By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC column is dedicated to four veterans, Ron Desrochers, Alan Joslin, Barney Seney and Don Steinbrick.  This quartet is part of the American Legion Post #13 of Putnam color guard.  Next time you see them, thank them for their military service to our country.

It doesn’t seem possible but on Wednesday, June 17 the Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce is holding its 27th Golf Invitational.  The tournament, which is chaired by Matt Desaulnier of Gerardi Insurance, is scheduled once again for Quinnatisset Country Club located on County Road in Thompson.

The event features a scramble format with the shotgun start scheduled for 11 a.m.  The cost is $150 per golfer or $600 per foursome.  The entry fee entitles players to 18 holes of golf with cart, raffle, skins game, special prizes and food and beverage throughout the tournament.  Golfers are asked to arrive 45 minutes prior to tee time.

In order to maintain a fair competitive atmosphere, no more than two golfers with a handicap of 10 or less will be allowed per foursome.  In this tournament’s special scoring rule, any foursome that includes a female golfer will have two strokes subtracted from its team score.

The event, which is one of the Chamber’s premier fund-raisers, has a number of sponsorship opportunities available.  The Title Sponsor at $2500 remains available, as does the Eagle sponsor at $1100, the food/beverage sponsor ($300) and green sponsor ($250).  Tee sponsorships are $100 each.

Desaulnier indicates that the goal is a full field of 36 foursomes.  He notes that the field is filling quickly, however there are still sponsorships and foursome slots available.  Anyone interested in more information or in registering to play should contact the Chamber at 3 Central St., Danielson, CT 06239 or call the office at 860 774-8001.

College Hockey on the Horizon

Dominic Rovero has been playing hockey his entire life.  He started in the local youth leagues, moved on to traveling teams and eventually played for highly competitive teams year-round.  He then moved on to The Gunnery School where he played prep hockey.  The road then took Rovero to Canada where he played junior hockey for a year.

The young defenseman is now taking a different route.  In September he’ll be heading off to Suffolk University in Boston where he’ll study business and get some college ice time.  The experience Rovero has gained through his many years of hockey should make him an asset for the Suffolk icemen.

Dominic Rovero is the son of Ric and Melanie Rovero.

Former Mustang Headed 

To ‘Show Me’ State

Joel Angus left Putnam Science Academy in 2013 with hopes of landing an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship.  His dream has been accomplished after taking a slight detour to get there.

Angus recently announced he’s accepted a scholarship to play at Southeast Missouri State University of the Ohio Valley Conference.  The 6-foot, 7-inch forward was noticed by the Redhawks coach Rick Ray during the National Junior College Athletic Association regional and national tournament.  Angus, a graduate of Boys and Girls High School in New York City, played briefly for Westchester Community College prior to moving on to Monroe College where he was scouted by the Redhawks.

Angus averaged 15.4 points per game and 8.5 rebounds for Monroe College.  Prior to deciding on Southwest Missouri, Angus had offers from the University of Tennessee – Martin and Tennessee Tech.

Dery Headed to the Hall of Fame

The Tourtellotte Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2015 will be inducted on Saturday, June 20.  Among the inductees are some outstanding athletes and championship teams, also in that mix will be longtime coach Paul Dery.

The quiet and unassuming Dery is a 1970 graduate of Tourtellotte, who served as a running and basketball coach for nearly 20 years.  As a coach Dery never dreamed of election into the Hall of Fame.  He was a mentor to the student-athletes who was on the sidelines always with his players as his primary objective.  

During Dery’s tenure with the various teams he had more divisional champions, All-State athletes and record setters than most other coaches in the history of the school.  Dery was also a longtime teacher at Tourtellotte where he had a far reaching effect on many students.

Wednesday Fun Runs

The Wednesday Fun Runs at West Thompson Lake are back for the summer of 2015.  According to organizers Martin and Delia Fey, who have assumed the leadership of the events for northeastern Connecticut’s running guru Jim Gothreau, the once-per-week events started on May 20 and will continue to Sept. 16.

The theme is ‘jog, walk, run or race’and everyone from age 4 to 91 is welcome.  The courses, whose start alternate weekly between the gravel path close to the water or near the gate on Ravenelle Road, are safe and traffic free.  The other benefit is that there is no cost to participate in either the 1.44 mile or 5K course.  Organizers are urging participants to invite a friend or relative to join in these fun runs, which begin at 6:15 p.m. sharp!

Paint the Room Pink

Congratulations to Woodstock Academy PG basketball coach Tom Espinosa and his wife Trish on the most recent addition to their family.  Trish Espinosa gave birth to a baby daughter,  Teagan Kathleen Espinosa, at 8:26 a.m. on Saturday, May 16.  Teagan Kathleen came into the world weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces and measuring 19 ½ inches.  The newest member of the Espinosa family joins her ‘big’ brothers, T.J. and Bryce.  Mom and daughter are doing well and brothers and dad are happy and smiling about Teagan Kathleen.

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”  John F. Kennedy

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