the course pg 1 7-21-22
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The Course of Love Never Did Run Smooth ...
... but the free production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in Rotary Park July 16 did. The Starling Shakespeare Company, a traveling company visiting The Woodstock Academy, performed the comic romance play. (She's OK, it's just a spell). More photos on page 4. Linda Lemmon photo.
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boxcar pg 1 7-21-22
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Boxcar
museum
going
gang
busters
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — It’s like the “Little Engine That Could” — only it’s our Boxcar version.
Perhaps it faded into the background during three years of renovations and COVID, but the Gertrude Chandler Warner Boxcar Museum is already shining brightly this season.
And it’s busy! The museum is in need of volunteers. The Boxcar is open weekends from May through mid-October. Volunteers are asked to work one shift per month from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday. According to Pat Hedenberg, “It’s easy and training is provided. For further information call Renee at 860-974-0325.”
Visitors are pouring in from around the world.
Renee Boutin Tsanjoures said that from 2004 to 2018 the museum in the red boxcar had visitors from 30 countries. And just this year, after a three-year hiatus, she said four more countries have been added to that list.
The total number of visitors from April 2004 to the end of October 2018 is more than 7,700. And that’s probably on the low side because many visitors don’t sign in.
“Adults/families have visited from Indonesia, United Kingdom, Algeria, and just last weekend folks had come from Amman, Jordan,” she said. “The thing that has always surprised me is that the Boxcar gets visitors from around the world, but our local communities sometimes, don’t even know about the Boxcar.”
Tsanjoures said the boxcar has had visitors from 130 of the state’s 169 towns, plus 44 states and four Canadian provinces.”
Most of the “missing” Connecticut towns are in the northwest and southwest corners of the state.
Visitors have come from: Alberta-(Calgary); Ontario-(Toronto and Mississauga); Quebec-(Montreal); New Brunswick; plus: Denmark, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Israel, Malaysia, Hungary, Guatemala, Germany, China, Nicaragua, Dubai (UAR); Hong Kong; Poland, Vietnam, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Cambodia, England, Antigua, Cuba; Thailand; Netherlands; Australia, and Haiti.
So far this year, she said, visitors have come from: Tennessee, Nebraska, Michigan, Georgia, West Virginia, Hawaii, Florida, Vermont, Virginia, Ohio, California, North Carolina, Colorado, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, lots of parts of Connecticut, and four countries.”
Such a long, fun, educational reach from Putnam around the world.
Volunteer Barbara Schreier said: “I enjoy the social aspect of volunteering. I like speaking with people from other towns and countries, and hearing their histories. I am amazed how many people enjoy exposing their families to the stories and the pleasure they derive from sharing. There is something for all ages to do while visiting, whether it is creating a spool pet, taking a mystery tour, filling out a crossword puzzle or having your photo taken with Watch – the dog, we have it all.”
Another volunteer, Will Child, said: “I enjoy volunteering for something that promotes reading and education. I grew up reading the Boxcar books by Gertrude Chandler Warner and found that they help to build a child’s vocabulary along with being entertaining. They are still relevant today and are used by missionaries in China to promote reading.“
And volunteer Barbara Scalise said: “Since I retired, I have volunteered for three local groups. Volunteering leads to meeting many fabulous people that you may have never otherwise met. Volunteering also leads to many unexpected life experiences. Through working at the Boxcar Museum I have spent a day with Patricia MacLachlan, a famous author, participated in making a promotional video with Open Road Media and worked with editors from Albert Whitman Publishing Co. However, meeting and interacting with museum docents and visitors is the best.
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dougherty pg 1 7-21-22
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caption:
Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory bought Dougherty Funeral Home in Plainfield recently. At left, Robert Fournier Jr., owner of Gilman and Valade, with Tim Plante of Dougherty Brothers. Courtesy photo.
PLAINFIELD — After nearly four decades of owning and operating Dougherty Brothers Funeral Home, Timothy Plante announced the sale of his funeral home to Robert Fournier, owner of Gilman & Valade Funeral Homes & Crematory of Putnam and Thompson.
Plante said: “The time has come to step back from the daily operations of the funeral home. While I still plan to continue working for Bob, Melissa and I are ready to enjoy a well-earned rest from the long hours and unending dedication that funeral service requires.”
Fournier, a third-generation funeral director, has been serving Connecticut families since 2005, carrying on the tradition of care begun by The Gilman & Valade Funeral Homes in 1919. In 2013 Bob built the Park Tribute Center, Windham County’s first and only crematory, as an exclusive service to the families he serves. This service will now be available to Dougherty Brothers clients, whose loved ones will no longer leave the care of the funeral home staff.
“For the last 15 years, Tim and I have worked side by side, assisting each other in various aspects of our businesses. We share the same commitment to providing excellent funeral service, and I am honored to continue his tradition,” said Fournier.
“It was very important to me that Dougherty Brothers Funeral Home remain locally owned. With Bob’s experience and compassion, I am confident that the families of the greater Plainfield area will continue to receive the best care possible,” said Plante.
Dougherty Brothers and Gilman & Valade Funeral Homes will continue to operate under their own names, with the current staff in place. Furthermore, all prepaid funeral contracts will be honored as planned.
Plante added, “We want to let you know how excited we are to see Dougherty Brothers legacy continue well into the future. You can rest assured that the plans you made with us remain in full effect with no changes.”
Dougherty Brothers Funeral Home was founded in 1929 by Walter, George, and Edward Dougherty in Moosup. In 1960, the brothers opened their Plainfield location at 595 Norwich Road on the corner of Railroad Avenue. In 1983, Tim Plante and his parents Henry J. “Bud” and Mary Jane Plante purchased the funeral home and built a large addition onto the existing facilities in 1992.
The Gilman Funeral Home, founded in 1919 by Alexander Gilman, and the Valade Funeral Home, founded in 1924 by Alphonse Valade, merged in 1980 under the direction of Lawrence J. Bellerose. In December 2005, Robert “Bob” Fournier purchased both funeral homes and then built The Park Tribute Center.
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love pg 1 7-21-22
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PUTNAM — the Town of Putnam will present “Amore Al Fresco” at 7 p.m. July 23 at Rotary Park. AND the season’s first River Fire will follow at 8:30 p.m.
Ron Giorgio, an Italian crooner will perform love songs with the Putnam Festival Orchestra conducted by Scott Chaurette.
It’ll be classic entertainment, singing the hits of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to Doo-Wop and the teen idols Bobby Vinton, Frankie Avalon and many more.
Bring a blanket or a chair. Refreshments available at the Putnam Lion’s Club food booth.
Powered by: Centreville Bank, WIN Waste Innovations and WINY 1350 AM/97.1 FM.
Beforehand come explore the town of Putnam.
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