Then
This is St. Mary of the Visitation in Putnam around 1900. Putnam file photo.

& Now
Last week John K. Leecock Church Renovation of Palmer, Mass., stabilized and re-secured the cross atop the St. Mary steeple. John Leecock said he believes that the cross was struck by lightning at some time, causing it to lean. The two steeple workers were Frank Allard and Joe Zollner. Photo and coverage courtesy of Paul Aldrich.

Work
begins
on water
pipe rehab
PUTNAM — The Town of Putnam Water Pollution Control Authority will begin field work for the Pipe Relining and Replacement project for its water distribution system.  Initially, surveying, wetland flagging and soil boring work will start in June in the Mechanic Street and Thompson Avenue area.  The remainder of the service area will be surveyed during the spring and the summer months.  All personnel will be from private companies and will have road vests and identification.  Individuals having questions should call Public Works Director Jerry Beausoleil at 860 963-6819.
The initial phase of the project calls from replacing or relining approximately 32,000 linear feet of water pipe that is currently 100 years old or older.  These water pipes currently have reduced flow capacities, reduced pressures, a history of breaks, lengthy flushing schedules or more frequent water quality complaints.  
Beausoleil said  the relining project should begin in the fall of 2013 and continue in the 2014 construction season when the pipe replacement project is scheduled to start.  Interruptions in water service will occur once the relining and replacement project begins but will be kept to a minimum.  Areas affected by the relining and/or replacement of pipes will be notified in advance of the construction.  
The $7 million pricetag is  funded with a grant and loan by the State of Connecticut Department of Health.  Repayment of the loans was included in the water rate increase approved by Town meeting in March of 2012.

Almquist
to jump for
UConn
Huskies
By Ron P. Coderre
WOODSTOCK — Woodstock Academy senior Jake Almquist, a member of the Centaurs track team and the 2013 State Class L boys basketball championship squad, signed a letter of intent May 29 to attend UConn in Storrs.  Almquist, who will compete for the Huskies track team, is noted for his high jump skills.  He also competes in the pole vault, javelin and hurdles.
This spring Almquist has been a mainstay of Academy coach Len Samborowski’s boys track team.  During the team’s grueling schedule, Almquist finished first in the high jump in every dual meet.  He also garnered a number of first-place finishes in invitational meets, including The Panther Invitational in Plainfield, Bloomfield Invitational and the Ledyard Relays.  He was a Gold Medal recipient at the Eastern Connecticut Conference Championships at Montville High School, where he set a Championship Meet record with a jump of 6 feet, 9 inches.
Almquist also had three second-place finishes this season.  He was runner-up at the Greater Hartford Invitational and the Irv Black Meet, where he cleared 6 feet, 10 inches. That jump was his personal best record and ½ inch shy of the Woodstock Academy record held by Joe Patrone.  The future UConn Husky also had a second-place finish in the javelin at the Ledyard Relays and a fifth in the javelin at the Irv Black Meet.
The highlight of Almquist’s season occurred during a meet against New London where he took four first-place finishes in the high jump, pole vault, javelin and 300-meter hurdles.  His winning effort produced 20 points for the Centaurs a feat that is practically unheard of in high school since athletes are only allowed to compete in four events in a single meet.
Over the winter, Almquist was a valuable member of the Woodstock Academy basketball team on its road to the Class L Championship.  He played a role as a key substitute off the bench for coach Greg Smith, where he contributed key rebounds and baskets off the rebound in a number of the team’s big wins.    

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