Springtime In Southington: A View From The Air

John McDonald, the founder of CT Photo Pro and a sponsor of the Southington Outsider, took advantage of the nice spring weather last Sunday, April 26, to shoot some drone footage of Southington. The movie he put together features panoramic views of the downtown area, Southington High School, and Panthorn Park. For the best viewing experience, watch this video on a laptop or desktop - the resolution is high enough that you can make out a pickleball as its being served on the Panthorn Park pickleball courts.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/abd89a_2fd752faea6548e6a8a2421179bd0773/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Youth Fishing League Kicks Off At Sloper

Landon hauls in a sunfish at the Youth Fishing League's first derby. PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTOS

“Hey, look at that!” shouted Jeff Barton, founder of Southington’s new Youth Fishing League. Where he pointed, a young child, half as tall as his pole, was reeling in an orange-bellied sunfish from the waters of Sloper Pond. “Someone knows how to fish over there,” he said.

A strong wind blew puffy clouds overhead Sunday morning as dozens of children with parents in tow stood patiently on the shores of Sloper waiting for the tell-tale tug on their lines. Barton beamed with satisfaction at the turnout for the League’s first event, a fishing derby. He was a child himself when he first learned the sport. “My father taught me,” he said. “We used to go deep sea fishing to catch bigger fish.”

Jeff Barton at Sloper Pond

The idea for a youth league came to him after he spent a day casting lures with players from the Blue Knights Football team, which he helps coach. “I’m a football coach,” Barton said. “I brought the players out to go fish, and seeing the fun that they had, I said we’ve got to figure this out.”

The derby was designed to add an element of fun and competition to the mix: “Today we’re doing prizes for biggest catch, most catches, and winner of the casting competition. Mt. Southington and other businesses donated prizes, and we’re going to package them up. There’s about $200 value in all the prizes.”

Jordan shows off his catch.

YFL volunteers man the tent

While the event had a $35 registration fee, the fee was waived for the first 75 kids to sign up thanks to a generous donation from the family of the late Jhonatan Jiron of Bristol.

Now that the first derby is in the books, Barton is planning to hold them on a regular basis. “We’re trying to do one a month,” he said. “I’ve been waiting to announce other events until this one was over with. Now that I know people will come, we can book out the schedule.”

Asked whether Sloper Pond is his favorite local spot, Barton said it was one of several. “Sloper, yes. Crescent Lake is great too. I’m also working with Aqua Turf, they have a pond that is stocked where they let us fish. Lymans Orchards is another. The Town of Southington wants us to do events through Recreation Park, so we’re working the details out for that.”

Barton observed that dredging of the bottom of Sloper a few years ago has improved the experience for fishermen. “Dredging really helps it. Pond weed in Connecticut is a big problem right now. The more shallow it gets, the more weedy it gets. So dredging helps with that, it helps with the fish population.”

He recalled attending Camp Sloper when he was young, and learning the legend of the giant snapping turtle said to inhabit its depths. “Since I was a kid there’s been a legend of Mama Cass, a big snapping turtle out there. I remember that since I was a kid here. They’d tell the story of Mama Cass coming out of the water. Every kid was terrified.”

On Sunday morning, however, the only bites were from sunfish, crappies, pickerel, and bass that sparkled in the sun before being returned to the water.

Once the derby ended and the results were tallied, three winners were announced. Dylan Donaruma received the award for most catches - an impressive 31. Chase Marcy won the award for biggest catch. Finally, Grant Ramey went home with a certificate proclaiming him the winner of the casting competition:

Dylan Donaruma, Jeff Barton, Chase Marcy, and Grant Ramey. PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF BARTON

The Youth Fishing League Facebook page can be found here. The League's Instagram account offers detailed fishing reports for Southington, updated each day.

The 2nd Annual WISE Wellness Block Party

Sunday, May 17, 2026 from 1PM to 4PM

Rain Date: May 31, 2026

Downtown Southington

Free Admission

A Day of Fun, Connection, and Community Care

The 2nd Annual WISE Wellness Block Party returns to downtown Southington on May 17, 2026, building on the success of last year’s well-attended and inspiring event. Designed for all ages, this town-wide celebration brings together families, community organizations, and local resources for a day filled with fun, connection, and support.

Following the Mental Health Sunday Service at the First Congregational Church of Southington, the Block Party invites everyone—whether attending the service or simply passing by—to join in the festivities.

What Is WISE?

WISE stands for Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged for Mental Health.

Originally started by the United Church of Christ, WISE has grown to include many congregations, synagogues, and community organizations committed to supporting mental health in meaningful ways. WISE partners work to create welcoming spaces for people with lived mental health experiences, support advocacy and justice efforts, and help reduce stigma through education, inclusion, and engagement.

What to Expect

The WISE Wellness Block Party is designed to be informative, engaging, and fun for all ages. Activities and attractions will include:

●      Bounce houses and children’s activities

●      Music and entertainment

●      Face painting, balloons, and crafts

●      Snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn, and free hotdogs

●      Food trucks offering additional options

●      Information booths from local health and mental health organizations

Children will have plenty of space to play, explore, and release energy in a safe, welcoming environment, while adults can connect directly with organizations that provide vital services in our community.

And yes—we’ve put in a special request for cool, pleasant weather!

Community Impact

At the heart of the WISE Wellness Block Party is a simple but powerful goal: to connect people with the resources they need.

Many individuals and families face challenges related to health, mental health, and daily life—and often don’t know where to turn. This event shines a spotlight on the abundance of local organizations ready to help, offering an opportunity to ask questions, gather information, and build connections in a relaxed, supportive setting.

Last year, attendees traveled from across Connecticut—including Storrs, Old Saybrook, and Bethany—and left inspired by the sense of community and care. We look forward to welcoming both familiar faces and new visitors again this year.

Participating Organizations

Organizations that participated in last year’s Block Party included:

Bread for Life; SOOCA; Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington; UConn Health Child and Family Development Program; Veterans Affairs (VA); Hartford HealthCare; NAFI; Waterbury Family Intervention and Addiction Recovery Services; Wheeler Health; Prudence Crandall Center; NAMI Farmington Valley; LiveWell; FCC Stephen Ministry; Family Intervention Center; First Congregational Church of Southington; Village Green Nursery; and WISE.

Additional organizations will be joining us for 2026.

Save the Date

Mark your calendar, invite your family and friends, and join us for a day of connection, celebration, and community care at the 2nd Annual WISE Wellness Block Party.

We look forward to seeing you in downtown Southington on May 17, 2026—and we’re confident you and your family will leave feeling informed, supported, and uplifted.