The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en
Volume 14, Number 48
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Berlin florist helps bring holiday magic to governor’s mansion By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen President of the Connecticut Florists Association Rosemary Agostinucci, of Kensington, was at the governor’s mansion in Hartford Sunday as Connecticut florists, nurserymen, greenhouse growers and Christmas tree growers got together for the annual holiday decorating event at the residence. “The house is lovely…we have the same people every year who are willing to give their time to do the decorating,” said Agostinucci, who is in her second term as CFA president. A
member of the American Institute of Floral Designers, her family has been in the florist business throughout the area, including Berlin businesses, since 1912. Agostinucci has been involved with decorating the mansion since Lowell Weicker was elected in 1990. At that time, the mansion was in poor repair and just a few people were involved with the project, which included some restoration efforts. The Governor’s Residence, at 990 Prospect Avenue, Hartford, is a
See Mansion, page 26
Courtesy of Ronald E. Compton
Margot Paul, as Clara, with Louis Gonzales as the Nutcracker Prince.
Role of Clara a plum part for young Berlin dancer Marine vet directs this classic Nutcracker ballet By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen Margot Paul, 12, of Kensington has the lead role of Clara in the Ballet Theatre Company’s 2010 production of the Nutcracker. Margot, a student at McGee Middle School, has undertaken serious study at the West Hartford ballet school for the past three years. She has been dancing since she was
three. She won the starring role of Clara, just two weeks after her twelfth birthday, over a field of girls ages 12 to 17. “I was nervous about auditioning but I had a good feeling,” Margot said. Margot is the daughter of Michele Fischer-Paul and Michael Paul. She has an older brother, Mason, 15. No one else in the family has a background in dance. “I was okay with any part I got — but being Clara would be a big step for me,” Margot said. See Dancer, page 24
Citizen photo by Olivia L. Lawrence
President of the Connecticut Florists Association, Rosemary Agostinucci, of Kensington, left, rolls up her sleeves as she prepares to help a crew of volunteers decorate the governor’s mansion Sunday. Pictured here is the sunroom where the tree is hung with ornaments made by children from throughout Connecticut.
Bring on the holiday cheer You can help make someone’s holidays brighter this year. Many people are in need. For some ideas on how to help locally, see page 15. For suggestions on how to help a member of our military see page 14.