Vol. V, No. 48 Complimentary (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] Friday, August 27, 2010 THIS WEEK’S QUOTE After 137 years, St. Mary School closes “It’s a rare person FRICTION OVER FINANCIAL STABILITY who wants to hear OF SCHOOL FORCED STUDENT TRANSFERS what he doesn’t want to hear.” BY MATT SANDERSON school opened in 1873. communicated their inten- VILLAGER STAFF WRITER In what has been charac- tion in late July to parents PUTNAM — More than terized as a series of mis- and faculty, along with St. 75 grammar school stu- communications between Mary Parish, to want to dents and about 20 pre- the diocese, the school and revitalize the school and INSIDE kindergarten students its parents, the diocese work toward resolving the A8-9 — OPINION transferred to area announced on Aug. 20 that school’s growing debt parochial and public the school closed, effective owed to the diocese. A12 — SPORTS schools in light of the immediately. Registration forms at St. B1 — HOT SPOT announced closure of St. According to Michael Mary School continued to Mary School last Friday by Strammiello, communica- dwindle at a high rate Matt Sanderson photo B3-4 — OBITS the Diocese of Norwich. tions director for the St. Mary School in Putnam was closed down last week by the B4 — RELIGION The Marshall Street Norwich Diocese, they Turn To ST. MARY, page A14 Diocese of Norwich. B5-6 — CALENDAR LOCAL Leduc leaves a literary legacy Bank HISTORY COLLECTION NAMED AT PUTNAM PUBLIC LIBRARY announces BY MATT SANDERSON VILLAGER STAFF WRITER PUTNAM — The legacy of merger Raymond B. Leduc was commemo- rated last Wednesday,Aug. 18, at the Putnam Public Library, where a BY RICH HOSFORD memorial plaque was presented to VILLAGER STAFF WRITER signify the formation of the Book Drive Raymond B. Leduc Local History Customers of NewAlliance Bank Page A4 Collection. will soon see a new sign over their Leduc served on the Putnam financial institution. Library Board of Directors for 28 On Thursday, Aug. 19, SPORTS years and served on the Board of NewAlliance Bank announced that Education for 16 years. Leduc it had agreed to a merger with First passed away in February 2004. Niagara, of Buffalo, N.Y., with a After competing, and winning, transaction valued at $1.5 billion. several trivia contests at a local The combined bank will have more radio station in Putnam, Leduc than $29 billion in assets, including said he would obligate his winnings more than $14 billion in loans, as to creating the local history book well as $18 billion in deposits. collection in the library. Members Currently, NewAlliance has 88 of his family had previously donat- branches that serve eight counties ed money in his memory to pur- from Greenwich up to Springfield, chase local history materials to fill Matt Sanderson photo Mass. the section’s shelves. The final dona- From left, bottom row, Monique (daughter), First Niagara currently serves tion was presented last week to sup- Jeanne (wife) and Roger (son) Leduc, as well communities across upstate New port the ongoing local history col- as Anne Lamondy, chair of the Putnam Library York, Western Pennsylvania includ- lection, which contains chronicled Board. From left, back row, grandchildren Bert ing Pittsburgh, and eastern manuscripts and local accounts of Leduc, Celeste Hornyak and Andre Leduc. All Pennsylvania from the Philadelphia Coutu at one people and events from the Quiet were present last Wednesday afternoon, Aug. suburbs to Allentown, Penn. with racetrack Corner, such as the hurricanes of 18, for the dedication of the Raymond B. Leduc According to a release put out by the mid-20th century. Local History Collection at the Putnam Public both banks, the boards of directors Library Director Priscilla Colwell Library. of both companies have unanimous- Page A12 said the Library Board approved the ly approved the transaction and the donation recently. deal will be concluded in the second a dedication fund with the town trea- quarter of 2011, subject to approvals “The library is very happy to have surer for the future purchase of local this legacy to further the collection of from regulators, First Niagara and history items. NewAlliance shareholders, and the local history items,” she said. “For “Reading was always a big part of the last year and a half we had been other customary conditions. All 88 my father’s life,” said son Roger Courtesy photo NewAlliance branches are expected WICKED COOL DEALS talking about putting this together.” W C D Raymond B. Leduc to be converted and re-branded as The Leduc family has established Turn To LEDUC, page A15 XXXX PAGE A5 Turn To BANK, page A15 LEARNING Woodstock Fair observing landmark anniversary SCHOOL MENUS PAGE A6 ‘FOR THE 150TH, WE REALLY WANTED TO CELEBRATE’ OPINION BY RICH HOSFORD itage of the Quiet Corner. Manager Don Farias said this VILLAGER STAFF WRITER The 150th Annual year the fair would be extra GET YOUR WOODSTOCK — Once Woodstock Fair, put on by the special in light of the land- POINT ACROSS again it is time for a Labor Woodstock Agricultural mark anniversary. He said the PAGE A8-9 Day Weekend full of carnival Society Inc., is set to begin. organizers have been pulling rides, fair food, music and This year, the agricultural fes- out all the stops to honor 150 WHAT TO DO entertainment in celebration tival will run from Friday, years of celebrating local of the rich agricultural her- Sept. 3, through Monday,Sept. agriculture and there was A CALENDAR 6, at the Woodstock even a special committee ded- File photo Fairgrounds at 281 Route 169, OF AREA EVENTS The 150th Annual Woodstock Fair is South Woodstock. Turn To FAIR, page A10 PAGE B5-6 set for Labor Day weekend — Friday, Woodstock Fair General Sept. 3, to Monday, Sept. 6. 2010 CHEVY COBALTS WE ARE YOUR NEW CHEVY DEALER FOR LS AND LT OVER 15 left from $12822* SOUTHBRIDGE-WEBSTER 10 0 PUTNAM-WINDHAM 2010 CHEVY SILVERADO PRE-OWNED ON-LINE KILLINGLY & DAYVILLE ARGILLCHEVROLET.COMARGILLCHEVROLET.COM 0% up to 72 months CC 860-928-6591860-928-6591 800-927-6591800-927-6591 or up to $6000 cash back * includes $3000 consumer cash A2 • Friday, August 27, 2010 PUTNAM VILLAGER Rell issues drought advisory VILLAGER ALMANAC BY MATT SANDERSON water supplies, but instead, from ground- of hay. It should be four times that … VILLAGER STAFF WRITER water and stream flow levels, crop mois- Everything here is really dry ground, so QUOTATION OF THE WEEK Despite the rainfall earlier this week, a ture, Palmer Drought index numbers and in a wet year, we’re good, but in dry year drought advisory was issued last week for the fire danger. we are burning up.” the state, urging residents and businesses “In fact, public water supply levels are Randolph Blackmer, of Blackmer within acceptable levels as of our last Farms in Quinebaug, said the dry weath- to conserve water. “I’m very sad about the news I heard … Gov.M. Jodi Rell issued a statement last data review,” said LaVasseur on Tuesday, er has been “somewhat” detrimental to Wednesday,Aug. 18, that due to the lack of Aug. 24. “There are some water utilities his crops. His farm produces mainly It’s sad for the diocese because it’s losing a that have been stressed and that is why corn, hay, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant sustained rainfall and a dry-spell for the real jewel. It’s sad for the bishop because I near-future forecast, she said state resi- the governor advised folks to talk directly and summer squash. dents should limit their water usage and to their water utility providers to see if “The rain we just had was a real life- know he is a strong proponent of Catholic be mindful of the state’s rising fire dan- they should be following any recommen- saver,” he said. “A significant amount of schools, and I’m very sad for St. Mary’s. ger. dations. field corn was feeling stress. The veggies “We are not in an emergency situation, He said that the heavy rains in March had to be irrigated or there wouldn’t be Many parishioners there are alumni. It’s a but it is important for people to take sen- and the warmer than usual temperatures any.” great loss to the parish and the whole com- sible steps to stretch our water supply,” thereafter have lead to early crops and in Blackmer added that he is just about to said Rell. “The two week precipitation many areas, crops that normally would- do his second cutting of hay,a month late. munity.” outlook is not favorable and conditions n’t be ready for harvest until September “Since July 4, we irrigated through last are likely to deteriorate across much of are ready now. week, but hopefully not any more,” he - The Rev. Roland Cloutier, formerly of St. Mary Parish, com- the state.” “Accordingly, while crop moisture is said. menting on the recent closure of St. Mary School. Rell is asking residents to use common down, the crops are so advanced that For precipitation, LaVasseur said the sense and to avoid unnecessary water there may well be less damage to our state needs to get at least two inches of use, such as washing cars at home, run- crops than one would normally expect to rain every two weeks, just to make sure ning ornamental fountains or watering see,” LaVasseur noted. the current situation doesn’t deteriorate lawns. Kristin Orr, of Fort Hill Farms in further. OPEN TO CLOSE “While current water supplies are ade- Thompson said their corn maze and quin- “The recent rains will probably stop quate across much of the state, I urge all tessential gardens are “spectacular” right the deterioration but unless we see addi- PUTNAM TOWN HALL (963-6800) residents and businesses to please coop- now, and they haven’t had to water them tional significant rainfall, we might still Monday through Friday.................................8:30 a.m.