RockWELL brings out a crowd

A steady stream of visitors turned out for Saturday’s RockWELL in the Park family fitness festival.
“We’ve had a great day,” said Cindy Scoville, a Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce organizer who helped keep it humming.
With a variety of booths from groups that ranged from Bristol Hospital to the New Britain Rock Cats, there was something to keep most everyone entertained.
“It’s a beautiful day, a nice event and a good chance to see what they’ve done here with this old park,” said Linda Mason, who said she hasn’t seen Rockwell Park so busy in years.
The six-hour long event offered plenty of information on fitness and nutrition along with the activities that mostly catered to children. People snapped up the freebies, too, including water bottles and jar openers.
Rocky the Rock Cat posed for pictures with anyone willing to whip out a camera and even posed beside somebody in a tiny Dole Pineapple outfit.
Sponsored by the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce and co-sponsored by a number of businesses and organizations, the free event probably drew at least a couple of thousand people during the day, city officials said.
“We had a tremendous turnout,” said Mike Nicastro, who heads the chamber.
Dean “HB” Vitale, a 16-year-old rhythm and blues singer from Wallingford, sounded smooth as silk. He drew an appreciate crowd to the portable stage at the far end of the playground early in the day.
“Wow, that guy’s good,” Richard Williams, 20, said. “He might really be a star someday.”
Later, a Torrington competitive jump rope team showed some amazing quickness and versatility.
“I had fun,” said 8-year Amber Kucharski. “I never knew people could jump rope like that.”

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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com