Bits and pieces: COVID boosters available at Wheeler; budget hearings set; Bristol Trail Study to hold info meeting; Lt. DeMonte and Sgt. Hamzy scholarship application deadline; latest COVID stats and more

Posted By: Staff March 1, 2023

Wheeler offers COVID-19 boosters at five locations during March

COVID-19 booster shot clinics are being offered at Wheeler’s five Family Health & Wellness Centers on Wednesdays in March, as well as the Plainville Senior Center through Wheeler’s Mobile Family Health & Wellness Center, on March 20 and April 10. No appointment or referral is needed, and insurance cards and IDs are recommended.

The Wednesday clinics are offered on March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22 and March 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the following locations:

  • ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 10 North Main Street, Bristol
  • ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 40 Hart Street, New Britain
  • ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 43 Woodland Street, Hartford
  • ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 91 Northwest Drive, Plainville
  • ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 855 Lakewood Road, Waterbury

Covid booster vaccine clinics also will be offered through Wheeler’s Mobile Family Health Wellness Center stationed at the Plainville Senior Center from 9:30 a.m. to noon on:

  • ·       Monday, March 20, 2023, Plainville Senior Center, 200 East Street, Plainville
  • ·       Monday, April 10, 2023, Plainville Senior Center, 200 East Street, Plainville

Boosters for children as well as adults will be provided.

Finance board to hold budget hearing for Parks, Pine Lake and library

The Board of Finance will hold a Budget Hearing on Thursday, March 2, at 6 p.m in City Hall West Meeting Room 1, 131 North Main St.

For budget packet, click here. To access the meeting virtually, go to this link: https://bristolct-gov.zoom.us/j/83403921047?pwd=WkZhN052YlVXTFRhM3RjMnd2VmtTUT09 ; use the following when prompted: Meeting ID: 834 0392 1047 and Passcode: 12345.

Naugatuck Valley Council to hold session to discuss Bristol Trail Study

The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) will hold a public information and input meeting for the upcoming Bristol Trail Study on Wednesday, March 8, at 6 p.m. in Meeting room 2 at Bristol Public Library.

The council will be gathering information and answering questions about the study and the proposed trail. Additionally, the project team will discuss the study process and provide the community with ways to receive future updates on the study status.

The study, done in collaboration with the City of Bristol, will recommend options to provide for a connection between Rockwell Park in the west to Downtown, continuing east to Route 229.

The meeting and presentation will be accessible via zoom by entering bit.ly/Trailstudy into a web browser. Language assistance may be requested by emailing contactus@nvcogct.gov or calling Desira Blanchard at 203-489-0353 at least 2 business days prior to the meeting.

Scholarship honoring Lt. DeMonte and Sgt. Hamzy available

Graduating high school seniors at Bristol Central High School and Bristol Eastern High School who are pursuing a major in public safety and/or criminal justice may apply for the Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy Public Safety Scholarship. The deadline is March 10, and two $1,500 scholarships will be awarded, one to a student at each high school.

Applications are available at the guidance offices at the respective high schools. The scholarship is offered by the Bristol Board of Education, in collaboration with the Bristol Police Department, from a newly established fund in the name of the officers through the Main Street Community Foundation.

Exchange Club to hold ‘Honoring Heroes’ program in July

The Greater Bristol Exchange Club will be honoring the late police officers Lt. Dustin DeMonte and Sgt. Alex Hamzy, along with Officer Alec Iurato as this year’s “Police Officers of the Year” at its “Honoring Heroes” program at the Aqua Turf Grand Ball Room on June 29.

DeMonte and Hamzy were struck down in the line of duty in an Oct. 12 shooting. Iurato, who was injured in the same incident, is credited for stopping the shooter.

Proceeds from the event will go to the “Fund the First,” a fund which was set up in honor of our deceased officers, and to assist their families.

Tickets are available online at Honoring Heroes Tickets. For sponsorships, go to Sponsorships.

For information, contact Exchange Club program director, Jack Ferraro at TheBristolExchangeClub@gmail.com.

Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services
seeks Youth and Prevention Leaders Award nominations

Nominations are being sought for the City of Bristol Department of Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services’s 31st Annual Youth and Prevention Leaders Awards.

Nomination forms for both individual and youth groups are available online at www.bristolrec.com.
Submit completed applications via e-mail to Jazzya Coakley, assistant to the BPRYCS superintendent, at JazzyaCoakley@bristolct.gov by Friday, March 31 at 4:30 p.m. Award recipients will be honored at an annual ceremony held on May 10.

Direct questions to 860-314-4690. For more information, please visit www.BristolRec.com.

Bristol Hospital bed capacity

As of Feb. 28, 61.3 percent or on average 82.1 of 134 adult staffed hospital beds, the same as the previous week, were occupied at Bristol Hospital, according to the State of Connecticut’s Data and Analytics division.

During the same week, the number of occupied staffed ICU beds remained at 64 percent or 9 of 14 from the previous reporting period.

Latest COVID-19 stats

Bristol’s COVID-19 positivity rate is 6.4 percent down from 7.5 percent the previous week, with 24 positive case down from 27 positive cases the previous week, leaving Bristol in the high category with over 15 cases per 100,000 people. Hartford County is in the medium category again this week.

The CDC recommends that people at high risk for severe illness, talk to their healthcare provider about whether to need to wear a mask and take other precautions. In addition, the CDC reminds people to take the following measures:

‘2023 Dinner on the Diamond’ tickets on sale

Tickets for the “Second Annual Dinner on the Diamond,” benefiting the Friends of Bristol Parks and Recreation Fund, are now on sale.

The date for the fundraiser is Saturday, May 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. The event includes dinner and entertainment directly on the infield at historic Muzzy Field. The celebration not only kicks of fsummer in style but celebrates Bristol’s local parks and recognizes community partners.

The Friends of Bristol Parks and Recreation Fund is administered through the Main Street Community Foundation. For information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Boys & Girls sets date for annual gala

The Boys & Girls Club of Bristol is hosting its second annual gala on Saturday, April 22, at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville from 5 to 10 p.m. Entitled the “Future Stars” Gala this event will highlight accomplishments BB&GC youth and future goals.

Tickets are available at www.bbgc.org/gala. Questions about sponsorships or advertising opportunities may be directed to Rayshe Ramirez, Associate Director of Resource Development, at 860-540-3150.

‘Taste of Bristol’ certificates for sale

This year’s West End Association’s “Taste of Bristol” certificates, offering a one-time discount of 20 percent off the total bill at 35 local restaurants during March and April are on sale at the following:

  • AUTOMOTIVE PLUS – 534 Broad St
  • BEACON PHARMACY – 57 South St
  • BITES & BREW – 785 Terryville Ave
  • CASA BLEND – 14 East Main
  • DUSTY DUDE WOODWORKS – 1 Richmond Pl
  • EXPRESSO CAFE -95-97 Maple Ave
  • FAMILY ROOTS PRODUCE – 370 Riverside Ave
  • GREER’S CHICKEN – 64 Matthew St
  • HAMELIN & SONS AUTO REPAIR – 64 West St
  • JIMMYS ON THE RIVER – 249 Terryville Rd.
  • KIND CARE  SALES OFFICE – 430 N Main St
  • PAPI’S KITCHEN – 25 Middle St
  • PARKSIDE CAFE – 224 North Main St
  • SCHOOL STREET STUDIOS – 173 School St
  • SOUTH SIDE MEAT MARKET – 141 West St
  • TONMY’S PLACE & MARKET – 1277 Stafford Ave

Proceeds from the fundraiser are used to further the mission of the association, which is to help create and maintain a safe, friendly and family-oriented neighborhood filled with thriving businesses, convenient public transportation, and attractive amenities and activities.

Purchasers present the certificate at the time of purchase. The certificates are $5 each. In addition, purchasers may also enter a raffle for over $500 in restaurant gift certificates with over 25 prizes of $10 to $50 in value. Some restrictions apply.

For more information, contact Jesse Jablon at (860) 620-2771.

Connecticut seniors among the most tech savvy

A Seniorly study, “States with the Most Tech-Savvy Seniors,” using the latest data from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the Department of Health & Human Services lists Connecticut seniors as the 17th most tech-savvy in America.

The study states 90.7 percent of Connecticut seniors own a computer, 85.2 percent have an Internet subscription, 20 percent work remotely and 50 percent use telehealth. On average, Connecticut senior spend $297 annually on technology.

Nationally, a record percentage of seniors are texting (82 percent), using smart phones (65 percent), shopping (63 percent), banking (62 percent), using wearable technology (11 percent), taking classes (9 percent), and working remotely (9 percent).

Shady Oaks Assisted Living in Bristol is a Seniorly partner. There are several other Seniorly partners in Farmington and New Britain.

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