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Woodstock public schools
Monday: Hamburgers, green beans, fruit. Tuesday: Grilled cheese, tomato soup, fruit. Wednesday: Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, fruit. Thursday: Taco boats, refried beans, fruit. Friday: Pizza, fruit.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday: Pasta with meatsauce, broccoli, sherbet. Tuesday - Breakfast for Lunch: French toast sticks, scrambled egg, hash browns, strawberries. Wednesday: Crispy chicken sandwiches, butternut squash. Thursday: Fiesta Taco Bowls, Spanish rice, Mexicali corn. Friday: Homemade calzones, salad.
Putnam High
Monday: Chicken potato bowls or spicy chicken sandwiches. Tuesday: Italian meatball Parmesan subs or bacon cheeseburgers. Wednesday: Clipper Burgers or buffalo chicken wraps. Thursday: Holiday feast or chef salad. Friday: French bread pizza or fish and chips dinner.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Pizza. Tuesday: Sweet and sour chicken, vegetable medley, fortune cookies. Wednesday: Toasted turkey and cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, veggie. Thursday: Herb-roasted chicken, salad. Friday: American Chop Suey, salad.

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Veterans
will be
honored
A program that began in 1992 when the Worcester Wreath Company of Harington, Maine, found itself with a surplus of wreaths has grown into a program of national stature known as “Wreaths  Across America.”
At noon Dec. 16 the community of Putnam, along with towns throughout America, will pause in a minute of silence to remember the fallen, the prisoners of war, the missing in action, and honor those who have served and are serving this great  nation’s armed services. The Putnam ceremony that will take place at Veterans Memorial Park is coordinated  by the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 and the Albert J. Breault VFW Post #!523. Public welcome.
In 2008 the U.S. Congress voted unanimously to honor veterans in December as  Wreaths Across America Day.” That year, wreath laying ceremonies were held in 300 locations in every state.  By 2012, the number of locations had grown to 545 sites involving more than 220,000 volunteers. This year more than 1,100 ceremonies will be held simultaneously  across our great nation.
The mission of “Wreaths Across America” is to Remember and Honor those who served, those who gave their lives in defense of our country and those who are serving today.  And to Teach our children the value of freedom.
“As veterans we’re proud to offer this program to the Putnam community. Our volunteers have worked diligently in putting together a program of remembrance and honor with the goal of teaching the lesson of freedom.  This program gives us reason to remember those who gave their lives, and to pause and thank all those who have served and are currently serving in our military forces;," said Ronald P. Coderre, commander of Post #l3.
Following the minute of silence at exactly noon, the program will open with the singing of the National Anthem by U.S. Air Force veteran Maurice Coderre.  In the presence of the combined Honor Guards of the American Legion and VFW, wreaths will be laid in memory of those who served and are serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines.  An individual wreath will be laid in remembrance of the 93,129 service personnel from all branches whose last known status was either Prisoner of War or Missing in Action.
Reflections will be offered  by Putnam Mayor Norman “Barney” Seney.  Daniel Rovero, State Representative from the 5151 Assembly  District and a U.S. Army veteran, will also be on hand for the ceremony.   The reflections will be followed by the tossing of a remembrance wreath into the Quinebaug River by American  Legion Commander Coderre and Norman Beaupre, commander of the VFW.  The ceremonial  wreath tossing will be followed by Taps performed by members of the Putnam High School band, followed  by a rifle volley.
After the closing of the ceremony, the Honor Guard will disburse to local cemeteries and bridges where they with honor veterans by placing wreaths at each location.  The day will also mark the formal retirement of the :flags on the Veterans Memorial Bridge on Pomfret Street.  The flags will be retired until Memorial Day 2018 when they will once again fly until Wreaths Across America 2018.
“This is a meaningful ceremony  of remembrance and honor to our veterans.  We’re encouraging people to pause on that day and join in the ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park.  As the country and our community prepare to celebrate our holidays, it’s appropriate to take time to remember,” said Coderre.
The program is coordinated  by the two service organizations in cooperation  with the Town of Putnam.

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WILLIMANTIC — Access Community Action Agency in Willimantic will conduct its second training session for the Access to Employment program, in January. Access to Employment is a program designed to help under and unemployed individuals living in the Windham and Tolland County area develop the skills to gain successful, stable employment. The program is not a job placement service but will provide training that enhances participants’ employability for when they enter the job market.
The training program includes three facets: computer literacy, financial literacy, and UConn’s People Empowering People (PEP) training.
If you are interested in the program, refer to the online application or call Access at 860-450-7400 ext. 7442 to set up an appointment to fill out an application with one of our staff members. After an application has been submitted, individuals will be contacted to come in for two in-person meetings to go over the program and any questions or concerns they may have. Prior to the start of the training session, accepted participants will be required to attend a short orientation meeting.
If you are interested in applying to or learning more about Access to Employment please check out our webpage: www.accessagency.org/access-to-employment or call the Willimantic Office at 860-450-7400 ext. 7442.

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The Last Green Valley’s 27th Annual Walktober has come to a close and once again its many volunteers injected the region with benefits ranging from recreational to historic, cultural and economic.
More than 240 walk leaders and numerous other volunteers created a calendar filled with more than 220 unique Walktober Adventures and more than 250 opportunities to explore The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. Walktober is a program of The Last Green Valley, Inc., (TLGV) the non-profit charged with promoting and advocating for the national heritage corridor’s unique resources.
“The passion so many people have The Last Green Valley is truly impressive,” said Lois Bruinooge, executive director of TLGV. “It’s an event that draws visitors from all over New England and beyond and that is directly tied to the dedication of our volunteers.”
Walktober’s attendance numbers are still trickling in, however, it is on track to once again have drawn more than 60,000 people to the national heritage corridor. A recent study of the economic impacts of The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor, conducted by national consultant Tripp Umbach, show Walktober has been the catalyst for much more.
 The study said, “The three-year average total of visitors and tourists to the TLGV NHC region is close to 1.9 million visitors. These visitors spend money in the region, creating a positive ripple effect on the economic structure. Based on the annual average number of visitors to the NHC region and its partner sites, approximately $301 million in economic benefit was supported annually within the region and state through tourism.”
“Walktober was created 27 years ago as an event to show just how special this area is and prove it is more than worthy of designation as a national heritage corridor,” Bruinooge said. “Thanks to our volunteers, the event is not only a showcase, but an economic driver for the region.”
The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor is the last stretch of dark night sky in the coastal sprawl between Boston and Washington, D.C.  The Last Green Valley, Inc. works for you in the National Heritage Corridor. Together we can care for it, enjoy it and pass it on! To learn more about the organization, visit thelastgreenvalley.org.