Northwest News

THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER’S NEW North Canaan office OPENS FOR BUSINESS MONDAY, MAY 13^TH, 2-WEEKS FROM TODAY, OFFERING medical, mental health, and chiropractic services TO ALL, AND THERE’S AN OPEN HOUSE THERE THE SATURDAY BEFORE ON MAY 11^TH, SO MARK YOU CALENDAR! THE FEDERALLY-QUALIFIED WELLNESS CENTER, WITH FACILITIES IN TORRINGTON & WINSTED, IS EXPANDING TO FILL A VOID COMPOUNDED BY DOCTOR RETIREMENTS AND LACK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN AN AREA where the population is mostly elderly & many are uninsured or under-insured, living at-or-below poverty levels. THE NORTH CANAAN FACILITY, ON MAIN STREET ACROSS FROM STOP & SHOP, OPENS MONDAY, MAY 13^TH. YOU’RE WELCOME TO AN OPEN HOUSE THERE SATURDAY, MAY 11^TH FROM 10AM TO 1PM. 

litchfield’s BUDGET for next fiscal year has been finalized. the republican american reports the board of finance made some slight changes late last week, and will present THE $31.4-million DOLLAR BUDGET WITH ITS 3.7% INCREASE AT A MAY 16^TH TOWN MEETING. if approved, it would REDUCE LITCHFIELD’S TAX rate by 8.3 mills to 18.4 due to RECENT revaluation which added $400 million dollars to litchfield’s grand list. staying in the BUDGET AFTER SOME DEBATE is a $128,000 allocation for a 3^RD RESIDENT trooper, AND $10,000 was added to park & rec to fund the annual july 4^th fireworks show. the total spending plan reduces spending by $1.1 million DOLLARS due to savings in LITCHFIELD’S SHARE OF THE region-20 budget. 

THE ENORMOUS TASK OF DEMOLISHING THE TORRINGTON COMPANY STANDARD PLANT SITE CONTINUES AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. WITH AN EYE TOWARD PRESERVING SOME OF ITS HISTORY, AND PROVIDING BRICKS FOR PUBLIC USE, CREWS STARTED LAST FALL RAzing WHAT WAS ONE OF THE WORLD’S leading BEARING MAKERS AND ONE OF TORRINGTON’S LARGEST INDUSTRIES & EMPLOYERS FROM THE 1860’S TO 2017. DEMOLITION of 29 buildings on the 14-acre site IS DUE TO WRAP UP THIS FALL. MAYOR ELINOR CArBONE SAYS MANY HAVE TOLD HER THE DEMOLITION OF A long-standing EYESORE BRINGS A WELCOME NEW, open LOOK TO THE CITY’S WEST SIDE, AND ANTICIPATION OF A NEW business park or retail opportunity there in the next couple of years.

WITH THE HELP OF nearly $2 million dollars in state funding and some luck, torrington’s friendly hands food bank is ALMOST ready to reveal the location of a new, larger torrington home. THE FOOD BANK HAS OUTGROWN ITS DOWNTOWN KING STREET site OF 32 YEARS DUE TO A STARK INCREASE IN CLIENTELE – now serving 9,846 families each month, AND HAS BEEN searching for a new home of at least 10,000 square feet. their current 1,600 square feet of food storage space has long been inadequate. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KAREN THOMAS tells wzbg larger digs will also help friendly hands launch a long-awaited grocery store-style ‘client choice’ option to member families: they’ll arrive, grab a shopping cart, and choose what they need, just like a regular shopping trip.

you’RE invited to pedal your waY to some family fun this saturday! ALL ARE WELCOME AT THE FREE FAMILY BICYCLE RALLY, AN EXCITING ADVENTURE FROM NOON TO 4PM ALONG TORRINGTON’S SUE GROSSMAN GREENWAY. IT STARTS AND FINISHES AT THE R-B-C BEARINGS PARKING LOT, 2788 WINSTED ROAD. TRADITIONAL BIKES, SCOOTERS, SKATEBOARDS & ROLLERBLADES ARE WELCOME. BIKE LOANERS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND THEY’VE GOT THE LITTLE ONES COVERED TOO WITH A STRIDER-BALANCE BIKE COURSE FOR KIDS 18 MONTHS AND UP. WINSTED POLICE WILL MONITOR THE TRAIL. THERE’LL BE RE-FUELING STOPS, BIKE SAFETY TIPS, PRIZES, A HELMET GIVEAWAY, A FOOD TRUCK AND EVERYTHING IS FREE! THE FAMILY BICYCLE RALLY IS SATURDAY, NOON TO 4PM, STARTING AT THE R-B-C BEARINGS PARKING LOT, 2788 WINSTED ROAD, TORRINGTON. 

the litchfield patriots organization, endorsed by selectmen to convene and coordinate events surrounding the 250^th anniversary of the declaration of independence, holdS a meeting may 22^nd to tALK ABOUT WHAt they’d like to see happen in litchfield on july 4, 2026. ANYONE wanting to be actively involved in implementing events that day are invited to this meeting may 22^nd from 6 to 7pm at the litchfield historical society. a list of ideas already generated for the celebration can be found on the website where you can also find more informaton on the meeting: that’s: WWW.LITCHFIELDPATRIOTS.ORG/AMERICAS250TH.               

torrington boy scouts and michael carr are issuing their annual appeal for donations to buy small american flags to adorn the graves of area veterans before memorial day. the civitan club ran the program for over 15-years prior to disbanding. nine years ago, torrington boy scouts took it over. last year, more than 3,300 flags were placed on veterans graves at hillside, new saint francis & other smaller cemeteries around torrington. carr says flags need to be replaced periodically due to wind & weather wear and tear, so he asks businesses & residents to help honor our hometown heroes with a donation to the ‘boy scout flag fund,’ p-o box 32, torrington, ct 06790.                                                     

Eversource reminds customers that assistance programs are available while the utility company returns to pre-pandemic rules. Service shutoffs for non-payment will resume May 2^nd. Company officials say they’re eager to work with customers while things return to normal. EVERSOURCE VICE PRESIDENT JESS CAIN SAYS “The last thing we want to do is shut off service to any customer. Yet, unpaid energy bills increase costs for all customers.” Flexible payment plans are available to all customers, regardless of income, to pay their past-due balance over time. Anyone who needs assistance SHOULD call EVERSOURCE AT 800-286-2828 or visit Eversource.com/billhelp to find the right plan.

THE FINAL WEEKEND OF APRIL WAS FINE HERE CONSIDERING WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE PLAIN STATES WERE GOING THROUGH WITH TORNADOES AND STRONG THUNDERSTORMS, WITH METEOROLOGIST JOE FUREY SEEING ‘TORNADO ALLEY’ COMING BACK TO LIFE AFTER MANY QUIET YEARS, WITH CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE IN SOME AREAS HARD TO COMPREHEND WITH WHOLE TOWNS WIPED OUT. JOE SAYS WE ARE LOOKING AT THE END OF APRIL AND START OF MAY WITH A BACK-DOOR COLD FRONT ARRIVING TONIGHT AFTER A NIGHT OF SCATTERED HEAVY SHOWERS AND SOME RUMBLES OF THUNDER, USHERING IN SOME EARLY SUMMER HEAT & HUMIDITY, IN THE UPPER 70’S, TODAY AND TOMORROW BEFORE A COOL-DOWN AND MORE SHOWERS TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY, SO KEEP THE UMBRELLA AROUND RIGHT THROUGH THE UPCOMING 1^ST WEEKEND OF MAY!