Mailed free to requesting homes in Brooklyn, the borough of Danielson, Killingly & its villages Vol. IV, No. 51 Complimentary home delivery (860) 928-1818/email:[email protected] Friday, October 15, 2010 THIS WEEK’S ‘A huge loss for the QUOTE “Look well into Connecticut State Police’ thyself; there is a source of strength SCANNELL MOURNED BY FAMILY, FRIENDS which will always spring up if thou wilt BY CLARE HOPKINS “The passing of Sgt. always look there.” VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Scannell is a huge loss DANIELSON — The for the Connecticut State Judge of Probate Connecticut State Police Police. He was a true pro- are mourning the loss of fessional who put public one of their own, Sgt. service above all else,” INSIDE John Scannell, 33, who said Public Safety passed away unexpectedly Commissioner James M. District 26 up for grabs in PINION A8-11 — O Monday,Oct. 4. Thomas. A12 — SPORTS “He’ll be missed, it’s a Scannell entered the Connecticut State Police B3-5 — OBITS tremendous loss to the Courtesy photo probate race department, especially Sgt. John Scannell Academy on June 29, B5 — RELIGION the Troop,” said Sgt. John 2001, and graduated with B6 — CALENDAR Guari of Troop D in the 114th Training Troop ADAMS, SCHAD STRESS EXPERIENCE, Danielson. on January 17, 2002. In June, he was A nine-year veteran of the State promoted from Trooper First Class PROFESSIONALISM LOCAL Police, Scannell died of a heart con- to Sergeant and assigned to Troop dition at his home. A funeral was D, where he was well-liked. BY JACK MELTZER Kathleen Murphy in a land- held Friday, Oct. 8, at St. Matthew’s “He’s been described by many VILLAGER STAFF WRITER slide victory, 262-74. Church in Tolland, and burial was people as big hearted and always Republican Attorney Adams has been practic- at Pine Grove Cemetery in Steve Adams, of ing law for more than 24 Turn To SCANNELL, A16 Leicester, Mass. page Woodstock, and Democrat years in the probate court Leah Schad, Pomfret’s and has handled hundreds Probate Judge, are coming of cases regarding advocacy down to the wire in the for elders and incapable per- race for the District 26 sons in conservatorship cases, the mentally ill and Probate Judge post to be Steve Adams decided in the Tuesday, disabled in psychiatric com- Nov. 2 election. mitment cases, and the The newly combined developmentally disabled court covers Ashford, in guardianship cases. Brooklyn, Eastford, Additionally, Adams pro- Pomfret, Putnam, tects kids in custody and Thompson and Woodstock. guardianship cases. Water Street Park There were 116 districts “I love advocating for peo- throughout the state, and ple that are in need of help Page A13 now with the new consoli- during the time they might dation, it has been reduced need it the most,” Adams to 54 regional districts. said in an interview with In the August primaries, Leah Schad the Villager last week. Adams defeated Woodstock Adams is the attorney at SPORTS Probate Judge Mary Ann Day Kimball Hospital in Champney, 155-98, while Schad Turn To 26TH DISTRICT, A15 beat out Thompson Probate Judge page Clare Hopkins photos Griffiths, Rowe vying for U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney with Killingly Town Council Members and business owners, cutting a ribbon to celebrate the Façade Improvement Program 27th District ROBATE JUDGE POSITION WILL AFFECT “Man of the match” Water Street Park unveiled P Page A12 OFFICIALS, RESIDENTS CELEBRATE END OF 42,000 PEOPLE BY CLARE HOPKINS difficult,” he said. FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Griffiths said he believes Republican Carol Anne his experience makes him BY CLARE HOPKINS real victory for the merchants in WICKED COOL DEALS Rowe and Democrat David the candidate best suited for VILLAGER STAFF WRITER the area.” Griffiths will face off the job. DISNEY ON A DIME KILLINGLY — The ribbons were A welcome was given by Tuesday, Nov. 2, for the “I try to bring people PAGE 5 out Tuesday, Oct. 12, as Killingly Killingly Town Council Chairman position of Probate Judge together and that’s the most celebrated the completion of its Robert B. Young, and the Broad in the newly formed 27th important thing,” he said. OPINION Façade Improvement Program and Street Kids performed some musi- O District. “I try to solve their prob- the Water Street Park project. cal selections with their director, The consolidated court lems and we try to work it GET YOUR “It’s been many years in the mak- Allegra Plantier. David Griffiths will cover Killingly, out in such a way that the POINT ACROSS ing but it’s so exciting for us to have “I think we got more than our Plainfield, Sterling and outcome is pleasing to all. I PAGE 8-11 it finished and complete,” said money’s worth for this particular Canterbury, with the office know you can’t please Director of Economic project,” said Young while speak- located in Plainfield. The everyone all the time, but Development Elsie Bisset. ing in the new amphitheatre. WHAT TO DO new district was formed in we certainly try. I try to Tuesday’s event featured a walk “We received a grant two years to A CALENDAR 2009 when the General make it a positive and time- by the improved façades, starting improve the façades for at least 12 Assembly combined and ly experience so they can OF AREA EVENTS at 15-21 Commerce Avenue and end- store fronts on the historic Main reduced Connecticut’s pro- move on with their lives.” PAGE B6 ing in Water Street Park with a ded- Street of downtown Danielson,” bate court districts from Rowe said she has a simi- ication and program featuring said Community Development 117 to 54. This district con- lar view on how probate speakers such as U.S. Rep. Joe Administrator Mary Bromm. tains roughly 42,000 people. cases should be handled — Courtney, D-CT, and Don LaPointe This installment of the Façade Though more towns have knowing that people com- from the Connecticut Department Improvement Program included Carol Anne Rowe been added to his district, ing into the court are usual- of Community and Economic four properties — 15-21 Commerce Griffith, Killingly’s probate ly going through a difficult Development. Avenue, including Hurme Radio, judge, said he does not think the job time in their lives. “This will ensure this communi- Stove King, and Willow Tree will get any more challenging. “The probate court needs to be a ty has a fighting chance,” said “Since I’ve been doing it for five Courtney, addressing the crowd in Turn To MANY YEARS, page A13 years, it won’t be that much more Turn To 27TH DISTRICT, A15 the new amphitheatre. “This is a page A2 • Friday, October 15, 2010 KILLINGLY VILLAGER Walktober highlights VILLAGER ALMANAC UOTATION OF THE EEK Thank you to everyone who took the Joanna. According to The Leavens Q W time to participate in the recent Name, Joseph’s father Penuel was “Walktober” Walks that were held in killed in an accident at the grist mill, “It’s been many years in the making but Killingly. KILLINGLY located not far from the present inter- it’s so exciting for us to have it finished Despite a rainout, then iffy weather, section of Kennedy Drive and and complete.” a number of individuals strolled down AT 300 Providence Street in Putnam (then Main Street in Danielson on Oct. 4 and part of the town of Thompson). shared their memories as Marilyn Penuel had been listed as living adja- - Killingly Director of Economic Development Elsie Bisset, com- Labbe told of the history of the area in cent to Joseph in the 1810 census. menting on the completion of the Façade Improvement her Dear Old Downtown Danielson MARGARET Whether he also lived on the “Walk” Program and the Water Street Park project. Walk. WEAVER property is unknown. The 1850 census For those who were unable to attend, indicated that the family of “Joseph I thought I’d provide a few interesting Levens,” a farmer, contained the fol- ALMANAC tidbits. Which do you think is consid- Marilyn said that part of the LaClair lowing individuals: Joseph Levens, 64; ered the oldest building in the busi- building adjacent to Bargain Supply, Lucina Lelvens, 52; Joseph, Jr., 16; Week of Sept. 27: ness district? If you said the Greek which also burned, had been once Dorcas A., 11; Sarah, 8; and Harriet, 6. Bird sightings at CT Audubon in Pomfret and Wyndham Revival on the corner of Academy that called the Leavens block. Now propri- Shoemaker Andrew Hunter and Land Trust properties in the northeast corner of Connecticut: currently houses Gerardi Insurance, etor George Leavens who operated a Martha Hunter,both 28, also apparent- Sand Hill Crane, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blackpoll Warbler, you would be right. dry goods store was likely the son of ly occupied the dwelling. Their rela- Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bluebirds, White- Known as the Ezra Stiles house, it Joseph Leavens of Killingly Center tionship to Joseph has not been deter- throated Sparrows, Great-Blue Heron, Mallard, White-eyed was built circa 1840. Stiles was a den- whose ancient farm was part of mined. Vireo and Flickers. tist in Danielson from the mid 1840s to Killingly’s other walk, The Mystery of Joseph died in 1859, and his probate 1853. Did you know that additional the Stone Foundation. indicated a small estate — 22 acres, a early buildings, that date to the begin- For those who were unable to attend house and other buildings. His widow BOOK OF THE WEEK ning of the Borough shortly after the that walk, I’ll provide a short summa- Lucina received the customary dower railroad arrived in 1840, are enclosed ry of my sleuthing.