Danielson, Killingly & Its Villages Vol
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PRSRT STD POSTAL U.S. POSTAGE PAID CUSTOMER PERMIT #231 ECR WSS SOUTHBRIDGE, MA 01550 Mailed to every home in Brooklyn, the borough of Danielson, Killingly & its villages Vol. II, No.10 Complimentary (860) 928-1818/email:[email protected] "A friend in the market is better than money in the chest." Friday, February 1, 2008 East Killingly Fire District plans new station Towns BY JOSH SAYLES They are unelected officials who VILLAGER STAFF WRITER tax independently of Killingly and gear up EAST KILLINGLY — The East have the ability to put a lien on an Killingly Fire District is planning individual’s property if taxes are to build a new fire station, a propos- not paid. al that has some residents con- Some East Killingly residents cerned about the price tag and the believe that the solution for the for primary need for such a facility. firehouse lies within expansion of The cost is estimated by some the current facility, not a new residents to be as much as $1.4 mil- building. lion, and citizens aware of the situ- Stevens disagreed. He said that election ation have raised several concerns the expansion, for what the depart- ment currently needs, would cost BY BRAD TILLES about the funding of the project. VILLAGER STAFF WRITER East Killingly Fire District approximately $700,000, not includ- President George Stevens, however, ing the cost of bringing the current The upcoming Connecticut said the cost of the project could building up to code. Furthermore, Presidential Primary is fast not yet be determined. the original building was built in approaching on Feb. 5, with the So far about $65,000 has been 1942; it had an additional wing built state voting to determine the next spent on plans for the new build- in 1978. Stevens said that even if Democratic and Republican nomi- ing. Stevens said the property on they expanded, “in the end, you’ve nees. Twenty-two states across the which the district plans to build still got a building from 1942 and country will be participating in can be purchased for $200,000. He 1978.” “Super Tuesday” on that day, and added that while it was unclear Other frustrated residents local election officials and party how much fire taxes would believe that the answer is a town- town committees are preparing increase due to the uncertainty of wide paid fire department backed for what Connecticut residents the cost of the building, they would up by volunteers, as opposed to the have to say in the choice of their definitely go up. six independently operated volun- next leader. The East Killingly Fire District, teer stations currently being run in In addition, this past Monday, as well as all of the other fire dis- town. They believe this will ulti- Jan, 29, marked the final State of tricts in Killingly, is a self-govern- the Union address for President Josh Sayles photo ing quasi-municipality uncon- George W. Bush, and some Turn To FIRE, page A13 The current East Killingly Fire Station that the district wants to replace. strained to the town of Killingly. Connecticut politicians have voiced their reactions over his speech. Workers for local town Board of Registrars have been very busy the last few weeks setting all ele- Westa hired as coordinator of Borderlands Project ments into place for the statewide primary. BY JOSH SAYLES mation,” Westa said. “We held a voter registration VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Ariana McBride of the Rhode session on Jan. 22 and since then KILLINGLY — Susan Westa was Island Economic Policy Council been furiously processing new introduced as the coordinator of and Borderlands Project planner voter registrations for those mak- the Borderlands Village Innovation said that there were more than 20 Pilot Project at a Borderlands meet- applicants for the coordinator posi- ing on Jan. 23. tion. Turn To PRIMARY, page A9 The Borderlands Project, which “Ultimately we went with involves Killingly and Exeter, R.I., [Westa] because we felt she had the is looking at the best ways to right skills to move the project for- increase growth within the town ward,” McBride said, adding that while maintaining its rural feel. her work with the Green Valley CABE “I’d been following the Institute and UCONN made her a Borderlands Project since it began more desirable candidate. because I already worked in the “I think this approach of really discusses Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage focusing on two specific communi- Corridor and our two regions over- ties through this visioning process, lap,” said Westa. figuring out … how they want to Westa is currently the co-direc- see their communities grow and school tor of the Green Valley Institute, still maintaining [the town’s] char- which is part of a UCONN exten- acteristic set of values [is impor- sion program, and has a back- tant],” said Westa. “[I want] to pro- reform ground in community and environ- vide [Killingly and Exeter] with the mental planning. research and the tools they need to “Basically we target the land-use be able to do that and to get them OVING TOWARD decision makers, the volunteer started on actually implementing M boards and commissions, the it. This is a level I haven’t been STATEWIDE CURRICULUM boards of selectmen and the working on at the Quinebaug- landowners throughout the region Josh Sayles photo Susan Westa, the recently hired coordinator for the Borderlands Village Innovation BY JOSH SAYLES so that they can make good land- Turn To WESTA, page A14 VILLAGER STAFF WRITER use decisions based on good infor- Pilot Project. HAMPTON — The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) held a sec- ondary school reform conversa- Relay For Life kicks off with motivational ceremony tion for Board of Education mem- bers and superintendents around northeast Connecticut on BY CHENOA PIERCE “Welcome to this year’s kick- Tuesday, Jan. 29. The goal of the VILLAGER STAFF WRITER off,” Franklin said to the excited meeting was to inform those in On your mark … get set … go! crowd. charge of education about CABE’s That’s the attitude of the partici- Since Franklin is new to the co- plans. pants in this year’s Northeast chair position this year, she CABE Commissioner Dr. Mark Corner American Cancer Society shared the reason she relays with McQuillan and Vice Relay For Life, which kicked off those in attendance. Commissioner George Coleman with a reception at the Imperial “I relay for the same reasons gave a brief presentation of Room in Danielson on the evening that most of us relay,” she said. “I CABE’s intentions, followed by an of Wednesday, Jan. 23. have lost people to cancer, and I intense question and answer ses- The evening began with those don’t want to lose anyone else.” sion. The duo was well prepared in attendance signing in and find- Franklin then spoke of the for all of the challenges thrown ing their seats before making theme for the 2008 Relay and how their way.They have run dozens of their way to the refreshment table she brainstormed it. similar presentations around the that was fully stocked, and “Along with being the newbie state of Connecticut since remained so throughout the on the street, I was charged with November and will continue to do evening, with ribs, cookies, cup- this year’s theme,” she said, so until the end of February. cakes, fruit and more. As patrons adding that in the past she has McQuillan addressed a made their way along the food been involved with the Woodstock Connecticut educational system line, moderators Melissa Mom’s Club and, using that expe- that, while it is not struggling, has Franklin and Pat Faucher, co- rience as a guide, she knew the certainly fallen relative to the theme would center around fami- national average. He discussed Chenoa Pierce photo chairs for the Northeast Connecticut Relay For Life, stood various issues that ranged from Melissa Franklin (left) and Pat Faucher (right), co-chairs for the Relay For Life of before those seated and spoke Northeastern Connecticut, pose with Shannon Stahecki (center) after a successful Relay about why they relay. Turn To RELAY, page A13 for Life kickoff event on Wednesday, Jan. 23. Turn To CABE, page A9 A10-11 — OPINION LOCAL VILLAGER TRIVIA! A 12— SPORTS LEARNING Who were the first two B1 — HOT SPOT FASHION B4-5 — OBITUARIES NIGHT OF people to reach the top of DANCE SHOW B7 — RELIGION Mt. Everest? PAGE A4 PAGE A6 INSIDE B6 — CALENDAR Answer on page 2. A2 • Friday, February 1, 2008 KILLINGLY VILLAGER Slaves quietly contributed to area’s history VILLAGER ALMANAC ince February is Black History sion. Others who had no surnames Month throughout the United were Cato, Jack and Tom (White, SStates, it seems only appropriate David O., Connecticut’s Black QUOTATION OF THE WEEK to write a little about the non-whites KILLINGLY Soldiers 1775-1783, p. 22, 56-63). who helped carve out Killingly and Brooklyn’s wealthy landowner, “This is the best thing I’ve heard of in a some of the other towns in AT 300 Godfrey Malbone, formerly of Northeastern Connecticut. Their Newport, R.I., had inherited an exten- long, long time. … Students who are weak in contributions enabled their white sive estate including slaves in what is math are fighting a long road in high owners to establish homesteads in the MARGARET now Brooklyn. “These slaves accord- school.” wilderness and make significant con- WEAVER ing to common report were part of a tributions to the communities in cargo brought from Holland who — Killingly High School Principal Dan Costello on Killingly which they lived.