Mailed free to requesting homes in Eastford, Pomfret & Woodstock Vol. VII, No. 31 Complimentary to homes by request (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2012 THIS WEEK’S QUOTE Despite rain, officials urge caution while burning ‘THE BEST THING TO DO “What you don’t IS NOT LIGHT ANY FIRES AT ALL see with your eyes, ’ don’t invent with BY KERENSA KONESNI throughout the region earlier this week, your mouth.” VILLAGER STAFF WRITER emergency personnel and state agencies An unseasonably dry spring led to a burn are asking that residents continue to be cau- ban that has been in effect for most of the tious about burning brush. last month, and despite the rain that fell According to the Department of Environmental and Energy Protection (DEEP) springtime generally sees an Courtesy photo increase in the risk for brush fires. With a INSIDE Local officials are stressing that residents follow lack of snowmelt this year after a predomi- their towns’ rules when it comes to brush burn- nately dry winter, and very few days of rain ing — or better yet, not to burn at all, because A8-9— OPINION of this spring’s dryness. Please Read FIRES, page A11 A12 — SPORTS B2 — HOT SPOT B3— OBITS B4 — CALENDAR Residents rally around LOCAL WA International Program P&Z MEMBERS SHARE MIXED FEELINGS ON ZONING AMENDMENTS BY KERENSA KONESNI proposed changes to the lan- student housing near the VILLAGER STAFF WRITER guage within Woodstock’s school. WOODSTOCK — A public zoning regulations to allow “This is an application by hearing regarding a text housing for international Woodstock Academy seek- amendment submitted by students off campus. ing, essentially, to codify Woodstock Academy to the According to Attorney some provisions under the town’s Planning and Zoning Ernie Cutnoir, who is repre- regulations to allow for Commission Thursday, senting Woodstock Academy some housing of students Meryl E. Willett photos within town, related to the April 19, was continued in this matter, there is cur- The Villager International Program,” he The House of Representatives on Friday, April 20. while the school continues rently no specific provision said at the hearing. “It would Interview to rework its proposal. in the town’s zoning regula- Page A3 Woodstock Academy has tions that would allow for Please Read P&Z, page A13 A day at the EVERDAY ECOLOGIST PAGE A5 ROUND ROBIN RELAYS State House PAGE A7 VILLAGER OFFERED SNEAK PEEK INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY MERYL E. WILLETT VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Editor’s Note: On Friday, April 20, Villager Staff Writer Meryl Willett was Visit our website with Players recite the Little League oath. personally invited by State Villager Staff Writer Meryl your smart phone or tablet Rep. Mike Alberts, of the device! Willett in the Charter Oak PLAY 50th District, to visit to Senate Chair. Just scan the “QR code” State House in Hartford. below with your device and Willett spent the day tour- instantly be linked to our BALL! are shown, so when a vote ing the building and sit- website, www.villagernews- is taken it is clear who Kerensa Konesni ting in on one of the final papers.com, where you can voted already, and what photos days of the legislative ses- read the PDF versions of way they voted, explained sion. our newspapers! It’s as easy State Rep. Mike Alberts at as that! WOODSTOCK the beginning of his tour — Cars lined both HARTFORD — The lay- of the State House in the sides of the street out of the House of House of Representatives at Roseland Park Representatives’ cham- Friday, April 20. for Opening Day bers includes two boards Explaining that the for the Woodstock called “tote boards.” Democrats sit on one side Little League These boards posted on and the Republicans the Saturday, April the walls list all of the other, each side has a 21. Democrats, Republicans, majority and minority For more pho- the Speaker of the House, leader that often speaks in No Woodstock team has ever done it before — the 2011 All Stars were honored tos, turn to page and Deputy Speaker. All for completing the season undefeated, winning the District Championship. A9! participating members Please Read STATE HOUSE, page A11 2 • Friday, April 27, 2012 WOODSTOCK VILLAGER Church group lends a big hand to TEEG project BY KERENSA KONESNI based youth organization is made huge help.” working on landscaping outside of into the building the week of May VILLAGER STAFF WRITER up of teens and adults that give Asikainen said TEEG employees the new building after painting 21. back to the community in the spir- were able to complete the finish earlier in the afternoon was com- “A normal project would have When volunteers from the Giv2 it of Christianity. coats following the hard prep work pleted. been done a little bit faster,” noted organization descended upon the “These young people have given done by the Giv2 volunteers in a The building is slated to see a rib- Asikainen, of the two-year build. site of the community building hundreds of hours of volunteer single afternoon. bon cutting ceremony on June 6, “But it’s great to say that we did all that will soon become the new service this year,” she said. “They “This is on the larger side of however Asikainen said that the of this through volunteer efforts. home of the Thompson cleaned up a local park, visited groups who volunteer with us,” he food pantry services were moved It’s a great model for community Ecumenical Empowerment Group, with seniors, assisted the handi- noted. “We get anywhere from one into the new building over the last based efforts.” it was the largest group of volun- capped at the Special Olympics or two or three at a time to five or week, and food distribution will Kerensa Konesni may be reached teers that has shown up in recent Swim Meet and today worked at 10. This is the biggest group I can begin from the site on Tuesday, at 860-928-1818 ext. 110, or at keren- history to help out. the new site at TEEG.” remember.I wish I could have them May 1. The full offices will move [email protected]. That’s according to TEEG Kirk said the goal of the teens here every weekend.” Program Manager Carl Asikainen, and adults that participate in the According to Kirk, there are four who said 30 or so teens between the program is to give young people the chapters of Giv2 throughout the ages of about 13 and 17, along with opportunity to put faith in action state, organized through the VILLAGER ALMANAC a handful of adults, provided the in meaningful ways. Connecticut Conference of the manpower to complete more paint- Asikainen said Giv2 certainly United Church of Christ. ing and landscaping than he accomplished that through their Volunteers on hand at TEEG earli- QUOTATION OF THE WEEK thought was possible in one day. service to TEEG this month. er this month included parish- On Sunday, April 15, the volun- “Painting is great when you have ioners from the East Woodstock “Even though it can be rainy, we are prone to fire teers from Giv2 (pronounced “Give that many kids,” he said. “We Congregational Church, First danger in this season, and this year it’s just worse Squared”) showed up at the site, talked to them about what TEEG Church of Canterbury, First because of the lack winter snow and its moisture. The rolled up their sleeves and got to does in the community for a little Congregational Church of best thing to do is not light any fires at all.” work. while, and then they attacked dif- Woodstock, Thompson According to Giv2 Northeast ferent areas of the building with Congregational and Westfield - DEEP Spokesman Dennis Schain, commenting on the ongo- Coordinator Debby Kirk, the faith- paint rollers and brushes. It was a Congregational in Danielson. ing risk of brush fires due to the current dry season. “Even something small like painting can have an impact on the community,” said Jared Strmiska, a Giv2 volunteer from the First OPEN TO CLOSE Congregational Church of Canterbury. POMFRET “TEEG helps the community and TOWN HALL we are here to help the community Monday, Tuesday, Thursday . 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. too, said Sothea Semmelrock, a vol- Wednesday. 8:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. unteer from the Westfield Friday . CLOSED Congregational Church. “Painting LIBRARIES the walls in the new building made Abington Social Library me feel really nice inside because I Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. 5-8p.m. am helping make a building come Saturday . 10 a.m.-noon to life.” Pomfret Public Library TEEG, the programs of which Tuesday . 10 a.m.-6 p.m. reach across town lines to benefit Thursday. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Courtesy photo residents of the Quiet Corner at Volunteers from Giv2 Northeast completed interior painting at the new TEEG build- Friday . 2 p.m.-6 p.m. large, has seen many hands from Saturday. 10 a.m.-2 p.m ing in Thompson, April 15. the community work to build the POST OFFICES new Thatcher Road facility. Pomfret Gorgeous Spring-Blooming Trees Thompson Selectman Kerstin Monday-Friday . 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Forrester, who also volunteered Saturday . 7 a.m.-noon Magnolias-Unusual colors, even her time painting with Giv2 spoke Pomfret Center (Murdock Road) yellow! “Lavender Twist”Redbud- highly of the Thompson-based Monday-Friday . 8 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-4:45 p.m. Lovely weeping form Shadblow, organization.