Thursday, October 11, 2018
www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 22, Number 34
Celebrating 107 at the family business By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Despite retiring four years ago, Michael Budney celebrated his 107th birthday on Wednesday, Oct. 3 by showing up at work just as he does every day.
By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
“It’s what he’s done his whole life,” said his daughter, Lori Budney, who now runs the company.
The state’s largest teachers union on Friday joined those criticizing the Berlin man running against House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz for social media posts, including one attacking a school shooting survivor and another expressing anti-Muslim sentiments.
Her father returns to Budney Industries in Berlin each day to walk the floor and watch the process. “It brings him back to when he was working in a machine shop years ago,” she said. Seeing the centenarian come in every day is an inspiration for his workers “He always told me it keeps him young,” said General Manager Mark Zarek. “It brings the spirit of the shop up.” After singing Sto Lat, a Polish song wishing 100 years of good health, Lori Budney said they’d have to find a new song for him or change the words to wish him another 100 years. “Everybody knows that he’s proud of his Polish heritage and (that) he likes to work,” she said. “I’m just happy my dad is healthy and (can) come here every day just for an hour or two.”
Candidate criticized for posts
Michael Budney celebrated his 107th birthday at the aerospace manufacturing plant he opened over 30 years ago. He continues to visit the New Park Drive business every day. | Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
A lifelong aerospace worker, Michael Budney enjoys watching the parts take shape as they pass between stations, as well as getting to see all the familiar faces.
Park Drive aerospace manufacturer in 1983. He helped them and their families immigrate from Poland.
John Mazurek, an engineer with Pratt and Whitney who does business with Before he blew out his candles, Michael Budney, said it always stood out to Budney told the crowd gathered that him how Michael Budney would work the celebration wasn’t about him, it nights or weekends himself to make was about all of those gathered. sure the needs of his customers were always met. “They don’t work for him, he works with them,” Lori Budney said. “Budney Industries is what runs through his blood,” Mazurek said. Many of the workers were hired by dleithyessian@record-journal.com Budney after he founded the New
Democrats in the 30th House District, which includes portions of Berlin and Southington, also said voters should find the posts concerning. “I found them completely appalling,” said Kathleen O’Donnell Moss, vice chairwoman of the Berlin Democratic Town Committee. Moss shared screenshots of social media posts by Republican Steve Baleshiski with the Record-Journal. Baleshiski couldn’t be See Posts, A20
Town goes to court over blight By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Mounting complaints from neighbors have led the town to seek an injunction against a New Britain man whose property has remained vacant and in disrepair for years.
ported rats,” said Mayor Mark Kaczynski, who said complaints go back nearly 10 years. “It’s been an ongoing blight problem. And somewhere back in history, before my time, the town had started to take some action but it never was completed.”
“The place is potentially dangerous … it’s overgrown and the neighbors have re-
A complaint describe’s Raymond Szajkowski’s property at 77 Elton Road as being in
violation of the town’s blight ordinance due to detached gutters, abandoned boats, vehicles and a trailer, overgrown grass, fencing in dilapidated condition and “numerous abandoned accessory structures in a state of disrepair.” The lawsuit requests an injunction to allow the town to clean and make repairs, inSee Blight, A8
The town of Berlin is seeking an injunction against the owner of 77 Elton Road for violations of the town's blight ordinance. The residential property has been vacant for Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen years.