cal pg 5 7-21-22
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Wed. July 20
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present, as part of its Art @ the Library series, “Reassembled,” artwork by Tianna Mercier through July 28 and, in the display case: “Thompson Public Library Children's Summer Programs. 860-923-9779.
Back-to-School Drive
PUTNAM --- Putnam EMS is running its annual Back-to-School Drive through Aug. 12. Drop off: back packs, pencils, pens, red pens, paper, notebooks, binders, folders, rulers, scissors, glue, glue sticks, pencil sharpeners, crayons, colored pencils and markers at the EMS station on Church Street. 860-928-6996.
Thur. July 21
Nature Program
N. GROSVENORDALE --- The New Roxbury Land Trust will present a free program on beavers at 1 p.m. at the Thompson Public Library. All welcome.
Sat. July 23
‘Other’ Disposal
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam will hold its bulky waste, scrap metal, appliances, mattresses, electronics disposal and recycling event from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Putnam Middle School. Putnam residents only. Bring driver’s license or other proof of residency. Sticker requirements still apply. You may bring: Furniture, large appliances, plumbing fixtures, mattresses, TVs, computers, monitors, printers, VCRs, microwaves, old stereos, computer parts, scrap metal and miscellaneous electronics.
Sat. July 23
Concert & River Fire
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam will present an Al Fresco Concert, Amore, at 7 p.m. at Rotary Park followed by River Fire at 8:30 p.m.
Sat. July 30
Twilight Concert
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Recreation Commission and Historic New England will present, as part of its annual Twilight Concert series, Dynamite Rhythm from 7 to 8:30 (rain date: Aug. 12) at Roseland Cottage. Free. 860-928-4074.
Golf Tourney
PUTNAM --- The American Legion Post 13 will hold a golf tournament starting at 8:30 a.m. at Connecticut National Golf Course. For info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fri. Aug. 5
First Fridays
PUTNAM --- This year the Putnam Business Association’s First Fridays returns to its roots --- celebrating the arts. Artists, vendors, performances and more will fill Main Street in downtown Putnam from 5 to 9 p.m. www.discoverputnam.com.
‘Cinderella’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 7, 14 and 21. $36 for adults; $23 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders. See www.thebradleyplayhouse.org for info, tickets and specials, including the “Royal Package.”
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” by Dick Symonds at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.
Concert & River Fire
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam will present Tournadeau Jazz & Blues in concert at 6:30 p.m. followed by River Fire at 8 p.m. at Rotary Park.
Fri. Aug. 19
Twilight Concert
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Recreation Commission and Historic New England will present, as part of its annual Twilight Concert series, Beck N’ Call from 7 to 8:30 (rain date: Aug. 26) at Roseland Cottage. Free. 860-928-4074.
Sun. Aug. 21
Car Cruise
PUTNAM --- The Main Street Car Cruise will happen from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. around downtown Putnam and Rotary Park.
Pluck-A-Duck
PUTNAM --- Pluck-A-Duck Extravaganza will be held at the Hale YMCA pond from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be games for kids, face painting, create-a-card for veterans and seniors and more in the Kid Zone.
Sat. Sept. 10
Historical Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “Common Sense: TLGV Town Commons and Greens” by Bill Reid at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.
Sun. Sept. 11
Fund-raiser Jazz
WINDHAM --- The Windham Free Library presenting Jazz in the Garden from 3 to 6 p.m. Music, food, drinks, auction. $60 presale/$65 at event. Benefits the library. https://thewindhamfreelibrary.org/jazz/
Fri. Sept. 16
Circle of Fun
PUTNAM --- St. Mary Church, Putnam will be holding its 50th Circle of Fun Sept. 16, 17, 18. The 49th was delayed by the pandemic. There will be free entertainment, great food, beverages, games and rides, as always.
Sun. Sept. 18
Lap the Lake
DAYVILLE --- The 10th annual NOW ~Lap the Lake~ Road Race & Walk fund-raiser. It’s a scenic 5K run and walk along private roads surrounding Alexander’s Lake. There is also a kids run. For info, to register or to be a sponsor, go to: nowinmotion.org
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. Oct. 8
Historical Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present Connecticut State Historian Walter Woodward at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.
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.
Sat. Nov. 12
Historical Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “The Last Green Valley Notables & Notorious” by Bill Reid, TLGV chief ranger, at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.
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obits pg 6 7-21-22
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BURLINGTON, N.C. — Robert Arthur Rasicot, 79, of Burlington, formerly of Willimantic died July 9, 2022.
Robert (Butch) was born Nov. 22, 1942, in Putnam, son of the late Edmund Rasicot and Sylvia (Perry) Rasicot. As a young man, he was proud to serve his country in the U.S. Air Force.
Butch had a talent for finding humor in mundane things and would make us all laugh to tears. His relaxation was to grab his fishing pole and go off to a local river for the day. Always a loving husband and father, he will certainly be missed.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his daughter, Laurie (Rasicot) Champany; and two sisters, Irene White and Helen Cullison. He leaves his wife, Diane (Desjarlais) Rasicot; daughters Lisa Lewis and Tammy Sneed, their husbands Ernie and Tommy; a sister, Alice Richard; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
No funeral or memorial service is immediately planned. The family will plan a Celebration of Life at a future date.
Patricia May Dolsay
EUSTIS, Fla. — Patricia May Dolsay, 79, died peacefully July 13, 2022, after a long illness at the Lake Eustis Rehabilitation Center in Florida.
Born to Michael and Dorothy Haas in Newton, N.J., area, she grew up in Sussex County and then lived in many states over the course of her marriage, finally settling in Woodstock before moving to Eustis.
Patricia worked as a medical receptionist for Dr. Charles Wreschner in Putnam for many years.
Patricia is predeceased by her husband, Richard A. Dolsay (1991) and her son, Christopher Haas Dolsay (1983). She leaves her daughter Kelly J., son-in-law, James T. and grandson Christopher James Boeder of Sorrento, Fla.; brother Michael J. Haas III of Newton, N.J.
The Funeral was July 20 with interment at North Hardyston Cemetery, Hardyston Twp., N.J. Donations: Hospice of Eastern Connecticut, 34 Ledgebrook Dr., Mansfield Center, CT 06250; or www.hartfordhealthcarathome.org . F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, Franklin, N.J.
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in the books pg 7 7-21-22
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Putnam Science Academy’s basketball program just completed what Tom Espinosa calls “one of my favorite weeks of year.”
No, not another weeklong run during the national championship tournament, but one of PSA’s summer Drills and Skills camps.
“These camps really are so much fun for us,” said Espinosa, the Mustangs’ head basketball coach. “The kids come in from all over the area and put in a lot of work for the week, and have a lot of fun doing it. And I’m telling you, all the coaches that we had here this week have just as much fun as the kids.”
The camp was sold out, reaching its max of 50 players coming from Putnam, Woodstock, Eastford, Thompson, Pomfret, Plainfield, and Killingly, as well as Sutton, Dudley, and Charlton, Mass.
At the camp – for boys and girls in third-eighth grades – players work daily on individual skills like dribbling, passing, and shooting, while also participating in competitions and games that lead up to championship battles on the last day.
The players were broken into two groups, with 7-11-year-olds forming three teams in the Big East and 12-15-year-olds competing in the NBA.
“I really like it,” said 8-year-old Thomas Neal, from Putnam. “We get to work on different skills, and I think I’ve gotten better with shooting the ball this week. And I really like the fun games we play, like Knockout.”
PSA basketball coaches John Cavaliere, Nick Schmidt, Josh Scraba, TaNajia Smith, and Dana Valentine, as well as former Mustang Aidan Morin, and Putnam High School graduate Abby St. Martin all served as camp coaches. Former PSA and current Bryant College star Charles Pride was a guest speaker.
PSA will host one more clinic this summer, Aug. 8-10.
The Celtics, featuring Owen Budd, Will Ellsworth, TJ Espinosa, Drew Gisleson, Colin Healey, Sam Stone, and Tristan Watkins, won the NBA championship.
UConn, featuring Gage Cady, Bryce Espinosa, Riley Jean-Louis, Gavin Kucky, Thomas Neal, Keegan Paire, and Gage Szela, won the Big East division.
Individual award winners from the NBA division include: Drake Abdullovski (elbow shooting), TJ Espinosa (free throws and Hot Shot), Martyn Poluuhovuych (1-on-1), Courtney Clemens (Hustle Award), Owen Budd (Most Improved), and Drew Gisleson (Player of the Week).
Individual award winners from the Big East division include: Jordan Ashton (elbow shooting), Gage Szela (free throws), Bryce Espinosa (Hot Shot and Player of the Week), Lucas Paire (1-on-1), Brendan Clemens (Hustle Award), Nicholas Aleman (Most Improved).
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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psa pg 7 7-21-22
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When Connor Dubsky visited Putnam Science Academy back in April, one thing was very apparent to him that helped him decide it was the place for him.
“I heard a lot of languages being spoken,” said Dubsky, one of the newest members of PSA’s prep basketball team. “It’ll be cool to be in an environment with people from all over the world and learn about how they live and how they think, and that it’s differently than I do. I’m really looking forward to that part of it.
“I’m trying to build a lot of relationships and connections, but not just in the basketball spectrum. The idea is to build them with other students, with the people there. I want to be able to get to know everybody and build off that. Obviously, I want to become prepared for college basketball and rack up more college offers and one day play in the NBA, but to continue to grow as a person, as a man, is really important to me.”
As for the basketball piece, Dubsky, a 6-foot, 4-inch guard from Woodbridge, Va., looks to be an exciting piece as the Mustangs chase back-to-back national titles, and their fourth overall. Dubsky is a three-level scorer who has had an outstanding summer on the court. He went into the first live recruiting period with three scholarship offers, and came out with 17 all together, including from Maryland, Kansas State, Bryant, URI, and Wichita State.
PSA assistant coach Nick Schmidt once worked hard to recruit Dubsky to Catholic University, when Schmidt was coaching there.
“At that point, Connor was a really good Division III, Division II player,” Schmidt said. “I knew he could really score the ball, but never in a million years did I think he was a Division I player. Credit to Connor, he’s a gym rat. He has turned himself into a high major D1 basketball player and I couldn’t be more excited about him being at Putnam Science.”
It’s been quite a leap for Dubsky, who only recently realized how good he could be.
“I’ve played basketball since middle school, but I only started loving the game this past school year, if I’m being honest,” he said. “I know that’s pretty late, but I was surrounded good people and good coaches who gave me confidence and reassurance that I’m a good player that I can go anywhere I want.
“I just love the game and have passion for it, and you can see it when I play. I play really hard, and I play with a lot of effort and energy. I love putting in the early mornings and late nights. The work, the failure, the success, it all comes to one.”
When Dubsky visited back in the spring, he spent some time on the court with a handful of Mustangs who are returning. He also played in meaningful games with PSA’s summer team in a NEPSAC event earlier in the summer. So he’s got some familiarity heading into things. But even if he didn’t, the readily apparent maturity he displays would have him on good footing.
“The basketball piece of coming to Putnam is nice, of course,” he said, “but it’s going to prepare me for college, both as a player and as a student. It takes maturity, and to become mature, you’ve got to take a lot of losses. It’s a mindset. I look at mindset for everything…basketball, life, education.
“There’s a lot more to life than basketball if I’m being honest. The ball will stop bouncing. So if basketball doesn’t go your way, it’s important to have genuine relationships that you’ve built along the way. This is going to be a great experience.”
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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