The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en
Volume 16, Number 33
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
www.berlincitizen.com
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus in nearby towns By Monica Szakacs The Berlin Citizen
Mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus have been found in six towns surrounding the Town of Berlin, according to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Mosquitoes recently trapped in Wethersfield, Farmington, Rocky Hill, Meriden, Glastonbury and Newington by a mosquito management program run by the organization have tested positive for West Nile virus.
“We received a report from [CAES] that mosquitoes tested positive in the area,” said CCHD Health Educator Lori DiPietro. “Now it’s our job to educate the communities about different measures to keep yourself from getting bitten. We can’t force anyone to take any measures, but it’s just really educating the people on how to protect yourself and family.” Each testing station found one mosquito in their traps which had the virus except for Newington, which had
two. Berlin does not have any trap sites to test for the virus. The CCHD is not alarmed over the recent discovery of the virus at the trap sites. Nancy Brault, chief of environmental health services at the CCHD, said the virus is found throughout the state. “Every year, we end up getting cases, but there is ongoing testing,” she said. West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus and there is no known cure or vaccination for an infection. Effects Citizen photo by Daniel Jackson
See Virus, next page
As drivers age, transportation becomes an issue By Daniel Jackson The Berlin Citizen
Jim Case votes in the primary election with his two children at the American Legion Aug. 14.
McMahon popular with Berlin voters By Daniel Jackson and Monica Szakacs The Berlin Citizen
As sight declines and reaction time decreases, the pressure mounts for seniors to stop driving as they age. Tina Doyle, director of the Berlin Senior Center said most of the three or four thousand seniors in town are not clinging to their keys. “The majority of them are giving it up when they are no longer capable of driving,” she said. However, the decision to give up the keys permanently is a difficult one for
Citizen photo by Daniel Jackson
Shelia Fox steps into her car. After taking the AARP Safe Driver Class, she focuses on drivSee Drivers, page 15 ing safely.
See Voters, page 8
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Berlin voters chose Christopher Murphy as the Democratic nominee and Linda McMahon as the Republican nominee for the U.S. senate race in the Aug. 14 primaries. According to Berlin’s voters registrar office, registered Democrat voters chose Murphy over Susan
Bysiewicz by 474 votes to 392 votes. Republican voters nominated McMahon over Christopher Shays by 681 votes to 149 votes. Democrat voter participation was at 17.3 percent, an expected turnout, said Democratic Registrar Charles Warner, but 27.4 percent of Republicans turned out in vote for their primary.
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