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Wed Feb. 9
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Thompson Public Library’s Art @ the Library series will present “Vivid Creatures: A Colorful Animal Study” paintings by Jacqueline Keough and in the display case, “Amateur Radio,” a collection by Robert Garceau. Both are on view through Feb. 28. 860-923-9779.
Sat Feb. 12
Fire & Ice
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association’s annual Fire & Ice Festival will be held downtown from noon to 9 p.m. It includes entertainers, art, ice sculpting and a cake contest “Love is Brewing” (each cake must include coffee) and much more. Discoverputnam.com
Forest Hike
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will hold a “Nightingale Forest North Hike” at 10 a.m. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Email to register: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Sun. Feb. 13
History Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “Antique Photography” with Hunter Neal at 2 p.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.
Wed. Feb. 16
Bird Walk
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will hold a Bird Walk at 1 p.m. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Email to register: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sat. Feb. 19
Wee Walk
THOMPSON --- The Wyndham Land Trust’s family-friendly Wee Wander Walk, “Animal Tracking at the Robins Preserve” will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dress appropriately and bring your camera. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org.
Spaghetti Dinner
PUTNAM --- Cub Scout Pack 21 will host a spaghetti dinner for the public from 2 to 5 p.m. at VFW Post 1523 on Providence Street. Adults, $10; $5 for seniors and kids 3-12. Eat-in or take-out. There will be a companion bake sale. Benefits Pack 21. 860-928-7241.
Camper Day
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road will have a Camper Game Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for boys and girls ages 6-12. Lunch, snacks, games, crafts and more. Rapid testing on arrival. $25/child. Register by Feb. 14. 860-974-3379.
Sun. Feb. 20
Open House
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road will hold a Camp Open HHHouse from 1 to 3 p.m. Also looking for summer camp staff. 860-974-1122.
Mon. Feb. 28
‘Green’ Film
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Green Team will present “The Nature Makers” at 7 p.m. plus a dialogue following. To sign up go to: https://www.pomfretct.gov/green-team/pages/winter-film-series and click on the Zoom Meeting registration link. Co-sponsors include the Pomfret Library and the Connecticut Audubon Center at Pomfret.
Sat. March 5
‘Potato’ Fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- A baked potato buffet will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. in the downstairs hall of St. Mary’s Church. $5 per person for a baked potato, with seven toppings to choose from, plus dessert and coffee or tea. Eat in or take out. Benefits Boy Scout Troop 21 2022 summer camp fund. 860-928-7241.
Sun. March 13
History Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “The Windham Textile Mill” with Bev York at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.
Forest Hike
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will hold a “Nightingale Forest North Hike” at 9 a.m. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Email to register: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Fri. March 25
‘Beauty and the Beast’
THOMPSON --- The Thompson Public Schools will present Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at 7 p.m. March 25 and March 26 and at 2 p.m. March 27 in the Thompson Public School Auditorium. $10 for adults; TPS students/seniors, $5; and kids younger than 3, free. 860-923-9581.
Sat. March 26
Forest Hike
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will hold a “Nightingale Forest North Hike” at 9 a.m. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Email to register: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Mon. March 28
‘Green’ Film
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Green Team will present “2040” at 7 p.m. plus a dialogue following. To sign up go to: https://www.pomfretct.gov/green-team/pages/winter-film-series and click on the Zoom Meeting registration link. Co-sponsors include the Pomfret Library and the Connecticut Audubon Center at Pomfret.
Tues. March 29
Hike
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will hold a “Bull Hill Hike” at 9 a.m. at Bull Hill. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Email to register: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sat. April 9
History Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “Connecticut History Explorations” with Walter Woodward at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.
Easter Egg Hunt
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Recreation Department will hold an Easter Egg Hunt at 11 a.m. for Pomfret boys and girls ages 1 to 10 at the Wolf Den State Park. The rain date is April 16. Bring your camera to get a photo of your child with the Easter Bunny. 860-974-1423.
Fri. April 29
Spring Social
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Recreation Department will hold a Spring Social from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pomfret Community School. It’s for PCS boys and girls in grades 3, 4 and 5. Parents must sign in and sign out when they drop off and pick up their children in the hallway outside of the cafeteria. Snacks and drinks will be available for $1 or less.
Sat. May 7
Wee Walk
POMFRET --- The Wyndham Land Trust’s family-friendly Wee Wander Walk, “Salamander Search at the 3 B’s” will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dress appropriately and bring your camera. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org
Sat. May 14
History Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “The Last Green Valley Notables & Notorious” with Bill Reid at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.
Sat. May 28
Cornhole Tournament
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Recreation Department will hold a cornhole tournament at noon at the Pomfret Recreation Park. Rain date is June 4. Double elimination style - team consists of two members. Every team is guaranteed to play at least 2 games. Min. of 12 teams needed to run the tournament; max. of 28 teams allowed. Bracket postings will be pulled out of a hat prior to the start of the event. We will provide the cornhole boards and bags. The fee is $30 per team. Prizes. Visit pomfretct.gov/recreation for the registration form.
Sat. June 11
History Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “Connecticut’s 29th Colored Regiment” with Donna Dufresne at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.
Sat. Aug. 6
Wee Walk
POMFRET --- The Wyndham Land Trust’s family-friendly Wee Wander Walk, “Bats at Lyon Preserve” will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Dress appropriately and bring your camera. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org
Sat. Aug. 13
History Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “The Historic Mills of Pomfret” with Dick Symonds at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.
Sat. Oct. 1
Wee Walk
WOODSTOCK --- The Wyndham Land Trust’s family-friendly Wee Wander Walk, “Leaves and Mushrooms at Rapoport Preserve” will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dress appropriately and bring your camera. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org
Sat. Nov. 5
Dueling Pianos
PUTNAM --- Day Kimball Healthcare will present Dueling Pianos Presented By Foxwoods Resort Casino at 7 p.m. at Connecticut National Golf Club. Benefit: Day Kimball Healthcare At Home. More Info: daykimball.org/pianos
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Cecile G. (Blais) Frost
DAYVILLE --- Cecile (Blais) Frost, 82, of Putnam passed away peacefully Jan. 31, 2022, at Westview Health Care surrounded by her loving family. Born in 1939 in Putnam to Lionel and Aldea (Arpin) Blais, Cecile attended Putnam High School graduating in the Class of 1957. She met the love of her life there and would have celebrated her 64th wedding anniversary with her husband, Quentin, on Feb. 15, 2022.
Mrs. Frost worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse for many years at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam and at local long-term care facilities.
Her family was the focus and joy of her life. She was known for always having a bit of wisdom or word of advice to impart not only to her children but often to her children’s friends as well. She was nicknamed “Darling” and called that by so many because it epitomized her. She was gregarious and witty and got lots of laughs. She enjoyed cruises, the beaches of Maine, flowers, listening to country music (especially Johnny Cash), watching Wheel of Fortune, visiting the casinos to play penny slots, and eating lobster rolls and #3 Chinese takeout. She loved to answer the phone with “Bonjour” and speak French even if you didn’t understand it. She was a kind soul.
Cecile is survived by her devoted husband, Quentin; and her children, Kenneth Frost of Danielson, Jacquelyn (Michael) Woznicki of Putnam, Susan (Jay) Byrnes of Woodstock, James (Sheila) Frost of Brooklyn; six cherished grandchildren, Victoria, Jack, and Abigail Byrnes, Niko Woznicki, Erica and Caroline Frost; her special niece, Linda Christian. Linda was her flower girl, her friend, and often her casino and cruising companion. She also leaves behind her cousin and lifelong friend, Nini Lavallee; goddaughter, Allison Franklin Dumas.
Relatives and friends were invited to visit with Cecile’s family Feb. 7 at the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. A Memorial Service followed. Donations: Alzheimer’s Association CT Chapter, 200 Executive Blvd., Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489.
Edward ‘Ed’ Hudson Jr.,
Air Force veteran
Edward (Ed) C. Hudson, Jr. died Jan. 30, 2022.
He was born April 16, 1935, in Parsonsburg, Md. He graduated from Wicomico High School, Salisbury, Md.
He served as a Radar Technician in the U.S. Air Force from 1954-1958 earning the rank of staff sergeant.
Upon discharge from the Air Force he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Maryland in electrical engineering. Ed was an inventor at heart who enjoyed generating innovative solutions to routine challenges or inefficiencies. He had a passion for research and writing with macroeconomics among his favorite topics. Ed was a dedicated sports fan, from his days as a tight end on the gridiron to supporting local teams cheering on his children. He was an avid tennis player and could often be found on a summer evening at the local court for a prearranged match or pick-up game.
Ed lived in Putnam from 1978 to 2020, on Farrows Street.
He was predeceased by his parents Edward Sr. and Ann Hudson, and brother Arthur. He leaves two children: Ted (Heidi) Hudson and Stuart (Shelly) Hudson; sister Marjorie (Robert) Reeves; nieces: Janet and Perry; grandchildren: Darien, Jake, Zach, Addison, Annabelle, and Evelyn; great-grandchildren: Braelie and Kasen. The family will hold a memorial/burial service in Girdletree, Md., in the spring.
Gloria L. Beaudreault
WOODSTOCK — Gloria L. Beaudreault, 87, of Stonebridge Rd., died Jan. 25, 2022, at Villa Maria Healthcare in Plainfield. She was the wife of the late Robert L. Beaudreault. Born in 1934 in Thompson, she was the daughter of the late Wilfred and Loretta (Mailloux) Bissonnette.
Mrs. Beaudreault worked for many years as a registered nurse for Matulaitis Nursing Home in Putnam. She was a member of the former Putnam Travelers Club. She was a worldwide traveling enthusiast and enjoyed bird watching, reading, camping, and flower gardening.
She leaves her children, Robert P. Beaudreault (Jean), Mark Beaudreault and his longtime companion Charlotte Cook, and Laura Ann Salo (Lawrence), all of Woodstock; her grandchildren, Scott Beaudreault, Kelly Percy (William), Timothy Beaudreault, Amber Salo, Britany Laliberte, and Hunter Beaudreault; and her great-grandchildren, Karver Beaudreault, T.J. Beaudreault, William, Michael, Felicia, Mary Elizabeth and Morgan Percy, Kameron Barber, and Mason Beaudreault. She was predeceased by her two brothers, Raymond and Bernard Bissonnette, and her great-grandchild, Amaya Beaudreault.
The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. May 7 at Elmvale Cemetery, on the corner of Roseland Park and Senexet roads in Woodstock. Donations: St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Tribute Program, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
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She may be undersized, but Alice Meunier is definitely not underappreciated. Certainly not to her teammates on the Putnam Science Academy Prep Red team.
“To our team, she’s the girl who works the hardest,” Zoé Bayer said. “She motivates everyone. She can do things that people on our team can’t, like taking rebounds. I love having her as a teammate.”
“She doesn’t quit,” said coach Sabrina Browne. “She’s aggressive. She brings high energy and intensity to the game all the time. She’s a magnet to the ball.”
At 5-foot-5, Meunier is often one of the smallest players on the court. But, as her teammates attested to, she will never be outworked. Her unofficial stats for every game seem to be 10 points, five or six rebounds, five or six assists, and four or five steals. And those stats don’t account for the hustle plays getting to loose balls or simply outworking bigger players for rebounds.
“I really like fighting for the ball,” said Meunier, a 17-year-old from Arlon, Belgium. “I know I’m not big but I try really hard and I’m going to fight for the ball. I think it’s one of the most important things. Even if you’re not the best player, if you fight and work hard, you can still be good.”
Meunier said that back in Belgium, where she’s been playing since she was 3 years old, she was somehow a post player even though everyone on her team was bigger than her. She said she never shot the ball, never attempted a 3-pointer in a game before coming to PSA. Never. So when she was told she was going to be a guard and have to shoot the ball, she wasn’t so confident she could do that.
It turns out though that she can, through her hard work. Meunier has become a bit of a gym rat, utilizing any opportunity that the gym is available to get in there and get shots up. That is one of her favorite things about being at PSA, along with daily practices, the minute-or-so-walk from the dorm to the gym, and the relationships she has built with her teammates, all of which is a 180 from what she experienced back home.
“Since I’ve been here, I am the most happy person,” she said. “In two years (when she graduates), that will be finished if I don’t receive a scholarship offer. My mom, I know she is doing everything to help me realize my dream to go to college and play basketball. So I need to fight for my dream. I know the level here is really hard to do that, so I need to work harder for it.
“I want my mom and my grandfather to be proud of me. My mom tells me she is happy for me. She tells me that I’m amazing and she’s proud of me. That’s what I want to hear so I have to really keep working.”
Last Monday, Meunier made everyone proud with her typical workmanlike performance; she led her team to a 91-27 win over Wheeler School, finishing with 17 points, 10 steals, six rebounds, and four assists. Looks have certainly been deceiving.
“I think at first, she’s not the girl (the other team) will say is the best on the team,” Bayer said, “but at the end they change their mind because she is doing really good things.”
Bayer added 21 points, five assists, and four steals for the Mustangs, who also got 15 points from Zuza Komor and 14 points from Alba Farell Torres.
Feb. 5, PSA’s Prep Black team won its second straight game, knocking off Hoosac, 68-60. Ines Goryanova scored 17 of her team-high 19 points in the second half to lead the way.
Molly Moffitt and Janeya Grant both finished with 14 points for the Mustangs (7-5). Astou Ndiaye added nine points in the win. PSA has a busy stretch coming up with five games scheduled in the next 10 days before the team heads to North Carolina to play in the Independent School National Championship Tournament.
“I honestly think we’re hungry for more games,” Moffitt said. “A lot of things have gotten canceled and rescheduled so these next few games are going to be really fun for us. We want to compete and play against the best. I think mentally we are in a good spot. These last two wins for us were huge and a great way to go into these next five games. When we are locked in and physical we look really, really good.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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caption:
Signed
Woodstock Academy seniors Ethan Davis (left) and Everett Michalski both signed their National Letters of Intent to play football for Division II Southern Connecticut State University last week. Photo by Trent Peters.
Two Centaurs heading for SCSU
Two members of the Woodstock Academy football team will be headed to New Haven to continue their football careers.
Senior quarterback Ethan Davis and his classmate, offensive lineman Everett Michalski, both signed National Letters of Intent to Southern Connecticut State University on National Signing Day last week.
“I’m excited and it’s a relief,” Davis said. “Just to get this out of the way and not to have to stress and worry about this any longer.”
SCSU is a Div. II program that finished with a 4-6 record last season.
“When I visited, I loved the campus and have a great relationship with the head coach (Tom Godek). We got off to a good start. He was easy to talk to and get to know and I knew I wanted to be there,” Michalski said.
Woodstock Athletic Director and football coach Sean Saucier said he also has a good relationship with Godek.
“I’ve had a couple of players play for him that had a successful four years so I feel great about coach Godek, Southern, his program and just the kind of guy he is,” Saucier said.
Davis said two reasons for him were that it was still reasonably close to home and since it is a state school is much more financially attractive.
The left-handed Davis completed 64 percent of his passes for the 7-3 Centaurs this past season for 1,526 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also rushed for another 961 yards and 12 more scores.
He is going to the Owls as a quarterback. “As of right now, that’s the plan. If something happens down the road, then maybe defensive back or receiver are also options,” Davis said.
“Ethan is a football player and I think that is what they saw,” Saucier said.
“They will find a spot for him and will mold him into wherever they need him. Ethan is open to that idea.”
Michalski knows his role. He is an offensive lineman and Godek is a lineman’s type of coach.
“He’s a big guy,” Michalski said with a laugh. “He knows what he is talking about. I’m pretty sure he will have the leadership and give me the tools I need for my trade, to become the best form of myself.”
Both realize that the work, however, is not done.
“I talked to both of them and told them that they’re going from being the big fish back to starting at the bottom. The condition that they show up in at camp is going to be huge. Both guys have to go in there in the best possible shape and condition that they can be in. They’re going to weed out people who aren’t ready,” Saucier said.
Michalski said what he has been doing for the last four years; lifting on campus at 6 a.m., having the team over to his family’s barn for additional lifting and team bonding sessions, and of course, football practice, has begun to prepare him for what lies ahead.
He fully expects, however, he will have to multiply that regimen by a factor of, at least, five.
But he will have some support and that support will be on campus in the form of Davis.
“He’s been my quarterback for four years and I know him really well. We have a good connection and it’s good to know you have someone you know and are comfortable with alongside you for the next four years. We’re probably going to room together and thrive together. It’s nice to have someone with you when you are trying to get through the whole college process,” Michalski said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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