It seems impossible that it had never been done before.
It is a brilliant idea that dovetails the needs of and the giving nature of northeastern Connecticut.
Putnam Rotary Club member Melissa Bonsall said she was pondering the work Rotary does one day and thought, “Beyond what we all do, how can we inspire the Rotary’s motto, ‘Service Above Self’.”
The answer, she thought, was a volunteerism expo. She asked around to see if organizations would be interested in a “volunteer fair” and organizations were “excited” about the concept, she said. “It struck me that this type of event had never occurred,” she added.
After the concept was OK’d by the Putnam Rotary Club Board of Directors, Bonsall and her committee got to work organizing. At Your Service: A Volunteerism Expo was born.
The expo will be held from 9 a.m. to noon March 16 at Putnam High School cafeteria (enter from the back of the school). There will be refreshments. The snow date is March 23. For more information, call Bonsall at 860-456-6208.
Bonsall, the chief operating officer at Generations Family Health Center, said more than 100 volunteer opportunities are signed up for the expo.
Those residents longing to give back but don’t know quite how can learn about hundreds of volunteer opportunities in northeastern Connecticut.
“Organizations are looking for individuals who wish to share their skills, time and talent as a way to strengthen our community and its services. There are options available for a range of interests and abilities.”
Bonsall said volunteers can wander through the expo and see what fits them, what fits their schedules. It could be a short-term volunteer offer or a continuing offer, she said.
Some of the opportunities are for a one-time event, and some are for ongoing support. Organizations come from a wide area as the Killingly-Brooklyn and the Plainfield Rotary Clubs have teamed up with the Putnam Rotary. “We all have the same motto, Service Above Self, the same message,” Bonsall said.
The expo is perfect for students looking to fulfill the community service portion of their graduation requirements; and also adults and retirees who wish to get involved in the community and offer their time and talent.
“Lots of people would like to volunteer but they don’t know how to go about it, so this (expo) fills the niche,” Bonsall added.
In northeastern Connecticut volunteers are the lifeblood of many organizations. Bonsall said some groups looking for volunteer help include: firefighters, health services, Scouts, land preservation, sports and youth organizations, food distribution, nonprofits, historical groups and many more.

.

Great season
for Blue Prep
Coach DeFeo moving on
The Woodstock Academy Blue prep basketball team finished up its season March 3 with a Power 5 Conference AA tournament championship after an 88-72 win over Redemption Christian Academy.
Unlike the Centaurs Gold squad, there is no national championship tournament for the Blue team which meant the Power 5 title was the overall goal.
“We wanted to win this championship. That’s what we’ve been here for since Day 1 in August. Coming up short? What’s the point? You have to take it home,” said Woodstock Academy swing player Carson Meier.
Dyson Frank led the way with 22 points for Woodstock Academy while Jeff Planutis tossed in 18.
The win gave the Centaurs a 30-8 final record.
“That’s great for the kids,” said Blue coach Nick DeFeo. “We had 22 (wins) last year including the playoffs. I’ve always been told that 20-win teams are very good teams, but 30 is rare. These guys will go down as the first Blue team in Woodstock Academy history to win 30 games. That’s special.”
 “I can’t believe it’s over,” Meier said. “It seems like such a long time that we’ve been here but coming into the last three days, it just flew by. It’s so surreal. Some of us don’t even want to go home at this point because of the friends you make and the bonds you grow, and how we have competed together all season. We made friendships that will last a lifetime.”
But the break up took place quickly.
Many have already left Woodstock Academy.
“It’s weird,” DeFeo said. “We prep all year for (last) weekend and a championship to win. These guys came together and played hard, played for each other and then come Monday, guys are flying home. It’s a little weird, but it’s been a great year and, hopefully, we can get these guys where they want to go next year.”
Meier was scheduled to leave for home, Shawnee, Okla., March 4.
“I miss my family so much. My Dad’s up here this weekend and is helping me move out. I’m just ready to see my whole family and my friends back home,” Meier said.
Most of the Blue players will leave with a plan as to where they are headed in the fall; a couple remain undecided, according to DeFeo.
Meier will next head to Kent State University where he has been offered a walk-on spot. He will study fashion design while there.
“I’m very excited,” Meier said. “But it was great to come here. I’ve matured so much in my time here and I think my teammates have as well. I couldn’t have matured this much without them. They pushed me and are great people which pushed me to be a better person.”
The players are not the only ones departing Woodstock Academy.
DeFeo is also leaving the school at the end of the school year after two years with the Centaurs.
He is headed to Notre Dame-West Haven High School to start a program similar to that of Woodstock Academy.
“This place has been really special for me,” DeFeo said. “To come here with coach (Tony) Bergeron and build this up with him has been special. The type of kids that we have brought in, the entire group, not just the top level, and who is going to college. We’re still in touch with the kids from last year and we will be in touch with these kids forever really. We still have our group chats. It’s been a great time, I’ve loved it here, but time to move on, time to run my own program and I’m excited to do that.”   
Prior to the championship game March 3, the Centaurs matched up with Capital Prep Harbor for the second time in four days in the Power 5 Conference AA tournament semifinals.
The Centaurs rolled past the Sharks, 102-46, March 2.
Saddiq Canty led five Centaurs  in double figures with 15, Frank added 14.
The Centaurs also played their final regular season game against the Sharks Feb. 27 and were certainly in a groove.
How else to explain a first-half performance that saw the Centaurs drop 83 points on Capital Prep Harbor at the Alumni Fieldhouse.
“It was really good,” Frank said. “I’m kind of bummed that we didn’t double it and get 160.”
The Centaurs instead won by 69 points, 131-62.
“It feels really good especially to go undefeated (in the regular season) in our conference. Now, all we have to do is get a championship,” Frank said after the game on Wednesday. “It means a lot to me. I haven’t won a state championship so if we get this, it would be my first and I’m super-excited.”
Frank hails from Philadelphia where championships don’t come easy.
“It’s the city. Everyone is really tough out there,” Frank said.
The Blue team was pretty tough on Wednesday.
It rained down 14 3-pointers in the first half alone on the Harbor Sharks from Bridgeport.
Frank had two of those as did Ahmad Jeffries, Jahden Erold, Kruno Macner and Canty.
Three players were already on double figures by the half.
“I’ve never been on a team that scored that many points in a half, but I’ve been on a team that won a game, 75-2,” Frank said with a laugh.
The Harbor Sharks, for their part, did put 35 points down in the first half.
The Centaurs cleared the century mark with 13:26 left in the game on one of their many dunks, this one coming from Guillem Gonzalez which brought a large smile to the face of the native of Spain.
Macner finished with five 3-pointers and led the Centaurs with 25 points.
In addition to Planutis’ 16 points, Gonzalez and Frank finished with 15 and Canty put down 12 points.
Frank said the decision to come to Woodstock Academy was a smart move for him.
“It’s been great. Really good. It’s fantastic. People have been very welcoming,” Frank said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy

..

Earns #2 seed
Prep Boys
After a 37-1 season, the Putnam Science Academy Mustangs earned the #2 seed in the National Prep Championship tournament at Connecticut College on March 6 and 7.
The defending champs from last year will play at 7 p.m. March 6 vs the winner of #10 Link Year Prep and #7 Hargrave Military Academy.
The Woodstock Academy Gold team took home the #1 ranking and will face either #8 Brewster Academy or #9 IMG Academy.
With a win in the first round, the Mustangs would then play the winner of #3 Scotland Campus Sports and #6 Northfield Mount Hermon at 1 p.m. March 7 before possibly playing in the National Championship Game at 7 p.m. March 7 down in New London.
The boys got there by defeating Upper Room Christian Academy 98-62 Feb. 25. Demarr Langford led PSA with 13 points adding 7 rebounds and 3 steals as the Mustangs made this one a one sided contest from the tip. Nate Stokes (11 points and 5 rebounds), Dan Porcic (10 points and 3 assists), Kareem Reid (12 points and 5 rebounds) and Abou Ousmane (12 points and 4 rebounds) all finished in double figures as PSA would then turn their attention to the Great Atlantic Conference Tournament. In the Semi-finals at home against Capital Prep Harbor, the Mustangs came out slow before holding the Sharks to just 19 2nd half points in a 113-53 laugher. PSA, as the #1 seed, imposed their will getting out in transition and flying high above the rim in the runaway victory.  Demarr Langford was again a big factor in the Mustangs win scoring a team high 19 points adding 6 steals, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. 7’0 big man Russel Tchewa used his size to dominate the much smaller Sharks as the Texas Tech commit had 18 points and 6’9 stretch forward Nate Stokes posted a double-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. The 36-1 Mustangs would move on the Great Atlantic Championship game versus Our Savior Lutheran.
Varsity Boys
The Varsity Boys team at Putnam Science Academy ended their season on a sour note, losing 3 straight games to end the season. PSA started the week off on the road and came out stagnant before losing to Upper Room Christian Academy 92-76. The Mustangs woke up in the second half but it was too late as the Royals had already blown the game wide open. Tyler Henry finished with 30 points for the Mustangs but that was about all the production PSA could muster after having to sit down their second leading scorer Justin Rodriguez for the season after battling with a knee injury. Putnam Science Academy earned the #1 seed in the Great Atlantic Conference tournament but were stunned in the semifinals dropping the game to Capital Prep Harbor 89-71. Jaiden Rivera led PSA with 23 points and Tyler Henry added 21 but the Sharks maintained the lead throughout the game and forced costly turnovers down the stretch. The Mustangs season is now over after posting an 18-12 record.  
Varsity Lady
Close games last week for the Putnam Science Academy Varsity team but the Lady Mustangs couldn’t find a way to pull off wins at home. The Lady Mustangs fell at home 48-46 to Redemption Christian Academy with the game coming right down to the wire. PSA had a chance to go for the win with guard Anna Doroshenko scooping up a loose ball at the top of the key trying to get a shot off but she fouled before the shot. The Lady Mustangs tried to get Nassarine Williams going to the basket but her shot wouldn’t fall as time expired. Williams led PSA with 9 points, Brianna Mead had 8 points and Alex Hutchins added 7 in the loss. The 10-10 Mustangs would then head into a big game March 1 vs Commonwealth Academy in the Post-Season High School Girls Invitational but ultimately lost 69-59. Doroshenko led Putnam Science with 17 points and got the ladies off to a great start providing 12 first half points. The Tornadoes of Commonwealth Academy maintained a steady lead throughout the 2nd half until Nassarine Williams caught fire. Williams scored 14 2nd half points and finished with 15 points total cutting the Tornadoes lead to just 2 points with 7 minutes to play. When Williams came out for a breather, the lead jumped back up to 10 for Commonwealth. Williams also added 11 rebounds posting a double-double in the tough loss to end the Mustangs season.
Varsity 2 Boys
The Varsity 2 Mustangs wrapped up their regular season moving to 18-6 on the year following a 66-55 win at home over Redemption Christian Academy. Zach Boulay led PSA with 21 points adding 8 rebounds and 8th grader Travis Mangual had a great game with 17 points, 6 steals, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. Amir Sanders finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds for PSA who will play at St. Thomas More next Tuesday in an end of the year tournament that includes MacDuffie School and Redemption Christian Academy.  
Josh Sanchas
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

.