Students Shed Tears to Spare Teachers; Union Lock Out’s Over; WWII Vet Gets Diploma; Talking to Kids About bin Laden’s Death

BRANFORD – Students pleaded to Board of Education (BOE) and RTM members this week to spare their favorite teachers from the axe.

BOE members are faced with trimming back their spending request as the town seeks to limit its spending. Approximately 16 teaching positions are expected to be cut. While the decision about which positions will be affected has not been made public, it is generally known that physical education and music teachers’ jobs are at risk.

Check out the story to hear what students and town officials had to say.

ORANGE – After a seven-week standoff, union workers at Dichello Distributors were back on the job Monday.

Workers were locked out in early March after contract negotiations between management and Teamster Union Local 443 fell apart. Since then, workers spent every day picketed outside the Marsh Hill Road liquor distributor.

As this story and video show, workers are happy to be back at work.

CHESHIRE – It was more than 65 years in the making.

World War II veteran Edward Barzda can now add a high school diploma to his lifetime of achievements, which includes two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star.

The 87-year-old was awarded an honorary high school diploma this week during a special ceremony.

Check out the story for more details on Barzda’s life, as well as that of another World War II vet who received a diploma posthumously.

NORTH BRANFORD – Osama bin Laden’s death was welcome news to most Americans this week. Yet the death of the world’s most wanted man and the 9/11 mastermind also caused a bit of unease as concerns abound about a retaliatory attack. It also presents a unique challenge to parents, who must decide how to talk about this important news with their children.

Check out this story that dives into the issue.