POMFRET — Destin Sandlin, the Alabama-based rocket engineer whose popular YouTube channel “Smarter Every Day” videos have become an educational staple in high school and college classrooms, will be at Pomfret School Jan. 26 – 28 as this year’s Schwartz Visiting Fellow.

 Sandlin is a test engineer for both NASA and the military, and holds a patent in rocket design. In his SED videos where his trademark passion for and commitment to science and global outreach light up the YouTube screen, he explores topics ranging from the physics of how helicopters fly to “how Houdini really died” to how and why cats always land on their feet. Many of his projects involve using science to change peoples’ lives: he has lent support and expertise to Not Forgotten,  an organization building  an orphanage in the rainforest of Peru.

Sandlin will open his visit with a public presentation (free of charge) at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 in Hard Auditorium.. He will then spend the next two days as rocket-scientist-in-residence, engaging faculty and students in what promises to be lively exchanges of ideas and insights while he demonstrates and demystifies the many laws of science. To register for the public event, please contact Pomfret’s Director of Marketing and Communications Sharon Gaudreau -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 860.963.5951.

Physics and astronomy teacher Josh Lake is the coordinator of the Schwartz Visiting Fellow program. He said,  “Destin’s goal for the visit is to have our students see new things and consider them in a new light. He is largely based in science but he also wants to connect as many of the other disciplines as possible. He has much to discuss, about the big concepts: beauty, truth, wonder, curiosity, and the joy of discovery.”

This will mark the twenty-sixth year of the Schwartz Visiting Fellow program, an academic enrichment initiative begun in 1988 by brothers, alumni, and former trustees Michael ’66 and Eric Schwartz ‘69. 

 

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Wed. Jan. 22

Art Exhibit

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present Landscape Paintings en Plein Air by Muriel Miller through Jan. 30 at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. 928-4948.

 

Art Exhibit

PUTNAM --- The Pomfret School Art Exhibit "Lindsay Lehmann - Photography by Pomfret Students and Faculty," will run through March 18 at the Silver Circle Gallery in downtown Putnam.

 

Fri. Jan. 24

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present "Eastern Coyote in New England" at 7 p.m. at the  Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. 928-4948.

 

Sat. Jan. 25

Ham, Bean Supper

E. WOODSTOCK --- The East Woodstock Congregational Church will hold a ham and bean supper from 5 to 7 p.m. $10 for adults; kids 10 and younger admitted free. Tickets at church office or call 928-2731. Takeout available. 

 

Breakfast Fund-raiser

DAYVILLE --- The Danielson Lions and the Killingly Brooklyn Interfaith Council will hold a Breakfast Fund-raiser for the Community Fuel Fund from 8 to 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Parish on Hartford Pike. Snow date, Feb. 1. $5 for adults; kids under 6 admitted free.

 

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present "Skulls, Skins and Scat! A Wildlife Workshop" from 2 to 4 p.m. at the  Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $10 for members; $15 for nonmembers. 928-4948.

 

Soup Dinner

S. WOODSTOCK --- Putnam Lodge #46 will be having a public Soup Dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. $7 includes a choice of six different homemade soups along with bread and drinks.  Pay at the door.  

 

Fund-raiser Concert

POMFRET --- The Vanilla Bean Cafe will be hosting the twenty-third Annual Emergency Northeast Connecticut Food Bank Benefit at 8 p.m. Admission is $20. Howie Bursen, “the Red Hot Banjo Wizard”, will be joined by John Bailey and Jeff Davis. Bailey, “Guitarrista Extraordinaire.”  Jeff Davis, “Man of Mystery” is also featured to entertain the audience. The concert benefits the Access Community Action.  450-7400.

 

Flea Market

OXFORD, Mass. --- The First Congregational Church on Main Street will hold an Indoor Community Flea Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors accepted - call 508-987-2211.

 

Sun. Jan. 26

Concert

POMFRET --- Rectory School will present Music at Rectory School Benefit Concert from 2 to 4 p.m. in the P.Y. & Kinmay Tang Performing Arts Center. $15. 860-963-7640.

 

Visiting Fellow

POMFRET --- The Pomfret School 2014 Schwartz Visiting Fellow presentation by Destin Sandlin will be held at 7 p.m. at the Hard Auditorium. Free. To register: 963-5951.

 

Fashion Show

WOODSTOCK --- Woodstock Academy Project Graduation presents the 2014 Prom Fashion Show at 1 p.m. in the Woodstock Academy auditorium. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults, and are available at Trink-et Shoppe or day of the event at the door. 

 

Tues. Feb. 4

Open House

POMFRET --- Rectory School will host an admission open house from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

 

Fri. Feb. 7

'Member of Wedding"

PUTNAM --- The Complex Performing Arts Centre on Front Street will present "The Member of the Wedding" at 8 p.m. Feb. 7, 8, 14 and 15. 963-7170.

 

Sat. Feb. 8

Chocolate Sale

BROOKLYN --- The Federated Church on Hartford Road will have a thrift shop reopening and Sweetheart Chocolate Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Exhibit Opens

PUTNAM --- The Empty Spaces Project on Main Street will open an exhibit, "Tragic Love," with an artist reception from 5 to 8:30 p.m. 

 

Sun. Feb. 9

Lunch, Conversation

E. WOODSTOCK --- The East Woodstock Church will host a light lunch at 11:30 a.m. followed by presentations and conversations featuring GSA ( Gay-straight Alliance) advisers from local high schools. Call 860-928-7449 for reservations.

 

Fund-raiser

DAYVILLE --- A fund-raiser for the Sato Project will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at Charleen’s Portrait Studio on Rt. 101. Photo booth, face painting, refreshments. Bring the family and dogs that are socialized and vaccinated. The project promotes animal welfare through rescue and medical healthcare for dogs rescued from Puerto Rico. 774-8585.

 

Nature Program

HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present "Second Sunday Walk" at 2 p.m. at the Trail Wood Sanctuary on Kenyon Road. Free for members; $3 for nonmembers. 928-4948.

 

Fri. Feb. 14

'Fire & Ice'

PUTNAM --- The 2014 Fire & Ice Valentine's Festival will be held Feb. 14 and 15 in downtown Putnam. Horse and carriage rides will be available from 4 to 8 p.m. both days. There will be ice sculptures and many specials. Contact Victoria Station Cafe for tickets.

 

Fund-raiser Dance

PUTNAM --- A Valentine's Day Dinner Dance will be held, starting at 6 p.m., at the VFW Post to benefit the Benjamin Kondysar Jr. Burial Fund. $10. 928-3785 or purchase at the door.

 

Sat. Feb. 15

Camper Day

POMFRET --- The Windham Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road will hold Camper Game Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The day is for prospective campers and returning campers, ages 6-12.  Lunch and snack provided with games, crafts and more. Bring outdoor gear and a sled if there is snow on the ground.  Admission is $15/child. Call 860-974-3379 to register or email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Tag, Bake Sale

ABINGTON --- The Abington Congregational Church will hold a tag-bake sale from 9 a.m. to noon at the church on Rt. 97. Snow date Feb. 22.

 

Cookie Fund-raiser

PUTNAM --- The Empty Spaces Project on Main Street will hold a Melt Your Heart Cookie Decorating Fund-raiser from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the Fire & Ice Festival.

 

Sun. Feb. 16

Nature Program

HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present "Full Moon Walk" at 7 p.m. at the Trail Wood Sanctuary on Kenyon Road. Free for members; $3 for nonmembers. 928-4948.

 

Fishing Derby

THOMPSON --- The annual Bousquet's Appliance Ice Fishing Derby will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Valley Springs Sportsman's Club. Benefits Northeast Placement Services. $50. Sign up by Feb. 13. 774-5821.

 

Tues. Feb. 18

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present "February Bird Walk" at 1 p.m. starting at the  Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. 928-4948.

 

Fri. Feb. 21

'Odd Couple'

PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present "The Odd Couple - Female Version" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21, 22, 28, and March 1 and 8 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 23, March 2 and 9. Tickets: 860-928-7887.

 

‘Chicago’

WOODSTOCK --- Drama students at Hyde School will perform Samuel French’s Chicago at 8 p.m. Feb. 21 and Feb. 27 in the Hyde School Cultural Center.  The show is free (although donations will be accepted and refreshments sold), and is open to the public on both evenings.

 

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present "Owl Walk" at  6 p.m. starting at the  Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. 928-4948.

 

Sun. Feb. 23

Nature, Stew, Story

HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present its fourth annual Stroll, Story, Stew & Song fund-raiser to benefit Trail Wood: The Edwin Way Teale Memorial Sanctuary. Call for info: 928-4948.

 

 

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Greetings. This recipe makes two pans of apple crisp., which works well if you need to carry a dessert to a pot luck and keep one to enjoy at home, too. Although the pan size I use is 12” x 8” – which is a bit of an odd size – I think that 9” square pans would work out just fine, if you’re careful not to overfill them.

Apple Crisp

For 2  9”x9”  or 2  12”x8” baking pans

Apples:

5 lbs large apples, such as Cortlands

½ cup sugar

juice of ½ large lemon

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Topping: 

2 cups oats    1½ cups brown sugar, packed

½ cup flour

½ cup almond flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon  1½ teaspoons nutmeg  ¼ teaspoon salt

1½ (12 tablespoons) sticks cold butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Peel, core, and cut apples into approximately ¾-inch chunks.

In a very large bowl, combine apples with sugar, lemon juice, and 

cinnamon. Set aside.

In a food processor, combine oats, brown sugar, flour, almond flour, 

cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cut butter into ¼-inch pieces. Add to 

food processor, and pulse into oat mixture, about 8-10 pulses. Mixture 

should remain a bit chunky.

Add 1 cup of oat mixture to apples and stir carefully to combine.

Divide apples between the 2 baking pans.

Top with remaining oat mixture.

Place pans in hot oven, immediately reducing oven temperature

to 350 degrees F.

Bake for 45 – 60 minutes, until apples are bubbling.

Serve warm or cold.

 

 

Receives Grant

Day Kimball Healthcare recently received a $75,000 grant from the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority to buy a Siemens AU/Wiused for urinalysis. The machine will provide more accuracy and efficiency in processing tests resulting in increased patient safety and patient satisfaction and decreased operational costs. Pictured: Michael F. Morris, Assistant Director and David Wasch, Government Programs Manager of CHEF, Robert E. Smanik, president and CEO; Eric Neal, director Laboratory Department; and Donald St. Onge, SVP, COO of Day Kimball Healthcare. Courtesy photo.