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Don: (Proudly) "It’s top-of-the-line, Ron. I head down to Stop & Shop or find those Crystal Light containers—perfect size, mind you—and I pack 'em up. I put a big sticker on the front: 'This box is recycled.' We were green before it was even a color!" Ron: "I love it! Now, I have to ask about the 'Big Names.' I heard a certain Surgeon General was a fan?" Don: "Oh, Dr. C. Everett Koop? A wonderful man. He sent me letters, Ron. He separated Siamese twins, but he couldn't

The Path Forward The challenge for Cheshire is figuring out the next chapter of local journalism. The future will likely be a mosaic of: Digital-first publications Community newsletters Nonprofit newsrooms Moderated online forums What matters most is not the platform, but the commitment to covering the everyday civic life of our town. Because no matter how technology changes, one truth remains: every community needs a place where its own story is told.

Local journalism faces a tough challenge. Readers are quick to spot when content feels artificial or rushed. Cheshire Today has seen this firsthand. People visit not because of flashy algorithms or AI-generated images, but because they want real stories about places like the Honey Pot, the old canal, and familiar neighbors. This post explores why authentic storytelling matters and how Cheshire Today can keep its readers engaged by focusing on what truly works.

Ron recognized the need for a permanent, accessible home for Cheshire’s stories. Alongside Ron Gagliardi and Richard "Reggie" Smith, he co-founded CheshireToday.com. What began as a "labor of love" among friends has grown into the town’s primary digital magazine. Today, as the site’s lead administrator, Ron curates "Kochman’s Korner," and is the magazines Web Master.

Each spring, the chapter presents the Cheshire Grange Community Citizenship Award. This honor is bestowed upon a non-Granger who has demonstrated extraordinary service and dedication to the Town of Cheshire. The modern Grange manages to feel both nostalgic and necessary. The town now looks forward to the 140th Community Fair, scheduled for August 22–23, 2026. This industrious project remains the Grange's primary community interface and revenue stream.

"Read Across America Week." The photo captures a children's librarian interacting with two young readers choosing stickers from a festive "BOOK RAFFLE & GIVEAWAYS" table, exactly as described in the text. AI Enhanced. Read Across America Week: The Cheshire Public Library kicks off its week-long celebration of Dr. Seuss today with themed giveaways and a book raffle (see image 2). Youth at The Yellow House: Registration is open for March programs, including "Mini

Tony Crane has officially retired from coaching at Lyman Hall. After his historic 2023 season—where he famously dyed his hair to celebrate the Trojans' first state tournament berth in 16 years—he led the program through two more seasons before stepping away to enjoy life as a "sideline spectator" and local legend.

For the residents of Whispering Oaks Drive in Cheshire, the promise of "Universal Service" from the United States Postal Service has become a frustrating contradiction. As of early 2026, some neighbors have endured nearly 18 months without home mail delivery. Despite paying tens of thousands of dollars in property taxes, they must travel to the local post office to pick up essential items like life-saving medications and overdue bills. Some bills have even gone to collections

By the war’s end, Cheshire was no longer the tightly bound Congregational parish it had been in 1724. The Great Awakening had shattered ecclesiastical monopoly, normalized dissent, and fostered a culture willing to question authority—spiritual and political alike. In 1780, Cheshire became a separate town. Religious pluralism endured. The Episcopal congregation survived wartime suspicion, eventually erecting the present St. Peter’s building in 1840.

Irish settlement in Cheshire accelerated with construction of the Farmington Canal, built between 1825 and 1848 to link New Haven with the Connecticut River. Hundreds of Irish men supplied the muscle that carved the channel by hand. They lived in rough, one-room wooden huts—“shanties”—clustered along the route. Dirt floors, minimal ventilation, and seasonal exposure defined daily life. At the same time, Irish labor sustained Cheshire’s copper industry, including operations su

The Morning Ball Game, Wallingford 13, Cheshire 2—E. R. Brown’s Historical Address—Oration by Hon. H. E. Benton—Poem by Professor Paddock—The Afternoon Game, Cheshire 10, Meriden 8—A Gala Day for Cheshire. Yesterday was a big day in the history of the town of Cheshire in more ways than one. It not only celebrated in a most fitting manner the ever-glorious Fourth, but chief of all was an anniversary celebration of the two hundredth settlement of the town.

Yesterday was a big day in the history of the town of Cheshire—a day more than any other. It was and constituted in a most fitting manner the semi-centennial celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the first church, although a town-growth, but not a town-name. A half moon in the morning and sun in the afternoon, with a grand display of fireworks in the evening furnished amusement for all. An interesting historical and patriotic meeting in the town hall in t

Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 The New Haven Morning Journal and Courier, dated Thursday, March 22, 1900 Read by Hon. F. J. Kingsbury Before Historical Society. Hon. F. J. Kingsbury of Waterbury read an interesting paper entitled "An Erickson Propeller on the Farmington Canal," Monday night before a meeting of the New Haven Colony Historical Society. The paper was as follows: This boat was on the east side of the basin a few rods

A National Membership in Its First Season The club’s rapid growth was extraordinary. By October 1917, only months after opening, the Cheshire Country Club counted 200 members from across the nation, including Washington, D.C., Knoxville, Tennessee, Massachusetts, and New York. Coverage in leading African American newspapers—including The New York Age and The Chicago Defender—described the club in vivid detail. Reports emphasized that it was owned and managed entirely by and

The concept of a town poor farm dates back to the earliest days of settlement in Connecticut. By 1640, Hartford had established a poorhouse along the Connecticut River. Each town eventually maintained a place where those without means could live and, if able, contribute light labor. In 1850, Hannah Brown sold property on what is now Country Club Road to the town for use as a poorhouse. An additional 15 acres across the street—today near Scenic Court—were maintained

Father Jeffrey V. Romans, KCHS, was appointed pastor in May 2014. Coming from a distinguished tenure at the Chancery Office of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Father Romans brought a clear sense of direction to the 3,000-plus families of the parish. His leadership was defined by a major milestone in June 2017: the canonical union of Cheshire’s three Catholic parishes—Saint Bridget, Saint Thomas Becket, and Epiphany—into a single, unified Saint Bridget of Sweden Parish.

Remembering James Van Der Beek The town mourned the loss of James Van Der Beek, a native son who passed away on February 11, 2026. Known for his deep ties to Cheshire, James left a lasting impact through his community involvement and personal warmth. Tributes poured in from neighbors, friends, and local leaders. James had recently been selected for induction into Cheshire Academy's D. Robert Gardiner Arts & Letters Alumni Hall of Fame Our deepest condolences go to the Van Der

During the 1980s, the Cheshire Jaycees stood at the heart of civic life in Cheshire, Connecticut, playing a defining role in community celebrations, youth programming, and public service initiatives. Working closely with the Cheshire Department of Parks and Recreation, the Jaycees consistently delivered events that brought residents together while strengthening the town’s social fabric. One of the most cherished annual traditions was the arrival of Santa Claus at the Harmo

Kevin was born in Waterbury to Charles Martin Synnott and Margaret Carolan Synnott, but Cheshire is where he was raised and where his heart always lived. A proud graduate of Cheshire High School, he went on to Post College, earned a master’s degree from the University of Hartford, and later a second master’s and a doctorate from UConn. His academic resume was impressive by any measure—he taught at Albertus Magnus, Springfield College, Rhode Island College, Eastern Connecticut

Craig Carson, Paul Young and Peter Sossong were winners in the recent Cheshire Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament. The three placed first in the open division, second in the open division and first in the novice division, respectively. Carson and Young will represent the Cheshire Jaycees at the state tournament. The Cheshire Jaycees will sponsor a book drive for the Cheshire Correctional Institution library. Attorney Thomas M. Jackson and Dr. Robert Zatkowski, co-chairmen of th