Centaur pg 1 11-4-21
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Centaur boys
qualify for
state tourney
The Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer team will have a postseason experience.
The Centaurs took it down to the wire but qualified for the Class L state tournament in their final regular season game with an 8-0 win over Plainfield.
“It’s massive,” said Centaurs coach Paul Rearden. “We had a tough start to the season and were in a tough group (in the ECC). With the way the boys have played, it’s great that they have some sort of reward at the end of the season.”
Woodstock won only one of its first six games but finished on a 5-3-1 note to end the season at 6-8-1 and above the 40 percent needed to qualify for the state tournament.
Plainfield has had it even tougher. The Panthers fell to 1-10-1 with the loss and had a very thin bench.
The Centaurs took advantage early with junior Max Ferreira putting his team up early. Ferreira took a pass from Ty Morgan just over five minutes into the match and put it into the Panthers’ net.
Then Collin Manuilow sent a ball in from near midfield but Ferreira was again in the right place at the right time. He got his head on the ball and directed it into the net.
It was Ferreira’s fifth goal of the season and added to his three assists, he finished tied with Morgan for the regular season team lead in points with eight apiece.
Woodstock added two more goals in the first half against the shorthanded Panthers. Noah Page scored two minutes after Ferreira’s second goal off the first of two assists on the day by freshman John Bennett. Beltran Velasco finished up the first half scoring with 18:19 to play with an unassisted tally.
Morgan had a hat trick in the second half. The three goals gave him a team-best seven on the season. Freshman Austin Byer added a goal to equal the Centaurs first half production.
Earlier in the week, whether it was the lack of practice the day before, the Senior Day festivities prior to the match, Bacon Academy, the windy and cold conditions or a combination of all those factors, the Centaurs could get little going against the Bobcats.
Woodstock finished its ECC Div. II season with a 3-5 mark following a 2-0 loss to the Bobcats.
The Centaurs took only four shots at the Bacon net.
“We tried a few different formations, trying to get a little jump, but like I said to the boys, ‘Some games it doesn’t matter how hard you try,’ Rearden said.
The Centaurs were a couple of moments late on a pair of crosses in the first half. In the second half, the best opportunity was a 45-yard bomb by Gabriel Viau that had to be tipped up and over the Bacon goal by Bobcat keeper Ryan Claffey.
The Bobcats (11-4, 6-2) didn’t have many more opportunities. The first came with 9 minutes, 24 seconds left in the first half when Bacon was awarded a direct kick just outside the penalty area.
Keegan Appleby, instead of taking the shot, shuffled it over to Blumberger who put it home for the 1-0 halftime advantage.
Brian Jameson came on in the second half for the Centaurs in goal and made a great save off a penalty kick awarded to Bacon after a handball in the area.
Jameson tipped Aidan McLoughlin’s free shot over the top of the net. But in so doing, gave Bacon Academy a corner.
Ian Sargent’s corner sailed across the goal mouth to Blumberger who was stationed to the left of Jameson and the Bobcat senior put it over Jameson’s right shoulder for the insurance tally.
The Centaurs were treated to a pregame Senior Day celebration with Henry Driscoll, Ryan Odorski, Manuilow, Morgan, Damian Young, David Ramos and Zach Roethlein honored.
“All are great kids,” Rearden said “The seniors have done great and even those who have not played many minutes have given massive support from the bench.”
Woodstock did not qualify for the ECC tournament and the state tournament won’t begin Nov. 9 unless the Centaurs have a playdown match Nov. 6.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
caption, page 2:
Senior Day
Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer seniors, from left: David Ramos, Zach Roethlein, Damian Young, Ty Morgan, Collin Manuilow, Ryan Odorski and Henry Driscoll were honored on Senior Day prior to the match with Bacon Academy. Photo by Marc Allard.
.
Art pg 1 11-4-21
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Art Guild
goes high tech
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
Supporting local artists AND not having to wait for a gift order stuck on a container boat off the West coast just got much easier.
Northeastern CT Art Guild Inc., a coalition of local artists of all types founded in 1985, recently received a grant from the Putnam Area Foundation Inc. to set up an online members’ gallery — just in time for the holidays. The site will allow the guild members to “reach and inspire the community,” according to Guild President Elaine Turner.
She said: “Eight months ago, the Art Guild began the work of procuring funding, working with a web designer, and starting the process of growing a virtual gallery of our member artists. At the time our organization was recovering from a shutdown of most meetings, exhibits and programs due to the pandemic of 2020. Building the Online Gallery was a lengthy process requiring helping member artists create a biography, photograph their artwork, and build an individual page for each artist. We received 19 proposals and were able to accept each one with the funding we received.”
She added: “The Gallery has allowed us to virtually highlight our local artists while engaging the greater Northeastern CT community in appreciation for the arts. Shining the light on the work of the Art Guild has also increased our membership, expanded our educational programs, and increased our business and municipal partnerships through public art. We hope to expand the Gallery in 2022, adding additional members as funding allows.” The address is: artguildne.org.
The total budget for the online gallery is $5,000, Turner said, and includes: Web Design/Gallery Creation: $3,000; maintenance of Gallery: $1,200; and promotional/marketing of Gallery: $800. An additional $500 came from the Bear Hands Brewing Company/Mural.
She said: “Many of our gallery events require in-person meeting, hanging of art, and opening that exhibit to the public. All our inside meetings and events have been cancelled. Because of this situation our organization has focused on outdoor events, art installations, civic projects, and online events. Now that the season for outdoor events has come to an end, we will focus on online or virtual events. 2020 brought a new Website, Facebook, Instagram account, and critical community partnerships in support of the Arts. We plan to build on this work moving forward.”
.
Fall pg 1 11-4-21
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Fall's Glory
The Quinebaug River was cloaked in color, just off the Henry Breault pedestrian bridge. Linda Lemmon photo.
Field pg 1 11-4-21
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
caption, page 4:
Honored
Nov. 1 Putnam's newest recreation field was named for Owen Tarr, center. On the left is Mayor Barney Seney and on the right is Parks and Recreation Director Willie Bousquet. More photos Wed. night at: putnamtowncrier.com. Linda Lemmon photo.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — What he wanted for the town was simple: “The best.”
And Owen Tarr was the driving force for setting the high standard for his town — and far beyond his “specialty,” recreation.
At the Nov. 1 dedication of the new soccer, baseball and softball state-of-the art facility, named in Tarr’s honor, Willie Bousquet recounted a long history with Tarr. He said: “He’s been a part of my life for the better part of my career” as the director of the town’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“All he wanted for the town was the best,” Bousquet said. The facility, which “replaces” the former Owen Tarr field on School Street, Bousquet said Tarr’s “best” standards are numerous. He didn’t want a chain link fence at the new facility, he wanted black and so the fences are black, Bousquet said. The lighting is state of the art. “I can even turn the lights on remotely from my phone,” he said. Softball players have remarked that it’s lit up “like Broadway.” “It is such a plus to our whole recreational area” on Wicker Street, he said
When the St. Marie-Greenhalgh stadium was being built, Tarr insisted that Bousquet accompany him to see some “perfect” bleachers in Barrington, R.I. Tarr picked the “perfect” spot for the bandstand at Rotary Park years ago.
Bousquet said he was new to his job, years ago, when Tarr had him go with him to a Christmas party so he could get Charlotte Greenhalgh’s on the letter of intent for the original School Street recreation area. “He turned to me and said ‘Just let me handle it’.” And he got the signature.
Elaine Sistare called Tarr a “great part of the community.” When the Municipal Complex was approved, the original Owen Tarr field at the complex site would have to be removed. The state required that recreation fields be built on another town-owned piece of land. Bousquet said Tarr was very humble about the field being “moved”.
Sistare added Tarr has reached into his pocket to fund projects that needed help, and not just recreation projects.
Mayor Barney Seney called Tarr a leader. “He’s served more than 35 years in recreation. I’d say that’s a record in the state of Connecticut.” Seney called Tarr a “driving force.”
Bousquet summed it up: He’s not afraid to do the work. He’s a great friend of our town.”