“I was like, ‘Oh. My. Goodness,’” Innerarity said.

“I’ve never seen this in all my coaching years. I have two freshmen who are leading the team in scoring.”

They are both guards: Mireidys Cruz-DeJesus, who is averaging 15 points per game and Kailyn Grate (18 ppg) for Prince Tech (9-2).

“They are amazing,” Innerarity said. “It was a total surprise.”

Cruz-DeJesus is a 3-point specialist. Both can handle the ball. In a 60-33 win over Abbott Tech last Wednesday, Cruz-DeJesus had 26 points and Grate had 25.

The Falcons are beating teams they haven’t been able to beat in years. They beat Windham Tech in their first game, 51-28. Ellis Tech beat Prince three times last year; Prince Tech beat Ellis 46-43 on Jan. 7.

The freshmen, Innerarity said, are unselfish and play well together.

“They’re not trying to outdo each other and they’re not in competition with each other,” she said.

Last year, the Falcons were the 24th seed in Class MM and lost to Berlin 56-19 in the first round of the state tournament. This season, they’re ranked fourth in Class MM behind Tolland, Sheehan and East Catholic.

Top performances

Maddie Begnini, Mercy: Begnini hit nine 3-pointers and had 33 points as Mercy defeated Foran 61-38 Friday.

Yzabella Colon, Plainville: Colon scored 17 points in a 46-36 win over Hall Saturday and had 15 points in a 57-52 win over Innovation Wednesday.

Maddy Handrahan, Glastonbury: Handrahan had 24 points, six assists and six steals in a 47-44 overtime win over Acton-Boxboro (Mass.) at the Hoophall Classic and had 13 points, three assists and five steals in a 27-21 win over Simsbury Thursday and 18 points in a 68-32 win over Middletown Monday.

Aniya Jenkins, Windham: Jenkins, a senior, scored her 1,000th point and had 24 points in an 85-24 win over Montville Friday.

Kylie Lake, Old Saybrook: Lake had 24 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in Old Saybrook’s 57-51 win over Cromwell Friday.

Sybil Neary, Old Lyme: Neary had 20 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, an assist and a block in a 37-35 win over Montville Monday.

Megan Wresien, Sheehan: Wresien had three 3-pointers and 17 points on Tuesday against Sacred Heart but Sheehan lost in overtime.

Symber Sutton, Innovation: Sutton scored 31 points in a 67-35 win over Weaver Friday.

Sophie Tumulis, Stafford: Tumulis had 15 points and 14 rebounds, two steals and five blocks in a 40-38 win over Comp Sci Tuesday.

Bailey Winner, East Windsor/Bloomfield: Winner had 21 points in a 54-45 win over Canton.

Storylines

Conard senior Emily Knowles set or tied a slew of school records in Conard’s 68-45 win over Bristol Eastern Tuesday. Knowles scored 40 points, which broke her record from last year of 38 points) and tied the school record for 3-pointers (7), broke the record for points in a half (29) and tied the record for points in a quarter (19 in the first quarter).

Sheehan had its nine-game win streak broken when the Titans lost last Tuesday to Sacred Heart 48-45 in overtime. Megan Wreisen scored 17 points for Sheehan (10-2).

Windsor lost last year’s mid-season transfer from New Jersey, Kamaria Bowens (who helped Windsor’s run to the Class L quarterfinals) when Bowens moved to Bristol and is now playing for Bristol Central. But Windsor got revenge of sorts, beating Bristol Central, 67-60 in overtime Jan. 13.

Games to Watch

Plainville (8-3) at Tolland (8-1), Tuesday, 6:45 p.m.: Tolland’s only loss came to Glastonbury and the Eagles, the top-ranked team in Class MM, have won four straight games.

Ledyard (7-3) at Windham (8-1), Tuesday, 7 p.m.: Windham’s only loss came Jan. 9 to New London, 40-35, while Ledyard has won its last three games.

East Catholic (9-2) at St. Paul (5-2), Thursday, 7 p.m.: St. Paul, last year’s Class M champion, has won its last two games after losing to WCA, while East Catholic has won six straight.

Coventry (10-1) at Granby (7-3), Friday, 6 p.m.: Coventry dropped its first loss to Woodstock Academy 47-41 Jan. 13 but bounced back to beat East Granby and Stafford.

The Eagles were headed to play then-unbeaten Manchester Friday. The game was sold out.

“We knew they were going to be coming out hard and they did,” Manchester coach John Reiser said.

East Catholic scored 27 points in the first quarter. Kahil Bell, who had five 3-pointers in the first half, had 11 points for the Eagles in the quarter.

Manchester regrouped, like the Red Hawks did in a win over Windsor, but couldn’t make it all the way back and East Catholic handed them their first loss, 72-66.

“It was a great high school game,” East Catholic coach Luke Reilly said. “They’re playing with a lot of confidence and they’re really tough at home.

“We had come off a tough loss the day before, we were down 1 with 15 seconds left and we were unable to convert. That added a little sting for us going into the game.”

Brayden Jones had 28 points and 16 rebounds for East Catholic (9-2) and Bell had 18. Chance Clark led Manchester with 25 points.

Manchester had a one-point lead with about a minute left in the game but couldn’t hold on.

“Chance Clark hit a 3, just like Windsor,” Reiser said. “But there was too mujch time. We were right there. They’re a good team. to get down and battle back against such good teams says a lot about us. You take what you can from those games.”

And there will be a rematch Jan. 27, this time at East Catholic.

“It came down to the last minute and I thought we did a good job controlling the game,” Reilly said. “We executed where we had to and got a few critical stops.

“We’re getting there. we were unable to close the game out in Springfield but we were able to the next night, so that’s a good sign.”

Top performances

Jeff Akoff, Bloomfield: Akoff scored 28 points in a 67-43 win over Conard Monday.

Richard Chandler, Aerospace: Chandler had 24 points in a 51-50 win over Granby Friday and 18 points in a 76-42 win over Capital Prep Thursday.

Andrew Czerwinski, Somers: Czerwinski had 17 of his 26 points in the first half in a 60-46 win over Wheeler Thursday.

Tommy Dinunzio, Lewis Mills: Dinunzio had 33 points and 15 rebounds to lead Lewis Mills over Northwestern 64-40 on Saturday and 28 points, 15 rebounds and four assists in 66-58 win over Conard Friday.

Jack Grasso, Windsor Locks: Grasso scored 28 points in a 65-46 victory over Bolton Thursday.

Brady Marsh, Windham Tech: Marsh scored 33 points and had six steals, five assists, three rebounds and two blocks in a 69-52 win over Hartford Public Thursday.

Camden Mazerolle, E.O. Smith: Mazarolle had 20 points and 16 rebounds in a 53-41 win over South Windsor Friday.

Elijah Moore, Xavier: Moore scored 27 points in a 62-45 win over Fairfield Prep Wednesday.

Alex Weaver, Windsor: Weaver scored 25 points, six assists and three steals in a 76-66 win over Northwest Catholic Friday.

Avant Williams, Classical: Williams had 24 points in a 74-58 win over Bulkeley Thursday and 18 points in a 78-37 win over Capital Prep Tuesday.

Storylines

Aerospace stayed unbeaten at 11-0 last week when the Jets beat Granby 51-50 behind 24 points from Richard Chandler. Aerospace, which advanced to the Division V quarterfinals last year, is the top-ranked team in Div. IV.

Manchester senior Derrick Sheets scored his 1,000th point in a 68-58 win over New Britain Tuesday and that was not the only day this month he lit up the scoreboard. Sheets had 19 points in the loss to East Catholic, hitting five 3-pointers and on Jan. 10, in a 91-70 win over Tolland, Sheets hit 10 3-pointers and had 39 points.

Games to watch

 Ellington (9-0) at Granby (7-3), Tuesday, 6:45 p.m.: Granby has dropped its last two games by close margins but this is usually a good NCCC game.

Innovation (8-1) at Comp Sci (9-2), Thursday, 5 p.m.: Innovation, last year’s Div. IV champion, has a seven-game win streak, while Comp Sci is 6-1 in its last seven games.

Glastonbury (10-1) at Hall (8-2), Friday, 6:45 p.m.: Glastonbury hasn’t lost since the Guardians dropped a game to Northwest Catholic Dec. 21.

East Catholic (9-2) at Northwest Catholic (9-2), Friday, 6:45 p.m.: East is in the middle of a tough stretch, with a game against perennial rival Northwest sandwiched in between two games against Manchester.

The state in early January awarded $3 million to demolish the boarded-up and vandalized building, and Hartford-based developer Lexington Partners is eager to get the work done in 2025.

“We hope to have it down by the third quarter,” President Chris Reilly said this week.

The sprawling 260,000-square-foot building has sustained years of water damage, and local officials have been eager to get it torn down. Vandals, scrappers, the homeless and so-called urban explorers occasionally get in by going through the perimeter fencing and boarded-up windows or doors, and police have been called there repeatedly on trespassing complaints.

When the property is cleared, Lexington plans an apartment complex with 220 to 250 units, a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. There will also be a retail component, but Reilly said that will be scaled back from the 30,000 square feet that Lexington initially proposed in late 2022.

“I’m still very bullish, we still believe in Cromwell. There have been changes in the market, so we’ll have to take another look at the design of the project. We’ll shrink the retail,” said Reilly, who estimated the final version will cost in the $75 million to $110 million range.

If construction begins in early 2026, the entire project could be complete by the end of 2028, he said.

The town council in October 2023 granted a tax break for the project. It will phase in local property taxes over a 10-year period; Finance Director Sharon DeVoe estimated Lexington would pay $2.6 million to the town during that period, even though the tax abatement agreement would waive another $4.8 million. At the end of the 10-year period, Lexington would be assessed at the full normal rate.

“We have made it very clear that we needed this to be at a public-private partnership. The first several years of this project will be the most difficult and demanding in terms of the financial commitment that Lexington Partners has to make,” attorney Peter Alter told the council last year. “When this property is fully developed and stable, it will add over a $1 million of (annual) tax revenue to the town. We need to be able to get there.”

The once-flourishing hotel and conference center fell on bad times more than a decade ago, and has been an eyesore since it shut down at the start of 2020. It had long lost the Crowne Plaza branding, spent time as lower-tier Radisson and then finished its time as a rundown Red Lion.

“This is a building whose time has passed. It has been the subject of thieves and vandals and squatters over the last several years to the point where Lexington Partners had to ask Cromwell police to put somebody there to keep people out,” Alter told the council. “The property is filled with mold, asbestos and PCBs. It has significant financial impairment.”

Alter at the time estimated that demolition and environmental remediation would cost more than $4 million total.

The Goman + York consulting firm estimated in 2023 that the project would generate 157 temporary construction jobs and 111 permanent jobs on site and in the community. The company estimated that tenants would generate more than $7 million in discretionary spending in the region, with about $2.9 million of that going to Cromwell businesses.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said an autopsy showed 50-year-old Nailia Vodovskaia of Glastonbury died of hypothermia due to exposure to cold temperatures with contributing conditions of acute and chronic alcohol use and hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

According to the Glastonbury Police Department, emergency crews responded to the Glastonbury Hills Country Club on Country Club Road just after 9 a.m. on Dec. 28 after receiving the report of a vehicle that had gone into a pond at the course. Police found an unoccupied Acura SUV partially submerged in the water.

Vodovskaia was found dead nearby on a cart path, police said.

A preliminary investigation determined that Vodovskaia’s SUV was driven onto the course and then into the pond. Police at the time said the incident was being investigated as an untimely death.

A spokesperson for the police department did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for an update on the investigation.

It’s not that the river had suddenly gotten choppy; it’s waves of consternation on the East Hartford side and further, where everyone from local police to a state agency and local river stewardship organization have gotten involved in asking what the heck the sailboat is doing anchored on the river in the middle of the winter.

The sailboat, which looks like it is about 30 feet long, was anchored south of the Founder’s Bridge.

A spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said the agency, which heard from the East Hartford Harbormaster, initially consulted Department of Motor Vehicles registration records “which indicated that the vessel was currently registered.”

However, also according to the DEEP spokesman, the agency has since “learned in subsequent conversations with the Harbormaster, the boat was sold to a new owner prior to DEEP’s involvement which was not immediately apparent since the DMV does not collect or share information on vessel sales. Because the boat was not re-registered after the sale, the registration ceased to be valid, and as a result, the vessel is now considered unregistered.”

And that, according to DEEP, which cited a state law on the matter, means the “vessel now qualifies as abandoned due to its improper registration and having been left on Connecticut waters for more than 24 hours.”

“As we understand, the Town of East Hartford is in the process of submitting the necessary paperwork to DEEP to initiate the abandoned vessel process. Under the law, once DEEP receives this paperwork, DEEP attempts notification to the vessel owner who then has 45 days to remove the boat,” the DEEP spokesman said. “If the vessel remains unclaimed after that period, it will not be available for general claim by others, but ownership is transferred to the complainant — in this case the Town of East Hartford. At that point they can handle the boat as needed.”

East Hartford Police Department Public Information Officer Marc Caruso confirmed that the department is “in the process of filing the proper paperwork for an abandoned vessel with DEEP.”

Caruso also said that the sailboat had not capsized, and, in fact, was “secure now by ice.” He said there were no water tow companies able to come out and tow the vessel “due to the weather and ice” but that the boat is “not an immediate hazard.”

Caruso declined to name the owner of the boat; DEEP was asked to identify the owner of the vessel but did not. The Courant has requested a copy of the police report on the issue.

Caruso later said that he spoke with the “owner” and “he is going to move the boat as soon as weather and conditions permit.”

The reported owner called WFSB, according to the news station, telling them the boat was there because “the prices of marinas are way too high.” The Courant is not naming the man because he was not named by authorities.

Photos shared with the Courant from people who work nearby show the vessel has moved and that most recently it appeared to be listing to starboard with its keel in the mud. One local river watcher said he has seen the boat “getting bashed by ice floes.”

The DEEP spokesman also said that, once the vessel is “identified as abandoned, which can be documented by filing of a police report or by the submission of the notice of abandoned vessel to DEEP, as noted … the town is indemnified against harm to the vessel in the processing, storage or movement of the boat. Therefore, under (state law) once East Hartford has documented that the boat is abandoned, they may move the boat.”

The spokesman said that “It’s important to note that after the 45-day period, the boat is not listed for general public claim. Rather the vessel becomes the property of the complainant.”

The boat also drew the attention of others familiar with the river.

Michael Zaleski, president & CEO of Riverfront Recapture, Inc., an organization that acts as stewards of the river and manages nearby parks, said the organization is aware of the concerns but does not have authority to do anything about it.

“Riverfront Recapture is aware of the sailboat that has been anchored in the river south of the Founders Bridge for several months,” he said. “We have advised the owner on several occasions that the location is not a safe one, especially during the winter. We have also discussed the presence of the boat with the East Hartford Harbormaster, East Hartford Police Department and state DEEP.”

The East Hartford mayor’s office also was aware of the boat, said Marissa Baum, head of communications for the office of the mayor. Baum said in general that the mayor doesn’t comment on ongoing police matters. She also noted that the police department is working with DEEP to address the situation in ways “that align with their policies and procedures and there will be a resolution as the process allows.”

Regarding anchoring in the Connecticut River, the DEEP spokesman said it is allowed, as long as it is not in a federal navigation channel, it isn’t a navigation hazard, it isn’t impacting a riparian property owner’s right to access and it is not inconsistent with the provisions of a state-approved Harbor Management Plan (East Hartford does not have one).

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that police said they spoke to the owner of the boat and he said he planned to move it.

It’s the historic Rocky Hill/Glastonbury Ferry Launch and the state Department of Transportation is planning American with Disabilities Act upgrades as well as lighting improvement at the site.

The construction is anticipated to take in the 2025/2026 ferry off-season, according to DOT. The estimated cost is $400,000, paid for 100% with state funds, according to the agency.

“This project aims to enhance pedestrian access by improving sidewalks, lighting, and adding benches for people watching the ferry operations, while also installing gate systems at Glastonbury and Rocky Hill to prevent unauthorized slip access,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Project Manager Charles Wiegert, in a statement.

The DOT will hold a virtual public information meeting on the Rocky Hill/Glastonbury Ferry Launch at 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 28, according to the agency.

“We encourage the public to attend this meeting to share their feedback with the CTDOT project team to incorporate into the project’s design,” Wiegert said in an online statement.

The seasonal ferry crossing between the towns of Glastonbury and Rocky Hill is part of Route 160 and is the oldest continuously running ferry service in the United States. Launched in 1655, it began before the founding of the towns — both were part of Wethersfield at that time, The Courant has reported.

The original crossing was a raft that was poled across the Connecticut River. By the 18th century, it was powered by a horse on a treadmill before being upgraded to a steamship in 1876. Now the ferry is a three-car barge named the Hollister III pulled by a diesel towboat named the Cumberland. Both the barge and towboat were built in 1955.

According to DOT, the ferry serves local motorists, cyclists, and tourists, and “provides great value as a historic resource.”

Blaise Clemente, ferry master captain, has said the average ridership of the ferry is about 125 passengers a day during the season.

A Boston native who was previously a lobsterman, Clemente has worked the ferry for 18 years with 10 of those as a skipper.

The agency said the upcoming project involves “minor” right-of-way impacts as all “work will be completed within state ROW.”

“There will be some staging/stockpiling of materials on town property, but no private property will be used or acquired for the proposed work,” according to DOT.

“An easement within state ROW is being created for the adjacent property owner on the south side of the Rocky Hill location to provide additional private parking,” the agency noted about the project.

The DOT said it is holding the public information meeting to provide the “public and local community the opportunity to offer comments or ask questions regarding the proposed project.” The meeting is to be held on Zoom, and registration is required. For instructions on accessing the meeting and ways to provide comments and ask questions, visit portal.ct.gov/DOTRH-GBFERRY0118-0188. A question and answer session will immediately follow the presentation, which will be recorded, the agency said.

Individuals with limited internet access can listen to the meeting by calling (877) 853-5257 and enter Meeting ID 863 2942 5674. People with hearing and/or speech disabilities can dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services. People with limited internet access also can request project information be mailed to them within one week by contacting Wiegert at Charles.Wiegert@ct.gov or (860) 594-3238.

Contacted through email, Wiegert said that, after the public feedback period, DOT will determine by the end of February “if the project will move forward as presented, move forward with amendments, or re-evaluated for additional project scoping.” He said the project would not impact use of the ferry due to when the work will be done, with an anticipated start date of Dec. 1, 2025, and work done before the ferry opens for service again in April 2026.

“The work is important for making the entire site safer and more user friendly for all the patrons,” he said. “For the average person using the ferry to cross the river, there will be no noticeable change. The project will be updating the aging electrical infrastructure, allowing for additional lighting on the site, as well as ‘flood proofing’ the electrical as much as practical.”

He also noted that the project “includes adding to and upgrading the sidewalks and crosswalks primarily on the Rocky Hill side, so that all visitors of the site have a safer means to enjoy the wonderful views of the river. The last big goal of the project would be to better secure the launch during off hours to better protect the ferry boat and prevent ungranted access to the launch through classic iron gates and fencing.”

The meeting will also be livestreamed on the CTDOT YouTube channel; no registration is required, according to DOT. Non-English language closed captioning will be available on Zoom and YouTube. The recording will also be posted immediately following the meeting in the list of CTDOT virtual public meetings at portal.ct.gov/ctdotVPIMarchive, according to the agency.

Reporting by Stephen Underwood was used in this story.

Senior guard David Smith is a big reason why.

“It’s not a secret that we’re only going to go as far as David Smith takes us,” Glastonbury coach Jim Vaughan said. “Other guys have stepped up, but we rely on him.”

Smith, who is 6-4, reached the 1,000-point milestone last year, believed to be the first in Glastonbury basketball history, and holds the boys school scoring record. He’s averaging 25 points per game. He had 36 in a 65-56 win over East Hartford last Wednesday and 24 in Glastonbury’s only loss, Dec. 21 to Northwest Catholic. He was the tournament MVP of the Artie Kohs Classic at Xavier Dec. 27.

“This year, he’s gotten stronger, he rebounds better, his decision-making is better,” Vaughan said. “But probably the two most important things: he’s a better leader and mentally understands the game and situations better and better by the day.”

Vaughan said that loss to Northwest Catholic instilled confidence in his team that the Guardians could play with higher level teams and said the East Hartford win was one of their better efforts.

“We were down in the second quarter then came back in the third then made the plays at the end,” he said. “We had been winning by some wider margins so it was nice to be in a close game to see how we would respond. I was thrilled with the way we responded.”

Top performances

Andrew Crayton, Haddam-Killingworth: Crayton had 27 points (including four 3-pointers), 11 rebounds, four steals and five assists in a 79-63 win over Old Saybrook Friday, had 25 points and seven rebounds in a Thursday loss to Shepaug Valley and 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals in a loss to Hale Ray Tuesday.

Tommy Dinunzio, Lewis Mills: Dinunzio had 23 points and 12 rebounds in a 57-46 loss to Bloomfield Friday and 31 points in a 57-55 loss to Conard Monday.

Colby Dunnack, Windham Tech: Dunnack had 14 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and a block in a 71-66 win over Goodwin Tech Tuesday.

Eddie Fiske, Old Lyme: Fiske scored 20 points in a 53-50 win over Morgan Friday and 19 in a 75-60 win over East Hampton Monday.

Nyquawn Jefferson, Comp Sci: Jefferson scored 33 points in a 72-49 win over Capital Prep Friday.

Brady Marsh, Windham Tech: Marsh had 26 points, four rebounds and two assists in an 86-50 win over Wright Tech Friday night and 30 points and four rebounds, two assists and a block in a 71-66 win over Goodwin Tech Tuesday.

Cayden Smith, Bloomfield: Smith had 14 points and 12 assists, including the assist to Jeff Acoff on his game-winning layup in Bloomfield’s 64-63 win over Bristol Eastern Monday.

Derrick Sheets, Manchester: Sheets had 30 points, including eight 3-pointers, in a 101-43 win over E.O. Smith Monday.

Julian Surdyka, Aerospace: Surdyka scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds in a 70-55 win over Windsor Locks Friday.

Alex Weaver, Windsor: Weaver had 25 points, 11 assists and five steals in a 97-45 win over South Windsor Friday.

Storylines

Senior Joe Mugovero had 88 receptions for 1,297 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Manchester football team last fall. When football ended on Dec. 3 with a loss to Staples in the Class LL quarterfinals, Mugovero went to basketball practice not long after. Mugovero made some big plays in Manchester’s 95-94 win over Windsor Wednesday, including a drive at the end and an assist, which cut the lead to two. “He comes out the first day and he’s on,” Reiser said. “He didn’t missed a beat. He does the little things. He’s the receiver with the good hands.”… Windsor sophomore Missoni Brown suffered a concussion on a play in the third quarter in the loss to Manchester. He sat out Friday’s game against South Windsor.

Games to watch

Cromwell (5-2) at SMSA (7-0), Wednesday, 6:45 p.m.: SMSA will put its unbeaten record on the line with Cheney Tech Monday, and possibly Cromwell on Wednesday. Cromwell has two close losses, to North Branford and Coginchaug.

Windsor (5-3) at Northwest Catholic (7-1), Friday, 6:45 p.m.: Both teams have lost to Manchester; Windsor also has had a tough early schedule and has two losses to East Catholic.

East Catholic (7-1) at Manchester (10-0), Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Manchester has knocked off Northwest Catholic and Windsor, can it keep it going against East Catholic? East Catholic’s only loss came to St. Bernard, last year’s Division I runner-up.

Cheney Tech (5-2) at Windham Tech (5-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: Cheney Tech, last year’s Division IV runner-up, has been playing a tough non-conference schedule but this week, Cheney will face a solid tech school opponent in Windham Tech.

The Glastonbury Police Department was notified on Tuesday by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner that the  pedestrian, identified as 61-year-old Phillip Burleson of Glastonbury, died from injuries sustained from the crash.

The Glastonbury Police Department, Glastonbury Fire Department and EMS responded to the area of 110 Glastonbury Boulevard near the Shops at Somerset Square around 5:20 p.m. Saturday for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle, according to police.

Police said first responders located Burleson and provided medical care before transporting him to an area hospital.

Police believe Burleson was crossing Glastonbury Boulevard from north to south with several other pedestrians when he was struck by a vehicle traveling west on Glastonbury Boulevard.

According to police, the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and was cooperating with the investigation.

Glastonbury Boulevard was closed in both directions for a few hours as investigators from the Glastonbury Police Department’s Traffic Unit, as well as the Metro Traffic Services’ regional accident reconstruction team, processed the scene.

The investigation remains ongoing, police said.

Any witnesses or anyone with information about the incident is to asked to contact Officer Sergey Sharov at 860-652-4286.

Geoffrey Shapiro, 44, of Windsor Locks, was found guilty by a jury of the two robberies that took place in February 2020; the trial was before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden, according to federal authorities.

Authorities, citing the evidence presented in the trial, said Shapiro entered the Dunkin’ Donuts, at 142 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, placed an order, “and then displayed a small handgun and pointed it at the employee at the register.” Shapiro stated “Give me the money” two times, according to federal authorities.

The employee gave Shapiro about $390, he said “thank you” and left the store, according to federal authorities.

Then, later in February 2020, Shapiro entered the Webster Bank at 141 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury, and handed the teller a note that stated in part “Stay calm” and “I have a gun,” according to federal authorities. The teller gave Shapiro $1,837 from her drawer, took back the note and left the bank, according to federal authorities. Glastonbury police arrested him later that day at his residence.

Also in February 2020, a court-authorized search of Shapiro’s vehicle turned up a “handgun, the demand note Shapiro used during the bank robbery, clothes worn by Shapiro during the robberies, and other evidence,” according to federal authorities.

Shapiro was found guilty of one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery) and one count of armed bank robbery.  Both carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

Shapiro is free on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled, according to federal authorities.

The investigation was done the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Glastonbury, Simsbury, and Westfield (Mass.) police departments.

But ask the Hartford Foundation For Public Giving leader about the organization’s Greater Together Community Funds, and he gets truly excited and doesn’t mind sharing why.

Through the Greater Together Community Funds program, which includes all 29 of the towns in the foundation’s area, $2.5 million in grants have been made since 2019, he said. That’s more than 650 grants, and every one of them was decided by a committee made up of volunteers from each of those towns.

Now, as part of marking the foundation’s centennial year in 2025, it will make another $2.9 million investment in the Greater Together Community Funds, Williams said.

In addition to support for all of its communities, the foundation wants all of them to “truly see us as their community foundation,” he said. “We couldn’t be more excited.

“For all of these communities, this is a permanent part of the foundation’s commitment to all 29 of our towns,” Williams said. “They are equally important.”

How it started

The program, Williams said, grew from a 29-town series of listening session during which the foundation learned that “these are needs that may have not been met that were important to these communities.”

So in 2019, the Hartford Foundation launched an initial investment of $2.9 million to create what was dubbed the Greater Together Community Funds.

The key, he said, is that community volunteers in each of the towns make the decisions (with foundation guidance) on how the money is going to be spent. “They know the needs,” he said.

“We heard from … hundreds and hundreds of resident in these towns,” Williams said.

Under this parameter of a committee of local volunteers making the decisions, an example of 2023 grants in Farmington included, among many others, $5,000 to Interval House to support Farmington victims of domestic violence; $4,250 to Services for the Elderly of Farmington to purchase wheelchairs and walkers for the Farmington community to borrow; and $5,000 to Greystone Foundation to provide short-term financial assistance to individuals and families who have unexpected events disruptive to household finances.

In Marlborough, among many others, grants were made to Marlborough Arts Center for $4,600 for a sustainable Art Trail; $4,842 to the Marlborough Education Association to make the Elementary School Library adaptive and inclusive; and $4,500 to the Marlborough Food Bank to establish a fund for a Fuel Bank, according to the foundation.

Williams said the committees in the towns receive support from the foundation staff, but there are also hundreds of volunteers helping when considering all of the communities.

He noted that “many of these towns have decided to collaborate with neighbors in some regional” ventures, and “not only did we say yes, it is ok it exactly what we hoped would come out of it.

“We learned over the past four or five years how to tweak it, how to make it more collaborative,” he said. “We wanted to make is a flexible as possible. …”

Williams said the foundation staff did basic grant training for the committees, which do not include any elected officials and reflect the diversity of the towns. Each town has a different way of soliciting or generating ideas, he said.

“Part of the excitement is actually getting to see, to watch every one of these grants as the towns make them,” Williams said.

“Being a part of the Bolton Greater Together Community Fund effort has been such a rewarding experience,” said Bolton committee member Shandra Scott-Brown.

“It is a way for me to really connect to the community that I live in, and it was an opportunity for me to just get involved and help others. Who doesn’t like having the opportunity to meet with other people in town and give away money to service people that live in your community? It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Avon committee member and Avon High School student Panya Khattar said, “Inspiring people I work alongside dedicate their time and effort because they genuinely believe in the betterment of our community, they show that when larger, more powerful institutions fall short, smaller, passionate groups can step up to create real, meaningful change. It’s truly ‘the people doing for the people.’ As a high school representative, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a dedicated force, one that uplifts and empowers our community in profound ways. “

The initiative created separate funds in each of the towns in the foundation’s region, including Andover, Avon, Bloomfield, Bolton, Canton, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Granby, Hartford, Hebron, Manchester, Marlborough, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, Somers, South Windsor, Suffield, Tolland, Vernon, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor and Windsor Locks.

Williams said the foundation plans more major project during its centennial year, which will be announced as they are launched. “This is the first of several significant announcements that are going to abe associated with our centennial year,” he said.

He said future grants also will go to the Greater Together Community Funds, but the amount hasn’t been determined yet.

“I never fail to appreciate and just smile when you go through that (grants) list,” he said. “To me that means just that much more activity and engagement.”