KILLINGLY VILLAGER Mailed free to requesting homes in Brooklyn, the borough of Danielson, Killingly & its villages Vol. IX, No. 32 Complimentary home delivery (860) 928-1818/email:[email protected] Friday, August 5, 2016 All the Lawmakers show support for right notes repatriation legislation It started on a whim. BLUMENTHAL, MURPHY, COURTNEY SPEAK OUT ON ‘CASEY’S LAW’ I was about 20 years old at the time, and I had just finished housesitting for BY JASON BLEAU violent crime in the United who is deported after being neighbor for the past 10 days. It was NEWS STAFF WRITER an awesome gig — I watched two dogs States. convicted of a violent crime and two cats, while having an entire On July 25, U.S. Sen. in the United States. Called Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) “Casey’s Law” after Norwich house to myself for more than a week. National lawmakers from Connecticut are taking a joined fellow Connecticut resident Casey Chadwick, Now, before you go getting any ideas, stand, along with a Texas Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy who was killed earlier this I was a responsible man. No parties. lawmaker, to help establish and Texas Republican year by a Haitian national None of criteria that would identify Senator John Cornyn in named Jean Jacques, the law THE that. I and hold accountable any introducing legislation that is partially in response to the took care country that systematical- hold countries accountable Immigration and Customs MINOR of that ly refuses to or delays the for not accepting or delay- Enforcement’s (ICE) failure house repatriation (or deportation) ing the acceptance of an indi- DETAILS well. Richard Blumenthal of a criminal convicted of a vidual from their country Please Read CASEY’S LAW, page A11 After ADAM all, these MINOR people were my friends, Three as well as neighbors. Besides, if some- thing went wrong, they knew where I lived. Anyway, the time came and went arrested after without consequence (other than a dead mouse, but that’s a completely separate story for another time), and they were satisfied with my work. All late night four animals were happy and healthy at the end of my time there, and the house was in tip-top shape. I was paid larceny at well for my time. Being a young man with little finan- cial responsibility (other than car-re- lated expenses), I had a nice little wad Walmart of cash in my pocket to do whatever I wanted with. I was an adult, so I didn’t BY JASON BLEAU have to consult my parents about the NEWS STAFF WRITER money, although I’m sure they would PUTNAM — State have had many more responsible Police made several ideas on what to do with it. arrests on July 27, I had my eyes on one thing, and that after troopers were thing was sitting at a Guitar Center. dispatched at around That’s right, I went and bought myself 11:30 p.m. to reports of BEAT a brand new acoustic guitar. It was an active shoplifting awesome — an Alvarez model with a situation. THE HEAT great sound. I loved it. The only prob- According to a lem? I had no idea how to play it. report from the So what was a guy to do? Armed Jason Link State Police Troop D with a tuner, a book on chords and Quality of Life Task Force, police were a little bit of time, I began to teach Charlie Lentz photos dispatched during the myself how to play guitar. It was bru- midnight shift patrol DAYVILLE — tal at first, as the strings dug down after a call from the In the middle of a into the fingertips on my left hand. Walmart in Putnam heat wave last week They were sore, but as I continued was received, indi- with temperatures on, callouses began to form. The pain cating that several in the 90’s, young- subsided, and gave way to comfort. individuals had sto- sters beat the heat I started at the beginning, tackling len a large flat screen at the water park at all the major chords, playing them television from the Owen Bell Park last ad nauseam — A, C, D, E, G — and store, escaping in a Wednesday, July then moving on to others I needed minivan-style vehi- 27. For more photos, a different form for, like B and F. cle with the product turn to page A4! Those were more difficult. I added a in hand. Police report little variety by adding minor chords to the menu, including my favorite Please Read ARRESTS, page note of all time — A minor (get it?). Kayla Gould A13 I began to learn some songs, experi- menting with chord sheets to some of the most popular songs I knew. It was hard work, especially with no les- sons to draw from other than online Big changes for tutorials and the few books I bought A repair a long with the guitar. I had a poster with a variety of chords on it that I taped the Killingly back of my closet door, and as I mas- time coming tered each chord (and by “mastered,” I mean I was able to move to and from that chord with ease), I would circle QUADDICK BRIDGE School District it, and work on others. Over the course of the next few CLOSED FOR 30-DAY years, I added other guitars to my repertoire, and electric Peavey and a RENOVATION PRINCIPALS, ACTING Fender 12-string, for example. I even bought an effect pedal that allowed for SUPERINTENDENT, BOE BY JASON BLEAU some great effects with my electric. NEWS STAFF WRITER Then I started my family. My fin- CHAIR ALL NAMED gers got pretty soft after that, as my THOMPSON — It’s been time was drawn to other endeavors. years since the Department BY JASON BLEAU a new board of edu- Jason Bleau photo NEWS STAFF WRITER Every now and then, I pull out that of Transportation brought to cation chairman and light structural issues with Quaddick Road Bridge in Thompson, acoustic and strum the easy chords. KILLINGLY — acting superintendent the Quaddick Road Bridge which has been closed for a It’s like riding a bike. But I lost a lot of Killingly’s Board of were chosen in the in Thompson. This month much-needed renovation. The bridge Education and edu- process. the more complicated stuff I picked up those problems will finally be is expected to reopen within 30 in those early years. What a shame. cational leadership Bugbee announced resolved, as the bridge has been days to welcome traffic once again saw quite the trans- his resignation after But the guitar waits patiently in my closed for a 30-day renovation in September. closet. One of these days I’ll pick it up formation in July, as he decided to move period to return to the bridge to to Florida for a job in earnest and make sweet music like not only did Board of fully functioning status after its Education Chairman opportunity. The first it was meant to. Some day… bridge should be reopened, deteriorating condition had led good as new, by the beginning Greg Bugbee resign time board member to the town to temporarily make of September, and that the town from his post, but was elected chairman Adam Minor may be reached at it a one-lane structure. has set a pretty strict timeline to Superintendent Kevin in the wake of last (508) 909-4130, or by e-mail at aminor@ Thompson Planning and make sure that the heavily trav- Farr also submitted November’s munici- stonebridgepress.com. Development Director Maryann his resignation, while pal elections. Chinatti confirmed that the two new school prin- Farr, who was Please Read BRIDGE, page A11 cipals were hired and Please Read SCHOOLS, page A12 A2 • Friday, August 5, 2016 KILLINGLY VILLAGER Legislator pushes for protocol changes in wake of swan incident BY JASON BLEAU Killingly swan incident. Division, Bureau of Natural Resources Still, this is not enough for NEWS STAFF WRITER “I wanted to make sure DEEP rec- and Commissioner’s Office discussed Representative Randall who said she State Rep. Christine Rosati ognized the extraordinary impact this the incident. That meeting resulted in is happy the DEEP has responded to Randall has announced she is mak- event has had on the members of our the DEEP’s Wildlife Division deciding the complaints but feels there is more ing a big push to see changes made community and beyond,” Randall said to implement as protocol to address to discuss and work through to pre- in the Department of Environmental in a press release. “DEEP’s actions mute swans they see as aggressive. vent a situation like what happened Protection protocol when it comes upset many people who considered the The protocol addresses threats to pub- earlier this year. to how the DEEP reacts to incidents swan a longtime resident of Five Mile lic safety, including the likelihood of “While I’m pleased that DEEP has involving swans. Pond, and who have had fond memo- such birds carrying diseases. Swans developed a new protocol, I would like What on the surface looks like a ries growing up with the swan.” by nature are known to be defensive to continue the conversation to include rather obscure and random issue to Many questions concerning the and territorial creatures and it’s not something as simple as a warning sign focus on actually has quite a bit of local incident have sparked discussions uncommon for any entity to receive in a swan’s nesting area,” Randall relevance.