Hartford Courant -- January 1, 2022

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by  Hartford Courant

Betty White dies Tutu mourned Huskies-Hoyas canceled Mostly cloudy
Television icon dies just a few weeks shy Thousands pay respects to Archbishop Women’s game Wednesday at Georgetown Morning fog; possible showers;
of her 100th birthday. News, Page 4 Desmond Tutu. News, Page 4 canceled due to COVID-19. Sports, Page 1 high of 52. Sports, Page 6
VOLUME CLXXXVI CCOOUURRAANNTT..CCOOMM SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2022
CORONAVIRUS IN CONNECTICUT
Surge
dashes
early ’21
hopes
Optimism that built
through much of year
dampened by omicron
By Alex Putterman
Hartford Courant
Connecticut entered 2021
amid a large COVID-19 wave,
with hopes it would be the state’s
last.
Now, Connecticut ends 2021
amid a large COVID-19 wave, with
hopes it will be the state’s last.
Altogether, the numbers were
ugly: 324,482 cases and 3,165
deaths in 2021 alone, even as
more than three million state
Gov. Ned Lamont announces the arrival of 426,000 at-home COVID-19 tests and N95 masks at the state commodities warehouse in New Britain on residents received at least one
Friday for distribution to cities and towns. CLOE POISSON PHOTOS/SPECIAL TO THE COURANT dose of a newly available vaccine.
Whereas it looked mid-year
AT-HOME COVID-19 as though Connecticut had
conquered COVID-19, the calen-
dar ends with high levels of infec-
tions, illness and uncertainty.
With the omicron variant spread-
ing rapidly, the state has experi-
TESTS READY TO GO enced record case counts and test
positivity rates, leaving hospitals
packed and health care workers
worn down.
“It’s never been this hard,”
Sherri Dayton, a nurse and
More than 400,000 delivered union leader at Backus Hospital
in Norwich, said recently. “It’s
to Connecticut; will start to be
always been hard, and we’ve
handed out early next week always had a staffing shortage as
long as I can remember, but it’s
By Jesse Leavenworth never been this bad.”
Hartford Courant The year began with Connecti-
cut midway through a devastat-
The more than 400,000 at-home COVID- ing COVID-19 surge that killed
19 tests that finally arrived in Connecticut several thousand residents and
early Friday will begin to be handed out to hospitalized many more. Busi-
state residents early next week. ness faced capacity limits, masks
Surrounded by boxes containing the were required in public spaces,
426,000 tests at a state warehouse in New and some schools resorted to
Britain, Gov. Ned Lamont urged community remote learning.
leaders to prioritize vulnerable residents, Slowly, the situation improved.
including those with symptoms, home- Cases began to slow and local
less people and front-line workers. More hospitals emptied. Restrictions
tests were expected to arrive through the were lifted. At a May 27 press
weekend in advance of free distribution in conference, Gov. Ned Lamont
municipalities next week. struck a hopeful tone as Dr.
The tests arrived hours after Lamont Scott Gottlieb, one of his go-to
held a Thursday evening news conference pandemic advisors, declared an
and admitted that a deal for Connecticut “interim victory” over COVID-19.
Pallets loaded with rapid COVID-19 tests sit ready for distribution at the state commodities It helped that Connecticut was
Turn to Tests, Page 2 warehouse in New Britain on Friday. by then one of America’s most
vaccinated states, with all adults
eligible for a shot and more than
half having already gotten at least
one.
Subdued celebrations welcome 2022
With its weather warm and its
population protected, Connecti-
cut’s coronavirus numbers
continued to improve. On July
As virus keeps filling New Year’s Eve, which used Students 1, the state reported only 35 new
to be celebrated globally with a participate in a COVID-19 cases. The next week
hospitals, world clings
free-spirited wildness, felt instead demonstration hospitalizations hit a new low,
to hope amid exhaustion like a case of deja vu, with the Friday to say with only 25 patients receiving
fast-spreading omicron variant goodbye to treatment, and the state recorded
By John Leicester again filling hospitals. 2021 in Lahore, just a single coronavirus-linked
and Nick Perry At the La Timone hospital in the Pakistan. death over a seven-day period.
Associated Press southern French city of Marseille, Around the However, a relatively COVID-
Dr. Fouad Bouzana could only sigh world, sorrow, free summer wasn’t to be. The
PARIS — Sorrow for the dead Friday when asked what 2022 fear and delta variant emerged in July and
and dying, fear of more infections might bring. exhaustion became dominant within weeks,
to come and hopes for an end to the “Big question,” he said. “It’s start- greet 2022 as causing a surge in cases that frus-
coronavirus pandemic were — again ing to become exhausting, because the pandemic trated residents who’d thought
— the bittersweet cocktail with the waves come one after another.” persists. K.M. the pandemic was over.
which the world said good riddance CHAUDARY/AP
to 2021 and ushered in 2022. Turn to New Year, Page 3 Turn to Virus, Page 2
Step into the new year with state’s ‘First Day Hikes’
Connecticut parks, dozen state parks. Connecticut Forest and Park Asso- There are hikes at 14 different Killingworth will hold Costume
“It’s been a tough few weeks,” ciation, to provide both guided and parks around the state. There is Dog Parade, followed at 1 p.m. by
DEEP plan 14 events
said DEEP spokesperson Meghan self-guided hikes through state no registration required. two separate hiking opportunities,
for New Year’s Day Bard. “COVID changed a lot of land. The hikes can vary considerably, one guided and one self-directed.
holiday plans. A walk outside is a Connecticut has been offering Bellantuono said. “We have some Some individual hikes attract
By Christopher Arnott way to combat the holiday blues.” the First Day Hikes for around a hikes for true beginners. Others hundreds of hikers. Bellantu-
Hartford Courant First Day Hikes is part of a decade. Some local groups have are more advanced. Some are ono said one she gave at Sessions
national initiative overseen by the been organizing New Year’s Day along the shoreline, while some are Woods a couple of years ago drew
For a COVID-safe way to ring National Association of State Park hikes for much longer than that. scenic woodland hikes. Each park 150-200 people. “Hammonasset
in the new year, the Connecticut Directors. The DEEP is working “We put it out there and see who is unique in its own way. There’s probably gets the most,” she said.
Department of Energy and Envi- with various “Friends of ...” park wants to participate,” said Kristen something for everyone.” The First Day Hikes for 2021
ronmental Protection is again groups groups, as well as local Bellantuono, who coordinates the At noon on Jan. 1, for example,
offering First Day Hikes at over a parks organizations such as the First Day Hikes for DEEP. the Friends of Chatfield Hollow in Turn to Hikes, Page 3
McDonald’s workers, union activists, get their jobs back Opinion .......................News, 8 Puzzles ......................Living, 5
Obituaries ...............News, 10 Comics .................Living, 5-6
A federal labor judge ruled that a McDonald’s restaurant owner used pandemic layoffs as a Lottery ........................News, 2
“scheme” to permanently dump four workers who were active in unionizing efforts. Page 5 Classified ...................News, 9
2 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Saturday, January 1, 2022
FROM PAGE ONE
Tests “If you’re showing symptoms, get a test kit. If you’re going to be going into a school Virus
from Page 1 on Monday, do public safety work or forward facing public workers who feel like they from Page 1
may have something going on, get a test. Otherwise, you can hold off a little bit. We’re
to buy millions of at-home As case counts rose,
tests to hand out to resi- going to have a lot more tests in the next couple of weeks.” — Gov. Ned Lamont Connecticut entered
dents fell apart when the its “anger” stage of
state was outbid. By Friday pandemic grief. Resi-
morning, the state had found dents fed up with vaccine
new suppliers, including requirements and mask
Aetna parent CVS Health, mandates in schools held
to provide the test kits that defiant protests. Others
will be handed out free to — those who had been
state residents and used in vaccinated and taken all
schools. recommended precau-
“We got ourselves to the tions — grew resentful
front of the line,” Lamont that their unvaccinated
said, noting that the state is neighbors were prolong-
dealing with a “Gold Rush” ing the crisis.
mentality in competition for But the numbers even-
the rapid test kits. Until more tually began to dip again,
test kits arrive in coming and it seemed once more
days and weeks, tests should than Connecticut was
go to people who truly need putting the pandemic
them, he said. behind it. The arrival of
“If you’re showing symp- vaccine boosters further
toms, get a test kit. If you’re lifted hopes, even as
going to be going into a experts warned about a
school on Monday, do public possible winter spike to
safety work or forward come.
facing public workers who As it turned out, the
feel like they may have winter has been worse
something going on, get a than even the most pessi-
test,” Lamont said. “Other- mistic local experts
wise, you can hold off a little predicted. Cases were
bit. We’re going to have a rising rapidly even before
lot more tests in the next the arrival of the omicron
couple of weeks so that we variant, which has now
can prioritize the people taken the state’s numbers
that are most in need.” to unprecedented levels.
Lamont said the state is A Connecticut National Guardsman drives a fork lift to move a pallet of N95 masks at the state commodities warehouse in New The year ended this week
still working to sign new Britain on Friday. Gov. Ned Lamont announced the arrival of the masks and 426,000 home COVID-19 tests for distribution to with Connecticut report-
agreements to replace the cities and towns in a news conference at the warehouse. CLOE POISSON/SPECIAL TO THE COURANT ing a 20% positivity rate
tests he thought the state had Thursday, setting a record
purchased. Earlier this week, the free tests on Thursday cases, the most of any day teen of those patients are Officials also stressed that for a third straight day.
the state announced it had a and Friday. The Lamont during the pandemic. children and five children routine Covid testing will The good news for
deal to buy 3 million COVID- administration had said No statewide COVID- were in the ICU Friday, offi- not be done at emergency Connecticut is that
19 at-home rapid tests and 6 repeatedly this week that the 19 numbers were released cials said. rooms. COVID-19 vaccines (with
million N95 masks to help delay was due to shipping Friday, but in the Yale New “There are people who Balcezak and Borgstom boosters) remain effec-
curb the spread of the virus. and supply chain problems. Haven Health System, Chief are very, very ill,” said Dr. stressed what they said was tive in staving off seri-
Two million of the tests were “The entire state of Executive Officer Marna Thomas Balcezak, chief the need to show civility ous infection, according
to go to schools. The deal, Connecticut was misled Borgstrom said hospitals clinical officer at Yale New and kindness toward hospi- to experts, so the state’s
valued at more than $18 by the governor’s office on are struggling with a rising Haven Health. tal personnel. The hospital high vaccine rate should
million, fell apart when the Monday at a time when caseload of patients very ill But Balcezak also noted system is not allowing visi- continue to help limit
state was outbid. information and data is crit- with the virus. that, as the demand across tors, except with certain hospitalizations and
Lamont and administra- ical. At this point, we need Borgstrom said that the the state for COVID-19 test- exceptions, deaths moving forward.
tion officials said they were to trust, but verify, every- system’s five hospitals had ing increases, the YNHH “We are in this together, If the omicron variant
told the tests were on the thing that comes out of that 513 Covid-positive patients system had to hire off-duty all of us have a part to play proves to have less severe
way from California, when office.,’’ House Republican hospitalized as of Friday police officers at all of in this pandemic,” Balcezak symptoms than other
in fact Connecticut was leader Vincent Candelora morning. the YNHH testing sites said. strains, as is it reported
the loser in a deal that was said Thursday afternoon. This is a “fivefold “because of unruly behav- He said “we are going to appears to be the case,
“misrepresented” to state Connecticut is now in increase” from the just over ior” on the part of some see more challenges before Connecticut’s outlook
officials. It was not immedi- the midst of one of the most 100 patients the system had people who sought care it gets better.” could improve once this
ately clear who was getting severe surges of the nearly hospitalized at the beginning there. current spike subsides.
the tests instead. two-year old pandemic. of the month, Borgstom said, “This is an uptick in some Jesse Leavenworth can be The third year of the
The development — There are nearly 1,200 speaking during a Friday unfortunate behaviors,” reached at jleavenworth@ pandemic, however, is on
after Lamont said the tests people hospitalized due to morning Zoom meeting. Balcezak said. courant.com the way.
were on the way all week COVID-19 and the state’s Of the 513 hospitalized Now, all testing by YNHH
— stunned municipalities seven-day positivity rate patients, 76 were in the ICU will be done by appoint- Information from Connecti- Alex Putterman can be
across Connecticut who stands at 14%. On Thursday, and 49 were on ventilators, ment only and through the cut Mirror is included in reached at aputterman@
were planning to hand out the state reported 7,700 new YNHH officials said. Nine- system’s website, he said. this story. courant.com.
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Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Saturday, January 1, 2022 3
FROM PAGE ONE
New Year
from Page 1
The pandemic game-changer of
2021 — vaccinations — continued
apace, with some people getting
jabs while others stocked up on
drinks and treats for subdued
feasting. Some milestones were
met: Pakistan said it had fully
vaccinated 70 million of its 220
million people this year and Brit-
ain said it met its goal of offering
a vaccine booster shot to all adults
by Friday.
In Russia, President Vladimir
Putin mourned the dead, praised
Russians for their strength in diffi-
cult times and soberly warned
that the pandemic “isn’t retreat-
ing yet.” Russia’s virus task force
has reported 308,860 COVID-19
deaths but its state statistics agency
says the death toll has been more
than double that.
“I would like to express words
of sincere support to all those who
lost their dear ones,” Putin said in
a televised address broadcast just
before midnight.
Elsewhere, the venue that many
chose for New Year’s celebrations
was the same place they became
overly familiarly with during lock-
downs: their homes. Because of
omicron’s virulence, cities canceled Drones create a lion in the sky above the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich to bring in the New Year on Saturday in London. ROB PINNEY/GETTY
traditional New Year’s Eve concerts
and fireworks displays to avoid weeks.
drawing large crowds. In India, millions of people rang
Pope Francis also canceled his in the new year from their homes,
New Year’s Eve tradition of visit- with nighttime curfews and
ing the life-size manger set up in other restrictions taking the fizz
St. Peter’s Square, again to avoid out of celebrations in New Delhi,
a crowd. In an unusual move for Mumbai and other large cities.
Francis, the 85-year-old pontiff Authorities have imposed restric-
donned a surgical mask for a tions to keep revelers away from
Vespers service of prayer and restaurants, hotels, beaches and
hymns Friday evening. But he also bars amid a surge in cases fueled
delivered a homily standing and by omicron.
unmasked. Many Indonesians were also
Face masks again became forgoing their usual festivities for
mandatory Friday on the streets of a quieter evening at home, after the
Paris, a rule widely ignored among government banned many New
afternoon crowds that thronged Year’s Eve celebrations.
the sunbathed Champs-Elysees, In Hong Kong, a New Year’s Eve
where a planned fireworks display concert featuring local celebrities
was canceled. With nearly 50% of including boy band Mirror was the
Paris-region intensive care beds first big New Year’s Eve event since
filled by COVID-19 patients, hospi- 2018, after events were canceled in
tals were ordered to postpone 2019 due to political strife and last
nonessential surgeries. year because of the pandemic.
Yet boisterous New Year’s Eve In mainland China, the Shanghai
celebrations kicked off in the government canceled an annual
Serbian capital of Belgrade where, light show along the Huangpu
unlike elsewhere in Europe, mass River that usually draws hundreds
gatherings were allowed despite of thousands of spectators. There
fears of the omicron variant. Large were no plans for public festivities
crowds gathered Friday evening A couple kisses on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris early on New Year’s Day. MARTIN BUREAU/GETTY-AFP in Beijing, where popular temples
for outdoor concerts, fireworks have been closed or had limited
and a light show, and hotels and fireworks show on the Strip that shops, celebrating being freed from broadcast online and on television. access since mid-December.
bars were packed. One medical was canceled last year due to the recent virus restrictions. South Korean authorities also In the Philippines, a typhoon
expert predicted that Serbia will pandemic. In South Korea’s capital, closed many beaches and other two weeks ago wiped out basic
see thousands of new COVID-19 In Japan, people thronged Seoul, the annual New Year’s tourist attractions along the east necessities for tens of thousands
infections after the holidays. temples and shrines, most of them Eve bell-ringing ceremony was coast, which usually swarm with of people ahead of New Year’s
More than 300,000 visitors wearing masks. Some shrugged off canceled for the second straight people hoping to catch the year’s Eve. More than 400 were killed by
were expected in Las Vegas for the virus, dining and drinking in year due to a surge in cases, and first sunrise, and extended tough Typhoon Rai and at least 82 remain
events including a New Year’s Eve downtown Tokyo and flocking to a pre-recorded video was instead distancing rules for another two missing.
Hikes
from Page 1
were nearly all self-guided due to
COVID concerns. Parks did not
close during the early, pre-vaccine
period of the COVID pandemic,
though some new rules were insti-
tuted that limited capacity. One of
the responsibilities of DEEP staff
and others running the hikes will
be keeping the hiking groups safely
distanced, Bard said.
Bellantuono recommends dress-
ing appropriately when hiking,
especially during cold weather.
Other tips can be found at the
American Hiking Society website
at americanhiking.org/first-day-
hikes. Regarding COVID concerns,
earlier this year the DEEP issued
a “New Normal Health & Safety
Guidelines” booklet, which can
be found at portal.ct.gov/-/media/
DEEP/COVID-19/Health_Safety_
Flyer_NN_Final.pdf. The guide-
lines, which cover a range of
outdoor activities besides hiking,
state that unvaccinated partici-
pants should wear masks outdoors
when social distancing is not possi-
ble.
Here is a list of DEEP state
parks offering special First Day
Hike events on Jan. 1, 2022, with
descriptions drawn from DEEP
listings:
„ Auerfarm State Park Scenic
Reserve, Bloomfield. “Look for A new bridge stretches along the trails of the 184-acre Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam. BOB MACDONNELL/HARTFORD COURANT
signs of winter wildlife while
hiking to the top of the old „ Hammonasset Beach State Park, one of Connecticut’s most historic
Auerfarm orchard.” 10 a.m. Madison. An “easy walk” on the Summit views, then back down an
„ Bluff Point State Park, Groton. Cedar Island trail, “to identify trees old fire tower road to a cutoff that
“An approximately 3.5 mile using buds and bark and searching will lead us to our Friend’s New
loop hike (about 1 hour and 45 for seals.” 1 p.m. Year’s Campfire Celebration.” 10
minutes).” 11 a.m. „ Kettletown State Park, a.m. to 1 p.m.
„ Chatfield Hollow State Park, Southbury. The 1.8-mile Miller „ Peoples State Forest,
Killingworth. A costume dog Trail, featuring a log bridge and Barkhamsted. Due to the weather,
parade at noon, followed by hikes views of Lake Zoar. 1 p.m. the First Day Hike & Sky’s The Limit
at 1 p.m. „ Mansfield Hollow State Park, event at People’s State Forest has
„ Gillette Castle State Park, East Chaplin. Two hikes offered: a 2.2 been rescheduled to Jan. 8. Hikes
Haddam. All-day self-guided mile hike on easy to moderate led by Friends of American Legion &
hiking opportunities, “with a trail terrain and a 4.5 mile hike which Peoples State Forest will take place
map describing ‘curious structures’ is moderate to challenging. Both at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., and Sky’s the
and historical sites on the expan- hikes leave at 11 a.m. from the Limit program starts at 12:30 p.m.
sive grounds of Gillette Castle.” recreation field parking lot on Meet at Mathies Grove Pavilion.
„ Goodwin State Forest, Hampton. Bassetts Bridge Road in Mansfield. „ Sessions Woods Wildlife
Self-guided “nature-themed scav- „ Machimoodus/Sunrise State Management Area, Burlington.
enger hunt” with “simple prizes.” Park, Moodus. “Several experi- A “strenuous” five mile on the
All day. enced trail leaders ready to lead Tunxis Trail. 10 a.m.
„ Fort Griswold Battlefield some hikes.” 1 p.m. „ Sherwood Island State Park,
State Park, Groton. A “volunteer „ Pachaug State Forest, Westport. Guided 2-2.5 mile hike.
in period dress” leads visitors Voluntown. A two-mile interme- Noon.
through Fort Griswold. There’s diate level hike “from the tran-
also an on-site cell phone tour. quility of Mount Misery brook, up Christopher Arnott can be reached
Noon. the actual Mountain of Misery, to at [email protected]. Winter settles in along Chatfield Hollow Brook. COURANT FILE PHOTO
4 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Saturday, January 1, 2022
WORLD & NATION
BETTY WHITE 1922-2021
TV icon was a beloved
fixture for over 60 years
By Frazier Moore “Mike, you’re playing “It’s ridiculous,” White
Associated Press like Betty White out there,” said of the honor. “They
jeered one of his chums. haven’t caught on to me, and
LOS ANGELES — Betty White, flat on the ground I hope they never do.”
White, whose saucy, and covered in mud, fired By then, White had not
up-for-anything charm back, “That’s not what your only become the hippest star
made her a television main- girlfriend said!” around, but also a role model
stay for more than 60 years, That helped spark a for how to grow old joyously.
whether as a man-crazy TV Facebook campaign called “Don’t try to be young,”
hostess on “The Mary Tyler “Betty White to Host SNL she told the AP. “Just open
Moore Show” or the loopy (please?)!,” whose half-mil- your mind. Stay interested
housemate on “The Golden lion fans led to her co-host- in stuff. There are so many
Girls,” has died. She was 99. ing “Saturday Night Live” things I won’t live long
White would have turned in a much-watched, watch- enough to find out about,
100 on Jan. 17. hailed edition that Mother’s but I’m still curious about
She launched her TV Day weekend. The appear- them.”
career in daytime talk shows ance won her a seventh White almost wasn’t cast
when the medium was still Emmy award. as “Happy Homemaker” Sue Betty White’s television career, headlined by her roles on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The
in its infancy and endured A month later, cable’s TV Ann Nivens in “The Mary Golden Girls,” spanned more than 60 years. White died Friday at 99. CHRIS PIZZELLO/AP 2009
well into the age of cable and Land premiered “Hot In Tyler Moore Show” in 1973.
streaming. Her combination Cleveland,” the network’s She and her husband, Allen actress in a comedy series. her another Emmy. quick responses nurtured
of sweetness and edginess first original scripted series, Ludden, were close friends In 1985, White starred on White began her televi- in the Jarvis years, she was a
gave life to a roster of quirky which starred Valerie Berti- of Moore and Moore’s NBC with Bea Arthur, Rue sion career as a $50-a-week welcome guest on “I’ve Got a
characters in shows from nelli, Jane Leeves and then-husband, producer McClanahan and Estelle sidekick to a local Los Ange- Secret,” “To Tell the Truth,”
the sitcom “Life With Eliz- Wendie Malick as three Grant Tinker. It was feared Getty in “The Golden les TV personality in 1949. “What’s My Line” and other
abeth” in the early 1950s to past-their-prime show-biz that if White failed on the Girls.” Its cast of mature She was hired for a local game shows — all the way up
oddball Rose Nylund in “The veterans who move to Ohio. show, which already was a actresses, playing single daytime show starring Al to the 2008 “Million Dollar
Golden Girls” in the ’80s to They move into a home huge hit, it would be embar- women in Miami retire- Jarvis, the best-known disc Password,” which revived
“Boston Legal,” which ran being looked after by an rassing for all four. But CBS ment, presented a gamble in jockey in Los Angeles. the game once hosted by
from 2004 to 2008. elderly widow — a charac- casting head Ethel Winant a youth-conscious industry. White proved to be a natu- Ludden, whom she had met
But it was in 2010 that ter, played by White, who declared White the logical But it proved a solid hit and ral for the new medium. when a contestant on his
White’s stardom erupted as was meant to appear only in choice. lasted until 1992. She was bright, pretty and original “Password.”
never before. the pilot episode. Originally planned as a White played Rose, a likable, with a dimpled, That was in 1961, and the
In a Snickers commer- But White stole the show, one-shot appearance, the gentle, dim widow who eye-crinkling smile. Jarvis next year, while touring
cial that premiered during and the salty Elka Ostrovsky role of Sue Ann (which managed to misinterpret was replaced by actor Eddie in summer theater during
that year’s Super Bowl tele- became a key part of the humorously foreshadowed most situations. She drove Albert, and when he went to television’s off season, she
cast, she impersonated an series, an immediate hit. She Martha Stewart) lasted until her roommates crazy with Europe for the film “Roman starred with Ludden in the
energy- sapped dude getting was voted the Entertainer of Moore ended the series in off-the-wall tales of child- Holiday,” she headed the comedy “Critic’s Choice.”
tackled during a sandlot the Year by members of The 1977. The role brought her hood in fictional St. Olaf, show. The marriage lasted from
football game. Associated Press. two Emmys as supporting Minnesota. The role won With the glib tongue and 1963 until his death in 1981.
ANALYSIS
GOP looking ahead to big ’22
even while challenges persist
By Steve Peoples
and Will Weissert
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Not
long ago, the Republican
Party was hitting bottom.
The GOP had lost the
presidency and House in
November 2020 and would
soon squander its Senate
majority early in 2021 —
then watch with horror as
supporters of then-Pres-
A coffin with the body of retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu is carried Friday into St. George’s ident Donald Trump
Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa. Tutu died Sunday at 90. TSVANGIRAYI MUKWAZHI/AP stormed the U.S. Capitol
last Jan. 6.
‘Moral giant’ Tutu honored What a difference a year
makes. Some GOP operatives fear that former President Donald
A resurgent GOP is now Trump’s false comments about election fraud could depress
by mourners in South Africa poised to reclaim one or voter turnout among party loyalists in 2022. BEN GRAY/AP
both congressional cham-
bers in 2022, while retaining campaign promises, and a that are even more favor-
its lock on dozens of state disengaged political base. able to the party.
By Andrew Meldrum ostentation or lavish expen- tions of leadership. It has legislatures and governor’s Yet Republicans face their Many Republican legisla-
Associated Press ditures. people of all colors. Our offices. Republican confi- own significant challenges. tures have also enacted laws
More than 2,000 people church welcomes LGBTQ dence is fueled by President A Supreme Court decision making it more difficult to
CAPE TOWN, South visited the cathedral on people. That’s all thanks Joe Biden’s underwhelming expected next summer that vote in response to Trump’s
Africa — South Africans the first day of viewing on to the leadership of Arch- poll numbers, a Democratic could dramatically erode or false claims of voter fraud.
from all corners of retired Thursday and on Friday the bishop Tutu,” said Jakob- economic and social agenda dismantle abortion rights That’s expected to dispro-
Archbishop Desmond line stretched for nearly a sen, who served as Tutu’s that’s faltering, intensifying could galvanize Democratic portionately affect Demo-
Tutu’s “rainbow nation” mile. A requiem mass for personal chaplain when he concerns about inflation, supporters. cratic-leaning African
filed past his plain pine Tutu will be held Satur- was archbishop. and deepening frustration But Trump himself is an Americans and Latinos.
casket by the hundreds on day before he is cremated After the viewing Friday, with the pandemic. even bigger wild card. Representing the Demo-
Friday to pay their respects and his remains placed in a Tutu’s body remained alone At its most basic level, The former president has cratic Party’s most reliable
to his life of activism for columbarium in the cathe- overnight in the cathedral, though, GOP optimism waged war against fellow base of support, many Black
equality for all races, creeds dral. “a place that he loved,” is born of the same polit- Republicans whom he voters are also frustrated
and sexual orientations. “His work did not stop according to a statement ical headwinds that have deems insufficiently loyal. by the party’s inability to
“He was a moral giant. with the end of apartheid,” from Archbishop of Cape shaped U.S. politics for Some GOP operatives also enact policing overhauls in
He was a moral and spiri- Lapsley said, in reference Town Thabo Makgoba. decades. The party that fear that Trump’s lies about response to the outcry that
tual giant loved and revered to South Africa’s regime The cathedral, the Angli- controls the White House election fraud could depress followed George Floyd’s
for fighting for equality for of racial oppression which can church’s oldest in has a tremendous disadvan- turnout among is loyalists. murder over a year ago.
all people,” said the Rev. Tutu prominently opposed southern Africa, dating to tage in the first election of a “We just have to limit Some Democrats insist
Michael Lapsley, on the and which ended in 1994 1847, shows the changes new presidency. the damage that he’s caus- there is cause for optimism.
steps of the historic St. when South Africa held a encouraged by Tutu. The “We’re going to have a ing,” Maryland Gov. Larry No issue may be bigger than
George’s Cathedral after democratic election. Crypt Memory and Witness hell of a year,” said Florida Hogan, a member of the a looming Supreme Court
Tutu’s coffin was carried “Archbishop Tutu bravely Center has public educa- Sen. Rick Scott, who leads Republican Governors decision on abortion rights.
in amid music, incense and championed the equality of tion programs to encourage the national GOP’s Senate Association’s executive The conservative-leaning
prayers. all people. He transformed healing and social justice. campaign arm. board. court will weigh whether
Anglican clergy — women the church by bringing With her gray hair pulled Republicans dominated “If we have big battles to weaken or even overturn
and men, Black and white, women into the clergy. He back in a ponytail tinged last fall’s elections across in primaries, either we’re the decision that legalized
young and old — lined the championed the LGBTQ with purple, and wearing Virginia, New Jersey, New going to nominate people abortion nationwide.
street to honor the cortège community, for whom he a brightly colored rainbow York and Pennsylvania, who are unelectable in Democrats are hopeful
carrying Tutu’s body to the is a hero all over the world,” mask, the Rev. Maria Claas- even in areas Biden easily purple states or swing that a major shift on the
church. Members of the Lapsley also said. sen said she was paying carried in 2020. districts, or we’re going to politically charged case
Tutu family accompanied One of the first women homage to Tutu. Democratic strate- beat up our incumbents would help rally subur-
the casket into the cathe- priests ordained by Tutu, “He was a very humble gists acknowledge being so bad that they lose the ban women — voters who
dral. the Rev. Wilma Jakobsen, man but to sit in the same concerned about a wave general election,” added lifted the party during the
People began filing said Tutu radically changed room with him, you could of Democratic congressio- Hogan. 2018 midterms. “We are
through the lofty cathedral South Africa’s Anglican feel the strength of his pres- nal retirements, Repub- Republican-controlled the tortoise and they are
to light candles and view church. ence, of his convictions,” lican-controlled state legislatures have aided the hare,” said New York
the simple coffin with rope “The face of the church said Claassen, an Angli- legislatures reshaping the Republicans’ potential Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney,
handles which Tutu had has changed. It has women can priest in Cape Town’s House districts, a struggle House fortunes by drawing head of the House Demo-
said he wanted to avoid any priests and women in posi- Durbanville area. to enact Biden’s leading new congressional districts cratic campaign arm.
New wave of canceled flights closes out 2021
By David Koenig United States. more than 2 million travel- cancellations on the United
Associated Press By early afternoon Friday ers a day on average have Express regional affiliate.
on the East Coast, airlines passed through U.S. airport CommutAir, which oper-
More canceled flights had scrubbed more than security checkpoints, an ates many United Express
frustrated air travelers on 1,400 U.S. flights — about increase of nearly 100,000 flights, scrubbed one-third
the final day of 2021 and 6% of all scheduled flights a day since November and of its schedule by midday,
appeared all but certain to — and roughly 2,900 world- nearly double last Decem- according to FlightAware.
inconvenience hundreds of wide, according to tracking ber. JetBlue canceled more
thousands more over the service FlightAware. Led by United and than 140 flights, or 14%
New Year’s holiday week- That pushed the total U.S. JetBlue, airlines have of its schedule, and Delta
end. cancellations since Christ- already canceled more than grounded more than 100, or
Airlines blamed many of mas Eve above 9,000, with 1,000 U.S. flights on Saturday 5% of its flights by midday
the cancellations on crew the peak of 1,520 on Dec. 26. and nearly 500 on Sunday. Friday. Allegiant, Alaska,
shortages related to the The disruptions come On Friday, United Spirit and regional carri-
spike in COVID-19 infec- just as travel numbers climb canceled over 200 flights, ers SkyWest and Mesa all
More than 1,400 U.S. flights on the East Coast were scrubbed tions, along with wintry higher going into the holi- or 11% of its schedule — scrubbed at least 9% of their
on Friday. Above, travelers in line in Chicago. NAM Y. HUH/AP weather in parts of the day weekend. Since Dec. 16, and that doesn’t include flights.
Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Saturday, January 1, 2022 5
CONNECTICUT
UConn delays move-in, will start classes online
By Jesse Leavenworth Transmission of COVID- strated housing insecurity
Hartford Courant 19 has spiked this week will be approved, according
across the state, with the to the university website.
UConn will conduct daily positivity rate hitting Unvaccinated, exempted
courses online only for the 20% Thursday. students are not eligible to
first two weeks of the spring UConn also will be issu- return to university housing
semester and delay the ing a requirement that eligi- prior to Jan. 29.
move-in period, according ble students receive booster For students approved
to the university president. vaccinations, and discus- to live on campus, UConn
The actions were driven sions are ongoing about will open in red status with
by a recent sharp increase requiring the same for added restrictions, including
in student COVID-19 posi- eligible faculty and staff, he online course instruction,
tivity rates and the increas- wrote. limited dining and highly
ing prevalence of the virus “The university knows,” limited activities, including
across Connecticut and the a message on the UConn closing in-person usage of
nation, interim President website says, “that some the Recreation Center until
Andrew Agwunobi wrote students have no choice but Jan. 29. This will closely
in a message to the univer- to return to our campuses resemble the residential
sity community. over the weekend of the quarantine the university
Classes will still begin 15th or earlier based on your followed in fall of 2020.
on Jan. 18, but will be individual circumstances. In January, univer-
conducted online until Jan. On Monday, January 3, resi- sity leaders will conduct
29, the message said. The dential students needing online town hall meetings
new residential student to live on campus will be for students and staff to
move-in date will be the contacted by residential life help answer any questions,
weekend of Jan. 29. with instructions on how to Agwunobi wrote.
“This is subject to further request approval for housing
change based on the course from January 15-29.” Jesse Leavenworth can be UConn interim President Andrew Agwunobi said spring move-in will be delayed and courses will
of the pandemic,” Agwunobi International students reached at jleavenworth@ be conducted remotely for the first two weeks of the semester after a recent sharp inscrase in
wrote. and students with demon- courant.com student COVID-19 positivity rates. COURANT FILE PHOTO
Vernon man hit by car,
Manchester residents urged
killed walking on Route 6
to attend hearing on charter
By Jesse Leavenworth ory Hill Drive at about 5:30
Hartford Courant p.m. Uriano was walking
east on the right shoulder
A Vernon man was killed when he walked into the
By Jesse Leavenworth file a report to the board get $2,500 to $2,600 and „ Examining the appro- while he was walking in eastbound travel lane and
Hartford Courant of directors by July 6. The the mayor receives $3,000, priateness of residency a travel lane on Route 6 was struck by an Audi Quat-
board then will frame Howroyd said. The last time requirements for certain in Andover on Thursday tro driven by a 47-year-old
MANCHESTER — At the proposed charter changes the amount was raised was town staff positions. evening, state police said. Andover man, police said.
three public hearings the for a November referen- 1996, he said. Currently, the general Todd Uriano, 43, was The man driving the Audi,
Manchester charter revi- dum. „ Establish independent manager, school super- taken to Windham Hospital, and his 11-year-old passen-
sion commission has held Directors’ resolution investigatory powers for the intendent, police and fire where he was pronounced ger, were not injured, police
since early June, Chairman creating the commission board of directors. Again, chiefs, public works direc- dead, police said. said, but the vehicle had to
Josh Howroyd said only in April charged the panel Howroyd said the commis- tor and water and sewer The collision happened be towed. Any witness is
one person, Democratic with considering specific sion has not addressed department administra- about 500 feet east of Hick- asked to call 860-465-5400.
Town Committee Chair- issues, including: this possible change in any tor must live in town. The
man Mike Pohl, has spoken. „ Allow the board of direc- detail and members want to residency requirement
Howroyd urged residents tors to draft proposals with- hear residents’ views. can make recruitment for
to attend a public hearing out the general manager’s „ Empowering the board those positions difficult, Middletown police search
set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. direction. Howroyd said of directors rather than Howroyd said.
in Lincoln Center and offer the commission has not the general manager to „ Changing references to
for suspect in assault, theft
much needed feedback on reviewed this poten- appoint members of certain Manchester (pop. 59,713)
consequential issues. tial change in detail and commissions, potentially from “town” to “city.”
“We’re kind of flying members want to hear resi- including the conservation „ Using gender-neutral By Jesse Leavenworth warrant for Webb on charges
blind,” he said. dents’ views. and economic development pronouns for hundreds of Hartford Courant that include first-degree
The charter defines the „ Review the structure of commissions. references throughout the burglary, third-degree
town’s form of government the council-manager form The commission’s review charter. Middletown police are strangulation, third-de-
and sets out the roles and of government. A strong is not restricted to those Check the charter revi- asking for the public’s help gree assault, second-de-
responsibilities of most mayor form of government areas. Other changes being sion commission website to track down a man wanted gree unlawful restraint and
elected and appointed such as East Hartford’s is considered include: — bod.townofmanchester. for assaulting a woman and larceny.
town officials. Once a one option. “I don’t know „ Changing the name org/index.cfm/charter-re- stealing her car, police said Webb was last seen on
commission is appointed, how much support it has,” of the board of directors vision-commission — 24 Friday. foot in the area Westlake
the entire charter is on the Howroyd, a former town to “town council” and hours before the meeting Isiah Webb, 25, forced his Drive running from police.
table for review and possi- mayor, said. “general manager” to “town to find the link for remote way into a home at about 2:45 He should be considered a
ble changes. This includes „ Revision of terms of manager.” The titles are access and other informa- a.m., assaulted the victim, danger to the public and citi-
the form of government, office and compensation for anomalies in Connecticut, tion. stole some of her personal zens are encouraged not to
which currently consists of board of directors members. adopted under a corporate property and later stole her approach him. Anyone with
a town manager and board Currently, board members mindset in 1946 as the town Jesse Leavenworth can be car, police said. The vehicle information on Webb’s loca-
of directors. get $2,000 annually, the transitioned from a board of reached at jleavenworth@ has since been recovered. tion is encouraged to call
The commission must deputy mayor and secretary selectmen, Howroyd said. courant.com Police have an arrest police at 860-638-4000.
McDonald’s workers, union activists, get jobs back
Judge says they Administrative Law Judge Windsor Locks-based other fast food outlets have tution in the service plaza who worked at the Darien
Donna N. Dawson found that company, which owns other used the pandemic as cover campaign,” Palache said, “and service plaza McDonald’s
were targeted for
the workers, who had been McDonald’s restaurants to attack fair pay, basic bene- we enter the New Year deter- for over 20 years.
protected activities employed at the McDonald’s in Connecticut, New York, fits and workers’ protected mined to win better condi- “After all the struggles
at the service plaza on I-95 New Jersey and Massachu- right to form a union,” said tions and a union for them we’ve gone through,” Franco
By Jesse Leavenworth in Darien, were targeted by setts, had recalled many Rochelle Palache, Vice Pres- and all their co-workers, as a said, “I’m so glad that the
Hartford Courant owner Michell Enterprises employees who also engaged ident of Service Employees part of the national campaign justice we’ve always desired
for protected activities. in pro-union activities. International Union, 32 BJ, for $15 and a Union.” is finally starting to arrive,
A federal labor judge ruled Lawson ordered Michell to “However, as shown, no which filed the complaint A representative of and I believe together we can
that a McDonald’s restau- reinstate the workers and other employee’s level of and represented the work- Michell Enterprises could make this New Year the one
rant owner used coronavi- compensate them for back union and other protected ers’ at trial alongside the not be reached. where we win new union
rus pandemic layoffs as a wages and other losses. activity reached the levels government. The ruling, according to membership for all.”
“scheme” to permanently The four were laid off of the four discriminates,” “We are proud and thrilled an SEIU news release, closes
dump four workers who in 2020 as the pandemic Dawson wrote. that (the four workers) now out the year on a satisfying Jesse Leavenworth can be
were active in unionizing began and never recalled. “This decision lays bare join other McDonald’s work- note for one of the affected reached at jleavenworth@
efforts. Dawson noted that the the way that McDonald’s and ers who have won resti- workers, said Mario Franco, courant.com
Wind-swept fires ravage communities in Colorado
By Brittany Peterson, mph, swept over drought- lit up the night sky had sheriff said.
Patty Nieberg stricken neighborhoods subsided and the winds had The sheriff said some
and Colleen Slevin with alarming speed. died down. Light snow soon communities were reduced
Associated Press The cause of the blaze was began to fall, raising hopes to just “smoking holes in the
under investigation. Emer- it could snuff out hot spots. ground.”
SUPERIOR, Colo. — gency authorities said utility By late morning, the He urged residents to
One couple returned home officials found no downed blaze had burned at least wait for the all-clear to go
Friday to find the mailbox power lines around where 9.4 square miles but was no back, warning that it was
about the only thing left the fire broke out. longer considered an imme- still too dangerous in many
standing. Charred cars and On the day after, David diate threat. neighborhoods because of
a burned trampoline lay Marks and others stood on a “We might have our very fire and fallen power lines.
outside smoldering houses. hillside overlooking Superior own New Year’s miracle on Sarah Owens, her
On some blocks, homes while he used a borrowed our hands if it holds up that husband, adult son and their
reduced to smoking ruins pair of binoculars and a there was no loss of life,” dog got out of their Superior
stood next to ones all but long camera lens to see if his Gov. Jared Polis said, noting home within 10 minutes of
unscathed by the flames. house, as well as those of his that many people had just learning about the evacua-
Colorado residents driven neighbors, were still there. minutes to evacuate. tion from a Facebook post.
from their neighborhoods by He said he thinks his The wildfire broke out But as everyone tried leaving
a terrifying, wind-whipped Elise Delaware walks in the remains of her childhood home home is OK, but he won’t unusually late in the year, by way of the winding streets
wildfire got their first, Friday in Louisville, Colorado. JASON CONNOLLY/GETTY-AFP know for sure until police following an extremely dry of the well-to-do Rock Creek
heartbreaking look at the let residents back in. fall and amid a winter nearly neighborhood, it took them 1
damage the morning after, husband had been turned love that the land backs up He had watched from the devoid of snow so far. 1/2 hours to go 2 miles.
while others could only wait into a pile of charred and to a natural space, and they hillside as the neighborhood Boulder County Sher- Once they safely found
and wonder whether their twisted debris. It was one of have a view of the mountains burned. iff Joe Pelle said more than their way to a pet-friendly
homes were among the more seven houses in a row that from the back. “By the time I got up here, 500 homes were probably hotel, their cellphones and
than 500 feared destroyed. burned to the ground. The wildfire erupted the houses were completely destroyed. He and the gover- computers could not provide
At least seven people were “The mailbox is stand- Thursday in and around engulfed,” he said. “I mean, nor said as many as 1,000 them with the only thing
injured, but remarkably there ing,” Glaab said, trying to Louisville and Superior, it happened so quickly. I’ve homes might have been lost, they wanted to know: Was
were no immediate reports crack a smile through tears. neighboring towns about 20 never seen anything like though that won’t be known their house still standing?
of any deaths or anyone miss- She added sadly, “So many miles northwest of Denver that. ... Just house after until crews can assess the “The good news is I think
ing in the aftermath of the memories.” with a combined population house, fences, just stuff damage. our house may be OK,”
blaze outside Denver. Despite the devasta- of 34,000. flying through the air, just “It’s unbelievable when Owens said.
Cathy Glaab found her tion, she said they intend Tens of thousands were caught on fire.” you look at the devastation But from now on, she
home in the town of Supe- to rebuild the house they ordered to flee as the flames, By first light Friday, the that we don’t have a list of said, she plans to have a bag
rior where she lives with her have had since 1998. They propelled by gusts up to 105 towering flames that had 100 missing persons,” the packed in case of another fire.
6 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Saturday, January 1, 2022
From TV to digital sites, Nev. casinos
set record
viewership taking big hit
for monthly
Cable news networks suffer steepest drop after cashing in on drama of 2020 winnings
By David Bauder visitors to the Post’s site was down 44% in 924 engagements, or social media interac-
Associated Press November compared to November 2020, tions. The 13.5 million articles NewsWhip
and down 34% at the Times. has traced in 2021 had an average of 321 By Ken Ritter
NEW YORK — The presidential election, While a Dec. 23 headline on the Los engagements. Associated Press
pandemic and racial reckoning were stories Angeles Times front page — “How Much To a certain extent, these outlets have
that drove intense interest and engagement More Can We Take?” — referred to COVID- turned elsewhere for revenue opportuni- LAS VEGAS — Nevada casinos set a
to news outlets in 2020. To a large degree, 19, it could easily be applied to the news ties, Doctor said. record in November, reporting a ninth
2021 represented the inevitable hangover. appetite in general. CNN is preparing to debut a new stream- straight month of $1 billion or more in
Various metrics illustrate the dwindling For the most part, smart news executives ing service early this year, and recently house winnings, gambling regulators said,
popularity of news content. knew the peaks of 2020 were not sustain- poached Fox News’ Chris Wallace to join providing another sign that business in the
Cable news networks were the main able. “It was entirely predictable,” said news that effort. Fox News, while doubling down nation’s tourist-dependent gambling mecca
form of evening entertainment for millions media analyst Ken Doctor. on conservative commentary following has returned to pre-pandemic levels.
of Americans last year. In 2021, weekday Perhaps that was most obvious at the perceived threats from outlets like News- The $1.32 billion in casino winnings
prime-time viewership dropped 38% at cable news networks. They built a prime- max and OANN, directed fans to its Fox reported statewide for last month was up
CNN, 34% at Fox News Channel and 25% at time model almost entirely focused on Nation streaming service. from $1.22 billion in October, and almost
MSNBC, according to the Nielsen company. political combat during the Trump years, Some 100 to 120 local newspapers shut reached the record $1.36 billion figure set
The decline was less steep but still signif- which made it difficult for them to pivot to down in 2021, a number that is on pace with last July, the Nevada Gaming Control Board
icant at broadcast television evening news- something different, said Tom Rosenstiel, the declines of the past two decades, said reported this week.
casts: 12% at ABC’s “World News Tonight” a journalism professor at the University of Penelope Muse Abernathy, a professor at The streak beat the previous record of
and the “CBS Evening News;” 14% at NBC’s Maryland. “You become, to some extent, a Northwestern University. eight consecutive months set before the
“Nightly News,” Nielsen said. prisoner of the audience you built,” he said. Yet local news outlets are also expected Great Recession, from October 2006 to May
The Trump era saw explosive subscriber Those networks remain focused on poli- to have their smallest number of job cuts 2007, board senior analyst Michael Lawton
growth for some digital news sites like The tics even as viewership interest wanes. The in 14 years, according to the research firm said.
New York Times and Washington Post. media monitoring company NewsWhip Challenger Gray & Christmas. That comes Nevada sports betting also set records —
Yet readers aren’t spending as much time looked at 14 million political articles online after 2020 saw the biggest number of lost reaping a record $72 million in November on
there; Comscore said the number of unique last year and found they had an average of newsroom jobs since 2008. sports wagers totaling $1.1 billion.
Lawton said the previous record was
$61.8 million in sports bets won by casinos
in November 2020, and he noted sports
Post-work plans are changing books took in more than $1 billion in wagers
in consecutive months for the first time.
Most sports wagers were made with mobile
betting apps.
“The continued acceptance of mobile
sports wagering by customers is driving
As lifespans get longer, these results,” Lawton said. “This month
represented the highest monthly total
‘financial gerontologists’
recorded in mobile (bets) since the board
address stages of old age began tracking these wagers in January
2020.”
Business generally has been buoyed by
By Corinne Purtill visitors with money to spend, Lawton said,
The New York Times and a sustained rebound of leisure travel
and the return in early November of airline
When Cynthia Hutchins started her flights from international places other than
career as a financial planner in the 1980s, Canada and Mexico.
the concept of “retirement” was simple and
straightforward.
Most of her clients envisioned a few
years of leisure after their full-time careers BUSINESS BRIEFING
ended, with a pension, Social Security and
Holiday rebound
perhaps a bit of savings providing steady
support.
“When my grandmother retired, as an
for USPS in 2021
example, if you lived into your 70s that was
considered to be a really good, long life,”
Hutchins said recently over video chat from
her home office outside Baltimore. PORTLAND, Maine — The U.S Postal
As the years went on, she noticed a shift Service pulled out all the stops to avoid a
in her conversations with clients at Merrill repeat of the 2020 holiday shipping disas-
Lynch, where she worked as a retirement ter, and it worked.
specialist. ShipMatrix, which analyzes shipping
The defined-benefit plans their parents package data, reported that 96.9% of the
had relied on were fading away, replaced by Postal Service’s shipments were on time
self-funded schemes that demanded a great during a two-week period in December. In
deal more planning on the employee’s part. 2020, more than a third of first-class mail
What’s more, people no longer imagined was late by the time Christmas arrived.
their so-called retirements as a few golden The Postal Service installed 112 new pack-
years of golf and grandchildren. The 20th age sorting machines, transitioned more
century added more years to life expectancy than 60,000 pre-career employees to the
than any era of human history before it. As ranks of career employees, hired 40,000
the new century loomed, Hutchins’ clients seasonal employees and leased extra space at
were grappling with decisions that previ- more than 100 locations since last year, offi-
ous generations simply hadn’t lived long cials said. As a bonus, the number of quaran-
enough to face. They were trying to plan for tined postal workers was less than last year.
decadeslong stretches that included multi-
ple phases: leaving work to care for an aging
parent, a second career, the possibility of
needing full-time care themselves. China-focused
Even in her own family, Hutchins saw
how gains in life expectancy were outpac-
trade bloc begins
ing the plans people made for themselves. Cynthia Hutchins of Bank of America Merrill Lynch now educates the firm’s 19,000 financial
Her grandmother died at 96, four decades advisers on working with clients across all stages of life. TING SHEN/THE NEW YORK TIMES
after retiring from the Social Security
Administration at age 55. sions; how to recognize if a long-term client concerns of the later stages of life, gerontol- BANGKOK — Members of a China-
“She lived 41 years in retirement, and it is being financially exploited or experienc- ogy is a multidisciplinary field that includes centered Asian trade bloc that takes effect
hit me that had she known she had 41 years, ing cognitive changes that are influencing the social and psychological implications of Jan. 1 are hoping the initiative, encompass-
she would have planned totally differently,” their decision-making. aging and longevity. ing about a third of world trade, will help
she said. Hutchins was named to the newly Doctors concerned with a patient’s power their recoveries from the pandemic.
That realization prompted a career shift. created role in 2014, shortly after obtain- longevity don’t just look at vital signs, but The 15-member Regional and Compre-
Hutchins, 61, is now the director of finan- ing her master’s degree from the Univer- also ask about the social factors affecting hensive Economic Partnership includes
cial gerontology at Bank of America Merrill sity of Southern California’s Leonard Davis their patient’s health, like access to social China, Japan, South Korea and many other
Lynch, a role in which she educates the School of Gerontology. At the time, Merrill support, adequate food and transportation Asian countries. It does not include the U.S.
firm’s nearly 19,000 financial advisers on Lynch (which had not yet merged with to appointments. or India.
working with clients across all stages of life. Bank of America) was the first major bank Similarly, financial planners who have The deal slashes tariffs on thousands of
The training she has developed helps to employ a financial gerontologist, and is completed training in longevity know the products for member nations and also takes
advisers understand the complexities that still the only major one to use that title. questions to ask to make sure that their into account issues such as e-commerce and
can accumulate as the years pile up: how to Being the first to hold this role gave clients are on track for successful financial intellectual property. But it has less stringent
simultaneously finance children’s college Hutchins freedom to shape a subspecialty outcomes in older age, and that they will be labor and environmental requirements than
education and parents’ in-home care; when that is small but growing in significance. comfortable starting necessary but poten- those expected by the European Union or
to bring in adult children or other family In contrast to the medical specialty of tially difficult conversations about long- Trans-Pacific Partnership, which includes
members to collaborate on financial deci- geriatrics, which focuses on the physical term care, health and end-of-life plans. many of the same nations but not China.
Firm wants to restore oil lease on tribal land Effectivefederalfundsrate
Dailyinterestrateatwhichbankslend
eachotherreservefunds
By Matthew Brown In court documents filed last week in a it a cultural heritage area, and tribal lead- 2.5
Associated Press lawsuit against the Interior Department, ers have bitterly opposed Solenex’s drilling
its attorneys argued that Jewell exceeded aspirations.
BILLINGS, Mont. — Attorneys for a her authority and the lease should be rein- The Blackfeet have intervened in the case 2.0
Louisiana oil and gas company have asked stated. on the side of the government. Blackfeet
a federal judge to reinstate a drilling lease Solenex founder Sidney Longwell, Nation historic preservation officer John
it held on land considered sacred to Native who died in 2020, bought the 10-square- Murray said tribal officials were confident 1.5
American tribes in the U.S. and Canada. mile lease in 1982 but never drilled on the in the case against drilling.
The long-disputed lease in the Badger- site. Instead, Longwell confronted major “We knew they still wanted to try to do
Two Medicine area of northwestern bureaucratic delays within the U.S. depart- drilling,” Murray said. “We’ve got some 1.0
Montana near the Blackfeet Reservation ments of Interior and Agriculture that good attorneys. I think we’re going to Dec.29,2021:
was canceled in 2016 under then-U.S. Inte- prompted the company to sue in 2013. prevail.” 0.08%
rior Secretary Sally Jewell. That decision The Badger-Two-Medicine area near Solenex attorneys said the government 0.5
was upheld by a federal appeals court last Glacier National Park is the site of the unlawfully “outsourced” its decisions by
year. creation story of the Blackfoot tribes of deferring to the tribe’s wishes to block
Now Solenex LLC — the company that southern Canada and Montana’s Black- drilling. They said officials should have 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
held the lease — is making another run at feet Nation. There have been efforts to considered ways drilling impacts could be
SOURCE:FederalReserveBankofNewYork TNS
getting a court to restore its drilling rights. declare it a national monument or make lessened or offset if it were to proceed.
Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Saturday, January 1, 2022 7
BUSINESS
Big tax break not enough for
Japan’s employers to hike pay
By Ben Dooley
and Hisako Ueno
The New York Times
TOKYO — Over the
past two years, Masataka
Yoshimura has poured
money into the custom-
suit business his family
founded over 100 years ago.
He has upgraded his factory,
installed automated inven-
tory management systems
and retrained workers who
have been replaced by soft-
ware and robots.
A federal safety agency has received scores of complaints of engine fires in Hyundai and Kia Japan’s prime minister
vehicles. Above, a Hyundai vehicle at an Illinois dealer. NAM Y. HUH/AP 2012 wants him to do one more
thing: Give his employees a Japan’s government wants employers to raise wages. Above,
US accelerates its probes of substantial raise. an employee meets and a customer at Yoshimura & Sons, a
Wage growth has been tailor in Tokyo. NIROKO HAYASHI/THE NEW YORK TIMES
stagnant for decades in
fires in Hyundai, Kia engines Japan, the wealth gap is and put Japan’s economy decades ago.
widening and the quick- back on track. During the pandemic,
est fix is nudging people Kishida’s plan is a first Japan has avoided the
like Yoshimura to pay their step toward defining the unemployment spikes seen
By Tom Krisher of previous recalls “as well The agency says three employees more. Higher nebulous concept, which in countries like the United
Associated Press as the long-term viability people have reported eye wages, the thinking goes, he has described as a frame- States. But it has also meant
of related programs and and burn injuries that did will jump-start consumer work for creating sustain- that many companies have
DETROIT — U.S. auto non-safety field actions not require medical treat- spending and lift Japan’s able growth and reducing limited flexibility in hiring
safety regulators have being conducted by Hyun- ment. sputtering economy. economic inequality. and firing under the system
stepped up a series of inves- dai and Kia.” In November 2020, But raises are a nonstarter The prime minister is of lifetime employment,
tigations into engine fires The engineering analysis NHTSA announced that for Yoshimura. Increas- calling on employers to potentially making them
that have plagued Hyundai could lead to further recalls. Kia and Hyundai must pay ing wages would be “truly increase pay as much as 4% less responsive to changing
and Kia vehicles for more Hyundai said that it is $137 million in fines and fatal,” he said last month in 2022. Companies that economic conditions.
than six years. cooperating fully with U.S. for safety improvements from his office at Yoshimura comply will be allowed to Low wage growth is
The National Highway regulators. because they moved too & Sons in Tokyo. And he is increase their overall corpo- effectively the outcome
Traffic Safety Administra- “Hyundai has taken slowly to recall more than far from alone in his think- rate tax deductions up to of a compromise struck
tion says a new engineer- numerous proactive actions 1 million vehicles with ing. Business groups, union 40%. The government has between labor and capital.
ing analysis investigation to address engine issues, engines that can fail. The leaders and others have announced that it will raise Since the 1990s, “Japanese
covers more than 3 million including conducting fines resolve a previous questioned the feasibility officially regulated wages workers have preferred
vehicles from the 2011 several recalls, launching probe into the companies’ of a plan by Prime Minis- 3% next year for nurses and job security over wage
through 2016 model years. a new engine monitoring behavior involving recalls ter Fumio Kishida to offer workers providing care for growth,” said Naohiko Baba,
The agency has received technology, providing of multiple models dating sizable tax deductions to children and seniors. chief Japan economist at
161 complaints of engine extended warranties and to the 2011 model year. companies that raise pay. While many businesses Goldman Sachs, though
fires, some of which enhancing our customer Kia was to pay $27 That businesses would have recognized the need companies do pay workers
occurred in vehicles that service response,” the million and invest $16 resist increasing wages even for higher wages, they have biannual bonuses that can
had already been recalled. company said in a state- million in safety perfor- when essentially paid to do questioned whether the fluctuate significantly with
Engine failures and fires ment. “Hyundai fosters a mance measures. Another so shows just how intrac- measures, as announced, corporate profits.
have dogged the Korean culture of transparency and $27 million payment will table the problem is. Years will have any effect on the Companies tend to limit
automakers’ vehicles since accountability as the safety be deferred as long as Kia of weak growth and mori- country’s regular pay-set- their permanent work-
September 2015 when the of our customers is the top meets safety conditions, bund inflation rates have ting process. force through the use of
company issued an engine priority in everything we NHTSA said. left companies little room to Major companies and temporary or part-time
failure recall. Since then do.” Kia denied the U.S. alle- raise prices. Without steady, unions negotiate raises workers, avoiding the work-
it has issued at least eight The vehicle fires involve gations but said it wanted moderate increases in infla- each spring in a ritual for-life contracts that were
more recalls for a host of the related Korean auto- to avoid a protracted legal tion, corporations’ profits known as “shuntou” — common in Japan through
engine problems, accord- makers’ Theta II GDI, fight. Data collected by the — and their workers’ wages literally, “spring offensive.” the early 1990s, when the
ing to NHTSA documents Theta II MPI, Theta II MPI nonprofit Center for Auto — have languished, econo- The last time the result country’s economic bubble
posted on its website this hybrid, Nu GDI and Gamma Safety show 31 U.S. fire and mists say. even approached Kishida’s burst. Today, so-called
week. GDI engines. Models engine-related recalls from The reaction to the wage recommended level was in nonregular employees
The agency says it’s open- covered include Hyund- Hyundai and Kia since 2015. proposal is an inauspicious 1997, when workers won make up around 37% of
ing the engineering analy- ai’s Sonata, Santa Fe, and The recalls involve more sign for Kishida, who took a 2.9% raise. Today, aver- the country’s labor force,
sis to evaluate whether Elantra and as well as Kia’s than 20 models from the office two months ago prom- age wages remain stuck at an underclass of low-paid,
previous recalls covered Sorento, Rio, Optima and 2006 through 2021 model ising to reverse the economic around $2,800 a month, dispensable workers, nearly
enough vehicles. It also will Soul. Model years covered years totaling over 8.4 damage of the past two years about the same level as two 70% of whom are women.
monitor the effectiveness are 2011 through 2016. million vehicles.
TOO LATE?
MARKET RUNDOWN
q Santurday,January1,2022 p
DOW 10-YRT-BOND GOLD Why is it that with all of our
36,338.30-59.78 1.51%... $1,827.50+14.80
history we learn little if
36,680 DowJonesindustrials Commodities anything from history?
35,660 Close:36,338.30 FUELS CLOSE PREV. YTD CONSIDERTHENATION!Thepeoplegofrom
Change:-59.78(-0.2%)
CrudeOil(bbl) 75.21 76.99 +55.01%
34,640 10DAYS NaturalGas(mmbtu) 3.73 3.56 +46.91% CHAINStospiritualfaith;fromSPIRITUALFAITH
36,800 UnleadedGas(gal) 2.23 2.30 +56.50% tocourage;fromCOURAGEtoliberty;from
METALS CLOSE PREV. YTD LIBERTYtoabundance;fromABUNDANCEto
36,000
Gold(oz) 1,827.50 1,812.70 -3.47% selfishness;fromSELFISHNESStocomplacency
Silver(oz) 23.33 23.03 -11.41%
35,200 (Previousandchangefiguresreflectcurrentcontract.) (self-satisfaction);fromCOMPLACENCYtoapathy
(lackofinterest);fromAPATHYtodespondency;
ForeignExchange MoneyRates
34,400
ForExin U.S.$ PREV. fromDESPONDENCYbackagaintoBONDAGE.
U.S.$ inForEx CLOSE WK. “Righteousnessexaltethanation:butsinisa
33,600
J A S O N D Britain 1.3534 .7389 Primerate 3.25 3.25
reproachtoanypeople”(Proverbs14:34).
Canada .7911 1.2640 3-mo.T-Bill 0.06 0.08
DomesticIndexes China .1573 6.3559 6-mo.T-Bill 0.19 0.18
Euro 1.1384 .8785 5-yrT-Note 1.26 1.25 CONSIDER YOURSELF! Solomon, King of Israel, sums up the world and
CLOSE CHG. YTD Japan .008689 115.09 10-yrT-Note 1.51 1.49 humanaffairswhenGodisleftout:“Atimetobeborn,andatimetodie...atimeto
DOWIndus. 36,338.30 -59.78 +18.73% Mexico .048785 20.4981 30-yrT-Bond 1.91 1.90
get,andatimetolose...atimeofwar,andatimeofpeace.WHATPROFIThathhe
DOWTrans. 16,478.26 +97.71 +31.75%
DOWUtil. 980.78 +3.33 +13.43% GlobalMarkets whoworkethinthatwhereinhelaboureth?IhaveseenthetravailwhichGodhath
NYSEComp. 17,164.13 -.11 +18.17% giventothesonsofmentobeexercisedinit”(Ecclesiastes3:1-11).Peopleareheld
NasdaqComp. 15,644.97 -96.59 +21.39% CLOSE CHG. %CHG. %YTD accountabletoGodforhowtheyactandhowtheyreactastheytravelthroughtime.
S&P500 4,766.18 -12.55 +26.89% Frankfurt 15,884.86 +32.61 +.21% +15.79%
OurattemptstorightlyoutworktherealitiesfoundintimewithoutGOD’SPERSON
S&P400 2,842.00 +2.67 +23.21% London 7,384.54 -18.47 -.25% +14.30%
Wilshire5000 48,461.16 -146.79 +22.82% HongKong 23,397.67 +285.66 +1.24% -14.08% andWORDleaveusBOUNDandBOTHERED,gaininglittleifanyprofit.Soitiswith
Russell2000 2,245.31 -3.48 +13.69% Nikkei 28,791.71 -115.17 -.40% +4.91% mankind’sprofitandlossaccount.Toeveryplus(beingborn,getting,etc.)thereis
an equal and opposite minus (dying, losing, etc.); so the sum total is of no profit,
StocksofLocalInterest
onlyloss.
YTD YTD CONSIDERTHEPROFITANDTHELOSS!TheLordJesussaid,“Forwhat
STOCK(TICKER) CLOSE CHG. %CHG STOCK(TICKER) CLOSE CHG. %CHG
shall it PROFIT a man, if he shall GAIN the WHOLE WORLD, and LOSE his own
AMCEntertainmentA(AMC) 27.20 -1.74 +1183.0 MetLifeInc(MET) 62.49 -.09 +33.1
SOUL?Orwhatshallamangiveinexchangeforhisownsoul?Whosoevertherefore
AT&TInc(T) 24.60 -.18 -14.5 MicrosoftCorp(MSFT) 336.32 -3.00 +51.2
AdvMicroDev(AMD) 143.90 -1.25 +56.9 NorwegianCruiseLn(NCLH) 20.74 -.28 -18.4 shallbeashamedofMeandofMyWordsinthisadulterousandsinfulgeneration;of
AgeXTherapeutics(AGE) 1.09 +.50 -28.3 NovartisAG(NVS) 87.47 +.01 -7.4 himalsoshalltheSonofmanbeashamed,whenHecomethinthegloryofHisFather
AmericanAirlinesGp(AAL) 17.96 -.11 +13.9 NutribandInc(NTRB) 10.08 +6.17 +50.7 withtheholyangels”(Mark8:36-38).
AmerVirtualCloud(AVCT) 2.43 +.22 -66.3 NvidiaCorporation(NVDA) 294.11 -1.75 +125.3
AmphenolCorp(APH) 87.46 +.44 ... OtisWorldwideCorp(OTIS) 87.07 +.71 +28.9 CONSIDER THE LIVING GOD! “For thus saith the LORD that created the
AnnalyCapitalMgmt(NLY) 7.82 -.13 -7.5
PalantirTechnol(PLTR) 18.21 -.48 -22.7 heavens;GODHIMSELFthatformedtheearthandmadeit;Hehathestablishedit,
AppleInc(AAPL) 177.57 -.63 +33.8
AvangridInc(AGR) 49.88 -.37 +9.7 PelotonInteractive(PTON) 35.76 -1.43 -76.4 Hecreateditnotinvain,Heformedittobeinhabited:IamtheLORD;andthereis
BankofAmerica(BAC) 44.49 -.04 +46.8 PeoplesUtdFncl(PBCT) 17.82 +.12 +37.8 noneelse.LOOKUNTOME,andBEYESAVED,alltheendsoftheearth:forIam
BarnesGroup(B) 46.59 -.06 -8.1 PfizerInc(PFE) 59.05 +.65 +60.4
God,andthere isnone else”(Isaiah45:18,22). “ForGod sentnotHis Soninto the
BookingHoldings(BKNG) 2399.23 +3.31 +7.7 PitneyBowes(PBI) 6.63 +.01 +7.6
BridgeBioPharmaInc(BBIO) 16.68 +2.13 -76.5 PopCultureGrpCp(CPOP) 3.63 +.74 -88.0 worldtocondemntheworld;butthattheworldthroughHimmightbeSAVED”(John
BristMyrSqb(BMY) 62.35 -.17 +.5 ProgenityInc(PROG) 2.09 -.04 -60.6 3:17).“SEARCHTHESCRIPTURES;forinthemyethinkyehaveETERNALLIFE:
CVSHealthCorp(CVS) 103.16 -.52 +51.0 PrudentialFncl(PRU) 108.24 -.39 +38.6 andtheyaretheywhichtestifyofME”(John5:39).
CarnivalCorp(CCL) 20.12 -.41 -7.1 PubSvcEntGp(PEG) 66.73 +.41 +14.5
CarrierGlobalCorp(CARR) 54.24 +.69 +43.8 RaytheonTechnolog(RTX) 86.06 +.26 +20.3 TheLordJesussaid,“Thethiefcomethnot,butfortosteal,andtokill,andto
CharterCommunic(CHTR) 651.97 -5.26 -1.4 RogersCorp(ROG) 273.00 -.08 +75.8 destroy: I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more
CCilgevnealaCnodr-pC(lCifIf)sInc(CLF) 22291..6737 -+1..1523 ++1409..35 RobloxCorp(RBLX) 103.16 +2.63 +48.4 ABUNDANTLY. And this is LIFE ETERNAL, that they might KNOW Thee the only
SS&CTechnlogies(SSNC) 81.98 -.24 +12.7
ComcastCorpA(CMCSA) 50.33 -.26 -4.0 trueGod,andJesusChrist,whomThouhastsent”(John10:10;17:3).
SiriusXMHldgsInc(SIRI) 6.35 -.07 -.3
ContextLogicInc(WISH) 3.11 -.11 -82.9
DiDiGlobalInc(DIDI) 4.98 -.25 -64.8 SoFiTechnologies(SOFI) 15.81 -.14 -30.2 GOD DOES NOT CHANGE.
SthwstnEnergy(SWN) 4.66 -.14 +56.4
Disney(DIS) 154.89 -1.04 -14.5
EMCORGroupInc(EME) 127.39 -.03 +39.3 StanleyBlack&Deck(SWK)188.62 +1.89 +5.6 HE REMAINS TRUE AND FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD.
EthanAllen(ETD) 26.29 +.13 +30.1 StarwoodPropTrust(STWD) 24.30 -.08 +25.9
EversourceEnergy(ES) 90.98 -.16 +5.2 SundialGrowersInc(SNDL) .58 -.02 +21.9 ItisnotTOOLATEforyoutoreceivetheLordJesusChristWhoisGOD’SPERSONALAND
FordMotor(F) 20.77 +.30 +136.3 TerexCorp(TEX) 43.95 +.02 +26.0 COMPLETEANSWERFORYOURSOULandforthegoodofsociety.Therealitiesoftimeare
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8 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Saturday, January 1, 2022
OOPPIINNIIOONN
Helen Bennett
Executive Editor
[email protected]
CCOOUURRAANNTT..CCOOMM//OOPPIINNIIOONN
OP-ED
Here’s to 40 years of sobriety
Let tomorrow be
40 years and a day
By Ed LaFreniere
New Year’s Eve, 1981. Forty years ago. I
was living alone, standing over the kitchen
sink in my cold, leaky Old Lyme beach
house. Determined yet frightened, hands
unsteady, I was pouring out every ounce
from six bottles of top-shelf liquor I had
bought for a party at someone else’s apart-
ment for the next day. Whose place I don’t
remember.
Three days earlier had been a final
encounter with my drink of choice —
scotch. Now the contents of the upended
last bottle, trillions of molecules of swirl-
ing liquid gold, the color a deep and rich
orange honey, flowed down the drain from
a bottle of well-aged Glenfiddich, a brand
so expensive that I had never even ordered
a shot of it. I held my breath, trying not to
infuse my nostrils with the seductive scent,
and turned on the tap to wash down the
last remnants. And then threw in some
Ajax.
A few days before, I had driven from
Hartford to the shoreline after a work-
place Christmas party, and I can still visu-
alize the scene through my windshield
as if on film: weaving down Route 9 just
south of Middletown, crossing from lane
to lane, unable to control the wheel, and
telling myself, “You idiot, you ought to be
arrested.” There was no denying what was ANGELA WEISS/GETTY-AFP
happening, no excuse; this was dangerous
to others as well as to myself. extent of my private nightly and weekend the gift of life-changing — if not lifesaving the Heisman Trophy. I still treasure a cup
But lucky I was. I made it home in one drinking. — support, but for the grace of God? Had of coffee because my hands don’t shake like
piece after 25 more miles, and to my great The next evening she picked me up, my friend not appeared, I would likely have they used to. I will always be thankful for
fortune, the next afternoon, a friend and and I remember sitting in a large, white been dead now a long time. an evening at the grocery store, or even to
fellow drinker dropped by as I was lying on wood-paneled fellowship room in Clinton, I am grateful in so many ways. For go out and gas up the car — normal daily
the couch nursing stomach pains. listening to 50 or so other people describe having a full and rewarding life, for exam- living. Sober.
“Guess what?” she said as if she’d just hell on earth — emotional disorders, car ple, as a husband, a father, a friend. For Every morning for 40 years I have gone
won the lottery. “I just joined AA! I haven’t accidents, deaths, losses of jobs, houses the ability to relate to people in a real and for a walk. I drink two Diet Cokes along the
had a drink in five days!” and families, the experience of being in thoughtful way. And to feel respected, even way, the carbonation a constant reminder
I was astonished. I had never known jail, of hating themselves, of hopelessness, a little? Priceless! that today I don’t need the hair of the dog,
that anyone who maintained a job and was of unending guilt. They were listening to There are countless other rewards. For a beer first thing in the morning. I pray
so bright would join a group consisting of each other with great intensity, all drinking example, I no longer have to keep notes during every one of these walks, includ-
the down-and-out — weren’t they the ones coffee, one woman knitting, a man holding on my bedside table listing the names ing the 12-step Serenity Prayer, grateful
whose gaze you averted as you stepped his head in his hands, but many looking of people I had drunk with the previous not to be dead or institutionalized, able to
around them on a sidewalk? Little did I entirely comfortable. night. After all, you want to be able to apol- chat with people, to be a friend to others,
know that addiction knew no socioeco- The couple chairing the meeting — six ogize to anyone you may have offended, to offer advice, to be appreciated. Every
nomic bound, background, IQ, age, living months sober at the time — called on me even if you don’t remember what you said, morning I run through that last week, and
condition or any other characteristic. after an hour or so and told me that I didn’t if anything. But you apologize anyway, just as cars pass by, I recall that night on Route
I stared speechless at this woman, who have to say anything. They just offered a in case, time after time, devoid of self-es- 9 vividly.
suddenly seemed like a hero. warm welcome. teem and any sense of dignity. The good I am grateful for all the people — from all
“Are you all right?” she asked. I did not hesitate. days were the ones waking up to a note that walks of life — who have offered support,
I hesitated and shocked myself by blurt- “I’m suffering the same pain that you’ve said ‘OK,’ meaning that I did not need to whatever it has taken.
ing out, “Can you take me with you some- all described,” I said, voice quivering, tears apologize for anything — or perhaps I had If there is a hell, it will be the horri-
time?” streaming down my face. “The hopeless- been by myself. ble prison of mind that once was and that
“Seriously?” she said. “Sure. I’m going ness. The fears. The depression. And I feel I am grateful for many little things — could return at any minute.
every night.” right at home. I think I’ve found my home,” to be able to eat breakfast, for instance, Today it’s 40 years. Please, God, let
“How about tomorrow?” I said. “I can’t I added with great relief and a palpable rather than being too ill to do so. I recall tomorrow be 40 years and one day.
show up feeling like this.” sigh of hope, as an elusive solution just may my first one in years — a big breakfast in
“I don’t know if you need this, but come have fallen from the sky. Old Saybrook, by myself — and I must have Ed LaFreniere is a former editor at the Cou-
along,” she said, not knowing the full How many of us are so lucky to receive been beaming as if I’d just been awarded rant. He lives in Gig Harbor, Washington.
OP-ED
Tell Us
Our obligations to history in 2022
Your Story
Please send us your true stories,
written in your voice.
By E.J. Dionne Jr. we had reached “the end of ideology,” should beware of insisting upon sanitized, Love Etc. Stories from
The Washington Post were pushing against a Progressive era state-sanctioned versions of our nation’s the heart — your essays
framework that stressed class conflict. messy past. Students will not appreciate about emotional life in the
WASHINGTON — History is much on No, said the influential political scientist our country any less when great teachers 21st century.
our minds, and not only because we’re Louis Hartz, encapsulating the prevail- like Jim engage them in the arguments that
arguing about how our past should be ing view that we were united by a single are foundational to what it means to be an Why I… In which you
presented to public school students. We ideology. Our nation was built on a “moral American. explain why you feel so
also sense — correctly — that we are at unanimity” behind the “fixed, dogmatic Finally, let’s recognize that democracy strongly about something
a hinge point for democracy itself. The liberalism” reflected in the individualistic advanced not when our nation papered in Connecticut.
two are linked: From the beginning of the thinking of John Locke. over conflict in the name of false consensus
republic, arguments over history have The consensus outlook soon came crash- but, rather, when our forebears took up the First Person: In which you
mirrored the conflicts in our politics. ing down as the academy rediscovered struggle for justice — even when it made explain a deeply private
I was reminded of this during a recent how deeply conflict ran through our DNA. some people uncomfortable. issue against the backdrop
conversation with a person dear to me, my This dissenting narrative rose alongside It’s an American habit to long for a poli- of social and economic forces.
high school history teacher, Jim Garman. the civil rights and feminist movements. tics without conflict, for a happy, peaceable
Jim deepened my love for the Ameri- The turmoil of the late 1960s and early republic where interests and ideologies Living Here: What is it
can saga by showing how great historians 1970s reignited passions that Kennedy give way to constructive collaboration. really like to live in
argued among themselves about what the hoped were part of our past. Who doesn’t understand this aspiration Connecticut?
past meant. As he put it, “there are many The emerging generation of historians at a time when we can’t even agree on the
ways to tell the story.” It’s useful to learn highlighted problems around race, class most basic steps (vaccination, mask-wear- We welcome all submissions and
early on that our history will always be and gender. “Dissertations in social history ing) to keep as many of us as possible alive will publish the best. We especially
contested. quadrupled from 1958 to 1978,” the writer and healthy? look for younger writers and those
In the 1960s, when I was in Jim’s class, Scott Spillman noted, “as young schol- So, yes, I want us to be kinder and more whose voices aren’t heard often
the curriculum reflected the “conflict ars sought to recover the experiences of understanding toward one another in the enough. Essays should be 600-700
or consensus” debate about how best to women, slaves, free blacks, Native Ameri- coming year. We would do well to embrace words, written in the first person
understand the long American arc. The cans, immigrants and children.” the Rev. David Hollenbach’s call for “intel- and emailed to [email protected].
consensus school was nearing the end of its Later, as New York University professor lectual solidarity.” He’s right that the world
dominance, as was the power of a middle- Kim Phillips-Fein observed, the rise of a would be a better place if we sought the
of-the-road political perspective that conservative movement directed against truth together through disciplined conver-
shaped politics in the years after the New the accommodations that Eisenhower had sation and authentic dialogue.
Deal and World War II. championed turned the study of conser- But we won’t get to the searching inter-
Dwight D. Eisenhower had moved the vatism into “one of the most dynamic actions Hollenbach calls for if we indulge
Republican Party toward acceptance subfields in American history.” the illusion of a democratic public life
of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s project and What can we learn from the past without friction. The same realism should
Property
preached the need for “balance.” John half-century’s history wars? First, that lead us to reject the romantic fallacy that
F. Kennedy, the Democrat who followed it’s deeply misleading to downplay deep the American story is largely a consensual oftheWeek
him, spoke out against a “grand warfare conflicts around ideology, race, class, project.
of rival ideologies” that would “sweep the gender and immigration. All are central to As long as democracy itself is under SUNDAYS IN
country with passion.” Kennedy called for who we were and who we would become. threat, as it certainly will be in 2022, we CTHOME
a “more basic discussion of the sophisti- To do this is not to deny the importance would be untrue to our history if we gave &RealEstate
cated and technical questions involved of liberty, equality and community to our up the fight just because we longed for
in keeping a great economic machinery narrative. They were always touchstones some peace and quiet.
moving ahead.” for those who battled to improve our
Many of the era’s great historians and republic. But battle they did. E.J. Dionne writes about politics
social scientists, reflecting the view that Second, school boards and politicians for The Washington Post.
Get more out of your subscription It’s easy to start your online access!
by setting up your digital account Visit: go-activate.com
Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Saturday, January 1, 2022 9
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10 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Saturday, January 1, 2022
OBITUARIES
Bristol Manchester
Leonard J. Roy, Sr. Annette Mccall Hanley, Sr., Peter Baxter Peroni , Joseph F.
Enfield Joseph F. Peroni
John Birmingham Simsbury August4,1943-Dec26,2021 Joseph F.Peroni,81,formerly
Glastonbury Peter B. Hanley, Sr. Peter went home to be of Manchester, went to be
John Birmingham West Hartford with the Lord on Sunday, with our Lord and Savior on
Hartford Peter B. Hanley, Sr. December 26th surrounded Saturday, December 25, 2021
Robert Martinson by his wife, Sheri, and two at Brookdale Assisted Living
of their children, Patrick and in West Hartford. He was the
Molly and his other three beloved husband of the late
children there in spirit. Sherri (Cologne) Peroni.
Born in 1943 to the late Joseph was born in Hartford,
OBITUARIES BY TOWN Eugene and Mary Hanley, CT on July 7, 1940 and was
Peter grew up in Winsted, the son of the late James and
CT where he was a standout Louise (Doyone) Peroni.
Birmingham, John student athlete and friend After high school he joined the Marines, got married
to many at Gilbert High School where he and had three beautiful children. Joe worked for the
John Thomas Birmingham, graduated in 1961. He went on to gradu- State of Connecticut as a correctional officer where he
fondly known as “Jackie”, ate from St. Bonaventure University with a spent many of nights sleeping on duty until his much-
enteredintoeternalpeaceon Bachelors Degree in Finance in 1965 before awaited retirement. He was an avid bowler at Silver
Wednesday, December 29, being accepted into Officers Candidate School for Lanes in East Hartford, he also thought he was an avid
2021. Jackie was born on the US Navy. He served as a Naval Officer in Virginia fisherman; however, his siblings beg to differ. His main
June5,1935inKnockalaughta, Beach, VA for four years. He met his wife of 44 years passionwasthecasinowherehehelpeddonatealotof
Co Roscommon, Ireland. He in Bridgewater, VT where he owned and operated money!To quote from Frank Sinatra“I DID IT MYWAY”.
was the son of the late James Hanley Construction for 11 years, and they started a He leaves behind his three children, daughter Michelle
& Nora (Burke) Birmingham. family, eventually settling in Simsbury, CT, raising their Lopez of Fredericksville, MD; sons Joseph Peroni of
five children for almost 30 years. During that time, he Rankin County, MI and James (Jimmy) Peroni of Baton
Jackie spent most of his worked as Vice President of the commercial lending Rouge, LA; sister, Teresa Peroni Kilduff of Manchester;
growing-up years in Cloonfad department at Shawmut National Bank before eventu- brother, James Peroni of Enfield and six grandchildren.
Co.RoscommonandDunmore allyowningthewellrespectedWestHartfordStairsand His wife Sherri was the love of his life. They are now
Co.Galwaywhereheattendedlocalschools. Cabinets in West Hartford, CT where his true passion dancing in heaven to Ray Charles, Seven Spanish
He played Irish Gaelic Football and was the lay in custom woodworking. He later went on to start Angels.
goalie on the Dunmore McHales team that Hanley Builders with his sons and built custom homes Joey bag of donuts until we meet again.
won the 1951 Galway Minor Championship. intheFarmingtonValleyregionofConnecticut.Hislove A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date private
He was also the goalie on the 1968 Hartford Gaelic and talent in carpentry also led him to build a beautiful tothefamily.TheCremationSocietyofCThasbeenen-
Football team that beat Cleveland at Dillon Stadium cabin in Belgrade Lakes, ME where his family and ex- trusted with the arrangements.For online condolences
for the US National Gaelic football championship. Jack tended family spent many happy summers together on please visit www.cremationct.com
was awarded the Irishman of theYear in 1996 in recog- Hoyt Island.Peter and Sheri retired to Deerfield Beach, Pleasesignguestbookatcourant.com/obituaries
nition of his efforts and achievements with regards to FL in 2012 where he spent several years on the Board
Irish concerns and the further success of the Hartford ofDirectorsandPresidentofPenthouseCondominiums IN MEMORIAM
Gaelic Football Club. where they resided. Peter is most remembered for his
kind, gentle nature, his caringness and generosity, his
InLovingMemoryOf
He came to Hartford CT in 1956 and served in theArmy loyalty and love for his family, as well as his love and
JOHNC‘JACK’BROADWELL
National Guard. He married the love of his life, Bridget respect for animals and nature.
(Lavelle) in Holyoke MA on June 19, 1965.They lived in Peter is survived by his loving wife Sheri of 44 years,
Hartford for 4 years, before moving to Enfield where his son Colby (Sarah) of East Granby, son Peter Jr.
they lived for the last 52 years. He worked for several (Kirsten) of Monroe, CT, son Patrick of Granby, CT,
yearsinconstructionbeforestartingwithUnitedParcel daughter Molly of Knoxville,TN and daughter Elizabeth
Service (UPS) where he worked as a truck driver for 30 (Bradford) of Waretown, NJ, as well as four grandsons,
years, retiring in 1998. In his retirement, he enjoyed Eric, Finn, Aiden and Noah. He also leaves behind his
golfing, taking cruises and traveling with his wife and brother Robert Hanley of Saratoga,NY,his sister Susan
family to Cape Cod, Ireland, England and their yearly Hanley of Goshen, CT and late brother, Eugene Hanley,
trips to Florida. along with many nieces and nephews who loved him
dearly.
01/05/3612/30/19
He belonged to the Claddagh Club of Enfield, and the Calling hours will be held on Monday, January 3rd
Irish American Home in Glastonbury and was active from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral
in the annual Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Parade. His Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Funeral
most cherished time was spent with his family and at Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00
gatherings with the extended family. He also enjoyed AM on Tuesday, January 4th at St. Mary’s Church, 942
coaching his kids in soccer, watching his kids & grand- Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Burial with military
It’s been 2 long years since Heaven gained ourAngel.We
kids’ hockey, baseball, softball games, Irish Dancing & honors will follow in Simsbury Cemetery. In lieu of
aremissingyoueachtimewehearyourname.We’vecried
cheerleading. flowers the family requests donations be made to St.
many tears and our hearts are Broken just the same.We
Jude Children's Hospital where he was a faithful donor.
miss our times together and nothing fills the emptiness
Besides his beautiful bride Bridget, Jackie is survived Please visit Peter’s “Book of Memories” at www.vin-
now you are no longer here. We have so many precious
by his three children, Patrick (Bridget) Birmingham of centfuneralhome.com for online tributes or to watch
momentstolastourwholelivesthrough.Eachremindsus
Ellington, CT, John (Jill) Birmingham of Enfield, CT and the livestream of the Mass.
ofhowmuchwelearnedfromyouandhowmuchweare
Kathleen (Tim) Miller of Bethel, CT; his grandchildren, Pleasesignguestbookatcourant.com/obituaries
missing you. LOVE your wife & sons. Josie , Mark , Brian
Nora, Catherine and Brendan Birmingham, Emma and
andGary
Michaela Birmingham, and Thomas (TJ) and Dennis
Miller; his brothers, James (June) Birmingham of West
Hartford, CT and Hubert (Kit) Birmingham of Dunmore Martinson, Robert In Loving Memory Of
Co. Galway; and brothers-in-law, Joseph Cawley of FRANK F CENTINI
Robert Martinson, 82, a life-
Bristol, England, Michael (Eileen) of West Yarmouth 01/01/1929- 12/17/2019
long resident of Hartford died
MA, Patrick of Holyoke MA, Jack (Mary) of Dallas, TX, Happy Heavenly Birthday.
December 29, 2021 at his
Eddie (Margaret) of Holyoke MA, and several nephews Miss you so much.
home.AnArmyveteran,Robert
& nieces in the US, Ireland & England. He was prede- I love you.
was born December 28, 1939,
ceased by a brother Michael & Sister-in law Elizabeth Me
son of the late Brigadier
Birmingham,Kildare,IrelandandasisterEvelynCawley,
General Robert H. Martinson
Bristol,England.His family also wishes to extend a gra- InLovingMemoryOf
and Helen (Kelleher)
cious thank you to Colleen Frew for her kind, support- JOHNMFITZSIMMONS
Martinson. He was a beloved
ing and compassionate care for the last 4 years.
Uncle known for his smile,
quick wit and a perpetual
Visitation hours will be held from 4-7 p.m.Monday Jan.
twinkle in his eyes. He was a
3, 2022 at Leete-Stevens Enfield Chapels, 61 South
man on the go with natural athleticism in hockey and
Rd., Enfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on
swimming.He enjoyed his love of the water and fishing
Tuesday Jan 4, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Church
inWestbrook.He was employed by the City of Hartford
of St. Jeanne Jugan Parish (please meet directly at
since June 1956 till his death. He was a lifelong life-
church, 23 Simon Rd., Enfield, CT). The Mass will be
guard and swim coach who profoundly enjoyed his
live-streamed by Holy Family at the following web ad-
work and work family. Robert had a close-knit circle of
dress https://sjjenfield.org/ , scroll to the bottom of
friends who he loved and respected and supported him
the home page and you will see their streaming ser- 1/25/1933-1/1/2021
throughout his life. He was a widely known figure in
vices listed.MASKSARE REQUIRED FORTHEVISITATION Oneyearhaspassedsincewehadtosaygood-byetoyou.
swimming with an infectious love of the sport, with a
AND MASS. Burial will follow at St. Jerome Cemetery, Not a day goes by that we don’t long to hear your voice
reputation for motivating athletes at all levels with a
located at 125 Saint Jerome Ave, Holyoke, MA 01040. andlistentoyourstories.Weloveyouandmissyousovery
list of champions who came under his tutelage. Robert
much...YourLovingFamily
was known by his colleagues as the man to make the
In Lieu of flowers, donations in Jackie’s memory may
pool sparkle. He was a graduate of Hartford Public
be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st
HighSchool.Robertispredeceasedbybothhisparents, InLovingMemoryOf
Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131. To leave online
his sister,Lorraine Mawdsley and her husbandThomas, KENT FMCKNIGHT
condolences, please visit www.Leetestevens.com
his brother Kenneth Martinson and his wife JoAnn. He
Pleasesignguestbookatcourant.com/obituaries is survived by his nieces Karen Weisher and husband
Steve, Susan Wilson and husband Skip, Wendy
McCall,Annette Martinson, Stacy Martinson and his nephews Thomas
Mawdsley and wife Lynn and Timothy Martinson and
wife Petula and his great nieces and nephew, cousins
Annette McCall, 69, of
and numerous friends.
Manchester, passed away on
His family will receive friends Monday, January 3, 2022
December 29, 2021, in
from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Sheehan Hilborn
Hartford after a long illness.
Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave., West
She was born in Bridgeport
February16,1952,toMichael Hartford with a funeral service at 11:00 am. Burial will 01/1/65-02/13/11
immediately follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford.
and Agnes Chodan, where
Masks are required. Online condolences may be made
she grew up with her older
at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com
brother Peter. She attended
Saint Ambrose Elementary
School and Notre Dame High
School, then obtained de- InmemoryofyourbirthdayonNew,YearsDay.Youarefully
grees from Central Connecticut State University and missed.Yourthoughtfulnessofotherscannotbereplaced.
the University of New Haven. Annette married Alan Youaretrulymissed.
McCall of Lebanon, Connecticut in 1978 and they set- Pleasesignguestbookatcourant.com/obituaries FromMom,sisters,andbrother
tled in Manchester, where they lived until her death.
She worked for many years in the State Department
of Education in Hartford. Annette was very much into
sports, favoring the New York Yankees, Boston Celtics,
Dallas Cowboys and New York Rangers. She was an
avid fan of NASCAR hero Dale Earnhardt. She played
and coached softball for many years. Annette was
rarely without a cat or a Volvo. She devoted many
years of service to the Manchester Area Conference
of Churches.
Annettewasadevotedfamilyperson,andleavesbehind
her husband and their two children:Caroline McCall of
Windsor and Michael McCall of Natick, Massachusetts,
their spouses Cristofer Osden of Windsor and Emily
Taylor of Natick, two treasured granddaughters,
Emmaline Osden and Alice Taylor McCall, her brother
Peter Chodan of Dunkirk, New York, and numerous
nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling hours will be held on Monday January 3, 2021,
from 6:00 pm -8:00 pm at the Holmes-Watkins Funeral
Home, 400 Main St., Manchester, CT.A Funeral service
will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, January
4, 2021, at 10:00 am, with burial to follow in the East
Cemetery, Manchester, CT.
Donations may be sent to the Parish of Saint Teresa
of Calcutta, 80 Main Street, Manchester, or the
Manchester Area Conferences of Churches, 466 Main Stories live on. Tell theirs.
Street, Manchester. To leave a memory or message of
condolence, please visit www.holmeswatkins.com
Pleasesignguestbookatcourant.com/obituaries
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