Culture

Southington resident Joe DellaPorta was recently recognized for the work he has done with Rachel Wache and Joe Woloszyn updating the list of names on the town’s war memorial.

According to some food reviewers, Gohan Sushi at 405 Queen Street is one of the best sushi spots, not just in the state, but in the entire country.

Who are you looking at?, wonders this Red-legged Grasshopper. Local nature photographer Ashley Cumberledge took this up-close and personal shot along the Southington Canal Trail path this past summer.

According to Rich Aroian, principal of Southington High School, the school’s administration had long toyed with the idea of allowing students who park at the high school to paint designs on their assigned spaces. But because the project was such a formidable undertaking, with many details that needed to be sorted out, it sat on the back burner for a long time.

Every October, the Southington Blue Knights play host to a marching band and color guard competition, Music of the Knight (MOTK), where dozens of teams from all over the state combine to stage a multi-hour spectacle.

This photo was taken by local nature photographer Tom Willametz. It shows Turkey Tail mushrooms on a fallen log near Crescent Lake.

Halloween season is here, which means that every weekend in October, the cast and crew of the Haunt on Eden are busy scaring visitors from across the state.

Southington’s Annual Red Ribbon Rally was held October 20 on the Town Green, bringing together community leaders, students, athletic teams, and local organizations to promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles.

Halloween season is rife with images of cemeteries as spooky or scary places. Yet in the 18th and 19th centuries, cemeteries were places of gathering, where one could remember the deceased with a picnic or just spend time in nature.

Each year the committee of Southington’s Leading Ladies organization is tasked with selecting a woman in town who has been, as its name implies, a leader in volunteer and community-building work.

This photo was taken by local wildlife photographer Ashley Cumberledge, who writes: "I caught this Great Blue Heron waiting for a snack at Recreation Park. I think this is a juvenile based on the brownish coloring still in its feathers throughout."

The first year after becoming a mother was one of the darkest periods of Allie Hair’s life. A Southington native with a degree in elementary education, Hair had already realized that teaching wasn't the career for her when she became pregnant. The first year after becoming a mother was one of the darkest periods of Allie Hair’s life.

The Southington Housing Authority celebrated the opening of a new gazebo at the DiCaprio Forgione Terrace housing complex on October 15.

If it’s a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday afternoon betwee 3 and 6, and you turn off Bellevue Avenue where LEAF’s sign is, go down the dirt driveway to the lot, park by the chickens and the flower boxes and turn around, you will see LEAF’s market open for business, its tables of fresh vegetables filling the large brick workspace.

John Sponauer has had a passion for all things astronomy since childhood. Now, as an adult, it is not a full-time job, he says, but a hobby. A somewhat expensive, but very fulfilling hobby.

Once upon a time, Southington’s Goat Island was a real island.

First quarter moon with Air France jet. JOHN SPONAUER PHOTO This week's nature photo was taken by John Sponaeuer of Orion Perspectives. He writes: "I was out in my driveway when I saw this spectacular First Quarter Moon, and on the eve of International Observe the Moon Night, no less! I stayed out for a few hours watching it. I loved catching an Air France flight making its way past it."

Nearly 8,000 Southington residents belong to the Southington YMCA. There they take advantage of health and fitness options that range from swimming, strength training, and cardio to yoga and zumba, not to mention health classes and childcare.

This photo was taken by local wildlife photographer Ashley Cumberledge, who writes: "Belted Kingfishers can be really tough to get good photographs of, so I was very surprised when he posed in the tulip tree for me at Panthorn Park!"

At each meeting of the Board of Education, three student representatives from Southington High School update the Board and the public on school system news. This year’s representatives are Murad Alkatib, Alexa Nowakowski, and Arshi Roy. What follows is their report from the Board meeting of September 24.

For Shane Shackleford, getting the Sober Southington kickball game rolling was a long time in the making.

The Barnes Museum will celebrate Southington’s annual Apple Harvest Festival with a full lineup of historic programs on Saturday, October 3 and Saturday, October 10, 2026. Visitors can explore local history through cemetery walking tours, Victorian funeral traditions, and special free preview tours of the museum.

Early in the afternoon of July 20th of this year, a large group of youths and young adults on bicycles and e-bikes made their way down Route 10 from Plainville, taking over the roadway as they went.

Southington got a little sweeter on Thursday with the opening of Melt Chocolatier on 1 North Main Street.

By the time the Outsider arrived at Gishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation on Monday evening, many members of the local Jewish community had already been fasting for upwards of 23 hours.

The Southington Outsider invites all local photographers to submit photos for our 2027 wall calendar.

Jason Ostrout is the New England Coffee Guy – or at least, that is his professional title these days.

This photo was taken by local wildlife photographer Ashley Cumberledge, who writes: "Southington’s Pollinator Pathway is one of my go-to spots. Just outside of the main section, the colors from the flowers and graffiti gave such a cool effect to the background behind the butterfly."

Reverend Judith Alexis became the Rector of Southington’s St. Paul’s Episcopal Church this past May. Born in Manhattan to a Haitian family, she grew up surrounded by Catholic and Baptist traditions, but joined the Episcopal Church in her late 20’s, drawn by the way it combined an active laity with traditional practices.

The artists of Gallery One present "Viewing the Moment," an exhibition exploring moments in life, from everyday experiences to poignant memories that shape our lives. Whether it be painting, photography, or collage, the artists make meaningful connections through visual narratives. The show is on view at Southington Community Cultural Arts (SoCCA) from September 25 through October 17. Join the artists for the opening reception on Saturday, September 26, from 2pm to 4pm.

At each meeting of the Board of Education, three student representatives from Southington High School update the Board and the public on school system news. This year’s representatives are Murad Alkatib, Alexa Nowakowski, and Arshi Roy. What follows is their report from the Board meeting of September 10.

25 Southington students were recognized by the Board of Education on September 10 for their achievements at the state Invention Convention.

Each year, the committee overseeing the Southington Apple Harvest Festival aims to bring new ideas and attractions to the table.

Southington’s historic Goat Island area is on track for a revival.

This year marks the 20th year of celebrating the Southington High School Wall of Honor, which honors Southington public school graduates who have done outstanding community service or humanitarian work, received significant awards or accumulated noteworthy lifetime or career accomplishments.

This picture was taken by local wildlife photographer Ashley Cumberledge, who writes:"Recreation Park has a lot of little areas to explore. The bees were loving the blue vervain, and the sunset added a gorgeous glow."

Most drivers on West Street are too focused on the busy road to notice the small white building perched on the slope just south of the intersection with Spring Street.

Lying across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, the Balkan nation of Albania is the homeland of over 300 Southington residents.

This picture was taken by local wildlife photographer Ashley Cumberledge, who writes: "A mama Wood Duck and her tiny parade of babies at Memorial Park pond."

If you’ve driven south through downtown Plantsville in the past week, you may have seen the large mural that is now nearing completion on the building next to the pocket park at the corner of South Main and West Main. Featuring a mix of sepia-toned spray paint art and more brightly colored brushwork, the mural depicts scenes from downtown Plantsville as it would have looked about one-hundred years ago.

The office of Town Manager Alex Ricciardone fields many requests from local residents asking for help with everyday municipal problems.

This picture was taken by local wildlife photographer Ashley Cumberledge, who writes: "A favorite backyard shot from spring. This Titmouse was flying back and forth with nesting material and I was so happy to catch it on camera!"

New Year’s is often a time of reflection and renewal. We look back on the year that has passed, while, at the same time, looking forward to the year to come. Many people make New Year’s resolutions, in the hopes of a better future.

Connecticut no longer has landfills. To be sure, if you drive down I-91 near New Haven or Hartford, it is hard to miss the huge landfills that loom like hills along the highway. But those operations are now closed, and no new landfills have taken their place since.

This picture was taken by local wildlife photographer Ashley Cumberledge, who writes: "My husband and I saw this gorgeous barred owl a few months ago at Panthorn Park. If you’ve ever seen an owl in the wild, you know it’s such a special moment!"

Dan Baril is best known to most people in town as Mr. B, the owner of Mr. B’s Jerky Co. His shop downtown at 35 North Main Street has two kinds of customers: those who are already addicted to his all-natural varieties of savory beef jerky, and those who are about to be.

This picture was taken by local wildlife photographer Ashley Cumberledge.

Today the names 'Sloper' and 'Woodruff' are likely to make you think of roads or places in town. Yet 250 years ago, they were the names of real people who lived in what we now call Southington.

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!

Southington’s annual Italian-American festival kicked off its 21st year on Friday, transforming downtown into a celebration of culture and heritage.