It will be the start of something new at the Bentley Athletic Complex in Woodstock at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 23.
The Woodstock Academy Centaurs will host the Killingly Redmen in the first Thanksgiving Day football game between the two.
“We know what we’re facing, but it doesn’t take away from the excitement of Thanksgiving Day. High school football on Thanksgiving Day is something that is important in this area and we’re excited about that,” Woodstock Academy coach Sean Saucier said.
Both teams could have easily been idle.
The Centaurs had played the Thames River Cooperative for the last two years on Thanksgiving.
That matchup ended when the Crusaders opted to play Quinebaug Valley in a Connecticut Technical Conference game.
That also left the Redmen without a Thanksgiving Day game since they had been playing the Pride.
Neither school wanted to be on the sidelines on Thursday.
In January, the two schools met to make sure that didn’t happen, signing a four-year agreement to play on Thanksgiving Day.
Saucier said he knows it will be important to a lot of people especially those who consider it tradition to attend a high school football game on the holiday. With Quinebaug Valley and Plainfield on the road this season, it will be the only game played in Northeastern Connecticut.
Saucier was last involved in a Thanksgiving Day game when he was a member of the Putnam Clippers. He and Killingly coach Chad Neal were Putnam teammates in 1993.
“I look forward to playing on Thanksgiving a lot. It means a lot. It’s tradition that day in Eastern Connecticut and in Connecticut in general. I think the Thanksgiving Day game is special,” Neal said.
Neal has been involved in many, this will be a first for Saucier as a coach.
The Woodstock Academy coach had been at the helm of the Hyde School and prep football teams don’t play on Thanksgiving.
“I haven’t been a part of a program that has gone this far into the fall. A couple of times we played in the (prep bowl games which were held this past weekend), but we were done after that. It’s neat. It’s new for me and anything new is exciting to go through it for a first time. I’m happy to be a part of it,” Saucier said.
It was decided to play the first game at Woodstock Academy.
“It’s the 125th anniversary of our first Thanksgiving Day football game. We played Putnam. Then we stopped playing. So it was important to us and Killingly was very nice to allow us to host the first game,” Academy headmaster Chris Sandford said when the contract between the two schools was signed in January. Since then, the two schools have met several times to make sure the game is more of an “event” than just a football game.
Neal said that professional approach, by both schools, should result in a successful venture even if the product on the field may not be even.
The odds are stacked against the Centaurs.
Killingly comes in with a 9-0 record and a chance to be the first Redmen team since 1953 to finish undefeated. It has already guaranteed itself a Class M playoff berth for a third consecutive year and a home playoff game.
The Centaurs come in with a 4-5 record and this will be their final game of the season.
The game does feature two of the top running backs in Eastern Connecticut with Killingly’s Spencer Lockwood and Woodstock Academy’s Kameron Janice each having accounted for over 2,000 yards this season.
“It’s a tall order,” Saucier said of the defensive task ahead, trying to stop both Lockwood and backfield mate Zach Caffrey. “(Lockwood) and Zach are formidable runners and they have a big, strong formidable line. Our theme is compete, do the best you can,” Saucier said.
Neal expects that will be the case.
“Sean will have his guys ready. Watching their film, he’s done a great job, they have been competitive. The scores of the games they have played (in the Eastern Connecticut Conference) are not indicative of the game. We will have to be prepared,” Neal said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director

Lawrence E. Jones,
Army Air Corp vet
WOODSTOCK — Lawrence Edwin Jones, son of the late Roy and Corinne Jones died Nov. 13, 2017. He was born March 16, 1922, in Willimantic, and was a longtime resident of Woodstock.
As a UConn faculty boy he was raised on the UConn campus where his lifelong love of learning and educating was born.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Springfield College, and both a master’s degree and a 6th Year Certificate from UConn. He served for 2.8 years in the Army Air Corps Weather Service.
Mr. Jones taught mathematics at Woodstock Academy, Plainfield High School and Windham High School. A devoted educator, he also coached cross country and track, and worked informally with gymnastics students. For several years he was the Scoutmaster of Woodstock’s Troop 27.
During his career Mr. Jones was a member of The National Association of Teachers of Mathematics, The New England Association of Mathematics Teachers, and the Associated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut (ATOMIC), for whom he was a Charter member, served a term as president, and was a frequent convention speaker. He published numerous math writings, including the book The Sundial and Geometry. He was a five-time recipient of a National Science Foundation Fellowship, served on several secondary school evaluation teams, and was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, an honorary society of men in education.
In his early years he worked with his Dad operating the Roy Jones Chicken Barbeque Service.  This was instrumental in his inaugurating the renowned chicken barbeque booth (for which he served as chief) at the Woodstock Fair in 1957.
After retiring from teaching in 1980 he worked as a programmer in the Data Center at Eastern Connecticut State University where he also taught a class each semester as an adjunct professor. For many years he enjoyed working summers as a historic interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village.
In retirement he was able to enjoy his long time interest in gnomonics, the art of calculating and making sundials.  He was a charter member of the North American Sundial Society and designed several sundials to mount on the main pavilion at the Woodstock Fair.  They were calibrated with precision for the first week of each September, and he only stopped placing the primary dial when his wife would no longer allow him on the roof of the pavilion porch.
Mr. Jones was predeceased by his wife Gloria. He leaves his sons Gary Jones of Woodstock, Stanley Jones (Wendy) of Pembroke, N.H., and Steven Jones (Bouquette) of Bethlehem, N.H.; three granddaughters Melissa Jones of Littleton, N.H., Jennifer C. Jones of Chichester, N.H., and Hannah Jones of Pembroke.
He was a member of the Woodstock Hill Congregational Church (where he served as deacon), and his Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 2. Private burial was in Storrs Cemetery. Donations: Charity of the donor’s choice. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Francis R. Gregoire
PUTNAM — Francis R. Gregoire, 69, of Underwood Rd., died unexpectedly Nov. 14, 2017, at Day Kimball Hospital.  He was the husband of Susan (Deslauriers) Gregoire for 41 years.  Born in 1948 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Leodore and Lillian (Bonneville) Gregoire.
Francis worked as a fiberglass supervisor for Repco in Ivoryton, previously working for Danco Manufacturing in Putnam.  Francis was a proud and active member of the Putnam Lions Club. He served as president and went on to represent the club on the state level as District Governor 23C for the 2000-2001 year.  He served on the board of directors for Putnam Ambulance, also serving on the Putnam Water & Sewer Commission.  He loved to hunt and fish.
In addition to his wife Susan, he leaves his daughter, Rebecca Gregoire of Ashford; and his grandchildren, Mellissa Garner of Killen, Ala., Elizabeth Garner of Ashford, and Aurora Paradis of Moosup.  He was predeceased by his brother, Paul Gregoire.
The Funeral Service was Nov. 18 in Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery.  Donations: Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation, 40 Temple St. #1B, New Haven, CT 06510. 

Jeannette D. Columbia
PUTNAM — Jeannette D.  (LaPointe) Columbia, 92, of Wicker Street, died Nov.  18, 2017, at home. She was the wife of the late Richard E. Columbia. Born in 1925 in Putnam, she was the daughter of Arthur and Alice (LaRose) LaPointe.
Jeannette was a seamstress and owned and operated LaPointe Tailoring. She enjoyed knitting and sewing.
She leaves her son, Richard A. (Linda) Columbia of Putnam; grandchildren, Nicolas (Crystal) Columbia of Putnam and Michelle (Brad) Smith of Putnam; five great-grandchildren, Mya, Veronica, Kailyn, Nicolas, and Jacoby.  She was predeceased by her brother, Leo H. LaPointe.
The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by her cousin Fr. Larry LaPointe was Nov. 21 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St Mary Cemetery Putnam. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

Doris J. Corriveau
N. GROSVENORDALE — Doris J.  Corriveau, 67, of Fabyan Road, died Nov. 18, 2017, in Webster. Born in 1950 in Putnam, she was the daughter of Jeannette (Montpelier) Corriveau of N. Grosvenordale and the late George W. Corriveau.
Doris was a homemaker. She enjoyed baking, making puzzles and playing board games.
In addition to her mother, she leaves her daughter, Tina (Christopher) Caron of Webster; her five brothers, George Corriveau of Pennsylvania, Alfred Corriveau of Willimantic, Roger Corriveau of N. Grosvenordale, Richard Corriveau of N. Grosvenordale, and Paul Corriveau of Thompson; and her four grandchildren, Gregory Caron, Nicole Caron, Benjamin Caron and Gabriella Caron.  She was predeceased by sister, Pauline Rock
The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 22 at St. Stephen’s Church, Quinebaug with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Valade Funeral Home & Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.

Evelyn R. Paulson
BROOKLYN — Evelyn R. Paulson, 73, of Brooklyn, died Nov. 9, 2017, at UMass in Worcester.
Born Oct. 9, 1944, in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Edmond and Marie (Schroth) Harnois. She was the wife of Larry G. Paulson and they married on Oct. 2, 1980, in Plainfield.
Evelyn was a Communicant of St. Joseph Church. She enjoyed sewing, quilting and shopping.
She leaves her husband Larry G. Paulson; her sisters JoAnn Ormerod (Robert), Karen Cote (Jeffery); her nieces Samantha Soltesz, Michelle Comeau, Betty-Jo Scott; her nephews Larry Westover, Donald Steele Jr.; a special aunt Ruth Brodeau.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 18 in Our Lady of La Salette Church, Brooklyn. Burial will be at a later date. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.

Isabel T. Wargat
MOOSUP — Isabel (Rosario) Wargat, 77, of Collelo Ave., died Nov. 14, 2017, at home. She was the wife of Charles L. Wargat.  Born in 1940 in Inarajan, Guam, she was the daughter of the late Jose and Dolores “Rita” (Crisostomo) Rosario.
Mrs. Wargat was a homemaker.  She loved baseball and volunteered for the Moosup Little League.  She enjoyed her gardening, especially roses.
In addition to her husband, she leaves her sons, Steve Wargat of Moosup, Dave Wargat (Esther) of Colchester; her sisters, Rita San Nicholas, Bennett Aguon, and Lourdes Gonzalez; and grandchildren, Bryanna, Shelby, Ryan, Justin, and Kaitlyn.
 Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes & Crematory, 104 Church St, Putnam.

Dorothy Whittemore
THOMPSON/FORT MYERS, Fla. — Dorothy F. (Summers) Whittemore, 92, died Nov. 18, 2017, in Putnam.
She was born in Woodstock, the daughter of the late Robert and Ethel (Basto) Summers.  She lived in Thompson and Fort Myers.
Dot had great times with her friends on Caribbean Cruises and at the many Florida attractions.  She could yodel with the best of them and she enjoyed playing the Thomas organ.
Dorothy leaves her husband of 55 years, Clarence J. Whittemore; her sister-in-law Mabel Burke; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by siblings; Robert Summers Jr. (also known as Archie), Raymond Summers, Elizabeth Heath and Beverly Manso.
A remembrance ceremony will be held in the spring. Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.

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'Nutcracker'
coming
Dec. 1
PUTNAM — The Bradley Playhouse and The Complex Performing and Creative Arts Centre are coming together to present Michael Bolger’s Nutcracker on the Bradley stage. It begins Dec. 1 and runs for three weekends.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17. Tickets are $24 for adults and $21 for seniors and students. All seats are reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance or at the door. Purchasing your tickets ahead of time is recommended.
Michael Bolger received a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase and is a well-respected choreographer, dancer and teacher. He is on the faculty at Providence Ballet, Roger Williams University and Rhode Island College.
Michael Bolger’s Nutcracker is a staple within The Complex Community and has been warming hearts during the holiday season for the past three years.  This original, contemporary adaptation of everyone’s favorite ballet will delight audiences of all ages this Holiday Season. Performed by The Complex Dance Theatre, this story follows the Bolger family, their 12 siblings, 2 parents, and a lifetime of memories that will resonate with all families. Bolger’s Nutcracker pays homage to the classic ballet, but is told through contemporary theatre dance. The traditions of The Nutcracker ring true in tales of family, tradition, connection and holiday cheer told through lively and entertaining choreography.
Audiences will laugh, cry and warm their hearts while experiencing Tchaikovsky’s brilliant score brought to life by a magnificent 18 piece orchestra. This is the first time in the history of The Bradley Playhouse and the Northeastern CT community at large that dance has had the opportunity to entertain audiences as the main stage holiday performance, featuring the faculty and company members of The Complex Dance Theatre.  Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bolger.