Hope Sali
DAYVILLE — Hope Sali, Hopie, “The Benny’s Lady,” 80, of Dayville, died Sept. 27, 2023, in the comfort of her home with loving family.
Born in 1943 in N. Grosvenordale, where she also lived for several years, she was the daughter of the late Estref and Ismet Sali.
Hope was a graduate of Tourtellotte Memorial High School in N. Grosvenordale and later in life got her associate’s degree in business, which many were not aware of.
She worked at the Benny’s Store in Dayville for 20-plus years and became known locally as the Benny’s Lady and everywhere she went people knew who she was.
Customers would wait in her line just to say “Hello” to Hope, even when the other lines had no one — she was that special.
Benny’s honored her at her retirement by mounting her iconic Benny’s Bell that everyone became familiar with “ding, manager please”
She truly made everyone feel special with her kind, loving, caring personally, even a stranger.
Everyone loved Hope.
Hope was a devoted, lifelong Red Sox Fan and never wavered, even during the not-so-winning times.
She loved her annual trips to Fenway Park with her daughter Heather.
In addition to the Red Sox, Hope loved Smokey Robinson and all his Motown hits and would always see him in concert, whenever she got the chance.
But what Hope enjoyed more than all those things was simply spending time with her daughter Heather and her precious granddog Athena.
She leaves her daughter, Heather O’Rourke and her partner Thomas Angelo of N. Grosvenordale; granddaughter Heather; brother James Sali (Jeanne) of N. Grosvenordale; sister, Flora Sadik (James) Woodbury; nieces and nephews.
The Graveside Service will be at 11 a.m. Oct. 19 at West Thompson Cemetery on Riverside Drive, Thompson. Afterwards there will be a Celebration of Life gathering from noon to 3 p.m. at Jessica Tuesday’s, 35 Main St., Putnam.
Donations: TEEG, PO Box 664, North Grosvenordale, CT 06255.
Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Walter L. Wilson III
WILLIMANTIC — Walter Leonard Wilson III, 63, of Valley Street, died Sept. 22, 2023, at home. Born in 1960 in Putnam, he was the son of the late Walter and Vivian (Veilleux) Wilson.
Mr. Wilson held several jobs over the years. He worked as an extruder for Putnam Plastics, a supervisor at Franklin Mushrooms and at Steak-Ums.
Mr. Wilson enjoyed sports. He would go play golf and loved watching football, being a fan of the New England Patriots. Mr. Wilson also enjoyed cooking and was fantastic at it. He was famous for his jerk chicken recipe. When he wasn’t at home cooking or watching the Pats, he liked to sit by the campfire.
He leaves two sons, Jonathan Wilson of Central Village, Eric Wilson and his partner April Watson of Moosup; former wife, Deborah Wilson of Tavares, Fla.; four siblings, Jacqueline Audette of N. Grosvenordale, David Wilson of Plainfield, Susan LaCoille of Putnam, and Alice Wilson-Cook of Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Funeral Service was Sept. 29 in Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St. Putnam.
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Wed. Oct. 4
Stone Wall Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Stone Walls in New England: History, Inventory, and Recommendations for Conservation,” a presentation by UConn professor Robert Thorson, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the center on Day Road. $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. Registration requested.
Fri. Oct. 6
‘The Addams Family’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Addams Family” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14 and 21 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 8, 15 and 22. $27 for adults and $24 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or 860-928-7887.
Sat. Oct. 7
‘The Addams Family’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Addams Family” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7, 13, 14 and 21 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 8, 15 and 22. $27 for adults and $24 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or 860-928-7887.
Sun. Oct. 8
‘The Addams Family’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “The Addams Family” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13, 14 and 21 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 8, 15 and 22. $27 for adults and $24 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or 860-928-7887.
Sat. Oct. 14
Black Bear Program
POMFRET ---The Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Pomfret on Day Road will present “Black Bears in the Quiet Corner” from 2 to 3:30 p.m. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. No charge for children 12 and younger. 860-928-4948.
Candy Wanted
Donate candy to the Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp’s trick or treat trail fund-raiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at WINY Radio. The teens will be hosting the trick or treat trail at the Fall Extravaganza. Proceeds from the trail will go to the dam repair fund.
Thur. Oct. 19
Scouts Open House
N. GROSVENORDALE --- Scout Troops 25 and 66 will hold an open house from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Scout Hall, 108 Mountain Hill Road. Scouts BSA is a year-round program for boys and girls in fifth grade through high school (ages 11-17). Info: Corina Torrey, Scoutmaster, 860-245-1322;
Sat. Oct. 21
Rabies Clinic
DANIELSON --- Pet Pals Northeast is holding a low cost rabies clinic from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Quinebaug Valley Veterinary Hospital on Rt. 12, the Danielson/Plainfield town line. $15 cash per animal. Pre-registration and appointment required. No walk-ins. This is the last clinic of the year. 860-317-1720.
Fall Extravaganza
POMFRET --- The Fall Extravaganza will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 at the Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road. The Trick or Treat Trail is $5 per trick-or-treater, ages 2 and up. S’mores and hot chocolate, photo booth, donut eating contest, games, food items available for purchase. Wear your costumes. Proceeds go to the Dam Restoration Fund.
Sat. Oct. 28
Trick or Treat
PUTNAM --- The Halloween Trick or Treat will be held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Runs from Jade Garden Restaurant and Riverfront Commons shopping plaza to Union Square. Must be accompanied by an adult. Sponsored by: Putnam merchants, Town of Putnam, WINY Radio, Putnam Parks and Recreation and the Putnam Police Department.
Fri. Nov. 3
‘Mind Candy’
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club and the Bradley Playhouse will present “Mind Candy: A Night of Mind Reading & Magic” at 7:30 p.m. Wayne Hoffman, mentalist and illusionist. For info, tickets: www.TheBradleyPlayhouse.org/MindCandy.
Sat. Nov. 11
Dueling Pianos
THOMPSON --- The DKH Dueling Pianos fund-raiser will be held at 6 p.m. at the Raceway Restaurant and Banquet Hall. Benefits Day Kimball Healthcare At Home services of HomeCare, HomeMakers, and Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. Food, drawings and more. Tickets $45, must be purchased in advance. daykimball.org/pianos.
Yuletide Festival
PUTNAM --- The Daughters of Isabella will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mary Church Hall. Vendors sought. 413-612-8358.
Meet the Author
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library will present “Meet the Author: Nathaniel Philbrick” at 1 p.m. in Community Room 112/113 at the Municipal Complex.
Sun. Nov. 26
Dazzle Parade
PUTNAM --- The 22nd annual Holiday Dazzle Light Parade will step off from Grove Street at 5 p.m. and go through downtown Putnam. Rain date: Dec. 3. Presented by WINY radio, the Town of Putnam and Green Valley Crossing.
Sun. Dec. 3
Tree of Life
The DKH 34th Annual Hospice Tree of Life Ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m. in 11 towns throughout northeastern Connecticut. The purchase of memorial lights on each community's Tree of Life benefits Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Connecticut. For info: daykimball.org/treeoflife.
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caption:
Front row, from left: Bryn Elizabeth Martin (Wednesday), Christine Healy (Morticia), James Giacchi (Pugsley). Back; Adam Leidemer (Gomez), Wladimir Petruniw (Lurch), Shaun McCoy (Uncle Fester), Bonnie Theriault (Grandma). Photo by Lindsay Lehmann.
PUTNAM — Fall approaches. The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut at the Bradley Playhouse has a real treat for you as a truly quirky family invades northeastern Connecticut. The Addams Family will arrive in Putnam on Oct. 6 and you don’t want to miss a chance to share in their kooky, upside-down world. The show runs for three weekends.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 8, 15, and 22. Tickets are $27 for adults and $24 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders. All seats are reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance, or at the door if available.
Kathleen Atwood and Greg Brock direct the TNECT production of The Addams Family, with Diane Pollard as musical director and Kat MacInnes as choreographer. Adam Leidemer appears as Gomez and Christine Healy plays Morticia. The rest of the Addams family includes Byrn Elizabeth Martin as Wednesday, James Giacchi as Pugsley, and Bonnie Theriault as Grandma. Uncle Fester is played by Shaun McCoy and Wladimir Petruniw is Lurch. The Beineke family is portrayed by Galen Donavan as Lucas, Jim Archambault as Mal, and Chelsea Daniels as Alice. They are joined by a large ensemble of Addams Ancestors who love to be in the thick of things.
The Addams Family is a musical comedy based on the characters created by Charles Addams. It is drawn from Addams’ cartoons, rather than the television series or films. Book is by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Music and lyrics are by Andrew Lippa with orchestrations by Larry Hochman. The play opened on Broadway in April, 2010 and starred Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia.
In the world of the Addams family, to be sad is to be happy, to feel pain is to feel joy…as it has been for generations. This unusual family still must deal with the same challenges as any other family, including the greatest one of all – the kids are growing up! Gomez must face every father’s nightmare. Wednesday, the ultimate princess of darkness, is older, has fallen in love, and is, unbeknownst to her family, engaged. Her fiancé, Lucas, is normal, respectable and from OHIO!
Wednesday arranges for Lucas and his parents to come for dinner so the families can meet. She swears her father to secrecy about the engagement. Gomez has never kept anything from Morticia, and of course nothing can go wrong there. In this one eventful night, everything will be disclosed, and relationships tested.
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Author series
to feature
Philip,
Philbrick
PUTNAM — The Putnam Library Author Series will host two authors this fall. Both events will be free to the public and held at the Putnam Public Library.
From 1 to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 21 Leila Philip, author of the recent, nationally acclaimed “Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America,” will present from the book that Sy Montgomery (NYT bestselling author of The Soul of an Octopus) has said will “break your heart – and then heal it with compassion, beauty, and wonder.” Much of Philip’s field research on the beaver was done in Connecticut’s Quiet Corner. Her presentation will be followed by an open Q&A and book signing.
From 1 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 4 the featured author will be Nathaniel Philbrick. Philbrick is the author of National Book Award winner “In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex,” and nearly a half-dozen New York Times bestsellers, including “Mayflower: Voyage, Community,” “War” (Pulitzer finalist) and “The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of Little Bighorn.” This event will be a conversation between series host Brad Davis and Mr. Philbrick. An open Q&A and book signing will follow.
The Putnam Library Author Series, now in its third year, aims to feature northeastern Connecticut authors (novelists, poets, nonfiction writers, and short story writers) who have had books recently published. The series offers two readings in the fall and two in the spring. The spring authors will be announced in late winter.
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