The Berlin
Cit itiz ize en Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
Volume 14, Number 26
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Four top schools jobs filled as Erwin builds his team By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen
The Board of Education appointed four new administrators for the 2010-2011 school year at a special meeting June 23. “It’s really very exciting for me and the school district,” said Superintendent of Schools David Erwin, adding, he was happy the school board supported the choices and likewise seemed pleased with the results of a long search process. “We have four capable and competent administrators who will become part of my team,” Erwin said. Several of the positions are “pivotal” ones and not easy to fill, he said, such as director of pupil personnel services and high school principal. Erwin was hired
earlier this year and began May 1. Beginning July 1, Dr. Valentina Parchin will be director of pupil services, replacing Fayne Malloy who retired. Parchin earned her undergraduate degree at St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduate degrees from Duquesne University, Pittsburg, Pa., and St. John’s University, Jamaica, N.Y.; she also earned administrative certification from the University of Hartford and a Ph.D. from St. John’s University. Currently, Parchin is director of pupil services for Shelton schools. Prior to that, she served in a similar capacity for Stafford Public Schools. Berlin High School’s new principal, beginSee Jobs, page 24
Willard Beach Bash marks the start of summer vacation By Olivia L. Lawrence The Berlin Citizen
If you’re a fifth grade student and it’s the last day of school and the temperature is 80 degrees-plus, what should you do? It’s not multiple choice. There’s only one answer: Beach Bash. That was one of the fun
end-of-school activities, June 22, for 107 departing fifthgraders at Willard Elementary School. “They’re moving onto McGee,” said Lucy Halkias, who along with Debbie Moss, chairs the fifth grade program. In the fall, the students will attend McGee Middle School, also located
225! Berlin turns
on Norton Road, just a few hundred yards away to the west. Halkias and Moss were in charge of the Beach Bash attended by the entire fifth grade class. Halkias said “the fifth graders always have a party” on the last day of school. See Bash, page 18
In this edition, our four-part history series celebrating Berlin’s 225th anniversary year continues. This installment of the timeline brings Berlin into the age of automobiles and a time when industry grew and the town boomed. Also inside— the articles of incorporation that made an odd lot of parcels into the Town of Berlin.
Mowing the hayfields in summer during Berlin’s farming era.
Berlin schools’ Director of Food Services Tim Prosinski at the White House.
Chef Prosinski goes to Washington for food summit By Daniel Jackson Special to The Citizen On June 4, Berlin public schools food director Tim Prosinski, dressed in his white chef ’s coat, passed through security and walked onto the White House lawn. He was there with 500 other chefs, from across the country, to hear First Lady Michelle Obama unveil her newest initiative to fight childhood obesity. The program, “Chefs Move to Schools”, will encourage chefs to befriend a school and volunteer their knowledge of nutrition, as well as their creative cooking talents, to create interesting and healthy lunches that also meet the schools’ budgets and dietary guidelines. The program is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Prosinski has been doing just that for several years in Berlin schools. “I feel like we are ahead of
the curve, ahead of the program,” Prosinski said. Four years ago, Prosinski was hired as food director for Berlin public schools. Having come from a background in restaurants and catering, Prosinski looked for a way to add zest to the lunch menu. He enjoyed preparing food in front of people at weddings and other events, so he tried a program called “Lunch with Chef Tim.” It’s been a big hit. “The kids absolutely go out of their skin. I prepare it right in front of them. I set up sauté pans over burners and stink up the cafeteria with garlic and herbs.” Another program, which Prosinski offered during the last school year, was a cooking club with several elementary students. The club culminated with students making lunch for their whole school on June 10. ProsinsSee Chef, page 25