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Hoop Winners
In the Putnam Elks Hoop Shoot, the winners included: Nicholas Renshaw, 8-9, Jonathon Moore, 10-11, Aiden Ciquera, 12-13, and Miss Kayleigh Lyons, 10-11.   Photo courtesy of Four Year Trustee Marcel Morissette.




Elks host
Hoop Shoot
PUTNAM — Twenty-six local youth participated in the Putnam Elks’ annual Hoop Shoot Free Throw Competition at the Putnam Middle School  Jan. 11.
Local winners this year are: Nicholas Renshaw, 8-9, Jonathon Moore, 10-11, Aiden Ciquera, 12-13, and Miss Kayleigh Lyons, 10-11.
Saturday’s winners will advance to the BPOE Eastern Connecticut District Level Hoop Shoot at 9 a.m. Jan. 26 at Windham High School. Following the district level contest, Hoop Shoot contestants will compete for a chance to become the number one free-throw-shooter in their home state, and then move on to compete in regionals and nationals.
Mike Stewart, Past Exalted Ruler and First Year Trustee, said that this year’s event was another successful endeavor and added that all enjoyed themselves, particularly during tie breakers.
The Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest is a co-educational youth basketball program sponsored by the Elks National Foundation. Highlighting the Elks commitment to America’s youth, the Hoop Shoot begins at the local level with Elks Lodges. From there, participants advance through district, state, and regional competitions. Of the millions of young people who participate and advance, six national champions are named - one boy and one girl from each of three age groups: 8-9, 10-11, 12-13.

The winners of the national competition each receive a trophy and their names are inscribed on a plaque housed in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

Monday: No school - Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Woodstock Elementary/Middle
Tuesday: No school - professional development. Wednesday: Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, broccoli, fruit. Thursday: Rigatoni, meatballs, green beans, fruit. Friday: Pizza, fruit.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Tuesday - elementary: Steak and cheese pockets. Middle: Philly-style steak and cheese subs. Wednesday: Honey crisp chicken salad. Thursday: Soft-shell tacos, Spanish rice, corn, black beans. Friday: Grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, Goldfish crackers.
Putnam High
Tuesday: Honey BBQ chicken sandwiches, veggie sticks, dip, baked beans. Wednesday; Homemade calzones. Thursday: Philly-style steak and cheese subs, sweet potato fries, cole slaw. Friday: Chicken Caesar salad.
Pomfret Community
Tuesday - early dismissal: Deli turkey on rolls, carrot snacks, apples and raisins. Wednesday - early dismissal: Chicken nuggets, green beans, applesauce. Thursday: Mr. Fox's pizza, fruit cocktail. Friday: Meatball grinders, applesauce cups or apples.

Wed. Jan. 15
Ice Cream Social
N. GROSVENORDALE --- The Thompson Recreation department will present an ice cream social for senior citizens at 12:15. Free. Open to residents and nonresidents age 60 or older. Preregister: 860-923-9440

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.

Thur. Jan. 16
Bird Walk
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon at Pomfret Center will host a bird walk at 1 p.m. starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Fri. Jan. 17
Teen Weekend
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road will hold a Winter Teen Weekend from 5:30 p.m. Friday until 9 a.m. Sunday. $50. Preregister by Jan. 13: 860-974-3379.

'Little Mermaid'
PUTNAM --- The Complex Performing Arts Centre (Theatre for Kids ... by Kids) on Front Street will present "The Little Mermaid" at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 and 18. 963-7170.

Author Talk
WOODSTOCK --- The Author Series will present a talk and signing by Patrick Mckenna Lynch Smith, author of “Leaving the Life: A True Story of Love, Loss and Gratitude” at 6 p.m. at the  Woodstock Academy, Bracken Memorial Library, 57 Academy Road. Free. All welcome.

Awards Gala
THOMPSON  --- The Northeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce will hold its 2014 Annual Dinner and Awards Gala starting with cocktails at 5:30 at the Thompson Raceway Restaurant. RSVP by Jan. 9. $100 per couple/ $50 per person. Reservations required.

Sat.  Jan. 18
Bonfire
N. GROSVENORDALE ---The Holiday Bonfire and Fuel for Fire will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Center and at Phelp’s Pond on Main Street. Music followed by bonfire, ice skating on the pond (bring skates) with food, dancing and music. Inclement weather: Jan. 19. 860-923-9440.

Owl Walk
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon at Pomfret Center will host an Owl Walk at 5 p.m. starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. Will be cancelled if inclement weather. 860-928-4948.

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.

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.  

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.