Past Issues of the Putnam Town Crier

 
 
Frederick L. Bigelow,
U.S. Navy vet
POMFRET CENTER — Frederick L. Bigelow, 70, of Pomfret, died July 17, 2014, at UMass University Hospital.  He was the husband of Joyce (Rivard) Bigelow.  Born in 1943 in Brunswick, Maine, he was the son of the late Ronald A. and Georgia M. (Wallace) Bigelow.  
Mr. Bigelow was proud to have served in the U.S. Navy as a signalman on the USS Moale in the early 1960s.  He owned and operated Bigelow Lawn & Garden, after retiring from Southern New England Telephone Company. He loved to read, play darts, croquet and garden.  He enjoyed Jeopardy, crossword puzzles and shooting pool. Fred was a competitive member of the Pomfret Croquet Club and the Minute Man Dart Club and also of the VFW in Manchester. 
In addition to his wife, he leaves his daughter, Rebecca Lambert (David) of Woodstock; son Michael Bigelow (Marian) of Hampton; grandchildren, Danielle, Samuel, Aaron and Rachel Lambert and Shayne, Gregory and Kyleigh Bigelow; sisters Judith Bohman of Marlborough, Linda Klimasewski of Georgia; brother Richard Bigelow of Oregon. He is predeceased by his brother Gregory Bigelow. 
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. July 25 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St. A gathering will begin in the funeral home at 9 a.m. July 26, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 in St. James Church, Danielson.  Burial will be private. Donations: American Heart Association, PO Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241-7005.  
 
Harold Williams III
PUTNAM — Harold A. Williams III, 28, of Courtney Lane, died July 19, 2014.  Born in 1985 in Putnam, he was the son of Harold A. Jr. and Betty Ann (Auger) Williams. 
Harold formerly worked as a cook at McDonald’s in Charlton. 
He loved music and drawing. He was a very social person.  He could start a conversation with anyone and enjoyed making people laugh.  He loved being with children.
In addition to his parents, he leaves his daughter, Sara Williams of Southbridge; his sister, Jessica Britland of Dayville; his paternal grandmother, Sheila N. Williams; his niece, Isabella; and three nephews, Bobby, Wyatt and Austin. He was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, Harold A. Williams Sr., his maternal grandparents; Ruth M. Auger and Leonard H. Auger Sr.; and his uncle, Leonard H. Auger Jr.
Donations:Harold Williams Fund, PO Box 131, Putnam, CT 06260.  Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St. Putnam.
 
Bernard Gerling
PUTNAM — Bernard F. Gerling, 67, of Putnam, died July 13, 2014, at Matulaitis Nursing Home.
He was born in Punxatawney, Penn., son of the later Bernard E. and Mary L. (Dubrosky) Gerling and lived here most of his life.
He was the husband of the late Lucille M. (Bedard) Gerling, who died on June 5, 2014. He leaves two brothers, Stephen Gerling of Ashford and Michael Gerling of St. Louis.
Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.
 
Alice Parker
N. GROSVENORDALE — Alice M. (Armes) Parker, 85, of N. Grosvenordale, died July 20, 2014, at Day Kimball Hospital, Putnam.
Alice was born in Yorktown, N.Y., daughter of the late Lawrence and Lillian (Sundean) Armes and lived in Colorado before moving to N. Grosvenordale 35 years ago.  She was a retired cook, having worked many years at Day Kimball Hospital.  She enjoyed bowling, knitting, baking and crocheting.
She leaves a daughter, Barbara J. Basley of Danielson; a brother, Rawlins Armes of Florida; four grandchildren, Bradley Belanger, Kayla Belanger, Kara Langevin and Eric Belanger; a great-grandson, Kyle Langevin.  She was predeceased by a son, Edmund Motrucinski.
A Celebration of Life will be heldfrom 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 2 2 at Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, Webster.   Burial will be private. 
 
Christopher Kennedy
THOMPSON — Christopher J. Kennedy, 48, died July 16, 2014, in UMass University Campus, Worcester, after having been stricken ill on July 15.
He was born in Worcester, the youngest child of William F. Kennedy, who died in 1973. He lived in Webster for eight years before moving to Thompson in 1974. He attended Tourtellotte Memorial High School in N. Grosvenordale.
Mr. Kennedy was a carpenter all of his working life. He was a member of St. Joseph Basilica in Webster. He enjoyed gardening and fishing.
He leaves his mother, Sally A. (Kochanowski) Mrozinski, with whom he lived; a brother, William J. Kennedy (Deidre) of Auburn; three sisters, Kimberly J. Eldridge of Barre, Mass., Karen J. Bacon of Webster, and Kathleen J. Kennedy of Putnam; nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Henry J. Mrozinski Jr. in December 2013.
His Funeral was July 26 in St. Joseph Basilica, Webster. Donations: ASPCA (aspca.org). Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, Webster.
 
 
 
Voter registration
PUTNAM — The Putnam Registrars of Voters will hold a Voter Registration Session from noon to 2 p.m. July 29 at the Town Hall. The Registrars will hear requests by persons removed for adding their names to the registry list.
 
 
WOODSTOCK — The Tony-award winning play “Les Misérables” comes to life when Broadway Live Productions and THOMASDORAN and company present the epic musical Aug. 1, 2 and 3 at the Hyde School Cultural Center. The show has generated tremendous community support through a number of individual and corporate sponsorships which will off-set performance costs, allowing ticket proceeds to benefit three local Beneficiaries: Day Kimball Healthcare, Quinebaug Valley Community College and The Bradley Playhouse.
It will be presented at 8 p.m. Aug. 1 and 2 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 2 and 3.  Tickets are $20 each, $15 for the Aug. 2  matinee only and are available at Victoria Station, WINY Radio, Day Kimball Healthcare’s Development Office, Danielson Surplus Sales, Trinket Shoppe, the Bradley Playhouse, and online at www.lesmisatthehyde.com 
The performance features more than 60 actors from the tri-state area, with lead roles by Richard Monroe as
Jean Valjean; Ray Churchill (Javert), Elaine Crane (Fantine); Kaitlyn Ekstrom as (Cosette); Amanda Vantine (Eponine); Hayden Stearns (Marius); Greg Brock (Thenardier); and Angela Foley (Madame Thenardier).
The production team includes: Assistant Director Carole Hayes, Producer Laura Crosetti, Associate Producer Molly Kellaway, Choreographer Keri Danner, Vocal Director Diane Pollard, Music Director Bob Sloat, Stage Managers Christie Deary and Marie Mongeau; and Costumer Caroline Sloat.
 
caption:
'Wizard of Oz'
Madison Ruta (Dorothy), Real Carpentier (The Wizard of Oz) and Luigi (Toto). Courtesy photo.
 
'Oz' begins
Aug. 1
PUTNAM — The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut at the Bradley Playhouse invites you to journey over the rainbow and down the yellow brick road when it proudly presents “The Wizard of Oz.”  It opens Aug. 1 and runs for three weekends.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Aug.  1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 3, 10 and 17. Tickets are $21 for adults and $18 for seniors and students. The Bradley Playhouse is located at 30 Front Street (Route 44) in Putnam, CT.  All seats are reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. 
In honor of this year’s 75th Anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz,” motion picture, theater-goers are invited to test their knowledge of The Wizard of Oz trivia. Those who answer all the questions correctly will be entered in a contest to win the book celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the film. One book will be awarded each weekend. 
The TNECT production is co-directed by Kathleen Atwood and Scott Guerin.  Jason Cork is music director and choreography is by Annette Hebard.  Flying Effects are provided by ZFX, Inc., as characters soar over the Bradley stage for the first time ever.  ZFX trained our flight controllers, Don Magrey and Mike Krauss.
Madison Ruta is Dorothy, Keith Murphy is the Cowardly Lion, Adam Leidemer appears as the Tinman and the Scarecrow is played by Roy Simmons. Linda Colangelo is the scary Wicked Witch of the West, Leah Thompson plays Glinda, the good witch, and The Wizard of Oz is Real Carpentier.  Toto is played by Luigi Voccio, a Yorkshire Terrier from Brooklyn.  
“The Wizard of Oz” was written by L. Frank Baum. The play is based upon the classical motion picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed by Warner Bros. It was adapted from the motion picture screenplay by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Music and lyrics of the MGM motion picture score are by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg.
The movie version opened in 1939 and starred Judy Garland as Dorothy.  Through the years, The Wizard of Oz has been a staple on television, making it perhaps the best known and loved film of all time.
All of your favorite characters and songs appear in the version to be staged at the Bradley.  Dorothy, Toto, Lion, Tinman, Scarecrow, witches and munchkins will all be seen in Putnam.  Just a few of the beloved songs are “Over the Rainbow,” “Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead” and “We’re Off to See the Wizard.”
 
Honored
Former mayor Richard "Pete" Place was honored at al Fresco for his 18-plus years of service to Putnam. Photos left and above  courtesy of Denise Roireau.
 
Bottom photo: Photo courtesy of WINY Radio
 
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