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captions, page 4, clockwise from top left:
Youngsters look over the list before heading out on the NOW scavenger hunt.
Gwynne and Hugo Baum, 2, of Woodstock
Joseph Kelly loved the inflatable slide.
Hannah Cusson of Eastford
Hale Y event
a success
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The kids at the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center’s Healthy Kids Day Oct. 23 thought it was an “excellent party,” according to Amanda Kelly, executive director.
Healthy Kids Day is a national YMCA event that typically happens in April at YMCAs throughout the country, she said. The focus is on inspiring youth and families with physical activity, outdoor fun and creative ways to learn and grow and to feel like they belong to something greater.
Healthy Kids Day usually happens in April but COVID threw a monkey wrench into that. There was no Healthy Kids Day in 2019 and this year, it was moved to October in Putnam. “While October is not the normal time for Healthy Kids Day, we felt that the timing was good to provide a COVID-safe event for our area children that would take place all outdoors.” About 100 kids attended.
Kelly said the Healthy Kids Day was being held in Putnam even before the Y was completed and was run entirely by volunteers.
And there were plenty of activities and vendors, she said. There were: two inflatables, slide and obstacle course from Henry’s Inflatables; music by DJ Drew Daley; archery’ Gaga; water safety; Bike Safety provide by Putnam Police Chief Chris Ferace and bike helmet drawing; a fire truck from Putnam Fire Dept.; Susie Sunshine making balloon animals; face painting provided by Heather Lebel; and a Scavenger Hunt on the River Trail provided by Northeast Opportunities for Wellness (NOW).
Kelly said the highlights were “definitely the scavenger hunt, the inflatables and archery which will be happening at YMCA Camp Cutler next summer! DJ Drew Daley, Susie Sunshine and Heather and her face painting, bubbles and dancing all added to the party.”
She added that “One YMCA member had her grandchildren visit from an hour and a half away and she thought it was a great event for children.”
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