Roy Lee Houle
STERLING — Roy Houle, 75, of Church Street, died Dec. 18, 2024, in Hartford Hospital. He was the husband of the late Sandra Houle.
Born in Burlington, Vt.., he was the son of the late Francis Sr. and Charlotte (Charbonneau) Houle.
Mr. Houle worked for Foxwoods as a table dealer for many years. In his free time, he enjoyed playing both 8-ball and 9- ball pool. He played in the APA League since 1993 till current. He also like going to the casino, playing pitch and fishing.
He leaves two daughters, Tiffany Charron of Fort Myers, Fla., and Rolanda Charron (Alfred Sr.) of Putnam; two brothers, Francis Houle Jr. (Joan) of Putnam, Charles Houle Sr. (Judith) of Haines City, Fla.; sister Charlene Cote (Raymond Sr.) of Brooklyn; two grandchildren Tabitha (Charron) Dzurenka (Andrew) of Putnam, Alffy Charron Jr. and fiancé Crystal of Putnam; and one great-grandson Anthony Dzurenka of Putnam. Roy is predeceased by brother, Richard Houle Sr. and son-in-law Steve Charron.
A graveside service for Roy will be held at a later date and a Celebration of Life is being planned for January 2025. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
.
Thur. Dec. 26
Art Exhibit
PUTNAM --- The Putnam CT Arts Council presents “Reflections of Past and Present – the Art of Jonathan Fritz” art exhibit through December in the Corridor Gallery in the Putnam Municipal Complex.
Art Show
POMFRET --- From Nov. 13 to Jan. 8 the Abington Social Library on Rt. 97 will host its first annual Community Art Show. The art show, titled “Gallery 1793,” can be viewed during library hours: 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. https://theabingtonsociallibrary.org/
Textile Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library’s Art @ the Library will feature the Fifth Annual Textile Artist Community Show through the end of January.
Photo Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Bird Walks and More” Amy Porter Photography Exhibition through Dec. 31. Free admission.
Sun. Dec. 29
Exhibit
WOODSTOCK --- The Center for Woodstock History is presenting a photo exhibit, "Woodstock Through the Camera's Eye in Post-Civil War America," from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays through December. Check for updates: 860-928-1035.
Mon. Dec. 30
Game Day
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road will hold a Camper Game Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for kids ages 6-12. Games, food and fun. Outdoor gear required. $25 per child. All welcome. Preregistration requested by 12/22. 860-974-1122.
Wed. Jan. 1, 2025
Happy New Year!
Art Show
POMFRET --- From Nov. 13 to Jan. 8 the Abington Social Library on Rt. 97 will host its first annual Community Art Show. The art show, titled “Gallery 1793,” can be viewed during library hours: 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. https://theabingtonsociallibrary.org/
Textile Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library’s Art @ the Library will feature the Fifth Annual Textile Artist Community Show through the end of January.
Tues. Jan. 21
Film
POMFRET --- Pomfret Green Team Community Film Series will present "Saving the Dark" at 6:30 p.m. at the Connecticut Audubon Center on Day Road. Free admission and popcorn. https://www.ctaudubon.org/pomfret-home/
Sun. Jan. 26
Lecture
POMFRET --- Pomfret School will present the Schwartz Public Lecture by Bill T. Jones, dancer and choreographer from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Hard Auditorium. Free. All welcome. Registration required: pomfret.org/schwartz.
.
caption:
Stalward Fund-raisers
Keegan Stall, left, and Ember Merrill raised money despite the brutal cold.
Even colder than last week – but Interact kept ringing the bells
PUTNAM — Dec. 21 proved to be a challenging one for the Putnam Rotary’s Interact Club with temperatures in the 20s.
The Interact members and their classmates braved the cold — even colder than last weekend — and manned the Salvation Army kettles for one last time.
The Dec. 21 total kettle donations were $2,000 and the final tally for all donations was $11,000.
Interact Club Advisor Roberta Rocchetti thanks the volunteers from Woodstock Academy: Chyanne Machamer, Jackson Dorez, Abby Ditzel, Sophia Milardo, Gianna DiCola-Keddy, Eva Lusignan, Allie Boyd, Sophia Sarkis, Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain, Maddie Bloom, Mikayla Bessette, Maggie McHugh and Audrey MacPherson. The volunteers from Tourtellotte Memorial High School: Calleigh Levesque, Alexis Phav, Keegan Stall, Zahara Moore and Ember Merrill. The Putnam High volunteers: Kaylee Borders, Gabriell Cerasiello, Cora Desrosiers, and Ella Carota.
Thanks also went out to last year’s Interact co-presidents: Eric Levesque and Jordyn Butler from UConn. Also: Leo Rocchetti from Stafford, Patty Gaffney from Putnam and Rotarians Joseph Adiletta, Doug Porter, Mike and Roberta Rocchetti.
.
caption:
Woodstock looks for a gymnastics resurgence led by seniors, from left: Olivia Aleman, Liv Gerum and Ali Boyd. Photo by Kasey Tocchio/Woodstock Academy.
Aleman returns; Centaurs prevail
in opener over Killingly
Woodstock Academy coach Kasey Tocchio considers it a plus-two this year.
The Centaurs have a promising young freshman in Anyah Oatley. But they also have senior Olivia Aleman back.
“I think we should stack up pretty well this year in the (ECC) and States. We should be a confident team and my hopes are good again. We want to put Woodstock back on the map. Last year, we had kind of a rough season. Injuries, and whatever else, kind of made us go up and down,” Tocchio said.
That roller coaster ride may come to an end in the 2024-25 season as Aleman finished first in the All-Around and Oatley third to lead the Centaurs to a narrow two-point victory over both rival and gym partner, Killingly, 136.35-134.35.
The Centaurs finished 3-6 in the regular season a year ago and saw their streak of ECC championships end at 13 as they placed fourth.
Aleman, who came in as the defending ECC champ from 2023 and was second in the State Open that year, competed in the first meet last season and wasn’t seen again until States due to injury.
When she did come back, she placed first in floor and bars, second in vault and fourth in beam to help Woodstock place third as a team in Class M.
However, her lack of competition throughout the year meant she was not eligible to compete in the State Open.
The Centaurs also have seniors Liv Gerum and Ali Boyd returning. “Both of those girls have so much potential,” Tocchio said.
Junior Emma Long has also stepped up and will be participating in vault this year while trying to stay consistent in her other routines outside of a possible upgrade to her floor routine. Sophomore Rhea DeSota has been working on some new skills.
Lillian Frechette and Scarlett Hogarty are two other frosh on the squad as is Madison Crevier but an injury will keep Crevier from competition this season.
The Centaurs appeared confident against Killingly, the defending ECC champs.
Aleman finished with a 37.7 All-Around total as she placed first in the floor (9.65), beam (9.4) and bars (9.3). She was second in the vault with a 9.25 total.
Oatley finished with an 8.9 total in the vault, 8.75 on floor, 8.6 in bars and 7.7 on beam.
It was a good early start for the Centaurs and their Killingly gym partners.
The Centaurs opened the season in in their home gym and will finish it there as well as the ECC championship meet comes back to Danielson in February.
Norwich Free Academy used to use Thames Gymnastics but no longer does and their smaller facility can no longer host the league championship.
“We were just like, ’bring it back.’ The girls are really excited. Between my Deary’s gymnasts who compete for NFA, Killingly and Woodstock and my Ellis Tech gymnast, we have eight seniors who want to have ECC’s at home, feel comfortable, and go out with a bang,” the coach said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
..