Charles W. Alexander, U.S. Navy veteran
ABINGTON — Charles W. Alexander, 74, of Drown Road, passed away on Jan. 2, 2025, at Day Kimball Hospital, with his family by his side, following a brief illness. He was the husband of Mary (Brassard) Alexander for more than 50 years. Born in 1950 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Charles and Theresa (Guertin) Alexander.
Charles joined the Navy following high school. When his military service ended, he completed a postgraduate masonry program at H.H. Ellis Tech. Charles worked as a stone mason for several years before starting his career as a tractor trailer driver. He drove trucks for Idle Wild Farms for more than 18 years, and then Frito Lay for 25 years, before retiring. Charles was a member of the Putnam Lodge of Elks for more than 50 years. 
He loved shopping and frequented all the local stores, visiting one just about every day.  He enjoyed running into people he knew and always had time to stop and shoot the breeze with them.  Charles loved working in his yard and garden; he enjoyed his pool, mowing the lawn, and just being outdoors on his backhoe rearranging his landscape.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his daughter, Chelsea Alexander; brother, Michael Alexander; and two grandsons, Elijah and Phoenix. He was predeceased by two infant sons, Eric in 1980 and Nathan in 1990.
Visitation is from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam. Donations may be made to Pomfret Community School Library or Athletic Department.

Georgia C. Ballard
THOMPSON — Georgia C. Ballard, 95, of Robbins Road, passed away Dec. 12, 2024, surrounded by the love of her family. 
Georgia was born Feb. 18, 1929 in Ellington, the oldest daughter of George W. and Ruth (Barber) Coolidge. Georgia grew up in South Killingly, and moved to Thompson in 1947 where she spent the next seven decades giving to her community in a myriad of ways.
In 1968, Georgia married Clarence C. Ballard (1923-2022) at the Thompson Congregational Church. They met in the church choir and together had 54 years of joy.
She was a dedicated public servant throughout her lifetime, active in the Thompson Congregational Church, Thompson Historical Society, Village Improvement Society, Discovery Steering Committee (TEEG) and was a long time member of the Grange. She was instrumental in bringing the first daycare in Thompson to the church facilities where it served the town for 29 years. After retirement, Georgia devoted more than 20 years. working at the polls and enjoyed being a moderator well into her late 80s.
Her working careers were all dedicated to serving people. She was a telephone operator in Putnam, CNA at Westview, Postal Clerk for approximately 12 years and finally Postmaster for the Town of Thompson for 21 years. While Postmaster, she was active in State work and her beloved National League of Postmasters. She was awarded Postmaster of the year, and served as CT State President, Northeast Regional Coordinator, and League National Historian. 
Georgia was an unrelenting beacon of positivity, warmth, kindness and strength. Her life of giving to others was filled with patience, forgiveness and unconditional love. She embraced challenges with a grateful heart and cultivated joy in her everyday life. Georgia will be remembered as a kind hearted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend who leaves a legacy of compassion and love. 
She leaves her daughter, Pamela Ballard-Ross; her sister, Kathleen Alex; her brother, Dwight (Judy) Coolidge; her granddaughters Tracey Gaudette, SaraBeth Ross, Katielyn Ross (Randy Adams); her great grandchildren Triston and Delila Gaudette ; nieces and nephews. Georgia was predeceased by her husband Clarence C. Ballard, her son Jeffery Roy, two brothers, Theodore and Arthur Coolidge, and sister Carolyn Pikul. 
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 16, 2025 at the Congregational Church of Union, 976 Buckley Hwy Union, CT 06076. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.

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Wed.  Jan. 8
Art Show
POMFRET --- From Nov. 13 to Jan. 8 the Abington Social Library on Rt. 97 will host its first annual Community Art Show. The art show, titled “Gallery 1793,” can be viewed during library hours: 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. https://theabingtonsociallibrary.org/

Art Display
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present, as part of their Art @ the Library series, Phylis Worley – Display of Madame Alexander Wendy Dolls through Jan. 31.

Sat.  Jan. 11
Fund-raiser Performance
POMFRET --- Nine6teen will perform at the Tang Center at 7 p.m. to support Partners in Development. Snow date: 2 p.m. Jan. 12.  This is a benefit concert, and donations will be gratefully accepted. For more information about Partners in Development go to www.pidonline.org.

Opossum Program
POMFRET --- The educational ambassador opossums of Ferncroft Wildlife Rescue (FWR) in Woodstock will be at The Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS) Center on Day Road at 2 p.m. Registration for the program is appreciated but not required. Adult admission is $5 for CAS members; $10 for non-members; free for children 10 and under. ctaudubon.org/Pomfret

Sun.  Jan. 12
Open House
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp Open House will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Early bird discounts – details available at the open house or on the website. www.4hcampct.org

Tues.  Jan. 21
Film
POMFRET --- Pomfret Green Team Community Film Series will present "Saving the Dark" at 6:30 p.m. at the Connecticut Audubon Center on Day Road. Also: Tues. Jan. 28 “Humans and the Night Sky: Our Lost Heritage” will be presented at 6:30; and Tues. Feb. 25 “Light Pollution and Its Impacts on Our Green Spaces” will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Free admission and popcorn.  https://www.ctaudubon.org/pomfret-home/

Sat.  Jan. 25
Family Dinner Dance
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road will hold a Sno-Ball Family Fun Dinner Dance from 5 to 8. JD/dancing follows dinner. Door prizes, drawings, family photos. Benefits the Jim Logee Campership Fund.  Adults $20; kids 10 and under $15. For tickets: 860-974-3379. Snow date Feb. 1

Sun.  Jan. 26
Lecture
POMFRET --- Pomfret School will present the Schwartz Public Lecture by Bill T. Jones, dancer and choreographer from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Hard Auditorium. Free. All welcome. Registration required: pomfret.org/schwartz.

Sat.  Feb. 15
Black History Program
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library will present, at 12:30 p.m., “The Remarkable Women of the Six Triple Eight,” the only all-black, all-female unit to be sent overseas in WWII. Presented by Melodye Whatley. Snow date Feb. 22.

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Salvation Army will be warmed by the Interact Club's fund-raising tally

It was one of the coldest winters in years but that didn’t stop the members of the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club from ringing the bells at the local Salvation Army kettles.
Interact Club members, their friends, Rotarians and family members have been ringing the Salvation Army Kettle bells since 1997.
Rotarian Roberta Rocchetti, advisor, said the Interact members in that time have raised more than $250,000 for this region. 
“This Kettle campaign is the only source of revenue for the Putnam Salvation Army office. They use the money to assist the needy of northeastern Connecticut with utilities, rent, fuel oil, and more,” she said. 
She added that this year “We received $11,447.75 in kettle donations (including $500 from the Rotary Club) and a very generous check for $2,000 to bring the total to $13,447.75. That is amazing considering we only had four Saturdays to collect donations.
Last year the group had five weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas and it took in $14,608.53.
“I’m grateful to all 96 students from Woodstock Academy, Tourtellotte Memorial High School, Putnam High, Marianapolis Prep, Pomfret School and UConn who stood out in the cold to man the kettle. I appreciate all other volunteers who helped set up and fill in where necessary. I am so grateful to Putnam Supermarket for letting us store our kettles all these years and Walmart, Stop & Shop and Price Chopper for allowing us to have the Salvation Army kettles in front of their store. Without their support we could never accomplish all that we do,” she said.
Taking part, from Putnam High: Paige Perry, Gabriell Cerasiello, Kaydence Morris, Maddy Kimball, Emma Campbell, Alivia Ortiz, Angelina Seymour, Jayda Rivera, Carlos Harper-Mendoza, Ella Carota, Kaylee Borders, Keivon Robinson, Jay Patel, Gavin Patterson, Cora Desrosiers, Makenzei Fry, Hudson Smith.
From Tourtellotte: Ava Tucker, Gianna Brinson, Caitlyn L’Heureux, Alexis Phav, Isabell McGlynn, Christian Dejesus, Cole Hopkins, Lindsey Sturtevant, Victoria Patterson, Kayd Patterson, Calleigh Levesque, Joshua Tackson, Dylan Axtell, Serena Smith, Sofia Thurber, June Ferraro, Bethany Nieves, Tessa Sheldon, Tanisha Patel, Tyler Shead, Keegan Stall, Abby Ditzel, Zahara Moore, Grace Akana, Ember Merrill, Anna Bell.
From Marianapolis: Devi Patel-Gandhi, Emma Martineau, Henrietta Hayes. From Pomfret School: Max Gerum. From UConn: Eric Levesque, Jordyn Butler. 
From Woodstock Academy:  Liliana Bottone, Christian Menounos, Kira Greene, Phoebe Griffin, Maddie Jezierski, Bella DiGregorio, Avery Plouffe, Ava Golden, Vivian Bibeau, Eli Manning, Sophia Milardo, Lauren Thomas, Anthony Beaudreault, Mia Sorrentino, Katelyn Bruce, Gianna DiCola-Keddy, Kaelyn Tremblay, Livia Gerum, Melanie DiPippo, Jackie Dearborn, Thatcher Paterson, Aidan Tyler, Miranda Miller, Eli Susi, Maddie Bloom, Mikayla Bessette, Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain, Kaylee Saucier, Macy Rawson, Grace Pokorny, Liliana Moran, Maura Hart, Chyanne Machamer, Jackson Dorez, Celine Leffingwell, Eva Lusignan, Allie Boyd, Sophia Sarkis. Lillian Morgis, Maggie McHugh, Audrey MacPherson, Lillian Beausoleil, Avery Thienel, Ivan Lin, Emma Quinney.
She also thanked the adult volunteers: Leo Rocchetti from Stafford Springs, Patty Gaffney from Putnam, Edit Dipippo from Woodstock, Claudia Ursin and Donna Drasch from Ashford. Rotaract members: Matthew and Harrison Gardiner, John Spratt. Rotarians: Jonathan and Keri Tremblay, Dick and Marianne Loomis, Deb Hoft, Emily Barnes, Joseph Adiletta, Richard & Kathy Naumann and Mike and Roberta Rocchetti, Kayla Morin, Marc Archambault, Paul Pikora, Rotary Club past president Amanda Kelly and current Rotary Club president Doug Porter.

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Salvation Army will be warmed by the Interact Club's fund-raising tally

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