The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en
Volume 15, Number 23
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Thursday, June 9, 2011
New life for meeting house may begin this month By Amy Prescher Special to The Citizen
After sitting in limbo for years, activity is about to resume at the Worthington Meeting House on Worthington Ridge. While there have been renovations at the site, it’s been more than 35 years since the place housed town activities — not since the Board of Education vacated it in 1975. The Public Building Commission recently selected Silver/Petrucelli and Associates, Inc., of Hamden, to prepare designs for the interior renovation. The plan is to convert the interior into a museum for the Historical Society of Berlin and an au-
ditorium for arts and cultural events. While details of the contract are still to be ironed out, architects plan to begin measuring this month. Director of Public Works Art Simonian predicted the cultural center may open as early as the summer of 2013 if funding falls into place. The building is “in much better shape than it was five years ago,” Simonian said, referring to the exterior renovation and an upgrade to utilities over the past several years. Mayor Adam Salina said the restoration has been a long and arduous process, and that the project has been overshadowed by the more
urgent needs of the Berlin school buildings. Having funded Phase I of the restoration with bond, the town has turned future fundraising efforts over to the Friends of the Worthington Meeting House, a nonprofit group created in 2005. Although hopes were high that the Meeting House would soon be accessible following the restoration of exterior that took place from 2003 to 2005, the interior restoration has been dogged by delays. The plans of one architect were scrapped because the plan to house certain town offices in the building fell through. Another architect charged a significant fee and ultimately did not de-
Ancient rituals usher historic church into new era The parish of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in East Berlin celebrated the completion of interior renovations with a June 4 reconsecration ceremony, which turned out to be a summery Saturday afternoon. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Laura Ahrens, the first woman to hold the position of bishop suffragan in the diocese of Connecticut, officiated over the the service which included a procession around the church grounds to the accompaniment of a bagpipe. According to Rector Audrey Scanlan, the “Beating the Bounds” is an ancient English ritual marking the four corners of the churchyard and blessing the holy ground. Upon entering the church, Bishop Ahrens, along with the pastoral staff, knocked on the door three times to symbolize the arrival of God in the house of worship.
Candles (electric) glow in the windows of the Worthington Meeting House as if to kep its spirit alive. The building may see a new era in its history begin soon. liver the adapted plans when he discovered that Phase II of the project was not shovelready.
Friends of the Worthington Meeting House had rec-
See Meeting, page 24
As summer unfolds, mayor hints at plans for town, self By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen
Photo by Amy Prescher
Church officials form a processional during a reconsecration of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church June 4. As to the new interior, Lorry Jorsey of East Berlin said, “You walk in and it’s just spectacular. Before there were one-inch cracks in the walls.” The main sanctuary of the church underwent a major reconstruction during the past year, which included ripping up the floor and excavating the basement, as well as many structural improve-
ments and an overhaul of interior finishes. The youngest parishioner in attendance was four month-old Bryce Stack, who is the great-great-grandson of one of the original builders of the church. Following the ceremony the parish enjoyed refreshments on the lawn. — Amy Prescher
Mayor Adam Salina said he anticipates there soon will be announcements in regards to positive economic news for Berlin. In terms of his own future continuing on the Town Council, he framed his response with care. After recent discussions with state officials, Salina said he is confident that curSalina rent levels of funding for Berlin are safe. “We are fortunate with state funding,” he said. Furthermore, “We will continue to grow the tax base,” he said, indicating there will be announcements coming soon in regards to plans for vacant space and new manufacturing and jobs in town “that will help grow the Grand List. “ These developments include the Clark Drive industrial area in East Berlin and the Park Street industrial area off the Berlin Turnpike as well as a stand-alone enterprise. Salina said the town continues with “due diligence” in terms of the proposed purchase of property on Farmington Avenue for a new police station. The former Kensington Furniture store site is being considered for that use. See Salina, page 8