Woodstock public schools

Tuesday:  Pancakes, sausages, hash browns, fruit. Wednesday: Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, carrots, fruit. Thursday: Grilled cheese sandwiches, soup, cookies, celery sticks, fruit. Friday: Pizza, fruit.

Pomfret Community

Tuesday: Grilled cheese sandwiches, carrot snacks/dip, fruit or fruit cups. Wednesday French toast sticks, turkey sausage links, hash browns, veggie cups. Thursday: Mr. Fox's pizza, broccoli, veggie cups, fruit or fruit cups. Friday: Crispy chicken patties on rolls, veggie cups, fruit or fruit cups, pudding.

Putnam Elementary/Middle

Tuesday: Crispy chicken sandwiches on rolls. Wednesday: Italian meatball grinders, broccoli. Thursday: Fiesta taco salad, Spanish rice, Mexicali corn. Friday: Putnam Special Pizza, salad with tomatoes and cucumbers.

Putnam High

Tuesday: Clipper Burgers, cole slaw, sherbet. Wednesday: Stuffed potato bowls. Thursday: Chicken Parmigiana, broccoli. Friday: Pizza, cucumber and tomato salad.

 

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Donation

Elk member Shawn Tessier, fourth from right, organized the basket donation for the last three years.  The club distributed 134 food baskets for Christmas. Courtesy photo.

 

 

PUTNAM — Dec. 17, a group of 50 volunteers gathered to continue a holiday tradition. The Putnam Elks of Lodge #574 distributed food baskets to local families, with 134 baskets and 530 people served. The tradition, which began in 1957, is just one example of how the Elks give back to the community through service and donations. 

Like previous years, the 2016 holiday basket distribution was made possible through funds raised during the year at the club and through Elks grants. Shawn Tessier, who has led the basket drive for several years, said, “Over the last 59 years, we have had many people in charge of the holiday baskets. I have been lucky enough to have the reins for the last three years and there is no warmer feeling than bringing food and a smile to people in the community that might need help around Christmas. I love it.”

To identify families in need, the Elks partner with other local organizations such as TEEG, Putnam Housing Authority, Putnam Family Resource Center, and Pomfret Community School. Tessier said, “I tally all the families by family size and I order the baskets from a local supermarket. We typically pick up the baskets on the Saturday before Christmas and bring them back to the lodge.” 

Most baskets are picked up by the families with Elks making home deliveries to those without transportation. 

Earl Rosebrooks, who recently became a member in 2016, wants to make the public aware that the Elks are responsible for a variety of “benevolent” activities throughout the year. 

“As a new member of Lodge #574, it has been wonderful to be a part of a group that cares so much about the residents of northeastern Connecticut.” 

Tessier added his gratitude for the collective efforts of the Elks, “All my thanks goes out to all the members of the Putnam Elks #574. Every member helps in some small way and they deserve the credit. Elks care. Elks share.”  

 

Wed. Dec. 28

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present its Monthly Bird Walk at 1 p.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Art Show

THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present Art @ the Library with a Thompson Winter Student Art Showcase by Thompson Public School art students through Jan. 9 at the library. 860-923-9779

 

Thur. Dec. 29

Blood Drive

PUTNAM --- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1 to 6 p.m. at Day Kimball Hospital. 1-800-RED CROSS.

 

Fri. Dec. 30

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present its an Owl Walk at 7 p.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Sat. Dec. 31

Slumber Party

POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H New Year’s Eve Slumber Party will be held from 5:30 p.m. Dec. 31 through 9 a.m. Jan. 1. Games, food. $25 per child. Preregister required by Dec. 23. 860-974-1122.

 

Sun. Jan. 1, 2017

Happy New Year.

 

Tues. Jan. 2

Exercise Group

WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Senior Exercise Group will meet from 9 to 10 a.m. every Tuesday in the Woodstock Town Hall lower level meeting room. Free for all Woodstock senior citizens 60 and older. 860-974-1050.

 

Wed. Jan. 4

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present a walk at noon starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road.  Free for CAS members; $3 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Thur. Jan. 5

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present a walk at 8:30 a.m. starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road.  Bring camera. Free for CAS members; $5 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Sun. Jan. 8

Nature Program

HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present a walk at 2 p.m. at the Trail Wood off Kenyon Road. Free for CAS members; $5 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Nature Program

HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present a full moon walk at 7 p.m. at the Trail Wood off Kenyon Road. Free for CAS members; $5 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Mon. Jan. 9

Garden Program

WOODSTOCK --- The Quiet Corner Garden Club will present Bet Zimmerman with “Blue Birds” at 7 p.m. at the South Woodstock Baptist Church meeting hall. Free. All welcome. www.quietcornergardenclub.org.

 

Wed. Jan. 11

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present a walk at noon starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road.  Free for CAS members; $3 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Thur. Jan. 12

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present a walk at 8:30 a.m. starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road.  Bring camera. Free for CAS members; $5 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Fri. Jan. 13

History Program

CANTERBURY --- The Canterbury Historical Society will present Captain Kenneth Force with “Sousa to Barnum… The Golden Era of American Band Music” after 7 p.m. business meeting at the Community Room at the Town Hall. Refreshments follow. Free. All welcome. www.canterburyhistorical.org.

 

Camp

POMFRET --- The Windham-Tolland 4-H Camp on Taft Pond Road will hold its Winter teen Weekend starting at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 13 and running through 9 a.m. Jan. 15 at the camp. $50. Preregister by Jan. 6. 860-974-3379 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Sat. Jan. 14

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present "Nature Sketchbook Journaling" from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $10 for CAS members; $20 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Nature Program

HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present a Trail Wood Owl Walk at 7 p.m.  at the Trail Wood off Kenyon Road. $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Mon. Jan. 16

MLK Breakfast

PUTNAM --- “Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast” will be presented at 8 a.m. at the Putnam Elks Lodge on Edmond Street. Speaker will be Dr. Matthew W. Hughey, associate professor of sociology at UConn. Music by the Tourtellotte Memorial High School Modern Music Ensemble. Sponsored by Living Faith Methodist Church, Putnam Elks Lodge 574, Greater Putnam Interfaith Council. $8 for adults and $4 for children 10 and younger. 508-685-6291.

 

Wed. Jan. 18

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present a walk at noon starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road.  Free for CAS members; $3 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Thur. Jan. 19

Library Program

POMFRET --- The Friends of the Pomfret Public Library will present The Rage of Plum Blossoms – Book Reading and Publishing Talk by Author Christine Whitehead at 7 p.m. at the library. No registration. Free. 860-928-3475.

 

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present "Monthly Bird Walk" at 1 p.m. starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Bring your camera.  Free for CAS members; $5 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present a walk at 8:30 a.m. starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road.  Bring camera. Free for CAS members; $5 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Sat. Jan. 21

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present "Winter Wildlife Tracking Workshop" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Dress for weather. Bring water, lunch and snack. Registration required.  $50 for CAS members; $60 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

Wed. Jan. 25

Nature Program

POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present a walk at noon starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road.  Free for CAS members; $3 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

 

 

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