WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Academy received a grant from bestselling author James Patterson to support the school library.
In addition, Scholastic Reading Club will match each dollar of Patterson’s donation with “bonus points” that teachers can use to acquire books and other materials for their classrooms.
The Academy was selected from 27,924 applicants.
“The Academy is extremely grateful to receive a Patterson/Scholastic Grant for our students, faculty, and surrounding community members who visit Bracken Memorial Library each day,” Headmaster Chris Sandford said. “The grant allowed us to continue the Bracken Memorial Library Author series, a program of free events featuring nationally recognized authors. This year we were honored to welcome Forrest Pritchard, Matthew Dicks, Joe Lindley and children’s author Sandra Horning to campus to speak about their work, passion for writing, and the importance of reading for personal development. We hope to continue our Author Series for many years to come.”
As part of an ongoing effort to keep books and reading a number one priority in the United States, bestselling author James Patterson, together with Scholastic Reading Club, made a commitment to help save school libraries nationwide.
This year alone, Patterson personally donated $1.75 million to school libraries nationwide, with grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 allocated to each of the 467 selected schools.
“These grants are my humble acknowledgement of some of the terrific work taking place in libraries,” author James Patterson commented.
“Here’s to communities supporting school libraries. Here’s to a country that makes reading a priority.”
Legal Notice
Tax Collector’s
Office
Town & Fire District
of Pomfret
Legal Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of the Town and Fire District of Pomfret that the Supplemental Motor Vehicle and Second Installment of Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills on the Grand List of October 1, 2014 are DUE AND PAYABLE January 1, 2016. The last day to pay without penalty is February 1, 2016. Per State Statute 12-145, interest will be charged at 18% annually (1.5% per month), with a minimum charge of $2.00 per each entity (Town and Fire are separate entities) on all delinquent payments postmarked February 2, 2016 or later.
Make all checks payable to Pomfret Tax Collector and mail to: Pomfret Tax Collector, 5 Haven Road, Pomfret Center, CT 06259. If a receipt is desired, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. For bill information or to pay online, go to www.pomfretct.gov.
January Tax Office Hours are: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Town Hall will be closed January 1, 2016 and January 18, 2016.
Pamela N. Gaumond
Tax Collector
Dec. 24, 2015
Jan. 6, 2016
Jan. 27 2016
Legal Notice
Notice of
Democratic Caucus
To enrolled members of the Democratic Party of the Town of Pomfret, Connecticut.
Pursuant to the Rules of the Democratic Party and State election laws, you are hereby notified that a caucus will be held on: January 12, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at Grill 37, Rt. 44, Pomfret, CT to endorse candidates for Democratic Town Committee and to transact other business as may be proper to come before said caucus.
Dated at Pomfret, Connecticut,
on the first day of January, 2016.
Democratic Town Committee
of Pomfret
Tim McNally,
Chairperson
Jan. 6, 2016
Ron P. Coderre
Boys’ basketball inaugurated the “new” Putnam High School gymnasium with the CNB a Division of ESB Clipper Holiday Classic. New facility. Same winner.
Defending champion, Killingly came to Putnam and found their confidence, winning a pair of games and beating host Putnam in the championship contest to walk off with the title. Tourtellotte, which lost in the opening round to Killingly, won the consolation contest.
In the Centaur Classic Holiday Tournament, Greenwich High School travelled across the state to claim the championship. Greenwich beat host Woodstock Academy in the title game, handing the Centaurs and coach Aaron Patterson their initial loss of the season.
Ellis Tech dropped a pair of games and remains in search of its first victory of the young season. Plainfield played one game over the holidays and came away with a victory over Windham Tech.
Marianapolis was the lone prep school in action. The Golden Knights journeyed to Massachusetts for the Belmont Hill Tournament and came out of three games with a pair of losses and a single victory.
Redmen Repeat
Defending Clipper Classic champion Killingly and coach Jimbo Crabtree rode into Putnam and repeated something that’s getting to be a routine, winning the championship. Killingly bested the host Putnam Clippers 53-40 in a game that was closer than the final score might indicate.
Putnam hung around for most of the contest but didn’t have the horses to pull off the victory. Trailing 25-16 at intermission, the Clippers made runs early in the fourth period that brought them to within one point of Killingly but simply ran out of gas as tournament Most Outstanding player Brendan Turner took over control of the game.
Turner, who has battled injuries for the past two years, led the Redmen to the win with 13 points and was joined in double figures by All-Tournament selection Chace Wood who also had 13 markers. Putnam was paced by sophomore Dan Porcic who also posted 13 points despite being dogged by the Killingly defense all evening.
In its only other game, the 2-1 Redmen were dropped by Griswold 50-43 despite a dozen points from freshman Luke Desaulnier and 11 points from Wood.
Putnam took to the highway for its only other game and emerged from East Granby with a 55-52 closely contested victory. Porcic with 19 points paced the Putnam offense, which placed two other players in double digits. Brevon Harmon and Zach Evans each chipped in a dozen points in the win. Evans’ points all came from beyond three-point range for the 2-1 Clippers.
Tourtellotte, which had already beaten Ellis Tech earlier in the season, turned the trick once more in the Classic consolation contest. The Tigers ran away with a 60-36 win on a team effort as nine players got into the scoring column led by Evan Ware with 16 points. Troy Morin contributed 10 points for the 3-1 Tigers of coach Neil Bernier. Ellis Tech’s Trent Raymond led all scorers with 24 points.
In its only other contest the Golden Eagles lost to Wheeler 69-32, falling to 0-5 on the young season. Raymond with 15 points was once again the team’s leading scorer.
Woodstock Academy got to the title game of the Centaur Holiday Classic by beating Cheney Tech in the opening round 59-46. Three Centaurs carried the bulk of the offense, scoring 54 of Woodstock’s 59 points. Nick Short was the leading scorer with 23 points followed by Bryce Jarrett (16) and Cuinn Stevenson (15).
In the tile game Greenwich prevailed 54-40 with a strong second half performance. Stevenson with 12 markers was the lone double-digit scorer for the 2-1 Centaurs.
In Willimantic, Plainfield prevailed over Windham Tech 73-47. The Panthers rode the coattails of Liam Jacobs who was game-high scorer with 25 points. He was joined in double figures by Jeff Nicolosi with 11 and Elijah Malboeuf with 16. Plainfield is 3-2 on the year.
Marianapolis Prep struggling to find the win column lost two games in the Belmont Hill Tournament before finally picking up its second win of the season. The Golden Knights, who are 2-8, beat Roxbury Latin 54-43. They were paced in the win by a trio of double figure scorers led by Dominique Senat with 15 points. He was joined in double figures by Joe Del Ricci (14) and Marley Blommers (11).
The Knights of coach Andrew Vitale opened the tourney with a 68-37 loss at the hands of the host Belmont Hill. They then lost to Nobles 53-48 despite a 17 point performance by Audric Sandoval.
By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC column, the very first of 2016, is dedicated to Diane Harmon, one of Putnam High School’s most ardent sports fans. When not working at Jessica Tuesday’s, Harmon can usually be found in the stands at a Clipper sporting event rooting on her son and nephew, along with all the Putnam athletes.
Clipper Classic Boys’ All Stars
Killingly High School senior Brendan Turner was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2015 Clipper Holiday Classic. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by his teammates Chace Wood and freshman Luke Desaulnier. The remainder of the team included Evan Ware of Tourtellotte and a pair of Putnam Clippers, Zach Cutler and Dan Porcic.
The All-Academic team, which was composed of one player from each school, included Cory Sipos (Killingly), Furu Sherpa (Tourtellotte), Zach Brennan (Ellis Tech) and Cutler (Putnam).
Clipper Classic Girls’ All Stars
Meagan Bianchi of Killingly High School was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Girls’ Clipper Holiday Classic. She was joined by three of her Teammates on the All-Tournament team. Also named from Killingly were Morgan LeSage, Ally Conde and Kylee Mazzarella along with Marissa Shirshac of Windham Tech and Emily Vincent of Tourtellotte.
The All-Academic team included Stacey Belliveau (Putnam), Christina Kopacz (Tourtellotte), Oralee Collazo (Windham Tech) and Conde of Killingly.
Centaur Holiday Classic All Stars
Two Woodstock Academy females were recognized as all star performers during the Centaur Holiday Classic held at Alumni Field House. Named were Jamie Woods and Madison Brennan.
Tourney Tidbits…Some noted personalities who were spotted in the tournament crowd included Father John O’Neill, pastor of St. James Church in Danielson, Putnam optometrist Dr. David Gaudreau, a member of the Putnam Board of Education and college basketball official Corey Pothier…Killingly Athletic Director Gene Blain was in attendance at all games despite recent surgery for a right knee replacement…Ray Elliot, former girls and boys head basketball coach at Windham Tech shook a lot of hands during the two-day event…Working the door at all the games was former Tourtellotte standout Nate “Gator” Gagnon, who now teaches at Putnam..,WINY Radio was on hand for both championship games with Sports Director Josh Sanchas handling the play-by-play and Scott Derosier providing the color commentary…Former Putnam High School standout lineman Dick Bianchi is the grandfather of Killingly hoop standout Meagan Bianchi…All games were officiated by the newly created Board #35…Some of the recognizable officials included Jeff Glenn, Rick Bogert, Joe Camposi, Tom Hayden, Christian Sarantopoulos and Scott Blevins…The best dressed and most colorfully outfitted coach in the tourney was Tourtellotte’s Neil Bernier with his brightly colored lime green and lemon yellow shirts to go along with his matching ties…Coach Tom Espinosa of Putnam Science Academy enjoyed the games with Killingly football coach Chad Neal and former Assumption College record setting receiver Eric Mauer…Putnam High School Principal Jackie Vetrovec, Assistant Principal Suzanne Sansoucy and Athletic Director Adam Mielniczuk did a great job of controlling the environment of the two-day tourney…Congratulations to Killingly High School and coaches “Jimbo” Crabtree of the boys’ team and Mark Lowell of the girl’s team for the Redmen and Redgals sweep of the titles…Finally, what would games in the Putnam gym be without Maurice “Moe” Coderre singing the National Anthem.
Gridiron Recognition
Congratulations to Killingly High School offensive lineman Josh Angell for his recent recognition on the State level. The big tight end was named to the USA Today All-USA Connecticut second team.
College Hoop Update
Two noted local college basketball players played significant roles in impressive victories for their teams over the past weekend. Former Woodstock Academy All State performer, Ian Converse, a sophomore at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, had eight points in a 67-65 victory over Eastern Nazarene. Converse and the Engineers are enjoying a successful season with a 10-1 record. WPI is ranked #14 in the D3hoops.com Top 25.
Across town at Worcester State University, former Putnam Science Academy big man Paul Brooks continues his impressive play for the Lancers. In a 93-89 victory over Gordon College, Brooks posted 14 points and nine rebounds. The 6-foot, 9-inch center is one of the major reasons the Lancers are having a great season currently at 8-5.
RPC Closing Thought For The Day: The bee that hangs around the hive doesn’t get the honey.
(If you have news worthy sports information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
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