Wed. Nov. 29
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Library will present the Thompson Historical Society’s Doane Watercolor Collection by Louis Charles Vogt. The exhibit runs through Nov. 30. The collection was donated to the society by the Conrad Kronholm family.  www.thompsonpubliclibrary.org.

Veterans Exhibit
DANIELSON --- The Quinebaug Valley Community College will present its Veterans’ Connection Photo Exhibit  in the college’s Spirol Gallery through Nov. 30. The very personal photo exhibit, which also includes memorabilia, honors veterans from the QVCC community. 860-932-4360.

Justice Talk
DANIELSON --- Lorén Spears, a two-term tribal councilwoman and executive director of the Tomaquag Museum in Exeter, R.I., will present a talk on Social Justice: A Native Perspective at 2 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge at QVCC. Co-sponsored by On Cue: Culture & Conversations at QV, the Office of the President, and the Student Government Association. All welcome. 860-932-4056

Thur. Nov. 30
Trivia Night
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Lions Club will present its Trivia Night fund-raiser at 7 p.m. at The Crossings Restaurant. Benefits the Putnam Lions Club charity.

Fri. Dec. 1
‘Nutcracker’
PUTNAM --- The Complex Performing and Creative Arts Center will present Michael Bolger’s Nutcracker at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17 at the Bradley Playhouse. $24 for adults; $21 for students and seniors. 860-928-7887.

Fish Fry
N. GROSVENORDALE --- The Knights of Columbus Council 2087 on Riverside Drive will hold a fish dinner from noon to 8 p.m. Prices vary. 860-923-2967.

Sat. Dec. 2
St. Nicholas Fair
POMFRET --- The Christ Church will present its annual holiday St. Nicholas Victorian Fair at the church on Rt. 169 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Snow date is Dec. 9. Luncheon served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Benefits local outreach programs including  Access Agency, TEEG, Battered Women’s Shelter, ARC of Quinebaug Valley, Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity, and the Community Kitchen. Admission free.  860-315-7780.

Blood Drive
PUTNAM --- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Mary Church on Providence Street. 1-800-RED CROSS.

Craft Show
WOODSTOCK --- The fifth annual Art and Craft Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the E. Woodstock Congregational Church. Homemade gifts for sale, penny social and luncheon will be served. 860-933-8667,

Sugar Plum Fair
BROOKLYN --- A Sugar Plum Fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Federated Church of Christ on Rt. 6.

Craft Fair
ASHFORD --- The St. Philip’s Church on Rt. 44 will present its 33rd annual Christmas Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. Bake sale too. Luncheon available.

Sun. Dec. 3
Concert
PUTNAM --- The Daughters of the Holy Spirit will host a Tim Janis Concert at 2  p.m. in their gymnatorium at 72 Church St. Free. 860 928-0891 ext. 148. 

Concert
CHEPACHET --- The Chepachet Christmas Concert will be at 2:30 p.m. as part of the Music at the Meeting House series at the Chepachet Baptist Church on Rt. 44. The concert will be open to the public without charge, but a free will offering will be taken for those who wish to make a contribution to the musicians. chepachetbaptist.org.

Open House
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp Open House will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Taft Pond Road. Free. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. there is Lunch with Santa upstairs in the lodge. Tickets available ahead of time by calling 974-3379 or at the door. Photo with Santa: $6 for kids up to age 8; $10 for those 9 and older. 5 x 7 Photo with Santa $8.

Mon. Dec. 4
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 lower level meeting room. Minimum fee. Local seniors welcome.  860-315-5175

Tues. Dec. 5
 ‘Chicken Dance’
WOODSTOCK --- The Three C’s will present Chicken Dance performed by ArtsPower at 10 a.m. at the Center for the Arts at Woodstock Academy on Rt. 169 (formerly Hyde Cultural Center) $4 per person for groups of 10 or more. Individual $6 per person. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thur. Dec. 7
Photo Event
PUTNAM --- The Quinebaug Valley Photography Club will present “In the Shadow of the Masters – Black and White Photography” featuring Michael Rice at 7 p.m. at Karen Leaf Photography Studio on Providence Street. $5 for paid club members; public welcome for $10 per person.

Fri. Dec. 8
Steak, Fish Dinner
N. GROSVENORDALE --- The Knights of Columbus Council 2087 on Riverside Drive will hold a steak and fish dinner from noon to 8 p.m. Prices vary. 860-923-2967.

Concert
ASHFORD --- The Northeast Connecticut Community Orchestra will present its annual Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. at Knowlton Memorial Hall next to the Ashford Town Hall on Rt. 44 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at Pomfret School’s Clark Chapel. Admission is free; donations welcome. The orchestra welcomes new members. Rehearsals are held on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. in the Ashford Town Office Building. For more information, call 860 428-4633.

Sat. Dec. 9
Pet Food Collection
DANIELSON --- Pet Pals Northeast, a local animal welfare organization, will be collecting cat and dog food, dry or canned, for homeless and needy animals from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Killingly Library. Purina brands preferred. Cash donations always welcome. Not accepting redeemable cans or bottles today! 860-317-1720.

Sun. Dec. 10
Holiday Fair
POMFRET CENTER --- The Artisan & Vendor Holiday Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pomfret Community School. Snow date: Dec. 17. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Lessons and Carols
POMFRET --- The Pomfret School will feature the Pomfret School Chorus and GiffTones in a candlelight service of “An Evening of Lessons and Carols” at 7 p.m. in the Clark Memorial Chapel. Free. Refreshments follow. Parking available across from the street from the chapel.  All welcome.

Fri. Dec. 15
Fish
N. GROSVENORDALE --- The Knights of Columbus Council 2087 on Riverside Drive will hold a fish dinner from noon to 8 p.m. Prices vary. 860-923-2967.

Sat. Dec. 16
Cookie Sale
BROOKLYN --- Our Lady of La Salette Church on Rt. 6 will hold its holiday cookie sale (sold by the pound) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church basement.

Sun. Dec. 17
Concert
POMFRET --- The Northeast Connecticut Community Orchestra will present its annual Christmas concert at 2 p.m. at Pomfret School’s Clark Chapel. Admission is free; donations welcome. The orchestra welcomes new members. Rehearsals are held on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. in the Ashford Town Office Building. For more information, call 860-428-4633.

Thur. Dec. 21
Winter Solstice
POMFRET --- The Wyndham Land Trust at Lyon Preserve will present a Winter Solstice Gathering from 3 to 5 p.m. at Lyon Preserve, Wright’s Crossing Road. Light refreshments will be served, including marshmallows to roast on the fire!

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Honors
John Normington of the Beagary Charitable Trust with Particle Accelerator co-founders Sandy and Eric Gould and United Services President/CEO Diane Manning.


DAYVILLE — United Services, Inc., Connecticut’s largest private, nonprofit behavioral health center celebrated its 53rd Anniversary recently.
United Services President/CEO Diane L. Manning reflected on United Services eventful past year, which included starting construction on the long-awaited expanded Windham Regional Health and Wellness Center. Located on public transportation routes in Mansfield just over the Windham town line, the new center will offer expanded behavioral health, autism and related wellness services for adults, children and families. The new center is projected to open in early 2019.
“Our Annual Dinner celebrations offer an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come and reflect on how much farther we have to go,” said Manning.  “As we work to expand and enhance services for the thousands of Northeast Connecticut residents who visit our centers each year, the support of our board members, community, and hard-working staff is more important than ever.”
United Services outpatient mental health caseload is now 253 percent of what it was 10 years ago, yet the agency continues to face funding and program cuts, Manning said.
United Services elected new board leadership for the 2017-18 year as well as five new members Thursday.
United Services’ new Board leadership includes chairman John Deary of Pomfret; and vice chairman Terri Pearsall of Putnam.
Newly elected to the United Services Board of Directors were Carol Kent of Canterbury; Kevin Donohue of Windham; Valentine Iamartino of Thompson; Cheryl Muñoz of Columbia; and Diane Sauer of Storrs.
Returning Board members include secretary Romeo Blackmar of Pomfret; treasurer Anne Konczakowski of Windham; Mary Bromm of Ashford; Dr. John Duers of Chaplin; Michael Turano of Canterbury; Todd Pearsall of Woodstock; Idun and Preston Green of Windham; and John Fournier of Willimantic.
United Services also honored retiring board members Robert Leonard of Dayville, who served nine years on the board and three years as treasurer; Cheryl Lewis of Putnam, who served five years on the board; Maximo Garcia of Windham, who served three years on the board; and Jeffrey Kramer of Storrs, who served nine years on the board and three as chairman.
In addition to the new and returning Board membersManning recognized two community partners whose support over the previous year made a particularly large impact in the programs United Services provides to northeastern Connecticut.
Among those honored were:
* The Quinebaug Valley Young Marines. United Services is grateful for the partnership with the Young Marines, who have helped at the agency’s Super Hero Fun Day and Color Run. Accepting the award was Unit Commander Joe Couture.
* The Beagary Charitable Trust, which has been a strong partner of the annual free music festival Particle Accelerator, which raises awareness for suicide and depression and funds for United Services, for many years. John Normington, who has provided lighting, talent booking and other help to the festival, accepted the award.
United Services staff were honored for their long-standing service to the organization and the residents of Connecticut’s “Quiet Corner.”  Celebrating 40 years was Senior Secretary Jan Hendrickson. Renee Grabert, housing services program manager, marked 35 years with the agency. Celebrating 30 years with the agency were Social Rehabilitation Program Manager Janet Pusczynski and Lori Behling, division director of community support programs. The agency also honored nine employees who have been with the agency for 15, 10 and five years.

Donates
Charter Oak Federal Credit Union has provided $2,000 in grant funds to The Arc Quinebaug Valley. The Arc will allocate these funds towards purchasing outdoor musical instruments for a sensory garden that will be created for Arc individuals, as well as the public, to enjoy.  
The sensory garden will be designed with the purpose of stimulating the senses of individuals with disabilities, which will help each person acquire essential life skills at their own peaceful pace.  
The Arc provides programs for individuals with intellectual, developmental and other life-affecting disabilities.  Vocational, residential, recreation, education, day and retirement services offer opportunities for people with disabilities to reach their goals and be integral members of their community.
“We are very excited to give back to the community, while enhancing the lives of those we serve at the same time.  The sensory garden will provide a therapeutic and calming environment for all and we truly appreciate the generosity of Charter Oak Federal Credit Union supporting our mission with this project.” said Susan Desrosiers, executive director of The Arc Quinebaug Valley.  I am delighted by the continued success of this parade and the enthusiasm of the participants and the spectators.