Plans to Complete Canal Trail Come into Focus

The current end of the Canal Trail at Aircraft Road, looking south. PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTO

About a year ago, Southington finished work on a 1.27 mile section of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail that runs from Lazy Lane north to Aircraft Road. Bicyclists and pedestrians can now travel past I-84 as far the rusting remains of the old Pratt & Whitney complex. With the completion of that segment, another missing piece has been added to a trail project that, once finished, will run all the way from the New Haven shoreline to central Massachusetts.

But Southington’s task is not yet done. The stretch of trail running from Aircraft Road to the Southington-Plainville border on Townline Road is still missing. State funds are in place to cover the costs of the trail improvements, but it is up to the town to finalize a plan for the route and make sure all the stakeholders are on board so that work can begin.

It has been a long and often frustrating process. In recent years, Town Council Chair Paul Chaplinsky has been helping to lead the effort. On a call with the Outsider, he recounted the recent history of the effort, described the problems with the first two routes that were considered, and sketched out a third route that may turn out to be the one that gets implemented.

Plan A: Aircraft-West Queen–Redstone

“The original design that town staff came up with,” Chaplinsky said, “is to have the trail go west on Aircraft Road from its current endpoint. Aircraft Road dead ends on a pedestrian bridge. That bridge is currently barricaded, and not in service. It was going to cost a million dollars to replace it.”

“Another issue occurs after you take Aircraft Road to West Queen St, after that pedestrian bridge. To get across West Queen Street to Redstone Road on your way to Townline, you need to go east on West Queen. That’s a safety challenge."

"The Public Works subcommittee that was taking a look at it had concerns there. West Queen is a racetrack. It’s got two lanes going westbound and cars that are accelerating. It’s common to see cars doing 50mph plus. The question is, how do you get pedestrians safely across three lanes of traffic? Remember that some of them are with dogs, some with little kids learning how to ride a bike.”

Plan B: Working on the Railroad

“So we paused and asked, why is it that we’re going down Aircraft Road? Why not just continue along the train track, which is not in use, towards Townline Road? All we would need is access to Birch Street.”

Plan B: extending the current trail along the old rails (red) and Birch Street (blue). IMAGE COURTESY OF PAUL CHAPLINSKY

“We started to talk to the rail company, but they were going through an acquisition. So we paused and said, let’s wait for this acquisition to go through, to see if the new stakeholders would be willing to talk to us.” The new company was Gennesse and Wyoming Rail Services.

“We waited six, eight, nine months," Chaplinsky continued. "We finally got to the leadership of the new organization and they said, ‘we’ll take a look at this, but no guarantees’. Finally, after 18 months and numerous calls, they brought this to their real estate committee. That is a joint committee belonging to the new organization and the old organization which still had some legal tentacles in the new one.”

“They came back to us and said, ‘we never know if we’re going to use that segment of the trail. There’s a growing need for commuter rails. Maybe someday this will be a commuter rail’.”

Chaplinsky paused to let what he saw as the mild absurdity of the idea sink in. “We pushed back and said, ‘you know, guys, it’s a quarter-mile long. It’s already defunct, it’s not being used, and the rails are paved over.”

“But they held firm and said we’re not going to give it up. We asked if they would donate it to us, if they would give us a lease, if we could purchase the property outright. They were not interested in anybody using the rail that would change its current state.”

“In a nutshell, that’s where we are. We weren’t in a rush because the Plainville side was also delayed. Some tenants up there are suing about the property takings. We said, let’s do this right.”

Plan C: Newell-West Queen–Redstone

“At that point we started thinking again about options. We regrouped with the DOT, with the Public Works team, and town staff in Engineering and asked ourselves some questions.”

“Should we go back to the original plan – and if so, how do we work on that intersection of Aircraft Road and West Queen and Redstone to make it safer? Or – and this is what we’re working on now – should we take the trail from where it now ends and go north on Newell Street, then, at the intersection with West Queen, go west on West Queen?”

“There is a potential crossing at that 4-way stop [of Newell and West Queen]. We could close the right hand lane of West Queen from the intersection at Newell all the way to Redstone. We would put some barriers up, maybe some landscaping, and at Redstone it would pick up northward again.”

Plan C: the trail goes one block on Newell before turning west on West Queen and occupying one of its three lanes. IMAGE COURTESY OF PAUL CHAPLINSKY

Plan C: the entire Southington route (red). GOOGLE MAPS SCREENSHOT

“We have to talk to Yarde Metals and A. Duie Pyle that have properties along this route. We are also waiting from feedback from the DOT and our town engineering. Those [plans A and C] would be the two options that would go from town staff to the Public Works subcommittee, and then to Town Council. That’s where we are now.”

Local Benefits

The question, why put all this effort into building the trail, can be answered simply by visiting the trail on a nice day and watching all the walkers, joggers, bicyclists, stroller-pushing parents, and enthusiastic dogs parade by. The trail encourages recreation and a bit of community spirit as people share the public amenity.

Beyond the benefits to the public from recreation, the trail has been good for nearby businesses. Josh Norris at Kinsmen Brewery said the foot traffic helps keep his taproom busy. “At another brewery where I worked, there was no foot traffic. People came on planned visits in their cars and left that way. Here there are people from the trail who come in all the time.”

Justin Dawley, the owner of Vue Brewing Company on Lazy Lane, seconds that. He estimates that since he opened last summer, up to the 30% of his business has come from trail users curious about his low-gluten beer selection.

“The trail is still in its infancy,” Chaplinsky observed, “especially when you think in terms of development along it. I think you’re going to see more places pop up along it as time goes by.”

Bicyclists are an especially enthusiastic group of trail users, since the path is one of the few places in the region where they can travel long distances with minimal interference from cars. Norm Berg, an avid cyclist who belongs to the leadership team of the Farmington Canal Rail-to-Trail Association, notes that downtown Southington and Plantsville could attract many more two-wheeled visitors simply by putting out a few bike racks.

Berg has also asked the town to consider having a bike lane painted on the south side of Center Street and cut back the curb on the southeast corner of the Center Street and Liberty Street intersection. That small change, he believes, would pull more visitors into the downtown area around the green - and do so without adding to the current parking congestion.

Problems in Plainville

For the trail to run the length of Connecticut, Southington will certainly have to do its part. Plainville, however, has an even bigger job to do to fill a three-mile gap:

Map of New Haven & Northampton Canal Greenway showing Southington-Plainville gap. SCREENSHOT OF NORTHEAST GREENWAY SOLUTIONS REPORT

Work to fill this gap should be starting soon. The course of the trail through Plainville has been divided into three parts. The southernmost part extends from Townline Road to Norton Park, roughly following the old Farmington Canal through wooded areas. Construction equipment is already in place for this phase of the project, and work should begin once weather and staffing permit. This particular section of the trail is expected to open in the fall of 2027.

The route for the northernmost part of the trail in Plainville has also been decided on. This will extend from Northwest Drive to Route 72 and connect to the existing trail near Farmington. Bids for the project will be taken this summer and work is expected to be complete by 2028.

The central portion of the trail will take the longest time to complete, since no route has been decided on yet. Three different options are on the table for bringing the trail from Norton Park to Route 72. Planners have to navigate wetlands and a dense residential area near the intersection of Broad Street and Route 177. A group of homeowners who do not want the trail passing in front of their houses recently won the support of State Representative Rebecca Martinez in opposing one of the routes. Final plans are not expected until the middle of 2028, which means completion of the entire Connecticut trail project is unlikely before 2030.

PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTO

LiveWell Opens World-Class Brain Health Clinic

A chart showing dementia risk factors than can be controlled. PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTOS

The experience of aging motivates many people to pay closer attention to their body's health. Some lift weights to keep their muscles toned, while others take up jogging or join a dance class to work on their cardio. But what would a work out program designed specifically for the brain look like? One answer can be found at a facility in Southington – the first in the country to offer a program of this kind.

On January 29, over a hundred people gathered at the LiveWell main building on 1261 South Main Street to celebrate the launch of the Brain Health and Dementia Prevention Clinic. The clinic’s approach is based on research conducted by experts in Finland who were trying to identify interventions that could benefit elderly individuals with an increased risk of dementia.

The approach's name, FINGER, is a contraction of FIN-nish and GER-iatric. But the term also refers to the program’s five ‘fingers’ or areas of focus: diet, exercise, cognitive training, social activity, and cardiovascular health. After two years, participants in the Finnish program experienced dramatic benefits in memory, motor skills, executive function, and general quality of life when compared to a control group.

The clinic in Southington is the fruit of a collaboration between LiveWell and the Yale School of Nursing. It is underwritten by a grant from the Bradley Henry Barnes and Leila Upson Barnes Trust, which is managed by the Main Street Community Foundation. Heid Gil, LiveWell's Strategy Officer, says that the funding will make it possible for people to access the clinic for free. She also noted that this is pilot program where research is being applied for the first time: "We are working to develop an implementation model here, because up to now it’s only been a research study. Now we are transferring this into a practice.”

One of the clinic leaders is Jenn Terray, RN Health Coach of LiveWell. She described how the process works once an initial visit is scheduled:

“You come in and there is a vetting process, then you learn about your precise risks from an APRN." (The APRN in question is Craig Manbauman from the Yale School of Nursing.) “They do a series of screening tools to identify your risk. It takes about 90 minutes; I tell people to budget two hours just to be safe.”

The room where the consultation takes place is a comfortable space, more lounge than examination office:

“After that," she continued, "you take that very precise information [from the interview] and connect it to something specific to do. You might identify some things that you are already doing well, and then you make a small list of opportunities - areas where you can improve.”

“To be eligible you don’t need much. It’s a free clinic opportunity for anyone who wants to come in. It’s for you if you’re interested in your brain health and you want to know what your risks are, if you are working already with a primary care physician, and if you can consent to say this is something you want to do.”

“The follow up is that you get a phone call from the APRN at 14 days, 1 month, and 2 months, and you come back in to do a little bit more measuring, so you can see over time what has changed."

“You are also invited to have a coaching conversation with me to help you focus on the immediate steps you can take – some at LiveWall, or at your own gym, or at home.”

LiveWell COO Maley Hunt stressed that the primary aim of the program is not to diagnose dementia. Rather, she said, “It is about assessing people’s risk for dementia, and identifying what the risk factors are that you can do something about.”

Some of the biggest modifiable risk factors for dementia are high LDL cholesterol, social isolation, and, somewhat surprisingly, hearing loss - the loss of speech inputs seems to lead to a loss of cognitive ability. Thus, getting fitted for hearing aids can in some cases serve to stave off dementia. Here Terray gestures to a chart showing all the modifiable contributing factors:

The following press release from LiveWell gives more details on the launch event and the program:

LiveWell Press Release

Over 120 Gather to Mark Brain Health Day and Historic Launch of the Nation’s First Brain Health and Dementia Prevention Clinic, January 29, 2026

More than 120 community members, state and local leaders, researchers, clinicians, advocates, and individuals with lived experience gathered on January 29 at the LiveWell Resilient Living Center to celebrate Brain Health & Prevention Day in Connecticut and the official launch of the first Brain Health and Dementia Prevention Clinic in the United States, modeled on the globally recognized FINGER approach.

Hosted by LiveWell in partnership with the Yale School of Nursing and the Yale Center for Aging Well, the event marked a major milestone in Connecticut’s—and the nation’s—commitment to brain health, dementia prevention, and inclusive, community-driven models of care that span the lifespan.

The celebration included two formal proclamations declaring January 29 as Brain Health & Prevention Day, delivered by Southington Town Council Chair Paul Chaplinski and State Senator Robert Sampson, with recognition from State Representatives Jane Garibay and Mitch Bolinski, chairs of Connecticut’s Aging Services Committee.

Dr. Miia Kivipelto, LiveWell CEO Michael Smith, Town Council Chair Paul Chaplinsky, Betsy Mintz, and Christine Burnett CHRISTINE PETIT PHOTOS

Lived Experience at the Center

A defining highlight of the event was the powerful opening delivered by Empowering Partnerships Network (EPN) Ambassadors Betsy Mintz and Chris Burnett, whose stories grounded the science of prevention in lived experience, dignity, and hope.

Betsy Mintz, diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment at a young age and now a member of the LiveWell team, shared how learning about brain health and prevention transformed her understanding of what was possible after diagnosis.

“When I first learned about brain health and prevention, it changed how I saw my future,” Mintz shared. “Prevention gave me back a sense of agency, hope, and purpose—and it also gave my children and family tools to support brain health together.”

Chris Burnett, living with Alzheimer’s disease, reflected on how advances in prevention science, combined with lifestyle changes, social connection, and leadership opportunities, have allowed her to continue living a life filled with meaning and joy.

“Welcome to a new frontier,” Burnett told the audience. “Brain health must be a hopeful, everyday conversation, at every age.”

A Global Message of Hope, Local Action

Internationally renowned dementia researcher Dr. Miia Kivipelto, global leader of the FINGER model and a key contributor to the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, delivered a keynote centered on hope, action, and shared responsibility.

Dr. Kivipelto highlighted decades of research demonstrating that addressing modifiable risk factors—including cardiovascular health, physical activity, nutrition, cognitive stimulation, sleep, stress management, and social connection—can meaningfully reduce dementia risk and improve quality of life. She emphasized the significance of launching the first U.S. FINGER Clinic at LiveWell as a scalable, community-embedded model and invited participants to consider their personal and collective role in advancing brain health.

Dr. Kivipelto explaining dementia risk factors.

What to Expect from the Clinic Experience

The newly launched Brain Health and Dementia Prevention Clinic is guided by Craig Manbauman, APRN of Yale School of Nursing and Jenn Terray, RN Health Coach of LiveWell  and was co-designed with people with lived experience through two in-depth Appreciative Inquiry workshops.

Guided by those workshops, the Clinic experience emphasizes empowerment, education, and partnership—not diagnosis. Participants can expect:

• A welcoming APRN visit focused on understanding personal health history, strengths, goals, and modifiable “Hope” (risk) factors

• A coaching relationship that supports behavior change, motivation, and sustained engagement over time

• Respectful information-sharing, including how health data is gathered, discussed, and shared with primary care providers

• Clear, digestible next steps, including a personalized Brain Health Action Plan

• Options for tracking progress that feel meaningful and manageable

• Ongoing learning and community education, reinforcing that brain health is a lifelong journey supported by connection and purpose

  
  

This co-designed approach ensures the Clinic reflects what matters most to participants: dignity, clarity, motivation, and real-world applicability.

From Science to Experience: A Call to Action

Following the main program, guests moved throughout the Resilient Living Center to engage in 10 interactive Brain Health Experience Stations, bringing prevention science to life. Stations focused on vascular health, fitness, cognitive stimulation, creative arts, stress management and sleep, nutrition, purpose, peer connection, and the 14 modifiable risk factors identified by the Lancet Commission.

Each participant concluded their journey at the “Call to Action” station, where they reflected on what they learned and left with a personal commitment to support their own brain health—or that of their family and community.

The evening concluded with music, food, and conversation, reinforcing one of the event’s central messages: social connection is essential to brain health at every age.

For more information about LiveWell, Dementia Positive Southington, or the Brain Health and Dementia Prevention Clinic, visit www.livewell.org.

Jenn Terray (left)

Heidi Gil

LiveWell COO Maley Hunt (left)

On a Sub-Zero Morning, the High School Marching Band Makes Super Subs

Blue Knights Marching Band students and parents assemble subs early on Super Bowl morning. JENNIFER BLESSING MICELI PHOTO

Some parents set their alarms for 4:30am. Others ‘slept in’ until 6, roused their kids from bed, and, after bundling up against the brutal cold, made their way to the high school for the 6:45 start.

Once everyone was ready, the Blue Knights Marching Band’s annual Super Bowl sub-making marathon got underway.

This year, orders came in for a total of 2,418 subs. The most popular choice was the ham, salami, and cheese combo, followed by ham and cheese, then turkey and cheese. Each sandwich went for $10, with the net proceeds going to support various band activities.

Five sub-making assembly lines were set up in the cafeteria, each one manned by about fourteen students. As the subs moved down the table, some opened the rolls, while others added the meat or cheese. Once topped with lettuce, the final product was ready to be rolled up in its wrapper, labelled, and packed into a cooler for delivery.

While the kids assembled the grinders, parent volunteers near the cafeteria entrance removed the ingredients from their packaging and distributed them. Bethany Rosin was in charge of all the lettuce. How much did that amount to? “Each of these boxes was five pounds and there were five boxes, so about 25 pounds,” she estimated.

Bethany Rosin keeps the lettuce supply ready. PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTOS

By and large, things went without a hitch. Perhaps the main challenge was making sure the teenagers observed Health Department protocols for food preparation: workers had to keep their hair under wraps and wear gloves; anyone who was not properly protected had to stay out of the assembly area.

At one table, a group of band sophomores took a break after completing their task ahead of time. While the schedule anticipated that the work would be done by 10:30, they had finished around 9:30. “We had really good teamwork,” Lily Dauphinais observed. “Everyone was communicating well and we finished early.”

Left to right: Lily Dauphinais, Willa Chmura, Audrey Mulligan, Stella Landry, Finn O'Toole, Danika Tranter; Eric Chubet, Kacie Cyr, Miranda Ziolkowski.

The same sophomore crew working on their sandwiches.  JENNIFER BLESSING MICELI PHOTO

Band parent Robin McBride was in charge of running the event this year. “Our bread comes delivered from Bernadino’s in Massachusetts,” she said, “and our cold cuts and lettuce and cheese come from Tops Supermarket in town. My husband Steve rented the refrigerator truck, drove it over to Tops, and brought it back over here.”

“We missed a whole weekend of sales due to the weather, but we still had a phenomenal demand. We’re only down 20 subs from last year, despite losing a weekend.”

Asked why they got up before sunrise to lead this endeavor, she answered: “Our youngest daughter is in band now and our two oldest kids went through band. We were familiar with it and there were so many rookies that weren’t sure how it should go, so we stepped up – we knew the scoop.”

The final task was delivery. Parents loaded the packed coolers into their cars and drove from address to address, taking care not to miss a single order:

A packed container ready for delivery. PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTO

Once all the revenues and expenses are tallied up, the band expects to clear about $20,000, which will go into its general fund. That money will then be used to help offset the cost of uniforms and travel expenses for trips to Ohio and DC, where the band and color guard will participate in national competitions.