibrillator on Stavidlo after he collapsed in the weight room. The defibrillator sends an electric shock to the heart if it doesn’t detect a beat. On Friday, Stavidlo and his family visited the YMCA staff. “We’re just happy to see you,” “I just want to thank you guys, said Tony Palmieri the YMCA’s diall of you, I’m speechless,” Stavidlo rector of operations. said. “It’s a relief,” said Chris Prus, a
| (Christopher Zajac / Special to The Citizen)
ter, Claudia, off at the Southington Library and his 4-year-old daughter, Angelica, at the YMCA kids care before working out. He was going to exercise for 45 minutes and head home. Plans changed when the healthy 38-yearold, with no history of heart problems, was lying on the weight room floor with no pulse. “My heart was the last thing I expected,” said Stavidlo. At his last physical a year ago tests on his heart came back healthy. Prus was exercising when he noYMCA staffer and the first to help ticed Stavidlo on the ground and the fallen Stavidlo. That Tuesday afternoon, Stavidlo See Thanks / Page 17 dropped his eighth-grade daugh-
Bread for Life in talks for alternate location By Jesse Buchanan
Several locations owned by the town were suggested by the committee but rejected, according to Bread for Life Chairman Bill McDougall. He didn’t Bread for Life officials are in negotiations over name the property owner who contacted Bread for the possible purchase of a property as an alter- Life with a suggested location, but described it as native to the site near Derynoski School on Main “exciting.” The purchase hasn’t been finalized, but one of the criteria was a site in the downtown area Street. A committee of town, school system and Bread for the convenience of clients. “That’s when Bill’s going to be happy, when we for Life officials has been looking into alternate sites to 296 Main St., which is next to the school. have a shovel in the ground and we’re building a Parents and school officials objected to the meal new location,” he said. Negotiations are taking place between Bread for kitchen being located close to a school. Special to The Citizen
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Life and the property owner, who contacted the meal kitchen outside of the committee. “We’re not working this deal through the committee,” McDougall said. The committee comprises School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr., Bread for Life representatives, Board of Education Chairman Brian Goralski, Town Councilor Chris Palmieri, and two Derynoski parents. Anthony Denorfia, Bread for Life attorney and