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Potato Fund-raiser
Troop 21 Boy Scout Joseph Vergoni shows off several freshly washed potatoes which he and the other members of the Putnam troop prepared for the Seventh Annual Troop 21 Baked Potato Fund-Raising Buffet. Photo: John D. Ryan.
PUTNAM — “Eat a potato; send a deserving Scout to summer camp.”
That was the rallying cry Feb. 9, when Putnam Boy Scout Troop 21 held its Seventh Annual Baked Potato Buffett.
Several hundred dollars in the till and 120 large baked potatoes later, Scoutmaster John Ryan pronounced the event a success.
“Not every family can afford the $415 it costs to send a Scout to a week of summer camp, so we need help from the community at events like this. Troop 21 never turns any boy away for financial reasons. We still have donations coming in, so we’ll do very well by the time we total things up. We’re grateful to everybody who came out in the cold and ate with us.”
Believe it or not, however, raising money is not the most important reason that Troop 21 holds events like this.
“If it’s done right, and Troop 21 does it right, fund-raising builds character and helps our boys to work to earn their own way,” Ryan said. “
Speaking of work, the Scouts did just that, washing the 120 potatoes, wrapping them in aluminum foil and getting them ready to be baked. They also chopped broccoli, sliced onions and ham, melted cheese, cooked bacon and got the other potato toppings ready. There was coffee, tea and desserts to set out, along with tablecloths and placemats. Then there was cleaning to do when it was over.
It was worth it, Ryan said, when the line of customers stretched quite a distance. For the first time in the seven years since the buffet was first held, the troop sold out, keeping the Scouts busy running the serving line and clearing the tables.
“We were thrilled to have done so well,” said the Scoutmaster. “We’re sorry that we had to turn people away, but we’ll be sure to cook more potatoes next year. The fund-raising for summer camp has to go year-round, with our chicken barbecue coming up in Putnam.” For info about joining, supporting or volunteering, call Ryan at (860) 928-7241 and leave a message.
Boy Scout Troop 21 has been chartered to, and meeting at, St. Mary’s since its founding in 1995. Although Troop 21 is chartered by St. Mary’s, Scouts do not have to be Catholic or be members of the church. “We’re open to any boy 11 to 17,” Ryan said. “Boys with special needs are welcome, and as I said before, Troop 21 does not turn any boy away for financial reasons.”
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captions, clockwise from top left:
Robert Greene
Steven White
Jonathan Salvas
Laura Logsdon visits with Elsa and Anna at the recent Fire & Ice Festival.
Jonathan Conway’s Group
PUTNAM — The winners of the cake and ice sculpting contests at the 9th annual Fire & Ice festival were recently announced.
Sheila Frost, Putnam Business Association coordinator, was pleased with the turnout.
“I would estimate about 6,000 in attendance. I think the number was less due to the weather however, it kept people inside the businesses and in the Church to view the Cake Competition and purchase Commemorative Wine Glasses and Candy Bars,” she said.
She added that all the restaurants and stores reported record sales, “which is exactly why we started this winter festival: to support the businesses through the cold winter days which can be tough on small businesses.”
“The Putnam Business Association is proud to support events such as this that are free to the community; these events are great for folks of all ages.”
She added that the PBA’s calendar of events for 2019 is “jam packed with events to bring people into Downtown, Rotary Park and into our outstanding businesses offering something for everyone.”
Cake winners: Professional: Jonathan Salvas (Teddy Bears); Novice/Home: Beth Delaney (Cardinals) (pg. 1)
Ice sculpting winners:
1st - group — Jonathan Conway’s Group – Atlantic Broadband – braid bands block; 2nd – group — Putnam Science Academy - PSA block; 3rd - group — Putnam Lions - Jeremiah’s Antique block
1st — amateur — Robert Greene - Creation of Adam - QVCC’s block; 2nd – amateur — Marie Agresta - Cargill Chevy block; 3rd – amateur —Rena Masson — Renee’s Working Girl Catering block.
1st – professional — Steven White — Someplace Special block; 2nd – professional — Silvino Quenga — S block; 3rd – Professional — Josh Deojay —Wonderland Comics block
Winner photos courtesy of Geoffrey Bolte of Clarus Studios Inc.
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Named to dean’s list
ELON, N.C. — Anna Grace Murphy has been named to the dean’s list for the 2018 fall semester at Elon University. Murphy is the daughter of Ms. Emily Jacobs Murphy of Woodstock, and Mr. Dan Murphy.
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Donation
Putnam Rotary Club President John Miller, left, presented $250 to the Pomfret Eastford Little League’s fund-raising coordinator T.J. Billiard. Another $250 was presented to the Griffin Youth Hockey League. Billiard presented the club a thank you plaque. Courtesy photo.
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