As most of you already know, I have identified as a writer for the better part of my adult life. I am always writing something (a column, a speech, a toast, an article, a research paper, a play, a dissertation, a book…) and have found an unbelievable joy and fulfillment in using words to express myself.
More importantly, I consider that writing is a way for me to connect with others. Writing is my passion, my work, my inspiration and my value. Therefore, and for all these reasons, I am so very excited to announce that I am, at long last, releasing my first book, Because I Had To… A Collection of Columns.
I have many stories to tell, but this book, released at this time of year, seems to best capture the story that I want to tell now. As I have been writing my column for more than seven years, offering a collection of some of my favorite and more personally meaningful columns, seems most appropriate. In particular and Because, when read as a whole, the message of the book is uplifting and arouses a sense of nostalgia for a time gone by, joy for the time now and hope for a time yet to come. Much like Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, but without all the ghosts and drama…
Further, given that I have just spent the past three years earning my PhD in psychology, I am acutely aware how very essential wellbeing is, and so, I have also committed to donating $1 of every book sold to promote the wellbeing of others. With this book, I am choosing the Nursing Staff at Day Kimball Health’s Hospital, here in Putnam. I do this Because, like writing, I simply HAVE to…
And Because I have waited so long to finally publish a book, I am releasing this one with a bit of flare, primarily Because I would love to be able to connect with you, my loyal readers. This book is for you and, Because of you! Whenever someone tells me how much they enjoy my column, it absolutely warms my heart and makes my whole day. Thank you for taking the time to express yourself and to connect with me. I am always so appreciative, and I look forward to offering an opportunity to connect with you.
In conclusion, on Tuesday evening, December 19th from 6-8 pm, I'm happy to announce that I will be in Woodstock at The Inn at Woodstock Hill to read a selection from my book and personally sign copies. And Because there will be refreshments, warm sentiments and good holiday cheer… you are all invited! Party! Party!
www.58publishinghouse.com
Facebook: 58 Publishing House
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!
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Putnam High School honors
PUTNAM — The Putnam High School Honor Roll* for the first quarter includes:
Seniors
High Honors: Melodie Anderson, Ava Briere, Lucien Canova, Lucas Carita, Aysaiah Chavez, Grace Collins, CoraRose Desrosiers, Brady Devlin, Robert Dion, Atiana Estes, Katelyn Fitzpatrick, Travis Fredette, Lily Goyette, Grant Hart, Kylie Howe-Barnett, Sophia Ionkin, Nathaniel Lazarou, Danielle Levesque, Draven Levesque, Savannah Loiselle, Brandon Marcelonis, Colin Martin, Pedro Ortiz III, Kaya Pernini, Jonathan Racine, Noah Rudman, Adam Sekula, Josephine Spalding, Jalicia Torres, Natalia Torres, Isabel Vergoni, Delta Wagner.
Honors: Gianni LaPorte, Ryan Schwartz, Jack Seiffert.
Juniors
High Honors: Lucas Benoit, Alex Bissonnette, Sawyer Britt, Ahmyas Cardona, Anthony Cosentino, Ava Cox, Aaliyah Daughenbaugh, Lillian Ennis, Antonio Furtado, Melanie Garcia, Caden Gluck, Yakelin Gomez, Olivia Hetrick, Logan LaFrance, Madison Lamothe, Isabelle Magalhaes, Evan Mailloux, Kaylee Mayo, Edy Morente Mendez, Jacob Olson, Isabel Porter, Damien Shea, Clara Souza, Hailey Summers, McKenna Wiliams, Ava Wolinski.
Honors: Brooke Champagne, Diogo Gonzaga Andrade, Thiago Gonzaga Andrade, Anthony Lowell, Ava Morrison, Emily Olecki, Whitney Pynn, Justin Vukas.
Sophomores
High Honors: Leah Benzie, Kaylee Borders, Audrina Buzanoski, Nicholas Devlin, Maeve Gabbard, Joselin Garcia Osorio, Benjamin Gustafson, Miguel Morente Uz, Kaydence Morris, Paige Perry, Kasyn Robillard, Kaylin Rodrigues, Esteban Suarez, Madison Thomas.
Honors: Ella Carota, Gabriell Cerasiello, Liana Colon, Caeden Frenier, Evan Garvey, Kenneth Goloski, Jayce Jodoin, Julius Lang, Aidan Martin, Gavin Matte, Aiden Membreno, Bruce Sweet, Jordan Travisano.
Freshmen
High Honors: Delanie Bernier, Danny Boriboun, Sean Brierley, Jordan Chrzanowski, Mia Cosentino, Ayla Daniels, Donovan DeAgazio, Avah Grimshaw, Elieana Ionkin, Sidra Jahangir, Logan Marciano, Thomas McCumber, Rae Neal, Aubrey Paquette, Jay Patel, Nathaniel Ramos, Bridgett Reidy, Rebekah Robbins Ferreira, Iyanah Ruiz, Rockford Snow, Jillian Spalding.
Honors: Leonela Burgos, Lucas Carpio, Sadie Lee Furtado, Alina Kamara, Jaida Rogers, Mathen Shea, Joel Urraca
*High Honors – Five eligible courses with all grades 80 and above and a 90% or better simple GPA for the quarter.
Honors – Five eligible courses with all grades 75 and above and an 85% or better simple GPA for the quarter.
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Holiday Scenes
One of many festive scenes around the Quiet Corner. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier and Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.
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caption:
Ribbon Cutting
The Boxcar Children Mural was dedicated Dec. 4. From left: Pat Hedenberg of the boxcar museum, PBA President Thomas Borner, mural director Elaine Turner, Mayor Barney Seney and Town Administrator Elaine Sistare. Linda Lemmon photo.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Magic descended onto South Main Street.
Dec. 4 the artists, sponsors, town officials and a thrilled public gathered along the Boxcar Children Mural on South Main Street for a dedication of the mural, ribbon cutting and all.
Elaine Turner, the project’s coordinator and director, called it a “magical wall.”
“Barney (Mayor Barney Seney) said ‘Can you get your people to do something with that wall?’” Turner’s first thought was “my people?”. She reached out and so did Seney and others. It turned out that the “people” came from all walks of life and from all over: sponsors, artists, smooshers (smooshing the background colors onto the 290-foot length of the wall). From towns from all over, from schools from all over, and even as far as Tennessee.
All types of artists used outdoor latex paint from Sherwin Williams and Turner said the entire masterpiece acknowledging Putnam’s “favorite daughter” Boxcar Children book author Gertrude Chandler Warner was also sealed. And it will last for decades. Currently she’s considering hanging out at the mural to keep the skateboarders off it. Turner is hoping the coming of winter will give that problem a rest.
Seney told the maybe 50 gathered on the sidewalk that he’s “always looking” for projects to make Putnam better. The parking lot along South Main, next to the boxcar museum was repaved and the long length of weeds dividing that parking lot and South Main became a beautiful swath of grass. Sidewalks had gone in along South Main and Grove streets and the retaining wall along the spiffy new sidewalk needed help. Elaine Sistare, town administrator, used her engineering background to get the wall fixed. It was then painted white.
Seney said “I said to Elaine (Turner) ‘I’ll give you a canvas. What can you do with it?’” Then he joked “You know what they say in the military: If it doesn’t move, paint it.”
He praised the renaissance of Putnam, with all its art and high energy. He also praised the Putnam Business Association (PBA) as a “strong backbone” for Putnam.
PBA President Thomas Borner, whose artist wife Kathy painted one of the Boxcar Children Mural panels, said he was “very proud of what we’ve accomplished here.”
The entire project was funded by sponsors.
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