vfw pg 4 3-9-23
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VFW to hold patriotic art contest
PUTNAM — The VFW Auxiliary Post 1523 will hold a grade school art contest, Illustrating America” for students in grades K-8. There are three divisions: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. Winners will be notified via the email address provided on the winners’ entry form. The patriotic artwork must be completed during the current school year and the application must include a parent or guardian signature. Entries must be at the VFW Post by March 31.
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cal pg 6 3-9-23
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Wed. March 8
Art Exhibit
WILLIMANTIC --- Eastern Connecticut State University's Art Gallery is debuting its first exhibit of the semester, "Chinatown Chronicles," in collaboration with Eastern's 2023 NEA Big Read book selection, Charles Yu's "Interior Chinatown” through March 9. Reception set for 4 to 7 p.m. March 3.
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library’s Art at the Library and Display Case series will present “Focus on Thompson: A Photography Exhibit” through March. www.thompsonpubliclibrary.org.
Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road will present “Trail Wood Reflections,” an Edwin Way Teale Artists & Writers In-Residence 10th Anniversary Exhibition through March 18. 860-928-4948.
Sat. March 11
Food Drive
PUTNAM --- A food drive for Daily Bread Food Pantry will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Cargill Council 64 Knights of Columbus Hall on Providence Street. Non-perishable food items and tax-deductible monetary donations. You can also mail a check to Interfaith Human Services of Putnam, P.O. Box 281, Putnam, CT 06260. 860-928-7241.
Sun. March 12
Concert
PASCOAG --- Grace Note Farm and the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council will present season six 2023 Music at the Farm concert at 2 p.m. at the farm on Jackson Schoolhouse Road. $30. www.gracenotefarmweb.com.
Thur. March 16
Grief Support Group
PUTNAM --- Grief Share will hold a Christ-centered 13-week seminar and support group Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. through June 8, at the Living Faith United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall on Grove Street. RSVP: 860-928-9705. $20 registration fee.
Sat. March 18
Comedy Fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Elks Lodge 574 is hosting a Scott Higgins All Star Comedy Show. For tickets or info: 860-457-8446.
Irish Dancing
PUTNAM --- For St. Patrick’s Day an Irish Dance Performance, will be held from 12:15 to 1 p.m. in the Municipal Complex Community Room.
Fri. March 24
Community Meal
PUTNAM --- The Living Faith United Methodist Church Community Meal will be held downstairs at the church on Grove Street. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the meal is at noon. in-house dining offered and takeout available.
Fri. March 31
Community Meal
PUTNAM --- The Living Faith United Methodist Church Community Meal will be held downstairs at the church on Grove Street. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the meal is at noon. In-house dining offered and takeout available.
Sat. April 1
Easter Egg Hunt
WOODSTOCK --- 30th Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 1 p.m. at Roseland Cottage. Open to all. Rain date April 8. Bring a non-perishable food item for the local food bank. Also, the Peeps Diorama Contest will be held for grades pre-K through Grade 4. Include name and grade on your entry. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Tues. April 4
Art Show
THOMPSON --- The 19th Annual Thompson CT Community Art Show, Resilient by Nature, will open at the Thompson Public Library and run through April 29. To register to take part, go to: www.thompsonrec.org. An opening reception will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 4.
Sat. May 6
Maker Fair
THOMPSON --- The Thompson Maker Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Riverside Park.
BBQ
WOODSTOCK --- The Bungay Fire Brigade will host its spring 2023 Chicken BBQ from 4 to 6 p.m. www.bungay.com.
Sun.. July 9
Touch-A-Truck
WOODSTOCK --- The Bungay Fire Brigade will host Touch-A-Truck from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Roseland Park.
Sat. Sept. 30
BBQ
WOODSTOCK --- The Bungay Fire Brigade will host its fall 2023 Chicken BBQ from 4 to 6 p.m. www.bungay.com.
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obits pg 6 3-9-23
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Joann Bush (Labonte)
KILLINGLY — Joann Bush (Labonte) died peacefully in the early morning March 2, 2023 at The Davis Place in Killingly.
She was born March 23, 1949. She spent her early years after having children as a stay-at-home mom before entering the food service industry, where she remained for more than 25 years. She retired in 2010.
She was predeceased by her sisters Patricia, Barbara, and her husband of 44 years, Louis Bush Sr. She leaves four children; Rose Bush of Brooklyn, Louis Bush Jr. of Thompson, and Karen and Steven Bush of Putnam; six grandchildren; Corey Cyr of Killingly, Ryan Dauphinais and Jaimie Parker of Putnam, Jasmine, Skye Marie, and Steven Garceau Jr. of Worcester; and two great-grandchildren.
Close family and friends will hold a private celebration of life in the springtime with the blooming flowers.
Norman A. Hall
THOMPSON — Norman A. Hall, 72, of Thompson, died Feb.28, 2023, from medical complications from a recent surgery. He was born in 1950 in Putnam, the son of the late Norman S. Hall and Anne Theresa (Baker) Hall.
Norman attended the Putnam school system and graduated from Ellis Technical Vocational School with a certificate in the masonry trade. Norman owned and operated his own masonry business for more than 40 years. He was a highly skilled and talented mason who built hundreds of fireplaces and chimneys in the surrounding towns. He also owned and operated a chimney sweep business for nearly 30 years, cleaning thousands of chimneys in his career.
Norman loved taking trips to Cape Cod with his family every year and also enjoyed taking his sons fishing when they were younger. After Norman retired from the masonry business, he lived for a few years with his sister in Florida. He loved going to flea markets to find humming birds and bull-dogs to add to his collection. He had a deep love for all animals and passed that along to his children.
He leaves his ex-wife, JoAnn Hall of Thompson; his two sons, Brandon Hall and Noel Hall, both of Thompson; brother Spencer Hall (Linda) of Putnam; sister Karen Hall and Tom Gee of Eastford; and a very close family friend, Jamie Boucher of Thompson, with whom Norman resided after returning from Florida a few years ago. Norman was predeceased by his brother Paul Hall.
Funeral arrangements are private. Gilman & Valade Funeral Homes & Crematory, 104 Church St. Putnam.
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coach pg 7 3-9-23
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You can’t assume it’s going to happen. You can’t expect it’s going to happen. You can’t hope it’s going to happen.
Those were the words PSA Boys’ Elite coach John Cavaliere colorfully spoke to his team at halftime of Sunday’s Power 5 AA Conference Tournament final. He had just watched his Mustangs play with less than the necessary urgency for 15 minutes and fall behind by double digits before cutting the deficit to six at the break thanks to five minutes of focused intensity.
“Don’t assume the trophy is coming,” Cavaliere told his assembled team. “Go get it. You have to make it happen. You have to do it.”
And do it they did.
The Mustangs rallied from their first-half deficit to take the lead about three minutes into the second half and never trailed again on their way to a 75-71 win over Redemption Christian Academy for the tournament championship.
“This feels great,” said Thierry Lokrou, who scored a team-leading 26 points. “It’s been a very, very, very long season. We put in a lot of work, a lot of trust into each other. We came together throughout the season, became closer. I feel like that’s the reason we won today.”
Yhali Steinhauer and Travis Upchurch both scored 13 points, while Jalen Claude – whose game-winner in the final seconds of Saturday’s semis sent PSA into the final – added 11 points. Pop Wadang chipped in with 10 points.
“This feels great,” said Claude, whose return to the team in January led to PSA winning 19 of its last 22 games. “We lost last year, never got a chance to play in the final. So to do that this year and win it, yeah, it’s a great feeling.”
“I don’t even know what I’m feeling,” Anthony O’Brien said. “It’s like a dream feeling. We put in a lot of work for this…I love these guys. It’s just a great feeling.”
Steinhauer hit a big 3-pointer followed by a steal and layup by Lokrou to put PSA in front, 48-45, with about three minutes gone by in the second half. The lead never got big enough where it felt comfortable, but PSA had enough to keep a very game RCA at bay.
“Our mentality changed in the second half,” O’Brien said. “I think we came in lackadaisical, like we didn’t think it would be that difficult. But we changed our mindset in the second half, and defensively we just picked it up.”
Said Cavaliere: “I’m so, so proud of them. They realized it what it was going to take, even if it took a little yelling at them. But when they locked in, they just proved they were the best team. When we were locked in, we were tough. I’m proud of them. They deserve it. It’s all for them, that’s why we work so hard.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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