Details

Category: Current Issue

Man arrested
after burglary at
Putnam VFW
PUTNAM — A 32-year-old man was arrested after the State Police Troop D K9 tracked him from VFW Post 1523 on Providence Street.
Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said police responded to an alarm about 6:30 a.m. Nov. 22 and found it had been burglarized.
A K9 team from Troop D tracked to a Battey Street residence where the suspect and evidence of the burglary were found.
David F. Hallaman, 32, no known address, was charged with third-degree burglary, sixth-degree larceny, third-degree criminal trespass and third-degree criminal mischief.
Charges for the warrants were: second-degree failure to appear, sixth-degree larceny and disorderly conduct.
According to the VFW an empty cash register was stolen and a window was broken.
All accused are innocent until proven guilty.

.

Details

Category: Current Issue

Albert L. Cormier, Vietnam war veteran
PUTNAM — “On the Wings of Love” Albert Louis Cormier, 80, of Vandale Street, passed away peacefully Nov. 26, 2023, at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, after an unexpected illness.  Born on July 24, 1943, in Putnam, Al was the son of the late Louis V. and Eva (Marion) Cormier and lived in Putnam for the majority of his life. He attended St. Mary’s School and Marianapolis Preparatory School, graduating from St. Francis College (University of New England) in Biddeford, Maine, with a bachelor’s degree in French in 1967.
After enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1968, Al studied at the 528th Military Intelligence School at Fort Meade, Md., in the Interrogation Prisoners of War School, and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division – 25th Military Intelligence Detachment at Cu Chi, halfway between Saigon, Vietnam, and Cambodia, where he served from August 1968 until November 1969, receiving a Bronze Star Medal for his service. He then served in the Army Reserves until 1974 and enlisted in the Connecticut Army National Guard in 1981, retiring as a Major in January 2001. Al was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal from the U.S. Army, Medal of Merit from the State of Connecticut, and the Meritorious Service Award with Bronze Medal from the Selective Service System. His combined military career spanned 26 years.
In November 1974, Al married his sweetheart, Joyce Jewell, at St. Joseph Church in N. Grosvenordale; together, they had two daughters, Carrie and Mandy, as well as two grandsons, Marcus and Miller. Al worked at local schools as a teacher, counselor, and administrator for 40 years, retiring from The Woodstock Academy in June 2010 after 22 years. As a beloved and highly respected educator, Al provided wisdom, humor, and love as he supported countless students and colleagues in northeastern Connecticut.
He had the ability to truly see the good in everyone as he provided the guidance that so many high school students needed. Because Al believed in them, he inspired them to believe in themselves. Beyond his work as a counselor, he coached soccer and used his GI Bill to earn graduate degrees, including a master’s degree in psychology and counseling from Assumption College. He was involved in numerous student, counseling, professional, and community service-related activities and organizations at the local, state, regional, and national levels and received countless awards and honors over his lifetime, including the Warren E. Shull National Student Council Adviser of the Year Award from the National Association of Student Councils (NASC/NASSP) in 1998 and the Melvin Jones Fellow Award from the Lions Clubs International Foundation in 2014.
A dedicated community member, Al was active with the American Legion Post 13 and was a member of the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse. He conducted a Veterans Coffee House at Matulaitis Nursing Home and was a member of the Military Officers Association, the 25th Infantry Division Association, and AMVETS. In addition, he was a Life Member of VFW Post 1523 in Putnam, the Putnam Knights of Columbus, and the Putnam Lions Club, where he founded the Putnam Leo Club and served as an adviser-team member.
Called “Chief” by those close to him, Al loved spending time with his wife and family, as well as attending Putnam and Thompson senior luncheons and ROMEO breakfasts with his retired teacher friends. He adored his two grandsons and was able to share in the joys of their activities.  
He leaves his wife, Joyce (Jewell) Cormier; his daughters Carolyn (Cormier) Riendeau (and her husband Christopher, and their sons, Marcus and Miller) and Amanda (Cormier) Bernat (and her husband, James); his sisters Claire (Cormier) Emond (and her husband, Philip) and Janet (Cormier) LaBelle (and her husband, John) and their families; as well as his sisters-in-law Jane Ellison and Sandra LaBonte (and her husband, Lawrence); cousins, nieces, nephews, and their families; and countless close friends, who were an extension of his family.
Visitation is from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 3 in the Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. Additional visitation is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 4, also in the Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Dec. 4 at St. Mary’s Church, 218 Providence St., Putnam. Burial will follow at noon. in West Thompson Cemetery, Riverside Drive, Thompson.  Donations: Putnam II Leo Club, P.O. Box 535, Putnam, CT  06260-0535; or the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse, c/o Putnam Elks Lodge, 64 Edmond St., Putnam, CT  06260-2221.  

Richard W. Lamothe,
National Guard
PUTNAM — Richard W. Lamothe, 70, of Walnut Road, died Nov. 27, 2023, after a short illness surrounded by his family.  He was the loving husband of Christine (Beaupre) Lamothe for 46 years. Born in 1953 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Raymond Lamothe and Blanche (Montpelier) Lamothe.
Richard was the third generation to own and operate the family business, Modern Lumber where he served his friends and neighbors for the last 54 years. He began working for his uncle at age 16 and purchased the business in 2003.
He also served in the Army National Guard.  He enjoyed cars, gardening and going to his cottage at Roy Carpenter’s Beach in Matunuck. He also thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and his dog, Libby.
In addition to his wife Christine, he leaves his son Chad Lamothe and his wife Natasha and her children, all of Putnam; his daughter Holly Mayo and her husband Troy and their children Benjamin Mayo and Bethany Mayo, all of Putnam; his brother Robert Lamothe (Simonne) of Brooklyn; his sister Linda Bernier (Gerard) of Scotland; nieces and nephews Melanie Whitcomb, Courtney Lamothe, Dawn Bernier, Devin Bernier, and Emily Waite.
Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 in the Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam. A gathering will begin in the funeral home at 9 a.m. Dec. 2 followed by a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 218 Providence St., Putnam. Burial will be private.  Donations: Daily Bread or to TEEG.

.
 

Details

Category: Current Issue

Fri.  Dec. 1
‘A Christmas Story’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse on Front Street will present “A Christmas Story” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17. $23 for adults; $20 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or 860-928-7887.

Sat.  Dec. 2
Art/Craft Show
E. WOODSTOCK --- The East Woodstock Congregational Church will hold its annual Holiday Art/Craft Show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Holiday Fair
POMFRET --- The annual Saint Nicholas Victorian Fair in Pomfret will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 2 (snow date: Dec. 9) at Christ Church. It supports community outreach.

Holiday Bazaar
PUTNAM --- The Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center will hold its annual Holiday Bazaar from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hale YMCA. 40-plus vendors. 860-315-9622.

Sun.  Dec. 3
Tree of Life
The DKH 34th Annual Hospice Tree of Life Ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m. in 11 towns in NE CT. Benefits  Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. For info: daykimball.org/treeoflife.

Lunch With Santa
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road will present Lunch With Santa fund-raiser from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $8 for kids up to age 8; $12 for 9 and older for lunch. Photo with Santa, $8. 860-974-3379.

Concert
CHEPACHET --- The Music at the Meeting House will present its Christmas concert,   at 2:30 p.m. at the Chepachet Baptist Church on Rt. 44. Free. All welcome. Freewill offering will be taken. Refreshments.

Mon.  Dec. 4
Dedication
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam and local artists will dedicate the Boxcar Children Mural at 4:30 p.m. on South Main Street.

Wed.  Dec. 6
Toy Drive
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Police Department will hold its Stuff-a-Cruiser toy drive from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at WINY Radio. All new unwrapped toys will benefit the Putnam Family Resource Center Holiday Toy Drive.

Sun.  Dec. 10
Candlelight
POMFRET --- Pomfret School will present “Candlelight,” an evening of music and candle lighting, starting at 7 p.m. in the Clark Memorial Chapel. Doors open at 6:30. Refreshments follow in Hard Auditorium.

Sat.  Dec. 16
Cookie Sale
BROOKLYN --- Our Lady of LaSalette Church on Rt. 6 will hold its annual Holiday Cookies Sold by the Pound and basket drawing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the church basement.

Sun.  Dec. 17
Christmas Pageant
POMFRET --- The Christ Church’s annual Christmas Pageant will be at 10 a.m. at the Rectory School’s Tang Center.

Thur.  Dec. 28
Camp Game Day
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp is offering a Camper Game Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for kids ages 6-12.  Games, food and fun during the holiday vacation week. $20 includes lunch and snacks. Outdoor gear required. Preregister by 12-22. 860-974-1122.

Sat.  Feb. 10
Fire and Ice
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association and the Town of Putnam will present Fire and Ice around downtown.

Sat.  April 20
International Day
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present International Day.

Sat.  May 18
Fairy Fest
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present a Fairy and Magic Fest

Sun.  Aug. 11
Pluck a Duck
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present Pluck a Duck Aug. 11 and 12.

.

Details

Category: Current Issue

caption:

Bell Ringing - Fund Raising
From left: Phoebe Griffin, Maddie Jezierski, Kira Greene. Courtesy photo.



PUTNAM — Once again the Putnam Rotary Club Interact Club organized the Putnam Salvation Army Kettle Campaign for its 26th year, beginning on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25.
The campaign will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday coming up, including Dec. 23, at Putnam Supermarket, Price Chopper, Walmart and Stop & Shop.
“This year we had a new device attached to our kettle stand that allows people to tap (their credit card for) a $5, $10 or $20 donation,” said Roberta Rocchetti, Interact advisor.  “Hopefully this will help those that want to make a donation but do not carry cash.”
The total for the first weekend was over $3,000.
Rocchetti praised Putnam High School students Paige Perry and Gabriell Cerasiello who rang for eight hours. She thanked the bell ringers and volunteers — from PHS: Kaysn Robillard, Madeleine Kimball, Delta Wagner and Danny Boriboun; from Tourtellotte Memorial High School: Jordyn Butler, Eric Levesque, Patricia Peterson, Noel Racicot Caitlin and Eoin Mercer and Vivianna Hill; from The Woodstock Academy: Greysen Dery, Kiley Elliott, Elizabeth Ladzinski, Kira Greene, Phoebe Griffin, Maddie Jezierski, Hunter Larson, Taylor Lamothe, Madie McMahon, Ava Simoes, Lillian Conway, Amelia Haynes, Logan Casteen, Cade Jones, Jared Nielsen, Emma Kerr, Gianna Dicola-Keddy and Eden Lusignan.
Boy Scout Troop 21 volunteers included: Ethan Latandrice, Adric Devil, Romeo Devil, Cody Keene, Advisor Patty Gaffney and  Marysia Cournoyer with Adam Rumrill, Maryann and Calvin Heath (Putnam). UConn volunteer: Austin Crim.
Ashford volunteers included: Claudia Ursin, Donna Drasch. Rotaract volunteers included: Shannon Fagan, Hailey Messier. From American Legion Post 13: Garry Brown, Mike Rocchetti.
Putnam Rotarian volunteers included: Woody Durst and Dottie Durst, Roberta Rocchetti, Richard and Kathy Naumann, Joseph Adiletta, Paul Pikora, Barry Shead and Marc Archambault.

.