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captions, page 5:
Congrats
PBA President Gary Osbrey congratulates the winner of the Putnam Beautification Day trophy, Most Spirited, Boy Scout Troop 25 of Putnam. Karen Osbrey and Delpha Very are at the edge of the stage. An overflowing truck and one of the trophies. Linda Lemmon photos.
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Beautification
Day goes
beautifully
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The annual Putnam Beautification Day went beautifully. In fact, it was a record-setting day, according to Gary Osbrey, Putnam Business Association president.
The town’s Department of Public Works had scattered huge dump trucks around town so the teams and individuals bagging trash could just toss it in the nearest dump truck. But the day was so successful the trucks filled up pretty quick.
More than 250 people turned out — a record — to make Putnam beautiful. Osbrey said he was delighted with the turnout. The weather inspired the turnout and “People were ready to get out there,” he said. But intense community spirit was also a big factor. “Spirits were high,” he said, adding “I’m just so proud of the community. This is a feel-good day for the community.”
Mayor Barney Seney thanked the PBA, Gary Osbrey, Delpha Very and Karen Osbrey as well as the record-setting number of people who came to help. Ordinarily, he said, maybe 75 to 100 people have taken part in years gone by. This year more than 250 made it happen, he said. “It was a success. It was just amazing,” Seney said.
It was a day of pride — AND prizes.
The Natchaug Valley Young Marines won the trophy for “Most PPE” picked up.
The Arc Eastern Connecticut took home a trophy for the “Most Nip Bottles.”
A member of the QVCC Oceanography Club won the trophy for the Most Unusual, a fire extinguisher.
Winning the “Most Spirited” trophy was Boy Scout Troop 25 of Putnam
Committee members said they were pleased with the turnout. The number of nip bottles picked up was at 3,000 and counting toward the end of the event that began in Putnam Rotary Park.
Putnam Business Association coordinator Sheila Frost said three bowling balls were spotted. They picked up two of them, leaving one that seemed to be a memorial in a business’s garden.
Earl Rosebrooks manned the grill and there were free hot dogs, chips, fruit and more for the “gatherers” when they returned from a hard morning’s work. The hot dogs were donated by Nikki’s Dog House; the chips were donated by Frito Lay and the buns were donated by Price Chopper Supermarket and Fluid Coating Technology of Putnam.
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