Past Issues of the Putnam Town Crier
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Quiet Corner Reads
announces '18 book
Quiet Corner Reads announced that The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict will be its One Book choice for 2018. Book discussions and related programs will be offered at member libraries from March through June.
QCReads will host Benedict at their finale event at 7 p.m. June 20 at the Mansion at Bald Hill in Woodstock. Books will be available for sale, and the author will be autographing copies for attendees. Limited tickets will be sold at member libraries for $15, which includes light refreshments.
The author visit is sponsored by The Beagary Trust, The Leo J. and Rose Pageau Trust, and area Friends of the Libraries. For more information, visit QCReads on Facebook and at the quietcornerreads.org website.
Marie Benedict is a lawyer with more than 10 years’ experience as a litigator at two of the country’s premier law firms. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Boston College with a focus in history and art history, and a cum laude graduate of the Boston University School of Law. While practicing as a lawyer, Benedict dreamed of a fantastic job unearthing the hidden historical stories of women, and finally found it when she tried her hand at writing. She embarked on a new, narratively connected series of historical novels with The Other Einstein, which tells the tale of Albert Einstein’s first wife, a physicist herself, and the role she might have played in his theories. The next novel in this series, Carnegie’s Maid, was just released in January 2018. Writing as Heather Terrell, Marie also published the historical novels The Chrysalis, The Map Thief, and Brigid of Kildare.
“One Book” community reading projects, which connect people to literature through reading and discussion, have exploded in popularity in recent years. Quiet Corner Reads began their yearly One Book project in 2010, and the collaboration of libraries throughout northeastern CT is still working together to encourage literacy, library support, and community development. Members include libraries in the towns of Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Eastford, Hampton, Killingly, Mansfield, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Scotland, Thompson, Union and Woodstock, as well as Pomfret School and Quinebaug Valley Community College. The One Book project each year encourages residents of northeastern Connecticut to read the same book or author at the same time, bringing people together to discuss ideas and to broaden their appreciation of reading. Past books include In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, Bill Warrington’s Last Chance by James King, The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Tag Man by Archer Mayor, The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood, What Strange Creatures by Emily Arsenault, The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant, and A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline.
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Academy
programs
widen
students'
future
WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Academy Head of School Christopher Sandford said the addition of the South Campus will mean major growth in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) at the original North Campus.
Sandford said: “Thanks to the support of our corporate partners, especially SPIROL International, and many alumni, we will be officially opening the SPIROL STEAM Center. In addition to specific labs for robotics and physics, the space will have an advanced makerspace. The creation of this space is in alignment with our mission and responsibility to prepare all students for a lifetime of learning by providing academic rigor, a safe environment, and a diversity of educational experiences.
This new space will allow us to continue and strengthen our great tradition of working with the local community and providing realistic educational opportunities for students. Although the STEAM Center is still under development, the possibilities of this new space has already allowed us to make new partnerships.”
He added the students have already worked with the Chamberlin Mill in Woodstock to create a model of its water turbine, using historic pictures and designs. This work will assist in the preservation of this historic mill. Students visited the mill, which dates back to the 1700s, and used the original designs to craft a digital model and, using a 3D printer, were able to create a working model of the turbine. The small model is about a 10th of the size of the original and can be used as an educational tool to demonstrate the historic mill technology in classrooms or at the mill.
Jeff Paul, co-owner of Whitcraft in Eastford, who connected Academy students to the mill restoration project, said “What’s really exciting is that the educational opportunities are accessible now and [the STEAM classes] will provide insights that will be valuable during the ongoing restoration of the mill.” This spring, architecture students at The Academy plan to recreate the entire mill with both digital and 3D printed models that Paul hopes can be used for classroom presentations and “to assist in creating architectural plans that could be used to support further mill development.” This is an example of the opportunities our students will have in the new STEAM Center.
In preparation for the STEAM Center, The Academy has joined an MIT Learning Through Making collaborative, Sandford said. This collection of 15 New England schools meets regularly and shares ways to incorporate learning through making. In addition, staff members are developing specific plans and projects to enhance the educational experiences in their classes. The STEAM Center has inspired innovation across all content areas. As an example, students in the Pastry and Baking classes will design and create their own cake forms, which will bring additional skills and learning into this course.
Sandford said the academy is transitioning the traditional wood shop into an innovative makerspace to expand hands-on learning opportunities. This new space will provide the flexibility to incorporate both small and large construction projects (such as a solar car). The current Construction Technology program includes four classes: Wood Technology, Advanced Wood Technology, Building Construction, and Exploration in Wood. Over the last several years, the Woodstock Academy has seen a decrease in the overall enrollment in these courses, and increased enrollment in newer STEAM courses, especially CAD (computer aided design), multimedia, engineering, and robotics. “This new space will have a profound impact on many courses, thereby helping us meet our mission and help better prepare students for life after The Academy,” Sandford added.
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Woodstock public schools
Monday: Baked potatoes, broccoli, fruit. Tuesday: Pancakes, sausages roasted potatoes, fruit. Wednesday Chicken tenders, carrots, fruit. Thursday: Hamburgers, fruit. Friday: Pizza, cucumber cups, fruit.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday - Breakfast for Lunch: French toast sticks, scrambled eggs, hash browns, warm spiced apple slices. Tuesday: Bosco cheese-filled breadsticks, marinara sauce, pasta, broccoli. Wednesday - Wolf Meal: Beef burgers with cheese. Thursday: Fiesta taco bowls, Spanish rice, corn. Friday: Putnam Special. Pizza, salad with cherry tomatoes and cucumbers.
Putnam High
Monday: Chipotle chicken paninis or spicy chicken sandwiches. Tuesday: Three-cheese toasty or bacon cheeseburgers. Wednesday: Chicken potato bowls or buffalo chicken wraps. Thursday: Nachos Grande or chicken Caesar salad. Friday: Pizza or fish and chips.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Cheesy pizza dippers, marinara, carrots and cucumber wheels. Tuesday: Beef and cheese nachos, refried beans. Wednesday: Crispy chicken sandwiches. Thursday: Sweet and sour chicken, brown rice, Asian vegetable medley, fortune cookies. Friday: Lasagna roll ups.
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Gymnasts
tie for
ECC title
The Woodstock Academy gymnastics team clinched at least a tie for the Eastern Connecticut Conference regular season title with a 134.2 -127.35 win over Stonington on Jan. 31.
“This group has fought for it this year, they’re well-deserving,” said Woodstock Academy coach Kasey Tocchio. “A lot of them have had to step up. A lot of them have added stuff to their routine that is new for them this year. It’s exciting.”
Ali Crescimanno was best in the All-Around for the Centaurs (8-0, 5-0 ECC) with a 34.7. The junior was best in the bars (9.45) and floor competitions (8.85).
“It feels good to get the win, but there were a few mistakes here and there. I fell on the beam. In away meets, it’s different than being in your home gym. You have to adjust to the equipment, but it’s good to have them because of the state (championship) and State Open,” Crescimanno said.
Putnam’s Maggie McKeon, a team-of-one, was best in beam.
The Redgals had one more regular season meet with Norwich Free Academy before the postseason begins.
That happens on Wednesday, Feb. 14 when the Eastern Connecticut Conference championship will be held at Deary’s Gymnastics in Danielson.
“We’ve had our ups-and-downs through the season, but the last two weeks have been consistent for us,” Tocchio said.
The Centaurs have been hitting around the 137-point mark.
While that will get the job done in the ECC and, possibly, the state championship, it may be a little short when it comes to the State Open as some teams in the state have been clearing the 140 mark.
“I think we have a shot (at the state championship),” Crescimanno said. “If everyone stays confident and consistent and go hit-after-hit, I do think we’re capable of doing it this year.”
Tocchio hoped to hit 138 points in the Centaurs final regular season meet and there is reason for optimism down the road.
“We have some injuries that are getting better,” Tocchio said. “Lydia (Taft) just started to do some conditioning stuff. You never know, we might be able to get some routines bumped up. I think what the girls are doing now is getting really close to their best. So, if 138 is our best, I’m OK with that. We’re just trying to see what our highest peak score is and we will go from there.”
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
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Volunteers needed
There may be only one resolution anyone needs to improve their mental and physical health: volunteering with The Last Green Valley. According to the Harvard Health Blog, evidence for the positive effects of volunteering on mental health is abundant, but a growing number of studies show volunteering can also have a positive effect on physical health!
Through The Last Green Valley’s Ranger Program and Water Quality Monitoring Program, individuals are trained to actively work towards caring for the National Heritage Corridor.
TLGV Rangers support the organization by presenting information at fairs and festivals, and conducting outreach programs throughout the National Heritage Corridor. TLGV Rangers are essential to articulating the mission, important work and membership benefits of joining TLGV – and they have fun doing it! Chief Ranger Bill Reid trains and supervises TLGV Rangers. The Ranger Program is sponsored by Savers Bank.
TLGV’s Water Quality Monitors help track the health of our streams, rivers, ponds and lakes. Whether you would like to monitor once a season, once a month, or once a week, we have an opportunity for you. Training and equipment are provided. Jean Pillo is coordinator for The Last Green Valley Water Quality Monitoring Program, and she and her volunteers are helping to ensure the health of our watershed.
There are even more volunteer opportunities with TLGV. For more information, visit http://thelastgreenvalley.org/join-tlgv/volunteers/ or call the office at 860-774-3300.