President, Dave Pasqualicchio Report:

Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!   Personally, I love pumpkins and Halloween. It is a great time of the year to get out and volunteer in your community. I’m very pleased the FVA   pumpkin squad is on the march. This year’s Bristol Pumpkin Festival committee, could have very easily folded up and sit back with lack of funding; a great excuse to be complacent. That is why we are FVA. This is why we are respected throughout the town and a great influence for all groups to be the best. Good work brings much respect. 

This Pumpkin Festival could become a huge event; a great way to promote our little town of Forestville.  FVA is trying to raise the necessary funds to put on the festival, with the price tag at $3000.00.  FVA will accept all donations.

It is rewarding to see most neighbors, keeping their property nice. Forestville truly looks great.  Get out and do little things to your home or business. People watch, people notice. It is all part of revitalization and beautification. FVA is separate from the rest.

I am very pleased with the quick response, from Mayor Art Ward and city officials, Guy Morin and TJ Decrisantis, for the quick response to the closing of Stephanie’s Bar, due to the bad activity and lack of a Certificate of Occupancy. This is not what we want in Forestville, but rumor has it, they will reopen soon.

City Village Report:

·         Kate Matthews, quietly with emotion, thanked membership for the flowers and the support she received, during her mourning of her Mother, Mary Ann Lupa.

·         Kate stated that the Renaissance development offices officially opened on September 21.  They are located at the first floor of City Hall.  All members of the public are welcome to see what Renaissance has to offer.  Renaissance will be holding a number of workshops locally to hear from Bristol residents about what they want to see downtown.  The staff at the Renaissance office can give you any information that you are interested in.  Questions were asked about the goals of the Renaissance development project.  Kate said that she believes that the development project will improve the quality of life of Bristol residents, and give our City a competitive advantage over our neighbors, which will help Bristol attract tax-paying homeowners to the City.

·         Tom Dickau Updates:  There will be no pumpkin chucking at the upcoming Pumpkin festival, but the committee has met and plans are underway for a wonderful community event.  Volunteers needed for the Mum Festival craft fair, have been found for Saturday and Sunday Septemeber25th and 26th.  FVA will be selling t-shirts, Christmas ornaments, FVA membership, bricks for Quinlan and Central Square and the slices of a turkey shoot target.  We will also be handing out Pumpkin Festival information at this Memorial Boulevard event.   Also, FVA will advertise the Pumpkin Festival, with a float in the Mum Festival Parade. FVA Vice President, Rick Leach volunteered his truck and time for the event.

More information will follow about a dance being planned this fall as part of the 225 Bristol Celebrations.

Ø  The   Bristol Historical Society quilt raffle will be held September 16^th. The tickets sold for $2.00 each.

2010 Christmas Ornament depicts the old Forestville fire house/town hall on one side and the present firehouse on the other. Preliminary print looks phenomenal.

·         Tom Kenyon, a long time member of the Forestville Village Association, purchased and donated a 10x10 canopy with sides.  It is well made, sturdy and will protect us from the elements; exactly what FVA needs  for all our events.   Thank you, Tom!!

·         There is a rumor of concern to residents; the Forestville Post Office will eventually be closed by

Postmaster. Should FVA talk or write to postal officials or what approach, if any, should FVA take as a concerned community? We love our post office and need to find out the validity of this rumor, before it is too late.  Any thoughts; please come forward and voice your opinions and ideas.

·         Leo Bonola had nothing to say at this meeting, so Dave will credit him 2 extra minutes, next monthJ.

 With that said, Leo’s monthly membership drawing was unbelievable!! Again, the third month in a row, Ed Dubois had his number drawn.  FVA monthly drawing was for a raffle ticket, for a 2010 Harley Davidson Fat Boy raffle, sponsored by the Carousel Museum. Will Ed win the Harley? Probably, he wins everything else.

Treasurers Report:  no report, but the balance in the Park account is $35,489.46

Membership: 

27 residential and 11 business members have not renewed their membership for 2010.

We are still receiving 2010 dues……..never too late to pay dues!

FVA has a total of 186 members; 142 residents and 44 businesses.

We welcome 33 new members this year, which includes 27 residents and 6 businesses.

Thank you to those members who have made monetary donations, above and beyond the membership dues. Your generosity helps to keep our village beautiful and our organization vibrant.  

 Beautification:

***Is there anyone interested in cleaning up the “Welcome to Forestville” gateway sign area?  The beds need refreshing; shrubs need pruning and mums to be planted. This FVA inaugural project is in need of attention seasonally.   Who will volunteer for this upkeep project, only 4 times a year?

***Art Ward has great news for FVA and the Community. Periodically, five or six man crews will be contracted by the city to pick up litter, cleaning up Bristol’s inner city.

***If you know of problem areas, children looking for community service hours, or you are interested in an area to pick up, while strolling along, let Dave know!   Take a good look around your property.  Maintenance goes a long way in promoting our image. Keep up the good work!! 

Fundraising: 

Thank you, Patti Woolverton and Diana Mikulak for planning the Rock Cat Baseball game. Supporting community and organizational events is very important and it’s always good to maintain good relationships with our neighbors.   Profit, $72.00

Casino Bus Trip:  Tom Massarelli is putting the final package together with Stagecoach Tours, for a casino bus trip, with approximate departure 1or 2pm, on January 8, 2011.  The cost will be $30.00, and in return you get $15.00 food voucher and $15.00 for gambling. Sign up at Nuchie’s has begun, with a deadline of December 1, 2010. You will not want to miss this FVA outing. It will be great fun!

Central Square, Brick Sales, phase #3: Please, consider a memorial tribute or a commemorative event for your brick in Forestville.   The cost is $75.00  to be forever etched in the village.

November Turkey Shoot 2010:  This year, the winner of each target will receive a $15.00 gift card to Gnazzo’s in Plainville.  The target has 25 spaces, selling for $1.00 each space, an easy sell! Please, take a target, sell the spaces for $1.00 each, or buy the entire target yourself (as some members do) and be an automatic winner. Think about it; target included in newsletter for you convenience.  Marsha Lockhart mmtldml@sbcglobal.net or 860-582-6245 is your contact.  The deadline for this fall season fundraiser is the November 17^th meeting, when darts are shot at the target. Targets must be returned by the November 17^th meeting.

The 2010 Christmas Ornament with the past and present fire house on it is 7th in our series; believe it? Wow, Forestville!   They should be available after Columbus Day and will sell for $10.00 each. The previous 6 ornaments are always available at Nuchie’s. Collectors welcome.

Get into the fall spirit and be involved in Forestville Village Association.  It will provide a sense of community, accomplishment and you will have some fun along the way.  Be a productive citizen.

All are welcome!

Quinlan Veterans Park: Our very aggressive plan for Quinlan Park is pretty much, ready to roll.  Being an expensive project, we need a capital campaign.  Dave suggested placing a thermometer in the park, for all to see the fundraising progress.  It will serve as a starting point for park fundraising and bring the public awareness, to get this project going.

Betty Boukus suggested FVA sending her the plan, with a letter, to see if there is State Funds and/or grants available to help fund the Quinlan project.

Correspondence report with Maryellen Holden:

·         Received a thank you from United Way Agency for participating in “Adopt a Child”, a back to school supply program.  Over 500 students were adopted, saying a lot for the Bristol Community.

·         Received a thank you from Kate Matthews for the flowers and support she received for her Mom’s passing. Mary Ann Lupa will be missed.

·         Congratulations to Mary Rydingsward, for recent election to Democratic Registrar of Voters.

·         Tom Dickau mentioned recognition of FVA member John Lasnier, Historical Society WWII liaison, for his service to his country and the community of Bristol. 

New Business:

·         Terry Parker brought up an interesting question. Will the name of the new middle school remain Greene - Hills?    Tom thinks it should due to the fact it was named after Forestville teachers, Miss Green and Miss Hill.  Maryellen will address the question to the Board of ED. 

·         Questions were raised on the status of the Forestville Little League. Maryellen stated, the City and the Board of Education are helping the league with their field situation.

·         Former Mayer, Bill Stortz, suggested each member email five friends to notify them of FVA events as they approach. Great idea! Please keep this in mind.

·         Support the Bristol Carousel Museum by purchasing a Fat Boy Raffle ticket for $20.00.

·         The Forestville Carol Sing has been scheduled for Monday, December 13^th

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                           ****Join us in “The Village” to continue this local fall tradition****

*The Bristol Pumpkin Festival 2010 * Saturday, October 16^th *Central Square Forestville* 5-7:30PM

      Games, activities, costume parades, pet parade, scarecrow contest, pumpkin lighting and more!

·           Illumination begins at dusk

·         Pumpkin drop off 2:30 - 4:30 pm…….. Judging to be held after lighting

·         Costume Parade Assembly beginning at 5:00 pm at Forestville’s Manross Library

·         Pet Parade Assembly behind Sharon’s K9 Barkery

           All Events are FREE and open to the public through the generosity of The Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce, The Kiwanis Club of Bristol, TD Bank, The Friends of the Bristol Public Library and the Bristol Auto Club.

 *Scarecrow contest*- 1st prize $50 - 2^nd prize 25.00 - 3^rd prize $25.00 - Judging 5pm at Pumpkin Festival*

·         Scarecrows must be mounted on single stake no more than 8 ft. high and placed in designated area

·         Dropped off by 3pm and removed from Central Square by Nov.3

·         Participant card with name and phone number folded, in plastic bag hidden on scarecrow

·         For more information or to register your scarecrow contact, Joan Trafford 860-589-0624

 PLEASE BRING A NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEM

                                                                                FOR

                                                             “Halloween against Hunger”

Thank you Nuchie’s for the appetizers and Marsha for the baked goods; meeting attendees always enjoy a treat.            

                            Next FVA Meeting will be held Oct 13, 2010 at Nuchie’s