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‘Coat’ Volunteers
Volunteers gather just before the start of the 3rd Annual Northeastern Connecticut K of C ‘Coats for Kids’ program in Brooklyn the day after Thanksgiving. Seven local K of C councils bought or collected more than 300 new and used coats for needy, local children and adults, giving them away on Black Friday. Photo by John D. Ryan.
BROOKLYN — A warm winter coat. Most people take wearing one for granted. Some people can’t afford to. That’s why several of the area’s local Knights of Columbus councils stepped in Nov. 25.
In the spring, seven of Windham County’s local K of C councils joined forces to buy or collect a total of more than 300 new and used coats for needy, local children and adults. Nov. 25 they sent volunteers to the Brooklyn Recreation Department’s offices to give them away.
“The Knights of Columbus live by the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism, and we demonstrated that today, right here in this room,” said Grand Knight Clifford C. Soucy, of Brooklyn, as he helped to pack up moments after the event ended. “It shows what Brother Knights can do when we work together to help people in our community.”
Working over several months, the seven local councils, covering an area from Ashford, east to Thompson and south to Plainfield, bought and donated specially-made, new, K of C, children’s winter “Coats for Kids.” At the same time, they collected used coats for adults and children, along with dozens of used blankets and boxes of used baby clothes, all clean and in good condition, so whole families could be helped.
Recipients received coats, blankets or other clothing solely on the basis of need, regardless of race, nationality or religion. In order to find recipients, organizers contacted local public and private schools and non-denominational social service agencies, asking them to invite needy people to come to Friday’s distribution event to be fitted for a coat.
And come they did. All morning families with children from towns throughout Windham County trooped in, with youngsters and their parents being fitted by Knights for coats and sometimes taking blankets, baby clothes, or both, to bring home. Most found the right sized coat and left wearing it happily, something Soucy said made it all worthwhile.
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Run Out
Dippers run out of the cold water at Quaddick Pond in Thompson, at the 2016 Turkey Dip. Photo by John D. Ryan.
40th Turkey Dip
nets $20,000-plus
THOMPSON — Jim Mahoney looked out at Quaddick Pond. It was an overcast Thanksgiving Day morning, with the air right at freezing, minutes before the 40th Annual Turkey Dip was to take place. About 140 dippers were getting ready, standing on the state park’s beach, stripping off their outer clothes to reveal bathing suits underneath. They would soon run into the water. The dippers smiled and laughed, even as they shivered.
Nobody knew for sure exactly what the water temperature was, but there was no ice, so it was above 32 degrees.
“We’ve raised a total of just over half-a-million dollars for muscular dystrophy over the last 40 years,” said James D. Mahoney, of Putnam, who’s in his 12th and final year chairing the Turkey Dip.
"We’re just over $15,000 at the moment for this year, but there’s more money coming in, so we hope to get $20,000, which would be more than last year.
Dippers collected money from donors, in return for them taking a full-body dip in the pond.
This year’s donations are being split evenly between the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Connecticut and Camp Quinebaug, located in Danielson.
The nonprofit Camp Quinebaug provides programs for school age children with special needs in northeastern Connecticut.
Mahoney said there are big changes, coming next year, however. Camp Quinebaug with be taking over the event, moving it from Quaddick Pond, where it’s been held for 25 years, to the camp’s property on Wauregan Reservoir.
‘Life expectancies have doubled’
Mahoney said it’s all been worthwhile. “Muscular dystrophy research and treatment has come a long way in the last 40 years,” he said.
“Since we started, life expectancies have doubled. I’m really proud of how the community has come together to support this.”
Mahoney is a member of Putnam’s Knights of Columbus Cargill Council 64. Members of the council helped to found the Turkey Dip for MDA in 1977. The Catholic fraternal group was a co-sponsor of the 2016 event, as was Putnam radio station WINY, Putnam Bank, Wheelabrator of Putnam, Rawson Materials and Marianapolis Preparatory School.
Mahoney said the Turkey Dip started on Thanksgiving Day, 1977, when a bunch of friends decided to jump into Alexander Lake in Dayville, just before leaving for the annual Putnam-Killingly high school football game.
No one remembers why.
The next Thanksgiving, more friends joined the group and took the plunge, so the Turkey Dip tradition was born.
In 1981, Woodstock native Troy Almquist, who was then an infant nephew of one of the dippers, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. Because of Almquist, the group decided to start raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Connecticut.
They moved their effort to Quaddick Pond in Thompson in 1991. Almquist died in 2005, at the age of 24.
This year, donations are still needed. To donate, please call Mahoney, at (860) 933-6817.
Then
This is the front section of Rotary Park in Putnam's Rotary Park a couple months ago. Putnam Town Crier file photos.
& Now
This clock was donated to the Putnam Rotary Club's efforts to give Putnam's Rotary Park a boost. The Rotary logo is on the clock face. Tree work and garden renovations have already been completed, as has an irrigation project. Grass will follow in the spring. Benches, a new sign and more are also coming.
PUTNAM — Day Kimball Healthcare has initiated a search for a new president and CEO as Robert Smanik resigned last week. Joseph Adiletta, former chairman of Day Kimball Healthcare’s Board of Directors, will serve as interim president and CEO while the Board conducts the search. Jack Burke will serve as interim chairman of the Board.
Adiletta said, “Bob led our organization through some very challenging times, helping us to navigate through historic health care reform and battling through financial challenges. Day Kimball is thankfully now in a better place and it’s time to move on to the next phase of our evolution. Both Bob and our Board agreed that the organization would benefit from a fresh perspective in that effort. The Board of Directors thanks Bob for his dedication and service to Day Kimball and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.” He added, “As we continue the important work being done at Day Kimball, I am confident that the strong leadership of our Board, along with the experience of our administrative team and the dedication of our entire staff, will ensure that our organization continues to move forward in a positive direction.”
Adiletta comes to this position with a long-standing and deep knowledge of Day Kimball’s goals and challenges, as well as the strategies in place for meeting both. He has served three terms on Day Kimball’s Board since the mid-1990s, including four years as chairman. He has also guided the organization through prior transitions of president and CEO.
“I have been intimately involved in decisions relating to both the current operation and future strategic planning of the organization and will carry that insight forward in my capacity as interim president and CEO,” said Adiletta. “I look forward to working with the Board, and the medical and administrative staff to continue fulfilling the mission of Day Kimball Healthcare in the weeks and months ahead.”
“Our commitment to providing quality health care to the people of northeastern Connecticut will carry on uninterrupted,” he added.