2011: Top Newsmakers

Joe Jaskiewicz

Former Mayor Joe Jaskiewicz was the top newsmaker in Montville in 2011.

From

• fighting the proposed experimental sex-offender facility,
• and then, when the die were cast, supporting and signing the Memorandum of Understanding about the facility,
• to vetoing several substantial budget proposals and
• letting other controversial budget proposals ride, Jaskiewicz's decisions played a major part in shaping Montville's 2011 profile. 

Jaskiewicz also was a lightning rod of sorts.

• He was sued by his former administrative assistant, Cathy Cubilla.
• His resignation was demanded by James Andriote Sr.
• He proposed concessions that the town's management union voted down.

In addition, Jaskiewicz:

• Pushed for and got the town to buy the Montville Center Congregational Church
• Provided leadership during Tropical Storm Irene, and in its aftermath

• Decided not to run for the mayor's job again, but to contemplate running for state office

Donna Jacobson

The former chairman of the Montville Town Council made the headlines again and again in 2011.

Jacobson, was a major force in

She ran a heated race for mayor against Ron McDaniel, who triumphed in the November election.

During the race, her past tax issues became a focal point.

A Freedom of Information action was brought against her and three other councilors, following their presentation of a budget proposal from the group.

Jacobson's budget proposal cut $345,456 from the mayor's proposed budget.

In less controversial events:

• She brought up a proposal for joint stewardship of Hopemead State Park.
• With former council member Ellen Hillman, planned the Can-It-Forward event
• Presided over a council that often simply did not see eye to eye.

Jacobson also wrote, and continues to write, a series of blogs about Montville's past, that have run on the Montville Patch.

Ron McDaniel

The new mayor of Montville was certainly a newsmaker in 2011, winning the office and promising to maintain an open door, and work to unite the town.

McDaniel was sworn in by former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, and already has been involved in the constant stream of mayoral duties, including:

• cutting the ribbon on Thib's new barbershop,
• helping with the Montville Food Bank food drive, and
• introducing Gov. Dannel Malloy, whose announcement that Montville has received a $500,000 STEAP grant helps McDaniel on the road to completing one of his campaign promises, to rebuild the Montville Road bridge.
  

Ray Occhialini

Fire Marshal Ray Occhialini is a force of nature in Montville government.

• in town,
• With former Mayor Joe Jaskiewicz, Occhialini ran the , and with Fire Inspector Ed Shafer and Superintendent Pamela Aubin, that stayed open during the storm and afterwards, while the power was off in town.
• Occhialini's blog postings on safety have been a steady source of information for readers of the Montville Patch.

Dana McFee

• After leaving the Republican Party in 2010, he rejoined in 2011, and became one of two non-Democrats to win a seat on the new town council.
• He won the 2011 Knights of Columbus Chili Cook-off, and won Best Chili in the Montville Polish Club Cook-off,
• started a hot dog business,
• and has been a steady proponent of the buy-a-bag trash program, like the one in Stonington.

McFee is never afraid to share his opinions, and has written a series of blogs on them, including

• Democrats and the sex-offender facility,
• the quality of the campaigns, 
• and why Montville should vote for Donna Jacobson

LisaMarie Bower and Tina Hagerman

These friends worked hard as supporters of and then, when the season was over, turned their attention and considerable energy to

They came up with the , the promotion at , and participated in the , and more.

Gary Pike

  He attended town council meetings, spoke up consistently against the facility, worked to get other towns on the record as opposing it, and spoke up against the project with the state.

Tropical Storm Irene

No, the storm is not a person, but it was surely a newsmaker in Montville this year. The storm took out power for more than a week, wrecked buildings, closed roads, took down hundreds of trees, and generally made a complete mess of things.

Eager

Gidget

Gidget, a beautiful macaw, flew off her owner's shoulder in July, and out into the wilderness of Oakdale.

Today, Michelle Parrett, Gidget's owner, said she believes Gidget is still alive. There had been a recent sighting of her in Mystic, at a bird feeder, and Parrett has felt that Gidget has been near her home in Oakdale a few times recently; her other birds have reacted as though Gidget were there.

Parrett wants to thank everyone who has been looking for the macaw. If you see her, please call Parrett immediately at 860-559-5250.

"Everyone has been really wonderful," she said today. "I realy appreciate it."