The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en Volume 13, Number 28
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Art exhibit highlights scenes of Berlin
Summer heats up
By Olivia L. Lawrence Associate Editor
Citizen photo by Olivia L.Lawrence
Children at the Discovery Center Preschool and Camp took advantage of hot weather last week to play in the sprinkler. The program is located at 103 Hotchkiss Street and serves youngsters five to 11 years old. Co-directors Marilyn Flecha and Lisa Hall said there are still openings for the summer session.
Police release annual report By Olivia L. Lawrence Associate Editor Berlin Police Chief Paul Fitzgerald recently released the department’s annual report for 2008. The report shows a significant increase in calls for service in the past two years. In 2008, there were 34,457 calls for service an increase of 3,348 calls over the prior year. In 2006, there were 30,646 calls for service. Deputy Chief John Klett said there are a number of reasons for the jump. The main reason “is due to an increase in calls for an ambulance” as a result of an increase in senior and over 55 housing. Police are first responders and the increase in calls for an ambulance has been “significant.” Also adding to the increase are building checks and calls for motor vehicle enforcement. Besides detailing police enforcement ac-
tivities, the report also highlights the department’s community activities and ways it has worked to save the town money through grants and reimbursements. The department’s budget for 2007-2008 was $6,331,555. There are 41 full-time officers, nine civilian dispatchers, and four staff who serve in various support positions. Fitzgerald, appointed in 2003, is the town’s sixth chief. BPD is a state and internationally accredited law enforcement agency. Adult criminal arrests rose slightly from the previous year. There were 1,182 in 2008 compared to 1,107 in 2007. In 2006, there were 1,474 adult criminal arrests. Juvenile arrests were down. In 2008 there were 32 compared to 51 in 2007. In 2006, there were 37. Narcotics incidents for 2008 were 45 comSee Police, page 5
The Berlin Historical Museum is exhibiting paintings from nine of Berlin’s premier artists from now until the end of the year. “It’s showing parts of Berlin that no longer exist,” said Lorraine Stub, a member of the museum board of directors, discussing certain works on display. Many of the paintings are from a time when Berlin was largely a farming community and depict activities like haying fields. As much of the land in the old days had been cleared, the vistas are quite different from what is seen today. This gives visitors to the exhibit a new perspective on familiar places. Featured in the exhibit are: Dr. John Fitzsimmons, Vermadel R. Griswold, Francis Pulito, Robert Boiling Brandegee, Janice Jacobs, Dave Contino, Nelson Augustus Moore, Claude W. Stevens and Isaac Porter. The museum is located at the corner of Peck and Main streets and is open Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. now until the last weekend in December. Stub said Berlin’s most famous artist is probably Edwin Moore. “He painted so much of Berlin.” This includes old mill sites and apple orchards. He lived in a stone house on High Road and “just love walking around Kensington.” He’s buried in West Lane Cemetery. The museum has numerous Moore prints displayed but not original work. However, most of the other featured artists do have originals in the exhibit. The biographical information about these artists was provided by the historical
museum. Dr. John Fitzsimmons is a former Berlin resident and retired optometrist who has painted for over 50 years. He “always felt that you did not have to leave this area to find natural beauty.” His paintings have been exhibited throughout New England including the New Britain Museum of American Art, the Slater Museum in Norwich and the Mystic Museum in Mystic. His work hangs in many private homes and corporate offices as well as Kensington Cafe and the New Britain/Berlin Probate Court offices. Vermadel R. Griswold moved to Berlin from Vermont after her marriage to Dr. Matthew H. Griswold in 1916, and she spent the rest of her life here. An eager artist from her early teens on, she studied briefly on Cape Cod. Once in Berlin, her interest in painting intensified as she found a community of likeminded artists who she welcomed to her studio. Her status turned professional when the Milch Galleries in New York City undertook to represent her. Her work was exhibited at the National Academy in 1933, the Salons of America in 1934, the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts in 1937 and 1938, and the Springfield Arts League in 1940. In 1948, one of her paintings was awarded the Howard Penrose Prize. Francis Pulito, born in Kensington, began painting in his early teens. His exposure to art was increased during his service in World War II when he traveled throughout Europe and Africa. While taking in different styles and techniques
See Artists, page 4