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 There is a tune that Woodstock Academy ski team coach Kevin Brody has been continuing to hum to himself even though the holiday season has passed.
“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” has been the mantra for the Centaurs and the other teams participating in the Connecticut Interscholastic Ski League.
Unfortunately, their wishes have not been answered much this season.
But the home course for the state, Mount Southington, has been holding up.
Fortunately, the Centaurs also have the ability to train at Wachusett Mountain in Westminster, Mass., where conditions are better.
The longer-range forecast did not hold much hope for more natural snow any time soon, but even sub-freezing temperatures at night would be welcomed by skiers.
Woodstock took part in the first CISL meet Jan. 12 with temperatures in the mid-40s in Southington and the threat of rain.
Senior Davis Simpson finished eighth among 144 boys competitors.
 “That’s darn good,” Brody said. “There are a lot of racers there that come from winter or weekend academies up north with pretty intense training and come back to their high schools to race. For that reason, top-10 is incredible in my book.”
Fellow seniors Aidan Soderman (66th) and Nicholas Betschmann (81st) also finished in the top 100 while freshman Luke Thompson was 115th.
The boys have only four skiers which means they cannot score as a team this season. Teams need to have six skiers with two qualifying scores each to score as a team. The bigger concern is that with three of the Woodstock boys being seniors, it means Brody will have to do some recruiting.
“It’s weird,” Brody said. “Ski racing has become a very female-dominated sport and that’s very cool but I wish we had two more boys so we could score some points for the league. But, they are solid individually which is all that matters.”
The Centaurs do have enough girls to score led by sophomore Emma Brody who finished ninth out of 150 girls competitors in the first meet.
“She actually hopped on some new equipment (earlier in the week), a longer ski, and I guess she took to it pretty well,” said Kevin Brody who is both her coach and father. “Sometimes, people get used to equipment and when they change, it can do funky things to them.”
Junior Maeve Lusignan was 55th in that first meet and fellow junior Peyton Bentley finished 91st.
The Centaurs also have juniors Avery Kollbeck and Lilly Verraneault and sophomores Phoebe Griffin and Olivia Smith.
“Progress,” Kevin Brody said when asked what his goal for the season is. “Seeing kids having fun, improving throughout the season, jumping spots and climbing the ladder to get higher in their CISL placements.”
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

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Wed. Jan. 18
Outdoor Program
POMFRET --- Ragged Hill Woods “Evergreen Identification” outdoor program will be held at 10 a.m. and at 4:30 p.m. at Windham Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road for children from PK – Grade 8.   $20 per child. Register:  860-974-1122.

Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library’s Art @ the Library series will present “Old and New – paintings by Jean Arcand” through Jan. 30. In the display case, through Jan. 30 will be “Quilted Bags” by Laura Salo. 860-923-9779.

Thur. Jan. 19
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road will present “Winter Hike – Nightingale Forest South,” at 10 a.m. Deep snow will cancel. $5, CAS members; $10 nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Winter Concert
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Middle School will present a winter concert at 7 p.m. at the Loos Center for Arts. Free. Any and all cash donations graciously accepted at the door. Snow date is Jan. 20.

Fri. Jan. 20
‘The Sunshine Boys’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Sunshine Boys” by Neil Simon at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20, 21, 27 and 28 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 22 and 29. $23 for adults; $20 for students, seniors, first responders and military. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org.

Sat. Jan. 21
‘The Sunshine Boys’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Sunshine Boys” by Neil Simon at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21, 27 and 28 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 22 and 29. $23 for adults; $20 for students, seniors, first responders and military. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org.

Wildlife Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present a program on coyotes at 1 p.m. at the center on Day Road. CAS, $5; $10 for nonmembers. No charge for children 12 and under. For info and reservations: 860-928-4948; ctaudubon.org/Pomfret.

Music Fund-raiser
POMFRET --- “The Red Hot Banjo Wizard'' Howie Bursen returns onstage, joined by Sally Rogers, John Bailey, and Bennett and Lorraine Hammond at 7 p.m. at The Vanilla Bean Café. $25. Benefits Access’s Northeast Connecticut Food Pantries.

Clothing Giveaway
PUTNAM --- The IHSP-NU 2 U Clothing Closet will hold a clothing giveaway from 9 a.m. to noon at the Living Faith Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Bring bags. All welcome regardless of town of residence. Not accepting clothes at this event.

Sun. Jan. 22
Mohegan Presentation
POMFRET --- The Christ Church Pomfret will present a special program about the culture, history and performance of dance and song of the Mohegan people Jan. 22. Doors open at 2:30 and performance is at 3. Reservations via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. are requested but not required. All welcome. Free. Donations to the Tantaquidgeon Indian Museum will be accepted.

Wed. Jan. 25
Outdoor Program
POMFRET ---Ragged Hill Woods “Animal Tracking” outdoor program will be presented at 10 a.m. and at 4:30 p.m. at Windham Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road for children from PK – Grade 8.   $20 per child. Register:  860-974-1122.

Thur. Jan. 26
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center will present “Bird Walk at the Quinebaug Valley Fish Hatchery in Plainfield” at 9 a.m. on Jan. 26 and on Feb. 23. $10, CAS members; $20 nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Fri. Jan. 27
‘The Sunshine Boys’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Sunshine Boys” by Neil Simon at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 and 28 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 22 and 29. $23 for adults; $20 for students, seniors, first responders and military. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org.

Lecture
POMFRET --- The Pomfret School will present its Schwartz Public Lecture, Jessica Bruder at 7 p.m.  in the Hard Auditorium. Open to all. Free. No registration required. Bruder is the NYT best-selling author of “Nomadland.” A book signing and reception will follow.

Sat. Jan. 28
‘The Sunshine Boys’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Sunshine Boys” by Neil Simon at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 29. $23 for adults; $20 for students, seniors, first responders and military. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org.

Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road will present the opening reception for “Trail Wood Reflections,” an Edwin Way Teale Artists & Writers In-Residence 10th Anniversary Exhibition at 2 p.m. The exhibit runs through March 18. Snow date March 18. 860-928-4948.

Sun. Jan. 29
‘The Sunshine Boys’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Sunshine Boys” by Neil Simon at 2 p.m. Jan. 29. $23 for adults; $20 for students, seniors, first responders and military. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org.

Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road will present “Nature Sketchbook Journaling” from 1 to 3 p.m. Suggested supplies: watercolor sketchbook, permanent marker, portable watercolor kit, small cup to hold water and paper towels. Also being held Feb. 25 and March 25. CAS members, $15; $25 nonmembers. Register: 860-928-4948.

Wed. Feb. 1
Outdoor Program
POMFRET --- Ragged Hill Woods “Hibernation” outdoor program at 10 a.m. and at 4:30 p.m. at Windham Tolland 4-H Camp, Taft Pond Road for children from PK – Grade 8.   $20 per child. Register: 860-974-1122.

Thur. Feb. 2
Scramble the Duck
EASTFORD --- Scramble the Duck, the accurate weather-predicting groundhog alternative, will predict an early spring or six more weeks of winter at 7:30 a.m. at the Ivy Glenn Memorial. All invited and the event will be livestreamed at:  scrambletheduck.org/livestream

Wed. Feb. 8
Outdoor Program
POMFRET --- Ragged Hill Woods “Snow/Igloos” outdoor program at 10 a.m. and at 4:30 p.m. at Windham Tolland 4-H Camp, Taft Pond Road for children from PK – Grade 8.   $20 per child. Register: 860-974-1122.

Sat. Feb. 11
Cornhole Tourney
THOMPSON --- The Woodstock Lions Club will hold a fund-raiser Cornhole Tournament at the Raceway (inside). Registration is at 11 and the round-robin starts at noon. For info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thur. Feb. 16
History Program
THOMPSON --- The Thompson Public Library and the Thompson Historical Society will present “Old Turnpikes of Northeast Connecticut” at 6 p.m. at the library.

Sat. Feb. 18
Bird Program
POMFRET --- The Wyndham Land Trust will present “Restoration of Bird Populations: Woodcock a Case Study” at 2 p.m. at the Connecticut Audubon Society of Pomfret.

Wed. Feb. 22
Outdoor Program
POMFRET --- Ragged Hill Woods “Basket Weaving” outdoor program at 10 a.m. and at 4:30 p.m. at Windham Tolland 4-H Camp, Taft Pond Road for children from PK – Grade 8.   $20 per child. Register: 860-974-1122.

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BROOKLYN — Donald F. Garvais, 91, died Jan. 9, 2023, at Pierce Memorial Baptist Home. Born July 17, 1931, in Putnam, he was the son of the late Joseph and Mazie (Murphy) Garvais.
Don graduated from Tourtellotte Memorial High School in 1949, where he was a guard on their State Championship basketball team.
 He graduated from UConn in 1953 with a bachelor’s in business and math, and from Babson College in 1963 with an MBA.
He was a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Don had a distinguished Army career. He was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne, served two tours in Vietnam, taught math at U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and retired, at the rank of full Colonel after more than 20 years of dedicated service.
He was recognized for excellence with the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, and several other honors. After retiring from the military, he worked at Aetna, Cigna, and ACE insurance companies as a corporative executive.
He was most proud of his role as project manager for the Liberty Two skyscraper in Philadelphia.
He led a vigorous life, enjoying golf well into his 80s, swimming and sailing at his beloved Alexander Lake, and cheering on the Boston Red Sox.
He attended his last game at Fenway at age 91.
He never forgot a birthday.
He leaves his children, William “Brad” Garvais (Darlene) of California, Elizabeth Golec (Joe) of Connecticut, and Geoffrey Garvais of Connecticut; his six grandchildren, Kayla, Claire, Steven, Kevin, Emily, and Abbie; and his former wife and friend Kay, and special friend Nelsa and her family, Carol and Catherine of Pennsylvania.
He was predeceased by his two brothers, Edward and Richard Garvais.
Visitation is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 21 in Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260, followed by a Funeral Service at 11 a.m. in Living Faith United Methodist Church on  Grove St., Putnam.
Burial will follow in Grove Street Cemetery. Donations: American Legion at (https://mylegion.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Donate#legion-org)

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caption:
Duane Thompson. Photo by Thomas Netzer

Thompson
keeps energy up
It was kind of ironic actually.
As outgoing (and boisterous, energetic, and loud) as Duane Thompson is, the first half of his basketball season at Putnam Science Academy fell…flat.
But the second semester started last week, and with it, a chance for Thompson to right his ship and lead the Mustangs to do special things, as coach Tom Espinosa is fond of saying. Thompson got off on the right foot last Wednesday, scoring 14 points to go with four assists, two steals, and one charge drawn, in a semester-opening 118-81 win over Redemption Christian Academy.
“One thing we lack with this time sometimes is leadership and a vocal leader, talking and energy,” Espinosa said. “That’s something that Duane brings. He’s yelling and screaming like a maniac before the game. He’s not the quickest or most athletic guy on the team but he takes charges, dives on the floor. He claps, he screams, he has energy. He goes out there to make winning plays. You need guys like that. I think he changes our structure.”
Last season was a learning experience for Thompson, as he was an end-of-the-bench player on the team that went 38-0 enroute to a national championship. After a great summer on the EYBL circuit and a terrific preseason back on campus, Thompson had everyone’s eye. But he missed the first two games of the regular season, then battled his confidence, then missed five games with a shoulder injury.
“When he was gone, it was tough to keep the energy up all the time,” said teammate Will Lovings-Watts, who had a game-high 19 points in the win over Redemption. “Duane is one of those kids, he always has energy. Practice, in the dorms, game…he’s always yelling. He’s great to have on your team.”
“That’s just me, Duane Thompson. Everywhere I go, that’s how I am. Thank my mom, Tabitha,” Thompson said with a laugh. “At the beginning of the year, I knew there had to be someone to do it. I’m comfortable with that. The guys last year showed me. Arturo Dean, Barry Evans, Des Claude, DayDay Gittens. They brought it every day and they showed me the path. As someone who has been here, and who has that kind of personality, I’m going to continue that path. It’s important. But it can be hard sometimes because I hold myself to a high standard. So having a good mind, even when things aren’t going well for me individually, it can be challenging.”
Such was the case this past weekend, when Thompson was held to two points in Friday’s 75-74 win over Vermont Academy. Mouhamed Dioubate led the way with 13 points and 16 rebounds while Ben Ahmed added 18 points and eight boards. Dioubate (13 points, five rebounds) and Ahmed (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Blake Barkley (13 points, seven rebounds) paced the Mustangs Sunday night, but it wasn’t enough as they lost 67-63 to Bradford Christian Academy. PSA fell to 15-3 with the loss.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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