Eenie, meenie, miney moe, catch a duck... with a net

Not many non-profit organizations can say they have been in the same place for a significant number of years, offering more services than it did when it started and helping more people than when it started. But the Bristol Community Organization can say that after having been in the city as a 501(c)3 non-profit for the last 40 years.

The organization started out in 1965 as the “Economic Opportunities Commission,” charged with the mission to provide programs and procedures to develop, to the fullest potential, the skills and talents of the residents of Bristol,” the BCO website said. An ordinance was amended that later changed the commission to the Bristol Community Organization.

In 1972 the organization officially became a 501(c)3, private, non-profit organization in the city, covering Bristol, as well as Burlington, Plainville and Plymouth.

“We’ve been here for 40 years, and unfortunately there is still a lot of poverty that has increased as of late because of the downturn in the economy,” BCO Executive Director Tom Morrow said. “When we first started out, we had hoped our clientele would have reduced, but we are seeing more and more people now. We certainly have more resources now, but the great need for those programs is still prevalent today.”

BCO is planning a celebratory dinner at Nuchie’s on Thursday, May 24, to honor its 40 years. In addition, the organization will be honoring an individual and two other organizations that have supported the BCO programs and its mission to help others in need.

Former U.S. Representative Nancy Johnson is going to be honored with the Outstanding Contribution Award, for her “support for community action and anti-poverty work,” Morrow said. He said Johnson was instrumental

See BCO, page 4

The West End Association has been proactively looking at ways to improve the city’s rumored “worst section of town” for a little over six months, and has been evolving and increasing its membership base at the same time. The association’s first public event will be this weekend, and is expected to bring out a large crowd interested in cleaning up the West End of Bristol.

Dave Hamelin, treasurer of the association is the owner of Hamelin & Sons Inc, a service station located in the West End of Bristol.

He said the association is bringing its members together and other groups and individuals to have a West End cleanup on Saturday, May 12.

“It’s an effort to get out there, do a little cleaning up, and meet the neighbors and people who may have not heard of us yet,” Hamelin said.

The cleanup will start at the lot on the corner of Route 72, School Street, and Route 69, West Street, and the city is letting the association use trash barrels to collect garbage around the area. Hamelin said the group hopes to break people off into groups of five, and then disperse them around the West End.

“We are familiar with the area because we live and work in it, so we know which areas need the closest attention,” he said, adding that where the groups go is dependent on how many show up for the cleanup. Hamelin said the association has been in contact with church groups and a motorcycle group out of New Britain, who have expressed interest in bringing people out for the cleanup. The Police Explorers are also expected to join in the cleanup. He added members will be attending the cleanup as well and have t-shirts in an effort to promote the association and gain support.

“The association has done a lot of evolving,” Hamelin said, adding that at its monthly meetings, about 20 to 30 individuals attend each meeting. He said everyone has a part in the association and when someone comes up with any ideas, they go ahead and do a little research on how it can get done.

According to its website, westendbristol.org, the goal of the association is to “create and maintain a safe, friendly, and family-oriented neighborhood, filled

See WEST END, page 4