caption, page 9:
Ready
Woodstock Academy freshman Adeline Smith gets ready to return serve against Nonnewaug. Photos by Marc Allard.
caption, page 10:
Going Back
Woodstock Academy sophomore Hannah Darigan goes to the back hand in a win over Nonnewaug.
Spring break is much anticipated by those who have vacation plans.
It’s not so much fun for coaches.
That was especially true for the Woodstock Academy tennis teams.
“It’s terrible and it’s getting worse,” Centaurs boys’ and girls’ tennis head coach Ann Rathbone said.
Between the two varsity programs and the girls’ JV team, Rathbone has 42 student-athletes.
In a practice last week, 10 were in attendance.
“I’m really seriously considering not scheduling matches any more during spring break,” Rathbone said.
The Centaurs girls’ team did get one meet in April 16 and did well.
Nonnewaug Regional High School was suffering from the same spring break flu and also had an improvised lineup.
The Centaurs took advantage and scored a 6-1 victory in a match played at the Pomfret School.
It was a bit different from the last regular season match from last year where Nonnewaug gave Woodstock Academy a scare, before the Centaurs pulled out a 4-3 victory.
“It was a very good win,” Rathbone said. “The experience that the girls who were there got was great.”
For example, Logan Reynolds made her varsity debut at third doubles and teamed with Emma Hovestadt for a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Haley Gonzales and Rachel Pieger.
“You have to start somewhere with the young ones,” Rathbone said.
The Centaurs were also missing their No. 1 player. Mari Ruggieri.
Senior Morgan Bassett stepped into that role and handed Sophia Cenatiempo, Nonnewaug’s top singles player, a 6-1, 6-2 defeat.
“She is one of our captains so that was huge and she played very well,” Rathbone said.
Hannah Darigan had a bit more of a battle at No. 2 singles where she held off Mariah Hubert, 6-2, 7-5.
Adeline Smith was also a winner at No. 4 singles over Kate Greene, 6-2, 6-0.
“That was the most impressive match to me. Adeline is only a freshman and, quite frankly, their No. 4 player looked better than their No. 1,” Rathbone said.
“She’s scrappy, a fighter. You know what you’re getting when you put (Smith) out there, someone who is going to battle.”
Annabelle Bastura and Caitlin Sroczenski scored a 6-0, 6-3 win over Stephanie DiSarro and Yasmene Tyles at No. 1 doubles.
The second doubles match went to the Centaurs’ duo of Rachel Lambert and Jackie Trudeau who downed Sarah Blackburn and Kate Pagnamenta 6-0, 6-1.
The win raised the Centaurs record to 3-1.
“I really thought we could have done better against Joel Barlow (a season-opening loss), we, hopefully, will get another crack at them in the state tournament. We’ve seen what they have (Barlow is the defending Class M champion) and they’re not better than us, just the score (1-6) didn’t reflect it.”
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
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May (Waters) Alvord
PUTNAM — May W. Alvord, 93, died April 19, 2019. She was the wife and partner of the late James L. Alvord, the pair proudly owned and operated Alvord’s Market for many decades.
A lifelong resident of Putnam, Ms. Alvord was born in 1926 and was the daughter of the late Wesley and Viola (Reindeau) Waters.
She enjoyed swimming, knitting, reading, gardening, traveling and spending her winters in Naples, Fla.
She leaves her daughter, Barbara Shaughnessy of Weymouth, Mass.; her sister Phyllis Leclair of Thompson; grandchildren Keri Competello of New York, Kimberly Tiffany of Weymouth; great-grandchildren Madeline Competello and Kaydence Tiffany. She was predeceased three brothers, Richard Waters, Charles Waters and Conrad Waters and her sister Blanche Rawson.
Visitation is at 10 a.m. April 26 in Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Mary Church, Putnam. Burial follows in St. Mary Cemetery.
Jeanne B. Poirier
PUTNAM — Jeanne B. Poirier, 84, of Putnam died April 16, 2019, at home.
She was born March 2, 1935, in Putnam, the daughter of the late William and Josephine (Guwca) Latour.
Jeanne worked for American Thread in her younger years and was a machine operator with Belding-Heminway for 40 plus years.
She then worked for 10 years at Woodstock Line.
Jeanne enjoyed trips to flea markets with Frank and she was an avid collector of knickknacks; she also enjoyed cookouts.
She leaves her sons Joseph W. Poirier, Michael A. Poirier and Robert E. Poirier; her companion Frank Gee; her brothers Joseph Latour and Raoul “Cibby” Latour; her seven grandchildren; her nine great-grandchildren; her two great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter Robin Joly and a brother William Latour.
A Mass of Christian Burial was April 22 in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam, with burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam.
Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Magdalena Zbyrad
WEBSTER — Magdalena Zbyrad, 91, of West Point Rd., died April 19, 2019, at Brookside Healthcare.
She was the wife of the late Boleslaw Zbyrad. Born in 1928 in Poland, she was the daughter of the late Franciszek and Maria (Malek) Kozdeba.
Mrs. Zbyrad worked for many years on the family farm and later in life as security in the shipping and receiving department in Chmielow, Poland.
She was an extremely religious person and enjoyed gardening, sewing, and riding her bicycle.
She leaves a daughter Helena Guay (Glenn) of Webster; grandchildren Glenn Guay Jr. (Edyta), Jennifer Stone, Bozena Golemo (Artur), and Donna Dzieminski (Marek); and a great-granddaughter Karolina Dzieminski.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Maria Zbyrad, and two brothers, Bronislaw and Tadeusz Kozdeba.
The Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m. April 25 in St. James Church, Danielson, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Wendy Lee Kirkland
QUINEBAUG — Wendy Lee Kirkland, 73, died April 9, 2019 after a three-year battle with cancer.
She was born Oct. 1, 1945, in Westchester, N.Y., the eldest child of Gilbert T. Haas and Joyce (Schaftmeister) Haas. She grew up in Concord, Mass. She lived in Florida, Worcester, and Webster, before settling in her home in Quinebaug.
She went to UMass Amherst and Florida State University, and earned a bachelor’s in English.
She worked as a secretary and office clerk and wrote columns for the Worcester Telegram for several years before being a reporter and then editor of the Webster Times. She was a paraprofessional at Woodstock Academy, teaching and mentoring students in the Special Education Department. She retired four years ago but continued keeping in touch with many of her students whom she adored. She self-published a local newsletter called “The Voice,” in which she also wrote, edited, delivered, and promoted local businesses.
Wendy was an artist, a writer, a knitter, a reader, an avid gardener, cook, and baker. Wendy was a strong advocate of animals and loved her dog and cat deeply. She believed in supporting local businesses and loved the Thompson Public Library. Wendy was involved in Thompson Together, Inc. and was a board member since it began more than 10 years ago. She also served on the Thompson Community Day Committee.
She attended church at Camp Calumet Lutheran in West Ossippee, N.H., which was her favorite place in the world. It was her peace.
She leaves her brothers Glenn Haas (Debbie), and Jon Haas (Cathy); two children: a son, Eric P. Kirkland (Melissa) and a daughter, Nicole E. Kirkland; a cousin Lise Krieger; three grandchildren; Alexandra J. Kirkland, Jared E. Kirkland and Chelsea T. Kirkland.
A Celebration of Life will be held at noon May 25 at her home. For more info, call Alexandra Kirkland at 860-634-4930. Donations: Calumet Lutheran Ministries. Scanlon Funeral Service, Webster.
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PHS honor
society chapter
inductees
PUTNAM — The Putnam High School Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 15 new members March 28.
Inducted into the Putnam Chapter of the National Honor Society were: Michael DiColella, Zoe Hetrick, Anthony Navedo, Haley Cutler, Tanner Clark, Janete Morente-Uz, Troy Davis, Kira Fontaine, Kayleigh Lyons, Thomas Masso, Molly McKeon, Jeffrey Reed, Hannah Smith, Justin St. Martin and Noah Tomkins.
School Superintendent William Hull said: “Every year this is an outstanding ceremony where parents and the school community get to honor not only our new inductees, but the entire membership of the Putnam High School National Honor Society. All of these students have worked hard to meet very rigorous standards. These students have not only performed brilliantly in the classroom but are also leaders in everything that they do. They are great representatives of the entire Putnam school family.”
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NOW goes
'yoga' for kids
PLAINFIELD — Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Inc. (NOW) recently partnered with The Yoga Farm in Central Village to offer a free Yoga clinic. More than 20 children, ages 3 to 13, learned a variety of yoga skills . The clinic was the final of a series of free winter and spring events hosted by NOW designed to introduce sports and wellness activities to children in the 10-town area of northeastern Connecticut.
A signature element of all NOW clinics is additional skill stations run by NOW staff, focused on nutrition and fitness. NOW Program Coordinator Lindsay Lussier led participants through an agility obstacle course station, and NOW staff Tayler Shea and Alexandra Billings taught children the importance of a balanced diet with the NOW “My Plate” nutrition station. Children were also offered a healthy snack of clementines or raisins during the nutrition station.
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