PSA pg 1 4-9-15
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caption, page 9:
UConn Offer
Mamadou Diarra, who has a scholarship offer from UConn, in action during the Mustangs recent trip to the National Prep School Championships. Courtesy photo.
PSA hoop
star Diarra
mulls UConn
offer
By Ron P. Coderre
Despite the looming threat of the dissolution of the highly successful Putnam Science Academy basketball program, the Mustangs continue to make headlines.
In the latest release from the Maple Street campus, basketball coach and athletic director Tom Espinosa announced that another one of his players has received an offer from a major NCAA Division I university.
Mamadou Diarra, the 6-foot, 8-inch and 215-pound Mustang big man, has received an offer to attend UConn and play for Coach Kevin Ollie for the 2016-2017 season. Diarra, who is scheduled to graduate in May, also has other offers from the University of Minnesota, Kansas State University and Temple University on the table.
According to Espinosa, Diarra has another year of eligibility remaining on the prep school level. This fact along with UConn’s offer, which is one year away, has given Diarra something to think about regarding his immediate basketball future.
Does he stay for another season at Putnam Science Academy or play at another prep school? Or does he accept a college offer to play next season?
Stunning Announcement
Creating Confusion
Muddying up the waters is the announcement March 27 by the hierarchy of the Wellspring Foundation that Putnam Science Academy would be closing the academic portion of its program following graduation this year. The Foundation administration announced that the school is in poor financial condition and would be merging with its sister school, Pioneer Academy in Wayne, N.J.
The announcement, which took faculty, support staff and students by total surprise, was not popularly received. A number of the faculty and staff strongly expressed their sentiments about keeping the school open. Their words appeared to fall on deaf ears. It seems the decision has been made and is irreversible.
According to the Wellspring administration, the plan is to utilize the next two years to do needed renovations and updates to the school that will make it more attractive to families and students. They also plan on doing fund-raising to close the financial gap. This year Putnam Science Academy had an enrollment of 115 all male students primarily from Turkey and its surrounding countries and American students primarily of Turkish descent. The school had one student from Putnam. In its early years the school enjoyed a student population as high as 190. It has been steadily declining since then.
This year was also a high water mark academically in that the school endured a rigorous prep school certification process, which granted them official status for the first time in its history.
Espinosa has put forth a proposal that the Wellspring Foundation is currently weighing. The proposal would keep the school going as a basketball school. In the proposal Espinosa would produce two teams (approximately 20 basketball players) with all of the players already NCAA academically qualified. The program would serve postgraduate students only, giving them another year of basketball competition, better preparing them for the next step on the college level. A decision on the proposal is expected in the near future, although the administration is not known for making quick decisions.
What About Diarra?
Back to Diarra, the young man from Queens transferred to Putnam Science Academy in the midst of the 2013-2014 season. His future is bright though very confused by all that’s transpired around him. During his two years on the Putnam campus, he’s been fortunate to play in two National Prep School Championships. Last season, he was part of a team that boasted a 25-8 record. He was an inside force for coach Espinosa, averaging nine points and nine rebounds per contest.
“Mamadou has progressed a long way since arriving at our school. His basketball skills have improved immensely and he’s grown physically. He’s worked very hard to get himself into great basketball shape. Most importantly he’s become one of our leaders,” said Espinosa. “I’m very happy that he’s received these offers.”
According to Espinosa, UConn could very well be the frontrunner in the race to secure Diarra’s services. The fact that his family lives in Queens, which is within easy driving distance to UConn could be an influencing factor.
Founded in 2001, Putnam Science Academy has enjoyed a comfortable relationship with the Putnam community. The varsity basketball program was initiated in 2006-2007. Since that time the program has witnessed meteoric success. In nine years of varsity competition, Espinosa and his Mustangs have posted an impressive 171-58 record, a lofty winning percentage of 74.7.
Four members of this year’s team have accepted Division I scholarships. The Robinson twins, Andrew and Aaron are headed to Quinnipiac University, point guard Kealen Ives will attend Rider and Vincent Eze will play at Manhattan. The school’s most prominent basketball graduate is Scoochie Smith who is currently the starting point guard for the University of Dayton Flyers, who has enjoyed great success in the NCAA Tournament the past two years. Other former players who are currently in Division I programs include Shaun Lawton, Dalique Mingo, Chaise Daniels, Danny Upchurch, Jordan Butler and Anthony Durham.
Citizens pg 1 4-9-15
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Pledge Complete
Citizens National Bank recently completed its pledge to Day Kimball Healthcare's Care in a Heartbeat Capital Campaign. Left to right: Robert Smanik, president and CEO, Day Kimball Healthcare; Donald St. Onge, Senior Vice President, COO and Chief Nursing Officer, Day Kimball Healthcare; Pamela Watts, Development director, Day Kimball Healthcare; Peter Deary, Care in a Heartbeat Leadership Campaign co-chair; and David Conrad, president and CEO, Citizens National Bank. Courtesy photo.
PUTNAM — Citizens National Bank has contributed the final installment of a $250,000 pledge of support for Day Kimball Healthcare’s “Care In a Heartbeat” Capital Campaign. David Conrad, president and CEO of Citizens National Bank, presented a check for $87,500, the remainder of the pledge, to Day Kimball Healthcare leadership and the campaign’s co-chair at the bank’s Putnam branch March 26.
“We at The Citizens National Bank are extremely proud to finish our commitment of $250,000 towards the new emergency department at Day Kimball Hospital early with this check for $87,500,” Conrad said. “This endeavor is extremely important to the area in providing excellent medical care to the communities that both CNB and Day Kimball serve. The bank is truly honored to be part of this project.”
The Care in a Heartbeat Campaign raised over $3 million to help fund construction of the new Townsend Emergency Medical Center at Day Kimball Hospital. Construction of the new facility has been undertaken in three phases, with the first two phases completed in 2014. Already in use are 18 new private patient treatment rooms, including a behavioral health wing, and a state-of-the-art resuscitation room. The final phase, which includes six more new patient treatment rooms and an all-new entrance and waiting area, is set to open in late summer of this year. When complete, the new facility will offer double the space of the old emergency department. Other improvements include new, specialized equipment, technology upgrades and more.
Nosing pg 1 4-9-15
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'Nosing in' on Spring
This magnolia bud is starting to swell. Spring is very close indeed. More photos on page 6. Linda Lemmon photo.
PRIDE pg 1 4-9-15
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PRIDE,
police dept.
visit
seniors
The Putnam Police Department, working in cooperation with the Partnership to Reduce the Influence of Drugs for Everyone (PRIDE), continues to expand its educational outreach in its effort to foster a safe, drug-free environment for the entire Putnam community.
Working in collaboration, the two agencies have been reaching out to business owners, town officials, law enforcement, school administrators, parents and youth, delivering the message on the dangers of drug and substance abuse. In its latest effort the team visited the senior citizens in the elderly housing complexes in Putnam. Included in their visits were the Bulger-St. Onge Apartments, Little River Acres, Hampshire Heights and Ella Grasso Apartments.
The team of presenters included Putnam Deputy Chief of Police Lee Konicki, Sgt. Justin Lussier and PRIDE Coordinator Romeo Blackmar. This was a first-time initiative with Putnam’s senior housing developments.
“This was the first time we’ve done this type of presentation with this group. We learned some things that we’ll put to use in future meetings. It was a great event, giving us the opportunity to speak with some wonderful people, while answering a number of questions and concerns that were brought forward,” said Konicki.
The results of the visits paid off handsomely as approximately 50 pounds of unused and outdated prescription medications were collected from approximately 36 participants. The success of the Putnam Police Department and PRIDE coalition has produced stunning results, with more than 2600 pounds of unwanted, unused and expired medications having been collected since the inception of the program.
Much of the success of the “drug take back program” is attributable directly to two programs, the “Prescription Drug Drop Box” in the lobby of the police department and the “Drug Take Back Days.” The response to the Drop Box has “been impressive,” according to Konicki. The “Take Back Days” have been so well received that they are conducted twice a year, with people responding from throughout northeastern Connecticut and nearby Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Since the “Prescription Drug Drop Box” has been in the lobby of the police department, more than 1,000 pounds of unused, unwanted prescription drugs have been collected, while the “Drug Take Back days” have been responsible for more than 1,600 pounds being returned for safe disposal.
“Expanding our program to our senior citizen community provided us the opportunity to not only meet and educate these people but it certainly fostered goodwill,” said Blackmar.
The next “Putnam Drug Take Back Day” is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 at the Putnam Farmer’s Market on Kennedy Drive.