The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en
Volume 15, Number 43
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Analysis
Last hurrah
Economic distress flies under radar By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen
Citizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence
These kayakers said they were going to take one last paddle around Silver Lake before the water got too cold. They launched Oct. 21, the start of a picture-perfect fall weekend.
(This is the first of a twopart series about how recent economic conditions have affected some Berlin residents.) Recession, depression, double-dip downturns, foreclosures, unemployment, Occupy Wall Street, global economic instability — all topics in the news. Economists argue about what to call the turbulance, how long it will last, what will break us out of this cycle — or whether or not we’re in for a new reality when it comes to our financial status. The news has been bleak for a long, long time and from kitchen tables to town governments, belts have been tightened. How have people in Berlin fared during this seige? The Citizen spoke
with several officials to get their insights into what the impact has been locally. Here are a few trends: According to school district Director of Business Operations Roman Czuchta, raw numbers show there has been a significant jump in the number of students using the free and reduced lunch program. The program, subsidized by the federal government, has seen the following increase in the number of students signed up for the assistance: in 20082009, there were 260 eligible students. In 2011-2012, there are 360. At the town’s community services department, assistant director Doug Truit said, “We’re seeing an increase in use of the food
See Economy, page 16
‘Sensory sensitive cinema’ now at Berlin Rave theater By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen Rave Berlin 12 has started a series of monthly films aimed at families who have children, or other members, with a disability or who are within the Autism spectrum. “We try and (provide) an environment that gives them a chance to have fun,” said Jessica Savitski, manager at the 19 Frontage Road complex. “We realize that bringing Citizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence
Rave Berlin 12 cinema.
See Cinema, page 12
Citizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence
Donations to the food pantry can be made at local stores. Above, a display at Stop & Shop where prefilled bags can be purchased on behalf of the food pantry. See page 11 for more on its Food for Friends program.