Wed.  March 30
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library’s Art @ the Library series will present an exhibit, “Take a Walk with Me: My Gardens, My Journeys, My Loves” --- paintings by Laura Moorehead. In the display case will be Cosmic Consciousness artwork by Sarah Zabka. Exhibits through March 31. 860-923-9779.

Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret on Day Road will present the Edwin Way Teale Writers & Artists-in-Residence Trail Wood Reflections Exhibit through April 23.  

Sat.  April 2
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road will hold an “Easter Egg Painting Workshop” from 9 a.m. to noon. $10 for members; $20 for nonmembers. Register: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 860-928-4948.

Sun.  April 3
Breakfast
PUTNAM --- Scouts BSA Troop 21 will host a free breakfast for the public from 9:45 a.m. to noon in the downstairs hall of St. Mary’s Church. The menu will include pancakes, sausage and orange juice. 860-928-7241.

Wed.  April 6
Concert
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp will present “A Dam Fun Time Benefit Concert” from 6 to 10 p.m. at Stonehurst at Hampton Valley. Auctions, drawings, cash bar, hors d’oeurves and the Great Garage Band Reunion.  $40 in advance. 860-974-1122.

Nature Program
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Conservation Commission is hosting a presentation by Lydia Pan, president of the Mountain Laurel Chapter of Wild Ones, at 7 p.m. in the big room on the lower level of the Town Hall. All welcome. Free.

Fri.  April 8
Lenten Soup Supper
PUTNAM --- The Daughters of Isabella will host a Lenten Soup supper from 5 to 7 p.m. in the St. Mary’s Hall. $5. Dine in or take out. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sat.  April 9
Rotary Day of Service
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club will be collecting items and donations for the homeless in the club’s service area from 9 a.m. to noon at WINY Radio.  Donations will go to IHSP (Daily Bread), TEEG and the No Freeze Shelter in Danielson. The top priority is monetary donations for emergency housing. Also needed: Toiletries such as shampoo, soap, body wash, toothpaste, tooth brushes, deodorant, razors and shaving cream; towels and wash cloths; manual can openers and flashlights. Also gift cards to local coffee shops, fast food restaurants and laundromats in Putnam, Thompson or Danielson. Monetary donations will be used for emergency housing.
 
Historical Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “History of the 1696 Chandler House in Pomfret” by Jay Livernois, at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.

Easter Egg Hunt
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Recreation Department will hold an Easter Egg Hunt at 11 a.m. for Pomfret  boys and girls ages 1 to 10 at the Wolf Den State Park. The rain date is April 16. Bring your camera to get a photo of your child with the Easter Bunny. 860-974-1423.

Egg Hunt
PUTNAM --- The Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center will hold a Spring Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. Free. All welcome. A Scavenger Egg Hunt will be held for kids ages 2-5 at 10 a.m. and for kids 6-10 at 10:45. Face painting and more.

Cleanup
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road will hold its “Spring Clean Up and Volunteer Day” from noon to 4 p.m. 860-928-4948.

Sun.  April 10
Nature Walk
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road will hold its “Second Sunday Walk” at 2 p.m. Free for members; $5 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Mon.  April 18
Donations
POMFRET --- The 68th annual Windham County 4-H Auction & Tag Sale will be taking from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through noon May 4, donations of antiques and gently used household goods, furniture, toys, electronics, tools, books, decorative items, etc. for the auction & tag sale on May 6 & 7. Go to lower level back entrance of the lodge, 326 Taft Pond Rd, Pomfret.  No clothing. Call 860-974-3379 to schedule delivery at other times or to arrange for item pick up.

Tues.  April 19
Learn at Lunch
EASTFORD --- The Eastford Senior Citizens will host speakers Northeast Probate Court Judge Leah Schad and Chief Clerk Mary Ann Champney with “What Does the Probate Court Do?" (Conservators, Guardians, CT's Probate System, children in need, local resources, & more) at 11:30 in the Lower Level of the Eastford Town Office Building. Limited Seating. Call/text 860-538-8868 to reserve a seat and snack.

Sat.  April 23
Race/Walk
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp Camper Scamper 5K Race/Walk and 1 Mile Kid Run will start for kids at 9:30 a.m. and adults at 10. Walkers start immediately after runners. Professionally timed by Last Mile Race Management.  Must preregister. Register by March 31 to receive discount and free T-shirt.  www.4hcampct.org.

Rabies Clinic
DANIELSON --- Pet Pals Northeast will hold a rabies clinic from 2 to 3 p.m. at Quinebaug Valley Vet Hospital on Wauregan Road. $15 per animal. All animals need to on a leash or in a carrier. Cash or payable by check to Pet Pals. Appointments: 860-317-1720.

Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road will present “Bafflin Bird Walk” at 8 a.m. $10 for members; $20 for nonmembers. Register:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Race
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp Camper Scamper 5K Race/Walk and 1 Mile Kid Run will be held today. Must pre-register.  Drive through number and T-shirt pick up on April 22. Professionally timed by Last Mile Race Management.  Register by April 1 to receive discount and free T-shirt.  Go to www.4hcampct.org.   

Open House
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp Open HHHouse will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Parent Panel from 12:30 to 1 p.m. 860-974-1122.

Thur.  April 28
Auditions
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will be holding auditions from 7 to 9 p.m. April 28 and from 1 to 3 p.m. April 30 for Rogers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. For details and full character descriptions: www.TheBradleyPlayhouse.org/Auditions.

Fri.  April 29
Spring Social
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Recreation Department will hold a Spring Social from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pomfret Community School. It’s for PCS boys and girls in grades 3, 4 and 5.  Snacks and drinks will be available for $1 or less.

Sat.  April 30
Beautification Day
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will be sponsoring its annual Beautification Day starting at Rotary Park. Rain date is May 1. Volunteer groups/community support needed. Sign up: 860-963-6834. Teams gather at Rotary Park at 8:30 a.m. to receive cleaning assignments and then from 11 a.m. to noon there is a volunteer appreciation lunch back at the park. Funded in part by The Last Green Valley and the Town of Putnam.

Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road will present “Virginia Rail Bird Walk” at 6 p.m. $10 for members; $20 for nonmembers. Register:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 860-928-4948.

Sat.  May 7
Wee Walk
POMFRET --- The Wyndham Land Trust’s family-friendly Wee Wander Walk, “Salamander Search at the 3 B’s” will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dress appropriately and bring your camera. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org

Tag Sale
POMFRET --- The 16th annual Pomfret Town-Wide Tag Sale will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and start the Pomfret Community School.

Sat.  May 14
Historical Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “The Last Green Valley Notables & Notorious” by Bill Reid, TLGV chief ranger, at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.

Fishing Derby
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club’s Noe Poulin Fishing Derby will be held at Rotary Park from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration is at 8 a.m. Age groups: 5 and under; 6 to 9; 10-12 and 13-15. Prizes for biggest fish, smallest fish, most unique fish and most fish caught.

Cornhole Tournament
DANIELSON --- The Killingly-Brooklyn Rotary, in conjunction with the Killingly Springfest, will hold its First annual Cornhole Tournament in the parking lot of Danielson Lodge of Elks on Center Street. Registration is at 10 a.m. and the fund-raiser tourney starts at noon.

Fri.  May 27
Golf Tourney
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club’s Ronald P. Coderre Golf Tournament will be held at the Connecticut National Golf Club.

Sat.  May 28
Cornhole Tournament
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Recreation Department will hold a cornhole tournament at noon at the Pomfret Recreation Park. Rain date is June 4. Double elimination style - team consists of two members. Every team is guaranteed to play at least 2 games. Min. of 12 teams needed to run the tournament; max. of 28 teams allowed. Bracket postings will be pulled out of a hat prior to the start of the event. We will provide the cornhole boards and bags. The fee is $30 per team. Prizes. Visit pomfretct.gov/recreation for the registration form.

Sat.  June 4
Farmers’ Market Opens!
PUTNAM --- Today the Putnam Saturday Farmers’ Market opens for the season and runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays through October at the Riverview Marketplace Pavilion on Kennedy Drive.  www.putnamfarmersmarket.org.

Fri.  June 10
Twilight Concert
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Recreation Commission and Historic New England will present, as part  of its annual Twilight Concert series, The Little Big Band from 7 to 8:30 (rain date: June 24) at Roseland Cottage. Free. 860-928-4074.

Sat.  June 11
Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “Tour of Watercure Distillery in Pomfret” at 10 a.m. Free. More info on the town’s website.

Fri.  July 29
Twilight Concert
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Recreation Commission and Historic New England will present, as part  of its annual Twilight Concert series, Dynamite Rhythm from 7 to 8:30 (rain date:  Aug. 12) at Roseland Cottage. Free. 860-928-4074.

Sat.  Aug. 6
Wee Walk
POMFRET --- The Wyndham Land Trust’s family-friendly Wee Wander Walk, “Bats at Lyon Preserve” will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Dress appropriately and bring your camera. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org

Sat.  Aug. 13
History Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “The Historic Mills of Pomfret” by Dick Symonds at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.

Fri.  Aug. 19
Twilight Concert
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Recreation Commission and Historic New England will present, as part  of its annual Twilight Concert series, Beck N’ Call from 7 to 8:30 (rain date:  Aug. 26) at Roseland Cottage. Free. 860-928-4074.

Sat.  Sept. 10
Historical Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “Common Sense: TLGV Town Commons and Greens” by Bill Reid at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.

Sat.  Oct. 1
Wee Walk
WOODSTOCK --- The Wyndham Land Trust’s family-friendly Wee Wander Walk, “Leaves and Mushrooms at Rapoport Preserve” will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dress appropriately and bring your camera. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org

Sat.  Oct. 8
Historical Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present Connecticut State Historian Walter Woodward at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.

Sat. Nov. 5
Dueling Pianos
PUTNAM --- Day Kimball Healthcare will present Dueling Pianos Presented By Foxwoods Resort Casino at 7 p.m. at Connecticut National Golf Club. Benefit: Day Kimball Healthcare At Home. More Info: daykimball.org/pianos.

Sat. Nov. 12
Historical Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “The Last Green Valley Notables & Notorious” by Bill Reid, TLGV chief ranger, at 10 a.m. at the Pomfret Community & Senior Center on Rt. 44. Free. More info on the town’s website.

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PUTNAM — The Putnam Rotary Interact Club raised “an amazing $847” in just four hours  at its car wash for the Rotary International Ukrainian Emergency Relief Fund, according club advisor Roberta Rocchetti.
She thanked Amayah Chavez of Putnam High School (PHS), club president,  for the idea of the car wash and securing Putnam High School for the car wash location.
She also thanked Emily St. Martin, Lynn Rape and Emily Olecki (PHS); Abby Morin, Leilia Mackinnon, and Emma Blanchette (The Woodstock Academy); Sierra Girad of Quinebaug Middle College;  Natalia Choruzek (NFA), Mykala Wlford and Iayah Burke of Putnam for taking part; plus advisors Woody Durst, Suzette Lefevre.
For more information about the Interact Club contact Rocchetti 860-933-8603.

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The words from the mouth of Woodstock Academy boys’ lacrosse coach Jason Tata and the expression on his face basically told the story.
 “Oh man,” Tata said with a shake of his head when reminded that he would not have Guerin Favreau this season.
Favreau, who finished with 106 points for the Centaurs last season, is now playing in college.
“(He was) absolutely incredible. You can’t replace Guerin,” Tata said.
He added that was also true of goalie Colin Liscomb and the other nine seniors who graduated last year.
“You just have to hope that this year’s seniors step up and hit those same roles. I’m not expecting any of these guys to re-create anything. They are doing their own thing and we’re going to let them,” Tata said.
Woodstock finished 10-8 last season and finished runners-up to Waterford in the ECC Div. II tournament where they lost to the Lancers in a dogfight, 4-3.
The same could be said about the Class M state tournament where the Centaurs won a state tournament play-in game but lost their first-round match, 8-7, to Watertown in overtime.
“We’re hungry still,” Tata said. “We feel like we could have picked up that ECC championship and finished up that game at Watertown. But that was inexperience on my and the players’ parts and we’re taking it as a learning experience.”
Now, the Centaurs have to learn what life will be like without Favreau. Senior Jonah Libby will be looked at to replace some of the points. He is one of the six seniors who will be playing their final sports season at The Academy.
“It’s definitely sad because there is no better feeling than high school sports but I’m going be playing college lacrosse next year at Messiah University in Pennsylvania – joining my brother there- so it’s something to be sad about but I’m really excited for what is to come and to develop my skills this year to get to the college level,” Libby said.
He finished second on the team in scoring with 37 goals and 16 assists a year ago.
“I have some big shoes to fill and I know I’m going to have to be one of the main offensive threats this year. I’m shooting for more than 53 points this year,” Libby said.
He will be joined up front by junior Zach Gessner (15 goals, 3 assists) and sophomore Jared Neilsen.
“Jonah will be an absolute cornerstone of our attack line but the entire attack line was incredible (last year). Zach Gessner came in midway through the season and stepped up and same thing with Jared Neilsen- they just worked their butts off,” Tata said.
It will be a chance for them to shine as the thought process a year ago was to get the ball into Favreau’s stick and let him work his magic.
“Now, we’re playing some open lacrosse, anyone can step up at any point in time. It will relieve some pressure mentally, but hopefully, we can handle the pressure that comes with stepping up now,” Tata said.
Tata is also pumped about his midfield where seniors Zach Girard and Everett Michalski reside alongside juniors Jacob Jurnovoy (14 goals, 1 assist) and Will Basiliere (4, 8)
The defense is solid. Everyone is back. Senior Tyler Green will anchor the middle with Cooper Stewart and Evan Roy on the wings.
 “You love seeing that on the defensive side. If we can keep stopping goals with those three guys, we will be in really good shape,” Tata said.
Another senior, John Pokorny, takes over in the cage for the Centaurs. “He’s looking absolutely incredible and you can tell he’s been working in the offseason. I’m excited to see what he can do in the net,” Tata said.
Tata is also thankful that his returning players worked the hallways a bit as he has 37 athletes currently in uniform, including several hockey and soccer players that he had not seen before.
“We’re creating a culture now,” Tata said with a smile. “We have a lot of raw talent. I’m loving the way the team is looking.”
There will be some challenges.
The Centaurs lost both of their faceoff specialists, Alex Wojciechowski and Brandon Richards to graduation.
“Losing both of our faceoff guys, it’s going to be tough to replace them but we have a lot of guys that are willing to step up and give it a shot. Honestly, I hope some of our hockey guys who have taken faceoffs can kind of translate over. We’ll see. We’re still ironing out some of those finer details,” Tata said.
Like so many Woodstock teams this spring, the boys’ lacrosse team is also in a new spot in the ECC. The Centaurs will play in Div. I with E. Lyme, Fitch, NFA and Waterford, a group of teams they went 3-6 against a year ago.
“You build talent through tougher competition and we’re all excited for the challenge,” Tata said. “Above everything, this is a family. We have to play together.”
Boys’ Lacrosse Schedule:
Sat., April 2:   vs. Norwich Tech/Windham
 Tech            11 a.m.
Tues., April 5:       at Waterford              7
Thurs., April 7:  at Led./Gris.           6:15 p.m.
Sat., April 9:     at St.Bernard/Wheeler      4
Tues., April 12:    vs. Fitch              4:15 p.m.
Thurs., April 14:  vs. East Lyme      4:15 p.m.
Sat., April 16:       vs. E.O. Smith         11 a.m.
Tues., April 19:    vs. Valley Reg.     4:15 p.m.
Thurs., April 21:   vs. Rockville/Coventry/
Stafford        4:15 p.m.
Tues., April 26: vs. NFA      4:15 p.m.
Sat., April 30:        vs. Montville        11 a.m.
Thurs., May 5:      at NFA       5:30 p.m.
Tues., May 10:      vs. Waterford     4:15 p.m.
Thurs., May 12:    at Norwich Tech/
Windham Tech         4 p.m.
Mon., May 16:     at Fitch    5 p.m.
Thurs., May 19:    at East Lyme     7 p.m.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

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