ERSAR IV Y N N A A A N N N N I I V V Y Y E E R R R R A A S S PUTNAM VILLAGER Vol. X, No. 28 Complimentary Friday, April 8, 2016 (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] Heroes and villains A force against I smiled from ear to ear as I walked out of the theater last weekend, having just witnessed a behe- moth of a movie, a spectacle of comic book action and epic battles that assaulted my eyes and rattled hunger my ears. I loved every second of it. I speak, of course, of the recently released “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” the latest CHURCH FOOD PACKAGING EVENT in the never-ending onslaught that is live action comic book content over the last 15 years. TOPS 55K MEALS Growing up, such movies could only be imagined Jason Bleau photo or drawn on the page of a comic book for us to rec- BY JASON BLEAU From left, Day Kimball Healthcare President and reate in our minds. Special effects technology was NEWS STAFF WRITER nowhere close to where it is now. One need only CEO Robert Smanik, State Rep. Danny Rovero, look to the much reviled “Superman IV: The Quest KILLINGLY — Every Sen. Mae Flexer and State Rep. Christine Rosati for Peace,” as an example. Sure, it was made in 1987, year for the past five years, Randall speak at a press conference on March but my point is the same. On a battle scene set on St. John’s Lutheran Church 31 about the returning of funds to Day Kimball the moon against Nuclear Man (yes, that’s an actu- has held its Kid Care Food in the current fiscal year. The hospital saw $3.8 al villain), you can actually see the support lines Packaging event, bringing million in supplemental appropriations restored earlier in the week. holding up actor Christopher Reeve as Superman together members of the as he “flies” during the fight, which coincidentally, church and the local commu- . I couldn’t believe it the first time I saw it. I thought nity to package thousands of my friend was playing a trick on me when I saw it. meals for those in need and These days, with special effects nearly making donate those food packages to DKH funding everything else obsolete, one can actually believe a local food banks. man can fly. However, this year’s event Growing up, I was on April 3 was not only spe- restored by state THE always a Superman cial for marking the five-year fan. I don’t know INOR anniversary of the event, M why I picked him STILL ‘A TOUGH ROAD above all the others. but also because it was the DETAILS first time the church held the Batman was cool too, AHEAD OF US’ but he was always so Jason Bleau photo event at its new home at 190 ADAM Wauregan Road in Killingly, BY JASON BLEAU dark and brooding, I Volunteers helped package of news on March 29 MINOR after the church sold its pre- NEWS STAFF WRITER related more to the 55,500 meals during the annual after a bipartisan vious facility in Brooklyn late “Boy Scout,” as he Kid Care Food Packaging event PUTNAM — It’s effort in Hartford is so often called. Of at St. John Lutheran Church in been a long and led to a new deal course, his powers were the coolest. He could fly, Killingly on Sunday, April 3. Please Read HUNGER, page A15 tough battle for Day to handle a budget he could travel at supersonic speeds, he could Kimball Healthcare deficit of around shoot lasers out of his eyes, he had freeze breath, over the past year, $220 million in the he had X-ray vision, super hearing, and he was as the hospital current fiscal year, of course, indestructible. He was an unstoppable has fought hard to a number that will force. Batman was just a man, although he was A SPOT OF TEA have state funding skyrocket to over incredibly rich and had a ton of awesome toys, restored that had $900 million when including an awesome car that could fire missiles. been taken away the new fiscal year Who wouldn’t want that? to offset a deficit goes into effect in Over the years, other heroes and villains would in the state budget, July. However, stake their claim on our imaginations — all divided and has left law- while the future is into two brands. Choosing between DC and Marvel makers and taxpay- still a massive ques- was always like declaring yourself a Coke or a ers on both sides of tion mark, officials Pepsi fan, or a Red Sox or Yankees fan. It always the political aisle and supporters of seemed like you had to choose your team and stick angered at Gov. Day Kimball are with it. On DC’s team, the powerhouses included Dannel Malloy. praising the deci- Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, For now, howev- sion to at least tem- Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Martian er, officials at the porarily preserve Manhunter, and many more. When united, they hospital are breath- the hospital’s state became the Justice League, and battled powerful ing a cautious sigh funding after fight- villains like Lex Luthor, Darkseid, The Joker and of relief with the ing for nearly a year Brainiac, all while learning how to exist with each announcement that to make up the dif- other. the Putnam hospital ference in whatever In the other corner were the heroes of Marvel Photo courtesy Valentine Iamartino will receive $3.8 mil- way they can. — Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, THOMPSON — The Day Kimball Woman’s Board held its lion in supplemen- “It’s wonderful Iron Man, Spider-Man, Daredevil, Punisher, The annual Spring Tea event on Saturday, April 2 at the Raceway tal appropriations to hear the news,” Fantastic Four and the X-Men (among many oth- Restaurant, where guests an members of the Woman’s Board as well as its portion said DKH President ers), many of whom would unite at one time or celebrated the dawn of spring and the women in their lives of the small hospital and CEO Robert another to form the massive super team, The with a lunch, fashion show and more. Pictured, these four pool funding for the Smanik. “It’s been an arduous path, but Avengers. They would battle crazy super villains sisters from the area used the tea as an event to spend some current fiscal year. like Thor’s adopted brother Loki, the insane Red quality time together. For more photos, turn to page A10! The hospital Skull, The Abomination, The Mandarin, Doctor received the good Please Read FUNDING, page A15 Doom, Magneto and the unstoppable Mad Titan, Thanos. Needless to say, there is never a lack of characters, which literally number in the thou- sands. But for me, it’s always been about Superman, the unquestioned leader of the Justice League, ‘Fighting the good fight’ the conscience of good. The outsider from an alien planet that defends Earth from harm. He is a hero’s EASTFORD RESIDENT hero, and one that many others emulate when they become a superhero. LEADS CHARGE FOR Of course, Batman always gets his due. The char- acter has, by far, the best movies of any comic char- WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN acter to date. I don’t even think that’s an argument. He has the best background story, the most creative SPORTS, SCHOOLS stories, and easily the best rogues gallery (comic speak for “cast of villains”) in comics. The Dark BY JASON BLEAU Knight resonates with people who have seen injus- NEWS STAFF WRITER tice, have experienced a traumatic youth, have a EASTFORD — As an accomplished fighting spirit, have overcome odds, and want to do and recognized athlete, coach and good in a world that is often cruel and unforgiving, supporter of women’s college sports, Courtesy photo represented by the fictional city of Gotham. Eastford resident Lauren Anderson has The clash of styles — the Dark Knight versus the a lot to be proud of in her life. She is an From left, Lauren Anderson of Eastford, who helped lead a new era for Boy Scout — was what always made the dynamic inaugural inductee into the Woodstock women’s sports at URI in the 1970’s, stands with Eleanor Lemaire, the between the two characters so interesting. For Academy Athletic Hall of Fame and an first Association Director for Women’s Athletics hired by URI in 1976, me, although I love the Batman character a lot, I’ll inductee into the Eastford Elementary and Pat Nicol, an athlete from 1976 to 1980 in track and field who always take the Man of Steel. received the first scholarship Eleanor handed out in 1977, following their After all, at the end of the day, who hasn’t wanted participation in a new production by URI chronicling the strides that have Please Read ANDERSON, page A16 to fly? been made over the years in women’s sports at the school and beyond. Adam Minor may be reached at (508) 909-4130, or by e-mail at [email protected]. A2 • Friday, April 8, 2016 VILLAGER NEWSPAPERS Veterans Coffeehouse to host first anniversary celebration KILLINGLY — The RSVP Veterans Coffeehouse will celebrate its first anni- versary on April 12 with a tribute to its many volunteers along with a special 8x7-9x7 Steel Liftmaster 1/2 hp thank you to the Town of Killingly.