caption:
And they're off! Photo courtesy of Ginger Photography.
Lap the Lake
fund-raiser nets
$36,000+
DAYVILLE — Northeast Opportunities for Wellness (NOW) raised $36,000 in net profit after a highly successful Lap the Lake 5k around Alexanders Lake.
More than 300 took part in the 5k. The Kids Fun Run saw 46 participants.
The 12th annual event winners were Ben Young of Woodstock and Linda Spooner of Sturbridge.
NOW Director Tayler Sazhin said this was the biggest Lap the Lake event ever.
She said: “We are so humbled each year at our Lap the Lake 5k around Alexanders Lake. This is our major fund-raising event for the year, without the unwavering support from the Alexander Lake Homeowner Association, Dayville Fire Company, our generous sponsors, vendors, and community participants, this event would not be possible. The funds from this event support our free youth programs and our “We Pay. You Play.” Youth Sports Scholarship. Annually, NOW serves more than 5,000 children and families, providing opportunities for youth social, emotional, and physical wellness across northeastern Connecticut.”
She added: “This year, Lap the Lake exceeded all of our expectations with over 100 participants more than we had in 2023. I would also like to thank Jay Long, the chair of the NOW Road Race Committee, and our entire group of volunteers who made this event possible.”
For full results: https://www.athlinks.com/.../1089379/Course/2509735/Results
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Progressing
Construction of the future Toyota dealership on Rt. 44 in East Putnam is moving along. After storm water management construction under the parcel, the showroom structure is taking shape. There's also a note on the pavement of Rt. 44 that says "proposed gas." McGee Toyota of Dudley anticipates moving into their new mega home in the spring. Linda Lemmon photos.
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PUTNAM — The 2024 Putnam Business Association Pluck A Duck Raffle Event was the most successful yet, according to PBA Pluck A Duck Chairperson, Beth Markowski-Roop.
A total of 7,203 raffle tickets/ducks were purchased. Thirty-one non-profit organizations involved throughout Windham County sold Pluck A Duck raffle tickets and keep a portion of every ticket sold for their organization, raising $12, 937.40.
She said, “These funds are already creating a positive impact for our community!”
The event also raised $31,198.75 for the PBA in support of its advocacy for members and local businesses, and the many free events they coordinate in the community including the upcoming Zombie Fashion Show and Great Pumpkin Festival.
The Wall-Of-Wishes had more than 450 wishes posted by attendees, listing a special wish that would make them feel “just ducky!” For every wish posted, sponsor, Westminster Tool, donated $1 to Make-A-Wish Connecticut!
Donations taken at the Aug 11 Pluck A Duck event, helped create a $500 donation made to this non-profit organization in support of creating live changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
She added, “We had a record-number of prizes, 118, including our grand prize of an 8000-watt Generac Generator with electric start, donated by P.B. Generators and our top cash prize of a $500 VISA gift card sponsored by Byrnes Agency. Prizes included gift certificates to local restaurants and businesses, gift baskets, tickets to concerts, activities and venues, and so much more! And the final 12 ducks waddling out of our “pond” had $50 gift card prizes awarded as well, thanks to our sponsors, Davis Place, Hope Lodge Venue, Putnam Spirits and United Services!”
In the Corporate Duck Raffle category, only 75 corporate ducks are available for purchase by businesses big-and-small for a chance to win the coveted prize of a $750 VISA Gift Card and Corporate Duck Trophy, which is engraved with the winning business. The winner gets the traveling trophy. The winner was: Insurance Associates of Central CT.
The Celebrity Dunk Tank included local celebrities Jesse Davis and Dylan Roberts from Rude Dog Boxing, Adam Rondeau of Chubby Dog Coffee and Jennifer Lowell of PAWS Cat Shelter and others raised $1,795 for the PBA. The three celebrities that raised the most funds had a $100 donation made to their charity/non-profit organization of choice: Earl Rosebrooks of Fluid Coating Technology (donation made Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center); attorney Kate Cerrone of The Northeast Law Center (donation made Day Kimball Healthcare) and Robert Challinor of VFW Auxiliary Post 1523 (donation to VFW Auxiliary post 1523 Putnam).
Markowski-Roop is appreciative of the support in making this event a success. “This event would not be possible without the continued support of so many, from our generous sponsors, to businesses donating incredible raffle prizes, our Dunk Tank celebrities, Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center, devoted Pluck A Duck Committee and volunteers, and the community who purchased our raffle tickets and enjoyed the many Kids Corner activities. The funds raised are making a difference to so many non-profit organizations throughout our community, and the Putnam Business Association, and I am truly grateful. Thank you!” Pluck A Duck returns Aug.10 and 11, 2025.
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Business owners: Update your information!
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Imagine you’re the dispatcher for the Special Service District and a Putnam police officer finds a door unlocked at a downtown business after hours.
And you know there’s a 50 percent chance that the contact information you have for that business is completely outdated. Tick tock.
Such is the longstanding dilemma for dispatchers, according to Duane Anderson, communications supervisor.
“The information we have on hand goes back to the 1980s,” he said. Lots of business information is outdated. Key holders have changed.
He estimated that 50 percent of the time there is no information available or it’s messed up. “An alarm is going off and there is no contact information,” he said.
Some 400 businesses in the Special Services District are affected.
Anderson said the problem was continually moving to the back burner but now a solution is finished.
Special Services District businesses are urged to go to www.putnampolice.com and there is a Business Key Holder Registration form under the Resources heading.
Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said: “The business owner can update his/her contact info, plus a primary key holder and secondary key holder. Once the form is completed, hit the submit button and it is automatically emailed back to the PD. …or you can stop by the PD complete one by hand and drop it off or email the Communication Supervisor Duane Anderson at
He added, “This updated information will certainly make the dispatcher’s job more efficient so there is accurate key holder information in the event we need to contact the business owner after hours. An example could be an alarm activation, the police in doing a business check and located an unsecured door left unlocked erroneously, or maybe we need to contact someone due to damage located. The quicker we can notify the business owner the quicker whatever the situation is, it can be remedied.
“Unfortunately, it is all based on the voluntary cooperation of the business owner. The best we can do is educate them and encourage them to participate. Obviously if we come across a business that hasn’t been updated during a call for service after hours, we will reach out to that business the following day to get it updated.” Given there are new businesses starting up, he said there is no deadline.
Anderson said the information is confidential and will never be given out to anyone. He added that dispatch also has a key lock box. “If you wish,” he said, “you can drop off a key that we can keep in there, just in case.”
Ferace added: “We encourage everyone (businesses in the Special Service District) to take advantage of this opportunity as soon as possible to insure there is contact information after business hours.”
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