Putnam: The Center of the Universe
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
Putnam was the center of the universe, packing two bands, a River Fire, the Main Street Car Cruise, and the Pluck-A-Duck Kids Zone into the weekend. The universe takeover continued on Aug. 11 with the Pluck-A-Duck fund-raiser at the “secret pond.”
Quack Quack
Beth Markowski-Roop, chair of the Putnam Business Association’s Pluck-A-Duck committee, said this is the biggest fund-raiser for the PBA and helps fund many of the community programs the PBA spearheads, and much more.
PBA President Attorney Kate Cerrone echoed her comments. She and Mayor Barney Seney took the plunge in a race to be the first one to rescue a corporate duck. Cerrone picked the winning corporate duck — the $750 Visa gift card went the VFW Auxiliary.
Last year the ducks raised more than $31,000 for the PBA and a little shy of $13,000 went to the organizations that sold tickets, Roop said. The non-profit organizations get to keep half of their duck sales. From the popularity of this year’s duck sales, the ducks may be on track to beat those records this year.
The duck fund-raising is multi-pronged. The duck tickets are sold, of course. There are also corporate ducks and the Kids Zone Aug. 10 at Rotary Park was bigger than last year with all manner of fund-raising including the ever popular Dunk Tank with local “celebrities” in the (wet) seat. Forty-eight corporate ducks were told this year, raising $4,800. At the “plucking” at the secret pond Aug. 11, the PBA hosted a live broadcast, as did WINY Radio. They interviewed many of the sponsors, volunteers and more.
Roop said this fund-raiser could not happen without the help of volunteers.
Strike up Bands & Fire
The concerts and River Fire extravaganza on Aug. 9 was graced with perfect weather. The CT Army National Guard 102d brought two bands. They were followed by the Ed Peabody and the Big Blue Thang band and that was followed by River Fire, set to music by WINY Radio. Each of the 19 “fire pots” in the Quinebaug have a 40-gallon propane tank which allows for almost two hours of fire.
Main Street Car Cruise
On Aug. 10 the Pluck-A-Duck Kid Zone fund-raiser on one side of Rotary Park was joined by the massive Main Street Car Cruise. The cruise stretched from Rotary Park, down Kennedy Drive, downtown and various parking lots along the way.
Jimmy Callahan, Putnam’s Park and Recs director, said 3,000 cars signed up which is a record. He credited gorgeous weather, special cars (like the gold DeLorean and the Make-a-Wish truck) and the Pluck-A-Duck Kid Zone for the record-breaking numbers.
Putnam Police Chief Christopher D. Ferace said the cruise was well watched over. He had “all hands on deck” from the Putnam Police Department, as well as mutual police aid from New London, Groton City, Norwich and Groton Long Point police departments. In addition members of northeastern Connecticut’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) were seen throughout downtown and beyond, ready to help. CERT consists of trained volunteers who can assist governments and first responders during emergencies and large community events.
Award winners included: Best GM – Ben Bennett; Best FOMOCO – Dean Hazard; Best Mopar – Shawn Matellian; Best Truck – Mark Condon; Best Paint – Steve Zagmont; Best Engine – Hans Deamer; Best Pre-War – Mack Fairbanks; Best Corvette – Steve Gilman; Best Rat Rod – Vincent Saline; Best Survivor – Steve Gilman; Best Hot Rod – Dean Hazard; Best Off-Road – Matt Dumas; Best Truck Over 10k GVW – Jon Walsh; Best Under Construction – Chris Bernier; Best Jeep – Morgan Duffy; Mayor’s Award – Daniel Ross (’67 GTO); Alan Joslin Award – David & MJ White; DL Holke Award – Steve Gilman; Tow-Mater – Nick Walsh; Most Likely to Get Pulled Over – Paul “Slick” Chenail (’56 Ford).
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Duck caption, page 1:
Going for It
PBA President Attorney Kate Cerrone got the first Corporate Duck out of the water, just ahead of Mayor Barney Seney, at the "secret pond" (Hale YMCA Youth and Familyl Center) Aug. 11. The PBA's fund-raiser Pluck-A-Duck was a huge success. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.
page 4:
At Zen's Critters at the Pluck-A-Duck Kids Zone in Rotary Park Aug. 10.
Christina Earehart of Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center was the "duck wrangler." More photos Wed. night on our FB page.
Mayor Barney Seney
Universe captions, page 4:
Clockwise from top left:
Ford. More photos Wed. night on FB: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger.
CT Army National Guard Band 102d
Getting River Fire ready
Most Likely to Get Pulled Over - "Slick" Chenail
Kaiden "KK" Liccardi, left, and Katie Hunt heading for the Pluck-A-Duck Kid Zone.
Ed Peabody and the Big Blue Thang
Top: (Left) Tow-Mater award, Nick Walsh. (Right) Best Truck Over 10K GVW Jon Walsh. Left: Best Survivor - Steve Gilman, left. 1925 Dodge. Photos courtesy of Mike Paquin (printed shirt).