Bits and pieces: Retired teachers visit Military Museum; American Legion postpones Vietnam Recognition Day event; COVID stats and hospital capacity numbers

Posted By: Staff March 22, 2023

Bristol Area Retired Teachers donate to Military Museum

Mike Thomas, president of the Military Museum, receives a donation from Angela Stortz, program chair of the Bristol Area Retried Teachers association. | Photo courtesy of Charlene Berube

Members of the Bristol Area Retired Teachers Association attended a program at the Military Museum and made donations to the museum, which is located at the Bristol Historical Society, on March 8.

Twelve retired teachers presented individual checks to the museum. A member of the teachers group, Michael Thomas is president of the Military Museum.

The groups also toured other exhibits at the historical society during their visit.

American Legion program Vietnam Day program moved from March 29 to a date to be determined

The Vietnam Lapel Pin presentation along with a program honoring of the late former Mayor Art Ward has been delayed from March 29 until the display case where the items will be stored arrives, according to an email from the local American Legion Post 2.

March 29 is when the state celebrates Vietnam Recognition Day.

Ward was the driving force behind finding a home for the items left at the Wall That Heals when it came to Bristol in 2016, according to Neal Supranovich. When the Wall left it did not have room to take the items with it, and American Legion Post 2 collected the items. A search for a place to call home.  After a number of years and a few setbacks, one was found.  

In addition to the items collected at the Wall in 2016 as well as in a previous visit, the display case will hold items honoring the 17 Bristolites who lost their life in the Vietnam War.

 Before he passed, Ward began the fundraiser for the Vietnam program, intending to be the first to donate. The fundraiser continued with the first $100 donation in Ward’s name, with the instructions that the donation would be in Ward’s name. The donation was anonymous.

After that all other donations given were in Memory of Art Ward. The Korean Veterans Association covered the balance.

Wheeler offers COVID-19 boosters

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 April 10. No appointment or referral is needed, and insurance cards and IDs are recommended.

The Wednesday clinics are offered on 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 St., Bristol
  • ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 40 Hart St., New Britain
  • ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 43 Woodland St., Hartford
  • ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 91 Northwest Dr., Plainville
  • ·       Wheeler Family Health & Wellness Center, 855 Lakewood Rd., 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 St., Plainville
  • ·       Monday, April 10, 2023, Plainville Senior Center, 200 East St., Plainville

Boosters for children as well as adults will be provided.

Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services Youth and Prevention Leaders Award nominations due by March 31

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.

Lions Club annual breakfast fundraiser to be held April 2

The Lion Club will hold its 50th annual Pancake Breakfast with the Easter Bunny fundraiser on Palm Sunday, April 2, from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon at the Bristol Elks Club, 126 South St.

The breakfast, featuring pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice, coffee and tea, is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children ages 3-12 with children under 3-years-old free. All proceeds benefit the Lions Club mission.

The Bristol Connecticut Lions Club is one of the oldest clubs in Connecticut, chartered in 1926, and is a member of Lions Clubs International, a global service organization of 1.35 million men and women dedicated to serving their communities.

The club’s motto is “We Serve,” which exemplifies its commitment to the betterment of its fellow citizens. The group meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the New England Carousel Museum, Riverside Avenue.

RTC Lincoln Dinner set April 14

The Bristol Republican Town Committee will hold its 2023 Lincoln Day Dinner on April 14, at the Double Tree By Hilton Banquet Facility.

With the theme, “Building A Better Future,” the evening features Mayor Erin Stewart of New Britain and State Senator Ryan Fazio of the 36th District. Bristol Mayor Jeffrey Caggiano is master of ceremonies.

Tickets are $65 a person and are available on the RTC Facebook page. Click here.

Monthly fundraiser supports American Legion Boys State program

The monthly American Legion Breakfast will be held Saturday, April 15, from 8 to 11 a.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Hall, 355 Camp St. Donation $8, all proceeds go to The American Legion Boys State Program.

Breakfast includes two eggs, bacon or sausage with melted American cheese on a hard roll or pancakes plain or chocolate chips, including coffee and a variety of juices.

Annual HIV/AIDS/HCV education forum offers training opportunity

The annual HIV Educational Forum sponsored by Bristol Mayor’s Task Force on HIV/AIDS/HCV will be held on April 26 at the Bristol Public Library at 5 High St.

This event has an overall theme of Hepatitis C infection and HIV/AIDS infection. Topics and speakers include the following:

  • Dr. Daniel N. Smiley, Connecticut GI  – History of Hepatitis C Diagnosis and Treatment,
  • Dr. Rebecca Eleck, Wheeler Health – Hepatitis C in the Primary Care Setting,
  • Gina D’Angelo and Venesha Heron, Connecticut Department of Public Health – Connected ‘Til the End: Eliminating HCV and Ending the HIV Epidemic and
  • Deanne Walsh, DNP, AAHIVS, Merck & Co., Inc. – Social Determinants of Health.

Attendance for the forum is free, having been supported by donations from Merck & Co, Inc. and a grant from the Clinton S. Roberts Foundation.

The workshop doors open for registration at 8:30 a.m. The workshop will end at 1 p.m. Breakfast and late morning refreshments will be offered. Click here to register: https://forms.gle/7WJZChRa7EvRxCUh6.

The Bristol Mayor’s Task Force on HIV/AIDS was created in 1991 and continues to have representative membership from consumers, medical, social service and treatment providers and Bristol residents. The group meets monthly and plans five educational events per year.

Continuing education credits are being applied for through the Connecticut Certification Board, the Connecticut Nurses Association and the National Association of Social Workers. For more information, contact David Ryan, Chairperson at DRyan@wheelerclinic.org or (860) 224-6315.

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.

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.

Exchange Club to hold ‘Honoring Heroes’ program in June

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 Hospital bed capacity

As of March 21, 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 3.4 percent up from 2.5 percent the previous week, with 11 positive cases up from 8 positive cases the previous week, leaving Bristol in the high category with more than 15 cases per 100,000 people. Hartford County is in the low 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:

All TBE readers, supporters and donors                

The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.                

  • Non-members will be able to access four (4) articles per week.                
  • Free readers and people who have subscribed by email will be able to access four (4) articles per week.                
  • Donors and financial supporters will have unlimited access as long as they log in.                

Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.