To the editor: “Libraries = Strong Communities” is the theme of this year’s National Library Week (April 7 to 13). This year marks the 61st observation of National Library Week. National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the…
Category: Opinion
Obituaries: Carlos I. Mejia
Carlos I. Mejia, 47, of Bristol, beloved husband of Diana (Ospina) Mejia, passed away on November 6, 2018 at Bristol Hospital. Carlos was born in Mexico on March 14, 1971 and was a son of Elisa (Leon) Rojas and the…
Letters: TEAM Bristol seeks donations to buy American flags
To the editor: TEAM Bristol (Volunteer Committee) and its sponsor (Bristol Chamber of Commerce) is continuing the tradition that began with Bill Englert of City True Value Hardware & Rental. For many years, this annual tradition would outfit the City…
Letters: Reader says learn from lessons of past regarding Trump
To the editor: Beware of electing Donald Trump. Any candidate that is endorsed by the KKK and the American Nazi Party should not be allowed to be our president. As a student of history please consider the following facts of…
Letters: Reader won’t support another Nicastro
To the editor: I was appalled to receive a letter paid for by Mike Nicastro’s campaign for the State Senate. It was written by his brother Frank endorsing Mike’s candidacy. It touts Frank Nicastro supposedly, “worked hard to keep our…
Candidate Martin responds to criticism
To the editor: I was recently criticized for standing with Dr. Bill Petit, who was maliciously attacked by a partisan Political Action Committee. The entire 31st State Senate District Republicans have partnered to bring about change and present common…
Letters: Bartok’s parents ask for support for daughter
To the editor: We are proud to endorse our daughter, Laura Bartok, for state representative in the 77th district. Our daughter has always been interested in learning and working with others. Even when she was very young, she would always…
Letters: Senator Murphy supports Bartok
To the editor: Too few young people run for public office in our state. As someone who ran my first race for state representative at age 25, I know personally all the barriers young people find when they try and…
Letters: Reader says incumbent in 77th playing ‘gutter politics’
To the Editor: Recently, I saw a mailer from Cara Pavalock that claimed her opponent, Laura Bartok, is closely aligned with Governor Dannel. She also implied it with her closing statement at the debate last week labeling her as just…
Letters: Nicastro’s wife urges support for candidate
To the Editor: I am writing to encourage voters in the 31st senate district, which includes Bristol, Plainville, Plymouth, Thomaston, and Harwinton, to vote for my husband, Mike Nicastro. Over the years, my husband has worked diligently to achieve many…
Letters: Reader concerned over Nicastro’s reference to budget crisis as ‘comical’
To the editor: It is of great concern to me that candidate Mike Nicastro finds the current budget crisis in Connecticut “comical.” I don’t know Nicastro but I do know a man in denial when I see one. He is…
Letters: Councilor glad Laura Bartok running in 77th
To the editor: I have known Laura Bartok for a number of years. She is a smart practical young woman dedicated to public service. Over four years ago when my local Democratic friends were talking about possible candidates for our…
Letters: Republicans report campaign sign vandalism
To the editor: As the political season enters its final few weeks, vandals have again begun to steal campaign signage and destroy personal property in an attempt to force their opinions on others and prevent the expression of our constitutional…
Letter: Hurricane season is here; be prepared
Dear Bristol Community: We are now in the middle of hurricane season and are probably suffering from “Hurricane Amnesia.” Hurricane Hermine is already at the shores of northwest Florida and headed in our direction. While we may not feel…
Letter: Are you prepared for an emergency
Dear Bristol Community: September is National Preparedness Month. We should all take a few minutes and determine whether we are prepared for any weather or other local emergency should one occur. We are all watching the impact of the torrential…
Mayor offers insight into budget
To the editor: As we implement the 2016-2017 budget, I reach out to taxpayers in an effort to provide some insight into the upcoming tax increase. Many have been critical that there was a zero tax increase last year followed…
Letters: Consider joining Bristol’s CERT
To the editor: As the New Year arrives, it is time to take stock in what we have to be thankful for in our community and what we as citizens can do to enhance our community’s well-being and sustainability in…
Santa says thanks…
The Observer received this letter of thanks regarding last Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa. To the editor: I had a great time at my breakfast at the Little League Center on Dec. 5. It was wonderful to see old friends and…
Legislators release statement on Syrian refugees in CT
To the editor: We believe in the American Dream. We support our nation’s long tradition of humanitarian aid and welcoming refugees from around the world in search of a better life in the United States. But we want the taxpayers…
Observations: A life taken raises questions about mental health
by LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER A recent week in June was a mournful one in my hometown of Waterbury, as friends, family, and colleagues said goodbye to acting Deputy Police Chief Christopher Corbett. On Thursday, June 10, Corbett took his…
Observations: Mistakes happen: Accept them, move on
By LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER I’ll never forget the look of horror on my dad’s face that one time I almost got run over by a school bus in fifth grade. It was just an ordinary day after school, and…
Observations: Dinner-time disasters, dinner-time love
by LAUREN INCOGNITO Several scenarios come to mind when I think of what constitutes torture for me but none so much as mealtime with my kids. There is nothing relaxing or leisurely about dinner in our house, quite the opposite.…
The future rings the bells of uncertainty for Catholic churches
by LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITERI remember the days when the pews in my church would fill in a matter of seconds with few, if any parking lots available. Sunday mornings were full enough for the 10:30 mass. But on…
Opinion: City’s GOP chair says ‘It’s not too late for Connecticut’s future’
To the editor: By now you have likely read about the Connecticut Democrat-controlled State Legislature voting to enact their proposed budget pact reached with Governor Dannel Malloy. This $40 billion budget, inclusive of the second-largest tax increase in Connecticut history,…
Wait a minute, mom, you forgot ‘Dirty Blanche’
by LAUREN INCOGNITO CORRESPONDENT There’s a literary term known as personification, which means to attribute human characteristics to inanimate objects. We learned the psychological implications of personification the day “Dirty Blanche” entered our lives. My sons were given matching blankets…
Coping with loss: how healing can take rare forms
by LISA CAPOBIANCO I’ll never forget that summer night in 2012 when my great aunt came to me in a dream. She appeared after a busy and stressful semester during my junior year of college, and finals had just ended…
Letters: Reader expounds upon meaning of Memorial Day
To the editor: In May, as we welcome the coming of summer, we also will be celebrating Memorial Day. Memorial Day is always special and meaningful, but this year it is especially poignant, as this year we also celebrate the…
From the illusions of the firstborn, to the reality of the next
by LAUREN INCOGNITO On a random February morning, I vividly recall staring over my newspaper at my soon-to-be 4 month-old daughter. She was sitting in her car seat, smiling at nothing in particular, sucking contentedly on her teething ring. In…
Letter: Reader asks, what about changes with Renaissance?
To the editor: I went to the special Bristol Downtown Development Corporation meeting Monday evening, April 20. For whatever the reason, the regular scheduled meeting had been cancelled previously The meeting was posted after noon on Friday, which precluded many…
Observations: In a box of memories, a great uncle comes into focus
by LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER April 26, 1945 marks a historic event that will always remain in the mind and heart of my father’s family. It is a date that has not only taught us a bit of family history,…