Volume 19, Number 20
www.berlincitizen.com
Thursday, July 14, 2016
School tennis court project goes to public By Ashley Kus Citizen staff
A public hearing will be held this month on replacing the high school tennis courts. “We would hate to have a
brand new beautiful school and have the courts be in the condition that they are in,” said Town Manager Denise McNair. The Town Council discussed the project and set the public hearing for the appropriation of funds for July 19. The
courts could not be used this past tennis season because they are too cracked and damaged. During the July 5 Town Council meeting, resident and former tennis professional Scott Trevethan voiced his frustration over
the condition of the courts. “I’m simply sharing on behalf of many people and many voices ... this needs to get addressed ... this needs to be priority one,” he said. In 2014, the council hoped the courts could be repaired
as part of the ongoing high school renovation project. McNair said she is becoming concerned because it could be another year before officials can determine whether there is money in the renovation project budget for the See Tennis, A24
Writer wins award for essays P&Z revisits farming regulations
Town resident Dawn Hoffman is just finishing up her third collection of self-published essays. “I’ve been writing all my life,” she said, “but only three years seriously.” After Hoffman retired from teaching at Haddam-Killingworth High School, she started putting her memories on paper. At first, she challenged herself to write an essay a week on her blog. A year later, she had compiled over 50 essays.
By Ashley Kus Citizen staff
The Planning & Zoning Commission is starting fresh with Berlin’s agriculture regulations after receiving months of public feedback.
“I wanted to stay busy and be creative,” Hoffman said.
“Due to a negative view of some from the agriculture community, relative to what was included in the process, and in consultation with our new corporation counsel, it was best decided to essentially restart,” said Chair Bruce Moore.
The writer tried self-publishing and successfully released her first book, “Saving Our Lives: Volume One—Essays to Inspire the Writer in YOU.” This past spring, Hoffman won a 2016 Benjamin Franklin Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association. Her book earned a silver medal in the annual competition.
Moore suggested going off the town’s current regulations rather than looking at the changes made by an outside consultant. Those changes and suggestions were presented during several meetings and public hearings earlier this year. Residents voiced their opinions, and some frustration on the direction the regulations were going during months of discussion.
Hoffman traveled to Salt Lake City to receive her award. Out of 1,400 entries, 100 received a silver medal and 50 received a gold medal. “It was a big confidence booster,” she said. Hoffman attended a class at the Mark Twain House in 2014 taught See Writer, A24
Berlin resident Dawn Hoffman won a 2016 Benjamin Franklin Award for her first book.
The definition of farming was the primary topic of concern during the commission’s work session, Thursday, July 7. The commission discussed the distinction between hobby farming versus actual farming. See Farming, A24