Southington's 'America 250' Group Is Ready To Go

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Next year, the country is planning one massive celebration of the nation's birthday, the biggest since the famous 1976 Bicentennial.

And in Southington, the town's top elected body, specifically its chairman, officially appointed the town subcommittee that will oversee events for the town's 2026 America 250 committee.

Southington Town Council Chairman Paul Chaplinsky appointed five members and two ex officio members in August 11 to the newly formed council subcommittee.

Appointed to the committee were: Colleen Clark, David Derynoski, Tony Morrison, Mike Scavetta, and Victoria Triano.

Ex officio members appointed to the group were D.J. Voisine and Christona Volpe, two Town of Southington staff members.

Volpe heads The Barnes Museum, and Voisine is the assistant director of the Southington Parks and Recreation Department.

In July 2026, the U.S. will celebrate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, with communities nationwide planning myriad events in celebration of this milestone.

Similar to 1976, the 2026 celebration will examine historical events and tie them to local history, with practically every municipality appointing a committee nationwide.

The committee will then operate under the state and national America 250 organizations, which are behind national celebrations and events tied to the country's 250th.

Morrison, a Southington Town Council member and one of the members of the Southington America 250 committee, addressed the formation of the committee to colleagues last month.

"We now have a list of names to be on that committee, and we now have a way of working, which is to have a very small committee, in terms of the number of people on it, but one that is capable of organizing something like this," Morrison said the last time the council met.

He said committee members will reach out to all "institutions in town" to "celebrate the next year the founding of our great nation."

After being added to the Aug. 11 agenda, Chaplinsky formally appointed the members of the committee, setting in motion Southington's America 250 plans.

For the minutes of the Aug. 11 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For more information on the Connecticut America 250 organization, click on this link.

For more information on the national America 250 operation, click on this link.

From June 26: 'Did Washington Sleep In Southington? Find Out At Library Program'