special pg 5 6-29-23
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Special Honors
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Putnam Rotary Club's founding, the club last week bestowed the John F. Reardon Youth Community Service Award on five high school students from the club's five-town service area. The one-time award, named after the founder of the Putnam Rotary Club, went to students: Maya Gerum, 2nd from left, Pomfret School, entering Northeastern University/environmental sciences; Lennon Favreau, center, Woodstock Academy, entering Wesleyan University; and Emily St. Martin, right, Putnam High School, entering Endicott College/nursing. Not present were winners Aubrey Rumrill of Eastford, Woodstock Academy, entering University of Maine/biology and Jordyn Butler of Thompson, entering her senior year at Tourtellotte Memorial High School. Far right is club president Missy Meyers. Far left is Rande Chmura who conceived the idea of the award and chaired the committee which chose the five recipients. Linda Lemmon photo.
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cal pg 6 6-29-23
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Fri. June 30
Free Concert
WOODSTOCK --- Roseland Cottage and the Woodstock Recreation Department will present a Twilight Lawn Concert from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Bring a picnic or purchase food from the food truck.
Sat. July 1
Art Exhibit
PUTNAM --- “A Cacophony of Greys” Exhibit and Reception by Steve Veilleux will be on display in The Corridor Gallery at the Putnam Municipal Complex through Sept. 30. The reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. July 13. Features a series of black and white and monotone photographs. All welcome. Free. PutnamCtArtsCouncil.com for gallery hours and info.
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Thompson Public Library, as part of its Art @ the Library Series, will present “Eclectic Visions: A Photographic Journey,” by Tammy Lynn for the month. The reception is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 3. Supported by the Friends of the Library.860-923-9779.
Sun. July 2
Historic Eucharist
BROOKLYN --- In honor of Independence Day, the public is invited to an historic Eucharist at Old Trinity Church at 10 a.m. at 60 Church St., Old Trinity is the oldest standing Episcopal church in Connecticut. The service will feature a salute to American folk music officiated by priest-in-charge, The Rev. Dr. Gretchen S. Grimshaw. http://www.trinitychurchbrooklyn.org.
Tues. July 4
Happy Birthday, USA!
Jamboree
E. WOODSTOCK --- The East Woodstock Fourth of July Jamboree will be held on the Common. Attic Treasures and the Book Sale open at 9 a.m. All other activities start at 10 with a Patriotic Dedication. Other activities include children’s games, musical entertainment, a 4th of July parade, hayrides, and fireman’s water polo. There are a variety of food booths. The day ends with a cake walk and flag ceremony at 3:30. Admission and parking are free.
Thur. July 6
Drive-up Food Share
PUTNAM --- The Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse drive-up Food Share will start with line up at 9 a.m. at the Riverview Marketplace Pavilion on Kennedy Drive. Free. All welcome.
Sun. July 9
Touch-a-Truck
WOODSTOCK --- Touch-a-Truck will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Roseland Park with Bungay Fire Brigade, Muddy Brook Fire Department and Woodstock Vol. Fire Assoc. Station 76:
Sat. July 15
al Fresco
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam and the Putnam Recreation Department will present an al Fresco concert featuring Helene “Almost Cher’” Masiko with the Putnam Festival Orchestra at 7 p.m. in Rotary Park. River Fire follows at 8:30 p.m. Rain date: July 16. Free. Bring your lawn chairs. Brought to you by Centreville Bank, WIN Waste Innovations and the Town of Putnam Recreation Department.
Sat. July 22
Summer Fun
EASTFORD --- The Congregational Church of Eastford will present frog jumping, a band concert and a cookout, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Crystal Pond Park. Free.
Sat. Aug. 5
Grange Fair
WOODSTOCK --- The Senexet Grange Fair will be held from 8 to noon at the grange on Rt. 169. Open to all.
Sun. Aug. 20
Main Street Car Cruise
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam will present Putnam’s Main Street Car Cruise from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. around downtown and in Rotary Park. There will be more than 1,000 classic cars, live music and more, including the Kids Zone in Rotary Park with Bounce Houses, Photo Booth, Bella The Clown, Arts & Crafts Tent, and Face Painting. New this year is the Celebrity Dunk Tank --- donate $5 to take a shot at dunking local celebs (benefits the Putnam Business Association).
Sun. Aug. 27
Cruise Fund-raiser
THOMPSON --- DKH will hold its Cruise, BBQ & Brew - Motorcycle & Car Cruise at 10 a.m. at the Thompson Speedway and The Black Dog Bar & Grille in Putnam. Benefits the NECT Cancer Fund of Day Kimball Healthcare. $35 registration. daykimball.org/cruising.
Fri. Sept. 8
Golf Classic
PUTNAM --- The Day Kimball Hospital Centreville Bank Golf Classic will set off at 7:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Connecticut National Country Club. For info: daykimball.org/golfclassic.
Sat. Sept. 30
BBQ
WOODSTOCK --- The Bungay Fire Brigade will host its fall 2023 Chicken BBQ from 4 to 6 p.m. www.bungay.com.
Sat. Nov. 11
Dueling Pianos
THOMPSON --- The DKH Dueling Pianos fund-raiser will be held at 6 p.m. at the Raceway Restaurant and Banquet Hall. Benefits Day Kimball Healthcare At Home services of HomeCare, HomeMakers, and Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. Tickets $45, must be purchased in advance. daykimball.org/pianos.
Sun. Dec. 3
Tree of Life
The DKH 34th Annual Hospice Tree of Life Ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m. in 11 towns throughout NE CT. The purchase of memorial lights benefits Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. For info: daykimball.org/treeoflife.
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obit pg 6 6-29-23
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Deborah Margaret Meunier (nee Binnette), 72, died peacefully on June 14, 2023.
Deborah (Debby, with a “y” as she would say) leaves her husband, David J. Meunier Sr.; children Renee M. Meunier, Kimberly E. Kennison (Thomas), David J. Meunier Jr. (Manon), and Danielle M. Toledo (Hector); grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, sisters, and friends.
Debby was born Sept. 25, 1950, in Southbridge, daughter of Gilbert and Emma Binnette. She graduated from Choctahatchee Senior High School, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., in 1968. She also holds an associate’s degree from Quinebaug Valley Community College. However, that being said, Debby was an autodidact. A self-learner, she read two to three books at a time all the time, was well-traveled, loved arts and crafts, adored her cats and the menagerie over the years, and at the end of her life, was an interior decorator. She wanted her beloved husband to have all of the house decorations in place before she left us.
On May 8, 1973, she married her lifelong love, David J. Meunier. He is a jeweler. Together along with, their son created Joseph’s Jewelers, a well-respected jewelry store in the Putnam and Danielson areas. She used to work there regularly and loved her customers.
She was a devoted Catholic. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella at St. Mary Church in Putnam.
The Mass of Christian Burial was June in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Putnam with burial in St. Mary Cemetery. Donations: St. Mary Church, P.O. Box 665, Putnam, CT 06260. 26 Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St. Putnam.
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roseland pg 7 6-29-23
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Martha Beckwith, president of the Roseland Park & Golf Course, announced the addition of four members to the organization’s Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is charged in overseeing the operation and planning for the park and golf course, which was dedicated in 1876 by Henry Chandler Bowen.
It was Bowen’s desire to leave the park as an area that would be accessible to his family, friends, fellow townspeople and the general public. In later years, the property was turned over by Bowen’s family, through the Bowen Trust where it eventually was assigned to the Roseland Park & Golf Course Board of Trustees as a private non-profit entity.
The Board is currently working on a strategic plan that will bring the park and golf course to 21st century standards, which will meet the needs of families of Woodstock and surrounding communities. As part of the plan, these residents of Woodstock were named to the board: Marc Cotnoir, Dr. Jonathan Gradie, Patrick O’Brien and Michele Woz.
Cotnoir is a lifelong resident of northeastern Connecticut who retired from Rogers Corporation as the director of Sales for the Americas. He’s a 1977 graduate of UConn, where he earned a degree in economics. Cotnoir and his wife Laura have one adult daughter. He’s the son of former Putnam Grammar School principal Gerard “Gerry” Cotnoir and the late Leona Cotnoir.
“I became a member of the Roseland Park & Golf Course Board because I believe it’s one of the area’s most prized possessions. I’m interested in keeping it as a community resource and would like to see it available for generations to come,” said Cotnoir.
Gradie, who graduated from Putnam High School in 1969 and was inducted into the school’s Wall of Honor in 2023, is a graduate of the University of Arizona in Tucson where he received a bachelor’s and PhD in astronomy and planetary sciences. In 1984 he joined the University of Hawaii as a research scientist and later was involved in starting small technology companies involved in medical technology imaging. Among the honors Gradie has been accorded was the naming of Asteroid No. 3253, “Gradie,” by the International Astronomical Union. Gradie has been married to his wife, the former Nancy Adams for 46 years. He’s the son of the late Robert and Avis Gradie.
O’Brien is the principal in The O’Brien Group in Putnam, part of Ameriprise Financial Advisors, and holds CRPC and CFMA certifications. A 1997 graduate of The Woodstock Academy, O’Brien received a bachelor’s in economics and finance from Nichols College in 2001. He’s been married for 21 years to the former Erica Neeley. They have three boys Riley (17), Brady (16) and Cooper (12). O’Brien is involved in the Woodstock Little League, coaches the AAU Connecticut Mustangs, is active in the Putnam Business Association and The Woodstock Academy Foundation.
Woz, who originally hailed from New Jersey, has been a resident of Woodstock with her husband Jason and son Brian for the past 16 years. She’s a graduate of UConn (1991) and Western New England College School of Law (1994). She’s practiced law as a Child Advocacy Attorney and a Tax Attorney. Woz has served on the Woodstock Board of Education, Woodstock Education Foundation, Woodstock PTO and Woodstock Board of Finance. She is the treasurer of Performing Arts of NECT and is a Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA).
“I joined the Board of Roseland Park & Golf Course because I hope to contribute in some way in making this wonderful historic treasure available to our communities for many years to come,” said Woz.
“Our Board of Trustees is fortunate to secure the services of these four individuals. The qualities they bring to the table will serve as valuable resources as we move forward with a strategic plan for the park and golf course,” said Beckwith.
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