Bristol Today — The day in review

Posted By: David Fortier July 21, 2021

Arts and culture commission meets this evening

Among the items on this evening’s City Arts & Culture Commission agenda are two city beautification projects and updates on an application for the city to participate in a statewide MLK Mural program.
The first of the beautification projects involves dressing up stop signs with flowers, literally. The second involves painting city trash cans.

Examples of two projects that the City Arts & Culture Commission is considering. (Photos from city website.)

The city has applied to participate in the MLK Mural project. The project aims to create 39 murals, one for each a year of Martin Luther King, Jr. life, in 39 communities across the state.
In other business, the commission will address the carving of the tree that stands on South St. to coincide with the celebration of the 100-year anniversary of Memorial Boulevard and a community forum that will take place Aug. 4.
Among the commission’s recent contributions is funding for the Bristol Brass and Wind Ensemble concert at Rockwell Park last month and the new mural on Centre Mall featuring the Farmers Market that was unveiled last month.
The commission meets the third Wednesday of the month in the second floor staff lounge at City Hall at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is also available on line via Zoom at this link: click here.

Bristol Mum Festival to return; committee seeks volunteers, community support 



This year’s Mum Festival will have for its theme, “Honoring Heroes,” when it returns this September after a year-off during the coronavirus pandemic, the Mum Fesitival announced in a press release earlier today.
There are several changes to the 60-year-old tradition.
Due to ongoing construction and renovations at the Memorial Boulevard Arts Magnet School, this year’s Mum Festival will be moving to Downtown Bristol with a new layout utilizing lower North Main St., Hope St., Riverside Ave, Ext. and Brackett Park.
The 2021 Mum Festival will be a pared-down version of the traditional event, taking into consideration current Covid protocols. It will feature a Kids Carnival and the traditional Mum Festival parade, over two days, Sept. 24-26. 
Anyone interested in becoming Festival sponsors, vendors, volunteers or those individual or organizations interested in participating in the Mum Festival Parade, go to https://bristolmumfestival.com/ for more information. 
Additionally, the Mum Festival is seeking financial support to help offset the costs of putting on this community focused event. To donate, visit https://bristol-mum-festival.square.site/.
As always admission to the Mum Festival will be free. 
The festival is sponsored by The City of Bristol, the Bristol Exchange Club Board of Directors and the Mum Festival Committee.
For more information on the 2021 Mum Festival & Parade please visit: www.bristolmumfestival.com.

Bristol Farmers Market now an authorized SNAP/EBT farmers market

The Bristol Farmers Market is now an authorized SNAP/EBT farmers market and will begin accepting EBT payment for SNAP-eligible food on Saturday, July 24th, according to a press release from the city. 
The following Bristol Farmers Market vendors will now be able to accept EBT payment:
  • Gresczyk Farms – offering seasonal fruits and vegetables, herbs, and plants that produce food
  • Nature View Farm – offering seasonal fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy items
  • Tonn’s Orchard/Marketplace – offering seasonal fruits and vegetables
  • Twin Pines Farm – offering seasonal fruits, vegetables, jams and preserves, and cheese items
In addition to being an authorized SNAP/EBT farmers market, the City of Bristol Farmers Market is recognized by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture as accepting payment vouchers from the Women, Infants, and Children Farmers Market Nutrition Program and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. All participating farms are certified by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.
For a map, a list of vendors and to stay up to date on weekly food trucks, guest nonprofits and City departments attending,and musical entertainment, visit: bristolallheart.com/farmersmarket.

New development off Barlow St. progressing rapidly

The new subdivision where the Scalia sandpits used to be is taking shape rapidly. Laurentide Glen now has six house in various stages of construction. The site was once considered by the city for what is now West Bristol School.

Eastern Regional preps for softball tournament; in addition, local teams play tonight and Monday

In anticipation of the 2021 Eastern Regional Little League Softball Tournament, which is scheduled to being Saturday, July 24, at 10 a.m., workers are preparing fencing and tidying up the facility at Giamatti LIttle League Center on Mix St.
The tournament is slated to begin this Saturday, July 24.
Giamatti Eastern Regional Little League Center on Mix St.
In other Little League notes:
  • Bristol Little League’s Senior Division team plays Thomaston tonight at Barnes Field on Mix St. The sectional contest starts at 5:45 p.m.
  • At the Juniors level, Bristol plays Torrington for the sectional championship at Massarelli Field in Southington at 5:45 p.m. The winner pays Jewett City in the state tournament at Windsor High School on Monday, July 25.