PSA’s Cisse
commits
to SMU
Momo Cissé was one of three Putnam Science Academy prep basketball players to take an official college visit a few weeks back. And like his teammates – Barry Evans and DayDay Gittens – Cissé liked what he saw so much that he didn’t need to see or talk to any more schools.
The 7-footer from Dakar, Senegal, announced recently that he was committing to play next season at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
“I really like their program,” he said. “They have three big men who will be graduating this year, so I will have the opportunity to compete for playing time. The coach (Tim Jankovich) says he likes the way I play, that I can shoot 3-pointers, run the floor and block shots, and grab rebounds.
“I had other schools that were interested but I didn’t want to make the mistake of going somewhere that I wouldn’t have a chance to have playing time. Like I’ve said, the NBA is my goal.”
That may very well be, but now that this decision is out of the way, Cissé said he can focus on the next goal – helping the PSA Mustangs to a third national championship. While Jankovich may like Cissé’s outside game, PSA coach Tom Espinosa has enough perimeter players and will play his big man in the traditional way. And since the Mustangs started officially practicing on October 12 rather than having open gyms, Cissé has looked significantly better with the on-curt structure.
“He’s been playing well,” Espinosa said. “He’s doing all the things that PSA big men typically do, he rebounds, he protects the rim. He runs the floor really well, plays hard. Maybe SMU is going to use him differently, but whatever they do, they are getting a player who is really coming into his own now and I think just scratching the surface of how good he can be. SMU should be really pleased to have gotten him.”
Cissé said he felt excited when he came to his decision, but he felt the loss of his mother too. She passed away in 2017.
“When I decided that I was going to go to SMU, I was a little sad because I thought about that she won’t see me play,” he said. “But I know she is proud of me and I keep doing this for her.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Putnam Science Academy
Sports Information Director
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Papery Bark
This tree doesn't even need colorful leaves to win a beauty contest. The bark is pretty enough. Linda Lemmon photo.
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captions, page 4, clockwise from top left:
Youngsters look over the list before heading out on the NOW scavenger hunt.
Gwynne and Hugo Baum, 2, of Woodstock
Joseph Kelly loved the inflatable slide.
Hannah Cusson of Eastford
Hale Y event
a success
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The kids at the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center’s Healthy Kids Day Oct. 23 thought it was an “excellent party,” according to Amanda Kelly, executive director.
Healthy Kids Day is a national YMCA event that typically happens in April at YMCAs throughout the country, she said. The focus is on inspiring youth and families with physical activity, outdoor fun and creative ways to learn and grow and to feel like they belong to something greater.
Healthy Kids Day usually happens in April but COVID threw a monkey wrench into that. There was no Healthy Kids Day in 2019 and this year, it was moved to October in Putnam. “While October is not the normal time for Healthy Kids Day, we felt that the timing was good to provide a COVID-safe event for our area children that would take place all outdoors.” About 100 kids attended.
Kelly said the Healthy Kids Day was being held in Putnam even before the Y was completed and was run entirely by volunteers.
And there were plenty of activities and vendors, she said. There were: two inflatables, slide and obstacle course from Henry’s Inflatables; music by DJ Drew Daley; archery’ Gaga; water safety; Bike Safety provide by Putnam Police Chief Chris Ferace and bike helmet drawing; a fire truck from Putnam Fire Dept.; Susie Sunshine making balloon animals; face painting provided by Heather Lebel; and a Scavenger Hunt on the River Trail provided by Northeast Opportunities for Wellness (NOW).
Kelly said the highlights were “definitely the scavenger hunt, the inflatables and archery which will be happening at YMCA Camp Cutler next summer! DJ Drew Daley, Susie Sunshine and Heather and her face painting, bubbles and dancing all added to the party.”
She added that “One YMCA member had her grandchildren visit from an hour and a half away and she thought it was a great event for children.”
..
Municipal
Complex
celebrates
opening
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
It was a long road getting to the new Municipal Complex and it will serve a long line of those who follow.
At the close of his speech at the grand opening of the complex Oct. 23, Mayor Barney Seney said “It’s been centuries in the making and it will serve centuries into the future.” He recounted the “flawless” history of the project that was on time and under budget and credited the citizens of Putnam for their foresight and their support. The citizens voted to build the complex and, long ago, also voted to allow the Wheelabrator landfill and to save the rent money from that for future projects like this one.
“You citizens and you citizens alone, made this possible,” he said. In addition he gave credit to the building committee and its chairman Karen Osbrey, LLB Architects, general contractor Downes Construction Company, Town Administrator (and former town planner and town engineer) Elaine Sistare, and all the departments.
Originally the complex was going to house the Town Hall and the Putnam Public Library. But in the interest of serving all the citizens, a community center for seniors and more, and the new home for the Aspinock Historical Society were added, Seney said.
Osbrey said LLB Architects and Downes were “the consummate professionals.” She added: “This is more than bricks and mortar. It’s me, you and all of our community.”
Sistare thanked all the help from departments. “The departments made this work.” “We’re here for the community; we’re here to serve.”
Priscilla Colwell, library director, said “We will serve the community in so many ways for a long time to come.”
Bill Pearsall, president of the historical society, was over the moon with the society’s “magnificent” new space. He joked about living across from the society’s old quarters, the old Aspinock House. “Every morning I’d get up and look out my bedroom window to see if the building was still standing.” That building was demolished to make room for the School Street entrance and exit of the complex. He called 2021 a banner year for the society. First its new spacious home on the second floor of the complex, and second, after two and one-half years, renovations to the Gertrude Warner Boxcar Museum are complete and the museum is ready to open in the spring.
Architect R. Drayton Fair said this project has gone through six years, three town administrators and two mayors. “This is your town hall, above everything,” he said. “It contains the true essence of the citizens of Putnam.” Joseph Desautel from Downes said the town can take pride in this complex. “I think it’s second to none in its class.”
A ribbon cutting followed and Osbrey said the “Putnam Blue” ribbon will be given to the Aspinock Historical Society. Inside were refreshments, tours and the town’s first art exhibit on the first-floor hallway/gallery.
Sistare estimated about 90 people attended the grand opening, not counting departments and dignitaries and officials.
captions, page 4, clockwise from top:
After speeches, officials cut the ribbon at Putnam's new Municipal Complex. The blue bow was given to the Aspinock Historical Society.
Checking out the art exhibit.
Architect R. Drayton Fair (glasses) talking about the mural in the children's section of the new library.
Elaine Sistare and Mayor Barney Seney.