The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Volume 13, Number 44
Election 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Berlin High royalty
Campaign season winding down By Olivia L. Lawrence Associate Editor Election Day is Nov. 3 and, if the recent past is any indication, less than half of the registered voters in Berlin will come to the polls to select their local representatives. It’s been a quiet campaign season all around; a few signs, a couple of candidates’ forums and a flurry of Letters to the Editor. Without the excitement of state or national campaigns or a referendum question on the ballot, this year’s election appears to be keeping a low profile. No single issue has dominated the scene. “It’s been very quiet,” said Registrar of Voters Eliza-
beth Tedeschi, of registration activity leading up to the election. No one turned up to a special voter registration held Oct. 17. She said reports from surrounding towns indicate that new voter registration was minimal throughout the area. The registrar said that in Berlin’s last municipal election, in 2007, about 45 percent of the registered voters exercised their right to elect their representatives. All five polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. The Town Clerk’s office said absentee ballots are available until Nov. 2. Up for grabs are: seven Town Council seats and See Election, page 5
Scaring up donations
Photo by Matt Leidemer
Berlin High School Homecoming King and Queen, Zach Parsons and Samantha DeGroff, pose for pictures Friday night during halftime of the BHS football team’s 20-0 victory over Rocky Hill at Scalise Field.
VNA forced to cancel flu clinics By Olivia L. Lawrence Associate Editor
On Halloween, a local family will use its “haunted” house to help the Berlin food pantry. See story on page 2.
The Visiting Nurses Association recently announced it was forced to cancel two seasonal flu clinics due to a shortage of vaccine. The clinics were scheduled for Oct. 21 and Nov. 10. The VNA is recommending that residents check with primary care providers, grocery stores and pharmacies for flu shots. Also, the American Lung Association website lists locations at www.flucliniclovator.org. The VNA had ordered 700 vaccines but received only 140. However, people have been able to receive their
shots through other outlets, according to VNA staff. Typically, the Berlin VNA offers five flu clinics. This year the shots will be prioritized for homebound seniors and residents of Marjorie Moore and Percival Heights senior housing complexes. There were other VNA that did not receive full supplies as well. Also, there have been other local shortages. For example, a flu clinic scheduled for Oct. 21 at Stop & Shop was canceled. But the situation is stable, according to Linda Colella, director of nursing for the town and administrator of the Berlin VNA. “Everyone was able to get their shots
someplace.” A source, a medical professional close to the organization of flu clinics throughout the state, said the reason seasonal flu shots are in short supply is because production stopped in order to work on producing H1N1 vaccine. Director of The Central Connecticut Health District Paul Hutcheon said he hasn’t been able to get an answer as to why the seasonal vaccine is in short supply. “We were told earlier that the volume they intended to make (for the United States) was to be greater than during any other year. If I could get more I
See Flu, page 12