cal pg 5 12-21-23
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Wed. Dec. 20
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Thompson Public Library Friends of the Library will present, through their Art @ the Library series, the fourth annual Textile Artists Community Show through Dec. 26. 860-923-9779.
Nature Store
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will hold its annual Holiday nature Store Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 22. Gifts for all ages. Items include birdfeeders, bluebird and wood duck nest boxes, gardening gifts, games, jigsaw puzzles, field guides, freshly cut Christmas trees, winter decorations, evergreen sprays, beautiful jewelry, David Stumpo's watercolor art, David Bird's "Becorn" prints, and more.
Art Show
PUTNAM --- “AFTERLIFE: Reimagining 18th Century Grave Carvings” by Laura Tedeschi will be presented at The Corridor Gallery in the Putnam Municipal Complex. The exhibition reinterprets local 18th-century grave carvings in vibrant colors. On display until Dec. 31. Sponsored by the Putnam Arts Council.
Thur. Dec. 21
Winter Solstice
POMFRET --- The Wyndham Land Trust will host a Winter Solstice event from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Duck Marsh Preserve. A fire pit will help everybody keep warm. Parking is available along Holmes Road, between Modock Road and Wrights Crossing Road.
Mon. Dec. 25
Merry Christmas
Thur. Dec. 28
Camp Game Day
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp is offering a Camper Game Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for kids ages 6-12. Games, food and fun during the holiday vacation week. $20 includes lunch and snacks. Outdoor gear required. Preregister by 12-22. 860-974-1122.
Bird Walk
PLAINFIELD --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present a Plainfield Fish Hatchery Bird Walk at 9 a.m. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.
Sat. Dec. 30
Owl Walk
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present an owl walk at 6 p.m. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.
Mon. Jan. 1, 2024
Happy New Year!
Thur. Jan. 25
Bird Walk
PLAINFIELD --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present a Plainfield Fish Hatchery Bird Walk at 9 a.m. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.
Fri. Jan. 26
Lecture
POMFRET --- The Pomfret School will present the Schwartz Public Lecture, “Ndaba Mandela” at 7 p.m. in the Hard Auditorium. Free. All welcome. Register: Pomfret.org/Schwartz.
Sat. Feb. 10
Fire and Ice
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association and the Town of Putnam will present Fire and Ice around downtown.
Thur. Feb. 22
Bird Walk
PLAINFIELD --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present a Plainfield Fish Hatchery Bird Walk at 9 a.m. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.
Sat. Feb. 24
Owl Walk
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present an owl walk at 7 p.m. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.
Sat. April 20
International Day
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present International Day.
Sat. May 18
Fairy Fest
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present a Fairy and Magic Fest.
Sun. Aug. 11
Pluck a Duck
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present Pluck a Duck Aug. 11 and 12.
.
obit pg 6 12-21-23
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
PUTNAM — Norman “Chief” Bernier, 76, a three-year resident of Davis Place, formerly of Sabin Street, died Dec. 11, 2023, at Day Kimball Hospital after a brief illness. He was the loving husband of Paula (Harper) Bernier. Born in 1947 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Adelard and Rita (Gaumond) Bernier.
Norman was united in marriage to the former Paula Harper on, July 17, 1971, at St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam.
Mr. Bernier began his working career as a loan officer at Putnam Bank until 1990 when he was hired as a sales representative for Shipman’s Fire Equipment in Waterford, which he fondly referred to as his “hobby”.
Norman joined the Putnam Fire Department on Jan. 1, 1969. He began his career as a regular firefighter and rose through the ranks from firefighter to driver/pump operator, Lieutenant, Captain, and eventually became chief of the Putnam Fire Department on April 1, 1987, and stayed as chief until 2014. In 2015 after having retired from the Putnam Fire Department for only a year he was asked to assist with the West Thompson Fire Department. On July 19, 2020, he was awarded the Longest Acting Safety Officer. After five years with the West Thompson Fire Department the membership committee made a recommendation to the general membership to move Norman to a life member of the department because between Putnam and West Thompson, he now had over 50 years of service in the fire service. In April 2023 Norman was inducted into the Connecticut State Firefighters Hall of Fame. This was a huge achievement and a proud moment for him.
He was past president of the Putnam Fish and Game Club, served on the Putnam Board of Education, and was a founding member of the Northeast District Department of Health. Norman, as a true outdoorsman enjoyed fishing and hunting.
He leaves his wife of 52 years, Paula (Harper) Bernier; his son, Matthew Bernier of Putnam; his sister in laws, Cynthia Bernier of Manchester and Donna Briere (Edward Briere Jr.) of Putnam; nieces, Julia Bernier of Massachusetts and Lauren Briere of Putnam. He was predeceased by a brother, Paul Bernier.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Dec. 16 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: West Thompson Volunteer Fire Department, 248 W. Thompson Rd., N. Grosvenordale, CT 06255; or the Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter, 200 Executive Blvd S, Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489. Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
.
centaurs pg 7 12-21-23
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
It’s not a large team numbers-wise.
But as Woodstock Academy gymnastics coach Kasey Tocchio points out, that’s nothing unusual.
“We did pretty well (last season), being small in numbers, and we’re pretty close to the same as last year. We had a surprise addition with Rhea (Desota). She is a gymnast, not from (Deary’s Gymnastics in Brooklyn) and we’re really excited to have her,” Tocchio said.
Desota, a freshman, comes in from a gym in Massachusetts and is an experienced gymnast.
Her addition brings the team up to seven gymnasts for the season as junior Angelina Auger also returns from a knee injury which kept her sidelined last year.
The two will replace the two athletes the team lost to graduation, Taylor Markley and Madison Martinez. Markley, now at the University of Bridgeport, was unable to compete last year due to injury.
The nice thing for the Centaurs, everyone comes into the season healthy including junior standout Olivia Aleman and sophomore Julia Kerr who has recovered from ankle surgery.
“Olivia is healthy. We’re knocking on every piece of wood because all of them seem pretty good right now as far as health is concerned,” Tocchio said.
The small team last year did do well as it captured the 13th consecutive ECC title for the Centaurs with Aleman walking away as the individual ECC champion.
Woodstock went on to finish third in the CIAC Class M state championship and fourth in the State Open with Aleman taking second overall individually at the Open.
Aleman then placed sixth in New England.
“I think our team will do pretty well this season. We’re starting to get back into the groove with things. The first meets are never the best because we’re just starting to get back into it but we really improve as we go along,” Aleman said.
Aleman said she is just trying to take the season day-by-day and whatever happens, happens.
“I just want to go out there, do my best and have fun while competing,” the junior said. “I just want to be a little more confident out there when I compete and I think that’s what we’re all trying to do.”
Aleman was confident at the ECC meet a year ago where she posted a 9.35 to tie for first in vault. She followed that up with second-place finishes in the bars (9.2) and beam (9.2) before putting together a sparkling routine to win the floor with a 9.65 total.
It all added up to a 37.4 All-Around total and the title and she carried that confidence into the State Open and New England’s.
“I think she should have another great year, hopefully, being even more successful and helping lead the team. She is just such a naturally-talented kid that just puts in the work and is, all-around, really awesome,” Tocchio said.
Fellow junior Livia Gerum will serve with Aleman as captains.
Junior Allie Boyd also returns as does sophomore Emma Long to round out the seven-person squad.
“Emma has stepped up tremendously; she is like a new kid this year. She has already, just in the preseason, added so much more difficulty to her routines this year. I think she is going to be a strong scorer for us this year. Olivia and Julia can put up some big scores but I think the rest of them have just really worked on being consistent and trying new skills to get start values. Emma has really stood out but I think I can say the same about all of them,” Tocchio said.
The biggest point of emphasis for the whole team, as always, is the beam.
“I think we just have to get numbers in on beam and be confident. Everyone gets shaky legs when they compete and those nerves throw you off. We just have to get up there and be confident in our skills,” Aleman said.
Tocchio said the team is pretty even throughout their events although the bar routines may be a step ahead of last year.
They, like so many Centaurs teams before them, will have to try and keep the streak of ECC titles going.
“There is some underlying pressure but we try not to focus on that and just take it day-by-day,” Aleman said of keeping the streak intact.
“I sure hope we can make it 14 in a row,” Tocchio added.
But the target will loom large on the Centaurs’ backs with the other team that Tocchio coaches, Killingly, being the biggest threat.
“Killingly looks pretty good this year, They have a couple of freshmen that will be helpful to them. It’s really neck-and-neck and they push each other along,” Tocchio said.
Aleman agrees that having your closest competition in the same gym every day is not a bad thing.
“I think it’s good because we really do push each other and it’s nice to have that rivalry in the gym but we’re also all friends,” the junior said.
As far as the States are concerned, Tocchio said it will be a work in progress.
“I think being consistent is our best bet. In the past years, we had depth through the number four scorers and in all six of our lineup. With the gymnasts on the team currently, if we can be consistent, that is the key. We can beat a team with higher difficulties if we stay on the beam. That’s our main goal,” Tocchio said. The work for the Centaurs begins on Friday when they and Killingly meet at Deary’s Gymnastics in Danielson at 1:30 p.m.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
.
getting pg 7 12-21-23
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
caption:
From left: Jillian Edwards, Talia Tremblay and Julia Coyle will help guide the Woodstock Academy girls’ indoor track team. Photo by Josh Welch/Woodstock Academy.
Personal improvement and development. While also maintaining a good team chemistry and creating bonds with younger athletes.
It’s what Woodstock Academy’s Julia Coyle said is special to her about indoor track as she embarks on her senior year in the sport.
It takes a little adjustment as the meets are long, generally lasting the entire day. There is only one in a week and it’s usually on the weekend.
And the girls’ indoor track team has some athletes to show off.
Coyle is the distance runner of the group of about 30 student-athletes out for coach Josh Welch.
But he thinks they will do well as they do have a host of gifted athletes.
Junior Juliet Allard is a “phenomenal 300-meter performer”, according to Welch, who has the ability to shine in other areas.
Coyle is a solid mile performer whom Welch thinks will be aided by some speed and strength workouts over the indoor track season. He thinks the senior can drop down into, at least, the low 5:20’s from a best of 5:36 last season.
It will take work but Coyle is looking forward to it.
Welch also thinks sophomore Olivia Tracy will be a valuable contributor in the mile while senior Talia Tremblay will be a solid mid-distance runner along with sophomore Emma Weitknecht who is also a good hurdle performer.
Also returning is senior high jumper Jillian Edwards.
As far as the competitions, there are really only a few that truly matter other than individually vying for league or state seeding.
The ECC Class M state championships, and CIAC State Open.
For that reason, Welch follows a different philosophy than he does for outdoor track.
The Centaurs opened the season on Saturday with one of those lengthy, non-scoring, ECC meets.
Allard finished first and qualified for States in the 300-meter, coming across the line in 43.88 seconds. She also joined Tremblay, Weitknecht and Ella Lidonde in winning the 4x180m relay.
Coyle also qualified for States as she placed second in the 1600m in 5 minutes, 45 seconds.
Avery Plouffe, in her first-ever indoor track meet, placed fourth in the shotput and qualified for States with a throw of 29-feet, 4-inches. Tremblay also placed fifth in the 600m.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
.