A Treasure in Woodstock, CT WOODSTOCK WATERFRONT on KEACH POND
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Mailed free to requesting homes in Thompson Vol. IV, No. 38 Complimentary to homes by request (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] A good indignation makes an excellent speech.’ FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2009 Tourtellotte ordinance meeting set Rell WILL BE HELD JUNE 10 BY MATT SANDERSON Education, town counsel, the town historian and First Selectman Larry Groh has reiterated the presents VILLAGER STAFF WRITER various members of the public present at their importance of the fund to benefit the town of THOMPSON — The town meeting for residents meetings, where discussion has taken place on Thompson in the present day, but has also had to to vote on a proposed ordinance on the future the need to move the principal interest of the take into account that the proponents of the orig- oversight and management of the $2.5 million now-expired will in the Tourtellotte Trust. inal trust have stressed that the underlying inten- revised Tourtellotte Trust has been set for 7 p.m. The drafted ordinance, which has had careful tion of the new trust shall still be a permanent Wednesday, June 10, at the library and communi- scrutiny from the parties involved, contains nine fund created to honor the wishes of the original ty center. terms and conditions surrounding the town’s donors, the Tourtellottes. The lingering inten- The vote for the town meeting was passed in a acceptance of the funds from the Jacob F. tion, stressed by mostly members of the public 2-1 vote by the Board of Selectmen at their regu- Tourtellotte Trust. Essentially, the ordinance and the alumni association, are to spend the budget lar meeting, Tuesday night, June 2, with establishes a seven-member board of trustees, trust’s funds on the maintenance and extension of Selectman Sarah F. White opposed. which is charged to adopt bylaws for the manage- the original portion of the memorial high school. BY MATT SANDERSON Since February,selectmen have been communi- ment of the trust and to oversee its growth in “We’ve given a lot of autonomy to this,” said VILLAGER STAFF WRITER cating vigorously with the Tourtellotte Memorial interest, as well as spending, during the annual HARTFORD — The clock ticked High School Alumni Association, the Board of town budget cycle. Turn To SELECTMEN, page A15 down in Hartford Wednesday after- noon, June 3, for the Legislature to present the 2009-’10 and 2010-’11 spending plans to Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s office before the end of regular ses- sion, and also for it to address how Residents make strides to help find cure Connecticut will balance its grow- ing projected $8.7 billion deficit. The close of the Legislature’s reg- ular session ended after the Villager WALKATHON TO BENEFIT deadline on Wednesday, June 3. Rell offered a supplemental budg- CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION et plan last Thursday, May 28, that would cut $1.3 billion in spending BY MATT SANDERSON disease. Gabrielle attends over the next two fiscal years, which VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Brooklyn Elementary School, and includes consolidating various state PUTNAM — The Great Strides her teacher, Beth Frink, is the Turn To STATE, A12 walk to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis team leader for the Brooklyn page Foundation, in Manchester, will Schools Great Strides team, said be coming to Putnam tomorrow, Michelle. Saturday, June 6, and is being “Last year we participated in hosted by the Couture family, of the Great Strides event in Brooklyn, whose daughter Manchester and our family team Gabrielle has been diagnosed with raised over $4,000, in addition to Voters the disease for four years. all the other teams that participat- The walkathon takes place in ed,” she said. “This is the first Rotary Park at 9 a.m. tomorrow. year we are the host family and The approximately three-mile the first year for the Putnam walk approve walk will take place along the site. In May there were 13 Great river walk and heritage trails. Strides events in the state, which People can registered on the day of together raised over $500,000.” the walk at 9 a.m. After the three- Doug said they are looking for Thompson mile walk, there will be raffles, as much support as they can get, children’s activities, refreshments adding that there are a variety of and entertainment. ways to help at the event. He said Doug and Michelle Couture said families, co-workers, friends and Courtesy photo they have made it top priority, neighbors can form a team (up to budgets Gabrielle Couture, a student at Brooklyn Elementary School, has been diagnosed since Gabrielle’s diagnosis, to do two people) for the walkathon, with cystic fibrosis, an inherited chronic diseases that affects the lungs and diges- everything within their power to Turn To STRIDES, A15 tive system, for four years. The Great Strides walkathon to raise money for the raise funds to find a cure for this page Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will take place tomorrow in Rotary Park in Putnam. SCHOOL BOARD STILL HAS TO CUT $160K Pomfret School BY MATT SANDERSON VILLAGER STAFF WRITER THOMPSON — The property tax rate in Thompson will increase by graduates 103 students 0.24 of a mill starting July 1, as vot- ers approved the 2009-’10 fiscal year BY OLIVIA BRAATEN budget last Wednesday, May 27, dur- VILLAGER CORRESPONDENT ing an all-day referendum. The $6.3 million general govern- POMFRET — “I wrote down some ment budget received 518 votes for stuff that sounded funny in my “yes” and 317 votes for “no,” while head,” Corey Gingras said, “and the $16 million school budget that I thought would make my mom received a narrow victory of 431 cry.” votes for “yes” and 402 votes for The Pomfret School graduate suc- “no.” ceeded — his commencement Of Thompson’s 5,397 registered speech causing laughter from those voters on the day of last week’s ref- gathered and, from his mother, even erendum, there was a 15 percent a few tears. turnout, according to the town “Oh, I am,” she called out, when clerk. Gingras, of Eastford, asked if it was First Selectman Larry Groh said working. the general government budget saw Gingras and 102 others graduated a lot of tweaking and adjustments from the private college preparatory over the last months. Given the fact school, Saturday, May 30. The cere- that the town anticipates a $776,000 mony was held on the lawn outside revenue shortfall, the budget was the Clark Memorial Chapel. crafted to be 4 percent higher than Holding to tradition, underclass- the current fiscal year. men lined the walkways as gradu- Over the past month, Groh said ates made their way to their seats they went back into the budget to next to the school sundial — girls in make cuts to several personnel and white dresses and boys in khaki service accounts, such as shutting pants and blue jackets. Each carried Photos courtesy of Lindsay Lehmann off various street lights on the a red rose. Above: Corey Gingras, of Eastford, was town’s grid, in order to save money, Gingras said he was proud to be selected to speak at Pomfret School’s as well as holding off on some road sporting a fresh new Pomfret bowtie graduation Saturday, May 30. maintenance work. while representing the “extraordi- At right: Tom Atwood, of Woodstock, received Pomfret School’s Founder’s Turn To BUDGETS, page A15 Turn To GRADUATES, page A16 Award. He was also named class valedic- torian. A8-10 . .OPINION SPORTS LEARNING VILLAGER TRIVIA A 11 . .SPORTS ELEMENTARY GIRLS’ SOCCER How many U.S. states and SECT. B . .OBITUARIES SCHOOL STUDENTS their capital cities have names SECT. B . .CALENDAR TEAM PLAYS IN QVIT that begin with the same letter, DISPLAY ARTWORK and what are they? SECT. B . .RELIGION PAGE A11 PAGE A7 Answer on page 2. INSIDE A2 • Friday, June 5, 2009 THOMPSON VILLAGER Pomfret School considers wind power VILLAGER ALMANAC TEMPORARY TURBINE INSTALLED ON CAMPUS QUOTATION OF THE WEEK “The Alumni Association would have selected a different path, but we see some value in the proposed BY OLIVIA BRAATEN is “a very hot topic,” said VILLAGER CORRESPONDENT ordinance providing the yet-to-be established bylaws by Bill Kanzer, marketing which the trust is governed and managed meet the POMFRET — Several years ago, director at Alteris. Tourtellottes’ wishes.” Pomfret School’s Board of Trustees “People have two reasons began talking about whether the to be interested,” Kanzer — JOSEPH LINDLEY, PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, ON school’s hilltop location would make said. “One, they want to do THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE FOR THE TOURTELLOTTE TRUST it a prime candidate for wind or solar the right thing, and, two, energy. Two weeks ago, when engi- they want to do the right OPEN TO CLOSE neers hoisted a 131-foot weather thing financially.” THOMPSON tower on the quad, administrators Residential and commer- moved one step closer to an answer. cial property owners can do TOWN HALL both, he added, saying, “You The temporary tower, in place for Monday through Friday ..................................8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. can actually make a good just 12 months, measures wind speed ........................................................(Hours will vary by office.) and frequency. Alteris Renewables, investment and do the right LIBRARIES thing for the environment.” the largest installer of renewable Thompson Public Library/Community Center For Pomfret School, it energy systems in New England, will Monday and Friday ............................................10 a.m.-5 p.m. could mean cutting its monitor data on a monthly basis Tuesday, Wed., Thursday ....................................10 a.m.-8 p.m. throughout the seasons. If winds are $400,000 annual electric bill strong enough and sustained by one-third, though it’s dif- POST OFFICES ficult to know exactly how enough, the school may consider 366 Thompson Hill Road much for sure, Diaz said.