pms pg 7 5-9-24
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Middle school principal named
PUTNAM — Greg Keith last week was appointed as the new principal of Putnam Middle School, effective July 1.
Board of Education members said, With a wealth of experience and a genuine student-centered approach, Mr. Keith is poised to lead PMS to new heights of success.”
Superintendent Steve Rioux said: “Mr. Keith’s experiences and genuine student-centered approach make him a perfect fit for Putnam Middle School. We are excited to welcome him to our educational leadership team.” Board Chairman Jamie Purdon said: “His expertise and dedication to student success make him an ideal choice for this important position.”
Keith’s educational background: a Superintendent Certificate, an Educational Leadership Certificate, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Sacred Heart University and a bachelor’s degree in organizational communications from Fairfield University.
He has been a teacher, superintendent and a middle school principal in Franklin, Ledyard and Mystic, honing his experience in shared leadership, district performance data, strategic planning, community involvement, budget preparation, and more.
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cal pg 8 5-9-24
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Wed. May 8
Exhibit
PUTNAM --- “Natural Vision” photo exhibit by Janet McDonald is showing in the Corridor Gallery at the Putnam Municipal Complex through June 30. A reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 9. The exhibit features a series of beautiful color photographs of nature and the world around us. Open to the public at no charge. Visit www.PutnamCtArtsCouncil.com for gallery hours and more information.
Senior Dance
PUTNAM --- Ocho de Mayo and Mardi Gras senior dance will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Putnam Lodge of Elks on Edmond Street. Prizes, photobooth, props. Music by JL Sound. Sponsored by Christopher Heights Assisted Living and Matulaitis Rehabilitation and Skilled Center.
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Library’s Art @ the Library &Display Case is presenting the annual Thompson Public Schools Art Showcase, exhibiting the artwork from the students of Tourtellotte Memorial High School and Thompson Middle School through May 22 at the Thompson Public Library. A reception will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. May 12. 860-923-9779.
Thur. May 9
‘Reckless’
POMFRET --- The Pomfret School Theater will present “Reckless” by Craig Lucas at 7 p.m. May 9 and 10 in the Hard Auditorium. Free. All welcome. 860-963-5260.
Fri. May 10
Bird Walk
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret will present “Friedman Forest Bird Walk” at 8 a.m. at Joshua’s Trust preserve. Day Road. $20 for CAS members; $30 for nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.
Sat. May 11
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret will present “Gellert Preserve Bird Walk” at 8 a.m. at the Wyndham Land Trust Preserve at 8 a.m. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.
Plant Sale
WOODSTOCK --- The Quiet Corner Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the Agriculture Building on the Woodstock Fairgrounds on Rt. 169. It will feature perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetable plants, trees and shrubs, and because it’s always held the Saturday before Mother’s Day, fresh floral arrangements and crafts will also tempt. Experts will be on hand to answer questions. Sponsors include: The Putnam Area Foundation, our perennial sponsor; Two Gold Moons, Air Plant sponsor; Rawson Materials sponsoring the Botanical Crafts and Wilsonville Herb Farm, our herb sponsor. It benefits scholarships for local students studying horticulture-related fields, for civic projects such as children’s gardens in schools and libraries, plantings at senior housing facilities and memorial sites throughout the region. QuietCornerGardenClub.com.
Sun. May 12
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret will present “Mother’s Day Bird Walk” at 8 a.m. from the center on Day Road. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Moms free. Register: 860-928-4948.
Wed. May 15
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret will present “20 Warbler Day” from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. carpooling from the center on Day Road. $25 for CAS members; $50 for nonmembers. Moms free. Register: 860-928-4948.
Thur. May 16
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret will present “Cabbage Hill Bird Walk” at 8 a.m. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.
Fri. May 17
Concert
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret will present Cindy Kallet, Grey Larsen & Will Brown in concert at 7:30 p.m. at the center on Day Road. $20 advance reservations; $25 at the door. Reserve at: 860-928-4948.
Sat. May 18
Fairy Fest
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association and the Town of Putnam will present a Fairy and Magic Fest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. around downtown.
Rabies Clinic
DANIELSON --- Pet Pals Northeast will hold a low cost rabies clinic from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Quinebaug Valley Veterinary Hospital on Rt. 12. $15 cash per animal. Preregistration and appointment is required. No walk-ins. 860-317-1720.
Pancake Breakfast
PUTNAM --- In honor of Armed Forces Day, Boy Scout Troop 21 will sponsor a free pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon in the St. Mary's Church Hall.
Bird Banding
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will hold a “Bird Banding Demonstration” at 9 a.m. at the center on Day Road. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.
Sun. May 19
Go Wild
WOODSTOCK --- Ferncroft Wildlife Rescue will hold this year’s family day from noon to 4 p.m. at Roseland Park. GO WILD with Ferncroft Wildlife Rescue will be a fun and educational afternoon of learning about wildlife. A donation of $10 per person over age 13 is suggested.
Sat. May 25
Reading
PUTNAM --- Award-winning poet Brad Davis has just had his 10th collection of poems, On the Way to Putnam: New, Selected, & Early Poems, published and will be celebrating the book’s release with an Author Series reading at 1 p.m. at the Putnam Public Library. Free and Davis’ new book will be available for purchase and signing at the reading.
Poetry
POMFRET --- The Vanilla Bean Café, 450 Deerfield Road in Pomfret, and Poets at Large will host an evening of spoken word and poetry from 7 to 9 p.m. $15 includes a give-away. For more info or to contact Poets at Large coordinator Karen Warinsky if you are interested in reading in the open Mic: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Sat. June 1
Bat Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Bats: Winged Wonders” at 2 p.m. at the center on Day Road. Presentation by Maureen Heidtmann, one of only three licensed wildlife rehabilitators in Connecticut specializing in caring for bats. Includes overview of bats of the world, with an emphasis on our local species. She will cover myths and misconceptions, roles they play in ensuring a healthy planet, perils they face as they struggle to survive and their amazing resilience. She’ll bring an “ambassador” bat with her. No registration required. $5 for CAS members; $10 non-members. 860-928-4948.
Relay For Life
PUTNAM --- The Relay For Life of Northeastern Connecticut, a regional fund-raiser walk and festival benefitting the American Cancer Society, will be held from 10 a.m. June 1 to 10 a.m. June 2 at the St. Marie-Greenhalgh Sports Complex. For more info or to register, go to: relayforlife.org/northeasternct
Sat. June 8
Singers/Songwriters of ‘70s
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library will present Jim Lenn with “The Ovation Guitar & Singers/Songwriters of the ‘70s from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Registration required.
Sat. June 22
Arts Fest
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Fine Arts and Crafts Festival will be held June 22 and 23 at the Municipal Complex.
Sat. July 6
Fireworks
PUTNAM --- Fireworks will be held around the Putnam Rotary Park. Rain date is July 13.
Sun. Aug. 11
Pluck a Duck
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present Pluck a Duck Aug. 11 and 12.
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obits pg 8 5-9-24
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Sr Diane Gillis, DHS
WINDHAM — Sr. Diane Gillis, 81, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, died May 2, 2024, at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham.
Born Jan. 27, 1943, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 27, 1943, Diane Cecilia was the oldest of 13 children of Richard P. and Bernice (Kitzman) Gillis. She entered religious life in 1961 and made her religious profession on June 1, 1962. She was then known as Sr. Anne Cecilia.
After receiving her bachelor’s in education from diocesan teachers college in Woodstock, Sr. Diane ministered in schools in Vermont, Bridgeport, Conn., Moosup, Conn. and Chicopee, Mass., as teacher, librarian and school secretary. From 1975 until 1990 Diane was involved in parish ministry in Vermont and Florida, particularly in the Spanish apostolate in Chicopee, Holyoke, Mass., and Hartford. From 1990 to 1998 she worked as an insurance reviewer at Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital in Springfield, Mass., after which she joined the community at the Provincial House in Putnam and served as the receptionist there. She joined the community at St Joseph Living Center in 2019.
She leaves the Daughters of the Holy Spirit spiritual family – her Sisters in community, the Consecrated Seculars and the Associates; her sisters Joan and Mary; her brothers Richard, Michael, William, Steven, Joseph, Christopher, Thomas, James and Robert, all in Florida; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Sandra.
The Mass of Christian Burial was May 7 at Corpus Christi Parish/St. Joseph Church, Willimantic, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam. Donations: DHS Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 497, Putnam, CT 06260. The Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Peter G. Lucchesi
WOODSTOCK VALLEY —Peter G. Lucchesi, 91, of Route 198, died April 28, 2024, at home.
He was the husband of Linda Lucchesi.
Born in 1932 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Duilio and Dina Lucchesi.
Dr. Lucchesi graduated from Marianapolis Preparatory School in Thompson, College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts and received a master’s from Boston College, held a doctorate in English literature from the University of Wisconsin and specialized in American fiction and poetry.
He was a Professor Emeritus of English at Austin College in Sherman, Texas.
On March 12, 2004, in Santa Fe, N.M., he was united in marriage to the former Linda Fleming.
Peter enjoyed writing, gardening, and cooking for his family and friends.
He leaves his wife of 20 years, Linda Lucchesi; his children, Rita Gates of Austin, Texas, Maria Brown of Port Aransas, Texas, Andrew Lucchesi of Austin, and Anna Lucchesi–Spina of Murphy, Texas; his twin sister, Alma Douglas of Cromwell; cousins, nieces and nephews and his grandchildren, Bodhi Lucchesi, Benjamin Brown, and Nicholas Brown. He was predeceased by a sister, Norma Cassettari.
He was a brilliant and talented man who had a great sense of humor. To our family and the many students he inspired as a Professor, he will be greatly missed. A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
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putnam pg 9 5-9-24
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When Nate Rivera hit the first batter with the first pitch of Monday’s game, the Putnam Science lefthander had a feeling what was going through his teammates’ minds.
“Everyone was thinking it was going to be one of those games,” said Rivera, who had two walks and the hit-by-pitch in the first four batters. “No one was thinking no-hitter.”
But…
Rivera settled down and struck out six over five hitless innings, then Cris Peguero needed just 10 pitches to get through a 1-2-3 sixth inning before Anthony Mena closed it out by also retiring the side in order in the seventh.
And what started inauspiciously ended with as the second no-hitter in PSA history and a 6-2 win over American International College JV.
“I wasn’t thinking about it at all,” Mena said. “I didn’t even know. When guys came out of the dugout, they were saying it was a combined no-hitter and I was like, ‘Really?’ It’s good though, because if you are thinking about, that’s when you’re not making pitches.”
Rivera retired 12 in a row after AIC scored its second run in the first inning, which came on an error (its other run came on a sacrifice fly), and he set down 13 of the last 14 batters he faced in his best outing of the season.
Enrique Diaz had an RBI double in the second inning and two-run double in the third, while Junior Mesa singled, tripled, and drove in two runs for PSA.
Unfortunately, the week turned sour after that though, as PSA dropped three games to two of New England powers over the weekend – 4-0 to No. 6 Cheshire Friday, then 10-0 and 11-2 to unbeaten No. 5 Austin Prep Saturday – in games that were much closer than the final score would indicate.
Cody Heselton was terrific against Cheshire, allowing just two runs (one earned) over six innings while striking out eight. PSA’s bats couldn’t do much though, getting only second-inning single from Enrique Diaz but nothing else the rest of the way aside from one walk.
Saturday’s first game at Austin Prep was 2-0 in the fourth inning when the host team blew it open with four runs. They did it with a single, walk, and bunt single before a wild pitch, two-run triple, and sacrifice fly. Ian Mihalopoulos pitched better than his final line.
The second game ended in lopsided fashion as well, again thanks in part to one big inning. Austin Prep had two outs and no one on base in the second inning before erupting for five runs on six hits and two walks. Junior Mesa and Young-Ha Yoon both had a pair of hits for PSA.
PSA’s soccer team got itself a big win Sunday, knocking off South Kent 1-0. Renan Mafra scored the goal off an assist from Geo Aniceto. Jose Romero played very well in the midfield for PSA, which rotated a lot of players from its second and third units throughout.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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