Savor Southington at the 25th Annual Taste of Southington!

[Press Release] Get ready to satisfy your taste buds at the 25th Annual Taste of Southington on August 5, 2026, from 4:00-7:00 PM at the beautiful Barnes Museum!

Taste of Southington is an annual food festival celebrating the vibrant culinary scene of

Southington, CT. Bringing together local restaurants, food trucks, and music, this event offers a memorable experience for attendees of all ages. Now in its 25th year, Taste of Southington continues to be a highlight of the summer season, showcasing the best of what the community has to offer.

Local Flavors & Toe-Tapping Tunes

Join us for an exceptional evening on the Barnes Museum grounds as we bring together several local restaurants and food trucks, showcasing their best creations to the food enthusiasts of Southington. Enjoy your food under a shady tent while listening to the Stanley Big Street Band as they keep the atmosphere lively with its fantastic musical entertainment from 5:00-7:00pm. Tours of the museum's first floor will be free, and Valentine the Clown will entertain the kiddos! The event boasts FREE admission onto the museum grounds.

Event Details:

·      Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2026

·      Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

·      Location: The Barnes Museum, 85 North Main Street, Southington, CT

·      Parking: Municipal lot at 1 Riccio Way, Southington (walk right onto the grounds from the lot).

OUR SINCERE THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS: Maximum Sound & Security, Rogers Orchards, Lovley Development, Art Rich Photography, Friends of the Barnes Museum, Realty 3 CT, Volpe Automotive & Sons, SPDI Superior Products Distributors, Hartford HealthCare, and Houzpital Property Damage Restoration.

Fun Continues Beyond 7 PM

The excitement doesn't stop there as the Taste of Southington wraps up at 7:00 PM! Please take a short stroll from the museum to the Southington town green for their weekly Music on the Green concert series, extending the festive atmosphere throughout the night.

Follow Us:

Website: www.thebarnesmuseum.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/barnesmuseum

Instagram: @thebarnesmuseum

Southington's Teacher of the Year Announced

Asst. Superintendent Frank Pepe, Julia Columbus, Derynoski Principal Sarah Williams, Superintendent Steven Madancy SOUTHINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS PHOTO

[Press Release] The Southington Public School District is proud to announce that Julia Columbus, a Kindergarten teacher at Derynoski Elementary School, has been chosen as the 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year. Chris Palmieri, Teacher of the Year Program Coordinator, stated “as always, it is difficult to select only one teacher of the year due to the outstanding teachers we have in Southington; however, Mrs. Columbus stood out especially because of the professional impact she makes with her colleagues and her dedication to her students.” Julia will be recognized at the 2026-2027 Staff Convocation as well as at a reception prior to a Board of Education meeting in September at the Municipal Center.

Mrs. Columbus has been teaching in Southington for the past seventeen years and has been in her current position at Derynoski for the past thirteen years. She previously taught for four years in second grade at Derynoski. She also taught for four years in other districts before being hired in Southington. Sarah Williams, Derynoski Principal stated “Julia Columbus represents the very best of our profession. She is masterful, compassionate, brilliant, humble, and deeply devoted to children.”

Mrs. Columbus received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Elementary Education in 2003 from Sacred Heart University. She then earned her master’s degree in Elementary Education in 2004 from Sacred Heart University. Most recently, she completed her 6th year degree in Advanced Studies of Literacy in 2025 also from Sacred Heart University. As a result, she earned the designation as a remedial reading and Language Arts specialist and has an Advanced Dyslexia Graduate Certificate.

Julia readily volunteers for committees and activities. She served on the MTSS School Literacy Leadership Team as the teacher representative, is a TEAM trained mentor teacher, and serves on the District Literacy Leadership Team. In addition, she serves on the SRBI team and School Improvement Team at Derynoski Elementary School. Julia is a strong advocate for high-quality literacy instruction, consistently promoting evidence-based practices that foster a love of reading while helping every student develop the skills needed to become successful, lifelong learners.

Mrs. Columbus describes her educational philosophy as being a “lifelong learner who seeks opportunities to strengthen instructional practice through collaboration, professional development, and self reflection.” As a mentor herself, she values supporting colleagues because she believes teaching is a continuous process of learning and improvement.

Mrs. Columbus resides in Southington with her husband and children.

Barnes Museum Receives Grant for Conservatory Preservation

The facade of the Barnes Museum conservatory. PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTO

PRESS RELEASE - The Barnes Museum is pleased to announce it has received a $6,000 grant from the KAWFY Memorial Fund at Main Street Community Foundation to support the restoration and preservation of historic exterior wood elements adjacent to the museum’s conservatory.

The project will address deterioration affecting the conservatory windows and surrounding exterior woodwork, helping to protect one of the museum’s most significant spaces. The conservatory houses the Barnes family’s historic collection of early American pressed glass goblets, an important artifact collection that reflects the family’s legacy and the region’s history.

“We are so grateful to the Main Street Community Foundation for its support of this project to preserve the Goblet Room,” said Christina Volpe, curator of the Barnes Museum. "The conservatory is home to a remarkable collection of early American pressed glass goblets, and maintaining the room's structure is so important in protecting this large collection and will ensure visitors can continue to enjoy them for generations to come.”

The Barnes Museum, operated by the Town of Southington, preserves and interprets the history of the Barnes family and the community through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs. The Barnes Museum, located at 85 North Main St. in Southington, is open to the public 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and by appointment.

For more information about the Barnes Museum, visit the Barnes Museum website at https://www.thebarnesmuseum.org/ or contact the museum at (860) 628-5426.