caption, page 2:

 

Female 1st Place

Jackie Baumgartner is on her way to first place female as she runs through downtown Putnam during the Deary road race. Photo courtesy of Ron Coderre.

 

caption, page 9:

 

Down to the Wire

Second from left is the overall men’s race winner Andrew Springer of Westerly, RI with a time of 24:04— Springer beat out 3-time Deary defending champion, Will Sanders (3rd from left) by 17 seconds—Will’s time, 25:21, Third place overall was Scott Leslie (5th from left) with a time of 26:14. Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

Deary Race celebrates anniversary 

in spectacular  fashion

By Ron P. Coderre

It seems impossible but the Deary Memorial Road Race, which benefits cancer programs at Day Kimball Hospital, celebrated its 25th anniversary with more than 250 runners participating in the event Aug. 9. It raised $55,000. This year there were 286 runners, 400 walkers and 150 cyclists.

The original race started by a pair of avid long distance runners, Martin Fey and Jimi Gothreau, was organized in memory of a young 23 year old Putnam resident Kathy Deary who lost a valiant battle to cancer.  Today her memory is still alive while the race has morphed into a family memory following the deaths of her brother Tommy and her mother and father Tom and Teddy Deary. Gothreau said in the 25 years the race has been run, it's raised more than $1.3 million.

From the original race through 25 years of growth the event has grown in numbers, stature and financial resources for cancer survivors.  Thanks to the patriarch of the race, Kathy’s dad the late Thomas Deary Jr., the mantra of the race has been, “We keep the money local to help our friends and neighbors.”  The slogan has evidently been effective as more than $1 million have been raced through the long and illustrious history of the event.

The 5-mile run, which attracts runners from throughout the northeast, has two dimensions.  There is the TAC-certified race that brings some very serious runners to Putnam in a quest for the money prizes offered to the top male and female finishers.  And then there’s the run for the recreational runner and those individuals who struggle through the 5 miles in memory of loved ones or in support of cancer programs.  

This mélange of runners is what makes the race very special and unique.  There’s been talk recently of changing to a 5K (3.1 miles) format, however organizers should think seriously before changing the format.  It’s special in whom it memorializes and very special in its presentation.

Battle for the Top Spot

Three runners from the tri-state region proved to be too much for the remainder of the field as they bolted from the starting line and literally left the rest of the field in the dust.  From the time the starter’s pistol signaled the beginning of the race, Andrew Springer of Westerly, R.I., William Sanders of Wethersfield and Scott Leslie of Rutland, Mass., separated from the pack.

Up Kennedy Drive and through the center of Olde Towne Putnam the trio with Ledyard’s Jeff Wadecki in their rear view mirror was waging its own battle for the top spot.  Under the P&W Railroad trestle and up the incline of South Main and Grove streets the pace remained intense.  Rounding on to Killingly Avenue near the Grove Street Cemetery, the 23-year-old Springer began to separate from Sanders, while Leslie and Wadecki faded slightly.  From that point on it was only a matter of a few minutes before Springer would break the tape in 25:04 a full 17 seconds ahead of Sanders who posted a 25:21.  Leslie finished in 26:14 and Wadecki in 27:09.

Baumgartner Wins In A Breeze

As the top five male runners breezed through Olde Towne Putnam at about the halfway mark of the Deary Memorial Race much to the surprise of most observers the next runner was a female.

Jackie Baumgartner, 30, eased her way to victory.  Baumgartner, who finished in a time of 30:33, looked like she could easily be in competition with the male leaders.  She was in sixth place overall at the midway point of the race and held her position to the finish.

Local female favorite Linda Spooner, rallied by the cheers of her family and the cowbells being rung by her daughters situated near Victoria Station, could easily have won the race had it not been for the presence of Baumgartner.  Spooner, the 39-year old who lives in nearby Sturbridge, was clocked in 32:15, which placed her 10th in the overall field

The third-place female finisher was 12-year-old Woodstock resident Kathleen Boshka who posted a remarkable time of 34:43 and a first-place finish in the 2-12-age group. 

The legendary Scott Deslongchamps was the first Putnam finisher to break the tape.  He posted a time of 30:50, which placed him 9th among all the finishers.  The ageless Wayne Jolley of Brooklyn finished 11th in a time of 33:28 and first in the 60-69 age group.

Running Shorts: 

Norwich attorney Jeff Low, who lives in Pomfret, won the 50-59 age group in a time of 34:21…Eric Bonnette of Philadelphia and a cousin of the Deary family finished 39th.  In previous years he was usually a competitor in the Top Five…Local physicians Joe Botta (40th), Marc Cerrone (56th) and Kevin Reagan (92nd) represented the Day Kimball Hospital medical community…Gene Michael Deary, Kathy Deary’s beloved brother and his son, Gene ran the race.  Son finished 43rd and father 80th…Putnam High School basketball coach Shawn Deary finished 67th…The Graham family, adult children of Dr. and Mrs. John Graham, finished as a pack.  The order, Kevin, Andrew, Daniel, Colleen and John all finished with a time of 40:21…The affable Dan Goyette of Putnam Ford finished 79th in a time of 40:25…Matt Deasulnier, president of Gerardi Insurance in Putnam, broke to Top 100 with a 98th place finish…Father David Choquette, pastor of St. Mary and Most Holy Trinity churches, posted a time of 42:34…Laurence Hale of Pomfret, who’s attempting a running comeback, posted a respectable time of 44:36…Former Putnam High School and Nichols College quarterback Nick Perron and his new bride Jess finished in tandem in a time of 46:03…Sheila Frost, organizer of the O’Putnam 5K, ran a nice race with a time of 47:41…Noted local theatre producer Laura Crosetti finished in a time of 52:20…Steve DelPapa an avid supporter of the Regional Community YMCA, posted an unforgettable time of 53:53…Lindsay Lussier, the star of 85 Main, finished in less than one hour…State Representative Mae Flexer also comfortably cracked the one-hour barrier…Lisa Faucher, Chris Southam and Elizabeth Buzalski all had very courageous runs…Valerie Carr of Pomfret Center won the female 40-49 age group…Congratulation to all the organizers, volunteers and the Putnam Police, Fire and EMT  Departments for a job well done in making this a great Putnam event!

 

 

 with a time of 26:14.

 

Legal Notice

Water Pollution 

Control Authority

Town of Putnam

NOTICE OF 

PUBLIC HEARING

SEWER SYSTEM 

IMPROVEMENTS

The Putnam WPCA will meet in the Pempek Conference Room, Putnam Town Hall, 2nd Floor, 126 Church Street, Putnam, Connecticut, on August 14, 2014, at 6:15 p.m. for the purpose of holding a public hearing on a proposed project for the Quinebaug Regional Technology Park – Phase I, consisting of $617,200 of improvements to the Town sewer system, including the construction of a sewage pump station and force main, relocation of an existing force main, and installation of 1,000 feet of sewer line.  Following the public hearing, the WPCA is expected to consider and act upon a resolution entitled: “RESOLUTION OF THE WPCA OF THE TOWN OF PUTNAM APPROVING THE PLANNING, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO DEVELOP THE QUINEBAUG REGIONAL TECHNICAL PARK PHASE I FOR COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING WATER, SEWER OR OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE $7.735 MILLION BOND RESOLUTION IN CONNECTION THEREWITH”.

A copy of said proposed resolution is on file to public inspection at the office of the Putnam Town Clerk, and a copy of the plans and specifications is on file open to public inspection at the Office of the Putnam Water Pollution Control Authority.

 

Dated this 30th day 

of July, 2014.

 

James Shaw,

Chairman

Putnam Water Pollution Control Authority

 

Aug. 7, 2014

 

Legal Notice

Town of Putnam

Zoning Commission

The Town of Putnam Zoning Commission will hold a meeting on August 20, 2014, at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall located at 126 Church Street, Putnam, CT.  A public hearing will be held one each of the following:

 Docket # 2014-04: Putnam Taxi, LLC — Request for text amendments to the Town of Putnam Zoning Regulations Article III, Section 304, Table III-1 Schedule of Uses and Districts to amend the Transportation Table. Article VIII, Definitions to add under M - Motor Vehicle in Livery Service under T -Taxicab or Taxi. Article IV,  Section 601 Table VI-1 Parking Schedule. The proposed text amendment may be viewed in it entirety at the Zoning/Land Use Office at the Putnam Town Hall, 126 Church Street, Putnam, CT, during regular Town Hall business hours.

Docket # 2014-05:  Putnam Taxi, LLC — Request for a Special Permit of Exception to operate a taxi/livery dispatch office at 119 School Street, Town Assessor’s Map 015, Lot 013., Zoned R-7.

 

Patricia Hedenberg,

Chairperson

 

Aug. 7, 2014

Aug. 14, 2014

 

Legal Notice

Town of Putnam

Zoning Board 

of Appeals

The Town of Putnam Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a meeting on August 19, 2014, at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall located at 126 Church Street, Putnam, CT.  A public hearing will be held on each of the following:

 

Appeal # 2014-005; Round The Clock Repair Services LLC — Request for a Certificate of Approval of Location. The applicant is also appealing the decision of the Zoning Enforcement Officer for the sale of vehicles.  Property located at 33 Industrial Park Road, Town Assessor’s Map 038, Lot 036. Zoned Industrial.  

Appeal # 2014-006:  Round The Clock Auto Centre, LLC — Request for a Certificate of Approval of Location. The applicant is also appealing the decision of the Zoning Enforcement Officer for the sale of vehicles.  Property located at 33 Industrial Park Road, Town Assessor’s Map 038, Lot 036. Zoned Industrial.  

 

Joseph Nash,

Chairman

 

Aug. 7, 2014

Aug. 14, 2014

 

 

The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs.  The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 963-0000.

July 28

Ronnie Virola, 32, Hazel Street, Hartford; failure to obey traffic control signal.

July 29

Robert Langlois, 23, Valley road. N. Grosvenordale; first-degree failure to appear.

July 30

Andrew Berti, 26, Maynard Street, Putnam; third-degree assault, third-degree strangulation, unlawful restraint.

David Thomas, 34, Rt. 2A, Preston; fourth-degree larceny.

Matthew Greene, 28, Church Street, Putnam; sixth-degree larceny, third-degree identity theft.

July 31

Robert O’Connor, 22, Marshall Street, Putnam; sixth-degree larceny, third-degree burglary.

Michael Dexter, 30, Grove Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct.

Aug. 1

Rory Smith, 37, Powhattan Street, Putnam; violation of conditions of release.

Aug. 2

Jeremy Gagnon, 33, School Street, Putnam; operating under suspension.

Aug. 3

Michael Fenner, 51, Pinecrest Ridge, Woodstock; operating under the influence, failure to drive right.

Wade Phillips, 43, Fairview Street, Ansonia; disorderly conduct.

Suzanne Laccorn, 50, Goldmine Road, Chepachet; creating a public disturbance.

 

caption:

 

The 1984 Team

Top: The 1984 Putnam American Legion Silk Sox, champions of Zone IX, with coaches Tom Auclair and Willie Bousquet.  Above: Members of the 1984 Putnam Silk Sox American Legion Baseball team assembled at the TriTown Post-Season Banquet, where they were honored. Pictured, left to right: Lou Thomas, Coach Tom Auclair, David Austin, Commissioner John W. Sherman, Sr., Ron Baron, Scott Belanger and Chris Mayhew. Courtesy photos.

 

 

 

 

By Ron P. Coderre

The book The Boys of Summer written by Roger Kahn in 1972 about the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers is often referenced when teams of the past get together for a reunion.  On July 25 members of the 1984 Putnam American Legion were together celebrating the 30th Anniversary of their Zone IX championship.  The ’84 Boys of Summer and their legendary coach Tom Auclair were the invited guests at the TriTown American Legion Baseball Post-Season Banquet.

On hand for the festivities were former players Lou Thomas, Chris Mayhew, Scott Belanger, Ron Baron and David Austin as well as coach Auclair.  Also up all the way from Port Aransas, Texas, was John W. Sherman Sr. who was the Zone IX Commissioner in that fabled summer of ’84.

A trip back down memory lane to the summer of ’84 is a revelation of what turned out to be a miracle season for the team known as the Silk Sox.  When the team assembled for the start of the ’84 season it featured seven returning players from the previous season when they had posted an 11-14 record.  

The returnees were Jim Lebeau, Thomas, Rusty Greene, John Sherman Jr., Mayhew, Don Masse and Ron Jolicoeur.  Newcomers included Rick Latour, Belanger, Jay Sylvia, Nick Serban, Mike St. Jean, Baron, Austin, Bob McKenzie and Neil Senecal.  Auclair’s assessment of his team, which started the season with four key players injured, was, “We should be alright if we can get everyone healthy.”

Obviously they healed early as they opened the season with a 14-game winning streak, riding the strong pitching arms of Austin, Greene, Mayhew, Lebeau, St. Jean and Serban.  In the 14-game stretch they beat Taftville four times, Moosup three times, Danielson three times, Willimantic and Jewett City twice each before being derailed by Moosup 12-3 in the 15th game of the season.    Three games later after wins over Danielson and Willimantic they lost for the second time by a 5-3 score to Willi.  They closed out the regular season by winning five of the final six contests.

The key game of the season turned out to be an 8-6 win over Willimantic in a contest that stirred controversy not only in the Zone but throughout Connecticut.  The controversy stemmed from a rule regarding what was considered a trip to the mound.  In the scenario, Auclair was charged with an official trip by umpire Walt Zadora despite the fact he never crossed the foul line and entered the playing field.  Following the decision the game was played under protest.

Commissioner Sherman recused himself from making a decision even though he was at the game.  His reason, his son was a member of the Putnam team.  The protest went all the way to the State Commissioner, who ruled that the game should be replayed from the 8th inning when the incident occurred.  The team then went on to victory and eventually to the Zone IX Championship and a trip to Muzzy Field in Bristol.  The miracle season came to a conclusion when the Silk Sox lost 3-1 to Middletown and 3-2 to Stamford in the State Tournament.

“The summer of ’84 was truly memorable for all of us.  Many things have occurred in my life since then, however the experience I had playing for coach Auclair overwhelmingly made me a better person.  My four years of Legion ball set the foundation for my approach to athletics for the past 30 years,” said Chris Mayhew.

The intense Auclair was an eye opener for most of the players that he coached.  When the team didn’t have a game it was three hours plus of practice with Auclair drilling the fundamentals.  In 1984 players had to love the game to play for the Putnam American Legion team.

“After a three-hour practice with coach Auclair, playing a game was the easy part of the season,” said Scott Belanger at the banquet.

“We weren’t necessarily the best team but coach Auclair put the heart in us and made us a team,” said Thomas, who batted .369 during the memorable season.

Today Thomas is a sales executive with Kochek Co. in Putnam.  Mayhew serves as a teacher and athletic director for the Woodstock school system and was a moving force in the “Jog For Judy” run in memory of fellow teacher Judy Nilan who was murdered.  Austin has taken up his former coach’s mantra and is the baseball coach at Killingly High School.

John Sherman Jr. is an associate athletic director at Indiana State University, while Ron Jolicoeur is one of Chicagoland’s most noted chefs.  Bob McKenzie lives in Arizona and Don Masse lives in New Hampshire.  Rusty Greene and Neil Senecal have made careers in corrections and Belanger can be seen at Danielson American Legion games where his son is the star centerfielder.  Baron continues to play competitive softball and has coached baseball at Marianapolis.

The whereabouts of Nick Serban, Mike St. Jean, Rick LaTour and Jay Sylvia are unknown.  Jim Lebeau after graduating from Florida Southern University is in business in Georgia.  Three of the players, Austin, Greene and Baron have had stints along the way as the coach of the TriTown American Legion program.

“We were solid t every position.  Coach Auclair instilled a sense of pride and a winning attitude in all of us.  We had a group that didn’t want to lose,” said Baron as he reminisced with a tinge of nostalgia.  In their own way they’ve all given something back to baseball and society, a lesson learned from coach Auclair.

 The Summer of ’84 may have been 30 years ago but the men who were part of coach Auclair’s championship Putnam American Legion Baseball team still treasure the memories.  They were the last individuals to leave the banquet hall as they gathered together long after everyone was gone.  They were discussing their favorite subject, baseball.