'Ride Shotgun' With South Windsor Historians At Video Screening

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — For three years, South Windsor natives John "Duke" Mason and Joe Krawski have been creating videos highlighting their town's history, places and people.

Mason, a former Hartford Courant writer, and Krawski, a retired South Windsor math teacher, record their town's residents talking about historic events and places, Mason said, and they've highlighted town organizations and traditions as well.

To date, they have produced more than a dozen episodes of their show, "Riding Shotgun with Joe Krawski." The videos can be found on Mason's YouTube channel, but the public is invited to watch them alongside some of their subjects on Friday.

Mason will be joined by Ernie Hintz, Sally Edlund and Ed Havens — three people featured in recent episodes — for a screening at the South Windsor Community Center (150 Nevers Road) on Friday at 11 a.m.

Edlund is a historian at the South Windsor Historical Society, Havens is what Mason called a "longtime town leader" and Hintz is the only living former owner of an independent pharmacy in South Windsor, Mason said.

"What I like to do with Andrea (Cofrancesco, director of human services) over at the senior center is just, every second month put on a show with the work that I've done," Mason said.

So if you can't make it on Friday, don't worry — you'll have more opportunities to watch Mason's work live, as he said he hosts showings of his videos "when and where (he) can."

Registration for the screening is free, and community members can register by calling (860) 648-6361 ext. 3335.