Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application He was the husband of Joan (Skiffington) Petro the son of the late Francis and Helen (Pizzola) Petro Sr David’s career spanned various positions in food service and lastly his favorite position as the Transportation Coordinator for the Wallingford Senior Center along with Nephews Paul Petro and Patrick Petro and three granddaughters David is also survived by a community of loving family and friends who will deeply miss his presence Arrangements- Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4 to 7 pm at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire Funeral services and committal will be held at the convenience of the family Memorial contributions may be made to Wallingford Senior Center 238 Washington Street Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors With Wallingford Regatta marking the start of the junior regatta season the Junior Women’s Eights category has 16 entries from across the country With the crews looking to place a marker down before the National Schools’ Regatta It wouldn’t be a Junior Women’s rowing event without the formidable Headington School Oxford Boat Club that several of their top athletes are racing for GB at the Munich Regatta this weekend meaning it may not be their full first eight after their second eight had a dominant win at the National Schools’ Regatta 2023 the Headington crew will still be fighting for a podium finish After coming third at the Schools’ Head of the River Race earlier in the season St Edward’s School Boat Club (Teddies) will be looking to establish a marker on Sunday Teddies is a boat club that is rapidly improving their female rowers racing at Coupe De La Jeunesse for GB last summer After coming third at Wallingford Regatta last year and later progressing to second at the National Schools’ Regatta last season Teddies will be looking to deliver a similar and perhaps an even better performance I predict Teddies to be challenging for the win on Sunday Shiplake College Boat Club are showing the true depth of their squad A strong second place finish at the Schools’ Head of the River Race places them in a good position especially given it won’t be Headington’s top crew It will be interesting to see the gaps between St Edward’s and Shiplake given it was only 0.2 seconds separating them during the Schools’ Head Wallingford Rowing Club is another programme that continues to develop year on year and has reached a point where they are now challenging for podiums in the Junior Women’s eights After coming second in the coxed four at National Schools’ Regatta last year the Wallingford girls have now entered an even more competitive category and will be hoping to continue on their upwards trajectory After their National Schools’ Regatta win in 2021 the Lady Eleanor Holles Boat Club (LEH) Senior squad have been missing from podium positions at national events This cohort of girls seems to be learning from race-to-race and are delivering results that place them at the front of the pack It won’t be an easy task for these girls to fight for a win but it is one that I believe is possible – and this weekend could prove pivotal in the National Schools’ Regatta campaign After a perhaps disappointing Schools’ Head of The River Race these girls will be back with a vengeance and aiming to hunt down the pack these girls will go out fighting and I suspect will be an improvement on their Schools’ Head of the River result Wycliffe Sculling Centre have entered an eight into this event Whilst there is limited knowledge of this crew so it’ll be interesting to see how they do There is also Surbiton High School Boat Club who will be looking to step on from their promising result from the School’s Head of the River Race as well as Godolphin and Latymer Boat Club I predict it will be a close battle for first place between Shiplake and Teddies I imagine Wallingford and Headington will be hot on their heels Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email In preparation for their historic showdown on the tideway Oxford and Cambridge have been taking on top competition from across the country I was both excited and a little sad about her recent announcement to leave rowing behind Following a successful first series in 2024 JRN is delighted to announce the second season of Sharing the Podium About Contact  Wallingford Regatta is the opening regatta of summer campaigns crews will look to break records throughout Sunday’s racing The Cooperative Funeral Care Trophy for Junior 15 eights is always a lively event with only 12 seconds separating the six crews in last year’s final The previous winners of the Wallingford Open Junior 15 Eight event will be aiming to replicate last year’s regatta where they won both the final and their heat Hampton School Boat Club finished third at the Schools’ Head of the River under three seconds behind opponents King’s College School Boat Club and were only a second slower to the Harrods mark point hinting at the fact they may be a crew more suited to the shorter 2k distance Placing second at the Schools’ Head of the River 40 days prior will fill this crew with confidence going into their first regatta of the season Returning from an early April camp to Cerlac King’s College School Boat Club find themselves in heat A where they will go head to head with local opponents Westminster School Boat Club A school that always performs at the top end of junior rowing Radley College Boat Club finished third at Wallingford in this event last year Fifth place at the School’s Head shows strength in this Radley cohort but a boat club of this standard will want more finishing ahead of Hampton, and will look to return to these heights A very strong junior crew, Westminster School Boat Club ended the Schools’ Head of the River in a competitive fourth place A Westminster octo also made an appearance in the J15 octos at the Junior Sculling Head suggesting that these athletes may be taking a hybrid sculling-sweep approach to their racing this year Could some speed found in sculling be brought over to their sweep racing The two-kilometre racing season is upon us once again Wallingford Regatta is a significant event in that it is the first major spring season regatta so the podium in the fiercely competitive Open Junior Eights category will likely decide which of the crews can hold their composure the best in the windy conditions It will be rousing to see the best schoolboy crews in the country face each other head-to-head and get an idea of how they may rank as we head inevitably closer to the National School’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta As winners of the School’s Head of the River Race St Paul’s School Boat Club are heading into this weekend as favourites for the gold medal They have brought in strong J17 talent since last year to bolster the ranks who was the fastest sweep athlete in the country at the Early ID GB trials the boat has several returning members from last year both of whom were in the GB U19 men’s coxless four last summer at the World Rowing Championships in Canada Despite their strong performance at the School’s Head of the River it will be crucial for the older athletes in this crew to develop the composure and calmness of the younger athletes if the gold medal is to be theirs on Sunday both St Paul’s and several of the other eights in this category will have already raced in the Challenge 8s category in the morning The third-place finishers from the School’s Head of the River Race are always contenders for medal position when the summer racing arrives with five of their nine athletes having competed for GB at the World Rowing Championships or at Coupe de la Jeunesse They additionally have the advantage of having rowed together for almost two seasons as only two of the athletes in this eight are newcomers from last year Eton are sure to want to prove themselves at Wallingford and I think that their experience and depth will allow them to do so Eton will also race the Challenge Eights in the morning so they will have the added difficulty of managing their effort and fatigue Completing the School’s Head of the River Race podium Shiplake College Boat Club will also be racing on Sunday They finished seven seconds behind St Paul’s so they are likely to be well in the mix on race day Shiplake has struggled to hold their winning speed at School’s Head into the later stages of the season they developed a final five hundred that allowed them much success They sprinted into third place at the National Schools’ Regatta and kicked past Radley and Eton to secure their spot in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup final last year Shiplake will not be racing in the morning so will enter the Junior Eights races with fresh legs This very possibly may give them the edge going into the final Hampton School Boat Club and St Edward’s School Boat Club are the two honourable mentions in this category They were very close behind Eton at the School’s Head of the River Race With so many crews so close together over 6.8km they are likely to be tightly packed for the shorter two-kilometre race the Junior Eights category at Wallingford Regatta is brimming with top-level talent and speed The racing on Sunday will be explosive and very entertaining I think it will be St Paul’s heading the podium the bronze and even silver medals will be hugely contested with the margins likely to be fractions of a second It would not be inconceivable for both Radley College Boat Club and King’s College School Boat Club to have a chance at that bronze medal is celebrating its 52nd year in business this year Longtime owner Peter Escobar officially passed the torch to Sean Gordon on March 31 “continuing the company’s legacy of quality service for residential and non-profit customers,” according to a news release Escobar will remain involved during the transition ensuring a “seamless transition and offering ongoing support,” the news release states Since purchasing the business nearly 23 years ago Escobar has remained committed to his original vision: building a company grounded in trust Colonial Flooring America embraced the “Room To Explore” showroom model—part of the Flooring America co-op—modernizing the customer experience and enhancing the company’s industry presence The business has been voted “Best Flooring Company” in the Record-Journal’s Readers Choice Awards 12 years in a row and holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau “My vision from the start was to build a business that people could trust – a place where we made a difference to customers by providing top-quality service,” Escobar said “It has been my honor to impact people’s homes and businesses and give back to the community.” New owner Sean Gordon brings a strong entrepreneurial spirit and deep appreciation for the flooring industry He is committed to preserving the values and quality that define Colonial Flooring America while also continuing to grow the business “I am excited to build on the strong foundation that Peter Escobar has laid,” Gordon said “Colonial Flooring America’s commitment to quality and community involvement remains unchanged We will continue to proudly serve Wallingford and surrounding towns For more information, visit Colonial Flooring America’s website here Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. the daughter of Carl and Elizabeth (Judd) Gohn Ruth was united in marriage to Wendell Wallingford The couple has made Mount Pleasant their home for over 40 years Ruth had a deep appreciation for classic country music and loved square dancing and she could always be found creating memories with those she loved most Ruth is survived by her husband Wendell; seven children Sherri (Richard) Boecker of Mount Pleasant Scott Wallingford of Cedar Rapids; sister Sherry (John) Brown of Danville; two brothers Jim Gohn of Middletown Merv (Lori) Gohn of West Burlington; 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters Beverly Schubert and Sandy Warth; grandson Zachery Liles; great grandson Justis Liles A visitation will be held 2:00 – 7:00 p.m The family will be present to greet friends beginning at 4:00 p.m Private family graveside service will be held in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery Memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association The Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory is caring for Ruth and her family All text and images © Powell Funeral Homes Wallingford Regatta marks the first major UK regatta for the 2025 season setting the stage for crews to display the speed they have found over the winter season Similar numbers of crews to last year’s event are entered this time into the open school quads but now is the time for crews to start showing their strength in the lead up to some of the largest regattas in the world An article on junior sculling cannot be complete without a mention of the powerhouse of junior boys’ sculling Mark Wilkinson leads the phenomenal athletes from Windsor to undisputed glory year upon year they have once again shown utter dominance amongst some top-class crews Munich International Junior Regatta occurs this weekend taking away at least two of Mark’s top scullers to represent GB Could this affect the speed of Windsor’s top quad The Windsor Boys’ School have already taken first place in the junior quads event at Hammersmith Head where they also took home gold in Junior 15 and Junior 16 quad sculls They also won at the Head of the Heineken in Amsterdam and the Head of the Charles in Boston These results only scratch the surface of Windsor’s dominance which is why I can already envision them lifting the Tankard on Sunday evening Typically known as a school that competes in the junior eights event Shiplake College has now decided to challenge some of the world’s fastest junior sculling boats too After an extremely successful Henley Royal Regatta campaign in both The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup and The Fawley Challenge Cup Shiplake is on the rise once again to become the top rowing schol in the country January of this year was a successful month for Shiplake Having taken the headship home in both junior boys and junior girls eights the boys’ quad fell just short at Hammersmith taking in a respectable third-place finish Shiplake’s only appearance of a sculling boat this season appeared at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head Shiplake has their top boat entered into the junior eights so I am unsure who this quad will be built up from but if their previous results are anything to go off Marlow Rowing Club were runners-up in The Fawley Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta 2024 but haven’t had the same success in 2025 picking up fifth place at the Schools’ Head of the River out of 32 crews Although this result isn’t what they hoped for they were not far away from Leander and Molesey finished in the B-final at the U19 April Trials regatta which is a fantastic result and will leave him in contention for a GB vest later this season Will Max be able to bring his trials experience to the forefront of this boat and lead them to a medal position will again be in the running to claim a medal on Sunday Finalists in 2023 and semifinalists in 2024 at Henley Royal Regatta and bronze medallists at the National Schools’ Regatta 2024 Hinksey are competitive in whatever event they enter and this will almost certainly be the case at Wallingford recently finished up the April Trials Regatta in third place but does not appear to be attending the Munich International Regatta Can they steal a march on their competition in the first duel of the season Great Marlow have been extremely impressive in this high-standard event for numerous years; however they still struggle to get the attention they deserve has a robust coaching team and helped to produce an incredible second-place finish at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head defeating Shiplake in their strive for silver GMS didn’t qualify for the final at Wallingford last year but I believe they will take that as fuel for Sunday and attempt to defeat Windsor not every crew that enters can have a full preview; however there are some crews that are not mentioned as candidates for the A-final on Sunday Maidenhead are in the first heat with Great Marlow School and Molesey It wouldn’t shock me to see a battle for the top two between Molesey and Maidenhead as both crews will be fairly evenly matched Claire’s Court have consistently produced a good quad since they won The Fawley Challenge Cup in 2016 but this year they haven’t shown as much potential as the three other powerhouses in their heat on Saturday and Bewl Bridge will likely take a berth in the A-final after their seventh-place finish at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head Windsor ‘B’ or Norwich could be the last crew to make it to the final but it is all to play for in the final heat of the event I believe the final will be an interesting battle given the various contextual elements at play I cannot see past the Windsor ‘A’ crew for the win I think the strength lies with Great Marlow School to dominate second place with Shiplake and Hinksey battling for the remaining medal Packing out the final seats in the A-final I think Bewl Bridge and Windsor ‘B’ will be the remaining two crews to race on Sunday 2nd   – Great Marlow School 5th    –  Bewl Bridge I am a 17 year old rower from Stirling Rowing club currently studying at Edinburgh Uni and rowing for the senior men’s squad I rowed for The Glasgow Academy since 2022 before beginning at Edinburgh in 2024 Wallingford kicks off summer racing this weekend as clubs across the country get their first run down a 2km track this year The one day event manages to cram racing in from dawn to dusk and is an important marker for many crews The Women’s Challenge Eights features 10 entries all of whom will want to get some solid racing under their belts this weekend The introduction of The Bridge Challenge Trophy at Henley Royal later this season makes women’s eights rowing all the more exciting; filling the gap between the Wargrave and Remenham a number of clubs will have their eyes on this prize in it’s inaugural year In Leander’s continued bid to regain the Wargrave this will be the first 2km test for the project this year In a winter season where their top athletes and triallists have often had all the plaudits culminating in a 7th place finish at WEHORR and will want to build on this in regatta racing Leander have often had a slow start to their summer in recent years and will want to ensure this is not the case this weekend Thames have three boats entered into the Challenge Eights; no surprise for a club who never fail to deliver a fleet of eights year on year The introduction of The Bridge will undoubtedly give those athletes at Thames ineligible for the Wargrave a renewed challenge and focus Their A boat will be determined to get the win this weekend and by some margin whilst their B and C boats are likely to be fighting with the rest of the field just ahead of the aforementioned Leander crew so will want to ensure they keep ahead of them on Sunday Molesey have found some fine form this season and seem to be developing a formidable women’s squad It’s been a while since we have seen Molesey eights competing for the top spot but it’s a welcome return for a club of its history and prestige this crew is likely to be mix of their A and B boats that competed at WHEORR This should lead to a tight tussle with Leander and Thames B and some exciting racing to look out for London continue to look to be building a challenge on their bigger rivals Although 10 seconds behind the likes of Leander they should not be written off over the shorter distance this weekend It may be too early in their journey to cause an upset but they are certainly ones to look out for in the future Lady Eleanor Holles School; Godolphin and Latymer School Two schools are entered into the Challenge Eights LEH and Godolphin and Latymer are close rivals placing 5th and 6th at Schools Head this year Both will be building towards National Schools Regatta later this month and Wallingford will be an important opportunity to learn some lessons Getting in amongst some tight racing with older and more experienced club crews can only be of benefit to them both Expect Thames A to be out ahead of the rest of the field Leander and Molesey to all be battling it out for the top placing thereafter All three will be in a tight contest and it may come down to who has that little bit more racing sharpness at this point in the season This bank holiday weekend is a significant undertaking for juniors across the country and the continent – many rowers will race both Wallingford Regatta and Junior Sculling Regatta while the crème de la crème are earning GB colours racing in Germany at Munich International Regatta Not only is there a manic schedule over these three days but this will be the season’s first regatta for most of the field Wallingford’s commitment to side-by-side racing will throw these quads straight into the deep end of summer racing as they gear up to take on the nation at National Schools’ Regatta A mysterious Tideway Scullers entry could be the crew to watch – their top quad snatched the pink flag at the Schools’ Head by a margin of ten seconds over Marlow Rowing Club before scratching from the quads event at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head leaving their speed on the lake yet to be known with key players Jess Kerbiriou and Charlotte Van der Wiele stealing away to Munich International Regatta Tideway’s eight – Women’s Head of the River Race victors who are also entered in the morning division As no quad is entered on Monday’s Junior Sculling Regatta yet the historic strength of Tideway’s quad means this entry will always be a threat the strength of Sir William Perkins’s quad is little-known but much-feared With Emily Nicholas away on international duties the remaining mainstays of the quad – Daniya Al-Qahef and Annabelle Thornton – have swapped into small boats for Monday’s JSR Their top boat had a flying start to the season with a win in junior quads at Wycliffe Big Head and silver in the same category at Junior Sculling Head: if Sunday’s crew includes their top athletes A B boat would likely include a mixture of J16s and J17s who this season placed 28th in the same quad event at JSH and fourth in women’s quads at Wycliffe Big Head – albeit one minute behind this weekend’s opposition With so many stellar crews disrupted by the Munich International Regatta an unchanged Marlow may be the strongest boat in the field This crew will likely be the same lineup that placed second at SHORR but just over ten seconds behind a Tideway Scullers crew on their home stretch Marlow’s top quad have not missed a podium this season Last year’s regatta season saw a series of silver medals behind an undefeated Wycliffe crew: in a new year this could be the race that sets off a string of victories for the Marlow girls Standing behind a strong tradition of success Henley’s quad were third at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head after scratching from the larger stage of Schools’ Head of the River where they had entered a championship quad – given their speed at Dorney there’s little doubt that they would have challenged much of the field on the Tideway Earlier sculling results include victory for the quad at Henley Long Distance Sculls in November as well as strong results in the single at GB U19 trials for many of their rowers Stints in the eight also yielded great results for these girls a recent uninterrupted training block as a quad will allow them to display their maximum speed on Sunday The ladies of Shannon Rowing Club are skilled in small boats and come to Dorney with the hopes of honing their craft in quads A win in the double at Commercial Regatta for crew members Aoife Laffan and Hannah Balfe suggested a strong start to regatta season backed up by the experience of Balfe and crewmate Isabella Collins in beach sprints demanding the aggression and raw speed that will lend them an advantage in the quad Top ten finishes for Lauren Forde in the WJ18 1k and Aoife Laffan in the Junior 16 2k at the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships imply a wealth of strength to be transferred into bigger boats; however the recent Limerick Regatta saw these girls place third in their heat and therefore miss out on the final and race hard against local clubs to earn a spot in Sunday’s final Last year’s silver medallists Claires Court are known to build their speed throughout the season – long-time fans will remember their momentous Henley campaign three years ago bowed by a then-J15 Jemimah Donn who sits in the boat once again this weekend the quad seems to have a more solid baseline than previous seasons: ninth place in girls’ championship quads at Schools’ Head 2024 improved to sixth place this year setting this crew up to campaign for the podium at National Schools’ in just a few weeks Shrewsbury School was last seen at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head where they came away with eighth place in WJ18 quads their blistering first run would’ve put them firmly in the top six crews suggesting this powerful crew may be better suited to shorter summer racing – no surprise given their historic success in the coxless four last year This crew is notably missing from the draw for JSR on Monday so they’ll be all-in on Sunday to make their mark on the sculling circuit as they gear up for National Schools’ where they’ll aim to replicate last year’s success Lady Eleanor Holles’ School have a strong tradition in sweeping but have put out strong scullers over the years most recently placing 12th in girls’ championship quads at the Schools’ Head South African Schools RU will not make a wasted trip – while little is known about this crew’s strength they did notably win the Junior 16 quads event last year Sir William Borlase are a less prolific squad and have fewer results to assess but their girls will be building on the momentum of Amy Clarke’s top ten finish at GB April Trials Racing Junior Head of the North in January the Borlase quad placed fourth behind Tideway Scullers and The Grange School who themselves have seen a strong step on this season with a notable sixth place finish at the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head – the strength of this crew could see them through to this weekend’s final if they play their cards right Marlow are on paper probably the strongest quad but Henley’s bronze medal at Junior Sculling Head and their absence from Schools’ Head makes it difficult to predict how the two compare Sir William Perkins’ School and Tideway Scullers are also tricky to assess – I suspect they may have entered B crews due to the weekend’s many demands I’m anticipating Marlow to edge out Henley for the top spot followed by Claires Court in bronze – but watch out for the South African quad who will seek to replicate their J16’s success from last year And so here it is: summer racing is upon us The customary tradition of going on training camps during the Easter break will likely have been upheld by most clubs competing here providing them with an opportunity to hone their speed away from their home water and the prying eyes of their competition Twelve eights are entered into the first of the 2000m ‘Dorney Regattas’ and after decently tight racing at the Schools’ Head of the River Race only a month ago it is almost certain this race will form some good indicators about who will be the frontrunners at the National Schools’ Regatta in May After a win at the Schools’ Head of the River Race that was likely too close for comfort with King’s College School Boat Club only 1.1 seconds behind these boys have likely been straight back to work attempting to refine their 2k speed ahead of the National Schools’ Regatta They’ve clearly got the power on board; they sent six of their crew to GB April Trials It’s pretty much unheard of to have a Junior 16 eight with six triallists on board but it seems like they have a problem converting it to actual boat speed something not usually seen from St Paul’s School Boat Club With a crew from King’s College School Boat Club chasing eager to take trophies off of St Paul’s School Boat Club will they able to demonstrate a newfound level of speed this weekend this crew were able to gas away from the rest of the field at the Schools’ Head of the River putting some thirty seconds into third place and finishing only 1.1 seconds behind a substantially stronger St Paul’s School Boat Club crew they took the win by a length over Abingdon School Boat Club a crew much further down the pecking order at Schools’ Head of the River Race at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta in Nottingham Having returned to Cerlac for their Easter training camp these boys have likely returned in better shape Wallingford Regatta will be their first opportunity to demonstrate their speed over a 2k course and I’m sure they’ll be eager to take the fight right to the boys from Barnes third at the Schools’ Head of the River and eager to try and push into those top-level placements and hopefully snatch a medal at the National Schools’ Regatta I can’t help but think that they might have a repeat of last year’s results with an early peak at the Schools’ Head of the River before trailing off into regatta season with them just making the A-final at National Schools’ Regatta I predicted they would take the bronze at the National Schools’ Regatta before they trailed into a sixth-place finish but I feel like this year might be different for them With a promising third place at the Schools’ Head of the River Race managing to beat crews that bested them only weeks before at Hammersmith Head I think Radley is in a good position to be in medal contention this weekend The boys in blue and white seem to have come out of nowhere and positioned themselves in the top-level pack in Junior 16 rowing With their season looking rather ‘wraps’ after losing 3-0 to the St Paul’s Junior 16 second eight in a Tideway fixture managing to secure a fourth place finish on their home water at the Schools’ Head of the River With a rematch supposedly taking place earlier this week against Pauls’ 2nds it will be interesting to see how they’ve transitioned from the longer head racing to the shorter these boys should be ready to make a statement that positions themselves high in the pecking order for the rest of the season Also attired in blue and located on the Tideway Dulwich College Boat Club has clearly gone from strength to strength from their C-final victory at the National Schools’ Regatta last year They came fifth at the Schools’ Head of the River Race demonstrating their ability to come out ahead in close races they went to Seville and engaged in some close racing against their second senior eight which will have prepared them well for side-by-side racing Dulwich are a bit of a wild card this weekend so it will be interesting to see if they’re able to continue moving up It seems to be a pretty fierce battle out the front of the pecking order between St Paul’s School Boat Club and King’s College School Boat Club St Paul’s School Boat Club would have been an easy prediction to take the win but with King’s College School Boat Club’s impressive result at Schools’ Head of the River Race and I won’t even call it because of how close it will probably be Third place seems to be a battle between Radley College Boat Club and Latymer Upper School Boat Club with the possibility of Dulwich College Boat Club or Hampton School Boat Club being able to try something to put themselves in a better position to steal a medal 2025 at 2:24 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Recent arrests by the Wallingford Police Department CT — The following information has been provided by the Wallingford Police Department and does not indicate convictions: was arrested March 27 on charges of fourth-degree larceny and illegal possession of prescription drugs He was released after posting a $25,000 bond with a court date of May 2 was arrested March 27 on charges of third-degree forgery and conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny He was released after posting a $50,000 bond with a court date of June 2 was arrested March 27 on charges of carrying a dangerous weapon and second-degree unlawful restraint He was released after posting a $2,500 bond with a court date of May 1 was arrested March 28 on charges of larceny of motor vehicle – first offense He was being held in lieu of a $10,000 bond with a court date of April 28 was arrested March 28 on a charge of second-degree breach of peace He was released on a promise to appear in court on June 5 was arrested March 29 on charges of carrying a dangerous weapon illegal possession of weapon in motor vehicle operating under the influence of alcohol / drugs He was released after posting a $5,000 bond with a court date of April 29 was arrested March 30 on charges of second-degree harassment and violation of protective order She was released on a promise to appear in court on May 8 was arrested March 30 on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol / drugs possession of controlled substance – first offense He was released on a promise to appear in court on June 4 was arrested March 31 on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol / drugs and illegal operating motor vehicle without ignition device He was released on a promise to appear in court on May 23 was arrested March 31 on charges of third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace She was released on a promise to appear in court on June 5 was arrested March 31 on charges of interfering with officer / resisting improper use – marker / license / registration He was being held in lieu of a $100 bond with a court date of May 8 As the summer regatta season begins to build momentum the Women’s Junior 15 Eights category at Wallingford Regatta promises to deliver an anticipated matchup Held on the iconic multi-lane stretch of Dorney Lake this event offers a key mid-season indicator of squad development and tactical execution With several top clubs and schools entering formidable crews Putney High School Boat Club enters with a proven ability to compete at both sculling and sweep events Their fourth-place finish at the Schools’ Head of the River in the Junior 15 eights category just 13 seconds behind the winning crew over 6.8km places them firmly within the top competitive bracket Putney’s result is especially noteworthy given the scale and technical demand of the Tideway course their silver medal at the Junior Sculling Head in the octuples adds another layer to their credentials The squad has also sustained its training intensity with internal race simulations If Putney can successfully transfer their head race fitness and technical consistency into sprint format they may very well disrupt more established favourites and threaten for a medal Headington School Oxford Boat Club clinched gold at the Schools’ Head in the WJ15 eight category with a decisive three-second margin Known for their fiercely competitive squads across junior categories Headington has established itself as one of the premier institutions for junior women’s rowing Their eight at Wallingford is expected to feature the core of their Tideway-winning lineup now racing just 2,000m on a course that suits punchy The entry of two eights from Headington highlights impressive squad depth further supported by years of sustained dominance at the National Schools’ Regatta and beyond Though relatively quiet on the regatta circuit so far this season their track record and reputation suggest they are holding form Surbiton High School Boat Club has quietly built a reputation as one of the strongest up-and-coming junior programmes with recent results suggesting they’re ready to contest the top tier Last season’s victory in the J14 octuples at the National Schools’ Regatta finishing four seconds ahead of Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club While the transition from sculling to sweep can vary by athlete and programme Surbiton’s recent second-place finish at Kingston Head – ten seconds behind LEH – offers encouraging signs of adaptation Though Surbiton has yet to post a headline-grabbing win this season their consistency and continued upward trajectory indicate that they could mount a serious challenge at Dorney Sir William Perkins’ School Boat Club Sir William Perkins’ School Boat Club has laid firm foundations this season marked by an ambitious and productive training camp in Sabaudia Ten days of intensive water time – culminating in appearances at the Italian Federation’s Inter-Regional Regatta – has surely boosted technical refinements and added to the excitement of the approaching regatta season Their bronze medal at the Schools’ Head places them among the early front-runners with additional depth shown through multiple top-10 finishes at Kingston Head in the Junior 15 eights category Their preparation and exposure to high-quality racing conditions Henley Rowing Club arrives with pedigree and quiet confidence A dominant performance in the Junior 15 octuples at the Junior Sculling Head – claiming gold – is the latest in a long line of strong age-group results While sculling success does not always correlate directly with sweep performance it offers an insight into the club’s technical rigour Henley’s well-established junior system frequently sees scullers transition effectively into sweep lineups and it’s plausible that some of the athletes from their winning octuple will feature in the eight at Wallingford Henley boasts one of the strongest junior women’s coaching teams in the country reflected in their high number of GB trialists and national-level athletes across age groups Despite not racing at the recent Schools’ Head in this particular category their competitive history and development strategy suggest they should be considered strong podium contenders Lady Eleanor Holles School Boat Club (LEH) combines historic success and recent momentum Their second-place finish at Quintin Head too ( just 1.5 seconds behind Headington ) positions them as one of the dominant crews in the field Many of these athletes also formed part of last year’s second-place J14 octuple at National Schools reflecting continuity and strong development The strength of the wider programme is difficult to ignore With consistent results across multiple junior categories and a Victor Ludorum title at Quintin Head LEH will be aiming not just to make the A final Wallingford Rowing Club’s recent surge into the spotlight has come off the back of a highly encouraging performance at the Schools’ Head where they finished second to Headington – by only three seconds – despite having only recently transitioned into sweep Their J15s had previously focused heavily on sculling yet made an immediate impression once they shifted focus displaying impressive cohesion and composure over the long Tideway course With five crews qualified for the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta from the J15 and J16 squads – though not in the eight itself – Wallingford continues to showcase programme-wide depth and versatility they may also benefit from the advantage of familiarity and local support A top-three finish is well within reach for this squad With my final prediction suggesting certainty it is important to mention that the margins between crews are expected to be narrow – especially given how many clubs are still transitioning from long-distance winter racing into sprint format Headington leads the field based on past performance but Wallingford’s rapid progress and home advantage could make them serious challengers Putney and Lady Eleanor Holles still remain strong medal threats while Henley’s sculling dominance and Surbiton’s consistency position them as wildcard contenders Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWALLINGFORD (WFSB) - An employee has died after being trapped between a forklift and a truck at a car dealership in Wallingford The accident happened last Friday at the Executive Dodge Jeep Ram dealership on South Orchard Street The dealership identified the employee as 34-year-old Thomas Orris Fire officials in Wallingford say Orris used a forklift to remove a container from a truck and up a slanted driveway Orris stopped the forklift midway and got out to take a look at it Officials say that is when the forklift began to roll down the driveway trying to stop the forklift with his hands He was then caught between the truck and the forklift Firefighters began chest compressions when they arrived Orris was transported to the hospital where he later died The dealership said they will be closed on Monday to attend his funeral Wallingford Regatta is the first sign of summer for British rowers It’s an opportunity to come together with crews from across the country it’s an opportunity to see just how fast your crew is you never see your opponents up close and personal but this is different; they’re with you from that first stroke We all know that London Rowing Club competes at the front of the field but it’s hard to always predict how deep that quality runs Having entered two of their eights into the challenge category but that’s unlikely given they’ve entered both fours categories The Head of the River is perhaps the best example of London’s depth and their slowest entry was in 68th position even the lowest rung of London crews should compete at the front of this field had a somewhat disappointing Head of the River by their lofty standards With their top crew only just breaking into the top 20 the change from Head to Regatta racing is a true test of their intentions for the summer Even if this is a combination of Molesey athletes their slowest boat was faster than London’s It’s not very often that you face a field without the best of Putney – that should give them the best chance at retaining their silverware Winners of the Page Trophy at the Head of the River all the momentum should be with this Marlow Rowing Club crew Dispatching Molesey on their way to the title this club has transformed in the space of a few short years Whilst they might not have expected to win a Henley title last year the expectation is that they now perform to this high level consistently Finishing the Head season in 17th position isn’t a bad place to start but winning the Wallingford Regatta would be even better Vesta Rowing Club have been slowly building under James Cracknell and it could be time for them to make their statement it’s a crew that has more to give and this is the perfect platform for them to start their journey to Henley Royal Regatta Whether they choose to persevere with the eight or switch to a four remains to be seen; they’ve put their eggs in both baskets across their Wallingford campaign They have a lot to prove and a statement to make The change to shorter format racing is something that will benefit them with their power and tenacity but the other crews will still be within touching distance 2025 at 8:36 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Mayor Vincent Cervoni said his proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year is a “plan that reflects our shared commitment to keeping Wallingford a vibrant and forward-looking community.” (Shutterstock)WALLINGFORD CT — Wallingford Mayor Vincent Cervoni is proposing a budget for 2025-26 that reduces the tax rate by 5.82 mills but the average homeowner would pay more than $1,100 in taxes over the previous year following revaluation In a letter submitting the proposed budget to the Town Council Cervoni wrote that local property taxes of $147.9 million at a rate of 24.84 mills are required to fund the spending plan “This is a 5.94% increase over last year’s required local property taxes of $139,610,261,” Cervoni wrote. “Due to revaluation this is a decrease of 5.82 mills from the current mill rate of 30.66 mills an increase of 19.18% from the current tax bill of $5,786.” In presenting the proposed budget Cervoni wrote that it “addresses the rising costs of conducting the town’s business while seeing to the needs of the community.” we are continuing to serve the community needs at current levels while continuing to modernize government,” he wrote “Driving the budget process this year are several trends including negotiated wage increases in collective bargaining agreements allowing this town to be a competitive and rewarding employer We are also faced with the exhaustion of prior budget leveling money like CRRA funds and ARPA funds which had been a helpful tool in keeping the town’s capital costs down.” Cervoni is recommending using $9 million from the fund balance to help offset costs Cervoni also recommended a roughly 3.5 percent increase for the Board of Education which reduced the school board’s request by $382,900 Cervoni noted that the Board of Education’s budget was reduced to reflect the actual increase in employee health insurance It was estimated to be 10 percent at the time the Board of Education adopted its proposed budget Read Cervoni’s full letter to the Town Council here In a follow-up post on Facebook Cervoni provided additional context and explanation for how the budget was put together it is important that I share with you what went into the process that lead to the proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year It is a plan that reflects our shared commitment to keeping Wallingford a vibrant I would like to follow up yesterday’s formal submission of the budget to the Town Council with some additional context and explanation for how this budget was put together This budget was carefully crafted with input from our dedicated town departments and the Board of Education It balances the rising costs of delivering exceptional services with our promise to modernize government and meet your needs Here’s why I believe this budget is a win for all of us: One of the cornerstones of this budget is our focus on the incredible individuals who serve our town every day Negotiated wage increases in collective bargaining agreements ensure that Wallingford remains a competitive and rewarding place to work By supporting our employees—from our firefighters and police officers to our teachers and utility workers—we’re ensuring that the high-quality services you rely on continue without interruption and more connected community for all of us Our Board of Education has worked diligently to present a modest increase of $4,554,897 which we’ve fine-tuned to $4,171,997 after adjusting for actual health insurance costs This investment in our schools reflects our dedication to providing top-notch education while being mindful of taxpayer resources It’s a testament to the Board’s responsiveness to last year’s feedback from the administration and Town Council ensuring that every dollar spent supports our students’ success From classroom resources to innovative programs this budget keeps our schools at the heart of Wallingford’s future We’re not just maintaining the status quo—we’re moving forward This budget boosts our Information Technology department consolidating shared software and hardware expenses to streamline operations across town government we’re rolling out a consumer-friendly online bill-pay system by the next tax payment cycle Paying your bills will soon be easier and more convenient than ever—a small but meaningful way we’re bringing Wallingford into the future Despite the exhaustion of one-time funds like CRRA and ARPA we’ve found creative ways to keep our finances strong We’re proposing to use $9 million from our robust unassigned fund balance (as of the 2023-24 audit) to offset costs Keeping our Aa1 credit rating intact is assisted by maintaining an unallocated reserve of $22million Local property tax collection will rise by 5.94% to $147,902,741 the mill rate drops from 30.66 to 24.84—a decrease of 5.82 mills this means a manageable adjustment that supports the services we all value and Sewer Divisions are poised for success The Electric Division sees revenue growth thanks to a Power Cost Adjustment while operating expenses decrease due to completed projects and smart staffing shifts The Water Division continues to operate efficiently with rates set last year funding critical upgrades like dam repairs and equipment replacements The Sewer Division’s proposed rate increases will generate $798,334 in additional revenue supporting essential infrastructure improvements These efforts ensure reliable utilities for years to come This budget reflects what we’ve heard from you From adding an EMS lieutenant to the Fire Department starting January 2026 to reviving the Government TV Manager position Capital investments—like $500,000 for substation breakers and $250,000 for sewer collection system lining—show our commitment to infrastructure that keeps Wallingford running smoothly costs are rising—health insurance is up 8% and pension funding needs a boost—but we’ve trimmed requests where possible General Government department heads’ $9,450,947 ask was reduced by $2,603,701 and Education’s increase was adjusted downward by $382,900 These decisions keep the budget lean while preserving the services that make Wallingford special totaling $207,237,034 for the General Fund and our infrastructure while keeping taxes reasonable and services exceptional I encourage you to review the details — available in the full budget document — and share your thoughts we can adopt a plan that reflects our shared values and builds a future we’re all proud of One of the centerpieces of my administration is the concept of “Wallingford World Wide,” where we strengthen and continue to make Wallingford a destination for business and families This budget represents the best way to meet our obligations and continue building towards an even stronger future Here’s to another year of progress in Wallingford >>>Read More: Mayor Cervoni’s Proposed 2025-26 Budget by Colleen West SEATTLE — Two ATMs were ripped out of a credit union branch in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood overnight Police said three or four burglars used a forklift to smash into a Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU) on Stone Way North and 44th several blocks away from the Wallingford Playfield The ATMs were ripped out and one was loaded into an SUV While the suspects tried to load the second ATM they were trying to load an ATM into a vehicle They dropped an ATM as officers were arriving and they took off in different directions in three different vehicles –- SUVs," said Seattle Police Department spokesperson Brian Pritchard Seattle police used a squad car and manpower to drag the abandoned ATM back to the bank Police said the forklift was stolen from a construction site near the credit union How much money was in the ATM the burglars managed to steal is not known Police are working to get possible surveillance footage from any cameras in the area 2025 at 2:47 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Wallingford Tree Service has closed its doors CT — Family-owned Wallingford Tree Service is closing after more than 30 years in business the owners announced Monday in a post on Facebook “Thank you to our dedicated customers for years of loyalty and support,” the post reads “It has been an honor to work with this amazing community To our friends and family- we could not have done it without you “Although Wallingford Tree Service is no longer running we are happy and confident in referring our customers to Cipully Tree Service who has brought on our awesome and experienced crew We have been assured that our clients will continue to receive wonderful service and support John Cervero started Wallingford Tree Service in 1991 “John’s arbor-cultural experience dates back all the way to when he was a young boy,” according to a post on the company’s website “He started out working with a family friend who was an experienced arborist As he grew older John took his developing love of trees After he finished high school he got a job at a commercial arborcultural company doing anything and everything for the care of the trees He later realized that he could do a better job on his own Wallingford Tree Service went into business Started as a one man crew with a pickup truck John later expanded his business and invested in equipment.” Read more at the Wallingford Tree Service website here Wallingford Regatta will give us a glimpse of early season speed and who are the crews to watch this summer The Women’s Challenge Pairs event welcomes a variety of entries ranging from school crews and small clubs to powerhouses of British rowing hopefully all crews can get to experience some close racing With Wallingford Regatta taking place on the same day as BUCS Regatta I would expect this crew to be composed of Brookes’ non-student athletes Brookes are one of the premier clubs in the country for sweep rowing they won both the Island and Remenham Challenge Cups their top boat placed fifth at Women’s Head with their top three crews all placing within the top 25 Brookes will certainly be going for the win this weekend While Brookes is viewed as the pinnacle of university rowing Thames is viewed as the pinnacle of club rowing Thames won the Wargrave Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta last year and their top boat was runner up at Women’s Head As well as the strength of their top boats the depth at Thames is truly to be admired with four boats qualifying for the Wargrave and five placing within the top 25 at Women’s Head Thames will likely be the main opposition for Brookes this weekend Headington is the one of three schools to have entered a crew in this event Headington School are at the forefront of junior rowing and have been for many years they placed second in the School/Junior category and ranked 29th overall They also won the championship eights at Schools’ Head With numerous athletes competing for GB each year this crew may be composed of their GB triallists who would be aiming to be the fastest junior crew in this event as well as trying to take on some of the senior boats Another school crew entered comes from the King’s School Although they lack the reputation of Headington placing 11th in the Girls Schools first eight event at School’s Head one of their athletes competed at GB trials placing in the top ten sweep rowers the women’s squad at Westminster School have prioritised the quad They placed in the middle of the pack at the major events coming 16th at Oarsport Junior Sculling Head and 15th at Schools’ Head they’ll need to have found a lot more speed to be competitive Warwick were the third fastest medium club They have quickly made the change from the eight to small boats winning the women’s pair category at Abingdon Head Warwick Boat Club came seventh in the club pairs event at Pairs Head This should prepare them well although they will likely lack the speed of the high performance clubs of Thames and Oxford Brookes Maidstone Invicta placed fourth in the Medium Club category at Women’s Head With only six seconds separating them from Warwick over the 6.7km course there should be some close racing between these two clubs and Maidstone will be looking to come out on top this time Maidstone Invicta came second in the development eights so will likely be off the pace of the top crews but will be looking to come out ahead of Warwick after a close result at Women’s Head This will likely be a two horse race between Oxford Brookes and Thames but with most of the Brookes athletes at BUCS this weekend I’d expect Thames to come out on top Among the school crews Headington seem set to top the rankings Warwick and Maidstone Invicta should have some close racing between them despite potentially being off the winning pace Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWALLINGFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - Wallingford police have provided an update on a deadly fire from back in April of 2024. Wallingford police and fire responded to a home on Geneva Avenue they found 19-year-old Karizmah Johnson and 9-month-old Kylenn Varnado dead in the home with severe burns covering his whole body walking out of the home He later died after being transported to Bridgeport Hospital by Life Star The preliminary investigation indicated both Johnson and 9-month-old Varnado were dead before the fire started Autopsies showed they both died of homicidal asphyxia Police say they died 2 to 7 days before the fire police say Justin Vardona was seen on surveillance video filling up a gas can at a gas station nearby on April 17 “Investigators talked to a witness who spoke with Justin Varnado several days before the fire who explained he was distraught and suicidal,” Wallingford police said “This witness lived in the same house and told investigators that in the days leading up to the fire they smelled a strong odor coming from the 2nd-floor apartment where Justin Varnado Police say Justin Vardona attempted to light himself on fire in the 2nd-floor apartment using gasoline on April 17 Police believe Justin Vardona killed Johnson and the 9-month-old in the days leading up to the fire Justin Vardona had previously been arrested in March of 2023 for domestic violence charges He was charged with breach of peace and risk of injury to a minor there was an active order of protection barring Justin Varnado from being at the residence 2025 at 11:17 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Recent death notices from Wallingford CT — Below are recent death notices from Wallingford Army veteran and writer who worked for the Knights of Columbus and wrote for the CEA (CT Education Association) in retirement he was deeply involved in Irish-American historical organizations published multiple books and newsletters on Irish CT history Navy veteran and longtime logistics manager at S.N.E.T. Air Force veteran of the Korean War who worked at Stanley Judd and American Cyanamid before becoming “Mr and showcasing his 1930 Model A Ford at car shows and parades She was a lifelong schoolteacher in the Wallingford Public School System and member of the Yalesville United Methodist Church A longtime special education teacher at Yalesville and Parker Farms Elementary Schools continuing her commitment to education well into retirement A dedicated educator with degrees from Wagner College and Southern Connecticut State University she taught in New York City and later in the Meriden Public School System until retirement Navy veteran and Electronics Technician who spent 40 years at Sikorsky Aircraft building helicopter black boxes and attending theater and watching UConn Women’s basketball games I was scrolling through my TikTok feed the other day when I stumbled upon a video that hit a few of my sweet spots — it had a Connecticut theme and then came the word roast The video was posted by a u/wesleykrombelrealtor who wrote: "I asked ChatGPT to roast Wallingford where the median age is 'get off my lawn.'" with more Dunkin' Donuts than common sense Caffeine is the only thing keeping this town awake." "Consider riding the train via the town's state-of-the-art multi-million-dollar train station that no one uses." and the Merritt Parkway form a cursed vortex where drivers forget basic traffic laws." "Wallingford Weather Roulette: it's either 95°F and humid Try Lenny's Cafe or Grand Central Cafe — sure to impress." "Wallingford has one of the highest number of liquor stores per capita in America." "Wallingford Facebook groups are a circus: one part town news two parts people arguing about leaf pickup like it's life or death." It's like having a millionaire relative who lives in your basement but pretends they don't know you." Just walk 10 feet from your vehicle and you'll be touching a car for sale." dive bars are amazing so I'm not laughing at that I'm writing the names of those bars down so I know where to go the next time I pass through Wallingford That last joke about Route 5 being the highway of car dealerships had great potential but fell flat at end It got too wordy with "touching a car for sale." it just needs to end more like this "just walk 10 feet from your vehicle and grab a new one." The idea being that there is such an overwhelming number of vehicles for sale that you can just get in one and drive off AI is better at crafting jokes than I thought it would be but it still needs an assist from humans to punch it up I was scrolling through my TikTok feed the other day when I stumbled upon a video that hit a few of my sweet spots — it had a Connecticut theme and then came the word roast.\nRead More The video was posted by a u/wesleykrombelrealtor who wrote: CT (WFSB) - Wallingford Animal Control said it received a fair amount of calls from people concerned about a coyote that roamed through their properties the department sought to educate people about coyotes and the impact they have on the ecosystem “The concern is often that a sighting of a coyote in the vicinity means grave danger for all the neighborhood’s pets and children,” it said “The truth is that conflicts with coyotes are very rare especially if we’re all being responsible and making good decisions.” Animal control said the animals are an essential part of the ecosystem because they help keep the rodent population in check encounters with these intelligent and adaptable canines are becoming more common,” it noted we can learn to coexist safely and respectfully.” They have been in the state since at least the 1950s according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Wallingford Animal Control said coyotes naturally avoid humans but can cause conflicts if they become too comfortable They can get comfortable through easy access to food or a lack of deterrence Coyotes don’t like loud louses or when humans appear large and intimidating The department recommended such “hazing” techniques as a humane deterrent “They are simply wildlife trying to survive in a changing landscape.” More information about coyotes in Connecticut can be found on the website for the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection’s website here 2025 at 12:01 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Recent death notices from Wallingford he is survived by his wife Deborah and son T.J Navy veteran and electrical engineer at Unholtz Dickie Corp until 1999 he was a dedicated Yankees and UConn basketball fan and active member of local bocce and setback leagues She was deeply involved in church communities and served as National Mother to Spirit of Hope and administrator across multiple parishes and seminaries where he served until retiring in 2017 and became Priest in Residence at Church of the Resurrection She worked for many years as a bookkeeper and enjoyed a long marriage of 52 years to her husband Robert FOX 61 reports that graffiti found inside the abandoned building at 50 South Main Street includes racial slurs and hate speech A parent of a student at Dag Hammarskjold Middle School told FOX 61 that spray-painted racial slurs targeted her son who they said has been bullied for two years and a student at Lyman Hall High School said some of the graffiti Read more at FOX 61 here Nearly 500 acres of private land at the entrance to the popular Robert T Stafford White Rocks National Recreation Area in Wallingford have been conserved in perpetuity as public land That’s according to the Trust for Public Land The property is home to the popular Ice Beds Trail network and features views of Otter Creek in part because of the really fascinating geology of the White Rocks area’s quartzite cliffs,” said Shelby Semmes who leads the Trust for Public Land’s work in Vermont “It’s a great destination in late summer when it’s very hot and humid you feel like you’re walking into a refrigerator because ice gets stored there.” The parcel sits adjacent to the state-owned Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area and federally managed Green Mountain National Forest and it expands a swath of more than 270,000 acres of conserved forestland More from Vermont Public: Public access preserved forever along largest remaining unprotected stretch of the Long Trail Connected blocks of forest this big are a rarity in Vermont and scientists say they are critical for protecting biodiversity as the climate changes Semmes says the newly conserved land constitutes a bridge for wildlife and plants between the Otter Creek wetland complex on the valley floor and the top of the Green Mountain spine She says this sort of corridor is critical for helping plants and animals move into cooler habitat as the climate warms without having to migrate to far northern climes “It’s also really nice to know that you’re walking along the Long Trail or the AT on the spine of the Greens and that there is just a connected corridor all the way down to the valley floor,” Semmes said “It’s reassuring for a lot of people that those places exist.” the parcel was owned by a local family who managed the popular community hiking trails there for more than 90 years The family asked not to be identified but said in a statement “These woods are our friends and we look forward to a continued relationship with them under the careful stewardship of the Green Mountain National Forest.” In 2023, Vermont committed to conserving 30% of the state’s land by 2030 and 50% of the state’s land by 2050 This acquisition counts towards that effort More from Vermont Public: Wheeler Mountain is now public land, conserved forever for hiking, rock climbing and is home to habitat frequented by state- and federally endangered bats peregrine falcons and the state-threatened plant short-styled snakeroot It’s also home to a large wetland complex that provides flood resilience to communities downstream The effort was funded in part by the Land and Water Conservation Fund a program created by Congress in the 1960s that invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leases to acquire new federal land It’s one of the largest sources of funding nationwide for conservation projects Athletic Brewing and a host of individual donors also contributed to the acquisition Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message Enter your email to sign up for The Frequency See more newsletters Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message 2025 at 9:00 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Recent arrests by the Wallingford Police Department 27 on charges of third-degree strangulation / suffocation and disorderly conduct He was released after posting a $2,500 bond with a court date of April 3 27 on charges of criminal attempt at second-degree assault and disorderly conduct 30 on charges of second-degree breach of peace and second-degree criminal mischief She was released on a promise to appear in court on April 2 30 on a charge of second-degree breach of peace He was released on a promise to appear in court on April 2 improper use – marker/license/registration He was released after posting a $5,000 bond with a court date of March 6 31 on charges of fourth-degree sexual assault and second-degree breach of peace He was released after posting a $10,000 bond with a court date of April 4 31 on a charge of third-degree criminal trespass He was being held in lieu of a $5,000 bond with a court date of April 4 He was being held in lieu of a $500 bond with a court date of March 19 1 on charges of operating under the influence with child under 18 She was released after posting a $2,500 bond with a court date of March 26 2 on charges of second-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace He was released after posting a $2,500 bond with a court date of March 27 3 on a charge of violation of protective order He was released on a promise to appear in court on March 4 3 on four counts of violating protective order and one count of second-degree harassment He was released after posting a $5,000 bond with a court date of March 5 4 on charges of violation of protective order and second-degree harassment He was released after posting a $2,500 bond with a court date of March 3 6 on a charge of failure to pay refund – job less than $10,000