1st pg 1 8-3-23
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
WOODSTOCK — In October 2022, The Woodstock Academy secured a grant of $200,000 to establish a drug and alcohol counseling office for students struggling with substance abuse. The grant, which was made possible by State Representative Pat Boyd, has had a tremendous impact on the community in just nine months.
“I am grateful to the leadership of The Woodstock Academy for putting this money to use in a way that directly impacts students in northeastern Connecticut. Substance abuse and addiction services are hard to find in our region and WA is working hard to remove barriers to availability,” said Boyd.
One of the key factors in contributing to the success of this program was partnering with Project Courage, an agency based in Old Saybrook, that specializes in substance use and mental health related issues. Since its inception in October, the partnership with Project Courage has shown tremendous progress in addressing substance abuse and addiction-related issues among Woodstock Academy students with a counselor on-campus two days per week.
From October to June, WA scheduled more than 290 counseling appointments, ensuring that students receive the support and guidance they needed. Looking ahead to the 2023-24 school year, The Academy plans to increase the counselor’s presence to three days per week on campus to provide more opportunities for students to check in.
Recognizing the importance of education and awareness, The Academy has been in contact with superintendents, offering professional development and parent information sessions at their institutions. These sessions aim to equip educators and parents with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively identify and address substance abuse issues. Additional professional development offerings and community outreach opportunities are in the works.
“The partnership with Project Courage has been invaluable, and we are excited to expand their presence on campus next year. We are committed to increasing professional development training and community outreach, as we strive to increase awareness and address substance use within our community. Representative Boyd’s advocacy and dedication have made a profound difference in the lives of our students and the broader community,” said Karin Hughes, Dean of Student Affairs at The Academy.
.
at pg 1 8-3-23
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
At Nationals
The Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center’s swimmer, Mary Kate is the first ever swim team member to make it to Nationals. She took part in the YMCA Long Course National Championships in Greensboro, N.C. She is a member of the Hale YMCA’s Riptides team. Courtesy photo.
hanging pg 1 8-3-23
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Hanging Out
... on a Sunday afternoon at Putnam's Rotary Park. There were folks reading, talking, walking their dogs. Bees were harvesting from the lavender. AND the fire pots were sitting on the shore, ready to head into the Quinebaug for the next River Fire, Aug. 12. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo display on Wed. night on FB (Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger). Linda Lemmon photo.
.
because pg 2 8-3-23
- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Remember when booking a hotel used to be accomplished with a telephone (the kind that had a dial-tone) or, better still, an in-person conversation with an actual person at the front desk who was ‘qualified’ to offer you a rate, take actual cash for room payment and, subsequently, hand you an actual key for your room with a bed?
Back then, the only question of real value to answer, before booking your room, was “How many people in the room?” Today, although booking a hotel room is considerably easier and far less personally interactive, there seem to be a lot more variables that can affect the price you may be willing to pay for your hotel room. Of course, number of guests sleeping in the room is still of primary concern for hotel management, but the price can also fluctuate based on the time of year or day of the week you are planning on staying. In addition, you might need to pay extra for WIFI or fast(er) WIFI, or you might be able to pay less if you are a member of the hotel’s loyalty program.
Having been in the hotel business, I can easily wrap my head around this system of hotel pricing fluctuations because one room that can accommodate 4 people SHOULD be more expensive than a room that accommodates only 2 people. But what I really don’t understand about the wildly varying hotel pricing system, is the answer to the question “What view would you like?”
You may have already figured out that, when it comes to my travel expenditures, I am a medium type of consumer. I prefer premium economy over business class, well-located 3- or 4-star hotels over 5-star luxury brands and a great meal from family-owned restaurants rather than a teeny tiny meal from a Michelin star chef.
Therefore, when I am presented with different view choices at a hotel, I, typically, select the ‘medium’ view as I would prefer NOT to overlook the hotel dumpsters, and do not find it necessary to pay double the price for the same quality of room, just so that I can face the ocean, at night, when I am sleeping… In addition, over the course of my travelling experiences, I have also learned that a medium view category is often the one that offers the most interesting and unique views. For example, I would rather overlook the parking lot (as opposed to the pricey pool) at my favorite Disneyworld hotel because, typically, then I can see some of the fireworks show. And I enjoy a view of the front of a city hotel, rather than the sides or back, because then I can people watch; a far more interesting past time than watching the stillness of a landmark building facade.
I would, however, be remiss in this column if I did not also caution you about your response to the view category question in different cultures. For example, in one country, I opted for the far less expensive, yet equally pretty, courtyard view.
Apparently, the courtyard is where the hotel hosts their weddings, complete with loud DJ thumping music, which start at about 9 p.m. and end at about 4 a.m. So perhaps, my advice would be, when presented with varying view choices at a hotel, to simply ask for the QUIET view.
Zzzzz… Zzzzz…
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!
.