Wed. Nov. 22
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.

Thur. Nov. 23
Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Dinner
PUTNAM --- The Congregational Church of Putnam will present its annual Thanksgiving Dinner with Friends. Information and reservations required: 860-928-4405.

Fri. Nov. 24
Game Day
POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp is offering a “Black Friday Camper Game Day” from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for children ages 6-12.  Games, food and fun for the kids while parents go shopping, lunch and snacks included. $15/child. All welcome. Preregistration requested by Nov. 18. 860-974-1122.

Santa’s Coming
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Recreation Dept. and WINY Radio will present “Santa is Coming to Town” at 4:30 p.m. at Unions Square across from Putnam Bank. Light Up Putnam will be featured.

Sun. Nov. 26
Apparel Drive
PUTNAM --- The Living Faith United Methodist Church Hospitality Center on Grove Street will be holding the Socks Plus – A Cold Weather Apparel Drive during the Dazzle Light Parade. Benefits the IHSP Nu2U Clothing Closet.  Accepting:  socks -- all sizes-all ages;  underwear all sizes-all ages; gloves, hats, scarves, bedding, blankets, comforters, sleeping bags

Dazzle Light Parade
PUTNAM --- The 16th annual Dazzle Light Parade will start at 5 p.m. and run through downtown Putnam. It starts on Grove Street and ends at Owen Tarr Sports Complex. Rain date is Dec. 3. 860-928-1350.

Mon. Nov. 27
Blood Drive
PUTNAM --- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Matulaitis Rehab & Skilled Care on Thurber Road. 1-800- RED CROSS.

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

Blood Drive
PUTNAM --- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Matulaitis Rehab & Skilled Care on Thurber Road. 1-800-RED CROSS.

Tues. Nov. 28
Veterans Program
DANIELSON --- The Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse will present speaker Diane Patterson with “Medicare Plans,” at 9 a.m. at 185 Broad St. She will talk about different plans that are available and VA coverage in conjunction with Medicare.  She will also have someone available to signup people for the various plans.

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.

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.

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.

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..

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.

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!

..

Roireau
honored
PUTNAM — Denise Roireau, executive assistant to the mayor/IT for the Town of Putnam,was honored as the November 2017 Member of the Month for GMIS International, an international organization of public sector IT leaders.
Roireau was selected for this recognition based on her service and management of the town’s IT organization. Roireau has been a member of GMIS International since 2014.
Roireau recently completed the Certified Government Chief Information Officer Program (CGCIO) through the University of North Carolina, School of Government. The CGCIO Certification Program is a 10-month course that lays the foundation for assessing and addressing some of the most critical issues facing IT leadership in local government. The purpose of this program is to equip leaders with the requisite tools to manage and improve their organizational technology assets.
This year, the department has been focused on bringing fiber Internet into the Town Hall.  The Town of Putnam joined the Connecticut State Fiber Network, which has burst capabilities up to 10 Gig, with double redundancies built in so down time is a thing of the past. With this technology the town was also able to convert to a very inexpensive VOIP phone system that provided faster speed, better consistency, while saving money!
Future initiatives for the Town of Putnam include marketing the new Technology Park and providing fiber to the Technology Park as well as initiating an on-line permitting project.

caption:

Programs Funded
NOW wellness programs recently  received a $1,000 grant. Courtesy photo.


PUTNAM — Northeast Opportunities for Wellness (NOW) has received $1,000 in grant funds from the Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation. A local non-profit focused on youth wellness, NOW will use the funds to support a series of free wellness clinics in 2018, designed to introduce the benefits of sports, fitness, and nutrition to local children.
For the past several years, NOW has hosted clinics focused on a variety of sports, including football, soccer, basketball, running, lacrosse, and hockey. Each event is free to children ranging in age from 3 to 15, and includes volunteer participation from area coaches and students. In addition to sports, children learn about nutrition and participate in general fitness activities, including stretching, yoga, and other wellness-related challenges.
Past grants from the Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation have helped support other wellness initiatives close to NOW’s mission, including a series of healthy cooking events for families, and a youth yoga program. NOW Executive Director, Sarah Wolfburg said, “The clinics are an important part of NOW’s outreach in the community and we are grateful to the Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation for this year’s grant funds. The $1,000 will help us with the costs associated with the clinics, including facility fees, supplies, and educational materials.”
NOW staff are in the process of planning the calendar of wellness events for 2018 and have two events scheduled thus far.
March 4 NOW will host a clinic focused on Track & Field events, including running, jumping, throwing, and other activities. April 8, NOW will partner with The Arc Quinebaug Valley for the Spectrum of Sports clinic. This event features a variety of sports, and invites volunteer coaches and student athletes to work with children of all abilities. As additional clinics are scheduled, information will be available via social media and the NOW website.
Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, is a non-profit human services organization focused on youth wellness. Serving the 10-town area of Northeast Connecticut, NOW provides children with the opportunity to participate in area athletics programs, offering scholarships to the youth of the community with up to 95% of the cost being subsidized by NOW. The mission of the organization is to provide ALL children, regardless of financial resources, equal opportunities to achieve & maintain youth wellness, beginning at an early age.
For more information on NOW, visit www.nowinmotion.org  or call 888.940.4669.