Mailed free to requesting homes in Brooklyn, the borough of Danielson, Killingly & its villages Vol. VIII, No. 10 Complimentary home delivery (860) 928-1818/email:[email protected] Friday, January 17, 2014 THIS WEEK’S QUOTE CL&P shows off new strategies to local officials “This time, like ‘WHEN A STORM IS ROLLING IN, WE NEED TO BE PREPARED’ all times, is a very BY JASON BLEAU informed on the company’s efforts to and frustration. good one, if we but VILLAGER STAFF WRITER better serve its customers following a Johnston revealed that there is a know what to do THOMPSON — In 2011, dramatic weather event. very extensive response plan that with it.” Connecticut Light & Power came The most recent major storm CL&P CL&P follows that their customer under fire for a slow response after has had to respond to was Tropical may not be aware of, which sets prior- several storms, including an October Storm Sandy in October of 2012, an ities following a significant weather Ralph Waldo Emerson snowstorm, knocked out power to incident that resulted in half a mil- situation. many throughout the state. lion customers without power, 105 It all starts before a storm even hits Today, CL&P is continuing efforts miles of cable replacement, 1,700 util- the state. to avert a disaster like what occurred ity pole replacements and 2,100 trans- “Days out, one thing our company INSIDE in 2011 by making improvements to formers that needed to be replaced as does is weather watch,” Johnston respond faster and more efficiently to well. According to Johnston, damage said. “When a storm is rolling in we customers in need. like this would normally take CL&P need to be prepared, so three, four, A8-9 — OPINION Jason Bleau photo Thompson native and former State alone more than 10 months to com- five days out, we get predictions to B1 — SPORTS Rep. Shawn Johnston now works for plete, but the company is usually know what’s going to hit us. We have Shawn Johnston, of CL&P, explains the company’s strate- B4 — LEGALS CL&P and recently spoke before given less than a week to bring ser- got to be prepared, and if it looks like Thompson’s Board of Selectmen as vices back to all its customers before gies in the wake of major storms to the citizens of Thompson. B5 — REAL ESTATE its town liaison to keep officials they receive phone calls of outrage Please Read CL&P, page A7 B6— OBITS B8 — CLASSIFIEDS Happy birthday leads to happy cats at PAWS LOCAL WOODSTOCK GIRL GIVES UP BIRTHDAY PRESENTS TO HELP LOCAL SHELTER BY JASON BLEAU supplies, though. do to help foster empathy VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Rather than receiving and caring and community WOODSTOCK — gifts for her 6th birthday, service and to think of Children wait all year for Carrina requested her other people and animals their birthday, the one day guests bring materials to in need above ourselves. I where they are the center of donate to the nearby cat was very proud of her for attention, and aside from shelter, PAWS. going along with it.” the games and birthday According to Christina, For Carrina, supporting Tourtellotte High cake, the presents usually the decision to support the the local cat shelter was a School treats stand as the most exciting cause was a mutual deci- no-brainer, and she chose part of the day. sion between mother and PAWS after seeing how students to a For one local child how- daughter with Carrina’s many cats need a loving Jason Bleau photo night of fun ever, her 6th birthday party birthday being so close to home. Young Carrina Cook, who recently turned 6, celebrated her birth- Page A6 was more about giving than the Christmas holiday. “Some kitties didn’t have day by collecting donations for PAWS in Woodstock rather than getting. “I was very proud of her homes,” said Carrina. “I receiving actual birthday presents. Carrina Cook, whose because we are blessed wanted to donate because mother, Christina, owns enough to have more mate- it’s nice. I don’t have any SPORTS Quiet Corner Speech & rial goods in our lives than kitties at home, but I used Christina noted that she plished as a parent. Language in Woodstock, we need,” said Christina. to. They’re cute and they has worked hard to raise “I am trying to raise her which hosted the party on “She’s always had a good love me. I gave up my birth- Carrina as a generous per- to think of other people and Jan. 11, didn’t get too many heart when it comes to ani- day presents because it’s son and to see her embrace we’re blessed to have what toys for her birthday. mals in need so we thought nice and these kitties that at such a young age makes her feel accom- She did get a lot of cat it would be a good thing to deserve to have a home.” Please Read PAWS, page A7 Brooklyn voters repeal ordinance brought on by petition BY JASON BLEAU 2013, a petition was present- new one in place that they “I was all in favor of vot- had items passed in our VILLAGER STAFF WRITER ed to the Board of hope will accomplish the ing it down,” Ives said. “I budget to go forward in the BROOKLYN — Brooklyn Selectmen that eventually same purpose while resolv- think it was needed at the next year but hadn’t signed voters have unanimously led to the implementation ing issues the wording of time, but was worded dif- the contract yet so they chosen to replace an ordi- of a new regulation requir- the original ordinance ferently than it was intend- voted to do the item and to nance that was implement- ing any agreement involv- caused for the town. ed. It led to situations sign the contract we would Killingly on ed in 2013 as part of the ing town property valued at First Selectman Rick Ives where if I had a truck that have had to go back to track to snap controversy over bringing over $5,000 receive Town said he joined his citizens needed to be repaired over Town Meeting a second the Probate Court to the Meeting approval. On Jan. in voting to repeal the old $5,000, it had to go to a time. I’m sure that wasn’t playoff drought town. 8, the public voted to repeal law and bring in a new one Town Meeting and also Page B1 In the late summer of that same law and put a at a town meeting. caused problems where we Please Read ORDINANCE, page A7 EVERYDAY ECOLOGIST PAGE A5 Reality stars meet fans in Dayville FINANCIAL FOCUS PAGE A7 ‘BIGGEST LOSER’ CONTESTANTS TOUT BENEFITS OF FITNESS BY JASON BLEAU VILLAGER STAFF WRITER DAYVILLE — “The Biggest Loser” is among the most popular reality television shows on the air today,now in its 15th sea- son, and on Jan. 8, fans of the show and fit- ness enthusiasts got to meet a few contes- tants from the 14th season of the program Visit our website with who paid a visit to the Planet Fitness in your smart phone or tablet Dayville. device! Jeff Nichols, who placed runner-up in Just scan the “QR code” season 14 and lost 181 pounds, joined his below with your device and girlfriend and fellow season 14 contestant instantly be linked to our Francelina Morillo, who lost 95 pounds on website, www.villagernews- the show, in meeting fans and answering papers.com, where you can questions about their journey, even invit- read the PDF versions of ing a few to join them in a short exercise our newspapers! It’s as easy routine to show that staying fit can be fun as that! and enjoyable. Nichols noted that he applied to be on the show after catching a glimpse of the 13th season, which was won by an individ- ual close to his original weight and who Charlie Lentz photo lived not far from his hometown. For him, the experience of “The Biggest Loser” HANGIN’ ON was like nothing he had ever gone through before. Jason Bleau photos DANIELSON — Killingly High gymnast Hailey “I don’t think anyone can ever really Cummings competes on the parallel bars in a meet at Jeff Nichols and Francelina Morillo from sea- know what it’s like unless you’ve been to Deary’s Gymnastics on Jan. 13. For more, check out son 14 of “The Biggest Loser” paid a visit to Villager Sports, starting on page B1! northeastern Connecticut on Jan. 8. Please Read BIGGEST LOSER, page A13 A2 • Friday, January 17, 2014 KILLINGLY VILLAGER Killingly in the early 1900’s I’ve continued to be in touch stand. Of course there are also “N.H. Road May Sell Its Depot. Union Protestant services so that with readers of the column and KILLINGLY many others, which are too Danielson Station Is Closed — it may be used for the customary appreciate all the feedback I’ve numerous to mention. Several Reported to Be Interested Catholic services. The building received. AT 300 Did any of you ever attend in Purchase. The Danielson rail- has deteriorated through non-use Jeannette Desmarais sent the dances at Shippee’s Hall in East road station, recently used only as the past six years and suffered following: “The Nov. 29 column Killingly? There was a card from a a waiting depot for bus passengers, minor damages in the recent hur- brought back memories.