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PUTNAM VILLAGER Vol. X, No. 24 Complimentary Friday, March 11, 2016 (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] Respect for Lawmakers respond to more cuts to Day Kimball ANNOUNCEMENT CALLED a legend ‘VERY REAL THREAT’ TO HEALTH As a New Englander born and bred, and a fan AND LIVELIHOOD OF REGION of pretty much all major sports, it’s pretty much BY JASON BLEAU hardwired into me to be a fan of all things New NEWS STAFF WRITER England sports. Granted, as a child, I admit I was an Atlanta Braves and Orlando Magic fan, but I State lawmakers are expressing frustration with learned my lesson. Let’s just skip over that sad Gov. Dannel Malloy after it was announced on March part of my life. 2 that hospitals should not expect to receive additional, THE But being raised supplemental, scheduled payment to hospitals in the in this part of the File photo current fiscal year. MINOR country, you are The announcement attributed financial constraints pretty much taught Questions recently rose again last week surrounding funding to the cuts which mean that hospitals throughout the DETAILS to root against all for Day Kimball Healthcare, as it was announced by Gov. Dannel Malloy on March 2 that hospitals would not be receiv- teams New York — Turn To CUTS page A13 ADAM the Yankees, Jets, ing any additional payments this fiscal year. MINOR Knicks, etc., as well as Los Angeles. All these teams are the evil yang to our New England yin, the Darth Vader Living veterans to our Luke Skywalker. Boo the bad guys, right? Throughout my life, there have been a ton of leg- ends that it has been an absolute pleasure to root against — Yankees legends like Derek Jeter, Andy plaque proposed Pettite and Mariano Rivera, polarizing figures like BY JASON BLEAU in the Thompson Town Hall. Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens, Johnny Damon NEWS STAFF WRITER and Jason Giambi. The Evil Empire, especially in With a projected cost of around the early 2000’s, made for some great drama as the THOMPSON — In mid-2015, $7,000, the plaque would include Red Sox scratched and clawed for their first title one of Thompson’s most active engraved nameplates acknowl- in 86 years. Three more titles later, the team is in veterans, Korean War veteran edging the rank, branch and war the basement, so the rivalries don’t exactly have Norm Babbitt, started an initia- that the soldier served in dat- the luster they used to have as recently as five tive geared towards recognizing ing as far back as World War II. years ago. and acknowledging the living vet- Babbitt said that with the nigh In basketball, at least a few years ago, it was the erans in the town of Thompson. price tag he would like to see the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kobe Bryant in partic- Now in 2016, Babbitt is dou- community embrace his project ular, as well as Lebron James and the Cleveland bling down on his efforts to make and it putting out a call to busi- Charlie Lentz photo Cavaliers (and Miami Heat). They each made this project a reality be reach- nesses throughout the town to great villains for our championship Celtics teams. Kasey Fillmore and her mother, Robin Deary ing out for donations from the help make it happen. Fillmore. Again…not so much today… community art large to erect a “I’m going to be seeking dona- These guys were all legends, no doubt about it, “Living Veterans Memorial” tions. There are 120 businesses but I don’t think I’ll ever witness again a rival for plaque in the Norman Babbitt New England quite like Peyton Manning. Veterans’ Conference Room Turn To PLAQUE, page A13 Role reversal For nearly the past 20 years, Manning has been a consistent force, and as he announced his retire- ment last week after 18 seasons in the NFL, I began FILLMORE CONTINUES to think of all the moments he was a part of in his rivalry with the New England Patriots. Whether FAMILY TRADITION OF he was with the Indianapolis Colts or the Denver SUCCESS AT WA Broncos, it seemed like the Patriots had to face him each and every year. With a fellow first-ballot Hall of Famer in Tom Brady fighting for the good BY CHARLIE LENTZ guys, it was like seeing two heavyweight fighters VILLAGER STAFF WRITER face off for the title each and every year. NEW MILFORD — Who wouldn’t feel In the end, Manning set every conceivable quar- the pressure succeeding a legendary gym- terback record in existence and may go down nastics coach whose most recent accom- as one of the best to ever do it. In many ways, plishments included leading Woodstock he redefined what it meant to be a QB. Brady’s Academy to five straight Class S or Class career (which hopefully still has some more years M state titles, four consecutive State Open left in the tank) paralleled Manning’s in a lot of championships, and two out of the last ways, with MVPs, record-breaking seasons (not four New England crowns? Perhaps the to mention twice as many Super Bowls — four only person who could thrive inside the to Manning’s two) and superstardom in other pressure cooker established by coach realms. Robin Deary Fillmore is her daughter, Charlie Lentz photo As much as I found myself rooting for Brady and Kasey Fillmore — a champion gymnast in the Patriots, I found myself rooting against the her own right. Colts (and Broncos)…just because Manning was BEST IN STATE Kasey took over as Woodstock on the team. But I have to admit, Manning’s legacy Academy’s gymnastics coach this season is a great one. There is no denying the numbers, NEW MILFORD — Woodstock Academy’s gymnasts celebrate and has continued the excellence achieved and they tell you that in nearly every category that with their championship plaque at New Milford High School last during her mother’s 28-year tenure. matters, he is one of, if not the best, quarterback to Saturday, March 5, after winning the CIAC State Open Gymnastics Under Kasey’s leadership last Saturday, ever play the game. He may have been one of “the March 5, the Centaurs captured their bad guys,” but it sure was fun to watch him play. Championships. From left, coach Kasey Fillmore, Abby Vaida, Lydia Taft, Meg Corey, Grace Logan, Ali Crescimanno, Paige Stuyniski, “I’ll miss playing in front of so many great fans Turn To FILLMORE, page A1 both at home and on the road. I’ll even miss the Maddie Grube, and Jourdan Fulchino. Patriots fans in Foxborough, and they should miss me because they sure did get a lot of wins off of me,” Manning said in his retirement speech last week. It’s a hard knock We sure did, and you got plenty from us too, some of which still sting to think about, including this most recent year. But as many times as I root- life at WMS ed against Manning, I always respected the skills. We will continue to root for our teams, and ‘ANNIE JR.’ COMING find new rivalries, people to cheer and more “bad guys” to boo. Our kids will grow up with a whole TO HYDE STAGE new set of sports legends to cheer on. BY JASON BLEAU I’m glad I was able to see Peyton Manning’s NEWS STAFF WRITER career unfold before my eyes, because I don’t think we will ever see anyone like him again. I’ll miss WOODSTOCK — Woodstock Middle School will rooting against him. It was a legendary, Hall of soon bring a classic to the stage at Hyde School with Fame career, and I’m thankful for the memories. their production of “Annie Jr.” set to kick off next Jason Bleau photo Friday. Ms. Hannigan and her orphans pose for a photo with Annie, all Adam Minor may be reached at (508) 909-4130, or portrayed by students of Woodstock Middle School who will put on a presentation of “Annie Jr.” on March 18 and 19 at the Hyde by e-mail at [email protected]. Turn To ANNIE JR., page A11 Cultural Center. A2 • Friday, March 11, 2016 VILLAGER NEWSPAPERS The story of the Tourtellottes On Feb. 27, I was among the members of neighbor- Arnold Tourtellotte was born Knight, when they were discuss- ing historical societies who had the pleasure of attend- Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 1837, ing the disparity in educational ing the membership meeting of The Last Green Valley in Thompson. Her father, William opportunities for the children at the original Tourtellotte Memorial High School in S. Arnold, “was a wealthy cotton KILLIngLY of Thompson’s millworkers and Thompson. manufacturer and honored citizen those of the wealthier citizens, “an In addition to a talk on the restoration process, of Connecticut.” He was apparently at 300 inspiration suddenly came over we were able to see the “open by appointment only” an ardent abolitionist and a “liber- me. I knew what I was going to Tourtellotte Room. What a treat! This miniature al contributor to the anti-slavery do! Mrs. Knight looked at me puz- museum was filled with high-quality art and family propaganda.” (Minnesota. Its Story MARGARET zled and asked, ‘Mrs. Tourtellotte, treasures. Numerous paintings, statuary, small pieces and Biography, Vo. 3, p. 346-347) WEAVER are you alright?’ I looked at her of furniture, etc. boggled the mind and the eye. It was Her husband, Dr. Jacob Francis smiling and said, ‘You know the astounding that “the Quiet Corner” should have such Tourtellotte (Frank) was also born law compels children to attend a hidden jewel.