-On a recent Friday afternoon, students at The Grammar School (TGS) in Putney stepped into the bindings of their cross-country skis and lined up at the start of the fifth annual TGS Ski for Putney Food Shelf.
Starting with the eighth grade, each class, all the way down through kindergarten, lined up at the start, received a short motivational speech from a teacher, and set off to ski as many laps as they could, putting their strength and stamina to work in support of the Putney Food Shelf.
The Grammar School has had a long history of incorporating community service into student life, and its connection with the Putney Food Shelf has spanned decades. Over the past five years, that connection has evolved into two major fundraising events, the annual Buck Blitz in advance of Thanksgiving, and the Ski for the Putney Food Shelf at the end of the winter sports season. This school year, those two events combined to raise $16,200.50 for the Food Shelf.
The Putney Food Shelf offers a number of ways for community members to get involved. Gardeners can grow extra crops to donate. The Foodshelf’s “Crop of the Year” is peas, but herbs, greens, and fresh beans are always popular. Community members can also join the more than 60 volunteers who are essential to its day-to-day operations. Learn more by visiting putneyfoodshelf.org/volunteer.
Unified basketball
• Twin Valley opened its season in Brandon on April 1 and eked out a 34-32 win over the Otter Valley Otters. The Wildcats trailed for most of the game, but rallied in the final quarter for the victory.
Twin Valley was led by Mason Ranslow with a game-high 18 points. Brogan Boyce added six points, Chloe Lashway and Phoenix Simpson both had four points and Brady Lackey scored a basket. Alyssa Wade led the Otters with 10 points.
• Brattleboro opened its season in Bennington on April 1 with a 44-43 loss to the Mount Anthony Patriots. At press time, the Bears were set to travel to Rutland on April 6. The Bears’ home opener will be against Twin Valley on Thursday, April 9, at 2:15 p.m.
Senior bowling roundup
• Week 13 of the winter/spring season of the Brattleboro Senior Bowling League at Brattleboro Bowl on April 2 saw Bad Boys and Lucky 7 (both 39-26) move into a tie for first place with Wayne’s World (38-27) just one game back, followed by Candy Men and Bowling Stones (both 32-33), Serious (30.5-34.5), Spare Time (30-35), Slo Movers (29-36), Strikers (28-37), and Three Strikes (27.5-37.5)
Doris Lake had the women’s high handicap game (235) and Nancy Dalzell had the high handicap series (674). Pete Cross had the men’s high handicap game (250) and Charlie Marchant had the high handicap series (674). Bowling Stones had the high team handicap game (873) and Spare Time had the high handicap series (2,471).
Kevin Napaver had the men’s high scratch series (619) with games of 215, 214, and 190, while Peter Deyo had a 603 series with games of 206, 200, and 197. John Walker had a 600 series with games of 223 and 213, Robert Rigby had a 568 series with a 214 game, andWarren Corriveau Sr. had a 550 series with a 205 game. Marchant and Milt Sherman both had a 512 series, Cross and Wayne Randall both had 198 games and Rick Westcott rolled a 197.
Diane Cooke again had the women’s high scratch series (475) and Dalzell had the high scratch game (174). Carol Gloski rolled a 161.
Randolph T. Holhut, deputy editor of this newspaper, has written this column since 2010 and has covered sports in Windham County since the 1980s. Readers can send him sports information at news@commonsnews.org.
This Sports column by Randolph T. Holhut was written for The Commons.