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Performing
Freshman Taylor Markley performs on the beam for the Woodstock Academy gymnastics team last week in a meet with the E. Lyme Co-Op and Old Lyme. Photo by Marc Allard.



It was a decision that Woodstock Academy coach Kasey Tocchio felt she had to make.
The Centaurs went into their gymnastics meet at Stonington with some of their key performers not participating in certain events.
“It was definitely more preventative and even looking back, I don’t think I would have changed it. It’s safety for the girls first and the length of the season has to be considered,” Tocchio said.
Of course, the Centaurs didn’t think it would affect them as much as it did.
Stonington rose up to the challenge and handed Woodstock Academy a 136.75-131.15 loss.
It was the first regular season loss for the Centaurs since Jan. 27, 2010, when Stonington handed them a 130.15-126.6 defeat.
The Centaurs went on to win their next 91 meets before falling to the Bears again.
Tocchio said: “It’s definitely a little bit of a shock and something that we weren’t thinking was going to happen. It’s something different.” But it also could become a positive --- it's an eyeopener said Tocchio.
The Centaurs (4-1, 1-1) top gymnasts, Taylor Markley and Jenna Davidson, did not compete in the All-Around.
Markley was limited to the bars, where she scored a 9.5 out of 10, and beam (9.3) competitions.
Davidson competed in three of the events but did not have a great day, scoring an 8.0 in the vault, 8.4 on the beam and 8.1 on the bars.
Only Emily Arters (33.65) and Lindsey Gillies (29.7) participated in the All-Around competition.
Stonington (3-0, 3-0), which finished with a 132-plus total in a win over Fitch last weekend, is capable this season.
“(Stonington) had a great meet. I’m happy that they have a strong team,” Tocchio said,
It was a lot more business as usual earlier in the week.
The Centaurs posted a 138.55 score to eclipse that of Old Lyme (114.65) and the East Lyme/Waterford/Norwich Tech cooperative (109.75) in the home opener.
Four members reached the 9.0 mark or better in the vault with Markley leading the way with a 9.65.
Davidson finished with a 9.35, Arters added a 9.3 and Elise Boisvert hit a 9.0 on the apparatus.
For most, it was to be their only 9.0 or better score for the competition.
Markley earned a 9.4 on the bars for the only other score in excess of that number.
Davidson was best in the beam with an 8.85.
Markley was tops with an 8.85 with her floor routine.
It gave her All-Around best at 36.1.
The freshman was also best in the team’s first meet with Glastonbury and Ellington the week before with a 36.4.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports
Information
The Woodstock
Academy

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Open Space
fund gets
replenished
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
POMFRET — The state, last week, announced its reimbursement to the town for part of the town’s purchase of the Frankfurter property.
The $187, 250 payment will go into the town’s Open Space fund, according to First Selectman Maureen Nicholson. The town was eligible for 65 percent of the purchase price but received 35 percent. “Everything helps,” said Nicholson.
In 2019 the town purchased the 141-acre property for $580,000, she said. Ten acres along Rt. 44 will be earmarked for future municipal use and the remaining 131 acres will be preserved as open space.
Six people owned the property and the town had tried, unsuccessfully, to buy the property through the years. A study had shown that the property could be developed into as many as 20 lots. She said the property is part of the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development. “We wanted to keep it for long-range open space,” she said.
Finally, in 2019 the town was successful and signed a purchase and sale agreement with the one remaining owner. She stressed the town’s appreciation to the Frankfurter family.
State Rep. Pat Boyd announced the reimbursement last week. The grants are authorized under the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program, administered by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The program helps municipalities, land trusts and water companies buy land for open space and preserving it in perpetuity.  Nicholson said this is the last year of the program and that Pomfret was the only town in northeastern Connecticut to receive funding.
Boyd said: “Open space is essential to environmental protection and conservation. In the wake of increased development activities in our state, it is critical that we secure and protect natural lands and resources. Open space conservation helps preserve wildlife habitats, offers passive recreation and buffers against climate change.
The parcel is accessible from the Airline Trail and Wolf Den Road. Nicholson said the parcel is on the west side of the Airline Trail, the east side of Wolf Den Road, the south side of the New England Forestry Foundation’s trail system and the north side of Rt. 44. Boyd said bass fishing will be permitted on the property’s pond.
Nicholson said the property used to be part of the Gwyn Careg estate and exotic animals used to live there.

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No Ice Here
No-coat-needed weather unfroze the brook on River Road in Putnam and set the leaves free. Linda Lemmon photo.

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