Branford, CT – Andrew O’Neil, 11, left, and Olivia O’Neil, 14, both of Duxbury, MA, enjoy the sunshine from a rocky perch at Parker Memorial Park at Branford Point. The siblings were at the park with their grandmother (not pictured), a Branford resident. Photo by BRAD HORRIGAN | bhorrigan@courant.com
In the 1980’s the boxing scene in Hartford was a vibrant one. But as three of the four gyms in town had closed by the early 1990s, a void was created. In 1992, the San Juan Center opened (now called the Bright Futures Youth Center) and today is the city’s longest running boxing gym. Within the last few years, two other gyms have opened (with a third on the way), giving Hartford boxing enthusiasts new hope for a boxing renaissance in Connecticut’s capital.
Hartford native John “Iceman” Scully was a successful light heavyweight in the 1990’s. Today, Scully trains aspiring fighters at Bright Futures. “A boxing gym is like a park,” says Scully, “it’s a place for everyone.” Serious fighters can be found in the boxing gym; You have those who are there to get into shape. Others are motivated by not getting beat up in the street. Even little kids, who might be too small for other sports, can be found training.”You never know who could be [working out at] the bag next to you,” says Scully, “could be a kid, could be a two-time champion.”
Mansfield, CT, 5/16/2016 – Their bows lit with LED lights, seventy students in the Mansfield Public Schools Suzuki String Program perform the theme from Star Wars at Annie E. Vinton school while on an end-of-the-year tour of the town’s three elementary schools. Suzuki violin teacher Barbara Vaughn said the idea to light bows like light sabres started after student Brendan Kaufold asked if they could “take a vacation from” the standard Suzuki songs during their one-day three-school concert. The Suzuki program in Mansfield has been touring their town’s elementary schools since 1979. Photo by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com
