The Berlin Citizen

www.berlincitizen.com

The sweet taste of giving back

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Districts frustrated, supportive of reading program

By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff

By Monica Salazar Special to The Citizen

With fewer than half of third-graders statewide proficient readers, state leaders are implementing new curriculum requirements for school districts. But those changes, mandated in a 2021 Right to Read bill, aren’t universally popular with local school leaders.

What began as a modest lemonade stand in 2021 has evolved into a year-round fundraising endeavor for a family dedicated to supporting cerebral palsy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) causes.

This month, the state Department of Education announced which districts would be granted waivers, allowing local school systems to continue with their current curriculum. Those without waivers can make changes to bring reading instruction in line with the science of reading methods or adopt reading curricula approved by the state.

While vacationing in Maine, 13-year-old Ava Cleland expressed to her family a desire to give back to children facing challenges similar to her own. Diagnosed with ataxic cerebral palsy at the age of six, Ava and her family became accustomed to a busy routine of physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and numerous doctor appointments.

Ava Cleland, who began a lemonade stand fundraiser in 2021, has received numerous recognition for her efforts, including from Berlin Mayor Mark Submitted photo See Lemonade, A8 Kacynski and State Rep. Donna Veach.

Meriden, Wallingford, Southington and Cheshire all applied for waivers earlier this year. Only Wallingford received one, affirming its current approach.

See Reading, A6

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Volume 25, Number 52

A2 Thursday, December 28, 2023

The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com

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FINANCE 101

A guide to state and federal BOSCO PAINTING unclaimed cash and property “Exteriors are my specialty, and interiors my masterpiece!”

Every year across the United States, billions of dollars go unclaimed. These assets are held by state and federal Treasuries until their rightful owners are found.

Anyone who has lived or worked in the United States can check these financial repositories to see if any dollars are owed to them or a family member.

Here’s an overview:

Sometimes owners can’t be tracked down. A change in residence, marital status, or employment can result in

Businesses are required by law to make reasonable efforts to reunite owners with their assets.

Periodic searches, especially following a life event change such as a move, change of employment, or name change, can reveal unclaimed assets.

Uncollected cash and property must be turned over to the government following the legal “dormancy” period.

Unclaimed assets often sit unclaimed in government coffers because the owners are not aware of their existence.

Online databases make it easy to search for unclaimed assets.

Anyone can find out if they have unclaimed cash or property owed to them or a family member. They can do so by searching the free online databases operated by the states in which they have lived, worked, invested, or conducted business.

The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) maintains a list of unclaimed property websites for all 50 states at www.unclaimed.org.

The federal government also provides a list of databases

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Among the student-athletes

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Local student-athlete competes on Eastern track and field team Eastern Connecticut State University’s men’s and women’s track and field teams recently began their winter 2023-24 seasons. The men’s roster consists of 37 student-athletes, while the women’s roster consists of 25 student-athletes.

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The claims process starts online. Claimants will be asked to substantiate their right to the property. This process often requires uploading or mailing documentation that proves ownership.

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Unclaimed assets arise from a wide range of sources. Unclaimed cash can come from a variety of incomplete financial transactions, including abandoned bank accounts, uncashed checks from previous employers, investment dividends, utility overpayments, insurance company payouts, and uncollected security deposits.

Estate settlements and safety deposit boxes also can yield unclaimed property.

of unclaimed money at www.usa.gov/unclaimedmoney.

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By Jeff Jolly

undelivered mail, which in turn can lead to unredeemed payments.

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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

The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com

Thursday, December 28, 2023

A3

In Brief

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Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords seek tenors and basses The Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords, under the direction of Samuel Tucker and accompanied by a 10-piece orchestra directed by Alan Dougherty, is looking for a few good men/women to enhance their growing tenor

Rehearsals begin Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 6:45 -9 p.m., St. Francis Church, Msgr. Fox Parish Hall, 10 Elm St., Middletown,CT for our upcoming spring concert on Saturday, May 4, at Portland High School. New members will be accepted through Feb. 4.

This community-oriented group has been entertaining audiences for 34 years with lively concerts showcasing a variety of musical interests.

These include the top hits of yesterday, today and tomorrow, plus some classical and patriotic pieces to help promote our mission to lift spir-

its, relieve stress and heal souls through music. Currently, our 90 members hail from all parts of Connecticut and all different walks of life.

It’s the love of singing that brings us all together. You do not need to be affiliated with Middlesex Health in order to join.

Proceeds from the concerts and our annual patron drive are given back to the community in the form of scholarships given to Middlesex County seniors planning on majoring in nursing or music. To date, the Vocal

Chords have awarded $82,500 to area students thanks to our loyal followers and members.

If you’ve been thinking about doing something this year to enhance your life, make new friends and reduce your stress levels, please consider joining our musical family.

For more information, visit us on the web at vocalchords20.org or call 860-3423120. Also, check us out on YouTube and Facebook.

We’re looking forward to meeting you!

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Notice is hereby given that there will be a caucus of all enrolled Republicans electors of the Town of Berlin, on Jan. 11, 2024, at 6 p.m., at The American Legion, 154 Porters Pass, Berlin, CT, to endorse candidates for the Republican Town Committee.

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A4 Thursday, December 28, 2023

The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com

HFSC hosts reception dent and CEO. “We are so proud of our progress over the past couple of years with new visionary leaders and advances to care, all thanks to the generous support of our community.”

Attendees celebrated an evening of good cheer and met new Hospital for Special Care leaders and providers,

and were inspired by patients using art and community programs as part of their therapeutic journeys.

Over the past couple of years HFSC has welcomed new leaders and providers to our team to continue to advance clinical care. These new faces included: n Marc Brunetti, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer n Kelly Mazza, MA, SHRM,

HFSC welcomed supporters and community partners back in early November during a special event.

Vice President, Human Resources

Photo courtesy of Hospital for Special Care n Adrian Chan, MD, Co-Di-

rector, Center for Cognitive Health, Neuromuscular Neurologist n Anthony Rinaldi, Psy.D,

ABPP-CN, Co-Director, Center for Cognitive Health, Neuropsychologist n Abir Rahman, DO, FABPMR, Neuromuscular Physiatrist

n Freddie Dayao, MSN,

APRN, FNP-BC, MPA, APRN The event also featured a Parkinson’s Art Exhibit with two local artists, Jeffery Buell and Joani Olsen Kenney. Jeff, HFSC ambassador and founder of the Neuroscience Innovation Fund, has found painting, specifically, complex paint-by-number projects, to provide a functional

and beautiful strategy to adapt to his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Joani, regular attendee of HFSC’s LOUD Crowd® Parkinson’s program, has had a professional career in art education and business. She featured her unique creation of dragonlike creatures to stimulate the imagination of children of all ages and backgrounds.

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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com

Thursday, December 28, 2023

A5

Acting sessions for teens are available this winter Oddfellows Playhouse Teen Repertory Company invites young people ages 14 to 20 to Winter Training, featuring two six-week acting classes designed to hone your skills — voice, body, emotion and imagination — in preparation for the Teen Rep Spring production.

Tuition is $120 for either six

week class, or $200 if you enroll in both classes. Financial Aid and Work-Study options are available. No one is turned away for lack of funds.

Auditions for the spring production, which will run May 16 - 25, will be held March 4 and 7. Register for Winter Classes at oddfellows.org.

For more information, go to oddfellows.org, call (860) 347-6143 or email info@ oddfellows.org.

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For example, the sale of a house and other liquid assets leaves $15,000 to each heir. One bids $1000 in an auction for an item and reduces their inheritance to $14,000, with the $1,000 divided among the rest of the heirs.

Or each heir is assigned "points" that can be used to "purchase" items from the estate. One may use 100 points for a couch, while another uses 50 for a set of dishes.

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Even if an estate is left equally to all the children, fights can break out over who gets what.

Fortunately, there are some ideas that can help maintain harmony among heirs, even when there are no provisions for a specific item.

For items like jewelry or antiques an appraiser can set the value. There will be an agreement that a minimum bid must equal at least three-quarters of the appraised value, for example.

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n Voice, Text and Shakespeare with Sarah Jo Provost will be offered on Mondays, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., starting Jan. 8. In this class, students will learn how to warm up their voices to utilize the full range of sound and expression. Using what they learned about their voices and bodies, students will delve into scenes and monologues from Shakespeare’s canon, exploring how the text can inform and inspire their acting choices. Sarah Jo is a member of Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild. She has many acting credits in New York and Los Angeles, and has appeared on the long-running TV series Law and Order. She is currently pursuing her MA in Voice Pedagogy. Classes will be held every Monday evening Jan. 8 through Feb. 12.

fundamentals of character creation, story escalation, environment, and pantomime through both short and long form performance.

Carmine is a long-time Oddfellows teaching artist who encourages creative risk-taking and maintains a positive, fun environment for his students. Classes will be held Thursdays from Jan. 11 through Feb. 15.

One of the easiest ways to do it is to ask everyone ahead of time what they want and write it down.

This exercise can be especially helpful, as parents may be surprised at what their grown children really want. The ultimate goal is to not make the death of a loved one the excuse for family fights. An experienced Estate Planning attorney can help you work through these decisions.

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A6 Thursday, December 28, 2023

From A1

Berlin and North Haven districts also applied but were denied a waiver, while the Plainville School District was considered “transitional,” which means the district must “add and substitute specific programmatic or curriculum components” to be approved.

Local school leaders had mixed reactions to the waiver request results.

‘Science of reading’ According to the state education department, 54.5% or about 19,500 third grade students weren’t proficient in English language arts in the 2022-23 school year. About 3,000 are Black, about 8,000 are Hispanic or Latino, and about 6,600 are white.

Right to Read legislation requires school districts to implement an evidence-based scientifically proven reading curriculum beginning in the upcoming school year.

“The science of reading highlights the importance of teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and language comprehension,” said Melissa Hickey, director of the state education department’s Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success. “When instruction is aligned to science, this opens the door to a boundless future for students, unlocking multiple pathways, deepening knowledge, and enhancing critical thinking.”

Districts could apply for a waiver earlier this year and show that the existing reading programs met the crite-

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ria of the legislation or were a “robust alternative.”

Withdrawn waiver Meriden initially submitted a waiver but later withdrew it.

The city’s schools are close to choosing one of the staterecommended reading programs and got more than $400,000 to make the switch from the existing curriculum.

new approach is promising.

“I think it’s going to make a difference,” he said.

Just over 40% of Meriden third-graders are proficient in English language arts.

“It was a lot of checking the pictures, less about breaking Earlier this year, the state eddown words,” he said. “This ucation department anis much more, in terms of nounced $20 million in focusing on those skills, American Rescue Plan Act sounds, letters words, writ(ARPA) funding to help ing and grammar … It’s a lot towns and cities implement “I don’t have confidence that more explicit phonics innew reading programs. this is going to improve stustruction.” dent performance. In fact Dan Crispino, director of Adopting Amplify Education I’m concerned this is going school leadership for the eleInc.’s Core Knowledge Lanto derail our student performentary schools, said the guage Arts, one of the state- mance,” Solan said. “If these city has already been workapproved programs, still reprograms were a magic buling to align curriculum with quires approval by the Meri- let to reading, we’d be using the new approach.

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3560 .While CIH proficiency data was used to prompt the Right to Read legislation, Solan said he was frustrated that data isn’t considered when determining which districts need to adopt a new approach.

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State officials rejected Cheshire’s request for a waiver, a result that frustrated School Superintendent Jeff Solan. He’s unconvinced that the approach taken by the seven approved curriculum programs would help Cheshire students. Threefourths of Cheshire thirdgraders are proficient in English language arts.

Crispino said reading instruction has changed over the years.

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Improving proficiency for Black and brown students is a goal of the Right to Read legislation, Solan said. By that measure Cheshire was showing success using a curriculum it has created.

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“Last year in third grade, we had the highest achievement Hispanic and Latino population in Connecticut,” he said.

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.

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Reading

The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com

There is some funding available if Cheshire decides to pick one of the seven approved programs. Solan hoped legislators could change how the law is implemented.

See Reading, A7

The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com

Board of Education chairwoman, said the school district has reviewed “off-theshelf ” reading curriculum options over the years but found the one developed by local educators better met the needs of students.

From A6

“If we want (the state’s) assistance in how to meet the waiver requirements, we can set up a meeting and I will be pursuing that,” he said.

“The other option is legislative reconsideration.”

“This waiver confirms independent reviewers (who) concluded that our curriculum is outstanding and aligns with the science of reading, including components necessary for student success,” Raccio said.

Denied a waiver Southington too was denied a waiver, although that didn’t bother School Superintendent Steven Madancy.

Library Scavenger Hunt back The Berlin-Peck Memorial Library’s Children’s/ Teen Departments are excited to announce the return of our community-wide scavenger hunt, this time with a frosty twist! It runs from Dec. 27, 2023, to Jan. 27, 2024, and people of all ages are invited to participate!

It’s a great way to foster both community spirit and literacy and is a fun activity for the whole family.

She said Wallingford’s cur“We would not have submit- riculum meets the requirements of the Right to Read ted a waiver if the state had legislation without modificaprovided better guidance How it works tion. and options for approved Berlin businesses, the curriculum/programs,” Berlin-Peck Memorial LiMadancy wrote in an email Tuesday. “That did not exist CT Lic. # 180640 at our time of submission back in February. Better options and guidance are now“Quality “Quality Service You Service Can You Count Can On” Count On” in place.”

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Of Southington’s third grade students, 64.2% are proficient in English language arts.

Find and log at least 15 book cover titles and return the log to the library by Jan. 27, 2024, to be entered into a drawing for gift baskets with

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Books featured on the posters will be on display and available for checkout at the library. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call the Children’s Department at (860) 828-7127.

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Affirming a curriculum The one town in the area granted a waiver was Wallingford. That town’s third graders scored a bit below the state average at 48.7% proficient in reading.

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In the eight months it took for the state to decide on the waiver, Madancy said the district’s programs are “now better aligned with the science of reading.”

A7

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Reading

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A8 Thursday, December 28, 2023

The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com

Fun ways to spend the first day of the new year New Year’s Day marks the unofficial culmination of the holiday season, which some feel begins months earlier with Halloween. Retailers have had all sorts of party and decorative goods filling shelves throughout the holiday season, and much emphasis has been placed on celebrating with friends and family.

The revelry that comes on New Year’s Eve is hard to match, particularly for those who attend lavish parties or venture to city centers to ring in the new year with others.

While Jan. 1 may be a bit more quiet, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy this first day of the year.

Lemonade From A1

Although she faced unique obstacles in her childhood, Ava remained undeterred.

“Her positivity comes through her, and you can’t help but feel it when you’re around her. She’s just so happy all the time,” says Christine Cleland, Ava’s mother.

Lisa DeSeno, Ava’s aunt, was there when Ava mentioned wanting to help raise funds for other kids with cerebral palsy. Inspired by her niece, DeSeno had the idea of holding a lemonade stand outside her home during the Berlin Fair, an event frequently attended by locals.

Living near the fairgrounds, DeSeno saw an opportunity to turn a surge of foot traffic into a charitable venture.

Utilizing her artistic talents, DeSeno transformed an old changing table into a vibrant lemonade stand, adorned with the words, “Ava’s Lemonade!” hand-painted on top. The first fundraiser in 2021 raised approximately $1,000 for the Connecticut Children’s Hospital, where

Ava received treatment.

me,” says Cleland.

Taken aback by people’s generosity, Christine Cleland recounts that she was “overwhelmed with people coming out and just giving (Ava) money. Some people didn’t even want lemonade; they just wanted to help.”

ALS United Connecticut noticed Ava’s Lemonade and invited Ava to bring her stand to other ALS events in Connecticut. Now equipped with some wheels on her lemonade stand, Ava and her family raised funds at the Westport Walk to Defeat ALS.

Building on the success, Ava and her family returned to the Berlin Fair in 2022, doubling their earnings. The momentum from the previous year garnered widespread recognition, with many eager to support Ava’s lemonade stand.

However, this year presented unforeseen challenges. Ava’s father was diagnosed with ALS and passed away in September. Despite the family’s loss, Ava was determined not only to continue the lemonade stand for a third year but also to expand her charitable efforts to support ALS research.

Motivated by her father’s memory, Ava pressed forward.

“I think that’s really what’s pushing Ava forward. She’s like, ‘I’m doing this for my dad now, and he’s helping

Plan a hiking excursion There’s a good chance you have not been out hiking for awhile, with your most recent venture having been a leaf-peeping trip. Enjoy the natural scenery during an entirely different season, with much lighter crowds at parks and on trails. If you’ve resolved to exercise more this year, hiking is a great start.

Host a relaxing brunch With all the merrymaking the evening before, most people may need a little time to recuperate before heading out. Brunch is a great way to get people fed and help them

shake off fatigue from a late night of partying. With a focus on conversation and food, rather than dancing and drinking, this can be an intimate way to set the tone for the new year.

Queue up the movies The hustle and bustle of the holidays can be exciting yet exhausting. Take an opportunity on January 1 to slow down for perhaps the first time in at least two months.

Ask household members to choose their favorite films, then spend the day binge watching movies. Eat leftovers or order in so no one needs to leave the comfort of See Activities, A12

Her dedication caught the attention of Channel 8 news anchor Sarah Cody, who featured Ava in a news story.

Recognition continued to pour in, with Connecticut Representative Donna Veach and Berlin Mayor Mark Kacynski honoring Ava for her outstanding fundraising efforts.

To date, Ava has raised nearly $7,000 for Connecticut Children’s Hospital and ALS. Additionally, her family is collaborating with the Town of Berlin to establish an annual 5k run in honor of Ava’s father.

Looking ahead, Ava’s mother envisions a bright future: “(Ava) is going to be doing all of the walks for ALS next year, and hopefully, we’ll continue the Berlin Fair. The Ava Cleland is honored by Berlin Mayor Mark Kacynski. sky’s the limit for her.”

Submitted photo

The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com

Thursday, December 28, 2023

A9

Tips to rebound after a fun New Year’s Eve New Year's Eve is a popular night to go out on the town.

It's customary to usher in a new year with friends and family members, and such gatherings tend to run late as celebrants anxiously await the stroke of midnight.

The later a New Year's Eve celebration goes, the more likely revelers may have to battle a little fatigue on the first of January. With that in mind, celebrants can consider these ways to rebound after a fun New Year's Eve.

•Engage in some light exercise. Various sources advise against sweating out a hangover, an approach that typically calls for individuals to engage in high-intensity, potentially lengthy exercise.

Such exercise can exacerbate feelings of dehydration. A low-intensity workout can help, however. Such workouts, which may include light jogging, can still release endorphins, which an help to improve mood and increase oxygen flow to the brain.

•Take a nap. Alcohol consumption adversely affects sleep quality. According to the Sleep Foundation, though alcohol can have a sedative-like quality that induces sleepiness, excessive alcohol consumption has See Rebound, A12

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•Make a concerted effort to rehydrate. Though it may be best to avoid or limit alcohol consumption, many people throw such caution to the wind on New Year's Eve. If you went a little overboard in your New Year's Eve revelry, make a concerted and consistent effort to rehydrate upon waking up on January 1. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that mild dehydration is one of the contributing factors to a hangover. The NIAAA notes that alcohol suppresses the release of a hormone called vasopressin, which sends signals to the kidneys causing them to retain fluid.

When a person is drinking alcohol, they tend to urinate frequently and, as a result, experience an excess loss of fluids. Rehydrating the following day can help the body begin to heal.

Though the NIAAA notes that this can provide temporary hangover relief, it also may prolong the hangover, the symptoms of which will return once the "hair of the dog" wears off.

A10 Thursday, December 28, 2023

The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com

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TO THE CUSTOMERS OF THE WORTHINGTON FIRE DISTRICT, BERLIN, CT: Water/Sewer bills have been mailed to all residents of the Worthington Fire District. All persons liable to pay Water/Sewer Fees in to the Worthington Fire District of the Town of Berlin, CT, are hereby notified that payments for the JANUARY 2024 Water/Sewer Billing Cycle are due and payable in full on or before February 1, 2024. SAID CHARGES SHALL BECOME DELINQUENT IF NOT PAID/POSTMARKED ON OR BEFORE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2024.

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The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com

Thursday, December 28, 2023

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A12 Thursday, December 28, 2023

From A8

the sofa.

Adopt a new pet Many charitable animal groups advise against giving pets as holiday gifts because the idea may be spontaneous and pets require a lot of care.

For those who have been thinking of welcoming a pet into the family, this may be a good time to visit an animal shelter (if any are open) or peruse online adoption postings. The slow pace of the post-holiday months might be the ideal time to help an animal get acclimated to a new home.

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Volunteer time at a local nonprofit group that delivers meals to homebound locals or one that visits nursing home residents. Start spreading New Year’s cheer early on.

New Year’s Day is a good time to spend quality time and have fun with loved ones.

Rebound From A9

been linked to poor sleep quality and duration. In essence, the sleepiness associated with overconsump-

tion of alcohol can quickly wear off, interrupting sleep overnight. A New Year's Day nap can have a restorative effect.

It's unwise but not uncommon to overdo it when cele-

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It may seem like the average person has exhausted all of his or her shopping energy by this time, but post-Christmas sales are great ways to stock up on holiday decor for next year at reduced prices.

If stores are open on New Year’s Day, shop around for ornaments, lawn figures, lights, and more at steep discounts. Then spend the rest of the day sorting and organizing holiday items and discarding those that have seen better days.

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Activities

The Berlin Citizen | theberlincitizen.com

RileyPlumbingCompany.com

LIC# 0203782

Welcome to On The Menu.

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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ATTENTION:

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