The fate of trees growing on a wooded piece of property owned by the town near Robertson Airport is still pending.

Who is your hometown hero? That’s the question residents of Plainville, Berlin, New Britain and Southington are again being asked as the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain seeks nominations for its fifth annual Celebrate Our Communities! awards program.

For many years, Town Historian Ruth S. Hummel, who has been described as “adventurous” and a “good sport,” has had a major to-do list of life’s goals. During the 2009 Memorial Day parade, as grand marshal, she finally got to ride in the cab of a fire engine.

The Conservation Commission, which has been doing periodic cleanups and maintenance work at Tomasso Nature Park, would like to get the town a little more involved.

Human visitors to Tomasso Nature Park on Saturday, July 11 will be able to not only learn about native animals, they will be able to see many of them firsthand while learning about their habits and habitats.

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Photo courtesy of Julie Collier

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Julie Collier and her golden eagle Lakota will present an educational program at the 20th anniversary celebration of Tomasso Nature Park Saturday, July 11.

A cheery crowd gathered at Norton Park on June 16 to celebrate the town’s 140th anniversary of officially breaking away from “Mother Farmington.”

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Photo by Ruth S. Hummel

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Children parade at Norton Park June 16 during the Plainville Wind Ensemble concert, which marked the town's 140th birthday celebration. Earl Carey Sr. hands out flags.

“Memorial Day, the graveyard gates stood open,” brother said.

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Town Historian Ruth S. Hummel, 40-year former president of the Plainville Historical Society, is making history in her own right after being selected as the first civilian in recent memory to be grand marshal of the Memorial Day Parade, set for Monday.

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Citizen photo by Robin Lee Michel

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Ruth Hummel, who has been selected as the Memorial Day Parade marshal, won the Celebrate Plainville! Award in 2008.

Ghosts of Christmas past are not necessarily the scary kind we see in films such as "A Christmas Carol." They can be benign, funny, fun or sad.

At the Plainville Historic Center, "Christmases Past" are preserved with tender and considerate care. Folks who have entrusted their treasures to the historical society expect no less.

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Photo courtesy of Ruth S. Hummel

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At the Plainville Historic Center dolls are part of the holiday display. Town historian and columnist whimsically reflects on what happens after hours at the museum on Christmas Eve.