Northwestern Regional helps out graduate in need

WINSTED — Twenty-year-old Anthony Flint’s life changed forever on the morning of Feb. 17.Flint, who graduated from Northwestern Regional High School in 2009, was driving his 2005 Chevrolet Malibu west on Old New Hartford Road when it crashed into a tree near the school.Flint suffered severe injuries in the accident, including a traumatic brain injury, a broken arm and other various jaw and head injuries.He currently is in therapy at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, and it is not known when he can go back to work at Mallory Brook Cinemas.As he goes through therapy, Flint’s medical and cost of living bills are piling up.He has HUSKY Healthcare, which is provided by the state, but it is not known how many of the medical bills the program will cover.Flint is also the father of an 11-month-old daughter, Anna Lee. He cannot support her financially due to his injuries.To help Flint, the staff and faculty at Northwestern Regional have started a fund to go toward his recovery.Many members of the faculty have warm memories of Flint, including Erick Wildes, who was Flint’s agricultural teacher for four years.“He was a pretty outgoing kid who was always helpful to everyone,” Wildes said. “He loved the atmosphere of the agricultural program, and he felt like he had family here. One time I gave him the task of digging out a drain that was stuffed up in the greenhouse. He went in there and was digging in his school clothes. He didn’t care because he was always driven to succeed, no matter what task you gave him.”High school Principal Ken Chichester also has fond memories of Flint.“He is just a delightful young man,” Chichester said. “He is a very kind, very warm young man. Anthony is someone who always strives to help out others. I was the assistant principal when he was here, and I spent quite a bit of time talking to him. I found him to be someone who always did his best. He is very much a people person.”Flint’s mother, Diane Newth, said Flint and his family appreciates the support.“Honestly, he wants to get 100 percent better,” Newth said. “I don’t know when that will happen.”To donate to the Anthony Flint Recovery Fund, send donations to TD Bank, 200 New Hartford Road, Ledgebrook Plaza, Winsted, CT 06098.