Past Issues of the Putnam Town Crier
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Because I Had To…
…UPsize.
Cleaning out a closet is never a fun task. Cleaning out a clothing closet because an increasing percentage of the clothing in the closet no longer fit, is an emotional challenge! Most of us grow up being able to eat whatever, WHENEVER we want. High school outings with friends were often bookended with double-sugary lattes and donuts and then French fries and milkshakes. In between we spent countless hours popping up with ease from our hard-surfaced chairs or bleachers, frolicking quickly to our next adventure. As we age, we find ourselves bookending our days with non-fat coffees and low-cal protein bars and then an herbal tea with no salt popcorn. Getting up from hard chairs is no longer accomplished without a groan or, at a minimum, an extra second or two to shake out the pain.
I have been rather fortunate that my size has remained relatively constant throughout my 40s, despite my love of late-night dinners and snacking. That is until menopause! I have noticed, over the past year, that my “go-to” outfits are the ones where there is either an elastic waist or, better yet, no waist! Comfort has become my number one requirement when purchasing new clothing as tight-waisted outfits, although they may look nice, are, simply put, very uncomfortable and constricting. To add insult to injury, my stomach seems to be acting like a rebellious teenager, with a mind of its own, expanding and contracting regardless of my food intake.
Bottom line: this new stage in my life has resulted in a plethora of clothing in my closet which, once hung or folded neatly, now lies carelessly discarded in a pile to be donated. I have been slowly replacing these items with clothing that fits better, resulting in the need to organize and clean my closet. I have been delaying this task for many months thinking that the situation was temporary. As the seasons change and the weather is colder, I can no longer delay and have come to accept my new size!
My new size actually comes with many perks. I may not be able to indulge in nightly hot fudge sundaes, but I have the sheer joy of treating the grandkids to unlimited ice cream desserts! It may take me longer to recover from jet lag now but the places I get to visit and experience are amazing and I can enjoy the comforts of a nice hotel room in which to rest. But the best advantage of my new size is my acceptance that it doesn’t matter whatsoever!
I may have to watch what I eat because I have more food sensitivities and don’t feel like gaining another 20 pounds, but I am NOT going to restrict myself from food simply so that I can fit into the clothing I wore 20 years ago! It’s silly. As long as I am healthy and happy and loved, my slightly larger size is irrelevant. So, for anyone else in need of a closet UPsize due to “maturity”; clean away and Mangia! Mangia!
Kathy Naumann,possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can't control everything!
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Wed. Nov. 14
Art Exhibit
POMFRET CENTER --- The Connecticut Audubon Center at Pomfret Center will present House & Garden; Field & Farm – art by Roxanne Steed through December at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Free. 860-928-4948.
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Thompson Public Library’s Art @ the Library series will present “Reap & Sew, Collections & Reflections” small works by Rena Masson, through Nov. 29. Program supported by the Friends of the Library. www.thompsonpubliclibrary.org.
Fri. Nov. 16
‘Moveable Feast’
THOMPSON --- The Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce will present “Tastefully New England – A Moveable Feast” starting at 7 p.m. at The Raceway Restaurant. $50. 860-774-8001.
Food Drive
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Ford Daily Bread Food Drive will be held from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the WINY Radio. Monetary donations welcome. Monetary Donations are Welcome
Sat. Nov. 17
Greek Pastries
DANIELSON --- The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Water Street will hold its Greek Pastry Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sun. Nov. 18
Turkey Shoot
N. GROSVENORDALE --- The Knights of Columbus on Riverside Drive will hold its annual turkey and ham shoot from 2 to 6 p.m. Public welcome. 860-923-2967.
Spinney Returns
PUTNAM --- Arts and Framing, at its new location at 136 Main St., welcomes Caroll Spinney back from 1 to 3 p.m.
Mon. Nov. 19
Santa Visits
CANTERBURY --- The Canterbury Historical Society will host Santa & Mrs. Merry Claus making a pre-season visit to the Green District Schoolhouse to chat and pose for photos from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Green District Schoolhouse off Rt. 169.
Exercise Group
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Senior Exercise Group will meet from 9 to 10 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday in the Woodstock Town Hall large meeting room on the lower. Minimum fee. Local seniors welcome. Please check the town website www.woodstockCT.gov for current schedule or call 860-928-6595.
Tues. Nov. 20
Thanksgiving
PUTNAM --- The Greater Putnam Interfaith Council will be holding its Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at 7 p.m. at B'nai Shalom on Church Street (across from Town Hall). The diverse faith groups in the area will offer prayers of thanks, along with music, fellowship & refreshments. All welcome. Free but a monetary or nonperishable food donation to Daily Bread will be accepted. 860-928-2795.
Blood Drive
PUTNAM --- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Putnam Elks Club on Edmond Street. 1-800-RED CROSS.
Thur. Nov. 22
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving
PUTNAM --- The Congregational Church of Putnam, downtown, will hold its annual Thanksgiving Dinner with Friends at 12:30 p.m. It is a “Don’t be Alone on Thanksgiving” event. Information and reservations required: 860-928-4405.
Fri. Nov. 23
Santa Arrives
PUTNAM --- Santa Comes to Town at 4 p.m. at Putnam Bank. He arrives by fire truck!
Camper Game Day
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp will hold its Camper Game Day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for kids 6 to 12. $20. Preregistration requested by Nov. 16. 860-974-1122.
Sun. Nov. 25
Holiday Parade
PUTNAM --- The 17th annual Holiday Dazzle Light Parade will start at 5 p.m. from Grove Street. Rain date is Dec. 2.
Thur. Nov. 29
Trivia Night
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Lions Club will hold a TRIVIA Challenge at 7 p.m. at Crossings Restaurant. Benefits the American Legion.
Fri. Nov. 30
Blood Drive
PUTNAM --- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. at Matulaitis Rehab & Skilled Care on Thurber Road. 1-800-RED CROSS.
Sat. Dec. 1
Christmas Fair
ASHFORD --- St. Philip Church on Pompey Hollow Road will hold its 34th annual Christmas Craft fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. Food also available from the kitchen.
Sugar Plum Fair
BROOKLYN --- The Federated Church of Christ on Rt. 6 will hold its Sugar Plum Fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot donuts available. Hot Donuts.
Sun. Dec. 2
Open House
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp Open House will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the camp on Taft Pond Road. Free. Crafts, cookies, s’mores and tour the facilities. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. there’s Lunch with Santa Prices vary. 974-3379. Photo with Santa $8.
Mon. Dec. 3
Performance
WOODSTOCK --- The Three C’s will present Theatreworks USA’s production of Peter the Cat at noon at the Center for the Arts at Woodstock Academy. $4 per person for groups of 10 or more. www.theThreeCs.org.
Thur. Dec. 6
History Program
PUTNAM --- The Aspinock Historical Society of Putnam will present “The Putnam High School Wall of Honor 2017” from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Joseph Pempek Conference Room in the Superintendent’s wing of Putnam High.
Sat. Dec. 8
Victorian Christmas
WOODSTOCK --- Roseland Cottage will present “A Victorian Christmas” from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 8 and Dec. 9. Free. Costumed interpreters will lead visitors through the first floor of the museum, which is decorated according to the Bowens’ written account of the family’s Christmas celebration of 1887. Visitors are also invited to make a Victorian tree ornament to take home. The Roseland Cottage gift shop will be open. Cosponsored by Archambault Insurance.
Christmas Bazaar
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Baptist Church on Church Street will present its Christmas Bazaar. Crafts Fair and Bake Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drawings. Light fare available for purchase. Mrs. Claus will be visiting.
Sun. Dec. 9
Fair and Open House
WOODSTOCK --- PAWS Cat Shelter on Rt. 171 will hold its Holiday Fair and Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. New and gently used jewelry/purses, handmade gifts and baked goods, and a Gift Wrapping Station. Tours. Adoptions. 860-315-1CAT.
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Attention woodland landowners: Funding is available to improve woodland habitat for important bird species and to manage your woods for wildlife and people. The Last Green Valley (TLGV), the MassConn Sustainable Forest Partnership (MassConn) and the Northern Rhode Island Conservation District (NRICD) are offering a new opportunity for woodland landowners to obtain forest management plans with bird habitat assessments.
The program is phase two of the $6.1 million Southern New England Heritage Forest conservation effort, an unprecedented three-state collaboration made possible through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS funding is being matched, bringing the economic infusion into the region to $12.2 million.
A professional forester will walk your property and coordinate with the Audubon society in your state to produce a high-quality forest management plan with a bird habitat assessment of your woods. The plan will contain recommendations for management measures aligning with the landowner’s goals for the property. The plans will meet federal and state requirements and may be used to apply for property tax reductions at the local level (where applicable).
Grant funds are available to pay for most of the forester’s costs and to completely fund the bird habitat assessments. Landowners will be responsible for choosing a forester from an approved list and paying for a percentage of the total cost of the forest management plan.
This program is ideally suited for landowners who have never had a forest management plan and own more than 10 acres of woodlands.
Program requirements vary by state. To get started, contact the lead partner for the state the land is in. The partners can assist in the application process. The application deadline is Jan. 18, but it is recommended the process begin by early December to ensure the application is complete before the deadline.
Visit www.thelastgreenvalley.org for links to the application materials, including a list of communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island that are included in this program. The Connecticut contact is: Bill Reid, 860-774-3300; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Rhode Island contact is: Kate Sayles, 401-934-0840; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. And the Massachusetts contact is: Kate Hauske, 413-687-9381; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Supporting partners for this project include: MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Providence Water, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Hull Forest Products, Thames River Basin Partnership, New England Forestry Foundation, Eastern CT Conservation District, Norcross Wildlife Foundation, RI Division of Forest Management, RI Woodland Partnership, Harvard Forest, Yale Sustaining Family Forests Institute, Audubon Connecticut, Mass Audubon and Audubon Rhode Island. The Southern New England Heritage Forest is a 1.49 million-acre unfragmented forest corridor stretching along the Connecticut and Rhode Island border to the Quabbin Reservoir in Massachusetts. Bounded by more heavily urbanized areas, with more than one million nearby residents, the SNEHF has an astonishing 76 percent forest cover and offers one of the last viable wildlife corridors from southern to northern New England.
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Honored
SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Several local students were named to the Bryant University spring 2018 deans list: Jacob Theroux, '19, of Dayville; Benjamin Piche, '19, of Woodstock; Adam Piche, '19, of Woodstock; Michelle Michalik, '18, of Chepachet; Daniel Richardson, '21, of Chepachet; Joseph Prete, '21, of Pascoag; Taylor Chamberlin, ' 21, of Pascoag.
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Rain Upside?
#1: It looks like diamonds were strewn on the ginkgo leaves in downtown Putnam. #2). It isn't snow. Linda Lemmon photo.