Festival goes on despite rain

Mother Nature significantly complicated the schedule of the 40th annual Apple Harvest Festival, but the event was still able to draw crowds.

After a day-long downpour on Friday, the opening of the festival was delayed until Saturday afternoon. “It just wasn’t worth the safety risks,” said festival coordinator Jim Champagne on Friday, referring to the possible dangers of using the stage equipment in a soaked environment.

To make up for lost time, festival organizers announced that the event would re-open a day earlier this week, on Thursday, Oct. 2, from 5-9 p.m.

The rainy weather persisted on Saturday and the modest crowds were not what the festival’s vendors are used to.

“I’m enjoying it, but I wish there were more people,” said hostess Christen Orticari. “I’m sure it will perk up.”

Those working out in the rain for a good cause had the same hopes.

See FESTIVAL, page 40

Members of the Southington Chamber of Commerce do not seem to go very long without being offered a chance to participate in one of the numerous events the organization manages. Business leaders in town say this was not always the case, and give credit to Art Secondo, who is coming up on his fifth year as Chamber President.

“There’s been a tremendous progression,” said Marc Pelletier, chairman of the Chamber’s board of directors. “He brought a lot of business experience with him and he accomplished a lot.”

Charlie Cocuzza, who is set to succeed Pelletier next year, said Secondo was responsible for the large influx of members over the last few years. In 2003, the Chamber had 342 members.

As of press time, that number hovers around 550. “Membership has gone up by probably 60 percent,” Cocuzza said. “He commands respect in town, and when he talks to potential members, they believe what he says and they join up.”

At the time of his hiring, Secondo was already

What can we do during an emergency? This is the likely topic of dinner time conversation for parents of second graders this week, after Southington CARES unveiled its Emergency Preparedness Program Friday morning.

This new program is an educational initiative designed to help the community, especially children, through an emergency.

Through the cooperation of the school system, the program materials were sent home with all second grade students. Officials are looking to bring the program to the senior community in the near future.

“Hopefully it will generate a lot of talk around Southington,” said Lisa Olsen, a parent with a daughter at Flanders School.

The program will help

See EMERGENCY, page 22