KILLINGLY Leave and Come Back Home
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
ON SELECT MODELS THOMPSON VILLAGER Vol. XI, No. 14 Mailed free to requesting homes in Thompson Complimentary to homes by request (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] Friday, January 6, 2017 The sound Fire severely of silence damages local I realize sometimes that I take a lot for granted — the food I eat, the shoes on my feet, the roof above my head, church the beat up, rusty car that I drive, the heat within my four walls, the fact that I can see, hear and walk — they ELECTRICAL FAILURE are all things in life that I have been able to enjoy, and I am thankful for Jason Bleau photos DEEMED THE CAUSE that, because there are many out there that cannot say one or more of the The Rosebrooks family poses with the medals received by family patriarch Earl Rosebrooks Sr., who died in 1968, for his service in World War II. OF BLAZE things I just listed. When I think about not being able BY JASON BLEAU NEWS STAFF WRITER to say one of those aforementioned things, my heart breaks for the people THOMPSON — The that struggle with these things. But at A legacy remembered Thompson community the risk was rocked to the core THE of div- ROSEBROOKS FAMILY PATRIARCH at the end of 2016, when ing into on Dec. 29, firefighters MINOR a com- HONORED WITH WWII MEDALS went to work trying to control a blaze that pletely BY JASON BLEAU Earl Rosebrooks Jr. has led the broke out at the town’s DETAILS dif- NEWS STAFF WRITER Putnam Business Association for ferent historical Thompson THOMPSON — The name the past year, and the family owns ADAM subject, Congregational Rosebrooks is one many in the Fluid Coating Technologies Inc. in there Church. MINOR Quiet Corner are probably famil- Putnam. While the modern gener- is one Calls came in at iar with. ation of Rosebrooks have certain- thing around 10 p.m. that Many members of the local fam- ly left their mark on the region, I temporarily lost recently, and it night for a fire at the ily live in the Thompson area. reminded me just how important it is. Please Read ROSEBROOKS, page A11 church with every Photos courtesy If any of you were wondering why fire department in Valentine Iamartino I have been a little more difficult to Thompson being joined First responders spray reach by phone during the week lead- by responders from water into the front of the ing up to Christmas, there’s a good Putnam, East Putnam, Thompson Congregational reason I wasn’t up to talking. I lost my Woodstock, Muddy Church as they work to voice. Brook, Attawaugan, extinguish a fire that Communication is so different Dudley, Webster, and broke out in the historical than it was even five to 10 years ago. East Gloucester to building on Dec. 29. Facebook, Twitter, texting and e-mails control the situation, — almost anything can be related working into the early adjacent to the town without uttering a single word. But morning hours of Dec. common as well as when I lost my voice, I realized just 30 to douse the flames being a heavy presence how much I still rely on having it. and hotspots in the on almost every piece I can’t communicate with my kids as church. of memorabilia or lit- effectively. I can’t speak on the phone. The historical land- erature adorning the I can’t teach at my youth group. I mark at 347 Thompson town of Thompson’s can’t have conversations with my wife Road is a staple of the name. Congressman Joe Courtney poses for a photo with the sons of Earl Rosebrooks Sr., about her day, or ask questions to my Thompson community Thompson Fire Nathan and Wayne Rosebrooks, who were on hand with other family members on son about what he did at school. As dating back to the 19th Marshal Rick Hayes Dec. 14 to accept World War Ii medals earned by the family patriarch who passed much as I rely on the written word (as century, and is placed away in 1968. Please Read FIRE, page A15 I’m sure you can imagine), it’s pretty amazing just how much we rely on the spoken one. It’s a rare occurrence in my life, as I can only remember two other LIGHT UP THE times it has ever happened, once in Chinese food college and once in high school. It’s been more than a dozen years since it HOLIDAYS has happened last, and both times, it was at inopportune times — at a sum- at its finest mer camp and then again during my senior internship. The summer camp one is actually FRESHNESS KEY TO SUCCESS a pretty funny story. I was at a week- long camp in upstate New York, and FOR JADE GARDEN part of the camp revolved around a competition in dramatic skits. Our BY TERI STOHLBERG school, so I had to go skit was early on in the week, and I NEWS STAFF WRITER to work. We first went had a pretty bad cold as it was, going PUTNAM — Jade to Brooklyn, N.Y.” in to it. We made it through the skit Garden is always Lin started working OK, but my voice was gravely. I was there when you need in a Chinese restau- Daniel Amarante, nicknamed “Mr. Christmas, Jr.,” and his wife Alexis, who host clearing my throat, doing everything I them. rant in Brooklyn, the Winter Wonderland at their Dayville home, pose with stockings filled with could not to have a coughing fit while “We are open where he learned to holiday treats and toys that were donated to kids in need throughout the region trying to deliver lines. I woke up the seven days a week, cook and also to speak to give them a little extra holiday cheer. next morning, and my voice was com- we only close on English. pletely gone. Not even a shred of it left. Thanksgiving Day,” Benny Lin, along Jason Bleau photos I had to resort to whispering for three explains Benny Lin, with his wife, Cindy more days before it started to come the owner and man- Liu, have made back later in the week, just in time to ager of the popular Putnam their home. KILLINGLY leave and come back home. Chinese eatery locat- “We’ve lived in — Amarante’s One night in that three-day period, ed on Kennedy Drive Putnam for just two Winter my cabin camped out by the lake and in Putnam. years, we bought a Wonderland in we were charged with telling each Lin spoke about house here, just since Killingly con- other our life stories, or “testimonies,” how he and his wife I bought the restau- tinued to grow as church lingo dictates. Needless to came to be in Putnam. rant,” Lin said. this year as one say, my testimony was related in a “We are from The couple has two of the most cher- squeaky, broken whisper, much to the China,” he said. “We school-aged children ished local holi- delight of my buddies who so loved have been here in that sometimes help day traditions to give me a hard time. I heard many this country since out at the restaurant in northeastern impressions of me that week! 2000. We came to this on holidays and spe- Connecticut. As I type this, my voice has near- country first to see cial occasions. ly returned, again, almost three days how we like it, at the “This country is For more pho- later, and I’m now a full week in to beginning, I came much, much better tos, turn to page A relatively new tradition that started just last year, every recovering from this cold/flu that has to go to school, but I than where we came A16! Friday night Santa made an appearance where the young been going around (including both of decided not to go to and young at heart could grab a photo with the famed my kids). I’m happy to have my voice Please Read JADE, page A12 Christmas icon. back, so if you left a message with me, have no fear, it will be returned soon. In fact, by the time you read this, it probably will have already been returned. KMS gives back to local heroes with toy drive The great thing about working at a newspaper is that even with a silent BY JASON BLEAU the Connecticut State give back to real local when teachers donat- our Danielson State voice, I can still have a voice, that is, NEWS STAFF WRITER Police out of Troop D heroes by providing ed toys and money to Police Troopers. They as long as my fingers still function! KILLINGLY — in Danielson. goods to provide a joy- dress up like some of can’t accept monetary Now, can someone please pass me Killingly Memorial The initiative, part ful Christmas to chil- the world’s most icon- donations so what we a lozenge? And does anyone know if School got into the giv- of a larger month- dren across the region. ic superheroes for a did was on Dec. 2 all there is such a thing as hand insur- ing spirit leading into ly effort to give back Spearheaded by day. the teachers dressed ance? the Christmas holiday to local groups and Killingly Memorial “We wanted to as superheroes and in a big way, donating community heroes, School gym teacher raise money and the students received Adam Minor may be reached at (508) two carloads of toys saw teachers and stu- Heidi Divine, the fund- give that money to superhero stickers 909-4130, or by e-mail at aminor@stone- to the local Toys for dents embrace their raising effort really our local superhe- bridgepress.news.