The Berlin Citizen

‘TIS THE SEASON Board of Education honored

Press Release

The Berlin Board of Education was presented with a leader ship award during the annu al Connecticut Association of Boards of Education/Con necticut Association of Public School Superintendents Con vention held Friday, Nov. 25 at the Mystic Marriott.

CABE believes that Boards of Education which exhibit the most effective leadership are characterized by their ability to work together as "teams."

The CABE Board of Education Leadership Awards are de signed to recognize boards which work effectively in this manner.

Code change made, hiring discussed

By Nicole Zappone The Citizen

At the Nov. 15 Town Council meet ing, the board approved of an update to the town code regarding the com munity’s off-leash zone and heard from Town Manager Arosha Jayaw ickrema, who said the municipal

government has had a difficult time attracting new workers.

Code change

Councilors accepted the text amend ments to Chapter III - Animals, in the Berlin code book after no comments

were made in the public hearing phase of the meeting.

The code change establishes Pistol Creek as the town's designated offleash area for dogs. Dogs are no longer allowed off-leash at Bicenten nial Park.

See Council, A7

In order to appropriately rec ognize those boards which are truly exemplary, CABE has es tablished a second level of recognition, the Board of Dis tinction Award. Only boards which have achieved Level One distinction at least twice in the prior four years are eli gible to receive the Board of Distinction Award. Also, boards must achieve at least two Level Two items in each Level Two category to receive this award.

Youngsters from Dance Step were among the performers at the Berlin tree lighting Saturday, Nov. 26. See more photosfromtheeventinside. Nicole Zappone, The Citizen

Michael Katz, DMD

MEET THE CHAMPS

Letters Policy

Email letters to news@theberlincitizen.com. Letters are limited to 300 words. The Citizen will print only one letter per person each month. We reserve the right to edit letters. Letters must be signed and names will appear in print. Include a phone number so The Citizen can contact you for verification. Letters must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday to be con sidered for publication the following Thursday.

Time to brush up on winter protocols

The following tips will help keep you and your pets safe in cold weather situations.

Suiting up

When going outdoors, the Centers for Disease Con trol and Prevention rec ommends wearing a hat, scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth; long sleeves that are snug at the wrist; mittens (which are warmer than gloves); and water-resistant coat and boots. Also, layer clothing strategically. When choosing an inner layer, wear fabrics that hold more body heat and do not absorb moisture. Wool, silk and polypropy lene hold more body heat than cotton.

An insulation layer of clothing will help retain heat by trapping air close to the body. Natural fibers, like wool, goose down and fleece work best.

The outermost layer of clothing helps protect from the elements. It should be tightly woven and preferably water- and

wind-resistant to reduce loss of body heat.

And try to stay dry out doors, as wet clothing chills the body quickly. Excess sweating will cause your body to lose more heat, so remove extra lay ers of clothing when you feel too warm.

Cold weather-induced conditions such as frost bite can occur even in temperatures above 40 de grees if a person becomes chilled by rain or sweat, or is submerged in cold wa ter. Do not ignore shiver ing, as it’s an important first sign that your body is losing heat. Constant shiv ering is a sign that it is time to go inside.

Ice safety

The Department of Energy and Environmental Pro tection recommends mea suring ice in multiple places before testing it with your weight. Ice that is four inches thick or less should be avoided. Four inches or more is consid ered safe for ice fishing or

See Winter, A12

TheBerlin BearsBteamcheerleaders took firstplaceatthe CTYFLchampionships. The squad,comprisedof fifthandsixthgraders,hadworked towardtheleaguechampionship competition since Aug. 1.

Craft fair

The VFW of Berlin, 152 Mas sirio Drive, will host a craft fair Sunday, Dec 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free.

Holiday Fair

A Holiday Fair will be held at the Berlin Historical Soci ety museum, 305 Main St., Kensington, Friday, Dec. 2 from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The upstairs muse um will be decorated and open for touring. Down

stairs, visitors will find Berlin-themed items, giftboxed homemade cookies, confections, books, pottery, honey, spices, jewelry, and more.

The museum also will be open Saturdays, Dec. 10 and 17, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Women’s club

The Women's Club of New Britain will meet Thurs day, Dec. 1, 2 p.m., at the First Congregational Church, 830 Corbin Ave., New Britain.

Bears C team earns shutout, league championship

The Berlin Bears C (Red) team claimed the CTYFL championship with a 6-0 victory over East Hartford on Nov. 20. The winning touch down came on a 45-yard run by Quinn Demko with only seconds remaining in the game.

Berlin's offensive line of Jackson Robles, Liam Gruhn, Owen Carlson, Trent Atkinson, Henry Moskites and Chase May blocked great in the title game, and the Bears' defense held the usually-explosive East Hartford squad to mini mal yards.

Leading Berlin to its ninth shut-out of the year were Blake Viera, Reid Wilson, Jacob Johnson, Matt Dresko, William DeLorenzo, Owen Brown, Owen Swiatek, John Wesoly, Oliver Paul, Logan Buckley, Demko and Robles.

The Bears also received solid efforts this sea son from Devon Tucker, Ian Laskowski, Jonah Rivas and RJ Beeny.

The CTYFL champs finished with a record of 9-1, and outscored their opponents 214-12.

In Brief

Annual honor

The Robert B. Dornfried Sr. Lifetime Volunteerism Award is bestowed annually upon a Berlin resident "who is dedicated to a lifetime of community volunteerism, civic duty and extraordinary service." For more informa tion, visit berlinvolunteer fund.com.

Special ed. book

A booklet that explains Spe cial Education in Berlin schools is available at the Board of Education offices and on the district web site, berlinschools.org.

Submitted The Bears C (Red) team finished the season with a record of 9-1, while outscoring opponents 214-12.

Connecticut is home to 400-plus Christmas tree farms

From the Connecticut Christ mas Tree Growers Associa tion:

Did you know there are over 400 Christmas tree farms in the State of Connecticut?

Connecticut may be one of the smaller states in the na tion, however, with a total of 5,521 farms spread across 381,539 acres, our farmers contribute substantially. Greenhouses and nurseries, such as Christmas tree farms, are the largest pro ducers.

Bottom line: There are plen ty of Connecticut-grown Christmas trees to choose from.

Due to the drought in 2016, and climate change, the statewide selection of 8- to 10-foot trees is limited. How ever, you will find a tree!

Schools

Locals in college

Goodwin University, E. Hartford, named Lauren Gambardella to its presi dent’s list for the summer semester.

Goodwin University, E. Hartford, named Jessica Garigliano and Lauren Gam bardella to its dean’s list for the summer semester.

You may need to compro mise in height and opt for a slightly shorter tree, a differ ent species, or even visit a new Christmas tree farm this year. Each farm is special and run by families that love what they do. Remember, variety is the spice of life. New and exciting experi ences make life more inter esting!

Some farms may sell out early, or require reserva tions. Some will be open un til Christmas Eve. Some close early December. We encourage you to make a plan ahead of time. Visit our list of farms at ctchristmas tree.org to research your op tions.

Our mission as Christmas Tree Growers is to grow a

quality tree. When choosing a tree this year, please con sider that climate change has impacted our trees, as with every other crop across the nation.

An average 6-foot-tall Christ mas tree takes approximate ly 5-to-10 years to grow. During this time, the trees absorb CO2 from the atmo sphere, helping to offset cli

Tree Facts

mate change and global warming. The Real Christ mas Tree Board recom mends, “When you think

See Tree farms, A16

From the National Christmas Tree Association:

There are approximately 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees sold in the U.S. every year.

There are close to 350 million real Christmas trees currently growing on Christmas tree farms in the U.S. alone, all planted by farmers.

North American real Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada.

There are about 1 million acres in production for growing Christ mas trees. Each acre provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.

For every real Christmas tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted the following spring.

There are about 350,000 acres in production for growing Christ mas Trees in the U.S.; much of it preserving green space.

There are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas trees in the U.S., and over 100,000 peo

ple are employed in the industry

It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of typical height (6 to 7 feet) or as little as 4 years, but the average growing time is 7 years.

The top Christmas tree pro ducing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylva nia, Wisconsin and Washington.

James Simons, Fire Adminis trator for the Town of Berlin, re ports the following incidents for the weeks of Nov. 13 and 20:

November 13: 100 block of Old Brickyard Lane: Dumpster fire Companies 2 and 3

November 15: 200 block of Episcopal: Structure fire Companies 1, 2, 3, and 4

November 15: 900 block of Farmington Avenue: Fire alarm Companies 1, 2, 3 and 4

November 15: Berlin Turnpike at North Colony Road: Motor ve hicle accident Company 3

November 17: Berlin Turnpike: Assist EMS Companies 1 and 3

November 17: Chamberlain Highway and Southington Road: Motor vehicle accident Companies 3 and 4

November 17: Lincoln Street: Odor of natural gas: Companies 1, 2, and 4

Fire Department Responses

November 18: Berlin Turnpike and Middletown Road: Motor ve hicle accident: Companies 1, 2 and 3

November 19: Lamplight Drive: CO alarm: Companies 2 and 4

November 19: 100 block of Commerce Street: Fire alarm: Companies 1, 2 and 3

November 19: 500 block of Four Rod Road: Outside equip ment fire: Companies 1, 2, 3 and 4

November 19: 100 block of Commerce Street: Fire alarm: Company 1

November 20: Berlin Turnpike and Middletown Road: Motor ve hicle accident Company 3

November 20: Mildrum Road: Fire alarm Companies 1, 2 and 3

November 20: 2400 block of

Berlin Turnpike: Fire alarm Companies 1, 2, 3 and 4

November 20: 700 block of Worthington Ridge: Fire alarm Companies 1, 2 and 3

November 20: Elton Road: Car fire Companies 1, 2, 3 and 4

November 21: Burgundy Lane: Assistance call Companies 2 and 4

November 21: 1400 block of Farmington Avenue: Electrical malfunction Companies 1, 2, 3 and 4

November 21: 1400 block of Farmington Avenue: Assistance

call Company 3

November 22: 100 block of Fairview Drive: Assistance Call Companies 2, 3 and 4

November 22: Pleasant Street: Structure fire Companies 1, 2, 3, and 4

November 22: Berlin Turnpike and Selden Street: Motor vehicle accident Companies 1 and 3

November 23: 300 block of Savage Hill Road: Car fire Companies 1, 2 and 3

November 23: 2500 block of Berlin Turnpike: Motor vehicle accident Companies 1, 2 and 4

November 23: 400 block of High Road: Investigation of odor in home Companies 1, 2, 3 and 4

November 24: 500 block of High Road: Structure fire Companies 1, 2, 3 and 4

November 24: Valentine Drive: Fire alarm Companies 1, 2 and 3

November 26: Elm Street: Tractor fire Companies 1 and 3

Fire Company Designations: 1. East Berlin 2. Kensington 3. Berlin 4. South Kensington

In Brief

Off-leash zone

The fenced-in area at Pistol Creek, as designated by the Town Council on July 26 as a leash-free area for dogs, is now open. The area is ap proximately 50,000 square feet, in the middle of the

fairway, right in front of the handicap parking lot off Spruce Brook Road. Please note the rules of the area as posted at the entrance to the fenced-in area. Dogs must be on a leash in all other public spaces in town. Ani mal Control officers will be

issuing Written Warnings to individuals who do not have their dogs on leashes on public property.

Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Kensing ton-Berlin meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at Sliders Bar & Grill, 197 Episcopal Road.

For more information about the club, contact John Ro man(jcroman2012@ aol.com) or Elaine Pavasaris (elaine@homesweethoem ct.com).

From A1

Speaking of the Pistol Creek off-leash zone, Mayor Mark Kaczynski said, “The area has been fenced in, and it seems to be working out well.”

Councilor Donna Veach in quired if there had been any complaints about the new off-leash area, and Jayawick rema stated there have not been. Also, Councilor Charles Paonessa said the feedback he has had heard about the off-leash area at Pistol Creek has all been positive.

Hiring issues

Jayawickrema told the Town Council that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find people to work in municipal government.

The Town Manager pointed out that job-seekers younger ones, especially are looking for more flexibil ity, such as four-day work weeks and the ability to work from home.

Jayawickrema said he would gather information from oth er communities and work with Human Resources to explore the possibility of im plementing a four-day work week pilot program at Town Hall.

This schedule would involve employees working longer days Monday through Thursday, with Friday off.

Jayawickrema said some

towns use this schedule dur ing the summer, and others have fully migrated to the four-day work week.

nzappone@record-journal.com

Wall of Honor

The Berlin Veterans Commission’s “Veterans Digital Wall of Honor,” located in the main lobby rotunda of Town Hall, is dedicated to “All Who Proudly Served and Sacrificed to Protect Our Country.” Berlin residents and their immediate family, past and present, who have served or are currently serving in the United States military can be put up on the wall. Contact Peter Galgano at petergalgano@comcast.net or 860-604-7258.

1st place: Madeline Domijan, Willard School, won family passes to Mystic Aquarium, courtesy of Friends of Berlin Animal Control.

Doggie drawing contest winners

Berlin Animal Control held a drawing contest with the town’s elementary schools, where students were asked to draw a picture of a dog wearing a collar and tag. The winning draw ings will be featured on Berlin dog license applications, and the artists were awarded prizes.

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2nd place: Kaylee Pelletier, Griswold School, was awarded a family membership to Hungerford Nature Center, courtesy of Sage Meehan.

3rd place: Tommy Thibodeau, Hubbard School, claimed four movie passes and popcorn from Picture Show, courtesy of assistant manager Karen Reis.

Senior Health

Exercise and stress

Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., learn more about what stress is, how physical activity can help re duce stress and what exercis es are best at helping to re duce it. Presented by Chris tine Solimini-Swift, exercise physiologist, GoodLife Fit ness. Registration required. Call 1-855-442-4373 or go to HartfordHealthCare.org/ VirtualClasses.

Awareness training

Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 2 to 3 p.m., learn how you can avoid slips, trips and falls for an overall safer environment. Presented by Lisa Murawski, exercise physiologist, GoodLife Fitness. Registra tion required. Call 1-855-4424373 or go to HartfordHealth Care.org/VirtualClasses.

Cedar Mountain

Cedar Mountain Commons, an independent and assisted

living community located at 3 John H. Stewart Drive in Newington, will host an open house Wednes day, Dec. 7, from 3 to 7 p.m. Registration is recommend ed. Call 860-665-7901.

The Orchards

The Orchards, an indepen dent and assisted liv ing community located at 34 Hobart St. in Southington, will host an open house Thursday, Dec. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. Registration is recom mended. Call 860-628-5656.

Caregiver support

Join this dementia caregiver group the second Wednes day of the month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Facilitated by Patty O’Brian, CDP, dementia spe cialist, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Ag ing. Registration required. Call 1-855-442-4373 or go to HartfordHealthCare.org/ VirtualClasses.

Gianna Pethigal, 11, hangs an ornamnet while Arianna Pethigal, 8, and Bob Facey look on.

Maddox Bouvier, 2, Isabella Plomitallo, 4, and JJ Bouvier, 4, await Santa’s arrival.

The Zigmont family donated this year’s town Christmas tree.

Costs, concerns soar

By Michael Gagne Record-Journal staff

As outdoor temperatures dip, energy suppliers and advocates have renewed concerns about whether the state’s most vulnerable residents will be able to af ford to keep their homes heated this winter. Those concerns come amid the simple fact that home heating costs are soaring.

As of Nov. 14, home heat ing oil prices across Con necticut had averaged

around $5.64 a gallon, ac cording to the state De partment of Energy and Environmental Protection. A year earlier, the average cost of home heating oil was $3.28 per gallon, the agency reported. So within a one-year span home heating oil costs have risen nearly 72%.

The amount of federal funding the state has re ceived to administer the

See Heating, A14

Winter

From A2

any other activity on foot. Five to seven inches of ice is recommended for snowmo biles or ATVs. It is illegal to drive a car or truck on the ice in Connecticut.

Remember that air tempera ture and recent weather pat terns can impact ice quality. Just because the ice was safe on a certain date last year doesn’t mean it will be safe this year.

When going out on the ice, it’s advised to let someone know when you expect to be back.

Also, carry a cell phone and wear a life jacket or float coat. And bring along an ice safety kit including rope, ice picks, a whistle and spiked shoes/creepers.

If you fall through the ice, try not to panic. Turn toward the direction you came from. Place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface, working forward by kicking your feet.

Once out, remain lying on the ice (do not stand) and roll away from the hole.

Crawl back to your tracks, keeping your weight dis tributed until you return to solid ice.

Winter pet care

According to the American Veterinary Medical Associa tion, cold tolerance varies from pet to pet, and owners should be aware of their pet’s tolerance and adjust their activities accordingly.

No pet should be left outside for long periods of time dur ing below-freezing weather. Check dogs frequently for signs of cold-weather injury, such as cracked paw pads or bleeding. Following a walk, dog owners should wipe down their pet’s feet, legs and belly to remove chemi cals such as deicer or an tifreeze.

Also, when the temperature drops, check under your car, bang on the hood and honk the horn, as a warm vehicle engine can be an appealing heat source for outdoor or feral cats.

Obituaries

FARMINGTON- Diane (Lundell) Wolf, 87, of Kensington, passed away on November 17, 2022. The only child of Helen and Frank Lundell of New Britain, she was born on December 25, 1934 - their Christmas present. In 1955, she met William “Bill” Wolf, and even before their first formal date, he told her he would marry her the following year. Indeed, they were married in August 1956, and enjoyed 59 full and fulfilling years together before his death in February of 2015. Diane is survived by their four children: William D. Wolf and wife Mary of Charleston, SC; Erica and husband David McKenzie of Kensington, CT, and Apex, NC; Carolyn “Cari” and husband Frank Sataline of Farmington, CT, and Ellen Wolf and partner Robin Boislard of Niantic, CT. Diane also leaves behind six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren: Jessica McKenzie and husband Ryne Schultz and their two children, Forrest and Sadie, Jennifer (Sataline) Brown and husband Michael Brown and their three children, Tommy, Kacie, and Sophie; Amanda McKenzie and wife Chelsea Doherty; Kathryn (Sataline) Voreis and husband Elliott Voreis; and Mary Grace and Lily Wolf. Diane also leaves behind Marl Jackson, a close family friend whom she loved as family.

A graduate of New Britain High School, 1952 and Green Mountain

College, Diane had a passion for the arts and spent part of her late teen/ early 20s in New York City interning for fashion magazines and working in design. Throughout her life, she had an artistic flair, a passion and talent for sketching, painting, needlepoint, sewing, and design. She had a gift for finding and creating beauty in everyday life, evident in her “Secret Garden” on Cape Cod and the intricate painting of her grandchildren’s names into the artwork on her cape house staircase.

An avid reader and lover of literature, Diane was always surrounded by books. In the early 1970s, Diane went on to pursue a master’s degree in teaching from Central Connecticut State University. She was a beloved English teacher at Berlin High School for over 20 years, retiring in 1998, and sharing her passion for language and literature along the way. Her children and son-inlaw have fond memories of being in school while she was a teacher, and her grandchildren, will forever

In Brief

Volunteer opportunities

Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the Community Foundation of

be grateful for her help editing and discussing their high school papers and college essays!

For the past 25 years, Diane enjoyed her home in Eastham, on Cape Cod, where family and friends were always welcome, and all came to enjoy the Cape.

Diane was an active member of First Lutheran Church in New Britain throughout her entire life, where she was editor of Temple Chimes at the church. She was also a member of the Kensington Garden Club and served on the board at the Friendship Service Center in New Britain.

Diane enjoyed the companionship of Charlie Silsby later in her life, a longtime friend, whom she married in 2017 after the loss of both of their spouses. Charlie predeceased Diane in 2020; Diane’s family is grateful for the joy that Charlie was able to bring to Diane in her later years. She left the world having lived to make it a better place, and she will be sorely missed.

A Memorial Service will be held at First Lutheran Church, 77 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051 on December 6th at 11am. Calling hours are December 5th from 4-6 pm at Carlson Funeral Home, 45 Franklin Square, New Britain. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Lutheran Church or to the Friendship Service Center, P.O. Box 1896, New Britain, CT 06050. Please share a memory or note of sympathy at www. carlsonfuneralhome.com

Conn. Historical Society debuts Bicycle Game

By Francesca Fontanez Special to the Record-Journal

For bicycle-lovers who are meeting recent colder tem peratures with disdain, the Connecticut Historical Soci ety has just launched an ex citing new exhibit that brings the heat, both on and off the street.

The Bicycle Game delves in to a unique moment in his tory and brings visitors back to 1890s America, a moment in history that observed a surge in bicycle popularity. Through an intricately de signed interactive exhibition created for visitors of all ages, visitors find the history of the bicycles as we know it meddled reconstructed by an salty scoundrel. Barnabus Boggs, whose name was selected through a “Name the Villain” cam paign, is the mischievous rascal who’s meddled with art, facts, and more in an at tempt to erase bicycles from Connectut’s histo ry. Through a series of games, puzzles and races, visitors can put their skills to the test and work their way through the game.

If successful, the iconic era can be saved from the wrath of Barnabus Boggs, and Con necticut’s bicycle history can exist in peace.

The Connecticut Historical Society held an opening re ception Nov. 17 to celebrate the hard work and dedica tion of all who pitched in to make The Bicycle Game a reality. After opening re marks, delivered by Rob Kret, Executive Director of the Connecticut Historical Society and C.E.O. and Katie Heidsiek, attendees were in vited to enjoy some refresh ments and explore the ex hibit at their own pace.

Starting with an introductory video featuring Kara Sund lun and Scot Haney of Eye witness 3 News, folks of all ages worked their way through The Bicycle Game’s various activities. From cracking codes, to racing other attendees, everyone who experienced the exhibit left with a newfound appre ciation for all-things bicy cles.

The exhibit is open from now through autumn of 2023.

Greater New Britain’s four-town service area Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and South ington. Volunteer opportunities can be found at cfgnb.org.

Diane (Lundell) Wolf

Heating

From

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, referred to as LIHEAP, this winter now stands at around $99 million, following Gov. Ned Lamont’s announcement on Thursday, Nov. 17 that the state’s federal delegation had secured an additional $19 million in funding to the state through that program.

Increased costs, declining benefits

The state’s Department of Social Services developed a tiered plan to distribute funds based on residents’ in come and the previous fund ing level of $79 million. That plan would provide $550 worth of heating oil to nonvulnerable residents and $600 to vulnerable residents whose incomes are at or below federal poverty levels.

The plan factors in an antici pated caseload of 96,600 res idents statewide. The plan includes crisis assistance de liveries, with the first benefit being $430.

The amounts of funding to be distributed through that plan are far below the amounts the state had doled out to LIHEAP participants a year earlier when offi cials supplemented the state’s LIHEAP funds with federal coronavirus relief funds.

State Rep. Mary Mushinsky said she has been in contact with the state Office of Fiscal Analysis and reached out to U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s of fice. Mushinsky noted that with the influx of federal re lief funds, the state’s total LI HEAP funds in 2021 totaled around $120 million.

“So we’ve got $21 million less than during the pan demic year and there’sa price increase in fuel,” Mushinsky said, adding that the number of applicants for the program is expected to increase by 5%.

Mushinsky said typically the state gets a supplemental LI HEAP payment from the federal government in Jan uary. She doesn’t anticipate that changing even with the Republicans taking control of the U.S. House of Repre sentatives in January.

“I don’t think either side is going to want to have the states run out of LIHEAP money, ” Mushinsky said.

“Doing the math, you can see that there’s more ex pense on the price of the fu el and then slightly less money in 2021 that means we won’t have enough. We’re going to be short on the funding,” Mushinsky said.

The funding is distributed to qualifying residents through community action agencies, like New Opportunities Inc., which serves 60 communi ties.

Joanne Balaschak, New Op portunities’ director of ener gy programs, noted that last year residents who qualified for benefits were able to re ceive up to $3,000 worth of

home heating oil. This year, those same residents may only be eligible to receive $730 in benefits, factoring in their initial deliveries and crisis deliveries, Balashack noted. “It’s going to be un believable,” Balaschak said.

Bracing for increased need

Gannon Long is policy and public affairs director for an other program, Operation Fuel, which provides yearround energy and utility as sistance to state residents, including those who may not qualify for relief under LIHEAP.

Long said in 2021 the orga nization served more than 9,000 households. This year, Operation Fuel is on track to process even more assis tance applications.

During the summer alone, the agency served 4,500 resi dents an unprecedented number, Long said. The agency is bracing for a win ter with potentially greater numbers.

See Heating, A17

In Brief

Bible School

Wellspring Church, 222 Lincoln St., Kensington, will host Vacation Bible School for children age 4 to 12, Dec. 28 and 29, from 9 a.m. to noon. The program is titled “A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Meaning of Christmas,” and will in clude games, crafts and activities. The fee is $10 per child ($20 per family). RSVP by Sunday, Dec. 4. Email VBSChrist mas@wellspring.net. For more information, visit well spring.net.

Whether it is a lost ring, wallet or a Parrot named Oliver, a Classified ad can help track it down.

Virtual meet-up

Chat with other dementia caregivers the third Monday of the month (Dec. 19) from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Facilitated by a Hartford HealthCare Cen ter for Healthy Aging De mentia Specialist. Registra tion required. Call 1-855442-4373 or go to Hartford HealthCare.org/Virtual Classes.

Arbor Rose

Senior Health

Online support

ease, family dynamics and safety issues.

Arbor Rose at Jerome Home, an independent and assisted living community located at 975 Corbin Ave. in New Britain, will host an open house Monday, Dec. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. Registra tion is recommended. Call 860-229-3707.

Do you care for someone di agnosed with dementia? Join this online support group the last Monday of the month (Dec. 26) from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Topics include: communica tion techniques, benefits of activities, stages of the dis

Tree farms

From A5

you’ve found ‘the one,’ be sure to check the needle re tention. Gently pull or run your hand down a branch. It should feel somewhat sup ple in your hand. If brown needles or a few green nee dles come off during this test, no worries. But if quite a few green needles come off, you may want to select a different tree.”

If you’re worried about the brown needles in the interi or of the tree, it’s important to know why this occurs. Ac cording to Dr. Richard Cowles, a scientist at the CT Agricultural Experiment Sta tion, “Conifers usually drop one year of old needles about this time of year. Old needles in the interior be come shaded so much that they don’t provide any value

Facilitated by Michelle Wyman, dementia specialist, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging. Registra tion required. Call 1-855442-4373 or go to Hartford HealthCare.org/Virtual Classes.

to the continued growth of the tree. Just as with broadleaved deciduous trees, our Christmas trees recover as many resources as they can from these old needles be fore they drop.”

The Connecticut Christmas Tree Growers thank you for choosing a real Christmas tree. You are helping to make a difference.

In Brief

Boxes to Boots

Boxes to Boots creates care packages for military personnel serving abroad, and the Berlin-based non-profit is looking for everything from toiletries, to snacks, to books. Snackwise, service members prefer items they can easily carry, like granola bars, small bags of cookies and crackers, and beef jerky. To learn more about Boxes to Boots, visit boxestoboots.org.

Heating

From

Long noted that even in years less impacted by infla tion and soaring heating costs, LIHEAP funding has been insufficient, not just in Connecticut, but nation wide.

“In a typical year, LIHEAP is enough to cover 25% of the people who actually qualify for it. That’s a really low per centage,” Long said. “Opera tion Fuel and other advo cates had pointed out for a long time that this is not suf ficient.

“At the end of the day, I’m hoping the governor and the legislature are able to do whatever helps the most vul nerable residents,” Long said. “ The most important thing is that people have heat this winter.”

Chris Herb, president of the Connecticut Energy Mar keters Association, a statewide oil and gas distrib utors trade group, shares that concern. Herb said the combination of increased costs and insufficient fund ing “is going to put more pressure on customers al ready under economic pres sure to afford those bills.”

Herb said his group has been advocating for Congress to authorize addi tional funding to keep up with the costs of inflation.

“It’s important for Congress to step up and fill this gap that’s going to occur,” Herb said.

The gap will impact the companies that distribute home heating oil. Herb said there are around 600 heating oil dealers across the state and the majority of them are small, family-owned busi nesses.

“This puts a lot of pressure on them,” Herb said. “We’re the ones who are ultimately responsible for making sure the health and safety of resi dents is met.”

In order to continue delivery to your home or business, we need to have each resident or business let us know that, by filling out our on-line requester form at myrecordjournal. com/berlin-requester

Or, you can call us at 203-634-3933 and we can mail you a postage paid postcard to fill out and return. Without the necessary requester information, delivery of your Berlin Citizen to your home or business, will end.

CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

WE’RE HIRING!

RJ Media Group seeks an energetic and experienced Media Advertising Sales Consultant to join our talented team of marketing experts. This position offers a competitive salary plus commission plan, 4+ weeks of paid time off per year, health and welfare benefits, 401(k), free newspaper subscription, and cell phone & mileage reimbursement.

RJ Media Group is an EOE. For details visit rjmediagroup.com/careers or email Jim Mizener, VP of Advertising, at jmizener@record-journal.com

SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS

Needed for Southington/ Meriden/Berlin/Rocky Hill - Must be 21yrs or older and possess a driver’s license for at least 3yrs – Paid training to acquire CDL license and endorsements available –The opportunity to bring your children to work, No Childcare$$ - Contact Sheila at New Britain Transportation (860) 8280511 ext. 221 or visit us at, 257 Woodlawn Rd., Berlin, CT

ANTIQUES - Always buying old; Toys, military, jewelry, art, watches, musical instruments, signs, arcade games, cameras, pre 1970 sports memorabil ia, plus more. One item or entire estate contents. Call 860718-5132.

BUYING ALL - Costume Jewelry, Old Watches, Gold Jewelry, Silver Jewelry, Gold & Silver Coins, Sterling Flat ware, In Any Condition. Please Call Jude M. Dichele @ (203) 8681816.

PREMIER

Must be 18 or older. Must have valid drivers license, reliable vehicle and be available early mornings. Make extra cash before you go to work making early morning newspaper deliveries using your own vehicle. NO experience necessary. Must able to deliver early mornings, 7 days a week. MUST be dependable, and be able to read a route list with specific delivery instructions. We will demonstrate the route to you. Routes average 1.5 to 3 hours daily. No collections required.

Not Temp Work. Retirees, Stay at Home Mom’s, and Veterans are also welcome to apply. Make extra cash to pay rent, mortgage, bills, save money, or a great vacation.

Text or call Peter at 860-846-0216 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and start as soon as tomorrow morning.

MATERIALS DISTRIBUTION

Screened Topsoil $25/ per yd; Sand-$18 per yd; Millings-$22 per yd; Screened Millings $30 per yd; $100 minimum delivery. No pickup truck service. Minimum 16 yd pickup at our yard. Call Jim @ 860-982-4819 for delivery

AARON’S BUYING Old Machinist Tools, Lathes, BenchTools, Hand Tools & more. (203) 525-0608.

GRASSY HILL AUC TIONS, - an Estate Sale, Liquidation, Attic & Basement Cleanout Company is Always Buying and providing services all over Con necticut. These are just a FEW of the things we are looking for: An tiques, Collectibles, Old/ Vintage Toys, Mu sical Instruments (Sax ophones, Trumpets, Vi olins, Flutes, Clarinets, Trombone & SO MUCH MORE) Advertising Items, Wristwatches (Broken or Not), Pocket Watches, Tools (Ma chinist, Woodworking, & MORE) Doorstops, Clocks, Oil Paintings, Old Signs, Old Pho tographs, Old Post cards, Brewery Items, Hunting & Fishing, PEZ Dispensers, Costume Jewelry, Broken Jewel ry, Gold & Silver Jewel ry, Gold & Silver Coins, Military Items, Swords & Bayonets, Helmets & Patches, Medals & Uni forms, Pocket Knives, Lighters & Pipes, Foun tain Pens, Mechanical Pencils, Fraternal Order Items, Religious Items, Industrial Items, Win chester Items, Sikorsky Items, Pratt & Whitney Items, Colt Items, Na tive American Items, Vintage Electronics, Slot Cars, Toy Trucks, Matchbox & Hot wheels, Barbie’s, Folk Art, Statues, Bronzes, Trains, Cameras, Mid Century Modern Fur niture, Straight Razors, Shaving Items, Political Items, Comic Books, Sports Cards & Auto

TIMELESS TREASURES ESTATE AUCTIONSIs looking to purchase estate contents. From single items to entire estates. Clean-out ser vices available. Call Bill (203) 494-2496.

TABLE TOP MEAT GRINDER - Excellent condition. $35 obo. (203) 237-1554.

TOP CASH PAID For any Toyota any condition, running or not, crashed okay. Will take other makes and models. (203) 600-4431.

TREE LENGTH FIREWOOD CALL FOR DETAILS 203-238-2149

GARY WODATCH

Demolition Svs Sheds, pools, decks, garages, debris removal. Quick, courteous svc. All calls returned. Ins. #566326. Cell, 860-558-5430

CARPENTRY

Repairs, Decks & Porches, Sheetrock & Taping Water Damage Repairs. Free Est. Ins. MC & Visa. Call Bill (203) 901-2136. CT. Reg. # 0647093

GUTTERS PLUS 25+yrs. Exp. Call today for Free estimate. 203-440-3535 Ct. Reg. #578887

Specializing in roofing, siding, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, basement remodeling. Senior citizen discount Insured. Free est. 203-265-5200 HIC#0631937

CLEAN & REMOVE

Furniture, applianc es, entire contents of: homes, sheds, estates, attics, basements, garages & more.

*FALL YARD Clean-ups* FREE ESTIMATES. LIC & INS. DUMPSTER RENTALS 203-535-9817

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!

TEC ELECTRICAL

Service LLC All Phases of Electrical Work. 24 hr. Emergency Service. Small Jobs Welcome. 203.237.2122

GUTTERS DON’T WORK

If they’re dirty! For gutter cleaning, Call Kevin (203) 440-3279 Fully ins. CT# 569127

RT RELOCATION

Your moving and storage specialists. Call for a free estimate. 833-668-3978.

Specializing in tree removal, trimming, chipping & grinding. Call for free estimate. 203-945-1808.

A & A LAWN CARE

Free est. Fall clean-ups, tree, brush & debris removal. 203.237.6638 or 203.427.3039.

FREE ESTIMATES Sr. Citizen Discount LIC & INS. DUMPSTER RENTALS 203-535-9817

JT’S

LANDSCAPING LLC - FALL CleanUps, Call today, for free quote. 203-2136528. Lic. #616311.

POWER WASHING Is Spring Cleaning on THE OUTSIDE FREE Estimates #569127 Call Kevin 203-440-3279

WODATCHHedge & tree trimming.

Trim overgrown prop erties. Calls returned. #620397. 860.558.5430

ALEX MASONRY - 30 yrs. exp. Patios, Ret. Walls, Steps, Brick, Stone, Chimneys. #580443. 203-232-0257 or 203596-0652

facebook.com/

Insurance claim.storm damage.roofing.siding. gutter.chimney flashing. Office:203.754.3071 Cell:203.510.3830 Stormshieldct@gmail. com HIC.0664452

PATIOS, WALKWAYS, Stonewalls, Steps, Concrete, Repairs, Etc. Free Ests. #0648556 203.808.6886 arnoldsmasonry.com

Roof Repair or Replacement, Chimney Repair, Skylight Replacement. Free est. CT #0651199 (860) 877-3006

GARY WODATCH -

GARY