Warm the Children helps family with 10 kids

By Brenda Maguire Correspondent NEW BRITAIN— Frank Bradley has been a volunteer shopper for six years. He’s seen just about everything from a family bringing all of their seven children along for the trip to a father who didn’t know his children’s sizes. “I have done a few sixes and I did one seven,” BradleyContinue reading “Warm the Children helps family with 10 kids”

Transplanted pipe organ to undergo renovation

By Brenda Maguire CORRESPONDENT At a bygone time when New Britain residents were drawn to the mills for work, in 1926 to be specific, the Austin Pipe Organ Opus 1457 made the Strand Theater its home. The theater, on land downtown now occupied by Central Connecticut State University, adjacent to the police station under construction,Continue reading “Transplanted pipe organ to undergo renovation”

Honor students find helping others to be ‘a-peeling’

By Brenda Maguire CORRESPONDENT NEW BRITAIN — It may not have been the classroom setting to which they’re accustomed, but members of the National Junior Honor Society from Louis P. Slade Middle School and Roosevelt Middle School Tuesday morning were more than happy to take time out of their school day to experience volunteering atContinue reading “Honor students find helping others to be ‘a-peeling’”

Reporter finds every piece of clothing has a warming tale

By Brenda Maguire Correspondent NEW BRITAIN — Over the last 11 weeks, I have written a weekly story tracking the progress of the Warm the Children campaign. Last week, I had the pleasure of participating as a volunteer shopper. Ana Torres and I met at the Target on Hartford Road in New Britain to goContinue reading “Reporter finds every piece of clothing has a warming tale”

Literacy bags help moms, children interact and learn

By Brenda Maguire Correspondent NEW BRITAIN — The children were all smiles in the Cloud Room at the YWCA one day last week as they sat on their mothers’ laps playing with new toys and looking over books. The toys and books were part of the 15 literacy bags that the Junior League of GreaterContinue reading “Literacy bags help moms, children interact and learn”

New Britain’s HALS Academy a ‘success story school’

By Brenda Maguire Correspondent NEW BRITAIN — A middle school in the city, HALS Academy, is one of 24 public schools being honored by a state education advocacy group. HALS Academy, or House of Arts, Letters and Science Academy, on Pendleton Road in New Britain was named one of this year’s “success story schools.” “ToContinue reading “New Britain’s HALS Academy a ‘success story school’”

Volunteer shoppers happy to be part of Warm the Children

By Brenda Maguire Correspondent NEW BRITAIN— A few years ago Evelyn Lopez found herself shopping in Walmart with seven children for their winter clothing. She went through the clothing racks finding the perfect winter clothing for each child. “They were so happy,” she recalled. That was just one of many memories Lopez has from herContinue reading “Volunteer shoppers happy to be part of Warm the Children”

Amato’s seeks to brighten holidays for needy kids

By Brenda Maguire Correspondent NEW BRITAIN — This holiday season Amato’s Toy & Hobby isn’t just concerned with selling trains and model planes, but also to donate toys to low-income children with help from customers. “I figure you can’t blame a child. No matter where they are in their lives, it’s not their fault,” saidContinue reading “Amato’s seeks to brighten holidays for needy kids”