Thursday, December 12, 2019
www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 22, Number 42
Quilters create comforting items for ailing kids By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Children being treated for long-term illnesses can find some comfort in special Christmas presents from local residents, who spent months sewing quilts and pillowcases for them.
Brightly colored and designed with their own unique pattern, the quilts and pillowcases were created by a sewing club at Sage Pond Place led by Sue Vogt, who started the club at the senior living complex in Berlin.
HOLIDAY CONTEST
Which is the best decorated business? By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Prizes will be awarded to the top five businesses.
Voting is underway to select the best decorated business in Berlin this holiday season.
The grand prize winner will be selected by a panel composed of Mayor Mark Kaczynski, Planning & Zoning Commission Chairperson Joan Veley and Economic Development Commission Chairperson Dave Cyr.
“It is something were definitely excited about and hoping we get a lot of folks involved,” Economic Development Director Chris Edge said. Residents can vote in the Light Up Berlin contest, launched by the Economic Development Commission, via an online survey through Wednesday, Dec. 25.
“We are excited to have a competition that will allow our businesses to show both their Berlin and holiday spirit this year,” Kaczynski said in a press release from the town. See Contest, A12
Club members plan to bring the approximately 25 quilts and accompanying pillowcases to the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain on Friday. The group has become a passion for its six members, who meet twice a week to work on their projects, each of which is a collaborative process of sharing ideas and recommending color schemes. "At the beginning I thought we'd do it two hours a week, and it's turned into about 10 hours a week," said Vogt, who felt compelled to create something for the children being treated at the Hospital for Special Care. She was concerned that people looking to spread holiday cheer in various ways may not think of the youngsters there.
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and loving environment for the children.
“It is a remarkably generous and loving gift of care for children who don't get to spend the holidays at home with their families. Their gifts really brighten Also, donating items to the hospital can be a complicat- our pediatric unit,” DeAngeed process. Wendy DeAnge- lo said. “ … It just brings the lo, vice president of develop- community into the program in a really special way.” ment and communications for the hospital, said staff Sewing club member Barwork with donors to ensure bara Hanks said the effort is that gifts won’t be a health great for her group and the hazard for any of their paSage Pond Place community tients. as a whole. Blankets and pillowcases fit the bill. DeAngelo said such See Quilters, A6 items help create a warm
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Sewing club members, from left, Sue Vogt, Grace Lapita, Linda d'Hondt, Barbara Hanks and Lurene Ashlaw show off quilts they created for children at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain. Photos by Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
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