THOMPSON — Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park celebrated a 28-year tradition with the annual Bud 150, the third race of the Whelen Modified Tour as the series hit the season middle point with a slim points lead on the line.
Ryan Preece continued his streak of victories while local track racers worked to find some much needed success as the season approaches its final stretch.
Riding a high like few racers ever get to experience, Preece survived a battle of wits and strategy to conquer the Bud 150 at Thompson Speedway, his second consecutive victory and third in a month’s time. He also captured the checkered flag in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Iowa.
The 150-lap feature came down to Preece and reigning champions Doug Coby after the two drivers pitted late in the event. Preece himself spun after apparent contact in turn two. The two drivers worked their way to the front in the last 25 laps, trading the lead several times before a last-lap duel was cut short when Coby blew a tire coming across the line for the white flag in his pursuit of Preece.
Preece was awarded the victory, his fourth of the season on the Whelen Modified Tour, and said he was riding the momentum of his recent success.
“I’m riding the wave. I’ve got to keep winning races. My career depends on that. It’s the only way I’m going to stay relevant is by winning races, especially after the whole Iowa deal. It’s the only way I’m going to make a future for myself,” Preece said.
While there was debate among several drivers over the circumstances of Preece’s spinout, which some credited as “strategy” and other drivers wouldn’t comment on at all, Preece himself said that he received a nudge from behind and, after refusing to pit earlier in the event, his tires had fallen off too much at that point to keep the car stable.
Doug Coby was credited as the runner-up in the event after his crash froze the field coming across the line for the final lap. Ted Christopher and Timmy Solomito finished third and fourth and shared their thoughts after the race as well.
“I was a good run. We ran really good at Stafford and I knew we had something to build off of with that,” Christopher told reporters. “I think we were best in class because we wanted to do a late pit, but we were just too free in the beginning. It worked out for (Preece and Coby) and I knew it was going to be one of those two guys who got through.”
Points leader Timmy Solomito said he wants to ride the consistency into the rest of the season, hoping to keep a firm grip on his lead.He has a slim 10-point advantage over Rowan Pennink who captured the pole for the Bud 150 and finished seventh, following the race at Thompson.
“You have to race smart, but you have to race hard too. It’s still a long time to go in the season. You don’t want to put yourself in a position to get wiped out early and lose points,” Solomito said. “You’ve got to run hard, but you have to be smooth and you have to be there at the end. We’re focusing on the big picture right now.”
Before the Whelen Modified action the Sunoco Modifieds started off the night with an intense 30-lap feature that saw the points race tighten up and a familiar face return to the top of the leader board and to victory lane. Keith Rocco won the Sunoco race during the 2016 Bud 150 event and repeated the feat in 2017 with his second win of the season. Rocco outraced a hard charging Steve Masse in a bumper-to-bumper dash to the finish in the closing laps to take the victory and the points lead after Preece experienced mechanical issues early on in the event. Rocco benefited from a late caution that saw all three of the leaders at the time, Woody Pitkat, Ted Christopher, and Troy Talman, spin out of turn two. When the green waved once again Rocco took the lead and was practically pushed around the track by Masse until a last lap duel allowed Rocco to gain enough of a gap to win.
“Masse was pushing us pretty good down the straightaway, but to move to dive bomb somebody and make it stick is pretty tough. I think his car was too free to do that,” Rocco said of the battle for the lead in the closing laps. He added that he felt like his team finally caught a break in 2017 as the results allowed him to overtake Preece as Rocco continues his quest for a second straight Sunoco Modified title. Masse held on for a second place finish followed by Ted Christopher and Woody Pitkat, who recovered from their on-track incident, in third and fourth and Todd Owen in fifth.
The NorthEastern Midget Association (NEMA) Midgets were next up with yet another driver familiar to victory lane in Thompson taking the checkered flag. Randy Cabral continued his winning ways at the Big-T, adding to his impressive win total that makes him the winningest driver in the NEMA Midgets at Thompson. Cabral also claimed his second consecutive series win on the season and fended off a hard charging John Zych, Jr.in the closing laps to get the job done. “I had to keep my cool and keep going,” Cabral said. “It was awesome. I love this place.” The win wasn’t enough to put Cabral in the points lead for the season, but it closed up the tight battle for the championship lead going into the series’ next event at the Waterford Speedbowl on August 12. Kyle Hamilton, Jim Chambers, Mike Horn, and Bethany Stoehr rounded out the top five in the 25-lap feature.
The Limited Sportsman 20-lap feature ended in an emotional win for Brent Gleason. It was his second consecutive victory at the track making him the first two-time winner in the division in 2017. Gleason found himself up front for much of the event, even going side by side with Shawn Monahan for nearly a full lap before taking the lead for the final time and holding on for the checkered flag. Gleason dedicated the win to his father, who he admitted recently got some bad health news, and said he wasn’t going to let anyone but him cross the finish line first. “ I knew that my car was better on the long run – I’m just glad it’s over. It took so long,” Gleason said referencing a red flag that slowed the race during a multi-car incident on lap six.
The win is Gleason’s second at Thompson since he had a win disqualified for an improper engine. Gleason’s called his recent success vindicating. “I didn’t have much say over that motor, but when we rebuilt it I had the say. I told them exactly what I wanted in it and we rebuilt it and while it’s a little harder to drive it helps it handle better. We may not have the best stuff but we’re the best team, or at least we try to be.” Shawn Monahan held on for second followed by Al Stone, Steve Kenneway, and Troy Waterman.
The final events of the night saw points leader Wayne Burroughs Jr. take yet another win on the season in the 15-lap Mini Stock feature.
Late Model finish is currently under review at press time.
WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR BUD 150 FINISH TOP-10: 1. Ryan Preece (Berlin, CT); 2. Doug Coby (Milford, CT); 3. Ted Christopher (Plainville, CT); 4. Timmy Solomito (Islip, NY); 5. Bobby Santos (Franklin, MA); 6. Andrew Krause; 7. Rowan Pennink (Huntington Valley, PA); 8. Eric Goodale (Riverhead, NY); 9. John McKennedy (Chelmsford, MA); 10. Woody Pitkat (Sturbridge, MA)
SUNOCO MODIFIED FEATURE TOP-10: 1. Keith Rocco (Berlin, CT); 2. Steve Masse (Bellingham, MA); 3. Ted Christopher (Plainville, CT); 4. Woody Pitkat (Sturbridge, MA); 5. Todd Owen (Somers, CT); 6. Joey Gada (Uncasville, CT); 7. John Studley (Framingham, MA); 8. Matt Gallo (Kensington, CT); 9. Marcello Rufrano (North Haven, CT); 10. Kyler Cafro (Chaplin, CT)
NEMA MIDGETS FEATURE TOP-10: 1. Randy Cabral (Kingston MA); 2. Kyle Hamilton; 3. Jim Chambers (Atkinson, NH); 4. Mike Horn; 5. Bethany Stoehr (Bridgewater, MA); 6. Todd Bertrand (Danielson, CT); 7. Paul Scally (Raynham, MA); 8. John Zych, Jr. (Mendon, MA); 9. Doug Cleveland (Sudbury, MA);10. Alan Chambers (Atkinson, NH)
LIMITED SPORTSMAN FEATURE TOP-10: 1. Brent Gleason (Griswold, CT); 2. Shawn Monahan (Waterford, CT); 3. Al Stone (Durham, CT); 4. Steve Kenneway (Lowell, MA); 5. Troy Waterman (Danielson, CT); 6. Meghan Fuller (Auburn, MA); 7. Jack Aquilina (Oakdale, CT); 8. Tommy Shea (New London, CT); 9. Hank Stott (Medway, MA); 10. Anthony Pandozzi
MINI STOCK FEATURE TOP-10: 1. Wayne Burroughs, Jr. (Oakdale, CT); 2. Nate Taylor (Brooklyn, CT); 3. Jacob Perry (Pawcatuck, CT); 4. Jared Roy (Sterling, CT); 5. Steve Michalski (Brooklyn, CT); 6. Eric Bourgeois (East Haddam, CT); 7. Doug Curry (Groton, CT); 8. Mike Anzalone (Plainfield, CT); 9. Ian Brew (Woodriver Junction, RI); 10. Mitch Bombard (Willimantic, CT).
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Camp Cutler
The first Hale YMCA Camp Cutler was a huge success, serving 375 children. Courtesy photos.
PUTNAM — The Hale YMCA announced the close of the inaugural summer of Camp Cutler Day Camp on Aug. 25. The Camp served 375 children from the local community, grades K-5, surpassing enrollment goals. Additionally, all 375 kids received free breakfast and lunch for the entire summer, thanks to a partnership with Putnam Public Schools. The Hale YMCA was able to provide $12,000 in Financial Assistance, allowing low-income families a chance to send their kids to camp at a reduced rate.
As summer winds down, everyone at the Hale YMCA is very proud of the fun, enriching experiences offered to the many children that attended Camp Cutler,” said Amanda Kelly, executive director of Hale YMCA. “Friendships were made, skills were learned and the building was abuzz with the voices of happy kids moving from one activity to the next. The counselors had to stay on their toes for 10 busy weeks, but everyone agrees that the inaugural summer of Camp Cutler Day Camp was an overwhelming success!”
Campers participated in a wide range of activities, including swimming, archery, sports, music, arts and crafts, walking the Putnam River Trail, nature programs and more. The highlight of each camp day was the Opening and Closing ceremonies, where the official Camp Cutler flag was raised and lowered, camp songs were sung and the kids picked a “Counselor of the Week” to receive a water dunking. A few special visitors stopped by to share stories and safety tips, including representatives from the Last Green Valley and the American Red Cross.
Feedback from campers and their families has been extremely positive. “My granddaughter learned great life skills at Camp Cutler, like how to work in a group and independence, and she created lasting friendships,” said one Grandfather. “I was a camp director for 15 years, and this program is one of the best I have seen. Thank you so much for providing this transformative experience for my granddaughter!”
Robert ‘Bob’ Racine,
Air Force vet
MIMS, Fla. — Robert “Bob” A. Racine, 78, of Aurantia Rd., died July 7, 2017, at the Hospice of St. Francis in Titusville, FL. He was the husband of the late Margaret (Fry) Racine. Born in 1938 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Frederick and Leona (Benac) Racine.
Mr. Racine received his high school diploma from Marianapolis Preparatory School.
Bob enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1956, serving in France and Albuquerque, New Mexico where he met and married the love of his life, Margaret Fry. They were married for 56 years. Marge predeceased him in 2016.
Bob was a master mechanic and was a member of the pit crew for NASCAR drivers Al Unser and his brother Bobby Unser. He was an avid marathon runner and gun enthusiast. Bob remained active until two weeks prior to his death. He and his wife lived all over the U.S. and traveled with his work for a major international construction company.
He leaves four sons and their spouses, Michael and his wife Rebecca, John and his wife Tonja, David and his wife Hazel, and Bryan and his wife Tammy; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Carole Stanfield of Titusville, Fla., and Elizabeth “Betty” Mayo (Donald) of Putnam.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 26 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial with military honors in St. Joseph Cemetery, Dayville. Donations: Hospice of St. Francis, 1250-B Grumman Place, Titusville, FL 32780. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory
Romeo F. Leo,
WWII vet
PUTNAM — Romeo F. Leo, 92, of Church St., died peacefully at Matulaitis Nursing Home. He was born in 1925 to the late Gaetano and Amelia (Noia) Leo. He was married to Lorraine (Rousseau) Leo for 65 years. Romeo was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during WWII.
Romeo worked for many years at U S Button, formerly the Frank Perizak Company, as a supervisor in many departments. His later years were spent working at the Putnam Supermarket.
He graduated from Putnam High School in 1942 where he was an outstanding athlete. He loved to fish and play golf where he could be found at Quinnatisset Country Club if not playing, walking the course.
Romeo was a member of the Elks and former Foresters of America Club. Although he had a very unique personality, those who knew him best had a true friend who cared deeply.
Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Guy Leo and his friend Jenn Frease of Putnam; his daughter, Elaine Hovey (James) of Warwick, R.I.; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by three brothers, Florendo, Carmine, and Anthony; and four sisters, Erselia, Elvira Caplette, Mary and Anna Prehoda.
Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Clive Gudmundson,
U.S. Army vet
PUTNAM — Aug. 15, 2017, Clive A. Gudmundson died. He was the husband of Mary Louise Healey. He was son of Carl and Catherine (Bartek) Gudmundson, born in Middletown. He grew up in E. Hampton, and later became a lifelong resident of Putnam.
He and his twin brother Calvin were co-owners and operated GB Tool Co. in Warwick, R.I., for more than 30 years. Clive also served in the U.S. Army.
Besides his wife Mary Lou, he leaves his brother Calvin (Elizabeth); nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Chester and sister Christine Lindquist.
The Funeral was Aug. 19 at the Emanuel Lutheran Church, Thompson, with burial in Willington Hill Cemetery, Willington. Donations: Visitation House, PO Box 60115, Worcester, MA 01610; or National Shrine of St. Jude, PO Box 6262, Chicago, IL 60680. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Sylvia N. Bardin
PUTNAM — Sylvia N. (Paquin) Bardin, 78, formerly of Pomfret St., died Aug. 17, 2017, in Day Kimball Hospital. She was the wife of the late Bruce A. Bardin. Born in 1939 in Putnam, she was the daughter of the late Aimee and Bella (Vadnais) Paquin.
Mrs. Bardin worked for more than 32 years for Putnam Elementary School as a teacher’s aide and part time during the summer for Crabtree & Evelyn.
She leaves a son, Brian Bardin (Marcia) of Danielson; a daughter, Sharon Gnatowski (Michael) of Moosup; a sister, Patricia Gilman of Putnam; half-brother, Mark Paquin of Putnam; and two half-sisters, Kathy Barrett of Newburyport, Mass., and Cynthia Killoran of Pennsylvania; four grandchildren, Christopher and Matthew Gnatowski, and Jocelyn and Eric Bardin.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 21 in Most Holy Trinity Church, Pomfret. Donations: Friends of Assisi Food Pantry, 77 Water St, Danielson, CT 06239. Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Isabel R. Farnham
PUTNAM — Isabel R. (Bailey) Farnham, 84, of Ballou St., died Aug. 17, 2017, in Westview Health Care Center. She was the wife of the late Ernest N. Farnham. Born in 932 in Woodstock, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Grace (Scoville) Bailey.
Mrs. Farnham worked as a dietary aide at Day Kimball Hospital for many years. When she later moved to Arizona she was employed as a data entry person for the Department of Aging.
Mrs. Farnham enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles, and doing daily devotional readings and writings. Isabel was a member of the Hope Community Church in Putnam.
She leaves a son Lee Cowett; two daughters Sandra Cayouette and Carol Fehr; a niece and nephew that she thought of as her own Charles Bailey Jr. and Verna Fenton; three sisters Dorothy Albrough, Beverly Bailey, and Ellen Clark; three grandchildren Isabella Moeley, Ariel Baker, and Jennifer Dyer; six great-grandchildren Dylan, Kylee, Natalie, Hunter, Megan, and Gavin; and many great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother Charles Bailey and a grandson James Thompson Jr.
Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Mark F. Schumacher
ABINGTON — Mark F. Schumacher, 64, of Mashamoquet Rd, died Aug. 18, 2017, at home. He was the husband of Linda S. (Mihok) Schumacher.
Born in 1953 in Milford, he was the son of John Schumacher II and his wife Ruth of Essex and the late Evelyn (Trevelin) Reiss.
Mr. Schumacher worked for many years as a rural route mail carrier for the U.S. Postal service in Coventry.
He was a member of the Faith Bible Evangelical Free Church in Woodstock.
He enjoyed gardening, singing, hiking, but, above all he cherished reading the Bible and praying for others.
He leaves his wife; a son Jesse Philip Schumacher and his fiancé Holly Elaine Wyen of N. Grosvenordale; a daughter Bonnie Rose Schumacher and her fiancé David James Fortuna of E. Haven; three brothers John W. Schumacher III (Janet Schmidt) of Walpole, Mass., Eric Schumacher of Old Lyme, and Don Schumacher of Ivoryton; a sister Paula Welter (Curtis) of Sarasota, Fla.; a grandson Philip James Schumacher; a niece Connie Criley and two nephews Jacob Lehning and Jeremy Lehning.
A Celebration of Mark’s life will be at 11 a.m. Aug. 26 in the Faith Bible Evangelical Free Church. Donations: the above named church; or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Disease Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
William Taylor
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — William Bolling Taylor, husband, father, grandfather, entrepreneur, teacher, mentor, and friend, died July 28, 2017, of natural causes at the Bayfront Hospital in Port Charlotte.
Bill was born Dec. 31, 1943, in New York City where his mother, Marion Young Taylor (stage name: Martha Deane), broadcast the birth of he and his twin sister live from the maternity ward.
To celebrate the happy event, the artist Theodore Gissel, aka Dr. Seuss, created a baby book for Bill and his sister, Nikki. Due to the esteemed nature of both of his parents jobs, Bill had an incredibly special childhood, of which most could only dream.
While he did grow up with privilege, he also knew the value of hard work.
For anyone who ever worked on a home improvement project with Bill Taylor, you quickly learned of his work ethic.
Bill earned his undergraduate degree from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Penn.
Inspired by President Kennedy’s epic words, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” he became a teacher.
After spending one year at Manchester High School, Bill began teaching at Woodstock Academy in 1969; he spent 39 years in his profession by the time he retired in 2007.
In his time at Woodstock Academy, he was a soccer and baseball coach (he also coached soccer at Annhurst College), a department chair, a technology coordinator, a class advisor, and a friend to the thousands of students who sat in his classroom, or entered his world.
There are people who are married now because they met, and held hands, in the back of Mr. Taylor’s classroom. There are dozens of people who are now teachers because of Bill Taylor, his son included.
There are myriad of people who realized their own passions in life because Bill Taylor mentored and helped guide them through their impressionable years.
Do you remember the Voice of Democracy Speech at WA?
Every year, juniors would be required to write and deliver a three-to five-minute speech that would demonstrate the student’s feelings about their country.
It was such a chore to do, but how many of us, for the first time, thought about our relationship to this country and how it made us feel?
Bill Taylor did that for all of us; he helped us realize who we were, how we felt, and how we fit in to the bigger picture. Bill Taylor made us better humans.
After retiring from teaching, Bill and his wife, Rebecca traveled the country in an enormous RV. It was the trip of a lifetime.
They moved to Florida to a home on a canal, and a boat in the slip. It was heaven. Rebecca and “the Love of Her Life,” settled in for many wonderful years.
He leaves his wife of 36 years, Rebecca Taylor; his son, Greg Smith (Robin); his grandson Brendan Taylor Smith (Kait); his granddaughter Mackenzie Marie LeBlanc (Keith); his 17-year-old cat, Cupcake.
While we cannot fit all of the unique stories that make Bill such a special man into this tribute, we do want to assure you of at least one tradition: the Christmas Pants will live on! We will never forget him, or the line he used to start every class, “Good people, I am happy you are here.”
A memorial service will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 14 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Donations: Woodstock Academy Endowment Fund.
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PUTNAM — Rebecca Rainville, medical assistant and certified nurse assistant, has been named employee of the month for July at Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH).
Rainville began her career with DKH in 2009 working as a primary care medical assistant in Plainfield. In 2016, she assumed her current position as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) in the Hospital’s hematology/oncology unit at the Rose Bove LaRose Cancer Center where she helps physicians and nurses take care of cancer patients and others requiring care. Rainville was born in Norwich and lives in S. Killingly where she lives with her husband and two children. She attended Quinebaug Valley Community College to obtain her CNA certificate.