Cheshire Today Yesterday: March 5, 2007
- Cheshire Today Staff
- Mar 4
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 11
Early March in Cheshire has always carried a particular rhythm — winter still clinging to the hills, spring peeking cautiously around the bend, and the community squarely focused on sports, budgets, and parish dinners. Sunday, March 5, 2007, was no exception. It was a moment suspended between basketball brackets and budget binders, between the final notes of winter and the promise of spring.
Here is a look back at what was shaping town life that week. High School Postseason Energy At Cheshire High School, March meant tournament time.
Boys Swimming & Diving
The Rams’ aquatic program was again making waves in CIAC postseason competition. Diver Dan Mazzaferro had already established himself as one of the most dominant athletes in school history. By early March, he was preparing for Class L and State Open competition, building toward what would become another record-setting year and statewide honors.
By the end of his junior and senior campaigns, Mazzaferro’s dominance was characterized by several milestones:
State Open Champion: He became a three-time State Open champion, winning his third consecutive title in 2005 with a score of 450.80.
Class L Dominance: He secured multiple Class L individual titles and played a pivotal role in leading the Cheshire Rams to the 2005 Class L team championship.
SCC Titles: He swept the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) diving competitions, setting a personal best and season high of 490 points during his junior year.
Following his historic high school career, Mazzaferro went on to dive at Auburn University, where he became a seven-time All-American and was named the SEC Diver of the Year in 2011
Girls Basketball
The Lady Rams had wrapped a strong regular season and were navigating the pressure of the Class LL State Tournament. Standout players like Nora Bahgat and Chelsea Scinto anchored a team that blended senior leadership with underclass grit — the kind of squad that could make a deep March run. Class LL State Tournament: Entering as the #10 seed, the Lady Rams defeated #23 Shelton 51-40 in the opening round but were eliminated in the second round by #7 seed Westhill in a tight 45-42 contest.
Boys Ice Hockey
On the ice, the Rams were gearing up for Division II state tournament play after battling through a competitive season in the Southern Connecticut Conference. Senior leadership and disciplined defense defined a team eager to extend its winter campaign. Quarterfinal Finish: Their campaign concluded on March 8, 2007, with a hard-fought 3-2 overtime loss to SCC rival Amity in the state quarterfinals.
In gyms and rinks across the state, Cheshire’s blue-and-white faithful were logging miles and filling bleachers.
Budget Season & Public Safety
March in town government meant numbers — and plenty of them.
Town Council discussions were centered on the proposed 2006–07 Public Safety Budget. Among the key considerations were upgrades to police communication systems and improvements to fire department equipment. While routine by municipal standards, these investments reflected a town steadily modernizing its infrastructure to meet evolving needs.
School security was also part of broader statewide conversations at the time. Like many districts, Cheshire officials were reviewing surveillance and safety protocols at the high school — practical measures that were becoming increasingly standard in Connecticut communities during that era.
Police Blotter Notes
The week’s police activity reflected the steady pulse of suburban life: traffic enforcement along Route 10, minor vehicle incidents, and the occasional reminder about youth curfews. Nothing extraordinary — just the quiet diligence that often goes unnoticed but keeps daily life running smoothly.
Remembering Neighbors
Early March also brought moments of reflection.
Ellen Marie (Dowd) Williams (64) passed away during this period. A cherished fourth-grade teacher at Doolittle School and resident of Beaverbrook Court, she was remembered for her patience, humor, and steady encouragement of generations of Cheshire students.
Edward T. O’Hara (84) also passed away that week. Founder of Cheshire Tool Company and a longtime coach in American Legion and Little League baseball, O’Hara’s influence extended well beyond business — he shaped ballplayers and built community spirit for decades.
Their legacies were woven into the daily fabric of town life.
Real Estate & Familiar Addresses
Property transfers recorded in early March reflected a stable housing market typical of mid-2000s suburban Connecticut.
94 Patton Drive changed hands for approximately $315,000.
622 Wiese Road, long associated with the English family, remained a recognizable address tied to volunteerism and Senior Center activity.
Each transaction marked not just a sale, but another chapter in the evolving story of Cheshire neighborhoods.
Community Gatherings on the Horizon
As Lent approached, St. Bridget was preparing for its annual Friday Fish Fry — a seasonal staple that drew families and friends together in the parish hall.
Meanwhile, the Cheshire Public Library was set to host a March 6 program on “Historical Homes of Cheshire,” exploring the preservation of the town’s colonial-era architecture. Even as new subdivisions expanded outward, interest in the town’s 18th-century roots remained strong.
A Town Between Seasons
March 5, 2006, did not bring headline-grabbing events or dramatic turning points. Instead, it reflected something more enduring: a community engaged in the steady work of daily life — cheering its athletes, reviewing its budgets, honoring its neighbors, and gathering in church halls and library meeting rooms.
In hindsight, it stands as a snapshot of Cheshire in its ordinary strength — a town in motion, yet comfortably grounded in tradition.
Cheshire Today Yesterday continues its timely look back at the moments, milestones, and memories that shaped our community.
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