Community Corner

Groton's Stories Of The Year

Two Suicides, The Decision To Close A Middle School and The Failed Phase II Referendum Were Among The Most Read Groton Stories

At the end of the year, it is customary to reflect on the prior year’s stories that touched residents, defined the year or affected the community.

At Groton Patch, here are the top stories of 2011:

Two Suicides

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Lt. Thomas Forbes, 52, who had devoted 30 years to the Groton City Police Department, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on June 7. .  Hundreds of local and state police officers and friends packed a funeral service to honor his memory.

The following month, Christopher Casey Goff took his own life by jumping from the Amtrak bridge into the Thames River. Police tried to negotiate with Goff and his family had waited nearby.

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Decision To Close A Middle School

After weighing its options, the Groton Board of Education voted Dec. 19 to consolidate from three middle schools to two, and to close Fitch Middle School. .  Superintendent Paul Kadri outlined the options for the board in October; the board voted first to consolidate, then decided which school to shutter.

Education, Education

Other education stories also placed near the top of the list. Among them, a look at the superintendent’s role in the district as an agent of change, ; Representative Town Meeting’s decision to give the schools a zero percent budget increase and controversy of the new middle school schedule   The issue of class size also resonated with readers. G

Defeat of Phase II

On May 2, voters overwhelmingly defeated the proposed $133 million school construction plan, that relied on state subsidies and an anticipated 66 percent reimbursement rate.   The referendum saw a political action committee formed and heated exchanges among town officials over the proposal

Tropical Storm Irene

On August 28, Tropical Storm Irene blew into Connecticut, downing trees, wires, and knocking out power. .  The school department used two snow days and delayed the first day of school due to the outages..

Business Struggles

In September, Universal Food Store in Noank closed, unable to recover after Tropical Storm Irene. But the landlord said the store had been struggling for years, and was five years behind on the rent.

Pfizer, one of Groton's three major employers, announced Feb. 1 that it would cut up to 1,100 jobs within the next two years – 25 percent of its local workforce - to save costs and streamline operations. There was some good news, however. Some small businesses opened, including the Bridge Market on Fort Hill Road.

Crimes Against Animals

In February, police arrested Gloria Marriott - also known as Linda Snow or Mary Howard - and charged her with animal cruelty after seizing animals from the home she rented on Oslo Street in Mystic.  Five dogs were seized; all were adopted. Marriott was offered nine months under a plea agreement.

In July, Groton police arrested a man after discovering a dog dead in a crate with no water in the backyard. .


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