caption, page 8:
Gathering to Honor Departed
Last week, the Quiet Corner Garden Club, friends, and town officials dedicated the Providence Street Municipal Garden to those gardeners who have passed. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.
Gardeners
honored
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — “In every season may this garden welcome neighbors and friends, drawing us in, in kindness and gratitude” said Quiet Corner Garden Club President Elaine Turner as the club and town dedicated the Providence Street Municipal Garden, in memoriam for passed club members.
For a long while the garden club took in donations for passed club members and they had nowhere to plant those memorial plants/trees.
“We’d had conversations for four years,” she said. She decided that she’d be the club president who got things done.
She said they wanted to make the wish come true – for a memorial garden honoring club members who had passed.
A committee of 10 got to work on it and Turner spoke with former Economic Development Director Delpha Very. Turner told Very the club would like to redo the “neglected” garden on Providence Street, at the town parking lot there.
Very’s response? “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear that.”
With town money and some town labor and lots of club labor, plants were chosen and ordered and there was a “planting party” a few months ago – complete with art (a whimsical metal dragonfly around flowers by Dan Durand).
The club is now setting its sights on a long strip of ugly between the South Main Street town parking lot and South Main Street.
Turner said the top considerations in planning any garden is plant selection and maintenance. They chose tough plants that are always showing color in every season. For the Providence Street garden, Turner said, she and current Economic Development Director Carly DeLuca spent “an entire morning” ordering plants.
Mayor Barney Seney spoke at the dedication of the memorial garden, saying, “I (the town) can pay for the plants but without volunteers’ help, it won’t happen.” The town is completely on board with the next project, the South Main Street garden project. He said he’s all about beautification and art for Putnam. “This is what we need,” he said. “Thank you all and I appreciate it.”
In her memorial garden dedication speech, Turner said: “We dedicate the Providence Street Municipal Garden, lovingly designed, planted and maintained by the Quiet Corner Garden Club, to our club members who have passed but live on in our hearts, in the flowers, the trees, the gentle breezes and warming sun.
The garden was dedicated to: Emily Allard, Bunny Baur, Rita Bernier, Margot Cassedy, Robert Choiniere, Theresa “Terry” Desmarais, Amy Driscoll, Rita Etchels, Jean Fairfield, Majel Gee, Ellen Geer, Susan Godfrey, Doris Harper, Lillian Hutengs, Marjorie James, Peg Koerner, Hazel Kosche, Claire LaPorte, Robin Leo, Martha “Martie” MacLaren, Dorothy Matthias, Eleanor Page, John Papini, Dorothy Porter, Mary Roberts, Mary Larson Seney, Nancy Sheldon, Christine Southam, Marjorie Stanton, Jeannette Truman, Margaret Upham, and Fannie Lee Wahatalo.
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Centaur Golf
Classic feasts
on fine
weather
The saying goes that a bad day on the golf course is still better than a good day in the office.
It’s even better with a good day on the golf course.
Such was the case recently at the Quinnatisset Country Club in Thompson which, once again, hosted the Woodstock Academy Centaur Classic Golf Tournament.
“This was Year 11 and it was probably the most perfect weather day that we’ve ever had. We always hope that it doesn’t rain, even 95-100 degrees is better than rain. But there was a good breeze, the temperature was perfect in the low 80’s and the sun was out. It was a marvelous day for golf,” said Woodstock Academy director of alumni relations Brad Favreau who organized the event.
Not only was the weather great, but the turnout was as well with 37 foursomes taking to the course to participate.
“The course was in great shape despite some heavy rain a couple of days before. It was beautiful as always,” Favreau said.
That meant some low scoring.
The quartet of Ryan Salvas, Phil Baldwin, and Brendan and Jared Meehan went low, finishing with a 19-under par 53 in the scramble-format tournament.
“That team was a wagon,” Favreau said. “They had some big hitters in that group. They knew the course, which is always helpful, plus they had some guys who knocked some putts down.”
The team of David Ryan, David Josephs, Greg Hoaglund and Michael Luzzi were second, five strokes back.
Lynn Converse took home two prizes as she finished with the longest drive for the women on the 12th hole and also knocked it closest to the pin on the 13th hole, coming within 14-feet, 6-inches.
Chad Schofield had the longest drive for the men on the fifth hole and Sam Sondak was closest to the pin on the seventh, putting his tee shot within 3-feet, 8-inches of the cup.
Unlike last year, however, there were no hole-in-one shots that went down.
“It’s a great day getting together with alumni, donors, and sponsors,” Favreau said.
The money raised by the tournament goes to the Woodstock Academy athletic department.
Among the items that have been funded by the tournament include netting on the Bentley Athletic turf field to help prevent the different athletic balls from being lost in the woods and jackets for ECC winners, things that fall outside the normal athletic operations budget.
“It’s always a great day. Everyone is happy when they leave. It was another success,” Favreau said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
Captions:
Paul Kelly: Paul Kelly, an honorary trustee of The Woodstock Academy, attempts a putt during the Woodstock Academy Centaur Classic Golf Tournament recently at the Quinnatisset Country Club.
Golf Carts: There were plenty of golf carts traversing the Quinnatisset Country Club as 37 foursomes took part in the Woodstock Academy Centaur Classic Golf Tournament recently.
Putting practice: Time on the putting green also means time for a little conversation as a trio of golfers participating in the Woodstock Academy Centaur Classic Golf Tournament recently at the Quinnatisset Country Club took time out to catch up. Photos by Sam Romero/Woodstock Academy.
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caption, page 1:
Super Fun
Top: Olive Macpherson, 2+, gets her face painted. Left: Everyone scrambles at the end of the Superhero Dash when the super soakers come out. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo page Wed. night on FB: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photos.
captions, page 4:
Two 'Branches' of Superhero
Nate Lowell, left, of the Putnam Fire Department, and Earl Rosebrooks (aka Superman), at the Superhero Dance Party.
Mayor Barney Seney dancing with Crystal Simonson (aka Batwoman)
The multitude of winners in the Superhero Costume Contest.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM … and Beyond — It started with a seed of an idea from Gary Osbrey of WINY Radio.
And before you knew it downtown Putnam was inundated Aug. 5 with Superheroes of every stripe and size.
Earl Rosebrooks, co-chair of the Superhero Saturday committee, said about 2,500 people came downtown to enjoy the event. The event included a Superhero Dance Party, a Superhero Dash up Canal Street, vendors, demonstrations, music and more.
Rosebrooks said the real hero portion of the event was a “huge hit. Kids got to interact with our local heroes — teachers, doctors, nurses, veterans, EMTs, fire personnel, police and our mayor, Barney Seney (aka Captain Putnam).”
Good sport that he is, Seney visited the Super Soaker corner and was soaked within 30 seconds.
Osbrey and WINY Radio MC’d the entire event which started with words from Captain Putnam and Putnam Business Association President Thomas Borner.
Co-chair Crystal Simonson said: “The Superhero Dash and Superhero Dance Party brought out the biggest and brightest smiles from all the children participating that I have ever seen! Everyone seemed to be truly happy, having fun, and extremely present in those moments, and it’s something I will never forget!“
Rosebrooks was impressed with the number of people — kids and adults — who came dressed up in costumes. “The amount of people who came dressed up in costumes was amazing as well — I’d like to think the adults had just as much fun as the kids did reliving and pretending to be heroes for a day!”
The winners of the costume contest included: Venom, Police Officer, DeLorean, Baby Wonder Woman, Spider Girl, Girl Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and Harley Quinn.
“As always, everyone in this community certainly comes together to make events such as this one ‘super’ successful and memorable! From our real heroes, superheroes, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, local businesses/organizations/restaurants, to the Putnam Business Association, committee members, the Town of Putnam/Recreation Department and all that supported this event in some way or another – we thank each and every one of you for a great Superhero Saturday event,” said Simonson.
Rosebrooks seconded Simonson’s thoughts. “The reasons for the success were the collaboration between the town, the PBA, the participating businesses, our hard-working committee and the perfect weather!”
He anticipates that the Superhero Saturday or a similar type festivity will become an annual event.
He added, “A huge thank you to all who came out —it was a blast!”
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Two arrested
on drug charges
PUTNAM — The Putnam Police Department Aug. 1 arrested two men on drug charges.
The arrests followed a narcotic-related investigation in the Kennedy Drive area, according to Putnam Police Department Chief Christopher D. Ferace. The patrol division was assisted by the state Department of Parole.
Ferace said a quantity of alleged crack cocaine pre-packaged for sale at the street level and approximately one-half pound of alleged marijuana was seized as evidence.
Arrested were Tony Oates, 57, last known address 7 Cottage Place, Willimantic. He was charged with possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics with intent to sell. Oates was held on a cash/surety bond for arraignment Aug. 2 at GA 11, Danielson Superior Court. In addition, Oates, who is on parole, was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after his arraignment.
Also arrested: Lynwood R. Pipkin, 64, last known address 349 Kennedy Dr., Putnam. He was charged with possession of narcotics, possession of more than 1.5 oz. of Marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Pipkin was released on a $25,000 non-surety bond and issued a court date of Aug. 9 at GA 11 Danielson Superior Court. All accused are innocent until proven guilty, the chief added.
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