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CitizenOpinion
Ballot botch
To the editor: My wife and I were going to be out of town for the last election, so we went to the Town Hall to cast our absentee ballot. While filling out our ballots at Town Hall we saw that there were only two candidates for the Board of Education and there was room for a write in candidate for the third opening. We both wrote in the name of a person, well-respected, who would be an asset to the Board of Education. He has
been supportive of our schools, the new high school and many other projects. When we returned to Berlin, we found out that “your vote does not count” according the Town Clerk’s office - because you must register the person’s name with the State of Connecticut, which I’m sure was explained on the ballot. However, alas, these old eyes did not read the instructions about the registration process. We only saw a space for a write-in candidate and I’m sure who ever made out the ballot would not make such an amateur mistake. If it was not made clear to the voters about the registration, this might be the results of a political power too long in power. Richard Burkarth Berlinn
2011 People of note Each, in their own way, contributed inspired ideas to community life In covering the news over the past year, the names of several people seemed to pop up again and again in ways that made us stop and think: here’s someone who has a passion, an idea, a purpose and an attitude that makes him or her stand out. These are many people who work to make their community a better place and here is a chance to acknowledge a few of them – Cathy Nelson, Paul Chester, Chris Rose, Daniyal Khan and Concetta Berardozzi - for their
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Government Meetings
Monday, Jan. 9 Board of Education, Town Hall, 7 p.m. Public Health Nursing Services, VNA, Town Hall Caucus Room A, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11 Berlin-Peck Memorial Library, Library Board Room, 7 p.m. Housing Authority, Marjorie Moore Village, 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12 Parks & Recreation, Community Center, 7 p.m. Public Building Commission, Town Hall,
The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en www.berlincitizen.com The Berlin Citizen 11 Crown Street Meriden, CT 06450 Asst. Managing Editor – Robin Michel Editor – Olivia L. Lawrence Sports Editor – Nick Carroll Advert. Manager – Kimberley E. Boath Sales Consultant – Annemarie Goulet
The Berlin Citizen Thursday, January 5, 2012
Room 8, 7:30 p.m. Youth Services Advisory Board, Town Hall Caucus Room A, 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18 Commission for persons with Disabilities, Town Hall Caucus Room A, 6:30 p.m. Police Commission, BPD Conference Room, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan 23 Board of Education, Town Hall, 7 p.m. Commission for the Aging, Senior Center, 7 p.m.
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contributions this past year. In talking with them, these folks are quick to share praise with others and minimize their own contributions. But today, the spotlight is all theirs.
Cathy Nelson, assistant director at Berlin-Peck Memorial Library put a lot of effort into bringing the history of Berlin’s role in the Civil War to life. This year marked the 150th anniversary of the war. Nelson has long been a noted preserver of Berlin history, but this year, Nelson pulled together: presentations, histories of local monuments and the war dead these commemorate, documents and transcriptions of an old Civil War diary that belonged to a Berlin soldier. All of this represents a detailed and difficult task, but one that brought the war to life and made it accessible on a personal basis all could understand.
Paul Chester initiated a Berlin Litter Committee and scheduled two work days last year with volunteer crews who took to the streets to
pick up trash. Chester coordinated the effort which required assistance from public works and police departments. He inspired dozens of volunteers to join. Chris Rose wanted to create a holiday tradition for Worthington Ridge. She’d seen an idea, implemented in another town, for a Christmas Eve luminaria display. Putting together a street lined with candles required much planning and cooperation with neighbors, emergency services and other volunteers. Also, supplies for the candles and bags needed to be arranged, as well as a place to assemble these and help with setting up and cleaning up the display. It may appear simple, but this project takes a vision, leadership, patience and perseverance.
Daniyal Khan is a senior at Berlin High School. He is active in community life in many ways, but one of his most noteworthy contributions last year was the creation of a video on hydrogen that won a national award and $5,000 for his school’s science lab.
Concetta Berardozzi helps unwanted animals find
See 2011, next page