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Gift of Hearing
Evelyn Trudo, 97, of Putnam receives her free hearing aid at Beltone in Dayville. The gift came through the Beltone Hearing Care Foundation after Trudo's daughter wrote an emotional letter to the foundation. Courtesy photo.


Emotional
letter brings
gift of hearing
PUTNAM — Ninety-seven-year old Evelyn Trudo is truly blessed. Cathy Greene is her incredibly devoted daughter and her guardian angel. She loves her mother dearly, there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for her, and that includes going above and beyond the call of duty in times of need.
Unfortunately, Trudo, of Putnam has severe hearing loss and her problem is getting worse. It has caused her to withdraw from doing things she enjoys, and she has become depressed and cut off from everyone.
She had a hearing test done at her local Beltone office in Dayville, where she found out that she needs hearing aids but unfortunately can’t afford them at this time. She also learned there might be a solution to her problem through the Beltone Hearing Care Foundation.
Greene decided to apply to it to see if she could get her mother approved for new hearing aids
The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, donates hearing aids to those who are in need and are unable to access them. Both individuals and organizations are eligible to receive assistance from the Foundation through direct nominations to Beltone or at one of its 1,500 locations across North America.
“This Foundation gives us a new path to achieve this mission by helping deserving individuals and organizations in their communities enrich their quality of life,” said Michael Andreozzi, CEO of Beltone New England.
Greene wrote a very emotional letter on her mother’s behalf that was included with the application.  In it, she said, “I’m writing this letter in reference to a grant you provide for individuals who can’t afford to purchase the hearing aids you would provide for them.”
“My mother Evelyn Trudo lives on a limited income of Social Security and has no extra money in her budget to purchase hearing aids.”
“Over the last couple of years, her hearing has been failing to the point of having to speak loudly on the phone to her, playing her volume higher on the TV and not being able to understand what is being spoken while sharing in a social gathering.”
“It would be greatly appreciated if you could consider my mother as a candidate to receive this grant for her hearing aids.”
Well, miracles do happen as Evelyn Trudo was approved by The Foundation and was fit with her new hearing aids July 31 at The Beltone Hearing Center in Dayville.
“We are thrilled to have been able to help Evelyn Trudo, obviously a person who is truly deserving and who needed our assistance in a huge way,” said Andreozzi. “We are also happy to have played an important role in changing her life for the better.  That’s what Beltone is all about.”
Evelyn Trudo was delighted to receive her new hearing aids and said: “I couldn’t believe it. Not in this world would I get anything like this. I’m almost 98 years old and can’t believe I won something like this.”
Trudo has had an interesting life, she was born in New Hampshire, lived in Connecticut for 50 years, then lived in Las Vegas for a few years, then moved back to Connecticut and has lived there for the past five years. She was married twice and has raised five children. She is incredibly witty, still drives herself, and worked during the war making airplane parts.

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Water Safety
The Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center off Kennedy Drive in Putnam is sponsoring a free Water Safety Awareness event at 11 a.m. Aug. 11.  It’s sponsored by Walmart and Price Chopper. Taking part will be the Putnam and East Putnam fire departments and EMS. It will include safety demonstrations, including what to do if your boat capsizes, an opportunity to practice key water safety skills, like using a buoy for reach assists, ire truck and ambulance tours by the Putnam and East Putnam fire departments and EMS, a cookout, featuring food and beverages donated by Price Chopper and Walmart and a drawing for private swim lessons at the Y. It’s open to the public and people of all ages and skill levels. For more info, call 860-315-9622. Above: Lifeguard Jonathan Chalmers, left, teaches a Reach Assist. Courtesy photo.

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PUTNAM — Day Kimball Healthcare’s (DKH) 15th Annual Cruisin’ for Cancer Care event raised $5,800 to benefit the Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of DKH. The event has contributed nearly $117,000 to for the Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of DKH, which provides financial assistance for cancer-related screening and treatment services to individuals living in northeastern Connecticut who otherwise may not have the financial resources to pay for needed medical care.
Nearly 60 motorcyclists and classic car enthusiasts turned out for the scenic ride that covered over 40 miles throughout northeastern Connecticut. This year’s event was all new, with a new start and end location at the Thompson Speedway, and featured a few new activities including several memorial laps around the Speedway’s 1.7 mile road course at the conclusion of the cruise, as well as a swap meet, drawings, and a motorcycle rodeo. Participants also enjoyed the Vintage Motorcycle Classic, which also took place at the Speedway that day.
Joshua Vanada, general manager at Thompson Speedway, said, “All of us at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park were delighted to partner with Day Kimball Hospital to help raise funds for cancer prevention, research, and treatment. Many of us have been impacted by this horrible disease, and are glad to help in finding ways to eradicate cancer. We look forward to working together again.”
DKH Director of Development Kristen Willis echoed Vanada’s sentiments and said, “We’re thrilled to have found the perfect partner in Josh Vanada and Thompson Speedway for this special 15th anniversary year of the event, and couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity. As soon as we mentioned Day Kimball Healthcare and our efforts to support cancer care, Josh was on board and offered a host of ideas about how we could incorporate our event into the Motorsports Festival and utilize the track to enhance our fund-raising activities after our traditional motorcycle and car cruise in the morning.” Major sponsors for the event included: Wheelabrator-Putnam, Putnam Bank, Thompson Speedway, and EDS Mechanical.

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