The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en
Volume 15, Number 33
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
9/11 memorial on hold; ceremony still planned Depot Crossing status factors into the delay By Daniel Jackson Special to The Citizen
It’s just one year since crew members from Kensington Fire Rescue traveled to New York City to collect three beams from the World Trade Center. The plan is to create a 9/11 memorial in front of the Kensington fire house on Farmington Avenue. The initial goal was to establish a permanent memorial by the 10 year anniversary of the attack — Sept. 11 of this year — and then unveil the memorial in a ceremony. However, the memorial has been put on hold because the development next to the fire station, Depot Crossing, is still under construction. Fire Chief Mark Lewandowski says he is waiting until the property next door is finished before the fire department builds the 9/11 memorial so that the
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Stranger than fiction
Another local 9/11 memorial planned, see page 13. design can look its best. “When he moves forward, then we can start moving forward,” said Lewandowski, adding that he understood the delay due to these tough economic times. “I’m all in favor of supporting the fire department,” said Ray Kavarsky, owner of the Depot Crossing property. Kavarsky said his property extends in front of the fire station and half way into the fire department’s driveway. According to Kavarsky, he’s received permission, by the town, to build an additional building on his property in front of the fire station. By mid to late September, he plans to restart work at Depot Crossing. In the meantime, the fire department is planning a ceremony to commemorate the lives of those killed in the attacks, 10 years ago, with a temporary memorial
Photo by Andrea Pomponio
Heads turned when a llama entered the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library last week. Copper, a llama, visiting from the Country Quilt Llama Farm in West Cornwall was the star attraction at the library’s children’s summer program. Children learned all about llamas and also had the chance to meet Copper up close and personal. See additional photo page 7.
See Memorial, page 5
Making friends It took a while, but Donny Roski finally learned that he made a connection with a child from Uganda, East Africa, as a result of a Cub Scout project he participated in a couple of years ago. In 2009, Donny was a Willard Elementary School student when each member of his Cub Scout Pack 5 collected a shoebox of toys to be distributed to a child overseas. For the project, each scout had the option of placing his name and address in the box in hopes of receiving a response from the recipient — but there were no guarantees. Then, last month, Donny — now entering McGee Middle School — received a letter from Uganda. His box of toys had been received by a five-year old named Disan, who also wrote to thank Donny for the toys. He included a picture of himself. Donny and his family were “quite surprised, and touched.” Disan wrote that he’d like to hear back from Donny — and Donny said he plans to send a reply and photos, too, and possibly strike up a pen pal relationship with his new friend. Left, Donny Roski, holds a photo and letter from Disan. At right, is Disan.