Details

Category: Current Issue

With 1 minute, 7 seconds left in the field hockey game between the Woodstock Academy Centaurs and Stonington Bears last week, Stonington called a time out. Bears coach Jenna Tucchio called it to go over some last-minute strategy.
Centaurs’ coach Lauren Gagnon urged her team to dig down. “Are you satisfied?” she asked. To a player, the answer was “No.” Unfortunately, time was not on their side.
Stonington was able to run out the clock and held on for a 2-1 win over the Centaurs.
“They weren’t satisfied, neither was I. It wasn’t the result that we wanted, but every day we’re getting better, we’re playing better, never giving up. Last year’s team might have packed it in a little bit, same thing as in the past, but I’m proud of their effort, attitude, and sportsmanship,” Gagnon said.
The Centaurs also didn’t let the close loss bother them throughout the week.
They fought through a driving rainstorm to score a 6-0 victory over Norwich Free Academy before Valley Regional got the best of them Sept. 28, 3-1.
It left the Centaurs just about even for the season going into the week with a 3-4 overall record and a 2-2 mark - tied with Killingly whom they meet Oct. 5.
The Centaurs had high hopes going into the Stonington contest. They have yet to beat the Bears on the field. Those hopes were further buoyed in the first half.
The Centaurs took the 1-0 lead when Brin put one by Stonington goalie Claire Evans with 8:01 left in the opening half.
Lily Brin was on the post on the right side when Rachel Canedy took a shot. Canedy’s shot didn’t find its mark, it rebounded off the post but found the stick of teammate Eliza Dutson. The junior pulled it around and passed it Brin. It was the first career varsity goal for the senior.
Unfortunately, the Centaurs needed more. They almost got it. With just 3:12 off the clock in the second half, Avery Jones and Dutson almost combined off a corner but Evans was able to make the kick save.
The combination had another chance off another corner but again, Evans shut the door.
With 22:37 left in the match, Elena Korinek was part of a large group in front of the Woodstock Academy goal.
There was little keeper Kaily Lachappelle could do.
Korinek worked it around Lachappelle’s foot and put it into the cage to tie the game.
Just 4 ½ minutes later, the Bears got a much prettier effort from Korinek who took a cross from teammate Sandy McGugan and put it home for what proved to be the game winner.
Sept. 26 Olivia Ott gave the Centaurs the early lead over the Wildcats when she took a pass from Canedy and put the ball into the back of the cage just 1:53 into the game.
Sophia Rakovan made it 2-0 when she put in a rebound off an Ott shot with 17:07 left in the first half for her third goal of the season.
Canedy began the scoring parade when she scored just over five minutes into the second half.
Danielle Chaput, Avery Jones and Madelyn Lecuyer also scored in the second half for the Centaurs.
Sept. 28, the Centaurs burst out to the lead early, but Valley Regional rallied and posted the win.
Canedy (4 goals, 4 assists this season) scored the only goal for the Centaurs off a Maria Santucci assist to give Woodstock Academy the lead. The Centaurs thought they were up by two goals when they scored off a corner, but the tally was disallowed and the Warriors (2-4) had the better of the play the remainder of the way.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

..

Details

Category: Current Issue

Unless you are a person whose hands are made of a super sticky substance, you drop things, in various places, at various times, sometimes, in front of various people.
We ALL do and, depending upon what it is that we drop and its value to us, we usually need to pick-it-up!  We have all been there; dropping something that seems to magically roll or fall or slide to someplace hidden or unobtainable or unreachable, requiring a stick or a broom or asking someone to move, in order to retrieve the object.
The worst is when you inadvertently end up putting a part of your body in front of someone else while bending over.  If the dropped object is edible and ends up on a dirty floor under a table, I usually leave it there, but then I feel badly, and, not wanting to litter OR create more of a mess for someone else to clean, I usually slide myself under the table, trying to quietly grab the piece of food I dropped. But, more often than not, I end up bringing unwanted and embarrassing attention to myself. 
I will freely admit that, on a regular basis, I drop things.  Typically, these moments are rather unremarkable; however, one particular occasion I happened to be sitting in a meeting with about a half dozen gentlemen when I felt a tickle in my throat.  I quietly reached down into my purse, unwrapped a hard candy, and attempted to pop it into my mouth.  Unfortunately, I missed and dropped it, right into the opening of my blouse, directly below my neck.  Yes. It landed in my bra.  I was slightly horrified, thinking someone saw me.  No one did, but my conundrum followed and since I was no longer listening to what anyone else was saying in the room, I began focusing on any opportunity I might have for search and rescue of my candy.
I quickly and sneakily, looked down into my shirt to see exactly where the candy was lodged.  I could not see it, which meant that any shot at retrieval meant fishing around down there, in front of a room of men I wanted to take me seriously.  I decided not to risk it.  Unfortunately, again, my panic started to elevate my body temperature and I started to slightly perspire, causing my hard candy to begin to melt and get sticky.  The candy was red and white, with the red being predominate.  My blouse was white.  I feared the worst if I left the candy alone.  So, I did what any intelligent girl would do: I quietly excused myself to the rest room, making sure that I stood with as little movement as possible, so as not to dislodge my unwanted passenger.
Once in the safety and solace of the bathroom, I was able to fish out my candy, and, with a quick swipe of a damp paper towel, leave little to no trace of my mishap.  Breathing in a deep sigh of relief, I noticed that the tickle in my throat returned.  I had forgotten to bring my purse into the bathroom with me…  I quietly reentered the meeting room and, very discreetly, fished out of my purse, another hard candy.  This time, and with great focus, I unwrapped the candy and placed it successfully in my mouth!
Oops! Oops!
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!


..
 

Details

Category: Current Issue

Wed. Oct. 2
Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Becorns: A Woodland World of Wonder” photo exhibit and sale by David Bird through Oct. 31 at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road.  860-928-4948.

Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present an exhibit and sale, “Becorns: A Woodland World of Wonder” by David Bird through Oct. 31 at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Free admission. 860-928-4948.

Thur. Oct. 3
Fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- Access Community Action Agency will host its first annual Guest Bartender Night Benefit for Access families from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Crossings Restaurant and Brew Pub on Main Street.

Fri. Oct. 4
'Deathtrap'
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present "Deathtrap" at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 6, 13 and 20. Tickets $20 for adults; $16 for seniors and students.

First Fridays
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association’s First Fridays will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. around downtown Putnam. This month’s theme is “Steam Punk (A Retro Futurism Party).”

Sat. Oct. 5
Finnish ‘Tori’
CANTERBURY --- The Finnish American Heritage Society will hold its annual Tori from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine, at the society building on N. Canterbury Road. Free. All welcome. 860-608-7877.

Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Family Treasure Box Hunt” from 1 to 4 p.m. at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Community Day
THOMPSON --- The Thompson Together Inc. and Thompson Recreation will present the 16th annual Thompson Community Day will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at Riverside Park on Rt. 12.  Includes entertainment, food, kids’ games and more. Free. Free parking at the Thompson Public Library, Town Hall and St. Joseph Church. Rain date: Oct. 12.

Annual Auction
QUINEBAUG --- The VFW Auxiliary to the Thompson Memorial Post 10088 will hold its 16th Annual Auction at the VFW Post Home on Rt. 131.  Food at 5 p.m.; auction at 6. Benefits veterans and community programs.

Recycle
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam will hold a free electronics recycling and shredding event from 9 a.m. to noon at the Putnam Middle School. Putnam residents only (bring ID). Electronics that can be recycled include: TVs computer monitors, printers, VCRs, old stereos and computer parts. For shredding, bring:  Sensitive documents, tax records, receipts, bank records, pay stubs, etc. that are no longer needed for personal records.

Fund-raiser Walk
PUTNAM --- The 2nd Annual Steps2Cure NF Walk – Windham County will take placeat Rotary Park. Registration opens at 10 a.m. and the walk begins at 11.

Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Library’s Art @ the Library series will present “With Love, From Kate,” artwork by Kate Gilman-Alexander, through Oct. 30 at the Thompson Public Library. Opening reception is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 7. Thompson Public Library

Sun. Oct. 6
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Poetry Workshop with Talvi Ansel” from 2 to 4 p.m. at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Chorus
CHEPACHET --- The Music at the Meeting House at Chepachet Baptist Church on Rt. 44 will present “Vocal Revolution” (barbershop quartet style) at 2:30 p.m. All welcome. Free but free will offering will be taken. Refreshments. chepachetbaptist.org.

Wed. Oct. 9
Emergency Prep
POMFRET --- Derek May, Emergency Management Director for Town of Pomfret, will talk about household readiness, likely hazards and who to call in an emergency at 7 p.m. at the Pomfret Public Library on Pomfret Street.
 
Senior Fair
PUTNAM --- Putnam Commission on Aging will present its fourth annual Senior Fair from 9 a.m. to noon in St. Mary Church Hall. Vendors include health, transportation, mobility, benefits and more. Handicap accessible from Marshall Street or Green Street. 

Sat. Oct. 12
Bird Walk
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present Walktober: Bafflin Bird Walk at 8 a.m. starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Free. 860-928-4948.

Screech Owl
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present Walktober: Screech Owl Night Hike at 7 p.m. starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road.  $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Nature Sketchbook Journaling” from 9 a.m. to noon at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

..
 

Details

Category: Current Issue

Fire dept. grant
WOODSTOCK — Congressman Joe Courtney announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a federal grant of over $19,000 to the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association, Inc. The new federal funding will support the procurement of new washing and drying equipment for the station’s protective gear.
Fire Chief Eric Young said: "It’s amazing we received this award to wash turn-out gear – which seems simple but is a huge tool to help prevent cancer among the fire service. With this acquisition from the FEMA grant, Woodstock firefighters can wear the cleanest and safest gear possible.”
The Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association, Inc. will receive a federal grant award of $19,047.61 through FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The investment will be used to procure a new washer and dryer for the station’s protective gear. 
“Congratulations to the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association for putting in the work to identify and successfully apply for these federal dollars,” said Courtney. “These federal grant awards are highly sought after across the country, so it’s great to see the resources coming home to us here in eastern Connecticut.”

..