Staton gets
employee award
DAYVILLE — Kaylee Staton, a member of the dining staff at Country Living at Westview Commons, received the December 2021 Employee of the Month award.
In addition to bringing the residents their cuisine, she brings her upbeat, effervescent personality to each table.
She is a resident of Dayville and a graduate of Killingly High School’s Class of 2016. She is certified in CPR and general first-aid; having previously worked as a personal care assistant in clients’ homes.
She likes cooking and baking and a good afternoon outdoors.
Executive Vice President of Country Living at Westview Commons, David T. Panteleakos, said: “Kaylee has become another bright star among the stellar staff at Westview Commons. She lifts the spirits of our residents before, during, and in-between each meal with her kindness and outgoing nature. Even when wearing a facial covering, you can see Kaylee’s smile in her eyes! Her friendliness extends to everyone at Westview Commons. I greatly appreciate how she brings that same joy to all of her interactions among residents, visitors, and coworkers.”
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BROOKLYN — January is National Radon Action Month and exposure to radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers in the U.S.
You can’t see it or smell it, but an elevated radon level in your home may be affecting the health of your family.
The Northeast District Department of Health has a limited supply of radon test kits to distribute to district residents. Recipients will receive one free radon test kit per home with instructions for use and a radon fact sheet. Participants will receive a follow-up call from NDDH within two weeks to assure that the kit was put to use and returned to the manufacturer according to instructions for analysis.
NDDH is unable to reserve kits or mail them. Stop in to pick up a free radon test kit, while supplies last, at the NDDH office, 69 South Main St., Brooklyn. Visitors to NDDH must wear a mask to enter.
More info at: https://www.nddh.org/nddh-distributing-free-radon-test-kits-for-national-radon-action-month/ and https://portal.ct.gov/dph/Environmental-Health/Radon/Radon-Program.
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PUTNAM — Putnam School Superintendent Daniel P. Sullivan III announced the “Parent Connect Series” which started Jan. 13. It’s designed to educate families and help them identify resources and strategies they can use to help their children overcome the impact of the pandemic.
The program is through the combined efforts of Putnam, Thompson, Killingly, Plainfield, Brooklyn, and Canterbury public schools.
He said the Parent Connect Series is held via Zoom on the second and fourth Thursday of each month beginning at 6:30 p.m. Each session will run for approximately 30 minutes and begin with a COVID-19 update provided by Dr. Kristen Xeller of Quiet Corner Family Practice in Pomfret. She will be followed by psychologist Dr. Ravit Stein from EASTCONN who will offer a tip / suggestion that can be employed at home to support students and families. The last half of the program will feature a rotating topic and guest to support students of all ages relative to academics, or social emotional learning.
Some of the key features of this program include the:
• Ability to use the chat feature to communicate with Dr. Stein and / or Dr. Xeller
• Opportunity for parents to request a future topic / guest
• Ability to connect with school / district personnel on the featured topic
• Ongoing support / resource vs a “one-time” event
Here is the Zoom link :
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87659698462?pwd=elMwUFRtKzRabVdOSl I3RXRjSVJRdz09
Passcode: 853726. Webinar ID: 876 5969 8462
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Legion prepares for
oratorical contest
Preparations are currently underway by The American Legion Department of Connecticut for its annual Constitutional Oratorical Contest, according to District #4 Committee Chairman Charles Crowley, commander of Post #21 Danielson.
The District #4 contest will be held Feb. 12 at the Woodstock Academy. The winners of the seven Connecticut Districts then convene in March for the right to represent Connecticut in the National competition, which is held in April in Indianapolis.
High school students under the age of 20 who are interested in more information should contact Posts in their geographic area or contact District #4 Committee Chairman Charles Crowley at 860-481-2963 or by e-mail at
The program, which is open to high school students under the age of 20, has been in existence since 1938. Local oratorical contests, overseen by local Legion Posts, are conducted in the month of January. The winners of the local contests move on to the District level competition in February.
The goal of the contest is to encourage the development of public speaking, leadership, and an understanding of our nation’s laws as they pertain to the Constitution. Each contestant is asked to make an eight to 10-minute prepared oration on a predetermined aspect of the Constitution. The second part of the contest involves a randomly assigned constitutional topic that they are expected to speak on for between three and five minutes.
Working with Chairman Crowley On the District #4 committee are Everett G. Shepard III and Sam Resnick of Post #111 – Woodstock; District #4 Commander Antonio Rendon of Post #91 – Moosup; and Past District Commander Ronald P. Coderre of Post #13 – Putnam.
“This annual contest is one facet of the American Legion’s focus on Americanism and Children and Youth. As veterans our goal is to bring an understanding to today’s young people of the values our Founding Fathers placed on the freedoms we enjoy today as American citizens,” said Crowley.
Due to the COVID – 19 coronavirus the 2021contest was cancelled. The 2020 District contest was won by Lucas Johnson, then a sophomore at H.H. Ellis Technical School. His topic was “The Dangers of Constitutional Ignorance.” Johnson was sponsored by the L’Homme-Burdick Post #21 of Danielson. Johnson moved on the Department of Connecticut contest. He was the Department runner-up in the 2020 contest.
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