vfw pg 2 9-21-23
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VFW kicks off scholarship contest
PUTNAM — Commander Hans Lowell and Auxiliary President James Bradley of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Albert J. Breault Post 1523, announced the kick-off of this year’s VFW’s Voice of Democracy Scholarship competition. Local high school students in public, private, parochial schools or being home-schooled have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C.
Students must write and record a three-to-five minute essay on the selected theme using a flash drive and present their recording, typed essay and completed entry form to their local VFW Post by Oct. 31. The 2023-2024 theme selected is “What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?”
All state first-place winners receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to tour the city, be honored by the VFW and its Auxiliary and receive their portion of $171,000 in national awards, the top scholarship being $35,000.
Deadline for student entries is Oct. 31 and interested students should contact their schools office and teachers. For more information contact the Voice of Democracy Chairman Lisa Salisbury by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or use this link to get right to the application form. https://vfworg-cdn.azureedge.net/-/media/VFWSite/Files/Community/Youth-and-Education/Voice-of-Democracy-Entry-Form-Fillable.pdf
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campaign pg 3 9-21-23
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caption, page 8:
Artist's rendering of the Woodstock Academy tennis courts.
Campaign for
new tennis
courts gets
underway
For the past two years, tennis athletes at Woodstock Academy have had to play their home matches away from home.
The boys’ and girls’ tennis teams have had to use the Pomfret School, Rectory School and Killingly High School courts to practice and play their matches.
Pomfret School was a gracious host last spring but it wasn’t easy for tennis athletes who had to work around the host team’s schedule..
“Practice times were cut very short often. No one came and watched our matches. We didn’t have a lot of support,” said Centaurs senior Peyton Bentley.
The Academy is hoping that will change in the near future.
“The courts we have currently at the Bentley Athletic Complex are just not playable. They are in a place where drainage issues, even if we were to correct them there, would make them unplayable again in the future. It’s just a bad place for them. We’re unable to have a tennis program on our home turf without building new ones,” said associate head of school Jon Sturdevant.
The game plan is to use space on the South Campus where a grass soccer field now resides between the South Campus turf field and the South Campus gym to build new courts. The cost is estimated to be about $1M.
Fund-raising will begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 28 in the Loos Center on South Campus with a kickoff event.
“We’re going to provide some light food and beverages. There will be a brief presentation in the theater with an overview of the plan, the fund-raising so far and the plan for future fundraising. It will be a general overview of the project to engage our community,” Sturdevant said.
Sturdevant said that most of the former Woodstock Academy tennis players, with whom the school has on record, have been sent invites but it is an open invitation to attend.
Those who wish to attend are asked to email an RSVP to Sarah Andrews at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
It’s something that Woodstock Academy athletic director Sean Saucier hopes will move quickly.
“It’s been a significant need for many years now,” Saucier said. “Trying to run a program without a facility has its own challenges. Luckily, we’ve had some great community partners at Rectory, Pomfret and Killingly who have come through for us to help in this time of need. To have courts on South Campus would be a tremendous asset.”
The current plan is to build at least four courts but there is enough room in the area to expand that number.
According to Sturdevant, the ideal number would be six if the funds are available to do so.
The grass soccer field has not had much in the way drainage issues. The locker rooms for the South Campus gym would be easily accessible. The athletic training services are much easier to provide on campus. And new courts may equal more athletes.
“If you build it, they will come,” Saucier said with a smile. “We want to get these in place and give our programs a nice shot in the arm.”
And Bentley feels that the courts will be well utilized.
“Tennis is a sport that people play their whole lives. I started when I was in elementary school. It’s a sport that people stick with. It’s not like we’re going to have the courts and then they will be abandoned. Everybody is going to want to play,” the senior said.
There is another group that will benefit from the new facilities. The residential students would have easy access to the courts.
“Tennis courts are also an important part of a residential campus. This is the first priority of a multi-phase project for athletics on South Campus,” Sturdevant said. The current courts at the Bentley Athletic Complex will be leveled to allow for more parking at the facility which is also a critical need.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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brush pg 6 9-21-23
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Brush, limb
chipping starts
next week
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — It’s a go for the brush and tree limbs collection next week.
The town picks up and chips brush and tree limbs less than 6 inches in diameter on the last full week of September.
Please put the brush and limbs out toward the beginning of next week.
Travis Sirrine, highway superintendent, said the crews are on schedule for this traditional collection date. Two crews will be canvassing the town.
As long as the branches are 6 inches in diameter or smaller and you can drag it out, the chipper machine can take it, he said. Please put the cut end facing the road.
The next brush/limb collection is the last full week of April. The town no longer does a call-in collection in July, he said.
Land clearing will not be picked up.
Grass clippings are not picked up and must be mulched or composted.
But what about leaves? Leaves are vacuumed starting the last Monday of October and continues until complete or inclement weather interrupts the operation.
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cal pg 6 9-21-23
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Wed. Sept. 20
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. Features a series of black and white and monotone photographs. All welcome. Free.
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- For September The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present “Falling Water: Photography by Steve and Danny Veilleux.” Display case will be: “Our U.S. Constitution by Ida Ransom.”
Thur. Sept. 21
Peace Celebration
PUTNAM --- The Greater Putnam Interfaith Council invites local residents to a Peace Day Celebration at 6 p.m. at the Daughters of the Holy Spirit offices, 508B Pomfret St. The event will feature music, readings, prayers and information.
Sat. Sept. 23
Celebrating Agriculture
BROOKLYN --- 2023 Celebrating Agriculture will begin at 9 a.m. at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds.
Harvest Fest
HAMPTON --- Fletcher Memorial Library hosts The Hampton Harvest Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the town hall grounds on Main Street. The festival features local products and crafts, plus entertainment, refreshments, music, and displays. Free admission and parking. 860-455-1086.
Book Sale
THOMPSON --- The Friends of Thompson Public Library will hold their annual book sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations welcome during library hours starting Sept. 5, in Community Room 3.
Sun. Sept. 24
Concert
WOODSTOCK --- A free bonus concert! The St. Luke’s Steel Band will play from 2 to 3 p.m. at Roseland Cottage. Bring a blanket, buy some ice cream. Cosponsored with Performing Arts of Northeast Connecticut, The Three C's, and Historic New England.
Chicken BBQ
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Veteran’s Advisory Committee will spearhead a fund-raiser chicken BBQ from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Albert Breault VFW Post on Providence Street. Eat-in or takeout. $15. Tickets at the VFW, WINY Radio and the Recreation Department in the Municipal Complex. Benefits the beautification of Veteran’s Memorial Park.
Wed. Sept. 27
Fall Seminar
PUTNAM --- A free Fall Prevention in our Quiet Corner program will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Municipal Complex. Spots are still available, and there is a simple form required. For info or to sign up call 860-963-6800 ext 140.
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.
Community Day
THOMPSON --- The Town of Thompson’s 19th Annual Thompson Community Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Riverside Park. Oct. 1 is the rain date.
Empty Bowls
THOMPSON --- The Empty Bowls fund-raiser at TEEG will have seatings, at 5 and 6:30.
Camp Day
WOODSTOCK --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp Day fund-raiser will be from 2 to 6 p.m. at Buck’s Soft Serve, 88 Kenyonville Road. Bake sale, ice cream eating contests, dunk the director. Portion of sales goes to support the Windham Tolland 4-H Camp Dam Restoration Fund.
Band
PUTNAM --- The Albert J. Breault VFW Post 1523 Canteen will present Stone County Band from 7 to 11 p.m. $5 cover.
Fri. Oct. 6
‘The Addams Family’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Addams Family” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14 and 21 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 8, 15 and 22. $27 for adults and $24 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or 860-928-7887.
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. Food, drawings and more. Tickets $45, must be purchased in advance. daykimball.org/pianos.
Yuletide Festival
PUTNAM --- The Daughters of Isabella will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mary Church Hall. Vendors sought. 413-612-8358.
Meet the Author
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library will present “Meet the Author: Nathaniel Philbrick” at 1 p.m. in Community Room 112/113 at the Municipal Complex.
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 northeastern Connecticut. The purchase of memorial lights on each community's Tree of Life benefits Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. For info: daykimball.org/treeoflife.
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