1st Friday

poster contest

revealed

PUTNAM — As planning continues for the upcoming season of First Fridays, organizers are excited to begin accepting submissions for the 2nd Annual First Fridays Poster Contest. Now through March 14, local artists of all ages are encouraged to submit an original piece of artwork that engages with the 2015 season-long theme: A Century of Art. For a second year, the winning artist will receive a cash prize and will see their work on the cover of the 2015 First Fridays program.

For more information on the poster contest, including a detailed description of the 2015 theme, artists are encouraged to visit www.discoverputnam.com. 

Introduced for the 2014 season, the poster contest was created to engage the arts community in designing the cover for the First Fridays program, which saw 3,500 copies printed and distributed throughout the state. Fourteen posters were received and judged by the Putnam Business Association PR & Marketing Committee, with the winning entry submitted by Putnam resident, Thomas Rall. In addition to his work serving as the cover art for the 2014 program, Rall received a $250 prize. At the July First Fridays event, all fourteen entries were part of a silent auction, with proceeds going to the Putnam Arts Council, the driving force behind the Art Attacks featured at each First Fridays event. 

For 2015, entrants are encouraged to interpret and explore art of the 20th century to create an original work. The periods to be celebrated, respectively, during the six evenings of the 2015 First Fridays season will include: Art Nouveau, The Jazz Age, World War II & the Arts, Pop Art, Urban Art, and Digital Art. All pieces must fit into a 16x20 poster frame portrait orientation and must be submitted by March 14th. A detailed description of the 2015 theme, as well as examples of art from the above periods will be available to all artists interested in submitting work for the contest. Artists are encouraged to use creative freedom to craft a visual representation of how art transformed during the 20th century.

As with the 2014 contest, entries will be judged by the PBA PR & Marketing committee and will be included in a silent auction during one of the monthly First Fridays events. Art lovers will have a chance to purchase reproductions of the winning poster, with proceeds of the auction and poster sales to benefit the First Fridays committee. 

As the cover artwork for the First Fridays program, the winning poster will introduce a new look to the go-to-guide for the 2015 season. The program is the perfect companion to assist visitors to the monthly First Fridays events. For those unfamiliar with First Fridays, the program gives a brief history of the annual event, as well as an overview of what to expect for the upcoming season.  Each First Fridays has something new to do and see, and the program gives a fantastic sneak peek of monthly entertainment, community art projects, and vendors. As well, the program previews events hosted by such downtown galleries as: Arts & Framing and the Sochor Art Gallery, The Empty Spaces Project: Gallery on Main Street, Flying Carpet Studio, Sawmill Pottery, Silver Circle Gallery, and The Stomping Ground. Each season, the program has grown thanks to the generosity of local sponsors who recognize the positive impact First Fridays has on the community.

 

 

Marilyn Jackson,

Vietnam war vet

PUTNAM — Marilyn Jean Jackson, 77, of Putnam, died Feb. 22, 2015, at the Day Kimball Hospital.

She was born June 21, 1937, daughter of the late Alfred and Anna (Feige) Lachapelle.  

Marilyn was a veteran of the Vietnam war serving in the U.S. Air Force, as a 1st lieutenant, and received an honorable discharge March 28, 1964.  She was a Registered Nurse working as an Operating Room Nurse at Day Kimball Hospital for 15 years. 

She leaves her son Todd Jackson and his fiancée Angela Melnik of Thompson, her sister Beverly Sampson of N. Reading, Mass.; a son-in-law Joseph Hollobaugh of Titusville, Penn., her grandchildren Mathew Jackson and Leah Jackson, both of Thompson. She was predeceased by her daughter Krista Jackson in 1998.

A Memorial Service will be at 11 a.m. March 13 at the Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. Donations: ASPCA. 

 

Marie Ledogar

DANIELSON — Marie E. Ledogar, 79, of Danielson, died Feb. 23, 2015, at the William W. Backus Hospital. She was born Oct. 29, 1935, in Danielson to the late Francis and Lillian Andrews. 

Marie was married Sept. 7, 1957, to Lawrence R. Ledogar. She was a graduate of the Killingly High School, Class of 1953. Marie was an extraordinary cook. She enjoyed gardening, shopping and winning at the casinos. 

She leaves her husband Lawrence of 57 years; two sons Lawrence (Melissa) Ledogar, Andrew (Sharon) Ledogar; her two grandchildren, Gregory and Ashley; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother Francis G. Andrews. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 27 at St. Joseph Church, Dayville. Burial will be in the spring in Holy Cross Cemetery. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Beatrice Buell

BROOKLYN — Beatrice Louise Buell of Creamery Brook was born Jan. 8, 1916, in Eastford to Charles Henry and Mildred Goodhall Buell. She passed into Glory Feb. 19, 2015. 

“Bea” attended the one-room Buell District School, then graduated from Putnam High School in 1933 and Willimantic Normal School in 1936, from which she received her BE in 1940. Her first teaching position was at the Cogswell School in Ellington. In 1949 she joined the staff at the newly completed Eastford Elementary School, where she taught first grade until joining the first grade staff at the Israel Putnam School in Putnam, in the late 1950s, retiring in 1971.

Bea was a member of the Congregational Church of Eastford for more than 80 years, where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and was very active in Women’s Fellowship. She was a Life Member of the Wolf Den Grange, Pomfret, and a Life Member of the Betty Putnam Chapter 106, Order of the Eastern Star, Woodstock, where she served as Matron, as well as other elected and appointed offices. She was a volunteer counselor at the Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp, Pomfret, CT, and Honorary Trustee of the Windham County 4-H Foundation.

She enjoyed traveling with family and friends and was a member of the Putnam Travel Club. Her favorite memories were of time spent in the garden of her Eastford home and of waterfront activities at her Crystal Pond property, where she loved to swim and canoe, all the while reveling in the antics of family and friends.

She leaves two sisters-in-law, June Amidon Buell of Gulfport, Fla., and Theresa Caya Buell of Eastford; nieces and nephews Dottie Torcellini of Eastford, Charles Buell of Shoreline, Wash., Charles Buell of Eastford, Robert Buell of Rocky Point, N.C., John Buell of Woodstock, Ken Buell of Eastford, Jim Buell of Willington, Linda Cahoon of Nunnelly, Tenn., and Faye Logee of Eastford and their families. She was predeceased by three brothers, Albert Henry, Charles Franklyn, and Robert Goodhall. 

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. March 7 at the Congregational Church of Eastford, 8 Church Road, Eastford. Donations: Congregational Church of Eastford. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

 

Joan Martel

N. GROSVENORDALE — Joan (Joyal) Martel, 81, of Riverside Drive, died March 1, 2015.  She was the wife of the late Lucien Martel.  Born in 1933 in Burlington, Vt., she was the daughter of the late Hilaire and Blanche (Rousseau) Joyal.

Mrs. Martel graduated valedictorian of St. Joseph High School in N. Grosvenordale.  She was a very devoted Catholic and was very active for St. Joseph Church volunteering on the Parish Council as well as many other activities.  She was an accomplished musician who enjoyed playing the piano.  She also enjoyed completing crossword puzzles.  She was especially kind and helpful to everyone.

Joan leaves by her son, Robert Martel (Nancy) of Ellington; her brothers, John Paul Joyal of Thompson, and Leo Joyal of Pomfret; her sisters, Theresa Guertin of Putnam, Cecile Bellerive of Putnam, Lucille Farrell of Dayville, and Rachel Ladyka of N. Grosvenordale; her granddaughters, Heather Parrott (Rob) of Vernon, Kristen Martel of Ellington, Kelsey Martel of Vernon, and Katelyn Martel of Ellington; her great grandsons, Robby Parrott, and Shawn Parrott; her special niece, Linda Plaza- Cassidy. In addition to her husband and parents, Joan is predeceased by her brother, Willie Joyal. 

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. March 6 in the Valade Funeral Home, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale. A gathering will begin at 10:30 a.m. March 7 in the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 18 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.  Donations: St. Joseph Church. 

 

Raymond Johnson,

Vietnam war vet

PUTNAM — Raymond G. Johnson, 72, of Putnam, died Feb. 28, 2015, at the Matulaitis Nursing Home. He was the husband of Patricia (Cacciapouti) Johnson. They were married Aug. 25, 1972. 

He was born Nov. 30, 1942, in Putnam, son of Anne (Goloski) Johnson and the late Donald Harry Johnson.

He spent his youth in Thompson, after marrying Patricia they moved to Putnam, a communicant of Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret. He was a veteran of the Vietnam Era serving with the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1963. 

He worked for more than 37 years as a press operator at Wyman-Gordon of, he retired in 2006. Ray was a member of the American Legion. He enjoyed woodworking. 

He leaves, in addition to his wife Patricia and his mother Anne of Putnam, his children Allen Johnson and Timothy Johnson and his grandson Tré and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his two brothers Ronald Johnson and Wm “Mike” Johnson. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. March 5 at Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret, with burial in the spring in Holy Cross Cemetery Danielson. Donations: American Cancer Society, 825 Brook Street, I-91 Tech Ctr, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. 

 

Richard Pechie Jr.

Vietnam war vet

E. KILLINGLY — Richard “Dickie” Roland Pechie Jr., 66, of E. Killingly, died unexpectedly Feb. 23, 2015, at Day Kimball Hospital. He was the husband of Mary C. Pechie. 

Born Dec. 5, 1948, in Putnam, he was the son of the late Richard R. and Beatrice (Duso) Pechie.

He graduated from Killingly High School in 1966 and joined the Air Force as an electronics technician. He was a veteran of the Vietnam war and was honorably discharged in 1970 with the rank of staff sergeant. He was a member of the VFW Post 4908, E. Killingly. He met his wife while stationed in Omaha, Neb. They were married Aug. 1, 1969. 

Dickie worked at Glass Container in Dayville as a maintenance mechanic while attending QVCC and received his bachelor’s in electrical engineering from UConn. He was employed as vice president and regional sales manager at Vollmer America of Canaan. He enjoyed participating in radio contests with the Barnstormers Ham Radio Club. He loved his Springer Spaniels, Kolby and Piper, who were shown in many shows. Dickie and Mary traveled with their friends, Jack and Kathy Richie to Canada quite often for Formula 1 Racing and was an avid hockey fan, especially for the Montreal Canadiens, to the dismay of his brothers, Boston Bruin fans.

In addition to his wife Mary, he leaves his sons, Jean-Philippe Pechie (Tonya) of Sterling, Alain Pechie of Sterling, his brothers, Gary Pechie (Ann) Danielson, David Pechie (Rhonda) of Dayville, his sister-in-law, Sophie Charron (Mark) of Brooklyn, his niece Kaitlyn Whitney, Esq. (Ryan) of Longmeadow, Mass., his nephew Geoffrey Pechie of Vienna, Vir.; his aunt, Frances Pechie of E. Killingly (the late Robert Pechie Sr.; uncle and aunt Donald Hubert (Anity) of Danielson. Predeceased by his brother Kevin.

The Mass of Christian Burial was Feb. 28 in St. Joseph Church, Dayville with military honors. Burial in the spring in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: Eastern English Springer Spaniel Club, c/o Adam Lester, Treas., 46 Hidden Hollow Trail, Gray, ME  04039. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

 

Nicole L. Rickaby

WILLIMANTIC — Nicole L. “Sissy” Rickaby, 29, of Card St., died Feb. 22, 2015, in Windham Hospital.  Born in 1985 in Worcester, she was the daughter of Linda (McKay) Klingensmith of Putnam and Thomas and Joyce Rickaby of N. Brookfield, Mass.

Nicole was a graduate of Windham High School.  She enjoyed watching T.V.; swinging; smiling and the feel of the wind on her face. 

In addition to her parents, she leaves her brothers, Thomas E. Rickaby Jr. of Thompson, and Michael N. Rickaby (Caitlin) of Clinton; her sisters, Sarah E. Rickaby and her boyfriend Brandon of Cumberland, R.I., and Kayla M. Klingensmith of Putnam; her step-brothers, Jeremy Fafard (Claudia) of Newark, Del.; Nicholas Atchue of N. Brookfield, Mass., and Kyle Atchue (Erin) of Hawaii; her paternal grandmother, Faye Rickaby of N. Grosvenordale and her maternal grandmother, Loretta I. McKay of Velrico, Fla.; her special friend Sr. Anne “Tot” Cacciaputi.

The funeral was Feb. 27 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. Cremation followed in the Park Tribute Center.  

 

Carol P. Rukat,

WWII vet

DUDLEY — Carol P. Rukat died Feb. 28, 2015, at Webster Manor after a short period of declining health. 

He was born in Dudley, son of the late Stanislaw and Martha (Richert) Rukat.  

Carol served in the U.S. Army during WWII from 1943 to 1946 in the Pacific / Atlantic in the Medical Core.  He was a Master Electrician in Massachusetts and owned and operated Rukat Electric on West Main Street in Dudley for more than 50 years. 

He loved his cat Fluffy, gardening and enjoyed dancing to polkas.  He was a member of St. Andrew Bobola in Dudley where he served as a collector for 40 years. 

He leaves his wife of 38 years, Helen M. Rukat, as well as nieces and nephews, some in Connecticut. He is predeceased by his brother Chester and sisters Viola Brown and Vickie Shilinsky. 

A Funeral Mass was March 4 in St. Andrew Bobola Church, Dudley, with burial with military honors in St. Joseph Garden of Peace Cemetery, Webster. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

Joseph Szeredy

DUDLEY — Joseph Szeredy, 79, died Feb. 23, 2015, at home.

He was the owner of Szeredy Builders of Thompson which he started in 1971.  While he officially retired in 1991, he never truly stopped working.  He was an active member of the St. Louis Church as a Eucharistic Minister.  He was life member of the Webster- Auburn BPO Elks and the Singletary Rod and Gun Club.  He was an avid outdoors-man and enjoyed hunting and fishing.  

He was the son of the late Joseph and Anna (Milas) Szeredy.  

He leaves his wife Elaine (Dargie) Szeredy of 60 years; his daughters Diana Couture (Richard), Nicole Beck of Thompson, Patricia Sheldon of N. Grosvenordale and her children Amy Mongeau, Charity Grzelecki, and Ronald Sheldon; his son David Szeredy (Audrey) of Wilsonville, and their children Davis Szeredy and Deirdre Smith; his daughter Pamela Nachtigall (Marko Nachtigall) of N. Grosvenordale, and their children Alex and Megan Nachtigall; son Brian Szeredy (Sharon) of Dudley and their children Jake and Emily Szeredy; 10 great-grandchildren; brother John Szeredy (Joyce) of Webster.   

The Funeral Mass was held in St. Louis Church, Webster. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

 

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By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC column is dedicated to John Foucault, an energetic individual always ready to help whenever it involves young people.  Foucault is a coach of the Putnam Clippers and the TriTown American Legion Baseball programs.  He recently celebrated a birthday but claims he’s still young enough to stay actively involved in baseball. 

Next Up Recruits Post Grad rankings, which are updated once per month, came out with its latest rating of prep schools from around the nation and the Putnam Science Academy Mustangs are still in the Top 10.  The Tom Espinosa-coached Mustangs are currently ranked #6 in the country despite suffering through a rough spell in which they dropped four games in a three-week period.  They are 25-7 going into The Big 5 Conference Tournament.

The Scientists have beaten three of the teams that are ranked ahead of them in the poll.  Standing on top of the poll is Brewster Academy at #1, a team that recently dropped the Mustangs.  The #2, #3 and #5 teams, Notre Dame Prep, Northfield Mount Hermon and Hargrave Military Academy are all teams that have succumbed to the Mustangs.  PSA also has a win over the #7 team, IMG Academy of Florida but has been victimized by #8 St. Thomas More and #9 Tilton Academy.   

The team was recently notified it was selected once again for the National Championships, which begin on Tuesday, March 10 at Connecticut College in New London.  The Mustangs open play in an 11:45 a.m. contest against Hargrave Military Academy a team they defeated 99-87 in the Best Western Caisson Shootout in Virginia in December.  Should the team emerge victorious they’ll face IMG Academy of Florida another team they’ve beaten this season.  PSA played IMG in November in the National Prep Showcase and won 82-71.  

Hamidou Diallo is the leading scorer for the Mustangs at 15.4 points per game.  He’s followed by slick ball handling point guard Kealen Ives at 15.0 and Josh “The Igniter” Wallace at 14.2.  Ives is the team’s assist leader with 7.8 per contest, while Wallace is averaging three assists a contest and Diallo 2.1.  Mamadou Diarra, the 6-foot,, 8-inch center/forward is the team’s leading rebounder with 6.9 caroms per contest.  He’s followed by Andrew Robinson with 5.3 boards a game and Vincent “The Big” Eze at 5.2.  Andrew Robinson and Ives lead the team in three-point baskets with 68 and 58 respectively.  Wallace has 47 from beyond the arc.

Next Up Recruits is run by Taylor Hicks, who has a master’s degree in sports management from Eastern Kentucky University.  The poll committee consists of various post grad prep school coaches from across the country with input from credible scouts who follow prep school basketball closely.

Dear Old Alma Mater

Putnam Town Administrator Doug Cutler is a 1974 graduate of American University in Washington, D.C.  On a recent trip to the nation’s capital Cutler had the opportunity to take in the Eagles game against the University of Loyola – Baltimore on Wednesday, February 4.  The trip to his alma mater’s campus was worthwhile for Cutler as American won the Patriot League contest, making his flight home to Putnam most pleasurable.

Local Whistle Blowers Selected for State Games

Three members of the Eastern Board #8 Approved Basketball Officials were selected to officiate in the upcoming CIAC State Tournament.  Two of the three will be seeing State tourney action for the very first time.

Veteran official Christian Sarantopolous of Pomfret was chosen to work tourney contests in the boys’ postseason.  Sarantopoulos, who has been a referee for almost two decades is a dual board official, with status also on the New Haven Board.

Bill Bartholic of Danielson was selected to work in the girls’ postseason tournament, while Putnam resident Peter Vitale will be working in the CIAC boys’ tournament.  Bartholic has been blowing the whistle for approximately six seasons and Vitale is entering his fourth season of officiating.

Baseball Shrine and Standard Falling by the Wayside

They say change in life is inevitable.  Despite preparing ourselves for the events that have an effect on our everyday lives, change is often very difficult to swallow.  This past week an event occurred that affected many baseball traditionalists and will change the baseball face of New England forever.

The news broke that one of baseball’s best bargains for the price, which is played in a venue that many consider a baseball shrine, will be going the way of many of our beloved standards.  The Pawtucket Red Sox, who have been playing their games in venerable McCoy Stadium since 1977 when the team was bought by one of New England’s greatest entrepreneurs, the late Ben Mondor, has been sold to a conglomerate that involves Larry Luchino, president of the Boston Red Sox.

Although there are hundreds of memories of the greats passing through the gates of McCoy on their way to the Majors, some personal memories involve some lesser lights with ties to the greater northeastern Connecticut region.

Holding a place of honor in Cooperstown, N.Y., at the Baseball Hall of Fame is memorabilia of a game that was played on April 18-19, and completed June 23, 1981.  That contest between the beloved PawSox and the Rochester Red Wings, now holds the record as the longest game in professional baseball history.  The contest went 33 innings and took 8 hours and 25 minutes.  It featured two future Hall of Fame players, Wade Boggs of Pawtucket and Cal Ripken of Rochester.

Also in the game was one of Eastern Connecticut’s most beloved athletes Roger LaFrancois.  That evening LaFrancois relieved his good friend Rich Gedman as Pawtucket’s catcher in the seventh inning and caught the next 26 innings.  Remarkable!  He came to the plate eight times and recorded two of Pawtucket’s 21 hits in the game.

Many a summer evening, we’d pack the car with my sons David, Chris and any of the kids in the neighborhood who wanted to tag along, and head to Pawtucket to “see Roger play.”  It was always a thrill.  We still talk about those trips with fervor today.

Then there were the evenings in Pawtucket when Brooklyn resident Joe Voccio would be in the PawSox bullpen performing his duties as the team’s bullpen catcher.  It was always fun to watch the humble Voccio being asked for autographs by the flock of young kids who were always on hand at McCoy.  And he was great to our kids and friends by occasionally tossing them a used baseball.

Of course being greeted by Ben Mondor was always special.  A permanent fixture at the entrance to McCoy, Mondor treated everyone as though he’d known them all their lives.  And then there were Mondor’s two protégés, Mike Tamburro, the president and CEO of the team from Shrewsbury, and Lou Schwechheimer, the vice president, chips off the Mondor block.  Always personable, the pair like Mondor never forgot their patrons.

The team will soon become big time corporate America, moving to a new stadium along the river in Providence.  The setting may be more modern, newer and possess the amenities of some Major League parks but to the baseball traditionalists, it will never match up.

Here’s to the Pawtucket Red Sox, McCoy Stadium, and the City of Pawtucket, the game may be leaving you but the memories will live on forever.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don’t care if I never get back.  Let me root, root, root for the home team, if they don’t win it’s a shame.  For it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out, at the old ball game.”

(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

 

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