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Last Hurdle
Ksenija Martinovic clears the last hurdle enroute to a win in the 300-meter event for Woodstock Academy in a track meet against Killingly.  



The Woodstock Academy girls’ track team likes to keep things interesting. The Centaurs just escaped with possibly their first win ever over NFA the week before with a three-point victory.
They stretched out that win margin April 24 against Killingly — by one point.
Woodstock Academy just eked out a 77-73 victory over Killingly.
“This was a tough one and I didn’t expect it, initially, to be as tight as it was,” said Woodstock Academy coach Josh Welch. “Killingly brought out a much better team than I anticipated it would have. It’s been such a long gap since we’ve seen them. They happened to be strong in areas where we were weak (Saturday) which made it really tight.”
The Centaurs boys didn’t have the same problem as they easily posted a 106-40 win.
Welch was not only dealing with a better than expected Killingly team, he also had to cope with the loss of about eight athletes due to spring break family commitments.
It meant he had to shift his lineup and try to fill the gaps.
It worked although it was a white-knuckle event when the final scores were being tallied.
Once again, as it was at NFA, Jillian Edwards performance in the high jump was a key to the win as she finished first late in the meet, clearing the bar at 4 feet, 8 inches.
Ksenija Martinovic was a multiple event winner for the Centaurs as she took first-place finishes in both the 100 and 300-meter hurdles.
Martinovic is from Montenegro where track and field doesn’t necessarily take place on a track.
“We practice on turf. We have nothing. We don’t have a track; we don’t have hurdles. We were the best team in Montenegro, but we practiced on turf. It’s so different here. It’s amazing to see new things. To see the track, to see (starting) blocks. I’m so grateful because I can run everything on the track and meet new people, get a score and everything. People from my country wish they could this. I’m so glad I’m here,” Martinovic said.
Leah Castle won the 800m for the Centaurs while Linsey Arends took first in the 1600m and Carah Bruce won the 3200m. Bruce was also second in the 1600m and was a member of the winning 4x800m relay team.
“The distance crew did a fantastic job,” Welch said. “We were missing some so it was great to see a great effort from them all around. Lynsey, Leah, Iris (Bazinet), Carah, all had to pile up events in the 4x800m, 1600m and 3200m and they took care of business.”
Bella Sorrentino also helped as she helped break up the multitude of points that Killingly stockpiled in the throwing and jumping events. Sorrentino finished second in the shotput and third in the high jump.
Killingly’s Abby Burgess was tough as she had first-place finishes in the 100m, long jump and triple jump. Sydney Rosen captured wins in the discus and javelin for Killingly.
The boys had it much easier winning by 66 points.
“I kind of expected it,” said Woodstock Academy boys’ coach Pete Lusa. “It’s very nice. The kids are doing what they need to do. The weather was good so everyone had a positive day.”
The win followed a tough loss to NFA in the Centaurs season opener where numbers didn’t work out in their favor.
“It’s great. The first meet against NFA was kind of rough, it was raining, and it was kind of a meet to prepare ourselves for the future. We showed up (Saturday) against Killingly,” senior Eric Phongsa said.
Phongsa was first in both the 100m (12.1 seconds) and 200m (24.6) and was also a member of the winning 4x100m relay team.
 “I ran one second over my usual time in the 100 because it was against the wind. I had some problems with my start, too, but overall it was pretty good,” Phongsa said.
Lusa said the wind didn’t only affect runners but also throwers especially the javelin.
“It seemed like the wind was always changing direction and they were always throwing into it,” Lusa said.
 “I had kids come up to me and say, ‘My time in the 200 was a second slower and I’m so much better.’ I just said, ‘the wind’ and they went, ‘Oh.’ I just told them to give themselves a break, the conditions are the conditions.”
Adam Schimmelpfennig won both hurdle events for the Centaurs while Ian Hoffman captured the 800m and the pole vault. Keenan LaMontagne was first in the discus, second in the shotput and third in the javelin.
Other first-place finishers included Silas Strandson (javelin); Liam Wilcox (triple jump); Scout Favreau (400m); Owen Tracy (1600m) and Ethan Aspiras (3200m).
“We have a very strong kid in each event which I like. There is a leader in each event which the younger kids can look up to,” Phongsa said. “We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores. The future is bright for this team.”
Noah Colangelo won the high jump, Jack Sharp took the long jump and Devin Exarhoulias was first in the shotput for Killingly (0-2, 0-1 ECC Division 2).
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

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Stephen J. Burke Sr.
DANIELSON — Stephen J. Burke Sr., 71, of Junior Ave. died April 24, 2021 at Day Kimball Hospital. He was the husband of Joyce (D’Arezzo) Burke. Born in 1949 in Providence, he was the son of the late Thomas and Helena (Reynolds) Burke.
Stephen worked as a self-employed mechanical and industrial design engineer for 22 years on many projects including endoscope cameras, razors, toys, packaging machines, optics, pneumatics, hydraulics and custom switch gears.
He was an active member of the Appalachian Mountain Club. He enjoyed listening to ‘70s rock music, reading, hiking, skiing, rock climbing, camping, canoeing and the outdoors.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his son, Stephen Burke Jr. (Christina) of Cumberland, R.I.; his daughter Tara Enda (Brian) of E. Brunswick, N.J.; and grandchildren Thomas Burke and Sean Enda.
Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. May 1 at the Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St, Putnam. Donations: mountWashington.thankyou4caring.org; or to the Paws Cat Shelter at www.woodstockcats.org/donate.html.

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Wed.  April 28
Blood Drive
WOODSTOCK --- The Putnam Rotary Club and the American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the fieldhouse at Woodstock Academy on Rt. 169. Appointments need to be made online  via APP or by calling the 1-800-733-2767. Redcrossblood.org. When making your appointment use the code:   woodstockacademy    

Thur.  April 29
Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Northeastern CT Art Guild will hold a Vanilla Bean Art Guild Exhibit Live through May 31 during café hours. Twenty percent of purchase will be donated to the Friends of the Pomfret Library! www.artguildne.org

Fri.  April 30
Sale/Auction
POMFRET --- The Windham Tolland 4-H Camp will host a sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 30 and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 1 at the Horse Camp on Taft Pond Road. Preview their online auction items while you are at the in-person sale. The online auction runs from April 30 through May 8. https://www.biddingowl.com/WindhamCounty4HFoundation.

Sat.  May 1
Town-Wide Tag Sale
POMFRET --- The 15th Annual Pomfret Town-Wide Tag Sale will be held May 1. To register or for info call 860-972-3714.

Food Drive
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Proprietors will be hosting a monthly collection of non-perishables, the first Saturday of each month, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Pomfret Senior Center. Looking for items such as: Granola bars, breakfast bars, cereal, pasta, soup, crackers, chips, tuna fish, juice, canned vegetables, (shampoo, soap, razors, wipes, diapers for all ages, Kleenex, toilet paper and laundry supplies. Also looking for volunteers and organizations to help. VisitPomfret.com

Book Sale
POMFRET --- The Friends of Pomfret Public Library Used Book Sale will be held from 7 a.m. to noon at the Old Town House on Town House Drive. Fund-raiser.

Mon.  May 3
Art Show
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present Art @ the Library, Thompson Public Schools Spring Art Show, through May 27 at the library. It features Thompson Middle School Art Students. thompsonpubliclibrary.org

Tues.  May 4
Awareness Day
POMFRET --- United Services Inc. will present Adults Mental Health Awareness Day at noon at the Pomfret Senior Center. USI's Medical Director Dr. Sarah De Asis and Director of Clinical Services Melissa Demma, LCSW, will hold a conversation on Mental Health in Older Adults. Light refreshments and informational handouts. 860-774-2020.

Sat.  May 8
Pop-Up Putnam
PUTNAM --- The Pop-Up Putnam open-air merchant and artisan series will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 8, June 26, July 24 and Aug. 21 in outdoor locations in Rotary Park and along Main Street with additions including entertainment and creative highlights. Vocalist Frank Sinclair appears May 8 and June 26.

Plant/Bake Sale
BROOKLYN --- The Federated Church of Christ at the intersection of routes 6 and 169 will hold a Mother’s Day Plant and Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to noon.

Sat.  May 22
Celebrate Spring
WOODSTOCK --- The Palmer Arboretum will present Celebrate Spring from 1 to 4 p.m. The free event includes tours, bird watching, birdhouse making, painting with Elaine Turner and NE Art Guild and a kids’ scavenger’s hunt. Register: https://form.jotform.com/210594569831161

Sat.  June 5
Food Drive
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Proprietors will be hosting a monthly collection of non-perishables, the first Saturday of each month, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Pomfret Senior Center. Looking for items such as: Granola bars, breakfast bars, cereal, pasta, soup, crackers, chips, tuna fish, juice, canned vegetables, (shampoo, soap, razors, wipes, diapers for all ages, Kleenex, toilet paper and laundry supplies. Also looking for volunteers and organizations to help. VisitPomfret.com

Fri.  June 12
Golf Tournament
KILLINGLY --- The Killingly-Brooklyn Rotary’s 28th annual Nick Haines Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at Connecticut National Golf Course. Benefits local charities. For info: 860-230-3530.

Sat.  June 26
Pop-Up Putnam
PUTNAM --- The Pop-Up Putnam open-air merchant and artisan series will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in outdoor locations in Rotary Park and along Main Street with additions including entertainment and creative highlights.

Fri.  July 2
Red, White, Blue Celebration
KILLINGLY --- The Killingly Parks and Recreation Department will present the Killingly Red, White & Blue Celebration and Fireworks from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Owen Bell Park. Whiskey Boulevard will entertain from 7 to 9:15 p.m.

Sat.  July 24
Pop-Up Putnam
PUTNAM --- The Pop-Up Putnam open-air merchant and artisan series will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in outdoor locations in Rotary Park and along Main Street with additions including entertainment and creative highlights.

Fri. Aug. 6
Rotary Golf Tourney
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club will host the Ronald P. Coderre Golf Tournament fund-raiser at the Connecticut National Golf Club.

Thur. Aug. 19
Bike Night
KILLINGLY --- The Killingly Parks and Recreation Department will present Killingly Bike Night downtown. Rain date Aug. 25. Benefits the Killingly-Brooklyn Rotary Club, TEEG and the Killingly Parks and Recreation Department.

Sat. Aug. 21
Pop-Up Putnam
PUTNAM --- The Pop-Up Putnam open-air merchant and artisan series will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in outdoor locations in Rotary Park and along Main Street with additions including entertainment and creative highlights.

Sun. Aug. 22
Pluck-a-Duck
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association’s fund-raiser, Pluck-a-Duck will be held today at a secret location. For info, contact the Putnam Business Association.

Fri. Sept. 10
Golf Classic
PUTNAM --- Day Kimball Healthcare will hold its Day Kimball Hospital Centreville Bank Golf Classic starting at 7:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Connecticut National Golf Club. Benefit: Day Kimball Hospital. More Info:daykimball.org/golfclassic

Sun. Oct. 3
Canines for Cancer Care
BROOKLYN --- Day Kimball Healthcare will hold Canines for Cancer Care at 11 a.m. at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds. Benefit: Northeast CT Cancer Fund of DKH. More Info:daykimball.org/canines

Sat. Nov. 6
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

Sun.  Dec. 5
Hospice Tree
Day Kimball Healthcare will present Hospice Tree of Life Ceremonies at 5 p.m. at locations around northeastern Connecticut. Benefit: Hospice & Palliative Care of NE CT. More Info:daykimball.org/treeoflife

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