Ongoing
Vaccine Clinic
BROOKLYN --- The Northeast District Department of Health will offer COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the NDDH Office, 69 S. Main St. Pfizer (for ages 12+), two dose series; and Johnson & Johnson (ages 18+) one dose. Walk-ins welcome. Free.

COVID-19 Tests
Generations Family Health Center offers COVID-19 testing at its Willimantic location from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The Danielson site offers testing from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. Go to the 2-1-1 website for more info.

Wed. Aug. 4
Concert
N. GROSVENORDALE --- TEEG will present a Concert in the Garden featuring Sally Rogers at 5:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or chairs. Free. Includes picnic-style dinner. Sponsored by the Performing Arts of Northeast Connecticut. 860-923-3458.

Fri. Aug. 6
Rotary Golf Tourney
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club will host the Ronald P. Coderre Golf Tournament fund-raiser at the Connecticut National Golf Club.

Food Fair
E. WOODSTOCK --- The East Woodstock Congregational Church will hold a First Friday Food Fair from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the church.

Blood Drive
PUTNAM --- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Day Kimball Hospital in the Robert H. Field Conference Rooms. Donors are to enter the Hospital through the Main Entrance, Entrance A at the back of the hospital. 1-800-RED CROSS.

Sat. Aug. 7
Foodshare
PUTNAM --- A free Foodshare will be held at 9 a.m. at the Putnam Middle School. This is a drive-thru. Free to all. To be distributed: 21-pound boxes of produce. Presented by the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse, American Legion Post 13, the Putnam VFW Post 1523, WINY Radio and the town of Putnam.

Food Drive
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Proprietors will be hosting a monthly collection of non-perishables, the first Saturday of each month, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Pomfret Senior Center. Looking for items such as: Granola bars, breakfast bars, cereal, pasta, soup, crackers, chips, tuna fish, juice, canned vegetables, (shampoo, soap, razors, wipes, diapers for all ages, Kleenex, toilet paper and laundry supplies. Also looking for volunteers and organizations to help. VisitPomfret.com

Particle Accelerator Fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- Particle Accelerator, a free, all-day music festival, features music of all genres and for all ages will be held from noon to 8 p.m. at Rotary Park.  In its 15th year, Particle is dedicated to the memory of the Legendary Jack Young Jr. and to raising awareness for suicide and depression and local resources available to help. Funds raised benefit United Services, Inc., northeastern Connecticut's non-profit mental health and social service agency. For more information, visit particle.rocks or unitedservicesct.org.

Sat. Aug. 14
Golf Tournament
THOMPSON --- The second annual Mustang Classic Golf Tournament will feature a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start at the Raceway Golf Club. The fund-raiser supports the Putnam Science Academy's Mustang Club. To register, sponsor or for more information: putnamscienceacademy.org or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Night at the Opera
PUTNAM --- A Night at the Opera will be presented at 7:15 p.m. at Rotary Park. Free. Rain date: 4 p.m. Aug. 15. Sponsors: WIN Waste Innovations (formerly, Wheelebrator Putnam Inc.) Putnam Bank, a division of Centreville Bank,Salt Marsh Opera, Town of Putnam and the Performing Arts of Northeastern Connecticut

Sun. Aug. 15
Poetry Series
WOODSTOCK --- Four free poetry readings will be held at Roseland Park’s outdoor amphitheater.  This series will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 15 and Sept. 26.  These readings are for people ages 14 and up. Wine will be served.  Folding chairs or camp chairs are recommended. Besides featured readers there will be an open mic segment at each event as time allows. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thur. Aug. 19
Bike Night
KILLINGLY --- The Killingly Parks and Recreation Department will present Killingly Bike Night downtown. Rain date Aug. 25. Benefits the Killingly-Brooklyn Rotary Club, TEEG and the Killingly Parks and Recreation Department.

Sat. Aug. 21
Pop-Up Putnam
PUTNAM --- The Pop-Up Putnam open-air merchant and artisan series will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in outdoor locations in Rotary Park and along Main Street with additions including entertainment and creative highlights.

Fireworks (updated)
PUTNAM --- At Rotary Park the town of Putnam fireworks display will begin with a concert from 4:30 to 6 p.m. by the Little Big Band Concert (in honor of Al Smat) and a concert from 7 to 8:30 p.m. by a Buddy Holly tribute band in Rotary Park. The fireworks start at 8:30 p.m.

Charity Ride
WILLIMANTIC --- The 30th annual Steeple Chase Bike Tour Fund-raiser will start and finish at St. Mary-St. Joseph School. Benefits eastern Connecticut human service non-profits. It will be both in person and virtually. Registration: https://steeplechasebiketour.org/register/ and www.bikereg.com/steeple-chase-bike-tour.

Foodshare
PUTNAM --- A free Foodshare will be held at 9 a.m. at the Putnam Middle School. This is a drive-thru. Free to all. To be distributed: 21-pound boxes of produce. Presented by the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse, American Legion Post 13, the Putnam VFW Post 1523, WINY Radio and the town of Putnam.

Sun. Aug. 22
Pluck-a-Duck
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association’s fund-raiser, Pluck-a-Duck will be held today at a secret location. For info, contact the Putnam Business Association.

Fri. Sept. 3
Golf Tournament
PUTNAM --- The Fifth Annual Henry Breault Medal of Honor Recipient Golf Tournament will be held at 1 p.m. at the Connecticut National Golf Club. The tournament is a fund-raiser for the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post 13.

Fri. Sept. 10
Golf Classic
PUTNAM --- Day Kimball Healthcare will hold its Day Kimball Hospital Centreville Bank Golf Classic starting at 7:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Connecticut National Golf Club. Benefit: Day Kimball Hospital. More Info:daykimball.org/golfclassic

Sat. Sept. 25
Steampunk Fest
WOODSTOCK --- The Compass Rose Steampunk Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Roseland Cottage. It includes a multi-contraption Machine Contest which attendees will be invited to judge.

Sun. Sept. 26
Poetry Series
WOODSTOCK --- Four free poetry readings will be held at Roseland Park’s outdoor amphitheater.  This series will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. These readings are for people ages 14 and up. Wine will be served.  Folding chairs or camp chairs are recommended. Besides featured readers there will be an open mic segment at each event as time allows. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sat. Oct. 2
Community Day
THOMPSON --- The Town of Thompson will present its 17th annual Community Day. Vendors sought: 860-923-9440.

Sun. Oct. 3
Canines for Cancer Care
BROOKLYN --- Day Kimball Healthcare will hold Canines for Cancer Care at 11 a.m. at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds. Benefit: Northeast CT Cancer Fund of DKH. More Info:daykimball.org/canines

Sat. Nov. 6
Dueling Pianos
PUTNAM --- Day Kimball Healthcare will present Dueling Pianos Presented By Foxwoods Resort Casino at 7 p.m. at Connecticut National Golf Club. Benefit: Day Kimball Healthcare At Home. More Info:daykimball.org/pianos

.

PUTNAM — A new name! A secret location! The Putnam Business Association’s 2021 Pluck-A-Duck Raffle Event committee is busy selling tickets for the fund-raiser event coming up at noon Aug. 22.
Thousands of rubber ducks will be released at a secret, duck pond location in Putnam and then “plucked” for a chance to win 65-plus prizes, including the top prize of a $500 VISA Gift Card, sponsored by Byrnes Agency. Viewers can cheer on their lucky duck during a live event broadcast on WINY Radio 1350 AM & 97.1 FM and the Putnam Business Association’s Facebook page. The first two viewers responding to WINY Radio or the PBA’s Facebook pages correctly identifying the total number of ducks “dumped” into the pond will win a $75 gift card to a local restaurant, courtesy of Kazantzis Real Estate. And after all prizes have been plucked, the final three waddlers out of the pond will be selected for our “Lame Duck” prizes, sponsored by Linemaster Switch.
The 2021 Pluck-A-Duck is a major fund-raising event which deeply impacts the Putnam Business Association and its 200+ local members. This year, 17 non-profit organizations will also benefit from selling duck raffle tickets as an opportunity to raise more than $6,500 for their worthy causes. These various groups include Bags of Hope CT, Boy Scout Troop 21, Danielson Veterans Coffee House, Killingly Business Association, NAMI Windham County NWC, NEIP, Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Natchaug River Young Marines,  PAWS Cat Rescue, Putnam Lodge of Elks #574, Putnam Rotary Club, TEEG, Thames Valley Council for Community Action Meals-On-Wheels, The ARC Eastern Connecticut, The Last Green Valley, The Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center, and Wyndham Land Trust.
For tickets: A non-profit that benefits or The Putnam Business Association Office (158 Main Street, Putnam CT), WINY Radio (45 Pomfret Street, Putnam CT), Putnam Bank/Centreville Bank (40 Main Street & 251 Kennedy Drive, Putnam; 100 Averill Road, Pomfret; and 125 Wauregan Road, Danielson), bankHometown (182 Main Street, Putnam), Archambault Insurance (143 Providence St., Putnam), at upcoming community Farmers Markets and events, and also online at www.discoverputnam.com/pbarubberduckrace
The Putnam Business Association and our 5,000+ feathered friends extend appreciation to our Media Sponsor Jewett City Savings Bank for support of our live broadcast, and also to various local businesses graciously donating major prizes, gift baskets, gift certificates to local retail establishments and restaurants, and more, during such challenging economic times.

.

National Guard
project funding
clears hurdles
PUTNAM — Congressman Joe Courtney announced that $17.5 million in funding to construct a new Connecticut Army National Guard (CTARNG) Readiness Center in Putnam has cleared two important hurdles in the House of Representatives. The new Putnam Readiness Center would primarily support the CTARNG’s 643rd Military Police Company and its training, administrative, and logistical requirements. The $17.5 million to construct the new Readiness Center passed this week in the House as part of the appropriations package for FY 2022, and was authorized by a House Armed Services Committee panel as they work to complete the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The House will vote on the four remaining appropriations bills in the coming weeks. The House Armed Services Committee is expected to move on to full committee consideration of the NDAA in September, after which it will receive a vote by the full House of Representatives. Funding for the Putnam Readiness Center must receive approval at each step of this process in order to become final. Rep. Courtney has pressed for this funding to remain intact, and so far, it has cleared every hurdle on the way towards becoming law.

.