Mailed free to requesting homes in Thompson Vol. IV, No. 23 Complimentary to homes by request (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] ‘It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.’ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009 Hennigan pursues love of ancient sea art Home sales drop in 2008 KILLINGLY AN EXCEPTION BY MATT SANDERSON VILLAGER STAFF WRITER In a year-end report released by EATURED IN EBRUARY Connecticut Prudential Realty last F F 2009 month, home sales in Windham OUNTRY IVING County were down 14.9 percent ‘C L ’ from 2007. According to the Eastern BY MATT SANDERSON zine, capitalizing on the push of Connecticut Association of VILLAGER STAFF WRITER her growing business, as well as Realtors, Windham County had BROOKLYN — Move over, her notoriety for recreating these 833 sales for single-family houses Russell Stover Chocolates. octagonal wooden boxes of vary- in 2008, opposed to 947 single-fami- Today’s passion for an ancient ing sizes with thousands of deli- ly home sales in 2007. Valentine gift is tomorrow’s heir- cate seashells that contain some All towns in the Villager’s cover- loom with local crafter Lynda of the most beautiful and intri- age area saw a decrease, except for Susan Hennigan and her sailor’s cate designs. Matt Sanderson photos Killingly, which went up about 4 Valentines. “People have been calling and Lynda Susan Hennigan, of Brooklyn, was featured in this month’s edition of percent. Hennigan was featured in this “Country Living” magazine for her impressive and budding career in crafts. In her Turn To HENNIGAN, page A11 Gene Larrow, owner of Larrow’s month’s Country Living maga- local studio, she has made more than 250 sailor’s Valentines designs, one of which is pictured here. Turn To HOMES, page A16 Sunday ‘Have a Heart’ raises surplus at TEEG auction BY MATT SANDERSON $25,000. She said the auction itself liquor VILLAGER STAFF WRITER raised just under $20,000, which THOMPSON — The ninth annu- was about $3,000 more than last al “Have a Heart” Auction, spon- year. The ticket sales totaled just sored by the Thompson under $4,000, which was a signifi- sales talk Ecumenical Empowerment Group, cant increase from last year. The last Friday, Feb. 13, in a jam-packed business sponsors raised $2,050, Thompson Raceway Restaurant, is which was about $1,000 more than probably about $5,000 over the pro- last year. Also, Grant said the auc- reignited ceeds projections in from the previ- tion’s Giving Tree raffle raised ous year, despite the crumbling $903, which was about $100 more BY MATT SANDERSON economy, says its executive direc- than last year. VILLAGER STAFF WRITER tor. All proceeds from the annual HARTFORD — Lobbyists in “This was a resounding success,” Valentine’s Day community fund- Hartford for state-line package said Donna Grant, who is head of raising event go right back into store owners are once against the social services agency.“We bud- TEEG’s programs, such as fuel geted for less because of the econo- assistance, food programs, back to pushing for Sunday liquor sales, Matt Sanderson photos and it is being met with resistance my and we’re stunned. There is a school, senior outreach and early The full Board of Directors for the Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group was heartfelt thanks from all of us.” childhood education. from storeowners and state legis- on hand last Friday, Feb. 13, for the ninth annual “Have a Heart” Auction at The lators from the state’s interior Grant reported that the entire Thompson Raceway Restaurant to raise proceeds for the agency. Turn To TEEG, page A15 municipalities who say the over- event raised a ballpark figure over head costs of running their stores are too great to open on a Sunday. The growing state budget deficit has taken the issue to front stage Marianapolis teacher co-writes musical to find extra sources of tax rev- enue. Repealing Connecticut’s blue laws, some argue, would put bor- der businesses on the same level THOMPSON HAS with Massachusetts and Rhode Island competitors, which are BIG HOPES FOR allowed to provide alcohol seven days a week. ‘JONESTOWN’ However, Carroll Hughes, execu- tive director of the Connecticut Package Store Association, rebuts BY STEPHANIE JARVIS VILLAGER STAFF WRITER that the extra business day is miniscule in revenue. THOMPSON — While the “All the proposal would do is to nation was celebrating Martin spread the six-day business over Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 19 and seven days and increase the costs President Barack Obama’s inau- to the retailer,” he said in an inter- guration the following morning, view with the Villager. “It just Marianapolis Preparatory School doesn’t make any sense. That teacher Stephen Thompson was would basically be a death note for telling a different story — that of package stores to increase their the final three years of the Rev. Stephanie Jarvis photo costs while business is dropping Jones’ Peoples Temple — through Stephen Thompson, chair of the music because the economy is drop- a musical he co-wrote with his department at Marianapolis Preparatory School, who has co-written a musical, Courtesy photo Turn To ALCOHOL, page A16 Turn To JONESTOWN, A14 page “Jonestown,” that recently had a read- The poster for “Jonestown,” which had two free readings in January at the Snapple ing in New York. Theater Center in New York City. A8-9 . .OPINION SPORTS LEARNING VILLAGER TRIVIA A 12 . .SPORTS PUTNAM LIONS MARIANAPOLIS How much hay was eaten SECT. B . .OBITUARIES HOLD EVENT WINS daily by Jumbo, showman P.T. SECT. B . .CALENDAR Barnum’s famous 6-1/2-ton ele- phant? SECT. B . .RELIGION PAGE A12 PAGE A6 Answer on page 2. INSIDE A2 • Friday, February 20, 2009 THOMPSON VILLAGER Leaving a job? Get the most from retirement account VILLAGER ALMANAC f you decide to leave your job, money in your for- keep your retirement savings grow- you’ll have many issues to con- mer employer’s ing on a tax-deferred basis. And QUOTATION OF THE WEEK I sider and some financial deci- retirement plan, if you’ll have an almost unlimited sions to make. One of the most the plan permits. array of investment choices. Within “This was a resounding success. We budgeted for important questions you’ll need to This could be a your IRA, you can even build a less because of the economy and we’re stunned. ask yourself is this: What should good option if you diversified portfolio to reflect your you do with your 401(k) or other are pleased with risk tolerance, time horizon and There is a heartfelt thanks from all of us.” employer-sponsored retirement the investment long-term goals. Finally, once you plan? choices available move your retirement account into — TEEG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DONNA GRANT, ON PROCEEDS FROM Fortunately, you have several in the plan. But if an IRA, you can later convert to a THE AGENCY’S NINTH ANNUAL “HAV E A HEART”AUCTION, HELD FEB.13 options, including the following: FINANCIAL you’re not, you Roth IRA, so you can eventually • Taking the money in a lump sum may want to con- make tax-free withdrawals, provid- — If you have lost your job, you may FOCUS sider other possi- ed you meet certain conditions. OPEN TO CLOSE be under financial stress. This may bilities. (Keep in mind, though, that when THOMPSON tempt you to cash out your retire- JEFF BURDICK • Moving the converting a traditional IRA to a ment plan and take the money as a money into a new Roth IRA, you will generate a tax TOWN HALL lump sum. And if your plan is your plan — You may be liability.) Monday through Friday ..................................8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. only source of savings, you may not able to move the money from your Review your choices carefully. ........................................................(Hours will vary by office.) have much choice. But if you have old plan into a new employer’s plan, Review your retirement plan distri- LIBRARIES any other financial resources to if the new plan allows such trans- bution options carefully with your Thompson Public Library/Community Center draw on, you might want to avoid fers. This move might make sense if tax or investment professional. You Monday and Friday ............................................10 a.m.-5 p.m. taking the lump sum. If you liqui- your new plan offers attractive may be making one of the most Tuesday, Wed., Thursday ....................................10 a.m.-8 p.m. date your plan, you’ll no longer ben- investment options. important financial decisions of efit from tax-deferred earnings • Rolling over retirement assets your life — so make it a good one. POST OFFICES growth. Furthermore, your employ- into an IRA — Depending on your This column is submitted by Jeff 366 Thompson Hill Road er must withhold 20 percent from individual situation, this “rollover” Burdick at Edward Jones Monday-Friday ............................P.O. Boxes: 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m., your distribution — and if you’re option could be your best choice. By Investments, 113 Main St., Window: ........................................8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 3-4:45 p.m. under 59 1/2, your distribution may making this rollover, you’ll avoid Sturbridge, Mass. Jeff is licensed in Saturday..........................................P.O. Boxes: 7:45 a.m.-noon, be subject to a 10 percent penalty. the 20 percent withholding and cur- Connecticut. He may be reached by Window ....................................................................8 a.m.-noon • Leaving the money in your plan rent income taxes on your retire- phone at (508) 347-1420 or by e-mail Quinebaug — You might be able to leave your ment plan distribution.