The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en
Volume 15, Number 14
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Local family celebrates Donate Life program Organ donation gave them more time together
See Celebrates, page 9
Berlin’s justices preside over wide variety of nuptuals By Amy Prescher Special to The Citizen
By Amy Prescher Special to The Citizen On Sunday afternoon, the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain hosted a Donate Life Rose Ceremony to honor organ and tissue donors and to say “thank you” to families of donors who have given the gift of life under tragic circumstances. Karen Maier, of Kensington, spoke about how her deceased husband’s transplant extended his life over three years so that he was able to meet his four grandchildren and take them fishing. During surgery, in the early stages of pancreatic cancer, John Maier developed problems with his small intestine which great-
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Photo by Amy Prescher
Karen Maier and her daughters, Kari Drost and Amy Daniele, of Kensington pose with Dr. Joseph Kambe, an award-winning advocate of organ donation and transplantation, at the Donate Life Rose Ceremony at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain.
Joseph Casso happened to be in Town Hall paying taxes when he noticed the Town Clerk had an opening for the position of Justice of the Peace. On a lark, he filled out an application. A few weeks later, the man whose prior experience with weddings did not extend far beyond his own, was invested with the power and authority to unite hopeful couples in the bond of marriage. Now a veteran “JP” performing up to 15 ceremonies per year, Casso confesses he could not have imagined the emotional rewards of fulfilling his civic duty. “I love it,” he said. “It is
the best thing since color TV.” Karen Salwocki, who has served as a Justice of the Peace over 25 years since her term as deputy mayor, said she enjoys the special radiance given off by two people who are in love and want to be together. “I have a hard time not crying myself,” she said. That seems to be a typical experience. Many justices say they are deeply moved to witness this intimate and emotional moment in people’s lives. The town has granted the post of Justice of the Peace to roughly 60 residents. The Democratic and Republican Town Committees are allot-
See Justices, page 4
Public hearing on budget April 12 — your chance to speak
A public hearing on the budget will be held at McGee Middle School, Tuesday, April 12 at 7 p.m. The proposed general fund budget is $70,389,110, a total increase of 3.75 percent over the current year’s budget of $67,842,998. This includes a
2.4 percent increase for the Board of Education or $889,000, bringing the schools’ request to $37.9 million. The proposed mill increase is .97 mills which would bring the mill rate to 24.62. On a $250,000 house,
Redcoats ‘spring’ into action The spring sports season at Berlin High School got underway this week. Look inside for varsity team previews and team schedules.
which would be assessed at $175,000 (70 percent of value), this would compute to an increase of $170 per year ( $175,000 multiplied by .00097). The proposed budget was approved in a 5-2 decision by the Town Council, earlier this month. The two Republican councilors and the five Democratic councilors split the vote along party lines. The budget referendum will be held April 26 with voting from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at all regular polling locations.
Justice of the Peace Lois Procopion presides over a wedding ceremony.