Volume 18, Number 8
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
www.berlincitizen.com
Thursday, Februar y 20, 2014
BPD says thanks, goodbye to Zeusz Zeusz and his handler, Officer Eric Chase, walk in front of saluting police officers, Feb. 11, honoring the dog’s years of loyal service. | (Submitted)
By Charles Kreutzkamp The Berlin Citizen
The Berlin Police Department bade a fond farewell to Zeusz, the town’s first police dog, Feb. 11. Although Zeusz, a black German shepherd, appeared to be recovering from health problems after being treated by a veterinarian last year, early last week he was diagnosed with an advanced stage of terminal cancer. It was recommended that Zeusz be put down to spare him the pain and suffering of the disease, which had progressed rapidly. Zeusz was remembered fondly by many on the police department’s Facebook page. Monica Walker recalled the time when “Zeusz entertained my girls with some
tricks one day and was helpful in distracting them from the fact someone had broken into our home.” The Connecticut Police D o g Wo rk A ss o c i at i o n posted, “Zeusz will be remembered well.” Lynn Kipphut recalled when Zeusz participated in
the first American Cancer Society’s Bark For Life event in Berlin several years ago. “He was so proud and happy,” Kipphut wrote, “May he rest in peace.” One of Zeusz’s finest hours was in obtaining a key piece of evidence in a bank robbery case. The suspects had
struck a bank in Berlin and another in Windsor, Deputy Chief John Klett explained. Zeusz tracked down a hat that the suspects left behind, and the DNA evidence provided from it helped lead to a successful arrest and conviction. “He was a good dog,” Klett said. Zeusz will be particularly missed by his partner, Officer Eric Chase, who he lived and worked with. Chase wrote, “During the last few days,
telling and listening to stories about Zeusz’s past has made this easier and I look forward to meeting everyone who knew Zeusz and hearing those stories again. Thank you, again, everyone for your support.” Chase also thanked the Budney family, which provided a grant that made it possible for the police department’s K-9 program See Zeusz / Page 2
WEATHER’S JUST PEACHY
BOE budget review complete Schools seek 2.6 percent increase By Charles Kreutzkamp The Berlin Citizen
The Board of Education has completed its monthlong process reviewing the superintendent’s proposed budget that will be sent to the Town Council. The new budget represents a 2.6 percent increase, which is 1.1 percent higher than the U.S. government’s reported 2013 inflation rate at 1.5 percent. Costs that have increased include transportation and contractual salary. According to Superintendent David Erwin’s budget proposal, the largest driver for the budget is funding for sal-
ary increases. The budget also seeks approval for a Capstone coordinator at the high school, who would “appropriately work with students on their Capstone project at B erlin High School,” according to the superintendent’s letter. Board members described the budget as the smallest increase the board has approached the Town Council with in many years. The original budget proposed to the B oard of Education by the superintendent was a 2.97 percent increase. Director of business operations for the school district Roman Czuchta explained that one reason for the decrease to 2.6 percent was that the projected increase of 5 percent in Anthem Blue Cross insurance costs for employees was
reduced to 4 percent due to increased employee contributions. Czuchta further decreased the projected cost increase of insurance to 2 percent after communication with Lindberg & Ripple, a financial services corporation. School Board President Gary Brochu said that this budget is the smallest increase proposed to the Town Council in recent memory, although not the smallest budget increase passed by the council recently. “The challenges in putting forth a reasonable budget in today’s economic climate are formidable,” Erwin wrote in the proposal. The letter also noted that even with the original 2.97 percent increase requested, Berlin would be spending $425 less than the average per pupil spending in the state of Connecticut.
Local girls, from left, Alicia Rolfe and Emma Roski enjoy a snow day Feb. 13. Clearly, snow piles are high around town. | (Photo by Lee Roski)