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Commits
Woodstock Academy prep basketball player Shemani Fuller recently announced that he had verbally committed to play collegiate hoops for Fordham University. Photo by Marc Allard.


Another member of The Woodstock Academy Gold prep basketball team committed to play collegiate basketball recently.
Shemani Fuller, a 6-foot, 8-inch post player for the Centaurs from Mt. Vernon, N.Y., verbally committed to Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y., recently.
The Division I program is a member of the Atlantic-10 Conference.
“It was the best choice for me. It’s close to home and a degree from Fordham is very powerful. It has the academics and the school was just perfect for me,” Fuller said.
Fuller said the Rams had been actively recruiting him for a while.
It was also a weight off his shoulders as he heads home to New York for the holiday season.
“The stress is gone now. I don’t have to worry about where I am going especially this year with Covid-19 really messing everything up. It feels good to be committed and to know that I’m going to college,” Fuller said.
Woodstock Academy prep basketball coach Jacque Rivera broke out into a smile when he mentioned the school’s name.
“It’s a great school academically,” Rivera said. “He lives in Mt. Vernon; his family is going to get to see him play. He could get an internship at Madison Square Garden. We’re talking about not only playing 40 college basketball games a season, but learn some things in the front office and where better to do that than at Fordham University.”
Rivera said Woodstock Academy alum, Ty Perry, is already a member of the Rams. “Shemani has a high floor and a high ceiling, so much untapped potential. He has a 7-1 wingspan, he’s 6-8, and he can run. He not only blocks shots but how many times have we seen him take a charge? He sacrifices his body and wants to win. I think he will continue to develop and to get better and I think, in his time here, he has already learned a lot about Shemani,” Rivera said.
The goal for Fuller, when he returns to Woodstock Academy after the holiday break is a simple one, get into the weight room. “That’s my number one priority- building up my body,” Fuller said. Fuller is the fourth member of this year’s Centaurs to commit to a college already joining Payton Shumpert (Stony Brook University); Raymond Espinal Guzman (Sacred Heart) and Jacob Duniver (St. Michael’s).
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

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Amanda M. Albeke Grenier
BROOKLYN — Amanda M. Albeke Grenier, 37, died unexpectedly of natural causes Nov. 17, 2020, at home.
Amanda was born in 1983 in Pittsfield, Mass., at Berkshire Medical Center and moved to Moosup from Becket, Mass., when she was 2 years old. She always excelled in scholastics making the honor roll all throughout grade school. She graduated Plainfield High School in 2001 and went on to attend Fitchburg State College, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude earning a bachelor’s degree in science majoring in criminal justice. Amanda later went on to earn a master’s degree in library and information science at Southern Connecticut State University.
She married Justin Grenier Nov. 4, 2006, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Plainfield.
Amanda was the director of the Gladys E. Kelly Public Library in Webster. There she was influential in the library’s management and development, having a positive impact on her staff and the local community.
She leaves her husband, Justin R. Grenier of Brooklyn; her parents, Whitney and Donna Albeke of Moosup; her sister, Alison Showers (Gary) of Chicopee, Mass; two nieces, Caley and Madelyn Showers; her uncles, Michael Didato (Georgene) of Waterford, and Richard Albeke of Virginia.
The Graveside Service was Nov. 23 in St. Joseph Cemetery, Norwich. Donations: Friends of Gladys E. Kelly Public Library, 2 Lake St., Webster, MA 01570. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

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Wed. Nov. 25
Canceled Cookie Sale
BROOKLYN --- Our Lady of La Salette’s annual holiday cookie sale and basket drawing has been cancelled due to COVID-19. See you next year.

St. Nicholas Fair
POMFRET --- The annual Saint Nicholas Victorian Fair at Christ Church in Pomfret will be an online auction through noon Dec. 2. Items are to be picked up in person at the church between 10 a.m. and noon Dec. 5 (snow date Dec. 12). Go to: the Saint Nicholas Fair Auction at www.biddingowl.com/ChristChurchPomfret. Benefits local outreach programs. 860-315-7780.

Virtual Fair
BROOKLYN --- The Federated Church will hold a Sugar Plum Virtual Fair ending at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 2. Pickup is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 5 at the church. Limited in person shopping and delivery available.  fccbrooklynct.org/event/sugar-plum-virtual-fair\

Thur. Nov. 26
Happy Thanksgiving!

Fri. Nov. 27
Santa
PUTNAM --- The town of Putnam will present Santa Comes to Town at Rotary Park. CANCELLED. Moved to Dec. 5.

Coats for Kids
BROOKLYN --- The Knights of Columbus will have Coats for Kids from 9 a.m. to noon at the Brooklyn Recreation Department. All children are invited, with parents or guardians, to get fitted for a brand new coat. For kids ages 3-17.

Sun. Nov. 29
Dazzle Parade
PUTNAM --- The 19th annual Holiday Dazzle Reverse Invitational Light Parade will be a reverse parade this year at Murphy Park. Rain date is Dec. 6. Spectators will be doing the moving, not the floats, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Bring a nonperishable donation for Daily Bread or a toy donation for the Putnam Family Resource Center. Donations collected at end of exit.

Sat. Dec. 5
Santa Coming!
PUTNAM --- At 4 p.m. Santa will arrive at the giant lighted ornament and the new Santa Over the Falls and more lights n Rotary Park. Pop up vendors will be there from noon to 4:30.  COVID-19 guidelines event.

Boot Drive    
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Democratic Town Committee will hold a Holiday Winter Boot Drive from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Station #76 on Rt. 169. It will benefit children from Woodstock and local towns through TEEG. Please bring new, unwrapped winter boots in children’s sizes for either gender and in original packaging.  Cash donations also accepted or mail checks, payable to TEEG, to the Woodstock Democratic Town Committee, ATTN: Holiday Winter Boot Drive, P.O. Box 813, Woodstock, CT  06281.  Cash donations will be used to purchase additional boots for area children.  

Sun. Dec. 6
Hospice Tree
The Hospice Tree of Life Ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m. with simultaneous tree lighting ceremonies in 11 northeastern Connecticut towns. Benefits: Hospice & Palliative Care of NE CT.  For info/changes go to: daykimball.org/treeoflife.

Sat. Dec. 12
Pet Food Drive
KILLINGLY --- Pet Pals Northeast, a local animal welfare organization, will be collecting cat and dog food, dry or canned, (Purina brands preferred) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Killingly Library.  Cash donations always welcome. Everyone must wear a mask.  860-317-1720.

Fri. Dec. 25
Merry Christmas!

Sun. Jan. 1, 2021
Happy New Year!

Wee Wander
THOMPSON ---Wee Wander with Wyndham Land Trust from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the “Robbins Five Mile River Ramble.” The hike will be held at the Robbins Preserve. Take Quaddick Town Farm Road to Fred Davis Road, park at gate. Bring camera, dress appropriately.  Bad weather during the schedule time of this event will cancel. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org

Sat.  April 24
Wall of Honor
PUTNAM --- The Putnam High School Wall of Honor ceremony will be held today.  

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