ESPN layoffs announced Monday, the first of two rounds through the summer
ESPN will begin laying off employees as part of parent company Disney’s costing-cutting measures, several news venues reported earlier this week. Disney expects to let go 7,000 employees in this round. A second-round of cuts is expected during the summer.
A Sports Business Journal article posted Monday includes the letter informing employees of the cuts. For the letter, from ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro, click here.
Main Street Community Foundation elects Wolcott resident to board
Andrea Lanese, director of Global Talent Acquisition & Development for Barnes in Bristol, has been elected to the Main Street Community Foundation Board of Directors.
A Wolcott resident, born and raised there, Andrea is an avid volunteer with organizations running the gamut of interests and motivations from the Girls Scouts of America to Relay for Life.
BEHS seeking new assistant principal
Bristol Eastern High School is seeking to fill an assistant principal position, with the resignation of Jeremy Gervais, who is leaving for a new position at Glastonbury High School. The new assistant principal position is effective July 1.
Bristol schools institutes new athletic contest policy
Bristol Public Schools has instituted a new policy that requires athletic coordinators or administrators from each of the high schools to be at every athletic contest as it is being played. In previous seasons, coordinators were not required for every event. The new policy is among the first instituted by the new athletic director for the city, Cera Orner.
Main Street Community Foundation seeking grant applications for The Broadview Fund through April 28
Main Street Community Foundation is accepting grant applications for The Broadview Fund, which supports projects and organizations that benefit the social needs and diverse cultures of Bristol residents.
Deadline for applications is 4 p.m. on April 28. All letters of inquiry should be submitted via email to kate@mainstreetfoundation.org.
More information about the application process can be found at www.mainstreetfoundation.org/apply-for-grant, and for more information on The Broad View Fund or the Main Street Community Foundation, call 860.583.6363 or visit www.mainstreetfoundation.org.
The Broadview Fund was established in 2016 by Bristol residents, Bob Alim, Bob Boudreau, and Kevin Prior, collectively known as BBK, to support organizations with new programs or requests that enhance, oxpand, or add a new dimension to an existing program.
Grants from The Broadview Fund have been in the $10,000-$20,000 range to a single organization over the last several years. However, the Fund’s advisors may choose to split the award between two organizations in any given year.
Clock & Watch Museum to hold watch identification event on April 29
A watch identification event will be held at the American Clock & Watch Museum on Saturday, April 29.
Micah Tasker of TheVintageWatchMan.com will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help participants learn about the history of their watches. (Please note: Museums are restricted by law, so we will not be able to provide appraisal values at this event. Depending on the number of patrons attending, evaluations may be limited to three per person.)
A fee of $10 will be charged for each watch and museum admission is included. For more information about this event, contact the museum (860-583-6070) or contact Patti Philippon, executive director at director@clockmuseum.org.
Comedian to be featured speaker at WOW event in May
Christine O’Leary, nationally known comedian, will be the guest speaker at this year’s Wonder of Women (WOW) event on May 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville.
A Connecticut resident, O’Leary has worked with the top comedians in the business, including Gilbert Gottfried, Joy Behar, Chevy Chase and Tracy Morgan. She was the first women ever to host a fundraising event for the CIA.
An annual event, WOW proceeds support grants for programs that make it possible for women and girls in Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington, and Wolcott to improve the conditions and opportunities in their lives.
Since its establishment in 2001 as a community-based endowment, the Women’s and Girls Fund, through MSCF has awarded over $718,000 in grants and immediate response funds.
Last year over $43,000 was awarded, and since the establishment of the Fund, over $718,000 has been awarded to local nonprofits.
Tickets are $65 per person and can be purchased today by sending payment via check to Main Street Community Foundation, P.O. Box 2702, Bristol, CT 06010.
For questions or additional information, contact Samantha Rajotte, Scholarship & Program Officer at Main Street Community Foundation, at 860-583-6363 or samantha@mainstreetfoundation.org.
‘Broadway on the Boulevard’ gala slated for May 6
“Broadway on the Boulevard,” celebrating the grand opening of the Rockwell Theater at the Bristol Arts and Innovation Magnet School will not only feature Bristol native and New York performer Kevin Raponey but also local talent.
The evening program will kick off at 5 p.m. with a reception in the art gallery and black box theater. Hors
d’oeuvres and mocktails will be served during an open gallery experience featuring local art as
well as live musical performances.
At 6 p.m., the theater will open and the evening’s entertainment will begin.
Tickets for “Broadway on the Boulevard” at $50. Proceeds from the event will support the Rockwell Theater fund, supporting activities and performances in Bristol.
Vietnam-era veteran’s ‘Spouse Appreciation Day’ to be held May 13 at Bristol Public Library; participants asked to register by May 6
Vietnam-era serving veterans’ “Spouse Appreciation Day” will be held May 13 at the Bristol Public Library, 5 High St. Spouses and families are asked to register by May 6 to ensure everyone is properly recognized. Email www.bristollib.com or phone (860) 584-7787 ext. 3.
A Certificate of Thanks and Appreciation from the Bristol community will be presented to spouses or immediate family members. Spouses may receive a red or white carnation, honoring their Vietnan-era veteran (living or deceased).
Spouses and/or immediate family members of Vietnam-era veterans surviving anywhere in the world between 1955 and May 1975, and who do not need to have served in a conflict, are eligible. Spouses may have been married to Vietnam-era veterans at any point in their lives during or after the 1955-1975 era.
Wheeler 38th annual golf tournament fundraiser set for Sept. 13
Wheeler’s 38th Annual Golf Classic, presented by Mutual of America Financial Group for the fifth consecutive year, will take place at The Country Club of Farmington on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Registration is open, and sponsors, players, and prize donors are welcome.
Proceeds from this event will support our planned community health center and flagship location in Bristol, which will provide convenient, whole-health services for the whole family in one convenient location.
In 2022, the Golf Classic event grossed a record-breaking $100,000 to support individuals and families in care through Wheeler’s Basic Needs Fund, bringing the total amount raised since its inception to more than $1.3 million.
For more information, visit WheelerHealth.org/Golf or contact Sue O’Connell at 860.793.4214, 860-609-1583, or soconnell@wheelerclinic.org.
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 off summer 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 April 25, 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 2.2 percent down from 2.8 percent the previous week, with 6 positive cases down from 7 positive cases the previous week, leaving Bristol in the medium category with fewer 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:
- Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation.
- Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
- Get tested if you have symptoms.
- If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions.
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.
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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.