menus pg 2 3-9-23
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Woodstock Public Schools
Everyday: Fruit. Monday: Cheeseburgers, baked beans. Tuesday: Waffles, sausage. Wednesday: Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, wax beans. Thursday: Hot turkey sandwiches, butternut squash. Friday: Pizza, salad.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday: Spaghetti, meatball, broccoli, fruit. Tuesday - Wolf Meal: Beef burger with cheese, sherbet. Wednesday: Sloppy Joes, carrots, chocolate graham bites, fruit. Thursday: Pizza, salad. Friday: No school - Professional Development Day.
Putnam High
Monday: Beef taco pasta or spicy chicken sandwich. Tuesday: Chicken filet sandwich or bacon cheeseburger. Wednesday: Chicken burrito power bowl or chicken Caesar wrap. Thursday: Stuffed-crust pizza or homemade meatball stromboli. Friday: No school - Professional Development Day.
Pomfret Community
Everyday: Fresh fruit and vegetables. Alt.: Chicken patties. Monday: Cheese pull-a-part with marinara dip. Tuesday: Beef & cheese nachos, refried beans. Wednesday: Hearty beef vegetable soup. Thursday: Chef's choice. Friday: Pizza.
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day pg 3 3-9-23
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caption:
Award
From left: Putnam Mayor Barney Seney; Mary Ellen Snyder, RN, DKH OB/GYN; Kyle Kramer, DKH Chief Executive Officer; and Janice Thurlow, DKH Chair of the Board of Directors, present Mary Ellen Snyder with a proclamation of February 6th as “Mary Ellen Snyder Day” in the Town of Putnam in recognition of Snyder’s 50th anniversary.
PUTNAM — Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of Mary Ellen Snyder, RN, one of the health system’s longest-serving employees. To celebrate, Putnam Mayor Barney Seney proclaimed February 6th as “Mary Ellen Snyder Day” in the Town of Putnam.
Snyder said, “It feels really wonderful, and I love my job! The best thing about my job is having gotten to know all of my patients over the years. It’s like taking care of neighbors, friends and family. I knew early on as a little girl that I wanted to be a nurse and work with babies. I am now caring for a third generation of mothers, babies, and families, and I have been involved with the births and care of close to 31,000 babies in our region.”
She received her nursing degree in 1970 and on Feb. 6, 1973, Snyder began her career at DKH as a staff nurse in the nursery, where her starting salary was $4 per hour.
For 39 years, Snyder worked in DKH’s Maternal Child Health unit, holding many titles in the birthing center including Head Nurse, Assistant Nurse Manager, and Nurse Manager, where she was in charge of day-to-day operations for the unit. In 2011, Snyder worked in DKH’s newly opened Pediatric practice in Plainfield. She retired from full time work in 2012. Since her retirement, she's worked in a per diem capacity with the Day Kimball Medical Group OB/GYN practices.
In 2019, Snyder was recognized as one of DKH’s longest serving employees for dedicating 40 or more years to the organization at that time, as part of the organization’s celebration of its 125th anniversary.
When not at DKH, Snyder enjoys traveling, painting, and cooking. She has been involved with Special Olympics fundraising, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Arc of Quinebaug Valley for many years, as well as on the Board of the Arc of Eastern CT along with her daughter, Abby.
“We are beyond thrilled to recognize and honor Mary Ellen for devoting her entire career to Day Kimball, and we are so proud to celebrate her and this incredible achievement,” said Kyle Kramer, chief executive officer, Day Kimball Healthcare. “For the past 50 years, Mary Ellen has exemplified the qualities we celebrate in nurses – integrity, compassion, empath, and caring. She is a wonderful role model for future generations of nurses. We are so proud to highlight this accomplishment, and we thank Mary Ellen for her many contributions to Day Kimball throughout the years.”
“I would never have stayed at Day Kimball for all these years if it weren’t the hospital that it is,” Snyder continued. “It’s a special hospital, and I love this community. Some of my most special moments are when people have recognized me outside of DKH and thanked me for being present at their birth,” she said.
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ne pg 3 3-9-23
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BROOKLYN — The Northeast District Department of Health (NDDH) is requesting a per capita rate increase from member towns to conduct more competitive recruitment and retention of qualified staff to deliver essential public health services.
Towns currently pay $7.50 per person to belong to the district. Annual population figures are provided by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). The NDDH Board of Directors – representatives appointed by each town leader - voted to notify towns of a potential maximum increase in the town per Capita assessment of $3.75. Towns were notified by letter of the proposed increase and NDDH Director of Health Susan Starkey appeared at a meeting of town leaders held at the Northeastern Connecticut Council of
Governments (NECCOG) on January 27, 2023. Some leaders expressed their concern about the potential increase and requested more information, including the opportunity to explore other public health service options.
NDDH serves the towns of Brooklyn, Canterbury, Eastford, Hampton, Killingly, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Sterling, Thompson, Union, and Woodstock. The health district currently has a staff of 21 employees who provide environmental health services, community health programs, and emergency preparedness services to 84,940 residents in its member towns. NDDH was recently lauded by the Commissioner of Public Health for services provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Budget season is always a difficult time and we know that our member towns are concerned with the financial impact of a per capita increase as well as our lower inspection and permitting rates,” said Starkey. “Like many agencies, we are experiencing critical workforce shortages and lack the environmental health staff necessary to keep up with inspections, investigations, and permitting. This is a national, state, and local issue impacting other health departments and districts as well, and the State DPH has created the Office of Public Health Workforce Development to begin to address these issues. We want to assure our towns that we will work to minimize the financial impact on them and will also consider further adjustments to our existing budget to support the work needed by the towns.”
Starkey also explained that standards for local health department responsibilities and performance have increased both quantitatively and qualitatively.
“The training and certification process for environmental health specialists can take up to two years before they are certified to perform inspections related to wells, septic systems, food service, and other businesses regulated by public health. Retention of qualified staff is also difficult because of our lower wages. Once employees are trained, they often leave to accept employment at other health districts and departments that can offer higher wages. It’s equally frustrating for us as it is for our member towns,” she said.
To date, NDDH has had 20 rate increases in 50 years. In 1973, the town per capita rate was set at $1.00 per person and original plans called for the rate to increase by 25 cents per year. If the original plan had been honored, the current town per capita rate would be $13.75. “Instead of imposing a small annual increase, the NDDH per capita rate remained at one dollar for the first 12 years,” said Elaine Lippke, a long-serving board member who chairs the NDDH Finance Committee. “It increased by $.45 over the next two years, and in 1989, it increased to $3.00 and remained at that rate for eight years. There were sporadic increases over the next 19 years, and the rate has gone up annually for the last nine years. We never caught up with the original
intent, and as a result, the per capita has simply not kept pace with increased public health workforce and service expenses.”
The district also generates revenue from fees related to food service and subsurface soil permits, plan reviews, and other miscellaneous services. Grant funds provide programs that otherwise might not be available and grant monies received can only be utilized toward contracted grant activities.
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thirty pg 3 3-9-23
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JEWETT CITY — The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation has awarded 39 grants amounting to $36,850 to emergency services providers.
“Day after day, emergency services providers put their lives on the line and work hard to ensure our safety. The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation is committed to providing financial support to these departments and companies within our communities,” said Michael Alberts, president of Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation.
Special Projects
A total of $11,750 was distributed to 7 emergency services providers to assist with the funding of special projects. Recipients of $2,000 grants were the Atwood Hose Fire Company in Wauregan to assist with the purchase of a thermal imaging camera; and the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. for the purchase of a drone. $1,500 grants were awarded to West Thompson Fire Department for the purchase of an automated external defibrillator and CPR equipment; and Plainfield Fire District to purchase tablet devices for use on emergency vehicles.
The Jewett City Fire Department was awarded two grants — a $1,500 grant to purchase LED box lights for a new engine tanker fire truck plus a $1,250 grant in recognition of Jewett City Savings Bank’s previous Chairman of the Board, Louis J. Demicco Jr. Grants in the amount of $1,000 were awarded to Oneco Fire Company to assist with the purchase of an all-terrain vehicle; and Danielson Fire Department to replace ropes and equipment used for technical rescues.
Grants in the amounts of $500 to $700 were awarded to: American Legion Ambulance in Moosup; Central Village Fire Company; Danielson Fire Department; East Putnam Fire Department; Lisbon Ambulance Service; Pawcatuck Fire Department: Poquetanuck Fire Department EMS in Preston; Preston City Volunteer Fire Department; Putnam Fire Department and EMS Ambulance Service; South Killingly Fire Department; Voluntown Volunteer Company No. 1 Inc.; West Thompson Fire Department; Westerly Fire Department; and Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association.
The Foundation also awarded grants totaling $25,100 for annual support in 2022. A grant of $1,100 was awarded to the Canterbury Volunteer Fire Department & Ambulance. In addition, the following departments/companies received $1,000 annual grants: Attawaugan Fire Department; Atwood Hose Fire Company in Wauregan; Dayville Fire Company; East Brooklyn Fire Department; East Killingly Fire Department; Griswold Volunteer Fire Company; Jewett City Fire Department; Killingly/Brooklyn Ambulance Corp; Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department; Moosup Fire Department; Mortlake Fire Co. & Ambulance Service in Brooklyn; Oneco Fire Company; Plainfield Fire Company No.1, Inc.; Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.; and Williamsville Fire Engine Company in Rogers.
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