Although Bristol is becoming more white- collar, it retains a strong blue-collar influence.
The city sits on about 27 square miles rich in sand and gravel. It has a mayor-city council form of government.
Incorporated in 1785, the city is known as a manufacturing center, with spring, clock, watch and auto-parts companies.
Among other major businesses are the Bristol Resource Recovery Facility, a trash- to-energy plant; ESPN, the cable-TV sports station; and the Bristol Centre Mall.
The city is the site of Lake Compounce Festival Park, the New England Carousel Museum, the American Clock and Watch Museum and the Barnes Nature Center, which has a dinosaur footprint on display.
FOR EMERGENCIES: 911
Municipal information
Ambulance: Call 911.
Bus service: Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency, 589-7820, for schedules.
Cemeteries:
Forestville Cemetery Association, Circle Street, 584- 9261.
St. Joseph Cemetery, 522 Terryville Ave., 589-2105.
West Cemetery Association, Pound Street, 583- 6133.
Development Authority: Call 584-7971 or city hall, 111 N. Main St., 584-7600, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
City hall: 111 N. Main St., 584-7600, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
City meetings:
City council meets on the second Monday of each month at city hall, 7:30 p.m.
Planning commission meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at city hall, 7:30 p.m.
Board of education meets on the first Wednesday of each month at its offices, 129 Church St., at 7 p.m.
Civil preparedness: Director, Richard Ladisky, 584- 7737.
Dog warden: Sal Cretella 584-7993 or 584-7915, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Elections: Municipal elections, the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, odd-numbered years. State elections, Tuesday after the first Monday in November, even-numbered years.
Fire: Chief, Anthony D. Basile, 584-7940.
Housing authority: Executive director, Laurel Robinson, 582-6313.
Inland-wetlands commission: 584-7600, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Library:
The Bristol Public Library, 5 High St.; adult services, 584-7787; children’s room, 584-7789. Open Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Saturdays during July and August.
Manross Memorial Library, 260 Central Ave., 584- 7790. Monday through Thursday, noon to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Saturdays in July and August.
Maps: Available from the city clerk, 111 N. Main St.
Police: Chief, William R. Kohnke, 584-7930.
Post offices: Officer in Charge, Joseph Gerace.
Bristol, 151 N. Main St., 06010, 583-1371;
Forestville, 18 E. Main St., 06010, 583-7022.
Recreation and sports: Bristol Parks and Recreation Department, 111 N. Main St., 584-7671.
Refuse disposal:
The city collects trash weekly. For information about the schedule, call 584-7791.
Recycling: The city picks up newspapers, corrugated cardboard, clear glass and cans once every two weeks on the same day as the regular trash pickup. The city will distribute bins for storing those items. Call 584- 7791.
Schools
Superintendent: Edward J. Maher, 129 Church St., 584-7700.
Board of education:
Chairman, Richard Croce, 589-6747.
Reinhard L. Walker
Donald Soucy
Ronald Messier
Janet Moylan
Kathleen Roberge
Richard Saporito
Beverly Bobroske
Cheryl Yetke
Elementary schools:
Clarence A. Bingham School, 3 North St., 584-7807.
Edgewood School, Mix Street, 584-7828.
Greene-Hills School, 718 Pine St., 584-7822.
Ellen P. Hubbell School, 90 W. Washington St., 584- 7842.
Ivy Drive School, 160 Ivy Drive, 584-7844.
John J. Jennings School, 291 Burlington Ave., 584- 7804.
Mountain View School, 71 Vera Road, 584-7726.
Clara T. O’Connell School, 120 Park St., 584-7815.
South Side School, Tuttle Road, 584-7812.
Stafford School, 212 Louisiana Ave., 584-7824.
Middle schools:
Chippens Hill Middle School, 551 Peacedale St., 584- 3881
Memorial Boulevard Middle School, Memorial Blvd., 584-7784.
Northeast Middle School, 530 Stevens St., 584-7839.
High schools:
Bristol Central High School, 480 Wolcott St., 584- 7734 or 584-7736.
Bristol Eastern High School, 632 King St., 584-7876 or 584-7871.
City officials
Mayor: Frank Nicastro Sr., 584-7613, 584-7613.
City council:
Richard Colbert Jr.
Arthur J. Ward
Joseph Wilson
Gerard Couture
J. Harwood Norton Jr.
Thomas J. Ragaini
City clerk: Florence McAuliffe, 584-7656.
Assessor: Richard J. Lasky, 584-7666.
Building official: Vincent D’Andrea, 584-7608.
City planner: Alan Weiner, 584-7645.
Health official: William E. Furniss, Bristol-Burlington Health District, 584-7682.
Public works director: Ronald H. Smith, 584-7607.
Registrars of voters: Marie Jo O’Meara, Democrat; Ellie Klapatch, Republican, 584-7639, at city hall, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Social services director: Katherine M. Plourde, 584- 7631.
Tax collector: Esmonde J. Phelan Jr., 584-7662.
Licenses and permits
Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses and dog and fishing licenses may be obtained at the city clerk’s office, 111 N. Main St., 584-7656.
Building permits may be obtained between 8 and 10 a.m. and 3:30 and 4:15 p.m. at the city building department, 111 N. Main St., 584-7608.
Social services
Alcohol and drug treatment: Wheeler Clinic, Plainville, 747-6801 or 527-1644.
Alzheimer’s support group: Bristol Hospital, 585- 3269.
Bristol Association for the Retarded: 621 Jerome Ave., 582-9102.
Cancer support group: Bristol Hospital, 585-3400.
Child-abuse hotline: State Department of Children and Families child abuse: (800) 842-2288.
Child-support hotline: Support Enforcement Division of Superior Court: (800) 228-KIDS.
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention help line: 747-3434 or 524-1182.
Diabetes-education program: Bristol Hospital, 585- 3160.
Fuel bank: Bristol Community Organization, 98 Summer St., 582-7490.
Government surplus food: Bristol Community Organization, 98 Summer St., 584-8102.
Health information and physician referral: TeleNurse, Bristol Hospital, 585-3516.
Homeless shelter: Bristol Emergency Shelter and Housing Coalition, 59 Wolcott St., 589-9098.
Mental health servicesand counseling: Bristol Hospital Counseling Center, 440-C North Main St., 583-5858.
Rape counseling: Sexual Assault Crisis Services; YWCA, 22 Glen St., New Britain, 223-1787.
Social servicesdepartment: 111 N. Main St., 584- 7631.
Clubs and organizations
Bristol Art League: Ted Jeffries, P.O. Box 743, 589- 6579.
Bristol Toastmasters: Sharon Allen, 584-5664
Chamber of Commerce: Executive director, John J. Leone Jr., 17 Riverside Ave., 589-4111.
Civitan Club: Marie Parrott, 589-4820.
Democratic Town Committee: Chairman, Christopher Ziogas, 582-3904.
Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 5: Commander, James Parker, 191 Riverside Ave., 589- 4710.
Exchange Club: John Breen, 583-0345.
Franco-American Club: 40 Barlow St., 589-7999.
Historical Society of Greater Bristol: 54 Middle St., 583-6309.
Italian Social Club: 31 Barber St., 582-9479.
Jaycees: Mark S. Rivard, P.O. Box 1240, 584-1672.
Junior Women’s Club: Deborah Wheeler, 589-3035.
Kiwanis Club: President, William Smyth, 584-7716.
Knights of Columbus, Council 35: Grand Knight Robert Guerrette, 360 King St., P.O. Box 9517, Forestville, 589-1379.
Lions Club: Roman Czuchta, P.O. Box 1421, 584- 8182.
Lioness Club: Diane Latvis, P.O. Box 3033, 589-2752.
Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 712: 256 Terryville Road, 589-9729.
Order of Sons of Italy, America, Women’s Lodge 1826: Jenny Giovinazzo, 582-0700.
Polish-American Citizens’ Club: 541 N. Main St., 589-9720.
Quota Club: Dorothy Wrenn, P.O. Box 121, 582-1332.
Republican Town Committee: Chairman, Gary M. Schaffrick, 583-9519.
Rotary Club: Paul Kelley, 582-6910.
Stephen Terry Lodge 59: Noble Grand Burton Wheeler, P.O. Box 473, 589-7513.
Sons of Italy: 80 South St., 584-9245.
St. Joseph Polish Society: 88 E. Main St. 589-9602.
UNICO: Patrick McFadden, P.O. Box 1823, 589-6299.
Wheeler Regional YMCA: 149 Farmington Ave., Plainville, 793-9631.
Women’s Club: Jacqueline Gingras, 583-3791.
Day-care centers
Call Infoline, 584-2244, for referral information about day care options in Bristol.
Government-sponsored or major nonprofit day-care providers include:
Bristol Boys Club Association Child Care: 240 Stafford Ave., 582-6948; 105 Laurel St., 583-3999; and Greene-Hills School, 718 Pine St., 589-7423.
Bristol Day Care Center: 90 Church Ave., 589-1098, and 43 School St., 589-7135. The Family Center for Girls and Boys,47 Upson St., 583-1679.
Wheeler Regional YMCA Latchkey Programs: Edgewood, Ivy Drive, Mountain View and Stafford schools, 793-9361.
Government, state
State Sen. Thomas Colapietro(D): 19 Dewey Ave., Terryville (Plymouth), CT 06786; home: 582-6527; Capitol: 240-8600.
State Rep. Roger P. Michele (D): 13 Jerome Ave.Bristol, CT 06010; home: 582-6838; Capitol: 240- 8700.
State Rep. Elizabeth A. Boukus(D), 43 Hollyberry Lane, Plainville, CT 06062; home: 747-3366; Capitol: 240-8500.
State Rep. Kosta Diamantis (D), 180 Old Wolcott Road, Bristol, CT 06010; home: 585-2993; Capitol: 240- 8500.
Museums
American Clock and Watch Museum: 100 Maple St., 583-6070. Open from March 1 to Nov. 30, seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New England Carousel Museum: 95 Riverside Ave., 585-5411. Open Monday to Friday, 1 to 5 p.m., during June through August; 1 to 4 p.m. the rest of the year. Open weekends all year: Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Parks
For more information on parks and programs, please call the recreation department, 584-7671. Major parks include:
Page Park: King Street, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., 584-7769.
Rockwell Park: Dutton Avenue, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., 584-7780.
The following parks are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.:
Brackett Park: School Street.
Federal Hill Green: Federal Hill Green.
Kern Park: Primrose Lane.
Peck Park: Daley Street.
Seymour Park: Shrub Road.
Stocks Playground: Middle Street.
Wilson Playground: King Street.
Scouts
Boy Scouts: Long Rivers Council, 74 Forest St., Hartford, CT 06105, 525-1112.
Girl Scouts: Connecticut Valley Council, 74 Forest St., Hartford, CT 06105, 522-0163.
Senior citizens
Elderly homemaker program: Bristol Community Organization, 98 Summer St., 584-8102.
Retired Senior Volunteer Program: Bristol Community Organization, 98 Summer St., 582-7308.
Senior center: Director, John Pringle, 240 Stafford Ave., 584-7895.
Social Security: 225 N. Main St., 584-2716. Toll-free national number, (800) 772-1213.
