Thumbs up, thumbs down
Thumbs up to the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, which provided a thrilling victory for Xander Schauffele after what
looked like a potentially agonizing defeat. Schauffele, the 2021 Olympic gold medalist, slipped behind Sahith Theegala on the 17th hole Sunday after holding the lead since Friday afternoon. But when Theegala’s tee shot on the 18th hole landed in a bunker, Schauffele was able to claim the championship. Schauffele not only won with a 19-under 26, but his birdie on 18 gave him a two-stroke victory.
Thumbs up to families taking advantage of newly available vaccination shots for children between 6 months and 5 years of age. Vaccines may seem
like old news for Connecticut residents who either embraced them early or have continued to dismiss their benefits, yet there has been a healthy turnout to get young children vaccinated. They are available at pharmacies, pediatricians’ offices and through Department of Public Health clinics. A list of DPH sites is available at portal.ct.gov/vaccine-portal/DPH-van-clinics.
Thumbs up to a dream fulfilled for 101year-old Bridgeport native Anne Fiyalka. The Wish of a Lifetime From AARP sent Fiyalka skyward from Sikorsky Memorial Airport so she could circle the coast. It was a bookend to what would be a dream for almost anyone interested in aviation. The flight traced the route Fiyalka took in 1936 in a plane flown by pioneer Amelia Earhart. Both trips were the result of Fiyalka winning a contest.
Thumbs up to new laws kicking in July 1, including two that should help everyone breathe easier. While the focus on a catalytic converter measure is to
stem the trend of thefts of the devices from vehicles, it’s also important that they serve the purpose of transforming emissions into safe gases. Meanwhile, new grants should help several Connecticut schools ensure the air quality for staff and students is improved.