June 9, 2025 • 9 mins
We spoke with Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Town of Newington Bill DeMaio about the two events happening...the "Newington Goes Country" and "Food Truck Friday."
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning. Thank you for listening to Community Access. My
guest today is Bill Demeyo. He is superintendent of Newington
Parks and Recreation.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good morning, Good morning Alison. How you doing today.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
I'm doing great, Thank you so much for being here.
I love Newington. I live out in Litchfield, but I
work here in Hartford, and I said, gosh, if I
could ever move closer to work, I would pick Newington.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah. I've been a resident of Newington for over sixty
six years and it's a great town and love it dearly.
I came back to it, started as a Parks and
Recreation supervisor back in eighty one in Newington for three years,
and then I left and went to New Britain for
thirty one years and finished out my career. Retired for
two weeks and I was bored and they asked me
(00:42):
to come back to Newington, and so I did.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Wonderful. You have some events that are coming up. Why
the need for these events?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Well, I think you know, we're Our logo is building
a strong community, and I think that's what we're we're
doing at the Parks and Recreation Department in Newington is
we're bringing people together, enjoying these beautiful parks, beautiful facilities
that we have and let people socialize, reconnect with old friends,
make new friends, and just have a great enjoyment family
(01:12):
time together.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I grew up across the street from a park in Waterbury.
I don't tell everybody I'm a Waterbury girl, you know what.
The jokes are just endless, But I love that I'm
born and raised there and growing up across the street.
When I was a child, we had Flora Dora barbershop quartet.
We had these supervisors who were at the park every
single day. I think they were just like college kids
(01:32):
that would just you know, basically be there for us.
And I had the best childhood ever. Parks are the
greatest free things that we can offer children and adults.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
No question about it. I totally agree. And that's I
had the same type of experience in Newington when I
was a child, and go into Elizabeth Green School and
mil Pond and Churchill Park and clen Lmere and so
the bringing it all back and enhancing it and adding
entertainment of all types for all ages, I think really
makes it even more special. And yeah, we're starting with
(02:05):
that foundation. That's why I went into parks and Recreation
and I love every day of working.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Wow, you have come full circle and it sounds like
they have the best person for the job. So your
first event is on Thursday, June twelfth. It's at Mill
Pond Park in Newington. What's happening that day.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Well, I think once the listeners find out what we're doing,
I think there's going to be something for everyone. So
twelfth June twelfth, Newington Ghost Country is our theme. June
thirteenth is Froudruck Friday. So on the thirteenth twelfth, on Thursday,
the theme of Newington goest Country. We're bringing in a
country brand band from Rhode Island and that's Nick Casey
(02:45):
in his band and he's been playing all over Mohigan,
Sun Foxwoods, all over New England and I think people
are going to enjoy that. But we also are bringing
in our Western line dancing instructor, Wendy, and she'll be
teaching people before the band starts some line dances so
that they can participate in the park when the music
begins live. So that's going to be kind of fun
(03:07):
at that area. We also have a walk. This year
is the first time we've ever tried this around beautiful
mill pond pond itself. And there's a new thing cranial
facial patients from doctor Rotoli's in West Harford. She's going
to be doing a fundraiser for that group of people
for six to eighteen year olds to be able to
go to summer camp. So people can still come to
(03:29):
the park and sign up there for only thirty dollars
and they can get a T shirt, a bandana for
the theme of Country Nights, the ten dollars dinner dinner
ticket at the Snackshack, so that'll be kind of fun.
But if the Snackshack's not for people, then we've brought
in just twenty four food trucks. So twenty four food
trucks of all kinds of flavors of from beginning of
(03:52):
coffee and espresso to desserts to full fledged meals. It's
going to be fried dough, it's popcorn, it's it's gotten candy,
it's all that stuff. So that'll be fun. We've got
thirty teams playing cornhole of thirty adult teams and people
can watch that. We have a live animal penning zoo
for the kids. We have creative creative playtime. Preschool is
(04:16):
having a fund zone for two to five year olds,
and that'll be including bounce houses and blue blocks and
all kinds of things for the kids to do. We've
got so many beer and winegardens sponsored by Happy Harry's,
which is always fun for the adults to enjoy. Fair
of the horses coming for the kids to pet and
(04:37):
feed garretts do, so that'll be kind of cool. We
have a mechanical bull riding which is just ridiculous. People
are gonna be able to get on for free ride
the bull fall off into a pillow bear, so that'll
be kind of fun to watch and fun to participate in.
So we really have We have clowns, magicians, stilt walkers,
(04:59):
we have a variety. Oh we have a guy from
New York coming to do lasue rope tricks too. So
we have Western then nights you can take pictures with
your kids behind this big thing, and we bought cowboy
hats for everyone to put on, mustaches and this sheriff
badges and oh it's going to be that'll be fun.
And then we have the of a monster mural which
(05:22):
is I think eighteen feet long five feet wide, and
the little kids can walk up to it and just
color it all in with a Western theme, so that'll
be fun. We have a chip Winger contest, we have
a throw the ball into the clown contest. I don't
think there's anything we're going to miss that night from
five o'clock to ten o'clock at Millpond Park on Thursday,
(05:43):
June twelfth, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Holy cow. I mean, I think I might just camp
out on the street somewhere for both nights because I
don't want to miss this. I want to go.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I know, well, you know, we have something for everyone,
and there's food for everyone, there's drink for everyone of
all ages. We have all kinds of things happening in
the entertainment value. You just walked from section of park
to section of park and you'll have something going on
that's new and exciting, and I think that's what makes
it so popular and enjoyable for the families.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Do people need to purchase tickets ahead of time to attend?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
No, they can. They can go online and enjoying the
walk with the the fundraiser around the pond, but they
could they could also register, you know, just that night too.
So no, I guess it's just go online and maybe
check out our website or our Facebook pages. Our Facebook
page Newington Parks and Recreation, they can see videos that
(06:42):
we've made in advance. Robostherapy is going to be there
before and after the walk to warm people up and
cool them down. We've got Happy Hairy as they told you,
will be there. The Bowl of Rama will be the
big sponsor of Newington Ghost Country and there's a big
that's a big bowling alley in Newington. They're great people,
the Callahans, and we have Vinnie Bonavida's Luxury Labs and
(07:04):
we'll have Porta Potti's everywhere for everyone's convenience. So we
got we have a lot of going on. B and
M Tree Services involved, a year round landscaping, year round
power equipment. Nobody's going to miss out. And then oh
I forgot the Gaga Pit too. We've got physical therapy
and sports medicine and our market Square will be sponsoring
Gaga Pits. So yeah, I think there's there's gonna be
(07:27):
a lot of stuff going on for people, and I
think they're going to enjoy mil Pond Park. Everyone just
has to pray for good weather. It's rain or shine,
but we want it to be nice, of course.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Of course, So tell me, are you looking for vendors, sponsors, donations, volunteers,
anything of the above.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Oh well, we have a waiting list of five food
vendors already, so we're good there. But I know, I
think we're fine. We're in great shape. We just want
people to come. Everything's planned out. All the sponsors are
on our websites and on our Facebook page, and people,
certainly we want you to go to their businesses and
serve them because they've been so good to us. They
(08:03):
give us sponsorship, They give us sponsorship money, and we
in turn by entertainment for people. And the more sponsors
we get, the more entertainment we buy. So I guess
there are any sponsors and businesses that want to get
on in our thirteen thoy five hundred direct mailings of
our brochure, or if they want signage or they want
advertisements in our radio stations. We're doing the iHeartRadio stations
(08:27):
of course, on all ten. So if businesses want to
call me build the mail at the new etonn Parks
and Recruiter Department, I'd be happy to help them. They benefit,
we benefit, and of course the town.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Of Newington benefits wonderful. It's a Newington Goes Country on Thursday,
June twelfth at Millpond Park in Newington from five to ten,
and then it's Food Truck Friday on June thirteenth the
next day from five to ten, again at Millpond Park.
I'm speaking with Bill Demeyo, Superintendent of Newington Parks and Recreation.
That web addresses NEWINGTONCT dot gov forwards slash Parks and
(09:00):
direc or again, just go to Newington Parks and Recreation
on their social media and you can get all of
this information and you can also find out more about
the Kindness three K Walk fundraiser. Thank you so much
for being here today and for serving the community.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
We appreciate the time that you give us and the support.
We hope. We're inviting everyone in the state of Connecticut
to come to Newington and enjoy the parks and enjoy
the activities.
Good morning. Thank you for listening to Community Access. My
guest today is Bill Demeyo. He is superintendent of Newington
Parks and Recreation.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Good morning, Good morning Alison. How you doing today.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
I'm doing great, Thank you so much for being here.
I love Newington. I live out in Litchfield, but I
work here in Hartford, and I said, gosh, if I
could ever move closer to work, I would pick Newington.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah. I've been a resident of Newington for over sixty
six years and it's a great town and love it dearly.
I came back to it, started as a Parks and
Recreation supervisor back in eighty one in Newington for three years,
and then I left and went to New Britain for
thirty one years and finished out my career. Retired for
two weeks and I was bored and they asked me
(00:42):
to come back to Newington, and so I did.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Wonderful. You have some events that are coming up. Why
the need for these events?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Well, I think you know, we're Our logo is building
a strong community, and I think that's what we're we're
doing at the Parks and Recreation Department in Newington is
we're bringing people together, enjoying these beautiful parks, beautiful facilities
that we have and let people socialize, reconnect with old friends,
make new friends, and just have a great enjoyment family
(01:12):
time together.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I grew up across the street from a park in Waterbury.
I don't tell everybody I'm a Waterbury girl, you know what.
The jokes are just endless, But I love that I'm
born and raised there and growing up across the street.
When I was a child, we had Flora Dora barbershop quartet.
We had these supervisors who were at the park every
single day. I think they were just like college kids
(01:32):
that would just you know, basically be there for us.
And I had the best childhood ever. Parks are the
greatest free things that we can offer children and adults.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
No question about it. I totally agree. And that's I
had the same type of experience in Newington when I
was a child, and go into Elizabeth Green School and
mil Pond and Churchill Park and clen Lmere and so
the bringing it all back and enhancing it and adding
entertainment of all types for all ages, I think really
makes it even more special. And yeah, we're starting with
(02:05):
that foundation. That's why I went into parks and Recreation
and I love every day of working.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Wow, you have come full circle and it sounds like
they have the best person for the job. So your
first event is on Thursday, June twelfth. It's at Mill
Pond Park in Newington. What's happening that day.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Well, I think once the listeners find out what we're doing,
I think there's going to be something for everyone. So
twelfth June twelfth, Newington Ghost Country is our theme. June
thirteenth is Froudruck Friday. So on the thirteenth twelfth, on Thursday,
the theme of Newington goest Country. We're bringing in a
country brand band from Rhode Island and that's Nick Casey
(02:45):
in his band and he's been playing all over Mohigan,
Sun Foxwoods, all over New England and I think people
are going to enjoy that. But we also are bringing
in our Western line dancing instructor, Wendy, and she'll be
teaching people before the band starts some line dances so
that they can participate in the park when the music
begins live. So that's going to be kind of fun
(03:07):
at that area. We also have a walk. This year
is the first time we've ever tried this around beautiful
mill pond pond itself. And there's a new thing cranial
facial patients from doctor Rotoli's in West Harford. She's going
to be doing a fundraiser for that group of people
for six to eighteen year olds to be able to
go to summer camp. So people can still come to
(03:29):
the park and sign up there for only thirty dollars
and they can get a T shirt, a bandana for
the theme of Country Nights, the ten dollars dinner dinner
ticket at the Snackshack, so that'll be kind of fun.
But if the Snackshack's not for people, then we've brought
in just twenty four food trucks. So twenty four food
trucks of all kinds of flavors of from beginning of
(03:52):
coffee and espresso to desserts to full fledged meals. It's
going to be fried dough, it's popcorn, it's it's gotten candy,
it's all that stuff. So that'll be fun. We've got
thirty teams playing cornhole of thirty adult teams and people
can watch that. We have a live animal penning zoo
for the kids. We have creative creative playtime. Preschool is
(04:16):
having a fund zone for two to five year olds,
and that'll be including bounce houses and blue blocks and
all kinds of things for the kids to do. We've
got so many beer and winegardens sponsored by Happy Harry's,
which is always fun for the adults to enjoy. Fair
of the horses coming for the kids to pet and
(04:37):
feed garretts do, so that'll be kind of cool. We
have a mechanical bull riding which is just ridiculous. People
are gonna be able to get on for free ride
the bull fall off into a pillow bear, so that'll
be kind of fun to watch and fun to participate in.
So we really have We have clowns, magicians, stilt walkers,
(04:59):
we have a variety. Oh we have a guy from
New York coming to do lasue rope tricks too. So
we have Western then nights you can take pictures with
your kids behind this big thing, and we bought cowboy
hats for everyone to put on, mustaches and this sheriff
badges and oh it's going to be that'll be fun.
And then we have the of a monster mural which
(05:22):
is I think eighteen feet long five feet wide, and
the little kids can walk up to it and just
color it all in with a Western theme, so that'll
be fun. We have a chip Winger contest, we have
a throw the ball into the clown contest. I don't
think there's anything we're going to miss that night from
five o'clock to ten o'clock at Millpond Park on Thursday,
(05:43):
June twelfth, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Holy cow. I mean, I think I might just camp
out on the street somewhere for both nights because I
don't want to miss this. I want to go.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I know, well, you know, we have something for everyone,
and there's food for everyone, there's drink for everyone of
all ages. We have all kinds of things happening in
the entertainment value. You just walked from section of park
to section of park and you'll have something going on
that's new and exciting, and I think that's what makes
it so popular and enjoyable for the families.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Do people need to purchase tickets ahead of time to attend?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
No, they can. They can go online and enjoying the
walk with the the fundraiser around the pond, but they
could they could also register, you know, just that night too.
So no, I guess it's just go online and maybe
check out our website or our Facebook pages. Our Facebook
page Newington Parks and Recreation, they can see videos that
(06:42):
we've made in advance. Robostherapy is going to be there
before and after the walk to warm people up and
cool them down. We've got Happy Hairy as they told you,
will be there. The Bowl of Rama will be the
big sponsor of Newington Ghost Country and there's a big
that's a big bowling alley in Newington. They're great people,
the Callahans, and we have Vinnie Bonavida's Luxury Labs and
(07:04):
we'll have Porta Potti's everywhere for everyone's convenience. So we
got we have a lot of going on. B and
M Tree Services involved, a year round landscaping, year round
power equipment. Nobody's going to miss out. And then oh
I forgot the Gaga Pit too. We've got physical therapy
and sports medicine and our market Square will be sponsoring
Gaga Pits. So yeah, I think there's there's gonna be
(07:27):
a lot of stuff going on for people, and I
think they're going to enjoy mil Pond Park. Everyone just
has to pray for good weather. It's rain or shine,
but we want it to be nice, of course.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Of course, So tell me, are you looking for vendors, sponsors, donations, volunteers,
anything of the above.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Oh well, we have a waiting list of five food
vendors already, so we're good there. But I know, I
think we're fine. We're in great shape. We just want
people to come. Everything's planned out. All the sponsors are
on our websites and on our Facebook page, and people,
certainly we want you to go to their businesses and
serve them because they've been so good to us. They
(08:03):
give us sponsorship, They give us sponsorship money, and we
in turn by entertainment for people. And the more sponsors
we get, the more entertainment we buy. So I guess
there are any sponsors and businesses that want to get
on in our thirteen thoy five hundred direct mailings of
our brochure, or if they want signage or they want
advertisements in our radio stations. We're doing the iHeartRadio stations
(08:27):
of course, on all ten. So if businesses want to
call me build the mail at the new etonn Parks
and Recruiter Department, I'd be happy to help them. They benefit,
we benefit, and of course the town.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Of Newington benefits wonderful. It's a Newington Goes Country on Thursday,
June twelfth at Millpond Park in Newington from five to ten,
and then it's Food Truck Friday on June thirteenth the
next day from five to ten, again at Millpond Park.
I'm speaking with Bill Demeyo, Superintendent of Newington Parks and Recreation.
That web addresses NEWINGTONCT dot gov forwards slash Parks and
(09:00):
direc or again, just go to Newington Parks and Recreation
on their social media and you can get all of
this information and you can also find out more about
the Kindness three K Walk fundraiser. Thank you so much
for being here today and for serving the community.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
We appreciate the time that you give us and the support.
We hope. We're inviting everyone in the state of Connecticut
to come to Newington and enjoy the parks and enjoy
the activities.
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