captions, page 3:
The Liv has a custom mural that pays homage to the town of Putnam, its new hometown. More photos Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger.
Town officials and The Liv officials cut the ribbon Aug. 9. Yes, it was raining. Linda Lemmon photos.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
EAST PUTNAM — A hometown feel was important to the team that officially opened The Liv, a cannabis retailer, on Rt. 44.
Standing in front of a mural of Putnam, manager Ashley Beal said The Liv team pieced together the places of Putnam, notable or recognizable, as homage to its new store in Putnam. “Since this is the first (cannabis retailer) here, we wanted a hometown feel,” she said.
The official ribbon cutting was Aug. 9 but it’s been open for a bit. Beal said upwards of 700 customers have visited already. “We’re here to improve the quality of life for people here through cannabis,” she said.
Besides the welcoming vibes The Liv is getting from customers, she said “it’s nice to see all walks of life come in. We’re very happy to be here.”
Asked what the name The Liv meant, Beal said, “Live your best life.”
Chillax, doing business as The Liv, is owned by Niralee Modi. Consultant P.J. Patel was on hand for the ribbon cutting and gave visitors a tour of the very strictly regulated business.
The rules require showing an ID before going through the door and then showing it at the register and then showing it again upon leaving.
There are some 60 cameras spread throughout the business. When the outer back door is opened, the inner back door locks automatically. Inside the vault, which holds all the product, the temperature and humidity are controlled and security is tight. Patel said the concrete vault cost $100,000.
Thomas Borner, on hand as president of the Putnam Business Association, asked if the product was cheaper than on the street. Patel acknowledged there is a black market out there. He said it isn’t cheaper BUT it is safer. All of their product is checked by a lab. “You have no idea what’s in the product of a street dealer.” He said the average sale is $50.
Asked if they intended to also grow the product, Patel said they had a permit for it but decided not to as costs skyrocketed during/after COVID.
The sales people behind the counter are called “bud tenders.”
Borner said “who would have thought 20 years ago there’d be a cannabis store open? This is a good business for Putnam.”
In his remarks, Mayor Barney Seney said it was a great day for Putnam. He said as a state trooper (now retired) he’d seen what drugs can do to people. “But now it’s controlled and it’s more accessible to people.” He, too, noted that it benefits all age groups, for example it can help older people sleep. “Because it’s controlled, it benefits everybody,” he said.
.
Legal Notice
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Town of Pomfret
Planning and Zoning Commission
The Pomfret Planning & Zoning Commission will hold the following Public Hearings at its meeting on August 21, 2024, starting at 7:00 PM.
1. Laurence Hale for Plan Well, LLC, 697 Pomfret Street, application for a text amendment to create a new, low-intensity commercial district that allows for professional offices, personal service shops, banks, studios, etc., but excludes retail sales.
2. Laurence Hale for Plan Well, LLC, 697 Pomfret Street, application for a zone change to rezone approximately 8 acres of property at 697 Pomfret Street, which includes a portion of an adjacent lot owned by the applicant, from Rural Residential to the newly proposed district.
Town of Pomfret
Dated this 22nd day
of July 2024
Lynn L. Krajewski,
Clerk
Planning & Zoning Commission
Aug. 7, 2024
Aug. 14, 2024
.
Previously, I have shared my love for the Tour de France. Primarily because, in my opinion, the race encapsulates the true meaning of teamwork. Each member of the team works, often to their own personal detriment, for the sole benefit of the team’s goal. And in the Tour de France, the team’s goal is typically for only one member to actually win. For a professional athlete driven to succeed, it is the ultimate sacrifice. And even though I do not expect this same level of sacrifice from each team member I find myself a part of, I will always be a proponent of the simple, yet highly effective concept of … teamwork.
For any athletic competition, work project or task, each member of a team brings a set of unique skills and strengths. It is up to the coach or leader of the team to discover them. Further, in order for the team to be most effective, the leader must create the process that draws out each member’s skill in a way that is complementary to the next.
This is no easy task and, most likely, why successful coaches get paid the BIG bucks. Simply stated, it is because they are good at this. But, as good as a leader or coach can be, no team will be successful without good team members. People who understand and embrace the concept of teamwork. After all, a team player works hard not for their own benefit as an individual, but rather for the benefit of… the team.
Previously, I have also shared that I wanted to open a bookstore in downtown Putnam. Opening a new business is never an easy task and for anyone who has done it, most would argue that it is a task best accomplished with a team. Given this, I assembled one and hoped all would work out. I didn’t realize how lucky I was going to be.
Of course, I had the vision and the concept, but soon enough, I began to realize that my role in executing the vision and concept became one of support. And it didn’t bother me one bit. Moreso, my role filled me with pride. Pride for having chosen such effective team members. Pride for having articulated such a well-received concept. And, finally, pride for having been an integral part of a team that created something special. By the time you read this, Wolperdinger Bookends will be open. I might have had a dream and a vision, but I also had the foresight to know that I couldn’t do it alone. And more importantly, that I shouldn’t do it alone. The bookstore is a much better place because of good old-fashioned…teamwork. So, regardless of whether my role was as a leader or supporter, to my team members, I offer my sincere thanks. I could not have done it without you.
We. We.
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!
.
caption, page 1:
Putnam Elementary School Principal Kaye Jakon buys some ice cream using construction paper money at one of ice cream businesses set up at the library's Ice Cream Social. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.
caption, page 4:
From left: Sara Desjarlais, Sarah Baldwin, Kaye Jakon, Keely Macalister, Meaghan Wakely, Kathy Dunton, Rafaela Araujo,Cassandra Lavallee.
Learning — gilded in sugar
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — This summer young Putnam students learned about business — a sweet business — ice cream.
Kaye Jakon, Putnam Elementary School principal, said 46 first through fourth graders, took part in “play-based learning” by forming five ice cream companies. They started at the beginning with research and that included going to local ice cream businesses and learning everything they could about how the ice cream business works.
Assistant Librarian Kathy Dunton said: “The focus for our project is for students to learn about what goes into running a successful business and what makes ice cream yummy. During the first week of the four-week program, students visited local businesses to learn about the elements of a successful ice cream store and where ice cream or milk comes from. PES students visited three local ice cream stores, Deary Bros. Mike’s Stand, Main Street Gelato, and Riverview Ice Cream. PES students went behind the counter to learn about how to make ice cream or gelato, the equipment used, and the different roles or job people play in the business.”
Students also went to Woodstock Creamery. “They learned about where milk comes from and what goes into the production of milk,” Jakon said.
From there they researched more and began planning their companies. They did surveys to come up with ice cream flavors that would sell and figured out everything about running the business. They investigated recipes, logos, menus, role playing and more.
They created three flavors, which everyone invited to the Ice Cream Social in the Putnam Elementary School library a couple weeks ago, got to enjoy. There was Watermelon Strawberry sorbet, Mango Chili ice cream and Doggy Dough ice cream. Jakon said there’s a possibility that Deary Brothers/Mike’s Stand might start serving Doggy Dough.
Jakon said play-based learning is a new state requirement to help kids learn.
For example, she said, one company decided they needed an ice cream truck. They created it out of cardboard and then had to use math to figure out how long the shoulder straps needed to be for a student to wear and “move” the cardboard truck.
“They created everything for their shops. They learned the roles and each took on each role” for all-around learning.
“It was a nice way to connect literacy and math,” she said.
..