A history of UConn basketball to be held March 5 at the Bristol Public Library
Award-winning sportswriter and author Marty Gitlin will host a “A History of Husky Hoops: Legacy of Greatness,” covering the beginnings of the University of Connecticut men’s and women’s basketball programs from the 1940s to the present on Tuesday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bristol Public Library.
Gitlin will present the moments these incredible teams turned dreams into national championships, as well as those whose seasons ended in disappointment, the announcement states.
The best of the best will be featured here, including legendary coaches Jim Calhoun and Geno Auriemma and superstars such as Art Quimby, Walt Dropo, Diana Taurasi, Rebecca Lobo, Richard Hamilton, Sue Bird, Ray Allen, Kemba Walker, Emeka Okafor and Maya Moore.
The presentation will also feature fun trivia questions for patrons to ponder and answer, as well as a Q&A session.
American Legion Post 2 to host Iwo Jima/World War II Veteran Reunion
The Iwo Jima/World War II Veteran Reunion will be held at the Bristol Public Library Sunday, March 10, at 2 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m.. The event is open to the public.
Presentations and displays include those by the Bristol Memorial Military Museum, World War II Legacy Foundation, Inc.’s Aaron Elison and guest speaker artist Don Scott, who is working on portraits of WW II veterans.
The event is hosted by the American Legion Post 2 and sponsored by the Bristol Public Library.
BBGC fundraiser, ‘Bowling Pins, Pizza & Prizes,’ this Sunday at Spare Time
The annual “Bowling Pins, Pizza & Prizes” fundraiser benefitting Imagine Nation and sponsored by the Bristol Boys and Girls Club will be held Sunday, Feb. 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Spare Time Entertainment on Farmington Avenue. Sponsorships are available. For information, contact Doreen Stickney at (860)314-1400 ext. 160 or via email at doreen.stickney@imaginenation.org.
Bristol Veterans Council fundraising for POW/MIA monument
The Bristol Veterans Council continues to raise funds for a POW/MIA monument to be installed on Memorial Boulevard. The six-foot high, 10-inch thick and three-feet wide gray granite monument will honor each branch of the military. The goal for the installation is Memorial Day 2024.
Donations may be sent to Bristol Veterans Council, Inc., P.O.W./ M.I.A. Fundraiser, c/o Stanley J. Piotrowski–Treasurer, P.O. Box 2634, Bristol, CT 06011-2634.
Local NAACP program celebrates local activists during Black History Month
A Black History Month program, “Honoring Local Activists of Our Time: Come Let’s Celebrate Some of Our Own,” will be held Saturday, Feb. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Carousel Museum.
Among those being honored are Pastor Daniel R. Collins, Anthony Floyd, Johnie M. Floyd, Barbara Hudson, Jay Maia, Laura S. Minor, Frank Robinson, Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, Dayna Snell, Pastor Eddie C. Whitehead, Sr., and Gale Williams.
The program is being sponsored by the Greater Bristol Branch of the NAACP. Tickets are, for adults, $40; for children 10 and under, $20. Tickets are available until Feb. 18, by contacting Lexie Mangum, (860) 202-9965 or Tim Camerl, (860) 977-5722
State officials warn against potential government imposter scam
Connecticut businesses have been the target of an ongoing potential government imposter scam, according to a release from Attorney General William Tong, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, Commissioner of Banking Jorge Perez, and Commissioner of Consumer Protection Bryan T. Cafferelli.
In this scheme, a company called CT UCC Statement Service, attempts to get businesses to pay $90 for a copy of a Uniform Commercial Code report. While the solicitation is designed to look like a government notice, this company has no affiliation with the State of Connecticut. In fact, UCC reports may be accessed for free via the Secretary of the State’s website at business.ct.gov.
While the company notes in small print that they are “not affiliated with any state or government agency” and that businesses are not required to use their services, such a disclaimer may not be sufficient.
To report a scam or instance of fraud to the Office of the Attorney General, please file a complaint online here: https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint.
Lamont announces new one-stop-shop portal for jobseekers
The launch of Connecticut’s new jobs portal, jobs.ct.gov was announced by Gov. Ned Lamont last week, in a release from the governor’s office. The portal is aimed at assisting Connecticut residents and those seeking to move to the state in the process of finding a job.
It represents the latest development in the Lamont administration’s ongoing journey toward an all-digital state government, according to the release.
Jobs.ct.gov joins health.ct.gov and business.ct.gov as the next service category to be developed in the new digital, one-stop government ecosystem. Some of the resources available through the jobs portal include:
- Powerful job search tools;
- Job search tips and personal help;
- Free and low-cost training, certificate, and classroom programs; and
- Resources to help employers hire, train, and retain employees.
All of the resources are Connecticut-specific and focus on connecting jobseekers with the variety of employment and workforce development opportunities offered in the state.
Yard waste barrels available from Public Works
Public Works is accepting applications for yard waste barrels for the 2024 yard-waste season.
New and renewal application for yard waste barrel applications for the 2024-yard waste season are now being accepted by Public Works.
New customers are ones who do not currently have a yard-waste barrel on site, and are required to pay a $90 yard-waste fee, plus a $50 barrel deposit fee per barrel.
Renewal customers are ones who already have a yard-waste barrel on site, even if from a previous owner, and are required to pay the $90 service fee.
The 2024 season will begin Monday, April 1, and will run through Friday, Dec. 6. The online form that must be filled out with all forms of payment may be obtained here: https://bristolct.seamlessdocs.com/f/yardwaste2024.
Acceptable yard waste consists of grass clippings, leaves, woodchips, and small twigs no thicker than 1 inch and no longer than 12 inches. All yard waste must be placed in the provided yard waste container in such a manner that the material will freely exit the container when it is inverted.
For more information on the city’s yard waste program, click here: https://ct-bristol2.civicplus.com/240/Yard-Waste.
Taste of Bristol tickets on sale
Taste of Bristol tickets are now available for sale for the 2024 promotion, it was announced by the West End Association.
Last year’s sales broke a record, according to president Jesse Jablon. The proceeds support the activities of the West End Association, both in its mission to promote and maintain its neighborhood as well funding the annual Rockwell Park Festival.
Purchasers of the tickets, which are $5, get 20 percent off at 42 local restaurants during the months of March and April 2024.
Each ticket includes an entry in a drawing for over $500 in restaurant gift certificates (prizes range from $10 to $25 per winner). The drawing, to be held on or about April 30, will be drawn from all tickets received by April 20.
Winners need not be present and will be notified.
Please see www.westendbristol.org for details and ticket selling locations. Tickets are available through West End Association members and several locations around the city. You can also contact WestEndBristol@gmail.com to get tickets.
Connecticut Energy Assistance Program accepting applications
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is accepting applications through May 31. CEAP helps Connecticut residents afford to heat their homes. Applications for CEAP typically take 30-45 minutes. Basic benefits towards heating bills range between $180 and $530. Benefits are usually paid directly to the utility company or fuel supplier. Households that heat with deliverable fuels like oil or propane may be eligible for additional free tank fills.
Connecticut residents that meet the following may be eligible: already receive food stamps (SNAP), SSI, TANF or other benefits from the Department of Social Services and have an annual household income falls at or below 60 percent of the state’s median income.
In Bristol, CEAP applications are available at HRA, 55 South St., (860) 356-2000. Email: energyapp@hranbct.org.
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.