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88 Main
The facade of 88 Main is finished and now the work begins to find a tenant. Linda Lemmon photo.
Next
chapter:
Filling 88
Main with
hospitality
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- With the facade 99 percent finished, 88 Main now adorns the town's center. And now the owner is turning his attention to filling the gem with high-end hospitality.
Bruce Dexter II said he's been working diligently trying to find the right tenant for inside the now-spectacular building. The facade is finished and the supports inside are done. Dexter said he's been "inundated" with interest for tenants. He said he favors leasing the building to a high-end corporation that would fill the building with hospitality such as hotel rooms, restaurants and more.
"We're talking very high end," Dexter said. He's currently in discussions with hospitality corporations. He said the tenant may wish to build out the shell themselves; however, he does have a team assembled to do a customized buildout including B.W. Dexter Inc., Rose Construction (which did the facade project) and Kevin Tubridy, New England Design, Inc., who designed 88 Main facade.
Dexter added that if the negotiations go well, the "fit out" could be accomplished in eight months to a year. It would not take much time, he said, because there is no site work, no skin on the building to deal with. "It's all there" to customize, he said.
Dexter said that the facade is 99 percent done. The electrical panels recently were installed and all that remains is the installation of the real front doors, in place of the plain white "stand-in" doors.
Dexter Properties LLC purchased the building in October 2009. Dexter had said at that time he wants to put in a restaurant, retail space and, on the top two floors, a boutique hotel.
A state Urban Action grant of $400,000 was used for civil and structural engineering for the project and for demolition, shoring, and facade work.
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'Tragic Love'
The Empty Spaces Project artist reception for the Tragic Love exhibit was a success. The reception included the artists, music and a special guest. Courtesy photo.
The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 963-0000.
Feb. 3
Sean Holmes, 29, Farrow Street, Putnam; evading responsibility, stop sign violation.
Feb. 5
Wayne Richard, 60, South Main Street, Putnam; creating a public disturbance.
Nelson Cardon, 19, Grove Street, Putnam; violation of a restraining order, disorderly conduct, reckless burning.
Feb. 6
Jeremy Lance, 33, Mill Street, Putnam; violation of a protective order, first-degree criminal trespass.
Feb. 7
Heather Sweeney, 27, South Main Street, Putnam; operating under the influence, operating under suspension, failure to have lights lit.
Henry Tyus, 32, Commerce Avenue, Danielson; second-degree failure to appear.
Feb. 9
Michael Atren, 53, Beaumont Highway, Lebanon; operating under the influence, disobeying signals of an officer, failure to drive right.
By Ron P. Coderre
Attending a prep school as a post graduate student can often leave an athlete with some unanswered questions.
Should I have taken an offer to college immediately after high school? Is a year of prep school really going to make a difference in what college I attend? Am I wasting a year of my life, when I should have moved on immediately after high school?
These and other questions are what a student/athlete and their family ponder as they go through the process of making the decision that may eventually affect them for their lifetime. In the case of three area student/athletes it appears that taking on the extra year of studies as a postgraduate and the grind of practice and games has turned out favorably.
Recently Putnam Science Academy’s Anthony “Bull” Durham and Hyde-Woodstock’s Kenny Grant and Kyle Jordan made public their decisions on where their academic and athletic lives will take them next year.
Durham Headed to Rider University
Anthony Durham, a native of Arlington, Penn., had hoped to hook on with a Division I program last year after his senior year when he led the Galloping Ghosts to the District I semifinals in the PIAA Class AAAA state tournament. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the college offers didn’t materialize, leading the 6-foot, 3-inch combo guard to make a tough decision and come to Putnam Science Academy five hours from his Pennsylvania home.
“To get another shot at getting a Division I scholarship, now I feel like I accomplished that goal. I’ve been working real hard up there (at PSA), it’s taught me a lot about being humble and being hungry,” Durham told City of Basketball Love (CoBL).
This season Durham has been part of one of the best, if not the best team to ever take to the hardwood on the Maple St. Campus. The Mustangs are 20-2 and currently ranked #2 in the country in the prep standings. Durham is leading the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game, is first on the team in steals and second in rebounding and assists. He’s been coveted by a number of Division I programs recently before settling on Rider University.
PSA coach Tom Espinosa said Rider, under second-year head coach Kevin Baggett, plays the style of game that is suited to Durham. The Broncs like to run the ball and allow their guards to freelance. On defense they stress man-to-man. Rider is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and are currently 12-9 overall as Baggett appears to have the program headed in the right direction.
Hyde’s Grant to Team with Durham at Rider
At Rider, Durham will have a familiar face on the team, as Hyde-Woodstock standout Kenny Grant announced in November that he had accepted a full scholarship to play with the Broncs.
Grant, who comes from Orange, N.J., has been the 9-9 Wolfpack’s leading scorer this season. The 6-6 forward is an explosive player who can be a dynamic scorer when he turns it on. Through the first 14 games of the season with Hyde-Woodstock he’s averaging 19.4 points a contest. He recently led the team to victory with a 40 point performance. Grant and Durham, along with Josh Williams of St. Thomas More will be stepping into a favorable situation at Rider. The Broncs will graduate two of their most prolific scorers Anthony Myles and Daniel Stewart in the spring, leaving room for Durham and Grant to have a shot at considerable playing time.
Wolfpack’s Jordan to be a Blue Devil Gridder
The college football scene was a madhouse last week as Feb. 5 was National Letter of Intent Day, the day high school and prep players announced their college choices. Kyle Jordan a 6-foot, 220 pound running back who last season played for coach Sean Saucier at Hyde-Woodstock, announced that he had accepted a full scholarship to Division I Central Connecticut State University.
The CCSU Blue Devils recently brought on former Division II University of New Haven coach Pete Rossomando as the new head man for the New Britain based football program.
While at New Haven, Rossomando was hot on the trail of the speedy Jordan who comes from Norwalk, hoping to land him in a Chargers uniform. It appears that coach Rossomando got what he wished for but only on a different campus. His move to CCSU appears to be good not only for that school but for Jordan, who will now enjoy a four year stint as a Division I football player.
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