Mid-week roundup features Duck Race tickets on sale, upcoming fishing derbies and BPRYCS hiring

Posted By: David Fortier April 17, 2024

Tickets for Forestville Village Association’s Pequabuck River Duck Race on sale

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Forestville Village Association Pequabuck River Duck Race at locations across the city.

Tickets at $5 a piece can be purchased at the following:

  • American Clock & Watch Museum
  • Bristol Historical Society
  • Carousel Museum
  • City True Value Hardware
  • Family Roots Produce
  • Greer’s Chicken
  • Marv’s Barbershop
  • Max IV Pizza & Restaurant, Middle Street
  • Max Pizza & Restaurant, Stafford Avenue
  • RX Crystal
  • SauKat
  • Simply Hair
  • South Side Meat Market
  • Tommy’s Place & Market

The race will be held Sunday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Forestville Center. Aside from the duck race, the event features a Kids Zone, Auto Show, Food Trucks and Arts & Crafts Show.

Up to 45 Duck Races prizes will be awarded from first prize of $1,000, second prize of $500 and third prize of Four Lake Compounce Season Passes to $25 gift cards for 44th and 45th prizes. In between there is a Sponsor membership at Chippanee Golf Course among other memberships from organizations across the city.

For information or to volunteer, call John Gianoni at (860)7078-5143 or visit the Facebook page by clicking here.

Summer employment opportunities with Bristol Park, Recreation, Youth and Community Services announced

The following summer employment opportunities have been announced by Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services in its monthly newsletter.

The positions include the following. Seasonal Employment Applications are available online at BristolRec.com or at the Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services (BPRYCS) Main Office at 51 High St.

  • Summer Laborer: Multiple Positions Available | $16.09/hour ($16.84 Returning); Monday – Friday | 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. | 40 Hours per week
  • Lifeguard: Multiple Positions Available | $16.34/hour ($17.34 Returning) | Flexible Schedule | 3 – 40 Hours per week
  • Water Safety Instructor: Multiple Positions Available | $18.09/hour ($19.34 Returning) | Flexible Schedule | 3 – 40 Hours per week
  • Assistant Teen Camp Director: One Position Available | June – August| $19.34/hour; Monday – Thursday | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | 35 – 40 Hours per week
  • Recreation Intern: One Position Available | May – August | $16.09/hour; Monday – Friday | 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | 37.5 Hours per week
  • Sound Technician / Sound Board Operator: Multiple Positions Available | $23.59/hour | June – August | Tuesdays/ Wednesdays | 3 – 9 p.m.

Immediately, Ropes Course Facilitator(s) at Pine Lake Adventure Park are also being sought. Successful candidates will be responsible for leading diverse and dynamic groups of participants through team building and challenge course activities, under the supervision and guidance of the Lead Facilitator and Recreation Supervisor. Learn More/Apply here.

Bristol Parks and Rec opens registration online for summer programs mid-April, announces more programs

Summer program and event information is now available at BristolRec.com, Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services announced Tuesday. Registration opened Tuesday, April 16, to residents and opens today, Wednesday, April 17, to non-residents. This year registration begins at 12 noon.

In addition, Bristol Parks announced these programs:

Dinner on the Diamond Fundraiser Saturday, May 11, 5 – 8 p.m.| Muzzy Field Dinner on the Diamond kicks off the summer season with live music, dinner and celebration on the infield of Muzzy Field! Tickets include hors d’oeuvres, a plated dinner, entertainment, beer and wine, and more! Purchase Tickets or Learn More Be a Sponsor!

Self Defense Ages 12+ Sundays, 1 – 2 p.m. May 5 – 26 Bristol Arts & Innovation Magnet School (BAIMS) Self Defense will teach protective tips to avoid confrontations, as well as self-defense techniques when conflict cannot be avoided. This class is instructed by Sensei Frank Shekosky, owner of Cromwell Martial Arts. No experience is necessary. Learn More  

The 73rd Annual Perry J. Spinelli Fishing Derby will be held Saturday, April 27, from 7 to 10 a.m. at Park Page Pond.

Children ages 13 years or younger (of all skill levels) are invited to bring their fishing poles to Page Park Pond for a morning of great catches, fun prizes, and memories to last a lifetime, the Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services says in the release announcing the annual event.

“We are looking forward to another great fishing derby and watching the community come together for a fun morning. We’ll be crossing our fingers for nice weather,” said recreation supervisor Amry Shelby in the release.

Registration is free and will take place between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. at the pond with the first cast at 7 a.m. The fishing derby is held rain or shine.

Each participant may use one (1) fishing pole, one (1) hook, and one (1) bobber to catch their fish. Participants may lure their catches in with any legal bait, but artificial lures and gang hooks are not allowed. Parents or guardians may assist in casting, but children must land their own fish. Prizes will be awarded for a variety of categories.

For more information, including a full set of rules, visit www.bristolrec.com or email Madison Fostervold, recreation program assistant, at madisonfostervold@bristolct.gov.

Among this year’s sponsors are Bristol Police Union, City True Value, Oakland LLC, Bristol Fish & Game, Fire Fighters Local 773 Union, Local 233 Union, and the BPSA Union. Sponsors provide funding for prizes as well as fish to stock the pond.

American Legion Post 209 to hold fishing derby April 28 at Rockwell Park

The Post 209 9th Annual Youth Fishing Derby will be held Saturday, April 28, from 8 to 11 a.m. at Rockwell Park. Registration is 6:30 to 8 a.m. Trophies and prizes will be awarded. Age limit is 16 and under, and two trout per participant. Worms and meal worms are provided by Tal’s Tackle, free of charge. Steve’s Top Dogs Food Truck is available for breakfast.

The Forestville Village Memorial Day Parade, sponsored by Post 209, will be held Sunday, May 26, at 2 p.m. with a rain date of Monday, May 27, at 2 p.m. Post 2 is reaching out to any groups interested in being part of the parade. Contact Brian Avery, parade chairperson and Commander of the American Legion Post 209, via email at americanlegionpost209ct@gmail.com.

Spring leaf collection continues until the end of April

Outside spring lead collection is held through the month of April, when the weather allows, according to an announcement from Public Works.

Residents are asked to bring leaf bags curbside as soon as they are filled and leave them curbside until collected. Leaf bag collection is available to all city residences eligible for curbside rubbish and recycling services.

Public Works advises that leaves are only collected in brown, recyclable, paper leaf bags that are available at most home and garden stores. There is no maximum limit to leaf bag collection at a residence.

Leaf bags containing dirt, sand, rocks, sod, or materials other than leaves will not be collected. Leaf bags must be placed curbside and not within the residence’s property for proper collection. Loose leaf piles will not be collected.

Leaves, grass, and twigs may also be taken by residents to the City of Bristol Solid Waste Transfer Station. At the Transfer Station, leaves, grass, and twigs in bags (other than paper yard waste bags) must be emptied out. A Transfer Station Permit is required to access the Transfer Station.

In addition, to leaf collection, residents are encouraged to clear leaves and other debris from the tops of catch basins abutting their property to help prevent localized flooding conditions. 

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.

Veterans Strong Community Center and Bristol Veterans Council announce the 13th Annual Salute Dinner in May

The 13th Annual Salute Dinner hosted by the Veterans Strong Community Center and Bristol Veterans Council will be held this May.

The Salute dinner is a time-honored tradition within the Bristol Community, and the Veterans Strong Community Center and Bristol Veterans Council look forward to honoring those who have made a commitment to our military, according to the release announcing the event.

There are currently eight seniors being recognized. They represent Bristol, Burlington, Harwinton and Plainville.

The annual salute dinner recognizes high school seniors entering the military and/or military academies. This year’s Salute Dinner will be held on May 8, 2024, at the Bristol Elks Lodge 1010, at 126 South St. The doors will open at 5 p.m. and the program will start at 5:45 p.m. and includes dinner.

Tickets to attend are $30 per person and can be purchased online at www.vetstronginc.org/bristol-veterans-council or in person at 111 North Main St., Bristol. Tickets must be purchased by May 1, 2024, and will not be available at the door.

There will be a cash bar and 50/50 raffle.

Veterans Strong Community Center and Bristol Veterans Council, Inc are an established 501(c)3 non-profit based in Bristol, Connecticut. The mission of Veterans Strong Community Center is to improve services, assistance and communication to veterans, service members, families, and military retirees throughout the Greater Bristol area.

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 earlier in the month.

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.

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.

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