Thursday, August 8, 2019
www.plainvillecitizen.com
Volume 16, Number 27
Forum addresses human trafficking By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
NEWINGTON — Urging motorists to keep their eyes open, a billboard along the Berlin Turnpike warns that human trafficking happens where they live. Natalia Warscawra gets her face painted by Phoebe Gediman at Plainville's 2018 Fun Day. The free event returns Friday. Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
Fun Day returns Friday The Recreation Department’s Fun Day, held at Norton Park, returns Friday with a bazaar of activity booths for kids to enjoy as the summer break nears its end. The dunk tank and pony rides are the event’s most popular attractions, said Camp Coordinator Kelly McCabe, adding that there will also be face painting, spin art, temporary tattoos, button and tissue flower making and sand art.
This is the 14th year of Fun Day, however, its predecessor, the town fair, goes back to 1979. With so many hands-on booths for youngsters to partake in, kids can spend the day making art with their friends and leave with a good haul of creations. While the event attracts many participants from the Recreation Department’s summer camp and is run by camp counselors, it’s free and open to all families. McCabe said Fun Day is a great way for kids to interact
with their friends from camp and school, and is an opportunity to say goodbye to their counselors – and possibly send their lifeguards splashing down into the dunk tank. “The kids are very happy to see all their counselors … it’s one last chance to spend time with the counselors and lifeguards they spent pretty much all of the summer with,” McCabe said. “It’s just a good, family atmosphere.” dleithyessian@ record-journal.com 203-317-2317 Twitter: @leith_yessian
Yvette Young, director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Response Team, a branch of the state Department of Children and Families, said there were 210 cases of children being trafficked or at risk last year. Some of children were as young as 2 years old. “The reality is human trafficking happens in every single part of the state of Connecticut; whether it's a rural community, a sub-
Kurt Siuzdak, FBI Supervisory Special Agent, speaks at a forum on human trafficking last week. Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
urban community, or an urban community," she said. Young was joined at the forum, held at Saint Mary’s Church, by FBI Supervisory Special Agent Kurt Siuzdak, Lynn Campbell, executive director of the Hartford Diocese’s Office of Catholic Social Justice Ministry, and Stephanie Clark, executive director of Amirah New See Trafficking, A6
Plainville’s oldest funeral home with over 130 years of serving the community. Blaire L. Bouchard – Paul G. Belval, Funeral Directors 48 Broad Street Plainville, CT 06062 • 860-747-2295 • Bailey-FuneralHome.com
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By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
The billboard’s giant eyes look over a road that has become known for traffickers operating out of by-the-hour motel rooms. Speakers at a Tuesday, July 30 forum hosted by the Newington Rotary Club said it’s an issue that can be found in the most innocuous places.