Volume 18, Number 38
Berlin’s Only Hometown Newspaper
www.berlincitizen.com
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Solemn ceremony honors Berlin vets By Charles Kreutzkamp
combat medic in the army reserve for nearly a decade, said veterans’ issues are something he cares Few have given as much for our deeply about. “To me, the presence nation as veterans, from Bunker of homeless veterans in our state Hill to Baghdad, said Peter Gal- is just unacceptable,” Aresimowicz gano, secretary of the Veterans told The Citizen. “It’s been an iniCommission, at the Veterans Day tiative for us at the state capital to find more homes for veterans, and ceremony Nov. 11. Crowds gathered at Veterans we cannot stop working until there Park to hear Galgano, Berlin High are zero homeless veterans. We School band and chorus members, need to serve and honor them as Mayor Rachel Rochette, and state they have served and honored us.” Rep. Joe Aresimowicz. Aresimowicz, who served as a See Ceremony / Page 2
The Berlin Citizen
A large crowd gathered the morning of Nov. 11 in Veterans Park. | Charles Kreutzkamp / The Berlin Citizen
Veterans recognized at Senior Center By Charles Kreutzkamp The Berlin Citizen
“You can judge a community by how they treat their youth and their seniors,” is a truism Senior Center Director Tina Doyle quoted, and one she sees in her work on a daily basis. The Berlin Senior Center held a ceremony honoring senior veterans Nov. 12 prior to a hot lunch and country music performance. “It was nice. I didn’t expect it,” said Bill Banulski, a Vietnam veteran who served in the Marine Corps starting in 1968. The meal and entertainment
are what drew Joe Shaskus, a veteran of World War II who served in the medical corps of the army in Germany in 1944, “just as the war ended,” Shakus said. Both veterans said they enjoyed the meal. According to Doyle, a daily hot lunch Monday through Friday is only a small part of the services the senior center provides to the community’s elderly population, and a valuable part of assisting seniors living on a fixed income, as many Berlin seniors are, according to Doyle. Veterans present were presented with a “goodie bag” and honored with a poetry reading and
a group photo. Doyle thanked Andrew House Healthcare, a Ciena Healthcare organization, for helping to sponsor the program and the meal. “They have been a good friend to us,” Doyle said. “We care a lot about our seniors and our veterans,” said Wendy Mutter, on behalf of the Andrew House. “People don’t realize all we do here,” Doyle said. The Senior Center provides transportation to seniors that are no longer driving to medical appointments, grocery shopping, banks and pharmacies.
2333-01 047085
Guaranteed
BEST PRICES!
By Charles Kreutzkamp The Berlin Citizen
Children were bouncing with excitement Nov. 10, many of them literally, awaiting the arrival of a dancer from the touring cast of “Wicked.” A hit number from the show, “Defying Gravity,” played while children and their parents waited for Lauren Haughton to arrive at Dance Legacy on Seymour Road. “It’s wonderful,” said parent J’Amy Caracciolo, mentioning that “Wicked” is her
See Veterans / Page 2
GRAND OPENING SALE! 30-70% r In Stock fo K UP IC P E T IMMEDIA E DAY OR SAM able ail Delivery Av
‘Wicked’ good time at local dance studio
See Dance / Page 11
OFF! 0% FINANcING*
Mattress For LESS
2585 Berlin Turnpike, Newington • 860-757-3808
QUEEN MATTRESS
SPEcIAL ONLY $179
UP TO 36 MO. OR
No Credit Needed
90 DAY
Payment Option
Next to Army Barracks FIRM or PLUSH MATTRESS Special: PILLOWTOP Special: Special: *Subject to Credit approval $ $ $ $ Twin... 79/Set 129 Queen... 229/Set 289 Queen...$349/Set $499 and minimum purchase ALL OTHER SIZES ON SALE! OPEN MON.-SAT. 10AM-7PM SUN. 11AM - 5PM