Greetings. This recipe for boneless pork is tasty without adding a lot of seasonings because the pancetta, sausage, and sauerkraut are already well-seasoned. The optional ingredients can be served as condiments in tiny dishes on the table for diners to help themselves as they wish. This will serve 2-3, and can easily be doubled. Roasted white and sweet potatoes go well with this dish.
Pork Loin Skillet Dinner
½ tablespoon olive oil
¼ lb. pancetta in ¼-inch dice (or bacon
in ½-inch pieces)
¼ lb. smoked pork sausage, sliced in ¼-inch rounds
¼ cup chicken stock or water
1 small onion, sliced thinly
1 medium apple, roughly chopped
1½ cups sauerkraut, well drained
3 boneless pork loin chops (approx. 1 lb.)
Optional serving ideas: crushed caraway seeds, mustard, horseradish
Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add pancetta and sausage. When pancetta and sausage begin to brown, add onion. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue to cook until onion softens a bit.
Stir in chicken stock, apple and sauerkraut. Cover and cook for a few minutes.
Push skillet contents to sides of pan, and add pork to pan. Cover chops with pan ingredients. Bring to a simmer.
Reduce heat to very low, and continue to cook for about 40 minutes.
Rx drug
take back
nets high
numbers
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
Northeastern Connecticut hit high numbers again at the Prescription Drug Take Back collection April 26.
Putnam Town Administrator Douglas M. Cutler said April 26 about 220 pounds were collected and 101 vehicles came through the Farmers Market in Putnam. Eight boxes, sealed, were taken to the Lisbon incinerator for disposal.
In the five years the event has been held, some 1,340 pounds of prescriptions had been turned in, according to Putnam PRIDE's Romeo Blackmar. According to Putnam Police's Deputy Chief, Leonel Konicki, some 200 pounds of that total came from the lock box in the foyer of the Putnam Police Department.
The collections began in 2010, he said. There was one in 2010, two in 2011, two in 2012, two in 2013 and there will be a second one this fall.
The local Putnam Elks lodge, along with mascot Elroy, were also at the collection, as part of the CT Elks Association Drug Awareness Program.
Cutler added that last spring there were 173 vehicles and more than 300 pounds of prescription drugs were collected.
caption:
Jordan Butler
By Ron P. Coderre
Growing up in the North End of Hartford just off Albany Ave. can create tough times for a young person. The everyday situations and temptations that growing up in that area present often lead individuals down the wrong path in life.
This is the story of a 19-year-old young man, who avoided the pitfalls that frequently lead to crime and its ramifications. Thanks to influences that started at a young age and fortunately followed Jordan Butler in life to the good place he enjoys today, he is on the brink of a college education and a possible career in basketball.
Jordan Butler is a 6-foot, 6-inch, 235-pound young man who was positively influenced in life by a caring loving family and an appreciation for education. He’s the third of four sons of Daisy and Carleton Butler. His mother works in the helping services assisting people to find work and his dad is a construction worker.
Daisy Butler is a deeply religious woman with strong values who appreciates education. Thanks to her guidance, Jordan had an opportunity to step out of the Albany Ave. area and attend Glastonbury High School where he starred as a football and basketball player and met a very good friend.
“My mother always stressed the value of a good education. She worked hard for us because she wanted us to have the opportunity for a good education. That’s the primary reason I went to Glastonbury High School. My mother was a big influence in my life,” said Butler.
Butler also attended Smith Middle School, where as a member of the basketball team he formed a friendship with a fellow student named Jalen Ollie. Also while in middle school as a member of the basketball team he enjoyed the luxury of acquiring some hoop knowledge from Kevin Ollie, the current head basketball coach of the National Champion UConn. At the time Ollie was a player in the NBA and when he’d come home he would help coach the middle school team.
“Jalen Ollie is my best friend. As kids we would work out at school with his dad. I learned so much from him as a kid,” said a humble Butler.
In high School Butler enjoyed success as an athlete, averaging 17 points per game for coach Jim Vaughn and playing in the State Tournament Final Four. But traveling back to Hartford’s North End every evening Butler needed to find a diversion for his spare time. A diversion that would help him as a person and assure that he’d remain out of the clutches of trouble.
“My home was very close to the Wilson-Gray YMCA on Albany Ave. After finishing my studies I’d go to the Wilson-Gray gym and shoot around and work out. My older brothers Jemal and Aaron always stressed the need to stay physically fit if I wanted to succeed,” said Butler.
At the YMCA Butler met a man named Dean Jones, who would also have a positive influence on his life. As a Y coach, Dean always selected Jordan to be on his basketball team. There were times when Dean even went so far as to purchase basketball shoes for young Butler and help him in other ways. He was also there with sound advice on how to live life for this young man from Albany Ave.
“Dean was more than a basketball coach to me. He was a person I came to respect and look up to. I could rely on him if I needed someone to talk to. To this day I go to Dean because he’s always there to help me,” said Butler.
Butler’s relationship with Jones and his presence at the YMCA are confirmed by Clinton Hamilton, executive director of the Wilson-Gray YMCA Youth and Family Center.
“Jordan is a great young man who has spent many hours at the Y. He’s a guy who is looked up to by the young people of the North End who frequent the Y. He’s an inspiration to others in many ways not only for his ability on the basketball court but for the role model he is,” Hamilton.
This year Butler’s travels brought him to Putnam Science Academy where he was an integral part of the Mustangs 29-5 team that reached the national Prep Championship semifinals. He averaged double digits in scoring and rebounding and was the guy who was a leader when things were going awry. At the conclusion of the season Butler was named the team’s Most Valuable Player an honor he also received in the Northeast Prep Tournament.
“Since the inception of our program I’ve never had a player who worked harder in practice and games than Jordan. Whenever we needed a key rebound or basket Jordan was there for us. His spirit often sparked not only the team but the entire student body,” said Putnam Science Academy coach Tom Espinosa.
Butler has also grown to respect coach Espinosa and attributes his success and growth as a player and student to his coach. “Coach Espo is a tough task master. Initially I questioned why he made us do some drills but as the season went on I began to understand his method. He makes us repeat drills until they become second nature. That’s why we were so successful this season,” said Butler.
In September Butler will take the next step in his career when he moves on to Norfolk State University where he’ll major in criminal justice and be a scholarship basketball player. From the North End of Hartford to Smith Middle School to Glastonbury High School to Putnam Science Academy and now on to Norfolk State, the journey of life continues for the young man tabbed “Man Mountain,” Jordan Butler.
My mom and dad, Coach Espo, Dean Jones and others in my life have always stressed, “Play hard. Work hard. Don’t back down from a challenge. Play with heart. And the rest will fall in place.”
Jordan Butler has cast a big shadow with his 6-6 frame wherever he has gone in life. Coming from a loving family he’s been able to succeed not only in basketball but in life. It’s likely that someday his path may take him back to his roots, where it is certain he’ll help someone else to succeed as he has.
..
Boys’ Baseball
Panthers,
Putnam riding success
wave early
By Ron P. Coderre
A full slate of more than 20 baseball games were played this week as teams continued regular schedule play while making up contests that were previously derailed because of weather.
The Plainfield Panthers continued perfect after seven games as they put together four victories last week. Putnam, which is also having one of its better seasons in years, was 3-0 on the week. One third of the way through the spring season all teams seem to be settling in as the weather cooperates following the April showers that generally bring May flowers.
Perfection
Plainfield rode the strong arms of its pitching staff in posting four victories over some legitimate competitors. The Panthers opened the week with a big 15-2 victory over archrival Griswold behind the tosses of Jordan Federer, who limited the Wolverines to four hits. Federer helped his cause with a pair of doubles, while Mike Esposito contributed a home run.
Stepping up in divisional play Plainfield took the measure of ECC Large Division Fitch 14-7. Winning pitcher Kyle Boardman was the beneficiary of a 16-hit Panther offensive attack. Esposito flexed his home run muscles once again connecting for a four-bagger. Esposito took the mound against Stonington and threw peas at the Bears, shutting them down 7-0 on a brilliant one-hitter. He helped his cause with a pair of doubles.
The Panthers (7-0 & 2-0 ECC Medium) closed the week with a 14-3 romp over Windham behind the solid pitching of Federer, who raised his record to 3-0, Esposito had two doubles, which accounted for three runs-batted-in. Garet Griffin had two hits including a home run as he drove home four runs in the win.
Putnam took three tech schools over the coals this week in rolling over Grasso Tech, Ellis Tech and Prince Tech. Three different hurlers picked up the victories with Tylor Genest beating Grasso, Josh Allard prevailing over Ellis Tech in nine innings and Nick Foucault beating Prince Tech.
Jacob Guertin with a triple was big offensive stick in the 13-5 win over Grasso. Freshman Zach Cutler with a triple and a pair of RBI’s helped Allard, who struck out five, to the 6-3 nine-inning win over Ellis Tech. The Clippers culminated a perfect week by beating Prince Tech 10-3 as Steve Dakai, Joe Hill and Allard all struck for doubles in the win. Putnam is 5-2 overall and 5-1 in the CSC East Division.
Killingly gave first year head coach Dave Austin his initial win as a Redman beating Norwich Tech 5-4 in 10 innings. Senior hurler Nick Hewitt was the winning pitcher, scattering nine Tech hits. The Redmen (2-4) continued their winning ways rolling over Tourtellotte 10-1 as Hewitt raised his record to 2-0. Tre Belanger had a triple for Killingly, which started the week by losing to East Lyme 9-3.
Tourtellotte was bombed by St. Bernard 20-5 before coming back with a 7-2 win over Wheeler. The Tigers (2-5 & 1-2 ECC Small) were led by Jake Silvia who homered and drove in three runs.
Woodstock posted a pair of victories in three games, opening with a shutout 7-0 win over Stonington behind the tosses of winning pitcher Will Bourgeois who struck out 11 Bears. Triples by Kolby Reggione and Trent Appleton paced the 11-hit Woodstock attack. In a high-scoring affair the Centaurs prevailed 10-9 over a good St. Bernard team as Reggione and Appleton once again provided the offense for winning pitcher Jordan Adams. Against ECC Large Division opponent Fitch, the 4-3 Centaurs didn’t fare so well losing 16-2 in a lopsided contest, which dropped them to 0-3 in the Large Division.
The surprising Ellis Tech Eagles had a pair of big wins sandwiched around their loss to Putnam. The Techsters dropped Windham Tech 13-4 behind Jared Carignan (1-1) who scatted nine WT hits. Conor Pion had a double and triple in the win. In another show of offense Ellis Tech destroyed Parish Hill 19-4 with Pion picking up the win for the 2-5 and 2-2 CSC East Division Eagles.
Marianapolis lost to Chase Collegiate 8-3 before bouncing back with a 15-2 win over Watkinson School raising its record to 2-2. Pomfret School behind winning hurler Andrew Aikins took a classic 3-2 win over Berkshire.