Vol. lV, No. 1 Complimentary to homes by request (860) 928-1818/email:[email protected] ‘Optimism is the foundation of courage.’ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 Alumni Sept. 11 remembered at somber vigil reach out to fellow graduates ASSOCIATION FORMED BY CHENOA PIERCE VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Matt Sanderson photos THOMPSON — Nearly 100 years Deborah Barta, exalted ruler of Danielson Elks Lodge No. 1706, spoke before a ago, Harriet Tourtellotte worked to somber crowd last Wednesday evening, Sept. 11, in Davis Park during a candle- establish a public high school in light vigil in remembrance of the 9/11 attacks. Thompson that would allow anyone who wanted to learn after complet- VENT HELD AT AVIS ARK ing grammar school to be able to do E D P so. BY MATT SANDERSON last Wednesday evening at Davis Her goal, according to Joe Lindley, VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Park, where more than 50 people Alumni Association Committee and DANIELSON — Candles were arrived and lit candles in remem- Board of Education member and waving in the cooling late summer brance of one of the most tragic 1974 Tourtellotte Memorial High night to the rhythm of Ray days in recent American history. School (TMHS) graduate, was for Charles’ version of “America the The service was organized by the free education for all students, no Beautiful.” It was an eerie feeling Danielson Elks Lodge No. 1706. matter what gender or class they of patriotism mixed with grief and Carol DeAngelis-Moulton, of were. longing for lost loved ones. Wauregan, showed up with family “She’s probably one of the origi- Seven years after the Sept. 11 ter- nal women’s rights [activists],” he Brian Cunningham from the Marines recruiting office spoke before a somber rorist attacks, the emotions were crowd last Wednesday evening, Sept. 11, in Davis Park during a candlelight vigil said, noting that she really wanted Turn To VIGIL, 15 still raw in the air during a vigil page in remembrance of the 9/11 attacks. Turn To ALUMNI, page 15 Collector’s CL&P unveiling plan to boost region’s grid LOCAL OPEN HOUSES TO BE HELD SOON BY MATT SANDERSON sources. sale legal VILLAGER STAFF WRITER The Interstate Reliability Project Connecticut Light and Power (IRP), a triple-pronged plan utilizing (CL&P) will unveil a plan to the public the Greater Springfield Reliability services in the form of local open houses Project, the Central Connecticut throughout the next two months in Reliability Project and the Rhode order to improve electric reliability by Island Reliability Project, will address increasing the interstate transfer of regional reliability needs in electricity approved electricity in Southern New England. by providing necessary additional con- A member of Northeast Utilities nections along the three Southern New System (NUS), representatives will England states. BY CHENOA PIERCE present their plan to local officials to In Connecticut, the primary route VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Courtesy photo upgrade electricity transmission capa- under consideration with the THOMPSON — The Board of Employees of Connecticut Light and Power rehearse their upcoming workshops and bilities in eastern Connecticut. Interstate Reliability Project would be Selectmen discussed the tax collector’s open houses slated to take place in eastern Connecticut, starting next week in Representatives from CL&P say this located on an existing right-of-way sale legal services contract at its Sept. Brooklyn. The company is proposing a plan to boost the grid in compliance with larg- new project will also provide state con- between substations in Lebanon, 16 meeting held at Thompson Town er concerns from ISO-New England in order to meet growing populations and demand sumers with enhanced access to clean- Hall. for electricity, while trying to keep transmission rates stable. er, competitively priced energy Turn To CL&P, page 16 According to First Selectman Larry Groh Jr., Tax Collector Rene J. Morin gave the board a description of what a tax collector’s sale is and how it com- pares to a normal foreclosure. “It’s pretty similar to a tax foreclo- Knights of Columbus hall gets makeover sure,” said Groh during a follow-up conversation. According to Groh, when a regular foreclosure is made against the owner LIGHTING, WALLS, SOUND ALL UPDATED of a property,the identity of the owner is known. When a tax collector’s sale is BY CHENOA PIERCE though the conversations didn’t seem done on a foreclosed property,it means VILLAGER STAFF WRITER that attempts to contact the owner have to lead anywhere. been unsuccessful and the property NORTH GROSVENORDALE — The “They talked about it forever,” he has been returned to the town. Groh Knights of Columbus Council 2087 said. cited an example shared at the meet- hall on Riverside Drive may look It wasn’t until about 12 months ago ing, where the last known address of familiar to passersby on the outside, that the step toward renovation was the owners of the property in question but anyone who has ventured into the finally taken. was in Florida. The owners could not building in the past month or so may The renovations included new be reached. have noticed the polished new look of walls, lighting, a brand-new sound The foreclosure occurs because the the upstairs. system and more. owner has not paid his or her bill and Back in July, a renovation project “Everything’s new,” said Birch. owes a substantial amount of money. began to fix up the hall, which was in And he means everything. The balance could be accrued over a poor shape, according to Grand “[The] bathrooms are new,” he said, number of years or within a short few. Knight Richard “Dickie” Birch, who noting that the women’s room, which “It may only be that they didn’t pay played a big role in getting the work he described as “most impressive,” is their taxes in a couple of years, but it’s done. “much bigger” than the previous one. a substantial amount,” he said. “It was a dump,” he said of the hall. The sound system installed can be The legal services contract is in “It was in rough shape.” used by the bands, DJs, etc., who play place in case the fees incurred due to According to Birch, the Knights dis- cussed completing the much-needed Chenoa Pierce photo Turn To SEWER, page 16 renovations to the hall in the past, Turn To K OF C, page 14 The newly renovated Knights of Columbus Council 2087 Hall. A10-11 . .OPINION SPORTS LET A SMILE VILLAGER TRIVIA! A 12 . .SPORTS SOCCER BE YOUR What was the name of Cheerios SECT. B . .OBITUARIES when it was first marketed 50 SECT. B . .CALENDAR PREVIEW UMBRELLA years ago? Answer on page 2. SECT. B . .RELIGION PAGE A12 PAGE A7 INSIDE A2 • Friday, September 19, 2008 THOMPSON VILLAGER Art show celebrates student work VILLAGER ALMANAC PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT CHILDREN WITH AUTISM EDEN INSTITUTE CAMP QUOTATION OF THE WEEK Chenoa Pierce photo “We’re the most educational Left: This swan sculp- maze in the country.” ture was created by 83- year-old artist Arnold — Kristin Orr, of Fort Hill Farms, on the farm’s Prince, who has lent a “Appalachian Trail: The Magic of Walking” maze sculpture to the exhibit that is open until Veterans Day every year for the past three years. Right: Second-grade OPEN TO CLOSE student Thomas DeoJay, of Hampton Elementary THOMPSON School, is the artist behind this print TOWN HALL Monday through Friday ..................................8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ........................................................(Hours will vary by office.) BY CHENOA PIERCE Even the teachers who submit Michael Carr, David Corsini, Chien Fei VILLAGER STAFF WRITER LIBRARIES their students’ work in the show agree. Chiang, Linda Davidson, Gil Hite, Susan WOODSTOCK — In 2001, Ann Chuk “I like to give kids a chance,” said Kenna, Judith Klien, Michael Kusek, Thompson Public Library/Community Center brainstormed an idea that would show- Hampton Elementary School art teacher Ken Langworthy, Tom Menard, Beth Monday and Friday ............................................10 a.m.-5 p.m. case student and professional art while Elizabeth Lindorf, who added that she Mellor, Linda Miller, Guy Ricklin, Tuesday, Wed., Thursday ....................................10 a.m.-8 p.m. raising money for a good cause: to help never showcases the same students Cynthia Saari, Ruth Sangree, Ron Saturday ................................................................10 a.m.-4 p.m. send autistic youths to the Connecticut twice for that reason. Sbardella, David Sekac, Holly Shaw, Ann ........................................................................................................ Children with Autism Eden Institute Brenda Anderson, the art teacher at Vaillencourt, Michael Vineyard, Richard POST OFFICES Camp. North Windham Elementary School, Young and Janet Zeh. 366 Thompson Hill Road Nestled in a barn in West Woodstock, said it’s great to be able to visit the barn A raffle and silent auction, which Monday-Friday ............................P.O. Boxes: 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m., Artists in the Country had a very suc- and take a look at what the students have includes works donated by some of the Window: ........................................8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 3-4:45 p.m. cessful first year and, in the eight years accomplished. abovementioned artists, will be held Saturday..........................................P.O. Boxes: 7:45 a.m.-noon, since, has continued to grow to include “It’s pretty awesome,” she said. throughout the weekend to raise money Window ....................................................................8 a.m.-noon music, dancing and artist demonstra- New this year is a scavenger hunt for as well. The UConn Co-op will also be on Quinebaug tions among the art displays. children and their families to complete hand selling art and children’s books. Monday-Friday ..................................P.O. Boxes: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., “It’s not just an art show, and it’s not while perusing the student work in the In addition, there is plenty of enter- Window: ......................................8:30 a.m.-1 p.m ., 2-4:30 p.m.