Wed. Aug. 12
Sculpture Affair
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam is hosting the “Sculpture Affair” around downtown Putnam and the walking trail until Sept. 4. Dale Rogers sculptures. www.discoverputnam.com.
Fri. Aug. 14
Yard Sale
POMFRET --- The 4-H Horse Camp on Taft Pond Road will hold its big yard sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 14 and Aug. 15. Under cover. Rain or shine. Masks required, practice social distancing. No restrooms.
Sat. Aug. 15
Steeplechase Fund-raiser
WILLIMANTIC --- The annual Steeplechase fund-raiser will be run differently this year with participants being asked to pick their own routes. Again, the dollars raised by articipants and sponsors will be matched by the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation, doubling proceeds. Proceeds used to help people struggling with drug addiction, homelessness, mental health challenges, and poverty. For information, go to: www.steeplechasebiketour.org.
Fri. Aug. 21
Golf Tournament
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Rotary Club Ronald P. Coderre Golf Tournament fund-raiser will be held at Connecticut National Golf Club. For sponsorships, signups and information call 860-753-4506. Registration recommended by Aug. 1.
Sat. Aug. 29
Event Cancelled
PUTNAM --- The Day Kimball Healthcare ‘Give it a Tri' Triathlon scheduled for Aug. 29 has been cancelled.
Sun. Aug. 30
Mix Tape
The NAACP will present “Black Power Mix Tape: 1967-1975” at 1 p.m. at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_dCL2F571Q Free on YouTube (Some subtitles). To take part register at: https://risd.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJArcOiurTsiHddHIU7ctwPAv0SxHLoE1oM5.
Sat. Sept. 5
Tag Sale
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Proprietors will hold its annual fund-raiser Town Wide Tag Sale starting at 7 p.m. Sept. 5. This year the funds go to the Pomfret Public Library’s capital campaign for an expansion. Purchase a map to guide you to dozens of participating residences, businesses and organizations. $2. at the Pomfret Community School and Christ Church. For more information on other sales within the sale go to VisitPomfret.com or www.facebook.com/PomfretProprietorsAssoc. COVID 19 rules apply.
Sun. Sept. 6
Cookout
PUTNAM --- The American Legion Post 13 will present a Meet & Greet Cookout from noon to 3 at the Farmer’s Market pavilion on Kennedy Drive. Open to veterans and community members. Free.
‘Sunflowers’ Fund-raiser
POMFRET --- Sunflowers for Kids will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lapsley Orchard on Rt. 169 on the Brooklyn/Pomfret line. Sales of sunflowers and wildflowers, including pick you own, will benefit United Services Children and Family Programs. Children’ Activity Bags available to take home. Attendees must follow orchard safety policies. For more information, visit www.unitedservicesct.org or call 860-774-2020.
Fri. Sept. 11
Golf Classic
PUTNAM --- The DKH Putnam Bank Golf Classic will be held Sept. 11 at the Connecticut National Golf Club. Benefit: Day Kimball Hospital. $150 individual player Entry Fee; $600 Non- Sponsor Team Entry Fee. daykimball.org/golfclassic
Sun. Sept. 13
Savor the Flavor
PUTNAM --- The annual Savor the Flavor fund-raiser for Daily Bread will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at Rotary Park. The theme this year is “Soup du Jour.”
Sat. Sept. 26
Particle Accelerator Fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- The Particle Accelerator music festival concert will be held entirely online. The event raises funds and awareness to support United Services, Inc. and to provide information and support for depression and suicide prevention. It also promotes music and civic engagement as a healthy alternative to drug and alcohol abuse among young adults. More information on the concert line up, schedule and where it can be viewed will be announced later on the concert’s Facebook page.
Fri. Oct. 2
Zombie Fashion Show
PUTNAM --- The Zombie Fashion Show will be presented from 7 to 10 p.m. at Rotary Park. For more information, go to Discoverputnam.com.
Sun. Oct. 11
Hike
THOMPSON --- The Wyndham Land Trust will hold a hike on the Bull Hill Forest Project at 1 p.m. Bull Hill Road is located off Senexet Road in Woodstock. Drive respectfully to the end of Bull Hill Rd, and follow the sign, park at the gate. Walking is rather easy, about 2 mile total walk. Plan on an hour to an hour and a half. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org
Fri. Oct. 16
Fund-raiser
WOODSTOCK --- The United Services 19th Annual Irish Night will be held at 6 p.m. at The Mansion at Bald Hill in Woodstock. Dinner and music plus a silent auction and drawings. $40 per person or $350 for table of 10. Benefits United Services Children and Family Programs. unitedservicesct.org/events/irish-night.
Sat. Oct. 17
Great Pumpkin Fest
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association will present the Great Pumpkin Festival from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. around downtown.
Fri. Oct. 23
Trick or Treat
PUTNAM --- The town of Putnam will present Trick or Treat on Main Street from 5 to 7 p.m.
Sat. Oct. 24
Wall of Honor
PUTNAM --- The Putnam High School Wall of Honor ceremony is set for this evening.
Educational Walk
POMFRET --- An Educational Walk on the Townshend Preserve will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. This will be a short 15 minute uphill walk to the home site with time to explore the area. No dogs. Meet at the Preserve's gated entrance on Taft Pond Rd., Pomfret, just east of the 4-H Camp. Rain or shine. Preregistration is APPRECIATED to
Hike
WOODSTOCK --- A hike on the fields, woods and wetlands of the 154-acre Rapoport/Spalding Preserve will be held at 10 a.m. Rain or shine, this is a relatively easy and scenic 2 mile walk. Please park respectfully at the end of Calkins Road (off Joy Road), by #129 Calkins Rd. Leashed dogs are welcome. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org
Thur. Oct. 29
DKH Fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- The Cruisin’ for Cancer Care Guest Bartender Night will be held at 5 p.m. at the Black Dog Bar & Grille. Benefits NECT Cancer Fund of DKH. Website: daykimball.org/guest-bartender-night
Sat. Nov. 7
Dueling Pianos
THOMPSON --- The Day Kimball Dueling Pianos, presented by Foxwoods Resort Casino, will be held at 7 p.m. at the Raceway Restaurant. Benefits: Day Kimball HomeCare, HomeMakers, and Hospice & Palliative Care of NE CT. $45. Website: daykimball.org/pianos.
Fri. Nov. 2
Santa
PUTNAM --- The town of Putnam will present Santa Comes to Town from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Rotary Park.
Sun. Nov. 29
Dazzle Parade
PUTNAM --- The annual Holiday Dazzle Light Parade will start on Grove Street and run from 5 to 8 p.m. winding through Putnam.
Sun. Dec. 6
Hospice Tree
The Hospice Tree of Life Ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m. with simultaneous tree lighting ceremonies in 11 northeastern Connecticut towns. Benefits: Hospice & Palliative Care of NE CT. Website: daykimball.org/treeoflife
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Over the past couple of years, I have formed a deep liking and appreciation for my generator. At first, I was not its biggest fan, actually voting against its purchase in thinking that it really isn’t a necessity, just a convenience that I, as a resourceful lady, could do without.
But, my husband, the wise man he is, insisted on adding this to our repertoire of garage items that serve as obstacles to maneuver around. My relationship with the generator was that of convenience in using it to rest my purse on, as I unplugged my car. Now, I would like to buy it a nice bottle of the best gas I can find…
In the distant past, I can remember when a big storm blew in and we lost power. Although I missed watching a favorite TV show or listening to the radio, the loss of power felt more like an adventure as my parents always made sure we each had our own flashlight and lit a few of the special candles we had handy. If it was cold, my father added more wood to the stove, and if it was hot, my mother told us to make construction paper fans. The bathtubs stood filled with water to use for flushing toilets and the annoying task of brushing our teeth could be skipped for one night.
In the more recent past, whenever the power went out, I enjoyed the opportunity to unplug and reconnect with people. Two days ago, it seemed like the power went out for the 20th time in recent months and I thought “Thank God we can plug in the generator and I reconnect with the world so that I can get everything done that I have to do!”
Yes- I am happy that my fridge, toilet and shower still work, ensuring that my expensive food does not perish and that I can wash away the effects the intense heat leaves behind. But I am OVER THE MOON that I can continue my studies with little interruption and hand in assignments, on time, that are due for professors who do not care that my power went out. Since my schooling is completely virtual, I need a virtually powered environment that is operational and my generator gives that to me, making it my new best friend. But there are other, more intangible, benefits of having a generator…
Family members who are nearby are stopping in with regularity to take a shower, get some water, or store some items in my fridge or freezer. In this COVID isolating environment, these visits have been fun and a welcome interruption to a hectic study schedule. And not everything in my house is being powered by the generator so I have an excuse to not do laundry, vacuuming or cleaning really of any kind during the outage, making me feel less guilty when I catch up on the latest episode of the Housewives. I’m certainly not thankful that the power goes out so often, but I am beyond thankful that I am lucky enough to have found an electrifying connection of positivity with my generator. PUN INTENDED. Power? Power?
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!
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Sewer dept.
gets $1.5M
PUTNAM — The Water Pollution Control Authority will receive a total of $1.5 million for work on the town’s sewer system.
It is part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program.
The Town of Putnam has been selected to receive a total of $1.5 million —a Water and Waste Disposal Direct Loan in the amount of $1,195,000 and Water and Waste Disposal Grant in the amount of $305,000.
This Rural Development Investment will be used to replace the existing unreliable generator with two new units; one outside storage building to provide backup power for the administration building and the primary treatment processes and the other to be located outside the existing blower building and secondary treatment processes.
The project will also include construction of a new 50-foot x 100-foot pre-engineered steel-fabricated storage building with an indoor truck wash area, with accompanying drainage collection, oil/water separator instillation and discharge to the entrance of the waste water treatment plant for treatment.
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Lights Out!
Tropical Storm Isaias plunged the state into darkness
Power crews from Wisconsin gathered in the staging area near the Woodstock Fairgrounds late last week.
Tree across Rt 44 near E. Putnam Rd. Pole snapped in half.
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