Clean-up beats
the rain drops
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — By the time the rains came in the trash had already come — and gone.
Putnam’s annual Beautification Day April 29 saw more than 20 teams plow through the streets of Putnam ahead of torrential rains. Before the first drops fell, the town had collected all the bags of trash and taken them to dumpsters at the town garage.
The day, sponsored by the Putnam Business Association and the Town of Putnam, with support from The Last Green Valley, saw more volunteers than last year, according to coordinator Karen Osbrey. It’s been a tradition for more than 14 years.
Osbrey said the new “problem trash item” is vaping products. Nips are also a long-standing mega trash problem.
Putnam’s Economic Development Director Carly DeLuca said close to 200 people took part. They all met at Rotary Park and then teams were sent to specific areas. The town stationed dump trucks all around town to collect the trash bags.
Thomas Borner, president of the PBA, was happy to see young people taking part in Beautification Day. “We like to encourage young people to do this. When they’re older, they’ll be less inclined to toss away stuff.”
DeLuca said Day Kimball Healthcare had the largest team. Other teams included: Kazantzis Real Estate, Honor Movers, bankHometown, Natchaug Young Marines, Arc Eastern Connecticut, Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club, Putnam Rotary Club, Pall Corp, CR Premier, Putnam Lions & Leos, Centreville Bank, JCF, Kristen Kaskela, Sheila Frost and Josh Whelan, Democratic Town Committee, Northeast Floor & Kitchen, Rawson, NorthStar, Foster, Boy Scouts, Act II Ministries, Putnam Science Academy Soccer, PHS Track Team, PHS Girls’ Softball.
DeLuca prefaced the trophy awards with some comments. “We are giving back to Mother Earth, so pat yourselves on the back.”
The Most Unusual trophy went to Act II Ministries who, DeLuca said, “Not only found a scooter, they found Jesus – in the form of a picture.”
The Most Spirited Award went to Foster Corporation which cleaned up around the Industrial Park.
The Most Spirited Individual trophy went to Josh Whelan. Whelan moved to Putnam last year and has embraced service to the town. Because he has a military background, he said he “goes above and beyond.” “I saw a bunch of cigarette butts at an intersection and said to myself ‘I gotta do something about this.’”

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