Honoring pg 1 11-21-13

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caption, page 1: Spontaneous
In a spontaneous moment that left not a dry eye in the house, WWII veteran Robert Harris stood up and embraced Vietnam Veteran Bert “Chief” Heath. More photos on page 6. Putnam photos courtesy of Sarah Hamby.


Special to the Putnam Town Crier
The community of Putnam honored its veterans with three celebrations that encompassed the entire Veterans Day weekend.  The local veterans were saluted by the Putnam Lodge of Elks #64, the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 and the Putnam Rotary Club #7890.
Elks Provide Dinner
Nov. 10 the Putnam Lodge of Elks honored local veterans with a free spaghetti and meatball dinner.  More than 160 people, vets, family and friends, attended the ceremony, which was choreographed by Elk Lysa Molnar and highlighted by a moving ceremony led by Exalted Ruler Shawn Tessier.  The National Anthem was sung by United States Air Force veteran (1962-1966) Maurice “Moe” Coderre.
Post #13 Honors Three Vets
On Veterans Day, Nov. 11 American Legion Post #13 held its annual Celebrity Bartender evening.  The highlight of the night was the presentation of recognition plaques to honor the service of WWII U.S. Navy veteran Robert “Bob” Harris, Calvin Heath and Bert “Chief” Heath both U.S. Army Vietnam war era vets.  The awards were presented by Commander Walter Larochelle, a U.S. Army veteran.
The award to Calvin Heath was presented posthumously and was accepted by his brother Bert Heath.  Calvin Heath, who died earlier this year, was a highly decorated Vietnam vet, earning the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Warrior Medal of Valor, Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge.  He is credited with saving the lives of members of his unit during a skirmish with the Viet Cong.
The evening raised approximately $4,400 for the Post Youth Activity Fund and in support of the “Home At Last Campaign” for homeless veterans located in Jewett City.
Rotary Club Honors Member Veterans
Nov. 12 the Putnam Rotary Club heard from U.S. Navy veteran Alan Joslin of Putnam on “What Veterans Day Means To Me.”  Joslin, who was seriously wounded in Vietnam, spoke about his ordeal in Southeast Asia and how he’s remained connected with the family of his buddy who lost his life in the skirmish.  He also revealed a recent connection with the surgeon who cared for him immediately following his wounding, and saved his life.
The Rotary Club honored its veteran members: Doug Valentine, Jay Wade and Peter Benoit – U.S. Army; Ben Morgan – U.S. Navy; Elizabeth Buzalski – U.S. Marine Corps; and Gerard Cotnoir and Ronald P. Coderre – U.S. Air Force.  The program was conducted by Club President Brad Favreau.

Shock pg 1 11-21-13

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Shock waves
ripple through
girls' hoops

By Ron P. Coderre
What might turn out to be the most shocking coaching announcement of 2013, or in many years, Willie Bousquet and the Woodstock Academy Athletic Department revealed that the longtime Putnam Clipper ladies’ basketball coach was taking the Centaurs vacant women’s hoop job.  The 54-year-old Bouquet, a 1984 UConn grad, has been the highly successful girls’ coach at Putnam High School for the past 11 seasons.
Although very happy and seemingly entrenched at Putnam, Bousquet told the Putnam Town Crier Sports, “I wasn’t out fishing.  The opportunity came along and after serious thought and for a variety of reasons I applied.”  As an individual who bleeds “Putnam Blue,” he’ll now have “Woodstock Gold” running through his veins.
According to Bousquet’s resume, he presents himself as “possessing excellent leadership skills, dynamic interpersonal communication skills and strong mentoring ability.”  It’s these three vital areas of high school coaching that have made Bousquet a success, not only on the hardwood but on the softball and baseball diamond as well.  He’s one of the few coaches in northeastern Connecticut who achieves success by teaching the basics and building a winning tradition one step at a time.
Leaving Putnam, which competes in the Constitution State Conference, Bousquet returns to the Eastern Connecticut Conference, a locale he’s very familiar with as a basketball coach.  Prior to moving to the CSC, Putnam under Bousquet’s tutelage captured ECC Small Division titles in 2007 and 2010, where he also took a program that had won one game in two seasons and qualified for the CIAC Tournament 10 seasons in succession.  As the Centaurs coach he’ll be looking to build on a program that plays in the highly competitive ECC Large Division.

In addition to the ECC crowns, Bousquet’s coaching resume cites success as a finalist in the CSC in 2011, selection as a coach in the prestigious Connecticut Senior All Star game in 2013 and leading his AAU team to the Division II Nationals in Orlando, Fla., this year.  In 1989 he coached the Putnam Clippers softball team to the State Class S Championship.

“Leaving Putnam was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made.  The job at Woodstock was an opportunity that presented itself, I envisioned as a career coaching opportunity.  My goal is to grow the program and allow the team to be competitive in the ECC Large Division,” said Bousquet about the move.

The move will not affect Bousquet’s position as Town of Putnam Parks and Recreation Director, a position he’s held for 28 years.  He also plans to continue with his summer basketball camps and AAU coaching.  According to his unofficial estimates, in the last decade he’s coached more than 500 AAU and high school games, accumulating more than 300 wins.

During his high school coaching tenure he’s produced four Academic All-State players, a Class S All State performer and witnessed three of his players moving to the college ranks.  Kaitlin Tarr played at Rhode Island College, Miah Manning at Mitchell College and Ashley Espinosa is currently a freshman at Worcester State University.

Then and Now pg 2 11-21-13

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Then
This is ice harvesting in the late 1800's before there was a Pomfret Street bridge in Putnam. Downtown is in the background. Photo courtesy of Aspinock Historical Society via Mike Bates.


& Now
This is the same area in modern times.