wins pg 5 7-3-24
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Wins Wood scholarship
POMFRET — Rectory School eighth-grader Jayda Ngibuini became the 2024 recipient of the Patrick Wood Memorial Scholarship at Pomfret School recently. She will attend Pomfret School as a ninth-grader next fall. Jayda is the 20th recipient of Pat’s award begun from donations after his death in 2006.
“We wanted to reward more hard-working students who have an inner drive to succeed. It was that same work ethic that drove Patrick to his own achievement. He earned perfect scores on his SATs and graduated at the top of his class in 2001. He graduated from Stanford in 2005 with honors and went on to intern at BMW and Siemens in Germany.
Jayda has already been through many tests of achievement. She joined Rectory a few months before the pandemic lockdowns began. According to Jayda’s father David, “There was a lot of transition, such as virtual classes or playing soccer matches in masks, but the load was considerably lightened by the welcoming and adaptable community at Rectory.”
The presentation took place at Patrick’s memorial tree near the Pomfret School chapel. The bright sunny day matched the enthusiasm Jayda showed in a thank you note for the award: “I am beyond grateful for being this year’s Patrick Wood Scholarship recipient. I am ready to take on the responsibility this award comes with, and I hope to live up to the standard. Thank you for seeing my potential and starting off my journey at Pomfret on the right foot.”
Jayda has maintained academic distinctions since 2021. She has participated in Rectory’s summer camp and the May Experiential Learning Program. She was captain of the varsity soccer team for the last two years.
Rimer said, “At Pomfret, Jayda wants to try new things. That may also mean she’ll make mistakes. But she knows those possible missteps will help her learn and become more confident and successful. The risk is worth the growth, and that tells me she is brave and headed for greatness.”
Patrick’s story, Back from Suicide: Before and After the Essential Patrick was released on Amazon June 19. More information is available at: www.backfromsuicide.com.
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cal pg 6 7-3-24
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Thur. July 4
Happy Birthday, America!
Sat. July 6
Fireworks
PUTNAM --- The town of Putnam will present a fireworks and family fun extravaganza. From 5 to 6 p.m. listen to The Paperback Writers, a Beatles cover band, from 7:15 to 9:15 hear the sounds of the headliner band, Whiskey Boulevard. Fireworks start at 9:15. There will be food and family fun at Putnam Rotary Park. Rain date is July 13.
Fri. July 12
Recreation Program
POMFRET --- “Painted Mason Jar Solar Lanterns” will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Pomfret Community Center. Rena from Tunk City will guide you on your way. $30 per person. Tickets: www.tunkcity.com.
Sat. July 13
Garden Tour
WOODSTOCK --- Quiet Corner Gardens, a self-guided tour of eight gardens in Pomfret, Putnam and Woodstock from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 13, is the Quiet Corner Garden Club’s latest offering to the community. Tickets can be purchased or picked up on the town green across from Roseland Cottage. $25 the day of the tour or $20 when purchased in advance at: quietcornergardenclub.com. Benefits scholarships and garden programs.
Mon. July 15
Recreation Program
POMFRET --- “LEGO Camp” will be held July 15-19 --- from 9 a.m. to noon for ages 5-7; 1 to 4 p.m. ages 8-12 --- at the Pomfret Community School Cafeteria. Ages 5-7. camp runs from 9:00 am – noon Ages 8-12 camp runs from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Register and pay before July 4th the fee is $150. Register and pay after July 4th the fee is $160. www.pomfretct.gov/recreation
Wed. July 17
Fund-raiser
WOODSTOCK --- In celebration of the anniversary of Helicopter Cat Dad Beer release, Taylor Brooke Brewery, Rt. 171, is hosting a social evening from 5 to 8 to benefit Paws Cat Shelter. A basket drawing and photo booth will add to the fun. Beer and wine available for purchase. Paws Cat Shelter is a non-profit, all volunteer organization caring for the cats of our communities. For more info or how you can donate, contact Paws at 860-315-1228.
Sat. July 20
Recreation Program
POMFRET --- “Trail Ride at the Park with Quiet Corner NEMBA” at Pomfret Recreation Park. Check in at Pavilion before breaking off into groups led by Quiet Corner NEMBA members. There will be 10-12 people per NEMBA Trail Leader. This is for ages 12 and up. Lunch will be sold after the ride. The fee is $10 per person / $15 for a family. Pre-registration only! Info/registration: www.pomfretct.gov/recreation.
Fri. July 26
Concert
WOODSTOCK --- Roseland Cottage’s Twilight Lawn Concert at 6:30 p.m. will present the Flamingos, an all-female swing band. Rain date Aug. 2. Grace Gourmet Food truck will be on site. Bring a pink flamingo or just dress in pink! Join us on the grounds of Roseland Cottage as we flock the Pink House! Anyone with a flamingo or dressed in predominantly pink clothes will be entered in a special drawing—must be present to win. Cosponsored by Historic New England and Woodstock Recreation. All concerts are free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket and picnic supper and continue the tradition begun by Henry Bowen, the builder of Roseland Cottage.
Fri. Aug. 9
Concert
WOODSTOCK --- Roseland Cottage’s Twilight Lawn Concert at 6:30 p.m. will present The Triple Double with folky, mellow sounds to covers of popular hits from the ‘60s to the ‘90s, plus original songs. Rain date Aug. 11. Cosponsored by Historic New England and Woodstock Recreation. All concerts are free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket and picnic supper and continue the tradition begun by Henry Bowen, the builder of Roseland Cottage.
Sun. Aug. 11
Pluck-a-Duck
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present Pluck-a-Duck Aug. 11 and 12. This year there will be a Kid Corner from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 11 in Rotary Park. It will share space with the town's annual Main Street Car Cruise. The next day the ducks will be plucked from a secret location.
Car Cruise
PUTNAM --- The town's annual Main Street Car Cruise, featuring some 1700 cars, will be held around downtown Putnam and Rotary Park.
Sat. Oct. 15
Recreation Program
POMFRET --- “Make Your Own Hand Knit Cozy Pumpkin” will be held at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community Center. Learn the basic of arm knitting and make your own cozy pumpkin(s). $45 per pumpkin. All supplies included! Limited spots available. Sign up now on Facebook at Sovanny’s Comfort Boutique.
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obits pg 6 7-3-24
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Aaron Jay Colburn
MILO, Maine — Aaron Jay Colburn, beloved son of Carlton B. Colburn Jr. and Paula Geneveux Colburn, passed on June 20, 2024, just shy of his 26th birthday.
He was born on July 21, 1998, in Putnam, Connecticut.
He attended Halldale High School, but finished school in New Hampshire, and then worked in the construction field alongside his dad.
Aaron was an avid hiker and rock enthusiast (rock hound).
His soul was nourished with the sounds and beauty of nature.
He strengthened his body by eating organic, healthy food, often helping his mom in the garden.
He was a great hockey player.
Aaron had a sense of adventure and traveled across the country, visiting national parks and savoring many different cultures and traditions.
Aaron’s life and spirit is cherished by his family including his brother Nicholas Allen Colburn; his grandmothers Doris Geneveux and Eleanor Wright; aunts and uncles and several cousins.
Aaron was predeceased by his grandfathers: Allen Geneveux, Carlton B. (Bud) Colburn Sr. and Robert Wright.
Donations: First Baptist Church of Newport, PO Box 641, Newport, NH 03773.
Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home, Newport, N.H.
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Alvaro pg 7 7-3-24
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WOODSTOCK — In its 39th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, Gatorade announced recently Alvaro Medrano Lopez of The Woodstock Academy is the 2023-24 Gatorade Connecticut Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Medrano Lopez is the first Gatorade Connecticut Boys Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from The Woodstock Academy.
The award, which celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community, distinguishes Medrano Lopez as Connecticut’s best high school boys’ soccer player. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of alumni that includes Lyle Yorks (1987-88, E.O. Smith High School, Conn.), Alecko Eskandarian (1999-00, Bergen Catholic High School, N.J.) and Ben Bender (2019-20, Calvert Hall College High School, Md.).
The 6-foot, 1-inch, 180-pound junior goalkeeper led the Centaurs to a 15-0-1 record and the Prep Premier League Tournament championship this past season. Lopez conceded just seven goals and recorded 11 shutouts. A member of the Guatemalan Under-20 Men’s National Team, he won the Prep Premier League Golden Gloves Award as the league’s top goalie and was named First Team All-State by the Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association.
Lopez has volunteered locally at an eldercare facility and has donated his time to multiple community service initiatives through his church. “Alvaro made several key saves in games against us and several games that I watched,” said Evan Prybutok, head coach of the Phelps School. “While Woodstock would have still had a good overall season without Alvaro, I don’t think they have the same type of success and I do not believe they go undefeated.”
Lopez has maintained an A average in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Medrano Lopez joins recent Gatorade Connecticut Boys Soccer Players of the Year Lucas Almeida (2022-23, Hall High School), Kelvin ‘KK’ Baffour (2021-22, Taft School), Scott Testori (2020-21, Daniel Hand High School) and Sammed Bawa (2019-20, Taft School), among the state’s list of former award winners.
As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $4.9 million in grants to winners across more than 1,900 organizations.
To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.
or follow us on social media on Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY, Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade and X(Twitter) at x.com/Gatorade.
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