caption:
Some of the flags on the bridge on Rt. 44 in Putnam. Linda Lemmon photo.
Special to the Putnam Town Crier
An idea, which was spawned by Vietnam veteran and Past Commander of the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 Barney Seney, became a reality thanks to the hard work of Post members and the people of the Putnam community.
Seney’s idea was to decorate the recently rebuilt Veterans Memorial Bridge on Pomfret Street with 16 flags, eight on each side of the bridge. When the bridge was originally constructed it had flag holders on the outside of each side of the bridge. The reconstructed bridge is an exact duplicate of the original edifice.
“When I noticed that the flag holders were in place on the bridge, I thought wouldn’t it be great if we could decorate it with flags on national holidays and special occasions celebrated by the Town of Putnam,” said Seney about the project.
Seney approached Post Commander Ronald P. Coderre with the idea, which was endorsed by the Post membership. According to Seney, the approximate cost of the project, which included the purchase of flags and special manufacturing of poles that would withstand the wind and weather, was approximately $3,500.
Post members endorsed the idea of taking to the air waves on WINY Radio with host Gary “O” to raise the necessary funds. April 25 Seney and Coderre along with Gary “O” put out the plea to the community. Their words were heard and embraced and within one hour they had pledges in excess of $5,000.
Beginning May 16, Seney along with Post members Donald Steinbrick, Alan Joslin and Victor Kratz put their mechanical skills to work drilling holes necessary for installing and securing the flags. By May 20 the flag were in place and proudly blowing in the breeze. The flags will remain in place through the Memorial Day weekend. The plan is to remove the flags and reinsert them on 14 different occasions throughout the year.
“Once we had all the facts on the project, the decision to move forward was very easy. Thanks to Seney and our membership we are enjoying the fruits of a great idea and the hard work of our membership,” said Commander Coderre.
“As American Legion members and veterans of our military our membership is proud of our service to our country. This is an opportunity to demonstrate to our community the value that we bring as a Post to the community of Putnam,” Coderre added.
The 16 flags will honor America with the flying of ‘Old Glory’ as well as flags of each branch of the military, the POW/MIA flag and the flags of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Softball Wrap-up
Killingly only
team out of
postseason
picture
By Ron P. Coderre
The postseason picture looks bright for the local high school softball teams. Except for Killingly, which finished the season at 7-13 every other team qualified for the CIAC Tournament.
Woodstock Academy, Ellis Tech, Tourtellotte and Putnam were securely settled into the postseason prior to last week’s action. Plainfield with a win over Killingly picked up its 9th win of the season and spelled the death knell for the Redgals.
In the preps, Pomfret School picked up a rare victory, while Marianapolis lost its only game of the week.
Ellis Tech Ends Regular Season on High Note
Ellis Tech concluded its 20-game regular season with a perfect week, picking up three wins. The Lady Golden Eagles opened the 3-0 week with a 16-6 cake walk past Windham Tech. Hannah Carignan and Adrianna Riddick paced the offense as each player went 4-for-4 at the plate.
The next Tech victim was Holy Family Academy, which went down 16-4 in a five-inning ‘mercy rule’ contest. Sydney Tetreault provided the big gun in the win with six RBI, while Riddick chipped in two hits.
A ten-run third inning outburst help Ellis Tech get by Eastern Connecticut Conference foe Windham 15-11. Autumn Jackson and Sarah Tellier had key triples in the uprising. The Lady Techsters enter the post season at 13-7 overall and 8-4 in the Constitution State Conference – East.
Plainfield closed out its week with a 5-2 win over Killingly, raising its record to 9-10 on the season and 6-3 in the ECC – Small. Freshman Kacee Hirst was the winning pitcher for the young Lady Panthers who are coming together for tournament time.
Following a 15-1 defeat at the hands of a very good Waterford team, Plainfield rebounded with a narrow 6-5 win over Windham. Kat Devolve’s sixth inning double drove in the go-ahead run. Madison Kelley had a solo home run in the victory for the Lady Panthers.
Killingly concluded its season with a 1-3 week. In addition to its loss to Plainfield, Killingly was beaten by Wheeler 11-6 and shutout by Griswold 9-0. The Redgals picked up a 12-0 shutout over New London as Ashley Viellette pitched a complete game two-hitter. Morgan Marriott had a double and a home run in the win.
Woodstock Academy, which has been in a number of close games this season closed the regular season at 11-9 and 4-6 in the ECC – Large. The Lady Centaurs opened with a nifty 3-1 win over Bacon Academy behind the tosses of senior Angela Caponi who struck out 12 Bobcat hitters. Rylee Hehir and Clara Sarantopoulos were the hitting stars in the win.
The team closed out the week with a 3-1 win over Shepherd Hill of Dudley. Hehir was the winning pitcher, going the distance and striking out 13 opposing batters. Jordan Staveski had two hits and two RBI in the win. Sandwiched between the wins was a disappointing 4-3 loss to East Lyme.
Putnam played five games in the week winning its first three and losing the final two to East Hampton in a home and home series. The Lady Clippers opened with a satisfying 6-2 win over CSC – East opponent Norwich Tech. Lindsay Roberts was the main offensive force for Putnam with three hits and two RBI.
The Lady Clippers then disposed of Parish Hill 19-6 as winning pitcher Mackenzie Livingston struck out 14 and went 6-for-6 at the plate to lead Putnam to the win. The team concluded its winning streak with an 18-3 five-inning victory over Holy Family Academy. Livingston with 11 strike outs was once again the winning pitcher.
The Lady Clippers dropped two games to the East Hampton Bellringers by scores of 7-6 and 12-8 to wrap up the regular season at 12-8 and 10-2 in the CSC – East.
Tourtellotte lost both its games of the week, an 8-4 verdict to Griswold and a rare Sunday contest loss to Wheeler by a score of 8-2. The Lady Tigers are 12-7 on the season and 5-4 in the ECC – Small.
Pomfret School picked up its third win of the season with a 14-1 win over Miss Hall’s School. Corinne McPadden with 3-for-5 was the hitting star for the 3-8 Lady Griffins.
Marianapolis lost and extra inning contest to Westminster School 8-6 in eight innings. The Lady Knights are 4-9 on the year.
Softball Wrap-up
Killingly only
team out of
postseason
picture
By Ron P. Coderre
The postseason picture looks bright for the local high school softball teams. Except for Killingly, which finished the season at 7-13 every other team qualified for the CIAC Tournament.
Woodstock Academy, Ellis Tech, Tourtellotte and Putnam were securely settled into the postseason prior to last week’s action. Plainfield with a win over Killingly picked up its 9th win of the season and spelled the death knell for the Redgals.
In the preps, Pomfret School picked up a rare victory, while Marianapolis lost its only game of the week.
Ellis Tech Ends Regular Season on High Note
Ellis Tech concluded its 20-game regular season with a perfect week, picking up three wins. The Lady Golden Eagles opened the 3-0 week with a 16-6 cake walk past Windham Tech. Hannah Carignan and Adrianna Riddick paced the offense as each player went 4-for-4 at the plate.
The next Tech victim was Holy Family Academy, which went down 16-4 in a five-inning ‘mercy rule’ contest. Sydney Tetreault provided the big gun in the win with six RBI, while Riddick chipped in two hits.
A ten-run third inning outburst help Ellis Tech get by Eastern Connecticut Conference foe Windham 15-11. Autumn Jackson and Sarah Tellier had key triples in the uprising. The Lady Techsters enter the post season at 13-7 overall and 8-4 in the Constitution State Conference – East.
Plainfield closed out its week with a 5-2 win over Killingly, raising its record to 9-10 on the season and 6-3 in the ECC – Small. Freshman Kacee Hirst was the winning pitcher for the young Lady Panthers who are coming together for tournament time.
Following a 15-1 defeat at the hands of a very good Waterford team, Plainfield rebounded with a narrow 6-5 win over Windham. Kat Devolve’s sixth inning double drove in the go-ahead run. Madison Kelley had a solo home run in the victory for the Lady Panthers.
Killingly concluded its season with a 1-3 week. In addition to its loss to Plainfield, Killingly was beaten by Wheeler 11-6 and shutout by Griswold 9-0. The Redgals picked up a 12-0 shutout over New London as Ashley Viellette pitched a complete game two-hitter. Morgan Marriott had a double and a home run in the win.
Woodstock Academy, which has been in a number of close games this season closed the regular season at 11-9 and 4-6 in the ECC – Large. The Lady Centaurs opened with a nifty 3-1 win over Bacon Academy behind the tosses of senior Angela Caponi who struck out 12 Bobcat hitters. Rylee Hehir and Clara Sarantopoulos were the hitting stars in the win.
The team closed out the week with a 3-1 win over Shepherd Hill of Dudley. Hehir was the winning pitcher, going the distance and striking out 13 opposing batters. Jordan Staveski had two hits and two RBI in the win. Sandwiched between the wins was a disappointing 4-3 loss to East Lyme.
Putnam played five games in the week winning its first three and losing the final two to East Hampton in a home and home series. The Lady Clippers opened with a satisfying 6-2 win over CSC – East opponent Norwich Tech. Lindsay Roberts was the main offensive force for Putnam with three hits and two RBI.
The Lady Clippers then disposed of Parish Hill 19-6 as winning pitcher Mackenzie Livingston struck out 14 and went 6-for-6 at the plate to lead Putnam to the win. The team concluded its winning streak with an 18-3 five-inning victory over Holy Family Academy. Livingston with 11 strike outs was once again the winning pitcher.
The Lady Clippers dropped two games to the East Hampton Bellringers by scores of 7-6 and 12-8 to wrap up the regular season at 12-8 and 10-2 in the CSC – East.
Tourtellotte lost both its games of the week, an 8-4 verdict to Griswold and a rare Sunday contest loss to Wheeler by a score of 8-2. The Lady Tigers are 12-7 on the season and 5-4 in the ECC – Small.
Pomfret School picked up its third win of the season with a 14-1 win over Miss Hall’s School. Corinne McPadden with 3-for-5 was the hitting star for the 3-8 Lady Griffins.
Marianapolis lost and extra inning contest to Westminster School 8-6 in eight innings. The Lady Knights are 4-9 on the year.
PUTNAM — Nancy Cole, Putnam School District’s School Business Administrator, has been selected by the Connecticut Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) to receive the Connecticut Celebrated School Business Official Award for 2016. Cole will officially receive the award at the organization’s Annual Institute in June.
The award was created to acknowledge the value and contributions of outstanding school business officials. Nominees are evaluated based upon their contributions to the profession, regardless of the size of their districts and job titles.
This award is meant to honor an individual for both current accomplishments and sustained contributions. Criteria for selection includes how the individual has assisted the school district in maximizing its financial resources, implementation of innovative projects or practices, and professional contributions and activities at the local, state, and national levels.
William Hull, superintendent, nominated Cole in recognition of her enormous, continuing contributions to the Putnam Public Schools. Cole has been employed in the Putnam school system for more than 30 years.
She began her career as the executive assistant to the superintendent. In 2000 she was promoted to the position of Finance Manager for the school system. In 2003 the Board of Education appointed her to School Business Administrator. Cole earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryant College where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.
She earned a master’s degree in education from UConn as well as a Sixth Year Degree in educational administration.
Cole also completed the Executive Leadership Program at UConn. She is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society.
In addition, Cole served as president of CASBO in 2010 and received the Rising Star Award in
2006. Her other professional organizations include ASBO International and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Cole is also a valued member of many district committees which is a testament to her commitment in Putnam. She is involved in many community services and activities for the towns of Putnam and Killingly. She has been a long standing member of the Veterans of Foreign War Ladies Auxiliary, Post 2650 and is a member of the Danielson Lodge of Elks. She is currently vice president of the Westcott Wilcox Board of Directors. She has served as a volunteer for the Tommy Toy Fund, Special Olympics Bowling, Read Across America Programs and the Northeast Regional Springtime Festival Committee.
Hull said, “Nancy is an essential part of the Putnam School District. She quietly performs the duties of her important position efficiently and extremely effectively. In short, does an outstanding job! Writing her nomination was easy not only for the job she does but how she does it. She has justly earned a great reputation across the state for her effectiveness, integrity and hard work. We are indeed fortunate to have her as part of the Putnam Public School family.”
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