Monthly fundraiser supports American Legion Boys State program

The monthly American Legion Breakfast will be held Saturday, March 18, from 8 to 11 a.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Hall, 355 Camp St. Donation $8, all proceeds go to The American Legion Boys State Program.

Breakfast includes two eggs, bacon or sausage with melted American cheese on a hard roll or pancakes plain or chocolate chips, including coffee and a variety of juices.

Annual HIV/AIDS/HCV education forum offers training opportunity

The annual HIV Educational Forum sponsored by Bristol Mayor’s Task Force on HIV/AIDS/HCV will be held on April 26 at the Bristol Public Library at 5 High St.

This event has an overall theme of Hepatitis C infection and HIV/AIDS infection. Topics and speakers include the following:

• Dr. Daniel N. Smiley, Connecticut GI  – History of Hepatitis C Diagnosis and Treatment,
• Dr. Rebecca Eleck, Wheeler Health – Hepatitis C in the Primary Care Setting,
• Gina D’Angelo and Venesha Heron, Connecticut Department of Public Health – Connected ‘Til the End: Eliminating HCV and Ending the HIV Epidemic and
• Deanne Walsh, DNP, AAHIVS, Merck & Co., Inc. – Social Determinants of Health.

Attendance for the forum is free, having been supported by donations from Merck & Co, Inc. and a grant from the Clinton S. Roberts Foundation.

The workshop doors open for registration at 8:30 a.m. The workshop will end at 1 p.m. Breakfast and late morning refreshments will be offered. Click here to register: https://forms.gle/7WJZChRa7EvRxCUh6.

The Bristol Mayor’s Task Force on HIV/AIDS was created in 1991 and continues to have representative membership from consumers, medical, social service and treatment providers and Bristol residents. The group meets monthly and plans five educational events per year.

Continuing education credits are being applied for through the Connecticut Certification Board, the Connecticut Nurses Association and the National Association of Social Workers. For more information, contact David Ryan, Chairperson at DRyan@wheelerclinic.org or (860) 224-6315.

Wheeler offers COVID-19 boosters at five locations this month

COVID-19 booster shot clinics are being offered at Wheeler’s five Family Health & Wellness Centers on Wednesdays in March, as well as the Plainville Senior Center through Wheeler’s Mobile Family Health & Wellness Center, on March 20 and April 10. No appointment or referral is needed, and insurance cards and IDs are recommended.

The Wednesday clinics are offered on March 8, March 15, March 22 and March 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the following locations:

• ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 10 North Main St., Bristol
• ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 40 Hart St., New Britain
• ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 43 Woodland St., Hartford
• ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 91 Northwest Dr., Plainville
• ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 855 Lakewood Rd., Waterbury

Covid booster vaccine clinics also will be offered through Wheeler’s Mobile Family Health Wellness Center stationed at the Plainville Senior Center from 9:30 a.m. to noon on:

• ·       Monday, March 20, 2023, Plainville Senior Center, 200 East St., Plainville
• ·       Monday, April 10, 2023, Plainville Senior Center, 200 East St., Plainville

Boosters for children as well as adults will be provided.

Naugatuck Valley Council to hold session to discuss Bristol Trail Study

The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) will hold a public information and input meeting for the upcoming Bristol Trail Study on Wednesday, March 8, at 6 p.m. in Meeting room 2 at Bristol Public Library.

The council will be gathering information and answering questions about the study and the proposed trail. Additionally, the project team will discuss the study process and provide the community with ways to receive future updates on the study status.

The study, done in collaboration with the City of Bristol, will recommend options to provide for a connection between Rockwell Park in the west to Downtown, continuing east to Route 229.

The meeting and presentation will be accessible via zoom by entering bit.ly/Trailstudy into a web browser. Language assistance may be requested by emailing contactus@nvcogct.gov or calling Desira Blanchard at 203-489-0353 at least 2 business days prior to the meeting.

Scholarship honoring Lt. DeMonte and Sgt. Hamzy available

Graduating high school seniors at Bristol Central High School and Bristol Eastern High School who are pursuing a major in public safety and/or criminal justice may apply for the Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy Public Safety Scholarship. The deadline is March 10, and two $1,500 scholarships will be awarded, one to a student at each high school.

Applications are available at the guidance offices at the respective high schools. The scholarship is offered by the Bristol Board of Education, in collaboration with the Bristol Police Department, from a newly established fund in the name of the officers through the Main Street Community Foundation.

Exchange Club to hold ‘Honoring Heroes’ program in July

The Greater Bristol Exchange Club will be honoring the late police officers Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy, along with Officer Alec Iurato as this year’s “Police Officers of the Year” at its “Honoring Heroes” program at the Aqua Turf Grand Ball Room on June 29.

DeMonte and Hamzy were struck down in the line of duty in an Oct. 12 shooting. Iurato, who was injured in the same incident, is credited for stopping the shooter.

Proceeds from the event will go to the “Fund the First,” a fund which was set up in honor of our deceased officers, and to assist their families.

Tickets are available online at Honoring Heroes Tickets. For sponsorships, go to Sponsorships.

For information, contact Exchange Club program director, Jack Ferraro at TheBristolExchangeClub@gmail.com.

Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services
seeks Youth and Prevention Leaders Award nominations

Nominations are being sought for the City of Bristol Department of Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services’s 31st Annual Youth and Prevention Leaders Awards.

Nomination forms for both individual and youth groups are available online at www.bristolrec.com.
Submit completed applications via e-mail to Jazzya Coakley, assistant to the BPRYCS superintendent, at JazzyaCoakley@bristolct.gov by Friday, March 31 at 4:30 p.m. Award recipients will be honored at an annual ceremony held on May 10.

Direct questions to 860-314-4690. For more information, please visit www.BristolRec.com.

Bristol Hospital bed capacity

As of March 7, 61.3 percent or on average 82.1 of 134 adult staffed hospital beds, the same as the previous week, were occupied at Bristol Hospital, according to the State of Connecticut’s Data and Analytics division.

During the same week, the number of occupied staffed ICU beds remained at 64 percent or 9 of 14 from the previous reporting period.

Latest COVID-19 stats

Bristol’s COVID-19 positivity rate is 4.8 percent down from 6.4 percent the previous week, with 15 positive case the same as the previous week, leaving Bristol in the high category with over 15 cases per 100,000 people. Hartford County is in the low category this week having dropped down from the medium category.

The CDC recommends that people at high risk for severe illness, talk to their healthcare provider about whether to need to wear a mask and take other precautions. In addition, the CDC reminds people to take the following measures:

• Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
• Get tested if you have symptoms.
• If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions.

‘2023 Dinner on the Diamond’ tickets on sale

Tickets for the “Second Annual Dinner on the Diamond,” benefiting the Friends of Bristol Parks and Recreation Fund, are now on sale.

The date for the fundraiser is Saturday, May 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. The event includes dinner and entertainment directly on the infield at historic Muzzy Field. The celebration not only kicks of fsummer in style but celebrates Bristol’s local parks and recognizes community partners.

The Friends of Bristol Parks and Recreation Fund is administered through the Main Street Community Foundation. For information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Boys & Girls sets date for annual gala

The Boys & Girls Club of Bristol is hosting its second annual gala on Saturday, April 22, at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville from 5 to 10 p.m. Entitled the “Future Stars” Gala this event will highlight accomplishments BB&GC youth and future goals.

Tickets are available at www.bbgc.org/gala. Questions about sponsorships or advertising opportunities may be directed to Rayshe Ramirez, Associate Director of Resource Development, at 860-540-3150.

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