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Ready to Go
Jeff Lyons, right rear, store manager of Stop N’ Shop in Putnam, shows display of items to be sent to local military personnel who are deployed to Sandra Lisee of the Putnam Bank “Pep Squad” and Ron Coderre, commander of American Legion Post #13. The store is helping gather nonperishable items for local men and women. The project started through Putnam Bank, which joined with the American Legion in the effort. Courtesy photo.
PUTNAM — The Putnam Bank “Pep Squad,” a group of bank employees who plan and participate in charitable deeds for local non-profits, is partnering with the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 in support of local troops who are deployed out of country. The program, titled “Military Care Package Supply Drive,” runs through April 30 and is a joint effort to procure nonperishable items that will then be mailed directly to local men and women who are currently serving in the military around the world.
“Our employees have always worked to find ways to give back to the communities where we’re located. We all know someone who has served or is serving in the military so we wanted to support those local service men and women who are currently deployed. When they receive these packages they’ll know that the folks at home are keeping them in their thoughts,” said Lynn Bourque, Putnam Bank senior vice president.
“When we discussed the idea at a “Pep Squad” meeting we felt it was natural to partner with the local American Legion Post as they have a mission of caring for veterans and community as well,” she added.
Putnam Bank and Post #13 are asking local residents to drop off nonperishables items such as soaps and body products, toothpaste and tooth brushes, shampoos, books, stamps, note paper, hard candies and other non-perishable edible items and clothing items such as no-show socks. Items can be dropped at the main office of Putnam Bank, 40 Main St., in Putnam or at any local branch.
Anyone wishing to support the project with a monetary donation may do so by making checks payable to American Legion Post #13 and mailing to P.O. Box 123, Putnam, CT 06260-0123. Care Package Supply Drive should be indicated in the note section of the check.
“The membership of Post #13 was extremely enthusiastic when it was approached with this idea by Ms. Bourque. The Post has been very active in community affairs and ventures over the years and this project is just the type of community service we enjoy participating in,” said Ronald P. Coderre, Post #13 commander. “Many of the men and women who’ll be receiving these packages are affiliated with our American Legion Post. We understand what it’s like to be away from home in a foreign land.”
Anyone with information on any local Service man or woman who is deployed is urged to get their information to Bourque at 860-928-6501 or Coderre 860-928-6772.
The project appears to be gaining momentum as local citizens and organizations are inquiring about ways to assist or are collecting items.
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Donation
Putnam Lions Club President Romeo Blackmar presents NOW’s Executive Director Sarah Wolfburg a donation. Courtesy photo.
Every year, on one special night, The Putnam Lions celebrate what would best be called a Lion’s Christmas. April 6, the Putnam Lions and Putnam Leos, local organizations and charities, as well as Lion’s charities, celebrated the Putnam Lion’s Annual Night of Giving, donating more than $14,000.
The Night of Giving is the culmination of a year of hard work and fund-raising events by the Putnam Lions and Leos. It is at this special event that they are able to give back to the community all the funds they have raised throughout the course of the year.
Recipients represent community needs from children to veterans to eye research and many more. Attendees share what their organizations do and how the donations help in achieving the goals of helping the community. This year the group discovered that over the past 20 years, the Putnam Lions have donated more than $55,000 to Day Kimball and its organizations. The new Ronald McDonald House has finally been completed in New Haven. The Quilts of Valor group has completed 168 quilts last year and 500 quilts since the local group has started. Donations allow the Diaper Bank to continue to provide diapers to 100s of families and Daily Bread to provide food to those in need. The night was filled with similar uplifting stories.
Organizations represented at the Night of Giving included Lions charities such as CRIS (Connecticut Radio Information Service), Camp Rising Sun, Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation, FIDELCO Guide Dogs, Lions Clubs International Foundation , Opening Eyes/Special Olympics, Low Vision Center and the District 23-C Hearing and Speech Foundation. Local charities and organizations included the Audubon Society, American Legion Baseball, ARC of Quinebaug Valley, Camp Quinebaug, Barton Center, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Community Cafe, Interfaith Human Services, Day Kimball Hospital Chaplaincy, Day Kimball Homemakers/Hospice and Homecare, Day Kimball Pediatric Reading, Family Resource Center, 4-H Camp, NOW Foundation, Putnam High School Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball, Putnam High School Girls’ Volleyball, Putnam PRIDE, Putnam Ambulance/EMS, Putnam Library, Putnam Little League, Putnam Middle School End of Year Activities, Quilts of Valor, Ronald McDonald House, Sunshine Foundation, WPTP (Woodstock Putnam Thompson Pomfret) Football.
PUTNAM — Research shows that children are prone to fall behind academically and gain weight two to three times faster during the summer months compared to the school year. i To help families learn fun ways to stay physically and mentally active now and throughout the summer, the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center will be hosting Healthy Kids Day® from 2 to 5 p.m. on April 21.
The event is one of 1,900 free YMCA community events taking place across the country, making it the nation’s largest health event for kids. In partnership with more than 30 local health, youth and education organizations, the Hale event will feature activities that will get families moving and motivated to create a healthy home environment for the summer months. Activities include: Water safety activities in the pool with the Hale YMCA aquatics team; Free vision screenings by the Killingly Quiet Corner Regional Lions; Games of Ga-ga with Camp Cutler counselors; Baby chickens from Woodstock Sustainable Farms; Martial arts demonstrations with Quest Martial Arts; Chair massages and spinal screenings from Back and Body Chiropractic; Bounce house, face painting and more; Kids will be given a passport to visit each station and when complete, they will be entered into a raffle for free YMCA memberships, classes and gear.
“Summer is the time for kids to get up, get out and grow. But for some kids, exposure to activities that stimulate the body and mind ends with the school year,” said Amanda Kelly, executive director of the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center. “We’re thrilled to bring together the northeastern Connecticut community to rally around our children to ensure we all have a healthy, happy summer.”
“The Lions Club participated in Healthy Kids Day last year, and we jumped at the opportunity to come back as a community partner this year,” said Tom Kohl of the Killingly Quiet Corner Regional Lions. “We provide free vision screening for about 7800 children per year in local schools and Healthy Kids Day is another great way to reach kids in our community.”
Local Healthy Kids Day community partners include: TEEG, Boy Scouts Troop 21, Eastern Ahec, Generations, Back and Body Chiropractic, Putnam Family Resource Center, DJ Dreadz, The Last Green Valley, Quest Martial Arts, NOW, Putnam Science Academy, Northeast District Dept. of Health, Young Marines, Putnam PRIDE, CHR, Camp Woodstock, Woodstock Sustainable Farms, Access, Putnam Fire Department, Putnam EMS K9 Dogs, Woodstock Middle School Playground, UConn Dental, DKH Family Advocacy Center, DKH Marketing, NE Early Childhood Council, Lions Club, Carelot Children’s Center, Killingly Public Preschool/ Family Resource Center, Paige Chiropractic and Asthma Education.
For info: www.ymca.net/healthy-kids-day or call 860-315-9622.
As part of the its efforts to improve the health and well-being of Connecticut families, the Hale YMCA offers the following tips to help families instill healthy habits during the summer:
1. Grab your bikes and take a family bike tour. Explore new neighborhoods or peddle to a new park for an afternoon of play.
2. Give your kids a jump rope. It’s an awesome way to have fun and stay active. They can go solo or encourage others to join in on the fun.
3. Play the rainbow game. How many different colored fruits and veggies can your child eat in a day? Write down their totals on the fridge, or create a rainbow chart for the summer.
4. Set aside time each day for the family to read, either together or separately, and discuss what you read over dinner.
Wed. April 18
Library Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Public Library will present “Lionheart Puppets: Jack Tuesday” at 12:30. For ages 4-11. Sponsored by Friends of Pomfret public Library. 860-928-3451.
Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon at Pomfret Center will present “Focus on Birds: Featuring David Stumpo & Nancy Barrett” through May 31 at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. 860-928-4948.
Art Exhibit
N. GROSVENORDALE --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library’s Art @ the Library will present the 15th Annual Thompson Community Art Show “The World Around Us,” through April 27. A reception will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 4. 860-923-9779.
Thur. April 19
Program
DANIELSON --- Quinebaug Valley Community College’s Visions in Leadership program will present Stephen M. Harney, a security expert, at 5:30 p.m. in the Robert Miller Auditorium. $50 per person in advance, includes dinner and silent auction. 860-932-4174.
Fri. April 20
‘Rock of Ages’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “Rock of Ages” at 7:30 p.m. April 20, 21, 27, 28 and May 4 and 5 and at 2 p.m. April 22, 29 and May 6. $24 for adults; $21 for seniors and students. Call 860-928-7887 or go to www.thebradleyplayhouse.org.
Sat. April 21
Steak Supper
EASTFORD --- The Eastford Independent Fire Company No. 1 Inc. will hold an all-you-can-eat steak supper at 6:30 p.m. at the firehouse. $20. No tickets at the door. 860-974-0256.
4-H Race-Walk
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp Scamper 5k Race/Walk and 1-Mile Kid Run will be held at the camp on Taft Pond Road. Registration at 8 a.m. Kids’ race at 9:30 and adult race starts at 10 and walker start after runners. www.4hcampct.org.
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Spring Cleaning – Trail Wood Work Day” at 9 a.m. at Trail Wood Sanctuary on Kenyon Road. Bring work gloves and rakes, etc. 860-928-4948.
Open House
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp Open House will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. April 21 and 22. From 1:30 to 2 p.m. April 21 a parent panel will be presented.
NOW ‘Taste’
DANIELSON --- Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Inc. will hold its 7th Annual A Taste for NOW, A Taste for Life fund-raiser from 6 to 10 p.m. at Quinebaug Valley Community College. $60 per person Benefits NOW’s youth scholarships and wellness programs. www.NOWinMotion.org or at Chase Graphics, Friendly Spirits, Putnam Bank and WINY Radio.
Low-cost Rabies Clinic
DANIELSON --- Pet Pals Northeast, a local animal welfare organization, is holding a low cost rabies clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Quinebaug Valley Veterinary Hospital on Rt. 12 on the Danielson/Plainfield town line, $12 cash per animal. All animals must be on a leash or in a secured carrier. If available, bring prior proof of rabies vaccination. 860-317-1720.
Earth Day
PUTNAM --- Gpic's Annual Earth Day Project will be held at 10 a.m. A clean out of the empty lot behind Dunkin’ Donuts (on the left) on Kennedy Drive, Putnam. Funded in part by the Last Green Valley. 860-455-8144.
Pot Roast Supper
DANIELSON --- The Westfield Church on Main Street will hold a pot roast supper from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. $12 for adults; $8 for kids ages 10 and younger. Eat in or take out. WestfieldUCC.org/Eat
Healthy Kids
PUTNAM --- The Hale YMCA off Kennedy Drive will present its annual Healthy Kids Day from 2 to 5 p.m. All invited. Free. Rain or shine. www.haleymca.org.
Sun. April 22
Salamander Walk
POMFRET --- A Spring Outdoors Salamander Story Walk led by LGV Ranger Marcy Dawley will be held from 1 to 2:30 at the Windham-Tolland County 4-H Outdoor Center on Taft Pond Road. Dress for weather. Free. All welcome (no dogs). 860-377-5652.
Mon. April 23
Jane Doe Forum
DANIELSON --- On Cue: Culture and Conversations at QV will present “Jane Doe No More: Sexual Assault Survivors Fighting for Change,” an exploration of the challenges faced by sexual assault survivors who speak up about their experiences at 6 p.m. at the Robert E. Miller Auditorium at QVCC. Seating is limited, so attendees are urged to arrive before the event, which is free and open to the public. Donations for Jane Doe No More, an organization that supports survivors of sexual abuse, will be accepted. Audience members should be aware of the potential for emotionally difficult content.
Exercise Group
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Senior Exercise Group will meet from 9 to 10 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday in the Woodstock Town Hall large meeting room on the lower. Minimum fee. Local seniors welcome. Please check the town website www.woodstockCT.gov for current schedule or call 860-928-6595.
Wed. April 25
Library Program
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Public Library will present “Screenwriting 101 Workshops” at 2 p.m. Register at 860-928-3451.
Poetry Celebration
WILLIMANTIC --- Quinebaug Valley Community College will present author and poet Joseph Bruchac at the 11th annual Julius Sokenu Poetry Prize Celebration at 4:30 p.m. at the Julia de Burgos Park at the corner of Jackson Street and Terry Avenue. (inclement weather – Windham Middle School auditorium). Free. All welcome.
Thur. April 26
Blood Drive
DAYVILLE --- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at United Services Inc. on Rt. 12. 1-800-RED CROSS.
Trivia Challenge
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Lions Club will present Trivia Challenge fund-raiser at 7 p.m. at the Crossings Restaurant downtown. Benefits DKH – Oncology.
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