Thompson Villager Mailed Free to Requesting Homes in Thompson Vol
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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 THOMPSON VILLAGER Mailed free to requesting homes in Thompson Vol. X, No. 1 Complimentary to homes by request (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] Friday, September 25, 2015 A look A decade of what matters to you back…and VILLAGER NEWSPAPERS CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY forward The first editions of the Putnam Villager, Thompson Villager and Woodstock Villager were launched Friday, I’ve always been fascinated by time Sept. 23, 2005. The Killingly Villager, the baby of the family, capsules, of both the filling and bury- BY ADAM MINOR was launched five months later on Friday, March 24, 2006. NEWS STAFF WRITER ing of them, and of the unearthing and In the last decade, the papers have covered events both discovering part. Our look back at the big and small. Our pages have been filled with coverage of 10-year publishing history of Villager This week, Villager Newspapers turns 10 years old, and we graduations, school events, Memorial Day and Veterans Newspapers feels like doing a bit of both! couldn’t be more grateful to all of our loyal readers, advertis- Day parades, charity drives, 5K’s, fundraisers, carnivals I decided to see what was going on in ers and the community for the support we have received over and fairs, and many stories on the interesting things people the news back in September 2005. One decade ago, George W. Bush had begun the last decade. To celebrate, we look back at the last decade in the Quiet Corner have been up to. The Villager has also his second term of office as President of the Villager, from the points of view of those that helped been informative on local politics, bringing people news of make it what it is today. of the United States. Hurricane Katrina Please Read VILLAGER, page A12 had devastated the Gulf Coast, and a new Pope, Benedict XVI, was elected, after the death of Pope John Paul II. Our TV-watching time was divided among “Lost,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Desperate Housewives.” Newcomer ‘Walktober’ features Carrie Underwood had won this year’s season of the hit show, “American Idol.” In 2005, a video sharing service called YouTube was launched and USB flash largest lineup yet drives were replacing floppy disks. A social networking service still known as “The Facebook” was unknown by most, BY JASON BLEAU many businesses, Ranger and Project and used only by a handful of colleges. NEWS STAFF WRITER attractions and nat- Administrator for Nearly 100 million Americans still owned ural landmarks that Walktober Marcy VHS tape format VCRs, and video stores It’s that time of year make up the region. Dawley said this were at their peak, renting both VHS again, as Walktober The yearly line of year’s lineup is the tapes and DVDs. We were still two years takes over north- events is organized best they’ve ever had, away from the first iPhone and five years eastern Connecticut by The Last Green with more variety away from the iPad. Gov. Jodi Rell was and South Central Valley and is cele- than ever before. getting settled into office, having taken Massachusetts with brating its landmark “After 25 years Jason Bleau photo over for Gov. John Rowland, who had hundreds of activities 25th year in 2015 with something is going resigned the prior year. In northeast- and events through- record-breaking par- right here,” she said. Woodstock volunteer firefighter Phillip Mahoney ern Connecticut, we were still shopping ticipation and even “Another way to and his antique 1925 Baby Stutz fire truck at Gil’s Shoe Barn. Price Chopper in out the next month or so, ringing in the one-time-only cele- judge that is that the Victoria. The two have become a consistence Putnam and Killingly Commons were presence at local events as the fully functional yet to be built, and Danny Rovero was fall and embracing brating the history numbers of Walktober the National Heritage of the towns in the truck has become a hands-on showpiece for the still mayor of Putnam. In 2005, very few department. people even heard of texting, and no one Corridor and the corridor. TLGV Lead Please Read WALKTOBER, page A18 was asking Siri anything! I, however, as a Mansfield resident publishing local newspapers throughout New England, was asked frequently if we would consider publishing a community The story of newspaper to cover the Quiet Corner of Connecticut. After a year of research and preparation, in September 2005, we did. It was one of the best decisions we ever ‘Victoria’ made. I can’t thank our dedicated staff enough for the tireless hours they put in selling FIREFIGHTER FINDS JOY ads, writing and editing multiple drafts of stories, getting just the right picture of IN SHOWING an event, covering the constant stream of community news, all to be ready to pres- ANTIQUE TRUCK ent, on deadline, for the next issue. I can’t thank our readers enough for their great BY JASON BLEAU interest, support, curiosity and pride in NEWS STAFF WRITER their weekly Villager newspaper. You are why local newspapers have existed for so WOODSTOCK — No doubt, most local long and will continue to thrive! CIRCLE citizens are familiar with the antique fire Since our debut of the Putnam, truck that has been making the rounds at Woodstock, and Thompson Villagers, we local events in the past few years, courtesy of have expanded into Killingly. We plan OF FUN the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Department. another new Villager or two in 2016. All Jason Bleau photos The refurnished 1925 Baby Stutz has editions are now available in print and become a staple of local car shows, fairs and A group of fun loving thrill online. We are constantly updating and public events as a public relations show- seekers make their way reformatting our products to best fit the piece for the Woodstock Volunteer Fire down a large slide, one of lifestyles of our local readers. We want to Department, however for the man behind the most popular attractions always provide more publishing options, the refurbished vehicle, Woodstock fire- to challenge ourselves to remain relevant of the weekend at the Circle of Fun. fighter Phillip Mahoney, the truck, which in a digital world and to make reading he affectionately calls “Victoria,” it’s more your local news a seamless and automatic PUTNAM — The St. than a showpiece. It’s a labor of love and part of your day. dedication and a powerful tool to allow the But no matter what else we change, Mary’s Circle of Fun young and young at heart to embrace their one thing that will remain constant is our invaded Putnam Friday, commitment to being relentlessly local to Sept. 18 through Sunday, dreams of being a firefighter. the northeastern Connecticut area. The Sept. 20. Rides, games, This year alone, Victoria has made Quiet Corner is a special place, and is music, great food and appearances at the Putnam Main Street Car the entire reason this newspaper exists. more made up the local Cruise, Woodstock Memorial Day parade, We always hope to reflect our towns and tradition which served the Woodstock Fair and, most recently, our readers in our pages, not exactly like as a miniature carnival Woodstock Scout Day, and its presence a mirror, but more as a window through of sorts, with a little bit of throughout the region is only increasing. which we can see each other. This is something for everyone Victoria started as an active truck in the YOUR paper, and we work for YOU. I look to enjoy. 1920’s before it was retired and sent via Lillith Kupiac, 4, of Putnam, cheers as she forward to the next 10 years and beyond! For more photos, turn takes a fun ride on a fire truck. Please Read VICTORIA, page A13 to page A4! Frank G. Chilinski A2 • Friday, September 25, 2015 VILLAGERKILLINGLY NEWSPAPERS VILLAGER Where were you 10 years ago? As part of the 10th anniversary issue reflect back yourself. Who was the icant changes were taking place in the of the Villager, I was asked to do a town manager? Who was the super- town? I think you’ll be amazed at how column on what was happening in intendent of schools? Who was the many changes have occurred in just Killingly 10 years ago. high school principal? What business- ten years and how many individuals KILLINGLY Before I give you some facts and fig- es were on Main Street in Danielson who served on the Town Council or ures, and before you read the remain- that are no longer there? What stores boards and commissions are no longer AT 300 der of the article, take the time to were in the Dayville area? What signif- living. I know that I was quite sur- prised with what I discovered. For the answer to a number of MARGARET the above questions I turned to the WEAVER We have 2004-2005 Killingly annual report, the live music Connecticut 2005 “Blue Book,” and the on Thursday 2005 Killonian. First, Bruce E. Benway Couture and William Larkin. nights! was Killingly’s Town Manager; his Town Manager Bruce Benway’s assistant town manager was Kimberly report gave an overview of the signif- Come enjoy a warm meal E. Darigan. (Killingly no longer has an icant happenings in Killingly in 2005. with family or friends by the fire! assistant town manager).