Knights of Columbus holds 133rd 
anniversary celebration
PUTNAM — Although much has changed in northeastern Connecticut since 1892, Knights of Columbus Cargill Council 64 remains a force for good in the community. That was recognized July 20, when Knights and their families celebrated the council’s 133rd anniversary.
Observances began with Mass at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, followed with the blessing and dedication of the new St. Therese Parish sign on the church’s front lawn. The sign was recently commissioned by, and purchased for, the parish by Cargill Council, with generous support from St. Mary’s Circle 543 of the Daughters of Isabella, which is based at St. Mary’s.
Celebrations concluded with a memorial prayer service at St. Mary’s Cemetery at the grave of Cargill Council’s first grand knight, Edward M. Mullan. The service was held for the repose of the souls of the council’s deceased members and their families.
The Roman Catholic fraternal group was founded 133 years ago July 26, 1892, only a decade after the international Knights of Columbus organization was begun in 1882. Continuously active since its founding, Cargill Council was the 64th local council founded since the Knights’ parent organization came into existence, hence it being numbered 64.
Cargill Council’s original members elected Mullan, who later served as Putnam’s postmaster, as their leader, known as the Grand Knight. He served as grand knight from 1892 to 1895. He remained a member of the council until his death in 1916. Council officials held the service at his grave, to symbolize all the council’s Knights down through the organization’s first 133 years.
Although it may seem strange to some people to hold a celebration in a cemetery, the current Grand Knight, John F. Xeller, explained: “Cargill Council has had several homes here in Putnam since it started 133 years ago. “Its first home was in the Bradley Theater, downtown. Later we spent decades in a large building off the lower end of Church Street. Since 1976, we’ve been on Providence Street, in what used to be the Putnam Polish Club. Even though most current Knights identify with the Providence Street building, the grave of our very first Grand Knight is the perfect symbol for every member of Cargill Council, living and deceased, past and present.”
Today, with almost 200 members, Cargill Council 64 serves the four churches of St. Therese Parish, including St. Mary’s in Putnam, St. Joseph’s in North Grosvenordale, St. Stephen’s in Quinebaug and Most Holy Trinity in Pomfret.
In addition to support for its members and their families, Cargill Council maintains a dedicated, strong, ongoing commitment to the parish. The council also sponsors or assists year-round with many positive, local programs, including, among literally dozens of events, its annual “Joe Bousquet Christmas Giving Appeal” for the needy in the area, food drives for the local poor, providing free winter coats for local children and adults, a year-round program for the widows of its deceased members, an annual council golf tournament and continuing work to end abortion and assisted suicide and to otherwise support the “Culture of Life.”
Led by Grand Knight Xeller, he and the council’s other elected officers run Cargill Council. The organization does its own fundraising, using the net proceeds to pay for its programs.

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Current Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus, Putnam, Grand Knight John F. Xeller led the council’s July 20 memorial prayer service at St. Mary’s Cemetery, as part of the council’s 133rd anniversary celebration. Prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of the council’s deceased members and their families. The service was held at the grave of Edward M. Mullan, Cargill Council’s first Grand Knight. Photo by John D. Ryan

Donation
July 29 the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact club presented TEEG with a check for $200 to purchase food for its Food Pantry. Elizabeth Perry, left, received the check from Paige Perry, center, and Gabriell Cerasiello, Interact co-presidents. Chelsea French, TEEG resource developer; Carl Asikainen, TEEG director, and Breanna Gagliardi thanked the Interact Club for its generous donation.

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Tri-Town American Legion baseball team celebrates
The Tri-Town American Legion Baseball Team, from Putnam, Thompson and Woodstock, recently celebrated the end of their season, complete with awards and inspiring words.
Michael Merrill, chairman of the Tri-Town Baseball Team Executive Committee, said: “This banquet is an annual tradition where we celebrate the end of a short but intensive season consisting typically of over 22 games in six weeks. We also recognize the players, the parents, the sponsors, the volunteers, the team moms, and everybody else that makes it possible for us participate in this great sport of baseball”.
The event began with the posting of the colors by the American Legion Honor Guard consisting of Frank Tremont and Chris Steinbrick. The recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jax Carita. The invocation was given by Christie Akana, and opening remarks were made by Merrill. In his remarks Merrill thanked the team’s sponsors including the American Legion Posts from Thompson, Putnam, and Woodstock. He also thanked sponsors including Linemaster Switch, the O’Brien Group, The Merrill Family, the Mayhew Family, the Carita Family, Ron and Donna Coderre, the Thompson Lions Club, the Putnam Rotary Club, the Putnam Lodge of Elks, ERW Precision Sheet Metel Inc, Dan and Kathy Durand, John Sherman, and Everett & PatandShepard.
After a roast beef dinner, Merrill introduced the guest speaker – Sean Trindall, the coach of the Framingham State University baseball team from Framingham, Mass. Coach Trindall offered sage advice to the young men from the Tri-Town Team who aspire to play collegiate baseball. Afterwards the coaches made some remarks – including the 19U team coach Jason Akana, and assistant coaches Brandon Carita and John Merrill, as well as the 17U team coach Maxwell Racicot and assitant coaches Ken Magee and Ben Kipp.
The awards were then presented. The Louis Francis Bates Memorial Award went to Benjamin Gustafson. The Joe Lindley Memorial Award went to Noah Kipp. The Stan Lesniewski Award went to Brady Devlin and Jacob Turner. The Executive Committee Award went to Robbie Dion. The Rene “Doc” Desaulniers Award went to Nicholas Devlin. The Coach Tom Auclair Award went to Lucas Carita. The Everett G. Shepard Community Service Award went to Evan Mailloux, and the Ronald and Donna Coderre Scholar/Athlete scholarship went to Evan Mailloux.
Michael Rocchetti, Putnam’s American Legion Post commander, said: “The American Legion Baseball program was established in 1925 – so this year’s marks its 100th year. It’s a great program and baseball is such a great sport. The lessons these young men learn playing baseball, such as commitment, dedication, teamwork, discipline, diligence, sportsmanship and fair play, and the importance of developing your skills, will serve them well in almost any other future endeavor. We are proud of the players and we are especially proud of our coaches. They put a lot of time and effort into this. They are making a big difference in the lives of these young men.”

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19U Players - Senior: Will Bushey, Ceydian Campos, Lucas Carita, Logan Coutu, Brady Devlin, Nicholas Devlin, Robert Dion, Robert Ellsworth, William Ellsworth, Gabriel Fuentes, Gabriel Girard (DR), Benjamin Gustafson (DR), Brayden Hamlin, Sebastian Hanshaw, Tyler Kouatly, Evan Mailloux, Jacob Turner, Trevor Turner. Head Coach – Jason Akana, Assistant Coaches – Brandon Carita, John Merrill

17U Players – Junior: Benjamin Boledovic, Ryan Collard, Matthew Dearborn, Gabriel Girard (DR), Joseph Girard, Jax Golden, Benjamin Gustafson (DR), Oliver Hayden, Noah Kipp, Elijah Laprade, William Magee, Carter Murawski, Noah Pillsbury, Blake Ward. Head Coach – Maxwell Racicot, Asst. Coaches – Ken Magee, Ben Kipp