Wed. May 14
Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret on Day Road will present an art exhibition, “Nature Reveals Itself," through June. Free admission.
Sat. May 17
Bulky Waste Day
POMFRET --- The town of Putnam will hold a Bulky Waste Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the POMFRET Transfer Station. Open to all Putnam residents with proper ID. Must be able to unload your vehicle yourself.
History Exhibit
WOODSTOCK --- The Center for Woodstock History (Palmer Hall) is presenting “Through the Camera’s Eye” from noon to 3. Free.
Super Hero Saturday
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association and the Town of Putnam will present Super Hero Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. downtown.
Wed. May 21
‘Revolutionary’ Program
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library and the Aspinock Historical society are sponsoring a Connecticut Museum of Culture and History program, “Tories, Spies and Traitors: Divided Loyalty in Revolutionary Connecticut (1775),” at 6 p.m. at the library. In addition, Aspinock Historical Society’s annual meeting will be held as a public open house of the upstairs museum exhibits with information and refreshments from 4 to 5:45 p.m., just before the Tories program. 860-963-6826.
Sat. May 24
Rabies Clinic
DANIELSON --- Pet Pals Northeast will hold a low-cost rabies clinic from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Quinebaug Valley Veterinary Hospital on Rt. 12. $15 cash per animal. Preregistration and appointment required: 860-317-1720. No walkins.
Mon. May 26
Parade
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Memorial Day parade will kick off at 10 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, and runs down Route 44 to the Town Green where a short ceremony will follow.
Sat. May 31
Pomfret Historical Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “Colonial Fiber Arts Workshop with Stacey Beck” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old Town House. Preregister.
Book Presentation
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library will present “Hiking the Ruins of Southern New England” discussion and book signing from 12:30 to 2 p.m. by retired state archeologist Nicholas Bellantoni.
Fund-raiser Dinner
DANIELSON --- The Hope for Tomorrow and Hopefest CT will put on a pasta dinner with seatings at 5 and 6:30 p.m. at the Cornerstone Baptist Church. Takeout available. $12 for adults; $7 for kids under 10. Benefits sending youth to Guatemala for life-changing experience.
Sun. June 8
Paddle 4 Hope
BROOKLYN --- The annual Paddle 5 Hope fund-raiser, which benefits Neighbors Against Cancer, will be held at Riverside Park. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. and the launch is at 10. There is no registration fee but we ask that you please make a donation. PFD required for all participants. All non-motorized watercraft welcome. For info: 860-974-1202.
Composting Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Town Agricultural Commission will present a free composting workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. June 8 at the Pomfret Recreational Park Pavilion on Rt. 97. The first session at 1 p.m. will be an introduction to composting. The second, at 2 p.m., will be intermediate composting. All welcome.
Tues. June 10
Strawberry Social
PUTNAM --- The Aspinock Historical Society will host a Strawberry Shortcake Social to honor the late Joy Lizotte, longtime treasurer, membership chair and volunteer, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Fred Hedenberg pavilion at the Gertrude C. Warner Boxcar Children Museum on South Main Street. RSVP by June 6: at the library in person or by calling 860-963-6826. No charge but donations always welcome. Bring a chair.
Sat. June 14
Concert-Fundraiser
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present a concert/fund-raiser, “Washington’s Favorite, The Nation’s Guest: Songs of Lafayette’s Time In America” with Rick Spencer and Dawn Indermuehle at the Old Town House). Refreshments at 6; concert at 7. $25.
Sat. June 21
Fine Arts Fest
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Arts Council will present its annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival June 21 and 22 at the Municipal Complex front yard.
Sat. Sept. 27
Pomfret Historical Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Historical Society will present “Jordan Freeman: Black Revolutionary War Soldier” performed by Kevin Johnson of the CT State Library at 3 p.m. at the Old Town House.
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2 land trusts
join together
After 26 years of existence resulting in the protection of seven preserves and over 300 acres in Woodstock and Union, Connecticut, The New Roxbury Land Trust membership has decided to become a part of The Wyndham Land Trust.
This change will provide enhanced protection and preservation of New Roxbury’s land in perpetuity while also augmenting Wyndham’s footprint in northern Connecticut.
As a result, the Wyndham Land Trust will be one of the largest Connecticut land trusts in terms of property owned, have over 300 members, and will be protecting properties in 11 towns in northeast Connecticut.
The transition is scheduled to be completed this summer.
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Mothers: The
heroes of life
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Mother’s Day — both solemn and joyous.
The Putnam Elks Lodge 574 annually honors mothers on Mother’s Day with a free breakfast. On each table were two signs that offered flowers. One described the significance of red flowers – in honor of the mother who still lives. The other describes the white flower in honor of the memory of the mother who has “crossed her tired hands and who rests in the shadow of eternal sleep.” The flyer continued: “As you leave today, if your mother is no longer with us, please take a white carnation.” Or “As you leave today, if your mother is still with us, please take a red carnation.”
Exalted Ruler Marcel Morissette said the ritual is done each year. It’s a very long tradition for the Elks.
Part of the ceremony: “No human being. No assemblage of human beings could do justice to such a subject. We might fill this room with the rarest of flowers. A celestial choir may sing the sweetest songs. Silver tongues could hold you spellbound and still, our effort would be an integral tribute to such an occasion.” The “feeble words remind us of a duty that we owe — a duty that we can never fully repay.” Heartfelt words: "Where is there another one who will make the sacrifices, suffer the pain and continue to face the storms of life that the child may be protected?”.
Taking part in the solemn ceremony were: Exalted ruler Marcel Morissette, Secretary Lisa Morissette, Leading Knight David Lavoie, Brian Sirois, Courtney Lajoie, Janet Schmidt and Esquire William Schmidt.
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‘It’s about trust, community and service’
Official grand opening of McGee Toyota of Putnam
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
Rain didn’t dampen spirits Friday as the long- awaited McGee Toyota of Putnam held its official grand opening.
Loyalty, humility, honor, being part of a community were recurring themes during the celebration.
Putnam Business Association President Kate Cerrone and Putnam Mayor Barney Seney welcomed the business into the community, citing the over-the-top support and generosity found in people and the business community in the area.
Seney pointed out that the area raised $300,000 for the Veterans Park and just $8,000 of that was town money. “This shows you what the community is all about.” And McGee is all about customer service and community involvement. “We couldn’t have picked a better partner to come to the town of Putnam.”
Cerrone said: “We recognize not just the opening of a car dealership with a continuation of a legacy that began in 1970 … the company has been driven by a mission to deliver outstanding customer service, value-driven pricing and superior vehicle maintenance, all with honesty, professionalism and excellence at its core.” She added: “It’s clear that this isn’t just about cars; it’s about trust, community and service.”
Likewise state Senator Mae Flexer welcomed McGee and gave them a citation from the state legislature.
Owner Robert McGee, reflecting his father’s values and code of ethics, thanked the community and everyone involved in the project.
Connecting with the community, McGee presented Putnam School Superintendent Steven Rioux with a check for $5,000 for Putnam schools athletics. Rioux said later the amount of the donation was a surprise to him. It will help many school athletics programs, he said.
Diana Davis, general manager of Toyota’s New York Region, told McGee “This investment represents what you value most — people.” She gave McGee a welcome to the NY Region in the form of a samurai helmet which represents the samurai warrior’s loyalty, honor and respect.
caption:
NY Region General Manager Diana Davis, above, presents McGee Toyota's Robert McGee a symbolic samurai helmet. More photos Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photos.
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