Peter G. Trama Sr., WWII and Korean war veteran
THOMPSON — Peter G. Trama Sr., 97, of Totem Pole Drive, died May 11, 2023, at the home of his daughter Dolores. He was the husband of the late Dorothy (Lemoine) Trama. Born in 1925 in Thompson, he was the son of the late Salvatore and Vincenza (Credendino) Trama.
At 17, with WWII in full swing, Peter embarked on his first career serving in the U.S. Merchant Marine aboard vessels owned by Standard Oil of New York.
While serving as a merchant mariner, he transported oil across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. His numerous voyages included journeys through the English Channel, Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, four trips through the Suez Canal and 16 through the Panama Canal. He enjoyed telling family and friends about his time visiting ports in distant countries, including Aruba, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Curacao, Kuwait, New Guinea, Trinidad, and Venezuela to name a few. While describing his adventures, he would always exclaim “Believe me, the ocean is BIG!”
After WWII, he continued to serve as a merchant mariner until he was drafted by the U.S. Army for service during the Korean war. While serving in the Army, he was stationed in Bremerhaven, Germany.
In 2020, Peter received the Merchant Mariners of WWII Congressional Gold Medal for dedication, heroism, and service from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration. Also in 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce presented Peter with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coin, recognizing him for aiding the war effort by delivering critical supplies.
In 1953, Peter met Dorothy, “the most beautiful girl in the room,” at a dance at the Italian Club in Putnam. They were engaged a few months later and married in 1954.
They were married for 67 years and raised their four children in Putnam. He credited his happy relationship to having lots of love with a little bit of luck, sharing in chores around the house, and trying to remember dates. In addition to being a devoted husband and father, he was an entrepreneur at heart and had a relentless work ethic, a trait he was proud to pass on to his children and grandchildren.
After running a gas station for a few years, he bought Tony’s Package Store, proudly running it for 30 years. Upon his retirement, he spent several years working for Putnam Ford delivering cars throughout the Northeast.
After years of winning over new friends on his travels with his genuinely warm personality and sense of humor, he retired again to care for Dorothy.
He was an active member of the Putnam community and enjoyed socializing with the local citizens, business owners and politicians, many of whom he considered good friends.
He was a proud member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge #574 in Putnam for 75 years. As a regular fixture in the Lodge’s weekly pitch league, he was a crowd favorite, routinely beating younger (but not sharper) opponents and was named the Lodge’s Elk of the Year in 2001.
He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, the Putnam Lions, Putnam Little League, the VFW, and volunteered at the Circle of Fun at St. Mary’s Church. Throughout his life, he enjoyed working in his large garden every day during growing season, and was known for sharing his vegetables with friends, neighbors, and the local food pantry.
His hobbies included reading the New York Post, watching Red Sox and Yankees baseball, investing, volunteering, spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and making new friends anywhere he went.
He leaves his children, Dolores (Michael) Walsh, Peter G. (Susan) Trama Jr., Paul (Susan) Trama, and Steven (Janet) Trama; his grandchildren, Stephanie (Dillon) Serdechny, Karyn (Timothy) Barentine, Timothy (Erin) Trama, Jennifer (Greg) Sanborn, Brandon (Allison) Trama, Ashley Trama (Tonya Van Deinse), Logan Trama, and Aaron Trama; and his great grandchildren, Charlotte, Delaney, Taylor, and Patrick Trama and Sawyer and Declan Sanborn. He was predeceased by his sister Carmella Landry and his brother Constantino Trama.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. May 19 in the Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St. A gathering will begin in the funeral home at 11a.m. May 20, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:30p.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam. Burial follows in Putnam Heights Cemetery.
Donations: Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT. 06260
Nancy L. Shaffer
NORWICH — Nancy L. Shaffer, 61, of McClellan Avenue, died May 7, 2023. She was the loving lifelong partner of Gary Mahoney. Born in 1961 in Bourne, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Omar Sponcey and Betty Soule.
Nancy worked for and was also a member of the Norwich VFW as the bar manager for many years. She had a soft spot for all animals in her life and even enjoyed feeding the wild animals whenever she could. Nancy loved spending time outdoors, gardening, and always appreciated and loved pool days, and loved Elvis. Nancy loved spending time at events and outings with her grandchildren and entire family.
She leaves daughters, Jenilee Galarza of Dayville, and Julia Feser of Phoenix; significant other, Gary Mahoney; three sisters, Mary Ann Gilbert of Woodstock, Patricia Williams of Branson, Mo., and Penny Soule Hicks of Tennessee; brother, Richard Soule of Kentucky; and nine grandchildren: Jacob and Trevor Galarza, Johnathan, Joseph, Jededia, and Jackie-Mae Feser, Chevy, Lily, and Brook McKay. She was predeceased by daughter, Jessica Lyn Shaffer. Gilman & Valade Funeral Homes & Crematory.
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Wed. May 17
Art
PUTNAM --- “A 70-year Retrospective: The Works of Jerry Ferguson” will appear in the Corridor Gallery at Putnam Municipal Complex through June 30. It features the works of Gerald (Jerry) Ferguson. Free.
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of Thompson Library will present, in its Art @ the Library series, the Thompson Public Schools Art Show through May 24 in the Meeting Room and in the Display Case.
Thur. May 18
Program
PUTNAM --- The New Roxbury Land Trust will present a program on beetles, borers and worms and other villains in the garden at 12:30 p.m. in the Putnam Municipal Complex. Free.
Fri. May 19
Helping Pets
PUTNAM --- Verizon Wireless Zone, will be hosting a shelter animal adoption event on Kennedy Drive in Putnam in conjunction with East Coast Rescues and Pawsafe animal shelters. Wireless Zone’s Rescues Rock also includes a month-long, in-store pet supply drive for items to deliver to their local animal rescues.
Family Film
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club's Movies in the Park Series will host a free showing of "Fantastic Mr. Fox" at 8 p.m. (dusk) at the Rotary Park. Bring chairs and blankets. Free.
Sat. May 20
Shred Days
THOMPSON --- bankHometown will host a free Shred Day from 9 to 11 a.m. at its Thompson branch on Riverside Drive. No appointment needed. A professional document destruction company will be in the bank’s parking lot and can accept up to two boxes of documents per person.
Author Series
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Library Author Series will present author Christopher Torockio at 1 p.m. at the Municipal Complex. Free. All welcome. The next event in the Putnam Library Author Series will be in October.
Rabies Clinic
DANIELSON --- Pet Pals Northeast is holding a low-cost rabies clinic at from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Quinebaug Valley Veterinary Hospital on Rt. 12. $15 cash. Preregistration and appointment is required. No walk-ins. 860-317-1720.
Sun. May 21
History Talk
CHEPACHET --- Music at the Meeting House will present “A Bicentennial party!” an illustrated talk about the history of the church, its building, its historic bell and its place in RI history, accompanied by music at 2:30 p.m. at the Chepachet Baptist Church on Rt. 44.
Mon. May 29
Pomfret Parade
POMFRET The Town of Pomfret will start its Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m. It kicks off at the Pomfret Congregational Church and proceeds down Pomfret Street/Rt. 44 to the Town Green where a short ceremony will take place.
Putnam Parade
PUTNAM --- The town’s Memorial Day Parade will start at 10 a.m. from the traditional Grove Street staging area. The parade will be followed by a program at Rotary Park.
Sun. June 4
Fishing Derby
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Recreation Department's 23rd annual Fishing Derby will begin at 8 a.m. at the Pomfret Rod & Gun Club. For boys and girls ages 5-15. $5. Register at www.pomfretct.gov/recreation.
Poetry
WOODSTOCK --- The current Connecticut State Poet Laureate (2022-2025), Antoinette Brim-Bell will read from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Roseland Park barn, along with other poets. Free (ages 14 and up). To take part in open mic later:
Sat. June 17
Art Festival
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Arts Council (PAC) will be hosting the Putnam Fine Arts and Crafts Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 17 and June 18 at the Municipal Complex. It includes all the arts plus live music. Rain or shine. Free.
Sun.. July 9
Touch-A-Truck
WOODSTOCK --- The Bungay Fire Brigade will host Touch-A-Truck from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Roseland Park.
Sun. Aug. 27
Cruise Fund-raiser
THOMPSON --- DKH will hold its Cruise, BBQ & Brew - Motorcycle & Car Cruise at 10 a.m. at the Thompson Speedway and The Black Dog Bar & Grille in Putnam. Benefits the NECT Cancer Fund of Day Kimball Healthcare. $35 registration. daykimball.org/cruising.
Fri. Sept. 8
Golf Classic
PUTNAM --- The Day Kimball Hospital Centreville Bank Golf Classic will set off at 7:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Connecticut National Country Club. For info: daykimball.org/golfclassic.
Sat. Sept. 30
BBQ
WOODSTOCK --- The Bungay Fire Brigade will host its fall 2023 Chicken BBQ from 4 to 6 p.m. www.bungay.com.
Sat. Nov. 11
Dueling Pianos
THOMPSON --- The DKH Dueling Pianos fund-raiser will be held at 6 p.m. at the Raceway Restaurant and Banquet Hall. Benefits Day Kimball Healthcare At Home services of HomeCare, HomeMakers, and Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. Food, drawings and more. Tickets $45, must be purchased in advance. daykimball.org/pianos.
Sun. Dec. 3
Tree of Life
The DKH 34th Annual Hospice Tree of Life Ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m. in 11 towns throughout northeastern Connecticut. The purchase of memorial lights on each community's Tree of Life benefits Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. For info: daykimball.org/treeoflife.
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Legal Notice
NON-RESIDENT NOTICE
CASE NO. 2023-PF-9325
In the PROBATE & FAMILY COURT of CUMBERLAND COUNTY, at CROSSVILLE TENNESSEE
TRACEY A. DAIGNAULT
Versus
GLEN H. DAIGNAULT
In this cause, it appearing from the Order for Publication of Kevin R. Bryant, Attorney, which is sworn to, that the Defendant, Glen H. Daignault, is a non-resident of the State of Tennessee or whereabouts unknown, it is ordered by me that publication be made for four successive weeks, as required by law, in the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger, a newspaper published in Windham County, Connecticut, in said County, notifying said non-resident Defendant to file an answer with Plaintiff’s Attorney, Kevin R. Bryant, whose address is 68 Woodmere Mall, Suite 101, within 30 days from the last date of publication, exclusive of said last date of publication, or a judgment by default may be entered and the cause set for hearing as to said Defendant.
This the 3rd day of April, 2023.
__/s/ Ben Tollett_____________________
BEN TOLLETT, CLERK AND MASTER
___/s/ Rachel Hawn__________________
DEPUTY CLERK AND MASTER
May 11, 2023
May 18, 2023
May 25, 2023
June 1, 2023
Town of Putnam
Inland Wetland Commission
Legal Notice
The Town of Putnam Inland Wetland Commission held a hybrid meeting on Wednesday May 10, 2023 at 7:00 P.M at the Municipal Complex in Community Room 201 located on the second floor resulting in the following action being taken:
Application: 2022-12 Khaphanh & Sukpase Phongsa
601, 603, & 604 School St. - Proposed Parking Improvements on three properties, Wetlands Remediation APPROVED
Application: 2023-03 Allan & Kathleen Rawson
19 Brookside Landing - Single Family Residential Development – CONDITIONAL APPROVAL
Application: 2023-04 JSC Management Group - 51 Providence Pike, Tree cutting along the southern bank of Little Dam Tavern Brook. APPROVED.
Adam Paquin, Chairman.
May 18, 2023
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caption:
Senior Maya Orbegozo (in the hat) putts while teammate Sophie Gronski watches. Photo by Marc Allard.
The Woodstock Academy boys’ and girls’ golf teams are nearing the end of the season.
But there is still plenty to play for.
Namely, qualifying for the state tournament.
“I’m confident. I checked the standings and we have moved up two spots (in the last week) in the States. We’re still on the borderline of qualifying but we’re inside of it and if we can put good scores in for our last four remaining matches, I think we will end up in a good place and qualify,” said girls’ coach Earl Semmelrock.
The Centaurs boys are in the same boat.
On the cusp, inside the line, but needing some good efforts to finish the season.
“It’s not the win-loss record, it’s the scoring average that matters when you’re talking about getting into the state tournament,” said boys’ golf coach Rich Garceau. “We are 15th and 17 teams make it but our differential is seven strokes right now over the 17th team. We haven’t got to the point where we can throw out a score, like other schools already have. We can start doing that in our second match (this) week; we will be able to throw out the 202 that we put up at Shennecossett (Golf Club in Groton) in our first match. I think we’re OK, but we need to post a few more good scores.”
The Centaurs girls opened last week with a 212-228 win over East Lyme.
The win improved Woodstock’s record to 7-3 overall and 6-2 in the ECC.
Senior Maya Orbegozo led the Centaurs, as she has almost all season long, with a 44.
“She has been very consistent but, sometimes, she gets down on herself when it’s not going right. We’re working on the mental game,” Semmelrock said.
Sophomore Liliana Bottone has also been very consistent this year, shooting generally between 50 and 55.
Such was the case against East Lyme as she posted a 54.
“She’s been very steady. She’s improving. She’s hitting many more good shots, she just has to stay away from a few of the poorer ones. Her ball-striking is better, her shots are improving and she’s been really consistent in that 50-55 range. I think when she posts her first really good score, the floodgates might open,” Semmelrock said.
Ella Musumeci carded a 55 against the Vikings.
The Centaurs traveled to one of their least favorite courses, the Norwich Golf Course, for the girls Wildcat Invitational as well last week.
“It’s very different (from Quinnatisset). The greens are way smaller, the fairways aren’t as nice as Quinnatisset. It’s really just target golf. You put it on the green or you are in a bunker or a divot,” Orbegozo said.
Still, the Centaurs finished second, eight strokes back, 227-235, of host Norwich Free Academy.
Orbegozo carded a 53, good enough to tie NFA’s Madeline Smith for second, three strokes back of the medalist, NFA freshman Caroline Goderre.
That happened despite some difficulties on the bookends, the first and ninth holes.
“I was pretty happy with (her performance) at the end, but throughout the round I definitely had some holes where I was pretty disappointed. That’s the beauty of golf. You have some good shots and some bad shots. It’s really about staying mentally in it especially after the first hole,” Orbegozo said. “I just decided to play it hole-by-hole, shot-by-shot.”
Bottone finished fourth overall with a 55.
The nice thing with just a two-match week, there was time for practice for the Centaurs.
“We haven’t had much practice and that’s crazy to say because we’re almost at the end of the season but we’ve had match after match. It’s going to be good to get some work in at Quinny, have some matches here (four of their final six take place at home) and really see that consistency especially since Connecticut National (where two other matches will be played) is similar to Quinny. I’m hoping to see the scores go down because I know the seniors Ella and Shannon (Cunniff) and me, really want to make the States and our underclassmen are helping us to get there,” Orbegozo said.
The boys started the week with the Wildcat Invitational. Unlike the girls, who played nine holes, the boys played 18.
It’s one of the three tournaments all year that go the distance.
The ECC championship will also be 18 holes as will the state tournaments.
“The guys really aren’t used to it,” Garceau said. “It’s a rare thing, especially for the younger kids, to play 18 holes of golf. I had a few freshmen with me and the 18 holes of golf is a completely different mental game. You have to stay within yourself and Aidan O’Connor did a really good job of that as a freshman. He started out rough, pulled it together, and finished strong.”
The Centaurs finished tied for eighth with Stonington.
Don Sousa led Woodstock with an 84 while both Davis Simpson and Logan Rawson posted an 88. “I think we did well,” Garceau said. “Stonington has a really great team this year. We were close with NFA. We had a few stumbles, a couple of ‘blow-up’ holes and if it weren’t for those, we could have been a lot better off.”
The Centaurs returned on the following day at Quinnatisset for a match with Fitch.
“After playing 18 holes, they were tired when we got home, it was also breezy at Norwich. We came back against Fitch and played well. I had a couple of freshmen in the mix and Aidan shot a 44 which was fantastic,” Garceau said.
Simpson’s three-over par 39 led Woodstock (4-5 overall, 2-3 ECC Div. I) to a 7-0 win over the Falcons.
Logan Rawson was a stroke back followed by O’Connor and Don Sousa who posted a 45.
It was the only other match of the week and meant the Centaurs had time to practice.
For a change.
“It’s fantastic, Garceau said. “When it’s match-after-match, it’s sometimes hard to maintain your focus when you know there are things that you have to work on but you’re looking for a score. Practice is great because we can focus on the fundamental skills that we noticed at the Wildcat were not working, primarily around the greens. Not putting, but getting on to the greens, which caused us the problem. We can take a deep breath, relax a little, have a little bit of fun and work on the fundamentals.”
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
on the 12th hole at the Wildcat Invitational at the Norwich Golf Course last week.
tees off.
on the sixth hole at the Wildcat Invitational last week
Senior Maya Orbegozo tees off on the second hole
recently in a match at the Quinnatisset Country Club.
on the third hole of a match recently at the Quinnatisset Country Club.
Photos by Marc Allard.
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