Volume 23, Number 7
www.berlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
New Senior Center bus rolls into town By Nadya Korytnikova The Citizen
The vehicle is handicapped accessible and can safely transport two wheelchairbound passengers at a time. It is equipped with a sneeze guard and a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which uses UV light to clean and sanitize.
The Senior Center recently acquired a new, 12-passenger accessible shuttle bus for residents.
The Berlin Police Department’s Community Relations Team, from left: Isabella Delgado, Cathy Griffin, Shawn Solek, Brandon Lagueux, Kevin Chaffee and Aimee Krzykowski. The team is headed by Lieutenant Shawn Solek and coordinated by Ofc. Lagueux. Courtesy of the Berlin Police Department
Police department forms Community Relations Team By Nadya Korytnikova The Citizen
The Berlin Police Department has launched a Community Relations Team, the department’s latest initiative to combat a sharp increase in property crimes. The team will focus on reinvigorating neighborhood watch programs, improving communication concerning crime trends, educating the community on crime prevention methods and building positive relationships between the department and the public. Headed by Lieutenant Shawn Solek and coordinated by Officer Brandon Lagueux, the Community Relations Team encourages residents to form neighborhood
The center uses the bus for trips to doctor’s appointments, prescription pickups and other necessary errands. “We are really excited about this new bus,” said Town Manager Arosha Jayawickrema. “It offers convenience for our senior citizens who rely on somebody else for transportation.”
Unlike the older model, which was retired, the new bus has a Bluetooth receiver, allowing drivers to answer calls from the Senior Center hands-free. The vehicle is also more fuel-efficient and provides a “smoother, softer” ride in See Bus, A10
watch groups, which greatly help police deter crime and make communities safer, said Deputy Police Chief Christopher Ciuci. “We cover 26 square miles, and it’s the most unfair game of hide-and-seek ever, because our officers are out there seeking criminals who are operating under the cover of darkness,” the deputy chief said. “We need to recruit more people to help us find the offenders.” Other Community Relations Team members include officers Cathy Griffin, Aimee Krzykowski, Kevin Chaffee and Isabella Delgado. See Police, A11
Senior Center bus driver Joe LaVallee, right, shows Town Manager Arosha Jayawickrema around the new bus. Photos by Nadya Korytnikova, The Citizen
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Kindergarten registration Kindergarten registration for the 2021-2022 school year is open. Children who will reach age 5 on or before Jan. 1, 2022, and children who are already age 5 or 6 and have not yet attended
Preschool screening Berlin youngsters age 3 through 4 years 8 months by March 27, 2021 are eligible to participate in the townwide preschool screening at the Community Center Friday, March 26, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Saturday, March 27, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Appointments will be scheduled on a first-come, firstserve basis. Call 860-8296795 or 860-829-6792 to schedule a screening.
Enchancements made to CHET
Existing CHET Direct Plan account owners should visit Fidelity.com/CHETactivate to activate their accounts. The CHET Advisor Plan will be effective on March 22.
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Executive VP & Publisher — Liz White Notarangelo News Editor — Nick Carroll Assistant News Editor — Olivia Lawrence News reporter — Nadya Korytnikova Senior VP and Editor — Ralph Tomaselli Vice President of Advertising — Jim Mizener
— Press Release
P.O. Box 311231 • Newington, CT 204827-P1 • 5155-SM1 • 39764-S3 • HIC #0625232
ADVERTISING: Kaitlin Horn — Media Consultant (203) 317-2446 | advertising@theberlincitizen.com NEWS / SPORTS: (203) 317-2245 | news@theberlincitizen.com
The Berlin Citizen (ISSN 1525-1780, USPS 017-666) is published weekly by Record-Journal, 500 S. Broad Street, Meriden, CT 06450. Periodicals postage paid at Meriden, CT and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to: Record-Journal 500 S. Broad Street, Meriden, CT 06450
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As the cost of education rises, a recent study by Fidelity shows 78 percent of parents nationwide have started saving for higher education, with Connecticut parents just above the national average at 79 percent.
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“CHET is dedicated to helping families save for their children’s future education, and we are proud to offer a number of enhanced benefits to make the CHET plan more accessible than ever before,” said Wooden. “Fidelity’s focus on providing an unparalleled customer experience and their strong investment heritage will help Connecticut families meet their future education savings goals.”
Nearly all Connecticut parents surveyed (92 percent), said they hope to cover at least some of the cost of higher education for their children. The reason to start saving early and often has never been clearer, as Americans currently owe an estimated $1.67 trillion in student debt.
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Connecticut State Treasurer and Trustee of the Connecticut Higher Education Trust, Shawn T. Wooden, has relaunched the state’s 529 college savings plan under new program manager, Fidelity Investments.
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass., named Haley Hauptfeld, Joshua Malcame, Nicholas Paszczuk and Hannah Schulz to its dean’s list for the fall semester.
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Stonehill College, Easton, Mass., named Laura Cunningham and Julia Ladd to its dean’s list for the fall semester.
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Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, named Kyle Bisson to its dean’s list for the fall semester.
school are eligible to register for the upcoming school year. Register at berlinschools.org, under District/ Registration & Residency. Registration is open through March 26. If your child is not yet eligible for kindergarten, call 860-828-6581 to have their name added to the school system’s database of future students.
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Berlin High School senior Jenna Zup was named to the Connecticut Girls Soccer Association’s Class L All-State team for the 2020 season. Zup will continue her soccer and softball career at the University of St. Joseph.
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
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Accepting applications for the 2021-2022 academic year for Preschool through Grade 8!
Saint Paul School FAITH - LEARNING - SERVICE Saint Paul School is a Catholic community dedicated to sharing our faith with others. In the ongoing process of educating the whole child, we support the development of our students spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. As 21st century learners and problem solvers, our students strive to be models of Christ, moral leaders in service to others, and creators of a more humane and just world.
OUR COMMITMENT • Ensuring a quality, faith-based education for children of all faiths • Creating a supportive and safe learning environment • Delivering academic excellence • Our students consistently perform at least one grade level above nationally normed IOWA tests. • Track record of acceptance into private secondary schools • Giving back to others through our service initiatives
Please Contact Admissions Director Kelly Esposito at 860-828-4343 x136 461 Alling Street, Kensington CT • ourschool.stpaulkensington.org 238604
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
MidState Chamber awards EXCLUSIVE REWARD $ UPGRADE 1-DAY ACUVUE HUGE 100 Get an Eye Exam and Upgrade to $100 REBATE
Applications are now available from the MidState Chamber of Commerce for the Annual Sanford S. Shorr Education Awards and the Bruce H. Kannenberg & Jonal Laboratories, Inc. Education Award and the Frank A. & Charlotte G. Young Award. Applications are available at midstatechamber.com. The deadline to return completed applications is March 26.
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An independent, nonprofit organization, the Midstate Chamber supports business growth and retention and works tirelessly to promote the advancement of commercial, industrial and community interests in the area.
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The Midstate Chamber of Commerce proudly serves, supports and promotes its member businesses in Berlin, Cheshire, Meriden, Southington, Wallingford,
and other communities in Connecticut. The organization is the heart of central Connecticut’s business community with 500 business members. The ever-growing organization is committed to delivering on four solid promises: Promotion; Networking; Education; and Leadership.
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
In Brief Community chest Community Chest of New Britain and Berlin granted $240,854 to nonprofits serving New Britain and Berlin in 2020. The CCNBB supports programs in the health and human services area and will consider requests for program grants, general operating support and seed grants for new programs. The next grant application deadline is April 15. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to Candice Tabone: 860-229-6018 ext. 300, ctabone@cfgnb.org. For more information, visit ccnbb.org.
Building permits
Municipal business Town Hall is open by appointment only. Residents are encouraged to conduct business by phone, mail, email or drop box. Town Hall phone directory: Assessor 860-828-7039, Buildings 860-828-7012, Economic Development 860-828-700, Finance 860-828-7041, Fire Marshal 860-828-7053, HR 860-828-7115, IT 860-8287015, P&Z 860-828-7060,
Public Works 860-828-7022, Registrar 860-828-7020, Revenue Collections 860-8287107, Social, youth services 860-828-7059, Town Clerk 860-828-7036, Town Manager 860-828-7003.
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Hall of Fame Entering the Berlin High School Athletic Hall of Fame this year will be Ryan DiPietro (Class of 2002, baseball), Katelyn Zarotney (Class of 2010, basketball and volleyball), Max DeLorenzo (Class of 2011, football and basketball) and Cliff Landry (football and basketball coach 1954-61.) The induction ceremony will be held Sept. 12 at the Aqua Turf. The Class of 2020 also will be inducted at the ceremony. Stay updated by visiting the Hall of Fame online, bhshalloffame.org.
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Building Permit Applications can now be submitted online, and payments can be paid online. A release from the Building Department states: "We pledge a contin-
ued effort to simplify and ease the process of permitting. Most applications can be completed this way with the ability to upload the proper documents and verifications needed. We encourage the use of the system. However, you can still submit via the drop box and/or any postal or courier service (during COVID restrictions) and in the office once we are back to normal operations."
Welcoming New Patients!
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Apply Now! Robert T. Kenney Scholarship Program The American Savings Foundation will award college scholarships to over 375 new and renewing applicants for the 2021-2022 school year. Application Deadline: March 31, 2021 Apply online at www.asfdn.org or call (860) 827-2556.
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
COMMENTARY
There are many reasons to update your estate plan By Brendan Daly
Yes, 2020 was a year unlike any other. So many challenges. So much negativity. But if we slow down and really think about it, hopefully we can identify some good things learned. And, hopefully, we can place a renewed focus on what’s truly important.
Preparing for your future is one of those things. Making things easier for your loved ones, is another. Take some time in the coming weeks to make sure your estate plan is done and that it’s current. Make it a point to get it done. Why? You may think once you’ve had it drafted that, like the old infomercial
tagline, you can just “set it, and forget it.” Wrong! Even a plan that is only a few years old can be seriously outdated. Changes in your personal circumstances, your health, or your finances could impact the intentions you originally intended in your estate planning documents. They could make your plan obsolete, or worse, create greater burdens for your family. There may also be changes
in the laws that affect your Wills, asset protection planning for Medicaid and nursing homes, and estate and retirement taxation.
Why you may to need to update your estate plan 1. Tax laws are always changing.
stantly changing (usually for the worse). Because these rules make it much more difficult to qualify for Medicaid and to protect your home and money if you enter a nursing home, they also suggest that you start your planning process much earlier. 3. Changes may have occurred since you executed your estate plan.
2. Medicaid eligibility For Sale and For Sale nursing home rules are con-
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
COVID IN CONNECTICUT
83 new cases reported in Berlin Berlin, and nearly every other Connecticut municipality, remains in the coronavirus red zone. The color coded status for cities and towns represents two weeks of cases. The trigger for red status starts at a rate of 15 cases per 100,000 people per day.
enty-four patients were hospitalized with laboratoryconfirmed COVID-19. There
had been 7,381 COVID-19associated deaths. — Citizen report
Should you buy or rent in retirement? These five questions will help you figure out which one will work best for you:
When you buy, you lock in the biggest part of your housing costs. You will still face rising property taxes, utility bills and other costs, but at least your mortgage principal and interest costs will not rise if you buy with a fixed-rate mortgage. 2. How certain are you about this location?
As of Feb. 11, the total of laboratory-confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases reported among Connecticut residents was 267,337, including 250,915 laboratoryconfirmed and 16,422 probable cases. Six hundred sev-
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The state’s most recent report, issued Feb. 11, showed 83 positive cases in Berlin. That works out to an average of 29 daily cases per 100,000 people.
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To be sure you have the best shot at recouping your purchase and selling costs, buying makes the most sense when you are sure you are going to live in a home for at least five years. That said, if you are buying in a popular area and decide to move, you may be able to turn your retirement home into a rental property instead of selling. 4. Do you have steady retirement income? If your income in retirement is going to rise and fall, then you may need to vary your housing costs by renting what you cannot afford in any given year. Those with steady income know they can afford the fixed housing costs of a long-term mortgage. Paying cash for your retirement home can reduce your ongoing monthly expenses. 5. What is more important to you: Control or repair help? When you are a renter, when something breaks, you call the landlord to get it fixed. But, renters do not have the freedom to customize their homes that owners enjoy. When you are a homeowner, you can customize your home by choosing flooring, decorating as you please or even knocking down walls. Whether you buy or rent, I can help you find a great home to retire in. Do not hesitate to call or email us today. Robert Scalise is a partner of Ericson Scalise & Mangan PC. Practicing Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Asset Protection Planning. Call 860-515-3399 for a consultation. www.esmlaw.com
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
More outstanding cardiac care. Right in your neighborhood.
Mass vaccination sites located across state By Mary Ellen Godin Record-Journal staff
Hartford HealthCare has agreements with towns and property owners to open four new mass vaccination centers statewide — including one at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford.
State Medical Center in Meriden, announced the opening of a mega-vaccine site at Liberty Square in New Britain between Feb. 22 and March 1.
In addition to Liberty Square, HHC secured rights to properties at the Xfinity Center, Foxwoods, Central The centers will open and High School in Bridgeport operate based on pending and the Oakdale in Wallingvaccine supply, HHC offiford, Flaks said. The new cials said last week. sites are in addition to mass vaccine sites already opened “We are in position to draat the Hartford Convention matically scale up, and we are completely committed to Center and the Torrington Armory. using our resources in this way,” Hartford HealthCare Hartford HealthCare is now President Jeff Flaks told reequipped to dispense 35,000 porters Wednesday, Feb. doses of the Pfizer BioNTech 10. “This is Connecticut at and Moderna vaccines its best . . . our community weekly and has vaccinated rising to the challenge to 82,000 people across its netprotect citizens. It’s part of work. The new sites will alour commitment to have no low the network to dispense community left behind.” 75,000 doses weekly, Flaks Feb. 10, the health care net- said. work, and parent of Mid-
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Letters Policy Email letters to news@theberlincitizen.com; mail to 500 South Broad St., Meriden, CT 06450 or fax to 203-6390210. The Citizen will print only one letter per person each month. Letters can be approximately 300 words. We reserve the right to edit letters. Include a phone number so The Citizen can contact you for verification. Letters must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday to be considered for publication the following Thursday.
The Berlin Senior Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new bus. From left: Senior Center Program Coordinator Cheryl Schlichting, Senior Center bus driver Joe LaVallee, Senior Center Director Tina Doyle and Town Manager Arosha Jayawickrema.
Bus
“We definitely needed a new bus because the old one rattled and was too bouncy,” said Doyle. “We want to provide our residents with the safest and the most comfortable transportation possible.”
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comparison to the previous bus, said Senior Center Director Tina Doyle.
The new Senior Center bus has an approximate value of $67,000, said Doyle. The state Department of Transportation 5310 Grant Program funded 80 percent of the cost. The town paid for the remaining 20 percent.
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Thursday, February 18, 2021
Help prevent vehicle theft
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With vehicle thefts on the rise, Berlin Police Department Chief John Klett advises residents to park inside a garage if possible, install outdoor security cameras, and obtain a GPS vehicle tracker. To stay informed about criminal activity, Crime Prevention Officer Cathy Griffin suggests joining local Facebook groups and downloading the free Neighbors App. Also, if residents are interested in starting an in-person Neighborhood Watch, they should visit the National Neighborhood Watch website, which will teach how to recruit and organize the vigil as well as develop communication and action plans.
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In its first week, the Community Relations Team received 15 applications to establish a watch group. Community members interested in starting a neighborhood watch or becoming a watch captain should contact the department at crimewatch@berlinpd.org. An officer assigned to your area will contact you. “People want to feel like there is something they can do to protect themselves, to protect their neighbors, but at the same time not putting themselves in potentially dangerous situations,” Ofc. Delgado said.
The team will also coordinate many of the department’s long-standing community events, including Coffee with a Cop, Stuff a Cruiser, department open house tours, Citizen's Police Academy, and many others. “During our events, residents can gather, meet new faces and meet our officers in person,” said Ofc. Lagueux. “If you ever need officers to come in for a call, you will feel more comfortable if you already know them.” Detailed information about each Community Relations Team member is available on the Berlin Police Department Facebook page. nkorytnikova@ record-journal.com 203-317-2444
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Thursday, February 18, 2021
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Property owners are not allowed to shovel, throw or plow ice and snow from private property into or across a public street. Residents are advised that they are responsible to clear snow and ice from any public sidewalk fronting along their property. All sidewalks are to be cleared and/or sanded within 24 hours of the completion of street plowing operations.
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It is the responsibility of the property owner fronting that sidewalk to make it safe for public travel. Parking bans become effective automatically (or at the discretion of the Director of Public Works) when there is an accumulation of four inches or more of snow and ice on any town streets. Parking bans will terminate no sooner than eight hours after any snowstorm (or as directed by the Director of Public Works). Any vehicle left parked on the street after such parking ban has taken effect, will be towed and subject to a fine and all related charges. The Public Works Department can be reached at 860828-7022.
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Thursday, February 18, 2021
MORE BLACK HISTORY MONTH ARTICLES CAN BE FOUND ON:
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A special thank you to all the people and businesses who wanted to support our efforts in covering this subject. We are very grateful for your contributions. — RJ’s Writers, Editors & Creatives
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH: listening & learning
Black history can’t be confined to one month. It’s a case of the more you learn the more you realize how much more there is to discover. This is a rich and complex topic. Our goal with today’s special coverage of Black History Month is to highlight a few of the many stories that comprise local Black history — the people and events that have contributed to the vibrant and diverse life of our communities. We also want to provide resources that can help expand our understanding of racism, our historic and ongoing struggles with racial equality and how that impacts our country today. Here at the Record-Journal, we are proud of our long history of providing the local news to our communities. Over the past year, we reassessed and reinvigorated our commitment to serve our communities and add to the diversity of our publications as well as our workplace. As a company, we have formed a Diversity & Inclusion Committee whose members created the mission to “take actions that will create and support a workplace and products that are inclusive, diverse and representative of the communities we serve.” To this end, the Record-Journal is taking steps to ensure that our content, community outreach, and hiring practices remain equitable and representative of our community. One approach to our outreach is listening. This is done through a program called Voices — Community Powered Journalism, a chance for us to hear questions from local community members and answer them through our reporting. Soon, we also plan to launch a Latino Communities Reporting Lab, another opportunity for us to incorporate community listening into our reporting. By listening to our community, we can better provide our readers with focused content to keep you informed and engaged. We’re also supporting local students by offering minority internships and scholarships, and we’re developing new ways to attract and retain diverse and representative talent. We celebrate the diversity of our communities and will continue to explore the many cultures in the towns we cover. We will to listen to the wide variety of voices that contribute to that diversity and welcome their stories to our pages. Today we put the focus on Black History Month and we hope that you’ll enjoy this special edition of the Record-Journal. RJ Diversity & Inclusion Committee
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WALLINGFORD’S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS Commentary by Lorraine S. Connelly
Norwyn Campbell
Meet our Black History Month guest editor Norwyn Campbell is a Digital Advertising Sales professional at RJ Media Group, based in Meriden. He holds an MBA (marketing) and has more than 26 years of sales and management experience in insurance and media/ advertising sales, with another eight years in banking services. Norwyn is proud of his Caribbean roots, being born in Jamaica, birth place of Reggae icon Bob Marley and Usain Bolt — the greatest sprinter of all time. Also the same roots as former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Vice President Kamala Harris. Having settled with his wife and two sons in Connecticut, he has since become involved in serving his community. He is a board member of the Meriden Rotary Club and a planning committee member of Journey Found Inc; a nonprofit organization that helps with the housing of individu-
als with intellectual disabilities in Connecticut. Norwyn hopes that his contributions will make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. Words that he lives by: “The Constant Dripping of Water Wears Away the Stone”. In his spare time and when the weather permits, he likes being outdoors playing football/ soccer. Being invited to be the guest editor on the Black History Month project at RJ Media is a special honor and privilege, as this gives him the opportunity to, even in a small way, positively influence the perception of his race as a Black man in America. Norwyn expresses that he never really knew what it meant to be “Black”, until he came to the U.S. to live permanently. He applauds companies and individuals who make the effort to treat everyone fairly and has very optimistic hopes that “we can all get along”.
table of contents wallingford’s first african american voters.......................................... 3 dr. woodson’s vision for black history................................................. 5 nzinga’s daughters bring a message with their songs............................. 5 a wide range of reading options to explore black history...................... 7 violet’s story....................................................................................... 7 cemetery association disputes claim about black burial site.................. 9
resources are available fight racism. ................................................. 10 black golfer recalls breaking into the game. ...................................... 13 notables in black history.................................................................... 13 local naacp chapter perseveres during pandemic................................. 14 local woman first vegan chef featured by bon appétit magazine. .......... 16 black-owned businesses take hold and bring new vitality to the city... 17 a leader for change............................................................................ 18
more stories on myrecordjournal.com/bhm
We look to history to tell us about the past, but how can history inform the present and offer guideposts for the future? This year, the theme of Black History Month is “Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.” It explores the African diaspora and the spread of Black families across the United States.
Royce House (538 N. Main St., Wallingford), one of two properties owned by the Trust.
In Colonial Wallingford, the enslaved and the enslaver were caught in what the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., while protesting the injustices of the segregated South some 200 years later, described as “an inescapable network The Black Stories Matter History Project, an of mutuality.” initiative of the Wallingford Historic Preser- By the second half of the 18th century, New vation Trust upon the occasion of Walling- London, a bustling seaport on Connectiford’s 350th Jubilee, is uncut’s coast, led the state earthing some interesting in both the number of enfacts about Black Colonial slaved Africans and Black life in Wallingford. residents, with a white Jerry Farrell Jr., president population of 5,366 and a Powder horn owned by of the Wallingford Historic Black population of 522. Dick Freedom. Freedom, Preservation Trust, says, New Haven had a white from Wallingford, was one “The American narrative population of 5,224 and a of approximately 300 Black is missing some key chapBlack population of 160. enslaved or freemen from ters, and the project is our According to the 1762 Connecticut who fought for attempt not to rewrite, but census, Wallingford with the Continental Army. He to add some very critical a population of just under chapters about a signifi- served in the all-Black Second 4,000, had a population Company of the Fourth cant Black population in of 182 Blacks. Merchants, Connecticut Regiment. Colonial Wallingford — ministers, politicians, millives that should be cele- Photo Courtesy of Wallingford itary officers, physicians, Historic Preservation Trust brated for their many conlawyers, and farmers tributions as well as their owned enslaved people. courage, sacrifice, and resolve.” As Menapace has also discovered, “Every Along with Nathan Hale, the martyred soldier of the American Revolution, and Lyman Hall, born in Wallingford and later a signatory of the Declaration of Independence as governor of Georgia, who are other notable local figures “tied in a single garment of destiny”? Slavery scholar Chris Menapace is combing through census, military, and probate records of enslaved and free Black residents of Colonial Wallingford, collecting data points and stories for an exhibit the Trust will have on permanent display at the Nehemiah
prominent family in Wallingford — the Atwaters, Cookes, Halls, Stanleys, Royces and Yales — were all enslavers.” Know their names There is the story of Chatham Freeman, whose headstone lies in the Broad Street Cemetery in Meriden. Freeman, born in Africa in 1750, was enslaved by Wallingford’s Noah Yale. During the Revolutionary War, Yale sent Freeman to fight in his son’s stead Continued on next page
Chatham Freeman headstone. Broad Street Cemetery. Photo by Lorraine Connelly
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from page 3
with the promise of freedom in exchange for his service. From Freeman’s pension records, it is learned that he served under the command of Captain Eli Leavenworth in the 6th Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Army (1777-1780). Freeman and his wife, Rhea, and son, Jube, were set free in 1782, two years after his return from the war. The Freemans also had a daughter named Kate. Another descendant, Robert Prim, was a popular violinist in Wallingford in the late 19th century. Research has also uncovered the stories of Jack John and Toby Birdseye, who had gained emancipation and then registered to vote in Wallingford, in 1799 and 1803, respectively. The freeman (voter) statute, under early state constitutions, stipulated the qualifications for voting: One had to be 21 years of age, male, and having met a residency requirement, be a taxpayer and/or property owner. John’s land holdings equaled 26 acres, and his estate upon his death in 1816 was valued at $2,800. Birdseye owned three-quarters of an acre of land and a portion of a sawmill.
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While voting records do not exist, it’s likely that both men voted in Wallingford. Birdseye’s registration was not without controversy, according to authors Ramin Ganeshram and Elizabeth Normen in “Constitution of 1818 & Black Suffrage: Rights For All?”
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In 1803, Federalist Party members accused Birdseye of a moral disqualification, alleging he had attempted to rape a white woman. No criminal record was ever found to substantiate the claim. Ganeshram and Normen further explain that the Connecticut legislature, in 1814, reversed Black enfranchisement by inserting the word “white” into the freeman (voter) statute. By 1818, a new state constitution was adopted, outlining a white-race requirement for voters, thereby depriving African Americans of equal representation in the state’s electoral process. The authors state, “As it had in matters of slavery, abolition, and enfranchisement, Connecticut continued to take a more southern approach, protesting any federal efforts to delineate the nature of voting rights.”
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Although, the North is often considered the cradle of the anti-slavery and abolitionist movements, its participation in slavery and “the network of mutuality” cannot be denied. Wallingford should, however, take pride in two African Americans, Jack John and Toby Birdseye, who were the earliest proponents of voting rights for Black Americans in Connecticut. We should know their names. The issue of Black enfranchisement is still relevant today. Black voters, in certain parts of our nation, are still more likely to have their legitimate votes challenged. Dr. King’s “garment of destiny,” like the Shroud of Turin, is an iconic symbol — if only we could touch the hem of its garment, our Beloved Community could be made whole by its lessons. Stay current on The Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust’s Black Stories Matter History Project https://www. wallingfordcthistory.org/visit Lorraine S. Connelly is a writer, a Wallingford resident and member of the steering committee for the Black Stories Matter History Project.
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NZINGA’S DAUGHTERS BRING A MESSAGE WITH THEIR SONGS By Nadya Korytnikova Record-Journal staff
Carter G. Woodson
DR. WOODSON’S VISION FOR BLACK HISTORY The basic idea that underlies Black History Month has been around in one form or another for more than 100 years. Here are a few highlights outlining how this special month-long designation unfolded through the decades.
tory from Harvard University in 1912, only the second African American to earn a doctorate. More about his life and groundbreaking accomplishments can be found at www.asalh.org.
According to ASALH, Woodson felt that The concept of setting time aside to ac- the American Historical Association had knowledge the struggles and celebrate the no interest in Black history. A dues-paying accomplishments of peomember of the AHA, he ple in the Black communiwas not allowed to attend ty took hold in the summer AHA conferences. ASALH of 1915 when Illinois sponexplains that to be able to sored a national celebrawork as a Black historian tion of the 50th anniversary would require creating an of emancipation. institutional structure that would make it possible for Carter G. Woodson, a UniBlack scholars to study hisversity of Chicago alumtory — so Woodson set out nus, traveled from Washto find the funds to make ington, D.C. to participate this happen. in the event — along with thousands of other Black Americans from around the U.S. While inspired by what he saw, Woodson also knew the accomplishments of Black Americans were scarcely recognized. In 1915, he founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). He, along with other like-minded intellectuals in the Black community, worked to expand the knowledge of Black history and was involved in numerous publications and other efforts to that end.
In 1926, Woodson initiated the celebration of Negro History Week, which corresponded with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, ASALH expanded the celebration to include the entire month of February, and “today Black History Month garners support throughout the country as people of all ethnic and social backgrounds discuss the Black experience,” states ASALH. The organization views the promotion of Black History Month as one of the most important components of advancing Woodson’s legacy of “pioneering Woodson, born of illiterate parents who leadership.” were former slaves, earned a PhD in hisContinued on next page
PLAINVILLE — For over 26 years Nzinga’s Daughters, a vibrant five-woman performance ensemble, has been sharing their gift of songs and storytelling to educate the public about the history and cultural achievements of Africa and the African Diaspora.
the route North. Some songs gave directions about when, where, and how to escape while others warned of danger along the way.
“Everybody came to listen to the music but not everybody knew where it came from, so that’s what encouraged me to start the band and tell people all about its history,” Williams said.
a way to warn runaway slaves to get off the trail and into the water to hide their scent from dogs.
Nzinga’s Daughters are best known for their interactive “Underground Railroad” performances which invite the audience to experience the creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance employed by African American slaves in their efforts to escape slavery.
slaves were not intimidated by us singing and dancing, they didn’t catch any message in that.”
“If I were picking cotton and somebody was walking down the street singing ‘Steal Away to Jesus,’ I’d know that means The ensemble features Dayna the time for my sister and Snell, Alison Johnson, Taffie brothers to escape is coming,” Bentley, and the band founder, said Dayna Snell. “I am going Gail Williams. While perform- to conduct my business as ing at the Newport Jazz Festiusual but when the sun goes val in 1994, Williams noticed down and the master goes to that the audience was presleep, I am going to that secret dominantly white. While the spot.” listeners enjoyed her music, One of the songs of the UnderWilliams wondered whether ground Railroad was “Wade in they knew the songs’ origins. the Water.” It had been used as
Another song, “Follow The Drinking Gourd” contained essential directions for fugitive Ever since, Nzinga’s Daughters slaves. The verses mention have been deepening pubdrinking gourd, which refers to lic understanding of Afrithe Big Dipper constellation. can-American history through By following the line of the music and entertainment constellation to the North Star, while also running three protravelers had a guide in the grams for children and youth: night sky that pointed them Nzinga’s Watoto, Girls Empow- toward freedom. erment program PRIDE, and “Slave owners were not smartthe Male Mentor Program. All er than the slaves,” Snell said. three promote positive youth “We had to figure out how to development among chilget out and how to survive and dren of all races and abilities how to rebuild our lives with throughout Connecticut. nothing. Those who owned
Since slaves were prohibited from learning to read or write, they developed an elaborate system of communication. They sang songs coded to convey secret information about
Historically, music has been used to help overcome difficult times, Snell believes. The social and political climate of any era is reflected through art, with music being a powerful inspirational expression of ideas. “The history of the Civil War is Continued on next page
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
NZINGA’S DAUGHTERS
Diversity is a core value at allnex.
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from page 5
Nzinga’s Daughters are best know for their “Underground Railroad” performance. They perform both adult and youth adapted versions. The program invites the audience to experience the creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance employed by African-American slaves in their efforts to shepherd runaway slaves to safety. Photo Courtesy of Nzinga’s Daughters
embedded in music. Similarly, when COVID hit Italy, people would come out on their balconies, sing and play instruments,” Snell said. “Music always seems to be helpful in both good and bad times. It helps bring joy and relaxation.”
We are proud to celebrate our differences and are committed to an environment where all colleagues contribute for the benefit of our employees, our products and our communities.
nKorytnikova@record-journal.com 203-317-2444 Twitter: @n_korytnikova
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WOODSON from page 5
Cheshire Adult Education
In 1976, Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, was officially recognized by President Gerald Ford, who issued the first Message on the Observance of Black History Month. He urged the nation to “recognize the important contribution made to our nation’s life and culture” by Black Americans.
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This proclamation stated further that this month was a time “to celebrate the many achievements of African Americans in every field from science and the arts to politics and religion.”
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Black History Month also is celebrated Canada during February, while in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom it’s observed in October. In honor of all the work that Woodson did to promote the study of African American History, an ornament of Woodson hangs on the White House’s Christmas tree each year. R238314
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A decade later, Congress passed the observance into law as “National Black (Afro-American) History Month.” According to the Library of Congress, “National African American History Month in February celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation’s history.”
This story is compiled with information from the Library of Congress, Wikipedia and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
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A WIDE RANGE OF READING OPTIONS TO EXPLORE BLACK HISTORY Want to learn more about the people and events that have shaped Black history and culture? There’s a wide variety of literature available in every genre and for every age group and interest. Below you’ll find just a few examples of these engaging stories gleaned from local library offerings to Black run web and news services. But first, we’ll start with suggestions from guest editor Norwyn Campbell, the Record-Journal’s digital advertising sales manager at Homebase Digital.
Norwyn Campbell recommends The Hate U Give is a young adult novel by Angie Thomas. This debut novel is based on her reaction to the police shooting of Oscar Grant. The book is narrated by Starr Carter, a 16-year-old black girl from a poor neighborhood who attends an elite, private school in a predominantly white, affluent part of the city. Starr becomes entangled in a national news story after she witnesses a white police officer shoot and kill her childhood friend, Khalil. The novel was made into a movie in 2018. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an approval rating of 97%. The film was nominated for and won numerous accolades. Lead actor Amandla Stenberg won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.
Meriden Public Library recommends Reading for children and young adults: Meriden Public Library offers two extensive sections of books for children and young adults that relate to Black history. Check out: Conversations about Race as well as the Juneteenth and Slavery sections at meridenlibrary.org. Here are a few samples of those selections by notable Black writers and illustrators:
Discovering Black America, From the Age of Exploration to the Twenty-First Century, by Linda Tarrant-Reid “An unprecedented account of more than 400 years of African American history set against a background of American and global events. The book begins with a black sailor aboard the Niña with Christopher Columbus and continues through the colonial period, slavery, the Civil War, Jim Crow, and civil rights. Includes first-person narratives from diaries and journals, interviews, and archival images. Discovering Black America will give readers an intimate understanding of this extensive history.” — Publisher’s synopsis The Bell Rang, written and illustrated by James E. Ransome A slave family is distressed when they find their young son has run away. A compelling story made even more so by Ransome’s art. He has illustrated over 60 picture books, and has illustrated greetings cards and magazines. Commissioned murals include three for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. —– Publisher’s synopsis, Wikipedia Gordon Parks, How the Photographer Captured Black and White America, by Carole Boston Weatherford
“Gordon Parks is most famous for being the first black director in Hollywood. But before he made movies and wrote books, he was a poor African American looking for work. When he bought a camera, his life changed forever. He taught himself how to take pictures and before long, people noticed. His success as a fashion photographer landed him a job working for the government. In Washington DC, Gordon went looking for a subject, but what he found was segregation.” — Publisher’s synopsis
Black Enterprise recommends (Black Enterprise is a Black-owned multimedia company with digital, print and television divisions.) Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison. Morrison’s Nobel Prize-winning book traces the history of a Black family and “shows the nuance and complexity of black community rarely highlighted in mainstream literature.” — Black Enterprise How to Succeed in Business Without Being White: Straight Talk on Making It in America, by Earl G. Graves Sr., Black Enterprise founder and publisher. “What it takes to be a great, Black entrepreneur in a white world is just the prescription the black business world needs.” — Black Enterprise
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VIOLET’S STORY: SOLD, AGE 3 FREED, AGE 51 By Glenn Richter On April 20, 1750, it was decided that a little girl named Violet would be moving from Haddam to Meriden; that is, to a farm on Misery Road in Wallingford (gee, I wonder why they changed that name), which is now Paddock Avenue in Meriden. Violet was three years old. I say “it was decided” for good reason; more about that later. The way we know about this stuff is from a document in “A Century of Meriden,” written a century ago; more about that document,too. Anyway, that’s pretty much all we know about little Violet. Obviously she had parents, but we know nothing about them. Siblings? We don’t know. Did she eventually marry and have children? The record is silent. Did she even survive to adulthood? So many children didn’t in those days, when people had huge families in part because they knew that many of their babies wouldn’t make it. (They had nothing we’d recognize as medical treatment, which is why, decades later, all the doctors could do for no less a personage than George Washington was to bleed him, several times, and apply “cataplasms of wheat bran.” It didn’t work.)
Mules and Men, Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston depicts the culture of her native Florida, and New Orleans, and “brings forth the beauty
As I say, we know very little about Violet, but there’s quite a bit we can surmise. Because this was still pretty much a howling wilderness in 1750, with wolves and cougars and other hungry things skulking around; and people had to work from dawn to dusk just to put food on the table; and you had only the spring and summer to coax enough grub out of this rocky soil to last through the fall and the long, dark, cold winter, and the following spring. And if you didn’t manage to do that, there was no backup plan; there was no Stop & Spend, no Pastry Palace with a drive-up window and, of course, no government to turn to. And even if you did everything right, you could consider yourself lucky to go to your rest in your mid 50s, as the old tombstones attest.
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The Marrow of Tradition by Charles W. Chesnutt. A fictional account of the rise of the white supremacist movement, this story portrays the many classes and races in the postbellum southern United States, and depicts the Wilmington insurrection of 1898.
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And there were no labor-saving devices to speak of — not in the fields and not in the kitchen. So little Violet, as a woman, would have faced a future that consisted mainly of drudgery. And little Violet would have been burdened with another misery, one that we don’t usually think much about when we think of Colonial times in this part of the country. You see, the document about Violet in the history book is not a birth certificate, nor a baptismal record, nor any of the other kinds of papers people accumulate in the course of their lives. It is a bill of sale. So when I say “it was decided,” what I mean is that it was decided by farmer Joseph Shailer of Haddam to sell “one negro girl aged about three years” — little Violet — to farmer Benjamin Roys of Meriden, to be his slave for life, her ownership then to pass on to his heirs; or, for that matter, to anyone to whom farmer Roys might later decide to sell her. Farmer Shailer made this transaction “avouching my self to be the proper and sole owner of the said negro girl and have a right to dispose of the said negro girl during the term of her natural life.”
We are Proud to Support Black History Month
Is there a moral here? Sure: By all means, let’s celebrate the accomplishments of our forebears — while asking how on God’s green Earth these people, who supposedly were so pious, could think it was perfectly OK to buy and sell other people’s children. End of story? Maybe not. Although slavery was not outlawed here until 1848 (which would have made Violet a free woman at age 101, if she lived that long), later in the book we find this entry: “Dec. 17, 1798 Abner Rice emancipated negro woman Violet.” If that’s our little Violet, she would have been 51 by then, and free at last — if only because she was past child-bearing age.
The Midstate Chamber of Commerce takes a proactive leadership role in moving, improving and positively changing the communities we serve. Through our daily participation, we cause results and create a roadmap for our future. No projects ever get done by themselves. They require vision and action through leadership; that is where the Midstate Chamber of Commerce makes a difference. We inform and engage our staff and membership in the economic development, workforce development and business development projects in the towns we serve and in the region.
Originally published in the Record-Journal in 2006, in a special section commemorating Meriden’s 200th anniversary.
We are proud to support Black History Month and any effort to improve education on diversity and community growth.
Reach Editorial Assistant Glenn Richter at grichter@record-journal.com or 203-317-2222
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more stories on myrecordjournal.com/bhm Artist couple navigated race issues each in their own way 21 Artists speak of race, color and creating a new culture 21 Changing the course of events through philanthropy 23 Hayes historic role representing the 5th District 23 Plainville Historical Society celebrates local Black history 25 Local resident active in anti-slavery movement 26 Cape Verde families who migrated to the area focus of discussion 27 Plainville’s rich legacy of African American musicians 28
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CEMETERY ASSOCIATION DISPUTES CLAIM ABOUT BLACK BURIAL SITE By Mariah Melendez Cheshire Herald staff
CHESHIRE — Hillside Cemetery is chock-full of the histories and mysteries of the town and its former residents.
are already buried there,” Pittsley said. “They cannot be doing this.” Pittsley’s research is extensive, and lists names of people — specifically members of the Freeman family — who she believes were buried in that location and have been disturbed by the Hillside Cemetery Association.
But one current resident claims that her research has uncovered some controversial information about activities that have gone on within the cemetery’s gates. Christine Pittsley, a historian who works for the Connecticut State Library, published a blog post on Oct. 20 presenting her research regarding the northeast corner of Hillside Cemetery, where she claims African Americans, including some former slaves, had been buried over decades. “In the northeast corner of the old section of Hillside Cemetery is a roughly quarter-acre area that was used as the African burying place until at least 1935,” she explained. “Most are in unmarked graves, some have stones with their names on them, but a majority of them have no (identification) whatsoever.”
The issue, according to Pittsley, is that the Hillside Cemetery Association had been performing burials on these grounds until 2011, despite knowing, Pittsley claims, that individuals had already been buried there, and having offered no notifi-
cation to the state or the families of those involved.
“In the 1980s, the Hillside Cemetery Association decided that this area was empty and began to sell plots,” she wrote in her post. “Never mind that in the center of this section were four stones that belonged to Prince Freeman and his wife Lucy (d. 1831 & 1833); Prince’s son Henry Peter Freeman (d. 1882); Henry’s second wife Flora (d. 1880); and Henry’s grandson Lewis Freeman (d. 1935). Clearly, there were already some people there.”
Pittsley states that she presented her findings to the cemetery association “Thirty years ago, the Association 10 years ago with the hopes of stopstarted selling those plots as if no one ping the continued burials, but was was buried there. They (were) digmet with resistance. In her blog post, ging graves for modern burials and Pittsley describes the meeting as disturbing the African remains that
Claims about an old African burial ground in the northeast portion of Hillside Cemetery have become a source of controversy. Tracey Harringtonm, Cheshire Herald
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Sojourner Truth
RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO
FIGHT RACISM BRAIN FOG SHORTNESS OF BREATH PHYSICAL WEAKNESS STAMINA ISSUES
Difficult issues related to race and racism have been interwoven with our nation’s history since the beginning and recent events show that much more needs to be done when it comes to equality for all. Black History Month provides another opportunity to put the focus on this topic and there are many resources available for those who’d like to deepen their understanding. We’ve highlighted a few below. Meriden-Wallingford NAACP, 74 Cambridge St., Meriden. Telephone, 203-237-6907. From its website http:// www.mwnaacp.org, the organization states its purpose: “The NAACP insures the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority groups and citizens; achieves equality of rights and eliminates race prejudice among citizens of the United States.”
STILL STRUGGLING? Gaylord can help.
Connecticut Health Foundation at Cthealth.org states: “Our vision is that Connecticut’s next generation will be free from racial and ethnic health disparities.”
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The organization offers anti-racism resources that “aim to deepen our understanding of racism and how to fight it.”
Recovery &
Rehabilitation Services
Check out the Cthealth.org website for information on racial justice efforts in the areas of housing, health, education, criminal justice and more. Among the many topics are: a TED talk on “How Racism is Making US Sick”, asking the question: why does race matter so profoundly for health?; and from The Smithsonian’s partnership with the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, “Talking About Race.” The topic “although hard, is necessary. We are here to provide tools and guidance to empower your journey and inspire conversation.”
CALL TODAY (203) 284-2845
gaylord.org/COVID Wallingford, CT
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Desegregate Connecticutat www.desegregatect.org promotes “inclusive growth by design”. The organizaContinued on next page
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RESOURCES
CEMETERY
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tion states: “Most people in Connecticut support equity, inclusive growth, and a clean environment. Now is the time to align our laws with our vision. Our century-old land use laws need to be refreshed.”
often aren’t heard, especially women.” Before she died, in February 2018, she was honored with the “Washington Women in Public Relations” award.
Among the notable speakers on the “29 Speeches” list “Uncomfortable Conversaare: Sojourner Truth, Ida B. tions with a Black Man” the Wells, Josephine Baker, Myrlie series can be found on YouEvers-Williams (Medgar Evers Tube, hosted by Emmanuel widow at President Obama’s Chinedum Acho. second inauguration), Coretta The former NFL linebacker sits Scott King, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (introducdown with celebrities, police, ing the Equal Rights Amendfamilies, sports figures and others to engage in thoughtful ment), Fannie Lou Hamer, Barbara Jordan, Anita Hill, and revealing discussions Rep. Gwen Moore, Edwidge about race and racism. Danticat, Viola Davis, Lupita At denisegraveline.org check Nyong’o, Kerry Washington, out a Black History Month Gabourey Sidibe, Maya Angehighlight: “29 Speeches by lou, Michelle Obama, Shirley Black Women”. Chilsom, and Barbara Jordan. Also included is Rashema The late Denise Graveline Melson’s 2014 high school was an expert in communivaledictory speech that made cations and held a degree headlines because the speakin that field as well as in journalism. During her career er overcame homelessness to graduate at the top of her she coached over 100 TED class and get into Georgetown Talk speakers. She was born University. "A short, fierce, and raised in New Britain fantastic speech." and dedicated her life to “giving voice to those who
BOOK RECOMENDATIONS from page 7
of common folk; their voice, their diction, their living, their way.” — Black Enterprise Learn more at www.blackenterprise.com/best-blackbooks-black-history-month
Urban Faith recommends (Urban Faith is a media/ news company with an online magazine of diverse Christian voices sharing news and commentary on faith and culture.) Here’s a sample from 11 Must Read Books for Black History Month compiled by Urban Faith; check out more suggestions at urbanfaith.com.
Selected Poems of Langston Hughes, by Langston Hughes. An extensive collection of poems hand-picked by Hughes. “They offer a breathtaking look at being Black in America that is contemplative, celebratory, gut-wrenching and praiseworthy.” – UrbanFaith Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention, by Manning Marable. Marable “provides new perspectives and information on the controversial leader. Marable connects Malcolm’s life with other leaders, faith, and Black Nationalism in a masterful, historical context and call for social change.” — UrbanFaith
respectful, but states that some cemetery association members were aggressive in disputing her presentation. Pittsley told The Herald that the reaction went beyond just questioning her research. “Some of the members began attacking my credibility, me personally, which is just disappointing and sad,” she stated. The Hillside Cemetery Association disputes Pittsley’s claims, stating that they had no records of grave sites in the north end of the cemetery when burials were taking place there and that, after 2011, when the state told them to halt all such activity, no new burials took place. “… We have no idea where she is getting her proof,” said Phyllis Perry, the Hillside Cemetery Association’s secretary and treasurer, of Pittsley’s accusations that the group knowingly disturbed existing graves. “We have erected monuments (In the northeast corner) recently, and maybe that is what she is referencing. There was an incident where a family member, who had purchased a burial plot in that location with their other family members, needed to be buried in that area. We tried to call the state and let them know what was happening, but we never got a call back, so we proceeded with the burial with no issue.” In Pittsley’s blog post, she references stakes in the ground that served as grave markers on the site in question, some of which even had the names of those buried etched on the side. However, Perry, whose family has taken care of the cemetery for multiple generations, rebuts Pittsley’s claim that there are stakes in the ground at the northeast location. “She says that there are stakes in the ground there, but we have no clue what she is taking about,” Perry added. “Even our groundskeeper, who knows the land well, has no idea where (on the property) she is referencing or what stakes she is talking about.” Perry, however, does acknowledge the meeting with Pittsley a decade ago, insisting that she was unaware of the African American grave sites until that time. “A lot of the old cemetery documents I have are not very detailed. They didn’t keep good track of who was being buried where back then, so it can get very confusing,” Perry said. Regarding the stakes, Pittsley acknowledged that they were likely removed or had decayed before the HCA became
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involved with the cemetery. However, she questions how the HCA would not have known about the burial site, given the available information. “In larger cemeteries, like Hillside, the surveyors split the cemetery into sections to divide the work. These records were then compiled, printed, and made available to the public. Every library and historical society in the state has a copy and I am sure many cemeteries around the state have them as well,” she explained. “I pointed to this research when I addressed the HCA more than 10 years ago, so they were aware. But if the HCA maintains that they were unaware of these records, it would show a serious lack of interest or concern with their own history.” Another assertion made by Pittsley in her post is that a member of the HCA admitted to her that human remains had been uncovered during more modern burials, but that burials continued and neither the state nor families of individuals buried in the area were notified. Pittsley, in her post, does not name the individual who allegedly divulged this information. Perry, when asked about this accusation, strongly denied the claim that any bones or remains were uncovered while performing any modern burials at that location. “There have been no bones dug up during any of our modern burials or in the process of preparing a grave for a burial,” Perry said. “We would have to notify the state if that happened.” After Pittsley published her findings on her blog, the post began attracting all kinds of attention. “The response has actually been very positive,” she said. “A lot of people are horrified to find out this information. My goal is to hopefully start a (general) discussion about racism and how Cheshire has a complicated history with that.” Two local groups — Rams Against Racism and the Cheshire Coalition for Change — approached Pittsley and invited her to present her research findings via a Zoom meeting last month. “I know the descendants of the people who were buried there, and they are disgusted. I want to bring light to this issue so we can deal with this as a town and, hopefully, come to grips with this uncomfortable history,” she explained.
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NOTABLES IN BLACK HISTORY: INVENTORS, INTELLECTUALS, INFLUENCERS & MORE By Nadya Korytnikova and Jessica Simms American history resonates with the names of great African American men and women. Here are 14 men and women who made their mark on history — in many cases as the first Black Americans to succeed in their chosen fields.
Frank Eaton
Gwen Reed
BLACK GOLFER RECALLS BREAKING INTO THE GAME By Sean Krofssik Record-Journal staff MERIDEN — Meriden’s Frank Eaton is 78 and is playing some of the best golf of his life.
municipal course in Stamford, which is now E. Gaynor Brennan golf course, he recorded a hole in one still wearing a neck and back brace. The first of nine in his career.
Eaton, an African American, first picked up the game as a 9- or 10-year-old in his native North Carolina in the 1950s. During a time before golf carts, the caddies at that time were mainly Black children, according to Eaton. That was how he discovered the game. He caddied for a tobacco tycoon, Harold Beasley, and also picked up some pointers along the way. “I lived a mile or two from the golf course and I would make 50 cents for being a caddie,” Eaton said. “Fifty cents was a lot of money back then. I could go to a movie, get popcorn, soda and a hot dog and still have money left over” In addition to getting paid, Eaton also learned how to hold a club and properly hit a golf ball. He made his own “golf sticks,” as he called them, put a tin cup in two areas near his home and hit a ball back and forth.
Eaton fully recovered and was back shooting under par again.
him to go to the driving range and courses. In his later teens he moved to Stamford, acquired his first set of golf clubs and played his first round of 18 holes. “My first ever round I shot a 97,” Eaton recalled. “No one believed I had never played before. By the next year I was shooting in the high 80s, the following year I was in the low 80s. Three or four years later I was in the 70s.” When he was 22 years old, he finally shot even par. “The next day I broke my neck in a car accident,” Eaton said. “I was temporarily paralyzed on my left side and I was in the hospital for three months.”
A few years later, he moved to Long Island with his sister. Her During his first round three neighbor was a semi-pro golfmonths after the accident, in er and Eaton latched on with 1964 at Hubbard Heights
“I was so good but I had no money,” Eaton said. “I came along at the wrong time. No Blacks were playing on Tour and you can’t play on Tour if you have no money.” Eaton did find some inspiration at Hubbard Heights. He crossed paths with the man who broke the Major League Baseball color barrier, Jackie Robinson. Robinson, who lived in North Stamford, played at the municipal course after not being allowed to be a member at the High Ridge Country Club, a course he played many times as a guest.
Hartford History Project, Hartford Public Library
The actress who played Aunt Jemima was a Hartford native From 1946 to 1964, Gwen Reed, an actress, an advocate for childhood literacy and a theater director, played the role of Aunt Jemima, the face of the Quaker Oats Company products. Reed traveled to promote the brand at pancake festivals, state fairs, school assemblies and grocery stores, but her real name was never revealed. While playing the role of Aunt Jemima (in 1951), Reed became the director of the Hartford Community Players. She directed “A Raisin in the Sun,” “Rain” and “Purlie Victorious.” — CT Post Connecticut freedman wrote one of the first examples of African American literature In his autobiography that was published in 1798 in New London, Venture Smith, a captured slave, documented his life. He shared how he overcame slavery, became a businessman, freed his family and acquired more than 130 acres of land in Connecticut. This was one of the earliest examples of African-American literature. Smith, a child of a Guinean prince, ended up marrying another slave, Meg, in 1753, and together they had three children. — CT Post Inspiration of modern home security systems Mary Van Brittan Brown, an African American nurse from Queens, New York, developed a home security system that has since inspired modern home security systems that are used today. She created this invention as a result of the risks her home faced due to the crime rates in her neighborhood. Her security system allowed her to know who came to her home and gave her the opportunity to contact the authorities quickly. — History.com
“I played with Jackie after he retired from baseball...” Eaton said. “He lived about a half mile from the course. They didn’t let him play as a member at the Country Club, so he had to play public courses.
Landmark technology inventions at IBM were developed with the help of Mark Dean As a part of a team of 12 that worked at IBM, Mark Dean, a Black inventor and engineer, helped create the first IBM PC in 1981. Later on, Dean also helped develop the color monitor and led his team in the invention of the first gigahertz processor. This chip was built in 1999 and allowed for PCs to have faster and higher processing rates. Not only that, this piece of technology allowed for
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NOTABLES
FRANK EATON
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the PC to do a billion calculations a second. — History.com
Jackie was good,” Eaton added. “He could play and shoot even par.” Eaton turned pro in 1967 and was playing regularly in Black golf tournaments along the East Coast in the United Golfers Association. He would total more than 150 career tournament wins. But it wasn’t easy at first.
Marian Anderson Library of Congress
A singer who lived in Danbury was the first African American to sing at the Met On Jan. 7, 1955, Marian Anderson, who lived on a farm in Danbury, became the first African American to sing as a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Anderson then became a goodwill ambassador for the United States and a delegate to the United Nations in September 1958. As a result, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963 and she received many other honorary honors, such as the Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1991. — CT Post and NPR America’s first Black diplomat was from Derby In 1869, 36-year-old Ebenezer Bassett was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, becoming the country’s first African American diplomat. Bassett was also the first black man to graduate from Connecticut Normal School — now known as Central Connecticut State University. After receiving his diploma, he taught at Whiting School in New Haven, befriending the legendary abolitionist Frederic Douglass. Later, Bassett became the principal of Philadelphia’s Institute for Colored Youth. — Connecticuthistory.org Yale’s first Black alumnus In 1874, Edward Alexander Bouchet became the first African American to graduate of Yale University. Just two years later, Continued on next page
Meriden/Wallingford NAACP President Kim Fisher speaks at a Black Lives Matter protest in Meriden on June 7, 2020. Photo: Devin Leith-Yessian/Record-Journal
LOCAL NAACP CHAPTER PERSEVERES DURING PANDEMIC By Jessica Simms Special to the Record-Journal As a way to continue to have important conversations, the Meriden-Wallingford NAACP chapter has been meeting online during the pandemic. “We are all Zooming,” said chapter president Kim Fisher. “Everything is through Zoom. We had our state conference through Zoom, we do all of our conference calls through Zoom, we have meetings once a month, those are all through Zoom. We stay in touch.” Fisher said that it has been important for the organization to stay active during the year despite the pandemic. “We did a lot of the rallies even though it was in the midst of the pandemic,” Fisher said. “We took our precautions, wore our masks, but we felt that it was very important for us to be visual and be out there and be seen, so we did that.”
involved with the organization is because she has two Black children. “Seeing the way things are in this world and how I feel like there is a difference between whether you’re white or whether you’re Black or brown, I felt like it was important for me to have a say and get out there and talk and be seen and be heard,” Fisher said. “I want my kids to have the same as any other kids just like any other mother wants for their child to have the same as any other. We should all be treated the same. None of us should be treated differently and I felt like it was important for me to get out there and speak on that.” Before the pandemic, the Meriden-Wallingford NAACP’s youth council used to work out of Maloney High School. Many of the youth involved have since graduated.
“We were meeting once a week at the school before everything hit with coronavirus...so what we’re looking to do now, we’re looking to revamp things,” said NicKimmy Hayes, second vice president and head of the “We talk about some of the issues that education committee for the Merare going on, how we can talk to the iden-Wallingford NAACP. Hayes also kids in the schools about these is- has worked with the youth council. sues,” Fisher said. Hayes said two high school teachers One of the reasons Fisher became Fisher is on many different NAACP committees to help facilitate conversations. One is the Wallingford Diversity, Equality and Exclusion committee.
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“The first year I turned pro I played in six or seven tournaments and played well until the last three holes and I didn’t make a quarter,” Eaton said. “I was nervous about making money and my wife said we couldn’t afford me playing.” The next year he went back on the tour and won the first tournament that year in Springfield, Mass. “I made $300 and that was more than I was making in 40 hours of work in a week,” Eaton said. “That was like a million dollars for me. The next week I played at Keney Park in Hartford and won it with a 65 and won $600. After that I never looked back.” Meanwhile, Eaton was working in the computer center for Union Trust Bank. He lived in Stamford, New Haven and Middletown before settling in Meriden. Eaton became a fixture in tournaments around the state and New England for the next few decades. One of his crowning achievements on the course was claiming Connecticut Section PGA Senior Open championships in 1995 and 1996. He also had stops on the New England Circuit and played all of the big open tournaments. He also played in the Florida Mini-Tour. His best round ever was Sept. 10, 1989. He carded a course record 11-under-par 61 at Stamford’s Red Course at Fairchild Wheeler. He also holds course records at Hubbard Heights (Stamford), Keney Park (Hartford), Sterling Farms (Stamford), Alling Memorial (New Haven), Banner Lodge (Moodus) and Fairchild Wheeler (Bridgeport) Continued on nrxt page
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NOTABLES
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Eaton said there were as many as 150 Black golfers during his heyday. “Now there only a couple of Black pro golfers,” Eaton said. The main reason for fewer Black golfers compared to back then, Eaton said, is because of the lack of caddies. “Years ago all caddies were Black,” Eaton said. “That’s how they got into golf. But when carts started coming in, caddies were shut down.” In addition to playing, Eaton has given back at youth programs. “Anywhere I do a youth program, 98 percent of the kids are white and maybe there are three Black kids,” Eaton said. “When I ask Black kids about golf, they say it’s too expensive and they would rather play football or basketball.” Eaton feels his race was a big reason he never made it to the highest level. “If I had been white, they would have put me on the Tour and you know damn well I could make money,” Eaton said. Eaton said he never felt outright racism at tournaments. “Many tournaments I’m with about 130 other guys and I was the only one that wasn’t white,” Eaton said. “I was by myself. I knew people used to look at me. They didn’t say anything, but when I walked in, everyone stopped eating and looked. I would tell myself, ‘They can’t rattle me.’ I didn’t let it get to me.” Eaton is married to his second wife, Juanita. He has four children: Frankie Jr., Dean, Jere and Kim.
Eaton said he’s playing great golf now. He plays three or four times a week and said he’s gotten better with age. He said he’s shot under his age every year since he turned 66. He’s a 2 handicap now. “If I shot a 78 now, I would be mad as hell,” Eaton said. Eaton travels every Thursday throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts with a group of 24 guys in the Players Club.
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Bouchet completed his dissertation, becoming the first African American in the nation to earn a Ph.D. as well as the sixth American of any race to earn a Ph.D. in physics. Despite his excellent credentials and extraordinary gifts, Bouchet was never offered a faculty position and spent most of his career teaching science to high school students. — Connecticuthistory.org
James E. West Photo: Blackpast.org
“I wish I was 25 years younger the way I’m playing right now,” Eaton said. “It’s unbelievable. I guess I’m blessed.” Eaton is also a member of the New Haven-based Knickerbocker Golf Club. He was honored by the club in the 75th anniversary ceremony in 2019. “That was one of my big moments,” Eaton said. “I help the best I can with the club. I teach for free. I never charge.” The Knickerbocker Club, a predominantly African-American group, was formed in 1944. The Knickerbockers are the second-oldest African-American golf club in the country, behind Wake Robin Golf Club in Washington, DC, a female club started in 1937. The Knickerbockers currently has 43 members. Knickerbockers past president Willie Holmes said Eaton is “one of the greatest golfers to come out of Connecticut.” Holmes is 92 and still plays regularly. “I’ve known him for a number of years. He’s a great golfer, father and gentleman. He’s been instrumental as far as promoting golf to the younger generation.”
Frank Eaton of Meriden, at Hunters Memorial Golf Course in Meriden on Jan. 19, 2021. Photos: Aaron Flaum, Record-Journal
The invention of the foil electret microphone Dr. James E. West, an African American inventor, helped develop a more sensitive and compact microphone at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey in the 1960s. He worked with his colleague Gerhard Sessler on this invention. This foil electret microphone was less expensive to make than other condenser microphones and was licensed in 1964. By 1968, the microphone was universally produced and used in devices such as telephones, baby monitors, hearing aids and tape recorders. Now, about 90% of the microphones are based on this invention. — History.com A New Haven developer of the modern ironing board In the 1890s, an African American dressmaker was awarded a patent for her improved ironing board with collapsible legs. Her name was Sarah Boone. She was born into slavery in North Carolina but migrated to New Haven using a network closely linked to the Underground Railroad. In her design, Boone expanded upon the original ironing board, which was essentially a horizontal wooden block. With Boone’s additions, the improved board featured a narrower and curved design, making it easier to iron garments, particularly women’s clothing. — CTexplored.org Bridgeport inventor of the longer-lasting light bulb While Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, a black member of his research team, Lewis Latimer, improved Edison’s original design. Latimer increased the life span and practicality of light bulbs, which had previously died after just a few days. Latimer also worked closely with telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell. In 1880, after relocating to Bridgeport, Latimer was hired to work in the U.S. Electric Lighting Co., which was owned by Edison’s competitor, Hiram Maxim. — History.com Inventor of the automatic elevator doors African American inventor Alexander Miles was born in 1838 in Minnesota and is best known for being awarded a patent for an automatically opening and closing elevator door design. Before Miles’ invention in 1887, people had to manually shut both the shaft and elevator doors before riding. Forgetting to do so led to multiple accidents as people fell down elevator shafts. — History.com Inventor of the three-position traffic signal Garrett Morgan was one of the country’s most successful African American inventors. In 1923 he came up with the device that led to the modern three-way traffic lights. He saw that existing mechanical stop-and-go signals were dangerous since they had no caution signal to buffer traffic flow. So, he patented a three-armed signal. Morgan also invented a revamped sewing machine, a hair-straightContinued on page 17
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We always have, and always will serve all races, creeds and religions.
Chrissy Tracey
LOCAL WOMAN FIRST VEGAN CHEF FEATURED BY BON APPÉTIT MAGAZINE By Mariah Melendez Cheshire Herald staff CHESHIRE — Cooking has proven to be one of the most popular pandemic pastimes for many as they look for ways to spend their time while in quarantine. For some, however, it didn’t take COVID-19 to spark their interest in what happens in the kitchen. The passion for making and serving food has always been there. … Just ask one of Cheshire’s own. Chrissy Tracey, a 2012 graduate of Cheshire High School, has been cooking up special dishes for several years now, and was just recognized for her skills by the popular Bon Appétit magazine. Tracey is the magazine’s first featured vegan chef, but for Tracey, who comes from a large Jamaican family, the recognition goes beyond her love of cuisine. “Let me just start by saying that the power of your voice and the power of social media and connecting is larger than you’d ever imagine,” she said. “When George Floyd was killed in May, riots began, and attention started to turn toward companies and individuals — forcing them to think about their behaviors when it came to inclusion, racism, etc. As a result, many companies would get on Instagram and share their faults within the realms of racism and be vulnerable to their followers. Typically it would be followed up with an action plan of sorts on how they plan to move forward. Bon Appétit did that.”
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Tracey first reached out to the magazine during the May riots, and commented on a post of theirs highlighting how she, as a Black vegan chef, would love to work with a brand like Bon Appétit, and they answered. “My comment sort of went viral from a ‘likes’ perspective,” she recalled. “Next thing I knew, I had an email Continued on page 18
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NOTABLES from page 14
ening product, and a gas mask. — History.com
Constance Motley Photo: Library of Congress
A New Haven-born warrior for justice Constance Baker Motley was a longtime Connecticut resident and a trailblazer for women of color. In 1946, she became the first Black woman to graduate from Columbia University School of Law. She also was the first African American to serve as a New York state senator and the first African American woman to serve as a federal judge. — Connecticuthistory.org
Deja Durant, owner of Mind, Body & Soul Food, right, and brother Drew Durant, left, reflect on the success of the business at 511 W. Main St., Meriden, Wed., Jan. 13, 2021. Photo: Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES TAKE HOLD AND BRING NEW VITALITY TO THE CITY By Faith Williams Record-Journal staff MERIDEN – In recent years, Meriden has seen a rise of Black-owned businesses in various industries and some are saying that Black Lives Matter has helped encourage the increase. City Economic Development Director Joseph Feest said that although there is no record, he has noticed an increase of Black-owned businesses in Meriden.
police officer, on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis. Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck while he lay on the ground and pleaded for more than eight minutes, “I can’t breathe.” Floyd’s death led to a summer of protests and marches calling for justice.
On a national level, Yelp reported a huge increase in searches for Black-owned businesses during that same Additionally, last summer, NBC timeframe — more than a 7,000% increase, with more News Connecticut reported than 2,500,000 searches for that Black-owned businesses around the state were seeing a Black-owned businesses comspike in sales and gave numer- pared to approximately 35,000 ous examples of increased traf- over the same time period the fic for both start-ups and estab- year before. lished businesses. This wave of Here are some of the local new engagement came as the Black-owned businesses: Black Lives Matter movement American Soul Kitchen, gained greater recognition and 164 Scott St. support coinciding with the Meriden native Richard PenGeorge Floyd protests. nyman opened American Soul Floyd, a Black man, was killed Kitchen and Bar in late 2019 by Derek Chauvin, a white just before the COVID pan-
demic. Although in a struggling industry, the restaurant has been able to maintain steady business. Pennyman said it was essential to bring a new experience to Meriden and be able to share his culture and passion with the community he grew up in. “It was important to me to want to have soul food showcased in a setting where if you want to be at a table, booth or bar, you can do that,” the owner said. “Growing up, the soul food restaurants that were here in Connecticut were mostly takeout.” Mind, Body & Soulfood, 511 W. Main St. On the other side of Meriden, Deja Durant, co-owner of Mind, Body & Soulfood, spoke of the significance of being a Black man with a business in his hometown. “Growing up, my friends’ Continued on page 19
Revolutionizer of refrigeration industry Frederick McKinley Jones was a self-taught, African American engineer. He also was an inventor, entrepreneur, winner of the National Medal of Technology, and an inductee of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Jones patented more than 60 inventions in his lifetime. While more than 40 of those patents were in the field of refrigeration, Jones is most famous for inventing an automatic refrigeration system that’s used to refrigerate goods on trucks and railroad cars. — History.com nkorytnikova@record-journal.com jsimms@record-journal.com
NAACP from page 14
have since joined the Meriden-Wallingford NAACP and can offer support to the youth council. “We’re looking to cultivate through them to start back up and get students from Platt and Maloney,” Hayes said. “We have a good program to really help to cultivate leaders and help them with leadership skills and everything.” jsimms@record-journal.com
Meriden-Wallingford NAACP Board of Directors Photo courtesy of Kim Fisher
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CHEF TRACY from page 16
from a talent manager from Condé Nast (owner of Bon Appétit), and then interviews happened very quickly after that.” In one of the three videos she has with the magazine, Tracey is challenged to create a vegan banh mi (Vietnamese baguette) sandwich faster than take-out can deliver; which, for the video, meant in under 30 minutes.
Dr. Aleesha Grier-Rogers, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Cheshire Academy. Photo: Michael Torelli, Cheshire Academy
A LEADER FOR CHANGE: CHESHIRE ACADEMY’S DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION By Joy VanderLek Special to the Record-Journal CHESHIRE – Dr. Aleesha Grier-Rogers, director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, at Cheshire Academy oversees a wide range of diversity initiatives for the campus. She’s also a member of the school’s class of 1990. “In my work, I always focus on the individual and all of the experiences that the individual is bringing to the table,” Grier-Rogers said. “So, from that perspective, you cannot ignore the different experiences that a person of color has versus someone who is white. It’s just different. So, yes, someone of color would be impacted differently by different experiences because they have these experiences of discrimination and disparity and bias that are also a part of their lives.” As a Black woman, Grier-Rogers said it’s important for her to serve as a mentor to other women of color, just as she herself received encouragement from women in academia. “You cannot separate gender from race,” she said. “When I think about my intersecting identities as a person of color and as a woman, the obstacles I have encountered — I have overcome them through the support of my family, my friends and the phenomenal women
who have mentored me along the way.” Her mentors include Katurah Bryant, who she met at Yale. Bryant is a marriage and family therapist, registered nurse and detox specialist. Bryant gave the keynote address, “Updates on the Dream”, at the academy’s recent Martin Luther King Jr. Day event. Another mentor was Dr. Tami Sullivan from Yale School of Medicine, who taught Grier-Rogers to push herself in Yale’s competitive environment. Kathy McCloskey was Grier-Rogers’ mentor in graduate school at the University of Hartford’s Department of Psychology. McCloskey focuses on diversity issues in psychology. “She was the first person to get me to think more about multiculturalism and the impact of diversity in individual backgrounds of a client’s mental health and wellness,” Grier-Rogers said. Grier-Rogers is a licensed clinical psychologist who worked with underserved populations in community healthcare before coming full circle to return to her hometown and her alma mater at Cheshire Academy. She was promoted to director this year, Continued on next page
“I chose to do a banh mi sandwich because it is one of my favorites,” she explained. “I was introduced to a little holein-the-wall (restaurant) called Pho Saigon in West Hartford that made the best vegan banh mi sandwich, and I wanted to showcase the delicious food that Vietnamese culture brings to the table and highlight a dish people might not know about, because those sandwiches are truly delicious!” Tracey’s talents don’t just stop at Bon Appétit videos. She also runs a vegan meal delivery and meal prep service. “My hobbies have always been food and art, and my life is currently a conglomerate of all of that.” she said. “I spent many years in technology working for Apple, but realized I would only be happy doing things I was passionate about. (So) in 2020, I took a chance and made food and art my focus. I am a freelance web developer and graphic designer, and I run a vegan meal delivery company called Vegan Vibes Meal Prep, which is a subsidiary of my business, Chrissy’s” Tracey is also conscious of the current economic climate, and aims to use her passions to help others “When I can, my team donates meals to food-insecure families in New Haven” she added. “I always believed that if you have a gift, you should use it to help others, so I do just that.” Tracey credits her entrepreneurial beginnings to a few
teachers she had at Cheshire High School, who helped spark her ideas and guide her talents. “I do want to shout out two of my high school teachers, Michael Earley and Leslie Paier, for inspiring my artistic and entrepreneurial journeys,” she said. “Those were two teachers who always truly encouraged me and embraced my thoughts and ideas while I was in high school. “Ms. Paier is the reason I pursued entrepreneurship — I’ve had this idea to run a vegetarian/vegan meal company since I was in high school, and now I am living that dream and still creating a lot of art, “ she continued. “I am so thankful for them and wouldn’t be here without their endless encouragement and inspiration.” While 2020 was an exceptional year for Tracey, she has her eyes set on 2021 and all that is in store for the future. “I hope that in 2021 I can continue my mission of fighting food insecurity, as well as continuing to highlight how delicious plant-based food can be and bringing it to the masses,” she said. “Everything my company brings to the table is fresh, organic, and made from scratch. Many people question why the pricing is low for my business — and the truth is, I know I can charge more, but that defeats my purpose of making plant-based meals accessible to the masses. One thing I can say is, we never compromise on quality and I hope people are encouraged to try the meals that I create with so much love.” But what is Tracey’s biggest dream? To own and operate her very own vegan food truck. Visit www.veganvibesmealprep.com to learn more about Tracey’s business. Her Bon Appétit videos are available at www.bonappetit.com/ search/chrissy%20tracey.
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DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY
from page 17
from page 18
The Lab, 34 High St.
parents that owned businesses were usually Caucasian,” Durant said. “I didn’t really see any Black-owned businesses. “
The Lab: A Creative Space for the Arts is still working on gaining traction as it has only been open for a little over a year.
Durant and his brother Drew Durant opened the restaurant in the midst of the pandemic, knowing the community would support them. The brothers said they appreciated the awareness that the Black Lives Matter movement brought to social injustices past and present. “As a Black man, I’ve always known what’s been going on,” Durant said. “But, I like that more people are more aware and calling things out.” B.L.A.C.K. apparel Parrish Holloman, NAACP youth president for Middlesex County and a self-proclaimed activist, organized a march in Meriden this past summer in remembrance of George Floyd. However, his activism didn’t begin in 2020. “My mother was the president of the Meriden-Wallingford NAACP when I was younger so I’ve been involved with this my whole life,” he said. Holloman said his goals include mentoring youth and increasing diversity in all aspects of the community, including schools and jobs. A new apparel line he created — B.L.A.C.K. — is set to release next month. The acronym stands for “Building Leaders And Cultivating Knowledge.” “I just want to be the voice of the youth,” Holloman said. “I want to be the person in the middle that can bridge that gap, that’s kind of what my brand is saying.” Derell’s Andre Collins created Derell’s to be an outlet for people to express with colors in a way they wouldn’t have before. The brand specializes in using
“Being a Black-owned business, it is something to be proud of,” owner Gerald Lovelace said. “I noticed there isn’t a lot in Meriden which led to me doing what I am doing now: being a Black man with my own business.”
stepping up from her position as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion coordinator the previous year. Earning her pre-doctoral and postdoctoral degrees at Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Addictions, Grier-Rogers serves as a clinical faculty member at Yale. She also has taught at Southern Connecticut State University for more than a decade. Grier-Rogers is on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion task force which works on issues such as updating policies and procedures, and looking at hiring and retention.
Since he was a teenager, he has been interested in photography, videography and dance. Dance classes are often recorded and posted to the studio’s Instagram account.
Niche.com ranks Cheshire Academy, located at 10 Main St., as number seven on its list of most diverse private high schools in Connecticut, out of more than 70 schools, and gives it an A-plus rating on this count. According to usaschoolinfo.com, the academy’s student body includes five ethnicities. The largest ethnic group of the approximately 365 students is white, 63.9 %, followed by: Asian, 27.3 %; Hispanic, 5.2 %; Black, 3 %; and Indian, .6 %.
The Lab is not a typical studio where a class has one dance instructor for a year. Students can come to classes when they like, with rotating instructors teaching various genres of dance.
Grier-Rogers’ work at the academy includes program and event planning that often is developed with student input. “We have speakers who come to talk about diversity issues during the course of the year,” Grier-Rogers said. This year’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration is one such event Grier-Rogers helped plan with academy students. Another program Grier-Rogers helped students get involved with was The Students Diversity Leadership Conference, the youth portion of the annual People of Color Conference was held in late November, early December. Four students from the academy attended the virtual conference as a delegation of affinity students.
“2020 was the year where people had the courage to actually act on things and speak up,” the stylist said.
“It’s a great opportunity for others who look like me and people who don’t look like me to see me with this skin color and say, ‘He’s able to do it and the possibilities are endless,’” Lovelace said. “After George Floyd, I changed our logo to a fist with Black Lives Matter under it. Yeah, we are a business and we are diverse, but at the end of the day this is a Black-owned business and Black Lives Matter.”
Because he is a new business and designs, sews and markets his brand entirely himself, Collins has experienced the hardships of being a business owner.
The city also has several other Black-owned businesses listed on shopBlackct.com including Brosily Bath and Body, Legendz Barbershop and Bentley’s Little Jamaican Cuisine.
“Working to promote awareness of social justice on campus is also a huge part of my job,” said Grier-Rogers.
“I do think I have to work harder, being that I am a gay, Black male trying to start up a business,” Collins said, comparing to larger brands with white people behind them. “Being a Black-owned business, the more you believe in your business, the more attraction and customers you’ll gain.”
“Meriden has always seen various races and cultures opening new businesses and the ever-growing trend of Black-owned businesses is great and we wish them the best,” Economic Development Director Feest said.
Andre Collins created “Derell’s” to be an outlet for people to express with colors in a way they wouldn’t have before.The brand specializes in using rare fabrics to create one-of-a-kind custom pieces. Photo courtesy of Andre Collins
rare fabrics to create one-ofa-kind custom pieces. More about Derell’s can be found at https://fashionmingle.net/ The former Meriden resident said the Black Lives Matter movement helped open his eyes to his own history. He also appreciates that more people are aware of social injustice.
fwilliams@record-journal.com 203-317-2373 Twitter: @faith_williams2
“They learned so much and said it was one of the most amazing experiences they ever had,” said Grier-Rogers. Helping the academy’s student affinity groups is still another way Grier-Rogers supports students with diversity, equity and inclusion issues, often referred to as DEI.
Serving as a faculty advisor for a couple of the groups on campus is another dimension of her work she enjoys. The Black Student Union is dedicated to promoting awareness on campus, she said. The Student Equity Team, new this year, is an affinity and leadership group which allows students to learn about social justice and DEI concepts and “we teach them to be allies and advocates for other students in the community,” said Grier-Rogers. Additionally, she is part of the academy’s leadership team. “I get to collaborate with all of the departments on campus and have the opportunity to look at things through the DEI lens,” she said.
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“Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.” – Anonymous Recognizing the trailblazers and history-makers in the field of medicine.
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The energy company offers the following tips to help avoid becoming a victim: Eversource representatives never demand instant payment over the phone, require the use of pre-paid debit cards or request customers meet at a payment center to make the payment. Never provide personal financial or account information to any unsolicited person on the phone, at the door or online, even if they seem legitimate. Beware – some sophisticated scammers can manipulate their caller ID to say the caller is with Eversource. Customers who are scheduled for disconnection due to nonpayment receive a written notice that includes information on how to maintain their service.
Free naturalist talk tonight
Update
“Attracting Birds, Butterflies, Bees, and Other Beneficials,” an online presentation by naturalist John Root, will take place Thursday, Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Berlin Land Trust is the sponsor. Berlin-Peck Memorial Library will host. The presentation is free, and all are welcome. Root will explain how we can make our yards havens for wildlife, and teach us about the important roles that pollinators play in our environment and what we can do to meet their essential needs, and help them thrive. Register at berlinpeck.org/events, or by calling 860-828-7126.
services, including personalized reading recommendations, children’s and Berlin-Peck Memorial Library is open teen book bundles and Grab & Go kits, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 craft kits for adults, homebound delivp.m., and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ery, a puzzle exchange, downloadable Come for a quick (under an hour) visit, eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, no appointment needed. streaming videos and virtual programming. Study rooms are available by reservation. One-hour computer appointThe library installed extra wi-fi access ments are in effect. Masks are required points to enable a stronger signal outfor entry and building capacity will be side of the building, reaching further monitored. into the parking lot on the left side of the building. There will be a chair set up for newspaper and magazine reading inside the Wi-fi hotspots are also available for building. lending. While children’s toys and games have The library continues to offer senior been temporarily removed and adult hours Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 to 10 seating areas remain unavailable, the library continues to provide numerous a.m., and curbside pickup.
1918 flu outbreak claimed at least 50 million lives By Joy VanderLek Special to The Citizen
sored by Friends of the Cheshire Public Library.
As the planet’s population is currently swept up in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cheshire Public Library invited Natalie Belanger from the Connecticut Historical Society, in Hartford, to revisit the time of the 1918 influenza outbreak. The webinar, held Jan. 21, was spon-
While influenza has always been around, the 1918 flu was unusual in a number of ways, Belanger said. This flu was far more contagious than the average flu and it hit teenagers and young adults very hard, she said. The average age of those who died was 28. “Normally,
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the flu is most dangerous for the very young and the very old. This flu hit those in the bloom of youth.”
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Welcome to On The Menu.
GROW YOUR BUSINESS
Let us help you find the perfect place to eat.
Whether it’s a celebration, date night, or just grabbing a bite to eat, this list of local restaurants is sure to satisfy your taste buds.
Find great local eats - MenusCT.com Adelphia Café 476 Washington Avenue North Haven, CT 06473 203-535-0149 Family owned/operated. Former proprietors of the Neptune Diner in Wallingford. Extensive menu for all tastes. Breakfasts, luncheons and special dinners. All baking on premises.
Colony Diner
611 N Colony Road Wallingford, CT 06492 (203) 269-9507 colonydiner.com Wallingford’s place to go for oldfashioned breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Proudly serving up delicious and hearty meals daily. Voted Best Diner 4 years running by Record Journal. Open seven days. Breakfast served all day.
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Health Dementia program A diagnosis of dementia can be frightening for those affected by the syndrome, their family members and caregivers. The free virtual class, “They Say I Have Dementia – What Does That Mean?,” will be held Thursday, Feb. 18, from 3 to 4 p.m. Presenter will be Patty O’Brian, CDP, dementia specialist with Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, which is sponsoring the event. Registration is required; call 1-855-442-4373 or visit HHCHealth.org/VirtualClasses.
Men’s health
Caregiver series A free virtual dementia caregiving series can provide the tips and strategies to gain greater insights into caring for a loved one with dementia. Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is providing a five-week series on Fridays, Feb. 26 to March 26, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. A certified dementia specialist with Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging will lead the series. Participants are encouraged to attend all ses-
sions. Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is sponsoring the series. Registration is required; call 1855-442-4373 or visit HHCHealth.org/VirtualClasses.
Movement disorders The Chase Family Movement Disorders Center and Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging are offering a caregiver support group for individuals who care for people with movement disorders and other neurodegenerative conditions. This free support group is offered the first and third Tuesday of the month, from 10 to 11 a.m. Facilitators are Amanda Brill, LCSW, at the Chase Family Movement Disorder Center, and Jennifer McCaughey, MS, resource coordinator, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging.
Brill at 860-696-4653, or McCaughey at 860-696-4623.
Facebook group A Facebook page specifically for families and caregivers who have questions or comments pertaining to caregiving has been launched by Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging. People are welcome to join the “Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging Support Group.” Concerns might include behavior changes, transition of care to assisted living, home healthcare, community services or end of life planning. A Center for Healthy Aging professional will oversee the Facebook page to provide helpful an-
swers and resources to support users in their caregiving roles. For more information, call the Center for Healthy Aging at 877-424-4641.
Memory Café Memory Café, a new socialization group for people with memory loss, mild cognitive impairment and early dementia, meets Mondays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. This is intended to be a welcoming place for individuals and their families with a shared experience. A dementia specialist with Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging leads the group. Registration is required; call 1-855-442-4373 or go to HartfordHealthCare.org/VirtualClasses.
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held Thursday, Feb. 25, from 10 to 11 a.m. Nicholas Arsenault, RN, transitional care nurse with Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, will lead the program. Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging and Plainville Senior Center are sponsoring. Registration is required; call 1-855-4424373 or visit HHCHealth.org/VirtualClasses.
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Thursday, February 18, 2021
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nurses and doctors were serving in the war.
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Immigrant populations, especially Italians, eastern Euof soldiers killed in both ropeans, and French Canaworld wars, she said. There were three “waves” of dians were hit hard. The flu “We will never really know the flu and the second wave coincided with peak immigration, so it was thought how many people died in in September 1918 was the overcrowded living condithe pandemic,” Belanger deadliest. September was said, adding that it’s unusual when civilian infections were tions, notably in cities, could further spread the illness. not to have statistics. Howbeing seen, said Belanger. Schools, which were new ever, at that time recordThe final wave was in late keeping, as we know it towinter 1919. Showing a mor- and well-ventilated would be safer, and therefore were day, was not being done in tality chart for cities during many areas of the world. the 28 weeks of the outbreak, urged to stay open, Belanger said. Belanger notes New Haven The way in which the 1918 came in at 61 percent. New outbreak was handled by of- London’s Naval Base report- Theatres were also left open, not because they were ficials and perceived by the ed the illness in September, cleaner, but because they public was also unusual. “It probably a result of soldiers would be a morale booster, appeared to Americans that arriving from Boston. The flu she said. As the nation was the flu came out of Spain,” generally spread east to west at war, that was a priority. Belanger said. This is bein the state, said Belanger. By cause Spain reported an illThe flu was also known as October 1918 about 40 perness at the time that was “The Grippe” from the cent of the population of sickening many of its people, Connecticut was infected French word meaning flu. including the King of Advice to cure or not catch and approximately 9,000 Spain. Those were the first it was abundant. Some of it people died. reports Americans heard. was sound, some ridiculous. “Spain was not in the war, Overall, “the federal reBelanger showed flyers of and those countries that sponse was almost nil,” said the day prompting people were fighting the war cenBelanger. Some guidance not to visit sick houses, to sored their press. So, it is not was given by the U.S. Public cover one’s mouth when that the flu began in Spain, it Health Service, an arm of the coughing and to stay out of was because it was the first Treasury Department, but crowds. Other flyers promptcountry to really report states were left to tackle the ed people to be cheerful and about the flu, because they response and ended up givnot worry. didn’t have censorship.” ing the responsibility to municipalities to educate popu- Belanger described how Belanger said the outbreak tonics and salves were plenlations and handle the outbegan in Kansas in the tiful in advertising of the break. Shortages of medical spring of 1918 at a military personnel did not help. Most day, including Dr. Jones’ camp, Fort Funston. The malady then traveled camp to camp, and was transmitted with the transport of troops going overseas to fight in World War I. “So, it’s more accurate to call it ‘the American flu.’”
Masks were not mandatory everywhere. New Haven did have a mandate for anyone going to a gathering or into public spaces, said Belanger. The term “slacker,” generally used for draft dodgers, was also a pejorative term used for those who would not wear a mask. Belanger showed a picture of a conductor who stopped a man without a mask from coming aboard a streetcar.
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It wasn’t until 1944 that a flu vaccine was developed. Belanger pointed out that a person who survived the flu was in a weakened state, and since there were no antibiotics yet, secondary infections could kill them.
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Thursday, February 18, 2021
The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Estate Cornerstone Real Estate llc
From A6
For example: • Are the individuals named in the Will still capable of handling their financial affairs?
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You’ve spent lots of effort and time creating your estate plan … to communicate your wishes, identify who will act • Have there been any births on your behalf and protect or any family members or all you’ve worked for. And beneficiaries who have died? perhaps to perpetuate your • Has there been a change in legacy. Don’t let this all be in your or a beneficiary’s mari- vain. tal status? So put this past year behind • Has there been a change in your relationship with your executor or guardian? As you can see, there are many reasons you need to periodically review your estate tax planning strategy. But more than anything, you need to continue to be protected.
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Child advocates
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CASA of Northern Connecticut, based in East Berlin, formed in response to a 2016 law that enables courts to appoint trained volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children. Contact CASA of Northern Connecticut about volunteer opportunities at gbrochu@ CASAnorthCT.org. For more information, visit casanorthernconnecticut.org.
The Berlin Police Department Records Bureau now offers citizens the ability to download and pay for crash reports online via policereports.lexisnexis.com. There is also a link to this service at berlinpd.org.
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Brendan Daly is a principal at the law firm Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri, located at 15 Massirio Drive in Berlin. His firm provides estate planning, elder law, probate, litigation and special needs planning services.
urday of the month, 9 to 11 a.m. Proceeds go to local food pantries.
From A5
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Sites
communities,” state Public Health Acting Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford said. “We From A8 want to ensure that within this high risk group, we foGov. Ned Lamont ancus on getting vaccine to innounced this month that dividuals within the group those over age 65 may who come from communischedule vaccine appointties that have been hardest ments in addition to those hit by the virus, namely our over age 75, health care workers and first responders. Black and Latino communities. We are working with Lamont expects the state’s our vaccine providers and vaccine allotment from the other community partners to federal government to inidentify underserved areas crease from 45,000 doses to and focus vaccine resources 65,000 doses a week and is into those areas, including awaiting even more supply providing transportation asas vaccine manufacturing sistance and other solutions ramps up. to address barriers to vaccine access.” Underserved groups
“COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted older individuals and individuals in traditionally underserved
HHC’s real estate arm has been working to identify potential mass vaccine sites in metropolitan areas that can be easily accessed. It has also begun running mobile centers at churches, community centers and homeless centers. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Henry Anyimadu, of The Hospital of Central Connecticut, said the virus has, unfortunately, dispropor-
Yet minorities are also less likely to be vaccinated, he said, referring to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that, from Dec. 14 to Jan. 14, only 5 percent of eligible African Americans and 11 percent of eligible Hispanics were vaccinated. A second study by the Pew Research Institute revealed that while about 70 percent of African Americans know someone affected by COVID, only 42 percent were willing to get the vaccine. “I can see hope,” Anyimadu said of mass vaccination. “I see that our families can get together again, businesses can open, life can get back to some form of normalcy.” Major retail pharmacy chains also have begun scheduling appointments for eligible persons. Connecticut is among 10 other states where CVS Health and Walgreens will begin receiving a limited amount of doses.
Hartford HealthCare: Hartford HealthCare has multiple locations throughout the state, including large clinics in the Hartford area. To make an appointment using this system, go to hartfordhealthcare.org.
Resources : VAMS online system: The Vaccine Administration Management System can be used to schedule appointments at multiple clinics across the state. To make an appointment using this system, click on portal.ct.gov.
Yale New Haven Health: Yale New Haven Hospital COVID-19 Vaccine Aphas multiple locations pointment Assist Line: Con- throughout the state, includnecticut’s COVID-19 vaccine ing large clinics in the New appointment assist line is Haven area. To make an apopen from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., pointment using this system, seven days a week. To make go to ynhhs.org. an appointment, call 877918-2224.
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A42
The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Legal Notices & Classifieds
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REPRESENTATIVE The Wallingford Electric Division is seeking a skilled individual to handle all inquiries, applications and complaints from the public related to utility billing, service, accounts receivable, customer billing and delinquent accounts. The position requires a high school diploma / GED or business school, plus two (2) years employment involving customer contact and the receipt, custody and accounting for sums of money OR an equivalent combination of the above experience and training. Wages: $23.36 - $28.36 hourly, plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Applications may be obtained at the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. The closing date will be the date the 40th application or resume is received or February 24, 2021 whichever occurs first. EOE
Eversource Energy Service Company has a position available in Berlin, CT. Plan, develop, schedule, and perform engineering assignments related to the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of gas distribution pressure regulating systems, including large customer meter sets. Analyze gate station, regulator station systems, as well as welding requirements and components. Recommend and develop specific projects for implementation. Monitor Federal and State code requirements and update welding and fusing procedures and manuals. Perform site layout and prepare necessary documents for permitting and construction. Coordinate construction activities with customers, contractors, State and local officials and internal departments. Direct application to: Laurie Shuckerow, Eversource Energy at laurie.shuckerow@eversource.com. Please Reference Job ID: EE2021AKG
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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Thursday, February 18, 2021
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CLEAN & REMOVE Furniture, appliances, entire contents of: homes, sheds, estates, attics, basements, garages & more. *FALL YARD Clean-ups* FREE ESTIMATES. LIC & INS. 203-535-9817 or 860-575-8218.
IF YOU Mention This Ad FALL Yard Clean-Ups Brush, branches, leaves, storm damage **JUNK REMOVAL** Appl’s, Furniture, Junk, Debris, etc WE CAN REMOVE ANYTHING Entire house to 1 item removed! FREE ESTIMATES Sr. Citizen Discount LIC & INS. 203-535-9817 or 860-575-8218
Tree Services
Tree Services
GARY WODATCH - Tree Removal. All calls returned. CT#620397 Quick courteous service. 860-558-5430.
Yalesville Construction Ice Damage Removal. Snow removal from Roof. Specializing in all phases #0649808 203.510.3830. of residential & commercial roofing. Financing avail. www. Senior citizen discount lmconstructionct.com Insured Free est. 203-265-5200 List Your Items To Over HIC#0631937 300,000 Local Readers.
Looking for a friend? Find litters of critters in Classifieds.
Specializing in tree removal, trimming, chipping & grinding. Call for free estimate. 203-945-1808.
Classifieds Open 8:30–5 Monday thru Friday. Call Us.
203-238-1953
Moving and Storage
RT RELOCATION Your moving and storage specialists. Call for a free estimate. 833-668-3978.
Plumbing
RECYCLE YOUR OLD NEWSPAPERS Please & Thank you.
Roofing
Interested in Classified Advertising? Call Us.
Carpentry Repairs, Decks & Porches, Sheetrock & Taping Water Damage Repairs. Free Est. Ins. MC & Visa. Call Bill (203) 901-2136. CT. Reg. # 0647093
Roofing
203-238-1953
Get Listed. Get Calls. Get Results.
GARY WODATCH Hedge & tree trimming. Trim overgrown properties. Calls returned. #620397.860-558-5430
Demolition Svs Sheds, pools, decks, garages, debris removal. Quick, courteous svc. All calls returned. Ins. #566326. Cell, 860-558-5430
CARPENTRY
Landscaping
A43
Let Us BEAR Your Junk! Junk Removal in CT
GEORGE J MACK & SONS - Servicing the Meriden area since 1922. Toilet, faucet, sink & drain repairs. Water heater replacements. 15% Sr citizen disc. 203-238-2820.
A classified ad is an easy way to sell your merchandise, and it’s easy on your wallet, too.
Call Monday thru Friday 8:30am - 5pm • 203-238-1953
A44
Thursday, February 18, 2021
The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com
Make Your Ordinary Bathroom Extraordinary
IN JUST ONE DAY! AS LITTLE AS
Give the gift of a new bathroom for the holidays
$500 Off OR
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• Walk-in Tubs • Roll-in Showers • Tub to Shower Conversions • Replacement Tubs
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R238055V2
• Replacement Showers • Shower Enclosures • Bathtub Liners • Soaker Tubs
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*Includes product and labor; bathtub, shower or walk-in tub and wall surround. This promotion cannot be combined with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply. This offer expires March 31, 2021. Each dealership is independently owned and operated. **Third party financing is available for those customers who qualify. See your dealer for details. ©2020 BCI Acrylic, Inc.