GROTON — Todd A. Gestrich, a financial adviser with Charter Oak Retirement and Investment Services, has received a Fast Start Award from CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. for his strong production and sales achievements.
“We commend Todd for his outstanding performance as a new financial advisor with Charter Oak Retirement and Investment Services,” said Jack Crawford, sales manager-asset accumulation with CUNA Brokerage Services. Crawford said the Fast Start Award recognizes Gestrich’s strong commitment to the financial well-being of Charter Oak Federal Credit Union’s members and to the strong partnership between Charter Oak and CUNA Brokerage Services.
Gestrich joined Charter Oak Retirement and Investment Services in March 2013 and has more than a decade of experience as a financial-services representative. He is located at Charter Oak’s Waterford branch at 3 Boston Post Road. Charter Oak also has branches in Dayville and Putnam, among others.

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Recently Opened
The county's first crematorium recently opened in the Putnam Industrial Park. Park Tribute Center was opened by Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes. Courtesy photo.



PUTNAM — The Park Tribute Center, the first and only crematorium in Windham County, is now open.
Bob Fournier, funeral director and owner of the Gilman Funeral Home in Putnam and the Valade Funeral Home in North Grosvenordale, recently announced the opening. Park Tribute Center is a state-of-the-art facility designed to provide complete funeral care to families who choose cremation. The new facility is at 25 Highland Drive in the Putnam Industrial Park.
An Open House will be held at the Park Tribute Center from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday,  November 17.  All are welcome to tour the facility, and the staff of Gilman and Valade Funeral Home will be on hand to answer all funeral and cremation-related questions.
Fournier said, “Now families will be offered the peace of mind that their loved one never leaves the care of the funeral home staff.  Located right in Putnam, the Park Tribute Center is also available to families for gathering and viewing services.”
He added, “As more people are selecting cremation, I felt strongly that our company should make this an integral part of our services, with the peace of mind one’s family member never leaves our care. And because cremation frequently follows the funeral, people now have the option of accompanying their family member to our comfortable ceremonial Tribute Center in a similar manner if concluding services at a cemetery.”
Founded in 1919, Gilman Funeral Home has helped guide families in Northeast Connecticut through a difficult time with gentleness, compassion and respect.  Since 2005, Bob Fournier and his staff have continued this tradition by introducing new services and contemporary options responding to the wider preferences and needs of the community while giving survivors the opportunity to mourn their loss amongst family and friends, and to begin the healing process.  

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Third Place
Members of the Putnam Rotary Club took third place in the Rotaract's fund-raising Trivia Contest. Courtesy photo.




DANIELSON — The Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club raised more than $3,700 for college scholarships to local students at its First Annual Rotaract Trivia Night.
Team #Hashtags# took the title of Trivia Royalty, winning the competition with 4,350 points. Second place was awarded to Putnam Bank with 2,150 points and third place went to Putnam Rotary with 1,350 points.
Also assisting in the competition were Trivia Jockey Gary Osbrey  and Judge Karen Osbrey, both co-owners of WINY Radio 1350 AM in Putnam, Timekeeper Bob Chenail of the Danielson Rotary Club and Scorekeeper Paul Pikora, Past President of the Putnam Rotary Club.
“The Rotaract Club was overwhelmed with happiness by the community support of our event,” said Rotaract Club President Crystal DiZazzo, who is also Financial Coordinator at The Arc Quinebaug Valley. “We are already working with local schools to create the scholarship application and help make local college students’ dreams come true.”
The event was sponsored by The Citizens National Bank and the competition was led by David Conrad, President and CEO of the Putnam-based bank.
The Trivia competition featured fierce competition from 11 teams: The Citizens National Bank, Danielson Rotary Club, Putnam Rotary Club, Archambault Insurance, The Arc Quinebaug Valley, Gerardi Insurance, Putnam Bank, Jewett City Savings Bank, Sherwin Williams stores in Putnam and Danielson, the Quinebaug Valley Community College Foundation and team #Hashtags#, which was led by Thompson residents Earl and Kimberly Rosebrooks.
The competition was modeled after and included questions from the game series Trivial Pursuit and featured six categories: People & Places, Arts & Literature, Entertainment, Science & Nature, History and Sports & Leisure.
In the first four rounds, Conrad posed two questions from each category per round. The first team to raise their flag was given the opportunity to answer, and was awarded points for correct answers and subtracted for wrong answers.
The fifth round saw teams determine their own point wager at the start of the category, and then submit a written answer to the question. Only one question was asked per category in the final round. Conrad, who is a self-described trivia enthusiast, created the fifth round questions.
“I was truly happy to assist the Rotaract Club in their first ever Trivia Night Gala, and was very honored to be asked to be the ‘Trivia Master,’” Conrad said.
“For those who know me, I have a great store of useless information and what a great venue to FINALLY put this knowledge to work in support of this great cause. Hats off to the members of the Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club for putting on such a successful event, and I look forward to next year.”
The Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club is a service organization for young professionals (ages 18 to 35) sponsored by the Putnam and Danielson Rotary Clubs.
The club is in its second year and is committed to the Rotary model of “Service Above Self.”
The club has 12 members, and is led by DiZazzo, Vice President Emily Groves, who is Development Assistant at The Arc Quinebaug Valley, Treasurer Jade Flynn, Accountant for The Arc Quinebaug Valley, Sarah Mortensen, Advertising Executive at Villager Newspapers and Past President Jake Dykeman, Parts Manager at Putnam Ford. Fundraising Committee Chairman and organizer of the event is Mallory Murray, Director of Education at The Arc Quinebaug Valley.
For more information on the club or to get involved, visit us on Facebook.
New members are welcome! The club meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. at J.D. Coopers Restaurant in Putnam.