caption:
Winners
Team Pratt won the Corporate Division of the annual Putnam Lions’ Volleyball Challenge fund-raiser. Photo courtesy of Lion Doug King.
The recent Putnam Lions’ Volleyball Challenge is a wrap and more than $18,000 was raised. All of these funds will be given back to the community during the Putnam Lion’s annual Night of Giving to be held in April.
The tournament runs over two days with the first day devoted to competitive teams and the second day to corporate sponsored teams who vie for the PLVC Traveling Trophy.
The following competitive teams played Saturday: Byrnes Agency, SPIROL Spikers, Down & Dirty, G-Forum, Serves Up, Irish Curse, Random Joes, Team York, CNB Eagles, Team Flash, and the Pain Train.
The winning team of Saturday’s A division was Team G-Forum, the B division winning team was Byrnes Agency Team.
Sunday’s Corporate sponsor team day was comprised of teams from Archambault Insurance, Gerardi Insurance, Day Kimball Hospital, Kenyon Industries, Frito-Lay, Putnam High School, Putnam Bank and Riverbend Campgrounds.
The winning team for the traveling trophy was Team Pratt of Putnam High School. Made up of Putnam High School staff members, the team was named in memory of Deb Pratt who provided constant inspiration to all. The trophy will be engraved with their name and travel to Putnam High School for display until the next tournament.
Sponsors include: Diamond Level Sponsors were Kars of Putnam, LLC, Wheelabrator Putnam Landfill and Day Kimball Hospital.
Gold corporate sponsors were Gerardi Insurance, Advantage Home Medical, Nextgen Security and Hallisey & D’Agostino LLP.
Silver corporate sponsors included Archambault Insurance Associates, SAS Construction, Brown Jacobson PC, Byrnes Insurance Agency, Core Plus Federal Credit Union, King Cadillac & GMC, National Chromium, Putnam Bank, Putnam Ford & Mercury, Rawson Manufacturing, Smith & Walker Funeral Home, SPIROL International Corp, Riverbend Campground, Citizens National Bank, Brookward Company, Thompson Speedway Motor Sports, Riverview Medical, Charter Oak Federal Credit Union, and Woodstock Building Associates.
Bronze Corporate sponsors were Gilman & Valade Funeral & Cremation Services, Hometown T& S Energy, Sunnyside Farms, Copeland Builders, Woodstock Line, Lighthouse Print Works, Linemaster Switch, Pomfret Lions, Friendly Spirits, Racine & Sons Excavating, Rawson Materials, Westmark Corp, The Inn at Woodstock Hill, Ivanhoe Tool & Die, Kingsbury Septic, The Shop Hair Saloon, Premier Chevrolet, REMAX Bell Park Realty, Brookward Laminating, and Stephen Solomon DMD.
Legal Notice
Town of Putnam
WPCA
Water/Sewer
Collections
The April 2015 billing of water and / or sewer collections for the Town of Putnam WPCA is due and payable on May 1, 2015.
Payments made after May 1, 2015 will be subject to an Interest charge of 3% (1.5% per month) or $2.00 minimum whichever is higher, according to Connecticut State Statute Sec.
12-146.
Mail must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2015, to avoid interest charges.
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED
Friday, April 3, 2015, for Good Friday.
March 26, 2015
April 2, 2015
April 23, 2015
By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC column is dedicated to Dr. Robert E. Miller, the former and first president of Quinebaug Valley Community College. Always the consummate professional, Dr. Miller is an ardent sports fan. Today, he and his lovely wife Sylvia are enjoying family and down time in retirement.
Following eight glorious days in Aruba, where the sun shines brightly from early morn until the beautiful sunsets of the evening, it was difficult to make the initial return to the reality of northeastern Connecticut in March. From the sparkling white beaches and crystal clear ocean waters to the never ending white snows of Putnam, white is the only commonality between the two locations. In shorts and bathing attire in 80-plus degree temperatures to rushing from the terminal to the automobile in 20 degree windy weather can certainly make one long for and desire to return to Aruba.
Promoted as “One Happy Island,” the marketing people who developed the theme for Aruba couldn’t have been more on target. Sitting pretty in the Caribbean, Aruba quickly makes one forget about the snow, wind and chilly temperatures of home.
Mitch Albom, the noted sports writer and author, has written a number of intriguing books one that is titled “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.” Although Putnam was only a distant thought, while vacationing in Aruba, here’s my version of “The Seven People You Meet in Aruba.”
While at breakfast the first day on the island we ran into an individual who resembled Putnam Police Chief Rich Hayes. Spotting the gentleman on the beach he even sported the Chief’s signature cigar. If that wasn’t enough, a few days later we ran into a gentleman at lunch who easily could have been a clone of former Putnam Police Chief Ed Perron. Maybe Aruba is where police chiefs go to get away?
Speaking of clones at dinner we watched a gentleman speaking to his friends who easily could have been Putnam Atty. Nick Longo. From the physical resemblances to his mannerisms we thought we were at Main St. Grille observing Longo with friends.
And then there was Scott Pempek. The resemblance was striking including Pempek’s ever-present smile or grin. One morning while on our daily 5-mile walk the resort shuttle whizzed by being driven by someone who could have passed as Kevin DeRoth, the affable clerk at Cumberland Farms in Putnam.
Finally, the guy jogging on the beach could have been Phil Durand, while the gentleman we sat next to at the bar we swore was Bill Morrone.
All these resemblances prove one thing, no matter how far you travel from Putnam, you always meet someone you know. That proved equally true with our two favorite Aruban persons serving libations, Curtis Thomson and Robertico Kelly. Their friendly smiles and demeanors certainly made strangers feel welcome and part of the great family that is Aruba.
Things Missed While Sunning
on the Beach
Of course, being an individual who enjoys sports and the success of local teams, we missed some events while we were away that certainly deserve recognition.
Congratulations to the Pomfret Lady Griffins who emerged as the NEPSAC Class B champions with their 65-45 upset victory over #1 seed Tilton Academy.
Two teams that didn’t quite achieve the goals they were shooting for but did the area proud were the Putnam Science Academy Basketball Mustangs and the Woodstock Academy gymnastics team.
The Mustangs were beaten in the play-in round of the National Prep Championship 81-73 by Hargrave Military Academy. Coach Tom Espinosa and his layers deserve recognition for a great season and making the Putnam community proud.
The Woodstock Academy gymnasts came within an eyelash of bringing home a New England Championship. Congratulations to coach Robin Deary-Fillmore and her gritty group of gymnasts for once again making everyone in our area proud of their accomplishments. RPC extends a warm debt of gratitude to Deary-Fillmore as she retires from coaching. You’ve developed many gymnasts, not only as athletes but also as people of character.
And a tip of the sports fedora to gymnast Paige Stuyniski, who captured the individual all-around honors at the New England championships.
Young Men on the Rise
Former Tourtellotte Memorial High School athletic standout Drew Faucher is establishing himself on the baseball diamond in Avon. Faucher, who graduated from Tourtellotte in 2009 and received his bachelor’s (2013) and master’s (2014) from UConn, recently assumed a position as an assistant coach with the Avon American Legion Baseball Program.
Faucher, who is currently a 6th grade teacher at Westwood Upper Elementary School in Farmington, is a former Tourtellotte and TriTown Amercian Legion star on the diamond. Faucher, who lives in West Hartford, is the son of Paul and Carla Faucher of Thompson.
Word recently received at the Putnam Town Crier sports desk is that former Pomfret School baseball star Dan Gagnon is having a great spring with Lasell College of Newton, Mass. Gagnon was just named the GNAC “player of the week” for his performance with Lasell while on a southern trip in Fort Meyers, Fla.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: It’s fun to go on vacation. But it’s always great to come home.
(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
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Rotary All Stars
At last week’s Ray Brousseau Putnam Rotary Club Senior All Star Shootout, Adam Converse goes for the shot with Ryan Fletcher defending. In the background are Nate Tozzi and Alex Torcoletti and center, Michael Elsey. Courtesy photo.
By Ron P. Coderre
During its more than 60 years of hosting boys’ and girls’ basketball games, the storied Putnam High School gymnasium has been the home to many great players and hotly contested games. With a new gymnasium expected to be constructed for the start of the 2015-2016 hoop season, the place that’s been referred to as “the best place to play a game” will be going into the history books permanently.
As has been customary for more than 20 years, the final games of each basketball season have been the Ray Brousseau Putnam Rotary Club Senior All Star Shootouts. These contests annually feature male and female hoopsters from the northeastern Connecticut who are concluding their high school basketball careers.
The brainchild of the Putnam Rotary Club, these games were named initially in honor of a long term and loyal Rotarian Raymond Brousseau. During his lifetime, Mr. Brousseau, who was always a staunch supporter of youth sports, enjoyed assisting the Putnam Rotary Club with these contests.
Brousseau, who was the owner of the former Church Clothing Co. in Putnam, served the local Rotary Club as its president in 1941 and was awarded a Paul Harris Award for his dedication to the mission of Rotary, which is “Service Above Self.”
In what will go into the history books as a tribute to Brousseau and to the grand old gym, the Rotary boys’ and girls’ games this season were probably the closest and most competitive in the spirited history of the competition.
The players, coaches, Rotarians and the enthusiastic gathering of fans on hand for the two games will always have the memories of these games, the gym and those individuals who were a part of the evening for years to come. As they sit around the fireside or in their favorite haunts in the future these games are certain to surface and be embellished as the stories are told and re-told in posterity.
Archambault Insurance Pulls Out Last Second Win
Woodstock Academy senior Abby Willis hit a shot from beyond the arc with less than a minute remaining in the girls’ game to lift the Archambault Insurance squad coached by Willie Bousquet to a come-from-behind 39-38 victory over Benpe Consulting of Putnam. Bousquet, who coached Willis during the regular season, was all smiles following the contest.
“Abby was one of my most competitive players all season. As the season moved on she developed her entire game including her outside shooting. I’m happy for her how this game ended,” said Bousquet.
The contest, which was close throughout, saw Archambault Ins. go off at intermission in the lead 19-14. A strong third stanza by the determined Benpe team, in which they outscored their opponents 15-7, helped them take a 29-26 lead entering the final eight minutes of play.
Led by Willis, who had 10 points in the game, and her Academy teammate Becky Messier who had a team-high 14 points, the Archie’s prevailed.
Benpe, which was coached by Tourtellotte mentor Carla Faucher, stayed in the game thanks to the hot outside shooting of Tourtellotte’s Allie Ablondi, who was the team’s high-point producer with 14 points. Four of her baskets came from beyond the three-point arc. Ablondi’s Tourtellotte teammate, Deanna Lazzara chipped in a dozen and Killingly’s Drew Johndrow added nine.
Willis was selected as the Most Valuable Player for the Archambault entry, while Ablondi was named MVP of the Benpe squad.
WINY captures high-scoring boys’ contest
Killingly High School’s Owen Guillot saved his hot shooting for the fourth quarter of the boys’ contest as his two three-pointers and twisting layup helped sustain the WINY team, coached by Woodstock Academy mentor Greg Smith to a close 82-74 victory over a feisty Putnam Bank team.
Guillot, who was a mainstay of the Redmen team all season, nailed his two bombs from beyond the arc, when the team needed it most. Leading 62-52 after three quarters of play WINY withstood a terrific fourth quarter surge by the Bankers that fell just short.
The winning Radiomen, who led 37-31 at halftime, placed five players in double figures. Guillot, who was named his team’s Most Valuable Player, led three players with 13 points, as he, Putnam’s Nate Lowell and Nick Harrington of Parish Hill all had a baker’s dozen for the winners. Ryan Fletcher of Ellis Tech contributed 12 points and Putnam Clipper Shawn Audet added 11.
Plainfield’s Steve Jankowski, the Putnam Bank MVP led his squad with 11 points, followed by Adam Converse with 10. Killingly’s Michael Elsey was the team-high scorer with a dozen. Three players on the losing team, Dan Lowell and Matt Harmon of Putnam and Ryan Finnigan of Parish Hill, all finished with nine points. Putnam Bank was coached by Shawn Deary of the Putnam Clippers.
Game Shorts: Both games were aired live on WINY Radio 1350 with John Wilbur providing the play-by-play and Scott Desrosiers adeptly handling the color commentary…Both games were officiated gratis by Eastern Board 8 officials. Bill Bartholic served as the referee of the three-man crew. He was teamed with Steve Martel and Zach Putnam…Becky Messier of Woodstock was chosen the WINY game MVP in the lid lifter, while Nate Lowell garnered the radio MVP honor in the nightcap…The Lowell twins, Nate and Dan, teammates in Putnam during the regular season, were pitted against each other in the boys’ game. Nate had 13 points, while Dan was able to score nine…Putnam Rotary Club President Rande Chmura presented all players with a commemorative as well as presenting the MVP awards following each contest…Putnam tenor Maurice “Moe” Coderre presented a stirring rendition of the National Anthem prior to each contest…Cody Rumrill was the official scorer…The awards presented to each player were sponsored by the Byrnes Agency and Rotarian Jay Byrnes…The halftime shootout, handled by Rotarians Jay Wade and Doug Valentine, was sponsored by The Citizens National Bank…Spotted in the crowd was former Ansonia High School and ex-collegiate football player Roger Ings, who now lives in Canterbury.