The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en
Volume 14, Number 35
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Volunteers pack thousands of meals for Swaziland kids By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen
Last week an assembly line of volunteers made 27,864 meals, for the Feed My Starving Children program, at a Massirio Drive event sponsored by Connecticut Light& Power. Over 20 community groups from Berlin and the surrounding area participated. More than 1,000 volunteers will came to the CL&P warehouse to make the food packages. The goal was to prepare and pack over 270,000 meals that will be shipped to Swaziland in Africa by Saturday. The 129 boxes assembled Thursday is enough food to feed 76 children one meal a
day for a year, according to CL&P Spokesperson Mitch Gross. Founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children is a nonprofit organization that provides local volunteers the opportunity to work packing meals for severely malnourished children around the world. FMSC team leader Todd Borner explained to the crowd how to assemble the food packets. The meals are a unique mixture developed by FMSC with help from scientists at Cargill and General Mills. A “manna pack” consists of rice, soy nuggets, dehydrated vegetables, vitamins, minerals and a vege-
Citizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence
From left: Charlene Warnke, Gerry Valuk and Beverly Manzi expertly packaged food for the Feed My Starving Children program. The women represented Kensignton United Methodist Church at an event last week held at a Massirio Drive See Meals, page 20 warehouse.
Hawthorne Inn sells for $1.8 M as Grelak era ends By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen The Hawthorne Inn changed hands Aug. 23, marking the end of an era for the Berlin Turnpike landmark long-owned by the Grelak family. The restaurant, at 2421 Berlin Turnpike, is now the property of Syed I. Bokhari, of 91 Schraffts Drive, Waterbury. Bokhari is listed as president of Syed Sons II, Inc., a business that was incorporated April 23. Glenna Grelak, the preCitizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence
See Hawthorne, page 20 The Hawthorne Inn is under new management.
Puzio resigns from school board; others seek the slot By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen Board of Education m e m b e r Chris Puzio resigned from his post Aug. 18 and the move could change Puzio the outlook for the fall election. Puzio came on the board in 2005 to finish out a one year vacancy. He was elected in 2006 and again in 2009. His term would have expired in 2012. In a letter to Town Clerk Kathryn J. Wall, Puzio wrote: “My time on the Berlin Board of Education has been
nothing short of enjoyable; however, I am pursuing other opportuntites that will conflict with my position on the board, and therefore I must resign at this time.” “He was an enthusiastic member of the Board of Education,” said Gary Brochu, board president, adding that, as Puzio had young children, he brought the perspective of that experience to the board. “He’ll be missed. We’d welcome him back.” Puzio did not respond to requests for comment. Brochu said, in practical terms, there wasn’t enough time, before the election, to interview and appoint some-
See Puzio, page 20