Bruce Conroy for Wallingford

09/06/2025

40.1K likes, 576 comments. “Happy Labor Day”

07/22/2025

Yesterday I attended the rally by the Carpenters Local 326 at Meriden City Hall about the death of one of my brother carpenters while working on a non-union job for AR Builders on Bee Street in Meriden. After the rally, I addressed the Council and expressed my frustration that 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝟱𝟬 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. My point is simple, we told them that when a contractor breaks rules about wages he is most likely breaking buidling and safety codes as well. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮. 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗮 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱, leaving behind a wife and children. This young man went to work to feed his family and while standing on top of a wall setting roof trusses with his brother on the opposite wall, the machine that was not rated to lift and extend the trusses, tipped forward, the truss hit Elvin Monson Guzman and knocked him from the wall to his death. Now his wife and 3 children are without him, and his brother will forever hold the memory of that day. We asked the State Legislature to make General Contractors responsible for the companies they hire and for two years we have been denied because our legislators are afraid to make regulations that hold General Contractors responsible for the companies that they hire. Meriden officials, both municipal and state should come forward and do more than tell us that the Guzman family is in their thoughts and prayers, they should take steps to make sure that the people that work in our towns, that literally build Connecticut, don't have to worry if they wont make it home in the same condition as when the left to goto work. We have helped alot of legislators win seats in this state, but from now on, we want something back, we want accountability. Accountability from contractors and from our elected officials that are supposed to be there to serve the people. North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
https://www.wfsb.com/2025/07/22/union-members-call-safety-after-worker-killed-meriden-construction-site/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLsXChleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0UG1zQ2M5YjFNTFFzVEFLAR5CwbMRnUn2UUns_d0RBNOKroRD6payih8BELWtWGWd8D2WZ7cTY8JhNV0J0A_aem_1TifuiF5oVpTwOSRQoSXwA0

Union workers rallied in Meriden on Monday night to raise concerns at a construction site in the city where a worker was killed back in May, claiming his death should have never happened.

05/30/2025

It’s a busy (busy as a bee) time of year. Colony management includes checking mite counts, providing additional space for growing populations, and monitoring for potential swarm activity.

08/26/2024

𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟴𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿!
Exhibits! Enter yours now. Vegetables, floral arrangements, canning, knitting etc.. All accepted until drop off on Sept 13 (2-4p and 5-7p)
Show off your baking skills by entering the State Baking Contest for both adults and juniors.
Adults- Zebra Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Juniors- Hermits
Or the State Two Crusted Apple Pie

Look for the Premium Books with the lists for entries and entry form at the Library, Senior Center, and various shops around town, or this link online copy.
http://www.wallingfordgrange.org/downloads/14/2024%20Grange%20Fair%20Premium%20book.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawErg_5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWTBl19UhzV3uWWBElnsKPnROMQY2AtbX2aO6othLEoWQ7lHX3rpCcrUPw_aem_ds_LGWVhmxDFW-yGlrcVRA
See you there!

04/19/2024

Installing 2 new colonies tonight. We had some die off and I wanted to add some new Italians to the mix this year.

03/28/2024

Every 96 minutes a construction workers dies in this country. That is one percent of the the workforce for construction every year. That is the highest rate of any profession, literally the most dangerous job.

12/31/2023

So I keep hearing that 2023 was a bad year. I think 2023 was pretty good. Sure inflation sucked, but work was steady. CT has 15 or 20 years of infrastructure maintainence and upgrade projects already planned. Work looks like it might be so busy, that I will only get a month off. Here’s to 2024 being even better, especially if we can keep labor friendly people in charge. So if you had a bad year, I feel for you, but don’t rain on my parade.
Happy New Year everyone!!!

12/25/2023

Yet again more signs from this group that pretends to be patriots. These signs sound good until you look at what motivates these people and that they remain faceless, preferring to stay in the shadows, instead of standing in the open the open to give credibility, they hide behind blurred faces. Let me be clear, these people promote revolution and the destruction of our nation. They don't like our current two party system, neither do I, but what they want is one party. Sound familiar? These people are not patriots, they are no better than the men that murdered murdered 168 people in Oklahoma city, including 19 children or the terrorists that murdered 2,996 people on 911, not counting the heroes that died doing their duty. These people are not patriots, they are radicalized activists that seem harmless now, but remember other fascist movement started quietly and under the guise of well meaning workers and patriots. While there is little I can do to stop them, I can remove every sign I see posted. If these cowards want to be taken seriously, then have a peaceful demonstration in front of town hall, or they can remain hidden behind a cravens veil.
American Patriots come in all shapes and sizes, jewish, christian, islamic, buddhist, native, immigrant, and many more. What a patriot is not is a person that hides behind a mask or hood and nail up sign in the middle of the night. These signs are not the same as pamphlets spread by patriots before our independence, these are anti semetic,, pro-russian tyranny, anti gay, anti freedom trash.
The following is a quote from this groups manifesto.
"To form a new and just State, we must first instill a reformed national spirit within our people — a people free from the vices of the modern world and a people with a fervor to see themselves free." from the Patriot Front manifesto.
I urge everyone that sees a sign to take it down, ask me to take it down or call the police and insist that the take it down.
We will hold the line against these pro autocratic fascists.

12/18/2023

Need a trade? CT carpenters need a new generation of tradespeople. Being a Union carpenter has changed my life. We are going to need a lot of new people to staff all the work coming in the future and they will need to start training now. Know anyone who is interested? Have them contact our apprenticeship and ask how to get started.

https://www.carpenterslocal326.com/committees
North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
Carpenters Local 326

The North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund is a training program jointly sponsored by the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and our signatory building contractors. Through its programs, the North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund offers training in residential and ...

11/26/2023

Always a great time, come visit me by the firepit near the gazebo.

Spotlight on Wallingford’s Holiday Stroll. Less than 2 weeks away! SHOP, DINE, & WIN during the 14th Annual Holiday Stroll on December 1st from 4pm-9pm in Downtown Wallingford! 🛍️🍽️✨