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Sunday, May 12, 2013

My Mother, My Life

It is Mother's Day -

Honor your father and mother. This is the first commandment with a promise. - Ephesians 6:1 -

I remember my mother’s prayers; they have always followed me. The have clung to me all my life. – Abraham Lincoln

My mother carried me into this world. I cannot remember a time during my years of growing up when she was not the central person of my world.

She and my father were my providers, protectors, nurturers, educators and the source of my faith. It was their encouragement and inspiration that prepared me to meet adulthood and responsibility as a husband, father, productive citizen, patriot and faithful disciple of Jesus Christ.

Whatever your faith and beliefs, your mother, with your father, is by definition, the source of you are! I know that God, by whatever name humans may refer to him, chose Mothers as his instrument in carrying on the labor of His creation. To this day I am forever grateful for the mother he chose for me.

The memory of my mother is forever etched in my spirit as the precious essence of beauty, love and hope.

I love you, mom.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

"Touch a Fire Truck" - Magic Words for Kids



When I was a boy I loved fire trucks.  I figured all kids liked fire trucks.  Didn't you?  I remember, through the years, how many kids received a toy fire truck on Christmas or a birthday. But it wasn't just fire trucks that captured the young minds of kids, awakening them to fantasies and unimaginable possibilities.  I think I was five years old on a Christmas morning when I received my first, (then, state-of-the-art), Buck Rogers Rocket Ship. Wish I could remember the journeys into space and things I imagined playing with that little toy. 

Growing up, of course, we learned that we had to make way for fire trucks, ambulances and police chase vehicles because their mission was always a vital matter where every moment counted in the protection of life and property. Their loud blaring horns and wailing sirens alert us that brave rescuers are on their way to fight danger.

Next Saturday, May 18, 2013 from 10 am to 3 pm, we have an exciting opportunity for kids of all ages to attend the 11th Annual "Touch-A-Truck" event which will take place in the parking area behind the Derynoski Elementary School, entrance off of Eden Avenue. (Rain Date: Sunday, May 19th).

Not only will there be fire trucks to inspect, but an array of vehicles and equipment such as, military trucks, an Army helicopter, rescue vehicles, fire engines, police vehicles, an animal control car, school bus, operation life saver, (railroad crossing), cement mixer, motorcycles, garbage truck, mail truck, tree truck, Channel 8 mobile weather station vehicle and many more!  


To enliven the ambiance, there'll be music, colorful characters roaming through the crowds,  face painting, free items offered to kids and raffle prizes.  Food and drink will be available.

“Come for an hour or two or better still, spend the day!”, says Auxiliary volunteer Sherri Valentin, “and enjoy this eye-filling display for only $3.00 per child. Kids under 2 are free and $1.00 for adults. 


Sponsoring the event are the American Legion Auxiliary, Kiltonic Post 72 and Southington's Park and Recreation Department. 

The entire proceeds will go to help fund Children and Youth programs in our community.  

It promises to be a wonder-filled family day where children will be permitted to climb on dozens of intriguing vehicles to explore, pretend and dream. I'll be there enjoying the carnival of sights, sounds and looks on the children's faces. See you there.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

In Sickness and Healing, Time to Think!

I just looked at my blog and saw that this is my first post in over a month.

There's nothing like a series of bouts with one's health, in this case, issues of the digestive tract, to slow one  down to a near halt.  At my age or any age, I suppose, it's something that abruptly interrupts the steady stream of even our most routine day-to-day activities. I've considered that it may be especially challenging for the type "A" person within so many of us, those of us who need to have all our ducks in a row and be on top of things.  This leads me to wonder if there's an elementary force known as The Law of Inertia that prevents us from "stopping the world, I want to get off", and then the same law that tells us to stop fighting and just rest. Or maybe that is another Natural Law at work, the "instinct to survive" telling us to listen to our body's signals. At that point your brain takes over and compels you to accept what is happening and that you need to shut out all other concerns.  In obeying the commands of my body, my mind took over and gave me a lot of time to think about what is most important.  I think of that spiritual process as prayer and trust me I was calling on God to help get me through. That old Devil Pain comes along and reminds you that while it like the devil, it's but another one of God's Laws of Nature demanding you through your body to stop and pay attention to what is going on.

So, I tried hard to be a good patient and did exactly as I was told and awaited the medical cavalry to take charge of my rescue.  I was very fortunate, from the moment I entered the emergency room at Bradley Hospital, with an extremely caring and competent doctor, nurses and technicians to make it to the Intermediate Care Unit where I was officially "admitted" to the hospital in the wee hours.

After almost a week in a regular hospital room surrounded by efficient doctors, nurses and aides who genuinely won my respect and trust, I was up to having my wife take me home to rest and continue the therapy of medication, diet and a modified daily regime.  Gave me time to read, think and pray some more, all of which gradually re-opened my cerebral processes.

I considered how good my family and friends were with their visits, phone calls, cards, flowers and various expressions of caring. One thing I didn't let go of but held on tight to is my faith.  So, I thank God.  I thank Him for the great lady who is my devoted wife and nurse at home and in the hospital, my children and grandchildren, good friends and associates and especially the staff at Bradley Memorial Hospital in Southington for getting me through for another day of writing.

Next time you're feeling that your're indispensable, maybe you'll think of this story.

Good health and Godspeed.


Sincere thanks to:

Vince, Karen, Rich, Debbie, Allison, Lindsey, Rob, Greg, Ann Marie and Bill, Joe, Maggie, Mike, MaryAnne, Leeanne, Jackie, Doris Smith, Donna Toce, Rev. Jim Debner, Rev. Sandy Koenig, Rev. Fr. Henry Frascadore, Bob and Cathy, Fr. Simon Devereaux and the Mustard Seed, Mikki, Gen & Will, Dennis Kelly, Paul Sirois, John  DiSantis and the Knights of Columbus, Robin Michel, Ruth Heering, Joy Irish, Carol Newton, Eldon Hafford, Mary DeCroce and St. Dominic Parish.

Finally, please join me in appreciating the continued presence of Bradley Memorial Hospital in our midst.  I salute their staff especially, Emergency Room Dr. Contanstine "Tine" Mesologites and his night staff; Hospitalist Dr. Brian Beaulieu, and those always there for me Nurses Denise, Carrington, Meghan Brennan, Pina, Skila, Justyna, Rennette, and two housekeepers who did their work with cheerful greetings each time they entered my room. Of course, there are others whose names I was no doubt too out of touch at times to remember.



Friday, April 5, 2013

Look at what The Calendar House Senior Center in Southington is offering residents 55 or more? Computer Classes at a Very Modest Cost


Are you 55 or more?  Learn about Computer Classes Today

Where? At the Calendar House Senior Center’s Computer Learning Center in Southington,CT. 

A brand new session of Computer Classes starts on April 30th and runs through June 20, 2013.

The Summer 2013 Session will be held at the Calendar House in its’s state of the art Computer Learning Center Lab.

In this cyberspace digital age, everyone needs to learn more about computers, using the Internet for shopping, information, education, and communications, E-mail, maintaining your computer and managing your files and folders, word processing and much more. Courses range from a class for absolute beginners as well as those at intermediate or more advanced levels of experience. The pace is set especially for those who have not used computers all of their lives.

It’s a great learning opportunity at moderate tuition fees of only $25.00 per course made possible by a trained and experience all-volunteer staff of instructors who work at a pace for effective learning and students have the opportunity for extra practice or help in open lab times. Tuition Note: Computer Basics for Beginners tuition fee is only $5.00. This provides students an opportunity to take a very affordable four-week exploratory session.  There are no other student costs for this program.  Note: Tuition payments, check or cash only, are required at registration.

Registration dates for the Summer Session are Monday, April 8th and April 22nd

Arrive as early as 8:30 am at Calendar House where you’ll be promptly met and offered an application for the class of your choice until each class is filled. First-come, first served, so prompt arrival is suggested.  With you application, you’ll be enrolled by our registration team in the Perry Room for our registration team beginning at 9 am and until 10:30 am. The second registration on April 22nd will follow the same procedure and time for any classes still open.

For information, or if you cannot be present on the two Monday registration dates, please contact Peter at 860-479-9064 or email at geekoplex@cox.net or Mark at 860-621-3779 or email at c.mark.white@cox.net
Summer Session Course Descriptions.

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS: An 8-week course for students who’ve had Computer Basics for Beginners and are comfortable with the mouse, keyboard and are ready to move to the next level. Course builds a foundation for more advanced courses by providing instruction in the elements of computers, how to (1) create and manage files and fold-ers; (2) create, edit, cut, copy, paste and save word processing documents; (3) a tour of the Internet; and (4) a starter introduction to e-mail including compose, send, reply, forward, attachments, and more.
Computer Class in Action
Thurs., May 2nd to June 20th 1 to 3pm Instructor: Mark White.

COMPUTER BASICS FOR BEGINNERS*: A four-week course for those with little or no computer experience. It’s an opportunity to explore your interest in learning to use computers. Introduces the student to the parts of a computer you need to know: the screen, mouse, keyboard, CPU & printer; and the elements and advantages of using a computer. Session 1: Thurs., May 2nd to May 23rd 9 to 11am -Session 2: Thurs., May 30th to June 20th 9 to 11am  *Tuition for this course is $5.00. Instructor: Neil Kucinkas. Note: For the convenience of more advanced students, the Computer Basics for Beginners course or the equivalent in experience is a pre-requisite for all other courses offered.

MANAGING WINDOWS 7 FILES AND FOLDERS: A six-week course that will help you organize the files, folders, and photos on your computer, both on Windows 7 and XP. You will learn how to create new files and folders, as well as find, move, copy, rename, and delete them, in order to stay organized. You will place related files and folders into new folders, as well as type short documents, find info on line, and save this info on your hard and flash drives. Tuesdays, April 30 thru June 4 1pm - 3:00pm Instructor: Linda Tourtellotte.

LIBRE OFFICE WORD PROCESSING: A four-week program that covers all of the basics of word processing to include; document formatting, cut and paste, spell check, emailing documents, editing, inserting pictures, and other basic word processing skills. Included with the course is a full word processing software suite is absolutely FREE as part of this Tuesdays, May 7 to May 28 9 - 11am Instructor: Peter Freeman.

IPAD BASICS: This six week workshop will cover the basics of using your iPad, keeping the system up to date, purchasing “Apps”, using the camera, emailing to friends, using calendar functions, surfing the internet, and fiddling with all the features that this truly magical machine brings to your computing world. You must own or borrow an iPad and bring it to class. Tuesdays, April 30th thru June 4th 1 - 3pm Instructor: Peter Freeman.

PRACTICAL WEB USE: This six-week course will help you use the internet in a practical way in your daily life. Save time and money by searching the web before you make travel or entertainment plans, purchase major items, make medical & retirement decisions, etc. Expand your knowledge of the web by entering web site addresses, navigating to various sites, and using hyperlinks. Learn how to change your home page, check for computer updates, and organize your favorite sites.
Wednesdays, May 1st thru June 5th 9 - 11 am Instructor: Linda Tourtellotte.


Thursday, April 4, 2013

Hey Southington: STEPS Kids Rally Call for Relay for Life 2013

Southington STEPS Up To Cancer:

STEPS Kids Launch Relay for Life Team

By E. Richard Fortunato

2012 Relay for Life Candlelight Ceremony
Here’s a perfect living example of how S.T.E.P.S, (Southington’s Town-wide Efforts to Promote Success), is working with our entire community to develop  and building personal assets in our youngest citizens.  STEPS is walking with parents, our schools and the community to grow great kids. And, our kids are stepping up to the challenges of proactive citizenship.

The STEPS kids have organized and are already working to support Relay for Life in Southington this year with a Relay for Life team they’ve dubbed: Southington STEPS Up to Cancer. STEPS Kids are doing this to help and connect with the Southington Relay for Life cause in fighting Cancer to save lives.

With Southington’s annual Relay for Life less than two months away, the spectacular two-day event to fight cancer is getting ready to step off at 4:00 pm, Friday, May 31, 2013 at Southington High School’s Athletic Field, continuing around the clock into Saturday, June 1st.

Thousands have walked in Southington's annual Relay for Life, successfully raising money in many ways each year to battle Cancer. This year STEPS, (Southington’s Town-wide Efforts to Promote Success), has organized a Relay for Life Team of students who are proactively engaged in the STEPS movement in their schools, within the Youth Council and throughout the community. They've dubbed their team: Southington STEPS Up To Cancer.

As of April 3rd, forty-three teams and 327 participants in have begun to shape up their campaigns, having already raised $29,105.67 for Relay for Life.

Co-Team Captains Trever Medeiros Rogers and Sarah Lamb said their team has worked energetically to create an exciting website to promote their campaign.

The team and members of the Southington High School Key Club will be selling wrist bands for $1.00 each to students who would like to participate in a Hat Day at school on Friday, April 11th.

The wrist bands will be sold during lunch period at school on Wednesday April 10, Thursday April 11, and during homeroom on Hat Day itself, Friday, April 11th. Rogers stated that inappropriate hats will not be permitted.

The STEPS team is promoting the sale of memorial luminaries to people who want to honor their loved ones as well as cancer survivors. The team will also be soliciting sponsors for kids walking laps around the track starting Friday, May 31, 2013 at 4:00 pm and into Saturday, June 1st at the S.H.S. Athletic Field. As of April 4, 2013 the Southington STEPS Up To Cancer website shows that the team has already achieved just over 50 % of its goal of $1,000.

Donations will be gratefully accepted on line at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Southingtonstepsuptocancer
Join the team of Sarah Lamb, Trever Rogers, Kevin Lalla, Kyle Lalla Chris Lamb, Diane Lamb, Kelly Leppard, Shane Lockwood, Marissa Matarazzo and Jason Soltys and save the dates of May 31st and June1st.

Great idea kids:

Connecting STEPS, Building Personal Assets and Growing Great Kids, with Relay for Life fighting Cancer to save lives.

STEPS: Growing Great Kids

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Calvanese Foundation Set for a Black Tie Event with a Green & White Theme as a Tribute to Newtown

Calvanese Gala: A Black Tie, Green & White Event Will Be a Tribute to Newtown

 By E. Richard Fortunato

Hope Springs Eternal is  the theme of the Calvanese Foundation's Spring Green & White Gala event at Aqua Turf on Saturday evening, April 6th at 6:30 pm.  It's their 15th Annual Gala and in view of the nature of this year's theme and tribute to Newtown, the Gala promises to be grand, drawing interest from around the state and beyond.  

Joe and Kaye Calvanese Foundation Treasurer, Kathy Reinhard, can hardly hold her excitement and anticipation this week's extraordinary event which has all the elements of a spectacular evening. 

For the people of Newtown and those who have shown such great compassion from everywhere, the organizers are hoping for a great success.  Reinhard said that the generosity of people is so fulfilling and gratifying.  Thus far, she indicated, items such as the food, the entertainment, floral arrangements, the photo favors and invitations have all been donated. The goal is to have everything donated. That would mean that the full revenue from ticket prices and all monetary gifts from sponsors can be donated to the "Town of Newtown Private Purpose Fund”, Reinhard said. Much more information about that fund can be read on the Town of Newtown's web site.”

Meanwhile,  as for the live auction, funds raised will remain in Southington and will be go towards The Green and White fund for Behavioral Health.  Reinhard noted that the auction will be held under the auspices of the Calvanese Foundation but it will be administered by someone in the Behavioral Health field.

Our hope and our plan is to service anyone who has a mental health issue who is uninsured or whose insurance does not cover the, (cost of), counseling or medications needed.

Be sure to link to website of the Joe and Kaye Calvanese Foundation, for more information and and details. Tickets, at $100.00 per person; include hot and cold hors d'oeuvres, meal, open bar, dancing, raffles and live auction. WFSB Channel 3 has also partnered with Calvanese to get the information out state-wide. A grand Gala Dinner and Ball for an outstanding cause.

2 April 2013

Giving Back Girls

Join the Giving Back Girls in Southington as they fill a Fire Truck with Food for the Hungry

Help the Giving Back Girls in their drive to Fill A Fire Truck with food items so vitally needed by the Southington Food Pantry.

This Sunday April 7, 2013 from 10 am to 3 pm The Giving Back Girls will be at Walmart and with the help of town-wide support will be working energetically to “FILL THAT FIRE TRUCK” for Southington Community Services.

You know there are always those in our own midst who are hungry and too any know the pain of hunger.

Please help fill the Southington Fire Truck that will be at Walmart on Sunday April 7th from 10 am to 3 pm. Whether you can give one item or more, the point is this need cries out for everyone's help.


The food items most urgently needed by the Southington Food Pantry are listed below for your information.

Tuna Fish - Macaroni and Cheese - Snacks Canned vegetables - Household paper goods - Canned Fruit - Canned Pasta (ex. Chef Boy R Dee) - Juice boxes - Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste) - Peanut butter - Canned Soup - Jelly - Pasta Sauce and Cereal.

Please come visit us at Walmart on Sunday, April 7, 2013 and bring one or more food items to support this great cause of the Giving Back Girls, the Southington Fire Department and Southington Community Services.