www.northhavencitizen.com
Volume 17, Number 41
Friday, October 14, 2022
Home Depot: Building bonds one event at a time By David Matos Record-Journal staff
tivity was completely free for children up to 12 years old.
Sounds of hammering and laughter echoed while children and their families put together do-it-yourself wood kits at the Spanish Community of Wallingford (SCOW), in partnership with The Home Depot.
According to Jonathan Wilder, operations manager for the North Haven location of The Home Depot, every month the company celebrates a topic involving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). “We were looking to see how we can tie what we talk about in our stores with DEI through the community,” Wilder said.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the mega store hosted a woodworking activity at the non-profit organization on Saturday. Like most SCOW events, the ac-
Peggy O’Connor helps her son, Nico O’Connor, and daughter, Isabel O’Connor, build their wood sets at The Home Depot and SCOW event on Saturday, Oct. 8. David Matos, Record-Journal
The store also has a commuSee SCOW, A12
GAYLORD HOSPITAL
Serving health care needs for 120 years By Jessica Simms Record-Journal staff
Local Girl Scout Abby Esterheld, center, is pictured with her sister Maddy Esterheld and Clintonville Elementary School Principal Lauretta Dowling. Photo provided by Maggie Esterheld
Girl Scout project helps new students feel welcome
By Nicole Zappone The Citizen
As a Girl Scout, local student Abby Esterheld was tasked with doing something to give back to her community. Working with her friends and fellow Girl Scouts Harper Semanchik, Vera Se-
manchik and Kylie Morgan, across three towns, the youngsters came up with the concept of starting welcome committees at their schools. “We all found that the problem with new kids not feeling welcome enough is spread See Project, A11
WALLINGFORD — The 120-year history of Gaylord Hospital is rooted in patient-centered care spanning two pandemics. “When you think about the patient it has really helped us make decisions about how to cure them,” said Tara Knapp, vice president of external affairs for Gaylord Specialty Healthcare. “I think that really did help us with both the tuberculosis and the COVID pandemics because we always looked at the impact and how it helps the patient.” Over the years, Gaylord has expanded to include more technology and more out-
Patient Mary Cassidy, of Norwich, is assisted by Bill Neidel, supervisor inpatient therapy, and Dr. Astou Seye, chief hospitalist, on July 26 during a strength training walk at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Wallingford. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
patient opportunities. Gaylord has locations in Cheshire, Cromwell, North Haven and Madison. Gaylord Sanatorium was founded in 1902 at the height of the tuberculosis pandemic. A group of doctors met to create the New Haven County Anti Tuberculosis Association. The group purchased an un-
used family farm in Wallingford from Dr. Charles Gaylord. In 1904, the sanatorium opened to its first six patients. Eugene O’Neill, the first American playwright to win a Nobel Prize for literature, would be treated for tuberculosis at Gaylord in 1912. See Gaylord, A10