The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Volume 14 Number 41
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Challengers meet incumbents for campaign debate By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen
Jobs and education were the focus of a debate between candidates for state legislative office held at the BerlinPeck Memorial Library Oct. 5. Beyond those hot topics, a wide spectrum of interests were thrashed out by the four politicians before an audience of about 30 people, most of whom are part of the political arena. Republican Henry Zembko and Democratic state Sen. Donald DeFronzo are seeking to represent the 6th District which includes New
Britain, Berlin and parts of Farmington. Republican Jim Sargent is challenging Rep. Joe Aresimowicz in a campaign for District 30 votes; Berlin and Southington. “I don’t want to be considered a politician,” Zembko, a Realtor, said adding that the founding fathers were ordinary people, not career politicians. Zembko promised to fulfill his term, if elected, and to not serve more than two terms. Sargent, a teacher in Southington schools, promised to bring “a fresh perspective…new voices are
needed.” He said he will not serve more than two terms, if elected. A professional negotiator in his private sector job, Aresimowicz said there is nothing wrong with being a politician and that he liked the role. “I love helping people,” he said adding that most in local politics work hard and put a lot into serving their communities. DeFronzo, who has a degree in public administration, said “I work with people across the political spectrum.” See Debate, page 10
Pumpkin power
Citizen photo by Nick Carroll
Race fans converged on the Berlin fairgrounds Saturday for the second annual Plainville Stadium Reunion. Several cars that raced at the old quarter-mile track were on display that afternoon.
Big crowd for Plainville Stadium Reunion at fairgrounds By Nick Carroll The Berlin Citizen
Citizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence
Bethany Covenant Church on Mill Street has once again set up a Pumpkin Patch market. Hundreds of varieties of pumpkin, squash and gourds are on display on the lawn next to the church and are for sale. Proceeds will benefit the Feed My Starving Children organization, a project in which the church has been a key participant.
Plainville Stadium has been closed for nearly 30 years, but for many, memories of Joe Tinty’s quartermile race track are very much alive. That was evident Saturday afternoon as some 500 folks came out to the Berlin fairgrounds for the second annual Plainville Stadium Reunion. “We’re busting at the seams over here. It’s great,” said Berlin Lions member Gary Bienkowski, who helped organize the Plainville Stadium Reunion. Cars that raced at Plainville Stadium, and memorabilia from the track’s heyday, were on display Saturday. Drivers that competed at Plainville Stadium were on hand as
well. Also, youth racers from the Nutmeg Kart Club showed their stuff on the fairground’s dirt track. Former Plainville Stadium drivers tried their luck at the go-karts as well. Bienkowski is not surprised the event was so well-attended. He indicated that area race fans of a certain age have an emotional attachment to Plainville Stadium, shuttered in 1981 after more than three decades in operation. “It was an arena of local heroes,” Bienkowski said. “They were the heroes of these people that have come out here.” And he includes himself in that group. Bienkowski started attending races at Plainville See Reunion, page 26