Volume 19, Number 41
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
www.berlincitizen.com
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Board of Education gavel handed to Oakes By Ashley Kus
Oakes to fill the position long held by Gary Brochu. Brochu served as presiA new president for Ber- dent for 17 of the 18 years he lin’s Board of Education was was on the board. Superintendent of Schools David Erchosen Monday, Nov. 23. Newly-elected and re- win presented Brochu, and elected members of the board three other former members, gathered at McGee Middle with a plaque and an award. School and selected Timothy Cynthia Kobus, Kathryn BryThe Berlin Citizen
ers, and newly-elected Town Councilor Kristin Campanelli also were honored for their work on the BOE. “My time on the board has been life-defining for me. It has shaped so much of who I am currently and what I feel and think in my values,” Brochu said.
Both old and new members of the board introduced themselves to the crowd. Among the re-elected members were Jeffery Cugno, Kari Sassu and Matthew Tencza, who was re-elected as secretary of the board. The new members are Robin Evans, Jaymee Miller
and Julia Motte. “This is something I’m really looking forward to,” Motte said. The other members of the board, Joann Angelico-Stetson and Oakes, were not up for re-election this term. See Oakes / Page A2
‘Angry’ drama hits the stage at BHS By Ashley Kus The Berlin Citizen
Members of the Revoir and Lennehan families wrap gift boxes for soldiers at the Berlin VFW on Thanksgiving eve. | Karen Cote / Submitted
Hundreds wrap gift boxes for soldiers By Ashley Kus
ones this season. With the help of volunteers and donations, however, the soldiers will be able to open gifts and be reminded After plenty of food and time with fam- of the festivities back home. A line was out the door at the Berlin ily, members of the Berlin community came together Thanksgiving night at the VFW VFW as people waited to help wrap 100 Hall on Massirio Drive to honor those who boxes filled with snacks, games, and various necessities for Nick Cote and his fellow solwon’t be home for the holidays. Berlin resident Karen Cote’s son Nick, diers in Kuwait. Nearly 400 people showed stationed in Kuwait, is one of the many soldiers who will be away from their loved See Boxes / Page A2
The Berlin Citizen
A cast of “angry” students, from Berlin High School, will take to the stage at McGee Middle School this weekend for a production of “12 Angry Jurors.” The classic play, by Reginald Rose, is an adaptation of the 1950s movie and TV show where jurors are determining whether a teenage boy is guilty of murder. Physics teacher, drama advisor and play director, Matthew Recore changed the name from “12 Angry Men” to “12 Angry Jurors” due to the mix of both male and female students in the cast. This is the first pure drama production the drama club has put on in almost four years, and Recore is excited to show off his cast’s talents. “Ultimately, a drama requires more skill for the actors and actresses to really envelope the audience into their world to make it believable,” he said. The recent high school renovations influenced Recore’s decision to pick this play. With the show taking place at the middle school, he was aiming See Drama / Page A3
Berlin High School students perform in “12 Angry Jurors.” | Photos by Ashley Kus / The Berlin Citizen