Pursuing
foreclosure
on PSA
dorm
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The second legal action against the owners of the Putnam Science Academy took a giant step late last week, moving on foreclosing on one of the academy’s buildings.
In the first legal action, May 30, in a stipulated agreement granted by a Connecticut Superior Court judge June 4, a Massachusetts foreign corporation was awarded a judgment of more $6.5 million against the owners of the academy. Raise Crest Education Inc. was awarded the $4,800,000 it lent D&M Group, LLC d//b/a as Putnam Science Academy and PSA Education Inc. starting in 2019. The 8 percent interest on that figure totaled another $1,690,958.91, plus costs of $3,964.25 plus related attorney’s fees of $52,750.50 for a total of $6,547,673.66.
Raise Crest Education Inc. operates New England Innovation Academy, a Massachusetts foreign corporation founded in January 2022. The founder, treasurer and trustee is listed as Raymond Chang. It operates a school in Massachusetts.
May 30, the judge approved an order for prejudgment remedy that Raise Crest can attach to the value of $4.8 million the following estate of PSA Education, Inc.: 72 Church St., 15-23 and 29 Marshall Street and 55 Gilman St.
There was also a second action and that one, last week, is moving to foreclosure on 55 Gilman St. A lis pendens was filed at Town Hall May 29. The plaintiff is listed as Shichao Zhang and the defendants are D&M Group, LLC, PSA Education, Inc. Xiaoqing Yuan, Yanqin (or Yanquin) Ding, Yuan Liu, Xiaohong Yan, the IRS ($300,000) and Raise Crest Education Inc. The civil action, returnable to superior court June 25, was brought to foreclose real estate taxes and sewer usage liens in favor of Shichao Zhang. It lists the real estate affected as: 85 Pomfret St., 55 Gilman St.
The case type of Zhang’s suit is “pending foreclosure sales” for 55 Gilman St. A motion for default for failure to appear was lodged in Superior Court June 28 saying Plaintiff Shichao Zhang “hereby moves that a default enter against the defendants, D&M Group LLC, PSA Education, Inc. Department of the Treasury-Internal Revenue Service and Raise Crest Education Inc. for their failure to appear.”
Those defendants who did file an appearance (self-rep) are Xiaoquing Yuan of Weston, Mass., Yanquin Ding of Weston, Yuan Liu of Weston and Xiaohong Yan of Beijing, China.
Yuan and Yanquin Ding are listed as the treasurer and president, respectively of Lion Education Co. Ltd, a Massachusetts Domestic Profit Corporation filed in June 2018. Yanqin Ding is also listed as the registered agent for Lion Education.
According to Putnam Town Assessor records, 55 Gilman St. is listed as a dormitory and the total appraised parcel value of 55 Gilman St. is $1,551,300.
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
June 18
Gerry Safford, 37, S. Main Street, Putnam; two counts of criminal violation of restraining order.
Emily Champagne, 43, Perry Street, Putnam; third-degree assault, disorderly, interfering with police.
June 19
Leonard Krasinski, 75, Center Street, Putnam; second-degree breach of peace.
June 20
Alexander Hill, 38, Town Farm Road, Putnam; stop sign violation, operating under suspension, insufficient insurance, misuse of insurance, operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
Misty L. Bishop, 32, Battey Street, Putnam; second-degree failure to appear.
Brandon RT Brisbois, 32, no complete address; illegal possession of narcotic, possession of paraphernalia, second-degree breach of peace.
June 21
Corrine Charbonneau, 37, homeless, Putnam; first-degree criminal trespass, possession of narcotics/cocaine.
Marian Miller, 39, Hartford Pike, Dayville; cell phone violation, suspended registration, insufficient insurance, operating unregistered motor vehicle.
June 23
Emily M. Champagne, 43, Perry Street, Putnam; third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, violation of a protect order, interfering/resisting an officer.
June 22
Lindsey E. O’Dea, 23, Woodstock Meadows, Woodstock; operating under the influence, unsafe movement.
Olivia B. Ekinci, 35, Laconia Court, Putnam; assault of a peace officer, interfering/resisting an officer.
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caption:
Let There be Light
The Interact Club members tried out the Solar Suitcase after they assembled it. It works. It will be sent to a small village school without power. From left: Sofia Thurber and Jane Ferraro, current presidents; Logan Casteen, Amelia Haynes, and Jordyn Butler and Eric Levesque, past presidents. Courtesy photo.
Interact Club light travels far
After months of fund-raising, soliciting donations and sponsorships, the Putnam Rotary Interact Club raised $3,000 to purchase the Solar Suitcase Kit and June 18, with a little bit of teamwork, they put the kit together.
Once WE Share Solar OK’s the club members’ assembly work, it will send it to a school house in a developing country that has no electricity job.
Brownie sundaes helped keep all the helpers cool.
Jordyn Butler, past Interact co-president, said:” Overall I thought the solar suitcase was a great project to be a part of. From fund-raising to actually putting the suitcase together, every step of the process encouraged teamwork and community connectedness which allowed us to hone some valuable skills.”
Eric Levesque, past co-president, said, “The solar suitcase was surprisingly very simple to put together. The instructions were clear and easy to understand, allowing for a quick and satisfying product. While $3,000 may have been an intimidating figure, with a couple of fund-raisers, and sponsors, we were able to reach the mark comfortably. I highly recommend the project to anyone willing to take it on. “
New Interact co-president, Sofia Thurber said: “I would highly encourage the initiative of constructing a solar suitcase as an innovative science project within the educational curriculum. Embarking on such a project would not only cultivate creative and critical thinking among students but also serve as a pioneering addition to the academic system. This endeavor extends beyond mere educational value; it equips students with the skills to create a practical device that can make a significant impact in regions beyond the United States.”
June Ferraro, new co-president, said:” I would definitely recommend schools to raise money for a solar suitcase. It would be interactive and fun for students to build in a science class. It can help students learn new things and maybe help them be more interested in volunteering or raising funds. The solar suitcase allows people that are less fortunate to have the ability to power schools, hospitals, and much more. Overall it was fun and went towards a great cause”.
Roberta Rocchetti and Woody Durst, Interact Club advisors, said they were so impressed with the students’ approach to the project. They immediately formed groups and went to work putting the suitcase together. One group worked on the suitcase assembly, allowing a light to be attached, a phone or laptop to be charged and the solar panel to be attached to recharge the battery. The other group assembled a switching box which allowed more lights to be attached to the solar suitcase. The students completed the project in less than 2 hours.
“I feel we all learned a lot about the uses of solar electricity, especially in developing countries. I am so happy the Interact Club chose this as their Interaction project for the year” said Rocchetti.
For more information about the Solar suitcase go to We Share Solar | Hands-On STEM Education | Global Impact.
For more information about how you can join the Interact club contact
#1 Switch Assembly
#2 Sofia Thurber, June Ferraro switch
# 3 solar suitcase
# 4 Amelia Haynes and June Ferraro - switch box
#5 Jordyn Butler and Amelia Haynes – switch
#6 Jordyn Butler - Eric Levesque - Amelia Logan - Sofia Thurber and June Ferraro - working together
#8 Logan Casteen - Eric Levesque - light and phone
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Honored
Several Woodstock Academy athletes were honored at Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State banquets. Bottom: Sophomore Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain received Class MM girls’ track All-State honors for her performance in the javelin. Middle: Senior Eric Mathewson, left, and junior Brady Ericson received their Class L All-State baseball honors after a state championship season. Top: Senior Aiden Finch, left, received his Class M second team boys’ volleyball All-State honors with coach Adam Bottone alongside. Photos by Sean Saucier/ Woodstock Academy.
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