www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 25, Number 33
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Schools to offer free breakfast
Locals show off their creative side By Nicole Zappone The Citizen
Beginning back in May, Berlin residents were invited to create works of art as part of a community-wide project called My Hometown. A joint effort between the Town of Berlin and Berlin-Peck Memorial Library, the project aimed to get locals to paint, draw or use mixed media to show – on canvas – what Berlin means to them. More than 300 small, blank canvases were distributed, and artists had until July 15 to bring their vision to life. On Aug. 1, the library hosted a reception where several dozen pieces of locally-made art were shown.
By Rachel Wachman Record-Journal staff
Gov. Ned Lamont and state Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker announced last week that Connecticut will offer free breakfast to all schoolchildren in Connecticut and make lunch free for students who previously qualified for reduced-price lunches. Natalie Cotto holds up her painting of Hubbard Elementary School. Photos by Nicole Zappone
“These tiny art shows are something new that libraries are doing,” Berlin-Peck librarian Carrie Tyszka said. “I’m excited that we could bring it to Berlin.”
For the My Hometown library reception, approximately 50 works were on display. See Art, A8
Suburban Sports celebrates 50 years By Nicole Zappone The Citizen
Like many young people, Keith Nappi graduated from college not knowing what he wanted to do next. He'd studied philosophy and music; subjects that don’t point to a definitive next step. So, Nappi took a company job. But it didn't work out.
Keith Nappi, owner of Suburban Sports in Berlin, is celebrating 50 years in business. Nicole Zappone, The Citizen
With this announcement, Connecticut became the seventh state to institute free school meals, with Massachusetts joining the ranks as number eight on Aug. 10. To make the program possible, Connecticut allocated $16 million from funding the state received under the America Rescue Plan Act. During the pandemic, both breakfast and lunch were free for students in Connecticut thanks to federal funding, but this ended when the pandemic program expired. “There is no curriculum brilliant enough to compensate for a hungry stomach or a distracted mind,” Russell-Tucker said at a press conference. “Our students’ physical, mental, social and emotional health and wellness are foundational to learning. Therefore, providing healthy
See Sports, A7
See Schools, A2
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