No problem keeping the ice frozen during Putnam's Fire and Ice event Feb. 13. Top: Suez faucet. Far left:  Someplace Special. Left: WINY and Gary Osbrey. Photos courtesy of Rande and Fred Chmura.

 

 

Jr. High Championships

Putnam girls

win QVJC;

boys fall

in title game

By Ron P. Coderre

The Quinebaug Valley Junior Conference has been in existence for more than 50 years.  The league originally formed as a program for junior high schools was modeled on the former Quinebaug Valley Conference, which was a high school league.  Although the high school league is sadly no longer in existence, the QVJC continues to thrive.

Run under a two division format, the league provides a competitive atmosphere based on sportsmanship for teams in the Small School and Large School divisions.

Putnam Middle School, which plays in the Small School Division, recently had both its girls’ and boys’ teams reach the championship contests.  The Lady Wolfpack walked off with the title, while the boys fell despite putting up a valiant effort.  All games were played in Canterbury at the Helen Baldwin School.

Lady Wolfpack Prevail over Eastford

The Putnam Middle School girls’ basketball team led by Kaleah Lyons, who poured in 20 points, captured the QVJC Small School Division Championship with a 55-47 victory over Eastford School.  The Putnam squad, composed primarily of 8th grade students, led throughout in the closely contested game.

Coach Jon Miller’s team received a solid effort from a number players, including 8th graders, Torie Lavoie and Molly McKeon as well as 7th grader Alex Hutchins, who will be looked at to lead the team next season.  A big fourth quarter in which the Lady Wolfpack outscored Eastford 22-6 was the difference in the outcome.

Katie Papp was Eastford’s high scorer with 17 points.

The victory concluded a perfect season for Putnam, which finished with an unblemished 14-0 record.

Putnam Boys Lose Title Game 

to Helen Baldwin

Despite a 14-point effort by Ezaviar Key, the Putnam Middle School Wolfpack of coach Derek Coderre fell at the hands of the Helen Baldwin School in the QVJC Small School Division championship game 52-35.

Canterbury’s duo of Nolan Molkenthin and Chad Graley were too much for the Wolfpack to handle.  Molkenthin was the game high scorer with 23 points while his teammate Graley chipped in 11 for the Bulldogs.  The win closes the season for Helen Baldwin, the Small School regular season winners, at 12-6.

Joining Key in double figures for Putnam was 7th grader Colby Livingston, who contributed 11 points.  Anthony Navedo in his final game at Putnam Middle School chipped in eight points.

“This team had a tremendous amount of heart.  They played through the season while overcoming a variety of adversities,” said coach Coderre.

The Wolfpack closes the book on the 2015-2016-season at 7-7.

 

DKH baby

program

recognized

PUTNAM — Day Kimball Hospital has received Baby-Friendly designation from Baby-Friendly USA, Inc., the national authority for the global Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the U.S. The prestigious international award recognizes birthing facilities who successfully implement the initiative’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.

BFHI is a global program that was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1991 to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother/baby bonding.

Deborah Levesque, RN, BSN, IBCLC and clinical coordinator for Day Kimball Medical Group OB/GYN services, was instrumental in putting the measures in place required for the hospital to attain the designation. She said, “I would like to thank the entire DKH staff for their support during this lengthy and intensive process. We should be very proud, as we are among a small minority of hospitals and birth centers that have been recognized as Baby-Friendly, with about 16 percent of U.S. hospitals and birth centers and only six hospitals in Connecticut currently designated as Baby-Friendly.”

 Rachel Katsoulis, RNC-MNN and operations coordinator for the hospital’s Maternal Child Health Department also played a major role in the multi-year qualification process. She added, “At Day Kimball Hospital we offer top-notch care for women and newborns in a family-centered, warm and welcoming environment. We have always been committed to providing high-quality maternal care, achieving optimal infant feeding outcomes and enhancing mother/baby bonding, so this designation validates our work.  We are honored to be recognized.”

 

 

The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs.  The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 963-0000.

Feb. 2

Devon Ashton, 20, Church Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, criminal trespassing.

Feb. 4

William Macri, 28, Florence Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct, third-degree criminal mischief.

Feb. 6

Melissa Simmons, 34, David Circle, Putnam; second-degree breach of peace, interfering with a police officer.