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Tayler Shea, left, and Shannon Fagan, from Rotaract helped out.


PUTNAM — The generosity of the community was in full force for the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club’s Salvation Army Kettle Campaign.
The last bell-ringing sessions last weekend by Interact Club members and their friends brought the grand total to $12, 773.79, according to Interact Club co-advisor Roberta Rocchetti. But, she added, she is expecting another large donation which will raise the grand total to $13,773.79.
Last year’s total was $11,050. The club hasn’t broken the $13,000 mark since 2013, Rocchetti said.
“So many people from Putnam and beyond were so generous this year. We also want to say a special thank you to the Newell D Hale Foundation for a generous gift of $2,000.”
The last of the campaign, Dec. 17, saw help from: Joanna Lin, Madison Whitehouse, Kylie Gregory, Matthew Chucke, Lexi Thompson, Amelia Haynes, Vayda Payne, Carter Payne, Alyssa Thompson, Cang Nguyen, Lauren Brule, Tessa Brown, Isabella Sorrentino and Curtis Desabre from Woodstock Academy; from Killingly High: Casey Beauregard, Lyana Cuevas and Cassidey Card; from Tourtellotte Memorial High School: Joshua Tackson, Cooper Sweeney and Tyler Shead; from Putnam High School: Paige Perry, Gabriell Cerasiello and Iayah Burke. Help also came from Rotaract members; Tayler Shea and Shannon Fagan and Rotarians and family: Joseph Adiletta, Doug Porter, Wayne (Woody) Durst, Charlie Puffer, Deborah Hoft and Roberta and Leo Rocchetti.

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Cause of fire
‘undetermined’,
pending test results
PUTNAM — The fire that caused extensive damage to a Liberty Highway residence last month has been classified as “undetermined” by Fire Marshal Scott Belleville.
An origin and cause investigation conducted by the Putnam Fire Marshal’s Office was able to confirm that the fire started in the southeast corner of the rear living room but due to the extensive damage caused by the fire, an exact point of origin cannot be proven without reasonable doubt.  The home was purchased in late October and the new owners had not yet moved in leaving the home unoccupied at the time of the fire, allowing the flames to grow unnoticed.
Firefighters were dispatched shortly Nov. 22 when a passerby noticed smoke coming from the single-family home. East Putnam firefighters, with the help of numerous mutual aid fire departments, were able to quickly bring the fire under control and contain the flames to the rear section.  However, the open floor plan allowed for extensive heat and smoke damage throughout the structure ultimately causing the insurance company to determine the home a total loss.  No other structures on the property or surrounding homes were damaged and no injuries were reported.
Although the fire has been classified as undetermined the origin and cause investigation remains open pending test results being conducted by the insurance carrier.  If anyone has any information concerning this incident, they’re asked to contact Putnam Fire Marshal Scott Belleville at (860) 963-6800 X112.

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It was an up-and-down week for PSA’s boys’ Elite basketball team, and it ended on the up, as Thierry Lokrou fueled a comeback Thursday as the Mustangs bounced back from a dud of a loss by defeating IMG’s AA team, 68-63.
PSA trailed by as many as 14 in the first half and used an 11-0 run over the final few minutes to hit the semester break on a good note. Kory Shemwell hit two free throws late cap a comeback and seal the win.
“Sometimes the game is all about heart,” coach John Cavaliere said. “I thought the guys played really hard. They just figured it out, made plays, and stuck together. We got really good minutes from some guys who haven’t seen a lot of playing time. Kory hit those big free throws, Des Sanderson gave unbelievable minutes and hard work…we look forward to keep building next semester.”
Sanderson finished with four points, seven rebounds, and four steals, while Yhali Steinhauer had 20 points and five boards, and Travis Upchurch added 15 points.
A day earlier PSA lost 69-42 to Brewster despite 14 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals from Lokrou. Yhali Steinhauer had eight points and Travis Upchurch finished with seven for PSA.
Monday, Lokrou led a balanced scoring attack with 26 points, while Upchurch added 21, Steinhauer finished with 14, and Omari Anderson and Anthony O’Brien 13 points apiece.
PSA’s No. 2-ranked Prep team won both of its games last week. Mouhamed Dioubate had 20 points and 15 rebounds, Ben Ahmed had 17 points, 18 rebounds, and four blocks, and Will Lovings-Watts had a season-high 25 points in a 105-79 victory over Notre Dame-West Haven Monday, though coach Tom Espinosa did not like his team’s effort.
“We just wasted a game and an opportunity to get better. It’s honestly probably our worst performance of the year.”
It was better Wednesday, their final game before the semester break, in an 89-67 win over Northfield Mount Hermon.
Dioubate recorded his 10th double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Lovings-Watts finished with 17 points, Darryl Simmons had 15 points, six assists, and four steals, and Ahmed had nine points and 13 rebounds for the Mustangs (13-2).
The boys’ Varsity team won its lone game, dismantling Bartlett High School Wednesday, 73-13. Shane Sebastian-Smalls had 13 points, Hugo Bolumar finished with 11 points, while Vlad Vetrov and Max Shepel both had 10 points in the win.
PSA’s girls’ Select team won four games, starting with Wednesday’s 65-18 victory over Wilbraham & Monson.
Lola Lopez scored 21 points, while Helin Yoztyurk and Taija Lloyd finished with 13 apiece as PSA’s Select team cruised to the victory.
Rudy Pebane was the star of the show however, as she drained three 3-pointers in the second half for all nine of her points.
“The first three quarters, I was missing every shot and getting so frustrated,” Pebane said.
“It’s nice to see that I have supportive teammates, even though I complain so much. It just makes me happy and proud, and I just want to make my mother proud.”
PSA then went 3-0 at a showcase event Thursday and Friday.
The Mustangs beat St. Paul’s 43-34 Thursday behind 17 points from Brianna Mead, then won twice Friday – 76-33 over Lawrenceville (35 points for Mani Lopez, 12 points and 11 rebounds for Hailey Johnson), and 59-48 over Brewster (10 points and 14 rebounds for Johnson, 19 points and 10 boards for Mani Lopez).
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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