caption:

'Cinderella'
Top: Jim Archambault (King), Aaron Ferro (Prince), Jourdan Figueroa (Queen). Above: Mia Berube (Stepsister Joy), Libbey Stearns (Stepsister Portia), Bonnie Theriault (Stepmother) and Emily Baldwin (Cinderella). Photos by Christine Healy.





‘Cinderella’
on stage
Aug. 5
PUTNAM — The Theater of Northeastern Connecticut at the Bradley Playhouse will present Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, starting Aug. 5 and running for three weekends.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 7, 14 and 21. Tickets are $260 for adults and $23 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders. Masks are encouraged for anyone who is unvaccinated or at high risk, but they are not required. This policy is subject to change, so check the Bradley website for any updates prior to attending.
Theater goers, especially youngsters, are invited to prepare for the Prince’s ball with a Royalty Package. For an additional $10 over the ticket price, you will have a choice of one of three combos of tiara and wand or crown and scepter as well as a free popcorn. Combos can be seen on the Bradley website or at the theater and are available by advance purchase or at the door.
Go online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or call 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance, or at the door if available. Purchasing your tickets ahead of time is always a good idea.
The TNECT performance of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is co-directed by Madeline Jaaskela and Christine Healy. Diane Pollard is the music director and Kelly and Paul Wybieracki are the choreographers. Emily Baldwin appears as Cinderella and Aaron Ferro plays her Prince Charming. His parents, the King and Queen are Jim Archambault and Jourdan Figueroa. Bonnie Theriault is Cinderella’s stepmother and her stepsisters, Portia and Joy, are played by Libbey Stearns and Mia Berube. Anna Lee Percuoco appears as the fairy godmother.
They are supported by an ensemble of singing and dancing townspeople and ball guests.
The music for Cinderella was written by Richard Rodgers, with book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Julie Andrews played Cinderella when it first appeared on television in 1957. The show is based on the fairy tale Cinderella, particularly the French version, Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper by Charles Perrault. This show is the original version, not the more recent one that appeared on Broadway.
The timeless enchantment of the magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers and Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented as a television extravaganza, this famous fairy tale has been re-fashioned and set to music by two great masters of the musical. The characters are given greater depth plus a more human quality, and Cinderella’s innocent faith in a miracle allows her wish to go to the ball to come true. Musical highlights include “In My Own Little Corner”, “A Lovely Night”, “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?” and “Impossible”.

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Love Songs and River Fire

clockwise from top left:


Ron Giorgio, 22, Italian crooner, and the Putnam Festival Orchestra presented al Fresco "That's Amore."


Turn on the propane tank. Light it with a torch and viola, River Fire.

The clouds at dusk only added to the beauty of the River Fire. More photos Wednesday night on Facebook: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger.

Heart earrings --- of course

 

DAYVILLE — George Paul Olson celebrated his 100th birthday among family, friends, and dignitaries June 26.
Family members representing four generations of George’s family joined him at Westview Health Care Center for this momentous occasion, and they all enjoyed reminiscing about fond family memories as they celebrated.  
Homemade cupcakes were provided by George’s family; neatly arranging them in the form of the number “100” on the table.
Representing Putnam’s American Legion Post #13, George and his family were joined by Post Commander Michael Vassar and Christopher Steinbrick.  
The regiment presented him with a proclamation for his 75 years of continuous membership in their organization.  
As the official document states, it is:  “Issued in grateful appreciation for faithful and dedicated allegiance to the ideals of The America Legion.”  The American Legion representatives also presented George with a hand-knit blanket made just for him.  In their comments, the American Legion members were sure to thank George for his service to our country as a soldier, and for his membership in their dispatch for over eight decades.
Additionally, George Olson received an official Centenary Citation from the Connecticut State Legislature; the Citation was introduced to the Connecticut General Assembly and presented to George by Connecticut State Senator Mae Flexer.  
This framed document declared:  “Be it hereby known to all that:  The Connecticut Senate offers its sincerest congratulations to George Olson in recognition of his 100th birthday celebration on June 26, 2022.  The entire membership extends its best wishes on this memorable occasion and expresses the hope for continued success.”
Prior to this birthday celebration, George’s great-nephew William penned this history of George.
George was born and raised in Southbridge, Mass., where his family lived on Dresser Hill Road.  
Most of their year, the family commuted to school and work via horse and buggy and wintered within the town.  
George was educated in Catholic schools, where he gained the approval of all the Sisters.
Following his education, one of George’s first jobs was delightfully delivering blocks of ice to the residents of Southbridge.  
When duty called during WWWII, George served in the Coast Guard and later became a long-time member of the American Legion.  After his service years, and like so many residents of Southbridge, George worked at American Optical and learned the craft of machining.  
He went on to spend another chapter of his life working at Pratt & Whitney.  George worked as a machinist instructor before becoming a corporate flight attendant, accompanying the CEO at the time on his many travels around the world.
For extracurricular activities, signing and ballroom dancing were two of his favorite lifelong hobbies.  
When he retired from his machining career, George and his wife Jeanette settled in Putnam and enjoyed a quiet life of landscaping, tinkering, and sharing his stories and life lessons with the younger generation.
  Maintaining his strong work ethic, George worked part time at a local self-storage facility to round out his retirement time.  
When the computer age came, George did not shrink from the challenge and actively engaged in using computers and email.
Westview Health Care Center Administrator David T. Panteleakos said: “We are so proud to have George Olson join the Centenarian Club here at Westview!  It is especially wonderful to see George’s birthday being celebrated by our local American Legion, our State Legislature, and by four generations of his family.”  
He added:  “It is amazing to think of the memories he has collected in his lifetime, and it is so special that he is able to share those stories with multiple generations of his family.  Happy Birthday to George!

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