Loving Kindness Bowling Fundraiser, Sept. 12, to Benefit Alzheimer’s

Bill and Pat Lynch of Plantsville PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL LYNCH

A Plantsville resident whose loved one has Alzheimer’s disease is planning the fourth annual Loving Kindness Bowling Fundraiser for Saturday, Sept. 12, 1 to 3 p.m. The event will be held at the Apple Valley Bowling Center located at 1304 S. Main St. Tickets are $30 per person and include two hours of bowling and shoes. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease is the nation’s largest under-recognized public health crisis. More than 80,000 people in Connecticut are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, a number projected to increase dramatically in the coming years.

Bill Lynch, event organizer, said the community has been very generous in supporting the event in past years and he hopes to raise more than $10,000. People can already get involved by sponsoring, bowling, donating auction or raffle items, or volunteering. Teams and individuals are welcome. People can register at the door. To make a direct donation, they can go to the website https://act.alz.org/ and search “Loving Kindness.”

For more information or to provide bowlers’ names, contact Lynch at 860-877-4248 or email Wlynch1969@sbcglobal.net.

SHS Student Named 2026 Best Buddies in Connecticut Champion Candidate

SHS Senior Desmond Conway PHOTO COURTESY COLLEEN CONWAY

[Press Release] Southington High School senior Desmond Conway has been named one of eight candidates for the 2026 Best Buddies in Connecticut Champion of the Year, a fundraising campaign recognizing individuals who champion inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Conway, the only 2026 Champion Candidate from Central Connecticut, has served as Buddy Director of the Southington High School Best Buddies chapter since 2024. Throughout the campaign, he will raise funds and awareness in support of Best Buddies programs while sharing a message of friendship, leadership, acceptance and opportunity.

“Desmond embodies the Best Buddies mission through his commitment to inclusion, friendship, and creating a welcoming community for everyone,” said Lezlye Zupkus, State Director of Best Buddies in Connecticut. “As the Buddy Director of the Southington High School Best Buddies chapter, Desmond is a positive role model whose kindness, enthusiasm, and dedication inspire those around him, making him truly deserving of being nominated as a Champion of the Year.”

Conway entered the Southington Public Schools system in 2012 through the Preschool Integrated Program and has benefited from the district’s special education services, programming and support for 14 years. With the guidance of educators and therapists throughout the district, he has grown into a confident young adult, student leader and advocate for people with disabilities.

Since joining Best Buddies in 2023, Conway has embraced the organization’s mission both at school and throughout Connecticut. In addition to his leadership role with the Southington High School chapter, he has participated in the Best Buddies Transition Academy, Friendship Ball and Friendship Walk.

“Best Buddies has made a difference for me because I’ve learned that individuals with IDD don’t have to feel alone,” said Conway. “They can enjoy the same things as everyone else including friendships, jobs and activities.”

As a Champion Candidate, Conway hopes to use his experience as a person with IDD to encourage others to create schools, workplaces and communities where people of all abilities are welcomed, valued and given opportunities to lead.

Champion of the Year extends far beyond Connecticut. The annual campaign is part of a worldwide Best Buddies effort, with more than 50 Champion campaigns taking place across 35 states, along with an international virtual event. Together, candidates, supporters and communities raise awareness and funds to advance the Best Buddies mission around the world.

Local Fundraiser to Support Team Desmond

As part of his Champion of the Year campaign, Conway will host a fundraiser at Jersey Mike’s, 812 Queen Street in Southington, on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m.

During the fundraiser, 20% of participating supporters’ sales will be donated to the Team Desmond campaign. Conway will be on site to meet supporters, share the mission of Best Buddies and offer prints of his original culinary illustrations for purchase.

The campaign is also seeking support through sponsorships, Champion of the Year celebration tickets and journal advertisements, and silent auction donations.

The campaign will culminate at the 2026 Best Buddies in Connecticut Champion of the Year celebration on Friday, October 2, at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, where the candidates’ collective impact will be recognized.

To support Team Desmond or learn more about the campaign, visit:

https://www.bestbuddieschampion.org/connecticut/supporting/#TeamDesmond

For sponsorship, fundraising or campaign inquiries, contact Team Desmond Campaign Manager Colleen Berry Conway at GoTeamDesmond@gmail.com.

About Best Buddies

Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living and family support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Best Buddies in Connecticut was established in 1990.

Jewish Congregation to Host Summer Picnic

IMAGE COURTESY OF GSJC

[Press Release] Gishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation will host its annual community-wide summer picnic on Sunday, August 30th at Rec Park in Plantsville from noon until 3 p.m.. This social event is an opportunity for individuals and families interested in learning more about the congregation to meet members in a relaxed setting and learn more about the community.

Gishrei Shalom holds services in the chapel of the First Congregational Church of Southington, on the Town Green. The congregation’s Rabbi, Alana Wasserman, leads services and study groups, oversees b’nai mitzvah preparation, officiates life cycle events and represents the congregation in interfaith programming.

Although small, the congregation has taken on large responsibilities including becoming guardians and restorers of a saved Holocaust Torah which dates from the seventeenth century. The congregation was founded in 1984 and is affiliated with the Union of Reform Judaism. 

Please RSVP to events@gsjc.org regarding picnic attendance. To obtain general information about the congregation, visit their website at www.gsjc.org or their Facebook page at Gishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation. You may also call (860) 276-9113. Service dates and times are listed on the website and Facebook page.