The West Hartford Farmers' Market has returned for the season but in a new location in the Town Hall parking lot and other news about West Hartford businesses and we are very thankful for their support It’s a fun holiday and appropriate for anyone to celebrate – and I love that tacos are involved As I was going through my photos to put this column together I realized just how busy the past week was – and the diversity of events I attended and stories I wrote Also mixed in with work was some grand-parenting since Katie’s maternity leave just ended and she is back to work at PTSMC I especially enjoyed taking “Champ” to gymnastics class at GTC in Simsbury The tacos in the photo below (which I sampled on Saturday morning) are free to the first 55 parties in line on Monday morning I had the Breakfast Street Tacos at the soft opening of The Friendly Toast I also attended the Yard Goats game on Wednesday night (that one was just for fun) and participated in a “Meet the Media” forum on Thursday hosted by the Public Relations Society of America Greater Connecticut chapter WTIC anchor and talk show host Morgan Cunningham and NBC CT producer Chris Ayotte were my fellow panelists and Quinnipiac professor Katie Place was the moderator but it was also very educational – including for the panelists who all have very different backgrounds and perspectives on the current state of the media One of many groundhogs living near Dunkin’ Park My friend and former boss from Patch, Elissa Bass, was at Barnes & Noble on Saturday afternoon for a signing of her debut novel, “Happy Hour,” on Saturday and it was great catching up with her there as well as at our own happy hour at Vinted right afterwards where we were also joined by another fellow Patch colleague I can’t believe it’s been 12 years since we last worked together Ronni Newton celebrating the book signing of “Happy Hour” with happy hour at Vinted Ted and I enjoyed a yummy dinner at Nummy on Saturday night (I honestly didn’t think I would eat again for at least 24 hours after The Friendly Toast brunch but 8 hours later I was finally a bit hungry.) On Sunday I did pig yoga at Westfarms with Breathe2Flow Yoga and Gilbert the Party Pig and friends One of my new friends hanging out on my yoga mat during pig yoga at Westfarms It is our policy that full names be used when commenting directly on the site – with the exception of those commenters who were grandfathered when they commented prior to the policy being updated several years ago Please comply or your comment will not be published If you are a long term, regular advertiser on We-Ha.com and have a 60 to 75 word submission for a future Business Buzz please send to Bob Carr at bobc.weha@gmail.com You can also contact Bob if you are interested in becoming a sponsor of a section of the site If you have information to share about local businesses, please provide details in the comments or email Ronni Newton at editorial@we-ha.com ************************************************** Signage at the former West Hartford Farmers’ Market spot in the Arapahoe parking lot The West Hartford Farmers’ Market has returned for the season One West Hartford is under construction at 950 Trout Brook Drive which is being landscaped is in the foreground with its former home at 950 Trout Brook Drive where a large apartment complex is being constructed in the background Landscaping work is underway around Conny’s tail which is now located between Trout Brook and Whole Foods Jersey Mike’s will open this month at 255 Prospect Avenue in Prospect Plaza Teriyaki Madness looks almost ready to open in Prospect Plaza Chick-fil-A is preparing to open at 2534 Albany Avenue in Bishops Corner Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo) Matt Schneider of The Crafted Cocktail at the Kimberly Boutique Fashion Show Hall High School graduate and West Hartford native Talya Smilowitz is returning to Connecticut and has been named Cantor of Temple Beth Hillel at 20 Baker Lane in South Windsor as of July 1 from the time she was a young student at Solomon Schecter Day School in West Hartford the West Hartford native’s passion for music and Judaism led her to the Juilliard School and to singing performances around the world “We are extremely pleased that Cantor Talya Smilowitz will join Temple Beth Hillel this summer and creative and meaningful music to our congregation,” says Jeff Levin President of Temple Beth Hillel’s Board of Trustees “Our congregation looks forward to her leadership and we invite members of the Greater Hartford community to visit our Temple as we enter the next chapter in our history.” The 65-year-old Reform synagogue has been led by Rabbi Leah Benamy since 2023 when longtime Rabbi Jeffrey Glickman retired and became Rabbi Emeritus “I look forward to stepping into this exciting role and witnessing the community grow and thrive,” said Smilowitz my vision is to build a community where we unite and celebrate our differences around the shared beliefs and values that bind us together Music will be an integral part of our Temple community and and elevate us to a higher realm of spirituality and love.” She comes to Temple Beth Hillel from Congregation L’Dor V’Dor in Oyster Bay where she has served as its Cantor since July 2009 she was the Cantorial Soloist for two years at Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners bringing dynamic musical programming and innovative worship to that community She is a graduate of the Juilliard School in New York City (Bachelor of Music) the Manhattan School of Music (Master of Music) and the Cantors Assembly’s Cantorial Intern Program The mother of two children enjoys teaching students voice Work is progressing on the west side of LaSalle Road Work is progressing on the eest side of LaSalle Road Remember, if you have any business news to share, add it in the comments section below or email Ronni Newton at editorial@we-ha.com Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" © 2025 • WeHa News • All Rights Reserved • Ezoic Privacy Policy - Created by Roy Web Design The Hash Quiche is one of The Friendly Toast signature brunch dishes The Friendly Toast officially opens at 36 LaSalle Road in West Hartford Center on Monday Any restaurant where the door handle is a smiling piece of toast has got to be friendly The Friendly Toast already is renowned throughout New England for its all-day brunch menu and innovative brunchy bar offerings and everything about the West Hartford location is as cheerful and welcoming as that door handle – decór featuring bright colors and vintage signage on the walls The official grand opening of The Friendly Toast’s 14th location – and first in Connecticut – will be celebrated on Monday with the traditional opening “egg smash” at 10 a.m Since that day happens to be Cinco de Mayo The Friendly Toast’s welcoming offer to the first 55 parties to visit that day is a complementary order of Breakfast Street Tacos (French-toasted corn tortillas with scrambled eggs They’re also offering Market Square Mimosas for $5 through May 9 Endless Summer Mimosa flight includes (from left) Tropic Likes It Hot “We’re so excited,” said CEO Staci Pinard, who will preside over the egg smash on Monday morning and was also at the invitation-only soft opening over the weekend. “We’ve wanted to be in Connecticut for a long time,” she said, and already feels welcomed by the community, where excitement about the The Friendly Toast opening has been brewing since they announced their plans a year ago What makes The Friendly Toast unique is the scratch kitchen and we get even more ‘scratch’ as we grow,” she said not cutting any corners even as they expand the number of locations with the focus on breakfast and brunch classics – and plenty of twists on those – as well as “lots of cool new lunch items.” To ease into The Friendly Toast dining experience “Some Like It Tot” (golden fried jumbo cheddar tater tots with house cheese sauce you can opt for a breakfast classic of eggs and toast – also available as a sandwich or as a “monster” with the addition of pancakes or French toast Pinard recommended that newbies choose from the signature items – which include the Hash Quiche (see feature photo) which includes two crispy fried hash brown bowls with scrambled eggs She also suggested the Breakfast Street Tacos (French-toasted corn tortillas with scrambled eggs Sally’s Avocado Toast was another recommendation (7-grain toast with smashed avocado as was the Cinna-Swirl French Toast (cinnamon swirl French toast with cheesecake buttercream The “Friends With Benedicts” section of the menu is another enticement with offerings like the Chicken Cordon Bleu Benny (described as “By Chef Chip Miller English muffin with local NH North Country smoked ham Rice Krispies-breaded fried chicken breast Lunch features include burgers and sandwiches and include the Gochujang Fried Chicken sandwich (Rice Krispies-breaded fried chicken breast and everything bagel aioli on a sesame brioche roll) The bar program is unique for a brunch-focused restaurant with Mimosa flights – available currently in “Classic” or “Endless Summer” assortments – among the most popular choices along with four varieties of “Friendly wake-ups,” aka spiked espresso drinks For those who prefer Bloodies with their brunch including one that includes Grillo’s pickle juice The beverage menu also includes many non-alcoholic offerings like straight coffee and espresso drinks and mocktails such as the rainbow sherbet (orange juice The interior is “all authentically-curated decor,” Pinard said unique and chosen specifically for the West Hartford by a husband and wife team that has designed all of their locations The 3,000-square-foot space is completely transformed from its former occupancy as Division West with the exception of a vintage mural of West Hartford that remains on one of the walls The Friendly Toast has indoor seating for 160 with bar seats as well as tables and booths that can accommodate relatively large parties but Pinard said due to the construction on LaSalle Road this summer as part of the West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan implementation they are going to hold off until next year opening a new location in Connecticut was an obvious next step for us,” Eric Goodwin “We are excited to be a part of the lively West Hartford community and know we are in great company with the beloved local food scene From our Hash Quiche Cups to the Cookie Monster Pancakes there is something on our menu for everyone and it’s a pleasure to finally bring our creative scratch kitchen and bar to Connecticut.” “We are so excited to join the ranks of the West Hartford culinary community and provide a fun new offering to the town,” added Co-owner Scott Pulver Tad Dziemian is a business associate of Goodwin drove down Saturday morning from their home in northern New Hampshire to check out the newest location of The Friendly Toast noting that his favorite menu item is the “Sklarmageddon Omelet” (pork sausage topped with chipotle aioli and spiced pepitas) Monte Madame (Monte Cristo meets Croque Madame A French-toasted croissant stuffed with diced ham & gruyere gouda blend The menu has many gluten-friendly selections The servers are well-versed in asking about allergies and even include a marker when serving tables where there’s a stated food allergy The Friendly Toast has a commitment to giving back to the community and while free meals were offered during the soft opening all beverage sales were to benefit local nonprofit Ball 4 a Cure “a local organization that supports pediatric cancer patients and their families founded in 2015 by seven childhood friends from West Hartford started as a 3v3 basketball tournament on blacktop courts and evolved into a multi-faceted nonprofit organization hosting several annual events across many different communities the Ball 4 a Cure Family Support Fund at Connecticut Children’s Hospital assures families in financial need receive resources so each child in treatment has a safe warm and secure home to return to when they leave the Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders.” “West Hartford Wendy” will change her clothing with the season The Friendly Toast is open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The complete menu can be viewed online and there are links on the website for reservations and to be added to the waitlist The Friendly Toast also has a Brunch Club loyalty program where you can earn one point for every $1 spent in-restaurant and unlock a $10 off offer for every 100 points earned with double points available for weekday dining Community in Concert at Westminster Presbyterian Church in WEst Hartford will feature The Lillibridge Ensemble A truly extraordinary concert is coming to West Hartford internationally celebrated violinist Raphael Ryger and pianist Madeleine Forte are coming to Westminster Presbyterian Church for an unforgettable afternoon of world-class music Admission is free with donations welcome at the door This is not your average community concert These are artists who have graced the world’s great stages praised by critics and audiences alike for performances that stir the soul and ignite the imagination and decades of global experience to the sanctuary of Westminster for an afternoon performance that promises to move and inspire “Westminster Presbyterian Church deeply values the connections we make with our neighbors” we are thrilled to share our annual Community in Concert tradition with two of the foundational members of The Lillibridge Ensemble As we endeavor to bolster support for our exceptional music program we are deeply grateful to this world-renowned duo for sharing their gifts with us.” Music holds a special place in the heart of Westminster the church has supported local university music students and graduates through its Tilton Music Scholar Program integrating their talents into Westminster’s vibrant worship and musical life The Community in Concert series was created to uplift these musicians in a shared celebration of fellowship and music Boone shared “Our first concert in 2022 featured Westminster’s music scholars along with several local professionals We’re thrilled to continue the tradition this year with The Lillibridge Ensemble It will be an amazing afternoon of music and heartfelt community connection.” Whether you’re a longtime lover of classical music or simply looking for a meaningful way to spend your Saturday afternoon Community in Concert offers a rare opportunity to witness musical excellence up close and to celebrate the joy of coming together through the universal language of music A freewill offering will be collected during the concert to support the Tilton Music Scholarship Fund which helps sustain the church’s long-standing tradition of mentoring and supporting emerging musicians was born in Israel and raised in New York City returning to Israel before pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at Yale University He studied with leading violin pedagogues in both countries and has performed extensively as a soloist and concertmaster throughout Israel and Connecticut A longtime member of Orchestra New England Ryger is also a computer scientist and facilitator of a Yale faculty discussion group on science and utopian visions is a Juilliard-trained artist and recipient of the prestigious Josef Lhévinne Memorial Award Known for her breathtaking tone and expressive phrasing she has performed to critical acclaim across five continents Her career as an educator spans over two decades at Boise State University where she championed accessibility through scholarships for students from around the world noting her “gorgeous tone and sensuous line… evoking classic French pianism.” Organizations and veterans should register by May 10 Veterans and community groups are invited to participate in the West Hartford Memorial Day parade which will be held on Monday All veterans are welcome to march in the parade Community organizations may participate in the parade especially those with a veteran or military focus or purpose Please note that the Memorial Day parade is not a platform for commercial advertising or political statements Click here to register West Hartford takes great pride in hosting its Memorial Day parade and ceremony annually on the federal holiday It follows a tradition established by returning West Hartford veterans from World War I in the 1920s The Memorial Day Parade commences promptly at 10 a.m from the corner of Woodrow Street and Farmington Avenue The American Legion Post 96 and the Town of West Hartford are pleased to announce Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Seth M Allen as the Grand Marshal for the Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Monday as well as the keynote speaker for the 10th annual inductees ceremony recognizing graduating high school students entering military service on Tuesday ‘Belle Nuit: A Night of Three Voices’ will be performed in West Hartford on Saturday The Amelia Classical Music Series in West Hartford is proud to present “BELLE NUIT: A Night of Three Voices” on Saturday featuring three world-class opera singers – Zhanna Alkhazova and Kirstin Chambers – accompanied by pianist Blake Hansen including highlights from beloved operas by Puccini as well as popular selections from musical theater a Russian-born soprano now based in the West Hartford area and graced this country’s most illustrious stages including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall like a hurricane,” is what music website Voce di Meche called her voice Her lengthy list of operatic credits includes the title roles in Tosca who emigrated at age 5 from the Polynesian Kingdom of Tonga he was once a formidable college defensive end drafted onto the NFL’s Cleveland Browns by Coach Bill Belichick … until an injury curtailed his football career he followed his dream to become an opera singer where he was mentored by world-renowned diva Kiri Te Kanawa he went on to make an even greater name for himself onstage tackling top operatic roles from Don Jose in Carmen and Prince Calaf in Turandot to the Duke in Rigoletto and Caravadossi in Tosca He has since appeared almost everywhere from here to Hong Kong and has graced the world’s most prominent stages Celebrated soprano Kirstin Chambers may be best known for assuming the incomparably demanding title role in Salome which she has performed at the Metropolitan Opera She made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2016 as Maria in Strauss’s Friedenstag with the American Symphony Orchestra she has covered countless leading and supporting roles she debuted as Elsa in Lohengrin at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland a role she later reprised at the Hong Kong Arts Festival and Opéra de Rennes in France Brady Cersosimo and Luke Shaffer celebrate Conard's opening goal Luke Shaffer ties the all-time goals mark for Conard during a Saturday afternoon game in West Hartford Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance Brayden Mangini was outstanding making 21 saves for Conard In what could be a preview of the Class L boys lacrosse final Cheshire outlasted Conard 8-5 in a thrilling matchup Saturday in West Hartford Red Wolves senior Luke Shaffer scored his 146th goal to move into a tie for the all-time mark for the school In net Brayden Mangini was magnificent making 21 saves to keep Conard in the game “He was so composed and did everything  he could for us to win the game,” said head coach Matt Cersosimo Two Cheshire players collide going after the ball scoring two and a half minutes in when Grant Paul’s low shot beat Mangini The Red Wolves would answer when Torin McGoldrick picked up the loose ball on defense and ran the transition into the attack He found Brady Cersosimo in front of the cage and the junior attack man made no mistake to tie things at 1 The next four minutes belonged to the Rams’ offense and Mangini Maintaining control for long stretches Cheshire was patient with their shots and controlled the rebounds to settle things down Brady Potyrala snapped the tie when he broke off his defender and scored going high into the corner Three Conard players close in on a Cheshire defenseman Conard struggled all day in the face-off circle as Cheshire won 11 of 16 on the day and used them to set up their offense they controlled the ball and 2:30 in it was Potyrala scoring again this time cutting in from the left and finding space to release the shot for a goal though (Brett) Gainey battled in there all game,” Cersosimo said of his freshman face-off man the other thing that did not help the Wolves on the day showed up as well – penalties Conard would be flagged seven times on the day compared to one for the Rams “We had a couple of aggressive penalties during play and we have to clean that up,” the coach said Potyrala picked up his second goal of the game on the man advantage when he made it 4-1 at 7:56 The Wolves then went on a scoring run of their own with Shaffer getting career marker 146 to tie the school’s all-time goal mark with just under five minutes to go Conard had possession and took a timeout with :17 to go in the second Whatever play was called it worked – as Brady Cersosimo scored on a Shaffer assist with just :04 to go and Conard cut the Cheshire lead to 4-3 entering halftime Brady Cersosimo makes it a 1-goal game with 4 seconds left in the first half The opening minutes of the third quarter were tight with Mangini and Cheshire goalie Joe Grenier both coming out with some fine saves But the Conard attack would get his revenge when he took a pass from Shaffer at the end of a long Wolves’ possession and found the back of the net to tie things at 4 at 6:37 as William Wable finally converted on a bounce shot from an angle that beat Mangini just :42 after Alver’s goal Conard found itself playing a man down three times in the period “Our D was awesome all game long,” said Cersosimo Nick Katsaros works to get around Cheishre’s Brady Potyarla It was still anyone’s game when the fourth quarter opened with Conard trailing by a single goal Cheshire upped their 5-4 lead just under two minutes in when Nicholas Miller found the back of the net when his bounce went high into the corner Conard was also flagged for a penalty on the play giving the Rams possession of the ball again Both sides managed to keep up a high tempo despite the staggering heat and humidity – made even worse by playing on a turf field Brady Narus absorbs the hit from JC Johnson Conard would cut the lead back to a single goal with 4:15 to go when Ben Walsh ripped a 15-yard shot past Grenier to make it 6-5 Rams Cheshire answered 34 seconds later to take back the momentum and it was Wable shedding his defender to make it a 7-5 lead Conard had a great chance to make it a one-goal game when Shaffer found Walsh cutting down the middle and fed him the ball Cheshire would get the game’s final goal when a Conard defenseman overplayed Grant Paul down low He slipped under the defender at the side of the goal and fired in the shot Luke Shaffer’s shot deflected off the goalies stick late in the game Shaffer had one final chance to become the all-time goal leader but his shot with :37 to go hit the handle of Grenier’s stick and deflected wide “We made some second half mistakes in the midfield,” said Cersosimo after the game “If we had more possession it could have been a different game But that is a really good team over there and we showed we belong.” The loss is just the second of the year for Conard to go along with seven wins The losses both came at the hands of defending state champs – a 13-11 loss to Class M champion Hand and Saturday’s loss to Class L champion Cheshire This was also the first game all season that Conard did not score in double digits having averaged just over 14 goals per game heading into Saturday They also averaged just five goals against during the win streak Next up for Conard is a stretch of away games including at Wethersfield on Tuesday and Simsbury on Thursday Coac Matt Cersosimo talks it over with his players before the 4th quarter Brayden Mangini does the splits to make the save Nick Katsaros takes the shot for the Wolves Brayden Mangini makes the save for Conard against James Sutherland of Cheshire Liam Alver makes the pass to setup the offense as Luke Shaffer moves in Brady Cersosimo and Cheshire goalie Joe Grenier look into the net after Cersosimo’s goal Goalie Brayden Mangini goes high for the save The Town of West Hartford was honored with the Wellspring Award by Connecticut Age Well Collaborative for ‘Fostering Inclusive Communities for Every Age The Town of West Hartford has received the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative’s 2025 Wellspring Award for fostering community inclusivity for every age and every ability West Hartford was one of Connecticut’s first municipalities to host a “Daring Dialogue.” This Age Well Collaborative-designed community workshop brings together community members and local leaders to challenge assumptions about ageing and disability and explore how our biases influence our thoughts and actions West Hartford is among three Connecticut towns that will be recognized at a celebration in June The Town of West Hartford’s participation in the Daring Dialogue program reflects the town’s values and mission were present to share their lived experiences and discuss ways that we can engage and better serve our aging and disabled community members The session further signaled our commitment to ensuring all our residents feel seen “Being able to host a Daring Dialogue was a meaningful experience for everyone proves that West Hartford is a town for everyone and that our leaders and community members are willing to work together to ensure our town continues to create spaces for dialogue that are solution-driven I’m thankful to work and live in a community that shows up,” said Adrienne Billings-Smith manager of Employee Development and Community Engagement an initiative of Connecticut Community Care (CCC) cross-sector initiative to foster communities for every age and every ability The Collaborative’s Wellspring Awards are framed around the idea that Connecticut is a wellspring of innovation and inspiration “Fostering more inclusive places doesn’t just help Connecticut residents who are already aging or living with a disability equitable communities for everyone,” said Alyssa Norwood director of the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative “This year’s Wellspring Award recipients are incredible thought leaders.” Delegated by the Connecticut legislative Commission on Women the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative leads the state’s livable communities initiative per Section 17b-420a of the Connecticut General Statutes intergenerational places where we all can thrive across the lifespan The Connecticut Age Well Collaborative is strongly supported by the Point32Health Foundation the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services dedicated to helping people live their best lives at home in the community founded the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative in 2020 with the understanding that thriving at home requires our communities to be prepared to support residents across their lifespan For more information, visit ctagewellcollaborative.org 2025A bear shocked shoppers as it ran through a parking lot in Connecticut.WEST HARTFORD Connecticut (WABC) -- There was chaos at a mall in Connecticut after a bear charged through the parking lot It happened at West Farms Mall in West Hartford last Friday Video showed the bear sprinting towards the mall Wildlife officials were eventually able to chase the bear into the woods nearby They say the animal likely recently came out of hibernation and was looking for food * More Connecticut news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? 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If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply. 2025 Junior League of Hartford Designer Show House A 1902 Tudor revival home at 820 Prospect Avenue has been transformed into the Junior League of Hartford’s 2025 Designer Show House The Junior League of Hartford’s signature fundraiser gives local designers the opportunity to showcase their talents as they transform a notable area home and visitors to this year’s 1902 Tudor revival will be treated to a truly spectacular tour of 17 decorated spaces at 820 Prospect Avenue (on the Hartford side of the street) is the current home of Annie Pascucci and her family – which includes two young children – who have relocated for three months and generously donated the use of their home to support the Junior League’s fundraiser “She loves art and architecture,” said Junior League Board member Kelly Sellew who provided We-Ha.com with a sneak peek tour a few days before the official opening “There was already a lot of color here,” she added This is the second Show House in a row that was donated for use by its current occupants, following in the footsteps of Marsha and Jared Jacobskind who temporarily moved out of their West Hartford home in 2022 so it could be used for the fundraiser Sellew said there were 16 designers this year – several from West Hartford – who transformed a total of 17 separate spaces in the home The 4,900 square foot double-gable Tudor revival home in the Prospect Avenue Historic District features seven bedrooms and a spacious sunroom – along with two separate staircases Many of the original details remain intact – including the heart-shaped baluster and leaded glass windows and doors – and were preserved in the transformational process McCory Interiors of Burlington is the Junior League’s longest-standing Show House designer and this year transformed the expansive living room one of the most prominent spaces on the tour West Hartford-based Grace Galloway Design is a first-year participant in the Designer Show House and incorporated the works of many local artists into the light-filled and colorful sunroom Don’t miss the detail along the crown molding – which appears to be tile but is actually wallpaper The study, designed by Kate Smith Interiors of Farmington is the opposite of a stuffy space – a cozy and retreat done in blues and greens – with some pops of yellow – that creates an inviting refuge West Hartford’s Kathryn Hunt Studio is back for another show house Known for creating her own textile designs don’t miss her custom wallpaper on the dining room’s ceiling Sellew said the striking floral arrangements in the dining room were created by a Junior League member She designed the pattern on the ceiling wallpaper “We don’t always get a full kitchen transformation, but this one was a full makeover,” said Sellew. Although the footprint and layout was not changed, the kitchen and adjacent mudroom were renovated by AMS Kitchens & Interiors of Cheshire and many of the high-end appliances were donated The two spaces are unified through the sage green palette and the wallpaper in the back of the glass-front cabinets also appears in the mudroom Sometimes the rooms of show houses are starkly different styles there’s a “very cohesive color palette” with the use of green in many of the spaces The wallpaper in the back of the cabinets matches the wallpaper in the mudroom by AMS Kitchens Climb the main staircase to the second floor and you will find an enormous closet – with organization that most can only dream of – was created by NEAT Method Hartford The Homemaker CT – aka Ellen Piccolo of West Hartford – is participating in her first show house keeping the original wide-grout blue-green tile on the floor and walls intact The primary bedroom’s design was the work of Kaitlin Smith Interiors of Watch Hill who created a floral-themed retreat that pays homage to English Cottage Garden style Primary bedroom by Kaitlin Smith Interiors In what was previously the homeowner’s daughter’s bedroom, Shelley Dodd of West Hartford-based Mews Designs created a space with enough whimsy for a young girl Among the unique treatments is the gold trim delineating the door panels Camden Grace Interiors Paintings by Connecticut artists line the walls with “Torch Singer” by West Hartford’s Sandy Welch claiming a prominent position and inspiration for the color palette Travel and photography are the dominant themes of the room The theme carries through to the ensuite bathroom Continuing the tour up the back stairs to the third floor, Alison V. Cummings of Newtown added her skills as a muralist with hand-painted walls that highlight scenes from nearby Elizabeth Park the Junior League of Hartford’s 16th show house is dedicated this year to the memory of Mary Lynn Gorman who introduced the concept in 1979 and co-chaired the first event A longtime volunteer for the Junior League as well as other area nonprofits and a 30-year public relations professional which hangs beside a portrait she also painted of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Throughout the third-floor hallway there are framed posters and articles from past show house events Images of previous Show Houses line the third floor hallway A surprise find on the the third floor is a kitchenette, and preserving the use of that space was a requirement of the homeowner.  The owners of Sabin Viehland of Washington freshened up the space with paint and wallpaper and the exposed beams remain a striking fixture of the space The tour descends the back stairs to the first level, and then heads down another flight to the basement, appropriately tabbed “The Hive Speakeasy Bar & Lounge” by Quiver Spirits of East Hartford every square inch,” said Quiver Spirits owner Tomas Nenortas Tastings will be offered at the wet bar during tours who is an ardent preservationist who has compiled much of the history of this home as well as other previous show houses He said that the home was designed by noted Hartford architect Edward T Their daughter was one of the first members of the Junior League of Hartford and their granddaughter plans to attend this year’s show house with crisp blue and white furnishings and a fire pit and volunteer time to a multitude of Connecticut nonprofits.” Funds are raised through the sale of tickets to tour the home as well as special events and sponsorships The Show House will hold an opening night event on Friday “We are so excited to welcome the public to our 16th Designer Show House,” Deirdre Green “The designers have already been hard at work transforming 820 Prospect Avenue This Show House is not just a celebration of design and architecture – it is also a testament to the power of community Thanks to the partnership and support of CTC&G we hope this is our most successful Show House to date.” The heart-shaped baluster is an original detail Pop-up boutiques will be located in the home’s garage Additional special events at the Show House include a Kentucky Derby Party hosted by Quiver Spirits on May 3; “Tea & History” with Sigrid MacRae an author and granddaughter of the home’s original owners Tickets for opening night, house tours, and special events are available online at harford.jl.org/ShowHouse Online presale tickets for Show House tours are $35 until May 2 “CTC&G (Connecticut Cottages & Gardens) is honored to once again present the Junior League of Hartford’s 2025 Designer Show House,”  Carey said in a statement “It is truly inspiring to witness such an exceptional group of designers unite in support of a meaningful cause We look forward to sharing the story of this remarkable home – and the vision and creativity behind it – with our readers throughout the region.” the owners can choose to have the paint and wallpaper remain or have the spaces returned to a neutral palette and they also have first dibs at purchasing the furniture and accessories The following is the list of designers and landscapers that participated in the 2025 Show House: Alison V. Cummings – Newtown AMS Kitchens & Interiors – Cheshire Camden Grace Interiors – West Hartford Grace Galloway Design – West Hartford The Homemaker CT – West Hartford Kaitlin Smith Interiors – Watch Hill Kate Smith Interiors – Farmington Kathryn Hunt Studio – West Hartford McCory Interiors – Burlington Mews Designs – West Hartford Mikel Welch Home – New York NEAT Method Hartford – Hartford Quiver Spirits – East Hartford Sabin Viehland – Washington John Boyle Decorating Centers Hudson Valley Lighting Group  JennAir Ethan Allen Tile America AKDO  ALTA (American Land Title Association) Good Deeds Foundation CATIC Foundation Hoffman Auto Group  Rendering of Vessel Technologies Development April 29 that the company has withdrawn plans for rezoning and creation of a Special Development District at 29 Highland Street in West Hartford Several hours prior to what would have been the fourth installment of a public hearing on Vessel Technologies’ plans to rezone and create a Special Development District in order to build 108 units of multifamily housing at 29 Highland Street the company announced that it has withdrawn its application for the project The project had been submitted pursuant to Connecticut General Statute 8-30g “Vessel Technologies has withdrawn its application for a zone change and designation of a special development district for 29 Highland Street Because the application has been withdrawn no public comment will be received on the application at the public hearing scheduled for this evening,” the town said in an announcement Tuesday afternoon Town Manager Rick Ledwith issued the following statement regarding the withdrawal: “We appreciate Vessel’s responsiveness and their willingness to work in partnership with our Town staff Vessel graciously offered to withdraw its application without prejudice and we agreed to work in collaboration with Vessel in advancing our shared commitment to affordable housing.” Because the application has been withdrawn without prejudice Vessel has not yet indicated what its future plans may be emailed the following statement to Mayor Shari Cantor and the Town Council: “On behalf of Vessel RE Holdings LLC and Vessel Technologies please accept this request to withdraw the above referenced Application without prejudice The public hearing was opened and has been continued to this date This withdrawal is submitted after much deliberation and in respect of valuable insights received from the Town’s administrative staff The Applicant believes the proposed development will benefit from additional time to consider and improve upon certain design elements of its proposal.” including the fire and building departments had been working to understand some of the unique characteristics of Vessel Technologies’ construction methods and materials they use to create their buildings is known for constructing their properties quickly and with minimal disruption The units are modular and prefabricated of materials – including the materials used for the walls and doors of the units – that Vessel states are non-combustible and common areas that are partially open to the air and exposed to the elements had continued to express concern about the ability of Vessel to meet Connecticut’s fire safety and fire prevention codes – particularly with respect to corridors and stairwells – due to the modular and prefabricated construction process that may limit design modifications although Vessel Executive Vice President Josh Levy told We-Ha.com last week that they were “100% committed to making any changes to comply with Connecticut code.” The State Fire Marshal and State Building Official have had also gotten involved in reviewing some of the code-related concerns raised by West Hartford staff and on April 14 provided some guidelines related to several of the issues to building officials and fire marshals in West Hartford as well as other towns where Vessel was pursuing or had projects under development or completed – including Avon Vessel first officially began discussing development of a project in West Hartford last summer, and had an initial study session with the Design Review Advisory Committee (DRAC) in August 2024 presenting a variety of concept plans for one or two buildings with anywhere from 112 to 140 units At its Dec. 10, 2025, meeting, the Town Council received the Vessel application, submitted under Connecticut General Statutes Section 8-30g which requires that 30% of the units must be affordable – and at least 15% of those must be affordable for those with an income of 60% or less than the area median income (AMI) The Council originally set the public hearing date as Jan and as with all Special Development District applications also referred it to the Town Plan and Zoning Commission (TPZ) and DRAC Nearly four hours of testimony was heard at that initial public hearing on Feb. 25 which included a presentation by Vessel as well as robust public comment by more a dozen members of the community Many of the concerns raised related to traffic and the adequacy of parking The hearing was continued until  March 11 “for the limited purpose of presenting an updated plan set to reflect reconfiguration of several units” – which included a reduction in the proposed number of units to 108 – after which the Council had intended to vote on the project The earlier plans had been for 112 units but a request by the Council was made to add another affordable two-bedroom unit which required some reconfiguration of the plans that the Council said needed to be reviewed before the vote to rezone and establish a Special Development District At the March 11 hearing, the Council again moved to continue the discussion, this time to March 20 because “this project presents a unique construction approach something the Council has not seen before,” Mayor Shari Cantor stated on March 11 On March 20, the decision was made to again continue the hearing it was to allow sufficient time to address fire safety and other safety-related concerns that town staff and Town Council members had related to the unique approach Vessel takes in   and additional public testimony had been permitted in-person and via email there were 28 emails submitted as part of public testimony – both for and against the project Some of the individuals who have submitted comments in writing have also spoken at the hearings The purchase and sale agreement for the 29 Highland Street property formerly Hughes Health & Rehabilitation was contingent on approval of the rezoning and the nursing home residents were relocated and the property has been vacant since mid-2023 Former Hughes Health and Rehabilitation at 29 Highland Street Hopefully they are able to make it work out West Hartford could use some more affordable new construction vs the $2,800-$4,000 a month units that have come online and are coming online soon Plus with this near Farmington Ave public transportation and the school across the street it would make it ideal for school staff or renters who don’t have/want a car Police have canceled the Silver Alert for Kathleen Fitzpatrick State Police distributed an email canceling the Silver Alert that had been issued for Kathleen Fitzpatrick indicating that the matter had been resolved No further information was provided in the email but West Hartford Police confirmed to We-Ha.com later Friday morning that Fitzpatrick is fine Connecticut State Police issued a Silver Alert on Wednesday for a missing adult and are asking for the public’s assistance She is described by police as 5-feet 4-inches tall Police said she was last seen wearing khaki pants Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Fitzpatrick should contact West Hartford Police at 86-523-5203 A Community Conversation with the State Police Hate Crimes Unit will be held in the West Hartford Town Hall auditorium on Thursday The number of hate crimes has been steadily rising in Connecticut in recent years and investigated – and how you can play a role in preventing them The public is invited to join DESPP Commissioner Ronnell A and the members of the Hate Crimes Investigative Unit of the Connecticut State Police for a discussion about how the state and communities are responding The event will take place at the West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium For more information, contact Michael Bloom, Hate Crimes Initiative Coordinator, at Michael.Bloom@ct.gov Photo courtesy of Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society Historian Jeff Murray takes a look into West Hartford’s past to uncover some surprising information or reflect on how much life has changed – or hasn’t changed at all Enjoy this week’s ‘From West Hartford’s Archives’ … a petition to the town for a special exception to zoning regulations was granted so that a firehouse could be built in a single-family residential neighborhood along Albany Avenue This photograph was taken of the new firehouse in the 1950s a new street was developed from the firehouse on Albany Avenue around the northeast corner of Bishop’s Corner to North Main Street The Town Plan and Zoning Commission named it Starkel Road in honor of Henry A the West Hartford Police Department maintenance and equipment chief The town owned the property on the west side of the road which would become the Bishop’s Corner Library branch in the 1960s The firehouse on Albany Avenue was long overdue but it reflected the growing northern section of West Hartford the entire town was covered by the work of the Fountain Hose Company and other volunteers (there is more than one story in our history of a group of broom-wielding neighbors showing up to a barn or house fire It was not uncommon for single wooden houses to burn down in the 1800s but as suburban streets were laid out and houses were densely constructed the chance of massive outbreaks that could sweep through a street surged almost all of Raymond Road burned down while residents vacationed out of town the first movement for a dedicated fire district sprang up on the East Side where wealthy businessmen had built large estates on Prospect Avenue Boundaries were laid out and the first district firehouse was built on Prospect Avenue in 1915 (it still stands there) followed by the Quaker Hose Company off Park Road After the Center Fire District took a vote to cut off all of Elmwood and Charter Oak the South Fire District was established in 1919 during this bureaucratic wave of activity That left the western and northern parts of West Hartford – but for a few more decades These stretches of land were covered by the Fountain Hose Company generally and little by little parts of North Quaker Lane and Fern Street by Main Street were annexed by the Center Fire District with an increase in the mill rate the north end of town met in the North School to petition for annexation to the fire district a vote was taken and the fire district approved annexation of the entire northern section to the Bloomfield line All of this extra work prompted the construction of a brand new firehouse on Brace Road in the Center complete with a second floor assembly room The district covered fire as well as garbage and ash collection by the late 1920s The first half of the 1900s was very confusing for residents when it came to understanding the fire districts – in 1927 Captain Thomas Donnelly of the Center Fire District had to make a public statement urging residents to sit down and actually learn about the boundaries of each fire district as too many people were calling the number of a district without authority on their street the districts were merged under the umbrella of the West Hartford Fire Department The growth of the Albany Avenue area required a new firehouse by the early 1950s Roads that spanned the length of Trout Brook Drive needed to be covered as well The construction of the huge shopping plaza at Bishop’s Corner in 1954 complemented all of this building activity so it made sense to have a firehouse close by The land that the firehouse was built on had been known as the Mansfield farm William Henry Mansfield had purchased this fruit farm named “Mansfield’s Hill,” with his brother Peter William served on the town school committee in the 1890s and was politically involved in the Republican Party serving on the board of selectman through 1900 He and his brother enjoyed hunting and fishing trips to a lake in Maine and his death in 1907 after a brief bout of pneumonia prompted his brother to sell the eastern half of the farm to a real estate company the western half of the parcel was sold and their farmhouse converted into a day and boarding school under the ownership of John G Hawley was an office manager of the Capewell Horseshoe Nail Company in Hartford before his retirement in 1921 he worked as a real estate agent and it was through this ownership that the Town of West Hartford acquired the land a ladder company was moved from the Brace Road firehouse to the new firehouse on Albany Avenue a decision made to beef up fire protection in the northern section of the town where there were now larger buildings – houses The acting Town Manager Arthur Rutherford (former building inspector) argued: “Like the Police Department changes are necessary to meet the heavy increase in population.” notably the shifting of fire resources during the 1950s were overseen by the West Hartford Fire Chief Donnelly started his career with the department in 1920 as one of six firemen in the old Center Fire District (He was also the one telling residents to learn about the fire districts because they kept calling the wrong one!) When the fire districts were consolidated in the spring of 1937 Donnelly was appointed chief of the entire force and oversaw innovations like water spray under high pressure (“fog”) serving at his hometown submarine base in New London Donnelly worked intensely over decades to ensure a smooth organization of our fire department just after the ladder company was moved to Albany Avenue the Albany Avenue fire station is the second newest (after the one on Berkshire Road built in the 1960s) and covers an area that grew much larger after its construction in the mid-1950s Jeff Murray was born and raised in West Hartford and has been involved with the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society since 2011 when he was a high school student and won the Meyer Prize for his essay on local history Jeff routinely volunteers as local history researcher uncovering information for numerous museum programs such as the West Hartford House Tour and West Hartford Hauntings Jeff works as a data analyst at Pratt & Whitney Shoppers at a shopping mall in Connecticut were sent into a state of panic after a bear was spotted running through the parking lot Video footage captured from the incident shows law enforcement officials in West Hartford chase the furry shopper as it runs amok through the mall Shoppers were also seen running away from the bear as it moved through "Oh my God," a person could be heard saying in the video amid loud screams Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) spokesperson Will Healey told USA TODAY on April 15 that the bear was located in a tree near Westfarms Mall on April 11 by the agency's Environmental Conservation Police and Wildlife Division personnel Healy said staff successfully managed to chase the bear away into nearby woods A DEEP spokesperson told Storyful that authorities used a stick to tap the tree which the bear had climbed prompting it to jump from the tree and run away The spokesperson said wildlife officials attempted earlier to encourage the bear believed to be around one or two years old down by shooting a paintball gun at the tree Bears become active in the springThe bear is believed to have been looking for food after emerging from hibernation bears become more active in the spring," Healy said advising residents to be "bear aware" and mindful of their presence Black bears are increasingly becoming common in Connecticut, according to DEEP with reports of bear sightings in heavily populated residential areas on the rise Wildlife agencies have also seen an increase in the number of reported conflicts with black bears who encouraged all residents to be more "BearWise" and aware of what to do if they encounter the wild animal The National Park Service and DEEP suggest keeping the following things in mind in case of an encounter: Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7 View from the porch of Hartford Tennis Club's clubhouse has been an institution in West Hartford for close to 90 years which has operated on a 6-acre site tucked away in a residential neighborhood of West Hartford for nearly 90 years is not your grandfather’s tennis club – although if you’re a longtime resident or grandmother may have played tennis there While some people may view tennis as a country-club sport with somewhat arcane rules and “tennis whites” the only permissible attire – and indeed a review of the history of the sport indicates strong roots in European royal society – Hartford Tennis Club prides itself on catering to members who love the game whether they are are highly skilled and competing at a high level or just enjoy the great exercise and getting out on the court for a friendly match on a sunny afternoon Hartford Tennis Club has 12 Har-Tru courts located in a residential neighborhood in Bishops Corner An AI search for the origin of the term “love” in tennis scoring (which if you don’t know means zero points) includes a theory that the term “comes from the phrase ‘to play for love of the game,'” and that’s what motivates membership in Hartford Tennis Club Just hours after the Hartford Tennis Club courts were declared open on April 14 A visit to Hartford Tennis Club on April 14 happened to coincide with opening day for the 12 Har-Tru courts and although the opening date hadn’t necessarily been planned for that date warm temperatures and sunny skies cooperated with the crew responsible for the preparing of the courts for the season and the 88-year-old club currently has about 390 members The membership is capped to ensure adequate availability of court time with reservations now made online up to a week ahead of time “This is the site of the original clubhouse,” said longtime member Betsy MacDermid seated on the porch of the single-story building at 25 Flagg Road that replaced it in the mid-1960s and which was recently remodeled with updates including the addition of new showers Renovated interior of the Hartford Tennis Club clubhouse but the expansive lawn surrounding the clubhouse is also an integral part of the HTC experience and has been the space where children of club members have made up their own games and where generations of barbecues and other club events have taken place the club’s historian and editor of a book that chronicled the history of Hartford Tennis Club in celebration of the 75th anniversary in 2012 said it was actually started by a group of recent college graduates who were badminton players also a longtime HTC member who was on the history book committee said the founders’ goal was originally to build an indoor badminton facility maybe with space to accommodate tennis as well and the owner of the farm that is now Westmoor Park agreed to sell them the property and Hartford Tennis Club was officially incorporated on July 28 according to the club’s history “to promote the popularity and proficiency of tennis and social intercourse among its members The expansive lawn at Hartford Tennis Club continues to be a space used for barbecues and other membership social events By 1978 the club had four clay tennis courts eventually transitioned to the Har-Tru courts that exist today “It’s amazing to have this much land in West Hartford,” said MacDermid And many people don’t even know the club is there with only recently a stone marker with the letters “HTC” added alongside the semi-hidden driveway at 25 Flagg Road which is just west of the Bishops Corner shopping center but east of Westmoor Park’s entrance “All has been built by volunteers … this whole place generations and generations,” Garratt said “It’s geared around friendship and tennis,” added MacDermid or or the addition of lights for night play have been brought up as options over the years but there are noise and lighting constraints that come from being in the middle of a single-family residential neighborhood and they aren’t permitted to expand the footprint of the clubhouse beyond its existing foundation so HTC has remained true to its original mission and brand Dues have also been kept to a minimum, with memberships currently costing $482, and additional assessments are rare. The initiation is discounted for those who join before Memorial Day, and details can be found here At times there has been a lengthy wait list to become a member “When I first came here and was interested in tennis if you put your name in it took seven or eight years,” MacDermid said Hartford Tennis Club hasn’t needed to advertise to reach potential members the club prides itself on the quality of its courts “One of the unique things is we have the best groundskeepers,” Bendett said who has been the head groundskeeper since 2002 refers to the courts as his “12 adopted children,” she said They also have a full-time pro (Quat Vu) and director of operations (Tanner DeVarennes) and employ sweepers to maintain the courts One of the courts at Hartford Tennis Club is dedicated to Shirley Fry Irving HTC has also had top-notch talent among its members over the years a West Hartford resident and winner of 17 Grand Slam tennis titles in the 1950s or pick up a casual game with another club member world-renowned tennis player that just mingled among us,” said MacDermid the friendships,” and the club is still that way Garratt used to live in the neighborhood and as a kid would ride her bike to HTC “The beauty is this club exists in a neighborhood,” Garratt said “We’re aware that it’s not easy to break into a club but we have events to welcome new members,” MacDermid said “Anybody can find a game that suits their level.” “The beauty is great courts and a deep community that plays at all levels,” Bendett said There’s also drop-in tennis on Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m There are also social events to bring members together for tennis followed by food The official season is Memorial Day through Labor Day but the club opens as soon as possible in April and stays open late into the fall if weather permits Some who belong to HTC also belong to other clubs including those who play on the USTA circuit The Walter Rapp-Shirley Fry Senior Men’s and Women’s Jubilee is a USTA-sanctioned event held each summer and MacDermid said it’s one of the best senior tournaments in New England an avid and accomplished local tennis player who continued playing tennis until the end of his life The history of Hartford Tennis Club was compiled for the 75th anniversary in 2012 Programs are geared to what members want and need Hartford Tennis Club invites anyone interested in membership to attend an open house on Sunday league play and social tennis,” the flyer states For more information about Hartford Tennis Club, visit the website Details: cache-fra-eddf8230040-FRA 1746499754 2506178087 Details: cache-fra-eddf8230040-FRA 1746499761 2506214016 Piri Piri Q is located at 2074 Park Street and thankfully the forecast for this week looks promising looking out my office window at a coating of SNOW on the patio and on the daffodils Most of the week ahead looks a bit more more seasonal and watching the Masters is really making me impatient for some real springtime weather and the blooming azaleas This is spring break week for West Hartford Public Schools I hope it will be a quiet week where I can finally catch up on some features that need to be written I had several fun experiences this past week, including reporting on a dog-related story, modeling in the Kimberly Boutique fashion show, and covering the UConn Women’s Basketball Victory Celebration which thankfully was postponed to Sunday UConn Women’s Basketball Victory Parade & Rally in Hartford Ted and I had a fabulous dinner on Saturday night at Portobello Restaurant on Park Road Look for a feature coming soon about some updates to their menu and the new patio Pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon at Portobello Restaurant Bread and olive oil at Portobello Restaurant New York style calamari at Portobello Restaurant Tortellini Zingarella (cheese tortellini with mushrooms peas in a blush sauce) at Portobello Restaurant Chicken portobello with mushrooms and roasted red peppers in a Marsala wine sauce with mashed potatoes and vegetables at Portobello Restaurant Below is our new troll monitor that Business Manager Bob Carr created with some help from ChatGPT He’s watching for those who attempt to comment without their full name Chef Rui Correia is the owner of Piri Piri Q in Parkville Market and located at 2074 Park Street Chicken and ribs combo with Piri baked beans and housemade chips at Piri Piri Q Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center will open at 61 South Main St. Matt Burger (pictured) and his wife Jessica are the franchise co-owners of the Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center that will open at 61 South Main St. Clinical Director Spencer Simmons demonstrates the use of the Solo Step rail with Travis Lytle in the harness Signage is up for the future Ceara Market at 74 Park Road Mindful Transformation is temporarily located at 74 Park Road Future Sugar Gen at 1123 New Britain Avenue West Hartford Center infrastructure work in progress on LaSalle Road near Max Burger West Hartford Center infrastructure work in progress on LaSalle Road next to Music & Arts The Friendly Toast is getting closer to opening at 36 LaSalle Road in West Hartford Center a couple next to me walked into The Friendly Toast (door was open) and a man who said he was the owner said he was waiting for permits from the town but was ready to open I can’t wait- I think this is going to be a new favorite Niche.com has released its 2025 list of the ‘Best Places to Live in Connecticut,’ and West Hartford has once again earned the top spot Niche.com released its rankings of the “Best Places to Live” this week, and now for eight years running, West Hartford has earned the top ranking on the list of the “2025 Best Places to Live in Connecticut.” Niche again gives West Hartford an overall grade of A-plus a ranking which they determine as a comprehensive assessment of the overall livability of an area based on analysis of multiple data sets as well as Niche’s proprietary data and community reviews It’s a ranking which considers the overall quality of an area and includes analysis of “affordability and more are all considered,” Niche states “This is such excellent news that West Hartford is recognized by Niche as the No 1 place to live in Connecticut for the eighth consecutive year,” Mayor Shari Cantor said “This is an important reflection of our highly engaged residents and our truly amazing We have a highly professional and caring town staff and such vibrant and thriving commercial centers throughout town We continually invest in the quality of life for our residents and visitors and we also recognize and welcome the opportunities to improve We celebrate our special community and we are grateful for this honor,” she added “West Hartford being named the best town to live in for the eighth year in a row is a testament to the incredible community we have here,” said Town Manager Rick Ledwith it’s about the residents who make this town feel like home Whether you have lived here for many years or just moved in there is a shared sense of pride in what makes West Hartford special.” In addition to the overall grade of A-plus for 2025 West Hartford’s “Report Card” was unchanged from 2024 The town received an A-plus in the categories of schools and “good for families.” Nightlife and outdoor activities received an A; diversity and commute received an A-minus; housing was rated B-plus; and crime was rated B (up from C-plus several years ago) Cost of living and weather were rated C-plus Niche notes in a statement that accompanied the most recent rankings that each year they help “over 70 million people find the right colleges With comprehensive profiles on every school and 50,000+ cities and towns across America – from the familiar to the undiscovered – Niche offers unique ratings Those personalized recommendations – individual reviews – are also factored into the rankings and West Hartford’s placement for 2025 incorporated 211 reviews A five-star review posted six months from a current resident states: “My only regret in moving to West Hartford is that I didn’t move here many years ago There are multiple grocery stores and farm stands within minutes I can take a walk in our beautiful trailed parks New York City or the Hudson Valley or go into Hartford for the theater or museums but if you’re a beach person we are reasonably close to the shore too Our town center is filled with lovely little stores The library here is phenomenal and so are the schools Town government is positive thinking and governing our town for the future but we have exceptional services in every way.” Another recent five-star review notes: “West Hartford builds strong relationships and friendships throughout neighborhoods Although you can be bored anywhere you live you’re a 5-10 minute drive from any restaurant or stores around.” “Where you live shapes so many aspects of your life from career opportunities to the sense of community you feel,” Luke Skurman said in a statement accompanying the announcement of the current rankings we are proud to provide rankings that empower people to make informed decisions based on what matters most to them and professionals have turned to Niche as a trusted resource and we remain committed to helping people discover the best places to live with confidence.” Some towns are split into separate neighborhoods for consideration and a total of 254 Connecticut communities were included in the 2025 ranking There has been some shuffling among the other top-rated communities this year 2 community in the 2025 ranking was Glastonbury Center Niche has also once again rated West Hartford as No. 1 (of 73) in both the most recent rankings of the “Best Suburbs for Young Professionals in Connecticut” and  “Best Suburbs to Live in Connecticut.” Nationally, West Hartford was ranked No. 78 in the “Best Suburbs to Live in America” and overall No. 148 (up from 159 last year) out of 18,100 communities considered for the “Best Places to Live in America” for 2025 I waited to finish this introduction until after the fantastic UConn women’s basketball team won its 12th championship! I was afraid to even upload this photo I took of my UConn garden flag until after the win The UConn flag has been hanging in my garden for the past week but I didn’t want to share the photo until after the NCAA tournament was over I’m very sad about Duke’s loss Saturday night I *may* have blamed Millie – who usually wants to be outside while we watch basketball (and which seems to bring good luck) because she doesn’t like it when my voice gets too animated – but who was inside when Duke started blowing their lead She still looked a bit sad about it on Sunday morning (She got a belly rub moments after this photo was taken – but she did stay outside for the UConn women’s win!) Millie looked sad about Duke’s loss on Saturday night and please be aware that the Town Council will hold its second public hearing on the budget on Tuesday at 6 p.m I finally had a chance to eat at the new Sally’s Apizza at Westfarms on Monday I tried the “Angel Fire” pizza – a white pie topped with Cloud23 hot habanero chicken and Beckham’s Cloud23 sweet pepperoni jalapeño pepperoni sauce It’s a specialty that’s available for a limited time and is a collaboration between Sally’s head chef Bret Lunsford and entrepreneur and food enthusiast Brooklyn Peltz Beckham – the oldest son of David Beckham and Victoria Beckham spokesperson for Westfarms – and we definitely did not eat all this food in one sitting – but we did make a good dent in it Prosciutto and Stracciatella with basil oil at Sally’s Apizza Coal-fired meatball sandwich and Caesar salad at Sally’s Apizza I definitely had some yummy food this week – but much of it wasn’t high on the healthiness scale There’s a link in the bullet points below to the Yard Goats food showcase which offered media a chance to photograph and sample some of this year’s extreme offerings Note that while I did hold up that 2-foot-long hotdog to take a photo The 2-foot-long hotdog is back as one of the offerings at Dunkin’ Park during the 2025 Yard Goats season Saturday night’s dinner was at Tavern in the Square which afforded a great opportunity for viewing the Florida vs perfectly accompanied by some local draft beers (Alvarium Phresh and New Park Cloudscape) Phresh and Cloudscape at Tavern in the Square Bang Bang Broccoli at Tavern in the Square Sesame Salmon bowl at Tavern in the Square Korean crispy chicken sandwich and sweet potato fries at Tavern in the Square Work visible on the sidewalk outside of the entrance to the future Level99 in the Corbin Collection Max Burger is celebrating its 15th anniversary at 124 LaSalle Road where the West Hartford infrastructure reconstruction work is underway Deangelo’s Wine & Liquor will take over the former Everest Package Store space in the Shield Street Plaza The Easter Bunny is back at Westfarms through April 19 We on Wiltshire lane live in fear of aggressive flooding all the time Nothing has been done by the Town thoughwe are supposed to be in phase 1 of some solution I wrote the Town Council twice with no response There’s a story for you if you care to investigate West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith proposed a $370.3 million budget Tuesday night that increases spending by 6.55% and would result in a 7.35% tax increase Town Manager Rick Ledwith presented the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget to the Town Council Tuesday night noting that there are challenges to be met prior to adoption of the spending plan as Council members meet in committees to review each line item and hear from the community at two public hearings as well as several Town Hall meeting-style open discussions The proposed $370,290,339 FY26 budget increases overall spending by 6.55% ($22,751,258) over the town’s FY25 budget Town services are projected to increase by $7,472,909 (5.73%), and Board of Education expenses, based on the proposal delivered by Superintendent of Schools Paul Vicinus on March 4 are estimated to increase $14,422,944 (7.18%) Capital financing costs are estimated to increase in FY26 by $855,405 (5.27%) The percentage of each category relative to the overall budget is virtually unchanged from past years Proposed General Fund expenditure for FY26 the current mill rate of 42.35 mills would increase to 45.21 mills (6.75%) while the motor vehicle mill rate “recognizes the challenges we face as a community while reaffirming our commitment to providing the highest level of services for our residents,” with strength and purpose “This budget helps us strengthen our community by investing in services for a resilient future It is a budget that balances fiscal responsibility with the strategic investments needed to sustain and enhance the quality of life that makes West Hartford the best place to live Ledwith provided specific details about those challenges during his presentation noting that the key drivers on the town expense side are payroll and risk management – the latter of which is primarily the increase in health care premiums salaries and benefits are also major drivers along with the significant and under-reimbursed increase in tuition costs for out-of-district special education placements and transportation While there will likely be refinement in the numbers over the next several weeks Ledwith noted that the overall approach to the budget will maintain the following priorities: The Town Council received the FY26 proposed budget on March 11 Wages and salaries are the largest piece of the town’s budget The costs are associated with full-time employees who have negotiated agreements including the compounding effect of the CSEA agreement which was ratified this year but is retroactive to 2021 and the increase in the minimum wage for part-time and seasonal employees Operating expenses are up by just $266,122 (0.9%) this year in comparison to last year when they increased by $1.2 million “This is the category we have the most control over and one where we cut significantly in preparation for this budget,” he said The largest expense increase on the town side – $3.6 million or 7.5% – is in the category of fringe benefits/insurance/bonded pension liability participates in the State Partnership Plan for heath care and premiums are projected to increase 9.9% in comparison to last year when they rose just 2% which is a smaller increase than last year The largest percentage of the general fund expenditure is education “which makes sense in that we employ 1,600 full-time employees who are responsible for educating 9,000-plus Pre-K to Grade 12 students,” and the break-out doesn’t change much from year to year and is similar for any town or city in the state the largest departments are public safety (police and fire) and public works “As we begin to look at reducing our $7 million increase,” Ledwith said While the Town Council cannot specifically adjust the education budget – only the overall allocation – Ledwith noted that when Vicinus presented his 2025-26 budget last week it highlighted special education costs as a key driver in particularly a $3.6 million increase in tuition for outplaced students with reduced excess cost reimbursement by the state what was originally thought to be a shortfall in the current fiscal year due to a reduction in excess cost reimbursement has been addressed by the legislature “Our school district was facing a significant shortfall in their budget this year because of a reduction in this year’s excess cost reimbursement but thanks to the mayor and our delegation that reduction will be reversed for this fiscal year With that being said we will work closely with our superintendent and his team to strike a balance that maintains our investment in our future and allows our schools to continue to prepare and inspire all of our students,” Ledwith said and people-related costs account for more than three-quarters of overall expenses Property taxes are the primary source of revenue for cities and towns throughout Connecticut An estimated 86.6% of the revenue for FY26 will come from local property taxes “which is certainly a challenge for us but one that we have been accustomed to managing,” Ledwith said The percentage of revenue derived from property taxes has not changed much over the years Property taxes are based on the Grand List as of October 1 of the previous year, and when West Hartford’s Grand List was published in January there was a modest increase of just $8,5 million While the town experienced growth in real and personal property it was largely offset by a reduction in the value of motor vehicles of more than $50 million due to legislation that required use of the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) rather than the the National Automobile Dealers Association pricing guide “The impact of that state law change significantly impacted most cities and towns around the state and to address that impact which gives municipalities an option of essentially reversing this negative impact by adding 5% to the depreciation schedule,” Ledwith said “I will recommend accepting this option which would increase our Grand List growth from $8.5 million to $53.5 million essentially reversing the arbitrary decrease caused by that original law.” It will likely be an even greater difference and a more precise number will be provided at the next Town Council meeting when there will be a vote on a resolution to re-publish the Grand List with the updated motor vehicle valuation “In the end our Grand List growth this year will be one of the higher dollar amount increases we have seen in a non-revaluation year in the last 20 years indicating our strong economic health,” Ledwith said Also having a positive impact on revenue is the “charge for service” which will increased by more than $1 million primarily reflecting building permit fees for new developments throughout the town Total state aid will also increase slightly The town’s 12-year Capital Improvement Plan is “our Town Council’s very important commitment to maintaining infrastructure” – town and school facilities and flood mitigation – and is primarily funded through the issuance of General Obligation Bonds and federal and state grants As part of the adoption of the FY26 budget the Council will vote to approve years 1 and 2 of the CIP proposed at $50.4 million and $43.3 million respectively The chart below shows some of the major planned capital fund investments in the next two years and Ledwith said the town will continue to apply for grants as further offsets to costs Ledwith also provided a brief overview of recent and remarkable accomplishments noting that the “past year was one of historic growth and progress for our town and one we should be proud of.” “These accomplishments are a direct result of our shared commitment to smart planning and an unwavering dedication to making West Hartford a place where all residents can thrive,” Ledwith said will be working hard and reviewing the budget in detail over the upcoming weeks during virtual meetings and workshops that can be viewed by the public through West Hartford Community Interactive The public will have the opportunity to comment on the town’s General Fund budget at public hearings scheduled for Tuesday In addition to the workshops and public hearing listed below this year the Town Council and Board of Education will host a listening tour providing an additional opportunity for community conversation regarding the budget and board of education chair and vice chair plan to participate Those sessions are scheduled for Wednesday Upcoming public meetings related to the Board of Education budget include: Those dates are all reflected on the schedule below along with meetings of Town Council committees to discuss department budgets The Town Council plans to adopt the overall budget on Tuesday Comments regarding the general fund budget can be submitted in writing via email to comment@WestHartfordCT.gov. Comments specifically regarding the West Hartford Public Schools budget can be sent to budget@whps.org “It is challenging,” Mayor Shari Cantor said assuring the public that the budget will be reviewed carefully and that there will be opportunity for communication and discussion with residents The addition of the community conversations will allow for participants to have a “give and take” conversation and respond to questions All budget documents, including the Budget in Brief, are posted on the town’s website for review Just what the citizens of West Hartford need Are any West Hartford residents not terrified by the report that “West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith proposed a $370.3 million budget Tuesday night that increases spending by 6.55% and would result in a 7.35% tax increase” Even considering such a tax increase implies that West Hartford is choosing to have a monied “class” of residential property owners within our zip codes Shame on proposal of such a encumbrance on West Hartford property owners who are still slammed by the virtual elimination of the SALT provisions of the federal tax code; by inflated prices for food and other necessities; and for some by loss of income due to employers’ “downsizing” It would be to our town’s credit if instead of requesting “a 7.35% tax increase” Manager Ledwith could identify cost reductions in the town’s expenditures so real property owners’ budgets would not bear the extraordinary financial burden he proposes I just read about the proposed budget for 2026 The town (especially the Board of Ed) has got to become more creative and at most We hear about the new building projects that should be bringing in enhanced revenue All I see are traffic nightmares around the Center This is not the year to stick the residents with increases We have to keep adjusting our personal budgets to pay town taxes and other increases such as horrific utility bills I have lived here all my life and this time it IS easy to say “it’s too much” housing and Vision Zero/safe streets for all When will the citizens of W H wake up and vote these reckless spenders out of office people in this town need to speak up at every public hearing every town council meeting until the final vote on this budget The West Hartford taxpayers association needs to be revived And yet they’re ignoring very basic quality of life issues to promote their woke agenda They don’t lead to more so-called equitable policing I spoke up when they were contemplating Blue Back Square That was supposed to reduce the taxes back then I showed them that it could/would never happen…guess I was right when others disagreed the medical insurance for town staff and teachers is through the state partnership plan To the best of my knowledge it is not individually negotiated by anyone at the town or school level which over time has been cost-effective in comparison to the self-insurance program the town had in place previously I think it’s been 5-6 years since the switch This happens to be a tough year for the health insurance policy those costs are for West Hartford residents only Ghost shoes hang on a utility pole at the corner of Oakwood Avenue and St where 87-year-old Patricia Brulotte was struck by a vehicle on Nov West Hartford Police had continued to investigate the incident that led to the death of 87-year-old Patricia Brulotte in November 2024 and have now arrested and charged an 83-year-old woman in connection with the incident An 83-year-old West Hartford woman was arrested via warrant on Tuesday and faces several charges in connection with the fatal striking of Patricia Brulotte on Oakwood Avenue at the intersection with St The incident occurred at 5:06 p.m., as Brulotte, who was still working as a real estate agent was crossing the Oakwood Avenue in the area of an uncontrolled crosswalk at St and the driver of that vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with police who was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries The West Hartford Police Traffic Division continued to investigate the incident may have struck Brulotte following the initial impact and fled the scene As the investigation of the incident continued, police issued a request just weeks after the incident asking for the public’s help in locating two other vehicles seen in the area The images of those vehicles were captured on surveillance photos Aaron Vafiades said that although police did not receive any tips after sharing images of the vehicles caught on surveillance their investigation determined that one of the vehicles was also involved in the incident and had struck Brulotte Vafiades said Wednesday that as a result of the continued investigation was identified as the operator of a second vehicle that struck Brulotte and fled the scene and she was arrested via warrant on Tuesday Deffenbaugh was charged with evading responsibility resulting in death as well as failure to exercise reasonable care near a vulnerable user on a public way Bond for Deffenbaugh was set by the court at $400,000 she is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle Deffenbaugh is due to appear in Hartford Superior Court on April 24 The driver of the northbound vehicle that initially struck Brulotte and remained on the scene has not been charged A vigil for Brulotte was held at the intersection of Oakwood Avenue and St. James Street on Nov. 11 and ghost shoes were placed at the scene the shoes remained hanging from a nearby utility pole Brulotte was the second pedestrian to be struck and killed by a vehicle in West Hartford in 2024. In January, 80-year-old David Goldfarb sustained fatal injuries when he was crossing Albany Avenue near Mohegan Drive Less than three weeks later, on Nov. 27, 2024, a third pedestrian was struck and killed on a West Hartford roadway sustained fatal injuries after being hit by a car on Sedgwick Road while walking her dog No charges have been filed to date in that incident Each time a serious incident occurs, there is a crash response team that analyzes what occurred and contributing factors, and they also may recommend changes. A recommendation was made to increase the wattage in the streetlights on Oakwood Avenue following the incident that resulted in the death of Brulotte Re-lamping to provide higher wattage lighting on roadways identified as on the High Injury Network was already a Vision Zero action item before Brulotte was struck and 32-watt lights with 46-watt lights was accelerated Brighter lamps were installed on Oakwood Avenue and make a dramatic difference in the visibility of the crosswalk at the intersection of Oakwood Avenue and St That intersection was already slated to also have a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) installed as well – which has been done Road safety advocates have requested that the town accelerate its Vision Zero Action Plan with additional quick-build items that are inexpensive yet proven methods of increasing safety for vulnerable users A supplement to the action plan is being rolled out to the Town Council Police ask that anyone with information related to this investigation, or other serious incident, contact the West Hartford Police Department via the anonymous tip line 860-570-8969 or email whpdtips@westhartfordct.gov Street trees will be cut down on LaSalle Road and are being replaced as part of the Town Center Infrastructure Master Plan March 19 regarding the removal of trees on LaSalle Road as well as one tree on South Main Street in West Hartford Center Department of Public Works Director John Phillips West Hartford Director of Public Works John Phillips March 20 issued his official decision regarding the removal of trees in the Center “Following the public meeting held on March 19 and after thorough consideration of all public comments I have decided on the proposed removal of thirty-six (36) trees along LaSalle Road and one (1) tree on South Main Street as part of the West Hartford Center Infrastructure Project (“Project”),” Phillips announced Thursday afternoon in the decision which is also posted at West Hartford Town Hall With the exception of the tree at the northwest corner of South Main Street and Ellsworth Road, the trees, all of which are honey locusts, are being removed all at once as the long-discussed West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan project is set to commence with construction slated to begin on LaSalle Road on March 31 according to the town’s Engineering Division The South Main Street tree is “lifting up the sidewalk making it ADA inaccessible,” Phillips told We-Ha.com Phillips noted that “improvements require sidewalks and utility infrastructure modifications that cannot be completed without removing the identified trees.” Many of the trees the trees roots have impacted the sidewalks making them uneven in many areas and creating tripping hazards and accessibility and mobility concerns One of the primary goals of the Infrastructure Master Plan is to make West Hartford Center more pedestrian friendly and safer Town Engineer Greg Sommer shares information about the West Hartford Center Infrastructure Project at a tree removal hearing on March 19 where we hired an expert to come out and just assess the overall health and condition of the trees and that was also part of the driver for this,” Town Engineer Greg Sommer said at Wednesday’s hearing Working around the existing trees would not really be feasible either as the sidewalks are all being replaced and the curb lines are being removed and the signficance of the work would further impact the roots of any trees that would remain The existing 36 trees on LaSalle Road will be replaced by 52 new trees – several different varieties that are all native species as Phillips noted and Sommer highlighted at the tree hearing and superior-growing tree canopy” to ensure greater resiliency and “vibrant urban forest for future generations.” Presentation at tree removal public hearing on March 19 The new trees will be planted utilizing soil cells which the town’s construction manager for the project described in a handout provided at the tree hearing as “innovative structures designed to enhance urban tree growth and stormwater management They provide a solution to the challenges of soil compaction and limited soil volume in urban environments.” The soil cells are designed to promote healthy tree root growth and manage stormwater runoff but are designed so that the tree growth will not impact the paved surfaces in the surrounding area West Hartford Infrastructure Master project plans for LaSalle Road show the location of the 52 new street trees that will be planted Four residents spoke at Wednesday’s hearing some asking for at least some of the existing trees to be preserved Scott Boden said the trees “are an integral part of our community’s character and environmental benefits for residents and visitors alike.” He said he doesn’t think the trees pose a hazard to pedestrians or vehicles and expressed concern that new trees could take 20 years to reach the same type of canopy Several residents spoke at a public hearing about removal of trees in West Hartford Center Another speaker said he believes that the impetus for replacing the trees might be from restaurants looking to increase their footprint and have additional outdoor dining space while another speaker suggested more opportunity for public input prior to making the changes Robert Garrey said he hopes that in 20 years the new trees won’t need to be cut down “because they’re too big for the space.” Phillips wrote: “As the Tree Warden for the Town of West Hartford I remain committed to preserving and enhancing our urban forest the plan presented by the Town represents a strategic effort to balance development and sustainability The Town will plant various tree species that are better suited to the evolving urban environment providing greater ecological benefits and aesthetic appeal,” ensuring “a greener and more vibrant future for West Hartford.” The decision is made “in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes §23-59” and according to the statute “any person aggrieved by this decision may appeal to the Hartford Superior Court within ten (10) days.” Tree hearings are not common occurrences in West Hartford, but this is the second one Phillips has presided over in his tenure as tree warden. The first was in May 2024, and was in regards to the planned removal of Bartlett Pear trees on Boulevard but to prune them extensively to ensure they no longer impacted power lines Gerber Construction Inc. is the contractor hired to implement the Infrastructure Master Plan, with M&J Engineering serving as the construction manager. Updates will be posted to the town’s website under the Engineering Division tab The most recent update states that construction is scheduled to begin on LaSalle Road on March 31 “Each phase will include a work area approximately 300-400 feet in length and will be limited to one side of the street A maximum of two work areas will be active at any time Construction work schedules will be coordinated closely with the Town and businesses The reconstruction of LaSalle Road is expected to be complete in 2025 Work on Farmington Avenue is expected to be completed in 2026 but will not begin until LaSalle Road is substantially complete No work will be permitted during the period of November 22 The Council had agreed on March 20 to continue the public hearing to April 29 at the request of Vessel Technologies so that questions regarding fire and life safety issues could be addressed Vessel’s construction process is one that has not previously been used in West Hartford for the construction of multifamily housing and local officials have continued to request additional information and input as they conduct a thorough review Town staff continues to express concern about the ability of Vessel to meet Connecticut’s fire safety and fire prevention codes due to the modular and prefabricated construction process that may limit design modifications and had requested that the company submit construction level design plans to the town by April 11 to allow time for review prior to the April 29 hearing “Both the Town Council and town staff have identified significant fire safety concerns related to the proposed application will have the opportunity to respond to these issues at the continued public hearing,” West Hartford Corporation Counsel Dallas Dodge said in a statement as the Town Council will likely need additional time to review and consider the information presented.” Specific concerns include whether the entire building The most recently reviewed plans indicate that the corridors will have an open-grate floor system and West Hartford Fire Chief Greg Priest and Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Robert Grimaldi have expressed concern about smoke and fire traveling vertically from floor to floor as well as ventilation the possible build-up of water and ice on stairwells during a fire response situation and limited ability for residents to self-evacuate The State Fire Marshal and State Building Official have also been made aware of concerns by officials in some of the towns where Vessel is pursuing projects – including Avon as well as West Hartford – and on April 14 provided some guidelines related to some of the issues raised by West Hartford to building officials and fire marshals in all involved towns “We understand that some of these projects are still in design but others are in construction or even completed so addressing these matters will present varying degrees of difficulty,” the letter from State Building Inspector Omarys Vasqyez and State Fire Marshal Lauri Volkert states Vessel’s building in New London is completed and occupied While the company has not submitted the detailed construction plans to West Hartford Vessel Executive Vice President Josh Levy said they are committed to meeting or exceeding all state codes and said specifics will be addressed during the permitting process but that cannot take place unless and until the rezoning is approved The company has submitted floor plans and elevations as well as landscaping designs and other materials required for a planning and zoning review we’re going to have to apply for permits,” Levy told We-Ha.com in a phone interview on Friday and are 100% committed to making any changes to comply with Connecticut code.” “We’re producing a steel building that is Type IIB considered non-combustible construction,” Levy said Unlike the other projects under construction in West Hartford they are not planning to build out of wood “Our goal is to produce the safest building in the state,” Levy said reiterating that the fire ratings of doors and other aspects of the project would be provided with the detailed construction plans He said state code currently requires a 20-minute fire rating for doors and that’s the rating of the doors they are currently planning to use Levy also said that Vessel will commit to fully sprinklering the building in West Hartford utilizing a dry system for the unheated corridors to prevent freezing We will do anything needed to comply with Connecticut code,” noting that there may be updates to code before the plans are reviewed “We will comply with every code requirement The International Code Council (ICC) conducted a review of the plans for Vessel’s in-progress project in Cheshire The ICC said in that letter that based on their limited re-review of submitted documents “deficiencies have largely been satisfied subject to the approval of the code official.” The referenced documents that were submitted to the ICC were not provided to We-Ha.com “There is absolutely nothing about our building that can’t be changed to comply with code,” said Levy “No chance of not being able to satisfy the permit department.” Information submitted by Vessel Technologies in response to West Hartford town staff questions about construction materials Vessel’s application indicates plans to replace the existing Hughes Health & Rehabilitation buildings on the site with multifamily housing and has been submitted under Connecticut General Statutes Section 8-30g The most recent iteration of the plan designates 30 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units as affordable The proposal indicates that the affordable units will be spread out among the two buildings The 8-30g statute has been in place for several decades Prior to the start of the public hearing process Deputy Corporation Counsel Gina Varano explained the statute which allows developers to override local zoning ordinances if the municipality does not already have 10% of its housing qualified as affordable and if the project provides the requisite mix of affordable units West Hartford’s affordable housing percentage is roughly 8% can only deny an 8-30g application if it’s “necessary to protect public interest in health and safety,” Varano said on Feb and if those reasons clearly outweigh the need for affordable housing and the public interest cannot be protected without meaningful amendments Nearly four hours of testimony was heard at the initial public hearing on Feb. 25 on March 11 “for the limited purpose of presenting an updated plan set to reflect reconfiguration of several units” – which included a reduction in the proposed number of units to 108 – after which the Council had intended to vote on the project At the March 11 hearing, the Council again moved to continue the discussion to March 20 because “this project presents a unique construction approach I believe it will be beneficial for our staff to have some additional time to thoroughly review and publicly comment on the project,” Cantor said on March 11 “This would also provide the applicant with the opportunity to address challenges and concerns related to this type of construction.” When the decision was made on March 20 to again continue the hearing it was to allow sufficient time to address fire safety and other safety concerns and additional public testimony has been permitted in-person and via email there have been 28 emails submitted as part of public testimony – both for and against the project a letter from 50 residents of either Highland Street or Concord Street (which is behind the proposed Vessel buildings) was submitted via email asking the Town Council to reject the proposal and  stating that not only will the project “negatively impact the character and quality of life in our community but it will also adversely affect the health and safety of the homeowners and the children who attend Bristow Middle School,” which is located across the street on Highland Street “This is an experimental building technology with no long-term experience with respect to fire safety and possibly other structural safety issues This would add to the significant health and safety risks that already exist in our volume-overloaded neighborhood with unregulated parking and traffic as well as the uncontrolled garbage that encourages rats,” was among the reasons mentioned for requesting denial stated in the April 22 letter The letter is also critical of Vessel CEO Neil Rubler who they state has previously been rated one of New York City’s “worst landlords,” and expresses concerns about building a project of the proposed size and scale on a neighborhood street that is already impacted by traffic from the middle school “Though the path of least resistance would be for the Town Council to approve this project for the above reasons we implore you to follow the example of neighboring towns such as Simsbury who rejected Vessel’s initial proposal for an 80-unit building on a lot similar to the size of the Hughes lot (on a busy thoroughfare and eventually settled on a much smaller building of 48 units but you are NOT required to approve a large-scale project that maximizes profit for yet another out-of- state developer at the expense of further eroding the safety and quality of life for the tax-paying homeowners who have voted for you and entrusted you to protect our neighborhoods,” the April 22 letter states very committed to the process,” Levy told We-Ha.com “Any time you are doing something innovative or new it’s hard to wrap your arms around it,” he said Town staff has continued to press Vessel for any guidance received from state building officials regarding similar Vessel projects my office has not received any response from the Applicant that I am aware of,” Dodge said in an April 15 email to Robin Pearson “If there is additional state guidance to the Applicant beyond what is included in the DAS communication [letter from the State Building Inspector and State Fire Marshal] we would appreciate your assistance in providing it we are looking for information on what measures have been – or will be – implemented for both completed projects and projects that are in development to make them code compliant This information is essential to our ongoing review of the West Hartford application.” who was copied on the April 15 email from Dodge to Pearson reiterated to We-Ha.com on Friday that there is “nothing out there that we would not do to comply with code.” Regarding the materials that will be used “I can unequivocally say they will be fire-rated according to code.” Levy also agreed that if requested by the town they would have a third-party expert conduct a code review He said he expects these types of questions since Vessel’s type of construction is not what officials are used to seeing Levy said Vessel plans on giving a presentation to the Town Council Tuesday night during the continued hearing and will be prepared to respond to questions “We view this as a collaborative process,” he said Vessel has challenged denials of its 8-30g applications in other Connecticut towns, most recently bringing suit against Newtown for turning down a proposal to build 136 units citing lack of assurance that Aquarion Water Co would be able to provide water service for the apartments The Town Plan & Zoning Commission (TPZ) unanimously voted (5-0) to recommend the project at its Jan The approval letter stated that TPZ found the project consistent with the overall vision of the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) and specifically cited the Neighborhoods and Housing section goal to: “Enhance and maintain West Hartford’s existing neighborhoods and encourage diversity of housing types and costs to provide access and availability of housing options to current and future residents.” The Design Review Advisory Committee (DRAC), which also officially reviewed the application as a referral from the Town Council following a series of study sessions that began in the summer of 2024 13 meeting against recommendation of the application DRAC’s letter to the Town Council noted that the application was “inconsistent with our Committee’s Performance Criteria,” specifically noting that with respect to the relationship of the buildings and site to the area the “overall mass and height of the combined buildings is large and out of context with the adjoining neighborhood.” More information and history about the Vessel proposal can be found here West Hartford’s Department of Public Works has issued a parking ban that begins at 5 p.m and the active pattern looks to continue with what will likely be the largest snow event of the season beginning Saturday evening 2025 – but the weather should clear in time for Super Bowl celebrations to take place The Town of West Hartford has announced that a parking ban will be in effect beginning at 5 p.m and will remain in effect until further notice According to the National Weather Service a Winter Storm Warning is in effect beginning at 7 p.m Snowfall is expected to be heavy overnight with estimates of 4 to 8 inches of snow and temperatures dropping to 25ºF Perhaps another inch of snow may fall after daybreak on Sunday before the storm pulls away Sunday’s temperature is expected to reach 37ºF with sunny skies Winds are not expected to be a factor in this storm no on-street parking is allowed so that Public Works crews can remove snow from curb to curb Cars left on the road create a safety hazard for all concerned and the car may be towed.” the town stated in an announcement in coordination with the West Hartford Police Department will strictly enforce the parking ban “to ensure a safe and efficient transportation system for vehicles and pedestrians during snow removal operations.” Residents are urged to plan ahead to identify alternate Along Farmington Avenue, from Trout Brook Drive to the Hartford town line, the newly-installed Blue Light Parking Ban Notification System will flash blue to indicate when a parking ban is in effect Municipal lots and garages are available for use as are public school lots because schools are closed Vehicles must be removed from school lots by 5 p.m Pay-to-park fees will apply at municipal center parking lots and garages Motorists may register their plates using one of the kiosks inside the garage or a mobile app (e.g. the Flowbird app or the PassportParking app) Those who park in school or outdoor municipal lots are asked to park close together and not leave parking spaces between vehicles to ensure plow driver can clear the snow most efficiently The community is asked to comply with the parking ban and West Hartford Police will proactively assist the Department of Public Works in ensuring that the roads are clear of illegally parked vehicles The town said that cars in violation of the parking ban will be ticketed and towed Snow removal contractors are reminded not to push snow from driveways and private parking lots into the street West Hartford property owners are responsible for removing snow and ice from the sidewalk along their property line within 12 hours after the storm or by sunrise – whichever is later Residents are required to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice It’s particularly important to keep heavily-used sidewalks – those near schools Snow clearing violations should be reported to the West Hartford Police Department at 860-523-5203 The collection of trash and recycling by Paine’s Inc is not expected to be affected by the storm Residents are also asked to help out the West Hartford Fire Department and keep the community safe by shoveling the area around fire hydrants Sign up here to receive alerts about emergencies and other important community news through West Hartford’s Community Advisory Notification System This emergency alert system enables the town to provide you with critical information by text Check out the Ready.gov website on how to prepare for winter storms Check back regularly with We-Ha.com for any updates and storm-related news a senior housing community at 160 Simsbury Road in West Hartford located at 160 Simsbury Road in West Hartford have indicated that the operation is no longer sustainable and will shut down this year Dining room at Hoffman SummerWood in West Hartford Hoffman SummerWood has been operating as a community for West Hartford residents ages 55 and older for the past quarter century but the owners plan to close the facility this year citing changes in the landscape for senior living that have impacted the property’s viability in an R-13 residential zone on the northern end of West Hartford will be sold to a local developer later this year President and CEO Denise Peterson did not provide the date of the closing or the name of the buyer but did note in a phone conversation with We-Ha.com that “we’re under a PSA [purchase and sale agreement]” with the due diligence process underway Peterson indicated that the facility will likely be closed by the fall “We take immense pride in having been able to provide a compassionate and caring community for hundreds of residents during the past 25 years SummerWood has been a home where residents and families could truly feel safe supported and valued during a meaningful phase of their lives,” Peterson said in a statement in a news release SummerWood has operated as independent senior living that utilizes “ALSA” (Assisted Living Services Agency) to make available additional care for residents who need it Residents were recently advised that decision to sell the property and close the facility had been made “with very heavy hearts” and after other options to continue operation had been explored Information shared by Peterson with residents states: “Despite our ongoing efforts in recent years to sustain SummerWood as a viable option the landscape of senior care has transformed dramatically Complex factors including shifting demographics and financial realities exacerbated by the COVID pandemic have made it increasingly challenging to maintain SummerWood’s mission in its current form.” Demand for independent senior living communities has waned an announcement from the leadership team on SummerWood’s website states noting that “exacerbated by the COVID pandemic more individuals are choosing to remain in their homes later in life a mixture of one- and two-bedroom apartments all with full kitchens Hoffman SummerWood Executive Director Tracey Messina told We-Ha.com that there were 64 residents Some of the residents had live-in caretakers chef-run dining room that served Kosher food and transportation have been available to residents Interior of apartment at Hoffman SummerWood in West Hartford Peterson said existing service levels will continue “well into this year” as they provide ample time and work with residents and families to “thoughtfully determine the next residence that best meets their needs” with the understanding that it is a difficult transition The announcement of the closing indicated a change in the overall independent living market for seniors with newer communities designed for a broader range in the continuum of care including independent living to assisted living to memory care and care for those requiring more intensive nursing and medical care “These communities now dominate an already competitive market the capacity or capability to  provide that broad range of services,” the release states the occupancy at Hoffman SummerWood has consistently fallen below 50% with efforts to increase occupancy unsuccessful amid the market conditions “We also express a deep appreciation and respect for the Board and staff’s invaluable contributions and the meaningful relationships they have built with our residents and their families through the years,” Peterson said in the release “The assurance that these bonds and memories will be cherished reflects the heartfelt commitment that has defined SummerWood and honors the legacy of everyone who has been a part of this community.” and the nursing home residents were relocated Vessel Technologies has filed an application to rezone and form a Special Development District in order to construct a 108-unit apartment development at 29 Highland Street. The West Hartford Town Council plans to conclude a public hearing and vote on Vessel’s application on Thursday Library at Hoffman SummerWood in West Hartford to quote an old Garth Brooks song — it looks like the powers that be in this town are going to “sail my Vessel till the river runs dry” Lets pack ’em in like sardines boys…..population growth is stagnant….we have to satisfy our lust to spend Shame on The Hartford Federation for turning their back on the Jewish population in the West Hartford area I did think that SummerWood was part of and under the control of The Hartford Federation Can’t wait for the council and mayor to approve a ten story apartment building to replace it Very sad for the residents who sold their homes to move to this community The caring words from Hoffman SummerWood show how deep their dedication to our seniors went My sincere wishes to everyone involved for better days ahead It’s disappointing Hebrew Senior Care decided to sell the building to a developer instead of giving another mission minded not-for-profit senior living organization the opportunity to step into the shoes of Hebrew Senior Care and provide the care the residents of Hoffman Summerwood deserve there is strong demand for the services Hoffman Summerwood provides and at a time when many of the not for profit independent and assisted living communities in the area enjoy strong occupancy Hebrew Senior Care pulled the rug out from under each of its residents and are now forcing them to find a new home The organization put its desire to profit from a struggling operation ahead of the needs of its residents I challenge the statement on their website “SummerWood Cares”as it appears as though they don’t care about their residents I am a business leader and Realtor in town I get oodles of requests for referrals from senior living sales reps I can’t remember the last time (if ever) that I heard from Summerwood If you’re not active trying to be remembered As Kevin Sullivan undoubtedly discovered during last week’s Town Council meeting, West Hartford’s bicycle community is a passionate group It’s worth taking a moment to understand the reasons behind that passion especially as they relate to biking in town West Hartford’s mostly flat terrain makes bicycles a practical option for shopping and other local trips The cost of operating a bike is minuscule compared to that of a car – eliminating expenses like gas In a society plagued by soaring obesity rates (now at 40.3% in the U.S.) cycling has been proven to promote fitness Bikes also take up far less space than cars – you can fit 10 bikes in the same parking space as a single vehicle more than 30% of all square footage in West Hartford Center is dedicated to parking lots I was fortunate to work in Amsterdam on several occasions The downtown hotel where I stayed provided loaner bikes and a highlight of each visit was my daily bike commute to and from work I also noticed that the vast majority of Dutch cyclists were fit and trim No one is trying to turn West Hartford into Amsterdam The town has invested heavily in bike paths and safety signage – investments that are starting to pay off Much of that funding comes from state and federal grants But if roads like North Main Street or Mountain Road are too narrow or congested no amount of traffic engineering can fix that And a small yet vocal percentage of drivers regard bicyclists as second-class citizens I still remember when I could ride through Bishops Corner or down New Britain Avenue without worrying about being struck by a car or “doored” by a parked one The town deserves credit for improvements to roads like Boulevard and Tunxis you might wonder why cyclists continue to promote biking in town I acknowledge my fellow cyclists with a wave or a nod – a small but meaningful gesture of community Is the bicycle the most human-centered machine ever invented Wells summed it up best: “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.” In these challenging times West Hartford is more than friendly and accommodating to bicyclists you are dangers to yourselves and motorists Please cite the Connecticut statute that says roads are meant only for cars I stick to the bike lanes when the Trout Brook Trail doesn’t take me to where I need to be On a few occasions cars have almost clipped me or cut me off – usually by driver inattention – often gross inattention such as not stopping at a stop sign (and in 2 cases deliberately – once to try to hit me Power corrupts: too many drivers think their more powerful engines give them a free pass to ignore the law Our road centric road design came in the 1950s We don’t need a Main Street with 5 lanes of car traffic For those that drive and feel that our roads our dangerous for all users proper road and town design will make it better for all please review the Connecticut General Statute below regarding rules of the road for bicycles an electric bicycle or an electric foot scooter upon the traveled portion of a highway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of any vehicle subject to the requirements of the general statutes relating to motor vehicles And please keep in mind that the person riding a bike is not some anonymous street person And they could be one of your very own relations I’m a pedestrian and bicycles here are a menace routinely pedaled 100 miles on Sunday mornings and attended several Tour de France stages North Main and Fern Streets were I most often walk But you’d never know it you were a walker the bike lanes are insufficient so they travel on the sidewalks I’m required to walk into the street to allow them to pass by So they’re a menace for using the sidewalks despite having a roadway set aside just for them They’re a menace as they never stop for stop signs as required and expected I need to dodge cyclists when crossing the street even in a crosswalk as red lights don’t apply to them They’re a menace of the Trout Brook Trail considering it their exclusive domain say they speak for all those who use our roadways But they never look in the mirror see that they are the problem that needs to be remedied The roads are not the exclusive domain of motor vehicles but all users are required to use them responsibly although West Hartford doesn’t have canals but I do hope that we can hold onto the spring weather for a bit longer Even when the temperatures topped 80 degrees one day last week I think it’s important to highlight comments from each of the members – even though that makes the stories rather lengthy – because I believe it’s important for the community to know why their elected officials are voting a certain way The process of developing West Hartford’s budget is public with multiple hearings and workshops – and this year the addition of community conversations All of the elected officials (Board of Education and Town Council) are volunteers and they spend hours delving into the budget details before casting their votes There is typically a lot of “Monday-morning quarterbacking” by the community on social media once the budget is adopted but it would be really great to see many more people providing constructive suggestions during the process It’s very easy to complain about taxes going up – and I don’t think I know anyone who relishes the idea of paying more taxes unless it’s clear that they are getting more for their money There are a lot of very smart people in West Hartford who might have great ideas about ways the town or schools can lower its budget and I would bet the elected officials would love to explore those suggestions and keep in mind that while there is a lot of development underway in West Hartford by statute the FY26 budget that was just approved is based on the Grand List as of Oct the Grand List growth should definitely have a greater impact on the tax base On Saturday night Ted and I went to Encore It was at the brand new Bristol Event Center which is a beautiful facility with a great lobby area for the cocktail hour The theme was “Pop Rocks,” and since I was going to be toting around my camera anyway I decided to dress as “paparazzi,” which wasn’t really much of a challenge Ted Newton decided to go as Ted “Nugent.” (Many years ago I was picking up a prescription for him at the drug store and the pharmacy tech mistakenly thought I said my husband was Ted Nugent!) It was a great event and I’ll have the full story with my photos once I get the details about the fundraising results and some of the food that was served at the event I regret not taking a photo of the flan that was served for dessert but by the time I thought about it I had devoured half of it Raspberry Beret was one of the signature cocktails at Encore Buffet dinner at Playhouse on Park’s Encore But I did take some photos of dishes that I prepared including this lamb and rice bowl made with leftover roast lamb from Easter and Sunday morning’s scrambled eggs and fresh pumpkin chocolate chip muffins Scrambled eggs and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins I’m not going to use the troll photo this week but will mention that as of Sunday afternoon we had one reader who wanted to comment using only a first name and they responded and said they were not comfortable using their full name but it is our policy that full names be used when commenting directly on the site – with the exception of those commenters who were grandfathered when they commented prior to the policy being updated several years ago Developers Avner Krohn (left) and Brian Zelman in the kitchen of one of the 2-bedroom units at The Byline View of Trout Brook Trail from the balcony of one of the units at The Byline The patio on the west side of The Byline is poured-in-place concrete and cushions and other amenities will be added Corner units have floor-to-ceiling windows at The Byline Kitchens have stainless steel appliances and high-end finishes The Byline Bathrooms are spacious and include high-end finishes at The Byline All apartments have full size washers and dryers at The Byline A model apartment in the process of being staged The Byline View from one of the balconies at The Byline Custom millwork and high end finishes can be found throughout The Byline Wallpaper custom-made with the logo in the lobby of The Byline with the pop-up offering second-hand clothing and accessories on weekends Fine Fettle had its grand opening and ribbon cutting on April 25 Fine Fettle had its grand opening on April 25 Work is progressing on the east side of LaSalle Road Excavation now underway on the west side of LaSalle Road from Central Optica north to the corner of Farmington Avenue Flowers lead to the entryway of 11 South Main Street Jack Del Coro of West Hartford with his Little Brother LMFT Clinical Director for Outpatient Services and Andrew Halpern LPC Elmwood Site Supervisor at the Bridge Family Center who were presented with the Chi Sigma Iota Award for Outstanding Clinical Supervisors by the University of Saint Joseph’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program At a recent awards ceremony at the University of Saint Joseph Smith and Halpern were recognized as “phenomenal assets” to the Saint Joseph’s students in the clinical mental health counseling program Smith and Halpern lead the Bridge’s counseling internship program and educational environment in which to grow and learn during their time at the Bridge The internship program is tailored for each student’s needs and allows them to work alongside the rest of the Bridge’s clinical team The Bridge Family Center has three Counseling Centers located in Elmwood and families to provide personalized therapy that respects the individual’s journey To schedule an appointment to see a therapist LMFT of the Bridge Family Center receive the Chi Sigma Iota Award for Outstanding Clinical Supervisors by the University of Saint Joseph’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program West Hartford-based Lux Bond & Green is the official jeweler of the Connecticut Sun works on a story in the newsroom at the state Capitol in Hartford on Thursday Westfarms entrance facing New Britain Avenue Brian Zelman (left) at the Building Foundations breakfast Kitchen of a 2-bedroom apartment at The Camelot It was definitely a tough return to Connecticut for me a week ago – coming back from a brief vacation in Florida late last Monday night (actually very early Tuesday morning) to temperatures that were a full 50 degrees colder and we are supposed to have temperatures around 60 this week I’m hoping we’re trending in the right direction On Thursday I attended the memorial service and celebration of life for Tracey Wilson, who passed away in late February for at least 15 years through various connections (Tracey also taught both of my kids at Conard) but I learned so much more about her life and how she lived it – and really she was such a remarkable person Both events were attended by hundreds of people from the community and many other top state officials to former students Tracey’s impact on the town will be permanently recognized as the future history center at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society will be dedicated to her Mayor Shari Cantor speaks at the Celebration of Life for Tracey Wilson on March 6 I featured The Camelot a few weeks ago in this column but on Friday I had a chance to take a tour of the interior – which is the lead feature in today’s column Thanks to Lewis Brown and Steve Caprio of Honeycomb Real Estate Partners and Gavin Soraghan of construction manager Innoconn for the hardhat tour See the bullet point below for details regarding the project From left: Steve Caprio and Lewis Brown of Honeycomb Real Estate Partners It was a fabulous basketball weekend all the way around – Duke men beat North Carolina (at Carolina) Duke women won three games to take the ACC women’s tournament title the UConn men blew out Seton Hall in their last home game of the season and the UConn women won both games for a spot in today’s Big East championship game Carolina game on Saturday night we headed to the Iron Horse Sports Pub for a yummy dinner and beers with a view of the game and while I was a bit concerned with upsetting the mojo by leaving the house Duke pulled away a few minutes into the second half and it was a great ending to the regular season Bring on the rest of the tournaments and March Madness Fried cauliflower at Iron Horse Sports Pub Sunset burger and sweet potato fries at Iron Horse Sports Pub Grilled chicken sandwich and curly fries at Iron Horse Sports Pub Ahead this week: continuation of the public hearing and Town Council vote on the Vessel Technologies proposal and Town Manager Rick Ledwith’s presentation of the 2025-26 general fund budget And before I forget: Happy Birthday to my sister The Camelot is nearly complete at 900 Farmington Avenue Work is underway on the community room at The Camelot Kitchen in a one-bedroom unit at The Camelot Hallway of the “hotel side” at The Camelot Kitchen in two-bedroom unit at The Camelot All kitchens have gray subway tile backsplashes at The Camelot Two-bedroom unit living area at The Camelot View to the south from a unit at The Camelot Steve Caprio (left) and Lewis Brown provided a hardhat tour of The Camelot Kitchen of a two-bedroom unit at The Camelot View looking west from a unit at The Camelot The build-out is complete and Fine Fettle will be opening at 1232Farmington Avenue in West Hartford as soon as final approval from the state is received Jennifer Raska has opened Central Eye Care Central Eye Care is now open at 28 North Main Street Park Lane Pizza has reopened at 337 Park Road Large half cheese/half olive pizza at Park Lane Pizza Interior of Park Lane Pizza which has reopened at 337 Park Road Jersey Mike’s and Teriyaki Madness in Prospect Plaza Progress continues on the build-out of The Friendly Toast at 36 LaSalle Road The Friendly Toast has a QR code posted on the window that links to the menu for the future West Hartford location and signs indicate that they are just having regular sales Plans have been filed for Ceara Market to open at 74 Park Road I’ve been working on that story – got sidetracked by the Board of Education and Town Council budget presentation articles and Teriyaki Madness and Jersey Mike's Subs are preparing to open in Prospect Plaza and while there were many “lion” and “lamb” moments interspersed throughout the month the first and last days of the month did not feature any remarkable weather the forecast of Monday was just “meh” – but of course that’s just a forecast I had been extremely excited about the prospect of temps in the 70s on Saturday but clearly that front had other plans I was especially hopeful for nice weather because Ted and I spent all day Saturday grand-parenting the kidlets while Katie and Matt were at an out-of-town wedding We teamed up with Matt’s mom for dinner and bedtime and then she took the overnight shift – which was probably more exhausting – after we all enjoyed watching the UConn women beat Oklahoma while enjoying some Park Lane Pizza Half cheese and half mushroom and pepper pizza from Park Lane Pizza Hamburger and pepperoni pizza from Park Lane Pizza We were home in time to watch the Duke men punch their ticket to the Final Four with a 20-point win over Alabama On Friday we watched the Duke women defeat North Carolina (yay!!) and then on Sunday watched a very close and intense contest with South Carolina sadly resulting in a win for the Gamecocks Looking forward to watching UConn face USC on Monday night and I will admit there is a part of me that’s relieved not to have to split allegiances as the women’s tournament continues We’ve also been following the success of UConn hockey and rooting for the men’s team to earn a trip to the Frozen Four As I write this we just finished watching Sunday night’s overtime game (sadly not a win) with my sister Carmine Mancini – one of West Hartford’s newest residents and this past week I attended the Go Red for Women Luncheon at the Connecticut Convention Center in support of the American Heart Association and according to the organization the event was very successful and more than $240,000 has been raised Always great to see American Heart Association Connecticut Executive Director Adria Giordano Healthy lunch at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Luncheon on March 26 NBC Connecticut’s Shannon Miller returned as emcee at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Luncheon on March 26 The wands were handed out to those who responded to the paddle raise donation On Thursday I checked out the new Chipotle (see additional photos under bullet point below) I tried to keep it rather healthy (chicken Bowl with chicken from Chipotle in Prospect Plaza On Friday night Ted and I attended the Journey Home “lounge noir” prohibition-era-themed fundraiser which was held at The Birdcage in  Windsor – a very cool venue right near the railroad station in the historic district but I did get one of a “Bees Knees” signature cocktail that I sampled and couldn’t miss the opportunity to embarrass myself by dancing in public again when they offered Charleston lessons I haven’t yet heard the fundraising results but we got outbid in the silent auction and there was a good crowd and seemed to be lots of bidding I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a Charleston lesson that I have explained in greater detail in the bullet points  below– which I hope people will read Three things have happened recently: The state capped the mill rate on motor vehicles several years ago Last year they changed the way cars are assessed for the 2024 Grand List the state allowed municipalities to add roughly 5% back to the previously-lowered vehicle values because of the impact it was having on the Grand List This impacts the proportion of taxes on vehicles (which are slightly higher) compared to real and personal property (slightly lower) than if the adoption of a revised depreciation schedule had not been made The Town Council DID NOT vote to increase taxes last Tuesday I only had to email one person this week for not following the policy and Teriyaki Madness and Jersey Mike’s Subs are preparing to open in Prospect Plaza You can park here to place your mobile order is now open in Prospect Plaza in West Hartford Teriyaki Madness will be opening soon in Prospect Plaza in West Hartford Chick-fil-A looks ready to open in Bishops Corner but all they say is in the next few months A portion of the Arapahoe parking lot is blocked off for storage of the construction equipment being used for the West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan Around the Clock 4 Tots is now open just over the town line from West Hartford Congratulations to West Hartford resident Jonathan Winer district athletic director at Capital Region Education Council (CREC) in Hartford who is a 2024 NIAAA State Award of Merit recipient He received the award during the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors (CAAD) state conference held on March 27 Winer is currently serving in his 12th year as the Athletic Director for the CREC Magnet Schools He oversees the athletic programs at four high schools and four middle schools and has grown the programs from their inception upon his arrival in 2013 He is most proud of the culture of developing the whole child which is reflected in the more than 25 sportsmanship awards at the league and state levels Winer also serves as Commissioner of the Capitol Region Athletic League where he has overseen its growth from 5 to 14 schools over the past several years CRAL has earned a reputation throughout the state as a beacon for sportsmanship Winer is active at the state and national levels He is member of both faculties and regularly teaches leadership training courses He believes in the value of being a learning leader and has taken 60 LTCs He serves on the CIAC Sportsmanship Committee and the NIAAA Publications Committee His articles have been published in the IAA Magazine times and he presented a workshop at the 2022 NADC Conference Building Character Through Athletics and served as a mentor for the NIAAA District Athletic Director Cohort Jonathan received both the Edward Lynch/Gerald McGrath Commissioner Award from the Central CT Basketball Officials Board and the Distinguished Service Award from the Central CT Soccer Officials Association Jonathan also teaches a coaching course at the University of Saint Joseph Winer served as an elementary school teacher and collegiate basketball coach Winer and his wife Julia have two children The lot next to the existing Animal Control facility on Brixton Street will be the location of the new building Funds have been appropriated and the Town of West Hartford will be constructing a brand new Animal Control facility next to the existing building at 34-38 Brixton Street The West Hartford Town Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the reallocation of appropriations in its Capital Projects Fund in order to support plans to construct a brand new Animal Control facility on the same site as and next to the existing building at 34-38 Brixton Street and nine responses to the RFP were received All bids were far in excess of the original $2.2 million set aside in the budget – with one as high as $6.2 million – and G a Connecticut-based contractor and the lowest bidder at $4,247,000 “As the Council knows we had gone out to bid for the construction of a new animal control facility and that bid came in at [close to] $4.3 million which was significantly higher that the amount we had appropriated a few years ago,” Ledwith said at the March 11 Town Council meeting Reasons for the higher bids for the facility include overall post-pandemic increases in construction costs since the original estimate in 2019 as well as new state code requirements that are now in place that impact the HVAC system segregation of facilities for all dogs and cats so that each has its own space Ledwith said the town is in a position to move forward with the project with the Council’s approval of a reallocation of funds from the current year’s projects and he recommended re-prioritizing projects to award the Animal Control facility bid The Council approve the use of $1.3 million from the town building improvements fund $2.5 million earmarked for town-wide generators and $231,947 that had been previously appropriated through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) which will be added to funds set aside for the original animal shelter of $405,627 “We will reappropriate town building improvements in our upcoming CIP plan we have applied for two separate grants for this project and have been denied but heard back again from the state and there may be funds available to us if we were to scale back our request so our plan is to apply for a grant to fund a large portable generator that we could quickly move around town in the event that we need a generator,” Ledwith told the Town Council With the unanimous approval on March 11 of a resolution to reallocate the funds He told We-Ha.com a meeting with the contractors would be taking place this week and he said he also expected the Town Plan & Zoning Commission to approve a Special Use Permit for the site at its next meeting Town of West Hartford website (we-ha.com file image) The existing Animal Control facility is roughly 1,000 square feet and at 5,300 square feet the new facility will be more than five times larger than the current structure (gray outline at lower left in image above) The existing facility will continue to operate while the new building is being constructed There will be plenty of parking for staff as well as the public and several separate entrances including for animals that are being brought in and need to be isolated due to health or other reasons There will be three spaces – with interior and exterior space – for dogs that are in isolation There will be covered exterior space at the new building The facility will also have grooming and laundry facilities on site and a large multipurpose room where the public can meet with animals for potential adoptions Floor plan for new West Hartford Animal Control facility The Town of West Hartford has announced that a parking ban will begin at 5 p.m The Town of West Hartford has announced that a parking ban will go into effect at 5 p.m a Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect at 7 p.m Total snow accumulation overnight is expected to range from 2 to 4 inches “If you live in a place with limited parking and public school lots,” the town said in the announcement of the parking ban Collection is not delayed due to the holiday either West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor delivers her State of the Town address March 3 at the Mandell JCC West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor delivered her annual State of Town Address Monday evening at an event hosted by the Chamber of Commerce Mayor Shari Cantor gave the State of the Town Address March 3 to a crowd of business leaders and other members of the community at the Mandell JCC and assured citizens that West Hartford continues to be a prosperous community that is welcoming exciting initiatives as it ushers in a new era of growth “I am proud to report that the state of West Hartford is incredibly strong.” she said It is the result of generations of hard work – a continuous effort by those who dedicate themselves to something larger than themselves.” Chamber of Commerce leaders and members join Mayor Shari Cantor at the Mayor’s State of the Town Address on March 3 at the Mandell JCC West Hartford’s Grand List grew by $8.5 million in 2024 for a net total of $7.2 billion an increase seen despite a $50 million decrease in motor vehicle value due to a new state law change that significantly recalculated the methodology of assessing motor vehicles “The House and Senate have recently approved an option that would reverse this change which would result in a significant increase in our Grand List this year further demonstrating our strong economic foundation,” Cantor said this total is expected to go up when the Town Council votes on the annual town budget in April.” Cantor cited several industries that experienced much growth in West Hartford These included risk management and insurance “Many businesses and restaurants opened this past year from hands-on pottery classes to yoga for kids,” she noted From welcoming new business to town to the development of affordable housing each faction of West Hartford’s diverse population will be served with equal vigor and a picnic table designed for accessibility Although speaking in particular about education when giving the following statistics Cantor pointed out the myriad cultures within the town’s diverse population that are driving change “Twenty-seven percent of our students are non-English speakers representing 71 languages and 17% receive special education services,” the mayor noted In meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse population, the mayor also pointed to the leveraging of the state’s Brownfield grant program to redevelop underutilized properties like the Elmwood Lofts and The Elle as turning eyesores into “thriving community assets.” “We have made affordability a top priority ensuring that all new residential developments include affordable housing options,” Cantor said Screenshot from Mayor’s State of the Town Address many West Hartford projects have been funded by other sources such as the American Rescue Plan Act The transformative and long-awaited redevelopment of the former University of Connecticut campus which received its final approval just last week is a prime example of a partnership that will result in the improvement of wetlands and the expansion of the Trout Brook Trail as well as residential and commercial development “This public-private partnership will create new housing and deed-restricted public green space while improving traffic flow and connectivity.” Cantor told those gathered at the JCC that a key factor in attracting more residents and business to West Hartford is the town’s top-notch public school system that has earned statewide and national accolades “Our schools are a source of immense pride and a primary reason so many young families choose to call West Hartford home,” Cantor said. “Conard and Hall High schools rank in the top 3% of public high schools nationwide earning “Gold Medal” status on the AP School Honor Roll.” Bugbee Elementary School was recently ranked among the top 10 schools in Connecticut by U.S “All of this is accomplished with very efficient per-pupil spending ratios for our state,” Cantor noted Demand for space in West Hartford far outpaces supply confirming that occupancy levels are greater than 94% “To ensure retention and assist with expansion our Economic Development team made more than 350 visits in 2024,” she said we have worked creatively to support smart sustainable growth and encouraged responsible development through policies that promote affordability The Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Economic Development luncheon in January and fiscal responsibility remain bedrock principles of our town government,” Cantor said choose where to locate based on a community’s long-term financial health which affects everything from property taxes to the reliability of essential services “While some governments rely on budgetary gimmicks West Hartford’s financial position is the strongest it has ever been We have the highest fund balance in our history, a nearly fully funded pension plan, and a AAA bond rating allowing us to invest in capital projects at the lowest possible cost.” Cantor outlined examples of the town’s capital investments to include park improvements to baseball and softball fields and the addition of a new pickleball court In addition, a new Animal Control facility that meets all of the state’s new regulations and a new fuel depot station and material solution center at Public Works are in the making as well as school security improvements at Wolcott and King Philip a new modern fire department training tower and training site and plans that are progressing for the new Elmwood Community Center “By investing in our community, this approach has driven property values up and spurred new development,” Cantor stated. “In 2024 alone, our building department processed nearly 600 more permits than in 2023. One Park alone had more than 1,500 permits.” the median listing home price in West Hartford was $454,900 representing an 11% year-over-year increase at the Mayor’s State of the Town address March 3 at the Mandell JCC Public Transportation Key to a Thriving Community “Investments in West Hartford’s Transit-Oriented Development are very important to our thriving community,” Cantor said “Both the Elmwood Lofts and the Jayden are welcome additions to the New Park Avenue and New Britain Avenue areas.” But with those additions comes the increased need for reliable public transportation five-year transportation infrastructure capital plan the state Department of Transportation calls for a West Hartford train station at 285 Newfield Avenue in the Elmwood neighborhood near one of the town’s existing CTfastrak stations which has an estimated cost of $70.5 million would include the construction of two platforms and a parking lot as well as improvements to the Flatbush Avenue bus station,” Cantor said “This would be a big boost to the business district.” the DOT needs to finish its double-tracking project in West Hartford With the completion of the Trout Brook Trail will come the expansion of sidewalks “transforming how residents move through town.” a policy aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and reducing speeds throughout town West Hartford was the first town in the state to adopt a Vision Zero Plan a year ago “We have collected data and identified the high-injury network locations as a priority,” Cantor said. “Substantial progress has been made toward advancing Vision Zero in 2024.” 115 separate projects were accomplished last year due to a $1 million American Rescue Plan Act allocation through the Connecticut State Legislature and many more projects are either ongoing or new for 2025 Also implemented in 2024 were traffic safety projects that included raised crosswalks the removal vegetation for better sight line visibility and signage to reduce speeds and improve safety for all road users “We are currently working on a driver pledge to make people take full responsibility for road safety when they sit behind the wheel of a car,” Cantor said Cantor said West Hartford has been awarded and received funding from a federal Safe Streets for All grant to install 15 automated speed enforcement cameras across town which we received approval for to make many road safety improvements is currently held up at the federal level,” she explained Included in that grant is funds for a red light camera enforcement program In order to move forward with the automated traffic safety devices must adopt an ordinance and submit it along with data backing up the choice of locations “I will strongly urge my colleagues to adopt an ordinance making West Hartford one of the first towns in Connecticut to implement speed cameras – one of the most effective ways to reduce speeds and improve pedestrian safety,” Cantor said Mavis Durham Charles and Kevin Brissett at the reception following the Mayor’s State of the Town address March 3 at the Mandell JCC A Road Safety Audit is an important planning tool for future road improvements and noted that one was completed on Park Road in preparation for the road rehabilitation project that will begin this summer with another RSA planned for Sedgwick Road in the fall “The Department of Transportation did one on Albany Avenue in preparation of developing plans to improve pedestrian mobility and overall traffic flow at the intersection of Albany Avenue at North Main Street,” she said The construction cost will be paid with 80% federal and 20% stare funds. Construction in Bishops Corner is anticipated to start in 2027 and Steve Litchfield at the reception following the Mayor’s State of the Town address March 3 at the Mandell JCC “We are also committed to sustainability in all we do,” she said adding that Connecticut faces a trash crisis and “we are leading efforts to reduce waste” by expanding food waste diversion in schools organic waste drop-off locations for residents this spring Sustainable CT also named West Hartford a climate leader and the town became one of six gold certified communities “West Hartford has achieved a remarkable milestone in renewable energy adoption through a strategic combination of renewable energy credit purchases “The town has exceeded its goal of powering municipal buildings with 100% renewable energy.” In addition, the town completed a tree canopy study and planted more than one thousand young, healthy native trees through the West Hartford Tree Project which is funded in part through the Sustainable CT Match Grant program and “powered by dedicated volunteers and supported by the expertise of staff from Leisure Services Cantor framed much of her address on the concept of “The Let Them Theory,” the theme of a book by Mel Robbins and a concept which encourages people not to try to control others but rather to focus on “the importance of exercising control over what we can and therefore taking action at the local level.” West Hartford is already an engaged community “Citizen participation is the foundation of representative democracy,” she said Cantor said the accomplishments achieved last year and the ones to come are the product of the collaboration of community officials and residents who work toward making West Hartford a model for the progressive yet historical ideals on which it continues to build “not because of luck but because of the tireless efforts of those like you and so many others who have dedicated themselves to this community.” and residents gather at the Mandell JCC March 3 to hear Mayor Shari Cantor’s State of the Town address Rendering of 820 Prospect Avenue by Amy Archambault Studio just across the West Hartford town line in the West End of Hartford has been chosen as the 16th Junior League of Hartford Designer Show House will be transformed into a stunning showcase by a group of premier designers Located at 820 Prospect Avenue in the historic West End of Hartford the 2025 Show House will be open to the public from Friday along with a special “Bare Bones” preview event on March 8 Matthew Patrick Smyth is an acclaimed interior designer whose traditional designs blend classic style with comfort to truly accommodate the real people who will live in the homes he designs He has designed homes from New York City and Connecticut Smyth’s work has been featured in numerous publications and he has written two design books – “Living Traditions: Interiors” and “Through a Designer’s Eye.” Smyth also has several licensed collections including rugs Smyth as Honorary Design Chair of our 16th Designer Show House,” said Melanie Caiaze “His elevated classic-meets-comfort style sets the perfect tone for this 1902 home inhabited by a young family.” The 2025 Designer Show House is a 4,900 square foot Tudor home designed and built in 1902 by noted Hartford architect Edward T The home is located in the famed Prospect Avenue Historic District The interior of the home features over 20 decorative spaces including seven bedrooms including leaded glass doors and moldings throughout have generously donated the use of their home to support the Junior League of Hartford’s mission and because of their love of architecture and the arts and volunteer time to a multitude of Connecticut nonprofits Funds are raised through the sale of tickets to tour the transformed home This highly anticipated event occurs every three years and involves countless hours of volunteering from Junior League members this year marks the 16th Show House by the Junior League of Hartford The Junior League takes over a notable home in the Greater Hartford Area and selects interior designers and landscape architects to completely makeover the interior spaces and surrounding grounds A West Hartford Tudor on Brookside Boulevard served as the 2022 Show House The 16th Designer Show House is dedicated to the memory of Mary Lynn Gorman who introduced the Show House to the Junior League of Hartford and co-chaired the first event in 1979 She volunteered for decades with the Junior League and other local nonprofits in addition to her 30 year career in public relations with the Hartford Whalers and Wolf Pack and raising four sons Tickets for house tours and special events are available online through on the Junior League of Hartford website at hartford.jl.org/ShowHouse Guests are encouraged to hold onto their ticket for re-entry to the house at any time during normal house tour hours Special ticket packages are also available for private group tours and special events Previous Show Houses may be seen here:  https://hartford.jl.org/show-house-history/ It’s officially meteorological spring – although it may not have felt very springlike on Sunday in West Hartford it does look like this cold snap is going to be short-lived I’ve actually spent the past few days in summer weather and I’m writing this on Sunday night from our B&B in Lake Worth Florida (just south of West Palm Beach) where it’s been in the 70s and 80s but knowing that tomorrow will bring a return to reality when I’m back in West Hartford We’ve been staying in this charming bed and breakfast in Lake Worth that we discovered a few years ago when coming to visit my dad who at the time was living in a nursing home in nearby Boynton Beach We usually visited around this time of year and had already planned a trip for last year but then my dad passed away and we were here for his funeral I’m always desperate for a break from the cold and we decided to continue our annual trip to this area went with her to see my dad’s grave at the South Florida VA Cemetery in Lake Worth and spent a few glorious days among the palm trees and eating virtually all of our meals outside Sam and Kate joined us for most of the trip as well and it was great to spend the time with them I got a bit of downtime – although it wasn’t exactly quiet in West Hartford while I was away, with two big arrests and a fire (that was related to one of the arrests when I was doing some work outside before breakfast Bobby the resident (and super friendly) cat decided to curl up on my laptop when I put it on the ground A few highlights of our trip, and some of the most colorful food photos from the variety of cuisines we sampled – Asian fusion, Mediterranean, Peruvian. And, check out the lizard in the tree in the last photo. I saw it right after writing a story about the iguana that was found wandering around a West Hartford street It was great to have Sam and Kate join us in Florida Sushi appetizer at Hachi Asian Cuisine and Grill in Lake Worth Pad See-Iew at Hachi Asian Cuisine and Grill in Lake Worth Lomo Saltado at Victoria’s Peruvian Cuisine in Lake Worth Lizard in a tree in front of the Lake Worth Town Hall Annex Thank you to those who posted comments this week on stories using their full names I think there was only one person who attempted using a pseudonym If you are a long term, regular advertiser on We-Ha.com and have a 60 to 75 word submission for a future Business Buzz please send to Bob Carr at [email protected] If you have information to share about local businesses, please provide details in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected] Mural of Greece on the wall inside Park Lane Pizza Crate & Barrel is one of the original tenants Future Starbucks with drive-through at Corporate Center West (South Main and New Britain Avenue) Rita’s is back open for the season at 1134 New Britain Avenue There was a presentation of the architect’s designs to one of the Town Council committees last week and a presentation will be made to members of the advisory committee that helped develop the original plans later this month It’s definitely in the works and the demolition of the old St Brigid School will be happening soon as well I will provide updates as soon as possible Today is Martin Luther King Day and although it’s a federal holiday and many people have the day off please note that there is no trash/recycling delay this week due to the holiday or because of the weather And a shout-out to my mother-in-law whose birthday is today We are continuing to get many comments submitted that readers would like posted to articles on the site – without full names included I don’t care if the comment is positive or negative includes valuable information or is petty – if your full name is not provided the comment WILL NOT be posted I enjoyed the Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Luncheon at the Pond House on Wednesday. I forgot to take photos of the food spread, but you can read the article here for a great synopsis of the past year’s economic development in town Or you can wait until you get to the end of the column where the link appears again in the “ICYMI” area My brother-in-law and sister-in-law were in town on Saturday and we were looking for a place to grab a quick lunch and chose Nero Kitchen. Our sandwiches were excellent, and the place was hopping! We ran into quite a few friends, and it certainly seems to be living up to its goal of being a community gathering place Tomato Mozzarella on ciabatta at Nero Kitchen Carrot cake (with four forks!) at Nero Kitchen Ted and I also went out to dinner on Saturday night at Salt + Lime – but those photos are part of the bullet point featuring the business below and the colorful chips and salsa at Salt + Lime The sign is up for ChoccoDiva at 282 Park Road Sugar Gen will be moving into the former State Farm office space at 1123 New Britain Avenue The Russell has closed its 39 South Main Street location in West Hartford Regal îs now located on the upper level of Westfarms in the Nordstrom wing