After running over budget, new Griswold Senior Center referendum passed
GRISWOLD The residents of Griswold have voted in favor Wednesday night to spend the remaining $760,000 needed to complete the new Griswold Senior Community Wellness Center from the town s surplus fund. The referendum passed 550 to 280.
The new senior center project was originally passed in May 2019, with $7.6 million in funding. However, there were costs totaling $945,649 deferred from the project, needed for completion. These costs were only discovered in January, and after multiple meetings, the remaining costs were reduced to $760,000 by April.
Bank foundation awards youth and social services grants
The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation has announced a total of $10,300 in grants to support youth and social services.
Local recipients include $500 to the Friends of Music of Griswold for the Solan Bowen Comemorative Scholarship, $1,200 to the Jewett City office of Thames Valley Council for Community Action for its youth winter boot program, and $1,000 to the Griswold Senior Center to purchase iPads for its community connections and mental health program. A complete list is available at jcsbank.com.
“Jewett City Savings Bank understands that 2020 has been an extraordinary year of challenge for families and communities,” Kevin Merchant, president and CEO of Jewett City Savings Bank, said in a release. “We are proud to support youth and social service organizations to help ease financial burdens for families and promote learning so that all members of our community can succeed.”
Entrepreneur starts new year raising funds for those in need
GRISWOLD, Connecticut (WFSB ) A Connecticut entrepreneur started off the new year in an unusual way, lacing up his running shoes in an effort to raise funds and awareness for those dealing with hunger during this pandemic.
Brian Gates celebrated the beginning of 2021 by running across southeastern Connecticut to publicize his new venture, and to help thousands in the area that are in need of food supplies.
“Our foundation is built all along philanthropy and feed the less fortunate,” said Gates, CEO of Bookwell Travel.
Gates is using his new company to fill food pantries, donating 10 meals for every room booked on the new first class booking and trip platform.
GRISWOLD Michele Walworth, the capstone and community service coordinator for Griswold High School, said plenty of students in Griswold High School that joined in on a holiday effort to write greeting cards to local senior citizens wanted to know how they could hear back from them.
“I was able to tell the kids, ‘well, if you’re interested in this, we’re going to be starting up the pen-pal program, ” Walworth said.
Walworth, along with the Griswold Senior Center, and the Grsiwold Middle and High School, is starting a pen-pal program for Griswold Middle School and Griswold High School students to communicate with local seniors. Currently in development, the program will start in February, with the students writing an introductory letter to a random senior in town, delivered by the Senior Center.