putnam farm pg 3 11-16-23
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Putnam farmers'
market a finalist
PUTNAM — The Putnam Saturday Farmers’ Market chosen as finalist and runner up in The Bulletin’s 2023 Community’s Choice Award Finalist Best of Eastern CT Farmers’ Market
Eastern Connecticut communities voted between July 11and 25 and the Putnam Saturday Farmers’ Market being chosen as a finalist out of five Eastern CT Farmers’ Markets in the running
Putnam’s Mayor Barney Seney recognizes the market coordinator has a big part of the market’s success: He said Emily Barnes is the reason for another successful season in her role as Market Coordinator
The 22-week market runs from the first Saturday in June to the last Saturday in October, providing locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, artisan products, and more. Barnes has run the farmers’ market for the past four years, and this was her final year as market manager. In those four years, Seney said, Barnes has strengthened the market by obtaining grants assisting with advertising and has diversified the market by drawing in local musical groups informative non- profit groups such as Senior Resource Agency on Aging, EASTConn and more. She also brought demonstrations such as wool spinning to the local community and value-added farmers from the community such as dairy from Valleyside Farms.
Barnes said she is proud of where the market stands today and said: “Our market had another fantastic season this year. The farmers and artisans are extremely resilient and have flourished over the past few years despite some difficult weather patterns and after COVID. Being nominated for this award just proves how much our community loves this market and everything it has to offer I’m thankful to have ended my time as market manager with such a great year.”
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toy pg 3 11-16-23
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caption:
Above: WA Football Team. Courtesy photo. Left: All the helpers. Linda Lemmon photo
Toy Drive
The Woodstock fire departments held their annual Toy Drive Nov. 11. Collections of toys and funds, held at the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association and Thompson’s Community Fire Department, pulled in about $9,000 and 1,000 toys. Russ Downer said the effort, in its 18th year, has garnered, before this year’s tally, $127,000 in monetary donations and 43,000 toys. The donated toys and money go to TEEG, the Putnam Family Resource Center and the Eastford school system. Following tradition, the Woodstock football team members climbed off the bus on their way to Saturday’s football game to each donate a toy.
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paving pg 4 11-16-23
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Paving the way to Veteran’s Park commemorative brick program
PUTNAM — The Putnam Veteran’s Advisory Committee (VAC) is collaborating on the Veteran’s Park project to celebrate, bring honor and give thanks to veterans by offering commemerative bricks for sale.
Committee members said: “You can participate and help pave the way with this community commemorative brick program by having your service recognized or the service of a loved one honored. The bricks are a striking gray with black lettering. They are engraved with your choice of wording, and military logos can be added for no extra cost.”
The VAC will offer an in-person opportunity to fill out brick order forms from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 18 in the Community Room at the Municipal Complex. Each 8” x 4” brick is $100. Forms at: https://www.putnamct.us/government/commissions/veterans-advisory-committee, in the Recreation Office, from any VAC member or at their club location, and WINY Radio.
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protecting pg 5 11-16-23
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captions:
Ryan Walsh with his fire department family.
Ryan Walsh with his family. Linda Lemmon photos.
Protecting the
community —
A noble
commitment
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — It was a solemn — and joyful event. A story of commitment — and families.
The swearing in of Ryan Walsh as deputy fire marshal was so much an ode to commitment and families that two more rows of chairs had to be put out. His “DPW family” was there. His Putnam Fire Department family was there. His wife and children were there. His parents were there. His bosses were there. Town officials were there. Yes, indeed, two more rows of chairs needed.
Walsh has served 18 years in the Putnam Fire Department, 13 years in the Air National Guard and six years as a maintainer for the town.
Each speaker keyed in on his commitment to the town. Putnam Mayor Barney Seney said “when you talk about someone who serves his community, you’re talking about Ryan. Everybody around him knows he’s a hard worker.”
Seney added, “You might have three jobs but you’re not leaving Putnam!”
Fire Marshal Scott Belleville also spoke of Walsh’s commitment. Walsh, for example, recently completed a program on Codes. A commitment as the state classes ran 11 weeks, eight hours a day. And that’s just one of many programs Walsh must take.
“Fire marshal. Protecting the community. This is what we do. This is why we do it,” Belleville said. “This is a huge commitment,” he added.
Belleville half joked that fire marshals walk into a building and immediately look up – checking for sprinklers, smoke detectors and more. “This is how we’re trained.” That keeps the community safe. It’s a serious, heavy mantle — fire prevention.
After Walsh was sworn in by Town Clerk Christine Bright he thanked his colleagues and his “families” for supporting him in his commitment to his community.
Belleville said, “What you are doing is noble.”
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