Mailed free to requesting homes in Thompson Vol. V, No. IV Complimentary to homes by request (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009 THIS WEEK’S Forest products industry in decline QUOTE Sewer EXPERTS SAY MANY FACTORS CONTRIBUTED ‘Say what you have to JUST PRIOR TO RECESSION say, not what you loan in BY MATT SANDERSON try a challenge. quality lumber, railroad ties, pallets, ought.’ VILLAGER STAFF WRITER According to Joan Nichols, a certi- wood for fuel and mulch. Connecticut’s loggers, sawmill fied forester and president of the The primary woods products workers, timber harvesters, Connecticut Professional Timber industry in Connecticut employs foresters, firewood producers and Producers Association (Timpro), the 3,600 workers and contributes $500 works lumber truckers have been facing forest products industry has been million to the state’s annual econo- INSIDE mounting challenges over last few vital to Connecticut’s economy for a my. long time. Year and after year, the However, those in the industry say BY MATT SANDERSON years due to compounded contribut- VILLAGER STAFF WRITER A8-10— OPINION ing factors that have been making state’s forests produce and sustain a A12 — SPORTS the economic vitality of the indus- variety of wood products, including Turn To FOREST, page A11 THOMPSON — The Trinity Foundation, of the Marianapolis B1 — HOT SPOT Preparatory School, and the town B3 — CALENDAR are close to finalizing its mutual memorandum of understanding to B5 — OBITS move forward with the first phase of B6 — RELIGION Towns host fall festivities the proposed sewer connection proj- ect. The Board of Selectmen will finalize the language of the memo- SCARECROWS randum at a special meeting this LOCAL Monday night, Oct. 26, at Town Hall. DECORATE This information was made pres- ent Tuesday night, Oct. 20, during PUTNAM, the regular Board of Selectmen’s meeting, where they also briefly THOMPSON heard, but did not award, the several new engineering firms’ submitted COMMON requests for proposals for the social services building relocation project. BY STEPHANIE JARVIS For the sewer extension work, the VILLAGER STAFF WRITER town’s attorney has reviewed the Although scarecrows’ jobs are proposal, which puts a lien on to typically frighten crows from Marianapolis property as security farmers’ gardens, perhaps the for loan from the United States ones staking their ground in Department of Agriculture to fund Putnam and Thompson will scare the project. off the recent cold snap, and even Following a Department of Quiet Corner the snowflakes that made an early Environmental Protection violation appearance in the area Sunday. notice, the Marianapolis’ Trinity Chronicles: For the first time ever, the Foundation, a nonprofit group that Putnam Business Association is acts as a steward to the school, Richard Moore hosting the Northeastern approached the Board of Selectmen A-3 Connecticut Great Pumpkin with the request two months ago. Festival this Saturday, Oct. 24, The foundation agreed to pay all bringing all sections of town remaining costs not covered by SPORTS together for a fall celebration. In grant funds, including interest and Thompson, the Village payments on what is expected to be a Improvement Society is running 20-year loan. its fourth annual Scarecrow After receiving feedback from the Decorating Contest on the town Planning and Zoning Commission common. and Water Pollution Control According to Ron Coderre, pres- Authority, the Board of Selectmen ident of the Putnam Business voted Oct. 6 to proceed with the Association, the idea for the Great grant application. Selectman Sally Pumpkin Festival originated White was absent from the meeting. through brainstorming with the The foundation’s consulting firm, organization’s members. “This CME Engineering, presented three NECONN U11 girls take Stephanie Jarvis photo festival has been in the planning options for the sewer hookup. For Columbia-Windham The “Oo-Oo Tree” scarecrow is set against the backdrop of the Congregational most town officials involved, they Tournament championship Church in Thompson, as part of the Village Improvement Society’s Scarecrow preferred the first option, which is Decorating Contest. Turn To FALL, page A7 Page A-12 Turn To SEWER, page A15 OUR BETTER NATURE Briere honored for his work at KCS MOLD, EMERALD ASH BORERS PAGE A5 LONGTIME CUSTODIAN HAS WORKED 41 YEARS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT OPINION BY MATT SANDERSON Schools GET YOUR VILLAGER STAFF WRITER After serving 41 years in the school district, with POINT ACROSS KILLINGLY — On any given day at Killingly 26 of those years being at Killingly Central, it was PAGE A8-10 Central School, the words “Code Yellow” prompt a time for Briere to make his retirement public last Friday during “Roland Briere Day.” HAT O O routine familiar to longtime head custodian Roland WHAT TO DO Briere, usually meaning that there is a spill in the “There’s 500 kids in this building, but I didn’t A CALENDAR gym. know,” Briere said about the celebration. “No one OF AREA EVENTS However, last Friday, Oct. 16, when a “Code [was] spilling the beans.” PAGE B3 Yellow” commenced, signaling that Briere had to go Donning his custodial attire, Briere was led by to the gym, it was not to clean up a mess. The whole coworkers to the front of the gym to a king-like VILLAGE TRIVIA school sat waiting for the 68-year-old to make one throne surrounded by balloons. He was sat down final appearance before he’s off for retirement. and was handed a crown to wear on his head, as well Psychologist William Moulton Somehow, surprisingly, a secret had been kept as a scepter. Marston, inventor of the poly- from Briere by the whole student body. When he “Father Time said it was time,” Briere said about graph, or lie detector, also creat- entered the packed gym to a crowd of smiling teach- his choice to retire this year. “I have arthritis, and I Matt Sanderson photo ed a famous comic book heroine. ers, parents, family and school district officials giv- can’t take another winter.” Roland Briere, longtime custodian at Killingly Who was she? ing a raucous standing ovation, Briere found out On Nov. 1, Briere and his wife Jo-Ann will be mov- Central School, was honored for his 41 years serving Answer on page 2. that no job or career, no matter how thankless it may the school district last Friday, Oct. 16. He retires on be, does not get overlooked in Killingly Public Turn To BRIERE, page A11 Nov. 1. Here, he makes his way through the gym to a king-like throne surrounded by balloons. A2 • Friday, October 23, 2009 THOMPSON VILLAGER Paranormal investigator draws audience at library VILLAGER ALMANAC BY BLANCHE GOSSELIN stone foundations, cellar QUOTATION OF THE WEEK VILLAGER CORRESPONDENT holes and a graveyard; each PUTNAM — They came time they experienced “We’ve been through three referendums on this. to the Putnam Public strange phenomena. Library from neighboring Reputed to have been The townspeople do not want it to run on Route 193.” towns — Woodstock, founded in 1790 by two Plainfield, Thompson, Welsh settlers, Obadiah — RESIDENT ANDY PULLMAN, AT THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S Eastford — as well as from Higginbotham and John MEETING OCT. 20, OBJECTING TO THE TOWN’S CHOICE OF THE PRO- Putnam itself, to hear Randall, the land was aban- POSED MOST EXPENSIVE OPTION FOR THE SEWER EXTENSION PROJECT renowned paranormal doned in the early 1900s. investigator and critically Although private property acclaimed author Paul Eno owners still farm in the OPEN TO CLOSE for his one-hour talk, vicinity, “No Trespassing” THOMPSON multi-media presentation signs warn curious indi- and book signing Saturday, viduals or groups to keep TOWN HALL away from the area. Oct. 17, beginning at 2 p.m. Monday through Friday ..................................8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Eno writes in greater “I come to see Paul wher- ........................................................(Hours will vary by office.) ever he is,” admitted an detail on the Lost Village in Blanche Gosselin photo LIBRARIES one of his eight published elderly gentleman, on a Forty-year paranormal investigator, author and award-winning Thompson Public Library/Community Center books, Faces at the first-name basis with the newsman Paul F. Eno points to photos on the screen in his multi- Monday..................................................................10 a.m.-5 p.m. Window. speaker. media presentation at the Putnam Public Library Saturday, Oct. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday ........................10 a.m.-8 p.m. Another woman in the Each participant had a 17. Friday ..................................................................10 a.m.– 5 p.m. audience, the current definite reason for coming. Saturday ................................................................10 a.m.-2 p.m. Several women, for exam- owner of the old Gertrude machine and other every- father-son “paranormal POST OFFICES Chandler Warner house on ple, were aware of the day noises were heard. He sleuths” and broadcasting 366 Thompson Hill Road Main Street in Putnam, “Lost Village,” located on even worked in a mental team. Residents of Monday-Friday ............................P.O. Boxes: 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m., shared her experience Route 97 in Pomfret, often hospital to study the rela- Woonsocket, R.I., they co- Window: ........................................8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 3-4:45 p.m. along paranormal lines. referred to as “the village tionship between mental host “Behind the Saturday..........................................P.O. Boxes: 7:45 a.m.-noon, Living on the first floor and of ghostly voices.” illness and the paranor- Paranormal with Paul and Window ....................................................................8 a.m.-noon renting the second floor Eno was well qualified to mal, and he also corre- Ben Eno,” heard locally on Quinebaug apartment, she had noticed speak on the subject. In sponds with experts in the WOON 1240 AM, Local Monday-Friday ..................................P.O.