Past Issues of the Putnam Town Crier



Garry Lutsky
DAYVILLE — Garry J. Lutsky, of Dayville, took God’s hand Oct. 6, 2013, after a short battle with cancer. Garry was born June 3, 1962,  in Willimantic to Peter and Marie (Rouette) Lutsky.
He graduated from Windham Technical High School in 1980 and worked at Pratt & Whitney, Windham Automated Machine, Kaman Aerospace and returned to Windham Technical High School where he worked as an instructor in Machine Tool. Garry was an avid muscle car enthusiast, attending car shows around the states and proudly showing his 1967 Pro-Street Camaro and his 1975 Chevy El Camino.
Besides his parents, Garry leaves his wife, Dee (Rossi) Lutsky; three stepchildren, Adam S. Knight, Amanda M. Knight and Alexis J. Knight; grandmother, Leotine Rouette; brother, Peter Lutsky Jr.; sister, Tina Vertefeuille; two nephews, Ryan and Zachary; niece Mallory and “brother by choice” Joe Carrito Sr. He was predeceased by both paternal grandparents, his maternal grandfather, his cousins Michael Kuryan and Aaron Ezis.
The service was Oct. 11 at Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Beverly Fontaine
WOODSTOCK — Beverly Mae (Parker) Fontaine, 85, died Oct. 12, 2013, at the Westview Nursing Home, Dayville, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
She was born March 30, 1928, in Boston, and grew up in Brownsville, Vt., the daughter of Dean and Eliza (Best) Parker.
She was preceded in death in 2005 by her husband of 57 years, Norman Henry Fontaine. Bev leaves three children, Nancy (Bill) Pritchard of Woodstock, Gary (Lee) Fontaine of Woodstock and Wendy (Ed) Lary of Naples, Fla.; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be private. Burial will be in Brownsville. Donations: Caring Families Services, PO Box 449, Danielson, CT 06239-0449. Smith & Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.

Ronnie Tomlinson
PUTNAM — Ronnie Doyle Tomlinson, 70, of Putnam, died after a brief illness on Oct. 3, 2013, in Worcester.
Born Aug. 24, 1943, in Long Beach, Calif., son of the late Hubert and Lillian (Davis) Tomlinson.
He loved surfing, fishing, gardening and was a kind and generous person. He leaves his loving family and friends.
A memorial service will be at 5 p.m. Oct. 18 at Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam. Donations: P.A.W.S. CT, PO Box 191, Eastford, CT, 06242.

Barry W. Nash
DANIELSON — Barry Winslow Nash died Oct. 9, 2013.
He was born Aug. 24, 1933, son of the late Frank Winslow Nash and Philomene Caron Nash.  A lifelong resident of the Killingly-Brooklyn area, Mr. Nash graduated from St. James School and Killingly High School.  From September 1947 through June 1951 Mr. Nash was the Norwich Bulletin correspondent for all Killingly High athletic events.  
He began a supermarket career with First National Stores in Danielson before entering the U.S. Air Force in 1952. Following basic training, attended Air Force Supply School at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo., where he became an instructor at the school until his discharge in 1956.  
Mr. Nash then attended UConn before returning to the supermarket industry. Worked for Stop & Shop in Willimantic before purchasing Longo’s Fruit Store in Danielson which he operated as Nash’s Fruit Store.  
Sold the business and returned to First National Stores in Brooklyn, eventually selected for store manager training and becoming the Brooklyn Store Manager. Transferred to the Putnam First National where he won a company sales contest for a vacation in Switzerland in 1977.
As a result, in 1979 Mr. Nash began a second career as a Tour Operator to the Alpine countries founding Nash Travel Tours, Inc.Mr. Nash also represented Harp & Shamrock Tours of Waterford, Ireland for many years.  
In his younger years, Mr. Nash played basketball for Killingly High School followed by semi-pro basketball with the Danielson Towners.  Later, during his military service and locally after his discharge, Barry was a member of a number of championship teams in the Cheyenne, Wyo., area and Killingly and Plainfield basketball leagues.  
He also played for several champion teams in the Killingly softball league.  
Later he became an avid golfer (fanatic!) before setting his love for the game aside to concentrate on his travel business.
Mr. Nash was predeceased by his wife Georgette (Butts) Nash in August 2005.  He leaves three children – Gary Nash of Englewood, Fla., Deborah Barta (Michael) of E. Killingly, and Michael (Mary Lou) of Methuen, Mass.; three stepchildren; grandchildren, Ashley and Mathieu Baker, Phillip, Ian and Nicholas Nash, Jason and Justin Weaver, Heather Truitt, Kyle Barta, Steven and Sonja Integlia and great grandchildren.
Barry was a lifelong active member of St. James Parish in Danielson. He was a Life Member of the Knights of Columbus Council #2883 of Danielson and in January 2003 became a member of the Danielson Lodge of Elks #1706. The family would like to express their appreciation to special friend Joe Allard for all of his support over the years.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 2 at St. James Church, Danielson, with burial with military honors in Holy Cross Cemetery, Danielson. Donations: St. James School Scholarship Fund, 12 Franklin St., Danielson, CT 06239; or The Danielson Lodge of Elks Building Fund, 13 Center St. , Danielson, CT 06239. Tillinghast Funeral Home, Danielson.

Suzanne Munroe
WOODSTOCK  — Suzanne (Gaffney) Munroe, 80, died Oct. 9, 2013.
She leaves her husband of 55 years, Arthur Munroe of Woodstock; two sons, Philip Munroe of Wethersfield and Daniel Munroe of Woodstock; two daughters, Leslie Lavallee of Thompson and Louise Davis of Woodstock; a brother, Morgan Gaffney of California; one grandson, Nicholas Munroe of Wethersfield.
A memorial service will be held at a future date.  Donations: Little Sisters of the Poor, 1365 Enfield St., Enfield, CT 06082.  Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.


PUTNAM — There are big pumpkins, and then there are GREAT BIG pumpkins.  That’s exactly what’s coming to Putnam for the annual Great Pumpkin Festival, to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 in downtown Putnam.  
The Great Pumpkin Festival will showcase a number of big pumpkins, all grown by local residents of northeast Connecticut.
 But the real show stopper this year will be a 1,766.5-pound pumpkin grown by Rocky Hill resident, Matt Debacco.  Matt’s pumpkin holds the new 2013 Connecticut State Record.  Fellow grower Gene Lariviere, said, “This pumpkin is amazing.  It’s as big as a car and I’m thrilled that Matt is coming to Putnam.”  Although not as big, the honor of the Official Great Pumpkin still goes to Putnam resident Gene Lariviere, who has been growing the Official Great Pumpkin for the festival since the beginning.  Festival Chairperson, Karen Osbrey said, “Gene is the first phone call I make when planning begins.”
Events for the Great Pumpkin Festival are planned for Union Square, Main Street and Riverfront Commons.  The Blackstone Valley Excursion train brings over 300 guests to Union Square at 11am.  They will be welcomed with live music by “Just Two” and a huge arts and crafts show.   Main Street from Front Street to Lee Street will be blocked to traffic to make room for even more arts and crafts.  You’ll find the Official Great Pumpkin, grown by Putnam resident, Gene Lariviere, at the Putnam Congregational Church.  The church will also hold their annual Harvest Fair and luncheon and “Relative Sound” will play from 12 to 3 on the church lawn.  
There will be scarecrow displays throughout the downtown area, plus many children’s activities, including Clarity the Clown and a free Bouncy House at the Putnam Public Library, pumpkin decorating at The Citizen’s National Bank, the ARC Puppet Show in Union Square, face painting, crafts, a pumpkin carving contest and more.  A 90-minute excursion train departs from Union Station at 11:30.  
Advance tickets are just $25 each and are available at WINY Radio and Victoria Station Café.   
Tickets will be sold the day of if available.   Putnam’s many restaurants will feature special pumpkin menus and drink specials.  
But your first stop should be the Information Booth located at Putnam Bank for a complete list of activities.
The Great Pumpkin Festival is produced by the Putnam Business Association and the Putnam Recreation Department.  
For more information go to putnambusiness.org



Voter registration
is Oct. 19
PUTNAM — The Putnam Registrars of Voters will hold a Voter Registration Session, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Town Hall, 126 Church St.


Clockwise from above: Jellies from Hundred Acre Farm. Tomatoes from Woodstock Farms. Canned vegetables.



Woodstock Elementary/Middle
Monday: Hot dogs, fruit. Tuesday: Waffle sticks, hash browns, turkey sausages, fruit. Wednesday: Popcorn chicken, mashed potatoes, beets, fruit. Thursday: Pasta, meatballs, carrots, fruit. Friday: Pizza, spinach salad, fruit.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday: Crispy chicken sandwiches, carrots. Tuesday - elementary school: Baked fish nuggets, rice pilaf, beet salad. Tuesday - Middle School: Tilapia, rice pilaf, beet salad. Wednesday - half day - Brunch at lunch: French toast sticks, scrambled eggs, hash brown patties. Thursday: Taco salad, Mexicali corn. Friday: Putnam Special Pizza.
Putnam High
Monday: Stuffed potato bowls. Tuesday: Nachos Grande. Wednesday - half day: Macaroni and cheese, broccoli. Thursday: Spaghetti, meatballs, spinach salad. Friday: Crunchy Hawaiian chicken wraps, three-bean salad with chick peas.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Calzones, broccoli, fruit. Tuesday: Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, carrots, applesauce. Wednesday: Hamburgers or cheeseburgers, veggie sticks with dip, pears. Thursday: Mr. Fox's pizza, spinach/romaine salad, fruit/veggie tray. Friday: Beef or bean tacos, corn, pineapple cups.

RocketTheme Joomla Templates