TV fishing star a prize for all at Rotary derby
By RON CODERRE
The Putnam Rotary Club’s Annual Noe Poulin Youth Fishing Derby, set for this Saturday will enjoy a very special twist this year. In addition to the usual festivities, which include prizes, hot dogs and soda, the fishing derby will feature a well-known television personality as its guest.
Charlie Moore, “The Mad Fisherman” of NESN television fame, is scheduled for a guest appearance on the Quinebaug River at Putnam’s Rotary Park. Moore is planning to arrive around 11 a.m. and will be around for at least two hours, Putnam Recreation Director Willie Bousquet said.
“We are pleased to be able to bring Charlie Moore to Putnam. Thanks to Aubuchon Hardware (Moore’s sponsor), we were able to work out the details to get him here on the same day as the Putnam Rotary Club Fishing Derby,” Bousquet said.
Since Moore’s TV debut on NESN’s “Front Row” magazine program in 1996, he has become one of the most recognizable outdoorsman in the United States as well a Canadian celebrity, earning strong ratings on ESPN and NESN. Last year Moore released a book, “The Mad Fisherman,” published by St. Martin’s Press. It’s a very funny look at Moore’s world and the world of fishing.
Moore’s fast-paced, no-holds-barred comic hosting style has redefined outdoor television. From jumping out of airplanes to boxing with the world heavyweight champ to kicking footballs off his boat with former New England Patriot Adam Vinatieri, you never know what to expect from Moore. The bright, funny and talented Moore is a member of the New England Sports Hall of Fame, which features the likes of other noted fishermen Ted Williams and Curt Gowdy.
“Charlie Moore Outdoors” was recognized by the New England Emmy Awards with the “Best Sports Series” in 2002 and 2006.
“Getting the opportunity to see Charlie Moore and receive some of his fishing tips is great for the youngsters who come out for our Fishing Derby each year,” Rotary Club President Betti Kuszaj said. “We are grateful to Willie Bousquet and the folks at Aubuchon Hardware for making his appearance possible.”
Registration for Saturday’s fishing derby is from 8-9 a.m., with fishing from 9 a.m.-noon. Local children age 15 and younger can participate in the derby, which is offered free by the Putnam Rotary Club.
Prizes will be awarded to male and female participants by age group categories.
This year the fishing derby is part of the Putnam/ Quinebaug River Appreciation Day celebration. Canoeists, sponsored by the Last Green Valley, are scheduled to paddle down the Quinebaug River from the West Thompson Lake and will leave Putnam at Simonzi Park for the next leg of the trip down the Quinebaug to Route 101 in Pomfret. Walking tours of the river area are also scheduled, Putnam town administrator Doug Cutler said.
Wheelabrator Putnam Inc., operators of the Putnam Ash Residue Landfill, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Putnam, will also be offering tours of the landfill from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Buses will leave Rotary Park every 15 minutes for the landfill, where free hot dogs, hamburgers and soda are being offered by Wheelabrator. No private vehicles will be allowed to enter the landfill area.
Wheelabrator is offering free raffles for a Nintendo Wii system, an iPod touch, a digital camera and other prizes, which will be available to all individuals who register at the landfill. Winners need not be present at the raffle.
“Wheelabrator is pleased to be a part of this community celebration in Putnam. It’s our way of saying thank you to the people of Putnam for serving as a host community,” Wheelabrator Manager of Business Development Robert Jacques said. “We’re hoping that as many folks who can will visit our landfill operation that day.”
— Football at Putnam High School has been traveling down a bumpy road in recent years. There has, however, been one constant that has buoyed the Clipper faithful — the play of running back Brian Gardner. He’s been the mainstay of the Putnam offense and has been a stalwart on the defensive side of the ball.
After much deliberation and review of offers from a number of New England colleges, Gardner has made his college selection. In September, he will be attending Nichols College in Dudley, Mass.
Gardner, who is also one of the top students in his class, was impressed with Nichols’ business offerings. He’s considering a business management major, which is one of Nichols College’s top academic programs.
Gardner has met with the coaching staffs of the football and baseball teams at Nichols about his intention is to attempt to play both sports. The Bison football team was 2-8 in 2008 under coach William Carven. The baseball team is coached by Joe Teixeira. Although there are no guarantees until Gardner proves himself on the field, the athletic opportunities at Nichols appear promising.
The Bison teams compete on the NCAA Division III level and play in the highly competitive New England Football Conference-Boyd Division, while the baseball team plays in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The football team plays its home games on a recently constructed synthetic surface field on campus.
Gardner has been the main offensive force for Putnam over the past three football seasons. During his career he’s rushed for more than 1,000 yards and proven himself as a more than capable receiver. He’s also demonstrated a nose for the football as a defensive back. On the baseball diamond, Gardner is a solid infielder and capable hitter. His speed and glove are an asset for him.
Despite playing for less-than-impressive Putnam football teams, Gardner has garnered numerous personal honors. As the captain of the Clippers, he was selected All-Eastern Connecticut Conference and was named to the All-Norwich Bulletin team. Brian is the son of Dale and Sue Gardner of Putnam.
— The Northeast-10 Conference men’s and women’s tennis championships took place at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., featuring top seed and host Stonehill College against No. 2 seed Merrimack College. Stonehill, which led the conference all season, prevailed over the Warriors in a close match, 5-3, to capture the title.
Merrimack College features Pomfret resident John Seaward, a Woodstock Academy graduate. Seaward, a four-year varsity performer for the Warriors, has played from the first, second, third and fourth spots for Merrimack this year in singles and has also been part of the doubles teams.
Seaward’s singles record is 10-1 in the conference and 15-2 overall, and he is 12-4 in doubles competition. He was named the Northeast-10 Player of the Week in the final week of the season.
Seaward, a senior, has helped lead the Warriors to 12-3 record, 9-1 in the conference. At the awards banquet, Seaward was named First Team All-Northeast-10 Conference in singles and second team in doubles. He was also presented the Northeast-10 Sportsmanship Award, voted on by the coaches.
— Congratulations to the Connecticut Gamblers semi-professional football team and head coach Bryan Kennett. The team came out on April 25 to participate in Putnam’s Earth Day clean-up. The team worked in the congested neighborhoods and filled numerous bags with debris.
Kennett is a 1984 Putnam High School graduate. He played nose guard and offensive line for coach Bob Deveau for four seasons. Prior to retiring as an active player, he was a member of the Marlboro Shamrocks, one of New England’s most successful semi-pro football teams.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: Don’t live life with the brakes on.
By RON CODERRE
The Putnam Rotary Club’s Annual Noe Poulin Youth Fishing Derby, set for this Saturday will enjoy a very special twist this year. In addition to the usual festivities, which include prizes, hot dogs and soda, the fishing derby will feature a well-known television personality as its guest.
Charlie Moore, “The Mad Fisherman” of NESN television fame, is scheduled for a guest appearance on the Quinebaug River at Putnam’s Rotary Park. Moore is planning to arrive around 11 a.m. and will be around for at least two hours, Putnam Recreation Director Willie Bousquet said.
“We are pleased to be able to bring Charlie Moore to Putnam. Thanks to Aubuchon Hardware (Moore’s sponsor), we were able to work out the details to get him here on the same day as the Putnam Rotary Club Fishing Derby,” Bousquet said.
Since Moore’s TV debut on NESN’s “Front Row” magazine program in 1996, he has become one of the most recognizable outdoorsman in the United States as well a Canadian celebrity, earning strong ratings on ESPN and NESN. Last year Moore released a book, “The Mad Fisherman,” published by St. Martin’s Press. It’s a very funny look at Moore’s world and the world of fishing.
Moore’s fast-paced, no-holds-barred comic hosting style has redefined outdoor television. From jumping out of airplanes to boxing with the world heavyweight champ to kicking footballs off his boat with former New England Patriot Adam Vinatieri, you never know what to expect from Moore. The bright, funny and talented Moore is a member of the New England Sports Hall of Fame, which features the likes of other noted fishermen Ted Williams and Curt Gowdy.
“Charlie Moore Outdoors” was recognized by the New England Emmy Awards with the “Best Sports Series” in 2002 and 2006.
“Getting the opportunity to see Charlie Moore and receive some of his fishing tips is great for the youngsters who come out for our Fishing Derby each year,” Rotary Club President Betti Kuszaj said. “We are grateful to Willie Bousquet and the folks at Aubuchon Hardware for making his appearance possible.”
Registration for Saturday’s fishing derby is from 8-9 a.m., with fishing from 9 a.m.-noon. Local children age 15 and younger can participate in the derby, which is offered free by the Putnam Rotary Club.
Prizes will be awarded to male and female participants by age group categories.
This year the fishing derby is part of the Putnam/ Quinebaug River Appreciation Day celebration. Canoeists, sponsored by the Last Green Valley, are scheduled to paddle down the Quinebaug River from the West Thompson Lake and will leave Putnam at Simonzi Park for the next leg of the trip down the Quinebaug to Route 101 in Pomfret. Walking tours of the river area are also scheduled, Putnam town administrator Doug Cutler said.
Wheelabrator Putnam Inc., operators of the Putnam Ash Residue Landfill, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Putnam, will also be offering tours of the landfill from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Buses will leave Rotary Park every 15 minutes for the landfill, where free hot dogs, hamburgers and soda are being offered by Wheelabrator. No private vehicles will be allowed to enter the landfill area.
Wheelabrator is offering free raffles for a Nintendo Wii system, an iPod touch, a digital camera and other prizes, which will be available to all individuals who register at the landfill. Winners need not be present at the raffle.
“Wheelabrator is pleased to be a part of this community celebration in Putnam. It’s our way of saying thank you to the people of Putnam for serving as a host community,” Wheelabrator Manager of Business Development Robert Jacques said. “We’re hoping that as many folks who can will visit our landfill operation that day.”
— Football at Putnam High School has been traveling down a bumpy road in recent years. There has, however, been one constant that has buoyed the Clipper faithful — the play of running back Brian Gardner. He’s been the mainstay of the Putnam offense and has been a stalwart on the defensive side of the ball.
After much deliberation and review of offers from a number of New England colleges, Gardner has made his college selection. In September, he will be attending Nichols College in Dudley, Mass.
Gardner, who is also one of the top students in his class, was impressed with Nichols’ business offerings. He’s considering a business management major, which is one of Nichols College’s top academic programs.
Gardner has met with the coaching staffs of the football and baseball teams at Nichols about his intention is to attempt to play both sports. The Bison football team was 2-8 in 2008 under coach William Carven. The baseball team is coached by Joe Teixeira. Although there are no guarantees until Gardner proves himself on the field, the athletic opportunities at Nichols appear promising.
The Bison teams compete on the NCAA Division III level and play in the highly competitive New England Football Conference-Boyd Division, while the baseball team plays in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The football team plays its home games on a recently constructed synthetic surface field on campus.
Gardner has been the main offensive force for Putnam over the past three football seasons. During his career he’s rushed for more than 1,000 yards and proven himself as a more than capable receiver. He’s also demonstrated a nose for the football as a defensive back. On the baseball diamond, Gardner is a solid infielder and capable hitter. His speed and glove are an asset for him.
Despite playing for less-than-impressive Putnam football teams, Gardner has garnered numerous personal honors. As the captain of the Clippers, he was selected All-Eastern Connecticut Conference and was named to the All-Norwich Bulletin team. Brian is the son of Dale and Sue Gardner of Putnam.
— The Northeast-10 Conference men’s and women’s tennis championships took place at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., featuring top seed and host Stonehill College against No. 2 seed Merrimack College. Stonehill, which led the conference all season, prevailed over the Warriors in a close match, 5-3, to capture the title.
Merrimack College features Pomfret resident John Seaward, a Woodstock Academy graduate. Seaward, a four-year varsity performer for the Warriors, has played from the first, second, third and fourth spots for Merrimack this year in singles and has also been part of the doubles teams.
Seaward’s singles record is 10-1 in the conference and 15-2 overall, and he is 12-4 in doubles competition. He was named the Northeast-10 Player of the Week in the final week of the season.
Seaward, a senior, has helped lead the Warriors to 12-3 record, 9-1 in the conference. At the awards banquet, Seaward was named First Team All-Northeast-10 Conference in singles and second team in doubles. He was also presented the Northeast-10 Sportsmanship Award, voted on by the coaches.
— Congratulations to the Connecticut Gamblers semi-professional football team and head coach Bryan Kennett. The team came out on April 25 to participate in Putnam’s Earth Day clean-up. The team worked in the congested neighborhoods and filled numerous bags with debris.
Kennett is a 1984 Putnam High School graduate. He played nose guard and offensive line for coach Bob Deveau for four seasons. Prior to retiring as an active player, he was a member of the Marlboro Shamrocks, one of New England’s most successful semi-pro football teams.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: Don’t live life with the brakes on.
Putnam, Conn. —
Dacoda Camhi, 2, took home the top prize in Saturday’s annual Noe Poulin Youth Fishing Derby in Rotary Park, reeling in a 7-pound, 2-ounce carp that was nearly as big as he was.
His father, Marc, said Dacoda was holding the pole and reeled in some of the line, but needed help to pull the catch in all the way.
“It was kind of big for him,” Marc Camhi of Putnam said. “It probably would have pulled him in.”
More than 100 children up to age 15 participated in the fishing derby, sponsored by the Putnam Rotary Club and the Northeast Connecticut Bass Club. It is named for longtime Rotary member Noe Poulin of Thompson, who started the derby 35 years ago and was one of several events Saturday during the town’s Quinebaug River Appreciation Day.
Mayor Robert Viens said the day was held in collaboration with the Last Green Valley’s Source to Sea, a two-month series of events centered around watershed education and awareness.
Viens said the Quinebaug River has always been a draw for Putnam, originally to power industrial plants, but now as a source of recreation.
Other town events included tours of the water treatment plant and river mills, the dedication of a segment of the river trail from Putnam to Route 101 in Pomfret, followed by a paddle down the trail, as well as a visit from “the mad fisherman” Charlie Moore, who has several television shows on the New England Sports Network.
Moore was nearly as popular as the fishing at the derby, as crowds of children flocked to him for autographs when he arrived. The derby winners with the most combined weight of their catches in each age group received autographed hats, tackle boxes and fishing rods from Moore.
Logan Burton, 7, of Brooklyn won the top prize in the 6 to 9-year-old age group, catching a 6-pound, 14-ounce carp and a 4-ounce bullhead.
“I was pulling my line up a little bit and I felt a fish and I had to pull it up,” Burton said. “My hands hurt.”
Emily Slosek, 6, of Plainfield placed third in the same age group with two brown bullheads measuring 16 and 8 ounces.
“It was like that big,” Slosek said, measuring a distance of about six inches with her hands. “And slimy.”
Dacoda Camhi, 2, took home the top prize in Saturday’s annual Noe Poulin Youth Fishing Derby in Rotary Park, reeling in a 7-pound, 2-ounce carp that was nearly as big as he was.
His father, Marc, said Dacoda was holding the pole and reeled in some of the line, but needed help to pull the catch in all the way.
“It was kind of big for him,” Marc Camhi of Putnam said. “It probably would have pulled him in.”
More than 100 children up to age 15 participated in the fishing derby, sponsored by the Putnam Rotary Club and the Northeast Connecticut Bass Club. It is named for longtime Rotary member Noe Poulin of Thompson, who started the derby 35 years ago and was one of several events Saturday during the town’s Quinebaug River Appreciation Day.
Mayor Robert Viens said the day was held in collaboration with the Last Green Valley’s Source to Sea, a two-month series of events centered around watershed education and awareness.
Viens said the Quinebaug River has always been a draw for Putnam, originally to power industrial plants, but now as a source of recreation.
Other town events included tours of the water treatment plant and river mills, the dedication of a segment of the river trail from Putnam to Route 101 in Pomfret, followed by a paddle down the trail, as well as a visit from “the mad fisherman” Charlie Moore, who has several television shows on the New England Sports Network.
Moore was nearly as popular as the fishing at the derby, as crowds of children flocked to him for autographs when he arrived. The derby winners with the most combined weight of their catches in each age group received autographed hats, tackle boxes and fishing rods from Moore.
Logan Burton, 7, of Brooklyn won the top prize in the 6 to 9-year-old age group, catching a 6-pound, 14-ounce carp and a 4-ounce bullhead.
“I was pulling my line up a little bit and I felt a fish and I had to pull it up,” Burton said. “My hands hurt.”
Emily Slosek, 6, of Plainfield placed third in the same age group with two brown bullheads measuring 16 and 8 ounces.
“It was like that big,” Slosek said, measuring a distance of about six inches with her hands. “And slimy.”
