8A REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN LW TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2011

NORTHWEST CONNECTICUT FIVE-DAY FORECAST WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

HIGH: 37 HIGH: 40 HIGH: 39 HIGH: 40
TODAY Mostly sunny and breezy, seasonable.
LOW : 29 LOW : 24 LOW : 21 LOW : 22
Highs in the mid to upper 40s.
Winds north at 10 to 15 mph. 24 hr prec: 0.0 inches. PREC: 0.05 PREC: 0.25 PREC: 0.02 PREC: 0.0

TONIGHT Becoming mostly cloudy and chilly. Albany

Lows in the mid to upper 20s.
Winds north at 5 mph. 46/24
Pittsfield
Northeast Weather Summary 44/23
High pressure will bring a mixture of clouds and sunshine across northern portions of the Worcester Boston
region along with seasonably chilly temperatures as highs top off in the 30s and lower 42/23 45/30
40s. There will be lingering light snow this morning in northern Maine from a departing WEATHER CENTER

storm system. Southern areas will have mostly sunny skies and breezy conditions with
Great
highs mainly in the 40s, but it will be in the lower 50s in New York City. Barrington Springfield Provincetown
43/23 47/26 44/40
On The Record Sun And Moon
Daylight today: 12 hours and 12 minutes.
Salisbury
Data recorded at Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks. 45/24 Hartford Storrs
Temperature
Sunrise 6:53 a.m. Moonrise 11:15 p.m.
47/28 48/27 Providence Hyannis
Sunset 7:05 p.m. Moonset 8:11 a.m.
Yesterday High/Low 37/32 Torrington 49/29 44/31
Normal for date 50/30 46/24
Records for date 82 in 1921 / 10 in 1986 Newport
A year ago 72/43 Waterbury Martha’s
48/28 49/40
Range since Jan 1. 71/-7 MAR 26 APR 3 APR 11 APR 17 Groton
Precipitation in inches Danbury New Haven 48/30 Vineyard Nantucket
Yesterday precip. to 5 p.m. 0.26 44/32 43/33
Total for month to date: 5.48 49/26 50/30
Today in Weather History
Normal for March to date: 2.58 Bridgeport
Total this year: 14.42
In 1936, a great flood 50/33 Tides
Normal for the same period: 9.38
crested on rivers from Ohio to
New York High March 22 Low High March 23 Low
Snowfall since July 1: 85.1 New Haven City Dock 1:33am/2:04pm 7:55am/8:09pm 2:24am/2:57pm 8:48am/9:02pm
Normal snowfall since July 1: 42.6 Maine. The flooding killed 107 City Saybrook Jetty 12:47am/1:15pm 7:07am/7:15pm 1:40am/2:09pm 8:02am/8:11pm
people and caused $270 million 53/36 New London State Pier am/12:04pm 6:22am/6:30pm 12:29am/12:58pm 7:17am/7:26pm
Degree Days in property damage.
L.I. Sound: Winds north at 10 to 15 knots, waves 2-3 feet, visibility 10 miles or more, water temperature 42.
Heating degree days since July 1: 5140
Normal for the same period 5150
Total same period last year 4700
Northeast Cities Nashville 83 62 c
Heating or cooling degree days are a measure of heating or cooling Across the Nation Norfolk 66 46 ps
Atlantic City 58 36 ps
requirements. Degree days are calculated as the difference between the
mean daily outdoor temperature and 65 degrees F. Normal is based on Buffalo 41 29 c Orlando 85 57 s
a 30-year average. Burlington Vt. 37 16 ps Phoenix 69 51 ps
Concord, N.H. 45 25 ps Portland, OR 52 38 c
Comfort Factors Philadelphia 57 39 ps San Diego 59 49 ps
Pittsburgh 51 41 sh San Francisco 57 49 c
Wind Chill at 7 a.m.:: 31 degrees. Portland Me. 42 28 c San Juan, P.R. 80 72 sh
Portsmouth 44 29 ps Seattle 51 38 c
Pollution Standard Index will be 27 today. Washington 62 44 ps
Syracuse 42 25 ps
International Cities
SCALE: 0-50, Good; 50-100, Moderate; 100-200, Unhealthful; 200-300, National Cities
Baghdad 87 63 ps
Albuquerque 60 34 ps
Very unhealthful; 300-500, Hazardous. Beijing 50 30 s
Anchorage 36 26 c
Jerusalem 68 52 ps
INDEX YESTERDAY was 27 with pollutants predominantly fine particles. Atlanta 81 58 s
Lisbon 66 49 s
Charlotte 82 55 ps
London 61 52 c
Future forecast Chicago 50 48 t
Mexico City 79 46 s
Cleveland 41 39 r
Moscow 39 25 r
A low pressure system moving toward the region Dallas 84 65 c
Paris 61 39 s
Denver 60 28 ps
will cause periods of rain Wednesday, but it could Honolulu 83 71 ps
Rome 57 37 ps
start as snow or mixed precipitation, especially to Singapore 88 75 t
Houston 82 66 c World Extremes
the west of Waterbury. Periods of rain are likely Indianapolis 70 57 c
for Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Kansas City 74 47 t High: 108 at Linguere, Senegal.
High pressure will build into the region with Las Vegas 60 45 ps Low: -75 at Nico, Antarctica.
Los Angeles 62 49 ps
mostly sunny skies Friday through Sunday with Miami 81 65 s KEY: s: sunny; ps: partly sunny; c: cloudy;
below-normal temperatures. Minneapolis 39 30 sh sh: showers; r: rain, t: thunderstorms; f: flurries

TAXES: Hundreds of false tax returns alleged
Continued from Page One
dodged more than $40,000 in
federal taxes.
Authorities also claim Maia
falsely stated to Internal Rev-
enue Service agents that he
gave documents supporting the
charitable contributions and
the business expenses to an “in-
dividual who assisted in the
preparation of his tax returns.”
During the brief arraignment
Monday morning, Maia’s attor-
ney, Hubert Santos, asked As-
sistant U.S. Attorney
Christopher Mattei to provide
him with any information Mat-
tei had about Thorndike.
“Our information is that he
has prepared hundreds of false
tax returns in Greater Water-
bury and elsewhere in the
area,” Santos said.
Santos called Thorndike’s
practices “deceptive” and “dis-
honest.” Mattei said he would
comply with whatever legal ob-
ligations he was bound by.
Maia says Thorndike pre-
pared his taxes. But Maia isn’t
the only Thorndike client. Po-
lice and lawyers, including
criminal defense attorney Mar-
tin J. Minnella, have also used
him for tax preparation servic-
es.
In recent years, word spread
that Thorndike was skilled in
finding deductions that other
tax experts couldn’t locate.
Many customers traveled to his
Woodbury tax service, Corner-
stone Financial Group, to have
their returns done.
Many of Thorndike’s clients
have been audited.
Following a raid of
Thorndike’s offices last year,
Minnella became the target of
scrutiny by federal authorities
because of his relationship with
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
High school graduates in Connecticut must have completed:
>> Individual Student Success Plan beginning in the sixth grade
pares taxes, and is focused on
“investments.” >> 4 math credits
ALLEGED FALSE RETURNS According to the State Board >> 4 English credits
Included in the indictment of Thomas W. Thorndike is a list of
of Accountancy, the regulating >> 3 science credits
initials corresponding to nine taxpayers who authorities claim
agency for certified public ac- >> 3 social studies credits
filed false tax returns.
countants, Thorndike is not a >> 2 world languages credits
registered CPA in Connecticut. >> 2 career and life skills elective credits
Taxpayer Years of Amount claiming A representative for the board
initials returns deductions >> 1.5 open elective credits
also said Cornerstone Financial
M.A. .............................2006 ...............................................$25,123 doesn’t hold a license for public >> 1 science, mathematics, engineering or technology elective credit
R.B. ..............................2006/2007 ...................................$87,746 accounting. >> 1 fine arts credit
N.C...............................2006 ...............................................$35,081 At Bowman’s request, >> 1 humanities elective credit
Fitzsimmons granted >> 1 physical education credit
R.C. .............................2006/2007 ...................................$91,427
Thorndike the ability to travel, >> 1 capstone experience credit
G.D...............................2007 ...............................................$16,290 with the court’s permission. >> .5 comprehensive health education credit
T.L. ...............................2006/2007 ...................................$78,112 Bowman said Thorndike has a
>> A score of 70 or better on state assessments in the following
B.S. ..............................2006/2007 ...................................$55,042 daughter attending New York
subjects: Algebra I, geometry, biology, American history and
J.S. ...............................2006/2007 ...................................$84,173 University and has business ob-
10th-grade English.
ligations in California and
A.T................................2006/2007 ...................................$58,465
Florida.
Thorndike was released on a
Connelly, who was the lead expenses.
$400,000 bond, which was se-
cured by properties in Milford,
SCHOOLS: State falling
prosecutor in Waterbury Supe- Dressed in blue jeans fraying Conn. and Vermont. Bowman
rior Court until his retirement
last month.
at the cuffs, loafers on his feet
and a sport blazer, Thorndike
confirmed the home in Ver-
mont is under construction.
behind in making changes
Although Minnella has said pleaded not guilty to the According to online land Continued from Page One
he had his taxes done by
Thorndike, Connelly said he
charges before Judge Holly B.
Fitzsimmons.
records, Thorndike owns a
4,600-square-foot, Victorian- said in January at a Board of
TODAY’S POLL
VOTE AT WWW.REP-AM.COM
didn’t use him. Thorndike’s attorney, An- style home in Milford that has Education meeting.
Thorndike, 60, appeared in drew Bowman, said federal au- an appraised value of $1.9 mil- “It’s becoming a trickle- Should secondary school
federal court in Bridgeport to thorities are claiming lion. Outfitted with multiple down effect,” Saam said. “If reforms be postponed due
answer an indictment unsealed Thorndike improperly claimed fireplaces and a hot tub, the you’re going to be giving us all to the economy?
by federal authorities on Mon- $500,000 in itemized deduc- home also includes an in- these mandates, fund them.”
day. A federal grand jury in tions on clients’ returns, but he ground swimming pool, accord- The law, passed in July, in-
New Haven returned the in- insisted that the tax loss to the ing to land records. creases the number of credits FIND RESULTS OF YESTERDAY’S
QUESTION ON PAGE 2A.
dictment last week, Mattei said. government would be “far Included in Thorndike’s in- high school students will need
Thorndike was charged with less.” dictment is a list of initials cor- to graduate. It also requires
15 counts of aiding and assist- “We’re not talking about a responding to nine taxpayers them to pass year-end exams of Torrington Public Schools
ing in the preparation of false hedge fund case,” Bowman who authorities claim filed in many subjects and com- said.
tax returns and one count of ob- said. false returns. None of those ini- plete a capstone project their Torrington school officials
struction of internal revenue Mattei countered by saying tials match the names of Con- senior year. Each student will are reviewing the necessary
laws. Mattei said the indict- the audit covered more than nelly, Minnella or Maia. also have to work with a guid- curriculum changes but are
ment stems from an audit of 3,000 returns prepared by The investigation of ance counselor to create an not yet sure if they will have
Thorndike’s tax business in Thorndike, of which a signifi- Thorndike is ongoing, accord- individual success plan. The to hire new staff, Leone said.
2008. cant number had itemized de- ing to the U.S. Attorney’s Of- new mandates are scheduled The city’s curriculum and
According to the U.S. Attor- ductions. The loss could be in fice. If they are found guilty, to take effect with this year’s staffing levels are not far be-
ney’s Office, Thorndike im- the “several million dollar” Maia and Thorndike face years fifth-graders, who will gradu- low what the new mandates
properly reduced the amount of range, he said. in prison and six-figure fines. ate from high school in 2018. call for, he said.
taxes his clients owed by claim- Bowman said Thorndike sold Legislators last summer “We’re, right now, very
ing false deductions for charita- his Woodbury business in June Visit www.rep-am.com to thought the state could help close,” Leone said. “I would
ble contributions and business 2010. He said he no longer pre- comment on this story. districts pay for increased say we have a pretty deep se-
staffing and resources using lection of courses.”
money from Race to the Top,
a federal grant program for SUCH IS NOT THE CASE IN

LIBYA: NATO won’t provide air cover for rebel military
Continued from Page One
The first round of airstrikes
smashed a column of regime
tanks that had been moving on
the rebel capital of Benghazi in
the east.
Monday night, Libyan state
TV said a new round of strikes
had begun in the capital,
Tripoli, marking the third night
of bombardment. But while the
airstrikes can stop Gadhafi’s
troops from attacking rebel
cities — in line with the U.N.
mandate to protect civilians —
the United States, at least, ap-
peared deeply reluctant to go
beyond that toward actively
helping the rebel cause to oust
the Libyan leader.
President Obama said Mon-
day that “it is U.S. policy that
Gadhafi has to go.” But, he said,
the international air campaign
has a more limited goal, to pro-
tect civilians.
“Our military action is in
support of an international
mandate from the Security
Council that specifically focus-
es on the humanitarian threat
posed by Col. Gadhafi to his
people. Not only was he carry-
ing out murders of civilians but
he threatened more,” the presi-
dent said on a visit to Chile.
In Washington, the American
general running the assault
said there is no attempt to pro-
vide air cover for rebel opera-
tions. Gen. Carter Ham said
Gadhafi might cling to power
once the bombardment finish-
es, setting up a stalemate be-
tween his side and the rebels,
with allied nations enforcing a
no-fly zone to ensure he cannot
attack civilians.
At the United Nations on
Monday, the Security Council
turned down a request by Libya
for an emergency session.
Libya wanted “an emergency
meeting in order to halt this ag-
gression.”
Henri Guaino, a top adviser
to the French president, said
the allied effort would last “a
while yet.”
Among the rebels, as well,
there was a realization that
fighting could be drawn out.
Mohammed Abdul-Mullah, a
38-year-old civil engineer from
Benghazi who was fighting with
the rebel force, said govern-
ment troops stopped all resist-
ance after the international
campaign began.
“The balance has changed a
lot,” he said. “But pro-Gadhafi
forces are still strong. They are
a professional military and they
have good equipment. Ninety
percent of us rebels are civil-
ians, while Gadhafi’s people are
professional fighters.”
Disorganization among the
rebels could also hamper their
attempts to exploit the turn of
events. Since the uprising be-
gan, the opposition has been
made up of disparate groups
even as it took control of the en-
tire east of the country.
Regular citizens — residents
of the “liberated” areas — took
up arms and formed a ragtag,
highly enthusiastic but highly
undisciplined force that in the
past weeks has charged ahead
to fight Gadhafi forces, only to
be beaten back by superior fire-
power. Regular army units that
joined the rebels have proven
stronger, more organized fight-
ers, but only a few units have
joined the battles while many
have stayed behind as officers
struggle to get together often
antiquated, limited equipment
and form a coordinated force.
In Libya, a “political leader-
ship” has formed among the
rebels, made up of former
members of Gadhafi’s regime
who defected along with promi-
nent local figures in the east,
such as lawyers and doctors.
The impromptu nature of their
leadership has left some in the
West — particularly in the U.S.
— unclear on who the rebels
are that the international cam-
paign is protecting.
state education reform. The
state applied for $175 million,
but did not receive a penny.
Now school districts are
saddled with the reform’s
costs. After hearing some cry
foul, the General Assembly’s
education committee last
week recommended the in-
creased credit requirements,
end-of-course exams and stu-
dent success plans not be re-
quired until the class of 2020,
this year’s third-graders.
The delay could buy more
time to obtain state or federal
assistance for reform funding,
Deputy Director Patrice Mc-
Carthy of the Connecticut As-
sociation of Boards of
Education said.
“The hope is that the econo-
my will turn around,” Mc-
Carthy said.
Not all education officials
agree with postponing the re-
quirements.
“Every time you push
something back in education,
it’s another grade, another
year that gets lost,” Superin-
tendent Christopher G. Leone
DISTRICTS like Naugatuck,
which needs additional teach-
ers in almost every field to of-
fer newly required courses to
all, instead of some, students.
Increasing academic de-
mands on students could also
call for more teachers to mini-
mize class sizes and teach re-
medial courses, Saam said.
“We’re raising the bar, and
that’s not necessarily a bad
thing, but we need to support
those students who can’t quite
meet that level,” Saam said.
Although the costs associat-
ed with secondary school re-
form seem unattainable for
many urban districts, others
are already making progress,
said Thomas Murphy, a
spokesman for the Connecti-
cut State Department of Edu-
cation.
“That’s the direction that
high schools are headed, not
only in the nation, but around
the world,” Murphy said.
“Connecticut, which has a
strong tradition of high-per-
forming public schools, is be-
ing left behind.”