By Ron P. Coderre

“This was the biggest physical challenge of my life.’

Those were the words used by 68-year-old Philippa Paquette to the Putnam Rotary Club on Sept. 2 in describing her recent conquest of Mount Kilimanjaro.  

Paquette is a retired school psychologist in the Putnam School system and resident of Woodstock.  For those unfamiliar with the facts on Mount Kilimanjaro, it’s the tallest free standing mountain in the world and the highest mountain on the African continent.  At the peak it stands 19,340 feet tall and is in Tanzania, East Africa.  It is classified as a stratovolcano and although it is dormant it is not extinct.

The trek to the top of Kilimanjaro took six days, while the decent was done in two days.  Paquette was part of an 11-person team of individuals from around the world, all with a different reason for taking up this challenge.  The group was accompanied by guides and porters, who toted the gear for the hikers and set up the camps along the way.  According to Paquette, they also provided entertainment for the weary hikes each night by performing native songs and dances.

“Each day up the mountain was an achievement.  Although we were well equipped the guides and porters were tremendous in maintaining our spirit and resilience,” said Paquette.

Paquette is a tall lanky, physically fit woman who looks much younger than her years.  In fact, when the guides learned of her age they were in awe although they jokingly called her “grandma” in their native tongue.

In preparing for the venture Paquette put in many miles walking around northeastern Connecticut.   In a discussion with her daughter she was encouraged to put in some rugged workout to condition her legs, knees, body and mind.

“Part of my training routine was to load 25 pounds in a backpack, strap it to my back and do at least an hour of workout each day prior to my departure.  The workout was at the St. Marie/Greenhalgh Athletic Complex where I did stadium stairs,” said Paquette.

For those unfamiliar with stadium stairs, it’s a torturous exercise that college football coaches employ in getting their players in shape.  It entails running up and down the stairs for periods of time without stopping.  Paquette, with the 25-pound backpack, did this exercise every day for more than a month for one hour every day.

“Being prepared helped as we ascended the mountain and the air got thinner and thinner.  In order to maintain an adequate oxygen level the guide would encourage us, saying ‘You just have to breathe,’ words that are imbedded in my mind,” she said.

As the climbers got closer to the top, most including Paquette experienced altitude sickness, nausea, vomiting and exhaustion.  The nearer to the peak the temperatures became excruciatingly cold, dropping to the freezing level or below.  Despite the hardships, every member of the climbing party reached the top of Kilimanjaro, although some but not Paquette, required almost total assistance and oxygen.

The climb was planned so that the team would arrive to witness the sun rising, which Paquette describes as a “magical moment.”  The team was also able to observe the two glaciers on the mountain, which are predicted to lose their plateau ice in the next 30 to 40 years, although the slope glaciers are predicted to last much longer.

After experiencing her “magical moment” and coming back down to earth so to speak, Paquette described her journey by saying, “I made it!”

When asked if she would ever entertain the idea of returning for another climb up Kilimanjaro her answer was an emphatic, “No.”  She did not discount the fact that she plans on continuing climbing mountains but nothing of the magnitude and reputation of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The next time you’re climbing the stairs and stop to catch your breath at the top, think of Philippa Paquette and try to imagine how many flights of stairs she climbed in conquering Mount Kilimanjaro.  Then you can truly appreciate the feat accomplished by this courageous 68-year old retired woman.

 

 

Legal Notice

Town of Putnam

Zoning Board

of Appeals

The Town of Putnam Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a meeting on September 16, 2014, at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall located at 126 Church Street, Putnam. CT.  A public hearing will be held on the following:

Appeal # 2014-002:  Aleksey Maryanov — Request for a variance from the Town of Putnam Zoning Regulations, Section 730 “Schedule of Dimensional Regulations” for the reduction in side yard requirements from 20 – 5’ and reduction in front yard requirements from 25’ – 8’ for a proposed 22’ X 44’ addition.  Property located at 72 Woodstock Avenue West, Town Assessor’s Map 001, Lot 007. Zoned R-10.  

 

Joseph Nash, 

Chairman

 

Sept. 11, 2014

 

Legal Notice

Town of Putnam

Zoning Commission

The Town of Putnam Zoning Commission will hold a meeting on September 17, 2014, at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall located at 126 Church Street, Putnam, CT.  A public hearing will be held on the following:

 

Docket # 2014-06: Green Valley Crossing, Inc. – Riley Prather, Pastor — Request for a Special Permit with associated waivers for the location of a gathering space and principal offices in order to facilitate worship services, educational groups, community events and other services within a normal scope as a church.  Property located at 95 Front Street, Town Assessor’s Map 15, Lot 30. Zoned General Commercial District (GC).

 

Patricia Hedenberg,

Chairperson.

 

Sept. 11, 2014

 

 

Graduates

WORCESTER --- The following residents were part of Becker College’s Class of 2014, which graduated during the college’s 226th commencement ceremony, held on Saturday, May 10, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester. Three hundred and fifty four candidates were awarded bachelor of science, bachelor of arts, and associate of science degrees. Becker alumnus Len Gengel, Class of 1984, delivered the keynote address.

Ashley Bernier, of Danielson, graduated with a BS in Criminal Justice.

Jesse Clark, of Thompson, graduated with a BA in Interactive Media Design.

Jeffrey Labby, of North Grosvenordale, graduated with a BS in Exercise Science.

Nicole A. Marrier, of North Grosvenordale, graduated with a AS in Nursing.

Frederick S. Nagle Jr., of Pomfret Center, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Business Administration.

Angela Dias Silva, of Glocester, graduated with a BS in Veterinary Science.

Laura Elizabeth Tedford, of Danielson, graduated with a AS in Veterinary Science.

Kyla M. Tucker, of Putnam, graduated with a AS in Nursing.

 

On list

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. --- The following students have been named to the President’s List at Western New England for the spring semester of 2014. Students are named to the President’s List for achieving a semester grade point average of 3.80 or higher.

Michael Belinski of Quinebaug

Jared Oleksiak of Woodstock

Lyndsey St. Jean of Pascoag

 

Honored

ITHACA, N.Y. --- Ithaca College congratulates students named to Dean’s List for the spring 2014 semester.

Sangita Burke of Pomfret Center was named to Dean’s List in Ithaca College’s School of Health Sciences and Human Performance for the spring 2014 semester.

Jacob Walsh of Chepachet was named to Dean’s List in Ithaca College’s School of Music for the spring 2014 semester.

 

Graduates

KINGSTON, R.I. --- Several local students received graduate degrees at the University of Rhode Island Commencement Ceremonies May 17, 2014: 

Richard Cicchetti of Danielson, CT, received a Master of Business Administration

Steven Prochet of Chepachet, RI, received a Master of Library and Information Studies

Gregory Ahnrud of Chepachet, RI, received a Master of Public Administration

Daniel Desautel of Chepachet, RI, received a Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Kenneth Buteau III of Chepachet, RI, received a Master of Science, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Lisa Jacavone of Chepachet, RI, received a Master of Science, Nursing

 

On dean's list

BRISTOL, R.I. --- Sarah Gilloran, a resident of Pomfret Center, CT, has been named to the Spring 2014 Dean’s List at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. Sarah is a Architecture major. Full-time students who complete 12 or more credits per semester and earn a GPA of 3.4 or higher are placed on the Dean’s List that semester.

 

Honored

WORCESTER --- Recognizing outstanding student academic achievement, Assumption College has named 545 students to the undergraduate Dean’s List for the spring 2014 semester.

To earn a spot on the Dean’s List, Assumption students must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 for a five-class, 15-credit semester. The Dean’s List is announced twice every academic year, once at the completion of the fall semester, and again at the completion of the spring semester.

Assumption College posts the complete list of all students named to the Dean’s List to the College website and shares news of this honor with students’ local newspapers. Students also receive a congratulatory letter from Eloise R. Knowlton, Ph.D., dean of undergraduate studies, and are eligible for a free sixth course the following semester.

The following students were named to the spring 2014 Dean’s List:

Rachael Hickey, of Woodstock, class of 2016

Caroline Kenney, of Woodstock, class of 2016

Lauren Bretanha, of Chepachet, RI, class of 2017

 

On dean's list

BEVERLY, Mass. --- One local students was named to the dean's list for the spring semester at Endicott College: 

Kristina Johnson is the daughter of Marcus Johnson of Woodstock and Deborah Johnson of Putnam. Kristina is a Senior majoring in Criminal Justice.

 

 

Graduates

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. --- The following students received degrees from Western New England University on May 17, 2014:

Neil Chatterjee of Woodstock

Jessica Coderre of North Grosvenordale

 

On dean's list

EAST HARTFORD --- Goodwin College announces that 864 students achieved Dean’s List status for the Spring 2014 session.

Andrew Bove of Pomfret

Christian Toth of Woodstock