Volume 36, No. 52

Southington’s only locally produced paper

Southington High pitching ace Justin Robarge signs with UHart, Page 21

Looking back at the 175th anniversary year at the Barnes Museum, Page 8

The Empire comes to Southington

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Polar Plunge returns to YMCA Camp Sloper in January, Page 3

Looking back at the past year By OBSREVER STAFF Storms, continued flooding along a portion of Stonegate Road, a special 9/11 remembrance ceremony and a downtown parking jam were just some of the top stories in Southington in 2011. Other top stories included the selling of North Center School for $1, Republicans dominating the November elections and a local ballplayer making his way into the Cincinnati Reds farm system. Join us as we look back at some of the top stories in

Southington from 2011. A Storm of Trouble First it was Irene. Then it was Alfred. Southington and the rest of the state felt the wrath of two powerful and somewhat unprecedented storms late this year. Southington did not emerge unscathed after the first weekend of brutal weather, but local officials were relieved and said the extent of the damage to the town was far less than it could have been. Hurricane Irene, even-

tually downgraded to a tropical storm, came across the western Connecticut coast on an August Sunday, dropping close to 10 inches of rain in northwestern parts of the state before speeding away to the northeast. At the height of the storm, about 3,500 people in Southington were out of power. During the weekend, the storm created hazardous conditions on about a dozen local roads, including busy ones like Marion Avenue and Meriden-

See 2011, page 4

Committee looks at possible new park By ROB GLIDDEN STAFF WRITER

TAMMI KNAPIK

A new “Blue Ribbon”

Darth Vader recently visited the Southington Library as part of a Star Wars themed Parks Committee met for this first time last week to children’s event.While there, he was disturbed by some of the library’s offerings. discuss improvements to For more photos and info on the event, see page 16.

Chuck Motes to step down as health director By ROB GLIDDEN STAFF WRITER

After a long career that concluded with the creation of a new regional health district in Southington and Plainville, Health Director Chuck Motes is retiring. “I’ve put 47 and a half years in and I’ve filled a lot of positions, each one with more responsibility than the last,” Motes said. “It’s time for me to step back and spend more time with my wife and kids.” Motes has been the Health Director in Southington since 2000 and had a long resume before that, including 18 months in Vietnam studying malaria during the war. In the

Chuck Motes midst of the conflict, he was collecting mosquitoes and rats in an effort to understand the disease and keep it from spreading. “It was scary,” he recalled. “I had just gotten

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out of bed one morning and they blew up the hotel down the street from where I was staying.” Afterwards, he served as a sanitarian in a number of different towns including Glastonbury and Plainville. Some of the jobs introduced him to regional districts, such as in Westport/Weston and the regional district that encompasses Cheshire, Prospect and Wolcott (he refers to this area as “Chesprocott”). When Southington and Plainville decided to partner together for a regional district in 2010, Motes was

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Southington’s recreation opportunities, a plan which may include a brand new park. Along with the recently formed Turf Committee, this board was created as part of the Town Council’s focus on Southington parks as a priority for the next two years. Town Councilor Peter Romano, who was named chairman of this council subcommittee, referenced the potential new park in his opening remarks. One site that may be a candidate for the new park is the Brandenburg property, a spot in the northern end of Southington purchased by the town years ago. When the Board of Education proposed a third middle school in 2006, this site was the planned locaDINE IN SPECIAL Any Dinner with Salad & Pasta

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Family Resource Center receives grant

“

By ED HARRIS Editor

I know firsthand the work they do in the community for children and families.

“

Southington’s Family Resource Center will begin a literacy program next month, thanks, in part, to a recent $1,000 grant from Cox Communication. The Family Resource Center, which is based out of Derynoski School, but runs programs in all of the town’s elementary schools, helps families with school readiness prior to the young students entering kindergarten. The center is funded through grants and help from the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. “We are very fortunate,” Family Resource Center Director Krista Pringle said of the grant. Pringle said the grant money would be used to purchase children’s books fro the Raising Readers literacy program. The national program helps parents learn how to choose books and how best to read them aloud to their children. The grant money will allow the center to purchase the books, which will then be given to the parents after

Dan LeRoy, Cox employee the program. “Children’s books aren’t cheap,” Pringle noted. The grant from Cox is part of the companies Cox Charities Employee Grant Program, which helps aid philanthropic work in the communities where employees live. The 25 grants, each totaling $1,000 were donated to organizations and groups in Connecticut and Rhode Island. An advisory group

comprised of Cox employees review and rank each of the nominations submitted. The committee evaluates and ranks each application on several key criteria before final selections are made. “We are proud to increase support of our employees who donate their time to positively impact our future generations. The Cox Charities grant program is just one of the many ways Cox remains committed to its employees and the community.” said Paul Cronin, senior vice president and general manager, Cox Communications New England said in a release. The Family Resource Center of Southington was nominated by Dan LeRoy. “I nominated the Family Resource Center of Southington because I volunteered at the center,” said LeRoy. “I know first hand the great work they do in the community for children and families. The grant they received will truly help them offer more helpful programs and services to the community.” The Raising Readers lit-

SUBMITTED

eracy program will begin in January. To register for the program email [email protected]. To

learn more about the Family Resource Center, which was founded in 2008, visit w w w. s o u t h i n g t o n e a r l y -

childhood.org. Comments? Email [email protected].

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Southington The Observer, USPS# 025-218, is Published weekly by The Step Saver, Inc., 213 Spring St., Southington, CT 06489. Phone: 860-628-9438 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 Southington, CT and additional offices. Free by request to local residents. Postmaster: Send changes of address to Southington The Observer: 213 Spring St, Southington, CT 06489

Friday, December 30, 2011

•Police Blotter...page 5

News

•Star Wars Scene...page 19 •SHS Sports......page 21

Our Town

Take an ice cool dip for charity at the Polar Plunge Mark Pooler, Outdoor Center director at YMCA Camp Sloper, recently announced the teams for the seventh Annual Polar Plunge. The plunge will take place on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. at Camp Sloper, in the icy waters of Sloper Pond. All funds from this event will be donated to provide financial assistance to help send children and teens to YMCA Camp Sloper this summer for a meaningful day camp experience. Pooler is excited about this year’s line-up and expects to have a successful event that raises money for camp scholarships. “We have had such generous donors and very

brave plungers in the last six years, it has become kind of a tradition for us here in the Southington community” Pooler said. The 2012 teams will include the Southington Police Department led by Police Commissioner Steve Pestillo and Lieutenant Ed Pocock as well as the Southington Fire Department led by Fire Chief Buddy Clark. The Southington Board of Education is joining the plunge again, led by Superintendent Dr. Joe Erardi, Board of Education Chair Brian Goralski and High School teacher Bob Lasbury. In addition, the Southington Politicians Team under the leadership of Mike Riccio and the

Calvanese Foundation Team under the leadership of Foundation Board Member Lauren Forgione and Aqua Turf Maitre d’ Donny Jenkins will return again in 2012. Of course, the YMCA will have a team too, led by Outdoor Center Director Mark Pooler and Executive Director John Myers. “Every year we try to add a new team to the event to build off the success of last year and get more people involved” said Pooler. “I am pleased to announce the Feature Team for 2012 will be ‘Team Southington’ led by Town Manager Garry Brumback.” Team Southington will be made up of town employees and any other Southington residents that want to join the cause. “I am thrilled to be able to help such a worthy cause,” said Brumback. “The idea of jumping into a hole in an icy pond is only being considered because of this great cause! Helping families in Southington send their kids for two weeks of summer camp at YMCA’s Camp Sloper is worth a few minutes of being cold.” Anyone interested in taking the plunge this year should contact Mark Pooler at 860-621-8194. Each plunger has a minimum goal of $100 to plunge and needs to be part of a team. “There is nothing better in this world than seeing a child with a smile on their face, and YMCA Camp Sloper does this each and every day! I am

FILE PHOTO

proud to be a part of a great cause like this and it really is a lot of fun” says Bob Lasbury, Southington High School Teacher and Boys Basketball Coach, who will be taking the Polar Plunge for the fifth time in 2012. If residents aren’t ready to take the plunge, When it’s First Sunday ... It’s Time to visit

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they are invited come watch and join the fun. “Last year we had close to 200 spectators which really motivated our plungers and added fun to the event,” Pooler noted. Pooler also noted that the YMCA is putting together plans together for a ‘Solar Plunge’ held in the

summer for those who are not willing to take the plunge in the icy waters. “It will be a late season effort to raise some more money for families in need during the late months of the summer” said Pooler. Event details on the Solar Plunge will be out in the spring of 2012.

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2011: The stories that shaped the town From page 1 Waterbury Turnpike. Police said there were 24 instances of wires coming down. Thirty-five trees came down, though only a few caused damage to homes. There were 17 “public hazards,” There were eight medical calls, five points of concern for flooding, and only two car accidents and one disabled vehicle. The opening of school for the new year was delayed a day due to Irene. As bad as Irene was, it was only a warm up for Alfred, which knocked out power in the state to hundreds of thousands and kept it that way for more than a week in some places. The nor’easter dumped anywhere from a few inches to nearly two feet on sections of the state, weighing down trees that still had leaves on their branches. Falling tree limbs wreaked havoc on power lines all over the state, leaving hundreds of thousands in the dark. Officials from the state’s two major electric utilities, Connecticut Light & Power Co. and United Illuminating, estimate that outage totals surpassed 880,000 at their peak. By comparison, outages topped out at just over 765,000 during Tropical Storm Irene. According to the Southington Police Facebook page, the onset of the storm caused 61 instances of downed wires, 31 fallen trees, 4 homes hit by trees, 15 accidents, 7 “public hazards,” 3 disabled motor vehicles and 14 roads closed. By the Tuesday after the snowstorm, there were six remaining roads closed. The Southington Library was also offering residents warmth and access to the internet and patrons took full advantage. The Southington YMCA also opened its doors, allowing resident to use the facilities to shower. Southington officials are in the process of applying for reimbursement

funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the wake of Winter Storm Alfred. Early estimates indicate that the storm cost the town about $994,000. FEMA is expected to reimburse about 75 percent of the storm-related costs, which would amount to approximately $750,000. Southington Remembers 9/11 Several hundred residents marked the tenth anniversary of Sept. 11 at a special ceremony that was preceded by months of charity and goodwill. The hour-long ceremony included numerous area honor guard detachments, prayers for peace, poems and a special luminary lighting. Southington town officials and representatives from the town’s numerous houses of worship read aloud the notes from the Star Service Project and “Messages of Love,” which were some of the final messages sent from the victims of Sept. 11 to their loved ones. Participants in the Star Service Project were encouraged to do acts of goodwill in honor of a specific person who died during the attacks, represented on small cards shaped like stars. When completed, one side of the star had the name of someone who died during the attacks, and the other side described the charity act done in honor of that person. Well before September began, it was already clear that the amount of stars filled out by Southington residents well exceeded the roughly 3,000 people who perished on 9/11. Some of the good deeds done by residents included helping family and neighbors, donating to the local food pantry and making monetary donations in the names of the 9/11 victims. The service was held at Fontana Field at Southington High School, with many residents wear-

FILE PHOTO

Winter Storm Alfred caused havoc and downed power lines along Queen Street. ing red, white and blue clothing and several with various 9/11 slogans. A Pattern of Flooding The Town Council unanimously selected National Water Main Cleaning Company to enact sewer improvements in the Stonegate Road area. The company, based on in Canton, MA, was the lowest of four bids examined by Southington officials. They will complete the work for approximately $168,000, which will come out of the town’s sewer fund. Several homes in the Stonegate area have experienced sewage backups three times in the last five years, with the most recent incident occurring this spring. The council contracted CDM, of Wethersfield, to perform a thorough investigation of the area. CDM’s report concluded that the backups in the area were caused by multiple instances of water infiltration, including cracks in the existing pipes, leaking joints, and manholes with leaky walls and bases. The groundwater in the area is high, which also adds to the problem. The firm recommend-

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ed installing cured in-place pipe lining on 2,400 lineal feet worth of sewers in that area. The project would also address 20 leaky manholes in the area. At past council meetings, residents of Stonegate Road made it clear that they preferred a complete replacement of the aging sewer pipes in the area rather than just new lining. Town officials responded that a full replacement was not financially feasible, and expressed confidence that this work would put an end

Downtown Parking Jam The Parking Authority hopes to restart the discussion on overnight parking in downtown Southington, but differences of opinion between members continue to complicate the process and prevented a new public hearing on the matter from being set. Former Town Councilor Michael Riccio

was named the new chairman of the Parking Authority at the group’s December meeting. He said the overnight parking issue needed to be resolved and suggested a new public hearing. The issue of overnight parking divides the downtown merchants, but the situation became more heated after the Parking Authority’s original vote in July. It passed by a slim 3-2 margin, with Commissioner Mat Florian as one of the

See 2011, page 18

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Friday, December 30, 2011

The Step Saver/ The Observer

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Police Blotter Jordan R. Uliasz, 18, of 105 Juniper Road, was charged on Dec. 15 with sixth degree larceny. He was held on a $1,500 bond for a Jan. 3 court date. Kimberly A. Topa, 45, of 65 Steams Court, Bristol, was charged on Dec. 15 with sixth degree larceny. She was held on a $1,000 bond for a Jan. 3 court date. Nancy J. Frye, 46, of 239 West Main Street, Plainville, was charged on Dec. 15 with sixth degree larceny. She was held on a $1,000 bond for a Jan. 3 court date. Louis J. Avitable, 48, of 5 Elm Street, was charged on Dec. 17 with disorderly conduct, third degree assault and third degree strangulation. He was held on a $5,000 bond for a Dec. 19 court date. Sheryl W. Rosa, 44, of 83 New Britain Avenue,

Plainville, was charged on Dec. 17 with disorderly conduct and third degree assault. She was held on a $5,000 bond for a Jan. 19 court date. Roberto Ettorre, 39, of 32 Roseleah Avenue, Plainville, was charged on Dec. 16 with third degree burglary, possession of burglary tools and sixth degree larceny. He was held on a $2,500 bond for a Dec. 19 court date. Jane Silva, 63, of 23 Surrey Circle, was charged on Dec. 17 with DUI and failure to drive right. She was held on a $500 bond for a Jan. 3 court date. Beth Ann Morris, 52, of 34 Westbrook Road, was charged on Dec. 14 with second degree burglary, criminal attempt to commit sixth degree burglary and second degree breach of

peace. She was held on a $10,000 bond for a Jan. 3 court date. Shawn Bouchard, 28, of 19 Luty Drive, was charged on Dec. 14 with second degree failure to appear. He was held on a $250 bond for a Dec. 20 court date. Kendall Sciola, 22, of 125 Howard Avenue, was charged on Dec. 15 with first degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first degree robbery and conspiracy to commit sixth degree larceny. She was held on a $500,000 bond for a Dec. 15 court date. Ryan Alderi, 28, last known address of 115 Main Street, Terryville, was charged on Dec. 15 with sixth degree larceny. He was held on a $500 bond for a Dec. 15 court date. Oneil Nadeau Jr., 41, of 369 Lazy Lane, was charged

Juvenile arrested for tresspassing Police arrested a juvenile on trespassing and breach of peace charges after the youth refused to leave the grounds of Derynoski School following numerous requests to do so. On Dec. 14, police arrested the juven It was reported that at approx 1:30 p.m. the male youth was seen loitering on Derynoski School grounds in the same area

where elementary school children were playing at recess. The youth was told to leave several times by school officials and refused to do so. The male was described as being 6’ tall, approx 145 pounds, and had his head concealed with a black hooded sweatshirt. At one point during this incident, he met up with a white vehicle with four other males

and returned to the playground area. The playground was cleared as a precaution and without further incident. The 15-year-old juvenile, whose name was not released due to his age, was charged with first degree criminal trespass and breach of peace. He was given a Dec. 18 court date.

on Dec. 15 with second degree failure to appear. He was held on a $5,000 bond for a Dec. 16 court date. Michael Cote, 48, of 87 Pine Drive, was charged on Dec. 9 with DUI and failure to maintain a lane. He was held on a $500 bond for a Dec. 19 court date. Donna Bacon, 59, of 128 Nunzio Drive, was charged on Dec. 11 with DUI and failure to maintain a lane. She was held on a $500 bond for a Dec. 19 court date. Joseph M. Kosko, 27, of 41 Bristol Street, was charged on Dec. 13 with disorderly conduct. He was held on a $500 bond for a Dec. 14 court date. Jeremy Kosko, 23, of 41 Bristol Street, was charged on Dec. 13 with disorderly conduct. He was held on a $500 bond for a Dec. 14 court date. David R. Lugli, 18, of 316 Allen Street, New Britain, was charged on Dec.

14 with third degree burglary and sixth degree larceny. He was held on a $25,000 bond for a Dec. 14 court date. Luis A. Navarro, 44, of 30 Stoneycrest Drive, Meriden, was charged on Dec. 17 with DUI, evading responsibility, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and unsafe backing. He was held on a $500 bond for a Dec. 30 court date. Jason Stephenson, 40, of 69 Park Street, Bristol, was charged on Dec. 19 with sixth degree larceny and conspiracy to commit sixth degree larceny. He was held on a $500 bond for a Jan. 3 court date. Martha A. Maxfield, 27, of 69 Park Street, Bristol, was charged on Dec. 19 with sixth degree larceny and conspiracy to commit sixth degree larceny. She was held on a $500 bond for a Jan. 3 court date. Richard K. Pepe, 58, of 210 Bradley Avenue,

Meriden, was charged on Dec. 19 with three counts of second degree forgery, three counts of obtaining drugs by fraud, criminal attempt/possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. He was held on a $10,000 bond fro a Jan. 3 court date. Cassandra McDougall, 18, of 170 High Tower Road, was charged on Dec. 20 with disorderly conduct. She was held on a $1,000 bond for a Dec. 21 court date. Richard McDougall, 21, of 170 High Tower Road, was charged on Dec. 20 with disorderly conduct. He was held on a $1,000 bond for a Dec. 21 court date. Beth Ann Morris, 52, of 34 Westbrook Road, was charged on Dec. 21 with second degree failure to appear. She was held on a $250 bond for a Dec. 21 court date.

Zalaski arrested for drunk driving By KAITLLYN NAPLES STAFF WRITER

Southington State Representative Bruce “Zeke” Zalaski was arrested in Bristol last week, for operating a vehicle under the influence. Bristol police received a call about 1 a.m. last Wednesday morning, about a vehicle parked on upper North Main Street that was running and had

a door open, according to Lt. Donn Watson, press officer of the Bristol Police Department. Officers conducted a field sobriety test in which Zalaski failed, and he was taken into custody and release on a non-surety bond, Watson said. According to the arrest log, he is expected to appear in court on Jan. 3. Zalaski, a Democrat,

represents the 81st district, which is entirely inside of Southington. He was first elected in 2002 and is currently serving his fifth consecutive term. He is also an Members of the employee at the Associated Spring factory Southington Fire Department “B” shift in Bristol. assisted Social Services by Staff reporter Rob playing the part of Santa Glidden contributed to this recently by delivering 170 Holiday packages to local story. seniors. “I was surprised to find out that during this holiday season they had night. over 500 families seeking Crews from some type of assistance,” Massachusetts came to off Firefighter John Aldieri load the remaining gas said. “That equates to over from the truck. 1,000 people. Each case The driver of the car needs to be screened and was apprehended and data collected, it’s a taken to St. Mary's tremendous task, so if the Hospital. The trooper and Fire Department can prodriver of the truck were vide some logistics its one uninjured. less thing they need to The name of the driver worry about.” was unreleased as of press Aldieri said there has time. always been a history of

Fire department plays Santa for seniors

Fleeing motorist hits tanker truck A motorist trying to elude state police on Tuesday crashed into a tanker truck, causing a fire that spread to nearby electrical wires, leaving about 1,000 people out of power. At 3:30 p.m., Southington Police were called to the intersection of Route 322 and Old Turnpike Road. Upon arrival, emergency personnel found the vehicles on fire and the tanker was

loaded with thousands of gallons of gasoline. The area was immediately closed down and residents were evacuated due to an explosion hazard. The fire scene was under control a short time later and most residents were allowed back into their homes. The intersection remains closed through the next day. Power was expected to return to the area later that

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Friday, December 30, 2011

•Southington Says.......page 7

Commentary

•Neighbors.........page 11 •Good Times.........page 13

Our Views

Taking a look back at 2011 ED HARRIS editor Established in 1975 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 [email protected] 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.

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Don’t drink and drive “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” according to the Christmas carol of the same name. And most people can’t wait for that week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. These days are opportunities to have good times, spend time with good friends, and experience the love of the family unit as we careen into the New Year. But statistics show that not only is this a “wonderful time of the year,” it’s the deadliest time of the year. The National Traffic Safety Administration says drunk driving crashes during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods is significantly more than for the rest of the year. From 2001-2005, an average of 36 fatalities occurred per day on America’s roadways as a result of crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. That number increases to 45 per day during the Christmas period and jumps to 54 per day over the New Year’s holiday. Thirtyeight percent of all traffic fatalities during the Christmas period occurred in crashes involving a drunk driver or motorcycle rider and 41 percent during the New Year’s period. This compares with 31 percent for the year as a whole. Part of the joy of New Year’s is going to a party and having a good time. Popping open a bottle of champagne is a tradition. But there’s a difference between having a good time and observing a holiday tradition than getting yourself staggeringly drunk and getting behind the wheel. If you overindulge in alcohol, odds are in your favor that you will have an accident. If you don’t have an accident, also odds are that you will be arrested for DUI. Police departments do not play around during these days between Christmas and New Year’s. They know the statistics and they know human nature. They are committed to protect and serve, and if you choose to drive drunk (and it’s a choice), as the commercial says, you will be caught. And if you won’t toe the line on your drinking for your own sake, you might want to think of the others on the road. Do you really want to be the one responsible for stealing away a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, or a good friend because you were stupid for one night? And if you’re hosting a party, you also have the obligation to be responsible on New Year’s Eve. Pay attention to your guests. If they are overindulging, pull them aside and tell them to slow down. Cut your guests off if they seem dangerously over the limit. Make sure anyone at your party who has reached the point of insobriety leaves with a sober designated driver. If they do not have a designated driver, call them a cab or invite them to sleep in a spare bedroom and let the effects wear off. As a host, your responsibility does not end when a guest leaves your home. How will you feel to know you served the drink that killed your friend or a stranger who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time because you didn’t say no? The laws also hold you responsible. Let us all ring in the New Year safe and sound. Have fun. But be smart. Don’t cut your life, or someone else’s life, short in the name of a good time.

I have been taking a trip down memory lane for the past month or so, in preparation for this week’s main story which highlights some of the main issues Southington faced in 2011. While we could not include everything that happened this year, I believe we were able to highlight a good cross section of the big stories the community saw over the course of the last 365 days. These stories include the chaotic Irene and Alfred storms, continued flooding along a portion of Stonegate Road, a very special 9/11 remembrance ceremony, North Center School being sold for $1 and three Southington High School sports teams making it to the final game of the year. In this column I will try not to go over the top stories in too much detail, as you can always refer to the story for details. I would much rather use this space to highlight why we chose some of the selections and share some of my personal thoughts on the issues. Obviously the storms were the easiest stories to decide to go with. They both had a huge impact on the community and the whole state, all within the span of a few weeks. Trust me, no one is going to forget Irene and Alfred. I was without power due to Alfred for several days and many Southington residents were without power for way longer. The Observer

Ed Harris Thoughts around town offices were without power for days as well, causing us to have to print out of the offices of the Waterbury Republican-American, our parent company. The paper looked a bit different that week, but we still got the news out. The ongoing flooding issues along a portion of Stonegate Road made the list due to the complexity and longevity of the situation. In all honesty, my newsroom openly wonders if we are going to have another Stonegate Road flooding story every time it rains substantially. I can only imagine the twinge of dread that must accompany the sight of rain clouds for some Stonegate Road residents. It is also worth noting that only a portion of Stonegate Road has the flooding issues, not the whole street.

Following reports and investigations, officials believe they have found the culprit behind the flooding woes and are taking steps to remedy the situation. I have my fingers crossed the new proposal does the job and that we never have to write another Stonegate Road flood story again. I would like to end this column talking about the uplifting 9/11 ceremony that the town put on. I personally covered the event, a day after returning from vacation with my wife for our second anniversary, and I can say it brought a tear to my eye. Town residents filled the stands of the Southington High School football field and many more have likely seen the video that was produced from the event. The event saw town officials, emergency personnel and the leaders of many of Southington’s many faiths come together to share goodwill and highlight the good deeds many in the community did to honor the memories of those lost on Sept. 11. Please take a look at the top stories of 2011 and let me know what you think. Did we forget anything? Do you agree with what we included? Let me know. Send me an email at [email protected]. I will see you around town in 2012.

Taking an abbreviated look at last year Twelve months ago, during the last week of December, 2010, all the newspapers, magazines, and Internet sites were doing their annual “year in review” stories. The major events of 2010 were listed in chronological order. At the time I said to myself, “Hey, I’ll do that for next year. I’ll keep a little journal throughout the year. Whenever something interesting happens here in Connecticut I’ll scribble some notes about it, and then during the last week of December, 2011, I’ll be able to write my own ‘year in review’ column.” So I started keeping a journal for the year 2011. Here is everything I wrote down: Jan 1 – UConn plays in its first ever BCS bowl game tonight, the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma. What a proud day for the Huskies. Jan 2 – Well, the Huskies got stomped last night, 48 to 20, and the game wasn’t even as close as the final score indicates. Right after the game ended, head coach Randy Edsell jumped on a private jet and flew to Maryland to announce he’s the new head coach there. He didn’t even say goodbye to the team. What a sleaze. He’ll probably have a very successful season in the fall of 2011. Jan 11 – Man, it’s snowing like crazy. And we already had a lot of snow on the ground from storms in December. I hope this doesn’t end up being a really snowy winter.

Bill Dunn Laugh or Death Jan 12 – Over 20 inches when it finally stopped! And some parts of the state and central Mass. got over 30 inches! Jan 13 – Just discovered what the term “ice dam” means, as our gutters now are clogged with massive glaciers. I hope it doesn’t cause any damage. Heard on the news that many roofs in the state have collapsed. Jan 14 – Just discovered what happens when sheetrock gets soaking wet. The ceilings in the living room and kitchen look like the “before” pictures on an episode of “This Old House.” All I can say is, “Ice dam it!!” Jan 31 – Sorry I haven’t made any entries in this journal during the last couple of weeks, but I’ve spent all my spare time battling the icebergs on the roof and trying to minimize the damage to the sheetrock ceilings and walls. I hear we’re supposed to get

more snow today. Feb 2 – Just discovered what a “roof rake” is, now the most soughtafter item in the state. Waited in line at Home Depot for three hours to buy one. Would’ve gladly paid $500 bucks. Another two feet of snow fell, plus lots of freezing rain and ice. Some houses have close to four feet of snow on the roof. I’m starting not to like winter very much. Feb 7 – More roofs collapsing around the state. Many people falling off roofs while shoveling snow. I’m trying not to join their ranks as I try to clear the massive drifts off my roof. I wonder if middle-aged guys in, say, South Carolina are up to their hips in snow on their roofs right now? Probably not. I wonder what the job market is like in Myrtle Beach? Feb 13 – I have to suspend writing in this journal for now, since this winter has been so terrible. But that means we’re sure to get nice weather during the rest of the year. After all, this is Connecticut, where we never get any monsoon rains, flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes, or power outages. So I’ll start writing again in this journal as soon as we get some calm weather. Not surprisingly, that was my last entry. Bill Dunn is a freelance writer who resides in Torrington. He can be reached via his website at: www.boomertrek.com.

Friday, December 30, 2011

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Your Views Southington says What is your New Year's resolution?

"To be more organized."

Photos by Tammi Knapik

Jeanne Segrue Southington

"To practice reading to get better than I already am."

Rachel Gregory Southington

"To be more organized. I am pretty organized already, but this year I have to keep up with my closets better."

Dea Gasparini Plainville

"To practice my piano and clarinet more."

Aparna Athreya Southington

"To work on my violin skills. I will be in the Silver Stars group at school so I have to keep up with my practicing."

Llyanna Miceli Southington

Letters

Demolish the Gura building To the Editor, What is to be done with the Gura building now that the Southington Town Hall space problem is solved? A special council committee has been appointed to decide its fate. The North Center School remodeling is well underway which will give the town ample office space. Now is the time to do away with the Gura building. When the building is gone, there will be ample room for landscaping, parking and a future addition to

the existing town hall at a later date, if desired. Demolition of the Gura building will greatly enhance the appearance of the center of Southington and help to emphasize the images of Southington that is shown in its decals, seals and brochures. Imagine entering the center area of Southington from the south on Main Street. The intersection of Main Street and Berlin Avenue would be open to good visibility in all directions. You would see the west and south elevation of

the town hall and the Congregational Church. The approach to the center area form the north on Main Street would give you affront view of the church, town hall and a good look at the TD Bank building. The Gura building has done its job. Let’s remove it for the betterment of the City of Progress. Please contact your council members with your thoughts. George Griffin Retired building contractor

Thank you for supporting Barnes Museum Green holiday decorations at Thalberg To the Editor, At this time I would like to convey my sincere appreciation to the many volunteers who assisted me during Barnes Museum events with whom I could not have done alone. To the sponsors that donated

advertising to cover the cost of publishing our commemorative 175th anniversary 2011 calendar. Especially to the entire Southington business community who donate their fine goods for us to serve at our events. Finally to the generosity of Southington

The Bradley homestead in the 1860s.

people who have supported us through monetary gift. May we all have a very healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year. Marie Secondo Barnes Museum Curator

Eight of the Thalberg School Garden Club fifth graders spent their recess assembling “Green Holiday Arrangements” with materials and guidance from four members of the Orchard Valley Garden Club of Southington — Marjorie Muzyczka, Cathy

Bouchard, Yvonne Burgar, and Irene Langlais. The fifth graders picked a design to be delivered to the BOE, the principal, the office staff, the nurse, the PTO, and the teachers of the designers. They picked a design with a snow man for Linda

Reilly. Reilly is the teacher at Thalberg School that has set up the Garden Club program. As you can see from the children’s smiles, the Orchard Valley Garden Club may have planted seeds for future florists or designers.

Pictured above, back row, Linda Reilly, Irene Langlais, Abhiram Bhamiidipati, Cathy Bouchard, Meghana Kandarpa, Logan Fischer, Gabriella Mondo, Nico Gaudio Front row, Burgar, Joseph Bethencourt, Natalia Rivera, Brandon McKnerney, Jacob Dreschsler.

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An extraordinary anniversary year at the Barnes Museum By MARIE SECONDO Special to The Observer

As we look back to another year gone by, the Barnes Museum reflects on our yearlong commemoration of its 175th anniversary as it comes to an end. Built in 1836, the Bradley Barnes homestead has seen many significant historic events, beginning with the fall of the Alamo that year, the Rebellion of the mid 1860s, world wars, the Great Depression and the American industrial revolutionary age and so many other eras of momentous experiences in American history. All these events and more have been meticulously recorded in the 52 family diaries left behind in the Barnes Museum. Significant Southington accounts of local politics and social history along with a sprinkle of family intimate writings of times gone by. To us, as we approach the year 2012, these diaries have set the stage for what has become Southington’s only historic home transformed into a museum. Willed to the town of Southington by the last surviving family member, Bradley Henry Barnes, with specific instructions to maintain the old homestead as a historic library and museum knowing what he and his family before him had collected and stored under one roof, was the reason behind his motif to preserve

Southington’s history for future generations. Since his death in 1973, the museum has welcomed visitors from all parts of Connecticut, all 50 states and about 46 countries, from the United Kingdom to Russia and South Africa to Australia. Visiting curators from other museums have toured the old homestead and leave in awe after viewing the collections owned by this single family. Celebrations of the past year have included many events and exhibits from the family collections. It’s been an extraordinary year and as of this time approximately 5,700 visitors have come to the museum to attend these events and view our exhibits. Programs offered this past year included an amazing portrayal of Elizabeth Keckly “They Called Me Lizzy, from slavery to the White House,” the true life account of Mary Todd Lincoln’s dressmaker and confidant was vividly and dramatically performed on the grounds of the Barnes Museum by actress Stephanie Jackson. The 10th annual Taste of Southington has stood its ground again this past year with a record amount of attendees. Visitors entering the museum that day for the first time formed lines out on the verandah as they waited in turn to enter. One of this year’s

The Barnes family. museum revelations is what we believed to be a stone fossil of a dinosaur footprint that’s been standing on the floor in my office since I arrived. It was examined by curators from the Yale New Haven Peabody Museum of Natural History and recognized to be an authentic Eubrontes Giganteus sandstone track. These tracks were found in Connecticut by Edward Hitchcock who named them in 1845 and date from about 200 million years ago, during the early Jurassic period. How Bradley got his hands on it is a mystery. But this is just one example of discoveries unveiled at the museum in an ongoing stream of research being done here. Southington skeptics over the years never fully understood the reasoning behind Bradley’s madness of donating his home and all its contents to the town, but those who eventually walked through the doors and absorbed its historic importance, including my husband, should have

come in long ago. True, this family was a little eccentric; but they had the foresight to realize the significance of holding on to and recording every

aspect of their lives in relation to their town, the state, and to national and world occurrences going on in their midst. Exhibits of their collections could

probably cover miles of Southington roads and then some. Marie Secondo is the curator of the Barnes Museum.

Bradley, Amon and Sylvia Barnes in 1895. 621 Jerome Avenue Brisol, CT

Barnes Calednar with photo of Bradley Barnes.

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DePaolo announces December Students of the Month DePaolo Middle School has announced its Students of the Month for December. In sixth grade, Erin Palinkos, Julia Brilla, and Jeffrey Hannigan were selected by their teams. Erin is the daughter of Mary and Michael Palinkos and received the Presidential Academic Achievement Award in fifth grade. She is in the youth choir at her church and is in the Leadership Program at school. Erin also is involved in the town travel soccer team and dances at Dance, Incorporated. Julia is the daughter of Jill and Dennis Brilla and also won the Presidential Award in fifth grade. She volunteered at Alex’s Lemonade Stand during the Apple Harvest Festival and plays the viola in the orchestra. Julia also plays softball for the town and is in the school Leadership Program. Jeffrey is the son of Brian and Wendy Hannigan and also won the Presidential Award in fifth grade. He was on the school cross country team and is a Black Belt in Karate. Jeffrey also enjoys playing soccer and basketball. In seventh grade, Zachary Parent, Delaney Smick, and Evyenia

DePaolo Middle School recently announced its Students of the Month for December. They are, back row, from left, Mr. Palmieri, assistant principal, Zach Parent, Evyenia Papageorge, Delaney Smick, Kayla Kavanagh, Erin Palinkos, Danielle Jaffer and Mr. Pepe, principal. Front row, from left, Derek Hagan, Jeffrey Hannigan, Josh Barry, Kyle Semmel and Julia Brilla. Missing from photo is Brett Simms. Papageorge were selected by their teams. Zachary is the son of Randy and MaryBeth Parent and was recognized at the Principal’s Breakfast last year. He is involved in the school Leadership Program and is a Peer Advocate. Zachary also

plays alto saxophone in the school band and was in the drama club. Delaney is the daughter of Gail and Alex Smick and was also recognized last year at the Principal’s Breakfast. She was on the school cross country team and volunteered at Alex’s

Lemonade Stand during the Apple Harvest Festival. Delaney also plays travel soccer. Evyenia is the daughter of Marguerita and Savas Papageorge and was also recognized at last year’s Principal Breakfast. She plays the clarinet in the

Women earns Jim Roberts Scholarship Victoria Woszczyna, 20, of Southington, is the recipient of the 2011 Jim Roberts Scholarship awarded by the Human Resource Association of Central Connecticut (HRACC). A graduate of Southington High School, Woszczyna is enrolled at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY where she is majoring in Business Administration with a focus on Human Resources. Woszczyna said the

$2,000 award will help her reach her educational goals. “Scholarship money is always a great motivational boost to work towards your education. When you know that you have some help in paying for a great education, then you are likely to do well. I especially am more excited to work towards achieving a degree in HR now that HRACC has helped me strive towards that goal.” She is a member of the Marist College Society for

Human Resources Management. She expects to earn her degree in December 2012 and immediately start her Masters in HR Management. When she decided to consider HR as her field of study, Woszczyna searched the Internet for HR groups in Connecticut. She contacted HRACC’s operations manager and began volunteering her time. “Victoria clearly has a passion for the HR profession

SUBMITTED

Assembling gift bags The staff and residents of Southington Care Center collaborated in donating and assembling over 35 gift bags for less fortunate teens through the Southington Social Services Department. Pictured above, Southington Care Center residents Betty Noonan and Ray Klingerman help put together the gift bags.

and is an ideal recipient of this scholarship,” said Kristin Sabatino, chair of the HRACC Jim Roberts Scholarship Committee. The scholarship is named after West Hartford resident Jim Roberts, who spent his lifelong career in the field of Human Resources and previously served as HRACC’s executive director.

Locals graduate from college Carolyn M. Mongillo, of Southington, received a Master of Science in Health Communication from Boston University. Kristen Conaty has received a Bachelor of Arts form Minnesota State University Moorhead. Joseph Bracone, of Southington, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western New England University on October 15. The following local residents have earned degrees from Springfield College (Mass.) for studies completed in 2011. Michelle O’Hala, Timothy Schumacher, and Nicole Durante. Heather Lindsay, of Southington, has graduated from Eastern University, St. Davids PA with a Bachelors degree in relational communications and a minor in social welfare.

school band and is a peer advocate. Outside of school, Evyenia is involved in the Greek Orthodox Youth Association and dances. In eighth grade, Danielle Jaffer, Joshua Barry, and Kayla Kavanagh were selected by their teams. Danielle is the daughter of Mark and Laurie Jaffer and is an honor roll student. She is in the Leadership Program at DePaolo and participated in Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Outside of school, Danielle is a level 4 gymnast at Farmington Valley. Josh is the son of Thomas and Karen Barry and was recognized for citizenship at a Principal’s Breakfast. He is in the Builder’s Club and plays trumpet in the school band. Josh also played soccer for a youth group. Kayla is the daughter of John and Beth Kavanagh and has consistently earned first honors all three years at DePaolo. She volunteers at Mulberry Gardens and is on the Southington Girls’ Travel Bask-

etball team. Kayla is in the National Junior Honor Society and the Concert Choir at DePaolo. In Unified Arts, Derek Hagan, Kyle Semmel, and Brett Simms were selected. Derek is the son of Richard and Tina Hagan and was a Boy Scout. He plays the saxophone in the school band and was selected for the Stage Band. Derek serves as the assignment editor for the school newspaper. Kyle is the son of Tisha and Erik Semmel and is a part of Southington Brass. He was on the school soccer team and plays the trumpet in the Wind Ensemble and Stage Band. Kyle recently participated in a walk for the JDRF. Brett is the son of Cindi and Craig Simms and has consistently been an honor roll student throughout middle school. He plays piano for residents at the Orchards, sings for St. Dominic’s Church, and is involved with STEPS. Brett is a part of the drama club and plays baritone horn in the school band and stage band, as well.

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Our Healthy Lifestyles

Illness and exercise: When to train A hacking cough, runny nose, aching bones and nausea keep you bedridden. But you’re so concerned about losing muscle mass that you contemplate hitting the gym despite your weakened condition. Before you trade your health and expose others to your illness for a workout or two, make sure you know the facts about the risks exercise can pose when you’re suffering from the flu or a chest cold. Avoid exercising if you have the flu. The symptoms that should keep you home include a fever of 100.5 degrees F or higher, body aches and pains or other ailments that are below the neck like hacking cough, chills, diarrhea or vomiting,

Linda Prus

Southington YMCA says David Nieman, DrPH, FACSM, a professor at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, and an expert on exercise and immune function. Exercising during this time may actually exacer-

bate the illness and lengthen recovery time. “If you have the flu, wait until all symptoms are gone,” advises Nieman, who recommends complete rest as the best medicine for flu sufferers. “If you push, all you’re doing is inviting a relapse.” When exercising in a public setting please consider your fellow members and think about how contagious you might be. If you arrive at the gym coughing and sneezing there is great potential that you will spread your virus to others especially if you are in a crowded room for an aerobics or cycling class for example. But even in the face of potential relapse, many

exercisers worry that taking a break for health concerns may undo all the hard work they’ve put in at the gym. Not so. A person will lose a negligible amount after one week of not working out which is preferable compared to the risks of exercising while suffering from cold or flu. Follow these tips to avoid a cold and catching the flu and to avoid spreading germs: Speak with your doctor about getting a flu shot. Spray down all equipment before you use it with disinfectant spray. It’s a rule at the fitness center that you have to clean equipment after you use it, but it’s a good idea to wipe down as well before you

use the equipment just to be sure. Wipe down everything you touch including handles on weight machines and dumbbells, yoga balls, and buttons on the displays. Bring your own mat for yoga, Pilates, or strength training. Refrain from touching your mouth, nose or eyes while working out. Wash your hands often, or use hand sanitizer. Keep a towel between you and the seat in the sauna. Fill up a reusable water bottle at home, and bring it to the gym as opposed to filling it up at the water fountain in the gym.

Sneeze or cough into your arm if you do not have a tissue. Wash your hands after blowing your nose. Wash your water bottle thoroughly in hot soapy water when you get home. Shower immediately after working out to get rid of germs. If you can’t, be sure to wash your hands and face, place your sweaty clothes in a plastic bag, and put on a clean outfit. Eat healthy and get plenty of sleep to keep your immune system working efficiently. For more information on programs offered at the Y contact Linda Prus, NSCA-CPT at 860-426-9531 or [email protected].

Getting started on your New Years resolution The new year is upon us and as we try on our new cloths we got for the holidays, we may not be as happy with the mirror as we would like. So, like most people, the New Years resolution is back on the diet we go. But for many of us this desire to lose weight gets easily side tracked. Other things take priority and after a few weeks we give up and feel very frustrated and upset with ourselves. I frequently see the same thing with people who try to start an exercise program. The are all psyched up, buy the cute outfit go to the gym and work out really hard, break a

realization of choice verses commitment. We choose to lose weight but unless we commit to it we will not be successful. We choose to join a gym and start an exercise program but again unless we commit to it, we are lost. But what exactly does it mean to commit to something. Here is a typical example. For the past few weeks you have been living “large” so to speak. Holiday parties, fabulous food, cocktail parties, more fabulous food and general-

Dr. Carol Grant Alternatively Speaking good sweat but the next day are so sore that they can’t move and there goes all the good intentions. What I have discovered that has made a big change in my life is the

ly enjoying life in a not so positive way. Since the jeans are starting to get a little snug, you decided that it was time to get back on the correct eating program and back into the gym on a regular basis. And you are going to start “tomorrow”, so have another ice cream. The next day, the alarm went off a 6:00 am. Hit the snooze button, hit it again and again. Then it was too late to get into the gym for a meaningful workout so you say, “I will go tomorrow.” And since you weren’t going to workout, you might as well eat what you want and start the whole program…you guessed it….tomorrow.

Guess what. You didn’t lose any weight. I have been in your shoes. After a week of doing just this, I hit myself in the head and said…commit! So the next day, the alarm went off at 6:00 am and I got out of bed. Went to the gym and did an effective yet gentle work out so I wouldn’t be too sore. I ate the meal that I recommend to my patients and clients who are on the weight loss program in my office. And I have been doing the same for the past week. No frustration, great energy and my cloths are fitting better. If you are struggling with your weight or not able to start an exercise

program or any other project that you want to do, decide if you are choosing this or if you are committed to doing this. It will make a difference. And if weight is the issue, our office is having a meeting on January 10th at 6:30pm to discuss the weight loss program we recommend. Commit to call our office, attend the program and lose the weight. It will be a great way to start the New Year! Dr. Carol Grant, a local chiropractor, does not intend this column to substitute for medical advice. She urges you to always consult with your personal physician before changing any current program.

The holidays are a good time to see if parents aged It’s hard to believe another year has flown by and the holidays are upon us. Whether you are visiting from afar, or simply spending more time with your family, it is an opportune time to observe if dad and mom have aged, even if you haven’t. Sometimes, it is easier for the child who lives farther away and has less chance to visit, to notice declines in a parent’s abilities to handle daily matters, because that child may see more dramatic change than the slow incremental change that creeps upon you daily. What are warning signs of decreased function? Letters or bills scattered about, and bills not paid on time indicate confusion and inability to

Stephen Allaire Elder Security concentrate. Missed medications are another. Does the refrigerator have very out of date or spoiling food? Is housekeeping being neglected or done poorly? Does a parent walk around without carefully watching for doorsills or rugs that could trip them,

indicating a lack of safety awareness? Are clothes being washed on a reasonable interval? Does the old Buick Century have telltale new scrapes and dents? The list could go on and on, but the important point to keep in mind is that unobtrusive observation can give you important hints on the possible need for help, without upsetting your mom or dad. No one wants to stifle the joy of family gettogethers, so after your eyes and ears tell you something has changed, get together with your siblings and use your good judgment and tact in gently raising the issue of getting some help, especially if safety is concerned. That help can be as

simple as a daily phone call to see if medications are taken. I can be as much as round the clock care. If your parent is widowed, loneliness could grow into a serious problem, resulting in loss of appetite and weight. It is no fun to eat alone. Visits to the senior center for activities, or moving to an assisted living facility may provide welcome companionship. People always worry about the cost of assisted living, but if your parent is a wartime veteran, both the veteran and the spouse may qualify for a veteran’s program called Aid and Attendance, which as of Dec. 1, 2011, can pay up to $2,019 per month toward the cost. And Connecticut has

three levels of programs under the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders, which can provide various levels of care at home for those who qualify. The highest level, which is Medicaid (Title 19), can provide about $5,600 per month of care, plus pay medicals on top of that. It is a significant amount of care. So if you think you see signs of decline that call out for extra care, don’t hesitate to consult with a qualified Elder Law attorney who can give you an overview of how to qualify for the care and funding that is available to keep your parents safe in their home, and out of a nursing home. The best present, of course, is your sharing time with your parents,

but the next best present may very well be you taking a gentle lead in showing them how they can get needed help, maintain their dignity, and share many more holidays with just a little bit of assistance. Happy Holidays! Attorney Stephen O. Allaire is a partner in the law firm of Ruggiero, Ziogas, and Allaire, members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc., with offices at 271 Farmington Ave., Bristol, (860) 584-2384), or on the web at www.rzalawyers.com. If you have a question, send a written note to Attorney Allaire at Ruggiero, Ziogas, and Allaire, 271 Farmington Ave., Bristol, CT 06010, and he may use your question in a future column.

Friday, December 30, 2011

The Step Saver/ The Observer

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11

•Good Times.........page 13

Neighbors

•Southington Scene...page 19 •SHS Sports............Page 21

Our Friends Faces in the Crowd

Lifetime gardening achievement

Uta Zickfeld, a member of the Orchard Valley Garden Club of Southington, was recently honored for her achievements with a lifetime membership into the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut. A letter from The Federated and a pin to commemorate the award were presented to Zickfeld. Zickfeld has contributed generously to the community and dedicated her expertise to the Garden Club members and to the community. She is a graduate of UConn’s Master Gardener Program, receiving special certification in 2008, with the rank of Tammi Knapik Copper. Terry Burger She has served on the Club’s Board of Directors as second vice president, vice president, and president. Each week we interview a ‘regular person’ like you for Among Zickfeld’s addiour Faces in the Crowd. This week we meet speech and tional accomplishments, are language pathologist Terry Burger. Chair of the club’s Conservation & of advice you have ever How long have you received? been connected to “Be yourself and lead Southington? with your heart.” Thirty-one years. If you could meet anyWhat do you like about one in the world, who the town? It is a very family orien- would you like to meet? George Clooney. I think tated town. I feel very conhe is so handsome, even as nected to this place. he is getting older. I just What is your favorite want to go to a nice fancy movie? dinner with him. I think I “White Christmas.” I would ask him why he has love this time of year. This never gotten married after film just conveys the spirit all of this time. I would of Christmas. want to know that. What is the best piece

Be yourself

Environmental Awareness Committee, Chair of the Plant Sale Fund Raising Committee, represented the club to help bring about the Town’s Farmers’ Market, supervised planting of trees and gardens at the Calendar House Senior Center, served on the Board of the Southington Land Trust, and campaigned for the banning of pesticides on and near pre-school, elementary, middle and high school grounds,. She has presented programs on Asian Long Horn Beetles, proper care of garden tools, insect and disease diagnostic programs, pruning, composting and proper potting of plants. Zickfeld is a dedicated Organic Grdener. She educates and updates members on organic land care, and food and product safety. Uta is an active member of Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association (NOFA).

Uta Zickfeld was honored with lifetime membership in the Connecticut Federated Garden Club. Pictured above, Uta Zickfeld, right, and Yvonne Burgar.

Beauty queens entertain veterans

SUBMITTED

Hair donation Amber Kohl, 7, donated 9 and a half inches of her hair on Dec. 10, to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program in memory of her Grandmother. Created by Pantene in partnership with the American Cancer Society, this program encourages Americans to grow, cut and donate their healthy hair to create wigs for women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment.

Veterans at the Rocky Hill Veterans' Home received a treat when Miss Forestville Molly Westfall and a troupe of performers- including several title

holders from Southington-entertained them on Dec. 16. The performers, young and old, sang and danced for the patients at the home’s health center.

Clockwise from the top left: Miss Plantsville Preteen Meryl Campbell offers up a baton twirling routine during the performance; Miss Southington Cassandra Mastrianni sings for the veterans at Rocky Hill; Miss Hartford County’s Outstanding Teen Krystiana Bouchard of Southington offers a flourish during her dance number for the veterans. Photos by MIKE CHAIKEN

12

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Obituaries Alfred Conrod, served in the US Air Force during Korean War Alfred W. Conrod, 76, of Southington, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday Dec. 19, at the HCC at New Britain General. He had been the loving husband of Carol Conrod. Born in Bristol on July 18, 1935 to the late Clarence and Margaret (Finn) Conrod, he had been a longtime Bristol resident before moving to Southington. Conrod served his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He retired from GE after 40 years of service. He enjoyed fishing and sports, especially the Red Sox and the Bristol American Legion Baseball team. In addition to his wife Carol, he is survived by his daughter Bonnie Conrod and

Tegan of Bristol and their children TC and Kendalyn; his son Mark Conrod and wife Nancy of FL and their two sons, Stephen Conrod, Marcus Conrod and Lisa and their son Damian, two brothers, Earnest Conrod and wife Lois, Irving Conrod and wife Lillian, his sister Iris Conrod and two sisters-in-law Shirley and Betty Conrod, all of Bristol. He was predeceased by his sister Dolly Lessard and 3 brothers: Allan, John and Clarence Conrod. In lieu of flowers, donations in Alfred’s memory may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Thomas Curtis, worked as a car salesman, blackjack dealer Thomas A. Curtis, 78, of Southington, died Saturday, December 17, , at HCC at New Britain General. He had been the loving husband of the late Florence “Flossie” N. Curtis for 50 years. Born in New Haven on April 21, 1933 to the late Raymond and Betty (Dunn) Curtis, he had lived in Southington for many years. Before his retirement, he worked as a car salesman and a Blackjack Dealer at Mohegan Sun. He was an avid Yankee Fan and w ill be greatly missed by his family and friends and all those who knew and loved him. Curtis is survived by his two daughters and their husbands; Linda and Patrick Musshorn and Tammy and Daniel Balch,

all of Southington, eight grandchildren, Samantha Balch, Daniel Balch Jr, Jillian and Shaun Thorpe, Tayton, Pamela and Thurman Musshorn and Elizabeth Manning and six great-grandchildren, Colton Thorpe, Analeigh Thorpe, Emerson Thorpe, Rori Joan Musshorn, Zaphyr Musshorn and Jaxson Musshorn; 3 brothers: Raymond Curtis, Peter Curtis, Michael Curtis and his sister Patricia Mueller and many extended family members. He was predeceased by his brother Gerald Curtis. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Thomas to the Fresenius Medical Care, 341 West St. Plantsville, CT 06479.

Joseph Cocchiaro, owned several restaurant in the local area Joseph Cocchiaro, of Southington Avenue, Southington, and formerly of Lawrence MA, passed away recently. He was 84. Cocchiaro was the owner of M+M Restaurant in Meriden, Sunset Strip Café in Plantsville, Kandy Kane Lounge Café in Plainville and Spirit Shop Package Store in Southington. He was also very active

in karate for many years. He leaves his wife of 47 years, two sons in Florida, a daughter in California, several grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sons, four brothers and a sister. At his request, there was no calling hours. For more information contact Kathy at 860-6210263.

Bernard Guyette, served in the US Navy Bernard “Buddy” Guyette, 67, passed away Dec. 16, at home. He was the husband of Teresa (Marcinski) Guyette. He was born Aug. 29, 1944 in Hartford, son of the late Albert and Margaret

(Senna) Guyette. Guyette was a veteran of the Vietnam War serving in the U.S. Navy. He had retired from

Carmella DiBenedetto, Red Cross volunteer Carmella (Perillo) DiBenedetto, 85, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at HCC at Bradley Memorial. She was the widow of Francis “Frank” J. DiBenedetto Sr. Born April 21, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Louis and Michelina (Audi) Perillo. DiBenedetto worked for the family business Perillo Coal and Fuel for many years. She was a parishioner

of St. Thomas Church and a former Eucharistic Minister. She was also a member of the church council, the St. Thomas Ladies Guild, the Alter Society and the St. Rita’s Circle. Carmella was a longtime volunteer for the American Red Cross and the Bradley Memorial Hospital Gift Shop. DiBenedetto is survived by her children, Marie DiBenedetto, David DiBenedetto and wife Patricia, Diane D’Ambrosio,

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DiBenedetto, three brothers, Carmen, Louis and Anthony Perillo and five sisters, V. Jennie Chamberlain, Mary Zacchio, Lucy Gualtieri, Josephine Tice and Mallie (Honey) Hood. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Our Lady of Calvary Retreat House, 31 Colton St., Farmington, CT 06034 or the American Red Cross, 209 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06032.

Francis “Frank” DiBenedetto Jr. and wife Cathy and Carmel DiBenedetto all of Southington, Michele DiBenedetto of Plainville, Thomas DiBenedetto and wife Barbara of Thomaston and Anthony DiBenedetto of Southington; a sister Rosaland Maslak of Terryville; ten grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by an infant son Francis

William Meola, served during Korean War William P. Meola, 84, passed away, Sunday, Dec. 18, at HCC at Bradley Memorial. He was the loving husband of Diane (Mongillo) Meola. He was born in Southington March 31, 1927, son of the late Vincenzo and Katherine (Carbone) Meola. After graduating from high school he received an EE degree from the

University of Kansas under the G.I. Bill. He was a member of the Citizens Army Corp and Civil Patrol, a veteran of WW II and the Korean War serving in the U.S. Navy. After College he worked in commercial broadcasting. Meola was a National Sales Manager of broad-

of classic movies, and was an avid New York Giant fan, but more than anything in his life he loved his family most of all. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his brother-in- law, Lewis Palmieri, a sister-in-law, Jean Meola, many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, James Meola and a sister Loretta Palmieri.

casting and government sales for RFS America for years. He was an Emeritus member of the Federal Communication Consultant Engineers Association and the Old Crow’s Association of Washington D.C. He was a parishioner of St. Thomas Church and also was an usher of the church. He loved good classical music and was a collector

William Robinson worked at Pratt and Whitney William H. Robinson Jr. 79 of Southington, husband of Rae KronckeRobinson passed away Monday December 19, at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain. Beside his wife Rae, he leaves a daughter Dale Anne Whalen and her husband John of New Britain, two grandsons, Thomas Whalen of San Francisco, CA and James Whalen, his wife Rebecca and their son

Finnegan of Spencer, MA, two brothers, Earl Robinson of Gaithersburg, MD and Russell Robinson and his wife Martha of Berlin; several nieces and nephews. A New Britain native and former resident, son of the late William H. Robinson Sr. and Esther (Freberg) Robinson, he attended local schools and also EC Goodwin Technical. A former New Britain

past 20 years. He was an active member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, New Britain and served as former member of the Church Vestry. He was a member of the New Britain Arts Alliance; the New Britain museum of American Art; the Southington Chorale; was a volunteer usher at the Bushnell and served as Vice President of the Southington Genealogy Society.

National Guard member, he also served in Korea in the 309th Engineering Aviation Battalion, where he received a Bronze Star. Robinson graduated from the CT Institute of Horology in New Haven and was a tool and die maker for Pratt and Whitney aircraft in East Hartford and Southington for over 30 years, retiring in 1992. After retirement, Bill started a clock repair business in his home for the

Donald Smedberg, member of Southington Fire Department Donald E. Smedberg, 83, of Wallingford VT and formerly of Southington, passed away following a long battle with cancer on Dec. 15. He was born on August 24, 1928 son of the last John and Helen Smedberg of

Southington. Smedberg was a graduate of Lincoln - Lewis High School and a respected manager at Rogers Orchards for 40 years. “Ducky” Smedberg was an honored fire fighter in Southington with head-

Over

• • • •

Besides his wife, he is survived by his nieces and nephews, Bruce C. Telke, Kristin Goodrich and Carolyn Fugere. The Funeral Services and Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

Acme Monacco in New Britain at age 56 and had enjoyed traveling and spending time together with his wife. He belonged to a gun club, loved his cars and had been a parishioner of St. Dominic Church.

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He was a loving father of seven children, 14 grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister Helen Deckert of Southington. He will be missed by all. Burial is at the convenience of the family.

quarters and Company 1 for forty years. In the early 1990’s he was decorated by the town of Southington Fire department for saving lives at a structure fire. He served as captain and training officer for Company One.

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•Observing the Arts.......page 14

Good Times

•Southington Scene......page 19 •SHS Sports........page 21

Our Night on the Town

MIKE CHAIKEN

Aaron Pothoff, left, and Casey Pothoff of local band YokoDevin audition for ‘X-Factor’ back in April.

YokoDevin ready to make some local noise in 2012 By MIKE CHAIKEN

Destezzio into the band.

EDITIONS EDITOR

If you go to 61 East Main St. in Forestville, you’ll hear the musical strains of YokoDevin as it rehearses for gigs and a new album. You also may have seen YokoDevin offer up an acoustic set when Bare Bones on Main Street had its grand opening in the fall. They also took the stage recently at Bleacher’s on Middle Street. We caught up with Plainville’s Casey Pothoff, guitarist for YokoDein, via email to get an update on the career of these local rockers. Observer: First of all, who is YokoDevin and how did the band’s current line up evolve? Casey: The band started out as a project of Sean McGlone’s and Chris Barnard’s years ago. Shortly after it was formed, they recruited Aaron Potthoff as lead singer, Tony Mazzerelli as bassist and myself as lead guitarist. All of us grew up together in the town of Southington. This year, we added our drummer Chriss

O: YokoDevin does play out at area clubs. What are you like live? C: If rock and fun were both corporeal beings that had a baby, and that baby grew up to be a dancer, I assume it would be like watching that. We just try to get up there and put out as much energy as we put into the songs. We have a good time up there and we hope our fans feel the same.

O: How would you describe the sound of Yokodevin and what drew you to that particular sound? C: The best way to describe us would be original alt blues rock. Myself and Chris Barnard, the lead guitarist, are seasoned blues musicians with a love of rock and roll. O: Are you guys all original tunes? What cover songs do you guys like to do and what draws you to those songs that you think fit the YokoDevin vision? C: If you attend one of our shows you’re going to hear more originals then anything else. We try to throw some good covers into shows but we almost always change it up. Right now we’re covering some Alice in Chains. But we’ve been known to cover The Black Keys as well. Any song we hear that all of us can agree on we’ll try. The funny thing is we rarely agree on songs. O: For your original

MIKE CHAIKEN

YokoDevin performs an acoustic set recently at Bare Bones on Main Street in Bristol. tunes, what inspires the songwriting of YokoDevin? C: Most of the songs we write are either true to life or a story we’re trying to tell. Most of them are based on personal experience.

in Chains, Led Zeppelin, and Sublime. The rest of the band would fill 20 pages with bands they like. We are very diverse with our musical interests. But the blues are a staple for us.

Half Door in Hartford on Saturday, Jan 28. It’s almost completed now. We are always writing, recording, and playing out. We will always be working on “the next CD.”

O: For the songwriting of YokoDevin, what artists do you admire for their work (without necessarily trying to emulate them)? C: The Black Keys is a big one in our band. Alice

O: You have plans for a CD. What is its current status. Why was the time right to pull together some songs? C: Yes, our new CD release party will be at The

O: What are you hoping to accomplish with the recordings? C: Honestly we just want to get our music out there. We may not even sell the CDs but rather just give them away.

O: What are some upcoming gigs for YokoDevin? C: Well, the CD release party on Jan 28 at the half door will be a big one… In April, we are going on an east coast tour hitting every major city on our way to Florida. For a complete list of shows, you can “like” us on Facebook and see our schedule. If you see the YokoDevin short bus in your town, we’ll be there. O: Where can people get more info about YokoDevin? C: Yokodevinband.com and YokoDevin on Facebook.

14

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Looking for the funny in New England; Drama for the kids

Kellie Lambert McGuire Observing The Arts The search is one for the “Funniest Comic in New England.” Treehouse Comedy Production and Mohegan Sun have teamed up for the 2012 contest, which kicks off officially on Feb. 17. On that date, 40 of New England’s funniest people will begin competing for the title. Auditions will be Jan. 7 at the Ramada Inn in Stratford and Jan. 11 and Jan. 18 at Catch a Rising Star in Providence, R.I., with additional dates and locations to be announced. Comics can request auditions by visiting TreehouseComedy.com and clicking on the “Contest” button. Competitive rounds will be at 8 and 10:15 p.m. on Feb. 17, Feb. 18, Feb. 24; the finals are Feb. 25. For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com, mohegansun.com or call (800)

745-3000. EARLY NEW YEAR’S EVE: Imagine Nation in Bristol will ring in the new year early, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Kids will create confetti, masks and noisemakers, as well as a colorful flower float. Celebrate the unveiling of a new time zone, Anchorage, Alaska; visit with Father Time and dance with DJ Bob, and march in a New Year’s parade at 11:30 a.m. Following the parade, kids can gather in Imagine Nation Times Square to countdown for the ball drop at noon. Admission is $7 per person. Members and children under 1 year old are free. The museum closes for the day at 2 p.m. Call (860) 314-1400 or visit www.imaginemuseum.org. DRAMATIC KIDS: Kids in third through eighth grade with a flair for the dramatic can come to the Southington Library for the “Theater Games” programs at 4 p.m. Jan. 3 and/or 4 p.m. Jan. 9. An audition for the children’s play will be at 4 p.m. Jan. 23. To register to audition for the play, children must have attended at least one “Theater Games” class. For more information, call (860) 628-0947 ext. 3. TIX ON SALE: Tickets are on sale now for “Singa-Long Sound of Music” at 4 p.m. Feb. 25 at Waterbury’s Palace Theatre.

Aimee Mann will be performing at Infinity Hall in Norfolk on Jan. 30. The show will be taped for CPTV. The screening of the classic Julie Andrews film will feature subtitles so the whole audience can sing along. A fancy-dress competition, where everyone can come in costume and be invited on stage to show their fantastic tailor skills. For tickets or more information, visit www.palacetheaterct.com or call (203) 346-2000. SHOWS ON SALE: Infinity Hall in Norfolk has several new shows on its schedule. Arlo Guthrie’s “Boy’s Night Out Tour” – which was originally scheduled to be at the Thomaston Opera House – is now moved to Norfolk for two shows, May 5 and May 6. Tickets are

$85 and $110. The Tommy Castro Band, which takes the stage March 18, fuses R&B with roots rock ‘n’ roll. Tickets are $30, $35 and $45. The Four Freshman, set for April14 in Norwalk, are masters of vocal harmony. This is the 22nd incarnation of one of only Four Freshmen, and have the same unmistakable sound of the original group. Tickets are $40, $45 and $60. Country Joe McDonald’s 100-Year Anniversary Tribute to Woody Guthrie will be at the venue on May 4. In honor of the anniversary, McDonald will be releasing

a new CD and celebrating with this tour. Tickets are $30 and $40. Black 47 takes the stage March 1. The Celtic rock group’s latest tour offers a journey through history and political struggle that is a musical cultural experience. Tickets are $22 and $32. Leigh Nash with Kenny White will be at the venue Feb. 22. Nash is best known for lead singer of Sixpence None the Richer, but she has also earned multiple Dove Awards and a Grammy nomination. Tickets are $20 and $32. The venue has also just added a new show: Aimee Mann will perform Jan. 30 for the CPTV’s

“Infinity Hall LIVE” series. Mann, former leader of the ‘80s group ‘Til Tuesday, has established herself as a prominent singer-songwriter. Tickets are $20 and $32. Infinity Hall is located on Route 44, 20 Greenwoods Road, Norfolk. For more information or tickets to any of the above shows, visit www.infinityhall.com or call (866) 666-6306. KORN CONTEST: To celebrate the release of “The Path of Totality,” Korn has teamed up with Talenthouse for a special remix contest. Artists can submit a remix using provided stems from songs “Get Up” or “Narcissistic Cannibal.” Submissions will be accepted through Jan. 10. The winner will get the chance to be the opening DJ at one of Korn’s upcoming shows, with travel and two night’s accommodation provided. One highest-voted submission, as well as four runners-up, will each receive signed Korn merchandise and will have their remixes featured on Korn’s social media channels. For more information, visit www.talenthouse.com/djfor-korn. Send arts and entertainment news and listings, including information on local musicians, artists, theater, film, books and more, to [email protected].

Music listings FRIDAY, DEC. 30 OTHER ROB THOMAS. Intimate performance to benefit Sidewalk Angels Foundation. 8 p.m. Mohegan Sun, Uncasville. $35. MoheganSun.com. ARETHA FRANKLIN. 8 p.m. MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket. $50, $60, and $70. Foxwoods.com. (800) 745-3000. BADFISH. A tribute to Sublime. Toad’s Place, 300 York St., New Haven. ToadsPlace.com THE ACACIA STRAIN, Vanna,

Within The Ruins, Born Low, Manners, Forsaken. 6 p.m. The Webster Theater, Hartford. WebsterTheater.com. CINEMA 24, Teeth Like Ivoryk, Safe Bet Secret, Love Without Limits, A Tempting Fate, PilotSide, AnchorsAway, Lifelines. The Space, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden. $10. TheSpace.tk MCHAEL CHENKUS. 7 p.m. The Outer Space, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden. TheSpace.tk

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FLASHBACK. 1970s rock and roll. 9:30 p.m. Firehouse Bar and Grill, West Washington St., Plainville.

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KARAOKE. With Jenni B. Downtown Café, 118 Main St., Bristol.

GOODHEAD. New Year’s Party. Downtown Café, 118 Main St., Bristol.

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SHAKEDOWN. New Year’s Eve Extravaganza. Toad’s Place, 300 York St., New Haven.

POSITIVE CHAOS. Downtown Café, 118 Main St., Bristol.

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OPEN MIC. With Brendan Donahue. Downtown Café, 118 Main St., Bristol.

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Miscellaneous listings MONDAY JAN. 3-4 SOUTHINGTON THEATER GAMES. 4 p.m. at Southington Library. Also available on Tuesday, Jan. 4.

SUNDAY JAN. 8 SOUTHINGTON NURSERY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE. 2-4 p.m. at Planstville Community Nursery School.

MONDAY JAN. 9 SOUTHINGTON NURSERY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE. 7-8 p.m. at the Village Green Nursery School. School is located in teh Frist Congregational Church.

SATURDAY JAN. 14 SOUTHINGTON MILITARY APPRECIATION DINNER. 4-8 p.m. at the Sotuhington Elks Lodge. Free for military members, $5 for families and $10 other guests. Open to public. For more info,

or tickets, call 707-6838.

SATURDAY JAN. 21 SOUTHINGTON REGISTRATION FOR YMCA NURSERY SCHOOL AND CREATIVE CHILD PROGRAMS. 8-12 noon. 8-10 a.m. for program members, 10-12 noon for rest of the community. For more information, contact the YMCA 6218130.

THURSDAY JAN. 26 SOUTHINGTON PARENT INFO SERIES. 78:30 p.m. at Southington Youth Services. Topic is Teen Peer Pressure: Your role as a parent. Open to Southington resdients only.

ONGOING SOUTHINGTON PARKS AND REC TRIPS. May 28 and 29, Gettysburg and Lancaster. Departs TBA, $365/ PP, $465 single, $285 child. April 16, Statue of

Liberty, departure, TBA, $65 per adult $52 for child. April 30, New York City-do your own thing, departs TBA, $45 PP. June 18, Gloucester and Rockport, Lobseter Bake, Departs TBA. $95 PP.

child, $25 for 2 or more; scholarships are available. Volunteers are also needed to buddy with the children. Contact: Dee Valerio-Matyka, (860) 584-1828.

SOUTHINGTON BOWLING WITH A BUDDY. Last Saturday of the month during the school year, 9:15 a.m. at Brunswick Super Bowl Lanes, Plantsville. Open to any Southington elementary

school students with special needs. Peer volunteers from Southington High School’s Best Buddies program. will be participating in helping the elementary students with their bowling game! Cost is $2.05, which includes shoe rental.

SOUTHINGTON PARENT SUPPORT GROUP. Are you tired of your kids running your life? Call us, Pat and Dick, 621-4889 or Bill and Marriette, 276-9734.

SOUTHINGTON DISCOVERY/CHALLENGER BASKETBALL. Mondays through Dec. 20, 6 p.m.-7 p.m. (younger players) or 7 p.m.-8 p.m. (older players), at Bristol Boys Club, 105 Laurel St., Bristol. Open to athletes aged 5 and up. This program introduces the game of basketball to the players and teaches them various phases of the game as the child advances in their dribbling, passing and shooting of the basketball. Cost is $20 per

SUBMITTED

Spreading holiday cheer Kennedy Middle School Peer Advocates, eighth grade chorus, and Voices of Thunder dressed up in their holiday attire to spread good cheer to residents of Mulberry Gardens, Lincoln Lewis, and The Orchards. They caroled, delivered baked goods, and toiletries bringing smiles to the resident’s faces.

Send us your letters! We welcome letters to the editor from all of our readers. Send your letter to editor Ed Harris at [email protected]. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday for the following week’s edition. The editor reserves the right to edit all letters for length or grammar.

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Making spirits bright Students at J.F. Kennedy Middle School worked hard to spread holiday cheer to wounded soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The seventh grade students from Amy Perry and Mike Serafino’s math class diligently plotted positive and negative coordinate pairs to create images to brighten spirits for those celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. The students were able to produce over 100 cards in hopes to put over 100 smiles on our nation’s heroes faces. Pictured in photo are Bret Baribault, Paul Crouse, Kayla Coppola, Sam Stocking, Ben Russman, Peyton Mitchell, Stephanie Gray, Anjali Patel, Maddie Nichols, Riley Colasanto, Jared Campbell, Nick Zukauskas, Rylee Van Epps.

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The Step Saver/ The Observer

Friday, December 30, 2011

Parks: New one in works?

SUBMITTED

Taking to the stage Southington students Lydia Gambacini and Brian Tomasco took the stage as Sarah Brown and Sky Masterson in Mooreland Hill School’s recent production of “Guys & Dolls.”

explored at this first meeting. Assistant Parks Superintendent Michael Manware discussed the pressure on his department. His staff of nine employees not only has to deal with the “big three” – Memorial, Panthorn and Recreation Parks, but also newer recreation areas like the second phase of Rails to Trails and the pavilion at the Drive-In site. He said the department’s responsibilities had increased, but not its manpower. “We have established a high standard and we would like to keep that,” Manware said. Recreation Director David Lapreay spoke

“

A lot of these [sports seasons] are overlapping and we have an issue with field space.

“

From page 1

David Lapreay, Recreation Director about another persistent issue – the increasing needs of the numerous

popular youth sports leagues in Southington. “A lot of these [sports seasons] are overlapping now and we have an issue with field space,” he said. The committee plans to send a questionnaire to each of the youth leagues and invite them to a public hearing, tentatively scheduled for late January. It was noted that about 7,000 residents participate in the leagues and about 1,000 volunteers regularly devote their time to the league’s activities. “We have a lot of people involved with the parks and we want to make sure their concerns are met,” Romano said. Comments? Email [email protected].

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Friday, December 30, 2011

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Motes: Served in Southington and Plainville From page 1 named as the director. “It’s not easy to combine two districts like this, but it’s been a smooth transition and he’s done a great job,” said Town Councilor John Barry, a member of the regional committee that oversees the health district. “He’s been very dedicated.” Barry said that the regional board had advertised the position and already received several inquiries that would be

examined in the new year. While the process required a great deal of planning, Motes said the regional district had been a “great idea” for both of the towns involved. “It saved Southington about $100,000,” Motes said. “The benefit for Plainville is that they are now part of a full-time district. If we have some kind of outbreak of a food-borne illness for example, I could bring in sanitarians from Southington to help.”

A native of Plainville, Motes previously served on the town’s Inland Wetlands Commission. He left the board after being named regional health director to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, but was glad for a chance to serve the town in a different way. Motes said the regional approach had been invaluable during Winter Storm Alfred, when restaurants were without power for days and had to

worry about spoiled food. The department also helped the various shelters operating during the power outage. “It’s been a fluid transition and that is thanks to Chuck Motes,” said Shirley Osle, Plainville’s Assistant Town Manager. “He really helped it along and worked closely with

the managers in both towns.” Motes will retire officially on Jan. 6, but will remain in a temporary part-time Interim Director position while the regional board selects his replacement. “The opportunity to serve these towns has been great,” he said. “Just

because I’m retiring doesn’t mean I won’t be involved. I’m very committed to both Southington and Plainville and I won’t leave them high and dry. I’ll still be available by phone.” Comments? Email [email protected].

Send us your letters! We welcome letters to the editor from all of our readers. Send your letter to editor Ed Harris at [email protected]. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday for the following week’s edition. The editor reserves the right to edit all letters for length or grammar.

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The Step Saver/ The Observer

Friday, December 30, 2011

2011: Some top stories from the past year only town manager. Weichsel served since 1966.

From page 4 affirmative votes. Resident Arthur Cyr filed an ethics complaint, arguing that Florian’s ownership of numerous downtown properties created a conflict of interest he voted on the proposal in June. The Board of Ethics ultimately sided with Cyr, stating in their written decision that Florian “had an obligation to state on the record that he had interest in commercial buildings” and was “obliged to recuse himself.” At an October meeting, the board voted to rescind the previous decision. At the scheduled November meeting, too many members were absent for a quorum to be reached. During December’s meeting a motion to begin discussion was unable to pass. Riccio said he hopes a public hearing can be set during the board’s January meeting.

School Sold for $1 The North Center plan, which was approved by all the town’s municipal boards, involves selling the vacant school to Borghesi Building and Engineering for $1. The company would then renovate the school into a new municipal center and lease it back to the town for eight years. The town would have the option to purchase the building at that time, though it would need to be approved by referendum. The entire cost of the plan was estimated at $6.8 million. Because the renovations would be done after the town sells the building, Southington officials did not consider it a public works project and expected it to be exempt from prevailing wage laws. However, a ruling from Connecticut’s Labor Department stated that the plan was a municipal project, citing multiple facets of the town’s partnership with Borghesi. As a municipal project, the town would now have to follow prevailing wage laws, which is expected to increase the cost of the project by $493,839,

Changing of the Guard Though announced late last year, Garry Brumback, Southington’s second and newest town manager, took the reins in January. He succeeded John Weichsel, Southington’s first and up until this point,

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according to figures presented by Sciota. However, other regulations involving these projects also have the potential to reduce costs. Municipal projects are typically exempt from sales tax, and the figures presented state that this would reduce the cost of the project by $208,775. In this scenario, the final cost of the plan is about $7.2 million. There was also a “worst-case scenario,” which would come into play if the State’s Department of Revenue Services rules that North Center is not a municipal project and is not exempt from sales tax. This would bring two state departments into conflict with one another, leaving the town unsure of the final result. The sale of North Center was referenced frequently during the election season, with Democrats citing the process as an instance in which the voters were ignored. Republicans Take Commanding Victory Southington’s Republicans won a commanding victory in this year’s municipal elections, holding their majorities and expanding their presence on the Town Council to a full six seats. All five incumbent Republicans on the council returned for another term, including Chairman Edward Pocock III, ViceChairman John Dobbins, Peter Romano, Dr. Al Natelli, and Dr. Stephanie Urillo. The sixth spot on the ticket is Cheryl Lounsbury, chairperson of the town’s Republicans, who has served on the council in the past. Democratic Town Councilors John Barry, Chris Palmieri and Dawn Miceli were re-elected. Republican also kept control of the school board. Republican incumbents Brian Goralski, Terri Carmody, Colleen Clark, Jill Notar-Francesco and Patricia Queen retained their seats. The sixth Republican seat went to newcomer Terry Lombardi.

Democrats David Derynoski and Patricia Johnson were re-elected to the Board of Education along with Zaya Oshana, Jr, who switched from the Zoning Board. All four incumbent Republicans on the Board of Finance won another term, including Chairman John Leary, Vice-Chairman Joe Labieniec, Edward Pocock, Jr, and Wayne Stanforth. Democrats Sandra Feld and Tony Casale won the seats vacated by John Moise and Kevin Beaudoin. Republicans Stephen Kalkowski, Paul Champagne and Jim Macchio were elected to the Planning & Zoning Commission along with Democrat Kevin Conroy. Fixing Up the Middle Schools

Southington High School baseball ace Sal Romano too home several accolades this year and earned himself a spot in the Cincinnati Reds farm system. Coaches selected him as the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year and as the CT High School Coaches

Battling Until the End Though they would ultimately fall in the final game, three Southington High School teams made spirited runs through their respective postseasons. The gymnastics team lost in the Class L finals to Glastonbury. The gymnastics team has been the runner up or champions in Class L for the last several years. In Class LL, Newington needed ten innings to top the Southington baseball team 3-2. The Blue Knights

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Association (CHSCA)/Bass Pro Baseball Player of the Year. He finished second in the CHSCA polling as the overall athlete of the year. Romano was also selected The Observer Athlete of the Year. (Southington High School Basketball and Volleyball star Tori Munson was the female Observer Athlete of the Year.) Moments before Romano took the field for the state semifinals, he learned that the Cincinnati Reds had picked him in the draft. After a few months of deciding between playing ball on scholarship for Tennessee University, a top division one program or entering Red’s farm system, Romano accepted an offer from the Reds, beginning his professional career in the minors.

The referendum proposal to renovate DePaolo and Kennedy Middle Schools was approved overwhelmingly by voters. The $85 million middle school project was approved by about a 2 to 1 margin, with 4,859 votes in favor and 2,284 votes against. The schools were constructed in the 1960s and Southington’s population has grown significantly since then. For over a decade, the Board of Education has attempted to advance a plan to update the two buildings. The current plan, after some reductions from the Board of Finance, earned the endorsement of all the major municipal boards.

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battled into extra innings, with pro prospect Sal Romano on the mound, pitching his second 10 inning outing. The Southington girl’s volleyball team played their hearts out before Newtown ended their Cinderella run through the Class LL postseason. The Lady Knights did not go quietly, losing 3-1 in four sets, though each game was decided by two points.

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Friday, December 30, 2011

The Step Saver/ The Observer

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19

Southington Scene

In a library far, far away... Children had the opportunity to join the Rebel Alliance recently at the Southington Library. Star Wars, the series made popular by George Lucas, came alive at the library on Saturday, Dec. 17. The library offered several activities including Jedi training, pictures with real Storm Troopers and rebels, attacking the Death Star with a paper airplane, and feeding Jabba the Hut. The 501 Legion, which has actors in movie quality Star Wars costumes, which had four storm troopers and two rebel alliance members available for photographs. The 501 Legion did some holiday bell ringing in town a few years ago.

Christina Tolisano as Jedi Aadi Rila.

Photos by TAMMI KNAPIK

Ethan Simpson, dressed as Anikan Skywalker, and his mom Traci make a Yoda craft.

Billy Hunt, right, with Darth Vader. Below, Taylor Cox makes paper airplanes to attack the Death Star

Adessa Nayes, 8, gets autographs from Biker Scout TB8673 and Storm Trooper TK2084.

20

The Step Saver/ The Observer

To advertise, call (860) 628-9645

Tasty Bites Each week, The Observer hits up the local restaurant scene, offering you an inside look at the culinary delights in central Connecticut.

The Basics Cottage Restaurant and Café Open for lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for dinner on Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. Dine-in and catering. Large parties are welcome. 427 Farmington Ave., Plainville Phone- (860)793-8888 www.cottagerestaurantandcafe.com www.facebook.com/p

Cottage Restaurant and Cafe

Photos and text by Stacey McCarthy

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The Buzz

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The Cottage Restaurant and Café is an independent familyowned and run restaurant. Its Facebook page is updated regularly with daily specials and musings from the chef. The annual Mardi Gras party will be held on Fat Tuesday.

Full-service bar and wine cellar that features 25 wines served by the glass. They serve classic drinks such as the Cottage Old Fashion (choice of whiskey or bourbon with cherries, orange slices, sugar, and soda water muddled together), and Bourbon Mint Julep (sugar and fresh mint muddled together and added to Bourbon, shaken and served on the rocks). The martini menu is extensive and includes: Orange Martini (Stolichnaya Orange Codka, Grand Marnier, and an orange slice), Tamara’s Tease (Tanqueray Ten Gin, Cointreau, and a splash of grapefruit, cranberry, and a hint of lime), and Snikertini (Frangelico, Bailey’s, Absolute Vodka, Kahlua, Amaretto DiSarrona, and a splash of cream.)

The Scene The dining rooms and bar area are housed in an old farmhouse. There are wreaths and paintings of cottages and food on the walls. Windsor-style chairs and booths with an eclec-

On Your Plate Funny Bone Cake at Cottage Restaurant and Cafe.

Friday, December 30, 2011

The menu at the Cottage Restaurant and

Yankee Pot Roast at Cottage Restaurant and Cafe. Café changes seven to eigjt times a year depending on the local, seasonal ingredients that are available. The recipes take classic dishes and cooking techniques and add a special twist to them. The seafood is also seasonal and comes from a sustainable source. There are many vegetarian options of the menu as well. Desserts are made from scratch daily.

Your Wallet Appetizers start at $6 for Cottage House Salad with mixed greens, cucumber, tomato, croutons and a maple balsamic vinaigrette and go up to $12 for Grilled Shrimp Lettuce Wraps with julienne vegetables, passion fruit, vinaigrette, and chopped peanuts. Entrees range from $13 for a Crispy Maryland Style Crabcake with Remoulade sauce,

creamed spinach, and truffled French fries to $18 for Cassoulet (slow simmered white beans with garlic sausage, duck leg confit and porkloin topped with Provencale bread crumbs.) Desserts are $8. The signature dessert is the Apple Fritter Sundae (2 apple fritters rolled in cinnamon and sugar and topped with caramel, whipped cream, and vanilla ice cream.

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•SHS Gymnastics preview...page 22 •SHS basketball...page 25 •SHS swimming...page 26 •Hockey, Lincoln College men...page 27

Sports Our Athletes

Rolling along Knights dispatch Conard, Platt By JOHN GORALSKI

Dec. 20

SPORTS WRITER

Derek Dion has been cautiously optimistic as he’s faced reporters in the early season. “It was a lot closer than the score might indicate” has become the standard expression in the postgame interview, and his wrestlers continue to celebrate a fast start.

Wrestling Three quality matchups resulted in a trio of wins. The Knights have knocked off a top 10 opponent and collected a pair of double-digit wins. Dion’s unranked team has been catapulted into the CT coaches poll. It’s way too early to begin a victory lap, but Dion’s best present this Christmas has been his team’s strong performance. “We have some good senior leadership,” said the coach. “The captains and the other seniors are really working their butts off in the room, and it’s really permeating through to the younger kids. They

Southington 44 Conard 18 Dec. 23

Southington 46 Platt 16 really are a fun group to be around, and they’re working hard.” The Knights opened last week with their first conference opponent. Conard built an early lead, but Southington battled back. The Knights swept through eight matches at the end of the meet and came away with a 44-18 victory. “It was a lot closer than the score might indicate. There were a lot of battles in there with some tough, tough matches,” said Dion. “They’re a little young in the lower weights, but they’re tough up top. It was give and take. Our big guys did a really good job of staying off their backs, which is the reason why it doesn’t look as close as it really was.”

JOHN GORALSKI

Nate Solomon goes for the pin in the second minute of his 126-pound match. The Knights won their last eight matches to capture a 44-18 win at Conard on Dec. 21. Conard rattled off nine points before Brandon Lariviere (170) battled for a 5-1 decision. Sophomore Zach Maxwell (182) battled a proven senior into a third overtime before losing in a 3-2

decision. Travis Daly (285) continued to fight off pins in the opening round before rolling out of a hold to score a pin in the second. Daly’s win sparked a Southington rally, and the Knights

out-scored Conard down the stretch, 41-0. Alex Richardson (113), Nate Solomon (126), Noah Sheffy (132), and Ryan DuPuis

See WRESTLING, page 27

Robarge signs letter of intent Blue Knight pitcher makes plans to throw at U.Hart By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER

Junior varsity coaches certainly won’t miss the Southington pitcher when they face the Blue Knights this spring. American Legion coaches are already worried about his return after the damage he inflicted last summer. Justin Robarge has spent much of his high school career on the fringe of the Southington press, but he already has a reputation for baffling hitters and dominating on the mound that reaches far beyond the town borders. Fans might not remember his eight varsity strikeouts in 12 innings last spring, but Southington coaches noticed. Scouts noticed, and Robarge impressed every one.

Baseball SUBMITTED

New tennis coach On Friday, Dec. 23, the Southington High School athletic department announced the appointement of Robin Thompson, above, as the new Lady Knight tennis coach for the 2012 spring season. Thompson is a Southington High School graduate, a former Lady Knight captain, and a past recipient of the Val Leach award. Allie Garry has been named as the team’s new assistant coach.

“From his freshman year on, I’ve watched his work ethic get better and better,” said Blue Knight baseball coach Charlie Lembo. “I thought he had a really good sophomore year playing for me on the JV team, and a couple of games he was just dominant. I wish we could have gotten him more innings last year, but with Sal [Romano] and Joe [Sullivan] pitching the way they were, it was kind of tough.” Robarge impressed the ones that mattered. On Tuesday, Dec. 20, he scrawled his name across a pile of

JOHN GORALSKI

On Tuesday, Dec. 20, Justin Robarge became the second Blue Knight pitcher in as many years to commit to an NCAA division I program with an early signing to the University of Hartford. papers in a conference room at the high school, and Robarge became the second Southington ace in back-toback seasons to sign a letter of intent to play with a division one NCAA program. “I was debating whether to sign or not sign,” said the 6 foot, 5 inch right hander. “I decided to ultimately sign because it takes a lot of stress off me, and it’s what I want to do.” The journey began in the summer when coaches from the University of Hartford, Central Connecticut State University, and Northeastern University

descended upon the young pitcher. They liked his size. They liked his power, and they clamored to sign him. Robarge selected Hartford for their young coaching staff and their architectural engineering department. The Hawks chose Robarge for his talent and potential. “He’s got the perfect size for a pitcher. As he’s been maturing physically, he’s been putting on more weight and getting a little bigger,” said Lembo. “His fastball is above average for a high

See ROBARGE, page 28

22

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Winter Sports Preview

Ready for another run Gymnasts set their sights on the future By JOHN GORALSKI

“

SPORTS WRITER

B

yron Knox’s forehead furrowed when he was asked about the 62-game regular season winning streak that came to a close at the end of last winter. His eyes narrowed when he was asked about his team’s second place finish at the Class L state meet. Most coaches would be jumping for joy after a fourth place finish at the state opens which advanced a gymnast to the New England meet to compete in one event. But Byron Knox isn’t like most high school coaches, and his Lady Knights aren’t like most high school teams.

“We have a history of success based on our attitude at the beginning of each year,” he said. “We feel that we can beat anybody or compete with anybody. With that being said, we’re taking a test and trying to get an ‘A.’ We’re not happy with just getting a ‘B.’”

Byron Knox, SHS gymnastics coach

Over the last decade the Knights have reinvented the varsity sport and raised the bar for the regional competition. They shattered team records and individual scores that still hang out of reach for most club gymnasts. They competed over seven years without losing a varsity meet. For the past nine

2011-12 Preview Gymnastics Coach: Byron Knox 2010-11 season: 7-1 2011 Postseason: The Knights finished second overall at the Class LL championship meet and fourth place overall at the state open. Kala Nati (bars) was the only gymnast to advance to the New England championship. Key returning players (captains*): Amanda Mirando*, Olivia Morrell*, Kayla Nati, Toni Penta. Key losses: Katelyn Hyde Outlook: In last winter’s regular season finale, the Knights saw their 62-game winning streak come to an end, but the girls are ready to restart that streak in 2012. Southington lost just one athlete to graduation and welcome a talented group of incoming gymnasts. “This is an important season. We're sort of bridging the old with the new,” said Lady Knight coach Byron Knox. “Once the older kids are gone, it will be gone forever unless I can get these younger kids to buy in to the history and the future. We want to be on top again.”

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months, the coach has suffered the chatter about other programs and Southington’s demise. He’s heard about new dynasties on the rise. He’s heard teams throw out the gauntlet, and he’s heard their taunting challenges. Saying it is one thing, but doing it is another. “I enjoy being the underdog. I love that role,” said Knox. “When we’re on top, I’ll challenge my team. I’ll tell them that we’re the best of the best and nobody’s going to challenge us or beat us. If we’re not considered the best, we’re still going to challenge to compete. There’s always going to be a carrot at the end of the stick. This year, that will be the challenge.” Make no mistake. Knox expects to climb back to the top of the varsity rankings, and he has the team to do it. The Knights lost just one all-around gymnast to graduation, and they return a strong core of experienced gymnasts. In addition, the team welcomes a small group of underclassmen that have already proven

themselves in club competition. Knox continues to coach at all levels of the sport—high school, club, and college—and even he is excited about the talent on the roster. “It’s the girls that make the program, not the coach. We’ve had coaches before. I won’t be the last coach. It’s the girls that really make this thing exciting,” he said. “It’s going to be a different year. We’ve actually got a small team—a team of seven—which is a vast contrast to what we had when I took over in the past, but we have more kids that are participating from various private clubs than ever before.” Of course, it takes more than talent to capture a state title. High school scoring stresses fundamentals and execution more than acrobatic displays. That’s why Knox challenged senior captains Amanda Mirando and junior captain Olivia Morrell to forge a successful team atmosphere. Both understand the challenges of a high school season.

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“Amanda has a history with the team. She’s been here from the inception, watching her sister and her cousin, and she knows the philosophy of the program,” said Knox. “Olivia Morrell made a commitment to the team early on with no maybes. She’s going to be an excellent floor general because she has the competitive experience to lead the team.” Southington returns top talent in nearly every event. Knox expects Toni Penta to challenge the state’s elite. Last year’s New England competitor, Kayla Nati, is a sophomore, and could be a threat in the allaround competition. A trio of freshmen join them from the local clubs. Lindsey Socquet, Lexi Rothstein, and Sarah Leahy could make an immediate impact. Knox expects his team to be strongest on the floor and competitive on the bars and the beam. At the start of the season, vaulting may be the biggest question for the Knights. “Historically, it’s been a great event for us, but with the new kids coming in

with a new coach it’s sometimes hard to make the transition from medium level vaults to difficult vaults,” said Knox. “The goal is to slowly jog into the season and then sprint toward the championships.” The schedule is much the same as last season with a list of conference opponents that builds to a rematch of last season’s loss against Glastonbury. This year, the teams will square off at home, and Knox expects the Knights to challenge the defending New England champs. “We want to challenge to compete. If we do that, I think we can beat anybody on any given day,” said Knox. “We want to compete with the Glastonbury group only because we hear about how good they are and what they have returning. The more we hear that, the harder we work. The more we hear about how they’re going to dominate, the more we put in extra minutes at the end of practice. The more we hear about how they won last year, it fuels us.” That could be good news for Southington fans, and bad news to everyone else. To comment on this story or to contact sports writer John Goralski, email him at jgoralski@ southingtonobserver.com.

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Athletes Week

of the

D

anielle Charamut leapt above the tangle of elbows and shoulders to rip the basketball away from a pair of Newington players. The Lady Knights were locked in a heated conference battle, and Charamut was leading the front lines. The 5 foot, 10 inch junior is the go-to girl in the middle for the Lady Knights, and she’s the front line soldier in the paint. “She's our presence inside. She's an athletic

Danielle Charamut

Brandon Lariviere

Southington High School girls basketball

Southington High School wrestling

Class:

Junior

Class:

Senior

Reason:

Scored 24 points and 11 rebounds in two games last week with 8 defensive rebounds at Newington.

Reason:

Outscored opponents 12-4 in two bouts last week with a pair of wins against good competition.

post, and that's what we like about her,” said Lady Knight coach Mike Forgione. “We're looking for people to be athletes and run. She can definitely do that.” With a three or four guard lineup, the Knights are often oversized in the middle, but Charamut has quickly developed into a big man threat. In two games last week, she scored 24 points with 11 rebounds. If the Knights are going to be successful, Charamut will be the key.

“If she keeps getting aggressive, keeps learning the game, and it slows down for her, she's going to get better every week,” said Forgione. “She's a great kid, and she does anything you ask from her. She stays after practice to get better. She works on her post moves and her foul shooting. She gives you 100 percent every time.” For her outstanding athletic accomplishments, Charamut is our highlighted female athlete of the week.

B

randon Lariviere seems to play with his opponents like a kitten with a ball of yarn. He can slither out of their grasp like a wet eel. He can pounce like a crazed bear. Lariviere turns into an animal on the mat. “He's really been working hard in the room. It's really showing, and it's really paying dividends,” said Blue Knight wrestling coach Derek Dion. “He's been out-working kids. He’s out-hustling kids with sound technique and good

positions.” Last week, the 170pounder scored a pair of victories over quality opponents. He scored at least one point in all six periods, and he tied or beat his challenger every single period. At Conard, he secured a 5-1 win over an experienced wrestler. “His positions were fantastic. I loved his approach and his aggressiveness,” said Dion. “He really worked hard to make it go his way.” Dion said that he’s

TOP FEMALE PERFORMANCES

TOP MALE PERFORMANCES

• Maureen Cop, Runner: Completed the 5K course in 25:14 to finish 569th out of 2138 runners at the Christopher Martins Run for Children.

• Kevin Smith, Lincoln College NE basketball team: Scored 46 points and 22 rebounds in 2 games with 26 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals at Post University.

• Maegan Florian, Runner: Completed the 5K course in 25:27 to finish 603rd out of 2138 runners at the Christopher Martins Run for Children.

The week ahead in Southington sports

happy for Lariviere’s recent success because he has spent most of his career focused on his teammates. “Hopefully, we've convinced him to help himself a little bit,” said Dion. “He's almost an assistant coach at times in the room. He's always teaching other kids and helping all the kids. Now he's coming into his own and working well. I'm really proud of him.” For his outstanding athletic accomplishments, Lariviere is our highlighted male athlete of the week.

• John Gradante, Hall-Southington ice hockey team: Collected 33 saves against East Catholic on Friday, Dec. 23 to secure a comeback tie against a division two opponent.

Unforeseen schedule changes or weather conditions may cause a change in the schedule. You may call (860) 628-3229, ext. 425 to check the status of a contest. For afternoon contests, call after 1:30 p.m. and for evening contests, call after 4:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

MONDAY

Wrestling at SHS DUALS (V-8:00 @ Southington High School).

No games scheduled.

No games scheduled.

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Boys Basketball at Conard (FR-3:45, JV-5:30, V-7:00). Boys Swimming and Diving at Platt/Maloney (V/JV-3:45). Girls Basketball vs. Conard (FR-3:45, JV-5:30,V-7:00).

Ice Hockey at E.O. Smith-Tolland-Windham (V-6:45 @ UConn, Storrs). Wrestling at Hall (V/JV-6:00). Gymnastics vs. Farmington (V/JV-6:00 @ CATS, Cheshire).

Boys Basketball vs. NW Catholic (FR-3:45, JV-5:30,V-7:00). Girls Basketball vs. NW Catholic (FR-3:45, JV-5:30,V-7:00).

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25

Our Athletes

Looking for consistency Girls lose at Newington and edged by Windsor By JOHN GORALSKI

“

Dec. 19

SPORTS WRITER

Girls Basketball No, Southington didn’t win. A questionable score in the final seconds forced the Knights to take a desperation shot at the buzzer. Still, a 4443 loss was better than most pundits predicted. “I'm disappointed with the loss, but pleased with the effort,” said Lady Knight coach Mike Forgione. “We just have to play a more com-

I'm disappointed with the loss, Dec. 22 but pleased with the effort. Windsor 44 We just have to play a more Southington 43 complete game for 32 minutes, plete game for 32 minutes, and hopefully we'll get one of these and hopefully we'll get one of these as the season goes as the season goes on.

“

Maeghan Chapman wrapped herself around a loose ball, clutched it to her chest, and looked across the court as Stephanie O’Keefe raced toward the Southington basket. She flicked it forward, O’Keefe converted over a falling Windsor player, and the referee’s whistle signaled a chance for Southington to take the lead. On Thursday, Dec. 22, the Knights were battling toe-to-toe against a tournament-caliber team, and with one minute remaining, they were deadlocked, 41-41.

Newington 41 Southington 33

on.”

The Lady Knights lost a pair of contests last week, but they still cling to a 3-3 record as the calendars change. At times they’ve looked brilliant, like when they charged back from a late deficit to tie Windsor and pull ahead. At times they’ve looked toubled, like a second half collapse against Newington. “It just seems like we can't find that complete game,” said Forgione after a dismal 10-for-20 free throw night against Windsor. “On the nights that we shoot well from the field, we don't shoot our free throws well. On the nights we don't shoot well from the field, we shoot our free throws okay.” Consistency will be the

Mike Forgione, SHS girls basketball coach

charge going forward, as the Knights continue to perfect their attack and challenge for a postseason berth. “I knew we were going to have to battle every night,” said the coach. “Hopefully, we'll get one of these close ones. We’re not satisfied, but it is what it is.” Southington began the week with a perplexing loss at Newington. Megan

McLaughlin led the way with 15 points. Danielle Charamut collected 11 points and nine rebounds. The Knights built a threepoint lead at the break, but managed just 13 points in the second half. Newington took a six point lead into the final quarter and hung on for a 41-33

See GIRLS, page 26

VINNY ROSSITTO

Danielle Charamut battles under the boards during a loss to Windsor on Thursday, Dec. 22.

Knights’ struggles continue Boys lose to Newington and ousted by Windsor By JOHN GORALSKI

Dec. 19

SPORTS WRITER

The whistle blew, and Coach Bob Lasbury shook his head in disbelief. For the second game in a row, the Knights found themselves seating a starter in the first quarter because of foul trouble. For the second game in a row, they’d be forced to fight back from an early deficit with a make-shift lineup.

Boys Basketball “I think we're getting contributions from a variety of people,” Lasbury said. “I think the bench knows that they never know who's

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Windsor 107 Southington 49 going to get their name called. That's good because, at the end of the season, we'll have nine guys in our rotation.” The loss of the starter didn’t seem to hurt them. Alex Borofsky scored 13 of his team-high 23 points in the opening half, and Southington entered the half with a 24-22 lead. “I think our team did a good job for most of the game,” said Lasbury. “They made a lot of big plays and showed a lot of growth. In

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At left, Alex Borofsky attacks the rim during a loss to Newington on Dec. 19.

Newington 67 Southington 61

only our third game I’m proud of our effort, and I know we can only get better.” For most of the second half, the Knights held the lead until Indians found their rhythm from long range. The Indians converted six three pointers in the final quarter. Southington led by four with three minutes remaining, but Newington overtook the Knights, 67-61. “They stepped up and hit some big shots in the fourth quarter, which was the difference in the game,” Lasbury said. “We also made some careless mistakes. In a game like this, that's going to be the difference. Who can execute in the last four minutes?” Ted Shaw finished with 17 points. Shane Cooper added 14 points, but the

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Knights fell to 1-2. “I think we've shown a lot of growth in just three games, and I think we’re going to get a lot better,” said Lasbury. “We're still young. I would attribute to the mistakes we made in the fourth quarter tonight mostly to their inexperience, but I'm proud of their effort.” Two days later, the Knights faced an even tougher challenge as they opened their road scheduule against one of the top teams in the CCC. Southington big men out-rebounded Windsor, 29-

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Our Athletes

Swim team makes a statement Smigelski, Kiveliyk qualify for the postseason in opening meet By JOHN GORALSKI

“

SPORTS WRITER

Mike Smigelski knifed through the water as if he was riding a wave, and everybody else was fighting for second place. Smigelski was ahead of a competitive group of swimmers at the end of the 200 freestyle race, but they were fighting for position nearly half the length of the pool behind him, and Smigelski was waiting at the end. “You come to expect those things from Mike. He's a top calibre athlete, and he expects it from himself,” said Blue Knight swim coach Evan Tuttle. “We were trying to make a statement about what it is we can do.”

On Friday, Dec. 23, the Knights opened the winter season like a team with a mission. Smigelski captured a pair of individual events and one relay. Southington won the first nine events before going unofficial in a 93-72 win. “Up and down the lineup, everyone proved themselves today,” said Tuttle. “You never know what you'll

JOHN GORALSKI

Vladislav Kiveliyk swims the 100 butterfly during a win over Windsor on Friday, Dec. 23. Kiveliyk is one of two Blue Knights to qualify for the postseason in the home opener. see in the first meet. You never know what other teams have done in the offseason. You don't know if they're working as hard as you or picking up swimmers like you are. You have to go in strong like we did today.” Smigelski captured the 200 freestyle (1:53.81) and the 100 freestyle (50.79), and both times were good

enough to qualify for the

Dec. 23

Southington 93 Windsor 72 postseason. Vladislav Kiveliyk captured the 100 butterfly (59.43) and the 500 freestyle (5:45.65) with a qualifying

time in the butterfly. Qualifying for the Class LL meet in three events at the opening contest was no surprise to Tuttle. The Knights were within a few seconds of qualifying times in a number of events. “We're going to see quite a few qualifiers this year, and it's going to come pretty early in the season,”

Girls: Lady Knights cling to .500 From page 25 win. That’s why the near upset against Windsor stung so badly. “We definitely took a step backwards in the second half at Newington. Things kind of fell apart. That was disappointing, and we talked about how we can't let that happen,” said Forgione. “I thought they responded to that poor second half at Newington with a good effort tonight.” The effort almost paid off. O’Keefe paced the offense with 15 points. Charamut added 13. Chapman and McLaughlin contributed six points apiece, and Chrissy Swol came off the bench to collect five rebounds. Southington led by one in the final minute, but

Windsor crashed the net on a failed free throw and knocked over a pair of Knights to get the go-ahead score. “It looked like a charge. That kid got ran over, but they didn’t call it,” Forgione said. “They gave them a bucket. We tried a desperation shot at the end, and the game's over.” Still, Forgione points to the missed free throws and missed opportunities as the reason for the loss. “We don't have one goto person. We have to play as a team, and each person has to contribute,” said the coach. “You have to make your layups and foul shots. That's the difference in high school girls basketball. If you make your layups and foul shots, you're going to be in most games. We didn't do

that tonight, and this one's going to be a tough one.” Southington still has a chance to enter the new year with a winning record. The Knights will travel to Suffield on Wednesday, Dec. 28 for a

chance to earn their fourth win. To comment on this story or to contact sports writer John Goralski, email him at [email protected].

Boys: Knights at 1-3 From page 25 28, but the Warriors shot 51.7 percent from the floor and cruised to a 102-82 win. Borofsky led the Knights with 14 points and eight rebounds. Shaw added 10 points and three assists, but Southington never led. The Knights committed 24 turnovers, trailed, 56-23, at the half. Jerry Buchanon led

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the Warriors (4-0) with 20 points, including a trio of three pointers, and 13 players contributed to the final score. “If they didn't know it, they know it now,” said Lasbury. “Every game is definitely going to be a grind.” To comment on this story or to contact sports writer John Goralski, email him at jgoralski@ southingtonobserver.com.

he said. “The kids are conditioned, and after our week of holiday practices they're going to be even more conditioned.” Southington captured two scores in both relays and three scores in every individual race except the 100 backstroke before going unofficial. Jesse Cooney won the 200 individual medley (2:14.32) and the 100 backstroke (1:03.5). Dylan Figueiredo won the 50 freestyle (25.72). Cooney and Kiveliyk partnered with Matt Duszak and Joe Taglia to capture the 200 medley relay (1:48.7). Smigelski, Taglia, and Figueiredo teamed with Bryan Adie to capture the 200 freestyle event (1:40.05). Still, Tuttle was even more pleased with the depth of his lineup and the number of second place and third place finishes. “We were trying to make a statement about what it is we can do, and we wanted to throw some kids

“

Swimming

We were trying to make a statement about what it is we can do, and we wanted to throw some kids in that are new to show them what they can do.

Evan Tuttle, SHS swimming coach

in that are new to show them what they can do,” he said. “A lot of times, they don't know until they're in a meet situation and are getting pushed by someone next to them.” For fans, it was just a taste. The Knights will focus on conditioning over the holiday week before facing their next opponent in the new year. To comment on this story or to contact sports writer John Goralski, email him at [email protected].

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Our Athletes

Playing up a level Warrior-Knights tie division 2 rival By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as the Warrior-Knights watched the puck bounce around in front of the net like a pinball. Twenty seconds into the overtime period, a slapshot from the top of the circle skipped off a defender’s shin pads and flicked off the opposite pole. It came less than one inch from being a Christmas miracle.

Hockey

JOHN GORALSKI

Paden Cipolla leads a Warrior-Knight attack during a recent contest.

“They could have easily finished it later on in overtime,” said Hall-Southing-ton hockey coach Brian Cannon. “They were the stronger team in overtime, but we had an opportunity or two. It was a perfect overtime. It was anybody's game to win at that point.”

On Friday, Dec. 23, East Catholic dominated the scoreboard for two and a half periods before the WarriorKnights battled back. Trailing 3-0 midway through the final period, the division three coop began to claw their way back against their D-2 foe. “The kids just picked up the energy level and played aggressively,” said Cannon. “They skated from the get go. They didn't coast to pucks. They started winning pucks and make decently executed plays. They were able to jam the net and finish.” East Catholic out-shot the Warrior-Knights, 36-24. They scored twice in the opening period and once at the start of the last. In between, the teams battled toe-to-to. “In the second period we started to turn the momentum to at least neutral—if not in our favor,” said Cannon. “I think our kids knew that

Dec. 23

Hall-Southington 3 East Catholic 3 going into the third period. They turned it up and it worked.” Owen Kantor kick-started the scoring with 12:47 remaining. Sam Sloan followed one minute later. With 43 seconds left, Chris Anderson tied the contest, and 20 seconds into overtime, the Warrior-Knights nearly won. Trey Lerner and Justin Rose assisted two goals. Anderson and Kevin Cop assisted another. John Gradante collected 33 saves in the net, and HallSouthington held on for a 33- tie. Both teams left the building with 1-1-1 records. Sometimes a tie feels like a win.

Wildcats drop 2 games Wrestling: Knights are 3-0 Dec. 15

Dec. 17

Post University 102 Lincoln College 82

Mass Bay CC 98 Lincoln College 71

being able to play great basketball for a half against a team that is more than a few levels above you.” Kevin Smith powered the offense with 26 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Marcus Marshall added 25 points and seven rebounds, but Post managed to place five players in double-digit scoring. Post began the second half with an 8-0 run and cruised to the win. “I was proud of the effort,” said the coach. “We’ve never led against Post and I think we gave them a bit of a scare. It’s further proof that our team has a lot going for us.”

Mass Bay a nine pint lead. That’s as close as it got. “In the second half they came out firing and went on a tear,” Wasielewski said. “We only had eight turnovers for the game and had a team total of 43 rebounds, a season high. The problem is we couldn’t score, and that’s obviously a main objective in this game. Other than our offense, we played well.” Marshall paced Lincoln with 23 points and six rebounds. Kevin smith contributed 20 points, and Conrad Booker scored 10. Greg Daniels finished with eight rebounds and a pair of assists. “Once again, Kevin Smith and Marcus Marshall had big games. They did all they could to keep us in it,” said the coach. “Marcus Marshall is really shining for us. He has such a great attitude and will do whatever it takes to try to win the game. Kevin Smith in particular has really turned himself into a very important part of this team. His attitude and effort on the court has improved since November and that is something I had hoped would happen. It’s really helped the team.” Now, the Wildcats have a few weeks to rest before opening the second half of their season against in New York against Orange County Community College on Saturday, Jan. 14.

By JOHN GORALSKI SPORTS WRITER

The first half has finally come to an end for the Lincoln College Wildcats, and the semester of shifting schedules and road games has cost a heavy price. The Wildcats lost a pair of contests in their final week to fall to 5-6. Now, they’ll have until Jan. 14 to prepare for another run at a winning record.

Basketball “I think as a team we’re a little disappointed that our record isn’t better, but I think our guys understand that we do have something good,” said Wildcat coach John Wasielewski. “We’ve been in just about every single game, and we’ve pulled out some great wins against really good teams. We are definitely on the radar and teams, especially in our division, are no longer looking at Lincoln as an easy win.”

Post University JV Lincoln College managed one extra basket in the first half of play before the wheels came off. On Thursday, Dec. 15, Post University rallied for 60 points in the second half and turned a 44-42 deficit into a 102-82 win. Still, Wasielewski calls it a good measure for his division III junior college team. “We seem to get closer and closer each year,” he said. “For us that’s big,

Mass Bay CC Two days later, they were at it again as the Wildcats faced another regional giant. With just over 800 students, Lincoln is always an underdog against the schools with enrollments over 5,000 students, and Mass Bay Community College proved too much to handle. Mass Bay boasts a twoheaded attack with Jordan Rezendes (21.3 points per game) and six-foot-nine Rahshjeem Benson (14 points and 13.3 rebounds pre game). The Wildcats countered with a man-to-man, full-court defense and shifted to a 2-3 zone, but a three pointer at the half gave

From page 21 (145) scored first period pins. Tyler Mirando (106) and Tom Gallagher (138) battled for major decisions, and the Knights opened the conference schedule with a win. Once again, Southington proved that they were ahead of the curve. In the middle of Southington’s late rally, freshman Zach Bylykbashi (120) knocked off Conard’s captain with a 7-4 decision. “That was his first match, and that was their senior captain,” said Dion. “That was impressive.” The momentum carried into Friday’s match-up with previously unbeaten Platt. Once again, the Knights battled back from an early deficit to run away with the win. Once again, Dion said that it was a lot closer than

the final score. “We had some good matchups all the way through,” he said. “There were probably about seven matches that could have gone either way. [Platt coach Bryan McCarty] always does a really great job over here. I think he’s one of the best coaches in the state. He’s got some young guys, and they’re really going to be something to deal with over the next couple of years.” Mirando (106) scrambled to a first period pin to kick-start the scoring. Bylykbashi (113) followed with a 14-0 major decision. Solomon (132) and Sheffy (138) sparked the Knights with back-to-back pins as the Southington grapplers captured eight of the last nine bouts on their way to a 46-16 win. DuPuis (145), Mark

Jaffer (152), Lariviere (170), and Maxwell (182) secured hard-fought decisions. Austin Sullivan (195) earned a forfeit, and Connor Morrell (220) capped the night with an overtime pin. “A lot of kids really stepped it up,” said Dion. “They had four really good kids, and we had four really good kids. There were good battles, and it was a lot closer than it looked.” It doesn’t get any easier for the 3-0 Knights, but they’ll take a break from standard competition with a pair of challenging tournaments. First, they’ll measure their progress at the powerhouse Danbury tournament on Tuesday, and they’ll wrap up 2011 as hosts for the annual SHS duals on Friday, Dec. 30. Bouts begin at 8 a.m. in the Southington High School gym.

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Sports Briefs DePaolo Girls Basketball DePaolo 30, Dodd 15 DEC 15—Natalie Wadolowski scored 10 points, and Janette Wadolowski added eight points as the Patriots doubled Dodd in the season opener.

Moran 42, DePaolo 37 DEC 19—Diana Verderame scored 10 points to pace the offense. Natalie Wadolowski and Janette Wadolowski added eight points apiece, and Kayla Kavanagh scored seven.

Southington Youth Wrestling New Milford Youth Tournament DEC 11—Five local wrestlers earned medals at the New Milford tournament as the local youth team opened its winter season. Karter Henrikson went undefeated to capture the top spot in his bantam weight class. Chase Hendricks finished third overall. Anthony Matarazzo and Caleb Brick powered the intermediate wrestlers with second place finishes in their divisions. Dylan Rodriques finished third overall.

Southington Youth Basketball Varsity Division Bulls 71, Thunder 22 DEC 7—Bulls: Jared Degumbia scored 20 points. Kyle Macri added 18 points. Aaron Douglas (10) and Miles Groom (9) contributed. Thunder: Gary Plourde Jr paced the offense with seven points. James Wallace (6), Ben Stumph (4), and Chris Hupper (3) contributed.

76ers 62, Lakers 46 DEC 7—76ers: Paul Majewicz scored 18 points. Steve Sica added 14 points, and Matt Szajer scored 13. Matt Dube (6) cntributed. Lakers: Fred Chua scored 21 points. Brian

Kaminsky added 13 points. Anthony Smith and Anthony Nauss contributed five points apiece.

O’Connor scored 13 points. Andrew Stearns (8), Chad Mehmel (4), and Ryan Fischer (4) contributed.

Celtics 48, Sonics 30

Cavaliers 57, 76ers 55

DEC 7—Celtics: Andrew Walowski scored 14 points. Drew Hudick, Dylan Slade, and Dylan Bird added eight points apiece. Sonics: Tyler Floyd scored 12 points. Shazeb Makhdoom (8) and Matt Listio (6) contributed.

DEC 21—Cavaliers: Matt O’Connor scored 12 points. Tyler Nichols and Andrew Stearns added 10 points apiece. Amad Badr (8) and Matt Daigle (5) contributed. 76ers: Paul Majewicz scored 20 points. Matt Dube added 12, and Steve Damboise scored 11. Matt Szajer (9) contributed.

Cavaliers 52, Wizards 29 DEC 7—Cavaliers: Matt O’Connor scored 10 points. Tyler Nichols (9), Chad Mehmel (8), and Justin Robarge (8) contributed. Wizards: Dan Carbone scored 17 points. Mike Raczynski, Dan Fappiano, and Matt Gerrish contributed four points apiece.

76ers 69, Thunder 41 DEC 19—76ers: Paul Majewicz scored 34 points. Matt Dube added 17. Steve Damboise (8) and Kyle Summa (6) contributed. Thunder: Joe Rwera scored 14 points, and Nick Calabrese added 13. James Wallace (8) contributed.

Bulls 58, Warriors 48 DEC 19—Bulls: Aaron Doublas scored 32 points. Mike Zerbe, Louis Mattochio, and Robert Cota contributed six points apiece. Warriors: Jake Cardinal scored 13 points. Jake Zimmerman added 11 points. Kevin Casserino (9) and Jeff Kroeber (8) contributed.

Celtics 54, Wizards 36 DEC 21—Celtics: Andrew Walowski scored 17 points. Dylan Slade added 13 points. Dylan Bird (9) and Patrick Peppin (6) contributed. Wizards: Mike Raczynski scored 20 points. Steve Cianciola added eight.

Nets 49, Lakers 31 See SCORES, page 29

Robarge: playing in college From page 21 school pitcher, and that’s a plus. I think the key for Justin will be getting that second and third pitch that he’s developed and going out there with an attitude— the confidence that he’s not going to let anybody beat him. That’s something that Sal and Joe had last year, and a lot of guys have had over the years.” Lembo said that it was no surprise that Robarge attracted division one scouts, and fans will quickly understand when he takes the mound this spring. In any other program, a pitcher like Robarge would already be a veteran on the varsity field. “The limited innings weren’t because of Justin. It was because Sal and Joe were in the rotation ahead of him,” said Lembo. “People forget that, as a

Justin Robarge junior, Joe had only seven varsity innings… I fully think that Justin’s going to have an outstanding year this year. He’s working hard for it. He’s doing all the things in the weight room and with the leadership part that usually comes when guys get to be seniors.” As for Robarge, he’s itching to show

Southington fans what college scouts already know. “There’s always something left to prove,” he said, and that’s good news as the Knights try to return to the championship game. Lembo said that Robarge will lead the way and serve as an example for the next round of seniors. “The town has produced many good ballplayers throughout the years, and hopefully we’ll continue that tradition. I think that this is great for the younger guys because they’re going to the same school, taking the same classes, and going to the same practices,” said Lembo. “If these guys have been able to do it, why not me?” To comment on this story or to contact sports writer John Goralski, email him at jgoralski@ southingtonobserver.com.

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Wizards 47, Sonics 44 DEC 19—Wizards: Dan Carbone scored 27 points. Mike Raczynski (9), Steve Cianciola (3), and Dan Fappiano (3) contributed. Sonics: tyler Floyd scored 23 points. Matt Listio added 10 points, and Kevin Barret (6) contributed.

Celtics 54, Cavaliers 42 DEC 19—Celtics: Andrew Walowski scored 29 points, and Dylan Bird added 11 points. Dylan Slade (6) and Drew Hudick (5) contributed. Cavaliers: Matt

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Sports Calendar FUNDRAISERS BLUE KNIGHTS AT TD HOMERS—Wednesdays at TD Homer’s Sports Grill, Queen Street. Mention that you would like to support Southington Athletics. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the entire Southington High School Athletic Program.

REGISTRATION 2012 SHOPRITE NUTMEG STATE GAMES—Registration is underway for the annual Nutmeg Games, July 21-29, in New Britain. Team sports include baseball, basketball, flag football, fastpitch softball, field hockey (7 vs. 7), football, hockey, lacrosse (7 vs. 7 and 11 vs. 11), roller hockey, rugby 7s, soccer, and Wiffleball. Individual sports include archery, cycling criterium, fencing, figure skating, golf, gymnastics, jai alai, judo, shooting, squash, swimming, tennis, track & field, wrestling. Registration forms available at www.nutmegstategames.org.

www.southington.org. PRESCHOOL & YOUTH GYMNASTICS—For children ages 16 months and up in a state-of-the-art facility located at 26 Putnam Place, Plantsville. The programs are designed to enhance the child’s strength, flexibility, hand eye coordination, and social and listening skills. The YMCA also offers a competitive gymnastics program where participants compete in YMCA and USAG meets.YMCA instructors encourage and support children and serve as positive role models. Contact: Nancy Bauman, (203) 272-7688.

PARKS & REC Registration for the following classes and programs, unless otherwise noted, can be made at the Southington Parks & Recreation Department at (860) 276-6218. Checks should be payable to Town of Southington. To learn more check out the activity schedule at

ZUMBA CLASSES—Mondays & Wednesdays from Jan. 4 through March 7, 6 p.m.-7 p.m. (Session I) or 7:15 p.m.-8:15 p.m. (Session II), at Plantsville Elementary School Gymnasium, 70 Church Street. Cost is $70 per session, and pre-registration and pre-payment is required. SOUTHINGTON YOUTH BASKETBALL (LATE REGISTRATION)—Registration is still open for the Southington Youth Basketball League. The program is open to Southington boys in grades 3-12 and Southington girls in grades 3-8. A Parent/Guardian must sign the registration form. Students participating in the Town Travel Leagues MAY NOT participate in the Youth Basketball League. Participants must register first in order to be considered for the travel teams, and any player who is a member of a CIAC sanctioned team is ineligible to play. GENTLE YOGA—Tuesdays, Jan. 10-March 13, 6:30 p.m.-

SOUTHINGTON YMCA Registration for the following classes and programs, unless otherwise noted, can be made at the Southington Community YMCA Membership Services Desk at (860) 628-5597 or on-line at www.southington-cheshireymca.org. 8 WEEKS TO A BETTER YOU (OPEN TO NON-MEMBERS)— Registration is underway. Program meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from Jan. 2-Feb. 24, 10:30 a.m.11:30 a.m. This free fitness program is offered by the Southington Community YMCA through collaboration with the Southington Health Department. Participants must be Southington residents aged 18 years and older. This program is open to non-YMCA members. Participants will be guided through a fitness consultation and equipment orientation by certified staff and progress will be charted. Women have the option of using the Women’s Health and Wellness Center for this program. Babysitting service is available for a fee. Enrollment is limited to one session per participant and must be made in person at the membership services desk.

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7:45 p.m., at Strong Elementary School’s gym. Cost is $50. Preregistration and payment is required, and class size is limited. NIA FITNESS CLASSES— Thursdays, Feb. 2-March 29, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., at the Strong Elementary School gym. Nia classes are taken barefoot to soul-stirring music using movements from the martial arts, dance arts and healing arts. Cost is $60. Class size is limited. Pre-registration and payment is required. ADULT FITNESS CLASSES— Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 16-June 5, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., in the Kennedy Middle School gym. The program will consist of low/high aerobics and strength training with free weights. Cost is $50, and this program is open to Southington residents only. Registration is ongoing. OPEN GYM—Sundays through March 18, 9 a.m.-noon, at Derynoski Elementary School gym. Open to Southington residents over 18 years of age.

There is no pre-registration necessary, but proof of residency is required. Cost is $5 per session collected at the door. The gym will be closed on holidays and in the event of inclement weather.

PARKS & REC TRIPS Registration for the following classes and programs, unless otherwise noted, can be made at the Southington Parks & Recreation Department at (860) 276-6218. Checks should be payable to Town of Southington. To learn more check out the activity schedule at www.southington.org. UCONN MENS BASKETBALL (OVERNIGHT)—Saturday, Feb. 11-Sunday, Feb. 12 for UConn game against Syracuse on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. Cost is $296 single, $235 double, $225 triple/quad, $165 child w/two adults and includes 1-night Embassy Suites, tickets to the game, full American breakfast buffet. A tour director will accompany the trip. RED SOX VS. YANKEES—

Sunday, April 22 at Fenway Park. Cost is $145 per person and includes round-trip motor coach transportation, tickets (boxes 94 and 95). A tour director will accompany the trip.

MISCELLANEOUS SHS INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY & SENIOR GOLD CARD PASSES—Available at the SHS Athletic office, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Family passes cost $100 and includes immediate family members for boys/girls volleyball, football, boys/girls basketball, wrestling, and night baseball. Individual passes cost $40 ($30 for students). Senior gold cards are free for Southington residents ages 62 and over and are good for all regular season home games. Those who already have gold cards do not need new ones. Contact: SHS Athletic Office, (860) 628-3229 x 425. If you would like to your event announced in The Observer, please e-mail information to [email protected]. The Observer reserves the right to edit for content and space.

Sports Briefs contributed.

From page 28 DEC 21—Nets: Andrew Goralski scored 10 points. Nate Gliecher and Brett Suse added eight points apiece. Adam Costanzo (6) contributed. Lakers: Anthony Smith scored 15 points. Anthony Nauss and Brian Kaminsky added eight points apiece.

Warriors 41, Knicks 32 DEC 21—Warriors: Jeff Kroeber scored 14, and Kevin Casserino added 12. Jake Zimmerman (7) and Ryan Knight (4) contributed. Knicks: Tim Langeland scored 10 points. Nick Sciota (9), Austin Cormier (6), Andrew Vitravage (3), and Brendan Donahue (3)

Standings Team Celtics Bulls Nets 76ers Cavaliers Warriors Wizards Knicks Lakers Thunder Sonics

W 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 2

GB -0.5 1 1 1 1.5 2 2 2.5 2.5 2.5

Parks & Rec Men’s Basketball

ing champs. Mike Kliggerman added 10 poitns. M&P (0-1): Cesar Garcia scored 18 points. Mike Nappi added 12.

UBSA/Bill’s Auto 46, Spartan II 28

The Fireplace 61, The Generals 29

DEC 15—UBSA (1-0): Steve Wright and Tyler Chamberlain scored 10 points apiece in the win. Spartan II (0-1): Luke Mauro and Josh Angelillo scored 10 points apiece in the loss.

DEC 15—Fireplace (10): Jeff Kelly scored 17 points. Ryan Kelly added 15 points, and Mark Pooler scored 10. Generals (0-1): Allan Jagos scored 15 points in the loss.

SPD 50, Brennan Pool 34 (1-0):

DEC 15—Thomson (10): Todd Martin scored 25 points to pace the defend-

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Domenic & Vinnies 45, Stanley St Auto 35 DEC 15—D&V (1-0): Brian Solomon scored 12 points, and Tom Horanzy added 10 points. Stanley (0-1): Jim Vesci scored 12 points, and Mark Rocha added 10 points.

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Gary Everhardt scored 25 points. Phil Lamb added 10 points. Brennan (0-1): Josh Ruis and Joe Griglun paced the offense in the loss.

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30

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Scoreboard Southington High School

Alex Lopez, PHS, 2-1. 152—Mark Jaffer, SHS, dec. Yosef Saez, PHS, 7-5. 160—Christian Naismith, PHS, major dec. Don Rinaldi, SHS, 12-3. 170—Brandon Lariviere, SHS, dec. Jacob Skalski, PHS, 7-3. 182—Zach Maxwell, SHS, dec. Mike Carraro, PHS, 7-2. 195—Austin Sullivan, SHS, by forfeit. 220—Connor Morrell, SHS, pin John Melendez, PHS, 6:45 (OT). Records—SHS, 3-0. PHS, 2-1.

Boys Basketball Newington 67, Southington 61 Monday, Dec. 19 At Newington Southington 11 13 17 20 — 61 Newington 13 09 16 29 — 67 Southington (61)—Corbin Garry, 0-0-0; Pat Freer, 0-0-0; Ted Shaw, 5-6-17; Shane Cooper, 5-014; Alex Borofsky, 6-8-23; Jordan Gray, 0-0-0; Sean Hammell, 0-0-0; Chris Sherwill, 0-3-3; Steve Mierzejewski, 0-0-0; Billy Queen, 12-4; Alex Queen, 0-0-0. Totals: 1719-61. Newington (67)—Peter Feeney, 2-0-6; Jorge Premto, 6-7-19; Zach Morris, 2-0-6; Michael Koss, 00-0; Tim Blair, 7-2-21; Matt Dean, 36-12; Bryant Morander, 1-1-3. Totals: 21-16-67. Three point field goals—SHS (8): Shaw, Cooper (4), Borofsky (3). NHS (9): Feeney (2), Morris (2), Blair (5). Records—SHS, 1-2 (0-1). NHS, 2-1 (1-0).

Ice Hockey Hall-Southington 3, East Catholic 3 (OT)

SUBMITTED

Windsor 107, Southington 49 Thursday, Dec. 22 At Windsor Southington 07 16 16 10 — 49 Windsor 26 30 31 20 — 107 Southington (49)—Alex Queen, 0-0-0; Joe Freer, 0-0-0; Corbin Garry, 0-0-0; Pat Freer, 0-2-2; Ted Shaw, 5-0-10; Shane Cooper, 31-8; Alex Borofsky, 4-5-14; Jordan Gray, 1-0-2; Sean Hammell, 1-1-3; Chris Sherwill, 1-2-4; Steve Mierzejewski, 1-0-2; Billy Queen, 12-4. Totals: 17-13-49. Windsor (107)—Jared Frame, 4-0-8; Gary Allen, 4-0-9; Michael Joseph, 3-1-8; Andrew Hurd, 4-2-11; Jerry Buchanon, 8-1-20; Ryheime Moore, 2-0-4; Vayon Hokim, 4-2-10; Tynique Woods-Colver, 1-0-2; Tyler Rowe, 0-0-0; Theodore Lee, 2-2-6; Chaunce Dunbar, 1-0-2; Jaquan Harrison, 5-0-10; Marquis Caudill, 32-8; Brendan Gale, 4-1-9. Totals: 4511-107. Three point field goals—SHS (2): Cooper, Borofsky. WHS (6): Allen, Joseph, Hurd, Buchanon (3). Records—SHS, 1-3. WHS, 4-0.

Girls Basketball Newington 41, Southington 33 Monday, Dec. 19 At Newington Southington 08 12 05 08 — 33 Newington 09 08 14 10 — 41 Southington (33)—Maeghan Chapman, 0-0-0; Megan McLaughlin, 6-0-15; Taylor Waters, 00-0; Jenna Pesce, 0-0-0; Chrissy Swol, 0-0-0; Kaitlin Paterson, 0-2-2; Rachel Mongillo, 0-0-0; Stephanie O’Keefe, 2-1-5; Emily Durocher, 0-0-

Less than a minute to win it Ryan DuPuis twists his opponent into the mat in a 145-pound bout during a 44-18 victory over Conard on Wednesday, Dec. 21. DuPuis pinned his opponent in just 59 seconds. 0; Danielle Charamut, 4-3-11; Sarah Mongillo, 0-0-0. Totals: 12-6-33. Newington (41)—Eileen Hogan, 0-0-0; Carolyn Wawrzynowski, 0-0-0; Jasmin Gallup, 0-0-0; Stephanie Kowalski, 00-0; Michelle Cabral, 0-0-0; Stasha Greenalch, 1-2-4; Jalen Middlebrooks, 2-1-6; Juliana Houldcroft, 2-2-7; Kelly Tinkham, 0-00; Kayla Guest, 7-4-18; Alexandra Marques, 2-2-6. Totals: 14-11-41. Three point field goals—SHS (3): McLaughlin (3). NHS (2): Middlebrooks, Houldcroft. Records—SHS, 3-2 (1-1). NHS, 3-1 (2-0).

Windsor 44, Southington 43 Thursday, Dec. 22 At Southington Windsor 11 12 06 15 — 44 Southington 15 06 11 11 — 43 Windsor (44)—Molly Curry, 11-3; Keniece Walker, 1-0-2; Sydnee Over, 2-0-4; Amber Flagg, 2-4-9; Amanda Lopez, 4-3-11; Adriana Aguilar, 1-0-3; Nyah Charles, 2-1-5; Marissa Rosner, 1-0-2. Totals: 16-1044. Southington (43)—Maeghan Chapman, 2-2-6; Megan McLaughlin, 2-0-6; Taylor Waters, 00-0; Jenna Pesce, 0-0-0; Chrissy Swol, 1-0-2; Rachel Mongillo, 0-0-0; Stephanie O’Keefe, 6-2-15; Emily

Durocher, 0-1-1; Danielle Charamut, 4-5-13. Totals: 15-10-43. Three point field goals— WHS (2): Flagg, Aguilar. SHS (3): McLaughlin (2), O’Keefe. Records—SHS, 3-3. WHS, 5-1.

Wrestling Southington 44, Conard 18 Tuesday, Dec. 20 At West Hartford 152—Johnny Bello, CHS, dec. Mark Jaffer, SHS, 9-2. 160—Lucas Muntz, CHS, pin Don Rinaldi, SHS, 1:42. 170—Brandon Lariviere, SHS, dec. Alex Jojin, CHS, 5-1. 182— Ricky Cotton, CHS, dec. Zach Maxwell, SHS, 3-2 (3OT). 195— Warren Olkly, CHS, dec. Austin Sullivan, SHS, 7-2. 220—Mike Fischer, CHS, dec. Connor Morrell, SHS, 5-3. 285—Travis Daly, SHS, pin Dominic Spalding, CHS, 2:36. 106— Tyler Mirando, SHS, major dec. Eddie Bello, CHS, 9-0. 113—Alex Richardson, SHS, pin Randy Begin,

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CHS, 0:34. 120—Zach Bylykbashi, SHS, dec. Sam Mendal, CHS, 7-4. 126—Nate Solomon, SHS, pin Jared Graveley, CHS, 1:41. 132—Noah Sheffy, SHS, pin Griffin Haggerty, CHS, 1:28. 138—Tom Gallagher, SHS, major dec. Patrick Manders, CHS, 15-5. 145—Ryan DuPuis, SHS, pin Grant Arnold, CHS, 0:59. Records—SHS, 2-0 (1-0). CHS, 0-2 (0-1).

Southington 46, Platt 16 Friday, Dec. 23 At Meriden 285—Jesse Wolfe, PHS, dec. Travis Daly, SHS, 6-2. 106—Tyler Mirando, SHS, pin Chris Oyala, PHS, 1:29. 113—Zach Bylykbashi, SHS, major dec. Alex Tixi, PHS, 14-0. 120—Nate Hunter, PHS, dec. Alex Richardson, SHS, 11-6. 126—Chris Jackowicz, PHS, pin Gino Camputaro, SHS, 3:01. 132—Nate Solomon, SHS, pin Brandon Delavalle, PHS, 3:45. 138—Noah Sheffy, SHS, pin Jesus Toro, PHS, 2:56. 145—Ryan DuPuis, SHS, dec.

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Friday, Dec. 23 At Champions Skating Ctr, Cromwell Hall-Southington 1 0 2/0 — 3 East Catholic 0 0 3/0 — 3 First period—1, Lee Munson, EC, 8:40; 2, Daniel Lemieux (Munson), EC, 4:24. Second period—no scoring. Third period—3, Sean Burke (Brian O’Connell), EC, 13:18; 4, Owen Kantor (Trey Lerner, Justin Rose), H-S, 12:47; 5, Sam Sloan (Chris Anderson, Kevin Cop), H-S, 11:51; 6, Anderson (Sloan, Rose), HS, 0:43. Overtime—no scoring. Penalties—H-S, 4 (8:00). EC, 4 (8:00). Shots—H-S, 24. EC, 36. Saves—John Gradante, H-S, 33. Thomas Usseglio, EC, 21 Records—H-S, 1-1-1. EC, 11-1.

Boys Swimming Southington 93, Windsor 72 Friday, Dec. 23 At Southington YMCA 200 med relay—1, SHS (Jesse Cooney, Matt Duszak, Vladislav Kiveliyk, Joe Taglia), 1:48.7; 2, WHS; 3, WHS. 200 free— 1, Mike Smigelski, SHS, 1:53.81; 2, Jeremy Jacobellis, WHS; 3, Susie Marcoux, SHS; 4, Eddie Klein, SHS; 5, Brian Miele, WHS. 200 IM—1, Cooney, SHS, 2:14.32; 2, Adie, SHS; 3, Alex Cheney, WHS; 4, Duszak, SHS; 5, Aaron Gudrian, WHS. 50 free—1, Dylan Figueiredo, SHS, 25.72; 2, Taglia, SHS; 3, Andrew St. Amand, WHS; 4, Damian Chuchro, SHS; 5, Liam O’Donnell, WHS. 100 fly—1, Kiveliyk, SHS, 59.43; 2, Cheney, WHS; 3, Adam Sokolowski, SHS; 4, Alex Loura, WHS; 5, Jason Hasko, SHS. 100 free—1, Smigelski, SHS, 50.79; 2, Mack Golos, SHS; 3, Jason Bratter, WHS; 4, Jake Clark, WHS; 5, Chuchro, SHS. 500 free—1, Kiveliyk, SHS, 5:45.65; 2, Gudrian, WHS; 3, Brian Miele, WHS; 4, Klein, SHS; 5, Peter Masters, SHS. 200 free relay—1, SHS (Smigelski, Figueiredo, Adie, Taglia), 1:40.05; 2, WHS; 3, SHS (Sokolowski, Kevin

Corcoran, Golos, Chuchro). 100 back—1, Cooney, SHS, 1:03.5; 2, Figueiredo, SHS; 3, Stefan Keilich, WHS; 4, Jacobellis, WHS; 5, O’Donnell, WHS. 100 breast—exhibition. 400 free relay—exhibition. Record—SHS, 1-0.

Lincoln College New England Mens Basketball Post University 102, Lincoln College 82 Thursday, Dec. 15 At Waterbury Lincoln College NE 44 38 — 82 Post University JV 42 60 — 102 Lincoln College (82)—Marcus Marshall, 10-5-25; Ché McCoy, 2-04; Gregory Daniels, 3-0-6; Kevin Smith, 9-8-26; Conrad Booker, 1-0-3; Matthew Correa, 1-0-2; Quashon Moore, 0-0-0; Sean Douglas, 1-1-3; Eric Riley, 1-2-4; Issac Delgado, 1-02; Emanuel Barbosa, 0-1-1; Devour Strother, 2-0-6; Kerray Evans, 0-0-0; Salar Khan, 0-0-0. Totals: 31-17-82.. Post University (102)—Lee Knight, 0-0-0; Roscoe Whyche, 1-13; Shawn Seqedi, 0-0-0; Naquan Ellerbe, 4-1-12; Rob Lopez, 4-7-15; Derek Ward, 0-0-0; Alvin Lee, 0-0-0; Joey Wilcox, 9-4-23; Anthony Delgado, 2-0-6; Mark Marshall, 2-48; George Rodriguez, 3-7-13; Rashaun Reid, 4-0-8; Justin Bigs, 44-14; Dan Smith, 0-0-0. Totals: 3328-102. Three point field goals— Lincoln (3): Booker, Strother (2). Post (8): Ellerbe (3), Wilcox, Delgado (2), Bigs (2). Records—LCNE, 5-5.

Mass Bay 98, Lincoln College 71 Saturday, Dec. 17 At Wellesley Hills, MA Lincoln College NE 31 40 — 71 Mass Bay CC 40 58 — 98 Lincoln College (71)—Marcus Marshall, 9-4-23; Gregory Daniels, 01-1; Kevin Smith, 9-2-20; Conrad Booker, 4-2-10; Quashon Moore, 13-5; Sean Douglas, 2-2-6; Eric Riley, 1-2-4; Devour Strother, 1-0-2. Totals: 26-16-71. Mass Bay (98)—JR Orne, 0-00: Nicholas Smith, 5-1-14; Derrick Foster, 0-0-0; Tyler Pettus, 4-0-11; Nate Nunez, 2-0-6; Jordan Rezendes, 8-4-24; Boris Fodouop, 22-6; Jeremy Odena, 6-5-18; Walter Tullis, 2-0-4; Rahshjeem Benson, 42-10; Mitchell Jean-Louis, 0-2-2. Totals: 33-19-98. Three point field goals— Lincoln (1): Marshall. Mass Bay (13): Smith (3), Pettus (3), Nunez (2), Rezendes (4), Odena. Records—LCNE, 5-6. MBCC, 9-5.

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