Southington citizen, Ruth Riccio, remembered

Ruth Riccio, who died this past March at the age of 76, was honored last month by the surviving members of her Southington H.S. Class of 1957 with a plaque presented and placed on the wall of the Riccio Building at 1 N. Main Street.  “Ruth Riccio was one of the last of her generation of one of the stalwart families in Southington,” said classmate Priscilla ‘Patty’ Dunn.  “Ruth was always ready to take on the task of organizing our annual reunions.” said Anthony ‘Tosh’ Tarfano who spoke at the dedication.  

“My mother was always willing and ready to take on a task that was for the betterment of the community,” said her son, Michael.  Elder parishioners of St. Dominic Church noted that the Riccio family was deeply committed to many fund raisers that enabled Fr. Walter F. Geraghty to build a parish hall and, a ultimately their church nearly 35 years ago.  

“Friends remember Ruth’s service on the Senior Citizen Commission and Library Board and many more activities where she could be of help.” Classmate Joni Theriault said.  Michael Riccio thanked the class for the wonderful  tribute to their mother.

Members of Southington Class of 1957 present: Irene Shoman, Joni Theriault, Beatrice Porter, Anthony ‘Tosh’ Tarfano,  Doria Palmieri, Priscilla ‘Patty’ Dunn, Louise Carbone and Ulla Gibbs.

Riccio Family at dedication:  Front row: Madelyn Bergin, Zachary Bergin and Lucy Bergin.

Middle row: Braden Kowalik (orange shirt), Francesca Riccio and Livia Bergin. Back row: Mike Riccio, Lucca Riccio, Danielle Kowalik, Tina Riccio (Mrs. Mike), Ruth Bergin and Ralph Riccio.

A Taste of Southington - 14th annual success - looking like a County Fair

John Guzuk, Meriden enjoys a slice of pizza

Taste buds savoring, they came out in huge numbers on August 5, 2015.  Sponsored by Barnes Museum, "with a lot of help from a dozen local vendors, twenty volunteers and TD Bank's contribution of musical entertainment, face painting and the signing publicity of Sign Pro, so many came flocking to this event", said Barnes Museum Director, Marie Secondo, "We are all absolutely thrilled at the crowds we drew from near and far."

They sat on the grass, on lawn chairs and stood, elbow to elbow at times, enjoying the variety of tastes proffered by local restaurants all the while chatting, meeting, greeting and eating with gusto.


Don't need a thousand pictures to tell this story but here are a few sure to give you a sense of a great town event on a perfect day!

Old friends enjoy the camaraderie

Elbow to elbow they went from vendor to vendor in search of their favorite foods

"Wow, where do we begin!"
Kathy & Bob Suchenski

Chrisie Sullivan tries Ribs
from Smokin with Chris

Diana Marie Diego
enjoyed the meatball
sliders from Gino's Grille

A view from the outside in

Waiting for a hot dog at Saint's booth

Paradise Pizza & Grill - A heavenly slice of pizza for those who didn't mind the wait!

Pearl Roberts chose a hot dog with chili & the works
from Saint's Restaurant

Rosemary DeFeo, Vice President, TD Bank and
Luigi Cavallo

They sat on lawn chairs, on picnic blankets and
wherever they could. 

The event committee also ran tours of the Barnes Museum and added special thanks to Library Director, Susan Smayda.

Southington Italian-American Festival Draws 8,000

Another great weekend festival for Southington. If you missed it, see what was happening and who was there. 

Hundreds came and enjoyed a marvelous array of talent performing Italian and American music:  classic pop and show tunes, Italian favorites, operatic areas and more,

Joe LaPorte

“The Southington Italian-American Festival of 2015 was a success.” said festival committee chair, Joe LaPorte. The three-day festival took place on  Center Street decorated with American and Italian flags.  “Visitors numbered about 8,000. many from distances.”

Center Street became an exciting promenade 

Apple Harvest Festival 2015
Hostess, Carson Stifel,
greeting and enjoying the festival 

Srolling along the tented exhibits of two dozen vendors, people  browsed, stopped for a taste of sharp provolone or fresh fruit at the ShopRite booth while reconnecting with friends. There was a sense of honoring the past as folks took in the sights, smells and sounds of the culture and ancestral heritage. 

Children and adults enjoyed the deliciously cool gelato and Italian ices. Many indulged in tasty fried dough treats. Theatre-style seating included chairs in the open and tables under tents. Exciting talent came to the stage Saturday and Sunday entertaining the audience of hundreds with Italian and American music.  Intermissions turned into more festive greetings and foods such as the ever-popular sausage & peppers grinder at the UNICO station and the pasta fagioli and soffrito offered by the Sons of Italy.

The tasty food fest varied along the way with Broccoli rabe & sausage, Paul Gregory’s meatball sliders, pizza, eggplant parmigiana with plenty of hot dogs, burgers and fries, too, plus an ample assortment of cold beverages.  

Sunshine Miss Southington 2015, Madelyn Merryfield, 5 years old,
with sister Alexis (l), 7, and mom Sabrina Merryfield 

Face-painting, balloon sculpting, carnival rides and the Great Leone Magic Show held the attention of kids and adults alike

Southington’s Kelly Nowik captured the audience with her pop show tunes and opera arias. Fourteen year-old Charlie Tiernan, an exciting young talent who took second place in the 2010 Apple Harvest Festival, tugged heart strings with her energetic performance of great show tunes and classic pops, including a powerful rendition of New York, New York.

From South Windsor we heard a half dozen show tunes and operatic selections superbly performed by 17 year-old Gabriel Mellizo. Joining him in a marvelous duet was Megan Eberly,18, also of South Windsor. The stellar young talent delighted audience. The evening’s program closed impressively with New York-based classic baritone, Ross Benoliel, who recently appeared with the Metropolitan Opera, at  Carnegie Hall and the New York Philharmonic.  Connecticut-based tenor, Marcello Sparagna, a winner of the Festival of Songs in Brooklyn, and tenor Teo Ricciardelli, performer in Italian festivals up and down the East Coast and Anna Rita Tornella closed the evening. Entertainment continued on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday morning, Rev. Frederick M. Aniello, celebrated a Mass in Italian in memory of Patrick A. Baker who died on July 4, 2015.  A beautiful altar and furnishings were installed by the Baker family. Michael Baker stated that the statue of the Blessed Mother has been donated to the Italian Ladies Rosary Society so that it may remain the focal point of the Mass and procession which is escorted by the color guard of the Southington Knights of Columbus Assembly 122 and the Sam Vinci Middletown Italian Marching Band.

Driving by the site the next morning, it seemed almost incredible that the street was restored to normal, as though nothing had happened, a credit to hundreds of volunteer man-hours who organized and hosted this major community event.

Southington Awarded for Excellence in Financial Reporting by GFOA

The Town of Southington has been awarded the ‘Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting’ by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the U.S. and Canada.

A letter to Southington Town Manager, Garry Brumback, from GFOA’s  Director of the Technical Services Center, Stephen J. Gauthier, stated: “This Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting; its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.”  

Gauthier added: “The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, (CAFR), has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.” GFOA is a nonprofit professional association with offices in Chicago and Washington, DC, serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals.  

Photo at right:
Staff of Finance Department, Town of Southington awarded certificate for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

Front-L to R:  Deborah Landry; Emilia Portelinha, Director; Joyce Williams: Back – Jackie Santos-Villegas; Carol Ladd; Christina Sivigny-Smith. Assistant Director. Not in photo: Susan Mesinger 

Brumback commented: "The award is a tribute to Emilia Portelinha, (Director of Finance), for her skills of leadership, and to her staff.  They illustrate the teamwork and interdependency with all our department heads who meet regularly, synergizing their collective efforts.”                                   

Portelinha said: “We are all most grateful for this award which is due to the combined efforts of the staff in every way, especially in the preparation of the detailed and complex CAFR.”

Board of Finance Chairman, John Leary, said: “The entire town should take pride in the accomplishments of our Finance Department.  For 24 consecutive years the Southington Finance Department has gone beyond the minimum requirements and provided the town with comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence transparency and full disclosure of our finances. Excellence has become the standard for Southington.”

Finance Deapartment's Wall of Plaques covering 24 years for excellence in Financial Reporting.  Twenty-one individual plaques on the wall and three more placed on the plaque on the table including the annual diamonds. 

As published in the Southington Citizen, August 14, 2015

Prayer Vigil this evening at St. Dominic Church for Two Southington Teens

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Wednesday, July 30, 2015  at  10:15 am

Prayer Vigil this evening at St. Dominic Church for Two Southington Teens  

The St. Dominic Youth Group is offering an evening of prayer and fellowship for all interested youth from 6:00-7:30 tonight at St. Dominic Church this evening.

St. Dominic is located at 1050 Flanders Road at the corner of Flanders Road and Laning Street

Scroll down for previous post to Southington Heartbeat for more information about the tragic deaths Tuesday of Annmarie Olander, 16, a Southington H.S. sophomore and Olivia Fusco, 14, J.F. Kennedy Middle School in an auto accident on I-84.

All are welcome to join this community vigil. 

Two Southington Students in Fatal Auto Crash on I-84

Connecticut State Police have identified the victims of a fatal auto crash on I-84 near Exit 32  on Tuesday, July 28, 2015. Annmarie Olander, 16, and Olivia Fusco, 14, both from Southington were pronounced dead at the scene. Olander was driving the vehicle, a Hyundai Accent, traveling eastbound in the left lane on I-84.  Both were wearing seat belts, according to State Police. The airbag did not deploy when the vehicle veered on the roadway, struck a wire rope guide in the left shoulder, rolled over into an embankment area before striking a tree, police said.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact Trooper William Bevans at 860-534-1000 ext 6136.

The Southington community is organizing a vigil after two students were killed in a crash on I-84 Tuesday. Southington Superintendent Timothy Connellan sent a message to members of the Southington Public Schools community informing them that two students were killed in Tuesday’s I-84 accident.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of these two students and we grieve with them for their loss,” he said.

Support services will be offered at the high school and the municipal center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting Wednesday and continuing through Friday.

Students are organizing a vigil for both students that will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. at the high school softball field.

Olander was a sophomore at Southington High School and a proud member of the softball team, according to the Hartford Courant.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation and no other vehicles were involved. Multiple lanes were closed for several hours as police investigated.

Charleston, SC tragic shooting deaths to be memorialized by CT Sikh in Southington July 3rd

In response to the horrendous shooting murders of nine innocent people at the Emanuael Affrican Methodist  Episcopal Church in Charleston,.SC last Thursday, the CT Sikh Association will hold a candlelight vigil service at their temple, Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar,at 1610 West Street in Southington, CT at 8:30 pm on Friday, July 3rd . 

Sikh spokesperson, Kulwant Samra said, in an official statement,  "This tragedy has affected each person in our community and thus we must come together in remembrance of the lives lost and offer our blessings and prayers to the families of the victims."

Candles and head coverings will be provided. Questions will be answered by reaching out to the Sikh at (860) 621-3015. The service is planned outdoors in front of the Sikh Gurdwara. In case of rain, it will be held indoors. 

"We look forward to your joining us on Friday", Samra said. 

Sikh Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar - 1610 West St. Southington, CT