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Bucket Full of Ducks
The Putnam Business Associations 2021 Pluck-a-Duck Race fund-raiser pulled in almost $8,000 for the 17 non-profits that shared in the duck sales and more than $15,000 for the PBA. Here's the ducks before they went into the secret pond. Courtesy photos.
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Race Antics
Mayor Barney Seney, right, sneaks up behind Tom Borner of the Putnam Area Foundation with his "duck catching net". Courtesy photos.
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Members of Jewett City Savings Bank were selling ducks for the race at the recent Pop-Up Putnam event. Courtesy photo.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Beth Markowski-Roop, chairman of the PBA Pluck-A-Duck event was overwhelmed by the whole event — from the record number of prizes and funds raised to over-the-top support from the community.
“It was wonderful to work with so many in our community that made the 2021 PBA Pluck-A-Duck event such a success! From the support of our many sponsors, Duck Trail artists, businesses who generously donated amazing prizes, non-profit partners, businesses selling tickets on behalf of the Putnam Business Association, WINY Radio, Rawson Materials, and for those who purchased a total of 5,211 tickets, I’m overwhelmed by the kindness and support of this incredible community. And simply can’t say ‘thank you’ enough for making this event a success.”
Markowski-Roop 17 non-profit organizations sold a total of 3,150 tickets, keeping a portion of the proceeds for their organization and those they serve. They raised $7,875.
Additionally, she said, in the three years the Putnam Business Association (PBA) has run the event, the $15,000-plus raised was a record setter. The 2021 Pluck-A-Duck Raffle is a major fund-raising event for the PBA and its 175-plus local members, and provides support to its various community events such as Pop-Up Putnam, Zombie Fashion Show, The Great Pumpkin Festival, and Fire & Ice Festival — free events that draw thousands of visitors and residents.
She said: “We had quite the crowd, everyone was excited to attend and the broadcast on WINY Radio and the PBA Facebook page was fantastic! Great company, delicious food from Renee’s Bistro & Catering, beautiful weather, and fun plucking 71 winning ducks! And our crowd included Mayor Barney Seney, members of the PBA Executive Committee, event sponsors, sponsors of the Duck Trail, Duck Trail artists, our non-profit partners, businesses who sold tickets on behalf of the PBA and more!”
The 17 non-profit organizations participating included: TEEG, The Last Green Valley, Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse, The Arc Eastern CT, NAMI Windham County NWC, Northeast Opportunities for Wellness Inc., Putnam Lodge of Elks #574, Putnam Rotary Club, Thames Valley Council for Community Action (Meals-On-Wheels Program), Boy Scout Troop 21, Northeastern Insurance Professionals, PAWS Cat Shelter, Bags of Hope CT, The Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center, Wyndham Land Trust, Killingly Business Association, Natchaug River Young Marines.
Markowski-Roop thanked event sponsors: Jewett City Savings Bank – Media Sponsor; Byrnes Agency – Top Prize Sponsor ($500 VISA gift card awarded to Cassandra Pettus); Kazantzis Real Estate – Guess the Number of Ducks (Swimming In the Pond) Contest Sponsor. $75 gift card to Jessica Tuesday’s Restaurant awarded to 2 winners: Jane Weimann and Melissa Kennawi; The Baker’s Dozen of Putnam – Mid-Stream Mallards Gift Baskets Prizes went to: Kyle Driscoll, Steven Gagnon, and Joanne Desjardin; and Linemaster Switch Corp – Lame Duck Prize Sponsor.
Also, the last 3 ducks out of the pond also won: $50 Gift Certificate to Putnam Supermarket: Carol Auer; $50 Gift Certificate to Skeeter’s Toy Box: Laura Durst; and $50 Gift Certificate to Hare & The Hound Restaurant: James Frost. Paquette Electric was the Refreshments Sponsor and additional refreshments were donated by Renee’s Bistro & Catering
She also thanked the Duck Trail Artists and Sponsors: Quiet Corner Inn, Berkshire Bank,
New York Pizza Co., Weiss, Hale & Zahansky, IC Optics, The Broken Crust, Archambault Insurance Associates, Centreville Bank, Atty. Stephen J. Adams, Gerardi Insurance, NorthStar Home Loans, Kazantzis Real Estate and bankHometown.
Prizes can be picked up at the Re/Max Bell Park Realty office from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
A list of winners is on Facebook at Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger.