caption, page 7:
‘Miracle’
Susan Walker, played by Lauria Lavallee, and Kris Kringle, played by Walter Wright, rehearse for “Miracle on 34th Street” that starts Dec. 6 at the Bradley Playhouse. Photo by Chris Atwood.
'Miracle on 34th'
starts Dec. 6
PUTNAM — Most of us are quite familiar with the nostalgic and beloved 1947 Christmas movie, Miracle on 34th Street. But did you know that the inspiration for the story, about a disillusioned woman, her skeptical daughter and a mysterious man who believes he is the real Santa Claus, came when Valentine Davies was standing in line at a big department store during the Christmas season?
The TNECT performance at the Bradley Playhouse on Front Street at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22, Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays.
Each night two “Putnam Celebrity” guest performers will be featured as Lou and Al, U.S. mail workers, and local pianists will play live Christmas music.
For tickets go to the box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday through Friday; by calling 860-928-7887 or online at https://www.thebradleyplayhouse.org .
The Davies “novelization” of the story was adapted into a play by the Mountain Community Theater in Ben Lomond, Calif.
The Bradley Playhouse “Miracle” is directed by Jennifer Briere, assisted by Tonya Brock. Performers include: Walter Wright as Kris Kringle, Kelly Lambert as Doris Walker, J. Matthew Bailey as Fred Gayley and Lauria Lavallee as Susan Walker. The Dec. 7 performance will feature music from Sally Rogers and Howie Bursen and the Dec. 21 performance will feature the Blackstone Valley Community Chorus.
The story takes place between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day in New York City, and focuses on the effect of a department store Santa Claus who claims to be the real Santa.
This is a tale that we all want to believe in, that creates a world we seem to desperately desire, free of blatant commercialism that surrounds us, where love and decency and generosity of spirit are their own rewards. In this heartwarming holiday story we find, by chance, Kris Kringle, an elderly gentleman, acquiring a job working as Santa for Macy’s Department store. Kris releases waves of good will by referring parents to other stores to find the exact toy their child has wished for. Seen as deluded and dangerous by the store’s vocational counselor, Kris ends up in a court competency hearing. In an innocent turn of events and truly magical moment, the Christmas Spirit is reclaimed.
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It had been a long time since Marty Silvera was The Man. Since some time in early 2018, probably.
That was when he was lighting up opposing defenses as a junior on Doherty High School’s basketball team in Worcester, averaging close to 25 points, nine assists, and three steals a game.
He then took his game to Putnam Science Academy for his senior season, hoping to attract more colleges and scholarship opportunities. Things did not go as he expected.
“Coming from Doherty to here, it was a totally different zone,” said Silvera, now in his postgrad year at PSA. “At Doherty, I got the ball every time. Everything was going through me.
“Then I came here, I didn’t even touch the court the first 12 games. It was messing with my head, I won’t lie.”
Silvera found a little bit of a rhythm before the season ended, but “it was iffy if I was coming back or not because (the coaches didn’t know if they could believe in me. They told me that if I did come back, I had to be focused, no more doing dumb stuff, it was going to be basketball and books. And since then, that’s what I’ve been doing.”
Finally, in the team’s eighth game of this season last Friday, the 6-foot, 2-inch point guard got that old feeling back.
Playing in front a large contingent of college coaches and NBA scouts and executives at the National Prep Showcase at Albertus Magnus College, he finished with 24 points, four rebounds, five assists, and four steals in a 77-69 win. He also drilled a dagger 3-pointer inside the final minute that iced the game.
“I feel the moment for sure,” he said. “I airballed two before that and I was like ‘Hell no, this isn’t happening, this can’t be me.’ I’m just being in the moment and thinking about that shot going in. That’s all I’m thinking about.”
Silvera followed up that performance with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists the next night as the second-ranked Mustangs rallied for a thrilling 91-88 come-from-behind win over fourth-ranked Scotland Campus.
“I definitely trust him and I have a lot of confidence in him,” said teammate Hassan Diarra, Silvera’s closest friend on the team. “He can do a lot of things. The coaches believe in him that he could go out there and do it like that in every game.”
Said PSA coach Tom Espinosa: “I knew he had it in him, but he had to commit to himself. He didn’t do that last year. So I knew he could do these kinds of things if he committed, and he’s done that, from the summer and through the fall. He’s been really good. I give him a lot of credit. He’s really worked for this second chance.”
One of the most visible signs of that work and commitment is Silvera’s body. He spent the offseason dedicated to reshaping it, dropping 25 pounds.
“This summer, I was just working out and playing basketball, working out and playing basketball,” he said. “That’s it.”
Silvera has garnered plenty of college attention, and with a long season ahead, figures to gain more. He’s got about a half-dozen scholarship offers, mostly from mid-major Division I programs.
“I’m going to keep going with this and I’m very appreciative of (the coaches) giving me a second opportunity to show my talents and my leadership,” Silvera said. “They gave me the shot this year to be one of the main men, and I just want to take it and take all my other blessings. I’m trying to listen to the people who want me to do well and want to see me succeed and go far.
“And hopefully, we get a championship this year.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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Woodstock public schools
Monday: Cheeseburgers, fruit. Tuesday - half day: Breakfast sandwiches, hash browns, fruit. Wednesday: Popcorn chicken, carrots, fruit. Thursday: Baked potato with cheese and bacon, broccoli, fruit. Friday: Pizza, cucumber cups, fruit.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday: Crispy chicken patties on buns, carrots. Tuesday: Macaroni and cheese, broccoli. Wednesday: Cheeseburgers, sherbet. Thursday: Chicken tenders on rolls, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn. Friday: Pizza, salad.
Putnam High
Monday: Spaghetti,, meatballs or spicy chicken sandwiches. Tuesday: Chicken bacon ranch flatbread sandwiches or bacon cheeseburgers. Wednesday: Mozzarella sticks, marinara sauce or buffalo chicken panini. Thursday: Chicken potato bowls or seafood salad. Friday: Pizza or fish dinner.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Crispy chicken tenders, dip, green beans, rainbow tray with fruit and veggies. Tuesday: Cheeseburgers, rainbow tray. Wednesday: Mexican rice bowls, rainbow tray. Thursday: Chicken parm roll, rainbow tray. Friday: Pizza, carrots with dip, rainbow tray.
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Matulaitis honors veterans
PUTNAM — Matulaitis resident and U.S. Army veteran Larry Bellerose receives a “Quilt of Valor” from “Stitch Chicks Crew” members at the Annual Veteran Day Celebration held at Matulaitis Rehab & Skilled Care Nov. 17.
Fourteen resident veterans, five staff members and one volunteer were honored at the event, sponsored by the Matulaitis Family Council. His grandson, Zachary Willard is by his side.
The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, begun in 2003, is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
Bellerose served his country from 1959 until 1991 in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserves.
He served in along the east coast as well as in Korea, Vietnam and in the Cold War in weapons, tactics and command. He was the liaison officer for West Point Academy.
Adelard “Del” Dubreuil, 99, receives his Recognition Certificate and American Flag from Brian Maynard, commander of the Putnam American Legion Post 13.
Dubreuil, a Putnam native, served his country during WWII as a corporal in the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1945. He landed on Omaha and Utah Beaches in August of 1944 during the Normandy invasion and participated in the Battle of the Bulge under General George S. Patton, Commander U.S. Third Army.
Fernanda Clapp, a Matulaitis resident and U.S. Navy veteran was also honored. Clapp served her country in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1945 as a WAVE in the Singing Platoon in Washington, D.C.
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