TBE’s Carter to present talk on 1918 influenza pandemic at historical society’s ‘Third Thursday’ program this evening
The Bristol Edition’s Rit Carter will be present a program on the 1918 influenza pandemic this Thursday evening at the Bristol Historical Society. The talk is based on a four-part series published in the spring of 2020 at COVID-19 was breaking out across the nation and globe. (For the first article, click here; the second, here; the third, here; and the fourth, here.)
Since then, Carter has continued to update his material. The presentation and bring to life some of the everyday people and their families affected directly by 1918 pandemic as well as how the people of Bristol rose to meet the challenge.
The latest in the historical society’s Third Thursday series, “Bristol and the 1918 Influenza” program begins at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) on April 20. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members.
Bristol Trail Study audit set for Thursday, beginning from Brackett Park
A community walk that includes information gathering as part of the Bristol Trail Study will be held on Thursday, April 20, beginning at 4 p.m. from Brackett Park. The walk will cover West and Main streets and is sponsored by The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG).
The Trail Study, done in collaboration with the City of Bristol, considers routing options that provide a safe, continuous connection between Rockwell Park in the west to downtown, continuing east to Route 229.
A public meeting was held on Wednesday March 8, to gather feedback and answer questions from the public about the study and the proposed trail alignment under consideration.
Residents can still provide feedback through a community survey developed by NVCOG and the City. To access the survey, type bit.ly/BristolTrailSurvey into the web browser on your computer or smartphone.
If you have any questions, please contact Elliot Wareham, Transportation Planner, at Ewareham@nvcogct.gov or 203-489-0514.
Annual American Legion Kids Walk to be held Saturday at Rockwell Park
The annual kids walk sponsored the American Legion Post 2 will be held Saturday, April 22, at Rockwell Park. All are welcome.
Bob Coffee, event organizer, will lead the walk. Donations will benefit the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Registration is from 8:15 to 9 a.m. at the stone structure off Jacob Street. The walk begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m.
Bristol Park System and Environmental Learning Centers partner with the city to celebrate Earth Day with third annual Community Clean-Day
Ther the third annual Community Clean Up Day will be held Saturday, April 22, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. The event is ideal for civic organizations, Scout Troops, or school groups interested in volunteering or who may need community service credit.
Cleanup areas will include the following:
- Riverside Avenue
- Veterans Memorial Boulevard Park
- The West End neighborhood
- along the Railroad Tracks on North Main and Main streets
- Forestville Village and along the Pequabuck River
- as well as individual neighborhoods.
Clean Up Day supplies will be available for pick up while supplies last on the day of the event from
8 to 10 a.m. at the Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth & Community Services Office at 51 High St.
Supplies will include garbage bags, event day t-shirt, instructions, locations of trash pickup
and safety guidelines.
For individuals and groups working in neighborhoods, Bristol Public Works is asking that bags of trash be placed on the curb on regular trash pick-up days.
For groups working on Riverside Avenue, the West End neighborhood and Veterans Memorial Boulevard Park, Public Works is asking to have trash bags placed by the road for pick up on Saturday afternoon and through the week of April 24.
Main Street Community Foundation seeking grant applications for The Broadview Fund through April 28
Main Street Community Foundation is accepting grant applications for The Broadview Fund, which supports projects and organizations that benefit the social needs and diverse cultures of Bristol residents.
Deadline for applications is 4 p.m. on April 28. All letters of inquiry should be submitted via email to kate@mainstreetfoundation.org.
More information about the application process can be found at www.mainstreetfoundation.org/apply-for-grant, and for more information on The Broad View Fund or the Main Street Community Foundation, call 860.583.6363 or visit www.mainstreetfoundation.org.
The Broadview Fund was established in 2016 by Bristol residents, Bob Alim, Bob Boudreau, and Kevin Prior, collectively known as BBK, to support organizations with new programs or requests that enhance, oxpand, or add a new dimension to an existing program.
Grants from The Broadview Fund have been in the $10,000-$20,000 range to a single organization over the last several years. However, the Fund’s advisors may choose to split the award between two organizations in any given year.
Clock & Watch Museum to hold watch identification event on April 29
A watch identification event will be held at the American Clock & Watch Museum on Saturday, April 29.
Micah Tasker of TheVintageWatchMan.com will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help participants learn about the history of their watches. (Please note: Museums are restricted by law, so we will not be able to provide appraisal values at this event. Depending on the number of patrons attending, evaluations may be limited to three per person.)
A fee of $10 will be charged for each watch and museum admission is included. For more information about this event, contact the museum (860-583-6070) or contact Patti Philippon, executive director at director@clockmuseum.org.
Comedian to be featured speaker at WOW event in May
Christine O’Leary, nationally known comedian, will be the guest speaker at this year’s Wonder of Women (WOW) event on May 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville.
A Connecticut resident, O’Leary has worked with the top comedians in the business, including Gilbert Gottfried, Joy Behar, Chevy Chase and Tracy Morgan. She was the first women ever to host a fundraising event for the CIA.
An annual event, WOW proceeds support grants for programs that make it possible for women and girls in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott to improve the conditions and opportunities in their lives.
Since its establishment in 2001 as a community-based endowment, the Women’s and Girls Fund, through MSCF has awarded over $718,000 in grants and immediate response funds.
Last year over $43,000 was awarded, and since the establishment of the Fund, over $718,000 has been awarded to local nonprofits.
Tickets are $65 per person and can be purchased today by sending payment via check to Main Street Community Foundation, P.O. Box 2702, Bristol, CT 06010.
For questions or additional information, contact Samantha Rajotte, Scholarship & Program Officer at Main Street Community Foundation, at 860-583-6363 or samantha@mainstreetfoundation.org.
‘Broadway on the Boulevard’ gala slated for May 6
“Broadway on the Boulevard,” celebrating the grand opening of the Rockwell Theater at the Bristol Arts and Innovation Magnet School will not only feature Bristol native and New York performer Kevin Raponey but also local talent.
The evening program will kick off at 5 p.m. with a reception in the art gallery and black box theater. Hors
d’oeuvres and mocktails will be served during an open gallery experience featuring local art as
well as live musical performances.
At 6 p.m., the theater will open and the evening’s entertainment will begin.
Tickets for “Broadway on the Boulevard” at $50. Proceeds from the event will support the Rockwell Theater fund, supporting activities and performances in Bristol.
Vietnam-era veteran’s ‘Spouse Appreciation Day’ to be held May 13 at Bristol Public Library; participants asked to register by May 6
Vietnam-era serving veterans’ “Spouse Appreciation Day” will be held May 13 at the Bristol Public Library, 5 High St. Spouses and families are asked to register by May 6 to ensure everyone is properly recognized. Email www.bristollib.com or phone (860) 584-7787 ext. 3.
A Certificate of Thanks and Appreciation from the Bristol community will be presented to spouses or immediate family members. Spouses may receive a red or white carnation, honoring their Vietnan-era veteran (living or deceased).
Spouses and/or immediate family members of Vietnam-era veterans surviving anywhere in the world between 1955 and May 1975, and who do not need to have served in a conflict, are eligible. Spouses may have been married to Vietnam-era veterans at any point in their lives during or after the 1955-1975 era.
Wheeler 38th annual golf tournament fundraiser set for Sept. 13
Wheeler’s 38th Annual Golf Classic, presented by Mutual of America Financial Group for the fifth consecutive year, will take place at The Country Club of Farmington on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Registration is open, and sponsors, players, and prize donors are welcome.
Proceeds from this event will support our planned community health center and flagship location in Bristol, which will provide convenient, whole-health services for the whole family in one convenient location.
In 2022, the Golf Classic event grossed a record-breaking $100,000 to support individuals and families in care through Wheeler’s Basic Needs Fund, bringing the total amount raised since its inception to more than $1.3 million.
For more information, visit WheelerHealth.org/Golf or contact Sue O’Connell at 860.793.4214, 860-609-1583, or soconnell@wheelerclinic.org.
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 off summer 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.
Exchange Club to hold ‘Honoring Heroes’ program in June
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 Hospital bed capacity
As of April 18, 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 2.8 percent down from 3 percent the previous week, with 7 positive cases down from 10 positive cases the previous week, leaving Bristol in the medium category with fewer than 15 cases per 100,000 people. Hartford County is in the low category again this week.
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.
All TBE readers, supporters and donors
The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.
- Non-members will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Free readers and people who have subscribed by email will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Donors and financial supporters will have unlimited access as long as they log in.
Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.