The City Council voted Tuesday to name the new street running through Centre Square “Hope Street.”
The name received the most votes in a survey that began in summer and ended in October. People were able to vote on BristolAllHeart.com, a paper ballot during the Mum Festival or mailing in the ballot published in local newspapers. The hundreds of submitted names were narrowed down to 10 finalists in September. Finalist names included:
Veterans Crossing, All Heart Crossing, Artery Drive, Community Crossing, Courage Court, Nightingale Crossing, Trolley Crossing, Volunteer Crossing and Wellness Way.
“Hope conveys a positive message for those who may be patients of Bristol Hospital’s ambulatory care center, our new anchor facility,” said Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu. “It is also an acknowledgement of the City turning the page on a troubled past of urban renewal, demolition and failed revitalization attempts.”
Kurt Barwis, president and CEO of Bristol Hospital, defined hope as “a feeling of expectation and a desire for a certain thing to happen.”
“There is no better way to describe the collaboration and planning that went into the Centre Square project and Ambulatory Care Center,” he said. “Hope Street will serve as a major artery into the heart of downtown Bristol.”
The nonprofit spotlight this meeting was United Way of West Central Connecticut. President Donna Osuch, in addition to providing an overview of The United Way and its local efforts, discussed the “stock our shelters” food drive that was held on Election Day, which will help St. Vincent DePaul open an overflow shelter. $5,000 was raised during the event and only $3,697 was needed for the shelter. The remaining roughly $1,300 in donations will be divided evenly among The Salvation Army, The Agape House, Brian’s Angels and Meals for the Needy at Zion Church.
Zoppo-Sassu thanked all those groups who volunteered during the collection, which included several Girl Scout troops as well as volunteers from the West Bristol and South Side School Parent-Teacher organizations.
“This is a great public-private partnership that cost the public zero dollars,” Zoppo-Sassu said.
The mayor also read a proclamation celebrating resident Paul D’Aprile’s 85th Birthday. D’Aprille, Zoppo-Sassu said, has been a “community activist” for years concerning prior flooding issues in the Frederick Street neighborhood. He has also served on the Inland Wetlands Commission and regularly attends many city meetings. He also volunteers his time winding clocks at The American Clock and Watch Museum.
“I wish everyone was as involved and as concerned about their community as Mr. D’Aprille,” said Zoppo-Sassu.
D’Aprille declined to comment but smiled as he received the recognition.
The council accepted the retirement of public works director Walt Veselka and parks director Brian Wilson. Searches are being conducted to find their replacements.
Wilson, who is going on to become a state employed forest ranger, thanked city officials and residents and said that there are “a lot of good things” in Bristol.
“This is the kind of opportunity that comes once in a lifetime and I took it, but not without regrets for leaving here after 18 months,” he said.
Veselka thanked the employees of the Public Works Department for “working hard over the past 15 years.”
Zoppo-Sassu thanked him for the detail and diligence he put into his job. Councilor Dave Mills said Veselka was “a true professional and always attentive.”
Several appointments and re-appointments were also made.
Greg Hahn was appointed acting mayor, replacing David Preleski.
Therese Pac was re-appointed as city clerk.
Diane Ashworth was appointed as citizen representative to The Mayor’s Task Force on HIV/AIDS.
Tom Mazzarella replaced Linda Casey on the Board of Ethics and Kenneth Zetarski, Byron Pierce and Roger Chiasson II were re-appointed.
Bob Montgomery was re-appointed City Historian.
Ronetta Stokes replaced resigning Lisa D’Amato on the School Readiness Council and Jennifer St. John was appointed parent representative.
The South Side School HVAC Upgrades Building Committee saw Karen Vibert and John Smith appointed.
John Smith and Karen Hints were appointed to the Stafford School Roof Replacement Committee.