Southington (CT) Rotary Goings On

Saturday night...

2011-07-20T11:58:00.004-04:00

The Rotary of Southington

Presents

“Grease”

At the

Southington Drive In

Sat. July 23^rd

^{Gates open at 6 pm}

Everyone Welcome

Serving Slushies and Sandwiches

$10 per car for Southington Residents

Remember…
”Grease is the Word!”

Drive-in fundraiser July 23...

2011-07-12T05:50:00.000-04:00

Southington drive-in to feature themed 50s shows (Record-Journal)
When the popularity of drive-in movie theaters peaked, it was a time of roaring engines, greased hair and poodle skirts, as moviegoers took their hot rods to a see a show under the stars. In an effort to revive some of the historic nostalgia, organizers of the town-operated drive-in theater have planned a themed weekend, with "American Graffiti" on July 22 and "Grease" on July 23.

Victoria Triano said she and fellow Rotarians who are hosting the "Grease" night are excited. She wouldn't say exactly what her outfit would be. "It's a time to have fun and raise a little money, which then goes to help out Southington," Triano said of the Southington Rotary Club fundraiser. "I think it's wonderful that we have this in town." - more

Thank you, see you next year!

2010-07-14T08:08:00.003-04:00

2010 William S. Thomson Golf Scramble

Play will be a scramble format with a shotgun start at 9:30am. The cost is $150 per player, which includes golf with cart, lunch, dinner, refreshments. To reserve your foursome, please contact John Kennedy or Linda Tipping in any of the following ways:
1. telephone- 860.276.8025 (Kennedy) or 860.224.5900, ext 4702 (Tipping)
2. fax- 860.276.9669 (Kennedy) or 860.224.5779 (Tipping)
3. email - John Kennedy or Linda Tipping

Installation of 2010-2011 officers.....

2010-06-09T07:53:00.003-04:00

Incoming president Brendan Goodrich presents outgoing president Vicki Triano with a plaque in appreciation of her two years as Club president.

Incoming Club president Brendan Goodrich is sworn in by District Governor Herb Toback.

Incoming president Brendan Goodrich and outgoing president Vicki Triano present a check for a $2,000 grant to Beth Pestillo, president of the Southington Education Foundation.

Chetnotes- meeting of 5/19/10...

2010-05-26T07:02:00.006-04:00

Notes of Meeting of May 19, 2010- President Victoria Triano presiding

Today's Rotary Guests:
Sandy Blumer, lifetime member George "Red" Griffin

Raffle Winner:
Dolores Fanelli

Happy Bucks:
Dolores (winning raffle), Dennis (caution buck: Dick Chaney Division of N.R.A.), George"Red" Griffin (happy to be here!),Donnnnn Reilly (Back from vacation in Wyoming & Utah with son, Ben), Linda (listened to Dave & Dave & charlie), Art Blumer( nice to be here), Sandy Blumer (also glad to visit Southington Rotary), Joanne Alfieri ($2- back from 8 days in Pompano Beach), Susan Smayda (church play raised $7,000), Brendan Goodrich($10- District Assembly, able to recreate his computer project), Chet (attended the 20^th anniversary celebration at Southington Care Center), Jim Earl (daughter graduated from high school; will attend C.C.S.U. on a softball scholarship), Ron Klein (Ruth's e-mail on getting rid of chipmunks), Art( yard is inundated with bunnies-saw a fox nearby which may take care of the problem), Harold Kane (Sox pulled one out), Gloria Brown (son left back to Minneapolis), Vickie($3-"stolen" pocketbook (her dog was playing with it)

Fines :
Vickie self-fines herself for not nominating a finer

Announcements:

-Received letter from Bread for Like requesting budgeted $ 600 donation

-Meetings of May 26^th & June 2nd will be held at Mulberry Gardens

-Relay for Life: theme "Hope shines at Rotary"- need more members to sign up for timeslots.

-Rotary Scholarship recipients are: Isabel Palumbo, Seth Crampton, Andrew Dominello, Alexandra Williams, Diana Babineau, & Michael Dolan. They have been invited to attend the meeting of June 23^rd.

- Interact will have its Installation Dinner on Thursday, May 27^th at 6 P.M. in the Atrium at S.H.S. Cafeteria. Rotarians are invited to attend.

Today's Speaker - Member Steve Giudice, Harry Cole & Son Surveying & Engineering.

Land surveying is done for both residential, commercial, & insurance customers. Reasons for surveying a property include: finding property lines to avoid disputes or for building a house, site management, & elevation certificates.
Steps in surveying:
-agreeing on cost of survey
-research at the Town Clerk's office: get copy of the assessor's map
-finding the dimensions of the property-
-send out the field crew-record information in the field book & on computer using a transit-find iron pins to identify property boundaries- make the final map.

Engineering Projects:
Site Plans: Survey-same field work as for residential customers. Make a map with layout for owner's needs. Submit to town, make revisions, present to commissioners-see site through to end of construction.

Southington Rotary Card Raffle (target card: Queen of Diamonds):

Donn Reilly picked the 9 of Hearts; the 50/50 jackpot now stands at ?

Chetnotes- meeting of 4/21/10...

2010-04-23T07:07:00.003-04:00

Notes of Meeting of April 21, 2010 (President Victoria Triano Presiding)

Today's Rotary Guests- Welcome All on Administrative Assistant's Day!
Jess Potrepka, Lorraine Coty, Marcia Fiorillo, Debbie Albatas, Meghan Belanger, Linda Stuckman, Jane Hollman, Melissa Erickson, Sharon Robinson, Karen Drouin
Raffle Winner:
Carl Sokolowski
Happy Bucks:
Carl (winning raffle), Scott (Sox finally won again), Joe E (kids in Europe finally made it home Tuesday), Art (leaving again-this time to Amsterdam, grandson went to Athens with group from Greenwich H.S.-someone chartered a jet to bring the kids home), Dave (generally happy), Trish (George says hi!), Harold (heard a rumor that Dave's becoming a Republican!), Cindy (back from New Orleans Jazz Festival), Ron (test driving a Buick-question on airbag deployment)
Fines by Brendan Goodrich:
Ron (interruption fine), Chet (delivering drugs), Harold (receiving drugs), All female table (Art pays for breaking it up), Carl, Harold, Dennis, Brendan, Dave, Steve W. (all-male table), Trish (cell phone), Volcano Fine (anyone who's traveled to Europe sine January 1st), Administrative Assistant's Day (if you brought one to the meeting, you don't work hard enough-pay a buck)
Emergency Gifts & Grants:
Janet Mellon requested that Rotary sponsor a table at the Unique Boutique fundraiser: Cost: $320.00-approved
Guest speaker:
Former Rotarian John Gissis (assisted on the powerpoint presentation by his son Michael) on the Advantages of a Roth I.R.A. over a Traditional I.R.A.

(There was no drawing of the Southington Rotary Card Raffle today; the target card is still the Queen of Diamonds)

Chetnotes- meeting of 4/14/10...

2010-04-16T08:14:00.002-04:00

Notes of Meeting of April 14, 2010- President Victoria Triano Presiding

Today's Rotary Guest:
Former Southington Rotarian George Costanzo-guest of Joe Erardi
Happy Birthday Harold Kane!
Raffle Winner:
Chet Potrepka Jr.
Happy Bucks:
Chet ($5 winning raffle, scholarship committee is meeting today to determine this year's recipients), Carol (brother, Calvanese Gala), Dennis ($2-Harold's birthday party last night, story buck), Art ($2-story buck, great to be here), George C (great to see old friends), Joe E. (7,000 of his friends are on vacation this week), Sue (just happy), Vickie (interviewed by Record-Journal on the youth services program), Harold ("I made it!")
Announcements:
· Administrative Assistant's Day is next Wednesday. Don't forget to bring you're asst. to lunch
· Thank you note received from Girls State for the donation
· ARC of Southington Respite Program application received
· Southington Care Center's 20th anniversary party is Thursday, May 13th & Rotary is invited.
· Southington Education Association is 1 year old. In June they are giving out $ 25,000.00 in grants to children. A major grant was received from an anonymous donor & used to purchase & install a digitized audeo system in the Kennedy Middle School auditorium. This system will also help to start an audeotech program at Kennedy. Rotary's donation of $ 2,500.00 from Mardi Gras will be used to purchase & install a similar system at DePaolo Middle School.
Fines by Rich Drouin: (Maximum of $2.00 assessment decreed by President Vickie)
· Rich: Self fine: No Pen, No Pin
· Not wearing a Rotary Pin? -$ 1.00 Please
· Wearing your name badge ajar: $ 1.00
· How many members are in the Rotary Club of Southington? Kate & Carol pay (39)
· If you don't have 100% attendance since January 1st: Ante up!
· If you haven't filed your income tax return yet: ditto
Business Meeting:
Secretary's Report accepted as presented; Treasurer's Report- none; Membership: every Rotarian is responsible for seeking out new members & once in the club, to get them involved; Community Service: Scrabble tournament is April 28th; Relay for Life is June 4-5th & Sue Smayda & Steve Whitaker are captains-help will be needed to decorate the tent! Fellowship: N.Y. Trip: 23 people have signed up & 40 are needed for the bus; Attendance: down last month-please try to make up missed meetings, either on-line or at a neighboring club; Golf tournament: Please work on getting golf 4-somes & Tee sponsors & turn in money as soon as possible. Major sponsors include Hospital of Central Connecticut & Thomson Financial Services. Major sponsorships are $ 2,500.00 each.; Gifts & Grants: Childrens Home in Cromwell, ARC Dinner & Golf tournament, Ct. Mental Health Association, Wheeler Clinic-committee had no recommendation.

Board of Directors & Club Committees: Brendan announced the following:
· Southington Rotary Trust- John Kennedy
· At Large: Dave Zoni, Sue Smayda
· Gifts & Grants: Ron Klein
· Fundraising: Rich Drouin
· Club Service: Cynthia Martel
· International Service: Art Blumer
· Vocational Service: Art Blumer
· Community Service: Gloria Brown
· Executive Treasurer: Dan Daigle
· Executive Secretary: Dolores Fanelli
· President: Brendan Goodrich
· President Elect: Linda Tipping
· Assistant Treasurer: Scott Garver
· Assistant Secretary: Ginny Roy
· Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Ginny Roy
· Past President: Vickie Triano
Southington Rotary Card Raffle Target Card: Queen of Diamonds; Dolores Fanelli picked the 7 of Clubs; The 50/50 jackpot now stands at ?

Chetnotes-meeting of March 24, 2010

2010-03-25T22:38:00.001-04:00

President Victoria Triano Presiding

Today's Rotary Guest: Paul Schulze, guest of Harold Kane
Raffle Winner: Jim Earl
Happy Bucks:
· Jim E.- $ 4.00- winning raffle, having a good time growing his office
· Chet: $ 2.00- sad buck-missed the Interact Art Auction, happy buck-went skiing with friends at Mount Snow & escaped with no injuries
· Gloria: very successful Art Auction (Interact made $ 1,500.00)
· Brendan: poor after the Art Auction (he bought 4 pieces of art)
· Sue: her birthday today, John's birthday Thursday, ticket for her church's musical sold out in 1 hour.
· Ginny: Sad buck- wasn't at the Art Auction as she went to Gloucester
· Jim W: wanted to go to the Art Auction but fell asleep after doing yard work
· Vickie: $ 2.00-had a great time at the Art Auction, Ruth leaves on Sunday for one month in Africa

Fines: Vickie didn't nominate a finer, so everyone pay a buck for guilty pleasures

Announcements: The big check is Here!
· Bus Trip to New York: 22 people have signed up. Need 18 more for bus deposit. Please consider going.
· Brendan did P.E.T.S. training
· Need Rotarians to consider serving on the club's Executive Board of Directors
· There's been a development on the Pavilion to be built at Recreation Park: The proposal has been submitted to the Town Budget and is in process. It will be considered at the April 5th Board of Finance meeting. Dave Zoni passed out a sheet with telephone numbers & e-mail addresses of Finance Board member. Please contact the & voice your approval of this project.
· April 21st is Administrative Assistant Day. Rotarians are encouraged to bring their Administrative assistants to lunch at Rotary that day.

Guest Speaker: State Representative Bruce "Zeke" Zalaski speaking on balancing the State's Budget
· 2009 was a tough year. $ 500Million was passed in deficit mitigation legislation.
· The State faces an $ 8 Billion deficit. The 2010-11 budget includes $ 300Million cuts in spending revenue, millionaire & cigarrette taxes. 48 state face a shortfall in 2010.
· Nationally the total budget deficit of the 50 states is $ 194 Billion, the largest deficit in U.S. History.
· A new mitigation plan was vetoed in November. The Governor submitted a new plan on March 1st. This includes an $ 81 Million cut to towns & municipalities. Personal property taxes will skyrocket if this is passed.
· Only the Governor's office can negotiate with the State's unions on givebacks.
· Democrats want to keep the Estate Tax in place for 2 more years.
· Towns are going to have to band together & regionalize in the futureto avoid duplication of services & to maximize buying & spending economies.

Southington Rotary Card Raffle:
Target Card: Queen of Diamonds; Dolores picked the 5 of Clubs
The 50/50 jackpot now stands at ?

Sue Smayda's St. Paddy's Day Irish Trivia...

2010-03-17T19:25:00.002-04:00

What is the title of Frank McCourt's followup to Angela's Ashes?
What Irish poet won the Nobel Prize in 1923?
Who wrote Ulysses?
When is Bloomsday?
What is Jonathan Swift's famous book?
Where was Bram Stoker born?
In Samuel Beckett's play, who are we waiting for?
Who wrote The Thorn Birds?

Ralph Riccio...

2010-03-17T16:01:00.000-04:00

Riccio dies at 81; Southington loses a pillar of the town

By Jeffery Kurz (Record-Journal staff)

SOUTHINGTON—Ralph J. Riccio, who with his twin brother, Vito, ran a clothing store that was a downtown staple for nearly four decades, died Wednesday at 81, after a short illness. “We have lost a pillar in the community,” said Victoria Triano, a former Town Councilmember who recalled going to the shop when she was growing up. Embedded in the concrete sidewalk in front of the store, the phrase, “Did You Riccio Today?” was an enduring marketing slogan. Riccio had been a member of the Southington Rotary Club since 1950. On Wednesday, the club set a rose in his place to honor him, said Triano, the club’s president.

Though Riccio did not seek public office, he was a major influence. He was a strong believer in the council-manager system of government and was instrumental in bringing Town Manager John Weichsel to Southington. The two became close friends.

“Everything he did was for Southington and the Southington people,” Weichsel said. “He was a leading light in the community,” said Carl Sokolowski, a lawyer. “He was into everything. He knew almost everybody and everybody liked and respected him.” “I think Ralph could have been elected to anything had he desired to do so,” Sokolowski said. “He just chose to be active in the background.” For many years, Riccio volunteered his time at The Orchards and Southington Care Center, where he would dance with the senior citizens. After suffering a near-fatal aneurism in 1984, Riccio was told he needed to keep busy.

“Wewere the beneficiaries of that advice,” said Trish Walden, vice president of senior services at Southington Care and The Orchards. Riccio had a way of bringing “a ray of sunshine to the seniors,” she said. “He lived the full life, right to the very end,” said his son, Michael Riccio. Along with his wife, Ruth (England) Riccio, Riccio is survived by five children and nine grandchildren. Vito Riccio died in 1994 of a blood disease. The two had retired from their clothing business in 1988. Among other significant community collaborations, the brothers had been a driving force behind the Downtown Merchants Association and in fundraising for the property and construction of St. Dominic Church. In 1997, Ralph Ricciowas grandmarshal of the Apple Harvest Festival Parade. Born March 23, 1938, in Southington, Ralph Riccio was the son of Ralph A. and Rose Riccio, who had come to Southington from Amorosi, a province of Naples in Italy.

Michael Riccio said he and his father had traveled several times to the town in Italy the past few years, for reunions with family. Ralph Riccio spoke fluent Italian. “He didn’t speak a word of English when he went to kindergarten,” said Michael Riccio. After graduating from Lewis High School, in 1946, the brothers served in the Army in Korea for two years in what was considered World War II service. They’d insisted on serving together, said Michael Riccio. Returning to Southington, they attended school in New Haven, before establishing their clothing business at 79 Center St. in 1950. They were 21 years old at the time. Vito Riccio took an outside job to help support the fledgling business, while Ralph Riccio ran the store. The two did everything together and they never argued. As children, they’d decided that if there was a disagreement it would be settled by a coin toss. “That’s how they ran the business,” Michael Riccio said. At the onset, the business catered to men, but over the years it expanded to women and children. They even had a clothing line for priests, said Michael Riccio.

Expanding business compelled the Riccios to move in 1967 to larger space at 37 N. Main St. There they remained until 1988. Along with “Did You Riccio Today?” was the slogan “See the twins for double values.” It was, as Sokolowski recalled, much more than a clothing store. The downtown location, and the personality of the owners, helpedmake it a community center. “That was the place to go to find out what was going on in town,” said Sokolowski. “Ralph always found time to chat.”

Riccio’s aneurismhelped lead to the decision to retire the business, the burden of which had fallen to his brother. Michael Riccio was a junior in high school when the aneurism afflicted his father and said “it was like I had two fathers.” Gone was the aggressiveness that helped make Riccio a competitive businessman. He also struggled with short-term memory. However, “he never lost his love for life,” said Michael Riccio. “He just loved people. Southington was his gem.” Riccio also never lost another asset of note, his sense of humor. “He loved to tell jokes,” said his son, “right to the very end.”

Come dancing with Ginny...

2010-02-26T21:51:00.004-05:00

BALLROOM DANCING

AT THE

NEW ENGLAND CAROUSEL MUSEUM

Friday, February 26, 2010

Bring your buddies, bring your dancing shoes and take a spin on the beautiful hardwood floor at the New England Carousel Museum. Enjoy classic ballroom dancing and music from 7-10:30PM. Beginners are welcome and encouraged. Dances will be held regularly on the last Friday of the month at the Carousel Museum, 95 Riverside Ave, RT 72 Bristol. BYOB Entry cost is $10.00 per person. For additional information call 860 585-5411 or visit www.thecarouselmuseum.org.

It was a dark and stormy night...

2010-02-17T17:47:00.011-05:00

The 2010 Southington Rotary Mardi Gras Night Crossword Contest
Alas, a stormy night wasn't about to deter these hearty souls from a great Fat Tuesday party. Nor a great crossword contest! (SEE MARDI GRAS PICS)

Rules: There are NO rules! Gather your team of four; then select a name. Get the answers by hook or by crook, then submit your completed puzzle to us by the end of the night. (Hint: Tip your servers, they may return the favor.) A winner will be selected from the correct entries and the team will receive gift certificates to Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill.

The results:
Eleven teams submitted completed entries. Five teams were eliminated for incorrect answers. Teams FTT#1 and FTT#2 (possibly cheating from each other) tripped up by answering that January 6th, the start of the Mardi Gras (or Carnival) season, was Trinity instead of Twelfth Night. The Friends team slipped up by guessing that the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is commonly known as Carnival instead of Jazz Fest. The Three K's Plus One did not know that the Mardi Gras parades are organized by Carnival krewes. And Minnow 3 was tripped up by inserting an a instead of e in file gumbo (I know, I wanted to give you a pass, but the that damn rules committee overruled me).

That left six finalists:
The Mighty Browns
Sue, Meg & Eric
Chet & the Juniors
G-Spot
The Kanes
The Saints

And the winning team is -
CHET & the JUNIORS!

Congratulations!

On behalf of the Rotary Club of Southington, we would like to thank Barry, Cheryl and the wonderful staff at Anthony Jack's for their generosity, assistance and good humor in putting on this event again this year. The food was outstanding (kudos for the beignets) and the servers were good sports helping us out with the crossword contest. We would also like to thank Pat Giamatteo and Rogo Distributors for their donation of the beer. To Rob Jockel and Dr. Ya Ya's Gumbo Party, another great performance to set the mood for the evening! To all those who braved the surprising storm to attend and to all who couldn't make it, but bought tickets anyway - thank you! And finally, to all the committee members who pitched in to make this event possible (you know who you are), you're the best! See y'all next year!
John Kennedy/Trish Walden, co-chairs

Join us for the Mardi Gras!...

2010-02-16T16:52:00.001-05:00

Join us for the 6th annual Southington Rotary Mardi Gras Night at Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill, 30 Center Street, Southington. Enjoy great food, drink and entertainment while supporting our designated beneficiary, the Southington Education Foundation, as well as other Southington Rotary charities. - more

Just the facts, Ma'am:
Date/time: Fat Tuesday, February 16, 2010 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Where: Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill, 30 Center Street, Southington, CT 06489 - directions
Cost: $65/person, includes food stations, beer, wine, entertainment
Reservations:

Co-chair John Kennedy @860.276.8025,

Co-chair Trish Walden @860.378.1226,

Anthony Jack's @860.426.1487

Per IRS regulations, $35 of the ticket price qualifies as a donation to the Southington Rotary Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Hail the Hartford Dark Blues...

2010-01-20T22:30:00.004-05:00

Gary "Pops" O'Maxfield, Commissioner of the Vintage Base Ball League in Hartford was our guest luncheon speaker on Wednesday, giving us a baseball history lesson and discussing plans for the Colt Park Revitalization Project..

Club member in public service...

2010-01-20T06:21:00.004-05:00

Self Insurance Committee leader steps down
Kane, 90, will remain a member
By Leslie Hutchison (Record-Journal staff)

SOUTHINGTON — Harold Kane figures he deserves a break from his duties as chairman of the town’s Self Insurance Committee. After all, he’s been in that role for 10 years, and served on the committee for about 25. And he’s 90 years old. Kane’s leadership through the 1980s and ’90s saved the town millions of dollars, according to his colleagues on the committee. He was instrumental in making it possible for the town to act as its own insurance agency. Kane said the cost now to be fully insuredwould be an additional $3 million per year. He estimated that the town has saved between $200,000 and severalmillion dollars per year in insurance costs since the ’80s.

Board of Education member Jill Notar-Francesco has served with Kane on the committee for two years. “He’s kind and generous. He’s put a lot of effort into the commu-nity,” she said. “He’s saved the town tons of money.” While Kane is stepping down as chairman, he’s not leaving the committee. “When you have a change of leadership, you have new ideas, but we’ll have him as a resource,” Notar-Francesco said. “He will be a guiding influence.” Kane decided earlier this month not to accept the chairmanship again. He joked about the reason: “To accept another two years would be quite a feat. I don’t want to go out feet first.”

John P. Moise has served with Kane for two non-consecutive terms. “He brought insurance issues to light in town. He is a wealth of knowledge,” Moise said. He said he’s glad Kane is staying on the committee. “Whoever is chair will need his bank of knowledge to move forward.” The town’s employee wellness program is an initiative Kane helped start in 2008 as a cost-saving measure. He said the committee will soon present plans to the Town Council for a new program for employees to support healthy choices. “We’re going to offer incentives, money,” Kane said.

The town’s health insurance budget has grown from $1 million when Kane joined the committee in 1983 to about $20 million today. More than 3,000 town employees and their dependents are insured by the town, he said. This year’s insurance costs are expected to grow again, from $18 million to $21 million. Kane said 70 percent of that cost is from the Board of Education. “The BOE is quite concerned” about the increase, he said. As health insurance costs continue to gobble up a bigger piece of the budget pie, Kane believes the wellness incentives could be a solution. “Obesity is a big problem,” he said. “Smoking has been, but it’s on the decline.”

Kane has studied how other businesses and municipalities have decreased their health insurance costs. He said a program by Safeway grocery stores has kept that company’s insurance costs level for four years. “They saved millions,” he said. Poor health is costly because it increases use of health services. Kane believes if employees exercise and follow health guidelines, the town could see its health insurance costs level off in the next few years. - lhutchison@record-journal.com

We would like to wish you a...

2009-12-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

Happy & Peaceful NEW YEAR!

SHS Interact Club...

2009-12-19T07:43:00.003-05:00

Interactive building
The Southington High School Interact Club volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in Falls Village. Pictured, from left to right, are Angie Frosceno, Jayna Dorau, Rachel Cisinski, club advisor Bob Brown and Lindsay Zissis. - (Southington Citizen)

Saturday's "Ring the Bell" for the Salvation Army at Stop & Shop...

2009-12-15T18:55:00.005-05:00

Thank you to all who volunteered this past Saturday to help “ring the bell” for the Salvation Army at Stop & Shop. Thanks to their efforts, this year we collected $1,527!!!

Thank you to…
Donn Reilly
Joanne Alfieri
Jim Williamson
“Santa” Art Blumer
Ginny Roy and her amazing dog
Steve Parsons and his amazing dog
Dave Zoni
Trish Walden & George
Gloria Brown
Dan Daigle and the Daigle clan
Carol Grant and her amazing dancing
Scott Garver
Linda Nicolo from Farmington Bank
….and members of the SHS Interact Club.

Thank you everyone,
Brendan T. Goodrich

Lest we forget...

2009-12-13T10:32:00.006-05:00

Kick off for our first car raffle

Few installation dinner programs have been so spectacularly bad. The infamous CARNAC the MAGNIFICENT with John 'Carnac" Kennedy, Bill "Ed McMahon" Taylor and Ed "Doc" Rosenblatt.

Holiday greetings...

2009-11-30T22:20:00.001-05:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Luncheon speaker, November 25...

2009-11-25T17:22:00.003-05:00

Don Mueller, Executive Director of the American Clock and Watch Museum

Don came to Bristol from Erie, PA where he was an active Rotarian. Don’s talk began with Tall Clocks, which were made abundantly in Connecticut during the Revolutionary War Era. Thomas Harland started making these clocks in 1783 in South Windsor. Clock-makers were metal workers and engravers. The movements were made of molded brass, thus making the clocks expensive. Apprentice to Harland, Daniel Burnap made musical clocks. Eli Terry was an apprentice to Burnap. He started a business in Plymouth . His experiments with making movements out of wood, and using unskilled laborers that could mass produce the clocks reduced the price of clocks sharply. Cabinets were made by cabinet makers.

James Harrison made clocks in Southington from 1790 to 1795. Clockmakers were all around Connecticut. The Globe Clock Company manufactured clocks in Milldale circa 1883-84. Porter Brothers of Waterbury provided venture capital for Eli Terry to expand his operation. Terry hired Cyrus Hoadley and Seth Thomas in 1807, they built a factory and mass produced clocks. Terry sold out to Hoadley and Thomas. He than developed movements with pendulums for wall clocks. At this point clockmakers started producing cases for their clocks. Elias Ingraham, a cabinet maker, came to Bristol and made cases for wall clocks. Parts were now made out of thin sheets of brass, reducing costs. Seth Thomas developed the clock making business. He moved his factory to Plymouth Hollow, now Thomaston, renamed in his honor. He was a great marketer. Over time there were 280 clock-makers in Bristol alone. After time he condensed to three major companies in Western Connecticut: Gilbert in Winsted, Seth Thomas in Thomaston and Ingraham & Sessions in Bristol.

The Great Depression and World War II spelled the end of the U.S. Clock making industry. Clock factories made war supplies. Postwar, the Marshall Plan supported European clockmakers who made cheaper clocks and shipped them to the United States. Edward Ingraham established the American Clock & Watch Museum in Bristol in 1952. By 1980 the museum had filled and expanded with the addition of the Ingraham wing. The museum has primarily American Clocks and Watches. Clock Museum is on Maple Street in Bristol - Call 860.583.6070 for hours.

2009-11-25T06:43:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Paul Harris Luncheon at The Orchards 11/18/09...

2009-11-19T17:22:00.011-05:00

Daniel Daigle
Dan has been a member of the Rotary Club of Southington for 16 years and during this time he served as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and President of the club. For the past seven years he has done an excellent job as our permanent treasurer. He has worked on all of the Four Avenues of Service Committees - Community Service, Club Service, Vocational Service and International Service. Dan and his family work at all the community service events and he is active at all of our fund-raisers - Apple Harvest Festival, Golf Tournament, Mardi Gras, etc. He has been a board member for many years with an excellent attendance record.

Ronald Klein
Ron has been a member of the Rotary Club of Southington for 30 years. He served as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President and President. Ron worked for many years on the Radio Day Committee (the major fund-raiser back in the 80’s and early 90’s). He not only raised a lot of money for our club, but was one of the announcers for Radio Days on WNTY. Ron has served for a long time on the Gifts and Grants Committee and as chair of this committee has done a great job. When the Car Raffle became our major fund-raiser, he was at most of the fairs selling raffle tickets and it was through his office at Fleet Bank that we deposited the money and kept track of the tickets sold. He has served on all the committees of the Four Avenues of Service and is a permanent member of the Apple Harvest Festival “Setup” committee. He currently is President of the Rotary Trust.

New Member Induction
In addition to honoring the two newest Paul Harris Fellows, new member Kate Terricciano (classification-marketing) was inducted into the Club by Membership Chair Arthur Blumer. Kate is the first former member of the Southington High School Interact Club to become a Rotary member. She is pictured at right between her sponsor, Carol Grant, and Art Blumer.

(photos courtesy of Ginny Roy)

A fundraiser for one of our most generous supporters...

2009-11-04T18:42:00.018-05:00

Save the Date

The DePaolo Family Foundation
presents

A Sunday Jazz Brunch
with
The Ken McKinnon Band

for
Breast Cancer Awareness

Sunday, November 29, 2009
11:00am - 2:30pm

All You Can Eat Brunch Buffet - $14.95

At Bonterra Italian Bistro
98 Main Street
Southington, CT

Southington Rotary organizes townwide food drive...

2009-10-30T08:32:00.003-04:00

Southington Community Harvest Collects 3,000 Pounds Of Food For Needy
by Ken Byron (Hartford Courant)

SOUTHINGTON — - A townwide drive collected about 3,000 pounds of food, a big help to local organizations struggling to supply depleted food banks and pantries. The food drive, called the Southington Community Harvest, was held last weekend. People could leave donations at various locations in town. At Tops Supermarket, customers were given special bags to be used to donate food purchased there. A "crop walk" sponsored by a local church on Sunday collected another 500 pounds of food. Janet Mellon, director of the town's community services department, said the food will last a couple of weeks. Most of the food went to the community services department's pantry and to the organization Bread for Life, which runs programs that feed needy people in town.

Mellon said the Southington Rotary Club organized the collection after hearing that her pantry was short of food. "People in Southington take care of their own," Mellon said. "They came through here." - complete article

2009-10-15T13:22:00.000-04:00

Get your french fries!...

2009-10-01T06:22:00.005-04:00

Apple Harvest Booth Hall of Fame
Apple Harvest Festival website

Rotary Bocci '09...

2009-09-27T11:27:00.005-04:00

exclusive event pics

Rotary Bocci, People!

2009-09-14T08:04:00.008-04:00

When: Wednesday evening, September 23 from 6PM-9PM - $15/person

Where: Fran Massucci's house at 215 North Main Street

Email Robin Morrell at robinmorrell@msn.com

2007 highlights
2006 highlights
2005 highlights
2004 highlights
2003 highlights

BE THERE!

Retirement celebration for Dave Strosahl...

2009-09-13T18:14:00.001-04:00

Sunday, September 13, 2009
2PM - 5PM
Aqua Turf Club
$35 per ticket

For tickets:
First Baptist Church of Southington
860.628.8121
email at erin@fbcsouth.net

Please feel free to send to the church congratulatory cards and letters, which will be presented at the retirement celebration.

A farewell conversation with Rev. David C. Strosahl
After 22 years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Southington, the Rev. David Conrad Strosahl will retire on Oct. 4. He is being honored Sunday at a celebration at the Aqua Turf Club. Upon retirement, he and his wife, the Rev. Cynthia “Cyndi” Johnston Strosahl, are moving to a new home in Biddeford, Maine, which has been the host state of their family vacations since they were married in 1982. Their son Andrew, 26, lives only 32 miles away in Dover, N.H. as does their daughter, Sarah, 22, who attends the University of New Hampshire. Their retirement holds the promise of being enriched by familiar surroundings and proximity to family. Strosahl was born on Oct. 8, 1947 in Plainfield, N.J. At age 7, his family moved to its ancestral home in Honesdale, Penn. He attended Mansfield University in Mansfield, Penn., and earned a bachelor of science degree in education in 1969. While in college, a stronger, higher calling came, so upon graduation, he took a brief position as a social sciences teacher while awaiting admission later that year to Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Center, Mass. In 1972, he received a master’s degree in divinity and accepted a position at the Lincoln Park Baptist Church in West Newton, Mass. From 1976 to 1987, he served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Hudson, N.H. He met, and in 1982 married, Cyndi Johnston, who was also attending Andover Newton. She graduated in 1986. A year later, with toddler, Andrew, and infant, Sarah, in tow, the young family arrived in Southington, where he became pastor of the First Baptist Church, located at 581 Meriden Ave., a church that was founded in 1738. He succeeded the Rev. Gordon Swan, now a director of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts. - (complete article in The Southington Citizen)

Poker run for Every Dollar Feeds Kids...

2009-09-12T18:56:00.000-04:00

(click on image for larger view)

Rotary Club scholarships announced...

2009-09-10T18:50:00.001-04:00

The six winners of the 2009 Rotary Club of Southington scholarships have been announced. Steve Vasil will be attending Bristol Tech for instruction in heating and cooling, installation and repair. Allison Frega will attend St. Joseph College in West Hartford. Kelsey Schrey will attend Unity College and will major in sustainable agriculture. Rabia Hamid will attend the University of Connecticut and major in biology and chemistry with hopes of becoming a physician. Michele Richardson will attend Sales University in Pennsylvania. Ula Salus will attend Loyola University of Chicago and double major in political science and Spanish. The Southington Citizen

Bringing home the bacon...

2009-08-16T12:37:00.008-04:00

You will be glad to know that the Southington Rotary team of John Kennedy/Steve Parsons placed 3rd in the 4th Annual McCabe Moving Two-Man Golf Scramble & Pig Roast held Saturday, August 15 at Pine Valley Country Club. The proceeds of the event benefited Parents For a Change.

Golf tournament helps Parents 4AChange
(by Brandi Sabato, Special to The Citizen)
Jim Mc Cabe of Mc Cabe’s Moving and Storage sponsored a golf tournament fundraiser at Pine Valley Golf Course in Southington on Aug. 15 to benefit Parents 4 A Change, a Southington-based non-profit organization which aims to create an unfriendly community environment for drug use, as well as provide support for families in crisis. Mc Cabe’s Moving and Storage has sponsored the golf tournament for the past four years, and selected Parents 4 A Change as the charitable organization to benefit from this year’s event. A total of 79 golfers and more than 120 diners came out to participate in the tournament followed by a pig roast banquet at the Falcons Club in Southington. The participation and generosity of the golfers, diners, sponsoring individuals and companies helped raise more than $4,800 for Parents 4 A Change. Mary Marcuccio, founder of the organization, said she was thrilled when Mc Cabe offered to donate the proceeds from the tournament to her organization. “I’ve run the group, thus far, on my own personal funds and some private donations. I run the group as a volunteer, and all of the participants are volunteers as well. We only recently became a Connecticut nonprofit, but we are still unfunded. I really appreciate the generosity Jim Mc Cabe has shown my organization,” Marcuccio said. - complete article

Southington Rotary Tent at Relay for Life....

2009-08-15T12:36:00.000-04:00

Thank youuuuuu!....

2009-07-10T10:45:00.003-04:00

William S. Thomson Golf Scramble
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at Southington Country Club

Thank you, everyone! Because of the support of our major sponsors, niche sponsors, hole sponsors, golfers and volunteers, the William S. Thomson Golf Scramble raised over $20,000 for Rotary scholarships, community activities and Rotary International projects.

2009 William S. Thomson Golf Scramble results/photos

We hope to see you again next year (always 2nd Wednesday in July)!

Weekly luncheon speakers: Mary Marcuccio - Parents 4 a Change...

2009-07-01T07:11:00.004-04:00

Our Mission
We are parents and citizens, based in Southington, Ct., who are speaking up to make a difference in the fight against opiate abuse by teens and young adults. We are raising awareness about this issue, while providing support for families in crisis. We are also working with local and state authorities to make our communties unfriendly environments to drug use and drug activity.

Our Goals
* Raise awareness about the serious, life-threatening drug problem of opiate abuse that exists in our town, as in so many other suburban communities in the northeast.
~ Did you know that HEROIN as become the drug of choice for many suburban teens?
* Provide a network of communication and support for parents and families who are going through this nightmare of drug abuse with their teenager.
~ Are you or someone you know suffering in silence? Feel alone, isolated?
We can be a support for you because we have lived it! We have REAL answers, RIGHT NOW!
* Create REAL and EFFECTIVE deterrents to drug use and drug activity in our town and yours, in order to protect our teens and young adults AND our communities.
~ We would welcome anyone who would like to work with us in making changes!

PLEASE feel free to contact us at parents4achange@yahoo.com or 860-621-1682. We will get back to you as soon as possible! Mary Marcuccio - Parents 4 A Change

Golf scramble to benefit Parents 4 a Change
“McCABE’S MOVING & STORAGE”
4th ANNUAL TWO MAN SCRAMBLE
GOLF TOURNAMENT and BANQUET

Saturday, August 15, 2009 at PINE VALLEY GOLF COURSE,
300 Welch Road, Southington, CT 06489
1:00 Registration, 2:00 Shot gun start, $110 per golfer
All proceeds will benefit PARENTS 4 A CHANGE!!!!
Golfers join the pig roast banquet at the Falcon's Club (33 Knowles Ave., Southington) immediately after tournament.

Weekly luncheon speakers: The Chi Society of CT...

2009-06-28T08:45:00.005-04:00

The Chi Society of CT is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and a totally volunteer rescue network. We do not have a facility where the dogs are housed, they live in our foster homes until they can be placed in suitable,caring permanent homes. We also provide sanctuary for a small number of dogs, who, through no fault of their own, have been deemed unadoptable and would have otherwise been euthanized. We provide food, shelter, medical care, grooming, exercise and training as needed for all of our dogs. Our adoption fees currently range from $200-$350, depending on the dog. These fees are the sole means of support and medical treatment for all the dogs in our care. An application for adoption can be found on our website, www.thechisociety.org. For more information or to make an appointment to meet a dog, call our main foster home in Glastonbury at 860-633-1167. We can also be reached by email at TheChiSociety@gmail.com.

Signs, signs, everywhere are signs...

2009-05-24T17:54:00.003-04:00

New Rotary signs installed at various highway entrances to Southington. Thank you to Steve Giudice and Roger Limmer of H.E.Cole & Sons - Great Job Guys!

Such a night!...

2009-02-25T07:18:00.008-05:00

Mardi Gras Night 2009!...

2009-02-24T20:37:00.004-05:00

Tell all your friends. If you have no friends, tell anyone else you know. The 5th annual Southington Rotary Mardi Gras Night will be held on Fat Tuesday, February 24th at Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill. In addition to fine food and interesting people (if YOU come, of course), you will be thoroughly entertained by Dr. Ya Ya's Gumbo Party. To quote New Orleans' own Dr. John - "SUCH A NIGHT!" Just imagine, all this and support for the Southington Rotary Club's community programs, too!

Just the facts, Ma'am:

Date/time: Fat Tuesday, February 24, 2009 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm

Where: Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill, 30 Center Street, Southington, CT 06489 - directions

Cost: $65/person, includes food stations, beer, wine, entertainment

Why: To support the programs/scholarships of the Southington Rotary Club

Reservations: Co-chair John Kennedy @860.276.8025, Co-chair Trish Walden @860.378.1226, Anthony Jack's @860.426.1487

Mardi Gras Night page

Dr YaYa's Gumbo Party
Who's Dr. Ya Ya? The original Dr. Ya Ya was a voodoo root doctor in 19th century New Orleans, a successor to Marie Laveau and Doctor John. How'd a band from the Nutmeg State come to be named after him? Dr. Ya Ya's Louisiana specialty was a jimson weed elixir, not the fake nutmegs carved from wood and sold by Connecticut peddlers of old. One hundred & fifty years or so later, drummer Tom Smith got tired of missing Mardi Gras every year because of gigs in New England and asked friends to join together in a party band to celebrate Fat Tuesday. At their 1992 debut, this masked ensemble of popular Connecticut musicians had so much fun that they continued performing sporadically as Dr. Ya Ya's Dirty Rice Revue. The current Dr. Ya Ya's Gumbo Party grew from this mysterious krewe. What's a gumbo party? When a group of friends get together for a gumbo party, everyone brings a different ingredient to toss into the cooking pot.

Southington Rotary Hustlers' Night at Shooters Billiards and Arcade

2009-01-24T11:36:00.016-05:00

Action photos courtesy of Ginny Roy and Trish Walden.

2008-11-16T19:00:00.003-05:00

Happy 60th Anniversary,

Southington Rotary!

Southington Rotary Community Room...

2008-11-07T19:06:00.004-05:00

The Rotary Club of Southington donated monies to the new Southington Community Services building for renovations and upgrades on their multi purpose community room. The room will be named Southington Rotary Community Room. Below, Southington Rotary members present the room plaque to Janet Mellon, Director of Community Services.

Pictured from left to right: Victoria Triano (President, Rotary Club of Southington), Janet Mellon (Director, Southington Community Services), Ginny Roy (Public Relations, Southington Rotary Club).

New member induction...

2008-11-05T19:17:00.003-05:00

Membership chair Arthur Blumer inducts new member Gloria Brown
as sponsor John Kennedy bears witness.

Luncheon speaker-Raymond Bechard of Ahava Kids...

2008-10-22T14:04:00.007-04:00

Ahava Kids Mission Statement
AHAVA Kids exists to rescue and care for young victims of child trafficking, enslavement and exploitation throughout the world. (website)

Ahava Kids, a United States, 501(c)3, Not-For-Profit human rights organization, exists to rescue and care for young victims of child trafficking, enslavement and exploitation in the United States and throughout the world. Through direct intervention, Ahava Kids has developed the process of Rescue, Relocation and Rehabilitation. This is the most effective method of removing young people from the various dangers of trafficking while giving them the best chance at survival and a decent life. Using this process, Ahava Kids has assisted in saving over 3,000 young people around the world and in the United States since 2003.

Amber Alert Project...

2008-10-05T08:50:00.002-04:00

Brendan Goodrich and Kyong Wilson supervising the Amber Alert child registration program held at Farmington Savings Bank during the second weekend of the Apple Harvest Festival.

Would you like fries with that?

2008-10-05T08:18:00.007-04:00

It's Southington Apple Harvest time again and that means only one thing - no, not delicious apple fritters from the Congregational Church booth, but rather SOUTHINGTON ROTARY FRENCH FRIES at the adjacent booth! Under the strict leadership of co-chairs John Salerno and Donnnnnn Reilly, this operation runs like a well-oiled machine. The veteran setup crew (John Kennedy, Rod Greaves, Dave Strosahl, Ron Klein, Chet Potrepka, Steve Parsons) need little supervision whether wrestling refrigerators/fryolators into place, hoisting the signage above the booth entrance or crafting just the right configuration for the lights.

Jim Williamson, Scott Garver, Dan Longo and Sue Symada prepare the fries using our secret Southington Rotary recipe.

Gary Salerno at the fryolator.

New officer installation dinner at the Manor Inn, Tuesday, May 27...

2008-05-30T09:48:00.015-04:00

Incoming club president Vicki Triano, outgoing club president Carol Grant,
and District Governor Richard Borden

Rotarian of the Year Art Blumer with Carol Grant

"Service Above self Award recipient Ginny Roy with club president Carol Grant

Dolores Fanelli with Carol Grant

Dave Strosahl (excellent tie) with Carol Grant

Incoming club board of directors for 2008-2009

Gloria Brown renders the Interact Club report on behalf of Bob Brown

Save the date- Wednesday, July 9....

2008-04-19T14:50:00.002-04:00

Southington Rotary's William S. Thomson Golf Scramble at the Southington Country Club

Our friend...

2008-02-13T08:39:00.005-05:00

SOUTHINGTON - Dr. Thomas K. McKnerney Sr. DDS, passed away after a lengthy illness on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008. He was the husband of Arline (Johnson) McKnerney.

He was born Sept. 14, 1931 in New Britain, son of the late Reginald and Angeline (Kane) McKnerney. Dr. McKnerney had practiced in Southington for 40 years. He was a lifetime member of the Rotary Club of Southington.

Besides his wife he is survived by three sons, Thomas K. McKnerney Jr. and his wife, Laura, Paul McKnerney and his wife, Dawn, all of Southington, Kevin McKnerney and his wife, Jennifer of Lebanon; two sisters, Rita Stiano and her husband, Joseph of Berlin, and Joanne Johannes of Niantic; six grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Reilly, and Maggie, all of Lebanon, Shawn, Brandon and Devin, all of Southington; several nieces, nephews and friends. Dr. McKnerney enjoyed his grandchildren and spending quality time with his family.

The funeral will be held Friday 10 a.m. at St. Thomas Church, 99 Bristol St. Burial will be in St. Thomas Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Donations may be made in his memory to the CT Children's Hospital, Pediatric Cardiology, 282 Washington St., Hartford, CT 06106 or the American Cancer Society, PO Box 907, Wallingford, CT 06492-0907. DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Southington is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences visit dellavecchiafh.com

Goin' to the Mardi Gras!...

2008-02-05T07:05:00.005-05:00

What a surprise! Johnny Gumbo (John Ryan) returned, if only in a larger-than-life photo, to celebrate Fat Tuesday at the Southington Rotary's annual Mardi Gras Night fundraiser at Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill. The former co-chair of the event has picked up his roots and moved out west where he has become involved with the Armed Forces & Aerospace Museum in Spokane.

Guests feasted on Cajun favorites and were entertained by the very hot D. Smith Blues Band with saxman John Smayda sitting in for a few spirited numbers. A portion of the night's proceeds will benefit the Bread For Life soup kitchen in Southington. - See photos!

The Rotary Club of Southington would like to thank Barry DePaolo and Cheryl Moran, owners of Anthony Jack's, for being such gracious hosts (we could not do this without you) and Pat Giamatteo of Rogo Distributors for donating the beer for the event. Hope to see everyone again next year on FAT TUESDAY!

We won!!!!!!....

2008-01-21T11:02:00.001-05:00

We received the following in our email. I will pursue the payoff and we can discuss how to spend it at our next meeting. I'm sure you all are as shocked and excited as I am! DON'T TELL ANYONE!

British National Lottery.
28 Tan Field Road,
Croydon, London.
Ref: UK/9420X2/68
Batch: 074/05/ZY369
Dear Winner,

We are pleased to inform you of the final announcement of the UK National Lottery Online Promo Programme held on the 29th of December 2007. We have been sending this notice to you but this is the last as we are about distributing winnings to winners. The draw was done electronically with several email addresses provided to this office by microsoft to enhance the utilization of the internet.Your email address was attached to Reference Number UK/9420X2/68 and was picked as one of the ten winning email addresses.

This has qualified you to claim the total cash prize Of £753,437(Seven Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty Seven Pound Sterling) in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308/03. This is from a total cash prize of £7,534,370.00 shared amongst the first ten (10) lucky winners in this category B.Therefore you do not need to buy ticket to enter for it.Your winnings will be issued to you as soon as you are to contact our AFFILIATE COURIER COMPANY for delivery of your winning certificate and winning cheque of 753,437.Pounds..Kindly provide us with the information requested below accurately to help us deliver your package as the information provided will be used to contact you and the address provided is where your winning package will be shipped tClaims Processing Form. (Fill And Send To The Courier Company)

Contact Name:
Residential Address:
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Country:
Telephone Ext.:

We have sent your cheque and other vital documents relating to your winnings to our affilaite courier company,TNT Courier Service.Do note,that sequel to UK Lottery Acts 249(n) of 1972 ammended in July, 1996 to ensure the actual winning prize get to Winners, the Courier charges cannot be deducted from your winning claims because your winning claim is bonded by a hard cover insurance policy that gives only the winner
access to the prize money.Hence you will be responsible for all costs incurred in mailing your winning parcel to you and not the Lottery Board. TNT Courier Service
does operate on Pay before delivery service to winners of the UK National Lottery thus they shall not commence delivery until they are paid. See below the contact information of the administrative officer. You are advised to act accordingly.

Mr.Richard Frost
Administrative Officer
Tel: +44 703 192 6899
Fax: +44 707 515 8183
Email: tnt_deptcourier121@hotmail.com

Quote Your Reference Number as UK/9420X2/68 when contact our affilaite courier company. Congratulations once more from all our members of Staff.
Yours Sincerely, Sir Steven Smith (Online Promo Co-ordinator)

Mardi Gras Night at Anthony Jack's is back!!!...

2007-12-28T16:03:00.001-05:00

Fat Tuesday, February 5, 2008, SAVE THE DATE!!!!

Tell all your friends. If you have no friends, tell anyone else you know. The 4th annual Southington Rotary Mardi Gras Night will feature the D Smith Blues Band in a return engagement in response to the overwhelming feedback from last year's performance.

Just the facts, Ma'am:

Date/time: Fat Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from 6:30pm to 10:00pm

Where: Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill, 30 Center Street, Southington, CT 06489 - directions

Cost: $65/person, includes food stations, beer, wine, entertainment

Why: To support the programs/scholarships of the Southington Rotary Club with a portion of the profits to benefit the Bread For Life soup kitchen.

Reservations: John Kennedy @860.276.8025, Trish Walden @860.378.1226, Anthony Jack's @860.426.1487

Mardi Gras Night 2007

More Christmas pics from Ginny...

2007-12-27T14:57:00.001-05:00

Christmas party at Elaine Maloney's...

2007-12-21T21:20:00.002-05:00

Posing for a group shot to be sent to Johnny Gumbo WHILE
on the phone with Johnny Gumbo! Shot courtesy of Charlie C.

13th Annual Rotary Senior Lunch...

2007-12-14T16:37:00.001-05:00

The Rotary Club of Southington recently held their 13th Annual Senior
Christmas Luncheon at Plantsville Congregational Church. The luncheon
is provided for the residents of the four Southington Housing Authority
senior apartments. A turkey with fixings is provided by The Orchards
of Southington, entertainment included Christmas songs sung by Jerry
Limmer, Rotary members; Bill Lynch and Dave Zoni and the Southington
Chamber Singers and Plantsville Congregational Nursery School. A magic
show by Michael Michaels was the highlight of the event.

Betty Bryant with magician Michael Michaels

Eileen Turek enjoying the magic show
(pictured in background is Marie Fournier)

Seniors enjoying Luncheon

Betty Bryant, Bob Boutot & Terry Boutot and Anita Rogers
checking out the magic bottle used in Michael Michaels coin trick.

Article/photos from Ginny roy

Rotary, Gates give funds to fight polio...

2007-11-27T06:07:00.001-05:00

By MARIA CHENG, AP Medical

LONDON - The global campaign to wipe out polio is getting a $200 million donation from Rotary International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, at a time when some worry the effort will fail in the final stages. Monday's announcement by both organizations came after nearly two decades of work against polio, an infectious disease that can paralyze and sometimes kill. "This investment is precisely the catalyst we need as we intensify the push to finish polio," Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, said in a statement.

Though polio incidence has been slashed by more than 99 percent worldwide since the eradication effort began in 1988, the virus remains entrenched in Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Two deadlines to eliminate polio have been missed: 2000 and 2005. More than $5 billion has been poured into the effort, and some experts worry that unless the job is finished soon, the world community's money and patience may run out.

"They're on a heroic task, but money is not the only problem," said Dr. Donald A. Henderson, who headed WHO's smallpox successful eradication campaign. "We've got to soldier on. We need more money. Look at all we've accomplished. But how do we get to the endpoint?" Henderson and other experts worry that major obstacles to vaccinating children will be harder to overcome than filling a funding gap.

In countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Congo, where there are armed conflicts and weak health services, it has been extremely difficult to reach the high vaccination levels needed to wipe out polio. And in India, the vaccine is less effective, due to poor sanitation and the fact that children are often infected with intestinal viruses.

Experts are also concerned about the use of the oral vaccine, which contains live polio virus. In rare instances, the virus can mutate into a dangerous form capable of causing the disease. The donation from Rotary International and the Gates Foundation, to be paid over three years, will largely go to immunization campaigns, surveillance and public education. "This amount of money can make quite a big difference," said Nicholas Grassly, of Imperial College, London, who advises WHO on polio issues. "We can build on the gains that have been made this year."

WHO reports significant progress against polio in India and Nigeria, where 85 percent of the world's polio cases occur. Last year at this time, Nigeria had 958 polio cases. This year, only 226 were reported. Still, the $200 million falls short of the $650 million that WHO says will be needed by 2009. Eradicating polio will ultimately cost $1 billion more, said Dr. David Heymann, WHO's top polio official.

Joint Rotary letter

Festival coordinator leaving town for ‘the best and right thing’...

2007-10-19T17:43:00.001-04:00

By Harry Kyle (The Southington Citizen)

It was his future that initially led John Ryan to take leave of his post as coordinator of Southington’s Apple Harvest Festival, but, in a strange twist of fate, his past radically changed those plans. Ryan announced after this year’s 39th annual celebration that he will be unable to coordinate the festival after this year because of a new job opportunity. But all that changed after a visit last weekend to his hometown of Spokane, Wash. Instead of taking on the challenges of a new job, Ryan will instead pick up stakes and move back to Spokane to be with and take care of his 84year-old father, John D. Ryan. Ryan’s stepmother recently died after 55 years of marriage, and his father is recuperating from quadruple bypass surgery.

“He’s still in relatively good health,” Ryan said, “even after what he’s been through recently. But after my visit there this past weekend, and talking to my father, I feel he really needs me. So, for me, this is the best and the right thing to do.” Ryan hopes to have the move completed by Thanksgiving. “I’m a Westerner at heart, so it won’t be too much of a change as far as that goes,” Ryan said. “But I will miss the friendships I have developed since I moved here in 1984.” Ryan was going to take a position with Creative Dimensions, an exhibit house in Plainville. They build exhibits that companies use to display their products at trade shows. He would have been in charge of the installment of the exhibits at shows throughout the country, along with their dismantling. “This was a great opportunity for me, and it turned into a difficult decision to make, but family always comes first,” Ryan said.

APPLE HARVEST THOUGHTS Ryan called his Apple Harvest experiences, “one of the most challenging yet gratifying things I have ever done.” It was complicated and frustrating, but satisfying at the same time,” he said. Ryan attributes much of that fulfillment to the people involved with the festival. “The people who work at the festival have a real enthusiasm for what they do, as do the people, families and children who attend. It’s so gratifying seeing people everywhere enjoying themselves,” Ryan said. “I appreciate the town giving me the opportunity to get involved with such a great event.” Asked what he would tell his successor, Ryan said, “don’t try and reinvent the wheel. Take advantage of the people and the plan in place, and just tweak it as needed. Always remember you have a town and a local government willing to support it.” “And keep it a community event,” he added.

WHAT NEXT?
“John’s departure will be a great loss to the town,” said Town Councilor Christopher Palmieri. “The fact that he was able to maintain the quality and tradition of the festival after taking over is a grand tribute to him.” Palmieri also chairs the town’s Apple Harvest Festival Advisory Committee. He said the panel is soliciting three types of Requests for Proposals for the 2008 Apple Harvest Festival. “One will be for the festival coordinator’s position,” Palmieri said, “while another will be for a marketing director to solicit sponsorships. The third one will be for a combined position, one that combines both jobs, similar to what John was operating under for the past two festivals.” Those proposals are due in the Town Manager’s office by 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 9. Once opened, they will be reviewed by the committee, including any necessary interviews. Once completed, a recommendation will be made to the Town Council, who will make the final decision. Since it is a professional services contract, it is not subject to the lowest bid requirement that is present in other town contracts. “We hope to have a decision by the end of November,” Palmieri said, “with the end of the year being the absolute final date.”

Rotary hosts Amber Alert registrations....

2007-10-18T06:16:00.001-04:00

Photos (courtesy of Ginny Roy) of the Southington Rotary Club's Amber Alert registration held at Farmington Savings Bank during the Apple Harvest Festival.

Message from our president regarding food drive...

2007-09-27T09:29:00.001-04:00

Hello members,

We had an awesome open forum today and as promised I am sending a reminder to all of you. If you recall Vicky informed us of the needs of Janet Mellon at Social Services. The club decided that in lieu of selling duck race tickets we will make a $250 donation. We also decided to do a food drive to stock the shelves so please bring in a non-perishable food item or 2 or 3 next week (Oct 3) and Vicky will deliver.

Thanks for your support and I look forward to seeing you all next week.

Carol Grant

It's Apple Harvest Festival time again, people!...

2007-09-21T08:35:00.002-04:00

Co-chair (along with John Salerno) Donnnnnnnnnn Reilly has issued the official 2007 Southington Rotary Apple Harvest Festival booth assignments. Read 'em and weep:

2006 pics-1st weekend
2006 pics-2nd weekend
Apple Harvest Booth Hall of Fame
Southington Apple Harvest website

Wednesday, Sep 26 - The infamous booth setup committee (obviously listing not in order of importance to the success of the project):

Rod Greaves aka Ron Graves

John Salerno

Donnnnnn Reilly

Steve Parsons

Ron Klein

Dave Strosahl

John Kennedy

Friday, Sep 28 -
5pm-9pm:

Carl Sokolowski

Fran Massucci

open

Saturday, Sep 29
9am-12pm:

Sue Smayda

Carol Grant

open
12pm-3pm:

Carol Grant

Dave Strosahl

Audrey Brown

open
3pm-6pm

Ginny Roy

Dennis Kane

Dave Obedzinski

open
6pm-9pm

Elaine Maloney

Dave Maloney

Dave Obedzinski

Sunday, Sep 30
12pm-3:30pm:

Charlie Cocuzza

Art Blumer

Dolores Fanelli

Robin Morrell
3:30pm-7pm:

Art Blumer

Dennis Kane

open

Friday, Oct5
5pm-9pm:

Dave Strosahl

Dan Daigle

Dennis Kane

Saturday, Oct 6
9am-12pm:

Audrey Brown

Dolores Fanelli

Dave Zoni
12pm-3pm

Dan Longo

Joe DePaolo

Audrey Vinci

David Vinci
3pm-6pm:

Ginny Roy

Brendan Goodrich

Joe DePaolo

Chuck Miceli
6pm-9pm:

Trish Walden

George Gorecki

Vicki Triano

Sunday, Oct 7
12pm-3:30pm:

Charlie Cocuzza

Chet Potrepka

Dan Daigle

Scott Garver
3:30pm-7pm:

Chet Potrepka

Jim Williamson

open

7pm - booth demolition committee:

Chet Potrepka

John Salerno

Donnnnnn Reilly

Steve Parsons

Ron Klein

John Kennedy

Annual bocci picnic at Fran Massucci's Bocci Emporium....

2007-09-20T18:19:00.002-04:00

Wild Deuces stomp The Loneliest Number You'll Ever Do to win the 2007 Bocci Cup!!!! We are the champions, my friend! - PICTURES

The Wild Deuces are: Ron Klein, Chuck Miceli, Trish Walden and John Kennedy

District Governor Richard Borden, Jr. visits Southington club...

2007-08-22T06:44:00.001-04:00

Club President Carol Grant and District Governor Dick Borden

Asst. Dist. Gov. Rod Greaves, Carol Grant and Dist. Gov. Borden

Rotary District 7890 website

Walter Hushak speaks to Club.....

2007-08-15T07:26:00.001-04:00

Southington Rotary Lifetime Member Walter Hushak was our guest luncheon speaker today. His presentation covered the U.S. Army Air Corps of WWII through today's modern U.S. Air Force observing its 60th anniversary as an independent force.

The Wings of Freedom Tour, Oxford, CT at the Waterbury-Oxford Airport:

Sep 6- 2pm to 5pm

Sep 7- 9am to 5pm

Sep 8- 9am to 5pm

Sep 9- 9am to 5pm

Sep 10- 9am to 12pm

Visit the Collings Foundation on the web at collingsfoundation.org or call 978.562.9182

Guest speakers from Oak Hill...

2007-08-01T08:10:00.001-04:00

Ana Maria Mitchell and Trish Heslin of the Oak Hill School were the guest speakers at the luncheon meeting of August 1.

Per the organization's website, "Oak Hill was founded in 1893 by Emily Wells Foster, a Sunday school teacher in Hartford, to provide the means through which blind children could lead lives defined by their achievements. Since that time, Oak Hill has kept pace with, and been responsive to, the changing needs of people with disabilities. Today, Oak Hill provides services and solutions for children and adults with varying disabilities so they can live as independently as possible and be contributing, productive members of their communities."

Oak Hill has two facilities in Southington that are part of its Residential Program.

William S. Thomson Golf Scramble...

2007-07-02T06:28:00.002-04:00

Please join us on Wednesday, July 11 at Southington Country Club for the 5th annual William S. Thomson Golf Scramble - Information Here!

Congratulations to our 2007 scholarship winners....

2007-06-27T06:21:00.001-04:00

High School Seniors:

Joshua Debner, Southington High School

Jordan Emerick, Southington High School

Craig Folick, Southington High School

Veronica Hallaway, Southington High School (vocational)

Andrew Wells, Cheshire Academy

William S. Thomson Continuing Schoalship

Aaron Laviana, University of Notre Dame

Installation dinner photos thanks to Ginny Roy...

2007-06-15T11:23:00.001-04:00

Can JR/JK get a makeup?

2007-05-12T17:34:00.001-04:00

Carrollton Rotary Club beer tent at the 2007 Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans

Mardi Gras Fundraiser...

2007-02-22T06:03:00.002-05:00

The food was deliciously spicy, the D. Smith Blues Band was HOT and Johnny Gumbo wore his famous PIANO SHIRT Tuesday night at Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill for the 2007 Southington Rotary Mardi Gras fundraiser.

PICTURES!

Get your tickets soon for Mardi Gras Night...

2007-02-20T17:57:00.002-05:00

The Rotary Club of Southington is proud to announce its 3rd annual Mardi Gras Night to be held on Fat Tuesday, February 20, at Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill. The proceeds of this fundraiser have been designated for the Southington Science/Math Initiative (benefitting all students in the Southington School system) and other Rotary charities. - details here

SHS Interact students of the month...

2007-01-24T11:46:00.001-05:00

President John Ryan introduces the Southington High School Interact Club students of the month for the 2006 fall semester at our January 24th weekly luncheon meeting at Mulberry Gardens.

Strosahl earns Paul Harris Fellow Award

2006-12-28T18:32:00.001-05:00

(article in the Southington Observer 12/28/06)

The Rotary Club of Southington inducted the Rev. David C Strosahl into the Paul Harris Fellowship during a special luncheon held recently at The Orchards at Southington. The club presents this award to a person who embodies the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” and
has shown over the years that they fulfill the “Object of Rotary” which is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise. Strosahl, pastor at The First Baptist Church of Southington, has proven to be worthy of this award which is bestowed as an honorary award by The Rotary Club of Southington.

Strosahl was a president of the Rotary Club of Hudson, New Hampshire where he was a member in good standing for 10 years. He was a Past President of The Rotary Club of Southington where he worked on both community and international projects. He was a cooperator for Bradley Memorial Hospital, he was President of the Southington Clergy association where he was instrumental in bringing together the diverse faith communities in our town. He assisted in the transition of the Good Samaritan Fund to the Manna Fund to allow Southington citizens to better help those in need. In 2005, he was awarded the Joseph Harper Award for outstanding service and contributions while a member of the Substance Abuse Council. Strosahl also participated and led several mission trips to the Dominican Republic, participating in building a hospital and schools for the sugar cane workers in the Dominican Republic. He is the 35th person to be named a Paul Harris Fellow during the 56 years that the Rotary Club of Southington has been in existence.

Bells will be ringing.....for charity

2006-12-20T06:54:00.001-05:00

This past Saturday's bell ringers brought in a total of $2,066 for the local Salvation Army. The Interact Team raised $886; The Southington Rotary raised $1180.

2006 Rotary Senior Luncheon at the Plantsville Congregational Church

2006-12-13T19:59:00.001-05:00

Lobster & Cards Night at the Manor Inn....

2006-11-15T20:30:00.001-05:00

Inter-Club Meeting....

2006-11-02T17:59:00.001-05:00

Quick Information Guide
When: November 15, 2006; Where: Manor Inn
Time: 6:30-7:00 Social Networking; 7:00 Meeting begins
Cost: $12.00 per person

Clubs Involved
·Lions*
·Rotary*
·Kiwanis*
·Jaycees*
·UNICO
·Key club
·Interact*
*Confirmed attendees

Reminders
·Each club should bring a prize for the raffle.
·Please supply approximate count of attendees to Wayne Stanforth by November 8
Email: wayne@wws-cpa.com

Order of Events

1.Opening Ceremony
Pledge Interact
America Kiwanis
Invocation Rotary
Lion’s Toast Lions
Jaycees Creed Jaycees
(Your club’s opening ritual)-please contact Wayne Stanforth if interested in adding to opening ceremony
2.Introduction
3.Dinner
4.Presentation of Individual Clubs-each club will present an explanation of their club’s philosophies and purpose
5.Keynote Speaker-Janet Mellon: Southington’s Director of Community Service will speak
6.Raffle

Apple Harvest booth...Second weekend photos from Ginny

2006-10-02T17:33:00.001-04:00

"Fruits of our labor" report due shortly. See Hall of Fame induction- 2001 - here.

Sunday booth pics from Ginny....

2006-10-02T06:05:00.001-04:00

All you need is love...

2006-09-30T19:45:00.001-04:00

Beatles tribute band Abbey Road plays at this year's Apple Harvest Festival on Southington's mobile bandstand, which was a 1999 Southington Rotary Club fundraising project to mark the Club's 50th anniversary. - Rotary Bandstand Project

Johnny Fest.....

2006-09-29T07:20:00.001-04:00

Record-Journal 9/29/06

Bocci Ballin'....

2006-08-18T07:32:00.001-04:00

Stellar shotmaking in both the semi-final and final matches of the annual Southington Rotary Bocci Challenge propelled the Bocci Ballers, John Kennedy/Ginny Roy/Donnn Reilly/Bill DeFeo (Dave Maloney filling in for Bill in team picture))to the 2006 Championship at the pristinely manicured Fran Massucci Bocci Emporium Wednesday evening. The Ballers derailed a gritty, but overmatched Ryan's Express (John Ryan/Elaine Maloney/Judi Miceli/Chuck Miceli)in the finals. In the 'final four' matches, Ryan's Expresss outdueled the Great Pretenders (Art Blumer/Sandi Blumer/Dan Daigle/Chet Potrepka), while the Bocci Ballers spanked the E-Z Riders (Trish Walden/George Gorecki/Dennis Kane/Joe Depaolo).

Unfortunately, there was no trophy presentation, usually the highlight of the evening, because last year's winners (and you know who you are, Rod Greaves)LOST THE TROPHY!

Thanks to Elaine Maloney/Judy Miceli for coordinating the event and, of course, to Fran Massucci for being the very best of hosts. - Pictures

2005 Bocci

2004 Bocci

I wanna be Bob Dylan....

2006-07-21T17:08:00.001-04:00

Bob Dylan is doing a summer tour of minor league baseball parks (a pretty cool concept in itself) and will play New Britain (CT) Stadium, home of the Minnesota Twins' Rock Cats, on Tuesday August 29. But the REAL news is that Lou Ann Barton ("one of the finest purveyors of raw, unadulterated roadhouse blues from the female gender that you'll ever hear."-AMG) will be appearing with Jimmy Vaughan, brother of Stevie Ray and co-founder of the Fabulous Thunderbirds! Also on the tour are Junior Brown and Elana James & The Continental Two.

We are thinking of getting a group together to go. Tickets are available at $49.50 general admission. Go to bobdylan.com to purchase. Date is August 29th. As date gets closer we will talk about going as a group.

Nice article in the R-J about Rotary member...

2006-07-19T09:51:00.001-04:00

Plantsville Pharmacy has had success despite emergence of chains
By Rachel K. Raczka, Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON — In the age of the chain pharmacy, it is a true rarity. Plantsville Pharmacy, appropriately situated among the village’s many antique shops, is marking its 60th year of continuous ownership by the same family. Pharmacist James Potrepka calls it “a quiet celebration.” The store, previously named Hallahan’s Pharmacy, was purchased by siblings Frank, Bernadine and Chester Potrepka Sr. in April 1946 and renamed Plantsville Pharmacy. “It’s an icon. When you mention Plantsville you think of the pharmacy. It has been the one place everyone gathers around,” said Art Secondo, president of the Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce. The building has functioned as a pharmacy under different names since the 1800s. Today, Plantsville Pharmacy is run by cousins and pharmacists Chester and James Potrepka, both of Southington.

“It’s an unofficial historic landmark,” said Chester Potrepka, who began working for his father in 1980, after graduating from the University of Connecticut Pharmacy School in 1977. Creaky wooden floors and antique light fixtures are the first things one notices setting foot in the pharmacy. The racks of candy have handwritten price tags. Shelves of medications and rustic wooden filing cabinets with phone numbers written on aging Post-it notes line the backroom, in obvious contrast to the atmosphere of the CVS or Walgreens up the road. “The fixtures may look antique, but we have up-to-date computer filing systems,” Chester Potrepka said. The pharmacy uses a QS1 Pharmacy System that continuously updates itself.

“We’re very satisfied,” James Potrepka said of the computer system. The store’s timework appearance, however, is deliberate. “It’s a village atmosphere and historically pharmacies have always looked like this,” he said. James Potrepka also graduated from UConn Pharmacy School in 1970 and abandoned his original plans to be a veterinarian to work in the family business. “I am very happy with my decision,” he said.

Competing with chain pharmacies that offer services such as drive-through prescription pickup and 24-hour service does not intimidate Plantsville Pharmacy. “What’s kept it here is the loyalty of the customers,” Chester Potrepka said. “We’re a hometown business, basically run by your neighbors.” Secondo said the reason for its longevity is the personalized service that only a familyowned pharmacy provides. Customers also like the idea of patronizing the same establishment where their parents shopped. “While many things in the world have changed, chain pharmacies have come and gone in the town, but Plantsville Pharmacy is still there,” he said.

Both pharmacists said they would not consider another job with a commercial pharmacy. “I enjoy working with the community. I love this community and I love the people in this town,” James Potrepka said. “Customers feel safer getting something from someone who cares,” said Chester Potrepka’s daughter, Jessica Potrepka, 20, a clerk at the pharmacy. “They get to know the pharmacists and form a bond.”

rraczka@record-journal.com 203.235.1661

Thank You!!!!

2006-07-12T18:22:00.001-04:00

Thank you, everyone who participated in this event, for supporting the Southington Rotary Club projects for another year.

Golf foursomes pictures

Golf pictures

Dinner pictures

Golf awards

Thomson Scholar announced by Rotary (Record-Journal)

2006-07-10T07:10:00.001-04:00

Senior Aaron Laviana, of Notre Dame University, has been selected the 2006 Southington Rotary William S. Thomson Scholar and will be honored at the annual William S. Thomson Golf Scramble Dinner Aqua Turf Club on Wednesday, July 12. The Thomson scholarships are for post-secondary (graduate or undergraduate) students who as seniors, were recipients of Southington Rotary Club scholarships.

Aaron Alan Laviana, a 2003 Southington High School graduate, will receive a $3,000 scholarship. Aaron is a senior at the University of Notre Dame double majoring in biology and economics with a 3.77 grade point average. He plans to attend medical school with the aspiration of becoming a doctor specializing in oncology. Aaron has interned at the UConn Health Center conducting colon cancer research as part of their graduate school fellowship program. He has had previous research experience at Yale University conducting skin cancer research.

“Part of the reason being a doctor appeals to me also deals with the field’s dualistic nature of combining intellectualism and humanism. Studying genomes to explain the fundamental principles of cancer is one thing: being able to apply this and deal with the delicate side of helping an individual is quite another. In a sense, being a doctor is exploring the artistic side of science, and my experiences of working in clinics have only reinforced this point. Through interacting with numerous cancer patients, some grasping for their last breaths of air and others indistinguishable from your average healthy teenager, I have learned the need to care for all aspects of a patient’s health. By attending medical school I hope to further learn how to meet the concerns of the patients and treat them according to their individual needs.”

Lifetime Member Induction- William Taylor...

2006-06-15T19:37:00.000-04:00

William (Wild Willie) Taylor, Southington Rotary Lifetime Member Inductee
(John Kennedy, Presenter)

I am proud have been selected to present Bill Taylor as a Lifetime Member of the Rotary Club of Southington. I feel a bit put out about being passed up for the John Mullett or Tom McKnerney gig, but we are all team players here and you do what you’re asked to do. S0 here we go….(some of the following was taken from sketchy notes of a Dolores Fanelli biographical interview with Mr. Taylor about one month ago. Any inaccuracies can be blamed on my reading of the notes)

Born and raised in the streets of New York City, Bill early on fell in with ruffians and the like, living out the rough and tumble West Side Story. In his teens, while running numbers for the Mob under the moniker “Willie the Tailor,” he actually served some ‘hard time’ at Attica.

Yet, being the complex guy that he is, Bill also loved to sing streetcorner harmony- accapella, forming Dion & the Belmonts with his buddy, Dion DiMucci. Yes, it’s Bill’s soaring background falcetto you hear on “Why Must I Be A Teenager in Love.” The album jacket shows a tall, skinny kid with a greased-back DA haircut, cigarette dangling from his scowling lips, looking something like a 50’s Kevin Mezzanotte.

And in the early 60’s, yes, it was Bill, who, while traveling and co-writing with a young poet-folksinger named Bob Dylan, whom Bill had met down in the Village coffeehouses while reciting his fiery ‘beat’ verses, urged a reluctant Dylan to ‘go-electric’ at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival, telling him, ‘Bobby, trust me, they’ll love it!”

After winning the Heisman trophy at the University of Alabama and editing the Harvard Law Review, Bill decided it was time to focus on his real passion- banking. And bank he did…......bank, bank, bank, bank, bank......Even as he married his lovely and talented wife, Rita, and raised their two boys, Brian and Jeffrey, he continued to bank.....

It was at this point in his career, 1984, that Bill joined the Southington Rotary, garnering a solid 58% approval rating by the Club membership. He immediately made his mark, teaming with Tom McKnerney to pass legislation that every Club event be an open bar, even breakfast meetings. He rose through the chairs eventually becoming President in 1990, succeeding a true Rotary legend (whose name escapes me at the moment), using the campaign slogan ‘Hey, back off, it’s MY turn!’ Unfortunately, during his term as President, Bill hurt his back and, according to legend, was out of action for 6 YEARS! But, regardless, Bill left his mark on our Club:

During his reign, Bill focused on making education the primary focus of the Club, with scholarships increasing from $1,000 to $6,000.

In addition to serving as President, Bill was the voice of reason as the chair, for over six years, of the sometimes-stormy Gifts & Grants committee.

He also chaired the Scholarship Committee for two years.

He was a silky-smooth voice of the airwaves on Rotary Radio Days

and the deadpan sidekick to yours truly in some truly memorable (many would say, and have said, truly forgettable) Rotary skits and tributes.

Bill Taylor has been what a Rotarian should be- someone who works hard for the good of the Club, someone who has a vision of what can be done and needs to be done, and, most importantly, someone who has the character/intellect/leadership skills to make that vision reality.

I am honored to introduce one of the three new Lifetime Members of the Southington Rotary Club - my fellow Rotarian – and my friend – Bill Taylor.

Who Will Be The Next Rotarian IDOL????

2006-04-28T17:18:00.001-04:00

SOUTHINGTON ROTARY CLUB 2006 SPRING MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

Being a Rotarian means being a part of an organization that changes millions of lives around the globe every day. The talents you share with others make a huge difference to those in need.

Some of the ways that lives are changed include:

§ Eradicating polio
§ Building sanitation services in Third World countries
§ Preparing youth for leadership throughout the world
§ Responding to disasters around the world
§ Making a difference, one Rotarian at a time

This year to promote membership our committee is developing the Who Will Be The Next Rotarian Idol membership drive. The goal we have set is to raise membership in our club by 10% before the end of this year. That means adding 4 new members between now and July 1st.

The date we have set for our Membership Recruitment Day is Wednesday May 17th.
Team captains are:

Helen Archangelo Art Blumer, Co Chair Audrey Brown Charlie Cocuzza Rich Corcoran	Matt O’Keefe Steve Parsons Harvey Polansky Chet Potrepka Donn Reilly
Dan Daigle Rosemary DeFeo Joe DePaolo Dolores Fanelli John Gissas	Ginny Roy John Ryan John Salerno Carl Sokolowski Dave Strosahl
Dr. Carol Grant Rod Greaves Dennis Kane Harold Kane John Kennedy	Vicki Triano Audrey Vinci Ruth Warner Trish Walden Dave Zoni
Ron Klein Dan Longo Elaine Maloney Mike Mathieu Robin Morrell

Each team is challenged to recruit one good member to become a “Southington Rotarian Idol.” We encourage you to bring this candidate to the meeting on May 17th because it will be at this meeting that we play the Rotarian Idol game and prospective new members will not only have some fun, they will meet other Rotarian “Idols” in the process. If however, you have a candidate who cannot come to this meeting we encourage you to have them come anytime. Let’s try to make this a great year for bringing in new members!!!!

Mardi Gras Night at Anthony Jack's

2006-01-22T23:17:00.001-05:00

The Rotary Club of Southington is proud to announce its 2nd annual Mardi Gras Night to be held on Fat Tuesday, February 28, at Anthony Jack's Wood-fired Grill. The proceeds of this fundraiser have been designated for relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Entertainment will be provided by Guitar George Baker and his band, The George Baker Experience. All Music Guide states that Baker "may be one of the best-kept secrets in the mainstream blues world." Hailing from New Roads, Louisiana, Mr. Baker's impressive resume includes stints as music director/guitarist touring with Marvin Gaye for three years and as a member of the house band at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. His new CD/DVD, Mojo Lady just received a 3-star rating by Downbeat Magazine.

Chef Barry DePaolo has promised to again serve up some very tasty cuisine, which will be accompanied by several interesting fine wines. Tickets to the event are $65/person and can be obtained at Anthony Jack's, by calling John Ryan at (860) 276-3843, or from any Southington Rotary member. If you were there last year, you know what a great night it was; if you missed out, do NOT allow it to happen again. BE THERE for great fun while aiding the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

View our 2006 Mardi Gras Night page
View our 2005 Mardi Gras Night

EMAIL US!

An invitation from Carol Grant.....

2006-01-19T11:56:00.001-05:00

INVITATION
Dr. Carol Grant and her staff warmly invite you and your staff to celebrate the grand opening of her new office at 1601 Meriden-Waterbury Tpk Milldale. The celebration is from 5-7 and refreshments will be served. Ribbon cutting at 6 ish. We are located at the corner of Clark Street and Meriden-Wtby Tpk. RSVP regrets only at 860-620-9523. See you there.

(note: as soon as Carol tells me the DATE, I will gladly pass it along to you; otherwise, just pick a day and go there, but be sure to go between 5-7pm.)

Birthday boy is luncheon speaker

2006-01-18T22:29:00.001-05:00

John Ryan gave an overview of a new program to stimulate reading in our community. The following is reprinted from the Southington Library website.

Southington Reads – A Community Gets on the Same Page

Get on the Same Page with your friends, coworkers and neighbors. Visit the Southington Library and charge out your copy of Dalton Conley’s, Honky (check availability). The Southington Reads Committee under the auspices of The Southington Library and Museum are spearheading, a One Town One Book project – SOUTHINGTON READS (SR).

The Southington Reads Committee is excited by the concept of a large, town wide, heterogeneous group within our community all of whom will read the same book. The community then has the opportunity to attend a program where the book's author will speak about his work and answer questions regarding the concepts evoked in the participants' minds while reading his book.

Southington Reads Committee invites you to GET ON THE SAME PAGE come to the Grand Book Discussion with Dalton Conley, professor of Sociology at New York University, March 8, 2006 @ Southington High School Auditorium, 7:00 PM. The author will be available after the discussion to sign your copy of his book. Copies of Honky will be available for purchase the evening of this free event.

2005 Rotary Senior Christmas Luncheon

2006-01-06T02:30:00.001-05:00

This year's event was held Wednesday, December 14 at the Plantsville Congregational Church from 12pm - 2pm. View pictures of the Senior Luncheon - here!

Social Services Christmas Party

2005-12-30T05:28:00.001-05:00

The Southington Social Services party was held on 12/16/05 with the Rotary & Interact clubs providing/serving the food. Children who attended were able to "shop" for presents for their parents.

Rotarians Audrey Brown, Dolores Fanelli and Dave Zoni help prepare the food and are, therefore, WAY too busy to look up for this photo op.

Southington High School Interact Club

Christmas bellringing for Salvation Army

2005-12-28T18:43:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, December 17, we once again rang and sang under the direction of Chair John Ryan. - The following is a recap of the team efforts:

$ 97 - Dave Z and Chet

$111 - Rich and friends

$153 - The Family DeFeo

$212 - Ginny, Dave S and Kiwi (see photo- s/b self-evident)

$155 - Ginny, Mike and Kiwi

$169 - Trish and George

$ 73 - Joe and Rod (a truly pitiful performance)

$202 - Donnnnnnn and JR

$940 - SHS Interact Club
Grand Total= $2,112

VIEW PICTURES

Thanks to everyone who "rang the bell"

Carl Sokolowski speaks of Rochambeau

2005-11-24T07:46:00.001-05:00

Rotarian and Southington Town Historian Carl Sokolowski entertained and educated us at Wednesday's luncheon meeting, with accompanying charts and graphs, about Lt. General comte de Rochambeau's connection to Southington during the Revolutionary War, but disputed Ron Klein's claim that he was giving a first-person account of the events.

Rochambeau commanded the French expeditionary army sent to help the American Revolution during 1780 to 1782. His skillful leadership and professional wisdom were vital to the American-French allied victory at Yorktown in September 1781. The year 2006 represents the 225th anniversary of the French march from Newport, RI, through Southington, to Yorktown, VA. Carl informed us of a project to erect a plaque on the Plantsville green to commemorate the event, which will cost about $1,200. Are we interested in funding this project?

revolutionaryct.org

SouthingtonCARES

2005-11-16T17:04:00.001-05:00

John Myers and Janet Mellon spoke about SouthingtonCARES, a new community-based action-oriented task force of members representing agencies, businesses, town officials and individuals who are dedicated to helping victims of Hurricane Katrina and other disasters.

Vision
SouthingtonCARES will act as a conduit with other agencies such as the Red Cross, AmeriCares, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army and other service organizations to match available resources with the needs of people affected by this and futures disasters.

Meetings
Meetings will be held every other week for the first three months to develop an organizational structure and identify short-term, mid-term and long-term goals along with an action plan to accomplish those goals.

Objectives

Coordination of workers, skilled and unskilled, who want to help in whatever way they can.
Coordination of training programs to prepare workers to provide services to those in need.
Coordination of immunizations needed for workers.
Coordination with the Red Cross for blood drives.
Coordination of financial resources.
Coordination of support services for displaced families in Southington.
Coordination of support groups for those returning from disaster areas.

Group to aid in disasters - Southington CARES a permanent entity
By JESSICA KASTNER, Observor staff writer

When disaster strikes, most people are willing to help. But a group of community leaders calling themselves Southington Cares says it will be a permanent resource for disaster victims for years to come. The group was initially created in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when representatives from the - article continued

Carl Sokolowski, John Ryan honored

2005-11-10T19:45:00.001-05:00

YMCA honors three for their efforts by Jessica Kastner, Observer staff writer

Carl Sokolowski is the Town Historian. Mike Albert is President of Pilgrim Furniture and John Ryan was the coordinator of the Apple Harvest Festival. Although the three men represent different sectors of the community, they have one thing in common- they help people. Sokolowski, Albert and Ryan were honored by the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA last week for their contributions to the community over the past year.

YMCA Executive Director John Myers said the decision to select Sokolowski as the YMCA Person of the Year was a “no brainer,” since the historian’s reputation precedes him. Myers used terms like “compassionate” “man of high ideals,” “high integrity,” “true friend” and “town resource” to describe him. “Your place in Southington history is secure,” Myers said. “Because history is not only what we are, but who we are.”

Sokolowski’s roots with- - more

Call him Johnny Fest

2005-10-25T13:16:00.001-04:00

Despite rainout, apple fest turns profit
By Robert C. Pollack, Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON — Despite fierce rain that caused the second Saturday of this year’s Apple Harvest Festival to be called off, Festival Coordinator John Ryan announced Monday the event had earned a profit of $31,397. He immediately asked that money — minus a few outstanding bills, yet to be paid — be applied to next year’s festival, which was given a quick stamp of approval by the council.

To loud applause, Ryan told the Town Council that his army of volunteers and a number of town departments, led by the Parks and Recreaton Department, the police and the council itself, had combined to bring the festival home — to give it the Southington flavor it featured when it started 37 years ago. Ryan released figures that showed what amounted to a five-day festival had earned $130,617, with expenses totaling $99,310. Beverage sales at the four festival committee booths totaled $27,556; Booth fees were $24,216 and sponsors kicked in $57,200. That figures at $27,200 more than had been anticipated. - complete article

Fest details in place, coordinator hopes for best
By Robert C. Pollack, Record-Journal staff
SOUTHINGTON — They call him Doc, or J.R., in deference to a license plate his two children gave him for Christmas. But what educational consultant John Ryan, 58, hopes people will start calling him after the six-day Apple Harvest Festival that starts tomorrow night and ends next weekend is the coordinator of one of the most successful and "down home" festivals ever held.

Ryan, director of the Future Horizons support center for adolescents and adults with learning disabilities, at 50 Center St., stresses that while he is getting major credit for the way the 37th festival has been put together, it is really the 12 festival committees and more than 100 volunteers who deserve the praise.

Ryan is earning $15,000 as the first town-hired coordinator of the festival, which had been sponsored and managed by the Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce for the previous 36 years, with Daniels Productions of West Hartford managing it for the past two. But Ryan stepped in and applied for the job after the Town Council decided to contribute $80,000 in front money to run it, making it a town-sponsored event for the first time. - complete article

Southington Apple Harvest Fest kicks off with plenty to do - By Jennifer Manes, Record-Journal staff

Our annual Bocci Night at Fran Massucci's Bocci Emporium.

2005-10-19T22:08:00.002-04:00

Bocci Night attendees were treated to world-class steaks grilled to perfection by chefs Tom McKnerney and Fran Massucci. Add to that picnic chairperson Helen Archangelo's "potato salad for 550 people", a glass of beer/wine/soda/water, witty conversation, Dr. John in the background and you have a very nice start to the festivities.

Helen Archangelo/Audrey Brown opted out of the bocci competition with curious back ailments. John Ryan left early to attend a 'meeting.'

The Greavous Faults pose smugly after upsetting the two-time defending champion Bocci Ballers. The Faults are:

Mike Mathi...whatever

Ginny Roy

Team Captain Rodney Greaves

a guy named Joe

	...is the loneliest number that you'll ever do. Beaten, but unbowed, the Bocci Ballers are: Ron Klein Bob Potrepka Team Captain John Kennedy John Gissas

	"Oh shutup, Rod. I don't want to hear AGAIN that you were bocci champion three years ago!"

- 2004 Bocci night highlights

The Doug McLeod Trophy sits amongst reclining repeat champion Bocci Ballers Ron Klein, John Kennedy and Bob Potrepka while Rose (DeTreasurer) DeFeo and John (Good-Shirt, No-Play, Brings-Own-Beer) Ryan closely guard the boxes-o-wine at the 2004 Bocci Night. 'Baller Pauline Levesque was not available for the photo-op.

Rotary clubs get together on centennial parade float

2005-10-11T18:44:00.001-04:00

Float pictures and thank you letter from Ginny Roy, committee chair -

Pictures posted by Bristol Rotary

Article by Ken DiMauro, The Southington Citizen

In celebration of Rotary International's 100th anniversary, three area Rotary clubs have joined to sponsor and build a float that will be featured in this Sunday's Mum Festival Parade in downtown Bristol and the Apple Harvest Festival Parade on Oct. 2 in Southington. Dolly Chamberlin, former president of the Plainville Rotary Club and member of the club's parade float committee, said Rotarians in Plainville, Southington and Bristol have been working on the float, which is being stored at Trumbull Restoration Co. in Plainville.

Ginny Roy, chairwoman of the Southington Rotary Club's Centennial Committee, said it was her group's idea to build the float and the members invited Plainville and Bristol to participate. She said the anniversary float was a good way to publicize Rotary and its 100th birthday.

Chamberlin said the three groups have been planning the float since April. Use of a trailer was donated. The float will feature a large mockup of a four-tiered cake. Rotary International is marking its 100th anniversary and Plainville's Rotary is celebrating its 50th birthday, she said.

In addition to the cake and a large banner with the organization's motto, "Service Above Self," the float will have items of note from the three towns, including chrysanthemums and apples. The mums will be placed on the float before the Mum Parade and baskets of apples will be on the float for the Apple Harvest Festival. Covered bales of hay will be at the base of the float. Chamberlin said the float has room for three or four Rotarians, too. - complete article