Dry spell? It’s paving time!
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — What is a town’s natural reaction to a dry spell?
Road crews hit the road.
Sections of David Circle and Cleveland Street were repaved last year. This year, the crews finished milling and paving those streets, according to Highway Superintendent Travis Sirrine.
Viens Street and Chase Street were also done.
Crews also finished the rest of Five Mile River Road and a section of Prospect Street.
Most interesting, is the fate of the ground up asphalt, the “millings,” removed from Ring Street.
Those ground-up sections of asphalt were delivered to the Cady Copp Cottage. The historic house in Putnam Heights recently had an entrance road from Rt. 21 constructed in addition to a small parking lot at the cottage. The millings were laid down over the gravel and according to Town Historian Bill Pearsall, the millings will kind of melt into the surface and become a paved driveway and parking lot.
Now that this is done, he said the donation/some help with a gate across the driveway “would be excellent.”
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captions, clockwise from top left:
The paving of Cleveland Street is now finished.
Left:Some 'paving' for the Cady Copp Cottage, courtesy of Ring Street.
Right: Road going out toward Rt. 21 from the Cady Copp Cottage.
Right: The newly refurbished road toward the Cady Copp Cottage (on left).
Perfect day for the Mustang Golf Classic
HARMONY, R.I. — Putnam Science Academy’s 6th annual golf tournament got a perfect day of weather and outstanding participation.
All in all, it was a great success. “We couldn’t have asked for a better golf day than today,” said Thomas Espinosa, PSA men’s basketball coach and athletic director. “ I really want to thank our sponsors and all the golfers that continue to come back every year and support the program.”
The Aug. 15 event featured 21 groups and about 84 golfers turned up to play. Money was raised in support of the reigning 2025 Men’s National Prep Basketball Champions the Putnam Science Mustangs.
Nate Brodeur, Chris Logan, Ryan Logan and Dan Gomes were the winning foursome, finishing the best-ball round with a 54.
That was three strokes better than second-place team Mark Verdone, John Searles, Ron Vargas and Mike Dupont. Finishing in third place with a 58 were Colby Livingston, Eric Livingston, Gary Rudman, and Noah Rudman.
Ron Vargas, 77, capped off a successful day by striking the longest drive, and Jon Marz landed 22 inches from the cup to take home closest to the pin honors.
Espinosa said PSA recognized the tremendous community support for the event as well as their major sponsors – Gerardi Insurance, Kazantzis Real Estate, The Program and Cigna Healthcare – plus many tee sponsors.
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captions:
Winner Foursome
From left: Chris Logan, Ryan Logan, Nate Brodeur and Dan Gomes. Courtesy photos.
Third-Place Foursome
From left: Eric Livingston, Colby Livingston, Noah Rudman and Gary Rudman.
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Complete degrees
WICHITA, Kan. — Ronald N DeGray received a bachelor’s in sport management, Magna Cum Laude, in the spring graduation at Wichita State University.
Honored
CANTON, N.Y. — Dylan Mayo from Woodstock has been named to St. Lawrence University’s Dean’s List. He is a member of the Class of 2027 and is majoring in psychology. Mayo attended Woodstock Academy.
On dean’s list
COLCHESTER, Vt. — Ian B. Wolanin of Pomfret Center was named to the dean’s list at Saint Michael’s College.
On dean’s list
SCRANTON, Penn. — Ethan M. Rodriguez of Putnam was named to the University of Scranton’s dean’s list for the 2025 spring semester. Rodriguez is a junior political science major in the University’s College of Arts and Sciences.
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Michael P. Humphrey
WOODSTOCK — Michael P. Humphrey, 68, of Woodstock, died peacefully at home on Aug. 11, 2025, with his loved ones by his side. His battle with interstitial lung disease (pulmonary fibrosis) finally ended.
Born July 9, 1957, to his parents, the late John S. and Barbara (Doane) Humphrey, Michael was raised in Swampscott, Mass.
He leaves his wife of 35 years, Deborah (Fitzgerald) Humphrey, of Woodstock, and his Great Danes, Liberty and Justice. He also leaves a good friend, Avery Rollins of Pomfret, who has been like a son to him and helped him through it all.
Michael spent most of his adult life working in the construction field, specializing in carpentry. He possessed impressive skills and a keen sense of design. He had the unique ability to “picture” the final project many stages before completion. Michael was self-employed for 25+ years, focusing mainly in commercial construction, primarily with Barnes and Noble bookstores, Staples Inc., and several other chain stores.
Michael had many different passions throughout the years and with each, he would devote all his energy and attention. His friends often described him as one of a kind. He had an infectious laugh and always brought humor and joy to the moment. His love of music inspired him to buy every type of stereo equipment available at the time and to dedicate hours to hooking it all up (in every room of the house, of course). Growing up on the water, he learned to love boating and the ocean. One of his sport fishing boats, the “Whisper Jack” took him on several adventures: from shark fishing off Montauk, N.Y., to a fantastic voyage with Gloucester, Mass., as his destination
Living in an 1830s home in the country, with a barn, encouraged him to fill that barn with horses. He spent many years bonding with his horses and going on trail rides. Michael developed a love of golf and played as often as possible; one year challenging himself to play every day, rain or shine. Part of the lure was the friendships made on the golf course because it wasn’t always his game, as any golfer knows. Michael purchased a 1997 Corvette C5 and although the Vette was already in good shape, he made this a project car and did many aesthetic upgrades; the end result was classic.
He his sister, Sandra (Humphrey) Harrigan of Fairfield, and her children; Bill (Sam), Katie (Ben), John (Alex), Elizabeth and their children. He also leaves his mother-in-law, Peg Fitzgerald of Spring Hill, Fla.; sister-in-law Linda (Fitzgerald) Burke (Michael) of Beverly, Mass., with their children; Shannon (Patrick), Michael and Andrew; brother-in-law James Fitzgerald (Chris) of Westford, Mass. and daughter Alex; sister-in-law Mary Fitzgerald (Doug Nottingham) of Phoenix; his aunt, Joan Humphrey of Swampscott, Mass., and her daughters Kathy, Laurie and Debbie.
Per Michael’s request, there will be no funeral services. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
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