The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en
Volume 15, Number 50
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
The dream continues: Carlson signs with Red Sox Berlin High School alumnus Jesse Carlson, released by the Toronto Blue Jays recently, has signed with the Boston Red Sox.
By Nick Carroll The Berlin Citizen In 1999, as part of a high school all-star game, Jesse Carlson got the chance to pitch at Fenway Park. To commemorate what he assumed would be a once in a lifetime experience, the Berlin High School ace and Red Sox fan left Boston with a handful of dirt from the mound. Incredibly, however, nearly a decade later Carlson would return to the hill at Fenway, this time as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. As if that wasn’t enough of a fairy tale ending for Carlson, next season Fenway may become his home park.
Last week, Carlson, released by Toronto recently, signed with Boston. The 30year-old reliever, a lefty, agreed to a split contract with the Red Sox, meaning
that he will be paid differently depending on which level of the organization he lands in. Carlson, who underwent rotator cuff surgery during the 2011 season, has made 162 appearances in three MLB seasons, all spent with the Blue Jays. His record stands at 8-8. Perhaps Carlson’s most memorable outing came on April 16, 2008. That night, he was called to the mound in the 11th inning facing a See Signs, page 18
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Council OKs funds for disaster plan New GOP council member sole ‘nay’ vote on school donation By Amy Prescher Special to The Citizen At its Dec. 6 meeting, the Town Council voted unanimously to award a contract to LBL Technology Partners for $41,760 to provide a Business Continuity Plan for the town. A Business Continuity Plan creates comprehensive contingency plans for headquarters, communication and providing services to taxpayers following a catastrophic event. Town Clerk Kate Wall said the town had been working toward a Disaster Preparedness Plan for 11 years, but that the work
was beyond the scope of town staff. On another topic, one of the council’s newest members, Republican Eric Buhrendorf took a stand against a majority of the council, including the other Republican member on an item regarding a donation. The council approved, 6 to 1, the donation of one round of golf, a $206 value, for a raffle for a fifth-grade fundraiser supper at Willard Elementary School. Before the vote, Buhrendorf objected, stating he did not believe it was the function of the Town Council to use tax dollars for contributions. Mayor Adam Salina said he didn’t see the harm in it as contributing to local
See Council, page 15
‘Books and a Buck’ – from Berlin to Indonesia Can you spare a book to help these children learn to read? By Karen Brancato Special to The Citizen
In high school, it can be hard to imagine where life will take you. For David Spinelli, Berlin High School class of 1990, his journey has taken him 7,900 miles away to Papua, Indonesia. That’s where he currently teaches English to teachers in a kindergarten through ninth-grade school. Located in a working-class district, the school doesn’t have a lot of money. While students are learning English, they need more books and instructional materials in that language. Spinelli, a former Upbeat member, sent an email to all librarians in the
Berlin school district asking for help and donations. Through his Upbeat experience, he believed there would be others in his hometown who would want to lend a helping hand. It was Dave Scannell, BHS library/media specialist, who took up the call. He didn’t have Spinelli as a student, but Scannell said he’s glad to be “helping out an alum for a good cause.” Scannell wrote a press release about the appeal and came up with the “Books and a Buck” drive. As the name indicates, Books and See Books, page 17
These Indonesian girls are learning English with help from a Berlin connection.