Graduates have mixed feelings on their future
Transcription
Graduates have mixed feelings on their future
FREE Friday, June 29, 2012 Volume 9, No. 26 •Ronnie Spector takes you ‘Beyond the Beehive,’ Page 19 •View from above... at Jennings, Page 3 •Bristol Legion takes to the field, Page 40 It’s a wrap for Bristol’s Class of 2012 TAMMI KNAPIK MIKE CHAIKEN Katelyn Dobreski gets a little help from her mother Jacquie prior to last Thursday’s graduation at Bristol Central High School. Bristol Eastern High School’s Class of 2012 president Jessica Laprise addresses her fellow graduates last Thursday. BCHS grads receive some perspective, advice Graduates have mixed feelings on their future By KAITLYN NAPLES STAFF WRITER The graduating class of 2012 from Bristol Central High School received words of advice and perspective on high school and the future from all different angles at last Thursday’s graduation ceremony. At the ceremony themed “It’s Just the Arts Business 27 9 Beginning,” school and board officials offered encouraging advice for the future to the 299 graduates. After the officials, the Class of 2012 heard from their peers to whom they could all relate to after encountering similar situations over the last four years. “I’m ready to go; we all are,” said Morgan Finn, who was this year’s essay- Classified 31 Editorial 10 ist. She offered a creative and realistic perspective of how she felt about the last four years, and graduations arrival. In her essay “Notorious,” Finn relived the days of 15 page research papers, the 7:40 a.m. start of the school day, getting cell phones taken See CENTRAL, page 4 Food 20 Good Times 19 By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR The Bristol Eastern High School Class of 2012 said farewell to their life in the world of public education and hello to the world beyond last Thursday. Feelings were mixed about the future among students interviewed prior to the commence exercises. Some were optimistic. Letters Listings 10 29 Some expressed a measured optimism. And some were aware that life beyond Bristol Eastern may be a little unsettled. Abby Massarelli was one of the students who felt what comes next in her life was looking bright. “I am very confident and excited for my future,” said Abby. “I think what I planned is going to be very exciting Obituaries Police 14 5 and will open up a lot of doors.” “I’m definitely prepared (for the future)… though doing a lot of different activities in the community,” said Sarah Boilard, who also looked forward to what comes beyond BEHS. “By doing volunteering, I learned to be ready to do anything. By being out See BEHS, page 4 Real estate Sports 17 40 2 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 The Step Saver/ The Observer Friday, June 29, 2012 Winters will light up at Lake Compounce Even though it’s still June, Brick said the park is already hard at work getting ready for the winter holidays and “Holiday Lights.” By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR The temperature outside last Wednesday was soaring into the 90s. But inside Parkside Café at Lake Compounce Amusement Park, they were thinking Christmas. Christmas music, Christmas presents, and Christmas cookies greeted guests at a press conference last week where the amusement park announced that beginning Nov. 30 they will be opening a new Christmas attraction dubbed, “Lake Compounce Holiday Lights.” “This is something we’ve been working for a few years,” said the park’s general manager, Jerry Brick. “It’s something we’re excited about… It’s something completely different for us.” The holiday attraction will be geared toward small children and their families, said Brick. The park will be decorated with thousands of holiday lights. Children will be able to take part in activities such as cookie making. There will be a chance to write letters to Santa. The Kiddieland rides will be open. There will be holiday music. Santa Claus During his comments, he pointed out the large Christmas tree with oversized packages set up outside the Parkside Café by workers the night before the big announcement. See COMPOUNCE, page 8 CORRECTION An incorrect price ran in the ad for Aziago’s Restaurant in the Friday June 22nd editions. The correct ad should have read: Lobster Fest starting July 12th and every Thursday in July & August $16.49 per person www.aziagosrestaurant.com 166 Queen Street, Southington, CT • 860.426.1170 The Step Saver regrets any inconvenience this may have caused Aziago’s Italian Restaurant and their valued customers. MIKE CHAIKEN Lake Compounce Amusement Park brought in Santa Claus to help them announce its newest attraction, ‘Lake Compounce Holiday Lights.’ will be making regular appearances at the Starlight Theater. And everyone will be able to ride the North Pole Railway where they can see the lights from above. Bristol The Observer, USPS # 025-264, is Published weekly by The Step Saver, Inc., 213 Spring St., Southington, CT 06489. Phone: 860-628-9645 Fax: 860-621-1841 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, mechanical or electronic, without the expressed consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, staff or advertisers of The Observer. The return of unsolicited manuscripts or other material cannot be guaranteed. Periodicals postage paid at Bristol, CT and additional offices. Free by request to local residents. Postmaster: Send changes of address to Bristol The Observer: 213 Spring St, Southington, CT 06489 INFINITY HOME CARE SERVICES PROVIDES • Personal Care Attendants • Home Health Aides • Live-in Companions • Assistance with Daily Living Activities • Respite Care while you are away • Referral service to available housing options • Consulting on Senior Services • Full Medical and Therapy service referral VACATION RELAXATION PEACE OF MIND Peace of Mind Our passionate and reliable care givers can care for your loved ones, while you take care of yourself. Your health matters too. Take a break. MOM IS IN GOOD HANDS WITH AN INFINITY HOME CARE PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT IHC will work with you, the family care giver, to make your life and your loved ones as peaceful and enjoyable as possible CALL TODAY FOR A CONSULTATION WITH OUR HOMECARE SUPERVISOR 860-628-3662 Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer 3 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 •Compounce announces new attraction...page 2 •Police...page 5 •Class of 2012 at BEHS, BCHS listed...pages 6, 7 Our Town One high-flying project before students say good-bye When Woznicki came up with the idea, he said he asked the fifth graders “to plan a configuration of the letter “J” for Jennings that would hold all students and staff. They had to consider how much space each person would reasonably occupy as well as the total area of the figure.” He said final plans were submitted by the students and the plan that Jennings administrator takes one last fly over school By KAITLYN NAPLES STAFF WRITER All of the students at Jennings Elementary School participated in one final project, as an entire school, last Monday morning. What started out as a math problem for the fifth grade classes, ended up being a “whole-school unifying event as a culmination of our work together at Jennings,” Principal Steven Woznicki said. Last Monday morning all of the students filed outside Jennings School, to make the letter “J.” While the students and teachers sat in formation in the “J,” while holding colored construction paper signifying what grade they were in, Woznicki flew a plane overhead for an aerial photo opportunity. TAMMI KNAPIK Jennings School principal Steve Woznicki, left, and his instructor Terry Keller of Premier Flight Center See FLIGHT, page 8 give the thumb’s up before taking off last Monday. LOCAL ELECTRICIAN FREE ESTIMATES COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL NO JOB TOO SMALL Licensed & Insured 50 OFF FREE WAX $ FULLY INSURED LIC # E1-0195696 TAMMI KNAPIK • Houses • Mobile Homes • Decks • Deck Staining 860-518-6335 , A-PLUS POWER WASHING & WAXING For all non-news related items, calls The Observer (860) 628-9645. OR WITH COMPLETE HOUSE WASH Cannot be combined. One coupon per customer. 582-1158 Seen from above in an airplane piloted by Jennings School principal Steven Woznicki, students form a giant ‘J’ on school grounds last Monday. 4 Master Elite Roofing Contractor WEEKS ONLY! Family Owned & Operated Since 1979 F FOIN Call Us Last! 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Expires 7-12-12 4 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 The Step Saver/ The Observer Friday, June 29, 2012 BEHS: Members of Class of 2012 express views on future From page 1 there, I prepared myself and, hopefully, I’ll do pretty well (in my future).” Kris Fuller hedged a little bit when asked about the future. “I feel all right (about the future),” he said, “You’ve got to make it what you can get and not take too much at one time. Keep going in your life and make what you can of it. Adelina Villanti, however, expressed some concern about what lies ahead for her. “Right now, it feels pret- ty unreal (leaving school). I don’t think it’s really hit yet. But to some extent, it’s a little scary. Obviously, not knowing if you’re going to get a job or if you’re going to be paying student loans, to that extent, it’s pretty scary.” Villanti added, “There’s a lot we have to face in the world that people hadn’t had to face in previous years.” Commencement speeches from their BEHS peers also addressed what lies ahead and what came before. In her speech to her fellow classmates, Megan St. Pierre said, “(C)hange is a natural part of life. I’m sure many of us are a little frightened by what may happen after tonight – there is a world waiting out there and we don’t know what’s in store. Returning to the same walls at 7:40 every morning has become such a routine that after we leave today, we may not know what to do. But if we just think how well this school has prepared us for the future, perhaps we will all feel a little more calm.” Student speaker Anthony Mafale advised his classmates, “Breathe my fellow students. Let go of all the stress, struggles, and sacrifices that you endured to get to this very ceremony, because today, is your day. Everything you ever worked for, was for this moment right here, the moment where we graduate…. In all of us is an innate personal need to keep achieving and above all, to strive for even better, more glorious days that this one right here. We are all so young and so full of potential. We are all going to make something out of ourselves.” Class president Jessica Laprise told the Class of 2012 to appreciate the past four years at the high school. “Whether you are begging to leave or dying to stay, I hope that you cherish the time you have had here. If you don’t want to settle for the past four years being ‘the best four years of your life,’ let them be a starting point for your future.” As the students pre- pared to depart, students also received words of advice from their elders. Bristol City Councilor Kevin Fuller told them, “Keep your family close… they’ll always be your rock of unconditional support.” “Give back, volunteer, you will gain much more than you give,” said Karen Vibert, the vice-chair of the Bristol Board of Education. Comments? Email mchaiken@BristolObserver. com. Central: Class of 2012 hears advice, words of perspective From page 1 away by teachers and administrators, and her peers who couldn’t walk fast enough through the halls at Bristol Central “because they decided not to pull up their pants that morning.” Finn was able to elicit many laughs from the crowd and her fellow graduates during a time that may have been bittersweet for many. Salutatorian Emily Zygiel offered her speech from a different, but more familiar to her, angle. She gave her speech in the format of The Scientific Method, including a problem, hypothesis, experiment and conclusion. Zygiel spoke with different teachers at Bristol Central who have influenced her, to create her speech “Trial by Error.” She said there are “so many amazing teachers” at the school, that she wanted to include that in her final farewell. Words of advice she received from several teachers have included “always giving 110 percent,” and “nothing of value ever comes easy.” She recommended her fellow graduates should remember those words when they are in the middle of a problem. She also reminded her classmates that “failure isn’t something to be afraid of,” and to “never forget to laugh.” Class Valedictorian Nicole Jacques compared life, high school, and the future, to the football games she attended throughout the year. She encouraged her classmates to continue to fight for their goals and dreams and to strive for victory. “The climb is only going to get better from here,” Jacques said to her fellow graduates, adding that life will continue to get better and will feel more worth living. Even though she encouraged her classmates to focus on the future and goals they have set, she reminded them that “Central is where your roots are” and to remember where they came from. Bristol Central Principal Peter Wininger said the class of 2012 will leave a legacy behind for Got Bristol news? Share it with the readers of the Bristol Observer. Email the who, what, where, how, and why to mchaiken@BristolObserver.com. 860-561-8911 • www.beckers.com BUYING GOLD IN BRISTOL 1290 FARMINGTON AVENUE (EbLens Plaza - near Walmart) SOUTHINGTON 641 QUEEN STREET (Next to McDonald’s) MONDAY - FRIDAY 10AM TO 6PM SATURDAYS 10AM TO 4PM SUNDAYS 11AM TO 4PM Old Gold, Diamonds, Silverware, Coins, Gold & Silver Jewelry, Antique Jewelry and Watches. Sell with Confidence to a Trusted Jeweler, Serving the Community for 34 years in the West Hartford Center. Now serving CT in 14 locations: Bristol, Southington, Torrington, West Hartford, Wallingford, Avon, Branford, Guilford, Manchester, Middletown, Norwich, Orange, Waterford and Windsor Locks. students of the future, and is the class that inspired the school’s new motto, “Be Creative, Be Conscientious, Be Collaborative, Be Committed.” Board of Education Chairman Chris Wilson told the graduates “it’s now the time to take that model and put it into action.” Acting Deputy Superintendent Kim Hapkin encouraged the graduates to set their goals and dream at a high standard, and not to “go where the path may lead you, but create your own path so others will follow you.” “As you enter into the adult world, it is up to you to decide how you will face the future,” Hapkin said. Comments? Email knaples@BristolObserver. com. Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 5 Police blotter The Bristol Police Department reported the following arrests: •Shalea Osorio, 25, of 124 North St., Bristol was arrested on June 18 and charged with third degree assault and second degree breach of peace. •Shanice A. Rivera, 18, of 124 North St., Bristol was arrested on June 18 and charged with third degree assault and second degree breach of peace. •Miguel A. Alsina, 29, of 34 Standish St., Hartford was arrested on June 17 and charged with third degree assault and second degree breach of peace. •Michael Bryan, 52, of 263 Queen St., Bristol was arrested on June 16 and charged with second degree breach of peace and threatening. •Matthew Holcomb, 19, of 57 Haviland St., Bristol was arrested on June 16 and charged with second degree breach of peace. •Ashley M. Inkel, 26, of 26 Putnam St., Bristol was arrested on June 15 and charged with operation while under the influence and unsafe movement/ stopped car. •William C. Savage, 32, of 41 Woodland St., Plainville was arrested on June 15 and charged with injury/risk/ impairing morals, operation with registration/license suspended/revoked, and reckless driving. •Garrett R. Johnston, 45, of 154 Hopmeadow Rd., Bristol was arrested on June 15 and charged with failure to use seatbelt on child 4 to 16 years old, and operation while under the influence. •Kristalyn Grant, 22, of 122 High St., Apt. No. 9, Bristol was arrested on June 15 and charged with illegal possession of marijuana. •Joseph W. Higgins, 49, of 63 Glenstone Rd., Waterbury was arrested on June 15 and charged with sixth degree larceny. •Ian M. Coverty, 38, of 125 Longview Ave., Bristol was arrested on June 15 and charged with failure to have lights lit/devices illuminated and operation while under the influence. •Shayna M. Rivera, 20, of 22 High St., Apt. No. C, Bristol was arrested on June 20 and charged with disorderly conduct and threatening. •Edwin E. Velez, 18, no address provided, was arrested on June 20 and charged with third degree assault, second degree breach of peace and sixth degree larceny. •David Zomick, 61, of 65 Maureen Dr., Bristol was arrested on June 19 and charged with second degree breach of peace. •Matthew Zomick, 34, of 65 Maureen Dr., Bristol was arrested on June 19 and charged with second degree breach of peace. •Matthew Harrison Yost, 24, of 101 Stanwood Dr., New Britain was arrested on June 19 and charged with third degree assault, second degree breach of peace and second degree criminal mischief. •Kimberly Mari, 44, of 197 Lillian Rd., Bristol was arrested on June 19 and charged with third degree assault and second degree breach of peace. •Deborah J. Campaniello, 45, of 28 Lincoln Pl., Apt. No. 1R, was arrested on June 19 and charged with disorderly conduct. •John R. McGill, 34, of 467 Broad St., Bristol was arrested on June 19 and charged with disorderly conduct. •Frank Ippolito, 26, of 218 West St., Apt. No. B1, Bristol was arrested on June 19 and charged with interfering with an officer and littering. •Brenda N. Nazario, 46, of 36 Connerton St., New Britain was arrested on June 18 and charged with two counts second degree breach of peace. •Derrick S. Kulesa, 38, of 69 Orleans Dr., Bristol was arrested on June 21 and charged with sixth degree larceny. •Edward Shimo, 38, no address provided, was arrested on June 21 and charged with sixth degree larceny. •Michael J. Bohlman Jr., 95 Wild Oak Dr., Southington was arrested on June 21 and charged with second degree breach of peace and threatening. •Autumn Roche, 18, of 54 Center St., Bristol was arrested on June 21 and charged with third degree assault, second degree breach of peace and third degree criminal mischief. •Carla Roche, 43, of 142 High St., Bristol was arrested on June 21 and charged with second degree breach of peace and third degree criminal mischief. •Willie Calez-Negron, 20, of 54 Center ST., Apt. No. 5, Bristol was arrested on June 21 and charged with illegal sexual contact with a victim under the age of 16, injury/risk of injury/impairing morals of children or child selling and second degree sexual assault, consent, no force/threat. •Curtis J. Mitte, 45, of 95 Terryville Ave., Bristol was arrested on June 20 and charged with third degree assault and second degree breach of peace. •Kyle Hopkins, 19, of 165 Matthew St., Bristol was arrested on June 20 and charged with second degree breach of peace. •James Taylor, 68, of 129 Buckboard Ln., Bristol was arrested on June 20 and charged with second degree breach of peace and first degree criminal trespass. •Shayna M. Rivera, 20, of 22 High St., Bristol was arrested on June 20 and charged with disorderly conduct and threatening. •Edwin E. Velez, 18, no address provided, was arrested on June 20 and charged with third degree assault, second degree breach of peace and sixth degree larceny. 48 Columbus Ave., arcing, shorted electrical equipment June 22 29 Maple Ave., gasoline or other flammable liquid spill Fire report The Bristol Fire Department reported the following incidents: June 15 720 Birch St., dispatched and cancelled en route 50 Redwood Dr., power line down 87 Pine St., extrication of victim from vehicle 182 Goodwin St., lock out 115 Wolcott St., unauthorized burning 718 Pine St., alarm system sounded due to malfunction 35 Yale Dr., CO detector activation due to malfunction Pilgrim Road and Burlington Avenue, vehicle accident, general cleanup 41 Stearns St., assist police or other governmental agency Terryville Avenue and Clark Avenue, oil or other combustible liquid spill June 16 480 Wolcott St., arcing, shorted electrical equipment 21 Holt St., electrical wiring/equipment problem, other 1200 Farmington Ave., alarm system activation, no fire unintentional TREE PROBLEMS? 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Ask for Jimmy Office: Cell: 860-223-3260 860-982-4819 161 Prospect St., unauthorized burning 21 Holt St., good intent call, other Douglas Road, unauthorized burning June 17 52 Sheila Ct., cooking fire, confined to container 16 Brace Ave., unauthorized burning 19 Henry St., unauthorized burning June 18 21 Holt St., unauthorized burning 45 Middle St., lock out 51 Broderick Rd., hazardous condition, other 597 Farmington Ave., vehicle accident, general cleanup 55 Gaylord St., good intent call, other 37 Northmont Rd. ext., power line down West Street and Divinity Street, oil or other combustible liquid spill 35 Yale Dr., CO detector activation due to malfunction Collins Road and Stafford Avenue, vehicle accident, general cleanup June 19 139 Federal St., building fire 747 Pine St., lock out 718 Pine St., false alarm or false call, other 1 Pleasant St., service call, other 11 Prospect St., false alarm or false call, other 28 Boulder Dr., extrication of victim from building/structure 102 Stewart St., lock out 502 South St., removal of victim from stalled elevator 135 Peck Ln., unauthorized burning Simpkins Drive and Round Hill Road, hazardous condition, other Clark Avenue and Matthews Street, no incident found on arrival at dispatch address 48 Carolina Rd., vehicle accident, general cleanup 218 Surrey Dr., alarm system sounded due to malfunction 250 Jacobs St., electrical wiring/equipment problem, other 121 Farmington Ave., passenger vehicle fire 28 Hopmeadow Rd., and Hill Street 45 Rollinson Rd., public service assistance, other 195 Lillian Rd., service call, other 6 Marsh Rd., medical assist, assist EMS crew 41 Brewster Rd., gasoline or other flammable liquid spill June 20 South Street and Union Street, vehicle accident, general cleanup 61 Cherry St., smoke detector activation due to malfunction 595 Clark Ave., arcing, shorted electrical equipment 705 Lake Ave., overheated motor Matthews Street and Terryville Avenue, vehicle accident, general cleanup • Spring / Fall Cleanups • • Mowing • • And More! • June 21 Good Guy Electric , LLC Residential - Commercial - Industrial E1-185608 EST. 1997 QUALITY WORK AT LOW PRICES Free Estimates - Fully Insured - 24+ Years Experience NO JOB TOO SMALL 860-965-0451 www.goodguyelectric.com Getting us news about your college student Has your child graduated college or made the dean’s list. Typically, we receive the notices from the universities and colleges. Some colleges have not put us on their news release list. If you haven’t seen your student’s dean’s list or graduation announcement and you haven’t sent one to us, check with your child’s university public information office to get the Observer on their list. If you wish to submit a notice yourself, please include scanned copies of documentation from the university and email to mchaiken@BristolObserver.com or mail it to the Bristol Observer, 213 Spring St., Southington, CT 06489 All Season Lawn Care First Service Owner: Alex Caruso Free Estimates Fully Insured LIC # CT 500413 Neatest & Most Professional Contractor in Bristol 6 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 The Step Saver/ The Observer Friday, June 29, 2012 Bristol Central High School Class of 2012 listed Cummings; Erin Nicole Cyr; Melissa A. Dallaire; Tyler W. Davilio; Saphon Lamont Davis-Kittle; Canisha Monet Dawson; Alyssa Marie DeAngelo; Darence Zelek Delgado, Jr.; Michael A. Delgado; Michael Carl DeLuca; Samantha B. DePalma; Aaron Kevin Desjardins; Brittany Marie Desprey; Neysha Marie Detrez; Jaime Diaz; Matthew Thomas DiVenere; Katelyn Marie Dobreski; Stacey Lynn Doran; Daniel E. Dorsey; Joshua Thomas Dowd; Rachael M. Doyon; Allison E. Drost; Steve B. Drouin; Samantha Dziala; Brian Roy Elkins; Adam J. Emond; Connor Ericson; Jacob Collin Eschner; Zachary Peter Fannon; Eni Feto; Morgan Sarah Finn; Jacob Daniel Fournier; John Kevin Frazier; Miguel Angel Fuentes; Conor H. Furey; Mitchell Alden Gagnon; Elise Anne Galipo; Benjamin Lawrence Gatzen; Tristin E. Gesualdi; Hristos N. Giannopoulos; Morganne Elizabeth Gilbert; Kristina Lynn Gimenez; Annelise Catherine Godau; Brendan Dean Gonsalves; Jonathan Gonzalez; Luis Antonio Gonzalez; Michael Anthony Gonzalez; Stephen C. Govea; Alexxis Granger; Jasmine Inez Greene; Carissa J. Guglietta; Kevin J. Guzman; Connor James Hayes; Veronica Hernandez; Jadyn Raye Hickey; Nyree Carell Hodges; Brandon Jeffrey Hoffman; Geri Hoxha; Nicole Elizabeth Jacques; Khalen Hope Judith Japonis; Mahagoney N. Jardine; Karissa E. Johnson; Kristina Marie Johnson; Presley Carl Johnson; Glenn TAMMI KNAPIK Jadyn Kickey was one of the Bristol Central High School students in the Class of 2012 to graduate last Thursday. E. Jones; Jynell Lynn Keith; Lindsey Allison King; Kyle Peter Kolakoski; Debbra Louise Konopaske; Tyler N. Krawiec; Nicole Kubeck; Karelyn H. J. Kuczenski; Andrew John Lane; Albert LaPorta; Julia M. Laviero; Noelle Lease; Flora Lebiti; Kamren David Lee; Kara Lynne Lemieux; Kayla Lynn Levasseur; Sinclair A. Lewis; Lester W. Little, III; Kristin E. Litwinczyk; Ariadna Elizabeth Lopez; Fumiko Marie Lopez; Tyler Michael Lucey; Alexis S. Maddox; Ashley M. Madore; Sean Class essayist Morgan Finn addresses the Bristol Central High School class of 2012 at last Thursday’s commencement exercises. Tired of Climbing into the Shower? Is Your Bathroom Outdated? Seniors receive $ 100 OFF 2 900 We Offer Tub & Shower $ Conversions at Wholesale Pricing! , (Offer valid thru 7/31/12. Includes demo, haul-away, sub floor, install of tub or shower enclosure, Kohler fixtures, plumbing & sheetrock) Fast, Dependable, Friendly Service Full Plumbing and Carpentry Services GOOGLE US TO CHECK OUT OUR REPUTATION! Call Today for A Free Estimate Over The Phone Licensed & Insured 8609229976 Lic. # 282931 N.J. ROMANIELLO Plumbing & Heating No Job Too Small • FAUCETS • TOILETS • WATER HEATERS Professional, Quality Workmanship 860-620-0567 TONY’S OIL COMPANY, LLC (860) Melanson; Eusebio Melecio, IV; Heather Anne Mellon; Jenna Lynn Melnick; Jeremy Todd Mercier; Brianna N. Michaels; Seth William Michelson; Taylor A. Milano; Haleigh Marie Mills; Jesse M. 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Suazo; Megan Marie Swenton; Jesse Jerzy Swieton; Malik Latrelle Taft; Mark E. Taylor; Alino Chin Te; Francis Edward Torres; Tré L. Torres; Matthew John Trelli; Kevin Truc; Ashley B. Twiggs; Chad-Anthony J. Vassell; Danielle M. Vazquez; Alexa Skye Vega; Angel Velez; Mariana VelezEscobar; Angela-Marie G. Volpicella; Kayla Lynn Vose; Devon Taylor Walker; Harrison S. Walker; Jake Weber; Erika Weisneck; Deverick Anthony Weston; Matthew Louis White; Timothy J. White; Leandra Janay Williams; Mark Frederick Winters; Sarah A. Wojtusik; Harley Woodbury; Timothy John Wyrebek; Ivy Yung; Estefania Zamores; Jeton Zhuta; Kathryn A. Ziogas; Taylor Elizabeth Zipke; Emily Mikayla Zygiel QUALITY IS OUR PRIORITY Residential Specialists S3-0386413 TAMMI KNAPIK Magri; Jake Lorenzo Mancini; Nicole Mari ; Justin A. Marino; Jessica Marie Markure; Tasha Grace Marshall; Cody Bryan Martin; Ricky A. Martin; Shaliska Martinez-Rivera; Karol Maslinski; Matthew John Mason; Zachary M. Mastromarino; Felisha A. Matthews; Julianne Elizabeth McAree; Paige Marie McCarthy; Steven McCarthy; Benjamin Robert McConnell; Corey Patrick McGinn; Patrick Louis McKay; Craig A. Meehan; Megan Brianna P1-00203341 The Bristol Central High School Class of 2012 is: Jerome Richard Albino; Ximena I. Alvarado; Nicole Amato; Dana Lynn Amico; Kiana Andino; Benjamin M. Andrews; Raelynne Martine Andrews; Lewelyn J. Arroyo Vega; Shanice Tené Bacchus; Alayna C. Baker; Chad A. Bard; Virgil Severo Bardales; Virginia A. Bashaw; Kaley Rose Beauchamp; Michael A. Benites; Joseph W. Bentz; Shelby Lynn Berish; Edwin J. Betancourt, III; Robert Ellis Betz, Jr.; Tevin G. Bing; Derek J. Blais; Tyler Darrin Bodley; Sabraé Elizabeth Boisvert; Patrick Nelson Bourret; Randy Aaron Boyne; Kelly A. Bridgman; Lauren E. Briggs; Brandon Alexander Brooks; Alexandra J. Brunet; Brittany A. Bullock; Timothy Charles Burby; Carlton Daniel Butler; Spenser Butterworth; Jeremiah Cabrera; Ana Calle; Kelly Marie Cameron; Paige M. Caminiti; Dominique B. 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Main St. Southington • 621-2644 M-W 8-5, Tues. & Thurs. 9-6, Fri. 8-4 www.familydentalofsouthington.com Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer 7 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Bristol Eastern High School Class of 2012 listed The Bristol Eastern High School Class of 2012: Shrouk Abdelsami; Kane Xavier Adams; *Brett Nathan Akerley; Charlye Aldana; Mar’Quess SultanSunni Ali; Connor Elliott Anastasio; Katie Lynn Anderson; Rudolph Anderson; Jose Eurigue Antonetty; Stephen Michael Arel; Chelsea Lynn Aubin; *Joseph Paul Badore; Caitlin Marie Bairrington; John Blair Bald; Alisha Marie Baldino; Casey Addison Bayne; Victoria Marjorie Beaudoin; Brandon Michael Begin; Yvonne Marie Bell; **Brenna Marie Belletti; *Taylor Soo Kyung Benson; Kristi Ann Benvenuto; *Connor Thomas Bernier; **Zoryana Bilohan; Richard Timothy Birmingham; Jesah Tan Bishop; Brittany Marie Blanchette; Sarah E. Boilard; Kaylie Cheyanne Bonini; Katlyne Mary Bonville; Adam Joseph Bossie; Rachel Lynn Boudreau; Kelsea Michelle Bourgoin; Katherine Ann Boyko; Taylor Marie Breault; Jasmine Rae Brewer; Ja-Nay Brooks; Jocelin Marie Brooks; Alexandra Grace Brown; **Paige Elizabeth Bugryn; Daniel Eric Burdelski; Sean Timothy Burke; Shakel Tawana Burns; Charde Kenyeatta Bush; *Tyler Jonathan Bush; Katie Lynn Caissie; Jamie Lynn Callahan; Aileen Ivett Cameron; Leonard Martin Cannon; Kayla Marie Carle; Cole Philip Carpenter; Michael Christopher Cassin; Marco Castaldi; Christiano David Chavez; Hiu Kwan Cheng; *Jenna Rae Chiaradio; Jordan Anthony Chora; Ali Raza Choudhary; Kevin Paul Church; Kaylee Joy Cifone; Morgan Elizabeth Cimadon; Ethan Antonio Cinotti; Matthew Forbes Ciriack; James Eric “Clark, Jr.”; Taylor Clark; Randall L. Coakley; Hannah Sofia Cohen; *Amber Rose Colello; **Brandon James Conlon; **Chelsea Nicole Conlon; Carmen Iris Cordero; Britney Lee Correll; Aunaleashly A. Cowdell; Margaret Abigail CJ HOME IMPROVEMENT • REPLACEMENT WINDOWS • KITCHEN & BATHROOM REMODELING • DECKS, PORCHES, HANDICAP RAMPS • CERAMIC TILE • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING • BASEMENT REMODELING • ADDITIONS NO JOB TOO SMALL!!! FOR A FREE ESTIMATE CALL 860-302-0056 LIC. #573280 MIKE CHAIKEN Bristol Eastern High School speaker Anthony Mafale addresses his fellow classmates at commencement exercises for the Class of 2012 last Thursday on the school’s football field. Crossman; Connor Wright Cummings; Natalie Ann Cybulski; *Christina Allison Cyr; Kaitlynn Veronica Cyr; Marcus Andrew Cyr; Balach Danish; Sarah Lynn Decker; Chantelle Marie Defosse; Alyson L. Defosses; Alison Rose DellaBianca; AnnMarie Demers; *Aleksandra Deptula; Kayla Rose Desmarais; Nathan Joseph Dionne; Jonathan Mark Donaghy; William Timothy Doolittle; Jordan James Doyle; **Joshua John Dubrosky; Vincent E. Dufini; Bryant Glenn Dumais; Andrew Patrick Dyer; Stephanie Elizabeth Dyer; Jahmil Duane Effend; Danyelle Jayla EverettO’Neill; Dominique Rose Facin; Jeffrey Ryan Farber; Devon Fenner; Zachary Andrew Ficocelli; Connor Michael Fitzsimons; Davon Tyree Foster; **Estelle Franck; Teagan C. Frawley; Kristopher Wayne Fuller; Nicole Lynn Gagnon; Mary Elizabeth Gaughan; Gerard Genovesi; Dominic John Giannini; Marissa Caitlin Gibbons; Brian Christopher Ginnerty; Joseph Thomas Ginnerty; **Kathryn Louise Gladis; Jean-Claude Jeremy Gobeil; Luke Daniel Godin; Jose Luis Gonzalez; Ashley Jean Goritz; Ryan Michael Gotowala; Haley Gene Grabowski; Kassandra Patrica-Ann Grant; Zachary Connor Grant; Dillon Griffith; Thomas Anthony Grillo; Desiree’ Sue Haines; Tatum Jadwiga Hamernik; Jeremy Kenneth Han; Erin Lynne Hawksley; Catherine Rose Helvie; David Desmond Hernandez; Matthew Jerome Hvozdovic; Leandra Marie Hynick; Justin Michael Janick; Geanna Joan Jarosz; Hayden Thomas Joeckel; Arthur Joseph Johnson; Griffin Robert Johnson; Breyanna Danae Jones; Kelsey Eileen Joyce; Diamond Alexandra Keith; Haley Alexandra Kern-Smith; Phirom Khen; Mallory Lynn Kloss; Sara Kraska; Daniel Krawiec; **Danielle Erin Kriscenski; *Alec Richard LaMar; **Jessica Lynn Laprise; Katlyne Ann Laprise; Jenny Elizabeth LaRochelle; John Joseph Lavoie; Vivian Thi Le; Desiray Ann LeClair; Michael James LeMay; Ashley Nicole Levesque; Erik Joseph Levesque; Jacqueline Elizabeth Levesque; *Leslie Anne Lewis; Danielle Lee Lindstrom; Jon Lindstrom; Travis Christopher Londen; William Lukaszewski; Brian Ly; Ashley Nicole MacDonald; Paula Nicole Machado; Cristina Marie MacKinnon; Cody James Madore; Anthony Thomas Mafale; Corinne Isabella Malley; Kenneth Manivong; Donovan Carmine Marciano; Katherine Ann Maroney; Kyle Joseph Marquis; Matthew Jeffrey Marquis; Madeline Martel; Mayra Martel; Stephanie N. Martin; *Abby Rose Massarelli; Christy Mary Matthews; Paige Marie Mazrek; Connor McCarthy; Alyssa Desiree McMahon; Syed-Ali John Mehdi; Brandon Melanson; Mark Harrison Mercier; **VernaJean Michaud; Kyle John Middleton; *Erica Ann Migliore; Kelly Frances Miller; Melissa Amber Mitchell; Shannon Lea Moderacki; **Alex Randall Mola; Laura Lee Moran; Alandra Christine Mordo; James Joseph Morin; Cody Jonathan Morrissey; JeanPierre N. Mouannes; Justin Philip Moyers; Christopher Murawski; Vincent Andrew Nardi; Joseph C. Nettelbladt; Thien Nhi Ngo; Dylan Joseph Oakes; Megan Ashley O’Keefe; Jomar Ocasio; Cassandra Lee aOlivo; Sean Daniel O’Neil; Lewis Antonio Otero; Tyler Daniel Ouellette; James Robert Pacyna; Anthony Carlo Pannazzo; Justin John Paradis; Jacob Ryan Pare; Eileen Kate Pastyrnak; Samuel Arnold Pedersen; Roberto Anthony Pedraza; Adrian Adam Perkowski; Jamie Lynn Pitcher; Jordyn Nicole Procko; Luke Daniel Provenzano; Connor James Rafferty; David Ramos; Bryan Thomas Ravickas; Bryan Steven Rayburn; Matthew Michael Reynolds; Zachery James Ritchie; April Fish Rivera; Jassidy Rivera; Kaila Leilany Rivera; Kendall Rivera; Michaela Ruth Roche; Nicholas Dominic Roche; Elias Rodriguez; Fotina Anastasia Rollins; **Kassandra Rosado; Eric Ryan; Adam Michael Samsel; Jessica Jean Santello; John Savage; **Lindsey Armstrong Schaffrick; Alicia Ann Schettini; Shonda Chasitity Scott; Lauren Michele Seamour; Xiomara Marie Semidey; Tehsin Iftekhar Shaikh; Shayne D. Shakes; Tesha Marie Shank; *Joshua James Sherman; Kadijah Odessa Shoultz; Breanne Michelle Sills; *Joanna Slemp; Patrick Alexander Smith; Aubrie Elise Soucy; Francesca Marie Souza; Vanessa Spaulding; Jessica Anne Sperduti; Christian David St. Peter; Chantel Amber St. Pierre; Megan Mary St. Pierre; Jasmine Alexa Staggers; Alyssa Stapper; Lucas Friday Suchinski; Emily May Sullivan; Derek Brett Tanguay; Mark David Tardiff; Gregory James Taylor; Jonathan William Taylor; Joseph Anthony Thomas; Conner Stephen Thorpe; Ethan Lyn Towne; Christina Alexis Tramontanis; Jessica Katharine Triplett; Kendall Blair Tucker; Jacob Alexander Turcotte; Jordan Michael Ungaro; Alexandria Vallier; *Adelina Margaret Villanti; Casey Taylor Voisine; Jeremy Ward; Jacob Tyler Wasielewski; Mitchell Edward Wheelock; Andrew Scott Wilkes; Emma Susanne Woolworth; **Sarah Katelyn Woznicki; Audreanna Lynn Wransky; Samantha Marie Yard; Sara Marie Zack; Mark Jeffrey Zavalick; Jamie Kennard Zene; Ryan Joseph Zimmer; Trevor James Ziome **graduating in top five percent of class *graduating in top ten percent of class MIKE CHAIKEN Bristol Eastern High School graduate Kris Fuller poses with his father Councilor Kevin Fuller before commencement exercises last Thursday. 8 Friday, June 29, 2012 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Compounce Flight: School closing From page 2 During his comments, Brick said thanked city officials in both Southington and Bristol for their support for the endeavor. Bristol city councilor Kevin Fuller was on hand for the announcement at the Parkside Café. Fuller said the attraction is just what the From page 3 city of Bristol was looking for as it puts the focus on marbest fit the criteria was choketing itself. He said it’s sen. A “J” outline was spray another event that is unique painted on the grass behind to the Bristol area that will the school, coordinating prove to be a great selling with the dimensions of the point for the community. He plan chosen. said especially liked the idea Woznicki said the projthat the attraction is specifiect was one final project the cally geared for families with school did all together young children. before the facility closed for “What a nice segue to go good. The principal has been from the ‘Haunted flying since January, and has Graveyard’ (at Halloween to been taking lessons from ‘Holiday Lights’),” said Terry Keller, affiliated with Fuller. Premier Flight Center based In terms of attendance at Brainard Airport in goals for the attraction, Brick Hartford. TAMMI KNAPIK said the park has not set a For the flight last An aerial view of Jennings School and a giant ‘J’ formed by students, left, as seen from an airplane piloted by huge goal for the first year of Monday, the plane use was the school principal Steven Woznicki. The photograph was taken last Monday after the airplane left the event. donated, as was the instruc“Holiday Lights” also Plainville’s Robertson Airport. tor’s time, Woznicki said. follows a trend taken by many amusement parks across the country. Brick noted the Compounce is open for just 100 days in the spring/ summer. Events like the “Haunted Graveyard” and now, “Holiday Lights” allows the park to be open more days in the year and utilizes what typically would be downtime at the attraction. Brick said the additional attraction during the winter holidays also will mean additional jobs for the area. Many of the park’s seasonal workers will be required as the park needs employees to KAITLYN NAPLES man the restaurants and Students at Jennings Elementary School held up colored construction paper, and sat in the shape of the letter ‘J’ while their principal, rides. “It’s a win-win for every Steven Woznicki, flew an airplane overhead, last Monday. body,” said Fuller of the new attraction. “The kids keep working. The park gets revenue. Families can enjoy the activities.” “It’s awesome,” said the Bristol councilor. “Holiday Lights” will be open at the park on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Dec. 23. Pricing and additional information will be announced in the coming months at LakeCompounce. com Comments? Email mchaiken@BristolObserver. com TAMMI KNAPIK AVALONE CONTRACTORS Lic. # 514976 ROOFING SIDING REP. WINDOWS GUTTER ADDITIONS TOTAL REMODELING INTERIOR & EXTERIOR In business for a blessed 26 years (860) 582-0712 PO Box 9656, Bristol, CT Fully Ins. Worker’s Comp. & Liability The Bristol Lions Club held its annual Fred Soliani Memorial Golf Tournament last Thursday at Chippanee Golf Club. The tournament funds scholarships and the Bristol Lions Club's initiative with Bristol Hospital to help the visually impaired. At left, Mike Gabowski of Plainville; at right, Joe Julian, Bud Funk, Tony Neri, and Brad Funk line up in their golf carts at the event. TIRED OF PAYING TOO MUCH for HOME IMPROVEMENTS for framing, decks, windows, siding, additions. Call Gary at Lic # 0625546 Good day for golf for a good cause A HANDYMAN’S SERVICES, LLC For Quality Work and Good Prices! 860.690.7278 RESIDENTIAL ROOFING AT ITS BEST • Architectural shingles • Strip-Off & Re-Roofs • Repairs • Chimney Repairs - Repointing, Capping or Re-Building We pride ourselves in customer satisfaction & keeping the job site neat & clean FREE ESTIMATES CALL TODAY, SMILE TOMORROW THE JOSEPH DESS CO. LLC Call Joe 860-584-8160 or 860-712-3973 Fully Licensed & Insured • HIC # 0631100 Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer 9 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Our Businesses The new reality for the non-profit world Michael Nicastro Chamber Chatter Before the Great Recession of 2008, it was very easy to develop an idea for a non-profit group, secure a 501C3 status, and be off and running with the latest charity or cause celeb du jour. Corporations gave out money with little investigation or follow-up and the big foundations enjoyed the media coverage that funding these organizations produced. Then came the crash and it all changed swiftly and suddenly. Many of these organizations dried up and blew away like sand on the desert. Others had to retrench and hunker down in hopes that this recession, like so many others would be short lived. The larger and longer lived organizations watched their endowments shrink by 30, 40 and sometimes 50% or more. Noncharitable organizations (501C6) such as Chambers of Commerce and other business support organizations had to restructure their programming and develop new revenue streams. Unfortunately, this recession has been anything but short lived. While some declare it to be over (a very debatable point), the effects that it had on the world of the non-profits has been profound and has placed them all, charitable or not, in a new reality. Museums, arts and performance based organizations took the hit from just about every direction. In a bad economy, especially one with 10% unemployment (reported – it was likely far worse), the ability to sell tickets drops radically. Corporate sponsorships either shrank or went away altogether. Annual fund donations from individuals and foundations fell and allocations from their endowments were (especially board restricted funds) were reduced in some cases to zero. Religious based organizations saw their contributions reduced while at the same time the pull from the other side, namely the people who depend on them for comfort and support, increased exponentially. The demand on soup kitchens, food pantries and other forms of support grew to a point not seen since the Great Depression. Service organizations, already hurting from extreme declines in membership and the difficulties of recruiting a new generation saw their membership decline even further. In some cases, venerable old organizations simply stopped operating. So how does the nonprofit world deal with the new reality in which they now must survive? It won’t be easy and it will require extensive change in strategy and in many cases a willingness to “slay some sacred cows” that have existed for generations. It all starts with the board of directors/trustees. In the past, service on a non-profit board was a part of community activism and was strongly supported by business. Key employees were encouraged and given time during the work day perform the duties that non-profit board membership required. While that still exists at some level, many businesses no longer allow for time during the work day and as such the effort must be taken on the person’s personal time. In addition, the concept of board membership has faded for those who now see it as a resume builder but provide little or no participation. In response, boards have had to adjust meeting times and many have now implemented board dues and in many cases, a minimum giving level as a prerequisite to board membership. Boards along with executive management are also looking at how they can lower overall operating costs while still carrying out the mission of the organization. These ideas have included mergers with similar organizations, outsourcing of administrative functions, and, in some cases, moving to an all-volunteer structure. Each of these options has their respective pluses and minuses. In most cases, however, the pluses have far outweighed the minus- es. When survival of the organization is in doubt these kinds of decisions become far easier to make. For executive management (those that have it), the day-to-day issues are a constant challenge. That said the two areas that need the most focus in the new reality are development and strategic planning. When it comes to development simply sending out an annual fund mailer just doesn’t cut it anymore. Development is a constant, neverending process that requires a continual thinking and rethinking of how to manage donors. It requires a “hightouch” and needs to be integrated with the organization’s overall marketing plan. Efforts on “Planned Giving” need to be a critical part of any development efforts. Lastly and most definitely the most difficult element for any non-profit is that of strategic planning. The process is not simple and it requires the full buyin of the board and management. For those just starting the process, the best form of strategic planning is one that reviews what an organization does well, what they don’t do well and what new investments they need to consider. So many organizations hang onto events or programs that have long since run their course, producing little, or no revenue but have become sacred. Moving away from sacred but traditional programs will allow more time to be spent on programs that are effective and will also allow for investment in new programming that can take an organization to the next level. The new reality has been hard for the non-profit world, but it is also an opportunity. Those organizations that take advantage of the opportunity will thrive and be around for a long time to come. Those who hold onto the approach of the past will likely join the many that no longer exist. Only time will tell. Michael D. Nicastro is president and CEO of the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce. He can be reached at M.Nicastro@CentralCTCha mbers.org Renovated hotel donates furniture, fixtures to center The owners and managers of the 120-room hotel on Century Drive were recently recognized by The City of Bristol for donating furniture and fixtures to the Veteran’s Administration as part of the hotel’s multi-million dollar renovation and expansion program. The Clarion Hotel and ACG North America, Inc. (ACG) were recognized for their contribution at the June 12 City Council meeting. ACG is the design-build firm leading the renovation and expansion project. A shipment of office furniture, lamps and accessories was delivered to the new Army Strong Community Center (ASCC), which supports service members, veterans, and their families. The Bristol ASCC, which is the fifth such center in the United States, officially opened on May 12. “We are pleased to contribute to such an important resource for our armed forces,” said Pat Czajkowski, the owners’ representative, said in a press release. “We are proud that our facility and furniture upgrades will benefit our service men and women.” The remaining furniture, fixtures and equipment, are being donated to the Veteran’s Administration to support homeless veterans and service members. “We worked closely with (U.S.) Senator Richard Blumenthal’s office to identify a meaningful way to support our military personnel,” said Al Barone, Vice President of Bristol-based ACG North America, the design-build contractor, in a press release. “We are pleased to know that our project will benefit so many.” The hotel is currently undergoing a complete renovation including guest rooms, public areas and construction of a new suite tower. Later this year, the hotel will be rebranded as a DoubleTree by Hilton. Hotel amenities will include a new swimming pool, modern fitness center, meeting rooms, and a full-service restaurant and lounge. “Significant progress has been made since we broke ground last summer,” said Michael Bonnardi, director of operations for the hotel, in a press release. “We continue serve a growing number of banquet and overnight guests during the expansion project.” The hotel renovation and expansion is expected to be completed in early 2013. Construction activities are being phased to minimize disruptions during renovation activities as the hotel remains open to guests and restaurant patrons during the expansion. Mayor Art Ward of the City of Bristol, right, presents William Mascetti, left, and Al Barone of ACG North America, Inc., with a certificate recognizing the donation of furniture to the Bristol Army Strong Community Center. WE CAN MAKE YOUR DENTAL VISIT A BREEZE... 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FAMILY - SEDATION - COSMETIC MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED Make sure you use your Flex Spending Account! 927 Farmington Avenue BRISTOL, CT 06010 860-589-6475 HOURS Tues, Wed, Fri 10am-6pm Thur 10am-8pm • Sat 10am-4pm Eye & Contacts Exams by Appointment DENTISTRY Dr. Neil Salesky and Dr. Michael Reisman SOUTHINGTON COMPREHENSIVE AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY (860) 628-5029 *one per family www.SouthingtonDentistry.com 10 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 The Step Saver/ The Observer Friday, June 29, 2012 •Letters...page 10-12 •Columnist...page 10 Our Views Young and looking beyond despair toward hope MIKE CHAIKEN, editions editor Established December 9, 2004 Published weekly by The Step Saver, Inc. 213 Spring St., Southington, CT 06489 editorial: 860-621-6751 advertising: 860-628-9645 circulation: 860-628-9438 fax 860-621-1841 e-mail mchaiken@BristolObserver.com All editorials are intended to reflect the position of the publisher and not that of any individual editorial writer. Signed columns, on the other hand, reflect the position of the author and not necessarily those of the publisher. www.BristolObserver.com www.StepSaver.com Perspective on our nation’s birthday This is going to be one of “those.” This is going to one of those messages about being thankful for what you’ve got. But given the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, where we celebrate the birth of our nation, we feel it’s important for Americans to reflect on how good they’ve got it. Yes, we know the economy is still less than healthy. There are fat cats getting richer (the 1 percent) and the rest of us (the 99 percent) seem to be falling behind. And it seems unfair. However, market forces drive our economy… and, whether you like or not, connections help drive the market. This is the price we pay for living in a free nation. There have been attempts at controlled economies whose purpose is to make the market fair and equitable. But they have failed. Making life equitable is all well and good if every citizen worked hard and strived for excellence. However, this isn’t human nature. In a equitable society, the slackers receive the same compensation as the strivers. Controlled economies fail because there is no motivation to give 110 percent because you know you’ll be taken care of even if you give 25 percent. Eventually, the nation stalls because there is no reason to move forward. So, yes, in a free nation like ours, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. But there also is the possibility to break free and become a success because in a free nation like ours rewards for going above and beyond do exist. There would be no Steve Jobs of Apple or Bill Gates of Microsoft in a nation that is not free and where making life “fair” is the primary goal. The pages of this publication also offer more evidence of why we should be thankful for our nation. First of all, in America, unfettered and independent newspapers such as this simply would not exist. A government in an imprisoned nation would want to control information to shape the views of its people. In nations where freedom is on the wish list of the people, the media is simply a mouthpiece for the leaders. Secondly, in our pages, there are letters to the editor that criticize our leaders… and this newspaper. Only in a free nation would this be allowed. In some countries, people are afraid to speak out even in public places for fear that it would result in in their imprisonment. In America, not only can you speak your mind at will, you can publish your views and not fear reprisals from the government. There can free and open debate of ideas in America. We may not agree with or like what you say. But we recognize you are free to say what you want. This is not the case, everywhere. America is not perfect, not by any means. But that’s freedom. It’s all loose threads and wrinkles. It’s full of disorder. But as we opine about what America is not, let us also remember what it is. Happy Fourth of July. Happy birthday, America. I only found this out after the fact, but the three of them – the 28-year-old and two friends – had been on the back porch until 5 a.m. debating hope vs. despair, whether to be hopeful of the future or despairing of it. What a conversation. Of course, I found this out after the fact, as I said earlier, when one of the participants shared this with me at a wedding on a recent Saturday. The DJ had started spinning the LPs – yes, you heard that, LPs as in vinyl records – and we were winding down from a most amazing meal. Matter of factly, this contemporary of the 28-year-old recounted briefly the all-night conversation: who was involved, what the positions were – he took the more positive outlook – and a little bit of the conversation. Of course, he added, the conversation had been fueled by a few beers, or perhaps, more than a few, so the quality of the thinking might have been jeopardized, but for me the thought of these young people arguing about hope vs. despair was encouraging. This is important. I like to hear that our young people are in the game, so to speak. I like to hear that they are concerned and working at being part of the solution. I like to remember, and I say this gingerly and from the perspective of someone who has been out of work and collecting several times, jobs are only part of the problem. The other is spirit. I have argued all along, creating jobs is simply a matter of will. If our society has the will, the jobs will come. But we are a bit disingenuous about most of our policy decisions, from job creation to education. I am not despairing at all, but I like to think I can be a bit of a realist, sometimes cynically so. David Fortier Around the House For instance, I have to ask questions such as this: if you are a business owner and you are politically allied against the president, why would you ever create more jobs? You just hold off, let the economy flounder, and hope there will be a new president come November, so you can get your tax break. An anti-American way of doing things, for certain, don’t you think? And that leads me to, what happened to the Great American Experiment built on community interests rather than selfish ones—United We Stand, Divided We Fall? But that is moi. Young people, I am learning, are teaching me to be more hopeful and less cynical. And the house was full of them the weekend of the wedding. And there were more of them at the wedding. I listened to their dreams, their crazy banter, their teasing – no, I cannot dance—, and watched them dance to music that was perfect, because it allowed people to chat with each other, and that was also slightly familiar but still beyond me. I talked to the DJ, who told me that his collection of 1,200 LPs ranged from 1950s to later 1980s and was comprised of bands who might have had some No. 1 hits but mostly got as high as 20 or 30 in the weekly ratings. But these 20-somethings, really got into the music and danced the entire time in ways that were incongruous – no ballroom steps from these young men and young women—and yet there were these captivating performances that I would need three columns to try and accurately detail. And when I step back to think about it – these dance steps were a conversation of sorts whose subject could have been hope vs. despair and hope was an easy winner. But the kicker occurred on Sunday morning, when I picked up the Times and read David Leonhardt’s “Old vs. Young,” an opinion piece that discussed how the great divide in this country is not limited to those at different political poles but between the young and old. The author argued that the divide is greater at any time during the country, including the 1960s. In it, he shared the following regarding the position of 18 to 31 year olds vs. those of 67 to 84 year olds: the young were more positive towards immigrants and gay marriage, less upset with government, and more satisfied with the state of the nation. On the downside, young people are at a greater financial disadvantage. They are, metaphorically speaking, dancing to a different tune than their older counterparts. But they have not given up hope, and in fact, have embraced it, even if some late night conversations have them delving deeply into the “D” word. David Fortier, a Bristol resident, is a freelance writer. Letters Thanks for help on grad party To the editor: On behalf of the Bristol Central High School Class of 2012 and the After Grad Party Committee, we would like to take this opportunity to recognize and express our gratitude to the following local businesses. Continuing the tradition of providing a safe, all-night, substance-free celebration on graduation night would not be possible without the support of local businesses, individuals and the community. Even during the challenging economy they supported us with cash donations, gift certificates, food or prizes; others gave us discounts on our purchases. We truly appreciated their support and invite you to patronize and recognize the community spirited businesses/individuals listed below: Adams, Samartino & Co. PC, Dunkin Donuts, Price Chopper, Affordable Tax Preparation Co., Exper Tees, ProHealth Physicians, Aflac – Linda Decker, Family Haircut Store, Proscapes, Alarm Services Plus LLC, Firestone, Quinoco Inc, Amano’s Pizza, First Impressions, Razzleberries, Arby’s, John A. Frazier, MD, Roland Dumont Agency, Aqua Turf, Fujiyama Steakhouse, Rose Chiropractic Office, B&B Tool Co. Inc., Garnish Bistro, Ruby Tuesday, Bagels Plus, George’s Terryville Ave. Market, Sabino’s Restaurant, Barnes Group Foundation, Inc., Get Up and Dance LLC, Saint’s Restaurant (Southington), Anne Bartlett, Guida’s Dairy, Scalia Bros., Beacon Prescriptions, H&R Block Vincent Lambri MBA, Shannon Jewelers, Beauty By Us, Hartford Headers Inc., Sherwin Williams, Best Cleaners, Harvest Bakery, Shop Rite, BJs, Ice Cream Churn, Star Spa, Big Y, J. Timothy’s, Starbucks, Bob’s Stores, Jodi’s Sound - Middle St., Stop & Shop, Bookkeeping Services LLC, Kathy Faber Designs LLC, Straight from Maine Seafood, Boston Market, Lake Compounce, Subway, Sherry Bouchard, Laurel Street Apartments LLC, Super Natural Market, Bristol Eye Assoc. PC, Law office of Andre D. Dorval, The Arthur G. Russell Co., Bristol Lodge #1010, Law office of James H. Halpin Jr., The Biz, Bristol Police Union Local 754, LensCrafters, The Exchange Club of Bristol, Bristol Orthopaedics, LLC, Julie G. Malkin, MD, The Tax Office LLC, Burger King (Farmington Ave), Mandee’s, The Ultimate Companies, Eugene Brule, Martino’s Italian Market, The Wireless Connection, C&M Screw Machine Products, Max Pizza, Tip Top Nails, Carvels, McDonald’s (Main St), Top Notch Manufacturing, Champion Products, Mobile on the Run, Tortoise and the Hare Cafe, Checkers, Moe’s (Southington), Uncle Sam’s Restaurant, Chili’s, Mozzicato Bakery, Wachtel, Shafran & Moore Optometry, Chunky Tomato, New Britain Rock Cats Team, Walmart, City of Bristol, Obsession Wireless, Wendy’s, Conveyco Technologies, Omni Comics & Cards, Wings Over Bristol, Corner Pizza, People’s Choice, Vitas (Plainville), Crazy Bruce’s Liquors, Pepsi, Verizon Wireless (Bristol), Crystal Rock, Pizza House, Verizon Wireless (Southington), Duane N. Cyr DMD, Petsmart, Diane Boucher dba Boucher Assoc, Precision Threaded Products, Domino’s Pizza, Prestige Body Werks Inc., With sincere gratitude to all that made our event a huge success. Donna Betancourt Chairperson Bristol Central High School Graduation Party Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer 11 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Reader offended by tone of editorial on circus To the editor: I am writing to comment on the tone and content of the Bristol Observer editorial (June 1, “Run for your life, here comes the circus”). I was surprised by the mocking sarcasm of the title, as well the content. Perhaps the most telling passage is this: “When someone says the circus is coming to town, well, we typically don’t think: “Let’s roll up the sidewalks and call in the militia, we have to keep them away for the sake of our children and our elderly.” What could prompt such an overreaction to the opposition to the circus, I wonder. Those of us who object to circuses that feature wild animal “entertainment” are speaking out, now that the opportunity to do so is here. That appears to be unacceptable to the editor. Regarding the editorial’s lambasting of Henri Martin’s opposition to the circus’ treatment of animals as if they were objects, Henri Martin is actually making a very important Reader will attend circus To the editor: In response to Kim Villanti’s recent letter to the editor, “Council made wrong decision allowing circus,” my view is the opposite. I was born in the 1970s and my children in the 1980s. I’m happy to see the circus with elephants and tigers. What a great spot: downtown Bristol. After the circus, I’ll take my grandchildren to the 1940s and the 1800s coffee shop downtown. Now, we don’t have to go to towns where someone gets shot every day. Sorry, I didn’t realize that all downtown decisions belonged to the Bristol Rising members. What about the other 99.9 percent of us? Rick Santorso Bristol State senator agrees with editorial on special session To the editor, I agree wholeheartedly with your June 22 editorial "Their Own Worst Enemy." On the day of our June 12 special session at the State Capitol, legislators received 600 pages of bills that did not get brought up in the regular session. Within hours, we were expected to read the bills, digest them, and vote on them. Many of the concepts in the bills - 40 of them, in fact - never received a public hearing. You never had a chance to weigh in. All of this is unfair to you, the taxpayers. That's why I voted "no." I took an oath to represent all of you to the very best of my ability. I think many of the politicians in Hartford have forgotten who they are representing. Jason Welch State Senator R- 31st District (which includes Bristol, Plainville, Plymouth and Harwinton.) point. Circus animals are not family pets. They are commodities, used to make money for the business that runs the circus. They are neither paid performers nor cherished family pets. Those of us who believe that wild animals belong in the wild, and that human beings can seek their entertainment in a variety of other ways, are morally obliged to speak up. There are circuses that do not feature animals. Cirque du Soleil is one. I attended one of their shows when they came to Hartford a few years ago. It was spellbinding, awe-inspiring entertainment. Of course, the ticket price is a good deal higher than the Cole Brothers’ admission - human performers are paid, and there are quite a few of them in Cirque du Soleil. But the core of my beliefs is not anchored in the price of the ticket. My sensibilities are centered around the animals, and the unnatural lives they lead, being carted from place to place to be put on display for humans. One need only To the editor: The June 15 letter to the editor from Richard Geschke (“Nation’s leaders fail to learn from history”) is the best documented and intelligent that I have read recently, and I fully agree with its premises. It is disappointing to listen to the weak propositions of our candidates to restore the economy of the nation, not being sure if reducing the deficit and cutting down the needed social services will be of any avail. They offer no suggestion as to how to reduce unemployment and the other problems that burden our nation. But there is a solution and it could be taken immediately. Let’s bring home the billions of dollars we are spending needlessly in Afghanistan and Iraq and put an end to this lengthy and stagnant situation. The people there do not want us, just our money. So let’s bring home our men and the billions of dollars immediately and let them fend for themselves. This money would wipe out the deficit right away and create incentives to restore the health of our economy The problem is that our leaders do not have the guts to do that. How sad. Ludmila Mimo Bristol Tax dollars should be used to bolster city’s quality of life To the editor, As if raising taxes and cutting costs during an economic recession were not a damaging enough policy, and against basic economic principles, the residents of Bristol have nothing to look forward to as a result of paying higher taxes. In fact, while our taxes keep going up, the quality of life in Bristol keeps going down. One of the biggest concerns is noise pollution and the failure of the police to enforce noise ordinances. The thugs, who drive boom cars, vehicles equipped with an audio system that produce a pounding bass noise that can be heard and felt over a wide distance and travel through walls, are allowed to break the law over and over again. The police seem to be unaware that our town even has antinoise ordinances, or think that they only apply at night. Even though the ordinance allows a fine up to $400 for the second and each consecutive day of violation, I doubt that the police have ever issued even a noise ticket. Noise pollution is not only annoying and disturbing, but negatively affects health and the overall quality of life. World Health Organization, National Institutes of Health, United Nations and numerous scientific publications recognize noise pollution as detrimental to human health. It triggers an involuntary stress response known as “fight or flight” and can cause hearing loss, sleep deprivation, chronic fatigue, anxiety, hostility, depression and hypertension. With the high taxes we are paying, perhaps the government should invest in noise measuring devices and security cameras, as well as increase the police force. If things keep going the way they are going, people will start selling their properties and moving to towns that have lower taxes and higher quality of life. Then Bristol will really have a revenue problem. Barbara Biel Bristol WHEN QUALITY COUNTS – COUNT ON BRENNAN POOLS INC FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED FOR 56 YEARS Liquid Pool Chlorine 2. ured response to the presence of this kind of circus in our community. Please think carefully about your definition of the word “humane.” If you find you cannot patronize an enterprise that is based on “training” wild animals to do tricks for you on a summer afternoon so that you can be entertained, then join me and many others who will not be buying a ticket. Maureen Moriarty Bristol Reader applauds letter from Richard Geschke SHOCK $ 49 12.5% Sodium Hypochlorite do a small amount of study of, for instance, African elephants in their native habitat, to begin to realize the degree of deprivation that is involved in a circus elephant’s existence. When I was a child, I was mesmerized by the circus; I was too young to understand the plight of the animals. And the culture I grew up in did not object. Now, I am old enough to think for myself. 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And trapped for the foreseeable future with the ongoing bills to pay for the Busway. About $600,000,000 to build it. About $15,000,000 in taxpayer annual support. The 20-year total cost to taxpayers? We’re staring at a $1 billion bill before all is said and done. At a mind-boggling cost of $1,000-an-inch, all of that trap rock may as well be gold-nuggets. Newly rebranded “CTfastrak,” the busway is now rolling along, full steam ahead. “This is a great day,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy told reporters gathered at the trap rock photo op. Not so great in the eyes of the over- taxed public, however. Consider some of the scathing comments from taxpayers which came in response to the busway groundbreaking stories: “The groundbreaking should actually be considered a crime scene.” “These pork projects are why the U.S. is in huge debt, spending our grandchildren’s money before it is earned. Shameful.” “This is the Fastrak to financial disaster.” “What a waste of our (taxpayers’) money. The money could be better spent on fixing our aging highway infrastrucure.” “CTfastrak to the poor house. Ten years from now, we’ll be reading about the DOT tearing up the Busway for some other mindless money pit of a project. Does anyone believe that this project will be up and running in early 2014 and be at or under budget?” Connecticut taxpayers are not a happy bunch. The trap rock tossing ceremony touched a nerve, and it appears people are not going to forget about it. Why? They are fed up with the unnecessary spending, the unnecessary borrowing and the rush toward this boondoggle. They realize Connecticut is heading down a wasteful, reckless path and they know that they will all be paying for it in higher and higher taxes. They swallowed last year’s largest tax hike in state history because Gov. Malloy and Democrats sold it as “shared sacrifice.” They see their money being spent on the Busway instead of on our existing roads and bridges and they know they were lied to. We are trapped now. We are bound to a very hungry white elephant, which will travel between New Britain and Hartford every three to five minutes from 4:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. But we still have the power to escape. Step one is simple, painless, and effective: Vote out this November all the Democratic state legislators and Democratic congressional delegation that supported Governor Malloy and pushed hard to fastrack this boondoggle. Co-authors state Senator Joe Markley (RSouthington) and state Representative Whit Betts (R-Bristol) also serve on the Appropriations Committee in the General Assembly. Why does Connecticut need proposed busway; Fund 911 instead To the editor: About a month ago while traveling on Route 84 West, my truck’s transmission malfunctioned. I was barely able to pull over to the shoulder of the highway. There was a good amount of smoke and upon exiting my truck saw that the transmission fluid was leaking on the muffler and had started a fire. I dialed 911 and waited for the 911 operator to pick up the call. I waited…and waited for someone to answer my call. They never did. I then thought I might have miss dialed but my screen on my cell phone read “911 Emergency.” I decided that it would be quicker for me to put out the fire myself instead of waiting for 911 to pick up the call. What if it wasn’t just myself? What if I was driving a bus load of kids? What if there was a serious accident where a timely response would be critical in saving someone’s life? I didn’t learn till about three weeks later the 911 operators budget had been cut thus causing an overload on work staff. So for the Busway vs. 911, I choose 911. Unless I’m only getting one side of the story, it seems to me that this “Busway” is a total waste of money based on the demand of users. If there is other data showing a tangible need for this Busway, please make it available to the citizens of Connecticut to review. Russell Taggart Bristol 8-year-old puts in plea to help save manatees from extinction To the editor: The reason I’m writing this article is because of a horrible tragedy. A tame innocent mammal out there is in danger. Its name is a manatee (some people also call them sea cows). A manatee is a mammal that lives underwater. It breathes with lungs and has little hairs on its body. The manatee is endangered. That means it is in danger of being extinct. Extinct means when every single one of that species dies and it does not exist in the world any more. I do not think we should let them become extinct. I want to try to tell everybody we should help these manatees because they cannot come off the endangered species list on their own. Ways to help if you are a kid is just keep learning about manatees and other endangered animals. You could also draw pictures of manatees and show them to your class or other people you know. Tell them to draw pictures, too. This will help because it will let others know and learn about manatees. You could also donate money at save the manatee club. Just go to www.savethemanatee.org and you can “adopt a manatee” (donate money). If you are a boat driver and you may happen to live near manatees drive your boat carefully, and if you see any animal in the water, do not hit it. People should also stop swimming with manatees because it might get the manatee scared and the person might scare away the manatee’s calf (baby manatee). The calf cannot live on its own without its mother, so it will die. Those are some ways to help. Everyone should do at least something to help. So please, help save these manatees. Samantha Plourd Age 8 Bristol Bristol Veterans Council extends thank yous to those who helped To the editor: The last six weeks have, as usual, been very busy for the Bristol Veterans Council. On May 11, we held our second annual “Salute Dinner” where the BVC honors those high school seniors who have chosen to enter the Armed Forces or attend one of the military academies. It was again a very special evening for not only the students, but their families as well. The pride they have for their sons was clear and one could easily see the honorees were leaving feeling pretty good about themselves. The following day was the grand opening of the Army Strong Community Center. This ASCC is one of only six nationwide. It serves all branches and provides a myriad of services to all service members, past and present. Now instead of traveling to the Sub Base in New London or to West Point in New York, service members from here and all the surrounding towns need only travel to Bristol. The team tasked with running the opening of all the ASCCenters nationwide applauded Bristol for all its support in making the opening the most successful of all as well as its phenomenal support for all its veterans. As always, this kind of success comes as a result of many folks pitching in: Mayor Ward, CWO4 Pat Nelligan, the ASCC team, the BVC, Sea Scouts Ship 2, the 20 plus vendors, the Police Department and Greg O’Brien who did such a marvelous job as MC. The 11th annual “Tour of the Boulevard” run by Lori DeFillippi was again well-attended by students from both public high schools. This was just a great group of kids. While the Memorial Day weekend was a little less hectic this year, the attendance along the parade route and at the ceremonies immediately following the parade on the boulevard was outstanding. Once again the names of those veterans who passed between Memorial Day of 2011 and 2012 were read by students from all three high schools: Matt Collins (St. Paul High School), Matt Clift (Bristol Central High School) and Josh Sherman (Bristol Eastern High School). The cookout for veter- ans and their families, sponsored by Elks Lodge #1010 and run under the Pavilion at the American Legion Post #2 immediately following the ceremonies was a huge success. I have a feeling, they will be working together on this from now on. I know I’ve stated this many times before, but it never ceases to amaze me the level of support the city of Bristol extends to not only its veterans, but the families of those Veterans as well. That support is clear to any visiting dignitaries and I believe is becoming well-known far and wide. As a veteran and chairman of the Veterans Council, please allow me to express our sincere appreciation to all the citizens of Bristol. You remain a constant source of pride. Tim Gamache chairman Bristol Veterans Council GREER’S CHICKEN CATERING AVAILABLE 621 Jerome Avenue Brisol, CT BARC 860 582-9102 Dogs All Natural Love BITES ext 128 DOG BISCUITS $ 75 lb. Them The DINING ROOM Open Mon-Fri 11:30am - 2:00pm 860-584-0043 Special of the Week LOBSTER CRAB SALAD SANDWICH $ 25 with a dish of fruit. 6 SOUPS Mon. Manhattan Clam Chowder Tues. Escarole Wed. CLOSED FOR 4TH JULY Thur. Cheese Ravioli & Spinach Fri. Seafood Chowder 3 The GROWING Call for catering info or visit greerschicken.com NAMED BEST FRIED CHICKEN IN CONNECTICUT MAGAZINE GREER’S TAKE OUT FOOD • DELIVERY CHARGE $3.00 CENTER ext 133 Need more plants for your gardens? Stop by – We have beautiful flowering plants. Need a gift plant? Or a new houseplant? We got it! Come on by; we are always getting new plants in. Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30-3:30 CANDY KITCHEN ext 134 Enjoy the Coconut Shells, Peanut Butter Cups, Chocolate Covered Oreos and all of our season pops, regular and sugar-free. Don’t forget to check out our regular and sugar-free Jams! FREE 4 PIECES FRIED CHICKEN 1 BREAST, 1 THIGH, 1 DRUMSTICK & 1 WING With Purchase of 16 Assorted Pieces of Fried Chicken. No Substitutions. Excludes Catering Coupons May Not Be Combined With Any Other Offer. Mention Coupon When Ordering. Expires 7/31/12 64 Matthews Street, Bristol, CT 06010 (1/4 mile from rail-road trestle off Rt.6) • 860-583-3191 • 860-314-0828 Monday Closed • Tuesday - Sunday 10am-7pm Friday, June 29, 2012 13 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 •Obituaries...pages 14, 15 •Real Estate: Real People...page 17 •St. Paul awards...page 18 Our Friends Girl Scouts dig up a piece of their past By KAITLYN NAPLES STAFF WRITER Just about 12 years ago, Girl Scout Troop 6436 at Hubbell School buried a time capsule in the court yard of the school. Recently, some of the girls from that troop from 12 years ago joined the girls currently in that troop, and their leaders, to dig up the box they buried. “It was the year 2000, the millennium, so we thought it would be a cool thing to do with the girls,” said Sandy Hultman, one of the leaders of Troop 6436. When the troop buried the capsule, it was decided that it would be dug up again when the youngest girls in that troop would be KAITLYN NAPLES Sandy Hultman, left, and Tami Lombardi were leaders of the troop that buried the time capsule at Hubbell School 12 years ago. The troop recently gathered with its past and present members to dig up the box. graduating from high school, which happened to be 2012. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts, so it made digging up the capsule that much more significant. “They (Girls Scouts) learn so many different things,” Hultman said was one of the reasons why she had her daughter join, and why she got involved. “It offered so many experiences and taught life skills.” Hultman described a trip she took with the troop once, along with her counterpart leader Tami Lombardi, to New York City. The troop was able to sleep at the top of the Empire State Building, which they said was something they will never forget. A group of past and present Girls Scouts gathered in the courtyard at Hubbell School to dig up the photos, letters, badges, artwork and more that has been sitting in the ground for 12 years. The group was surprised when they opened up the box, which happened to be filled with water and some ruined paper. However, the photos of the girls were still in tact, as well as a troop parade KAITLYN NAPLES Past and present Girl Scouts at Hubbell School gathered to dig up a time capsule that was buried 12 years ago in the school’s courtyard. banner, which still had signatures on it, and some badges. Christine Hoffman, service unit manager for the Bristol and Forestville Girl Scouts, was a Girl Scout and has been a troop leader for many years. “Being in Girl Scouts helps the girls learn a lot about taking care of themselves and being part of a community,” she said, adding her daughters have also been involved in Girl Scouts. In addition to the past and present Girl Scouts participating in digging up the time capsule, was a woman who has been a Girl Scout for 51 years. Bristol resident Eloise Robinson said she continues to be involved because “it is just an awesome organization to be a part of.” She still participates in local events and lives by the Girl Scout way, “You go where you are needed.” Forestville man ordained deacon by archbishop TAMMI KNAPIK Down at D’s Recently, second graders at South Side School, helped by fifth graders, offered up D's Diner where they served brunch and performed for parents and their fellow students. Twelve men including a Forestville man be ordained by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell as permanent deacons on Saturday, June 2 at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford. Richard J. Wisniewski from Saint Matthew Church in Forestville was among those installed. He will join the other 190 active and retired-active deacons who comprise the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of Hartford. A permanent deacon is a man who is at least 35 years of age, and dedicates his service in the threefold ministry of the Word, of the liturgy, and of charity. A deacon may be married (most are), and raising a family, or celibate. More often than not, he will have another SAINT GREGORY CHURCH 235 Maltby Street Bristol, CT 06010 HALL RENTALS FOR Commercial • Residential INSTALLATION • SERVICE • FREE ESTIMATION SPRING G START T UP Located in Wolcott CT Lic# 208911 STARTING AT 5600 $ • Receptions • Anniversaries • Family Reunions & Gatherings • Graduation Parties Please contact “Bea” at 860-5898 for further information. The large Hall at the CCD Center on Stafford Avenue and the small hall in the lower level of the church are available for rent. career outside of the church. He has specific responsibilities in assisting the priest in the celebration of the Eucharist, and has other liturgical responsibilities including: administering the sacrament of baptism, witnessing marriages, bringing Viaticum to the dying and presiding at liturgies of the Word and Communion services in the absence of a priest. He is particularly called to exercise special works of charity and justice, particularly on behalf of the poor. According to the Director of the Office of Formation for the Diaconate Deacon Robert Pallotti, becoming a permanent deacon requires five years of theological, pastoral and spiritual study. FOR $25 AIR CONDITIONING and HEATING ScheduleSomeHelp.com 860-589-8979 Limited time offer available only at participating locations. Limitations and exclusions apply. Visit our website at ScheduleSomeHelp.com for complete details. Richard Ross – Owner/Operator – License #S-1 303469 14 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Friday, June 29, 2012 Obituaries Glenna Jean Cote, worked at CHIF in Hartford Glenna Jean (Barrow) Cote 58, of New Britain, died Sunday, June 17 in Plantsville. She was the wife of Armand Cote. She was born Dec. 25, 1953 in Hartford, a daughter of Jean (Estey) Barrow and the late Glenwood C. Barrow. She was a Plainville High School graduate and was employed as an office assistant at CHIF in Hartford for many years. Besides her husband of 41 years and mother, she is survived by her children, Armand Cote, Jr. of Rocky Hill, Amie Guertin of Southington, Rebecca Foster of Canaan and Brian Cote of Bristol: her brothers, James Barrow of New Britain and Joseph Barrow of Bristol; her sisters, Donna Barrow Nadolny of Clarksville, Tenn. and Audrey Barrow McLaughlin of Orlando, Fla.;, her grandchildren, Steven, Stephanie, Sabreena, Matthew, Ashley, Kris Jr., and Katarina; her great grandson, Wyatt and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Friday, June 22 at the Bailey Funeral Home, 48 Broad St. in Plainville. Burial followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery in New Britain. Memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 100877106. www.bailey-funeralhome.com John Majersky, U.S. Army veteran of Korean War John Majersky of Bristol died at Ingraham Manor June 15 after a long battle with dementia. He was born Oct. 13, 1930 in Torrington. He was one of four sons of John and Elizabeth Majersky of Terryville. He was the husband of the late Doris Majersky. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was employed with Accurate Forging of Bristol for 40 years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Elks and also the DAV, all of Bristol. He is survived by his brother, Joseph Majersky from Forestville; his sons, Joseph Majersky of Bristol and Edward Majersky from Windsor Locks; his four grandchildren, Anthony, Jay, Joseph Jr., and Jillian; along with his great granddaughter, Hanna Levesque. Burial with military services was private and at the discretion of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ingraham Manor Wish List. w w w. s c o t t f u n e r a l homeinc.com AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL 510 West Street • (860) 583-4242 A M E Zion Church CHRISTIAN Francis J. Beland, retired draftsman Francis “Fran” J. Beland, 78, of Bristol, husband of Lucille (Caisse) Beland, died on Tuesday June 19. He was born in Bristol on Dec. 1, 1933 and was a son of the late John and Eva (Rondeau) Beland. A lifelong Bristol resident, he retired as a draftsman from General Electric in 1992, and fully in 2002 from Carling Technologies. He served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War era, he was a weatherman stationed in Saudi Arabia. He was a member of the OMs of the Bristol Boys and Girls Club for 49 years. He sang tenor in St. Ann’s choir for over 25 years and more recently was a member of The Bristol Choral Society. Along with being a past president at the Bristol Eagles Club, and a counselor at Camp Wamgum for many years, he also worked Thursday night Bingo at St. Ann’s as a bingo caller for 20 years. Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, John Beland of Bristol and Richard Beland of Watertown; his twin brother, Norman Beland of Bristol; his grandson, Cole Beland; his granddaughter, Raymond E. Cobb, retired from Bristol Adult Resource Center Raymond E. Cobb, 67, of Bristol, died on Tuesday, June 19 at The Pines at Bristol. He was born March 10, 1945 in Portland, Maine and was a son of the late Charles Cobb, Sr. and Mary (Poitras) Cobb. He has resided in Bristol since 1987 and worked at the Bristol Adult Resource Center before retiring. He leaves a brother, Charles Cobb, Jr. of Portland, Maine; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Ernie Cobb, and two sisters, infant Rachel Cobb and Rita Shone. Funeral services were ASSEMBLY OF GOD 517 West Street • (860) 583-4636 At 80 West St., Bristol. Tuesday, 5 p.m., Bible Study. Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Mid-Week Eucharist Services. Saturday, 5 p.m., Worship Services. Fourth Tuesday of each month, Prayer and Healing services. Bible study will resume in the fall. Bethel Christian Church Assembly of God Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) 750 Stevens Street • (860) 582-3995 350 Lake Avenue• Wednesday 8 p.m., Sunday 5:45 p.m.• (860) 589-6372 JUDAISM – CONSERVATIVE 138 Circle Street • (860) 583-3572 Advent Christian Church BAPTIST Shea Beland; and many nieces and nephews He was predeceased by three brothers, Raymond, Roland, and Donald “Blackie” Beland. Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 23 at Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave., Bristol, to St. Ann Church, 215 West St., Bristol, for a Mass of Christian Burial. Burial with military honors followed in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bristol. Memorial donations may be made to the Bristol Boys and Girls Club, 105 Laurel St., Bristol, CT 06010. Congregation Kol-Ami held on Friday, June 22 at Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave., Bristol, Conn. Burial followed at Peacedale Cemetery, Bristol. Memorial donations may be made to the Bristol ARC, 621 Jerome Ave., Bristol, CT 06010. w w w. F u n k F u n e r a l Home.com. Sunday Morning Bible Study - 9:15 a.m. Sunday Service - 10:30 a.m. Spanish Service - Every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday Evening Service - 7:00 p.m. Healing Service - Every 3rd Friday of every month at 7:00 p.m. Covenant of Joy Christian Church 147 East Main St., Thomaston• (860) 977-9526. Sunday 9:30 a.m., 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. Hillside Community Church 1484 Highland Ave., Cheshire • (203) 272-1006. Services Friday at 7;30 p.m., Saturday at 10 a.m. Epiphany Prayer Community 435 Broad St., Bristol • (860) 589-7193 Services: 10 a.m. on Sunday. www.HillsideBristol.org JUDAISM - REFORM 5 Barlow Street • (860) 589-8894 Gishrei Shalom Good Samaritan Ministries 736 King Street • (860) 582-3840 Tower of Hope Christian Ministry 37 Main St., Southington - 276-9113 www.gsjc.org Liberty Baptist Church 43 School St., Bristol Baptist Church Chapel. Services 10 a.m. Sunday. • (860) 589-1101 LUTHERAN Bristol Baptist Church ABC 43 School Street • (860) 583-8352 Grace Baptist Church 265 Maple Ave. • (860) 589-0000 Mount Zion Baptist Church 618 Stafford Ave. (860) 582-0633. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE 550 King Street • (860) 584-0180 Bristol Bible Chapel CHURCH OF GOD (860) 589-5190 First Church of Christ Scientists Morning Star Church of God ORTHODOX Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 355 Camp Street • (860) 582-0629 Immanuel Lutheran Church 154 Meadow Street • (860) 583-5649 PENTECOSTAL Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church United Pentecostal Church CONGREGATIONAL 27 Judd Street • (860) 589-7744 First Congregational Church UCC St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 474 East Road • (860) 584-2183 St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church 215 West St. • (860) 582-8169 Grace Congregational Church, 110 South Rd., Farmington. (860) 677-9338. Sunday, 10 a.m. Minister: Rev. Dr. Karen Roy. St. Anthony’s Rectory 111 School Street • (860) 583-1349 EPISCOPAL St. Catherine of Sienna Church of Our Saviour 8 Riverside Avenue • (203) 637-8293 115 West Main St., Plainville. • (860) 747-3109 St. Gregory Rectory St. John’s Episcopal Church 235 Malby Street • (860) 589-2295 851 Stafford Avenue • (860) 583-5445 St. Joseph Rectory 149 Goodwin Street • (860) 583-1369 All Saints’ Church 282 Bound Line Rd., Wolcott • (203) 879-2800 St. Matthew Church 120 Church Avenue • (860) 583-1833 ANGLICAN St. Matthew Church Convent Holy Trinity Anglican Church 119 Church Avenue • (860) 583-2004 Meeting at Chippens Hill Middle School, 551 Peacedale St., Bristol. Sunday Services at 9 a.m. • (860) 585-5129. St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church Ss. Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Church, 34 Fairview 1125 Stafford Avenue • (860) 583-5809 Immanuel Convent 31 Maple Street • (860) 589-4700 31 Brightwood Road • Sunday Orthros and Holy Day Liturgy, 9 10:15 a.m., Sunday Divine Liturgy, 10:15-11:30 a.m.(860) 5833476 St. Andrew Evangelical Lutheran Church 178 Main Street • (860) 584-1942 Queen of the Apostles Center St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church Ave., Terryville. (860) 582-3631. CATHOLIC – ROMAN 193 Woodland Street • (860) 582-9354 59 Wolcott Street • (860) 314-0494 48 Lewis Street. Pastor: David MacDonald. Services: Sunday, 10:30 a.m., 6 p.m., Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Free transportation available. Help for hearing impaired. • (860) 589-6813 134 Main St., Terryville. (860) 589-8666. Sunday, 9 a.m. METHODIST Asbury United Methodist Church 90 Church Avenue • (860) 584-0529 Prospect Methodist Church 99 Summer Street • (860) 582-3443 First Freedom Methodist Church Village Gate, 88 Scott Swamp Rd., Farmington. 583-2863. 10:30 a.m., Sundays. NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church of Eternal Light UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC BYZANTINE RITE St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. 35 Allen St., Terryville. •Saturday evening, English 5 p.m., Sunday morning, 9 a.m. Ukrainian English. (860) 583-7588 HUMAN FAITH_____________________________ Bristol Public Library, High Street, Bristol. 5 Allen St., Terryville. •Sunday, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. service. Once a month. (860) 583-3338 1199 Hill Street • (860) 582-9636 ISLAM Christian Fellowship Center Daar-ul-Ehsaan 739 Terryville Ave. Bristol, CT 06010 (860) 585-9742 Non-Denominational Christian Fellowship Center 43 Prospect Street, Bristol (860)589-0662 Service Times: Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 15 Obituaries Judy S. Thompson, volunteered at Shepard Meadows Evelyn M. Fecteau, attended St. Ann Church Evelyn M. (Vontell) Fecteau, 93, of Beverly Hills, Fla., formerly of Bristol, widow of Armand A. Fecteau, died on Sunday, June 17 at her home. She was born in Holderness, N.H. on Dec. 11, 1918 and was a daughter of the late Henry H. and Hattie (Fischer) Vontell. She was a Bristol resident for most of her life where she attended St. Ann Church before moving to Florida 30 years ago. She is survived by two daughters, Dorothy Piper of Bristol, and Joan Fecteau of Sacramento, Calif.; six grandchildren; one great grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Carol King. Services will take place on Tuesday, June 26 in the chapel of the Holy Family Mausoleum at St. Joseph Cemetery, 522 Terryville Ave., Bristol. Entombment will follow in the mausoleum. Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave., Bristol, is assisting the family. w w w. F u n k F u n e r a l Home.com Alleen L. Reid, retired from Kathy’s Hallmark Alleen L. (Lewis) Reid, 87, of Bristol, died on Saturday, June 16 at Bristol Hospital. She was the widow of James P. Reid. She was born in Hartford on Nov. 21, 1924 and was a daughter of the late Arthur and Margaret (Scoulier) Lewis. A Bristol resident for most of her life, she worked at Kathy’s Hallmark for 19 years before retiring and was a member of First Congregational Church, Bristol. She is survived by two sons, Michael Reid of Texas and Dan Reid of Bristol; a daughter, Donna Banatoski of Burlington; seven grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services and burial in Peacedale Cemetery are private and at United States Navy, with service as a Seabee in the Philippines. He is survived by a son, Richard Santino of Cary, N.C.; a daughter, Trudy Brown of Bristol; his older sister, Raphaella Carozza of Kissimmee, Fla.; four grandchildren, Peter Brown, Jr., Kimberly Larkin, Todd Santino, and Nicole Cargill; six great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Frank Santino; and his sister, Ann Lowden. A celebration of Mass of School in Fredonia, N.Y. She volunteered at S h e p a rd Meadows Therapeutic Thompson R i d i n g Center, where she did everything from brushing the horses and organizing charitable events to cleaning out stalls and serving on the board. She is survived by two daughters, Paula Thompson and Heather Torre; two grandchildren, Adriano Torre and Gianna Torre; and her sister, Nancy Smith. A memorial service was held at O’Brien Funeral Home on 24 Lincoln Ave., Bristol on Tuesday, June 26. Memorial contributions can be made to Shepard Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center. Call (860)314-0007. www.obrien-funeralhome.com the convenience of the family. Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave., Bristol, is assisting the family. Memorial donations may be made to the First Congregational Church Book of Remembrance Fund, 31 Maple St., Bristol, CT 06010. w w w. F u n k F u n e r a l Home.com Michael L. Santino, served as Seabee in Philippines in WWII Michael L. Santino, 97, of Bristol, widower of Alice (Pavitt) Santino, died on Wednesday, June 20 at Bristol Hospital. He was born in Boston, Mass. on May 9, 1915 and was one of four children of the late Alphonso and Maria (DiCicco) Santino. A Bristol resident since 2000, he was a longtime Malden, Mass. resident where he was a welder at the Boston Naval Shipyard and later worked for the Malden Public School System. He was a World War II veteran of the Judy S. Thompson died June 21 at Bristol Hospital in Bristol under hospice care after cancer since August 2011. She was 70 years old. The daughter of Harry and Eleanor Smith, she was born March 3, 1942 in Angola, N.Y. She lived in Silver Creek, N.Y. for many years before moving to Lafayette, Ga in 2003 and then Bristol, Conn. in 2008. She was a retired special education teacher at the Wheelock Elementary TAMMI KNAPIK Special guest at Jennings Christian Burial was held June 22 at St. Gregory Before school let out for the summer, Jennings School students had a visit from Church, 235 Maltby St., author Jerry Palotta. Bristol. Military honors will follow the Mass. The burial took place in Forest Dale Cemetery, Malden, Mass., on Saturday, June 23. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105. w w w. F u n k F u n e r a l Home.com. Joel G. Martin, owned J G Martin Trucking Joel G. Martin, 73, of Wolcott, husband of Beverly (Billings) Martin, died on Saturday June 16 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury. He was born in Frenchville, Maine on June 9, 1939 and was a son of the late Benoit and Marie (Michaud) Martin. He was a longtime Wolcott resident and along with his wife owned and operated J G Martin Trucking Inc. He was a member of St. Pius Church, Wolcott. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Daniel Martin of Canada; two stepsons, William and Phillip Gavin; three brothers, Roderick, James, and G e r a l d Martin; a sister, Joan Martin; eight Martin grandchildren, five great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two step-sons, James and Michael Gavin. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, June 22 at St. Pius Church, 517 Woodtick Rd., Wolcott. Obituaries run free in The Bristol Observer. Email them to: mchaiken@BristolObserver.com Burial followed in Woodtick Cemetery, Wolcott. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association Founders Affiliate, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 022417005 of to the National Kidney Foundation of Connecticut, 2139 Silas Deane Highway, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. w w w. F u n k F u n e r a l Home.com Resident rides in ‘Bike MS: Red Thread+Steelcase Ride’ Bristol resident Rebecca Hurley poses before the start of the 25-mile course at the 2012 Bike MS: Red Thread+Steelcase Ride Sunday, June 3, in Windsor. Hurley, who is a business analyst in the information technology department at Waste Management in Windsor, rode on Team Waste Management, which to date has raised almost $16,000. Hurley has raised almost $900. www. BristolObserver. com Removal of Almost Anything! • • • • Rubbish • Appliances Furniture • Junk Basements • Garages Estate Move Outs Cannot be combined with any other offer. Free Initial Consultation • Reasonable Fees ATTORNEY DIANE S. SUMMERS SOUTHINGTON (860) 628-1013 Fully Insured • Family Operated • Free Estimates 985 Farmington Avenue (Route 6) (860) 585-9888 Over 15 Years of Bankruptcy Experience. We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code. 16 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 The Step Saver/ The Observer Friday, June 29, 2012 Sandy’s Baton Studio students win awards The National Baton Twirling Association Miss Majorette of Connecticut and Open contest was held recently in Somers. Students of Sandy’s Baton Studio in Bristol were among the top winners. To earn the Miss Majorette of Connecticut title, you must achieve the highest combined scores in solo twirling, marching, modeling, and interview. Jaymie Bianca won the Intermediate Pre-Teen Miss Majorette title.Zoey Corey won in the Junior Miss Majorette with Elizabeth Boccardi winning third runner-up. Leanne Aakjar was the Beginner Senior Miss Majorette winner. Cassandra Lattarulo won the Novice basic Skills 0-6 pageant. In the 7 to 9 division, Kristina Pasqua was second runner-up. Winners in the open contest: Basic Strut Jennifer Marie Rulkowski and Matthew William LaFleur. Rulkowski, LaFleur to wed Sept. 29 Gerald and Noreen Rulkowski of Bristol, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Marie to Matthew William LaFleur of Plantsville. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Walter and Olga Caiazza and the late Benjamin and Leona Rulkowski. The groom-to-be is the grandson of William and Alecia Magri and the late Alvin LaFleur. The bride-to-be gradu- ated from Brio Academy of Cosmetology. She is a certified cosmetologist and is employed by Master Cuts in Meriden. The groom-to-be attended Lincoln Technical Institute and has a degree in automotive technology. He is an automotive technician and is employed by Honda of Watertown. The couple is planning a Sept. 29 wedding at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. Intermediate 13 to 15, Elizabeth Boccardi, first, Zoey Corey, third. 10 to 12, Jaymie Bianca, first. Beginner- 16 to 20, Leanne Aakjar, second. Novice 7 to 9, Kristina Pasqua, third. 0 to 6, Cassandra Lattarulo, first. Cassandra Lattarulo, left, Jaymie Bianca, Leanne Aakjor, and Zoey Corey. Advanced 13 to 15, Zoey Corey, first. Beginner 10-12-Jaymie Bianca, first. 7 to 9, Kristina Pasqua, fourth Queen- beginner-16 to 20, Leanne Aakjar; Cassandra Lattarulo, fifth. X Strut- Novice- 13 to 15, Elizabeth Boccardi, second. Novelty Twirl Advanced, 16 to 20, Leanne Aakjar, second 13 to 15, Zoey Corey, first. Instate solo Military March Advanced 13 to 15, Zoey Corey, second. Beginner, 16 to 20, Leanne Aakjar, first. 13 to 15, Jaymie Bianca, third. Open solo, intermediate, 13 to 15, Elizabeth Boccardi, fourth. Beginner 16 to 20, Leanne Aakjar, second. Novice 0 to 6, Cassandra Lattarulo, first. Sisters Kate and Julia Marchak, first time competitors received participation awards. Selected home offerings from: Southington, Bristol, Plainville Hot Properties 176 Chapel Street Bristol, CT W E E N RIC P Price: $179,900 Agency: Prudential CT Realty Contact: Kori Gauvin at 860-620-7550 Features: Lovely 3BR/1BA Ranch in Chippens Hill; Finished LL for addl 600 sq ft; Mudroom leading to Deck & Pool; Eat-In Country Kit; Spacious Living Rm w/Bay Window; NEW Windows, Garage Doors, & Exterior Paint — G614874 W G NE TIN LIS BRISTOL - JUST LISTED! This 1860 sq ft Colonial has it all! A dream kitchen anyone would love, a fireplaced LR, 1st floor laundry, beautiful lot with in-ground pool & patio, 2-car garage and a cul-de-sac location ALL FOR JUST $259,900 and close to everything. BRISTOL - A LOVELY OLDER COLONIAL with tons of character and charm with its 3 BRS, 2 full baths, eat-in kitchen, FDR w/built-in hutch, den and an oversized 2-car garage with additional workshop area behind garages all located on a beautiful level lot. REDUCED TO $199,900. BRISTOL - CALL ON THIS LOVELY home w/ newer roof & driveway, remodeled fully applianced kitchen w/buffet & sliders to beautiful 3-season porch overlooking a very private backyard, 3 BRs, 1.5 baths, lower level FR, 2 car garage located in the Northeast. Don’t miss out on this great home, REDUCED TO $214,000. BRISTOL - JUST LISTED! This immaculate 5 room Ranch that sits on 1.3 acres of land with a total of 6 rooms, 2 baths, a fireplaced LR and needs nothing! JUST $169,900 and will never last! 51 Larkspur Lane, Bristol, CT 83 Surrey Drive, Bristol, CT Agency: Prudential CT Realty Contact: Mary Flo Cleaver at 860-681-1889 Features: NEW TO THE MARKET! Awesome 3BR/3BA Price: $274,900 Agency: Perrella Realty, LLC Contact: Gail Perrella at 860-621-7130 Features: Charming home in every way. 1638 sq.ft. 3 bedroom offers privacy galore; Library/Family Room w/Cathedral Ceiling, 1st flr LR/Study/Full Bath w/Laundry; 3 BR’s up; Lrg Private Deck & Backyard Oasis perfect for entertaining & children w/access from Kit & LR — G624084 cape with 6 panel wood doors throughout. Immaculate condition with beautiful wood floors, stainless appliances, fireplace in Family room, full walk out to lovely back yard. Many updates Brought to you by: THE BEST AT WHAT WE DO! 860-589-2100 cmrbristol.com BRISTOL - A CUTE CAPE with 4 BRs, 1.5 baths, a fireplaced LR, eat-in kitchen, 2-car detached garage, central air on first floor, ASKING $149,900. 213 Spring St., Southington, CT To feature a home in Hot Properties, call our Advertising Dept., 860-628-9645 www.SouthingtonObserver.com • www.StepSaver.com • www.BristolObserver.com 6-29-12 Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 17 Keeping business local feels like the right choice for Southington Realtor Sarah Johnson Real Estate: Real People Real estate agents aren’t just members of the local business community. They are your neighbors and members of your community They also help build communities by helping people become homeowners. Each week, we are going to introduce you to local real estate agents—your neighbors— who are “Real People.” Alain Monbaron of Baron Realty Group has been in the business of real estate for over 20 years. Five years ago, he began his own in downtown Southington. “I’ve done jobs where I was traveling and running around like crazy,” Alain said. “Now I’m two minutes from my office, I’m my own boss and I am doing work in my town. It’s very exciting. I was born here in SARAH JOHNSON Alain Monbaron of Baron Realty Group in Southington. Southington. I left here a couple times over the course of my life, but for whatever reason, I keep coming back. I really appreciate it. I love this community and having my own business here in town has been an awesome experience..” “I love the business, there’s never a dull moment. Because of my own personality, I like a lot of action and every single day, even if my calendar Eachh officee is independentlyy owned andd operated HARWINTON: Ready to move in to this one owner spacious Split Level! 3 BRs, open living on main floor, fabulous deck overlooking lovely yard. In-law in lower level & located in cul-desac neighbohood. Come see for yourself! GREAT OFFERING PRICE $195,000 BURLINGTON: Take a look at this 5 room Colonial with 2 BRs, 2 baths, LR with FP, master suite on first floor, whirlpool tub, 1 acre lot. ONLY $154,900 BRISTOL ~ Absolutely stunning Single Family Condo in an adult communtiy. This home features 6 rooms, 2 BRs, 2 baths, LR with fplc, formal DR, family room, eatin kitchen, full basement, patio overlooking private rear yard. REDUCED! $199,900 BRISTOL: Sunny and bright Raised Ranch with 6 rooms, 3 BRs. 2 baths, eat-in-kitchen, FDR, family room, C/Air, 1 car garage, quiet setting. REDUCED $199,900 says I have nothing on my schedule, after a few calls, I’m off an running doing whatever that day calls for.” Southington has turned out to be a good place for real estate, especially for a newer business owner. Alain explained that the market in town performs above average, even in an economic downturn. “It’s good because it’s a community that draws people looking for homes.” There is more than one thing that keeps Alain invested in real estate. “It’s always satisfying when you find the right home for the right person. You can do lots of things for marketing yourself as a real estate agent. The way you find most of your leads or clients is just being face to face and talking to people.” Ending up at his North Main Street office was no accident for Alain. “I just moved to this location about two months ago. I was next door to Bonterra, I had this space and building listed for sale and lease. I kept showing this to people saying, ‘This is a great location,’ then I realized I should take it. My sign is right on Route 10, so it’s been good exposure.” “I have room for expansion and recruiting agents. I have four other agents that work with me and I’m speaking with some other folks who are interested in joining me.” Alain is very active in the community. He is on the Board of Directors for the Southington Chamber of Commerce, Midstate Association of Realtors, and the Connecticut Association of Realtors. “I try to volunteer as much time as I can. It’s a balancing act. Living here, working here gives me time in my schedule to do these things. I’m involved with some other organizations like the YMCA, I’ll help out where I can. I sponsor a band for Music on the Green. This year, it’s Eight to the Bar on July 18. In a home, there is one key element that Alain feels is a must-have. “For me the biggest attraction in a house is the kitchen area. I like a big wide-open kitchen. It’s the center of the house, a gathering spot, where you socialize. That’s the number one thing that catches my eye.” “I don’t envision myself retiring, but if I do, it will be on the beach somewhere south of Connecticut. To me, something small and simple is best … as low maintenance as possible. I have totally lost any desire to do yard work and all that stuff that goes with taking care of a house.” “As far as my job goes, I try to treat my clients like my friends and my friends are my potential clients, so I try to treat everyone fairly. I don’t consider myself a salesperson. I’m doing what I love. I work hard to make sure my clients are happy.” Alain Monbaron of Baron Realty Group, 98 Main St., Suite 106, Southington can be reached at (860) 628-0007 or al@ baronrealtygroup.com Sarah Johnson is a correspondent with The Observer. Are you interested in being featured in ‘Real Estate: Real People?’ Call Sarah Johnson at (860) 462-3196 or email Mike Chaiken at mchaiken@Bristol Observer.com BAY-MAR REALTY 860-582-7404 OPEN EVENINGS & WEEKENDS BRISTOL: JUST LISTED! Attractive sun-filled end unit Condo. 4 rooms, LR with FP, cathedral ceilings, open floor plan, fully applianced with washer/dryer, rear deck, wood floors. ONLY $81,900 TERRYVILLE: Just a little TLC needed on this 6 room, 4 BR, 1 bath Cape. Living room with fireplace, eat-in kitchen , porch, private rear yard, 2-car garage, 1.34 acres BRISTOL: 7 room Colonial with 3 BRs, 2 baths, wraparound porch, vilyl sided, DR, eat-in kitchen, large LR, 4-car garage & workshop for the hobbiest. BRISTOL: Stunning custom build home. 9 RM, 4 BR Colonial. Great room with FP. EIK w/granite c/tops, first floor MBR w/full bath, w/pool tub. IG pool w/brick patio. 3 car garage. Over 1.3 acres of land. $449,900 REDUCED $99,900 BRISTOL: JUST LISTED! 6 Room Ranch, 3 BRs, 1.5 baths, LR with fplc, new kitchen, large dining area, family room, office, laundry room, deck overlooking private yard, 1-car garage. ASKING $169,800 BRISTOL ~ Really nice 2 bedroom end unit with vaulted ceilings and circular staircase. Other features are a fully applianced kitchen including washer and dryer, newer flooring, newer doors and windows and a brand new roof. Great location for highway access and ESPN. ASKING $99,900 ASKING $99,900 BRISTOL: JUST LISTED! Beautiful & bright 5 room Condo. Unit features 2 BRs, loft-style unit with vaulted ceilings, walk-in closet, fully applianced, dining room, family room. A Must See! ASKING 99,000 BRISTOL: Stop by and take a look at this 7 RM Ranch with 4 BRs, 2 BAs, nothing to do except move in. EIK, finished rec room, hwd floors, large level lot and a 2 car carport. ASKING $174,000 18 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Friday, June 29, 2012 St. Paul High school distributes awards at annual program St. Paul Catholic High School distributed the following during its Annual Awards Program on May 15: ST. PAUL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS VIKKI BARROW MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP:: Kimberly Szabo MICHELLE BILODEAU MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Mary Ranagan KEVIN FITZGERALD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Matthew Collins REBECCA GRIGOS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Emily Archacki MICHAEL B. HESSION MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Gianna Sabino ERICA JORDAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Kelly McMahon TOM KELLY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Nicholas Shemkovitz EDWARD AND ALBA KRAWIECKI FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP: Paul Wiecki THE MICHAEL J. LEPORE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP: Sydney Riddick PAUL LEPORE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Kyle Dube and Shanika McKoy ELIZABETH MARR MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Austin Kulig and Paige Petit ODELL FAMILY SPANISH SCHOLARSHIP: Kindeya Chiaro RM ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP: Joshua Dobratz LINDA RIMCOSKI MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Timothy Jalbert MARC ST. HILAIRE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Theodore Carey STEVEN SUZIO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Gianna Sabino JOHN E. TAVERA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Jackson Hines JAMES WASKO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Ashley Kosikowski ALEX WHITNEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Shane Carlson and Matthew Collins ZADROZNY FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP: Nicholas Szyszkowski COMMUNITY AWARDS REV. GERALD T. CORRIGAN COUNCIL #3544 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SCHOLARSHIP: Joshua Critchley QUOTA INTERNATIONAL OF BRISTOL SCHOLARSHIP: Daniel Kozikowski LIONS CLUB OF SOUTHINGTON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Michael Petit POLISH AMERICAN POLITICAL CLUB WILLIAM LYGA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Daniel Kozikowski ROTARY CLUB OF BRISTOL KARL SCHWARTZ SCHOLARSHIP: Michael Petit CONNECTICUT SOCIETY OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Matthew Collins: DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HIGHEST AMERICAN HISTORY AWARD: Olivia Singler DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION KATHERINE GAYLORD CHAPTER GOOD CITIZENS AWARD: Matthew Collins GOVERNOR’S SCHOLAR PROGRAM: Michaela Dolishny HUGH O’BRIAN YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD: Jacqueline Kendrick and Brianna Sanchez MICHAELS JEWELERS AWARDS: Jessica Coombs and Matthew Santovasi SPECIAL AWARDS ELMIRA COLLEGE KEY AWARD: Michaela Dolishny and Matthew Santovasi: FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY BOOK AWARD: Simone Morin GETTYSBURG COLLEGE BOOK PRIZE: Matthew Santovasi HARVARD BOOK PRIZE: Olivia Singler COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS BOOK AWARD: Joseph Johnson REGIS COLLEGE BOOK AWARD: Erica Osowiski RENSSELAER MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE AWARD: Matthew Santovasi SAGE COLLEGES - STUDENT SAGE AWARD: Marietta Gentile SAINT MICHAEL’S COLLEGE BOOK AWARD: Kyle Dube and Elizabeth Leonard SMITH COLLEGE: Emily Tkac UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER BAUSCH and LOMB HONORARY SCIENCE AWARD: Guen Park UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND SUSAN B. ANTHONY AWARD: Benjamin Gaudio UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER GEORGE EASTMAN YOUNG LEADERS AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP: Nick Iacovelli UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER XEROX AWARD FOR INNOVATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Jeffrey Massicott WELLS COLLEGE 21st CENTURY LEADERSHIP AWARD: Shanika McKoy WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY BOOK AWARD: Jackson Etting WHEELOCK COLLEGE BOOK AWARD: Monica Palmieri YALE UNIVERSITY BOOK AWARD: Hailey Morneault U.S. AIR FORCE MATH and SCIENCE AWARD: Timothy Jalbert ST. PAUL NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY POPE JOHN XXIII CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIP: Michael Petit, Sylvia Olejnik, Jessica Coombs, and Adam Wiernasz REV. EDMUND O’BRIEN AWARD (presented at graduation): Michael Petit ST. PAUL FACULTY AWARD (presented at graduation): Emily Archacki and Matthew Collins PRESIDENT’S AWARD (presented at graduation): Allison Valentine SENIOR SCHOLARS: Mackenzie Trowbridge Anh Nguyen Adrienne Ciervo Timothy Jalbert Gianna Sabino Makayla Lucia Nolan Villani Emily Archacki Salutatorian:: Michael Petit Valedictorian:: Olejnik Sylvia DEPARTMENT AWARDS: THEOLOGY Grade 9: Austin Kulig 10: Felicia Knight 11 : Olivia Singler 12: Makayla Lucia ENGLISH Grade 9 Sydney Riddick 10: Anthony Leone 11: Guen Park 12 : Anh Nguyen III: Hailey Morneault IV Honors: Mallory Madrak V: Makayla Lucia Latin I: Mary Ranagan II: Austin Sokol III: Tristan Petit AP IV: Michael Petit Spanish I: Sydney Riddick II: Brendan Carroll and Felicia Knight III: Anthony Leone IV Honors: Timothy Jalbert AP V: Nohemi Torres MATHEMATICS Honors Algebra: Jose Silva, Sydney Riddick Honors Geometry: Brendan Carroll Honors Algebra II: Austin Sokol Honors Pre-Calculus: Sylvia Olejnik UCONN Calculus: Timothy Jalbert and Gianna Sabino AMERICAN MATHEMATICS COMPETITION First place on the American Mathematics Competition 10 test: Sheldon Kim First place American Mathematics Competition 12 test: Patrick Raymond SCIENCE: Anatomy and Physiology: Anna Verdosci AP Biology: Olivia Singler Honors Biology: Brendan Carroll Honors Chemistry : Meredith Maynard Environmental Studies: Michael Edmiston Forensic Science I: Emily Archacki Forensic Science II: Emily Archacki Human Biology: Anthony Leone Marine Biology: Paige Petit Honors Physics: Timothy Jalbert SOCIAL STUDIES: AP U.S. Government : Makayla Lucia Contemporary Issues: Christopher Paccioretti Criminal Justice: Gabriela Perleche Eastern Civilization: Austin Kulig AP Psychology: Emily Archacki Sociology: Makayla Lucia AP U.S. History: Benjamin Gaudio Honors Western Civilization: Anthony Leone and Felicia Knight UNIFIED ARTS: BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY Accounting: Nicholas Szyszkowski Business Principles and Practices Gianna Sabino Communications: Gianna Sabino Computer Applications: Krystina Galluzzo Computer Design I: Brendan Carroll Computer Design II: Ashley Kosikowski Computer Design III: Theodore Carey AP Computer Science A: Timothy Jalbert Economics: Yatong Fan Foundations of HTML: and Java: Andrew Adam Keyboarding: Sydney Riddick Personal Finance: Angelika Dembinska VISUAL ARTS 3-D Design: Abigail Lindquist AP Art: Anh Nguyen Computer Graphics : Anh Nguyen Drawing: Daniel Kozikowski Painting: Jae Won Choi MUSIC: and PERFORMING ARTS Instrumental Studies: Michael Petit Music Theory I: Joseph Johnson AP Music Theory : Michael Petit Choral Musicianship: Mackenzie Trowbridge Musical Theater Dance I: Lindsay Donati Musical Theater Dance II: Jessica Coombs Drama: Kody Lynn Perkins Music Technology Christopher Melnyk Piano and Electric Guitar Minji Kim PHYSICAL EDUCATION Physical Education: Lauren Benoit Team Sports: David Guidone Call Now For A Free Market Analysis http://www.c21agold.com TO W T! NE ARKE M BRISTOL Sprawling 11 RM Ranch style home w/ many updates, featuring 4 spacious BRs, 3 full BAs, MBR suite w/ full bath, remodeled EIK w/ granite center isle, hardwood and marble flooring, formal sunken living room w/ FP, FDR, lower level family room, sunroom, central air, vinyl siding, patio, 2 car garage, private back yard with gazebo and beautiful gardens. Call Paula Ray-$389,900 Y! RE NIT RA RTU PO OP ICE D! PR UCE D E R BRISTOL Farm property on almost 14 acres includes a 5 room ranch that is situated on 6.35 acres with possible subdivision, $360,000. Or can be combine with 7 acres across the street and continue to be used as a farm with horses and livestock or subdivide, farm property includes barn, silo and chicken coup, most level topography, beautiful meadow land, 926 feet road frontage, many possibilities. Call Paula Ray-$720,000 BRISTOL - NORTHEAST AREA! Move in Condition! Lovely 6 room raised ranch w/ in-law potential, featuring 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, eat-in kitchen w/breakfast bar, hardwood floors, FP’d living room, FR w/fireplace, LL adds 700 sq., ft., and includes 2nd kitchen w/ bath, newer roof, siding and windows, nice rear deck, one car garage, level yard. Call Susan Gorski-$199,900 A-Gold Action Realty, Inc. 89 North Street • Rt. 6 • Bristol (860) 589-1111 FOREIGN LANGUAGE French: I: Leah DiVenere II: Meredith Maynard Paula Ray Owner/Broker E-mail c21agold@c21agold.com HOW MUCH IS YOUR HOME WORTH? Call one of our real estate professionals for a market evaluation of your property. Jim Krawiecki, Realtor 27 Years Full Time Experience Serving Bristol, Southington, Plainville and Farmington. BRISTOL "A Must See" This Cape Cod home is impeccable, featuring newer roof, windows, driveway, furnace and electrical, three bedrooms, one bath, living room with fireplace, hardwood floors refinished within the last 5 years, beautiful landscaping surrounds this home. $179,900 BRISTOL This home surrounds you with the warmth of yesteryear, three BRs, 1.5 baths set on 1/4 acre, fabulous master bedroom retreat w/full bath, walk in closet, beautiful original woodwork, newer roof, most windows, siding, garage, beautiful new kitchen, 8' x 21' enclosed front porch for you to relax on. $199,900 EN Y OP NDA 2 SU 12- BRISTOL / FARMINGTON LINE Beautiful spacious, Bright 3 BR, 3 full bath end unit Townhome! 2 car attach gar! 3 season porch! Open layout! Storage! Great peaceful setting! $259,000 BRISTOL Just move in to this “better than n new” 4 BR Colonial/Cape built in 1994 with C/Air! New windows in 2009! Newer Appliances! $2500 Seller Bonus for Closing Costs! $199,900 Call Jim - 860-508-2555 SOUTHINGTON Spacious Colonial on a cul-de-sac, featuring kitchen with oak cabinets and newer granite counters, 1st floor family room with gas fireplace, heated sunroom, three bedrooms, 3.5 baths, studio/gallery above the garage, finished lower level, recreation room or possible in law apartment. $374,900 159 REDSTONE HILL • PLAINVILLE "As Crisp as the Summer Air" The potential for this meticulous home is endless, elegant living with practically, two splendid bedrooms, two full baths, sedating sunroom, fenced in rear yard for year round enjoyment, a showcase for many spectacular updates! $225,000. DIR: Broad St to Restone Hill. BRISTOL Come and view this lovely 2 family home, live down stairs, rent the up stairs, completely refinished and is "A Must See" this nostalgic four bedroom, two bath, very well maintained property could become your new home or best investment. $159,900 ACREAGE SOUTHINGTON "Spacious, Open & Delightful" This four bedroom Cape has a unique design, with the positioning of the 1st floor family room, 1st floor bedroom, two baths, hardwood floors, finished lower level, a great yard, space with room to plant, linger and play, two car garage. $299,900 PUTNAM AGENCY REAL ESTATE, LLC Southington Commons, 963 Queen Street, Southington 860-628-5691 • Serving Your Real Estate Needs for Over 49 Years • Fax 621-7054 email: putnamagcy@aol.com Visit our Website putnamagencyrealestate.com Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 19 •Tasty Bites dines at Cafe Buono...page 20 •Red carpet style...pages 22, 23 •REO Speedwagon rides to town...page 25 Our Night on the Town Ronnie Spector: There’s much more to her tale her life that might surprise her fans, she said. And those details are unveiled in her multi-media stage production called “Beyond the Beehive,” she said. “Beyond the Beehive” comes to Bridge Street Live in Collinsville on Saturday, June 30. Ronnie said the show, which offers monologues, musical performances, and images and videos projected on a screen behind her, follows her entire life. It begins when she was just 5 years old when she would sing to her family in Spanish Harlem. It then takes her through her teen years. The story continues through to Ronnie’s life today. “Beyond the Beehive” had been in the works since 2001, said Ronnie. But it’s just now getting to be staged. However, there are reasons. Back in 1989, Ronnie released an autobiography “Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness.” During autograph sessions for the book, Ronnie said people would come up to her and tell her she should turn her story into a play. After some thought about it, Ronnie said she decided it was a good idea. So, she began writing down things in a journal. Eventually, a script was born. Unfortunately, and sometimes, fortunately, life happens. And Ronnie said her story continued to move forward even after she thought she finished the script. “Life had all of these drastic changes,” said By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR A lot of Ronnie Spector’s life story already has been shared with the world. Ronnie, as leader of the Ronettes, had one of the most iconic hit songs of the rock and roll era, “Be My Baby.” The song literally the flagship of the iconic Girl Group era of the early 1960s. The Ronettes were huge. They were big enough that they helped give The Beatles and The Rolling Stones their starts when they invited the British invasion acts to open for them. Ronnie also was married to legendary producer Phil Spector. It was a love story that turned into a nightmare that still haunts her life. Phil Spector, paranoid and reclusive, locked Ronnie in his house, effectively shutting down her career… and her life. Ronnie eventually escaped her now ex-husband’s clutches by breaking through a window of their house and running barefoot across broken glass to reach the outside world. Then there was the resurrection of her career. She had a hit record with Eddie Money, “Take Me Home Tonight,” in the 1980s that returned her to the public eye. Eventually, in 2007, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Ronettes. Those are the details everyone knows. But Ronnie, in a phone call from her home in Connecticut, said there are some details people don’t know. These are details of Homestyle Italian Cooking... Like Mom Used to Make! $2.00 Budweiser Bottle During Happy Hour Bar Only CATERING AVAILABLE FOR YOUR VOTED BEST GRADUATION PARTY Italian Restaurant in Bristol OR ANY OTHER GET TOGETHER! Voted “Best Pizza in Bristol” by Bristol Residents and “Best Pizza in Town” by Bristol Press Readers THIN OR THICK CRUST BRICK OVEN PIZZA • Seafood • Steaks • Chops • Pasta OUR ENTIRE DINNER MENU IS AVAILABLE FOR TAKE-OUT! Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials 240 Park St. (Rte 72) Bristol • 860-582-5766 Catering & Private Party Room Available Ronnie Spector, who achieved international fame with ‘Be My Baby,’ brings her life to the stage in ‘Beyond the Beehive,’ which comes to Bridge Street Live in Collinsville on Saturday. Ronnie. Thus, the script needed to be reworked. First of all, Ronnie said, her life story took a tragic turn when her ex-husband Phil Spector was accused of murder. Phil Spector was eventually convicted in 2009 of the 2003 murder of actress Lana Clarkson. Then in 2007, on a positive note, the Ronettes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, said Ronnie. These two landmark moments had to be included in the show, said Ronnie. In time, after numerous script revisions, Ronnie said “Beyond the Beehive” was complete. And she’s pleased with the end result. “It’s a different kind of show,” said Ronnie. “I love it.” Ronnie said she has so many great stories. “And all these things are true,” said Ronnie. With This Coupon • Dine In or Take Out • Food Only Buy 1 Lunch or Dinner & Receive the Second of Equal or Lesser Value at 50% Off. Entrees Only. Not Valid with Other Offers. Expires 7/06/12 PICK UP ONLY 2 LARGE PIZZAS 1 ITEM $ 16 95 Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Expires 7/06/12 500 OFF $ ANY PURCHASE OVER $25 With This Coupon • Dine In or Take Out • Food Only Not Valid with Other Offers. Expires 7/06/12 more interested in singing rock and roll and getting enough money to better their lives than worry about things like royalties. Ronnie said she and the Ronettes were paid a mere $14,000 for “Be My Baby” when they signed with Phil Spector’s label. Although Ronnie has had more than her share of tragedy through the years, she said she’s now experiencing the best days of her life. Ronnie said she is still doing what she loves, performing. She has two great children. And she has a husband who loves her. “I was drifting in the 1960s. I was like a ghost,” said Ronnie. Now, she said, “I have a real life and a real career.” As for the future of “Beyond the Beehive,” Ronnie said she would like to see it make it to Broadway. But she said, at this point, she doesn’t want to get too far ahead of herself. For now, she said, playing at places like Bridge Street Live are good enough for her. Ronnie Spector brings “Beyond the Beehive” to Bridge Street Life, 41 Bridge St., Collinsville on Saturday, June 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and $65 for VIP seats. For more information, go to 41BridgeStreet.com or RonnieSpector.com Comments? Email mchaiken@BristolObserver.c om. SUPER SAVINGS AT SPARE TIME BRISTOL BOWLING SPECIALS All You Can BOWL Thursdays 9PM - MIDNIGHT $13 PER PERSON Includes Shoes & FREE PIZZA SLICES EASY AS 1, 2, 3 MON. TUES & WED 8pm-Close $3 entry fee gets you $1 games and $2 shoe rental. www.sabinosrestaurantct.com • Closed Mondays 50% OFF LUNCH OR DINNER And she has surprised herself by her ability to stand up on stage and share these stories. She said the audiences watch, enraptured by the things she has to say. “The audiences eat it up…,” said Ronnie. “They laugh, they cry, they yell out things... ‘Ronnie, I love you,’ ‘Ronnie, you’re great.’” When talking about “Beyond the Beehive,” however, Ronnie is careful. She said she doesn’t want to give too much away. There are some surprises she said and the audiences will to come to the show to find out what she has to say. Although the Ronettes were iconic representatives of the girl group sound, Ronnie still can’t sing many of their hits. (She did reveal she will be singing “Time On My Side,” by the Rolling Stones… thanks to an offer from her neighbor Keith Richards.) For instance, although fans will clamor for her to sing, “Be My Baby” she can’t due to ongoing litigation with her ex-husband. In 2003, Ronnie sued Phil Spector for back royalties worth $3 million. She won the initial case. But she said ex-husband has filed 17 appeals, preventing Ronnie from singing her own music. “My ex-husband won’t let me go,” said Ronnie. “He still has control.” Part of her current situation, she explained, is a result of how business was conducted in the 1960s. The Ronettes and many of their peers were SPARE TIME FAMILY FUN CENTER 177 Farmington Ave Bristol • 860-583-1669 Go To: sparetimebristol.com 20 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Tasty Bites Cafe Buono Photos and text by Stacey McCarthy Summer pasta at Cafe Buono in Bristol. Veal parmigiana at Cafe Buono in Bristol. Each week, The Observer hits up the local restaurant scene, offering you an inside look at the culinary delights in central Connecticut. The Basics Café Buono Dine-in, take-out, catering, and in restaurant parties (weddings, rehearsal dinners, showers, and anniversaries.) Summer hours are Monday through Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon (breakfast only.) Lunch hours will resume in September. 562 Farmington Ave., Friday, June 29, 2012 Bristol Phone: (860)582-2233 cafebuonobristol.com The Buzz Voted Best Italian Restaurant in Bristol in the Bristol Press in 2010, 2011, and 2012 and Most Romantic in 2010. They were voted Best Italian in Bristol from the Bristol Observer in 2012. Café Buono hosts an advertised specialty night once a month. Past specialties have been a Polish night and a Spanish night. Every third Wednesday is Ladies Night featuring a threecourse meal (salad, entrée, dessert, and glass of wine for $18.) On Thursday nights, there is a keyboard sing along with Bruno Cerati. The Scene Café Buono’s soft yellow walls are filled with large posters of Italian films. The tables in the restaurant and lounge area have a mahogany finish and the earth-colored floors are a custom finished concrete. The front of the restaurant is all glass with a low ledge that is filled with plants. In Your Glass Italian coffees, full service bar, and extensive wine list. On Your Plate Chef-created dinner specials featuring local and seasonal ingredients when available. The vinaigrette dressing and pasta sauces are house-made. Italian-American dishes such as Shrimp Scampi, Chicken Marsala, Veal Saltimbocca, and Penne alla Vodka. The Wallet Appetizers start at $6 for Polpettine Agrodolce (sweet and sour meatballs) and go up to $10 for an antipasto plate of meats and cheeses. Pasta dishes range from $12 for penne arrabbiata (garlic, tomato, and red chili sauce topped with mignon with fresh herbs and finished with goat cheese and a Barolo wine reduction.) All meat and seafood entrees are served with a choice of two of the following: potato, vegetable of the day, or house salad. Pizzas start at $8 for a 12-inch marinara and go up to $17 for a large quattro stagioni (artichokes, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and fresh mozzarella.) fresh parsley) to $16 for macaroni and cheese (cavatappi baked with fontina, parmigiano, goat cheese, and mozzarella topped with bread crumbs and truffle oil.) All pasta dishes are served with a house salad. Chicken and veal dishes start at $14 for chicken agrodolce (sweet and sour Sicilian chicken) and go up to $17 for veal saltimbocca (veal cutlet topped with prosciutto and sage and sautéed in a marsala and butter sauce.) Steak and seafood dishes range from $16 for pesto marinated skirt steak and go up to $23 for filet mignon barolo (9 ounce oven-roasted filet If you’re interested in being featured in a future “Tasty Bites,” email mchaiken@BristolObserver. com Cheesecake, a family favorite that’s simple as pie NEW YORK-- An award-winning film writer, producer, and television host of “Simply Delicious Living,” Maryann Ridini Spencer knows a thing or two about streamlining kitchen time and whipping up tasty meals in minutes. The eldest of six children, she developed a love for cooking and the home arts at an early age. Growing up in a large, close-knit ItalianIrish family, it was common for the eldest children to take on chores in the kitchen. Some of Maryann’s warmest memories were helping her mother prepare the many Italian and Irish dishes passed down from her grandmothers, Mary Ridini and Theresa Murphy. Over the years, Maryann worked for many established restaurants and banquet halls. During her career as a studio executive, and then through her company, Ridini Entertainment, she began to organize and cater numerous private parties and corporate events. “Simply Delicious Living” naturally combines Maryann’s greatest passions: cooking and entertaining, along with her vast experience as a television film writer, producer and journalist. Maryann believes one of life’s greatest pleasures is to make Key Lime Coconut Goat Cheesecake Serves 12 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes (or lime juice) 2 eggs 2/3 cup sugar 1 cup shredded sweet coconut 1 pre-made large (or a series of individual) graham cracker pie crust(s) (Arrowhead Mills, Keebler, or other) Recipe Ingredients: 4 ounces quality cream cheese, at room temperature 5 ounces soft, unripened goat cheese (Woolwich Dairy, a plain chevre) 1-1/2 teaspoons lime rind (zest) 1/3 cup key lime juice Recipe Preparation: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, place cream and goat cheeses; beat with electric mixer until smooth. Add in key lime rind, juice and eggs. Add the sugar in thirds and beat after each addition until your mixture is smooth. 25 minutes from start to finish—and could easily become your family favorite. Maryann Ridini every meal a celebration. Her go-to dessert recipe, Key Lime Coconut Goat Cheesecake, is not only a light luscious summer treat, it’s simple to make—about Live MUSIC Dining listings SATURDAY, JULY 14 PLAINVILLE GE PASTA DINNER IN SUPPORT OF PETIT FAMILY FOUNDATION. 5 to 8 p.m. Family fun, activities and food. Precedes the GE 5K Road Race. GE’s Industrial Solutions parking lot, 41 Woodford Ave., Plainville. $5. Children 12 and under. (8600 747-7641. SATURDAY, JULY 21 OTHER OLD FASHIONED BLUEBERRY PANCAKE SUPPER. 4:30 to 7 p.m. Held by the Ladies of the Plymouth Congregational Church. Blueberry pancakes, sausage, beverage and dessert. Plymouth Congregation Church Fellowship Hall, 10 Park St., Plymouth. $6 for adults, children under 10, $3. ONGOING BRISTOL BREAKFAST FOR VETERANS. 8 to 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. 15 percent discount for all vet- Place prepared pie crust(s) on baking sheet. Pour cheesecake mixture almost to the brim of graham cracker pie crust(s). Bake until edges of cheesecake look set (the center will be soft and slightly jiggly). For individual pies, bake approximately 15 minutes. If using a large pie crust, additional baking time may be required. To cool cheesecake completely, cover and refrigerate for several hours. Serve with whipped cream and top with shredded sweet coconut. erans. Friendly’s, 497 Farmington Ave., Bristol. PLAINVILLE FARMERS MARKET OF PLAINVILLE. Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m., rain or shine. Plainville High School on East Street, Plainville. N OO M B LU E THURSDAY KARAOKE FRIDAY 6/29 SPLIT PERSONALITY 1169 Meriden-Wtby Tpk RTE 322 • Exit 28 off I84 PLANTSVILLE 860-863-5963 OPEN 7 DAYS BlueMoonSouthington.com SATURDAY 6/30 SHARADES SUNDAY OPEN N MIC C NIGHT 6:30--10 PM WE PATRONIZE FERRAZZI LIMOUSINES 203-753-5140 Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer Tasty Bites... Second Helping A brief encounter with restaurants that previously had been featured in ‘Tasty Bites’ By STACEY MCCARTHY CORRESPONDENT Gateway Cafe Dine-in and take-out. The kitchen is open on Monday from 3 to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 8 p.m. 211 Riverside Ave., Bristol. Phone: 860-516-4601 www.thegatewaycafe.c om www.facebook.com/ga teway.bar.7 Gateway Café hosts several charity events throughout the year including the Ride and Roast for Autism Speaks in June and a Bikini Bike Wash to benefit Bristol Youth Services in July. Karaoke starts at 9 p.m. on Wednesday night and local bands play on Friday or Saturday night. Over 16 bottled beers and Bud, Bud Light, and Naughty Nurse on tap. They also have an alcoholic smoothie maker (flavors change frequently) Gateway Café is known for its burgers. The ground sirloin is from South Side Meat Market in Bristol and the rolls are from Harvest Bakery in Bristol. The pickles and sea salt are from Twin Pines Farm in Thomaston. Produce is purchased locally when in season. Tonio’s Italian Pizzeria Dine-in, take-out, and free delivery. Open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. 5 Stillwell Dr., Plainville Phone: (860)793-0003 http://www.toniospizz eria.com/ Antipasto with cherry tomatoes, peppers, onions, black olives, salami, Cappicola, Provolone, and peppercino peppers, hot and cold grinders. Tonio’s STACEY MCCARTHY Carlas panna cotta at D’Amico’s 2 Linden Street, Plainville. (860)747-5177. www.damicosrestaurant.com serves an Italian plum pan pizza, classic style pan pizza, and specialty pizza. They also serve hot and cold grinders, calzones, and pasta dinners. Grinders range from $1.99 for a small veggie to $7.99 for a large meatball. Pizzas start at $7.99 for a small Napolitano (plum tomato and basil) and go up to $21.99 for a classicstyle Meat Lovers. Salads range from $4.75 for a house salad to $9.95 for Buffalo chicken salad. Club 19 Restaurant at Hawk’s Landing Country Club 201 Pattenwood Dr., Southington Phone: (860)793-6000 www.hawkslandingcc.c om The Buzz Club 19 Restaurant’s executive chef is Tom Nardi (formerly from Nardi’s Old Mill). The restaurant features a Happy Hour menu all the time. Customers can choose a wine and an appetizer for $10. The wine options are: Emerald Bay Cabernet Sauvignon, Stella Merlot, Cardiff Chardonnay, Stella Pinot Grigio, and Mountain View White Zinfandel. The appetizer choices are: antipasto, fried ravioli, cheese and cracker plate, artichoke and spinach dip, and shrimp cocktail. They also have a draft beer and chicken tender special for $5. Mondays are Beer Bash Night with beer tastings and giveaways. Wednesday night is Winedown Wednesday with wine tastings and live entertainment. There is live entertainment on Friday night as well. Appetizers such as the beef chili and nachos (tomatoes, black beans, and red onion over nachos with a creamy house made cheese sauce). The burgers are made from Black Angus beef. They also serve salads and wraps with house made sauces and dressings. Straight From Maine Seafood Seafood market. Open Monday from 12 to 8 p.m., 21 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 864 Farmington Ave., Bristol Phone: (860)585-7000 www.straightfrommaineseafood.com www.facebook.com/str aightfrommaineseafood The market is decorated with a nautical theme. Fresh fish and seafood are delivered every one to two days. The following are usually available: sushi grade tuna, Grade A swordfish, yellowtail flounder, king salmon, haddock, codfish, oysters, little necks, steamers, mussels, king crab legs, shrimp, stuffed clams, stuffed flounder, scallops, clam chowder, lobster bisque, and lobster. Call to check availability. Gio Foods Take-out and catering. Open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 405 Queen St., Southington Phone: (860)863-5646 Fax: (860)863-5647 www.mangiagio.com http://www.facebook.c om/giofoods http://twitter.com/#!/ GIOFoods Kids’ parties where kids make their own pizzas, burgers, or chicken dishes plus dessert, stuffed mini breads, and fruit punch and water. Gio Foods serves several freshly made soups. There are three different versions of pasta fagioli: house (pepperoni, cannelloni beans, pasta, marinara sauce, parsley and garlic), Tuscan (cannelloni beans, pasta, fennel sauce, carrots, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves), and vegetarian house (the same as house without the pepperoni). The antipasto medley is filled with meats (pepperoni, sopresatta, and genoa salami), cheeses (provolone, fontinella, and other Italian cheeses), and marinated vegetables (mushrooms, eggplant, hot pepper rings, and artichoke hearts.) The sandwiches have fun names such as The Paesano (shaved steak with mozzarella, peppers, and onions) and The Angry Chicken (Chicken Cutlet with cherry peppers and Provolone cheese.) There is a Grab and Gio menu that changes every two weeks. They have over 20 stuffed breads. Kiki’s Kitchen Take-out and catering. Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 447 North Main St., Southington Phone: 860-817-2228 http://www.facebook.c om/KIKISKITCHENLLC The Buzz Kiki’s Kitchen is Southington’s newest specialty food vender. She is parked in the We Pack and Ship parking lot next to Stop and Shop. Kiki’s Kitchen can also be hired to cater private parties. On your plate, you can find hot dogs with housemade red onion sauce. The chili is made with and without beans. The specialty Greek dishes feature housemade seasoning blends and sauces. The Pork Gyro is served with house-made Tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber, and garlic sauce), fresh tomatoes, and red onion. Kiki’s Kitchen creates a special dish to feature each week such as pasta with meat sauce or sausage and peppers. There are several vegetarian options on the menu such as: spinach and feta pita, grilled cheese pita, Kiki’s Mac and Cheese, and fallafel pita. Shake Doggs Dine-in and take-out. Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. There will be new extended summer hours posted soon. 1143 MeridenWaterbury Tnpk., Plantsville Phone: 860-919-5543 http://www.facebook.c om/pages/ShakeDoggs/313543148688492 Fresh hand formed hamburger patties are made fresh daily and the hamburger buns are baked each day at a local bakery. The Michigan Meat Sauce is made in small batches twice a day. The onion straws are cut and made to order. Shake Doggs serves Hummel hotdogs with Double Chin relish made in Watertown, Conn. The Irish Badger hot dog has sauerkraut and brown mustard and the Bobby Pajamas hot dog has cheese, bacon, and onion. Farmers Market opens this Friday outside Plainville High The grand opening of the Farmers Market of Plainville will be held on Friday, June 29, at Plainville High School, west side, route 10, at 3 p.m. The market will be open on Fridays from June 29 through Aug. 31, from 3 to 6 p.m., rain or shine. The market will fea- ture three Connecticut produce farms and one orchid farm. During the market hours, there will be VIP spaces available, free, featuring local community businesses, organizations, or visual/performing artists. If you have an interest to schedule a date for yourself or organization, you’ll need to email us at farmersmarketplv@yahoo,com for approval and to schedule a date. SHRINE Asian Kitchen unveils new menu SHRINE Asian Kitchen, Lounge and Nightclub at MGM Grand at Foxwoods, named one of Nightclub & Bar Magazine’s “Top 100” entertainment destinations, recently unveiled an enhanced menu featuring new dishes that take guests on an exotic culinary journey. The Asian-inspired dishes are crafted with fresh ingredients and innovative flavors. After extensive culinary experimentation, SHRINE’s chef, Kevin Scott, worked closely with Executive Chef Kevin Long to craft a selection of distinct, world-class dishes. The culinary team drew significant inspiration from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Korea, Japan and beyond to create an impressive range of culinary masterpieces that complement SHRINE’s rich Asian décor. Chef Scott’s new Asianinspired additions to the menu include: Tempura Rock Shrimp – Crispy pan-fried shrimp glazed, coconut Sriracha, chili macadamia nuts Szechuan Crusted Salmon – Pan-seared salmon, garlic oyster sauce, fresh stir fried vegetables Shiitake Mushroom Buns – Sautéed Shiitakes, pickles, warm steamed buns Kalbi Beef Sushi Roll – Jalapenos, cucumber, Tonkatsu sauce, crispy shallots, soy paper Sushi Surf and Turf – New York sirloin steak, New York Roll, shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, crispy crab stick Blushing Geisha Martini – Grey Goose La Poire, St Germain, grapefruit, cranberry juice These new menu additions stay true to both Chef Scott and SHRINE’s mission of providing delicious and appealing Asian cuisine to its patrons. By fusing classic Asian cuisine with bold new flavors made from the freshest ingredients, and appealing to Tuesday & Wednesday Specials Oven Roasted Turkey $9.99 Lobster Fest starting July 12th and every Thursday in July & August $16.49 Oven Roasted Top Sirloin Oven Roasted Pork Loin Baked Manicotti with all the fixings — Served with Soup of the Day, Dessert and Coffee — per person Catering Packages ................................Starting From $8.50 per person Banquets For Up to 65 People www.aziagosrestaurant.com 166 Queen Street, Southington, CT • 860.426.1170 22 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 The Step Saver/ The Observer Friday, June 29, 2012 Our Fashions Red carpet: Miss Connecticut-style This Saturday, a new Miss Connecticut and Miss C o n n e c t i c u t ’s Outstanding Teen will be crowned at the Garde Arts Center in New London. This past Saturday, the annual Miss Connecticut gala was held at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven. Titleholders put on their best gala gowns and demonstrated their style at the red carpetthemed event. From the left, Eliza Kanner, Seritta Norige, Rebecca Brendli, Miss Connecticut (and former Miss Southington) Morgan Amarone, and Southington’s Sharalynn Kuziak. MIKE CHAIKEN Southington High School Bristol Easter High School US Military Academy West Point Tyler Matthews VernaJean Michaud 2LT Hannah Alexis Johnson Congratulations Tyler! I am so Proud of You! Best of luck on any and all paths you go down in life. Love, Mom Congratulations! Job Well Done! Valedictorian, We are so proud of you. You are our shining star. Congratulations Military Police Good Luck at Ft. Drum Love, Mom, Dad, Jim and Brandon Love You, Nana & Poppop McGoldrick Southington High School Sacred Heart University Bristol Central High School Samantha Rose Licursi Nicole A. Cole Zachary Carello Congratulations Sam! You have the determination, talent, and courage to accomplish whatever you set your mind to. Love, Mom, Dad, & Josh Congratulations on making the Dean’s List and graduating a semester early from Sacred Heart University. Good Luck with your internship and future endeavors. Love Mom & Dad We’re proud of you! Congratulations to the youngest of the Carello clan! We love you! Love, Brianna, Adrianna & Jordan Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 23 Our Fashions More from the red carpet Title holders showed royal style at the annual Miss Connecticut gala last Friday. From the left, Mikayla Vitali shows off the cowboys boots she teamed up with her gown; Bristol’s Allison Owsianko; Bristol’s Julie Gianoni; Bristol’s Lindsy Avritch; and Nicole Morin. PHOTOS by MIKE CHAIKEN CCSU Marissa Rose LaBelle Congratulations Honor Graduate! Elizabeth Pirro-Colaianni Charter Oak Congratulations, Elizabeth Honor Graduate. We are So Proud Susanne Nelson Southington High School Congratulations, Sues! Always so proud of you! Love, Sal and the Boys Alyssa Lauren Blanchette Southington High School Congratulations Alyssa!! We are so proud of you. Love you very much! Grandma, Papa and Zachary Love you much, Mom & Robyn Samantha Licursi Southington High School Crongratulations Sam Best Wishes for a Wonderful future. Congratulations, Kailby! Wishing you much success at SHA! Love, Mom, Dad, Klara, Adalyn Love, Mom, Dad, & Brother Southington High School St. Matthew School Jordan Crowley Olivia Kilbourne Congratulations Jordan! We love you and we are so proud of you. Best wishes as you head off to Keene State. The best is yet to come! Love, Mom, Dad, & Jamie Made & Decorated to your order. Shop at Harvest Bakery. We Knead the Dough! Harvest BAKERY, INC. www.theharvestbakery.com Love, Mimi Barbara Kailby Schommer St. Bridget School, Cheshire We’re proud of you! Best wishes for a Bright Future. 84 Farmington Ave., Bristol 589-8800 Congratulations Graduate! on your Outstanding Achievements! We are very proud of you! Love, Mom, Dad, & Victoria Kayla Medeiros Southington High School Congratulations, Kayla. We Love You. Love, Mom & Scott 24 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Friday, June 29, 2012 Showing off some Northwest corner style MIKE CHAIKEN photos Summer concert series announced The Bristol Parks and Recreation Department, with the sponsorship from a variety of community agencies will sponsor a concert series this summer. Concerts will be held on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Rockwell Park Amphitheatre. Torrington boutique Brazen Bettie’s has closed after three years on the Main Street strip. The Northwest corner store featured many Connecticut fashion designers on its racks. To say farewell to the community, store owner Julia Sloan held a street festival complete with fashion show. From the left, clockwise, a top and skirt from Southington’s Sugarplum (SugarPlumUSA.com); designs from Torrington line Unfit (UnfitFashion.com); clothing from Asa Gleek, which is designed by Ebony Parish of Torrington. Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket to the concerts. The schedule is: July 3: Flyin’ Blind Sponsor: New England Bank Location: Rockwell Park July 10: Simply Swing Sponsor: Farmington Savings Bank Location: Rockwell Park July 17: Avenue Groove Sponsor: Barnes Group Foundation Location: Rockwell Park July 24: Tirebiter Band Sponsor: ESPN Location: Brackett Park July 31: 102nd Army National Guard Band Sponsor: Bristol Parks and Recreation Location: Memorial Boulevard Aug. 7: Unfinished Business Sponsor: Forestville Village Association *Location: Ultimate Wire Forms on Forestville Aug. 14: Smokehouse Sponsor: Tilcon, CT Location: Rockwell Park Aug. 21: Mass-Conn Fusion Sponsor: Bristol Parks and Recreation Location: Rockwell Park Mowimy Po Polsku NEW 2012 TOYOTA COROLLA 4 Door, 4 Cylinder, 5-Speed. #1831 available. Buy for only After $500 factory rebate 14,990 0% APR $ 36 months NEW NEW 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY LE 4 Door, 4 Cylinder, Auto Transmission. #2532 2.9% APR 60 months available. 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See plan for complete coverage details. See participating toyota dealer for details. Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 25 REO Speedwagon offers up its ‘rock of ages’ at Mohegan Sun By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR The call came as scheduled. “Hi, this is Kevin Cronin,” said the familiar voice that sang classic tracks as “Keep On Loving You” and “Rolling With the Changes.” The lead singer for classic rockers REO Speedwagon was calling in to talk about his band’s upcoming show at the Mohegan Sun with Styx and Ted Nugent on Thursday, July 5 at 7 p.m. But when Kevin called, he had a favor to ask. Could he push up the interview about an hour? He was getting his hair cut. It wasn’t a problem. And Kevin had a good reason to get his haircut. He was heading to the red carpet premiere of “Rock of Ages” that night in Los Angeles. And he had an important date for the evening. His daughter. Kevin and band have a special affinity to the new movie starring Tom Cruise and Julianne Hough. REO Speedwagon’s song “Can’t Fight this Feeling” is one of the songs in the soundtrack for the film, which is based on the hit stage musical. And there is also is a more personal and special connection for Kevin. He and his daughter both have cameos in the film. Kevin said he and REO have been connected with “Rock of Ages” ever since it was a small off-Broadway show opening in L.A. Kevin said REO was one of the first bands to sign off and allow the show to use its music. That was one of the biggest hurdles facing the show, explained Kevin. The show eventually secured the rights to use songs from groups such as Foreigner, Poison, and Guns ‘N’ Roses. “Looking back, we didn’t know what it would become when we agreed to it,” said Kevin of “Rock of Ages.” “But I’m sure glad we did (this).” And then to have the show turned into a movie with Tom Cruise, Kevin said he was excited. “I think it’s going to be big… It’s a lot of fun.” Kevin said he played the soundtrack for the movie for his 15-year-old daughter and her friends. “They were rocking out,” he said. “It’s just great to see classic rock music still has this universal appeal,” said Kevin. “It’s never gone away.” And thanks to movies like “Rock of Ages,” said Kevin, classic rock has been given a second life. The tour with Styx and Nugent has been dubbed the Mid-west Rock and Roll Express, a reference to the fact that all three bands come from the heartland of REO Speedwagon performs at the Mohegan Sun next Thursday with Styx and Ted Nugent. America. REO Speedwagon traces its beginnings back to Champaign, Ill. Styx got its start in Chicago. And Nugent started off in Detroit with the Amboy Dukes. “It’s fun to play with people whose music has stood the test of time,” said Kevin. As for why he thought many of the bands the Midwest had such an appeal to fans of rock— and still have appeal, Kevin attributed to their Midwest upbringing. There is a Midwest work ethic that separated bands like Styx and REO from, say, the east coast bands, which tended to be edgy and cool, and the west coast bands, which were more laidback. Bands from the Midwest, he said, offered up meat and potatoes rock and roll. “It’s fun and it’s high energy.” Besides REO Speedwagon’s participation in “Rock of Ages,” Kevin said the band’s next project is a live DVD they’re getting ready for release. “We’re really proud of it. It’s one of the best.” Kevin said the band was fortunate that the night they decided to tape the show everything was going their way. They played great. The show was in a great setting. They had a great audience. “It captured the band at its best,” said Kevin. As for a new studio release, Kevin said REO Speedwagon is always writing new material. But for now, besides touring, Kevin has been putting his time in trying to be a dad. Besides taking his daughter to the red carpet premiere for “Rock of Ages,” Kevin said he was going to be spending some time with his two sons as the tour started. He said he was going to have a separate tour bus for himself and his sons. His sons were going to experience life on the road with their dad for two weeks. There are all sorts of stereotypes about the children of rock and rollers. But Kevin said his children aren’t like that. “They’re not rock and roll kids…. They’re not weird and spoiled kids. They’re not obnoxious. They’re grounded.” His wife has ensured that. Kevin said his sons lead a fairly normal life. They play sports. They do well in school. The two weeks for his, said Kevin, isn’t about rock and roll. It’s just about spending two weeks watching dad work. And Kevin said he was trying to make it fun for them. One of the first shows for REO Speedwagon on the road is at a game for the New York Mets. And for the kids, he said, a professional baseball game was more exciting than seeing their dad’s band take the stage. REO Speedwagon, Styx, and Ted Nugent perform at the Mohegan Sun on Thursday, July 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40. For more information, go to MoheganSun.com or REOSpeedwagon.com ‘Long Island Medium’ shares her story at Bushnell this Friday By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR Growing up, Theresa Caputo thought it was normal. Calling from her car, on the way to film an episode of her TLC reality series “Long Island Medium,” Theresa said she always could sense spirits. When the now-certified medium was a child, she would wake up and see people standing at the edge of her bed. She said also would hear voices from people she could not see. Theresa thought these were things that happened to everyone. But it wasn’t until she was a teenager, she learned the truth. Theresa said when she was a teen, she started to speak to her friends about some of the things she experienced. She didn’t think anything of it when she brought it up. It was just a casual conversation with her friends But as soon as she finished talking about her experiences, Theresa said her friends retorted, “That’s not normal, that’s crazy.” That revelation that what she was experiencing was not typical brought on a bout of anxiety that she battled for years. As her anxiety intensified, Theresa finally decided to visit a spiritual healer. That’s when she experienced an “a-ha” moment that changed her life for the better. Theresa said the healer explained her that she had a gift. Theresa learned she had been born with the ability to communicate with the dead. And this was her life’s purpose. On Friday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m., Theresa will be appearing at The Mortensen Hall at The Bushnell in Hartford. Asked what fans can expect from the appearance, Theresa said there will be a question and answer period, where Theresa will address preselected questions from the audience. (She won’t be taking any personal questions from the audience.) Typically, she will answer Theresa Caputo comes to Hartford Friday night. questions about how old she was when she discovered her gift. She may be asked about how her gift works. Sometimes, audiences want to know how they can become more spiritually connected. Or, even others, want to know how to hone their own skills to communicate with the dead. There also will be some readings, said Theresa. The readings will be directed toward people she is drawn to and “whatever soul wants to communicate.” She said no one who gets a reading is someone she has met before. In addition, Theresa said, “There’s always a surprise... with all my shows.” Asked what she likes about events such as the one in Hartford, Theresa said it’s another way for her to be able reach her fans. Even if she isn’t doing a reading, she said she likes to hear how she and her show have helped change people’s lives. At meet-andgreets, which are available with a special ticket, she said people are always telling her that they had an amazing, life-changing experience at the appearance. Theresa’s reality series on TLC, “The Long Island Medium” will be entering its third season this fall. Theresa said she never expected she would have a reality series and that it would be three seasons old. When she started approaching networks about a reality series based on her experiences a medium, initially, no one wanted to talk to her. In fact, at TLC, the production team tried to cancel her meeting at the last minute. But Theresa said the meeting did happen. After a 10 minute session, where the producers learned how she has helped change people’s lives, the show was given the green light by the network. For the third season, said Theresa, fans will find some changes in the Caputo household. Her son, Lawrence has graduated college now. Her daughter, Victoria, has graduated high school. So, this coming season, the family will be dealing with those transitions. But the show also is keeping its core, Theresa said. The readings will continue to be the same. The show also will follow Theresa at appearances and the world at large. Theresa Caputo, the Long Island Medium, appears at The Bushnell’s Mortensen Hall, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39, $49, and $59. A limited number of VIP tickets, with a meet and greet, are $125. For tickets, go to Bushnell.org or call (860) 987-5900. For more information, go to TLC.Discovery.com Comments? Email mchaiken@BristolObserver. com. 26 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 The Step Saver/ The Observer Friday, June 29, 2012 When Styx hits the stage, watch out for the man behind the keys By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR If you’ve seen Styx perform in recent years, you already know, the band’s Lawrence Gowan is not your typical keyboardist when he steps on stage. Most keyboardists tend to anchor themselves to their spot on the stage and kind of hideaway behind their grand piano or a bank of electronics. Not Gowan. At a Styx show, standing besides band mates James Young, Tommy Shaw, Chuck Panozzo, Todd Sucherman and Ricky Phillips, Gowan sets himself on the frontline. And rather than a keyboard stuck in one spot and pointed in one direction, Gowan’s keyboard isn’t anchored in one spot, it spins. Throughout the show, Gowan essentially does a little tango with the instrument. Gowan said he loves being active with his instrument on stage. He said his inspiration behind the keys is Elton John. Gowan said John always looked as if he was having a fight with his piano. He also loved how Rick Wakeman, the former keyboardist for Yes, used to attack his piano with classical performer élan. Besides his fellow keyboardists, Gowan said he also is inspired by rock and roll front men like Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and Freddie Mercury of Queen, both of whom are renowned for their dynamic performances. Over time, Gowan said he has managed to develop a hybrid of his inspirations. As for the spinning keyboard, Gowan said it has a story of his own. Prior to joining Styx, Gowan had a pretty active solo career in his homeland of Canada. In 1990, he was working on a video for a song from a solo album. On that song, Alex Lifeson of Rush played guitar. When it came time to film the video, Gowan invited Lifeson to be part of it. In the video, said Gowan, Lifeson was all over the place playing his guitar. But, given the nature of his chosen instrument, Gowan found himself stuck in one place. To compete with his fellow musician in the video, Gowan said he came up with the idea of using a spinning keyboard. “That’s been my trademark since,” said Gowan. “It allows me to engage the audience.” Decades after they were first launched, Styx continues to engage audiences in concert. And their music continues to draw new and younger fans. Gowan said half the people in the audience at Styx Styx performs at the Mohegan Sun next Thursday with REO Speedwagon and Ted Nugent. shows are under 30 years old. Asked why he thought Styx—and songs like “Come Sail Away” and “Blue Collar Man”— continues to hold such appeal to new audiences, Gowan said, “That’s a tough question… to reduce to any simple answer.” “My instinct tells me… the melodic content has staying power,” said Gowan. In addition, the lyrics of Styx also touch people. Gowan recalled a conversation he had back in 1999 where the topic was what makes some songs last? His thought was “if a melody gets into a person’s head and connects to something significant in their life, it never really leaves their memory.” Styx is coming to the Mohegan Sun Arena on July 5 on a bill that includes REO Speedwagon and the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent. “It’s a great card,” said Gowan. Styx and REO have toured together about six times before, said Gowan. (“People love the combination.”) This tour is Styx’s first time out on the road with Nugent. The tour had been out on the road for a couple of weeks when he called, and he said the addition of Nugent to the bill “is a real game changer… People are loving the combination of the three bands.” Gowan said Nugent shakes things up. “Ted Nugent is the difference that changes the tenor of the night,” said Gowan. “The man is an excellent entertainer… The audiences feel they are getting value for their dollar and a full night of entertain- ment,” Having Nugent on the bill also forces Styx to put on it’s “A” game when it steps onto stage. He said Styx likes it when the Advertise in ‘Tasty Bites’ each week. Call an ad rep today. (860) 628-9645 gauntlet is thrown down by the other acts on the bill. “Strong bands make us stronger.” And Gowan said, “We take great pride in our live presence.” For the upcoming show at the Mohegan Sun, Gowan said fans should also expect the unexpected in the band’s set list. Gowan said the band recorded a DVD about 1 1/2 years ago where they performed in their entirety both the “Grand Illusion” and “Pieces of Eight” albums. The opportunity to perform the albums rekindled the band’s interest in some of their lesser known tracks. For example, Gowan said Styx had a chance to revisit “Man in the Wilderness” from “Grand illusion.” And the track has become a fan favorite in concert. In addition, he said, “I’m OK” from “Pieces of Eight” has become a crowd-pleaser. As Styx continues to tour, Gowan was asked if there are any plans for another studio album. He said the band always is in the process of writing material. The band is always fooling around with new stuff in the dressing room. However, Gowan said, “It’s a matter of trying to figure when the time is right to do a full album.” When the call comes to do a tour, said Gowan, the band will pick up its instruments, go out on the road, and play. So it’s hard to turn your back on that opportunity. And, for the foreseeable future, Gowan said the band doesn’t even have a week off from the road. (“Which is a lovely problem to have.”) And, right now, Gowan said fans are content hearing the classic material. However, Gowan said, the band may try to eke out the time to record at least one new track, release it, and see what happens. And if the single is a success, he said, the band will see what they do next. Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Ted Nugent perform Thursday, July 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40. For more information, go to MoheganSun.com or StyxWorld.com Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 27 Music comes to Bristol; Here comes, Daughtry Kellie Lambert McGuire Observing The Arts Summer has arrived in Bristol, and with it, an outdoor concert series. The Bristol Parks and Recreation Department will host concerts held Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. In the Rockwell Park Amphitheater. A wide variety of music will be offering from retro ‘50s and ‘60s tunes, to country, pop, big band and more. On Tuesday, Flyin’ Blind will perform. The schedule continues with Simply Swing on July 10, Avenue Groove on July 17. Smokehouse on Aug. 14 and Mass-Conn Fusion on Aug. 21. Other shows not at Rockwell Park include Tirebiter, July 24 at Brackett Park; 102nd Army National Guard Band, July 31 on Memorial Boulevard; and Unfinished Business, Aug 7 at Ultimate Wire Forms in Forestville. Bring a lawn chair and blanket for the show. ARTISTS WANTED: The Connecticut River Artisans and The Mill House Gallery is currently seeking interested artists to apply for exhibition of their work in lovely Mill House Gallery for 2013. The Mill House Gallery is a charming art gallery in downtown Chester on the Connecticut River. It is located within the Connecticut River Artisans Co-operative, a gallery shop of unique art and handcrafted items by local artists. Artists are invited to exhibit for a month-long gallery show. Rental space is also available. For more information, call (860) 5265575 or Suzie Woodward, Mill House Gallery Coordinator, (860) 262-1334 or e-mail Suzie11111@aol.com. NEW SHOWS: Daughtry will perform Aug. 14 at Ives Concert Park, on the Westside campus of Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. Daughtry is touring in support of its new album, “Leave This Town.” Led by the former “American Idol” standout Chris Daughtry, the band also features Joey Barnes on drums and piano, Josh Paul on bass and guitarists Josh Steely and Brian Craddock. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Tickets are $50, $39.50 and $29.50. For tickets, visit www.premierboxoffice.com or call 866-558-4253 or 800745-3000. For more infor- ‘Swinging On A Star’ opens at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford on July 13. mation on the tour, visit www.daughtryofficial.com. Waterbury’s Palace Theater is great at grabbing performers with cult followings, and here’s yet another one: Morrissey! The former Smiths singer will perform Oct. 6 at the venue, 100 East Main St., Waterbury. The show, which is presented by Premier Concerts in association with Manic Productions, is part of a North American tour reaching 33 cities. The Waterbury show is Morrissey’s only Connecticut appearance. Tickets are $65, $49.50 and $39.50. Log on to www.palacetheaterct.org or call 203-346-2000. For more information on the tour, visit www.morrisseysworld.com. Also on Oct. 6, but at the other side of the state, Heart will be at the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods. Tickets are $35, $45 and $55. Visit www.foxwoods.com. Peter Gabriel will perform at Mohegan Sun Arena on Oct. 13. The show will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking album “So.” The album featured hits like “Sledgehammer,” “Big Time,” “Red Rain,” “In Your Eyes” and “Don’t Give Up,” a duet with Kate Bush. Tickets are $95 and $75. Call (800) 745-3000, log on to www.ticketmaster. com or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. NEW MUSICAL: The Johnny Burke musical “Swinging On A Star” opens at Playhouse on Park in West Hartford on July 13. The popular review, with music and lyrics by Burke, features more than 40 American standards, including “Pennies From Heaven,” “Imagination,” and the title song. Directed and choreographed by Playhouse on Park co-founder and coartistic director, Darlene Zoller, the show features musical direction by Colin Britt. The musical also features the talents of Hillary Ekwall, Amanda Forker, Kevin Barlowski, Scott Scaffidi, Jenna Levitt, Marissa Famiglietti, and Dakota Dutcher along with dancers, MacKenzie Friedmann, Spencer Pond, and Shannon Farrell comprise the gifted ensemble in this American classic. The musical runs through July 29. Preview performances will be July 11 and July 12. The opening night performance will be preceded by a complimentary wine and cheese reception for patrons to enjoy from 7 to 8 p.m. July 13; a Talk Back with the cast and director will follow the July 17 matinee. Following the July 22 performance, music director Britt will lead a B.Y.O.B. open mic. The event begins 10 to 15 minutes following the performance and is free and open to the public. Playhouse on Park is located at 244 Park Road in West Hartford. Tickets range in price from $22.50 to $32.50; students, seniors and Let’s Go Arts members save $2.50 per ticket. To purchase tickets, call the box office at (860) 525-5900 ext. 10 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays or 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays; or visit www.playhouseonpark.org. FLASHBACK FUN: The Klein in Bridgeport is hosting several great shows featuring music from the past in coming months. Cheap Trick is on the bill July 10, while Dennis DeYoung performs “The Music of Styx” on July 21. The B-52s take the stage on Aug. 7 and Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will perform Sept. 30. The Klein is located at 910 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport. Call (203) 2591036 or visit www.fairfieldtheatre.org for more information or for tickets. Send your entertainment news and arts happenings to kellmcguire @yahoo.com. Our Reviews Justin Bieber’s new album ‘Believe’ impresses By MESFIN FEKADU ASSOCIATED PRESS Justin Bieber, “Believe” (Island Def Jam) Because Justin Bieber is Justin Bieber — a Canadian teen singer heartthrob — it’s hard to take his music seriously. Everything about him screams Tiger Beat, from the endless screeching girls to his relationship with fellow teen sensation Selena Gomez. And then there’s the song that has defined him most — “Baby,” perhaps the most saccharine, bubblegum song recorded in quite some time. It’s not surprising that few have taken Bieber the artist seriously. But his new CD will help change that. “Believe,” his third fulllength album, is a 13-track set that shows that Bieber, now 18, is growing as a musician, and the result is enjoyable. The album’s first single, “Boyfriend,” is a great pop song that sounds like Justin Timberlake’s falsetto mashed up with the Ying Yang Twins’ “The Whisper Song.” It’s Bieber’s biggest hit to date. The rest of the album also has future hits: “All Around the World” (with Ludacris) is upbeat, as is the futuristic, Big Sean-assisted “As Long As You Love Me,” which sounds like it could have been produced by Skrillex and David Guetta. Bieber co-wrote all but one song on the album, working with producers like The Messengers, Rodney Jerkins, Hit-Boy, Diplo, Max Martin, Bei Maejor and others. His best collaboration is with Drake on “Right Here,” a 1990s soundingR&B jam that proves the singer is best on smoother tunes, not Euro-flavored ones. “Catching Feelings,” a soft, pop groove co-written by Babyface, is arguably the best track, showcasing Bieber’s versatility and hopefully the future artistic heft to come from the singer. It also highlights Bieber’s voice, which is good and improving, though recent live performances of “Boyfriend” haven’t been that strong. “Believe” does have some missteps: “Thought of You” is weak and the Nicki Minaj-featured “Beauty and a Beat” is a wasted collaboration. While Bieber channels Timberlake at times, he also has moments inspired by his idol, Michael Jackson. Bieber samples Jackson’s “We Got a Good Thing Going” for the nicely done, R&B-tinged “Die In Your Arms,” and there’s also a bonus track “Maria,” a song about Mariah Yeater, the woman who falsely claimed Bieber fathered her child. The song recalls “Billie Jean,” and it’s clever and amusing. CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: Bonus track “Out of Town Girl” is another track with Timberlake flavor. Kenny Chesney mixes it up in ‘...Fishbowl’ By ROB MERRILL ASSOCIATED PRESS Kenny Chesney, “Welcome to the Fishbowl” (Columbia Nashville) He’s a four-time Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year with more than 30 No. 1 country hits and a perennially popular road show, but don’t try to pigeon-hole Kenny Chesney. His 13th studio album features a little bit of every style — from ballads to boot-stompers to a song about a father with Alzheimer’s. The first single, “Feel Like a Rock Star,” is a duet with Tim McGraw destined to bring down the house every time they play it together on tour this summer. But for every party anthem there’s a melancholy tune. “I’m gonna cry right now and that’s OK/We’re all gonna die someday,” sings Chesney in “Sing `Em Good My Friend,” a weeper about a woman in the hospital who was once the muse for a guy with a guitar. The result feels like an uneven album, but in a world where the money is made on singles and tours, fans probably won’t care. Just as they start to cry in their beer, they’ll sing along with these lines from “Time Flies”: “Talkin’ to a cutie/headin’ for the booty/The riptides rippin’, the sunset’s dippin’/Smile that smile, you’ll be sayin’.” CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: The title track features Chesney rapping at the end as he contemplates the perils of success and everyone living their lives in the public eye. 28 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 STUMP GRINDING Come In and See Why We’re #1 2010 2011 2012 Serving the Area Since 1971 Anna Rohon CT License #615344 Call Mark 203-704-0821 Self Propelled Machine Available Store Owner EAGLE STUMP GRINDING 1049 Queen St., Southington (860) 747-0166 Will return ALL calls! 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We mix concrete on-site so there’s no large minimum orders as with traditional concrete companies. Jim • PATIOS DOING A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES CONCRETE? WHY DO THIS? Free Estimate 860-637-2871 carpet • hardwood • laminate • vinyl • ceramic • rugs Y O N TOP… STA Fully Insured FREE ESTIMATES 1ST PLACE BEST CARPET/FLOORING COMPANY FOR 3 CONSECUTIVE YEARS With You Every Step of the Way Friday, June 29, 2012 860-621-5534 • Servicing your Area Daily • All Makes and Models! • Professional parts Counterperson • Parts for All Brands In Stock! SAME DAY SERVICE VIKING • BOSCH • DACOR • SUBZERO • CERTIFIED TECHS Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer 29 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Music listings FRIDAY, JUNE 29 OTHER THE HARTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. Celebrate America. 7:30 p.m. Performing Arts Center at Simsbury Meadows. $20 to $45. Lawn tickets for children 12 and under are $5. HartfordSymphony.org, (860) 244-2999. FIONA APPLE. Ives Concert Park, Danbury. FionaApple.com ROGER WATERS. XL Center, Hartford. SPIRIT SHAKER. 9:30 p.m. Featuring laser light show. Old Well Tavern, 20 Tariffville Rd., Simsbury. Foxwoods, Mashantucket. Foxwoods.com TUESDAY, JULY 3 BRISTOL SOUTHINGTON FLYIN’ BLIND. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sponsored by New England Bank. Rockwell Park, Bristol. PAUL TRYON. Blues and rock music. Jitters, 1273 Queen St., Southington. OTHER DEMI LOVATO. With Hot Chelle Rae. 7 p.m. Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville. $34.50. MoheganSun.com SUNDAY, JULY 1 OTHER RED JUNE. 5 p.m. The Firebox Restaurant, 539 Broad St., Hartford. No cover. Tips encouraged. FireboxRestaurant.com MONDAY, JULY 2 OTHER NORAH JONES. Oakdale Theater, Wallingford. SATURDAY, JUNE 30 OTHER OTHER TENACIOUS D, The Sights. 7:30 p.m. Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville. $45, $25. MoheganSun.com PLAINVILLE RIVERBOAT RAMBLERS. Norton Park Concert Series. 6:30 p.m. Band shell, Norton Park, Plainville. THURSDAY, JULY 5 OTHER STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON and Ted Nugent. 7 p.m. Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville. $40. MoheganSun.com BOYZ II MEN. MGM Grand at Health listings NOW PLAINVILLE TAI CHI FOR HEALTH, Qigong for Health. Tai chi on Tuesdays, 6 to 6:45 p.m. and Qigong on Tuesdays from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by American Legion Post 22. Plainville Congregational Church, 130 West Main St., Plainville. Tai Chi is $60, Qigong is $30. Space is limited. (860) 6280500. Roger Waters performs at the XL Center in Hartford Friday night. Performance listings FRIDAY, JUNE 29 OTHER THERESA CAPUTO: LONG ISLAND MEDIUM. 7:30 p.m. Mortensen Hall at The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford. $39, $49, and $59. A limited number of VIP tickets for $125, which include meet and greet. (860) 987-6000. Bushnell.org ‘BEYOND THE BEEHIVE.’ Theatrical production depicting Ronnie Spector’s life story in monologue, images and son. Bridge Street Live, 41 Bridge St., Collinsville. 41BridgeStreet.com JUNE 30 to JULY 30 OTHER LEGENDS IN CONCERT.Mondays through Thursday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Fox Theater, Mashantucket. $30 and $40 for VIP seating. Foxwoods.com SATURDAY, JUNE 30 OTHER ‘COMPANY RETREAT.’ Film written and directed by Advertise here! You’re reading it. Your customers are too! Call The Observer/ Step Saver (860) 628-9645 Get listed. JULY 9, 10 BRISTOL Campbell Scott. Followed by Q&A from Scott. Part of the Litchfield Hills Film Festival, Warner Theater, Torrington. HillsFilmFestival.org JULY 5, 6 OTHER COMEDIAN PAUL VIRZI. Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. Comix at Foxwoods, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket. $20 for general admission and $40 for VIP. Add $10 day of show. Two drink minimum. ComixatFoxwoods.com, 1-800200-2882. AUDITIONS FOR ‘DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.’ Held by Bristol Theatre Arts. 6 to 7:30 p.m., children. 7:30 to 9 p.m. adults. Call backs on Thursday, July 12 by invitation only. Show will be performed Oct. 5 to 7. Prepare 16 bars of music to sing. Children should be prepared to learn a short dance combination. Bristol Boys and Girls Club, 105 Laurel St., Bristol. BristolTheatreArts.org OTHER ROBERT KELLY. Through Saturday at 8 p.m. and 10:30 on Saturday only. Comix at Foxwoods, Mashantucket. $20 for general admission, and $40 for VIP. Two-drink minimum. ComixatFoxwoods.com. 1-800200-2882. NOW thru JULY 1 OTHER OVID’S ‘METAMORPHOSES.’ Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Rd., West Hartford. $22.50 to $32.50. PlayhouseonPark.org Send your listing items via email to m c h a i k e n @ BristolObserver.com or fax them to (860)621-1841 or mail them to Calendar, The Observer/ Step Saver, 213 Spring St., Southington CT 06489. Please submit listings at least two weeks prior to the event. NOW thru JUNE 30 Is Your Pool or Hot Tub Is Your Attic Fan PUMP LEAKING? MAKING NOISE? • Exhaust Fans • Attic Fans • Pool & Hot Tub Pumps & Motors • Welding / Fabrication Repair - Maintenance - Installation Before Replacing It Kevin Lazzari Veteran Owned HIC. #0633757 • Fully Insured • 860 Give Us A Call! 637-7006 Call Today – Free Estimates • Bonded • Laminate Starting at $ 4 29 sq. ft. Installed Shop At Home Service Guaranteed Lowest Prices 12 Month - 0% Interest Available Lifetime Installation Guaranteed Hardwood –BONUS COUPON– $150 OFF Starting at 549 $ sq. ft. Installed With minimum of $1350 or more. See store for details. 46 East Street, Plainville 860-351-5934 30 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 The Step Saver/ The Observer Friday, June 29, 2012 Miscellaneous listings FRIDAY, JUNE 29 BRISTOL BARE BONES FIRST GALLERY OPENING. 6 to 8 p.m. Artists Lori Camilleri, Leonardo Gonzalez, Erika Novak. 6 to 8:30 p.m. Art for sale, wine, hors d’oevures. Bare Bones, 156 School St., Bristol. $5 suggested donation. Facebook.com/barebonesbristol, michellestpierre@att.net JUNE 29, 30 OTHER GRAVEYARD SHIFT TOURS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Mark Twain House and Museum, 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford. $20 for adults 17 and up, $15 for members, $13 for children 16 and under. Not recommended for children under 10. (860) 280-3130. SUNDAY, JULY 1 BRISTOL RAYMOND CARDINAL POKER RUN. Registration 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Proceeds benefit Dogs for Veterans. Food, music, vendors and raffle prizes. American Legion Seicheprey Post No. 2, 22 Hooker Ct., Bristol. Pre-register at maria.maccio@sbcglobal.net. $15 per rider, and $10 per passenger. Walk-ins welcome. Food only is $10 for adults and $5 for under 5 free starting at 4:30 p.m. PLAINVILLE PLAINVILLE WINGS AND WHEELS. Fly-in and Car Show. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Rain date July 29). Benefits the Petit Family Foundation, The Plainville Community Pantry. Participants include the Bristol Auto Club, Interstate Aviation Inc., and Robertson Airport. Also, The Plainville Stadium Racers, sponsored by the Plainville Historical Society, will be on hand. $5 for adults, $2 for ages 5 to 11, under 5 are free. Show cars are admitted for $10. This is a People’s Choice judged event and there are sponsor trophies. Parking is free. Robertson Airport, 62 Johnson Ave., Plainville. (860) 747-8837, (860) 817-8465, (860) 6142140. TUESDAY, JULY 3 OTHER AUTHOR TALK AND BOOK SIGNING WITH DARIEN GEE. Author of “Friendship Bread.” Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Dr., Farmington. Free. FarmingtonLibraries.org, (860) 673-6791. the Sands, casino bonus, two $20 food vouchers, two breakfasts, sightseeing and admissions as per itinerary. (860) 589-5597. SATURDAY, JULY 7 BRISTOL NOW thru JULY 14 OTHER BOTTLE DRIVE. Help local food pantries. CW Resources, 461 Broad St., Bristol. Save your bottles. “AN EXPLORATION OF THE HUMAN FORM BY FOUR NEW ENGLAND WOMEN ARTISTS.” Farmington Valley Arts Center, 25 Arts Center Lane, Avone. ArtsFVAC.org, (860) 678-1867. JULY 14 to AUG. 4 OTHER BASIC LEVEL 2: APPLIED CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY. Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tunxis Community College, Route 6 and 177, Farmington. $145. Tunxis.edu/cephoto, (860) 314-4700. NOW thru AUG. 26 OTHER SUNDAY, JULY 15 BRISTOL JACOB’S JOURNEY. 8:30 a.m. Motorcycle run, pancake breakfast fund raiser. BPOE 1010, 126 South St., Bristol. (860) 202-9518. MONDAY, JULY 16 BRISTOL THE 2012 MAYOR’S CUP GOLF OUTING. Presented by the Boys and Girls Club and Family Center of Bristol. 11 a.m., registration. Lunch 11:30 a.m. Shotgun start, 12:30 p.m. Award dinner and raffle after tournament. Scramble format. Contests and prizes. Chippanee Golf Club, Marsh Road, Bristol. Sponsoring opportunities. (860) 583-4734. JULY 20, AUG. 6 OTHER JAZZ DANCE BOOT CAMP. Weekdays 1 to 4:30 p.m. for five classes. Get in shape. For ages 12 to adult. Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Rd., West Hartford. $200 for one week per student, $350 for two weeks. PlayhouseOnPark.org, (860) 523-5900, ext. 10. Ted Nugent comes to the Mohegan Sun Arena in a bill that includes REO Speedwagon and Styx on Thursday, July 5. FOR A CAUSE. Register at 10:30 a.m. Cruise for Clues Ride at 11:30 p.m. 1 to 5 p.m., food raffle, 50/ 50 and music by Marshall Law. Benefit for the Shepard Meadows Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc. Bristol Swedish Social Club, 38 Barlow St., Bristol. $20 for riders and $15 for passengers in advance if pre-registered at ShepardMeadowsTR.Org. Add $5 for passengers day of event. Non-riders admitted for $15. (860) 841-9568. THURSDAY, AUG. 16 BRISTOL ‘GOOD VIBRATIONS.’ Tribute to the music of the Beach Boys. St. Stanislaus Travelers Trip. Aqua Turf, Plantsville. $70 per person which includes familystyle lunch and the show. Drive in is on your own. (860) 5895597. SATURDAY, JULY 21 PLAINVILLE SATURDAY, AUG. 25 BRISTOL BALLROOM DANCING. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Rockwells Dance Hall, 161 Woodford Ave., Plainville. BYOB, casual dress. DJ. Beginners welcome. $10 per person. events@rockwellsct.com, (860) 793-9800. 12TH ANNUAL HEATHER BAILEY/ REED AND STEFANOW OPEN. 11 a.m., shot gun start. Benefits the Heather Bailey Memorial Scholarship Fund. Cedar Knob Golf Course, Somers. $130, includes 18 holes with cart, closest to pin contests, lunch, long drive, roast beef buffet. Fees must be paid by Aug. 10. Mail to SATURDAY, JULY 28 BRISTOL HOGS FOR HORSES. RIDE HBMSF, PO Box 9008, Bristol, CT 06011-9008. (860) 5855157. SUNDAY, AUG. 26 OTHER NEW BRITAIN HIGH SCHOOL AND PULASKI HIGH SCHOOL ‘CLASS OF 65 AT AGE 65’ REUNION. 1 to 8 p.m. Farmington Club on Town Farm Road, Farmington. If you know whereabouts of classmates, contact johntbonetti@gmail.com , (860) 673-2904 for NBHS or jimnancymead@comcast.net or (860) 589-2775 for Pulaski. FRIDAY, SEPT. 7 BRISTOL BRISTOL HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1948 64TH REUNION. Noon to 4 p.m. Chippanee Golf Club, Marsh Road, Bristol. Rita Kenyon, (860) 583-8440, wrkenyon@hotmail.com SATURDAY, SEPT. 22 OTHER ST. ANTHONY HIGH SCHOOL REUNION. For all graduates and attendees. 6:30 p.m. to midnight. Aqua Turf, Plantsville. (860) 589-0598, Mike Ptasynski (860) 582-4388. SATURDAY, OCT. 6 OTHER CROSBY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1962 50TH CLASS REUNION. Watertown Golf Club. Crosby1962@gmail.com, Peter Perkinson (203) 2635126, Theresa Downs Zenni (203) 262-8853, Joe Bandurski, (203) 250-8722. SATURDAY, OCT. 13 PLAINVILLE AN EVENING OF WONDER, Wheeler Clinic’s second annual gala. 6:30 p.m., reception and silent auction. 7:30 p.m., dinner and live auction. Dancing follows. Marriott Hartford Downtown. Give.WheelerClinic.org/gala. FRIDAY, NOV. 23 PLAINVILLE PLAINVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1970 CELEBRATES BEING 60. Bella Vista at Hawk’s Landing Country Club, Southington. Gail.Bartley52@gmail.com DEC. 5 to 7 BRISTOL CHRISTMAS IN BETHLEHEM. Stay at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Penn. Moravian Church Christmas Putz, Moravian Museum, Christmas 1944 musical and Christkindlmarkt. $415 per person twin/ double. Two nights at REFLECTIONS AND UNDERCURRENTS: ERNEST ROTH AND PRINTMAKING IN VENICE, 1900-1940. One-hundred prints from American etchers and their Italian counterparts who captured a view of Venice in the first half of the 20th century. Reception and lecture on Thursday, May 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. Opening event is open to the public. RSVP is required. The Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St., Waterbury. (203) 753-0381, MattatuckMuseum.org NOW BRISTOL BINGO. Fridays. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. First ball called at 6:45 p.m. St. Anthony Church, 111 School St., Bristol. PLAINVILLE AMERICAN LEGION POST NO. 33. Returning veterans are invited to support this organization. 7 Race Ave., Plainville. (860) 747-9074. PLAINVILLE AMERICAN LEGION POST 33. S.A.L. Membership Drive. Restrictions apply. Call Jason (860) 5185130. OTHER BINGO. Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. Bingo starts at 6:50 p.m. Franco American War Veterans’ Place at 209 Smally Street, New Britain. (860) 223-9610, (860) 620-2735. BINGO. Wednesdays 6:50 to 9:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. Franco American War Veterans Post 26, St. Jeans Baptiste, 209 Smalley St., New Britain. Kids’ listings MONDAY, JULY 2 BRISTOL PUCKY THE WHALE. From the Connecticut Whale hockey team. Come take photographs and get autographs. Bristol Public Library, Children’s Department,, 5 High St., Bristol. (860) 584-7787, BristolLib.com THURSDAY, JULY 5 OTHER TUESDAY, JULY 17 OTHER CAMPING FUN. 10:30 a.m. Ages 4 and up. Camping stories, songs, games, crafts, and treats. Barney Library, 71 Main St., Farmington. Register. (860) 673-6791. TWEEN JEWELRY MAKING. 3 p.m. on Thursdays. Make earrings on June 28 and a button bracelet on July 17. Ages 8 and up. Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Dr., Farmington. Register. (860) 693-6791. FarmingtonLibraries.org NOW thru JULY 23 OTHER STARRY NIGHT ARTS. Mondays at 10:30 a.m. Learn about the lives of famous artists and do artwork influenced by their point of view. Ages 7 to 10. Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Dr., Farmington. Register. (860) 693-6791. FarmingtonLibraries.org EXHIBIT. Connecticut Science Center, downtown Hartford. Admission free with general admission of museum membership. CTScienceCenter.org NOW thru SEPT. 2 OTHER DINOSAURS UNEARTHED Support groups ONGOING OTHER GRIEF RECOVERY AFTER A SUBSTANCE PASSING. A support group for families or individuals who had a loved one die as a result of substance abuse or addiction. The last Thursday or each month, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Beacon Falls Congregational Church, 69 Wolfe Ave., Beacon Falls. GraspValleyCt@aol.com, GraspValleyCt@att.net, (203) 231-6705, (203) 305-98-9. Preregistration required. Grasphelp.org. BRISTOL BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP. 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturday of the month. St. Stanislaus Church, 510 West St., Bristol in the Bartlewski Center. No registration necessary. (860) 5823652. OVEREATER’S ANONYMOUS SUPPORT GROUP. 11 a.m. to noon every Saturday. Bristol Hospital Small Dining Room, Brewster Road, Bristol. (203) 755-8922. LIBERTY BAPTIST MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS. First and third Tuesday at each month at 6:30 p.m. from September to May. Childcare and dinner provided. Liberty Baptist Church, 265 Maple Ave., Bristol. Annemarie Omilian, (860) 589-0739, aeo2007@sbcglobal.net FAMILY PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN A FAMILY MEMBER IN THE MILITARY. 6 to 8 p.m. on the second Thursday. Facilitated by Helskovran MS LMFT and Kyoung-Hi Dickson MA LMFT. Family Therapy Center, 38 Kelley St., Bristol. (860) 314-1236, ext. 2 hpslmft@hotmail.com TOPS (TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY) BRISTOL CHAPTER NUMBER 189. 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. Asbury United Methodist Church, 90 Church Ave., Forestville. Potential members and visitors can attend first meeting with no obligation. (860) 583-5931. tops_120@hotmail.com BRISTOL MS SUPPORT GROUP. 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Bristol Public Library, 5 High St., Bristol. Wheelchair accessi- ble, off-street handicapped accessible. CTFightsMS.org, 1800-FIGHT MS. AL-ANON MEETING - 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Bristol Baptist Church, 43 School St., Bristol. For anyone affected by someone else’s drinking. Newcomers welcome. No fee for attending. 1-888-825-2666 or www.ct-al-anon.org. 36 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 The Step Saver/ The Observer Friday, June 29, 2012 Above, Cheyenne O’Donnell, left, and Nicole Martin work on stretching their arms at AM Fitness. At left, Martin, bottom, and O’Donnell react as they feel the stretch. MIKE CHAIKEN Cheyenne O’Donnell works on a stretching routine at AM Fitness in Plainville. PHOTOS Getting real with fitness program By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR The fitness program at the newly opened AM Fitness in Plainville is based in reality. The program does the trick for a scholarship pageant representative, such as Miss Bristol Cheyenne O’Donnell. It also does the trick for the average person, such as O’Donnell’s friend Nicole Martin, a college student from Bristol. “It’s functional fitness,” said Harland of the program he offers on West Main Street. “A lot of people go to the gym and sit on a machine and do a chest press or do a pull down. We don’t do that in real life. So we try to take activities we do in real life and then apply exercise to it to make us stronger and faster,” said Harland. O’Donnell, who is sponsored at Miss Connecticut by AM Fitness, said, “I wasn’t sure what we were going to do (when I showed up at AM Fitness). But the first class was intense… It was just crazy. (The trainer) was throwing weights at us and telling us to do push-ups with medicine balls… Planks for a minute or longer … It’s four weeks of intense workouts. And it’s a week of stretching and yoga, so you relax.” The program is structured like this, said O’Donnell, “To work every muscle in the body and to get used to it.” Harland explained the stretching and yoga, which was on O’Donnell’s and Martin’s agenda for a recent Tuesday morning, is necessary to allow the muscles to relax and recover from the intensity of the previous workouts. Even during the stretching and relaxing portion of the work out, O’Donnell and Martin were feeling the burn. Working to stretch their legs from thigh to toe or to stretch their arms and chest, O’Donnell and Martin were surprised by the intensity of what they thought would be an easy day. MIKE CHAIKEN Nicole Martin works on some stretches her upper body at a recent session at AM Fitness in Plainville. Behind her is Cheyenne O’Donnell. “Four weeks, we work with every muscle… it’s awesome,” said O’Donnell. Martin said she liked the program at AM Fitness because she’s seeing results, unlike previous programs she has taken. “(At another gym) I would go on the treadmill and nothing would change. But coming here and to work with a buddy (indicating Cheyenne)… (I feel) stronger. I’m toning up. I feel better. I have more energy.” O’Donnell said, “I love the results. I love working out with my best friend every day, it’s great motivation… You definitely have more energy. You feel like you can do anything.” The buddy aspect of the program at AM Fitness is important to its success, said Harland. “We do it in groups. It’s more fun… (Studies have shown) adherence to groups… promotes better results and better attendance….. You meet people (in your class) and feel guilty about blowing them off… That commitment really takes place.” O’Donnell said the AM Fitness program was prov- ing to be helpful for her as she prepared to compete in the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Program. (The finals are at the Garde Arts Center in New London on Saturday.) “I definitely feel more confident (for the swimsuit competition because of her workout regimen at AM Fitness) because I have more abs…I’m getting pretty strong in there (in my core). And my legs are getting strong so I’m going to be in my heels strutting it.” For the evening gown competition, O’Donnell also was feeling in the zone. “My arms will look nice in it and my arms won’t look flabby and I’ll definitely feel more confident walking on stage.” AM Fitness is at 125 West Main St., Plainville. For more information, call (860) 846-0266, or go to amfitnessplainville.com Comments? Email mchaiken@BristolObserver. com. Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer 37 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Stellar pitching propel Greeners past Wolcott By MICHAEL LETENDRE STAFF WRITER BRISTOL – When the Bristol Greeners “secret” combination is working on the field, the locals are a tough out. Tri-state League But truly, it’s no secret when Bristol’s stellar pitching and defense are on full display and a win is sure to follow. And behind an outstanding effort from Bristol pitcher Justin Tacinelli and a smothering defensive effort by the entire squad, the Greeners picked up victory number eight. On Wednesday, June 20, the Greeners defeated Wolcott 2-0 in a Tri-City League game from Muzzy Field in Bristol in the second contest of a doubleheader. Defense was the calling card for the Greeners and when Wolcott threatened, the home team came up with some big plays. Bristol’s Dan Rosa was the face of that defense even after he committed a big error to start the sixth frame of a 0-0 game. The Scrappers’ Ryan Sacey hit a sharp grounder to Rosa at third but Rosa threw the ball over the first base bag as Wolcott had a runner on second with no outs. After a fly out to centerfield by Erik Sehnal, Sacey moved to third base and Rosa had to make two big defensive plays to keep that runner from scoring. The next two balls came to Rosa and the veteran made one easy play and the final grounder – which he ended up diving on to stop – signaled the end of the inning as Wolcott could not score a run. Tacinelli simply did not allow a runner to score and Bristol hit for two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good. “That’s the league…it’s pitching and defense,” said Bristol coach Shawn Mirmina. “Our defense was- BRISTOL GREENERS 2, WOLCOTT 0 from Muzzy Field, Bristol Wolcott Scrappers (5-4) 000 000 0 – 0 5 1 Bristol Greeners (8-3)000 002 x – 2 6 2 Wolcott: Zach Sehnal and Jason Miller; Bristol: Justin Tacinelli and Steve Julius. WP: Justin Tacinelli (3-0); LP: Zach Sehnal. 2B: Dave Casanova (B). LOB: Wolcott 8; Bristol 5. Records: Bristol 8-3; Wolcott 5-4. n’t as sharp as the past few games but we stuck around in the game and pulled out a victory to split (the doubleheader).” The hit of the game was drilled by Bristol’s John Pastyrnak as, with the bases loaded, he smashed a single up the middle to score two runs and give the Greeners its final margin of victory at 2-0. But outside of a couple glimmers of offense, it was the pitching and defense that held the fort. Tacinelli pitched his second complete game of the season and allowed only five hits while posting three strikeouts. Over the first four frames, Tacinelli only allowed two hits and when Wolcott finally put together back-to-back hits in the sev- enth inning, it was much too late to make a comeback. “Every game Tacinelli pitches, we go into it thinking we’re going to win,” said Mirmina. With the win, Tacinelli moved to a stellar 3-0 on the season while Dave Casanova was a force at the plate and went 2-for-3 with a double. “Casanova is hitting over .500 for us,” said Mirmina. “He tracks down every ball in the outfield…no ball gets by him.” Bristol’s offense stalled for most of the early parts of the game as Jimmy Hahn and Casanova were the only batters to get hits off of Wolcott pitcher Zack Sehnal. In his six innings of work, Sehnal yielded only six hits while posting seven strikeouts. While Bristol’s offense finally woke up in the sixth frame of the contest, the Greeners did enough – including Casanova robbing Jay Miller of a base-hit when his ball sailed into the outfield – defensively to keep Wolcott’s offense silent. During that huge play, Casanova snatched the ball up that was rolled into centerfield, controlled it and flung it to second base to get the lead runner – Sehnal – out and earn a big assist from the outfield. “We make some routine plays and we make some plays we shouldn’t even make,” said Mirmina. “Our defense is what keeps us in games and our pitching is what keeps us in games.” Sam Iverson’s picked two hits for the Scrappers while Erik Sehnal and Ryan Andrade each collected a hit in the losing effort. The bottom of the sixth is when all the action happened and it all went in the favor of the club from Bristol. Rosa started the fateful sixth with a single to center and off a well executed sacrifice bunt by Austin Howard, a runner was in scoring position. From there, Tim Georgen walked and Casanova drilled a shot up the middle to load up the bases. Pastyrnak drilled his shot to center as Rosa and Georgen crossed the plate and Bristol led 2-0. With one out in the seventh, Wolcott put together one last ditch run of backto-back singles but off a flyball out by Adam LaCapra and a strikeout of Mike Vaccare, Bristol came away with a big 2-0 win. With the victory, the Greeners moved to 8-3 on the season while Wolcott fell to 5-3. “To be 8-3 and to not have the bats really going yet, it’s not a bad situation to be in,” said Mirmina. Comments? Email mletendre@BristolObser ver. com. Threshers solve pitching to quiet Greeners By MICHAEL LETENDRE STAFF WRITER BRISTOL – When it comes to successful pitchers of the Tri-State Baseball League, the Bristol Greeners certainly have a couple of aces on its squad. Tri-state League But when you can get to one of those studs and drop a loss on one of their top throwers, consider yourself – and your team – lucky. And Thomaston considered itself extremely lucky on Wednesday, June 20 as the Threshers snuck past the Bristol Greeners 6-3 in league affair from Muzzy Field in Bristol. Bristol’s Geoff Pierce absorbed a tough loss on the mound, battling the near 100 degree temperatures on the field, but did enough for his squad early on to keep his team in it. PJ & Sons Remodeling Over 30 years experience Quality workmanship you can trust SPECIALIZING IN: • FIRE RESTORATION • WATER DAMAGE • ROOFING • FINISHED BASEMENTS • ADDITIONS • SIDING Will beat any written estimate by 10% Owner on job from start to finish SENIORS Member BBB 10% T All jobs full written warranty DISCOUN FREE ESTIMATES Call Pete for your estimate 860-585-0206 or 860-307-9579 Fully Licensed & Insured CT. Lic# 00563763 With the loss, Pierce fell to 1-1 on the campaign while he gave up eight hits and five walks. He struck out three while hanging in as a big first inning error allowed two early runs to score as Bristol faced a 3-0 deficit only after a half-inning into things. With a three-run lead already in hand, Thomaston pitcher Kenny Martinik was sharp from start to finish. He went all seven innings, giving up just seven hits while striking out four. The Threshers’ Will Sirotnik went 3-for-4 with three RBI while scoring a run while Andy Romano added two hits and scored twice for the visitors. Even as Thomaston led from wire to wire, Bristol hardly quit and, in fact, had the tying run at the plate twice during the seventh and final stanza of play. “We weren’t sharp at all,” said Bristol coach Shawn Mirmina, “but we JB ack eaulieu • Roofing • Siding • Decks • Additions OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Replacement Windows Also: 2 FAMILY HOUSE for SALE 160 WHITING ST • PLAINVILLE 860-747-8278 860-517-9092 Fully INSURED • License #507199 THOMASTON THRESHERS 6, BRISTOL GREENERS 3 from Muzzy Field, Bristol Thomaston Threshers (2-7) 310 200 0 – 6 9 1 Bristol Greeners (7-3)020 000 1 – 3 7 1 Thomaston: Kenny Mantnik; Bristol: Geoff Pierce and Mitch Wells. WP: Kenny Mantnik; LP: Geoff Pierce (1-1). 2B: Andy Romano (T), Will Sirotrik (T). LOB: Thomaston 9; Bristol 10. Records: Bristol 7-3; Thomaston 2-7. were still in the game (and) had a chance to win in the end. It wasn’t our cleanest game. We’re still struggling offensively a little bit.” Dave Casanova, showing the speed and ability both the Bristol Eastern and Bristol Legion teams enjoyed over the past years, went 3-for-3 at the plate to go along with two stolen bases while Marco Ross came away with two hits and two runs scored. Nick Palmisano and Jimmy Hahn also tallied hits for the Greeners. Bristol left 10 runners on in the game while during the first inning, Thomaston went right to work. With one out, Thomaston put together two straight hits and off a batter hit by a pitch from Pierce, the bases were quickly loaded. From there, Thomas Collins drilled a shot right to first base for a quick out and a quick throw was made to home to retire the advancing runner. But the throw to the plate went well over the head of Bristol catcher Mitch Wells as two runners scored and the contest became a 2-0 affair. Scott Belliveau scored the third run of the frame via wild pitch as the visitors scooped up a 3-0 tilt early. Thomaston tacked another run on in the second to take a commanding 4-0 push but the edge Ceiling Surgeon CT LIC # 0627986 Specializing in: *Spray Textures *Repairs of stains, cracks, holes, etc. *New replacement ceilings *Mold & mildew treatment Over 25 years of ceiling experience Bristol & Surrounding Communities (860) 261-4071 Reg. No. 544128 -------Ask For Jim ------- wouldn’t last. In the third frame, Hahn and Ross hit back-toback singles and a Bristol rally commenced. Tim Georgen drove in the Greeners first run via an RBI groundout and with the bases loaded, Rosa forced in Ross via a walk as the deficit was cut to 4-2. But over the next inning, one hit netted the Threshers a big insurance runs. With the bases loaded and one out, Sirtnik smashed a double to drive in two runs and Thomaston made it a 6-2 game after four. Pierce left the contest for Mitch Buonafede as the reliever pitched three strong innings and allowed only one hit while striking out two. Bristol had chances to add a run in the fifth and sixth stanzas but failed to do so. However ,in the seventh, Bristol almost • ALL TYPES OF MASONRY WORK • Stonewalls • Sidewalks • Patios • Concrete • Steps Fireplaces • Retaining Walls • Old Job Repairs Call Fredi for a FREE ESTIMATE 203-695-2689 Licensed and Insured www.BristolObserver.com•www.BristolObserver.com•www.BristolObserver.com•www.BristolObserver.com changed the outcome of the game with a big finish. Ross led off the final frame with a single and one out later, Casanova smashed a shot to right for another base hit. Georgen walked to load things up and Mitch Wells at the plate represented the tying run in the game. Wells grounded out to the shortstop but Ross scored to make it a 6-3 contest. But Ross flew out to center to end the game as Thomaston held on to win by three. With the victory, Thomaston moved to 2-7 while Bristol fell to 7-3. “(Thomaston’s) record wasn’t great but that’s the Tri-State League,” said Mirmina. “Any team can win on any given day. Whoever comes out and plays better baseball is going to win that day.” Comments? Email mchaiken@BristolObserver. com - Steve’sHandyman Services Small carpentry, electrical and plumbing jobs, painting, etc. Also o specializing g in Kitchen n & Bath Remodeling Insured Lic. # 524948 Cell (860) 307-7297 ANYTIME!! 38 The Step Saver/ The Observer To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Friday, June 29, 2012 Bristol’s Tyler Bush makes Winsted pay By MICHAEL LETENDRE STAFF WRITER WINSTED – When you do your homework against the Bristol Legion senior baseball team, you pick up Tyler Bush pretty quickly. American Legion You learn that he’s a load at the plate and you have to tread pretty lightly when attempting to deal with him. But if you don’t do your homework, Bush will make you pay the price each and every time. And bluntly, the former Bristol Eastern standout took Winsted to the cleaners as Bush missed hitting for the cycle by only one hit, leading Bristol to a 7-4 victory over Post 43 from Walker Field in Winsted on Tuesday, June 19. The victory elevated Bristol to 8-3-1 on the season, 6-4 in Zone 1 play while Winsted fell to 2-5 in the zone. Bush hit for a single, triple and crammed an inside-the-park homerun down the collective throats of Winsted as he accounted for an amazing six RBI on the afternoon. His triple gave Bristol a 3-0 padding early and in the final inning, Bush’s smash to deep centerfield – Walker Field which does not have a fence surrounding the outfield and the ball just got away from everybody – turned a two-run edge into a 7-2 cushion. Put simply, it was a sensational effort by Bush who always does a little something every game to leave his imprint. “The two-out triple by Bush really changed the game,” said Bristol coach Dave Nocera. “Obviously, the three-run homer in the seventh was really huge because it gave us a little bit of day light. Going into that seventh inning with a tworun lead was a little bit disconcerting to me, that’s for sure.” “Not that I didn’t feel Brett (Madore) could close the door, because he could, it was nice having a five run lead and (Madore) just (firing) fastballs.” Credit also belonged to Post 2 pitcher Kris Fuller who earned his first starting assignment of the season. Fuller, who’s just about come full circle from microfracture knee surgery, was solid in his five-plus innings of work to earn his first victory of the campaign. In 5.1 innings, Fuller gave up only five hits, two earned runs and one walk while posting five strikeouts in an impressive starting debut. When he needed to, Fuller made all the big pitches over the first five frames before tiring in the BRISTOL 7, WINSTED 4 from Walker Field, Winsted Bristol (6-3) 003 100 3 – 7 8 0 Winsted (2-5) 000 002 2 – 4 10 6 Bristol: Kris Fuller, Brett Madore (6) & Connor Fitzsimons, T.J. Wyrebek (6); Winsted: Connor Guilteen, John Lippincoit (7) & Ryan Esippi. WP: Kris Fuller (1-0); LP: Connor Guilteen. Double: Connor Hayes (B). Triple: Tyler Bush (B). Homerun: Tyler Bush (B). SAC: Connor Hayes (B). LOB: Bristol 5; Winsted 8. Records: Bristol 8-3-1 overall, 6-4 Zone 1; Winsted 2-5 Zone 1. middle of the sixth stanza. “He had a nice start today,” said Nocera of Fuller. “He pitched extremely well. It was only the second time he’s pitched since he had his knee surgery. He’s just getting back to where he was last summer when he pitched so well for the junior legion team.” From there, Brett Madore picked up the save in relief as he held the fort and did not let Winsted put the tying runner on base. But Post 43 did challenge Bristol and even down to its last out in the game, Winsted put itself in position to make some things happen. “They are well coached,” said Nocera of Winsted. “They fight hard. They fought to the very end. Early in the ball game, I was worried. We had a couple opportunities. We didn’t cash in. We did look like we were seeing the ball well against that lefty (Connor Guilteen).” “Any time you face a soft throwing lefty, they’re always problems.” Bristol’s defense was also superb throughout as the visiting squad weren’t given any extra chances in the encounter. “Our defense played exceptionally well today, which was important,” said Nocera. “It was a good allaround win for us.” Winsted loaded the bases three times during the game but Post 2 came up with all the big plays as, in the third frame with the bases juiced, Bristol ended the inning with a huge 6-4-3 double play to keep the home team off the board. Six errors didn’t help Winsted’s cause and when runners got onboard, players like Bush brought them home. In a scoreless game going into the third, Jake Martel reached base via error, Connor Hayes smashed a double to right field and Matt Blandino walked to load things up for Bush. Bush unloaded a twoout triple to the gap in right- center as he cleared the bases and propelled Bristol to a quick 3-0 push. In the fourth stanza, crafty Kyle Dube singled to start the inning, moved to second base via an error and eventually scored off a hit and error by Joe Randall as the visitors edged in front 4-0. Winsted, hanging around, added two runs in the bottom of the sixth off a two-RBI single by Drew McCarthy as Post 43 closed the deficit to 4-2 with one stanza remaining. That’s when Bush executed the hit of the game. Hayes had reached base off an error and with two outs, Blandino once again walked to set up runners on first and second with Bush coming to the plate. Off a 2-0 count, the slugger railed a shot to center that easily went over the fielder’s head and rolled into the wooded area past the area of play. Off the shot, all three base runners touched home plate to help Bristol secure a 7-2 tilt with Post 43 down to its final three outs. “It was one of the best performances I think I’ve ever seen in legion baseball,” said Nocera of Bush’s day at the plate. “And it couldn’t come at a more opportune time because we really needed those hits. He clearly did a nice job today and propelled us to victory.” Madore posted a strikeout and a groundout to get two quick putouts in the bottom of the seventh but yielded four straight hits – leading to two runs – as Winsted was down only 7-4 with two on and Austin Brochu at the plate representing the tying run. But Madore shutdown Brochu via strikeout – his third and final of the game – as Bristol grabbed an important three-run win on the road. “They got a few hits, a few bleeders that went through, and they got a couple nice hits but at the end of the day, Brett got the job done,” said Nocera of Madore. “He got the strikeout he needed to get at the right time. We also had Tyler Cyr warming up in the bullpen just in case to close deal, but I had all the confidence in the world that Brett was going to get the job done.” “It’s a good win for us.” NOTES…Hayes and Blandino scored two runs apiece for Bristol while Randall had two hits in the game…Post 2 was aggressive on the base-paths and, to Winsted’s credit, the home team tagged two runners out at the plate during the game. Comments? Email mletendre@BristolObser ver. com. non-existent cash, he chipped in to help fund the Clemens case. How did that turn out again? Topic: The Miami Heat won the 2011-12 NBA Finals to propel Lebron James to his first ever championship. Conclusion: Who cares about “King” James and company? It makes Boston’s epic seven-game loss to the Heat even move hurtful. The Celtics had to win just one more game to knock Miami out of the playoffs, leading three games to two in the best-of-seven series. But Boston fell in its final two playoff games and from there, Miami defeated Oklahoma City 4-1. The way OKC played in the Finals, I think Boston would have gotten a championship and Banner 18. If only…if only… Topic: Long time Bristol Eastern High School coach Chris D’Amato stepped down from his post as the mentor of the softball team at the completion of the 2012 campaign. Conclusion: It’s a pretty big loss for the Lancers but D’Amato made a commitment to his family and it was just the right time for him to make a change. Who knows who will take the reins in 2013 but just keep a “Red” eye on the situation. Comments? Email mletendre@BristolObserver.com Fast Break Over Bristol By MICHAEL LETENDRE STAFF WRITER With the summer season upon us, it’s once again time for another edition of “Fast Break Over Bristol”. Opinion Once again, the world of sports is abuzz with all sorts of happenings and some of these events certainly caught my eyes over the past couple of weeks. So, let’s jump right into it but be careful…you never know what to expect. Topic: Last week, a jury convicted former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky on 45 of 48 counts of sexual abuse on a child. Conclusion: Let’s sum it up with this: Nah, nah…nah, nah, nah, nah…Hey, hey, hey: Goodbye! In all seriousness, everyone is a loser in this situation except for the legal system. In this case, the guilty gets punished and we will NEVER see that monster do anything like that again. And unlike the O.J. Simpson trial (Those gloves fit him just fine…), it didn’t become a farce with all sorts of legal experts, exceptions, and swerve tactics. The jury got it right. Topic: Bristol’s historic Terry house is ‘toast’ as it was recently revealed that it cannot be saved and will probably get knocked down. Conclusion: What a joke…are you kidding me? We’re going to destroy ANOTHER historic Bristol home? We all saw “our friends” at Lake Compounce destroy the Norton house for another maintenance shed (or whatever) and no one stepped in to save it. Can’t somebody do something about this? It’s a piece of town history and we moved it for ANOTHER CVS and ANOTHER gosh darn bank. How many pills and how much banking does this town do anyways? Topic: Former Red Sox and Yankees pitching great Roger Clemens was acquitted of all charges in federal perjury trial off of that whole steroid mess. Conclusion: How was one of the greatest pitchers of all time going to be found guilty to begin with? Heck, just looking at the guy, it looks like he could still throw seven or eight innings. But wasn’t this a slam dunk case for the government? Why would they go after Clemens if there was going to be any doubt? Who paid for this trial anyways? Oh that’s right, the taxpayers did. I, in fact, heard after Governor Malloy gave “Jackson Labs” a big bucket of Connecticut’s The Law Office of Ryan A. Bauder • Bankruptcy • Estate Planning (Wills & Trusts) • Small Business Formation • Probate Administration TUNE-UP YOUR POWER EQUIPMENT • • • • Small Engine Repair & Maintenance Servicing Most Makes & Models Lawn Tractors and Mowers Tillers and Trimmers • Leaf Blowers "This office is designated as a debt relief agency under the Bankruptcy Code." Power Equipment, LLC 275 Terryville Road • Bristol, CT 06010 860-583-2711 Pick-up and Delivery Available • Fully Insured • Windows • Gutters • Downspouts and so much more! Serving the Community for over 30 years. FULLY INSURED References Avail. REG. $542454 100 Queen Street, Suite 4A, Southington, CT 06489 (860) 863-5902 phone • rbauderlaw@gmail.com email www. bauderlaw.com website Advertise here! You’re reading it.Your customers are too! Call The Observer/Step Saver. (860) 628-9645 SIGN BY MARCH 30TH O’DONNELL BROS. INC. wwwodonnellbros.com Friday, June 29, 2012 The Step Saver/ The Observer Legion: Starting slow at gate From page 40 had to do a little experimenting early in the season. But I know as soon as we find our niche, we’re going to be in good shape.” 2012 Bristol Legion Senior Roster No. Name 2 Brett Madore 4 Pat Raymond 5 Connor Hayes 6 Tim Jalbert 7 Connor Fitzsimons 8 Tyler Cyr 9 Matt Blandino 10 Matt Bossi 11 TJ Wyrebek 12 Tyler Bush 13 Mitch Guilmette 14 Kyle Dube 15 Kris Fuller 16 Ryan Chiasson 17 Nick Plachno 18 Kyle Kolakoski 21 Eric Roman 24 Jake Martel 25 Reid Roberge School Xavier HS St. Paul BCHS St. Paul BEHS CCSU BCHS BCHS BCHS BEHS BCHS St. Paul BEHS BEHS BEHS BCHS BCHS BCHS RPI Bristol Legion Baseball Scores Date Friday, June 8 Friday, June 8 Sunday, June 10 Sunday, June 10 Wednesday, June 13 Wednesday, June 13 Saturday, June 16 Saturday, June 16 Sunday, June 17 Sunday, June 17 Monday, June 18 Tuesday, June 19 Opponent vs. Branford vs. New Milford at Southington at Southington vs. Cumberland, RI vs. Terryville at Torrington vs. Winsted vs. Burlington vs. Burlington vs. Simsbury at Winsted Position hortstop Outfield Second base Outfield Catcher Pitcher Pitcher Outfield 3B/Catcher Centerfield/P 3B/Outfield Infielder P/First base P/Outfield 3B/Outfield Pitcher First base Leftfielder DH/1B/P Score/Result 13-4, W 4-2, W 2-1, W 0-2, L 2-2, T 7-1, W 4-0, W 0-7, L 8-1, W 2-3, L 4-0, W 7-4, W 39 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 Shut out win for Greeners By MICHAEL LETENDRE STAFF WRITER BRISTOL – The Bristol Greeners have been on quite a run over its first nine games of the 2012 Connecticut Tri-State Baseball League campaign. And in a contest against always tough Amenia, the Greeners picked up another big win in a matinee affair. The Greeners defeated the Monarchs 6-3 from Bristol Central on Sunday, June 17 to move to 7-2 on the season. And, as usual, there was another stellar effort from one of Bristol’s outstanding pitching staff. Behind the combination of a strong pitching performance from Mat Niedzwiecki and a seasonhigh 14 hits, the Greeners took a nine-inning affair from Amenia. In all, Niedzwiecki allowed one run over seven BRISTOL GREENERS 6, AMENIA MONARCHS 3 from Bristol Central High School, Bristol Amenia (4-4) 000 010 002 – 3 6 4 Bristol (7-2) 102 111 00x – 6 14 2 Amenia: Travis Hyatt & Tom Moore; Bristol: Mat Niedzwiecki & Steve Julius. WP: Mat Niedzwiecki; LP: Travis Hyatt. Records: Bristol (7-2); Amenia (4-4) innings, surrendered just three hits while striking out eight. With the victory, he improved his record to 3-1 on the season. Bristol was led offensively by Dave Casanova as he was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a double, two stolen bases and a walk. John Pastyrnak, Matt Godbout, and Steve Julius each collected a pair of hits for the Greeners as the squad scored early and often to take and keep the lead from the beginning. Travis Hyatt took the loss for Amenia, allowing six runs – three of those earned – over six innings of action. Ken Shufelt went 2- for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Monarchs while Tom Downey, Tom Moore, and Josh Wolinski each added a double for losing Amenia. Bristol scored a run in the first and then added two additional tallies in the third to make it a 3-0 game. Amenia never had a chance to even things early and was forced into a game of catch-up. It was a contest the Monarchs were incapable of coming from behind. In the fourth through the sixth frame, the Greeners padded its lead with a run every inning and after six, Bristol’s edge was 6-1 and the visiting club never recovered. Simsbury: Bristol’s Legion shuts down Post 84 From page 40 Mitch Guilmette and Brett Madore each tallied hits while Jake Martel smashed out a double to centerfield during the sixth inning of play. Simsbury certainly had chances but couldn’t do a thing with two walks, a hit batsmen, and those seven hits. The visitors, outside of the third frame, were the kings of the two-out rally but those drives were simply fool’s gold and accounted for zero runs. Even as Dube faced six batters in the first inning – and a bases-loaded situation – Simsbury stranded three on base as Post 84 came up empty and the theme of the game was set. Bristol scored its run in the first as Guilmette stroked a single to left, advanced to second off a balk by losing pitcher Mike Gibbons (5.1 IP, 6 hits, 4 walks, 6 KO’s), and scored on an RBI tally to left-centerfield by Bush— to give Post 2 an 1-0 edge after one stanza. “That two-out hit by Bush was huge for us,” said Nocera. “It really kind of propelled us.” Again in the second, Simsbury put two on with two outs but the crafty Dube got Simsbury’s EJ Lavoie out on strikeouts as Bristol’s 1-0 lead stayed intact. Again, Post 84 had chances in the fourth as Josh Gowdy (2-for-3) and Jason Byers put together back-to-back hits with two outs gone in the frame. Even as Josh Figueroa walked to load the bases, Dube got Lavoie to groundout as the threat was ended and Bristol continued to hold its 1-0 edge. But in the bottom of the fifth, the momentum of the game changed for good. Post 2 scored three times in the fifth as it took advantage of three walks and two errors to soak up a 4-0 cushion. Connor Hayes and Guilmette opened the fray with back-to-back walks while a picture perfect sacrifice bunt by TJ Wyrebek advanced the runners and Bristol had men on second and third with only one out. Tyler Bush walked to load things up and designated hitter Matt Blandino followed up with a sharp grounder to second, forcing in Hayes from third base to make it 2-0. But Simsbury – who got Bush out at second and attempted to get Blandino going to first – threw the ball away all the way down to the first base fence as Guilmette scored to post Bristol to a 3-0 stake. From there, an RBI single to the gap in center by Jalbert plated Blandino as Bristol’s 4-0 push after five frames was too imposing for the visitors to handle. “Jalbert’s rope that he hit that was huge for him,” said Nocera. “He’d been waiting. He had a couple bad at-bats before that so he needed to get his confidence back.” With two outs in the seventh, Simsbury put two runners on but off one final Dube strikeout on Josh Holihan, Bristol’s shutout was complete as the home team wrapped up a 4-0 victory. “I was very pleased with the effort today,” said Nocera. “Even though we kicked the ball a little bit today – we made too many errors – but at the end of the day, we played a pretty crisp game.” SEE THE WORLD’S LARGEST CIRCUS UNDER THE BIG TOP C CIIRCUS IR RC R CU C CUS US U S S TARS TA TAR T AR ARS A RS R S Honors: Bristol baseball players saluted From page 40 toughest out on the team for opponents. With the loss of Joey Randall on the mound for St. Paul midway through the season, Dube had to assume the top pitching spot and threw very well for the Falcons. On the year, he went 62 on the mound and carried an impressive ERA of 1.98. Opponents batted less than .225 against the chucker while Dube appeared in a team high 11 games this season. At the plate, Dube batted .381 and smashed 32 hits for 20 RBI. Dube also had 10 doubles and scored 16 runs. Jalbert, just as he was in football, was All-State Academic and while he shined in the classroom, he was pretty good on the field as well. In 24 games, Jalbert carried an impressive average of.423 and belted out 33 hits. He tallied 25 RBI, crossed the plate 17 times, and added a team best 11 doubles. Wyrebek and Jalbert were also named to the CHSCA All-Star team for District One this year. E $5 SAV ON NCE ADVA LT U D A TS TICKE BRISTOL OPPOSITE CITY HALL SAT. JUN JUNE 30 4:30 PM 7:30 PM & SUN. JULY 1 1:30 PM 4:30 PM BUY ADVANCE TICKETS AT BIKERS EDGE E - 384 FARMINGTON AVE. TICKETS.COM -332-5200 1-888-332-5200 SUMMER RECREATION SPORTS LEAGUE COACHES: Coaches are encouraged to send in their team results. Email them to mletendre@BristolObserver.com COME C EARLY! 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S.C S .C CO COM OM O M 40 To advertise, call (860) 628-9645 The Step Saver/ The Observer Friday, June 29, 2012 •Greeners shut out Amenia...page 39 •Tyler Bush leads Legion...page 38 •Threshers top Greeners...page 37 Our Athletes Offense not as potent, but Legion can still win By MICHAEL LETENDRE STAFF WRITER BRISTOL – Maybe the Bristol Legion baseball team won’t be an offensive machine this season but as long as the squad puts the ball into play this year, good things are bound to happen. And in Post 2’s Zone 1 showdown with Simsbury from Muzzy Field in Bristol on Monday, June 18, Bristol forced the visiting club to make tough plays on the ball. That’s where Simsbury paid the price as Bristol tallied six hits and took advantage of four errors as Post 2 picked up an important 4-0 Zone 1 victory. The win moved the squad to 7-3-1 overall and 5-4 in Zone 1 action. Bristol has now won four out of its last six games. Post 2 took the lead in the game for good off an RBI single by Tyler Bush in the first frame while in the fifth, the home team scored three times and was aided by two Simsbury miscues. “We had productive at-bats today,” said Bristol coach Dave Nocera. “We put the ball in play, cut down on the strikeouts, squared up on a lot of balls today, which was nice.” It was all Bristol pitching sensation Kyle Dube needed on the day as the standout collected the victory via 10 strikeouts and yielded just seven hits in his shutout effort. Dube showed composure throughout the game and when he needed to deliver a big pitch, he did so in grand fashion. “I loved the job Dube did especially early when he had to wiggle himself out of trouble,” said Nocera. “He made some good pitches at the right time. He then settled down and got stronger as the game went on.” Simsbury managed those seven hits but none of them were timely and when it counted most, Post 84 stranded 11 runners on base. Put simply, the big hit by the visitors simply never materialized. Bush was clutch on the day for Bristol, going 2for-2— drawing a walk, while Timmy Jalbert posted an RBI single to lead the home squad. See SIMSBURY, page 39 BRISTOL 4, SIMSBURY 0 from Muzzy Field, Bristol Simsbury (5-4) 000 000 0 – 0 7 4 Bristol (5-3) 100 030 x – 4 6 2 Simsbury: Mike Gibbons, Hank Tobin (6) & Andrew Girard; Bristol: Kyle Dube & Connor Fitzsimons. WP: Kyle Dube (1-1); LP: Mike Gibbons. Doubles: Tyler Bush (B), Jake Martel (B). SAC: TJ Wyrebek (B). LOB: Simsbury 11; Bristol 7. Records: Bristol 7-3-1 overall, 5-3 Zone 1; Simsbury 5-4 Zone 1. SUBMITTED Bristol baseball players who received post-season awards: T.J. Wyrebek, left, Tim Jalbert, Kyle Dube, and Matt Blandino. Local baseball players receive honors By MICHAEL LETENDRE STAFF WRITER BRISTOL – With the completion of the 2012 scholastic baseball season, several postseason awards have been handed out over the past couple weeks. Baseball And, of course, after the seasons that both Bristol Central and St. Paul had, each squad had players earn postseason recognition. Central’s Matt Blandino and T.J. Wyrebek made the Connecticut high school Coaches’ Association 2012 Class LL All-State team while St. Paul’s Kyle Dube was named to the Class S squad. Along with St. Paul’s Tim Jalbert – who was named All-State Academic – the locals were certainly well-represented on those prestigious squads. Blandino was an assassin on the mound the year as the junior did not register a loss and went a blazing 90 on the season with a ridiculous 0.49 ERA. He no-hit Maloney this season from Muzzy Field and batted a healthy .344 to go along 22 hits and nine RBI. Wyrebek was another top hitter on Central’s squad with an impressive .333 batting average and smashed out 21 hits. He had 17 RBI, struck out only three times all season long, and was the See HONORS, page 39 Bristol Legion expected to be playing better by now By MICHAEL LETENDRE STAFF WRITER BRISTOL – The Bristol Senior Legion baseball team has only lost three of its first 12 games to start its 2012 campaign. And for the ultra competitive club, the team expected a little better start out of the gate. Post 2 has faced some of the usual beginning of the season distractions as a rain out or two, all star games and other nonscheduled events have led to a couple problems in terms of consistency. “We’re off to a slow start offensively,” said Bristol coach Dave Nocera. “For the talent that we have, we haven’t put the hits together. I’m not totally surprised. They’re a lot of distractions early in the season. Going back and forth between graduation, banquets, and all-star games, it’s tough to get focused.” “But all that stuff is behind us now and I think we’re ready to go on a run.” Getting all the players on the same page on this hugely talented team is the key and while some players are still trying to put a string of good at bats together or simply get into a summer groove, Nocera understands that once this group gains a little confidence, the Bristol squad should quickly take off. “This game is all about confidence,” said Nocera. “I don’t care how good you are. You struggle a little bit, you get off to a slow start, it starts to get in your head and before you know it, you’re in a slump. But these kids, we keep telling them, ‘Don’t worry about it, things will come along nicely.’” But a couple players are already in midseason form and those athletes have been big producers from the start. Tyler Bush has been doing a little of everything for Bristol on a nightly basis and against Simsbury and Winsted last week, the centerfielder collected a combined five hits and seven RBI. It’s that kind of offensive production that Nocera and the team craves. And then there are the efforts of pitchers like Kris Fuller – who picked up his first ever Senior Legion victory during a 7-4 win over Winsted on Tuesday, June 19. He threw five strong innings and kept Post 43 offbalanced for most of the contest. “I liked what he did (against Winsted),” said Nocera of Fuller. “I think he can throw the ball better. I think he’ll get stronger. He’ll get a little more crisper with his pitches. That was a nice start.” “He beat a good team.” At 8-3-1 as of June 19, it’s only the tip of the ice- berg for Post 2. Getting that everyday line-up together has been a challenge for Nocera as well because the squad is deep and talented. But once that pattern is laid down and set, expect Bristol to be much more consistent both in the field and at the plate. “I told the kids it was my fault we’re off to a slow start,” said Nocera. “I haven’t pushed the right buttons. I haven’t figured out exactly what line-up I want to have out there yet. I See LEGION, page 39