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RESIDENTS COME TOGETHER FOR ONE MORE SUCCESSFUL CELEBRATE BLOOMFIELD!

By Anthony ZepperiEach June, the Town comes

together for a week-long cele-bration in the form of manycommunity events, designed tobring both town and area resi-dents together in fellowshipand fun and this year was nodifferent.

These venues showcase thediversity of Bloomfield, votedan all-American City back in

1970, as well as offering anopportunity for folks to get toknow the town, its businessesand its history.

Some of the events in thisyear’s celebration includedHarlem-themed concerts, artgalleries, with help fromBloomfield Public Schools, aswell as carnival games and the

Third annual Mayor’s Ball.Bloomfield Mayor

DeBeatham-Brown, who helpedput the events together as partof the Celebrate BloomfieldCommittee, said that she isproud of all who attended.

“We had some amazingevents,” DeBeatham-Brown

said. It’s always a good sight tosee people go out and supportthe town.”

Dave Melesko, Director ofLeisure Services and also a

member of the BloomfieldPlanning Committee, said thatthe festival was a lot more of asuccess than years past.

“The turnout was a majorwin for us and the town,”Melesko said. “It has grownevery year. For example, ourSaturday Craft Fair was thelargest turnout we have had.”

Melesko said that putting onevents like this helps with com-munity awareness as well astown togetherness.

“It is important to put onevents like this to show that thetown really does care about itsresidents,” Melesko said. “It'salso a good way to highlight thebusinesses in town as well.

See CELEBRATE page 6

By Woodrow DixonPrior to the conclusion of

the 2020-21 academic year backon Wednesday June 16, theBloomfield Messenger had theopportunity to submit ques-tions to Bloomfield softballcoach Dhana Tulloch-Reid to

get her comments and perspec-tive on the completed 2021 soft-ball.

It was a challenging seasonfor the Warhawks team, espe-cially since there was no 2020softball season due to theCoronavirus Pandemic, andthis was the first season mostof the players actually playedsoftball at the high school var-sity level.

But the players did havesoftball experience from play-ing softball at the middle schoollevel at Carmen Arace Middleand Intermediate School.

As coach Tulloch-Reid noteduring the interview, there is a“learning curve” in making thetransition from playing softballin middle school to playing soft-ball in high school, and

See WARHAWKS page 7

IT WAS A CHALLENGING SEASON SAYS COACH TULLOCH-REID

NEW BOARD MEMBERS AT N.E.A.M.

2 July 9, 2021

FINANCIAL FOCUS

Dan GilliganEdward Jones

697 Poquonock AvenueWindsor, CT 06095

860-219-9564www.edwardjones.com

Here’s something tothink about: You could

spend two, or even three,decades in retirement. Tomeet your income needsfor all those years, you’llgenerally need a sizableamount of retirementassets. How will SocialSecurity fit into the pic-ture?

For most people, SocialSecurity won’t be enoughto cover the cost of livingin retirement. Nonetheless,Social Security benefits arestill valuable, so you’ll wantto do whatever you can tomaximize them.

Your first move is todetermine when youshould start taking SocialSecurity. You can begin col-lecting benefits when youreach 62 – but should you?If you were to turn 62 thisyear, your payments wouldonly be about 71% of whatyou’d get if you waiteduntil your full retirementage. Every month you waitbetween now and your full

retirement age, your bene-fits will increase. If you stillwant to delay taking bene-fits beyond your full retire-ment age, your paymentswill increase by 8% eachyear, until you’re 70, whenthey “max out."

So, when should youstart claiming your bene-fits? There’s no one “right”answer for everyone. If youturn 62 and you need themoney, your choice mightbe made for you. But if youhave sufficient incomefrom other sources, oryou’re still working, itmight be worthwhile towait until your full retire-ment age, or perhaps evenlonger, to start collecting.

Another key considera-tion is spousal benefits. Ifyour own full retirementbenefit is less than 50% ofyour spouse’s full retire-ment benefit, you wouldgenerally be eligible toclaim spousal benefits, pro-vided you’re at least 62 andyour spouse has filed forSocial Security benefits.

Survivor benefits areanother important consid-eration. When you passaway, your spouse wouldbe able to receive up to100% of your benefit orhis/her own retirementbenefit, whichever is high-

er. Thus, delaying SocialSecurity could not onlyincrease your own benefit,but also the benefit foryour surviving spouse.

An additional issue tothink about, when plan-ning for how SocialSecurity fits into yourretirement,is your earnedincome. If you’re youngerthan full retirement age,your benefit will bereduced by $1 for each $2you earn above a certainamount, which, in 2021, is$18,960. But once you hitthe month at which youattain full retirement age,and from that point on,you can keep all of yourbenefits, no matter howmuch you earn (althoughyour benefits could still betaxed).

One final point to keepin mind: The more youaccumulate in your otherretirement accounts, suchas your IRA and 401(k) orsimilar employer-spon-sored plan, the more flexi-bility you’ll have in manag-ing your Social Securitybenefits. So, throughoutyour working years, try tocontribute as much as youcan afford to these plans.

This article was written by EdwardJones for use by your local Edward JonesFinancial Advisor.

HHOOWW DDOOEESS SSOOCCIIAALL SSEECCUURRIITTYY FFIITT IINNTTOO RREETTIIRREEMMEENNTT??

Published by Town News Media LLCeditor@TheWindsorJournal.com

editor@TheWindsorLocksJournal.comeditor@BloomfieldMessenger.com

✒Howard FrydmanArt Critic at Large

✒Anthony ZepperiReporter at Large

✒Kathy LepakMasthead

☎ (860)922-6442

P.O.Box 451, Windsor, CT 06095

✒ John KarasEditor

✒ Lawrence JaggonReporter

✒ Woodrow DixonReporter

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LOCAL BUSINESS

The membership of the New England AirMuseum has elected two new members to its Boardof Directors.

Kathy Wadsworth earned her commercial hotair ballooning license in 1978. That same year sheset world records for distance, duration and alti-tude. Her 35+ year career in ballooning includedbuilding balloon systems and running her ownbusiness, KAT Balloons, Inc., which offered flightsto the public, tours, promotions, instruction, andsales and service of hot air balloon systems.

Wadsworth earned her UK Hot Air Airshiplicense in 1987. She served as an FAA SafetyCounselor for the Northeast Region, an FAA flightinstructor, held an FAA Repairman’s certificateand ran her own FAA certified Repair Station forHot Air Balloons. She also served as an FAADesignated Examiner for Lighter Than Air pilot rat-ings. She is a founding member of the ConnecticutLighter Than Air Society and a member of theNinety-Nines, the International Organization ofWomen Pilots.

Erica Leonard is a program management execu-tive at Lockheed Martin Enterprise Systems. Hercareer spans 25 years working on U.S. Departmentof Defense and international military aerospaceprograms. She has worked with Sikorsky Rotaryand Mission Systems as Director of the CanadianMaritime Helicopter Program, and as Director ofBusiness Performance.

Prior to joining Sikorsky, Erica spent more thana decade at Pratt & Whitney working on the F119and F135 engine programs as well as serving as aprogram manager on the Adaptive EngineTechnology Development program.

"The New England Air Museum is delighted toadd the experience and leadership capabilities ofKathy and Erica to our Board," said BobStangarone, Chairman of the Museum's Board ofDirectors.

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4 July 9, 2021

THE REAL DEAL ABOUT REAL ESTATE

By Cheryl BouchardWOW is the first word that

comes to mind while navigatingthis incredible real estate mar-ket. As a realtor for over 30years serving Windsor and thesurrounding areas, I have seenmany markets for sure, but 2021has been just about the craziest

yet. There are so few homes on

the market - approximately 25 inWindsor at any given time aswell as the surrounding towns -that it creates a frenzy for home-buyers. The demand for homesis well outwaying the supply.

This is a plus for sellers,often resulting in multiple offersand often leading to a biddingwar and over asking prices. Thatis of course the “good”.

However, for buyers, this canbe a very disappointing journeytrying to purchase a home yettime and time again losing out.Buyers are forced to overpaywhat they originally planned on.Suggesting to rent and ride outthe market is a possible solutionbut rentals are also highly indemand and not inexpensive.That’s the “ bad”.

And finally, homeowners areunderstandably tempted to selltheir property on their own toavoid the cost of professionalrealtor fees. This is quite under-

standable but the risk could costthem more in the long run.There are statutes that must befollowed whether or not one islicensed. Seller disclosure, crum-bling concrete foundation andmold disclosures must beincluded in the contract.

If all parties (buyers) are nottreated equally, a homeownercould face discriminationcharges. This includes a largepool of buyers that are protect-ed under the law.

Realtors vet buyers goingthrough your home for profes-sional and safety reasons.

Also, keep in mind that thehighest offer is NOT necessarilyyour best offer. A trained pro-fessional who has experiencewill guide you with the bestadvice.

And that is the “ugly”.I hope this information is

helpful. If you or someone youknow would like real estate helpor advice please feel free to callat 860-212-1018

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By Lion Cindy DanielsThe Windsor Lions Club has

awarded three $1,500 scholarships tohigh school seniors who are Windsorresidents. These scholarships wereawarded at a live streamed eventshown on YouTube held at WindsorHigh School.

Scholarship award winnerNathan Camara will attendWorcester Polytechnic Institutewhere he will major in Engineering.Nathan, a Robotics Team member formore than six years, has experiencein the design process and physicsapplication. Scholarship winner OmGhetia, will attend the University ofConnecticut. He will pursue a degreein mechanical design with a careergoal of prosthetic design. RecipientBoden Gapko will attend Central

Connecticut State University andmajor in engineering. Boden willfocus on” finding, helping and solv-ing problems for others.”

The Windsor Lions and LionsInternational’s motto is “We Serve.”Our 2021 scholarship recipients haveserved a total of more than 800 com-munity service hours. We wish ourrecipients success as they begin thisnew phase of their lives.

The Windsor Lions Club thanksall the Windsor residents for sup-porting our fundraising events mak-ing these scholarship awards possi-ble.

For information about theWindsor Lions Club and a member-ship application, please contact LionCindy Daniels, Membership Chair,

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Windsor Robotics (Teams Paragon andBlazing Spirits) will be holding a can andbottle drive on Saturday, July 10th– from 9-2 at their build site – the Roger WolcottSchool – 57 East Wolcott Avenue in Windsor(aka 451 Windsor Ave). The redeemed cansand bottles help support the teams through-out the year.

The teams compete locally and regionallyagainst middle and high school teams inFIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition ofScience and Technology) robotics competi-tions.

Team Paragon, 571, continued to meetthroughout the 2020-2021 season. Due to the2020 season being disrupted by the COVID-

19 pandemic, the 2021 Kickoff presented theteam with a modified "at home" version ofthe 2020 "Infinite Recharge" game. Thisincluded a series of new challenges in whichTeam Paragon engaged via Zoom, competingvirtually with teams from around the worldin a couple of different ways. The GameDesign Challenge invited the team to createand design a FIRST Robotics Competitiongame. After meeting for several weeks, theteam presented their plans for a SunkenTreasure game to the FRC game designjudges. Additionally, in the late season, indi-viduals from the team met to drive the 2020robot through a series of modules whichwere recorded and submitted as part of theSkills Competition.

Team 130, the Blazing Spirits, Windsor'sFTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) team has beenbusy as well. This year the team worked ona game called Ultimate Goal. The object ofthe game was to collect foam style rings andshoot them into a goal. All competitionswere remote. Most of their meetings wereheld via Zoom to keep everyone safe. Theyare looking forward to in person competi-tions and may be asked again to hold theState finals at Windsor High.

If you are not able to make it to the canand bottle drive and you want to supportthe team, Windsor Robotics can pick up atyour house or business. You can call teammentors Dick and Elyse Carroll at 860-285-8904.

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6 BLOOMFIELD MESSENGER July 9, 2021

- she noted the pace is fasterand requires more situationalthinking.

Following is the interviewbetween the Messenger andcoach Tulloch-Reid.

Bloomfield Messenger: Theteam concluded the 2021 soft-ball season with a 30-15 victoryover Weaver, the Warhawks sec-ond victory of the season overthe Beavers. Please commenton the team’s victory.

Tulloch-Reid: It was a niceway to end the season. A winon Senior Day is always a greatway to end the season andsend or seniors off on a posi-tive note.

Messenger: The team wontwo out of its first three gamesto start the season and scoredover 25 runs in each of thosetwo games, did that surpriseyou?

Tulloch-Reid: Our first twowins showed that we werecapable of doing some thingsand definitely built some confi-dence. As the season pro-gressed, we focused on justlearning the game and makingroutine plays.

Messenger: How much of an

impact did missing the 2020softball season have on thisyear’s team?

Tulloch-Reid: Not playing in2020 definitely hurt. We dis-cussed this a lot. Most of ourplayers had limited softballexperience before the 2020non-season, so having a year offreally hampered their develop-ment. So this season entailed alot of re-teaching of the basicskills and game concepts.

Messenger: A large numberof the student-athletes playedon the team played softballwhile attending Carmen Arace(Middle/Intermediate School).How difficult was their transi-tion from playing on the middleschool level to playing on thehigh school level?

Tulloch-Reid: There isalways a “learning curve” com-ing from a middle school sportto playing high school. Thegame is faster and the skill levelis higher. The kids did a goodjob with it. But not playing in2020 definitely made this tran-sition harder.

Messenger: With a year ofexperience playing softball atthe high school level undertheir belts, what will you be

looking for from the returningplayers next year?

Tulloch-Reid: We want tobuild on this year. There areteams we can be competitivewith, and teams we will learnfrom. We want to get WarhawkSoftball back to executing thebasics well and being as com-petitive as possible.

Messenger: What key areaswill the team need to improvein for the 2022 softball season.

Tulloch-Reid: Moving for-ward, our focus will be honingthe basics and thinking thegame (knowing what the play isbefore every pitch.) If we canreally sharpen our basic skills,and fully understood routingplays, then we will be ready tomake marked improvements.

From Page One

RREESSIIDDEENNTT SS CCEELLEEBBRRAATTEE BBLLOOOOMMFFIIEELLDD!!From Page One

WARHAWKS’ SOFTBALL

By Howard FrydmanStatesman, politician, neigh-

bor, friend- this week’s “FridayFriend” is the HonorableJoseph M. Suggs, Jr. ofBloomfield, Connecticut. Anarchitect for the rights of all,and praised by all for hisinsightful leadership and forpromoting unity and friendship.If I may, I would humbly statethat Mr. Joseph M. Suggs is atrue founding father of ourTown of Bloomfield.

As many of you may know,Joe, as he asks to be called, wasthe very first African AmericanMayor of Bloomfield in 1989,and former Connecticut StateTreasurer. As a child of televi-sion, I was so overjoyed when-ever I would see Mr. Suggs, ourformer town mayor, on eithernational or local television, asour State Treasurer, advocatingon the behalf of the “voiceless”,the “vulnerable” and to standand speak for those who cannot“say it themselves”! He contin-ues to do so - God bless you Mr.Suggs!

Two of my proudest JosephSuggs moments; firstly as anAssistant Registrar of Voters

during the Annual TownEnumeration, arriving at theSuggs home, Joe calling his twodaughters downstairs and theoccasion of making them bothofficial voters here inBloomfield, secondly was whenI as an elected official myself,had the singular opportunity toread several national, state andlocal proclamations in celebra-tion of Mr. Suggs birthday andlife achievements. For what JoeSuggs has done for state, townand country, It is my opinionthat I humbly state his day ofbirth should be a national holi-day, as I hold this gentleman insuch high regard!

If I had one wish - is that theTown of Bloomfield truly hon-ors this great man in some fash-ion- maybe honoring him bynaming a town building, a parkor even a street after this dis-tinguished and highly esteemedman. What say we all - insteadof “Park Avenue” - “Joseph M.Suggs, Jr. Parkway”?

Thank you Joseph M. Suggs,Jr. - I am truly honored to beyour friend and select you asthis week’s “Howard’s FridayFriend” - it is so well deserved.

CORRECTIONIn our previous edition, in

the article about the daughtertowns of Windsor, we statedthat one of the three towns thatcontributed land forWintonbury - later Bloomfield -was Newington. It was ofcourse Farmington. Thanks toan eagle-eyed reader for theheads-up.

- The mayor said it was agood feeling to finally see every-one face-to-face after a longtime losing that connection dueto the pandemic.

“To be able to actually seeeach other finally is a relief,”DeBeatham-Brown said. “Veryappreciative of everyone whodid their part to make events asuccess.”

"On behalf of the TownCouncil and the Town ofBloomfield thank you for cele-brating with us," MayorDeBeatham-Brown noted."Thank you for helping us tohonor our Students andCommunity Partners. A specialThank you to our Sponsors:Cigna, Westfield Bank, SpaceFitters, MDC and Tapas. Thankyou to those who donatedRaffle Prizes: BloomfieldLiquor, Contours Hair & Spa, D& D Travel Services, DunkinDonuts (760 Park Ave.), GilletteRidge Golf Course, Mr. GregoryDavis, Milano's Salon & DaySpa, T.J. Hooker Brewery,Transformations Med Spa, andWintonbury Hills Golf Course."

One of the highlights of thecelebration was the Mayor'sBall, during which awards werepresented to residents andorganizations that had out-standing contributions orachievements the year thatpassed. The honorees where:

Town of Bloomfield TownPride Award

Ms. Sophia ShepardTown of Bloomfield

Outstanding Student forAcademics

Ms. Brittany WashingtonMs. Lydia Nyarko

Mr. Joshua BrownMs. ReAnna BarclayMr. Charles FennellTown of Bloomfield

Outstanding CommunityPartner Award

Rehoboth Church of GodBloomfield Congregational

ChurchFirst CathedralBethel AMEOtis ElevatorCharter Oak

Trinity Health New EnglandHartford Health Care

KIEDCThe Prosperity Foundation

Finally, we must not forgetthat Celebratae Bloomfield isthe brainchild of former

Bloomfield Town CouncilmanJoel Neuwirth. Thanks to himand the hard-working commit-

tees over the years Bloomfieldcan be really proud for a greatfestival.

HOWARD’S FRIDAY FRIEND: WE HONORMR. JOSEPH M. SUGGS, JR.

Photos courtesy of Mayor SuzetteDeBeatham-Brown

July 9, 2021 BLOOMFIELD MESSENGER 7

By Kevin GoughBloomfield Councilor

Make It Better and TheyWill Come

Thanks to everyone whocame out and participated inmeeting our Town Manager can-didates last week. I receivedmany comments from residentsfollowing the sessions. A statedplatform goal of the NewGeneration of DemocraticLeaders in 2017 was “to have anopen and inclusive governmentthat values citizen participa-tion.” While there was insuffi-cient time to garner feedback, at

least folks did get an opportuni-ty to meet and evaluate the can-didates for themselves. (Thankyou to BATV for filming the pub-lic sessions and broadcastingthem for those who couldn’tattend in person.)

As one would expect, thecandidates’ views varied onnumerous points (which, ofcourse, is why you do the inter-views). However, there were twocommon related messages. Firstand foremost, development ofthe type the community wantsto see is driven predominantlyby fostering an environmentwhere people want to be – ifpeople want to be here, so willbusinesses (both those thatserve the residents and thosethat choose the town due to thepositive vibe of the place).Second, in doing their researchon Bloomfield, candidates men-tioned a number of recent ini-tiatives put in place to enhancequality of life and makeBloomfield a better place toattract such development, e.g.adoption of a Complete Streetspolicy, our Sustainable CT des-ignation, the East CoastGreenway project, our TIF (Tax

Increment Financing) MasterPlan.

It was good to hear fromthese professionals that ‘stan-dard’ municipal economics –providing tax abatements toattract businesses that maysomeday enhance the grand list– really isn’t, and shouldn’t be,the primary development driver.While seldom providing theanticipated fiscal benefit, thecommunity also rarely gets thetype of development it desires.Yes, town staff and officials can‘beat the bushes’ and find takersif incentives are offered, butthese may be pyrrhic victories,making the community a lessdesirable destination by reduc-ing quality of life and ultimatelymaking it harder in the long runto attract desired development.

In the end “psychology driveseconomic development.” Being agood place to live is the key toattracting good development.

All candidates noted that the‘town vision’ of its desires isexpressed in the Plan ofConservation and Development(POCD) and it is critical in mak-ing economic development deci-sions. As one candidate noted,“Don’t accept whatever wants tocome” but be driven by what thecommunity wants. (An impor-tant opportunity for your par-ticipation will be coming shortlyas Bloomfield embarks on itsdecennial revision of the POCD.Watch for announcements andplease participate!)

So to promote economicdevelopment let’s makeBloomfield better, a premierplace to live. Renovation of ourlibrary system, currently wellunderway, is critical. Someother concrete steps:

•Focus on home vacancyand blight conditions croppingup throughout our town – bepro-active, improve enforce-ment, and create equity-basedprograms to help residentsmaintain their homes and prop-erties.

•Maintain and improve ourpublic buildings and parks, real-izing that in the long run main-tenance is far cheaper than tear-ing down and rebuilding. Samewith our road and sidewalkinfrastructure (done in aComplete Streets context).

•Prioritize completion ofBloomfield’s section of the EastCoast Greenway and other trailproposals providing greater con-nectivity between neighbor-hoods for all residents.

To contact Kevin Gough,please email

kvngough7@gmail.com

OONNEE CCOOUUNNCCIILLOORR’’SS VVIIEEWW

By Ariel Marzouca-JaunaiBHFD Commissioner

The Commission of the BlueHills Fire Department gladlywelcomes back Errol Bartley tothe Finance Director’s position.On July 1, 2021, at a specialCommissioners’ meeting, mostof the Commission voted to rein-state Mr. Bartley for wrongfullyand illegally being terminatedMay 3, 2021.

Mr. Bartley has 19-years ofservice for the Blue Hills FireDepartment. During his tenureMr. Bartley oversaw all areas offinance and administrationinclusive of payroll accountspayable and receivables, cashmanagement, general ledger,banking, and reconciliations.

He prepares financials forour monthly Commissionermeetings as well as any specialreports required by the district,and many other tasks. Weapplaud Mr. Bartley for his stew-ardship, and meticulousapproach to executing his workon our behalf. He is ethical,trustworthy, honest, depend-able, and dedicated to servingthe needs of the district.

We are incredibly happy andpleased to have Errol Bartleyback on board and as part of theteam. “I am so happy and hon-

ored to be back with the team. Ilove working for the Blue HillsFire District,” said Bartley. “Iwill continue to help ensure thatwe succeed as the whole fire dis-trict walking with integrity.”

UPCOMING EVENTS:In conjunction with the West

Hartford-Bloomfield HealthDistrict, the Blue Hills FireDepartment will be hostingCOVID19 vaccine clinics everyThursday starting July 22nd -August 19th from 6:00 pm - 9:00pm at  1021 Blue Hills AvenueBloomfield, in  the back of thefire station, off RockwellAvenue. Please join the cam-paign and help spread the wordto help keep our town and statesafe – GET VACCINATED!

ERROL BARTLEY REINSTATED

BLACK PAIN - HEALTH EQUITYBy Danielle DW Wong

Bloomfield CouncilwomanFamily, friends and fellow

Bloomfield Warhawks gatheredlast Saturday at Bill Lee Field onRockwell Avenue to celebratethe life of our friend Wayne“Weezy” Price, a Bloomfield res-ident who died in 2020 of aheart attack at the age of 37.While it was great to see somany people come together toremember Wayne, this memorialsurfaced memories of my father,who died of prostate cancer in2011 at the age of 62—as well asthoughts of an uncle who diedin 2015, at the age of 56 from abrain aneurysm.

Death is an inevitable part oflife, but death comes too soon,too often in the black communi-ty in Bloomfield and around thestate. Black men and women aredying at a far greater rate thanany other race due to deeplyingrained health disparities. Wehave more barriers to qualityhealthcare because of a systemthat has historically treated usless than. Health disparities inmental health, maternal morbid-ity, infant fatality, and barriersto access to quality education,all derive from a system that hasbeen engineered across cen-turies to exclude us. 

There have been numerousstudies which demonstrate theunequal treatment BlackAmericans receive in health-care, but none more shockingthan the studies which docu-mented medical worker’sresponse to Black pain. Theresults are truly saddening:

A PNAS study found thatnearly 40% of medical studentsbelieved that Black American’sskin is “thicker,” making usmore resistant to pain. 

The American PsychologicalAssociation found that Whitedoctors are less likely to recog-nize pain in Black people.

A meta-analysis by theNational Library of Medicinefound that Black patients were22% less likely to receive anypain medication than Whitepatients.

Again, these are disparateracial impacts focused solely onthe medical profession’sresponse to Black pain. Perhapswhen health providers don’t lis-ten to us when we say thatsomething hurts, it becomeseasy to see how those biases cas-cade out into diagnosis, treat-ment and care across health out-comes.

Yet while we often focus onhow racial disparities in health-care lead to death, this is also aquality of life issue. Black

Americans suffer from the dis-parate impact of chronic healthconditions as well, including dia-betes, high blood pressure, asth-ma and other long-term illness-es. These conditions make lifeharder and more expensive.They cost valuable working timeand keep students home fromschool. They must be managedwith expensive drugs and con-stant doctor’s visits. The price ofmental health and well-being areincalculable, but there isresearch that demonstrates howmuch racial health disparitiescost not only Black Americans,but the overall economy as well.That number is staggering- near-ly $250 billion annually.

Solving this problem willrequire a multifaceted approach.Health Providers must betrained to reject implicit andexplicit bias. Intersectionalitywith access to jobs with livingwages, affordable housing, com-petitive public education, andenvironmental justice, all haveplayed a critical role in deliver-ing equity in health. 

June 12th, 2021 will foreverbe known in Bloomfield asWayne “Weezy” Price Day.Imagine if he’d been here to seeit. We must act to ensure thatwe live to see the celebrations ofour lives, not a remembrance ofa tragic, early passing. It’s timeto close the gap in our healthdisparities. We must demandquality healthcare from ourproviders, and most important-ly, we must demand more fromeach other when it comes to ourown health. I remain committedin continuing to bring aware-ness to this. 

To contact Daniel Wong,please email

dcwong19@gmail.com

8 July 9, 2021

Sponsored by Hank WeatherbyWeatherby & Associates, PC

693 Bloomfield Ave., Suite 200Bloomfield, CT 06002

www.weatherby-associates.comPhone: 860-769-6938

Tax-free annual exclusion,medical-payment, and educa-tional gifts can be given to orfor the benefit of your lovedones. Annual exclusion gifts aretransfers of money or propertyin an amount or value thatdoes not exceed the annual gifttax exclusion which is $15,000in 2021. Therefore, you can giveup to $15,000 per person to asmany individuals as you choosewithout having to file a federalgift tax return. You may need tofile a gift tax return if your giftsexceed or do not qualify for theannual exclusion amount.Married couples can gift twicethe amount, $30,000 in 2021. Acouple may still need to file agift tax return if the gift is splitthe gift between them.

Another non-taxable type oftransfer is a medical exclusion.Payments qualify for this exclu-sion only if they are made onbehalf of an individual or aninstitution that provided med-

ical care or medical insuranceto the individual. So, in 2021,you can pay the cost of yourgrandchild’s emergency appen-dectomy as well as give theman additional $15,000 withouthaving to file gift tax returns.

If you give money to theindividual, even with explicitinstructions that it be usedonly for medical care, your pay-ment will be considered a giftto the individual and not pay-ment of a qualified medicalexpense.

If the amount gifted wasreimbursed by the individual’sinsurance, the financial gift willbe treated as having been madeon the date the individualreceived the reimbursement,and not as an unlimited med-ical exclusion.

Another type of transferthat is non-taxable in the eyesof the IRS is the educationalexclusion. You can pay for yourgrandchild’s medical bills andstill give them $15,000 as well

as pay for their college tuitionwithout having to file gift taxreturns or pay gift tax. To qual-ify for the educational exclu-sion, you must make paymentto the educational institutiondirectly and not to the student.Payment must be for tuitiononly, and not for other types ofeducation-related expensessuch as books, supplies or on-campus housing. If your pay-ment fails to meet either ofthese requirements, it will beconsidered as a gift to the indi-vidual.

Giving gifts can be an effec-tive way to provide financialassistance to family members.If you have questions aboutmaking gifts of money or prop-erty to your family without alsogiving money to the IRS, pleasecontact our office. Your estateplanning attorney shouldalways be consulted to ensuregifting is done properly. We areavailable for in-person and vir-tual consultations.

SENIOR LIFEMMAAKKEE GGIIFFTTSS TTHHAATT YYOOUURR FFAAMMIILLYY WWIILLLL LLOOVVEE

BBUUTT TTHHEE IIRRSS WWIILLLL NNOOTT

ELDER LAW MATTERS

BE CAREFUL OF TICKS!

HHAAPPPPYY 110000 SSOOPPHHIIEE AANNDD CCOONNNNIIEE!!

Two special ladies celebrated a momentous anniversary at KimberlyHall, last week: They both turned 100 during the last month! Sophie(top) and Connie (below with her family) received a visit from WindsorMayor Don Trinks, on Friday, who presented them with a proclamationby the Windsor Town Council congratulating them for the occasion andwishing them health and happiness for their second century!

Photos and info by Kate Bartelmo

July 9, 2021 9

TTHHEERREE IISS AA LLOOTT YYOOUU CCAANN DDOO TTOO MMAANNAAGGEE DDIIAABBEETTEESS HEALTHY LIFE

A healthy balanced diet andexercise is important for every-one to help manage weight, pre-vent chronic health issues andto feel our best. For those livingwith diabetes, managing bloodsugar is critical to prevent com-plications.

There are two types of dia-betes, type 1 and type 2. Withboth diagnoses, keeping bloodsugar regulated is essential tostaying healthy. Symptoms ofhigh blood sugar include beingextremely tired, excessivelythirsty or hungry, blurry visionand need to frequently urinate.In those with Type 1 diabetes,the body (pancreas) does not

produce enough insulin, a hor-mone needed to regulate themetabolic process and give thebody’s cells energy. For thosewho are type 2, the body doesnot use insulin properly.

According to the AmericanDiabetes Association (ADA), 7million people with diabetes areundiagnosed, and 1 in 3 are atrisk. The following factors con-tribute to risk: age (45 andolder), family history of dia-betes, being overweight, lack ofexercise, high blood pressureand/or high cholesterol or lowHDL levels. Additionally, if oneis prediabetic or had gestationaldiabetes (which occurs during

pregnancy), the chance isgreater to develop type 2. Toassess your risk, visit www.dia-betes.org/risk-test.

Managing a balanced diet iskey to keeping healthy (and notjust for diabetics). The platemethod is a great option recom-mended by the ADA. Using a 9-inch plate, half your plateshould include non-starchy veg-etables, a quarter with lean pro-tein and the last quarter with acarbohydrate. The amount ofcarbohydrates is also importantto track, and those with dia-betes should follow the guide-lines given by a doctor or nutri-tionist/dietician to regulateblood sugar. Weight Watchersalso has a program for manag-ing type 2 diabetes and predia-betes.

In addition to following a dia-betic meal plan, taking medica-tions as directed, checking bloodsugar, and talking to your doc-tor about any changes or con-cerns will help to minimizepotential complications.

According to the Mayo Clinic,the following are potentialhealth problems that may ariseespecially when blood sugar

goes uncontrolled over time.These include, cardiovasculardisease, nerve damage whichcan cause tingling, numbnessand/or a burning sensation inthe fingers and toes, kidneydamage, vision and hearing loss,and more. Another complica-tion with older adults is anincrease in fall risk which canbe caused by low blood sugar,medication, neuropathy (loss offeeling in one’s feet), and poorvision.

Obesity is a key factor con-tributing to type 2 diabetes asthe more fat one has in theirbody, the more difficult for cellsto process insulin. Additionally,exercise helps our bodies useglucose for energy. If diagnosedwith prediabetes, changes inlifestyle can reduce glucose lev-els and prevent the onset of dia-betes.

It is key to reach out to yourhealthcare provider or aresource in the community ifyou are concerned about yourhealth. Additionally, more andmore children are being diag-nosed. “The rate of new cases

(or incidence) of diabetes inyouths younger than 20 yearsincreased in the United Statesbetween 2002 and 2015, with a4.8% increase per year for type 2diabetes and a 1.9% increase peryear for type 1 diabetes,researchers reported in theFebruary 14, 2020, issue ofCDC’s Morbidity and MortalityWeekly Report,” according tothe Centers for Disease Controland Prevention.

For more information andfacts on diabetes visit

www.diabetes.orgThis column was submitted

by Laura Falt, director of busi-ness development for NationalHealth Care Associates, CTNorth. The company’s sevenskilled nursing centers ingreater Hartford includeBloomfield Center for Nursing& Rehabilitation and RiversideHealth & Rehabilitation Centerin East Hartford. Laura wel-comes the opportunity to be aresource to the community onservices for older adults. Shecan be reached directly atlfalt@nathealthcare.com.

Celebrate National IceCream Month!

Join us on July 13 from12:30pm to 1:30pm in theSenior Center Café to receivean ice cream sundae with yourfavorite toppings. Sign up byJuly 7 as space and ice creamare limited. Free. 860.285.1992.

Full Moon Hike and FireflySpy

Saturday July 24 from8:00pm – 9:30pm at NorthwestPark. Join Nature Specialistand Full Moon Fanatic JenniferFiler for an afterhours hike ona route through the park whereyou’ll be able to take in the latesunset (8:15pm) and the “FullThunder Moon” rise (9:15pm).

It is also prime time for fire-fly/lightning bug viewing.Jennifer will lead you throughthe trails and after the sun sets,and before he moon rises, you’llbe delighted by the show. Signup for this memorable summer-time adventure on our websitetoday. Cost: $2.

Annual Senior SummerPicnic

Wednesday, July 21 from1:00pm to 2:30pmin the seniorcenter café, as well as outdoorsif you wish. Enjoy a cateredlunch and dessert, prizes andan afternoon filled with funand of course, our ever popularBINGO games.

WWIINNDDSSOORR SSEENNIIOORR CCEENNTTEERR

10 July 9, 2021

THERE IS SO MUCH TO ENJOY IN YOUR LIBRARY!

By Heidi L. SacchitellaLibrarian, Youth Services

Prosser Public Library

BBLLOOOOMMFFIIEELLDD PPUUBBLLIICC LLIIBBRRAARRYY

WINDSOR LOCKS LIBRARY

1073 Palisado Ave,Windsor

860-219-0393Amy and Burt Smith

Used books &board games

OPENSaturday 11am-5pm

Sunday 11am-5pmCurbside pick upalways available

Tissue Paper Seahorse—Drop In Cra� Windsor Locks Public Library

Stop by the children’s room any �me and make a lemonade cra�!

July 19th—23rd during open hours

Best for ages 3-8

No registra�on required

Lemonade Drop In Cra� Windsor Locks Library

WWIINNDDSSOORR PPUUBBLLIICC LLIIBBRRAARRYYBy Andrea O'Shea

Head of Reference & TechnicalServices, Windsor Public Library

Child Tax Credit AvailableNow

If you have children who livewith you most of the year, yourfamily may qualify for a newFederal payment program thatstarts in July 2021. This pro-gram is a part of the AmericanRescue Plan recently signed byPresident Biden.

How does it work?•The IRS will pay families

each month starting in July2021.

•You can receive up to $300per child per month.

•You’ll get half of the ChildTax Credit this year.

•You’ll get the second half ofthe Child Tax Credit when youfile 2021 taxes next year.

Are you eligible?• ANY family with children

can benefit, as long as the childhas a social security number.

•Employment & income areNOT required.

•The child must be under 18on December 31, 2021.

• The child must live withyou most of the time.

What do you need to do?• You do not need to do any-

thing if you have already filed a2019 or 2020 tax return. You willreceive the Child Tax Creditautomatically.

•If you have not registered,just start at the website below toget started.

•If you haven't received yourstimulus checks, start at thewebsite below.

We at the Windsor PublicLibrary have partnered withSimplifyCT, an IRS Volunteercertified nonprofit to help youget into this new Federal pro-gram. To get started, start at thewebsite below.

simplifyct.org/child-creditsIf you have any questions

about the program, please con-tact SimplifyCT at 860-590-8910.

JOIN OUR Centennial Celebration!Windsor Historical Society turns 100 this fall! We hope to make this celebration about the WHOLE Windsor community, and feature the history, culture, people, and stories of every part of our wonderful town. We hope you’ll join in the celebration!

One Town, Five Villages, Many Stories!

Windsor now has many neighborhoods. Historically, however, the town was thought to have developed in five population centers or “villages”: Windsor Center, Hayden Station, Wilson, Poquonock, and Rainbow.

Join Windsor Historical Society, friends, and neighbors for a celebration of your neighborhood. Each event will include exhibits and samples of what makes your neighborhood unique, plus partner exhibits, food, opportunities to share your Windsor story, and add your photo to the giant “My Windsor” map, and more!

WANT TO JOIN US?We need you!

Talk with any one of our committee members to learn more:

Windsor on the Move Sharing Stories in Windsor Neighborhoods

Florence Barlow, Co-ChairJohn BerkyKaleitha BrownKathy CarrollDaniel Crittenden Eileen CurleyRandy GraffJenny HawranEnita JubreyMary KellingHeidi KelseyAnita MipsAgnes Pier, Co-ChairColette YeichSulema DePeysterSue Tait PorcaroDoug ShipmanMichelle TomKristen Wands

Or contact us at: info@windsorhistoricalsociety.org or call 860-688-3813.

Windsor Center Saturday, August 28,

from 10 to 4 pm, at Windsor High School

Hayden Station Saturday, September 18,

from 10 to 4 pm, at Oliver Ellsworth School

Wilson and Deerfield Saturday, September 25,

10 to 4 pm, at the Recreation Center, 330 Windsor Avenue

All Together Windsor Saturday, October 9, 10 to 4 pm,

on the Palisado Green, 96 Palisado Avenue

Stepping Into the Next Century Together

Windsor Historical Society’s Birthday BashWednesday, September 1, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at

Windsor Historical Society

Poquonock and Rainbow Sat & Sun, August 14-15

from 10 to 4 pm, at Brown’s Harvest

Updates at windsorhistoricalsociety.org/centennial

Map drawn by Al Boehm

#windsorctstories

Rain date: Aug. 29

Rain date: Sept.19

Rain date: Oct.16

Rain or shine

Rain or shine

Share your Windsor story by: • Join an event and bring a photo or let us take one!• Record your story at an event in our story tent• Post stories or images on social media #windsorctstories• Provide your story in writing at one of these events!

“I am an alumni of Touchpoints at Chestnut. I recently spent two weeks recovering as a result of COVID-19. I would like to say thank you to all of the nurses that a�ended to my recovery. They are highly trained and skilled. They are respec�ul and professional.

“In addi�on, the kitchen staff are very professional as well and the food was good. I cleaned every plate. Also my advocate and the front office personnel were very helpful in answering my ques�ons.

“The physical rehabilita�on team were excellent in my physical progress. They were very knowledgeable and caring in helping me to regain health. Thank you Nathalie and your great staff. Thank you one and all.”

-David Paradis

171 Main Street

East Windsor, CT 06071

www.touchpointsatchestnut.com

(860) 812-0788

An iCare Health Network Care Center

m

ter

THEY WERE HIGHLY TRAINED AND SKILLED. THEY ARE RESPECTFUL AND PROFESSIONAL.