From Dorchester Heights to Cheshire’s Hills: The Enduring Legacy of Captain Lucius Tuttle

 All About Cheshire Ct

 Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0

Few figures in Cheshire’s early history embody the full arc of the American Revolution quite like Captain Lucius Tuttle (1749–1846). Soldier, officer, builder, and community leader, Tuttle’s life traces a path from the chaos of the Revolution’s opening battles to the steady growth of a new American town. His story is not just one of service, but of experience—hard-earned in pivotal moments—that later shaped the defense and development of Cheshire itself.

Forged in the Opening Campaigns of the Revolution

Lucius Tuttle answered the call to arms in 1775, joining the Connecticut Militia in the immediate aftermath of Lexington and Concord. Early in the war, he served as a Sergeant in Captain John Moss’s company during the Siege of Boston. It was here, in March 1776, that Tuttle took part in one of the most decisive and ingenious operations of the war: the fortification of Dorchester Heights.

Working through a single frigid night, Tuttle and his fellow soldiers hauled artillery and constructed defensive works using timber, earth, fascines, and gabions. By dawn, the American forces had secured the high ground overlooking Boston Harbor. The effect was immediate and profound—the British, now vulnerable, evacuated the city shortly thereafter. Tuttle’s role in this effort placed him at the center of a strategic turning point, one built not just on battlefield courage, but on engineering precision and logistical discipline.

Later that same year, Tuttle experienced the opposite end of the military spectrum at the Battle of Long Island. Serving as an Orderly Sergeant, he witnessed the overwhelming force of the British Army during their New York campaign. The battle culminated in a desperate but masterful American retreat across the East River under cover of darkness and fog—a moment that demanded discipline under extreme pressure.

These early campaigns were formative. They exposed Tuttle to both victory and near disaster, providing him with a practical education in terrain use, fortification, and unit cohesion under stress.

Leadership in the 10th Connecticut Militia

Returning to Connecticut, Tuttle rose through the ranks—serving as Ensign, Lieutenant, and
ultimately Captain in the 10th Regiment of the Connecticut Militia. His promotion was not incidental; it reflected demonstrated competence in some of the war’s most critical operations, a fact noted in historical accounts such as Beach’s History of Cheshire.

As Captain, Tuttle commanded a company drawn largely from Cheshire and Wallingford. His responsibilities extended beyond traditional battlefield leadership. He was tasked with training, organizing, and maintaining readiness among local men—many of whom balanced military duty with farming and family life.

His wartime experience translated into two key advantages:

Engineering and Tactical Awareness: Having helped fortify Dorchester Heights, Tuttle understood how to rapidly construct defensive positions. In Connecticut, this meant leveraging natural terrain—stone walls, hills, and wooded cover—to create effective resistance points.

Psychological Resilience: After surviving the chaos of Long Island, Tuttle brought a steady hand to militia command. During sudden “alarms”—warnings of British raids—his ability to maintain order and discipline proved critical.

Defending the Connecticut Coast

The role of the 10th Connecticut Militia was largely defensive, focused on protecting the New Haven area and surrounding coastline from British incursions launched from Long Island Sound. These were not abstract threats; British forces regularly conducted raids designed to disrupt supplies, destroy property, and intimidate colonial populations.

Tuttle’s company played an active role in responding to several major events:

The Danbury Raid (1777): When British troops under General William Tryon advanced

inland to destroy Continental supplies, militia units—including Tuttle’s—mobilized quickly. They joined other forces in harassing the British retreat through Ridgefield, using irregular tactics to slow and disrupt the enemy.

Captain Lucius Tuttle (1749–1846)

Tryon’s Raid on New Haven (1779): This large-scale assault brought approximately 2,600 British troops ashore. Tuttle’s men were among over 1,000 militia who mustered from surrounding towns to resist the invasion. Though unable to fully repel the attack, their resistance demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated local defense.

Ongoing Coastal Watch: Between major engagements, Tuttle’s company performed continuous picket duty—monitoring for British ships, preventing foraging raids, and protecting local farms and infrastructure.

When alarms sounded—often signaled by cannon fire or beacon lights—Tuttle was responsible for assembling his men at local meeting houses before marching toward threatened areas. These rapid-response mobilizations were essential to Connecticut’s defensive strategy.

A Bridge Between Military and Community

As a militia captain, Tuttle occupied a dual role. He was both a military officer and a civic leader, serving as a liaison between state command and local residents. He ensured that arms were distributed, orders were followed, and that Cheshire remained prepared for sudden threats.

Unlike Continental Army soldiers, militia members were “short-time men,” allowing them to remain close to home. This structure made leaders like Tuttle especially important—they had to balance readiness with the realities of civilian life.

Records from lineage organizations, including the Sons of the American Revolution, confirm that Cheshire men such as Corporal Gideon Bristol served directly under Tuttle’s command, reinforcing his central role in the town’s wartime organization.

Life After the War

Following the Revolution, Lucius Tuttle transitioned into civilian life while remaining a prominent figure in the community. He married Hannah Hull in 1773, and together they raised a large family of ten children.

Tuttle lived long enough to witness extraordinary change. When he was born in 1749, Cheshire was still part of Wallingford. By 1790, he saw it become an independent town, and over the next decades, he watched the young United States evolve into a growing nation.

He contributed to local industry as well, reportedly manufacturing bricks for the old Episcopal Academy—an example of how veterans helped build the physical foundations of their communities after the war.

Family and Legacy

The Tuttle family became deeply woven into Cheshire’s social fabric. His children lived long lives and established connections with other prominent local families. Notably, his daughter Esther married Levi Doolittle, linking the Tuttles with another Revolutionary-era lineage.

Lucius Tuttle himself lived to the remarkable age of 97, passing away on June 27, 1846. He is buried in Hillside Cemetery in Cheshire, where his legacy endures. In 1976, a commemorative plaque placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution honored him and other Revolutionary War soldiers interred there.

Remembering a Foundational Figure

Captain Lucius Tuttle’s life represents more than military service—it reflects the transition from colony to country, from conflict to community. He was present at defining moments of the Revolution, from the strategic triumph at Dorchester Heights to the perilous retreat at Long Island. He then carried those lessons home, helping defend Connecticut’s coastline and stabilize a region under threat.

In the years that followed, he helped build the very town he had fought to protect.

Today, his story remains a cornerstone of Cheshire’s historical identity—a reminder that the town’s roots are not only local, but national, grounded in the experiences of those who shaped the earliest days of the United States.

Captain Lucius Tuttle

Town of Cheshire

Captain Lucius Tuttle

Cheshire Historical Society

The Great Unplugging: Cheshire Students Rediscover Life Without the “Smart Phones”

All About Cheshire Ct

 Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0

In a world where the average teenager can scroll through more content before first period than previous generations saw in a week of cable TV, Cheshire Public Schools quietly attempted something almost heretical: they took the phones away.

What followed, according to educators across the district, was not the collapse of modern civilization—but something far more surprising. Students began talking.

From Silent Scrolling to the Loud Lunchroom

When Cheshire Public Schools implemented a strict “no cell phone” policy several years ago, the early response from students reportedly moved through all the familiar stages—denial, bargaining, existential despair, and eventually acceptance (with occasional side-eye toward enforcement).

Before the policy shift, teachers like Taryn DiSorbo in mathematics classes observed a familiar modern tableau: rows of students, heads angled downward, illuminated by the soft glow of infinite feeds. Conversation, when it occurred, was often mediated through screens rather than voices.

Today, educators such as science teacher Susan
Chasen describe a noticeably different environment. Class transitions and lunch periods—once defined by near silence punctuated only by tapping thumbs—have become, in her words, “actively social again.”

Even lunchrooms, once resembling quiet zones of individual consumption, are now described by regional administrators as “noticeably louder.” The implication is simple: when students are no longer documenting their cafeteria pizza for social media, they actually have time to eat it—and talk to the person sitting across from them.

The Return of “Problems” That Used to Be Normal

Across Connecticut districts experimenting with phone restrictions, a series of unexpected side effects has emerged—some of them almost retro in character.

The Reading Revival: Without constant access to short-form video content, some students have reportedly rediscovered physical books during downtime. A development once considered unremarkable is now occasionally framed as noteworthy.

Strategic Boredom: In a few schools, the absence of digital entertainment created what staff jokingly refer to as the “I’m bored phenomenon.” The solution has been surprisingly analog: puzzles, board games, and the occasional Rubik’s Cube have made a return to cafeterias and study halls.

Vintage Communication Methods: Teachers also note the resurgence of handwritten note-passing. While not formally encouraged, there is a certain nostalgia attached to watching students carefully fold paper messages—an early form of encryption that predates both emojis and group chats.

Teaching in the Attention Economy

For educators, the shift has required adaptation. Competing with algorithmically optimized
entertainment is no small task, and teachers across Cheshire have responded with increasingly dynamic lesson strategies.

Some instructors now prepare multiple versions of the same lesson, adjusting pacing and delivery in real time based on student engagement. The goal, as one teacher described it, is to “stay ahead of the attention curve”—a phrase that would have been meaningless a generation ago.

Veteran educators, including those with decades of experience in Cheshire classrooms, note that while attention spans may feel more fragmented than in previous eras, student interaction has become more immediate and visible. The “light,” as some describe it, hasn’t disappeared—it’s simply redirected.

A Community Effort, Not Just a School Rule

The phone policy did not emerge in isolation. District leadership, including Superintendent Jeff Solan, positioned the initiative as part of a broader conversation about digital balance and youth wellbeing.

Community-wide reading initiatives—such as discussions around The Anxious Generation and How to Break Up with Your Phone—were introduced to parents and staff as shared reference points. Assistant Principal Kristin Pelz has emphasized that the objective is not restriction for its own sake, but the cultivation of healthier long-term habits around technology.

The policy also serves a practical purpose often summarized in district discussions as “equity of distraction”—if no one has a phone, no one is simultaneously experiencing group chat drama in real time.

The Town-Level Paradox: Unplugging in an Always-Connected World

For longtime Cheshire residents, the conversation around digital disengagement carries an added layer of irony. The town that once relied on landlines, rotary phones, and the occasional busy signal now exists inside a continuous stream of notifications, updates, and group messages.

In earlier decades, leaving the house meant being temporarily unreachable. The absence of contact was not a problem to solve—it was simply life. Today, disconnection requires intention. Even a short break from devices can feel less like stepping away from technology and more like stepping out of circulation entirely.

For residents who have lived through Cheshire’s evolution from rotary dials to fiber optics, the contrast is particularly striking. The town is more informed, more connected, and more digitally integrated than ever—but also more mentally crowded.

The Irony of “Relearning” Old Habits

Perhaps the most understated irony in Cheshire’s current experiment is that many of the behaviors being “reintroduced” in schools—conversation at lunch, reading during free time, handwritten notes—were once simply ordinary.

What has changed is not the activities themselves, but the cultural baseline. In 2026, rediscovering analog interaction can feel almost innovative.

And yet, within Cheshire classrooms, something relatively simple appears to be happening: when the glowing rectangles disappear, people tend to look up. And when they look up, they notice each other.

Whether that shift is permanent, cyclical, or simply a pause in a much larger technological arc remains an open question. But for now, in at least some corners of Cheshire, conversation is making a quiet comeback.

Containment vs. Intervention: How the Protocols of 2007 Reshaped the Modern Response

 All About Cheshire CT

 Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0

Containment vs. Intervention: How the Protocols of 2007 Reshaped the Modern Response

In the collective memory of Cheshire, the year 2007 remains a jagged scar. While the tragedy on Sorghum Mill Drive is known globally, local history buffs and long-time residents remember that it was actually the second time that year the town's ranch-style homes became scenes of unthinkable violence. Five months before the July home invasion, the events at 215 Norton Lane set a tactical precedent that would haunt the department for decades.

Today, as we look back from 2026, the question isn't just "what happened?" but "what if it happened today?" The answer lies in a fundamental shift from a "Columbine-era" containment mindset to a modern "Immediate Action" philosophy.

The February Norton Lane Incident:

On February 25, 2007, the Cheshire Police Department was called to Norton Lane. Tadeusz Winiarski, 51, had entered the home of his ex-wife, Urszula Winiarski, and his stepdaughter, Marzena Ladziejewska, with a shotgun. Two children, ages 12 and 14, managed to escape to a neighbor’s house to call 911.

The police response was textbook for 2007:

The Action: Officers established a cold perimeter. The Cheshire Special Tactics Team arrived and began a methodical, slow clearance. Newspaper photos from the time famously showed tactical officers using ladders to "pick through" windows, moving with extreme caution.

The Result: By the time they entered, the violence was over. Winiarski had already killed his family and himself.

The Lesson: Because the "wait and see" approach didn't "cause" the deaths (as they occurred before police arrived), the containment model was viewed as a tactical success. It reinforced the belief that the safest way to handle a barricaded suspect was to wait for the specialists.

The July Breakdown: Sorghum Mill Drive

When the call came in at 9:21 AM on July 23, 2007, the department applied the same "Norton Lane" logic to a fundamentally different situation. The Bank manager explicitly warned dispatchers that if the police were seen, the suspects would kill the children.

The timeline of that morning reveals a rigid adherence to a "static" protocol during a "dynamic" nightmare:

9:25 AM: The Police are notified that suspects are heading back to the house.

9:30 AM – 9:50 AM: Police establish a blockade. The Police Captain orders officers not to approach the home. They wait for the Regional Task Force, believing the situation is "static" because they hear no noise.

9:54 AM: Dr. William Petit escapes the basement, revealing the true horror inside.

9:56 AM: Accelerants are lit. The Cheshire Fire Department arrives but is ordered by police to hold at the perimeter for "scene safety."

9:58 AM: The suspects ram a blockading Police cruiser in an attempt to escape.

The tragedy was that while the Police Officers and others had visuals on the house, the "protocol" acted as an invisible wall. The department treated a moving, violent crime like a stationary standoff.

The Pattern: The "Static" Fallacy

The comparison between February and July reveals a psychological carry-over. At Norton Lane, silence meant the threat was over. On Sorghum Mill Drive, silence meant the crime was being methodically executed.

The 2007 doctrine prioritized:

Isolation: Keeping the suspects in the house.

Negotiation: Waiting for a phone line to be established.

Specialization: Deferring all entry to SWAT units.

Critics later argued this was a "Columbine-era" mistake. Just as police at Columbine waited outside while shooters were active, Cheshire police waited at the perimeter while a home invasion was active.

What If It Happened Today? (The 2026 Perspective)

If a similar 911 call were received today, (National Guidance would be if not in the 06410,) the response would be unrecognizable to an observer from 2007. The shift from Containment to Immediate Action Rapid Deployment (IARD) has changed everything.

1. The End of the "Wait for SWAT"

In 2026, the first two or three officers on the scene—patrol officers, not just SWAT—are trained and expected to form a "contact team" and enter the building if there is a belief that life-threatening violence is ongoing. The "Captain’s Order" to stay back would likely be replaced by an "Immediate Action" mandate.

2. Dynamic Threat Assessment

Modern dispatchers and supervisors are trained to recognize a "Tiger Kidnapping" or "Dynamic Home Invasion." The moment a suspect takes a hostage to a bank, the situation is flagged as high-mobility and high-violence. The "static" assumption is dead.

3. Integrated Fire/EMS Response

Today, "Rescue Task Forces" allow firefighters and paramedics to enter "warm zones" (areas secured but not yet cleared) with police protection. The several-minute delay that allowed the Petit home to become an inferno would be mitigated by modern ballistic-vest-wearing fire crews working in tandem with police.

4. Technological Intercession

With drone technology and high-resolution thermal imaging now standard for many regional tasks forces, the "blindness" that plagued officers in 2007 would be gone. Police would likely know exactly where every occupant was located before even stepping on the porch.

The Lasting Legacy

The Cheshire Police were cleared of legal wrong doing in 2007 because they followed the rules of the time. But those rules were written for a different world.

The ghosts of Norton Lane and Sorghum Mill Drive eventually forced a total reimagining of Connecticut's criminal justice system—from the creation of the Home Invasion felony to the total overhaul of parole and police training. In 2026, we don't just "contain and wait." We intervene. The tragedy of 2007 taught Cheshire—and the world—that in the face of a dynamic threat, protocol must never be allowed to become a barrier to protection.

Editor’s Note

During the June 22, 2018 standoff on Fairway Drive in Cheshire, Connecticut, the initial response from law enforcement followed an escalating domestic violence call. 

Initial Police Actions

Arrival and Victim Rescue: At approximately 7:04 p.m., Cheshire Police responded to 137 Fairway Drive following reports of a domestic dispute and possible hostage situation. Upon arrival, officers successfully enabled the victim to flee the residence safely. 

Response to Gunfire: Shortly after the victim escaped, Cameron Pernin emerged from the home onto a rear porch armed with a semi-automatic handgun and wearing a bulletproof vest. Pernin began firing at the officers first. 

Returning Fire: In response to Pernin's shots, three Cheshire police officers returned fire. Pernin was struck at least once, reportedly in the hand. 

Barricade and Standoff: After being wounded, Pernin retreated back into the house and barricaded himself inside. No police officers were injured during the exchange of gunfire. 

Negotiation and Surrender: Police maintained contact with Pernin via telephone, with "desk personnel" and Pernin's family members pleading for his surrender. He surrendered approximately 20 minutes after retreating into the home. 

Arrest and Charges: Pernin was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and later faced multiple charges, including attempted first-degree assault on police officers, risk of injury to a minor, and criminal possession of a firearm.

The incident June 22, 2018. While the initial actions taken by the police during the Fairway Drive standoff—returning fire when fired upon and subsequently establishing a perimeter—correspond directly to standard operating procedures that police departments, including Cheshire’s, follow today, it is important to note the evolution of law enforcement doctrine since that time.

While the fundamental response to an immediate armed threat remains rooted in containment and defensive action, modern strategies regarding barricaded individuals have become increasingly sophisticated. Current operational focuses for the Cheshire Police Department and surrounding regional jurisdictions now place an even greater emphasis on:

• Strategic Patience: Utilizing time as a primary resource to allow tensions to subside.

• Specialized Units: The immediate mobilization of dedicated Crisis Negotiation Teams (CNT).

• Mental Health Integration: The use of co-responder teams to provide clinical insight during de-escalation efforts.

These advancements represent a continued refinement of tactical philosophy, prioritizing the preservation of life through a balance of firm containment and proactive communication.

A History of The Official Cheshire Community Forum

 

 Behind the Curtain of Cheshire Connecticut’s Facebook Group: A History of The Official Cheshire Community Forum

All About Cheshire Ct

 Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0

In the digital age, the "town square" has largely migrated to social media, and in Cheshire, Connecticut, few platforms have sparked as much conversation as the Facebook group now known as The Official Cheshire Community Forum. Established during a period of shifting digital moderation standards, the group has carved out a unique—and often debated—niche within the local community.

Founding and Rebranding

The group’s origins date back to March 4, 2019, when it was launched under the title The Real Cheshire Community Forum. The creator, Jason Zandri, a figure well-versed in both the technological landscape and the nuances of Connecticut municipal governance, sought to provide a space for residents to engage in town-related discourse.

The forum underwent a significant branding shift on November 17, 2020, changing its name to The Official Cheshire Community Forum. This transition occurred during a period of heightened social media activity, as residents increasingly relied on digital platforms for real-time updates on local health policies, school board decisions, and municipal elections.

Philosophy: The "Unfiltered" Alternative

What distinguishes this forum from other local digital spaces, such as The Original Cheshire CT Community Forum, is its foundational philosophy regarding moderation. While many community groups enforce strict "kindness" or "civility" codes that allow moderators to remove posts deemed negative or argumentative, the Official Cheshire Community Forum markets itself as a "not censored" or "unfiltered" alternative.

The group’s operational framework is built on several key pillars:

• The Single Hard Rule: The primary restriction enforced is a prohibition on vulgarity and swear words. This is maintained to ensure a baseline of public decency while allowing the content of the speech to remain unrestricted.

• Encouraged Free Speech: The group’s description explicitly invites members to share opinions that may be controversial or critical of local institutions. The administration maintains that members will not be blocked for harboring differing viewpoints.

• Institutional Independence: The forum operates entirely independently of the Town of Cheshire government. This lack of official oversight is intended to encourage candid feedback on municipal issues, tax mill rates, and zoning developments.

• Local Residency: Membership is primarily intended for individuals who live or work within the 06410 zip code, ensuring the dialogue remains relevant to the immediate community.

Leadership and Administration

The leadership of the forum is comprised of individuals with deep ties to the Cheshire and Wallingford areas.

Jason Zandri (Founder) Though he eventually handed over the primary management of the group, Zandri’s influence remains a cornerstone of its history. A Lead Technical Trainer at Microsoft as of 2026, Zandri brought a professional background in AI and Cloud Infrastructure to the management of local digital spaces. His tenure as a Wallingford Town Councilor and his prolific work as an author (notably the I, Hero and As Life Goes series) provided him with a unique perspective on the intersection of public policy and community storytelling.

Gregory DeMatties (Lead Administrator) The most visible face of the group’s current administration is Gregory DeMatties. A resident of Cheshire for over a decade, DeMatties has frequently used his platform to advocate for transparency. His personal experiences—including navigating the Cheshire Planning and Zoning process to build his own home—often inform his perspective on local issues. DeMatties is known for his vocal defense of the group’s "no censorship" policy, framing it as a necessary tool for authentic civic engagement.

Alexander V. Laskin (Administrator) Working alongside DeMatties, Alexander Laskin has served in an administrative capacity since the group's early developmental stages. Laskin assists in the operational management of the forum, ensuring that the group remains functional as it grows in membership and influence.

Impact on the Cheshire Community

The presence of The Official Cheshire Community Forum has created a dualistic landscape for local online interaction. Proponents argue that the group provides a vital service by allowing for the "raw" truth of resident sentiment to surface, particularly regarding sensitive topics like property revaluation and local budgets. Critics, however, often point to the "unfiltered" nature of the group as a catalyst for heated exchanges that might be mitigated by more traditional moderation.

Regardless of one's stance on its moderation style, the forum remains a central repository for local information, debates, and community connection, reflecting the complex and evolving nature of small-town discourse in the 21st century.

Behind the Facebook Groups "Cheshire Today" and "All About Cheshire Ct"

 Behind the Curtain of Cheshire Connecticut’s Facebook Groups "Cheshire Today" and "All About Cheshire Ct"

All About Cheshire Ct

 Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0

In a town of roughly 29,000 residents, the traditional “town square” of Cheshire, Connecticut has steadily migrated from the steps of Town Hall to the ever-refreshing feeds of local Facebook groups. What was once discussed face-to-face is now debated, documented, and archived in real time online. These digital spaces have become essential—whether someone is searching for a lost pet, promoting a community event, or weighing in on school board decisions. But behind the posts and comment threads lies a more complex ecosystem, where each group operates with its own philosophy, tone, and boundaries.

The Curated Community: Cheshire Today

At the center of Cheshire’s more structured digital discourse is the Cheshire Today Facebook group, an extension of the broader Cheshire Today e-magazine. Its mission is clear: preserve and present the positive, historical, and human-interest stories that define the town.

The group is currently experiencing a shift in leadership dynamics. While Richard Smith—often known locally as “Reggie”—maintains a limited role, he is on hiatus to focus on expanding his independent platform, All About Cheshire Ct, along with his two YouTube channels, All About Cheshire Ct YouTube Channel and CtSportsTv.

 While Cheshire Today prefers to offer only what Ron Gagliardi calls O.P.I.A.O (Only Positive In And Out material), Richard is focusing on all aspects of Cheshire's news, history, people, places and things of the good the bad and the ugly.

In his absence, daily operations of the group fall to automated Assistant,  Ron Kochman, who serves as webmaster, and Ron Gagliardi, who works behind the scenes as editor.

Cheshire Today Facebook Group

Moderation Style: Highly curated. Business promotions and event flyers were often redirected to an official page, ensuring the group feed remains focused on storytelling and community documentation. However with the departure of Richard Smith's over sight the Group has been less restrictive of late.

The Vibe: Informative and archival—less a free-for-all forum and more a digital historical record in progress.

                       

A Multifaceted Hub: The Cheshire Today Platform

Beyond Facebook, Cheshire Today functions as a hybrid media ecosystem. Its structure blends journalism, commentary, and archival preservation:

“My Take On Cheshire”: A dedicated section for Richard “Reggie” Smith’s editorial commentary and research-driven perspectives on town life.

Multimedia Channels: Embedded video content ranging from local government meetings to high school sports highlights, largely driven by Smith’s long-standing work in video production dating back to 2000.

Local Spotlights: Features on residents, restaurant reviews, and coverage of cultural sites such as Ball & Socket Arts.

Historical Archives: Deep dives into topics like the construction of the Farmington Canal and the origins of the Cheshire Country Club.

The Traditional Hub: Cheshire CT Community Forum

If Cheshire Today is curated and archival, the Cheshire CT Community Forum is its opposite counterpart: immediate, expansive, and often unpredictable.

With thousands of members, it acts as the town’s digital “central nervous system.”

Moderation Style: Active but sometimes controversial. Administrators must constantly balance open dialogue with maintaining civility.

Content Range: Everything from contractor recommendations and restaurant reviews to emotionally charged discussions on national politics that spill into local threads.

Recent Tension: Some members have raised concerns about comment restrictions or perceived censorship on sensitive topics, prompting the creation of alternative forums.

Despite periodic friction, its utility remains undeniable. Real-time updates—traffic alerts, emergency notices, missing pets—flow through the group faster than traditional channels.

The Fragmentation: “Official” vs. “Original”

As with many online communities, disagreement has led to fragmentation. Competing groups have emerged, often differentiated more by philosophy than by name.

The Original Cheshire CT Community Forum (Est. 2016): Positions itself as the authentic, first iteration. Its guiding principle is simple: maintain civility through a “don’t be a jerk” ethos.

The Official Cheshire Community Forum: Created in response to perceived over-moderation elsewhere, this group emphasizes open expression and encourages members to share opinions without fear of removal.

Independent Groups: Niche communities, such as parent-focused groups, operate independently of town oversight and provide candid, sometimes unfiltered feedback on schools, services, and local issues.

Together, these groups illustrate how even within a single town, digital spaces can splinter into distinct micro-communities based on trust, tone, and tolerance for debate.

The “Good Old Days” Escape

For residents weary of modern discourse, nostalgia offers an alternative. Groups like “I Grew Up in Cheshire, CT, and Want to Talk About the Good Old Days…” serve as digital time capsules.

Policy: Strictly non-political. Posts that veer into divisive territory are removed.

Focus: Shared memories—landmarks, schools, local hangouts, and long-gone institutions like the Cheshire Cinema.

Here, the debates are lighter: which pizza place reigned supreme, or what it felt like growing up in a different era of the town.

Richard “Reggie” Smith: Local Documentation and Media Continuity

Richard Smith’s credibility is rooted in sustained, ground-level documentation of Cheshire life over decades. As one of the founding contributors to Cheshire Today, he is explicitly associated with “People, Places & Things”—a designation that reflects a focus on hyper-local storytelling and community coverage.

His experience extends beyond writing into multimedia production. Since around 2000, Smith has worked as a sports videographer and digital content creator, documenting local athletics, public meetings, and community events. This type of longitudinal coverage—particularly of school sports and municipal proceedings—creates a continuous visual and narrative archive that few residents maintain.

Equally important is his lived experience. Growing up in Cheshire, Connecticut and attending local schools places him within the generational fabric of the community. That continuity—from student to veteran (U.S. Army, late 1970s) to media creator—positions him not just as an observer, but as a participant in the town’s evolving identity.

His editorial approach, especially through All About Cheshire Ct, reflects a research-first methodology: gathering historical data, curating it, and redistributing it through modern platforms. In practical terms, this makes him a decentralized archivist—bridging informal memory and structured local history.

Ron Kochman: Visual Historian and Community Witness

Ron Kochman’s authority comes through visual documentation and civic presence. As a founding contributor to Cheshire Today focused on travel and photography, his work is explicitly tied to capturing both the town and its people.

His impact is most evident in moments of community significance. Coverage of events such as vigils and public gatherings demonstrates a role that goes beyond passive photography. His images have served as a “definitive visual record” of community responses to social issues, effectively preserving moments that might otherwise be lost or fragmented.

Kochman’s personal history further informs his perspective. As the son of refugees who fled Nazi Germany and resettled after wartime displacement, his background adds a layer of historical consciousness to his work. When combined with his decades living in Cheshire (since 1986), his photography often intersects with themes of memory, identity, and civic responsibility.

Additionally, his involvement in local-access style programming (“30 Minutes with Ron” and similar projects) reinforces his role as a documentarian of town life. In smaller communities, this kind of consistent visual record—parades, meetings, interviews—becomes an important supplement to formal archives.

Ron Gagliardi: Institutional Knowledge and Formal Historical Authority

Among the three, Ron Gagliardi has the most formalized credentials in local history. He has served as Cheshire’s Town Historian, a role that directly ties him to the preservation and interpretation of the town’s past. His work has included archival discovery, such as uncovering Revolutionary-era documents and Civil War artifacts while working with the Cheshire Historical Society.

His authorship also contributes to his authority. Books like Cheshire (Arcadia Publishing) compile centuries of the town’s development—from its 17th-century origins through modern growth—using curated photographs and narratives that bring local history into accessible form.

Beyond writing, Gagliardi’s career spans multiple institutions and roles:

Leadership within historical societies and museums

Educational work as an elementary art teacher

Public engagement through lectures, media, and exhibitions

This combination of scholarship, curation, and teaching places him within the formal ecosystem of historical preservation. In a town with deep colonial roots (dating back to 1694), such institutional knowledge is critical to maintaining continuity between past and present.

Even moments of public dispute—such as his well-documented conflict with the Cheshire Historical Society—underscore his visibility and engagement in local historical affairs, reflecting a figure actively involved in shaping how history is managed and interpreted at the community level.

Combined Credibility: Three Lenses on One Town

What strengthens their collective authority is not just individual experience, but how their roles complement one another:

Smith provides continuous digital documentation and editorial synthesis.

Kochman contributes visual storytelling and community-centered imagery.

Gagliardi anchors the work in formal historical research and institutional memory.

Together, they mirror the broader structure of local knowledge in a town like Cheshire:

Informal memory (residents and lived experience)

Recorded media (photos, video, commentary)

Formal archives (historical societies, publications)

In a modern context—where Facebook groups and digital platforms act as the new town square—this combination of skills translates into a credible, multi-layered understanding of Cheshire’s past and present.

Bottom Line

Their expertise is not abstract—it is cumulative and place-based. Each has spent years, in different but overlapping ways, documenting, interpreting, and participating in the life of Cheshire. Whether through archives, cameras, or commentary, their work contributes to an ongoing record of the town—one that increasingly lives as much online as it does in traditional historical repositories.

All About Cheshire Ct .com

              

Cheshire Today .com

Looking Behind The Curtain: Cheshire Facebook Administrator's Jim Parys

 Cheshire CT, tell it like it is, no holds barred            Cheshire Uncensored

All About Cheshire Ct

 Richard Reggie Smith Research/Editor Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0

Looking Behind The Curtain: Cheshire Facebook Administrator's 

Community Spotlight: Jim Parys — Resilience, Family, and Civic Commitment

As one of the Administrator's of two of Cheshire Connecticut's news networks on Facebook, Jim Parys plays an important role in town talk and information. In Cheshire, community identity is shaped not just by institutions, but by individuals whose lives reflect perseverance, involvement, and a deep-rooted connection to the town. Jim Parys is one such individual—someone whose personal journey, family life, and civic engagement have left a meaningful mark on the community. 

Jim Parys is widely recognized for his steady presence and willingness to contribute, but those who know him more closely understand that his story is also one of resilience. At a challenging point in his life, Jim faced a battle with cancer—an experience that tested both his physical endurance and mental strength. Rather than retreat, he approached the experience with determination and perspective. Friends and neighbors often describe how that period deepened his appreciation for community support and reinforced his belief in staying engaged and positive, even in difficult circumstances.

Family has always been central to Jim’s life. As a father, he has taken pride in raising his children in Cheshire, emphasizing values like responsibility, hard work, and community awareness. Whether through school activities, local sports, or everyday moments, Jim has remained actively involved, shaping not only his own family’s path but also contributing to the broader fabric of town life. Those close to him often point to his role as a parent as one of his most defining and meaningful commitments.

Jim’s roots in Cheshire run deep. Growing up in town, he attended Dodd Middle School, where his early experiences helped shape both his character and his connection to the community. Like many who came of age in Cheshire, he formed lasting friendships and benefited from teachers who left a strong impression. He has often spoken appreciatively about the educators who challenged him, supported him, and brought a sense of humor and humanity into the classroom—individuals who helped make school a place of both learning and belonging. Those formative years played a meaningful role in shaping his outlook and his continued investment in the town.

In addition to his personal and family life, Jim has been engaged in local civic affairs. His involvement in town offices and local elections reflects a belief that participation matters—that communities function best when residents step forward to serve. Over the years, he has contributed his time and perspective to municipal efforts, helping address issues that directly affect Cheshire residents. His approach tends to be practical and grounded, focusing on outcomes rather than rhetoric.

Jim has also been open about his political views, including his support for Donald Trump. In a community where a range of perspectives coexist, he has maintained his stance while continuing to engage the political arena head on. For Jim, political involvement has been less about partisanship and more about participation—ensuring that his voice, and the voices of those he represents or aligns with, are part of the broader conversation.

Throughout his time in Cheshire, Jim Parys has demonstrated that community impact doesn’t come from a single role or moment, but from a combination of life experiences—overcoming personal challenges, raising a family, and stepping into public service when needed. His story reflects a balance of perseverance and engagement, shaped by both hardship and commitment.

In a town that values connection and continuity, Jim’s presence is a reminder of what it means to stay involved, support others, and remain invested in the place you call home.