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 Vol. X, No. 6 Mailed free to requesting homes in Thompson Complimentary to homes by request (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] Friday, October 30, 2015 Are you ‘A fantastic day for our church family’ scared? FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF POMFRET BREAKS GROUND, CELEBRATES 300 YEARS With Halloween right around the cor- BY JASON BLEAU ner, and pictures of haunted hayrides, NEWS STAFF WRITER scary costumes and decorations com- POMFRET — ing fast and furious across my desk, it’s Around two years a day many often associate with fear. ago, the First These days, I could care less about Congregational scaring myself with haunted attrac- Church of Pomfret tions and ghoulish images. Not really faced tragedy as their my scene. I can’t even watch a scary church was tragically movie. I’d rather dress up my son like lost in a fire that took Elmo than apply fake zombie scars to the historic building to my face. What can I say? I’m kid friend- the ground. ly. Perhaps I’ve never grown up. On Oct. 25, the con- Photos courtesy First Congregational Church of Pomfret This “holiday” (if you can even call it gregation and the town that) brings to mind the things we are took a massive step Pastor Thomas Crumb was joined by elder member of most afraid of. And it’s funny in a way, forward to moving the church Anita Brock and one of the church’s young- because as we grow older, the things on from the tragedy est members, David Boies, in the official groundbreak- we grow to fear evolve over time. Some FESTIVE with a celebration of ing for their new church. fears are silly, and some are absolutely the 300th year for the crippling. ‘FLORENCE’ church and the official For me, when I was a kid, I remem- groundbreaking for a ber lying Jason Bleau photo new building where THE awake in their old church once bed on PUTNAM — The annual Putnam INOR stood. M several Business Association Scarecrow Contest The church celebrat- occa- enjoyed another successful year. DETAILS ed its 300th year with sions, Embracing everything from movies and a special mass on the having pop culture to Halloween and traditional ADAM morning of Oct. 25, been scarecrow images, each creation brought MINOR and put shovels in the startled it’s own special touch. Pictured is this ground to take the first awake year’s winner, “Florence,” a giant nurse physical steps towards by the at the Matulaitis Rehab & Nursing Facility building a new home An artist’s rendition of the new church scheduled to be loud, earth-shattering boom of thunder on Route 44 in East Putnam. For more pho- built on the site of the old First Congregational Church and the rapid fire flashing of light- tos, turn to page A5! Please Read CHURCH, page A13 of Pomfret building that burned down two years ago. ning. Severe thunderstorms, for some reason, always rattled me as a child. I would cower under my blanket and tightly close my eyes, oftentimes curl- ing the pillow around my head to block Quiet Corner prepares for Election Day 2015 my ears so the rumbling thunder was muffled, waiting patiently as the storm BY JASON BLEAU day for voters to make has seen much pub- First Selectman Paul The Board of Finance passed. Many times, I would just fall NEWS STAFF WRITER their voices heard. licity with Democrat Lenky in the seat. has two open seats back asleep, and all would be well, In addition, some Ken Beausoleil and However, the bat- with three candi- but I never did enjoy thunderstorms. Election Day is towns have additional his running mate and tle for town clerk dates, Democrats Perhaps it was the fear of the house coming quickly on items and questions incumbent Selectman has become equal- Rhonda Rooney and getting hit with lightning, or the antic- Tuesday, Nov. 3, and on their ballots that Shaina Smith facing ly contentious in James Bellavance and ipation that a strike would hit some- while selectmen and require input and off against Republican the town, with Republican James where near with a deafening crack. Town Council races approval from the pub- Stephen Herbert and Republican Brenda Niedzialkoski, vying The suspense was palpable. It never did have taken center lic to move forward. his running mate, for- Godzik Duquette for the seats. The happen. stage, many towns mer Selectman Ted and Democrat Renee Board of Education As time wore on, however, I grew have additional con- THOMPSON Gagne. The candidate Lapalme-Waldron has two Democrats, accustomed to it. As a grown man, I tentious races that will with the most votes each hoping to earn Shawn Brissette and love looking out the window at night In Thompson, the make for an important will succeed exiting the seat at the polls. during a storm, and gazing up into race for first selectman Please Read ELECTION, page A13 the sky, as the bolts of lighting dance around in the clouds. It’s stunningly beautiful, a reminder of the power of my Creator. These days, I was reminded of one Council hopefuls my deepest fears the other night at my youth group, as before we got start- ed, one of my kids noticed something creeping across the floor. From afar, address issues it looked like one of those black stylus pens you would use to navigate your VILLAGER SERIES PUTS iPad with. But as I walked closer, I saw that this thing had many, many legs. FOCUS ON CANDIDATES AS It was a millipede. A big one. I tried to ELECTION NEARS act like a man and pretend I was OK with it. Luckily, one of my other youth BY JASON BLEAU according to question, leaders was nearby, and he collected NEWS STAFF WRITER and fielding the it in a cup, or else I would have had to KILLINGLY — candidates’ responses overcome my girlish screams to deal The Killingly Town directly. with the poor thing. It may not have Council election takes Please note: survived. And I would have had a group place on Tuesday, Republican at-large full of kids (and adults) pointing and Nov. 3, as one of many candidates Lara laughing at me as I danced around on municipal elections in Fountain and Beverly the nearest table. BEHOLD, the Quiet Corner. Ferron did not return Creepy crawlies, and especially In total, 19 calls for this story. snakes, creep me out more than just THE GREAT PUMPKIN candidates are on the District 2 Democratic about anything else. About a year ago, ballot, with each of the candidates Ed the week after I moved into my new five voting districts Gandelski also did home, I started to mow the lawn for the A Providence and Worcester having two candidates, not return phone calls very first time. On my first “stripe,” not Railroad train makes its annual a Republican and a from The Villager even 10 steps in, I walked the mower stop in Putnam for the festival, Democrat, running for to be interviewed. right into a snake. It did not survive. dropping off visitors to Putnam a district-specific seat, Democratic at-large But perhaps even more embarrass- and picking up passengers for a and four Republicans, nominee Bonnie ingly, it took me a minute to recover one-of-a-kind experience aboard three Democrats and Piccione did return enough just to get back to the mower. the train. two Independents calls to the paper but For the next hour, I was more alert than running for four chose not to be featured ever, wondering if my entire lawn was at-large seats in the in this article. infested with the cursed beasts. first election to feature Without further ado, Interestingly, I haven’t encountered PUTNAM — Putnam’s the revamped election let the questions begin! one since. annual Great Pumpkin system that will see By way of conclusion, I share this Festival was held on the council be made Question 1: The information with you with an unspoken Saturday, Oct. 24, bringing up of the four at-large first question I’d like trust that I will not get mailers filled visitors from all across New winners and one to ask is for you to with rubber snakes, spiders or other England to the town for candidate from each tell our readers some crazy looking insects. I get enough of a taste of local flavor and district. of your background that at home, thank you very much! style. With so many and history with candidates to catch up Killingly and maybe Jason Bleau photos Adam Minor may be reached at (508) For more photos, turn to with, we at the Villager some details of your A group of young visitors to Putnam’s 909-4130, or e-mail aminor@stonebridge- page A4! decided to try a new platform for this press.com. downtown pose for a photo in front of one approach this year, election. of the many pumpkin-themed decorations splitting our coverage along Main Street. into four distinct parts Please Read CANDIDATES, page A12 A2 • Friday, October 30, 2015 VILLAGER NEWSPAPERS A window into 1917 One of the advantages of perusing the 1917 ter and proceed by way of the If you remember older relatives Transcripts is that it gives a glimpse, like a window in Connecticut Mills in a direct cross talking about the days of this trolley time, to what was in the minds of the people, in addi- country line to Williamsville.