PUTNAM — Day Kimball Healthcare’s Cruisin’ for Cancer Care committee hosted a Guest Bartender Night and raised $6,125 for the Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of Day Kimball Healthcare. The fund provides financial assistance for cancer screening and treatment to northeastern Connecticut residents in need.

“We were absolutely overwhelmed by the turnout and the outpouring of community support for this event,” said DKH Director of Development Kristen Willis. “Our Cruisin’ for Cancer Committee has worked tirelessly for the past 14 years in support of the NE CT Cancer fund, raising funds primarily through an annual motorcycle and car cruise. And when the Deary Family passed the torch to DKH in 2015 as stewards of the cancer fund, the committee immediately stepped up to take on this annual fund-raiser as well. To have this level of success in their 2nd year is amazing, but a true testament to the deep commitment and dedication this community has to the fight against cancer. We’re so proud of our guest bartenders and couldn’t be more grateful to all of the community members who made this event such a success.”

The evening’s guest bartenders were split into six teams, all competing to earn the most tips on behalf of the cancer fund. The teams and guest bartenders included:

bankHometown, featuring Jo-Ann Chenail, Monique Mailloux, Maria Thomas and Norma Collins; Day Kimball Hospital Oncology Staff, featuring Carolina Starr-Manning, Jody Peltier, Kate Tartaglia, Lauren King, Crystal Auger, Sharon Laurito, Michelle Donahue and Erin McNamara; Putnam Ford, featuring Rick Place, Jake Dykeman, Danny Goyette and David Pomes; WINY & Friends, featuring Gary Osbrey, Linda Colangelo, Laura Crosetti, Donna Grant, and Missy Bonsall; Gates Auto Group, featuring Craig Gates, Mark Dexter, Tom Borner and Gene Michael Deary; Day Kimball Healthcare Administration and Facilities Crew, featuring Joseph Adiletta, John O’Keefe, Greg Harubin, Paul Gallerani, Bob Andrews and Mike Trudeau.

 

 

PUTNAM — The date was Wednesday, March 29, 1882. In Hartford, the Connecticut General Assembly was in session at the state house. In New Haven, a young parish priest was waiting for news about what lawmakers were going to do.

Since the previous October, Rev. Michael J. McGivney had been working in New Haven to start a fraternal benefit society for Catholic men. The 29-year-old McGivney had seen up close the crushing poverty, bigotry and discrimination being suffered in America by many Catholics. He saw Catholic men leaving their faith in order to get a job, or too often dying of tuberculosis or pneumonia or some other disease at an early age, leaving his widow and children destitute. McGivney wanted to start a society so they could help to support each other and their wives and children religiously, morally, socially and financially.

News soon came from Hartford; lawmakers had granted a charter to McGivney’s new organization: the Knights of Columbus was born. Since then Knights around the world have referred to March 29 as Founder’s Day.

That was 135 years ago. Last weekend, a total of about 30 Cargill Council Knights commemorated the anniversary at the four masses celebrated at their council’s two parishes, St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam and Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret.

At first, the 9:00 a. m. mass celebrated on Sunday at St. Mary’s seemed ordinary. However, a closer look showed something different: The Knights were wearing distinctive dark blue K of C sashes. Several were in the choir, with more in the pews. As the mass began, Knights escorted St. Mary’s pastor and their council’s chaplain, Very Rev. David P. Choquette, down the center aisle to the altar. They also escorted him out when mass was over.

The Knights’ presence at the weekend’s four masses showed in part just how strong the council’s commitment is, with Cargill Council Knights helping in various ways, including serving as choir members, lectors, ushers and Eucharistic ministers distributing Holy Communion. They serve every week, not just once a year.

Founder’s Day also marked the start of the next few months of celebrations by Cargill Council, which will turn 125 years old on July 26. Council 64 is one of only 47 local councils in the world in continuous operation since at least 1892.

Cargill Council’s elected leader, Grand Knight David G. Lamontagne Sr., said that even after all these years the council is proud to continue serving today.

“Years ago, a small group of people decided to start an organization that would make a difference in people’s lives,” Lamontagne said. “Now, 125 years later, we’re still going strong, as we continue to work and follow the same principles that made us one of the oldest organizations here in the Putnam area. I am honored to be part of that history.”

Cargill Council 64 is made up of over 200 local Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Catholic men and their families. The council serves Putnam, Pomfret, Woodstock and parts of surrounding communities.

Led by Lamontagne and its other elected officers, Cargill Council raised and donated over $16,000 in the last fraternal year.

 

By Ryan Rumrill

Town Crier Sportswriter

The Tigers came out of the gate early in their 18 to 1 win over Windham Tech. It took only five innings.

The Tigers scored seven runs in the first inning and closed the scoring with seven more in the fourth-inning win.  Amanda Bogoslofski threw for eight strikeouts, and had four hits at the plate. Emily Vincent drove in four runs, and Lauren Ramos had three hits and drove in two runs for Tourtellotte, who moves to (2-0) on the year. 

Woodstock 5 

St. Bernard 4 (8)

In a tie game in extra innings, Natalie Crose doubled to the wall, and then with two outs, scored the game-winning run on a passed ball for the Centaurs. Sophia Nelson struck out nine for St. Bernard in its season opener and Briana Beverly tripled for the Saints. Woodstock Academy is now 2-1 on the season.

Tourtellotte 17 

Ellis Tech 5

Emily Vincent had five hits and drove in five runs to power the Tigers in their season opener. Lauren Ramos drove in three runs for Tourtellotte and Michaela Godzick struck out nine batters. For Ellis Tech, Autumn Jackson posted three hits and two RBIs for the Eagles. 

Griswold 3

Killingly 2

The game was tied up at 2-2, when Brooke Rainville from Griswold drove in Maya Waldron with a double in the bottom of the third inning for the decisive run in a 3-2 win over Killingly April 8. Maya Waldron finished the game going 2-for-3 with a double, run and RBI and pitched the final three innings for the Wolverines (2-0). Shyla Krick struck out four batters over four innings for the win and had an RBI. Redgals, who are now (1-1) starter Ashley Veillette struck out seven batters over six innings.

Killingly 19 

New London 4

Freshman Lauren Kirkconnell earned her first win of her career and also drove in five RBIs to lift the Redgals to a season-opening win. Mackenzie Jackson homered and drove in three runs and Reilly Allen scored five runs for Killingly. Jovanna Potter went 3-for-4 with a triple and scored twice for the Whalers (1-1).