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caption, page 2:
Celebration
Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball coach Tony Bergeron celebrates his 400th career victory by serving up some commemorative cake at the Alumni Fieldhouse Jan. 17. Photo by Marc Allard
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Coach hits
400-win
milestone
Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball coach Tony Bergeron knew it would happen this season.
He just couldn’t predict that it would happen this quickly.
Bergeron needed 24 wins to reach a personal milestone 400 career victories.
The Centaurs Gold prep team did so in just 24 games with an 83-66 win over St. Andrew’s School from Barrington, R.I., Jan. 17.
“I knew it was going to be a war. As soon as we figured out that the first chance we had at it was going to be a (St. Andrew’s) Mike Hart-coached team, I knew it was going to be a war. I’m super-excited about (the milestone). You would be lying if you said if you weren’t. Four hundred means you lasted a long time and longevity is part of this, too. I can’t believe that I needed 24 (wins) coming in and they did 24 straight- that’s crazy,” Bergeron said.
The Centaurs, Jan. 19, made it 25 straight with an 84-77 win over Worcester Academy at the BABC Tournament at Cathedral High School in Boston behind 24 Tre Williams’ points. They added a 26th win Jan. 20 at Springfield College when they downed Montverde Academy, 89-79, at the Hoophall Classic. Ronnie DeGray scored 27 points and Tre Mitchell added 26 points and 13 boards.
The personal milestone came in Bergeron’s 19th season as a head coach.
Bergeron began his coaching career at MacDuffie School in Granby, Mass., where he spent three seasons and posted a 53-32 mark.
He moved on to Wings Academy in the Bronx, N.Y., for four (96-23 record) before going over to the American Christian School in Acton, PA., for two years (54-17).
Bergeron then took a turn from the prep ranks to a high school.
He coached East Longmeadow, Mass., (48-41) for four years,
“You go where you go,” Bergeron said. “I’ve been led from one place to the next and I’m happy to say, it was my choice to be able to move on from every place I’ve ever been. Life’s twists-and-turns have directed me from one place to the next.”
Bergeron returned to the prep ranks at Commonwealth Academy in Springfield, Mass., for five years (90-45) before the offer came from Woodstock Academy last year.
His Centaurs finished 35-5 last season and with his 24 wins this year is now 59-5 as head coach of the Gold program.
“Getting 400 wins is a testament to Tony’s excellence, commitment and dedication to his craft,” said Woodstock Academy head of school Chris Sandford. “It’s an honor to have Tony coach at the Academy and follow the likes of Roy Hale (baseball and girls’ soccer) and (the late) Cecelia Ingraham (softball, volleyball, girls’ basketball, girls soccer, field hockey) who had hundreds of victories each.”
Bergeron had a special way to commemorate the milestone.
He reached out to others who helped get him to where he is.
“Every time I do get something like this, I pick up the phone and I call my previous athletic directors, my previous principals and I’ve been doing that all (last week). I told them I had a shot to get my 400th win and thanked them for the opportunity. I also reach out to former players, the ones I’m still in contact with and tell them ‘Thank you and I appreciate it,’ Any time these milestones come up, for me, it’s just a time of reflection. I get to enjoy some teams of the past, and, obviously, the team that you are coaching,” Bergeron said.
Point guard Noah Fernandes was happy he was among those who got to take part in the celebration.
“What I was thinking about when coach Bergeron talked about coach Hart getting his 500th win (earlier this season) and I know how rare it is to get those 100 wins. You don’t know what group is going to get him his 500th victory for him so it was just cool to get the 400th. Great atmosphere — one to remember for him,” Fernandes said.
Bergeron said he was happy that the win came against Hart as it gave him a chance to recognize the St. Andrew’s coach for his career milestone.
“This is not so much a celebration of ‘Look what I did’ because at the end of the day, I haven’t scored a point, got a rebound, assist or steal, nor could any of this happened on my own efforts or abilities,” Bergeron said.
Bergeron received a ball from Woodstock Academy to mark the occasion and he was also happy the milestone came with this current crop of Centaurs.
“This is a really special group,” Bergeron said. “To be able to share that with a group like this, I’m excited about that.”
Hart’s Saints did keep it closer than most this season.
The Centaurs nursed a five-point lead at halftime as a lot of shots didn’t fall.
That changed in the second half when Woodstock Academy put down 49 points, including eight 3-pointers, three of them by T.J. Weeks.
Weeks finished with a game-high 24 points.
“He’s been playing great in 2019, shooting it really well, hopefully that continues. If we keep getting production like that off the bench, we’re going to be tough to stop,” guard Noah Fernandes said.
Fernandes and Tre Williams each added 11 points in the win while Matt Cross tossed in 10.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
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caption, page 5:
New Cabin
A new cabin for community members was built in 2018 at Crystal Pond Park. Chris Mayhew photo.
Volunteers
put a shine
on park
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
EASTFORD/WOODSTOCK --- Thanks to a boatload of work by volunteers, Crystal Pond Park continues to shine.
In 2019, according to Crystal Pond Park Commission Chairman Chris Mayhew, the work at the park will continue.
In addition, the erosion problem plaguing the Trout Pond Dam will be addressed. Mayhew said: "The beginning phases of an inspection of the Trout Pond Dam also began this year with communication taking place with a local engineer. Future plans will involve a site visit to determine the next step in protecting the pond from erosion."
A tree work plan is also firming up. "The Yale School of Forestry graciously provided a detail forest management plan to the commission as well as the alertness of invasive plants on the property. Along the same avenue, a local experienced logger provided valuable information for the Commission to utilize in the future should a timber harvest take place," Mayhew said. He added that Lindon Tree Service donated its work to remove trees that were too close to the dining hall.
In 2018, volunteers were busy. One cabin was renovated and a new cabin was built.
The dining hall and other areas of the park are pulling in rentals, helping the park earn money for more improvements. The painting of the outside of the dining hall and changing rooms was accomplished in 2018. New cubbies for storage were also installed in the changing room area.
Other projects that were worked on or completed were: per state request and after an inspection, new hardware installed in the pump house for easier access to annual water turn on and turn off of water supply as well as easier access for annual water quality testing. Rubber mats were installed on the tee pads of the very successful disc golf course to enable year round use of the course. The installation of the 500-pound gas tank has continued to show increased savings with the use of propane during rental events., Mayhew said.
Mayhew said rentals have been a large part of the financial success of the park in 2018. The park hosted a group of 54 disc golf players for the first tournament last March. He added there have been numerous wedding ceremonies, family and class reunions, birthday parties and political dinners at the park. Once again the BMW motorcycle club enjoyed a few days at the park during Memorial Day Weekend and the park was once again host to a local Yoga group near the water’s edge. Local churches and other civic groups were also present to enjoy the peace and tranquility that the park has to offer, he added.
The summer day camp was a success; however, Mayhew said, longtime Day Camp Director Jen Larkin has resigned. "She will indeed be sorely missed, however, has agreed to offer guidance with the transition to our new Day Camp Director.," Mayhew said.
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Then
This is the front of Bugbee's department store around 1900. Putnam Town Crier file photos.
& Now
This is the same area last summer. The Antiques Marketplace now occupies Bugbee's space.
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Saucier now
officially
Academy AD
WOODSTOCK — Sean Saucier graduated from Putnam High School in 1994.
He never imagined his future path would take him just a few miles up Rt. 171 to Woodstock Academy.
Jan. 14 Saucier was officially named athletic director of Woodstock Academy.
“You don’t anticipate things like this, but life happens. You just try to take advantage of opportunities as they come and certainly the last few years presented a few changes, unexpected changes, but changes for the better. I’m very happy with where I am right now,” said Saucier.
Saucier had been the athletic director and football coach at the Hyde School in Woodstock for 11 years.
But two years ago, the Hyde School decided to merge its Woodstock campus with its sister school in Bath, Maine, and Woodstock Academy announced it had purchased the local facility.
Saucier opted to stay in the area and became the assistant athletic director and head football coach at Woodstock Academy last year.
When Aaron Patterson resigned as athletic director just before the start of the 2018-19 school year, Saucier was named the interim AD.
“My experience last year as the assistant and being the interim this fall has prepared me for what’s ahead. Without that kind of adjustment period, I think it would be a monumental challenge. Having worked with Mr. Patterson last year and then getting my feet wet this year was a nice transition,” Saucier said. “It’s different than some of my past experiences, but it’s also an opportunity for growth for me.”
Head of School Chris Sandford said Saucier proved himself while serving as the interim AD of the school.
“He did a great job,” Sandford said. “His experience from Hyde, the experience of running an athletic program at an independent school is what we were looking for. Sean has demonstrated over the last few months the skill set that we are looking for. He’s innovative, a good manager, great with people, and doing a great job with the budget. Managing the athletic department here at The Academy with a budget of almost a million dollars is not easy.”
Woodstock Academy associate head of school, Holly Singleton, said it’s not only his professional acumen that qualified Saucier for the job.
“Sean is the right person to lead our athletic program,” Singleton said. “Kids are his No. 1 priority. He believes in the core values that the athletic department has set and he is one of the hardest workers I know. All of his time is dedicated to making things better for kids.”
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
.
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Church club set
PUTNAM — The Putnam Baptist Church will begin a new chapter of the Olympians Kids Club from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13. This club is geared for kids from the first through sixth grades. All are welcome, including parents.