PUTNAM — Green Valley Crossing, a new church, will host its Grand Opening Worship Celebration starting at 10 a.m. Sept. 8 in the Putnam Middle School’s cafeteria.
Visitors will be welcomed into anon-threatening environment where they can make discoveries of faith. With a contemporary worship style, the church caters to a younger crowd, but all ages are welcome. “We believe that the message of Jesus is relevant to everyone,” said Pastor Riley Prather. “Green Valley Crossing is a place where ancient truth intersects modern-day lives. We want to help people dig into the Scriptures and discover how those things affect us today. It’s interesting to discover that while our world has advanced in many respects, the human condition hasn’t really changed in thousands of years.”
The church plant began as a dream in the hearts of some of the town’s residents who wanted to see a meaningful faith family within the city limits of Putnam. They kicked off a small Bible study in August of 2012. Since then their core membership has expanded. These individuals have worked hard over the past year to develop the church’s identity to be one that serves the community selflessly by giving back in significant ways. They hosted a diaper changing station during the town’s fireworks display and hosted Kids Games, a fun summer day camp environment where local children played team building games, participated in sports, and completed craft projects.
Many churches spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in facilities, but Green Valley Crossing has a different approach. Pastor Riley explains, “By renting this particular space, we’re pumping money back into the school system. We love what Bill Hull and his staff of teachers and administrators do for our kids in Putnam. This is a small way we can be a part of that.” The church believes that the best way to solve Putnam’s needs is to train and equip its citizens to meet those needs. Prather hopes that the people of the Quiet Corner will be willing to dive in and explore spiritual things, no matter their background. “We teach that every person has worth, value, and purpose. You matter to God and to us. Don’t underestimate your power to be used in the world for good.”
For more info call 481-3741.
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Northeast Communities Against Substance Abuse (NECASA) is seeking nominations for the Fifth Annual Judith Nilan Award for community service to youth.
The Judith Nilan Award was created in 2006 to honor the life and work of Judith Nilan, the school social worker at Woodstock Middle School who was murdered in 2005. Judith worked with NECASA for many years to bring drug prevention and anti-violence programs to the students and families of Woodstock Middle School. She was a compassionate individual who respected and nurtured all her students. The first award was dedicated to Judith and presented to her husband, John Baker, and her children (2006). The Judith Nilan Award recognizes one school social worker, psychologist, guidance counselor, teacher, principal or vice-principal who promotes positive youth development, drug prevention and anti-violence with students in a school in NECASA’s twenty-one town region.
This year, nominations will be accepted through Sept. 30 and the award will be presented at NECASA’s Annual Meeting in November.
Additional criteria to be considered for the award include: Has shown dedication to students for a minimum of three years as part of their position; has promoted substance abuse prevention and positive youth development; has personal qualities and commitment to youth which were exemplified by the late Judith Nilan.
Nomination forms are available for download from NECASA’s website, www.necasaonline.org
Then
This is what the new Citizens Naitonal Bank building in downtown Putnam looked like in the mid-1950s. Putnam Town Crier file photos.
& Now
This is the same building today.
300th
year
coming to
close in
Pomfret
POMFRET — Pomfret Recreation will present Positively Pomfret from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Pomfret Recreation Park off Rt. 97.
This year’s Positively Pomfret Day concludes Pomfret’s 300-year birthday celebration. The day commences with a spectacular Dove Release by Norman Boutin at 10 a.m. We’ll have Craft Vendors, Food Vendors, Enormous Inflatable Rides, the ever-popular CASH CUBE with thousands of dollars’ worth of cash and prizes inside along with Pull the Cork, Mini Golf Putting and many other games with prizes.
They are having the 17th Century Artisans there all day showcasing activities like lace making, pottery, arms and armor, a spinner, cooper and candle maker etc. There will also be a photo booth. Pomfret is presenting both a Women’s and Men’s Skillet Toss competition (starting at 1 p.m.), a Chocolate Cream Pie Eating Contest at 12:30 p.m. and the 1st Annual DIAPER DERBY at 11:15 a.m. in front of the Lions Club Pavilion. This “race” is for crawling babies only and is sponsored by the Day Kimball Medical Group.
You do not have to live in Pomfret to participate in any of the events or games. There will be live music in the pavilion with Sally Rogers and Co. on hand followed by the Yankee Dogs. Gary “O” from WINY Radio will be on hand at 11 a.m. with a live broadcast.
Free parking and admission.