The wide world of local spring sports

The first week of official practice has begun.

Junior volleyball player Vicente Ithier practices spiking the ball, as Newington High School spring sports practices have begun.

Sophmore tennis player Bianka Horvath practices with the team, as Newington High School spring sports practices have begun.

Senior Newington tennis player Ruth Donaghey practices during with the team, as Newington High School spring sports practices have begun.

Senior Spencer Parker warms up during volleyball practice in the Newington High School Gym.

Junior Laila Mehar practices during passing drills with girls lacrosse, as Newington High School spring sports practices have begun.

Senior John Tancredi makes a save during the first week of Newington lacrosse practice.

Junior third basemen Brendan Lynch runs shuttle drills during Wethersfield baseball tryouts. (3/24/09)

Senior Nate Miller serves the ball during Wethersfield boys volleyball practice. (3/24/09)

Sophmore pitcher Shannon Martin practices during the Wethersfield girls softball practice. (3/24/09)

Senior tennis captain Ryan Ruonavaara practices with the team during the first week of Rocky Hill spring sports practice. (3/25/09)

Junior Rocky Hill softball pitcher Rachel Ricci practices with the team during the first week of Rocky Hill spring sports practice. (3/25/09)

Junior Rocky Hill player Shauna Sullivan at bat with the softball team during the first week of Rocky Hill spring sports practice. (3/25/09)

Millie Rossi, 86, of Rocky Hill plays during "senior bowl" at the Bowl-O-Rama on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington. The group plays every Wednesday from 1 - 3 p.m. The cost is %5.50 per person price includes shoes and coffee. (3/25/09)

Rocky Hill seniors bowl at the Bowl-O-Rama on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington every Wednesday from 1 - 3 p.m. The cost is %5.50 per person price includes shoes and coffee. (3/25/09)

Terry LaDuke bowls during the Rocky Hill "seniors bowl" at the Bowl-O-Rama on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington. The group plays every Wednesday from 1 - 3 p.m. The cost is %5.50 per person price includes shoes and coffee. (3/25/09)

It’s a bird, it’s a plane…

It’s a flying high school musical!

The cast performs during dress rehearsal for Newington High School's production of "Superman" in the school's auditorium. The play opens Thursday night, March 26th, and runs again Friday night, along with both a Saturday matinee and Saturday night show. (3/22/09)

John Fitts
Staff Writer – The Herald 

Everyone knows Superman can fly and at Newington High School this weekend, he will.

Newington High School’s production of “Superman” this weekend will include scenes utilizing specially designed harnesses and other equipment; the two students who play the lead role will take flight several times during the production.

“The flying is amazing,” said Junior Rob Esposito, one of the two actors who play Superman. He has been in other productions but this is his first lead role and first chance to fly.

Julie Jarvis sings as Lois Lane during dress rehearsal for Newington High School's production of "Superman" in the school's auditorium. The play opens Thursday night, March 26th, and runs again Friday night, along with both a Saturday matinee and Saturday night show. (3/22/09)

Eric Casey plays the part of Dr. Sedgewick, during dress rehearsal for Newington High School's production of "Superman" in the school's auditorium. The play opens Thursday night, March 26th, and runs again Friday night, along with both a Saturday matinee and Saturday night show. (3/22/09)

Brett Bainer and Julie Jarvis, play the parts of Max Mencken and Lois Lane, during dress rehearsal for Newington High School's production of "Superman" in the school's auditorium. The play opens Thursday night, March 26th, and runs again Friday night, along with both a Saturday matinee and Saturday night show. (3/22/09)

Robert Esposito takes to the air as Superman, during dress rehearsal for Newington High School's production of "Superman" in the school's auditorium. The play opens Thursday night, March 26th, and runs again Friday night, along with both a Saturday matinee and Saturday night show. (3/22/09)

Newington honors officer, remembers friend

The Ciara McDermott Basketball Classic Continues.

Players stand for The National Anthem, at the fourth annual Ciara McDermott Basketball Classic at Newington High School.

By JOHN FITTS
Staff Writer – The Herald

March 20 marked the fourth annual Ciara McDermott Basketball Classic. The event involves a round-robin basketball tournament with three teams — the Newington Police Officers, Newington High School Seniors and Newington High School faculty and staff….

The seniors who took to the court as part of the Ciara McDermott Basketball Classic are perhaps the last at Newington High School to share a direct connection with the late school resource officer.(more)

Ken O'Brien takes the tip-off for the Newington Police Department, during the fourth annual Ciara McDermott Basketball Classic at Newington High School.

Newington High School Senior Taylor Simmons goes up for a shot against gym teacher Steve Bennett.

Peter McDermott, father of the late Ciara McDermott, watches the fourth annual Ciara McDermott Basketball Classic at Newington High School. Officer McDermott served on the Newington Police force for over seven years, including being Newington High's first school resource officer. The tournament serves as an annual fundraiser for The Ciara McDermott Scholarship, an award created shortly after her death, as both a way of honoring her memory, and outstanding college bound Newington students who've overcome hardship.

The Newington High School seniors make a grand entrance for their second game against the faculty.

Newington High School gym teacher Steve Bennett, takes a break between games with wife Kim and 9 month old Gavin, at the fourth annual Ciara McDermott Basketball Classic at Newington High School.

Three of the four members of Four Guys in a Dumpster, left to right, Newington High students, Aaron Carta, Dan Collin, and Matt Belliveau(lead singer Connor Hamil was off camera) perform at the fourth annual Ciara McDermott Basketball Classic at Newington High School.

Newington’s Senior Night

Basketball players, cheerleaders, and one super fan recognized before a Newington win over Bulkelely, 60-41 at home.

Shane Leupold with his family and coach on Senior Night at Newington. (2/24/09)

Jon Riddkick with his mom and coach on Senior Night at Newington. (2/24/09)

Phil Smith with his mother and coach on Senior Night at Newington. (2/24/09)

Newington's Nick Lebron makes a layup during the game against Bulkeley at home. Newington defeated Bulkeley 60-41. (2/24/09)

Newington's Jimmy Hepple drives through Bulkeley defenders in the 60-41 win at home. (2/24/09)

Basketball players and cheerleaders gather on their senior night to recognize Loyd Cassista of Newington as their #1 fan. Cassista has been an avid fan for the last 13 years and rarely misses a game. (2/24/09)

Newington cheerleading stand outs, Abbey Hemmann, all state, Kayla Bomely, all state, Kelsey Beecher, all state, Cara Perillo, all state, Capt. Nicole Scalise, academic all state, and Suzanne May, all conference. The squad will be heading down to the state championship on March 14th in New Haven. (2/24/09)

Charter change defeated

Local politics play out. 

Jerilyn and David Nagel, a Newington town council member, advocating for voting "yes", and Jim Wells, an employee for the town of Newington, in favor of voting "no" on the Charter revision vote at one of the polling locations in Newington, the Mortensen Community Center on Garfield Street. (2/24/09)

By JOHN FITTS
Staff Writer – The Herald

NEWINGTON — After a long, sometimes contentious process, a proposed charter revision was apparently defeated Tuesday.

The numbers were unofficial at press time, but reports to Democratic and Republican headquarters came up with the same numbers — 2,849 people voting for the charter change and 2,898 against it.

The numbers represent a 30 percent turnout of the town’s 19,187 registered voters.(more)

Newington citizens on their way to vote on the Charter revision referendum at one of the polling locations in Newington at the Mortensen Community Center on Garfield Street. (2/24/09)

Ballot clerks, Margaret Pelletier and John DiBattista, at the Mortensen Community Center in Newington. The two were assisting voters during the Charter revision referendum vote on Tuesday. (2/24/09)

Anne Marquardt of Newington exits the voting booth at the Mortensen Community Center on Garfield Street. Marquardt was casting her ballot on the Charter revision referendum. (2/24/09)

The sign stating the perimeter a citizen is allowed to solicit during town voting and the white chalk line illustrating that perimeter, during the Charter revision vote at one of the polling locations in Newington at the Mortensen Community Center on Garfield Street. (2/24/09)