Community Corner

Top Stories of 2011

Irene, a New Mayor, Solar Panels, Jazzercise and a Fox All Made Headlines

With a New Year upon us, it is customary to look back at some of the past year’s more memorable stories. There was no shortage of them in Ledyard – from tropical storm Irene and a new mayor to approval of a new CVS and a shot at a state football title.

In selecting the year’s top stories, there is my own opinion and there is what most of our readers thought. For example, the most popular Ledyard Patch story of 2011 was a short column about the nature of news. It was called Have You Heard the Latest on Charlie Sheen?  At least the headline was the most popular.

The list below reflects some of the year’s best-read stories, and also some of the best in terms of writing, relevance and the ability of a few hundred words to have an influence on how we think and feel about our community.

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Irene

One of the biggest stories in Ledyard this year, as it was in most towns in the Northeast, was Irene. Although it had been downgraded to tropical storm status by the time it hit New England, it still caused a lot of damage, and tested the patience of residents, as Gov. Malloy found out. We were out in advance of the storm, and stayed on the story as the town cleaned up and, one by one, the lights came back on.

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New Mayor

Municipal election years are sometimes considered off years – except in Ledyard, where choosing a new mayor can generate a great deal of interest and intrigue. Former Mayor Fred B. Allyn Jr. certainly contributed to that, first by being strong-willed and controversial, and then by announcing plans to seek a second term. His bid fell short in a four-way race that included Republican John Rodolico, Democrat Tony Saccone and petitioning candidate Rob Lawrence. Rodolico won going away.

Snow Country

It was a record-breaking year for snowfall in 2011. For most of January, Ledyard looked more like Alaska. The kids got lots of snow days, but in the process the traditional February school vacation became a thing of the past.

Untimely Deaths

The town was still grieving the loss of Matt Buriak, who would have graduated from Ledyard High School in 2011, when tragedy struck again. David Isbell was a seventh-grader at Ledyard Middle School when he died in March. Levi Masalin, 15, and his cousin, James Austin, 22, both were killed in a motorcycle crash in May. Their memorial service was attended by hundreds. And in June, Groton Police Officer Thomas Forbes, a Ledyard resident, took his own life. 

New Business

Residents have closely followed the progress of CVS, which is planning to build a new pharmacy in Gales Ferry in the 2011. But even more were interested in a proposal for a drive-thru coffee shop in the old Ledyard Firehouse.

Animal News

One of the best-read stories this year was about an ailing fox that was euthanized in Gales Ferry. (Conflicting reports on the health of the fox contributed to the strong reader response.) Fisher cats also made the news this year, as did an alligator. But a story about a big fish, reprinted from the Branford Patch, was the third-best-read story in Ledyard this year. Go figure.

Solar Panels

Solar Panels were already in the news thanks to former Mayor Allyn’s efforts to have them installed on municipal buildings across the town. For more than three yeas Shewville Road farmer Bob Burns has been powering much of his farm with electricity from two solar panels on his property. But when the town threatened to issue a zoning citation because one of the panels was 10 feet too close to the road, the sparks really started to fly.

Jazzercise

Before this year I had never heard of Jazzercise. The aerobic exercise classes that meet daily after-hours at the Ledyard Senior Center have sparked intense debate and divided some senior center members from others in town who are still trying to understand what all the fuss is about.

Celebration

The town marked its 175th birthday this year, kicking off a month-long celebration that included a full program of events, contests and activities. The town's big celebration, of course, is the Ledyard Fair, an event that began with the crowning of Miss Ledyard Fair Katelyn Craig.

Police & Fire

A home invasion in Barrett Park this year served as a sobering reminder that Ledyard is not immune from such crimes. Two of the three suspects were soon apprehended; a third remains at large.  There were two serious fires this year, one on Autumn Road in which a young man was rescued from the burning home’s basement. Recuers later received commendations for their efforts. More recently, a home on Harvard Terrace that had been purchased weeks earlier was completely destroyed by fire.

Season to Remember

The Ledyard High School Colonels football team this year made a surprising and inspirational run to the state title game, won by Ansonia. What made this story so endearing was that nobody saw it coming – except, perhaps, this close-knit group of boys who have been playing football together since they were little kids. It was a gutsy performance that brought cheer – and was cheered – by the entire town.

Laurie Kammer

I wanted to end this list with an upbeat story. The story of a young woman who breaks her spine, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down, typically would not qualify as upbeat. But Laurie Kammer is not typical. She is among the best and bravest people I have ever encountered. If I were to make a resolution for the New Year, it would be to try every day to be more like her.


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