The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Volume 16, Number 7
Knights property on track for housing By Melissa Chicker The Berlin Citizen
At its Feb.7 meeting the Town Council unanimously voted to enter the option agreement concerning the sale of the former Knights of Columbus property and adjacent undeveloped portions of Percival Field to the Berlin Housing Authority to develop additional housing units affordable to seniors with incomes less than 50 percent of the state median income level. The former Knights of Columbus building, owned by the town, is no longer used or has future use for the town due to the buildings deteriorated condition. “We’ve had numerous people look at the building to see if it can be saved,” said Mayor Adam Salina. “It seems smarter to demolish the
building to utilize the property.” In December 2009 the Town Council made a section 8-24 referral to the Planning and Zoning Commission concerning the sale of the property. At its regular meeting in January 2010, the Berlin PZC voted unanimously after much review to make the recommendation to the council. The council also moved to authorize Town Manager, Denise McNair, to sign a grant agreement form from the Marjorie Moore Charitable Foundation to accept the grant of $12,300 for the purchase of automated external defibrillators and a trainer and to deposit these funds into the Marjorie Moore Fund. The eight AEDs would be installed in the buildings of See Housing, page 7
Top 10 taxpayers The Top 10 Berlin taxpayers have been announced, with Northeast Utilities topping the list again. Changes to the list include B + F Machine Inc., a manufacturing company which replaced Legion Square Associates (Stop and Shop Plaza). According to Town Assessor, Joseph Ferraro, one of the reasons for this change can be Legion Square Associates does not own personal property and has not made any additions to the plaza. October 1, 2011 Grand List 1. Rocky River Realty Corp (includes Yankee Gas Services, Connecticut Light & Power, Neon Inc. and Northeast Utilities) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$182,171,730 2. Cedar Brickyard LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$23,307,550 3. Corbin Russwin Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$23,307,010 4. Stonebridge Berlin Associates & Stonebridge Berlin II Associates . . . . . . . .$9.175,700 5. Atohaas North America Inc. & Arkema Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$9,078,990 6. Paradigm Precision Holdings LLC . . . . . .$8,832,940 7. Bre Realty LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8,564,480 8. B + F Machine Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7,536,870 9. Blue Dog Properties Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7,414,500 10. Berlin Commerce Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7,172,000
Thursday, Februar y 16, 2012
Local farm store relocates and revamps By Andrea Pomponio Special to The Citizen A.S. Labieniec has been a business staple in town for the last 125 years. The locally owned farm and pet supplier, formally located on 985 Farmington Ave. has now relocated just down the street to 817 Farmington Ave., formally Berlin Heat Treat. The owners, Carleen and Bill Quinn, and their daughter and store manager, Anna Duffy, are happy with the new location. For the Quinn family, moving the business to a four-way intersection creates greater opportunity. Being located at a stop light, customers can expect new ease and accessibility shopping at Labieniec. The business is gearing up for their grand re-opening Saturday, March 31. The event will feature vendors, free product sampling, raffles, seminars on the proper care of chickens, a livestock nutritionist, and breeders will be selling rabbits. In addition to the grand reopening, Chick Day is planned. “Chick Days are a big deal for people. It gives them the chance to see animals they don’t normally get to see up close,” said Duffy, who will also bring her miniature horse and goat for the public to see and feed. The new location also grants many perks to the business, and for customers. “There is more space for parking and the new building is handicapped accessi-
Photo by Andrea Pomponio
A. S. Labieniec staff members Jake Shoplick, Anna Duffy (holding her daughter Lydia), Carleen Quinn, Holly Ceruti (with Albinka the Easter Bunny) and Kim Nadeau (with mama bunny) pose in front of their new location at 817 Farmington Ave. ble,” said Carleen. There are also heat and hot running water, which is an improvement from the old building, and is ground level, allowing ease when
receiving products and shipments. Inside the store, customers will be pleased to see the interior is large See Relocates, page 7