Past Issues of the Putnam Town Crier

Fox in Church Street Area was Rabid

 

PUTNAM --- Putnam Police Department officials said that the aggressive fox that was in the area of Church and Cleveland streets and the surrounding area was captured and euthanized tested positive for rabies.

Anyone who had direct contact with the fox should seek immediate medical and/or veterinary attention.

The fox had been aggressive toward people and animals.

March 26 the Northeast District Department of Health (NDDH) notified police that the fox tested positive for rabies.

Anyone who may have been in contact with this fox or had animals in direct contact with this fox should seek immediate medical and/or veterinary attention and let a medical professional evaluate the level of exposure.

The public is reminded to refrain from feeding or approaching any wild animals.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that can infect all warm-blooded animals, including people. It is spread mostly by wild animals, including foxes. The rabies virus lives in the saliva and brain tissue of infected animals. NDDH said rabies can be spread by scratches from infected animals or when infected saliva comes into contact with open wounds, breaks in the skin or mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose, or mouth. NDDH said that it is very important that anyone who may have come into contact with the fox consult with their medical provider on whether they need to seek further medical attention.  Also, residents with animals need to make sure the rabies vaccinations are up to date.

Anyone with further questions or concerns may contact NDDH at (860)774-7350.

 



Pomfret School Honors
POMFRET — Pomfret School students named to the Honors list for the winter term include: Gabriella Nsubuga of U.S. (2026); James Lake of Pomfret (2027); Chloe Woodard of Pomfret (2025); Andrew Burnham of Pomfret Center (2025); Beatrice Foronda of Putnam (2027); Mila Ganias of Woodstock (2025); Gabriela Brown of Woodstock Valley (2026); Adam Tillinghast of Danielson (2024); Shelby Geragotelis of Brooklyn (2026); Delaney Williams of Brooklyn (2026).

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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs.  The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
March 17
Harrison Paton, 23, homeless; possession of dangerous weapon.
March 19
Olivia Ekinci, 34, Laconia Court, Putnam; second-degree failure to appear.

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Girls’ Golf
Woodstock senior Isabella Siwiko (in front of golf cart) is joined by assistant coach Jeff Boshka (in driver’s seat), Reagan Scheck (passenger’s seat), Sophia Giourelis (in back on left) and Lily Moran during a cleanup day at the Woodstock Golf Course at Roseland Park. Photo by Marc Allard/Woodstock Academy.

Woodstock Academy girls’ golf coach Earl Semmelrock knew he was going to have to hope to have enough players just to field a team.
The Centaurs will in 2024. Barely.
The graduations of Ella Musumeci, Maya Orbegozo, Shannon Cunniff, Adriana Rojas and Abigail Owens were expected.
The departures of juniors Liliana Bottone and Sophie Gronski were not.
“They are concentrating on volleyball,” Semmelrock said. “They told me in the fall but I was hoping they would change their minds. I tried to do a little arm-twisting, but they’re concentrating on volleyball. I told everybody else that we’re moving forward, going to have a fun season, but you can’t all be sick on the same day.”
It leaves just five players on the roster led by senior captain Isabella Siwiko.
“We only have two returning varsity players but we have a lot of talent. We’ve been practicing at Bear’s (Virtual) Golf (in Danielson) and I feel like it’s going to be a good year. It will definitely be a learning year, we may not be up to where we were last year, but there is a lot of potential,” Siwiko said.
The Centaurs finished 12-3 a year ago, good enough for second in the ECC.
Junior Isabel Mawson and sophomore Lily Moran are the other two players who were with the program last season.
“The good news is that the three returners have been hitting balls at Bear’s and they appear to be better,” Semmelrock said.
There is little more to do this time of year.
“It helps because you can tell how far each club is going and the distance you hit and everything. That’s going to help us know where we’re at when we actually get on the course,” Siwiko said about the time spent playing virtual golf.
Few golf courses are open at this time.
In fact, the girls’ team spent one day last week doing community service by helping clean up around the Woodstock Golf Course at Roseland Park.
The course had a lot of tree removal over the winter and it has left a lot of cleanup work to be done.
The varsity teams play at Quinnatisset Country Club in Thompson, which will likely not be open for another week or two; the junior varsity teams have used the Woodstock Golf Course.
“I’ve been looking forward to getting back on the course all winter,” Siwiko said.
There is a bright spot. Freshman Reagan Scheck has come out for the team.
She has a huge upside, a lot of potential,” Semmelrock said. “She is a member at Quinnatisset and takes lessons at Lake of Isles (in Ledyard). We should have a pretty accomplished player right out of the gate which is going to be helpful because without her, I don’t know what I would do.”
Scheck has already impressed the team.
 “She’s an incredible talent. She’s been playing since she was about 11-years-old so I’m really looking forward to playing with her. I feel like she is going to be a really strong player and I’m just excited for the season,” Siwiko said.
Sophia Giourelis is the other freshman and fifth player on the roster.
Woodstock opens the season April 2 against East Lyme at the Old Lyme Golf course and then is scheduled to play Norwich Free Academy at the Norwich Golf Course on April 3.
“Those are going to be tough, no question. We got some practice in (last) week at Bear’s, they have been very generous and accommodating with their time, and we can use that in foul weather. Hopefully, we will be able to use an outdoor range (this) week and then be ready to hit the ground running with two matches the week after,” Semmelrock said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

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Boys’ Volleyball
Senior Aiden Finch, left, who spearheaded the call for a boys’ volleyball program at Woodstock Academy, and coach Adam Bottone will lead the Centaurs in their inaugural season. Photo by Marc Allard/Woodstock Academy.


It’s a dream come true for Woodstock Academy senior Aiden Finch.
He worked long and hard trying to convince everyone that a boys’ varsity volleyball program was in demand at the school.
He gets to see that program come to fruition before he dons a cap and gown and graduates as the Centaurs will have a boys’ varsity volleyball season this year.
“It’s incredibly special for me,” Finch said. “I’ve been playing since my freshman year, club teams, clinics, friends’ backyards and on the beach and in grass. To finally have a Woodstock Academy team is awesome.”
The Centaurs did have a club program last year.
“The boys that played last year, you could see when we started the preseason that they remembered the basic skills that we went over, knew the technique and those type of things. Having that year under their belt, especially if they didn’t play offseason club volleyball, there is less of a learning curve,” said coach Adam Bottone.
While it will be Bottone’s first year as head coach of the program, he is hardly as rookie at coaching the game as he leads the girls program in the fall.
However, there are more than subtle adjustments for Bottone as well.
“It’s significantly different,” Bottone said when asked to compare the boys’ and girls’ version of the game. “The (boys) game is more dynamic, more of a side out game. If you can get one good pass, a lot of times you will side out. You don’t see the lengthy rallies that you see in the girls’ game. For girls to be productive and efficient, they have to be really good at the skills. The boys seem to make stuff happen, they just like to run through walls,” Bottone said.
Finch said: “I managed the girls for the past two years so I’ve seen (Bottone) with the girls and the guys, it’s very different coaching guys. Guys are a little more playful but also a little more serious, as contradictory it sounds, it’s true. I believe in coach and I think he will do a great job keeping us on track,” Finch said.
Nineteen student-athletes have come out meaning the team can split into a varsity and JV.
Finch will be a key contributor for the Centaurs and will be joined by fellow seniors Anthony Buckner, Ben Da Silva, Cade Jones, Hunter Larson, T.J. Osborne and Addison Tyimok.
“Aiden has to be a leader for us, he’s played club and has a lot of experience. He will be our go-to guy and I expect a lot from him. I got a core of three freshmen in Brayden (Bottone), Christian Hart and Owen Budd who all played club in the offseason and have grown tremendously. We’re starting the program this year and Aiden is a big part of that, the freshmen group will be the heart-and-soul of developing the program over the next four years,” Bottone said.
Junior Nathan Billings and sophomore Weston Mission make up the remainder of the varsity roster.
“I think what excites me the most is that they are just excited to be here,” Bottone added. “They want to learn the sport, to play, they’re excited to be part of the first-ever volleyball team at the school so they want to leave their mark. It’s hard to say yet what we will do well, we’re still figuring out positions. We have some good servers and passers but we’re still figuring out the game and how it works.”
But the coach does expect that to happen and thinks this team has the potential to get to the necessary eight wins to make the state tournament.
The Centaurs are also part of the fledgling Connecticut Volleyball League, which incorporates all of the schools that are not part of a league that offers volleyball.
For Bottone, the competition will be a learning experience.
“I think it’s possible to make the state tournament but I really don’t know what to expect from the teams we play within our conference because I don’t know a whole lot about them, (Norwich Free Academy) and Putnam are familiar but I don’t know a lot about their boys’ programs. A lot of the schools are tech, magnet or independent schools and I don’t know what their numbers are like or how long they have been in existence,” Bottone said.
The Centaurs open the season at home against Wolcott Tech at 5:30 p.m. Monday inside the Alumni Fieldhouse and then host Bulkeley/SMSA on Tuesday.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

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