New Putnam police officer sworn in
PUTNAM — The Putnam Police Department swore in its newest officer last week.
Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said officer Justin-Corey V. Le of Norwich was sworn in during a brief ceremony including family, friends, and colleagues.
Officer Le’s hiring fills one of the two vacancies in the department.
Officer Le is a 2020 graduate of Norwich Free Academy and last year he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Mitchell College where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. While at Mitchell College he was also a four-year varsity soccer player. During the summer of 2023, Le completed his required 120-hour college student internship with the Putnam Police Department.
Aug. 16 Le will start the LEC Eastern Region Police Academy as a recruit where he will study the many aspects of the police profession for approximately 26 weeks. Upon graduation from the police academy, he will undergo a minimum of 12 weeks field training before being assigned to a patrol shift.
Officer Le the third generation in his family to pursue a career in law enforcement.
following the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
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Investigated
PUTNAM — Last week a member of the public brought two hand-painted signs to the Putnam Police Department, saying he believed were inappropriate for the Putnam community. He removed the signs from Grove Street and from South Main Street. The content of both signs included the website of a group that, according to the South Poverty Law Center (SPLC), lists as a white nationalist hate group.
After an investigation, Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said the case was closed as the investigation showed it did not involve any criminal activity.
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Honored
WILLIMANTIC — The Department of Psychological Science at Eastern Connecticut State University’s Psi Chi honor society inducted junior Emily Cournoyer of Putnam. Emily was presented with the Best Psychology Paper Award, for their work titled “Microbiota and Pharmacology: Behavioral Implications of the Gut-Brain Axis.”
On dean’s list
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Two local students were named to the winter dean’s list at Southern New Hampshire University: Julianna Colbert of Pascoag and Jay Patel of Dayville.
On President’s List
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Local students named to the Southern New Hampshire University’s winter President’s List include: Ryan Kut of Chepachet, William Lavery of Chepachet, Katelyn Stiles of Chepachet, Jessica Parker of Chepachet, Jacob Dalo of Pascoag, Giavanna Costanza of Pascoag, Annette McClure of Pascoag, Mathew Pelletier of Pascoag, Rene Cummings of Danielson, Jennifer Farquharson of Danielson, Lindsay Thompson of Danielson, Rena Stevenin of Killingly, Sabrina Berard of Dayville, Elizebeth Benoit of N. Grosvenordale, Pasco DelFarno of Pomfret, Daniel Bastura of Pomfret Center, Lissette Hernandez of Putnam, Francesca Benoit of Thompson, Ava Bollig of Woodstock, Jeremy Hughes of Woodstock.
Traveling
WILLIMANTIC ---This summer, 21 students from the Department of English at Eastern Connecticut State University traveled to Florence, Italy for six weeks. The annual trip is part of English Professor Christopher Torockio’s creative writing abroad course. Among the students was Jarod Martin of Woodstock, a senior who majors in mathematics.
DeTorio named Westview
employee of the month
DAYVILLE — Patty DeTorio, a teacher at Westview Child Care Center in Dayville, has been selected as Westview’s Employee of the Month for July.
She joined the talented Westview team in September 2023 and she works in the infant classroom.
Residing in Putnam, she and her husband Ron enjoy their time with family: daughter Ammanda and son Ronnie.
Miss Patty (as she is known) delivers her talents to Westview Child Care Center from Putnam, having moved to the area from Cranston, R.I., in 2003. Prior to her time with the Westview team, she worked for 30 years at Putnam Elementary School as a Pre-School, K through 5 Paraprofessional. During her tenure as a Paraprofessional, she worked with special needs students as well as reading and math groups to help students towards their academic goals.
DeTorio enjoys riding around in her black ’94 convertible Mustang. She enjoys doing puzzles, cooking, baking, and gardening. When asked about her work at Westview Child Care Center, Miss Patty said: “I love my job, and I am grateful to be doing it in such a supportive environment!” She added: “My goal is for parents to drop their little one off and not worry, knowing that they are being loved and cared for.”
Westview Administrator and Executive Vice President David T. Panteleakos said: “Patty is a great addition to our amazing team of educators at the newest addition to our Westview family, Westview Child Care Center." The skills and knowledge that she brings to us with her 30+ years of public education experience is truly complementary to our wonderful cadre of teachers. She is highly dedicated to her students and speaks from the heart.”