We liked this week

The Record-Journal talked to political experts about the one vote difference that decided the 81st House district race in favor of Democrat Chris Poulos over Republican Tony Morrison following a recount. “I remember close votes but never one,” said Cheryl Lounsbury, a Republican former Southington town councilor. “That’s a real real first-timer for Southington.”

Meriden’s City Council approved spending $250,000 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for design and evaluation of a new senior center.  The money will cover a needs assessment and cost analysis of new construction or renovating the center on West Main Street. Last month, the council approved establishing a Senior Center Building Review Ad Hoc Committee.

It was a week of football, with powder puff games and Thanksgiving rivalries at play in the area. Wallingford’s Sheehan High School made headlines in the 51st Samaha Bowl by shutting out Lyman Hall High School 34-0 in the premier powder puff match. It was the first win for Sheehan in six years. Sheehan also prevailed over Lyman Hall in the Carini Bowl on Thanksgiving Day, which also saw Southington win over Cheshire and Maloney best Platt in the Meriden rivalry game.

The Festival of Silver Lights started another season the night before Thanksgiving at Hubbard Park. “This is the last time this park is gonna be dark for the next month and a half,” said Meriden Mayor Kevin Scarpati.

The Record-Journal explored the challenges faced in helping the most vulnerable residents with heating costs this winter, citing heating oil prices averaging $5.64 a gallon on Nov. 14, compared to $3.28 per gallon a year ago. “At the end of the day, I’m hoping the governor and the legislature are able to do whatever helps the most vulnerable residents,” said Gannon Long, policy and public affairs director for Operation Fuel, which provides energy and utility assistance. “…The most important thing is that people have heat this winter.”

School districts in the area are preparing for the end of funding through a state program that continued free school meals for all students. Students will return to paying for meals or receiving free and reduced price meals if they qualify. The School Meals Assistance Revenue for Transition program, as the R-J reported, had gone into effect in August “to bridge the gap in federal funding for universal free meals, which had ended with the expiration of pandemic-related waivers.”