caption:

'Game' for
Generosity
Left: A friendly game of cornhole. Bottom: Generous sponsorships were transformed into mini-cornhole games. Courtesy photos.


Thanks to the generosity of community members, the Town of Putnam’s Commission on Aging (COA) is pleased to announce that there are now 10 mini-cornhole games available. These are added to the list of fun and unique activities offered to those aged 50 and over.
The cornhole boards feature a logo requested by each donor, paired with a Thank You sign to display.
Donors are:
Pam Brown for the Veterans Stand Down annual event
Chief Bob Campbell for the Putnam Fire Department
Laura Crosetti for Christopher Heights Assisted Living of Webster
Missy Meyers for Generations Family Health Center and the Putnam Rotary Club
Sharon Stewart for St. Patrick Cathedral School in Norwich
Shawn Tessier for the Putnam Elks Lodge #574 and the 3B’s Design Ladies
The Chase Team for Chase Graphics
An anonymous donor for the Commission on Aging.
Stop into the Community Room in the town complex Monday mornings from 10 a.m.to noon and give it a toss! Open play will be available during that time.
The COA is hoping to add a monthly early evening open play slot and possible league play for ages 50+. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Community Room is open to seniors from 10 a.m. to noon weekdays. TVCCA offers lunches for those 60 years and older weekdays at 11:30 for a $3 donation (initial form and pre-order are required for the lunches.)
Special programs, lunch trip bus adventures, and dances are also often available.
Contact the Putnam Recreation Department at 860-963-6800 ext 140 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


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Edward Joseph Baker (original family name Mierzejewski) died peacefully July 27, 2023, after a battle with cancer. Edward was born on Sept. 2, 1946, to the late Edward and Mary Jane (Meaney) Baker in Syracuse, N.Y. He and his brother, Randolph and late sister, Joanna grew up together in Clay, N.Y.
He graduated from Liverpool High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maine at Orono.
Ed was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war.
He was stationed at Fort Monmouth, N.J., and served as a trainer in the Signal Corps.
As an EE, Ed worked for Polaroid in Cambridge, for several other companies and taught CAD systems to engineers.
Ed loved learning and early in the PC age he taught himself several programming languages and WEB communications.
As an SAP programmer, Ed worked at Analog Devices in Norwood, Mass., afterward as a contractor and ultimately at Thermo Fisher Scientific in Waltham, Mass.
The family lived in Norfolk for 30 years. Besides his family, Ed’s primary loves were music and flying.
He taught himself the guitar, pedal steel guitar, uke and piano. Ed was a private pilot since college.
He and his wife, Joanne, built two experimental planes and ultimately owned the Woodstock Airport in Connecticut for 4.5 years – owning an airport being Ed’s lifelong dream.
He leaves his wife of 45 years, Joanne (Giordano) Baker of Woodstock; , a son Donald Baker (partner Rachael) of Providence; a daughter, Katherine (Baker) Murray (husband Benjamin) of Canton, Mass.; four grandchildren: Joseph, James and Amelia (Mia) Murray, and Esther Baker.
Visiting hours will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at Gilman Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 104 Church St, Putnam. A short service will follow, concluding with interment with military honors at the Elmvale Cemetery, Roseland Park Road in Woodstock. Donations: Westview Nursing Care Center, 150 Ware Road, Dayville, CT 06241.

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Wed.  Aug. 9
Art Exhibit
PUTNAM --- “A Cacophony of Greys” Exhibit and Reception by Steve Veilleux  will be on display in The Corridor Gallery at the Putnam Municipal Complex through Sept. 30. Features a series of black and white and monotone photographs. All welcome. Free. PutnamCtArtsCouncil.com for gallery hours and info.

Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present, as part of its Art @ the Library “Memory and Imagination: Explorations in Color” by Lisa Davidson, Susan Graseck and Sally Rogers until the end of August. In the Display Case: The Quiet Corner Garden Club - Celebrating Native Plants and Pollinators. 860-923-9779.

Thur.  Aug. 10
Firefly Hike
HAMPTON --- The James L. Goodwin Conservation Center will hold a free Firefly Hike from 9 to 10:30 p.m. All welcome. Bring a headlamp or flashlight. 2.2 mile night hike to Brown Hill Marsh. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Bird Walk
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center on Day Road will present Evening Bird Walk at 6 p.m. $10 CAS members; $20 non-members. Register: 860-928-4948.

Fri.  Aug. 11
Twilight Concert
WOODSTOCK --- Roseland Cottage and the Woodstock Recreation Department will present The Flamingos in a free Twilight Lawn Concert at 6:30 p.m. at Roseland Cottage.

Sat.  Aug. 12
Concert
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Recreation Commission will present the Wooden Horse Band at 5:30 at the Recreation Park. Free. Bring chairs. Light refreshments will be available for sale.

Country Fest
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam Parks and Recreation Department will present Country Fest Concert with River Fire at Rotary Park. Hillbilly Graham Crackers will play from 2:30 to 4 p.m.; Whiskey Boulevard from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and Midnight Anthem from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and then River Fire will be lit soon after on the Quinebaug River. River Fire music by WINY Radio.

Fri.  Aug. 18
Movie Night
HAMPTON --- The James L. Goodwin Conservation Center will be showing a thriller/drama based on a true story, Dark Waters, from 7 to 8:30. It’s about forever chemicals, how they came to be and the consequences they have had.  Showing free and inside. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Twilight Concert
WOODSTOCK --- Roseland Cottage and the Woodstock Recreation Department will present Patty Tuite & Bank in a free Twilight Lawn Concert at 7 p.m. at Roseland Cottage.

Sat.  Aug. 19
Murder Mystery Dinner
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Recreation Commission will present A Murder Mystery Show & Dinner starting with cocktail hour at 6 at Grill 37. Following dinner the murder mystery show is, “The Best Laid Plans”, an old Hollywood whodunnit. Dress in your best evening wear and suits-this is a refined party after all! $69. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Relay Field Day
PUTNAM --- The Relay For Life Field Day will be held from noon to 8 p.m. in Putnam's Murphy Park. This family-friendly event will include a corn hole tournament, bounce house, inflatable obstacle course, flush station, food trucks, local crafters and artisans, and much more. The event will be concluded by honoring lives touched by cancer with a luminaria ceremony.

Sun.  Aug. 20
Main Street Car Cruise
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam will present Putnam’s Main Street Car Cruise from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. around downtown and in Rotary Park. There will be more than 1,000 classic cars, live music and more, including the Kids Zone in Rotary Park with Bounce Houses, Photo Booth, Bella The Clown, Arts & Crafts Tent, and Face Painting. New this year is the Celebrity Dunk Tank --- donate $5 to take a shot at dunking local celebs (benefits the Putnam Business Association).

Tues.  Aug. 22
All About Owls
HAMPTON --- Join Naturalist Adam Drouin for an educational owl pellet dissection at the James L. Goodwin Conservation Center from 3 to 4 p.m. The pellets are guaranteed to have bones, and we will attempt to assemble a skeleton. Registration Required. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fri.  Aug. 25
Hike
HAMPTON --- James Goodwin Conservation Center will present a 4-mile hike around Pine Acres Pond from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be a little elevation change, roots and rocks, so be sure to bring water and hiking footwear. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sat.  Aug. 26
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Nature Sketchbook Journaling” from 10 a.m. to noon at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. Suggested supplies: watercolor sketchbook, permanent marker, portable watercolor kit, small cup to hold water, and paper towels. $15 CAS members; $25 non-members. Register: 860-928-4948.

Sun.  Aug. 27
Cruise Fund-raiser
THOMPSON --- DKH will hold its Cruise, BBQ & Brew - Motorcycle & Car Cruise at 10 a.m. at the Thompson Speedway and The Black Dog Bar & Grille in Putnam. Benefits the NECT Cancer Fund of Day Kimball Healthcare. $35 registration. daykimball.org/cruising.

Tues.  Aug. 29
Fish Hatchery
PLAINFIELD --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Plainfield Fish Hatchery Walk” at 8 a.m. at the hatchery. One of the top birding spots in Windham County.  $20 CAS members; $30 non-members. Register: 860-928-4948.

Wed.  Aug. 30
Nighthawk Watch
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center on Day Road will present “Nighthawk Watch” at 6 p.m.  $10 CAS members; $20 non-members. Register: 860-928-4948.

Thur.  Aug. 31
Blue Moon Hike
HAMPTON --- The James L. Goodwin State Forest for a guided night hike during the blue moon from 9:30 to 11 p.m. Meet at the Goodwin Conservation Center before heading in our cars to the trailhead by Black Spruce Pond. Bring at least a flashlight; a headlamp may be better for the roots, rocks and keeping your hands free. There is some incline. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sun.  Sept. 3
Sunflowers  Fund-raiser
POMFRET --- United Services of Connecticut will have its annual Sunflower for Kids starting at 10 a.m. at Lapsley Orchards. The end-of-summer bounty of sunflowers and wildflowers, which are harvested and sold in bunches, or available to pick your own. 100 percent of proceeds are donated to United Services Children and Family Programs.

Fri.  Sept. 8
Golf Classic
PUTNAM --- The Day Kimball Hospital Centreville Bank Golf Classic will set off at 7:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Connecticut National Country Club. For info: daykimball.org/golfclassic.

Sun.  Sept. 10
Jazz Fund-raiser
WINDHAM --- The Windham Free Library will hold a fund-raiser, the 21st Annual Jazz in the Garden, from 3 to 6 p.m. at 80 Windham Center Road. $60 Pre-sale/$65 at event. Benefits The Windham Free Library. For more info; visit: https://thewindhamfreelibrary.org/jazz/

Sat.  Sept. 23
Celebrating Agriculture
BROOKLYN --- 2023 Celebrating Agriculture will begin at 9 a.m. at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds.

Sat.  Sept. 30
BBQ
WOODSTOCK --- The Bungay Fire Brigade will host its fall 2023 Chicken BBQ from 4 to 6 p.m. www.bungay.com.

Community Day
THOMPSON --- The Town of Thompson’s 19th Annual Thompson Community Day will be held from 11 a.m. .to 4 p.m. at Riverside Park. Oct. 1 is the rain date.

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.

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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