City Hall sets summer hours; after 37 years as music director, Degan retires

Posted By: Staff May 31, 2023

City Hall announces summer hours

Starting Monday, June 5, most City Hall Offices will close at 2 p.m. on Fridays. The Building Department, the Comptroller’s Office, and the Public Works Department, however, will close at 1:30 p.m. on Fridays.

The changes will be in effect until Friday, Sept. 1.

St. Joseph Church music director retires after 37 years

Jean Degan, director of the music ministry at St. Joseph Church, was feted at a retirement party Saturday, May 27, in the church’s Guild Hall.

Degan, who began in her position in 1986, introduced several innovative programs, including bell ringing.

Jean Degan, left, holds her granddaughter, Amelia, while her daughter Theresa looks on during a retirement party at St. Joseph Church celebrating her 37 years leading the parish’s music ministry. | David Fortier

She has worked with several pastors during her career, beginning with Father Thomas Shepard and continuing with Fathers James Leary and Joseph DiSciacca among others up through this year with the current pastor, Father Ivan Ramirez.

Degan can count among her proteges several music teachers now working the Bristol School System, one of whom is her daughter, Theresa.

Exchange Club program ‘Honoring Heroes’ planned 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.

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.

Bristol Hospital bed capacity

As of May 30, 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.

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