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Peace Pole
GPIC members Pam Rosenlund, Marge Guerin, Sister Bonnie Morrow, Anthony Foronda, Lyn Tolar and Diane Cooney stand by the Peace Pole which says “May Peace Prevail” in eight languages. Courtesy photo.


PUTNAM — The Daughters of the Holy Spirit hosted the annual Greater Putnam Interfaith Council’s International Day of Peace celebration recently at their new offices.
Sr. Bonnie Morrow welcomed more than 40 participants and the basket was passed to collect funds for Daily Bread. G. Leslie Sweetnam led the group in singing “In the Name of Our Children,” by Sally Rogers. Prayers and readings were offered from the Unitarian/ Universalist, Jewish, Islamic, Christian, Buddhist and Baha’i faith traditions by Pam Rosenlund, Marge Guerin, Halim Jones, Yusef Archambault, Diane Cooney, Anthony Foronda, and Lyn Tolar.
Sister Gertrude Lanouette gave the address. “Our differences do not need to be divisive,” she said, “We can live in this world in harmony. It’s the same song.  Some are singing alto and some are playing trombone.” Her prayer: “Peacebringer, open our minds and hearts to recognize Your presence in each person.”
Following, Jim Stahr played “This Land is Your Land.” Anthony Foronda led a Buddhist meditation.
Jayne and Kevin Collins accompanied the singing of the final song, “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire. This year’s theme “Climate Action for Peace” draws attention to the importance of combatting climate change as a way to protect and promote peace throughout the world.

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Woodstock public schools
Monday: Hot dogs, fruit. Tuesday: Mozzarella sticks, marinara sauce, fruit. Wednesday: Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, carrots, fruit. Thursday: Pasta, meatsauce, green beans, fruit. Friday: Pizza, corn, fruit.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday: Mozzarella Sticks, marinara sauce, broccoli. Tuesday: Sloppy Joes, carrots, Rice Crispy treats. Wednesday: Macaroni and cheese, green beans, Thursday: Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn. Friday - half day: Putnam Special Pizza, salad.
Putnam High
Monday: Three-cheese grilled sandwiches or spicy chicken sandwiches. Tuesday: General Tsos Chicken or bacon cheeseburgers. Wednesday: Clipper Burgers or turkey apple cheddar cheese panini. Thursday: Beef Tot-Chos or buffalo chicken pasta salad. Friday: Stuffed-crust pizza or fish and chips.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Grilled cheese, carrots with ranch dip, rainbow tray with fruit and veggies. Tuesday: Beef tacos, refried beans, rainbow tray. Wednesday: Chicken and waffles, rainbow tray. Thursday: Chicken Parm rolls, rainbow tray. Friday: French bread pizza, cucumber wheels, rainbow trays.

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Gabriele Formiconi. Photo by Vaso Brodeur

Imagine for a moment you’re Gabriele Formiconi. You’re 18 years old, you’ve never traveled outside of your native Rome (nevermind traveling to Putnam, Conn.), and your English is a little suspect. One of your closest friend from home is with you, but starting up at Putnam Science Academy isn’t going to be easy.
But at least you’ve got soccer. You can get out on the pitch, you can get the ball on your feet, you can make some runs from your position on the wing. This, you know. This, you don’t need to worry about. Out here, you’re comfortable.
And then, just as the weeks are going by and the harder stuff is getting a little easier, the soccer all of a sudden gets harder. Your coach tells you he wants you to switch positions, to try to fill a void the team has.
“At the start, I didn’t like it,” Formiconi said of moving from a winger position to striker. “It was the first time I had ever played that position. For me it was very hard. The first game, I was absolutely uncomfortable. I did it, but it was very uncomfortable.
“But now, with coach and the training, now I like it.”
The biggest adjustment is going from playing with open space in front him on the wing to playing in the center of the attack with his back to the goal and the center-back leaning on him.
“He’s growing into it,” said Mustangs coach Sam DeMello. “It just comes with repetition and more experience. One of the biggest things we had to work on was the movement. It’s very different coming off a wing versus coming in the center.
“I definitely had to sell him on it a little bit. He never played there, he was unsure. But he has shown improvement.”
Formiconi had been playing well on the wing, registering two goals in the team’s first three games. In the three games since the switch, he has scored once. But, while scoring goals is the ultimate measure, that is not the only way to account for improvement. Formiconi has better movement, making runs that help both in the buildup of offense but also in support of the team’s attack. What he does once he has the ball on his foot, particularly maintaining possession, is of utmost importance as well.
The position also requires a physical presence. At 6-foot, 1-inch, 180 solid pounds, he fits that mold.
Valerio Proietti, a defender on the Mustangs who has been good friends with Formiconi for the last six years or so, said playing against someone like that up front is challenging.
“When a strong player floats forward like that … that’s a good thing for them,” he said. “You have to play against them with another mentality. Surely in that position you have to be strong, and Gabriele is strong. He’s physical. He likes very much to use his body.”
The move can also only help Formiconi as he looks to play at the next level.
“He’s physically what you would look for in that position. He’s big, strong, fast, he can get in behind, he can fight with the central defenders,” DeMello said. “We talk about American soccer at the college level all the time that it’s very direct, it’s very physical. A lot of the time, coaches aren’t necessarily looking for the most technical soccer player, they’re looking for someone who can compete and make a difference. “In Gabriele’s case, he does have good ability with his feet, and then when you add the physical aspect to it, it’s a very attractive prospect for some college coaches.”
Formiconi ultimately bought in because he trusts DeMello that it could be better for the team and that it would be better for him individually.
“Coach told me that it was better for playing at university,” Formiconi said. He told me that in the U.S., the position is better for my body. That’s OK. I can see myself playing there at university. Definitely. Now I like it.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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