caption:
Music
Reunited members of The Coachmen at a recent rehearsal for Jamming for Jim, a benefit concert for musician Jim Milliard. Seated front, left to right, Michael Rocchetti, Bob Lussier, Jim Milliard, Linda Colangelo, Brian Herlihy. Back: Robin Aubin, Kevin St. Jean, Art “Bubba” Aldrich.
Concert set to help musician
KILLINGLY — Jim Milliard developed a nagging cough this past summer. He thought it was a sinus problem until he suddenly lost his strength and developed problems moving and breathing. He went to Day Kimball Hospital, and following assessment, received difficult news – stage 4 lung and liver cancer. The news was numbing, followed by a blur of activity. Jim was sent to UMass Medical Center, where the diagnosis was confirmed.
“I was there about a week for testing,” Milliard recalls. “Small cell carcinoma and my liver was non-functioning. I was told that if I didn’t start chemo immediately, I might have five days to live. That kind of news just stops you in your tracks. So guess what? I started chemo.”
It didn’t take long for word to spread. Milliard, a 1966 Killingly High School graduate and well-known musician in northeastern Connecticut, has spent over 55 years performing in a variety of bands, starting in the ‘60s with groups like The Continentals, The Rogues, and The Jimmy Holliday Revue. He eventually joined The Coachmen, a renowned eight-piece musical group that performed for more than 20 years throughout New England. When the group disbanded in 1986, Milliard went on to form Miami, Milestones Swing Band, and The Great Garage Band Reunion (GGBR). Besides music as a driving force in his life, Milliard was also defined by another character trait – philanthropy. Performances by the GGBR over the past 20 years have raised nearly $1 million for local charities and businesses.
The news hit close to home particularly for his bandmates, past and present. Linda Colangelo, lead female vocalist for many years with The Coachmen, had developed a warm friendship with Milliard, even working part-time in the ‘80s at Lussier-Milliard Associates, an entertainment business Milliard started with longtime friend and fellow saxophonist, Bob Lussier.
“As soon as I heard about Jim’s diagnosis and some of the financial challenges he was having due to costs associated with his medical care, I knew there was something we could do to help,” said Colangelo.
“A benefit concert was a no-brainer…not only financially, but emotionally for Jim…and the rest of us.”
Colangelo reached out to bandmembers of the Coachmen and the GGBR. Through the lightning speed of texting, everyone was on board immediately.
The philanthropic spirit runs high in both bands. The last time The Coachmen performed together was 2014 in a benefit concert to raise money for nine separate charities.
A benefit performance, Jamming for Jim, is set from 7 to 11 p.m. Nov. 15 at Thompson Raceway Restaurant.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and seating is first come, first served. Limited tickets remain at $40 each and are available at WINY Radio in Putnam and the Trinket Shoppe in Danielson.
The event is sponsored by Thompson Raceway Restaurant, Chase Graphics, Danielson Surplus Sales, The Trink-et Shoppe, and WINY Radio. Additional donations to Jim Milliard are still being accepted.
For more information, call 860-450-2245.
“Jim was hesitant at first, not wanting to let on that he had financial concerns,” said Colangelo. “His illness did not allow him enough strength to play his saxophone, so that was also difficult to manage emotionally. But I said, ‘Jim, you’ve literally tooted your own horn for years to benefit others. Let us make some music this time to benefit you and thank you for all you’ve done.’”
“My message is to take care of your body because it’s the only one you’ve got. I’m grateful that I am responding to the treatments. My liver is functioning again, I have some energy back, and I’m hoping there’s enough to pick up my saxophone again. The concert will be my chance to thank everyone who has supported me and the bands I’ve performed with all these years. The music has made for so made wonderful memories.”
“The concert is putting the wind back in his sails…and saxophone,” said Colangelo.
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TV game
changes
college pick
Mekhi Gray scored 10 points Nov. 8 for the Putnam Science Academy prep basketball team, then went home with his family to Montrose, N.Y., to settle on his college decision.
When he left campus most of his teammates had the impression Gray was going to choose Fairfield University. Gray felt pretty sure of that ,too.
But things changed after he watched a pair of games this weekend involving the two schools he was choosing between. He saw Fairfield lose 62-60 to UMass. And he watched New Jersey Institute of Technology lose 76-47 at Providence.
“I was watching NJIT, and I could see what they were missing and I could see where I fit with them,” Gray said this week. “I was leaning toward Fairfield, but then watching NJIT, I really felt like that was going to be the best place for me.”
So NJIT it is. Gray, a 6-foot, 4-inch, 180-pound lefty guard, called the Highlanders’ coaching staff Sunday afternoon with the news, then made his public announcement Monday.
“Initially, I thought the decision would come easy,” said Gray, who also visited St. Bonaventure and Siena. “I thought I’d make my visits and find it within my heart to have my decision. But it took a little more time, so being able to sit down with my AAU coaches, my family, that really helped me come to the decision I made.
“II was a little nervous when I told them. I was excited about it but it wasn’t really like that. I had to let it cool down, and just going through my regular day, it started to settle in more. I’m definitely thrilled. I’m more than happy to commit to a program, and to be a Div. I player, it’s a dream come true.”
NJIT is located in Newark, N.J., and plays in the Atlantic Sun Conference, which is a far-reaching league that features teams mainly from the Deep South.
Gray and the coaching staff have been honest with each other from the start, which is something he really appreciates. He said his goal remains to play at a high-major school, and NJIT knows that. The coaches have told him that they want to help get him to that level and want to put him in positions to produce over the next year or two.
“Their style of play fits me best,” Gray said. “They’re a team that likes to get in transition and shoot the ball, a lot of freelance. I really feel like I’ll be able to flourish and showcase my talents there. I feel like they’ll let me play through my mistakes.”
Wherever his college game takes him, Gray’s ultimate goal is to play professionally. His fallback plan is to become a sports broadcaster, so he intends to major in communications.
PSA coach Tom Espinosa said Gray wasn’t one of his top recruits and wasn’t expecting much of him when he first arrived. Espinosa thought Gray would have to really battle to be one of the last guys in the rotation.
But Gray started making a name for himself in the preseason. He didn’t miss one workout — not the 6 a.m. ones, not the afterschool ones, not the lifting sessions, not the open gyms. Espinosa said Gray could be the only player he’s had in his 17 years who never missed one.
“So he had probably the best preseason out of anybody,” Espinosa said. “And then, he was just really great on the court. We were like, ‘Wow, this kid is pretty good.’
“We never really expected that. I give him a lot of credit, he’s worked hard for it. The guy loves the game of basketball, he loves being in the gym and getting better.”
Said Gray: “This team around me, they make me comfortable and help me be the guy that I know I am.”
Gray had what could be called a lost year last year at South Kent, then started to hit his stride over the summer playing for the PSA Cardinals (no affiliation to the school). He played there with current teammates Hassan Diarra and Josh Gray (also no relation).
“He’s definitely a focused dude,” Diarra said. “He has a goal and he wants to reach it. Over the summer he was a little hurt. From the summer to now, you can see growth in his game. You can tell he’s been working.”
Everyone who speaks of Gray speaks of his tireless work ethic. That is something of which Gray is proud and that he expects to never go away.
“I am a hard worker,” he said. “I like to stand out, to be the first one in the gym and make my name. It’s helped me get to this point where I have been so blessed, and I hope it will continue to take me to where I want to go.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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Fallen leaves, clockwise from top: Mountain ash leaves. Ginkgo leaves downtown Putnam. Oak leaves at Palmer Arboretum in Woodstock. Red maple leaf in East Putnam.
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Woodstock public schools
Monday: Hamburgers, fruit. Tuesday: Mozzarella sticks, marinara, fruit. Wednesday: Chicken nuggets, wax beans, fruit. Thursday: Hot turkey sandwiches, butternut squash, cranberry sauce, fruit. Friday: Pizza, black beans, fruit.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday: Orange popcorn or plain chicken rice bowls, brown rice, broccoli. Tuesday: Spaghetti, meatballs, vegetables. Wednesday: Chicken sandwich, carrots. Thursday: Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, Special Cookie. Friday: Putnam Special Pizza, salad.
Putnam High
Monday: Pasta Bolognese or spicy chicken sandwiches. Tuesday: General Tsos Chicken or bacon cheeseburgers. Wednesday: Three-cheese grilled cheese or Italian Panini. Thursday: Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, cookie or chef salad. Friday: Pizza or fish sandwich.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Mini corndogs, green bean salad, rainbow tray with fruit and veggies. Tuesday: Cheese quesadilla, red beans, rainbow tray. Wednesday: French toast sticks, chicken sausage, hash browns, rainbow tray. Thursday: Beef-a-Roni, rainbow tray. Friday: Personal pizza, rainbow tray.
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