Muriel B. DiGiro
DAYVILLE — Muriel Blesso DiGiro died March 20, 2020. She left an obituary for us to publish but we are adding the words that she didn’t say: Our mother lived a hero’s life, filled with hardship, adversity and crushing loss, but through it all she always managed to rise stronger. She had love to give — a tea ring or cookies, knitted hats for the homeless, hand-made quilts, gifts she crafted — that said “I love you, I’m thinking of you, you matter to me.” She had boundless energy and was a great cook, seamstress, quilter, craftswoman, ballroom dancer, a voracious reader. It was not possible to beat her at Scrabble. She was born in 1931. Her first job was for American Machines keypunching data into the new-fangled computers in 1949. Despite 8 years of challenging medical problems she danced at her granddaughter Kelly’s wedding in June 2019. Mama ended her portion of the obituary saying: “I leave you with all the love that I have.” She leaves three children, Ann Bartholomay and her children Jamie and Nate, Mary Byrne, her husband Jack and their two children Kelly Byrne-Martin and her husband, Jake Martin and Tracy Byrne, and Edward Blesso Jr., his wife Teri, and their children Michelle Blesso and her husband Ian Steadman, Danielle Hotchkiss and her husband, Nick Hotchkiss, Stefanie Cerasoli, and Matt Cerasoli, and her great grandson, Damien Cushman; her three step-daughters; two step granddaughters; a step great-granddaughter, Hannah; sister-in-law, Mary Lou Grossbard. She was predeceased by her husband; Edward Blesso; daughter Teresa Blesso; three infant children; her husband Pat DiGiro; son-in-law Jim Bartholomay. A Celebration of Muriel’s Life will be planned in the future. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes & Crematory. Condolences can be sent to Edward Blesso, 36 Riverton Road, Colebrook, CT. 06021. Donations: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101.
Barbara (Pletsch) Kratz
PLAINFIELD — Barbara Kratz of Plainfield died March 17, 2020, from complications associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder and Congestive Heart Failure. She was born on March 10, 1950, in Quincy, Mass., eldest twin daughter of the late Alfred Pletsch and Ruth (Scammell) Pletsch. Barbara was a graduate of North Quincy High School, Class of 1968 and attended Westfield State College studying elementary education. She married John Kratz of Stillwater, Minn., on July 14, 1972, in Wollaston. She was involved with 4-H equestrians and was a member of Saddle Sores Riding Club and Tri-State Horsemen’s Association. She always took time to coach young riders. She had a lot of tenacity and was a survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a young adult, breast cancer and thyroid cancer. She leaves her husband; two sons Jamie (Karrie) of Campton Hills, Ill., and Derek (Renee) of Jacksonville, Fla.; brother Ronald (Marie) Pletsch of Sarasota; twin sister Carol Locke of Barnstead, N.H.; 4 grandchildren, Sophia Ruth, Lily Louise, Caleb Anthony and Willow Grace. Donations: Your favorite equine charity or cancer association. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory.
Constance Knapp
PUTNAM — Constance Scott (Ryan) Knapp, 82, of Putnam, died March 19, 2020. She was born Sept. 14, 1937, in Monson, Mass., to Patrick and Marion (Mosher) Ryan.
She moved to Putnam in 1965. She worked as a machine operator at Belding and worked at Killingly Parks and Rec. She was a former resident of Matulaitis Nursing Home and the St. Onge Apartments. She was part of the Putnam Grange. She leaves 2 children, Dorcas S. Durand (Michael) of Danielson and William R. Knapp (Kathleen) of Chaplin; granddaughter Brittany Ritter (William) and two great-grandchildren Jackson and Sadie Ritter. Constance was predeceased by her husband, Theodore R. Knapp in 2002; her siblings, Ruth Denning and James Ryan. Services were private. Beers and Story Funeral Home, Massachusetts.
..
The Northeast Connecticut Chamber of Commerce listed Coronavirus-related business help.
March 23 the U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Labor announced that small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees. This relief to employees and small and midsize businesses is provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
The act helps businesses with fewer than 500 employees funds to provide employees with paid leave, either for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members. The legislation will enable employers to keep their workers on their payrolls, while at the same time ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their payhecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus.
Key Takeaways: Paid Sick Leave for Workers: For COVID-19 related reasons, employees receive up to 80 hours of paid sick leave and expanded paid child care leave when employees’ children’s schools are closed or child care providers are unavailable; Complete Coverage: Employers receive 100% reimbursement for paid leave pursuant to the act; Health Insurance costs are also included in the credit; Employers face no payroll tax liability; Self-employed individuals receive an equivalent credit; Fast Funds: Reimbursement will be quick and easy to obtain; An immediate dollar-for-dollar tax offset against payroll taxes will be provided; Where a refund is owed, the IRS will send the refund as quickly as possible; Small Business Protection: Employers with fewer than 50 employees are eligible or an exemption from the requirements to provide leave to care for a child whose school is closed or child care is unavailable in cases where the viability of the business is threatened.
Easing Compliance: Requirements subject to 30-day non-enforcement period for good faith compliance efforts; To take immediate advantage of the paid leave credits, businesses can retain and access funds that they would otherwise pay to the IRS in payroll taxes. If those amounts are not sufficient to cover the cost of paid leave, employers can seek an expedited advance from the IRS by submitting a streamlined claim form that will be released next week.
For more information:
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20200320
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Connecticut small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). “Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.” For help with a loan application, call the SBA dIsaster assistance customer service center at 1-800-659-2955.
..
Postponed
Beer & Wine Fund-raiser
The Day Kimball Healthcare Beer & Wine Tasting originally set for April 23.
Guest Bartender
The Day Kimball Healthcare Guest Bartender Night postponed to Oct. 29.
‘School of Rock’
PUTNAM --- The Complex Performing and Creative Arts Centre's “School of Rock the Musical” at The Bradley Playhouse is postponed. Mamma Mia, set for April 24, is also postponed. 860-928-7887.
Benefit Concert
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp will hold a “Dam” Fun Time Benefit Concert" at Stonehurst at Hampton Valley. 860-974-1122.
Literary Festival
STAFFORD SPRINGS --- The Stafford Public Library Literary Festival. Postponed to the summer.
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret “Bull Hill Hike”. 860-928-4948.
Fire Dept. Supper
EASTFORD --- The steak supper scheduled for April 18 is postponed, possibly cancelled.
Taste for Now
The 9th annual Taste for Now – in Memory of Nick Haines is postponed to 2-5 p.m. Oct. 4 at Anya.
Cancelled
Senior Dinner
The Eastford Senior Citizens Evening Dinner set for April 14.
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Frog and Toad Calls” 860-928-4948.
Letterboxing
LEBANON --- The Last Green Valley’s Acorn Adventure – Letterboxing. 860-774-3300.
Lasagna Dinner
BROOKLYN --- A Take Out Lasagna Dinner. 860 774-9817.
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Easter Egg Painting Workshop.
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Open House”. 860-928-4948.
Film
WILLIMANTIC --- The Windham-Willimantic NAACP chapter will present the film “Harvesting Stones: The Jewish Farmers of Eastern Connecticut”
------------------------------------------
Thur. March 31
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Early Morning Bird Walk” at 8 a.m. starting from the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.
Sat. April 25
Volunteerism Expo
KILLINGLY --- The Putnam, Plainfield and Killingly/Brooklyn Rotary Clubs will present “At Your Service A Volunteerism Expo” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Killingly High School Cafeteria. Organizations looking for volunteers will include: health agencies, sports programs, youth programs, church groups, non-profit social service agencies, fire departments, service organizations, schools, food distribution programs, recreational programs, soup kitchens and more. POSTPONED.
Fri. May 1
First Friday
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association First Friday will be cancelled.
..
In a temporary culture of social distancing never has there been a more appropriate time to engage in binge watching.
Binge watching is watching multiple episodes of a television program in rapid succession. There are many advantages to binge watching in that it promotes dopamine in the brain and can make you, temporarily, feel better, but there are also some disadvantages associated with this practice. You may feel disappointment and sadness at the conclusion of the series or angst and impatience in having to wait for the next season to begin (or even be filmed).
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage in binge watching is that it can disrupt sleep by activating an already restless mind as you settle into bed. Whatever it is, experts say, I will take the approach, as always, that my opinion rests squarely on the recommendation to ‘binge watch away’ and I will use the remaining space to discuss binge-worthy shows that can help keep you emotionally connected as you socially distance.
— REALITY TV: Reality TV is based in competition, typically, so any seasonal series should provide a finite conclusion. Shows like Survivor or The Amazing Race will take you to exotic locations, make you dream about the vacation you were forced to cancel or reschedule and will invoke your emotional sensors regarding fair gameplay tactics and empathy or anger or intrigue or, in the best cases, the “AHHHA! Take that, YOU creepy person!” moments wherein your least favorite character gets eliminated because we all know people we wish we could vote off the island. If you want to feel better about the fact that you need to socially distance yourself from others, watch any of The Real Housewives.
— DRAMA SERIES: Typically, I would recommend a Grey’s Anatomy or The Walking Dead because they both offer never-ending options filled with seasons of deep personal intrigue and situations, highlighted with intense excitement and sprinkled with tragedy, however, given this current climate, I would rather recommend a series like The Crown, since it is steeped in history and depicts leadership and solutions, which can enhance a mood.
— COMEDY SERIES: Despite the uncertainty and gravity of the current situation, there are days and moments when a good belly laugh is invaluably therapeutic. For this reason alone, I would recommend binge watching at least one, if not several, of a good comedy series. Some of my favorites are Friends, Cheers or The Office. Classics like I Love Lucy or Taxi are also fine choices. Whatever made you laugh yesterday, last year or even 20 years ago, might make you laugh today and the under 30 minutes nature of the show is ideal for you to say “Just one more episode…”
Personally, I am ever appreciative of being able to continue to connect with you and wish you all continued safety and health and strength. Safe! & Sound!
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!
..