Mailed free to requesting homes in Eastford, Pomfret & Woodstock Vol. VIII, No. 51 Complimentary to homes by request (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 THIS WEEK’S NECCOG QUOTE The cream of the crop “Words, once PUTNAM DANCE CENTER TROUPE discusses paramedic they are printed, WINS NATIONAL HONORS have a life of program study victory was one brief their own.” moment capping a life- time of dedication to REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP’S Carol Burnett dance. “It’s well over 20 hours EFFICIENCY BEING EXPLORED a week. You’re in the stu- dio almost every day,” BY JASON BLEAU said Faucher, 17, a senior VILLAGER STAFF WRITER INSIDE at Marianapolis KILLINGLY — Members Preparatory School in of the Northeastern Thompson. “It’s taking A8-9— OPINION Connecticut Council of classes outside of the stu- Governments continued A12-15 — SPORTS dio, it’s taking classes discussions concerning a B1 — CALENDAR from other teachers, paramedic intercept study going to competitions, being performed in the B3— OBITS going to conventions — region during a meeting on B4 — RELIGION there’s a lot more than Aug. 30, which is meant to meets the eye.” explore how to improve the B5 — CLASSIFIEDS The number the group services provided through performed was entitled the region’s long-running Courtesy photo “Conflicted Souls” and Paramedic Intercept they spent 11 months Program. SPORTS Dancers from Putnam Dance Center won first place national- working on the routine — Larry Groh ly at a competition in Portland, Maine. The dancers in the The region currently has beginning last paramedic services 24 routine were: front row, from left, Hannah Ives and Allie Hill. September. The nine- Back row, from left, Caitlyn Faucher, Taylor Phillips, Kelsey hours a day through a part- means that those in need member troupe included Rioux, Cooper Everson, Caitlyn Sward, Hannah Higgins and nership that was formed in throughout the region have Faucher, Hannah Ives, Grace Higgins. he year 2000. At that time access to advanced life sup- Allie Hill, Taylor NECCOG and Day Kimball port and basic life support BY CHARLIE LENTZ years old. Many of the Phillips, Kelsey Rioux, VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Hospital formed an agree- services. The NECCOG other dancers at Putnam Cooper Everson, Caitlyn ment to support a regional Paramedic Intercept Study PUTNAM — Annette Dance Center have been Sward, Hannah Higgins paramedic intercept pro- is meant to explore any Hebard has trained devoted to dance since and Grace Higgins. gram, which today brings improvements that can be dancers who went on to they were toddlers as “They dance in class services to the region from made for the program to perform on Broadway well. Their countless together all week long American Ambulance out further enhance the servic- and dance in movies, but hours of work were with different teachers of Norwich. The program she never coached a rewarded at Dancers Inc. for tap, jazz, ballet and Please Read NECCOG, page A7 troupe that won a nation- national competition in modern,” said Hebard, Woodstock boys soccer al title — until now. Portland, Maine — when Putnam Dance Center’s hopes to take Caitlyn Faucher was a a troupe from the center owner. “We have 20 kids member of the winning earned first place in a on our team but we’ll Killingly ready for first a step forward team and she’s been contemporary dance dancing since she was 2 competition event. The Page A12 Please Read DANCE, page A7 Great Tomato Festival FINANCIAL FOCUS NEW EVENT WILL ACCOMPANY PAGE A9 Putnam prepares for KILLINGLY COOKS THE POTTING SHED BY JASON BLEAU not have happened this year VILLAGER STAFF WRITER if it wasn’t for some gener- PAGE A9 Memorial Bridge repair KILLINGLY — Killingly ous donations, and the will be a busy place on town’s Frostival event will repair by the state for years, having fallen Saturday, Sept. 14, as Davis not take place this winter SELECTMEN TAKE into a state where it is in desperate need Park becomes busy with life after that event was axed. STEPS TO ENSURE of a facelift. with Killingly Cooks and Parks and Recreation SMOOTH PROCESS Town Administrator Doug Cutler said, the town’s very first Great Director Tracy Wood- “We’re working diligently with the state Tomato Festival. Waggoner says Killingly BY JASON BLEAU of Connecticut to make sure that every- Both events come follow- Cooks will return for it’s VILLAGER STAFF WRITER thing that needs to be done from the town ing a very contentious sixth year, and will include PUTNAM — The Putnam Board of of Putnam’s end is done quickly.” budget season, which saw a wide variety of events, Selectmen met on Sept. 3, where they con- He continued, “One of things we have several town events get cut including the Frito-Lay- tinued discussions on the upcoming done is to ensure that the construction from the slate in order to sponsored Community Day repair of the World War I Veterans easements, which will be in the vicinity of satisfy cost reductions celebration and the brand Visit our website with Memorial Bridge on Pomfret Street. our river trail, are taken care of. For the your smart phone or tablet demanded by the Killingly new tomato-themed cele- The aging structure, which sits over the taxpayers. The Red White device! Quinebaug River, has been scheduled for Just scan the “QR code” Please Read BRIDGE, page A18 and Blue Barbecue would Please Read FESTIVAL, page A7 below with your device and instantly be linked to our website, www.villagernews- papers.com, where you can Villager Newspapers welcomes Bleau to staff read the PDF versions of our newspapers! It’s as easy as that! THOMPSON NATIVE READY TO TACKLE QUIET CORNER ISSUES BY ADAM MINOR and report on the seven attending the Thompson lar articles myself,” Bleau VILLAGER NEWSPAPERS EDITOR towns in the Villager’s cov- school system through said. “I started my first Villager Newspapers is erage area — Killingly, middle school before trans- blog in high school, but I proud to announce the hir- Brooklyn, Eastford, ferring to Killingly High only considered it a hobby ing of staff writer Jason Woodstock, Pomfret, School to be part of the until I found myself at a Bleau to its full-time staff. Putnam and Thompson. school’s Vocational crossroads in college, try- Bleau started with the Bleau joins Sports Editor Agriculture program. ing to determine what I Villager in late August, and Charlie Lentz and Editor “During that time, I grew wanted to do in life.” replaces former staff Adam Minor on the editori- fascinated with film and After determining that writer Meryl Willett, who al staff at the Villager. music reviews in maga- music, radio and journal- left in early July. He will Bleau was born and bred zines like Rolling Stone ism were his lasting pas- northeastern Connecticut, and wanted to write simi- write stories, shoot photos Please Read BLEAU, page A18 Jason Bleau 2 • Friday, September 13, 2013 WOODSTOCK VILLAGER Selected memories from days gone by ’ve had some feedback from Carroll’s Drug Store, 154 Main I love my new phone and don’t Waldon, formerly of Danielson, recent columns that I’d like to KILLINGLY Street. He recalled that most peo- know that that I’d want to go back has just been appointed president share. ple paid with cash and letters for to these simpler days. However, it of the Ruppert Brewery in New IFirst, several individuals AT 300 some payments would specifically surely would be nice to talk to a York City. Mr. Waldron graduated informed me that Nellie Steere’s state, “Please do not send cash.” real person when one has a ques- from Killingly High School in and Maple Glen were not the same He remembered that the milk tion instead of being told to push 1929…(and graduated from place. Thank you for the clarifica- MARGARET man, life insurance man, and the this number and that number. Fordham University, N.Y. in 1935). tion. WEAVER Avon lady would all come right to While browsing through the While at Fordham, he was an out- Mo (Maureen Gorman) Girard the house. He said that his mother 1947 Putnam Telephone Directory standing football star…He resides responded to my request for school Beatrice purchased a couch from (which included much of our in Rye, N.Y. and is married to the memories with a lengthy summa- Jules Home Supply Company (11 area), Cal came across the adver- former Miss Janet Kennedy, ry of her school days. Since she Brooklyn for 6th and 7th grades. Canal Street in the 1948 Business tising for milk companies and was daughter of Frank Kennedy of moved frequently as a child, she Then Brooklyn decided 8th grade Directory) and someone from amazed at how many towns and Danielson.” attended quite a few area schools. from Brooklyn Center would go to there would even come to the villages Deary Bros. Company I shall want to tuck the clipping How many do you remember? East Brooklyn Grammar School house to collect the payment. His (Intervale Street, Putnam) distrib- in my notebook about individuals “In 1946 I lived on Route 12, on South Street — a big double father, Bert, worked at DANCO uted dairy products to: from this area who have risen to Plainfield, and started school at St. story brick building. Mrs. Roper and his mother worked at Arrow- Attawaugan, Ballouville, Dayville, high positions in business, sports, John’s Catholic School, 1st grade, was the teacher. Then before the Hart & Hegeman Electric Goodyear, Hampton, Phoenixville, politics, etc.