Past Issues of the Putnam Town Crier
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caption, page 6:
The King Bees
Putnam native
to perform in her
hometown over
the holidays
By Ron P. Coderre
The Putnam area will be rocking to the music of The King Bees over the New Year’s holiday week. The King Bees featuring Putnam native Penny “Queen Bee” Zamagni and National Blue Ridge Heritage Artist Rob “Hound Dog” Baskerville, will be performing at two local entertainment and dining venues.
Zamagni and Baskerville have been stingin’ and swingin’ the blues since 1987. The pair met in and are based out of the mountains of North Carolina near Boone. Since they’ve been together they’ve played Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, and Lincoln Center New York City as well as the Mississippi juke joints.
The King Bees are scheduled for two shows in Putnam over the holidays. They’ll perform at the Stomping Grounds in the Heart of Putnam’s Antique District Dec. 29, where they’ll be joined by noted local drummer Wayne Gasiorek.
On Dec. 31 The Bees will be performing a New Year’s Eve show at The Crossings Restaurant and Brew Pub in the former New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Station in Union Square. On the eve of 2016 they’ll be joined by another noted drummer Ned Peabody of the talented Peabody musical family.
Other surprise guest performers may also be in store. Shows will begin at 8 p.m. both evenings.
Over the decades The King Bees have toured and recorded with the best and most culturally significant Blues artists including Carey Bell, Nappy Brown and Jerry McCain, as well as with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, the renowned Bo Diddley. Zamagni and Baskerville were featured on B.B. King’s 80th Birthday Tour.
In the mid-1980s the “Queen Bee” and “Hound Dog” made a decision to explore the Deep-South to apprentice with the real-deal Blues folk who created the most wonderful of American music. Big Jack Johnson, Frank Frost, McCain, Chicago Bob Nelson and many others took The King Bees under their wings, nurturing and guiding them toward “the sound.”
The goal of The King Bees today and in the past has been to promote, support and pay homage to the great artists who generously shared music and wisdom with them and the world.
The King Bees were signed to Amsterdam’s Tramp Records in the mid-1990s. They’ve recorded several CD’s for the acclaimed international label. Numerous European tours aided the duo in garnering many friends and followers in Blues and American Roots. In 2003 they produced the New River Blues Festival, which continues as the North Carolina mountain’s only Blues festival.
The Charlotte Observer said, “Queen Bee Zamagni belts it out with the best, backed by a superb band highlighted by the burning riffs of Hound Dog Baskerville.”
And Blue Suede News said, “The King Bees have delighted audiences for years. Queen Bee’s vocals are expressive and strong; Baskerville’s guitar playing is right on, from cool slide to sizzling licks.”
On past trips to Putnam, The King Bees have performed in front of enthusiastic full-house audiences at The Chickering Café and J.D. Cooper’s Restaurant.
“We’re proud to be performing in Putnam. It’s always fun to return to northeastern Connecticut to meet with old friends and entertain. We hope to share some very special music with our audiences,” said Queen Bee Penny Zamagni.
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Wed. Dec. 23
Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Birding Through the Years with Paint and Brush” through Feb. 1 at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. 860-928-4948.
Art at Library
N. GROSVENORDALE --- Art @ the Library will present an art exhibit, “Journey into the Four Directions” through Dec. 29 at the Thompson Public Library. Supported by the Friends of the Library.
Thur. Dec. 24
Christmas Eve
POMFRET --- The First Congregational Church of Pomfret will hold its Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 p.m. in Clark Chapel on the Pomfret School Campus.
Fri. Dec. 25
Merry Christmas!
Sat. Dec. 26
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Owl Walk” at 7 p.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.
Tues. Dec. 29
Exercise Group
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Senior Exercise Group will meet from 9 to 10 a.m. every Tuesday in the Woodstock Town Hall lower level meeting room. Free for all Woodstock senior citizens 60 and older. 860-974-1050.
Thur. Dec. 31
Happy New Year!
Slumber Party
POMFRET CENTER --- The Windham Tolland 4-H on Taft Pond Road will present New Year’s Eve Slumber Party from 5:30 p.m. Dec. 31 to 9:30 a.m. Jan. 1 for kids 6 to 12. $25 per child. Preregistration required by Dec. 23. 6 for kids up to 8; $10 for those 9 and older. 974-3379.
Mon. Jan. 4
Art Exhibit
N. GROSVENORDALE --- The Thompson Public Library Art @ the Library program will present photography by John Dalterio & Mark Hutchinson featuring selections from “Nayara” and “Unanswerable” through Jan. 29. Reception is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 11. Supported by the Friends of the Thompson Public Library. 860-923-9779.
Sat. Jan. 9
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present a Winter Night Sky Walk at 7 p.m. at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. Bring binoculars and/or telescope. Free for members; $3 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.
Sun. Jan. 10
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present a Sunday Walk at 2 p.m. at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. Free for members; $3 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.
Fri. Jan. 15
Teen Weekend
POMFRET --- The Windham Tolland 4-H will present a Winter teen Weekend from 5:30 p.m. Jan. 15 through 9 a.m. Jan. 17. For teens 13-18. $50. Preregister by Jan. 11. 860-974-3379.
Thur. Jan. 21
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present a bird walk at 1 p.m. starting from the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.
Sat. Jan. 23
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present a Full Moon Walk at 7 p.m. at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. Bring binoculars and/or telescope. Free for members; $3 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present a Owl Walk at 7 p.m. at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. Cancelled if bad weather. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.
Sun. Jan. 24
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Avian Taxidermy” from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.
Sun. Jan. 31
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Taxidermy of Mammals” from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.
Tues. April 5
Three C’s
WOODSTOCK --- The Three C’s Performing Arts for Kids will present “Henry & Mudge” at 10 a.m. at the Hyde Cultural Center. Recommended for grades PK-3. $4 per person (in groups of 10 or more) 928-2946.
Tues. May 24
Three C’s
WOODSTOCK --- The Three C’s Performing Arts for Kids will present “SkippyjonJones Snow What” at 10 a.m. at the Hyde Cultural Center. Recommended for grades PK-3. $4 per person (in groups of 10 or more) 928-2946.
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Recertified
PUTNAM — Karen Leaf of Putnam reaffirmed her status as an elite photographer, once again earning the Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) designation from Professional Photographers of America (PPA).
Leaf, who owns and operates Karen Leaf Photography as well as The Coop, a shared photographic studio space in Putnam, successfully completed the requirements required to keep her CPP designation.
Every three years, CPPs must show that they have maintained the mark of excellence that the CPP designation represents. Leaf earned this designation after meeting challenging requirements that measure her artistic and technical competence.
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Toy Pickup
Dick Wisneiski and Susan Jankot of the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association, left, met Putnam Bank’s Brandy Hapgood and Lynn Bourque, right, to pick up toys which will be distributed to local children this holiday season. Courtesy ph
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caption:
Donation
Pomfret School students donated soccer balls to NOW. Courtesy photo.
PUTNAM — Students and faculty advisers from Pomfret School recently visited the two soccer fields at Logee Park in Putnam and Blackwell Field in Canterbury, owned and operated by Northeast Opportunities for Wellness (NOW). The visit was part of Project: Pomfret 3.0, a two-and-a-half-week project-based learning experience focused on the inclusion of student voice and choice, with projects that have a lasting impact beyond the confines of the classroom.
During their visit, the students participated in a clean-up of both fields, helping to ensure a clean and safe area for youth soccer and other sports. In addition to the time donated by the students, the project also included a donation of 79 new and gently used soccer balls. Sarah Mortensen, NOW executive director, spoke to the students during their visit about the mission of the organization, and the important role sports can play in the lives of local youths. Mortensen said, “I was very impressed by the Pomfret School students. They were attentive, respectful, and genuine in their desire to help our organization.” The soccer balls donated by the students will be used during Sunday Sports Clinics that NOW will run during the winter months. These free clinics are designed to provide an introduction to a variety of sports and will be open to children ages 3 through 14.
Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, is a non-profit human services organization focused on youth wellness. Serving the 10-town area of Northeast Connecticut, NOW provides children with the opportunity to participate in area athletics programs, offering scholarships to the youth of the community with up to 95% of the cost being subsidized by NOW. The mission of the organization is to provide ALL children, regardless of financial resources, equal opportunities to achieve & maintain youth wellness, beginning at an early age.
“As a non-profit, the support we receive from volunteers of all ages is valued greatly by NOW,” Mortensen noted. “It is encouraging to see students participating in service projects that have a lasting positive impact on the community and hopefully some of these students will be inspired to continue giving back to the community in the years to come.”