President, Dave Pasqualicchio Report:

Spring has finally arrived with beautiful weather and Forestville never has looked better, with all its color, flowers and the most meticulous maintained park, “Central Square”.  Be proud!!  FVA is making a difference with our approach; one property, one day at a time.

ü  Saturday April 30^th, FVA scheduled a spring clean up. From 8-10am, only 2 hours, litter will be picked up. Come on out, get some exercise, pick up empty booze bottles and used loser scratch tickets; lots of fun!

ü  Hello….. Have you renewed your membership 2011? If you like what you see, join us! Have you signed up a new member today?  Membership renewal money helps fund many projects throughout our community.

ü  The Spirit of Bristol Award…. Wow! What a great recognition by the Central Ct. Chamber of Commerce, Thursday, June 9^th at the Aqua Turf.  All membership is invited to this dinner event; a night of fun, $30.00 per person.  The FVA is paying the balance. For reservation, dinner choice and payment, call Marsha, 860- 582-6245 or mmtldml@sbcglobal.net;       **Reservation must be made no later than May 28^th.**

Recognizing new faces in the crowd; Kelly Dube, Margie Moshka, and Dennis Scott.   Olga Fronczak, Amelia Goodfield and Carrie Tye, of TDBank   included in the returning new face crowd, along with our regulars.

I’d like to thank Vice President, Rick Leach, for conducting the remainder of the meeting in my absence.

City Village Report:

ü  Good news; the post office will be reopening in May.  Two new restaurants are coming soon to the village. J.R. Rusgrove will open Parkside Café, in the previous Stephanie’s location and Don Sciarretta will open a Pizza Restaurant, in the Sawe’s Florist location. Also, welcome to the Forestville community, the new owner of Stafford Diner.

ü  Rt.72 completion date is believed to be in July.  It looks great and the traffic flow through the center of Forestville has been reduced along with the litter and cigarette butts, too.

ü  Construction work to align Central St. and Church Ave, new tracks and crossing is starting May 2^nd at the Railroad crossing/Central St.  The project will take approximately 2 months.

Councilman Dave Mills shared his thoughts about the FVA:    

The Forestville Village Association is a very important group for the city of Bristol. Your enthusiasm and activity is contagious and should be duplicated in every area of the city. Just imagine if every neighborhood had such an active group to promote activities, clean up the neighborhood and just come together for a variety of causes. This would ensure that Bristol would continue to grow and be the great city we all want it to be.

 FVA is an example for the entire city to follow. You provide a sense of pride that we should all possess. Your willingness to give of your time, talents and treasure is so evident when you drive through Forestville. The activities like the duck race, and Pumpkin Festival are examples of making the community better. In addition, the care given to the landscaping, Quinlan Park, the clock area, shows everyone the pride you have in your village and the city.

Keep up the spirit and the great work. People do notice and care. More people need to follow your lead.

Tom Dickau Report:

Great weather, great event; the seventh annual Pequabuck River duck Race was again a great success. Teamed up with the Central Ct. Chamber of Commerce, the Forestville Village Association again hosted the event in Forestville Center.  Thanks to the Village Association volunteers who again did an outstanding job, Just Karma Production who ran the first annual Pequabuck River Craft Fair adding a new dimension to this year’s event.  Thanks go out to Chris Roberge, DJ; the Pequabuck River Watershed Association for the River Cleanup, Clean Harbors for  manning the river and to all the vendors who participated. Special thanks to all the members, businesses, etc. who bought, or sold tickets. Your efforts made this an outstanding event, with over $12,000 profit.

Scholarship Report:  Christine Levesque did a great job of making sure the applications, for $500, 2011 FVA scholarship, got out to three local high schools. She collected 18 submitted applications; all of which were very competitive applicants, making the choice difficult.  The scholarship committee chose Reid Roberge, a senior at St. Paul’s high school.  Thank you, Christine and the committee.  Congratulations, Reid!

ü  Leo Bonola, in his allotted two minutes, informed membership about the Forestville Memorial Day Parade. Sponsors, participants and volunteers are needed for parade day. Please see Leo if you are available to help.

ü  Lucky Ed’s drawing was for 5 duck tickets. Lucky Marsha won! 

ü  FVA website, www.fvact.org  ……Contact Paul Kowalczyk, webmaster with any ideas, links or information for the website.

FVA Membership 2011:       

                                   “Spirit of Bristol”- 200 members strong and growing!

 Only 50 members are lapsed in their dues. Please village people, it is almost June. FVA membership runs from January – December and we need your support.     If you are not sure of your dues status or have any questions, call Marsha at 860-582-6245 or email mmtldml@sbcglobal.net.

   Individual/ Family- $15.00_____, Non-Profit- $25.00______, Business - $50.00_______

                                   Voluntary Donation - $___________

Name________________________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________________

Phone__________________________E-mail__________________________________

Make your check payable to:

Forestville Village Association

C/O Marsha Lockhart

87 Vernon St.

Forestville, CT. 06010

Quinlan Park:

 The good news: The plans for the Quinlan park improvements have been signed off by Alan Weiner, with an administrative approval. A full set of signed-off drawings has been given to Ed Swicklas in the Parks Department and Ray Rogozinski in Engineering; the third set will remain in the Land Use Office. Copies of the abridged sets of drawing will be distributed to the Fire Marshal, building department, Water Department and Police Department.

Marguerite said we still need:

1.) CT DEP-channel line encroachments permit

2.) Inland Wetlands permit 

3.) Flood plain permit

Beautification:     

ü  Al and Jane Goodwin, Gail and Rick Leach, Penny and Kit Critchley, Geri Reilly, Sandy and Joe Gozzo, and Mike Tonon took part in the FVA Spring cleanup, led by FVA President, Dave Pasqualicchio. It took place April 30^th at 8am. Great job villagers; Thank you!

ü  Pequabuck River clean up was also held on April 30^th by the Watershed group.

ü  City Park Dept. has given FVA a trash receptacle for Central Square. Don Lockhart has volunteered to cement it in place.

ü  Forestville Welcome sign repair and plantings will have the center looking good for summer.

Fundraising:

ü  A 7^th annual, successful Duck Race was held May 1^st.

ü  Al Barnes Golf Tournament, Friday, Sept 23^rd. Sign up your foursome!

ü  Central Square Bricks, Phase 3, is underway. Ron Trafford has persuaded Shaun Casey to engrave the 12 bricks, as soon as possible.

 Correspondence report with Maryellen Holden, Welcome Lady:

ü  Get well Anna, 4 year old daughter of Kate and Pete Matthews (Initially Anna made out well in terms of surgery. Then last week she developed an infection, staying hospitalized. She remains at Ct. Children’s Medical center, but she is better.)

ü  We welcome our most recent FVA member, Henrick Dennis Rutsch, Born on March 31^st,  son of   Heather and Chris Rutsch.

ü  Welcome to the acting Police chief, Eric Osanitsch

ü  Welcome  new owner of  Stafford Diner

FVA Coming Events:

ü  Memorial Day Parade - *Sponsors  *Participants  * Volunteers on Parade Day

ü  Summer Concert- Tuesday, August 9^th- 6:30 pm; band “Skyway”

ü  “Spirit of Bristol” award dinner; Aqua Turf, June 9^th, $30.00 … Reserve your seat!

ü  St. Joseph Polish Society annual Pig Roast Sat. May 14^th to benefit Autism Speaks.