STEPS Youth Group Caroling at The Mulberry Gardens

A group of seven middle school students representing the STEPS (Southington Town-wide Efforts to Promote Success) Youth Committee had a great time entertaining the senior residents of Mulberry Gardens on Wednesday, evening December 16^th. The residents had filled a large recreation room in anticipation of the arrival of the young people who arrived in their season appropriate red STEPS T-shirts . 

The program was strummed-off with a guitar instrumental by a boy who started things off decking the halls with musical holly. That got the spirit going for a delighted audience who spontaneously joined the STEPS group in singing a series of traditional and contemporary Christmas Carols.  Residents, hosting staff members and the youth enjoyed a cheerful evening together. 

The STEPS coalition, now in its seventh year in Southington, has grown to the point of regularly seeing STEPS activities everywhere around town, in our schools, classrooms, community parades and other outdoor activities, walk-a-thons, Salvation Army Bell Ringing and Car Washes as they contribute to the non-profit charity and service groups in Southington.

Be sure to read ...  

Inspired Youth Council leaders talk about STEPS; what they want community to know.

Southington HS Marching Band wins highest rank in history at National Championship

Preview Photos of the Musical Production of the Nativity in Southington

New foundation offers enhanced police training and education in the near term and long term

The finest stories of advancing our world and shaping its course are always about people and the dreams they bring to reality through purpose of heart and energy driven by caring compassion and generosity. Southington has it more than abundant share of stories of such otherwise ordinary takeholders in our community.  Here's one more. 

At a Southington Town Council meeting of December 7^th, Councilor Edward S. Pocock III announced the recent launching of a 501 (c) (3) non-profit foundation, named the J. Allen Lamb & Edward S. Pocock III, (JAL&ESP3) Foundation, developed by Southington’s late J. Allen Lamb in close collaboration with Pocock in the years prior to Lamb’s death in October 2013 at the age of 64.  

The foundation’s objectives are focused on sponsoring enhanced law enforcement professional development and practices through the supply of equipment, training and formal education. The multi-dimensional program offers formal education for current and future command officers who will benefit from the Southern Police Institute’s (SPI) sponsorship of Command Officer Development Courses (CODC), both within New England and at SPI’s flagship Administrator Officers Course (AOC) held at the University of Louisville.  

“We are convinced that the University of Louisville leads the way in educating future young police officers in the latest practices. It is virtually an Air Force Academy of law enforcement, with its own section, SPI, dedicated to police education. Scholarships will allow students to become part of the SPI fabric as they gain important insights into the issues facing command officers in today’s world, while allowing them to have one of the best campus experiences in the United States.”, Pocock said. 

The Foundation is a long-term commitment. “Our ultimate objective is to have our criminal justice scholars become police officers, progress in their law enforcement careers and then seek a command scholarship after being in the trade for a while. Think of the programs as bookends on a bookshelf, the left side representing our kids, the right representing police commanders with the books in between representing the time it will take us to reach our objective.  When those two meet, we will have come full circle.” Pocock said.

To accomplish the end goal, JAL&ESP3 supports both ends of the book shelf scenario. “A

four-year scholarship of up to $44,000 for graduating seniors to obtain their criminal justice bachelor’s degree at the University of Louisville, while interning at SPI for up to 10 hours per week, will blend law enforcement hopefuls with the best and brightest in police command with SPI at the U of L, the logical place for our scholars.” Pocock said.

Current and future command officers will also benefit from the Foundation’s sponsorship of Command Officer Development Courses within New England as well at SPI’s flagship AOC at the University of Louisville. “We anticipate training  42 to 60 command officers each year beginning in 2016. For those up to the challenges, the Foundation will also offer full tuition, housing and fees paid for a New England officer attending SPI's AOC with a cohort in the spring and one in the fall.” Pocock added.

“Our commitment is long term, with a current annual budget of $95,000. As we progress, we expect to increase that to $120-135 thousand dollars through investment revenue to round out our giving portfolio.” Pocock said.

J. Allen Lamb

Pocock speaks with the greatest admiration for J. Allen Lamb, an accomplished leader, president, CEO and co-owner of a number of successful enterprises such as System Aire Supply Co. and Myjak & Lamb Property Management, both in Plantsville, and Control Aire Supply Co. Never actually a police officer, Lamb was a longtime supporter and friend of the Southington Police Department and a longtime member of the Southington Rifle Club .  “His passion was in helping others, needy children, future business leaders.” Pocock said. He devoted time and supported the work of Vocational Industry Clubs of America (VICA) and Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA). An accomplished pilot, Allen enjoyed his passion for flying his Warrior on weekends. 

Capt, Edward S. Pocock, III

The importance of this new foundation should be evident to anyone aware of the news of the times. It is a vital step, though only one is an enhanced future of law enforcement, police officers and society in general.  Contact e3@jalesp.org.  

Learn more about this advancement opportunity for career police personnel and the HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR A GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR. First scholarships planned for the graduating class of 2016. Attention upper class persons and scholarship administrators in ANY New England state, or for any Connecticut town atJ.Allen Lamb & Edward S. Pocock III Foundation

Papanonno Alfonso

                                                 

Alfonso De Rosa
1846 - 1934

A Grandfather Remembers

I remember him         

In that big black chair                     

The long walk across the parlor        
Mom holding my hand.

'Too dark, papanonno'
Admonishing lightheartedly
She’d raise the shades 
Letting in the sun and the park scene

The big park, we’d go there later.
Pleasantly engaging him
She’d move me closer
"Here’s Sonny, papanonno"

Reaching out
Wrinkled face smiling
'Allo toe-nee'
Toothless broken English

‘Ah’, a candy for his great-grandson
The child touching his thin white hair
Completing the exchange.
Conversation without words.

I remember those visits
Seeing him in that big black chair.
The last time
He was all dressed up.

Everyone was there
Lots of chairs. No big black chair.
But I remember him
Even now, smiling in that big black chair.

I wonder if he knows I think of him.

-        Ephraim Richard Fortunato

1   16 December 2015                           

STEPS Youth Speak to the Community

At the end of a recent STEPS Advisory Board meeting I asked the members of the STEPS Youth Council, (they are also members of the full Advisory Board, to think about just one reason that inspired them to be involved with STEPS, one thing they'd like the people of Southington to know about STEPS. Here is what they said:

Justine Griffin, SHS Senior 

"I really want to reach out to the adults of Southington and have them understand how dedicated and how hard the youth of this community work to promote lifelong success and leave lasting lessons for everyone, not just for us kids."

Trevor M. Rogers, SHS Senior

"We are trying to educate people on decriminalization, i.e., marijuana is still illegal in Connecticut. The only change is the punishment for possession. Teens can get involved in STEPS and make a real difference. It’s not just adults!"

Sarah Lamb, SHS, Senior

"STEPS strives to make kids feel confident and happy in not only themselves but also in their community." 

Morgan Maccione, SHS, Junior 

"STEPS works to help everyone in the community. Everyone can be involved in making Southington a better place. Teens can make a difference. The Youth Council helped bring 2 ordinances in town to limit risks to youth."

Carson Stifel, SHS, Junior

"Most teens don’t recognize how important it is to stay drug-free. STEPS is here to keep you happy, healthy and on the path to success."

Julia Brilla, SHS, Junior

"STEPS helps reinforce positive decision making while teaching youth about the dangers of risky behaviors such as drinking and doing drugs. That’s the important message for our youth." 

The members of the STEPS Advisory Board include the above six high school students who are proactive members of the STEPS Youth Council.  The Youth Council is a group of about thirty high school and middle school students who meet regularly to address opportunities to develop new positive approaches, programs and youth activities that will inspire the active participation of young people in school, including the STEPS Asset Building Classrooms throughout our schools and work with parents and adults at in their homes at school and with others in the community.  

The STEPS Advisory Board meets monthly and is a group of volunteers representing and leading people within the thirteen sectors of the community who comprise the STEPS town-wide coalition. 

Committed to the prevention of the abuse of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other mind-altering substances which endanger the physical, mental and emotional health and successful growth as successful and responsible citizenship, STEPS works as a partnership of our educators, faith congregations, parents, youth, families, drug prevention agencies, the Town government and its health, law enforcement, safety and youth services departments as well as the business and professional communities and our veterans and military sector.  

Learn more at the STEPS website 

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Angels without wings Adopt-a-Family

“Everyone has a story” and you never know when you’ll stumble across the next one.  The longer I’m around the more I see that to be true.  

Pepper Pot waitresses, Melissa Plourde, Diane
Marek and Carmella Lucawecki with gifts 
for the Adopt-a-Family program.

For example, I happened to be at the Pepper Pot after a breakfast meeting on Friday, December 5th. It’s not uncommon to run into people you know and exchange a few friendly words at that local restaurant. Just about to leave, I spied Jack Eisenmann, Executive Director of United Way of Southington, talking to Diane Marek, a waitstaff mainstay and picked up that Jack was on some kind of mission. 

Curious, as always, I caught Jack’s eye and I asked what he was up to.  

Pointing to five large shopping bags near the entrance, Jack said, picking up some gifts for the Adopt-a-Family holiday program, (sponsored by Southington Community Services, one of United Way's associated charitable agencies.  

I asked Diane to tell me what this was about. 

"Each year at this time, we, (the Pepper Pot staff and owner, Susan Acevedo).  pitch in together to buy gifts for a family.”, Diane said. She contacts Janet Mellon, (Director of Southington Community Services), to get a list of the needs of a family in need. 

This year Diane and her daughter, Melissa Plourde, also a waitress at the Pepper Pot, then went shopping with the staff's contributions and lists of suggested gifts for the family.  I asked Diane what kind of gifts they had bought for the anonymous family. “We followed the list pretty much and bought them sheets, linens, pots and pans, dishes and dinnerware. That's what the mother had asked for. The list included a few things for the three children, aged 7, 3 and seven months. We bought dolls, which one of the girls had asked for, musical toys, clothes for the children and baby clothes for the infant. The mother did not want anything personal for herself." Melissa said, "We loved doing it. It was fun.”  

Pepper Pot owner, Acevedo, who keeps a low profile, said, “The employees like doing this. They do it every year. I think it is good.”  

The Online edition of Appleseed presents excerpts of Dick Fortunato's weekly Appleseed column as published in the Southington Citizen plus other stories that capture special moments in Southington, the warm spirit of dedicated volunteerism, the good work  generosity  and genuine compassion of the people of Southington.  We invite you to scroll down for previous editions of Appleseed Online. 

Southington's D'Agostino and Castellano win Knights of Columbus 2015 State Championship Soccer Challenge

Katie D'Agostino and Pio Castellano win K of C
State Championship 2015 Soccer Challenge

Southington middle school students, Katie D’Agostino, age 13, and Pio Castellano, age 12,  were each awarded a State Championship Trophy in their respective age and gender classes in the 2015 Annual Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge held at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain on Saturday November 7. 

The two participated in the state competition, along with five other Southington students who had successfully competed in two previous rounds in the K of C Soccer Challenge, sponsored by the Southington K of C Columbus Isabella Council 15, joined this year by the recently formed Rev. Walter F. Geraghty Council 25.  


The five other qualifying Southington kids at the state competition were Kate Hardy Age 12 -girls: Devin Giordano Age 9 - boys: Emma Ruccio, Age 11 - Girls: Kyle Martin Age 11 -boys; and Devan Fox Age 10 - boys.

Phil Mazzatti

“We have had a state championship winner on our team every year since we began competing in the program four years ago.” said chairman/organizer, Phil Mazzatti, of the 2015 Soccer Challenge sponsored by Southington's Knights of Columbus.    

The Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge is an international program designed for boys and girls, ages 9-14, with players competing in the most basic soccer skill - the penalty kick.  At the district level and state level, the competitors must kick 25 shots at the soccer goal with the goal being broken up into 20, 10 and 5 point quadrants.  The competitor within each age and gender group scoring the most points wins.

“This year we had the honor of sponsoring the District level competition here in Southington and received rave reviews by K of C CT State youth director, Tom Sullivan.” Mazzatti said. He thanked the Southington Youth Soccer league, Ed Baker, President, and Dave Lapreay, Parks and Recreation Director, who helped promote the event and secure field arrangements. 

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Southington HS Marching Band wins highest rank in history at National Championship

The Southington High School Marching Band traveled to Met Life Stadium at the Meadowlands on November 7th for the USBands Open Class National Championship. 

The Blue Knights came in 4th place, out of 14 bands in their division, the highest ranking they have ever received at Nationals!

Southington was also presented with the Dinkles Spirit of Band Award which is given to the educators, students, parents and boosters of marching bands that exemplify school pride, friendship, creativity and good sportsmanship on and off the field. (The award is sponsored by DINKLES Marching Band Shoes).

The band was accompanied to the Meadowlands by four buses full of parents and fans. Band members and families participated in a tailgate dinner for over 400 people organized by the Band Backers. “Working with such committed people who truly value what the Marching Band and the Southington music program offers our children is a great pleasure,” said Erik Semmel, the Southington Band Backer President after this event.

This was the final competition of the season and followed the USBands New England Championships on Halloween where Southington was named the Class V Open Connecticut State Champion for the seventh time and the second year in a row.

The theme of the band’s 2015 show was "The Coven" based on Shakespeare's Macbeth and told from the standpoint of the "witch", performed in four movements: I. The Prophecy, II. Thane of Cawdor, III. Lady MacBeth and IV. The Forest Attacks. 

Additional photos and video from the SHS Band performances, and information on upcoming fundraisers such as  the Super Sub Sale, are available on the band’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/shsbands. 



Meet the 2015 Southington H.S. Band

The 2015 Southington High School Band
at the USBands Open Class National Championships at the Met Life

More from Appleseed by Dick Fortunato presents excerpts of his weekly Appleseed column as published in the Southington Citizen plus more unpublished stories about the warm spirit of the people of the greater Southington Community. This e-newsletter is posted on the internet as a community service.

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