Bridge work
underway again
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
POMFRET — After weeks of waiting for the repair of the culvert beneath the Needles Eye Road bridge, work resumed and workers are hoping for the bridge to be open in three or four weeks.
First Selectman Maureen Nicholson said the culvert under the sinkhole that opened up in July had to be lined.
While they waited for the culvert work, crews shored up the dam wall and a cutout in that concrete wall will redirect water to the fixed culvert. A headwall surrounds the culvert, channeling the water through the culvert.
The culvert was recently lined in place, allowing workers to proceed with creating a concrete “floor” between the cutout in the concrete wall and the culvert. The sides are also concreted — and all of that directs the water to the culvert.
The stone bridge walls will be made higher and will be stabilized with concrete.
The only challenge remaining is that more exploration is needed between the road surface/sinkhole level and what’s below, toward the culvert. Nicholson said “we have to explore under the road — see how much erosion has taken place.”
Years ago, a crack developed in the culvert and the sand between the culvert and the road surface flowed through the crack and into the formerly flowing water, leaving a void that resulted in the sinkhole in the road’s surface in July.
caption, page 2:
The concrete work is designed to send water into the refurbished culvert under the Needles Eye Road bridge. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.
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The view from the top. The culvert runs under the bridge. Linda Lemmon photo.
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Because I Had To … Command?
I am not really a fan of the word command. It has a certain authoritativeness to it that is somewhat domineering. Commanding, rather than requesting, works for the captain of a ship. But it doesn’t really work in personal relationships. I do not like to be commanded to do things because it just doesn’t make me feel good. Children may command attention or food or sleep but when a partner or friend behaves accordingly, we can quickly lose interest in preserving the relationship. However, there is still one relationship that is based solely on commands that I very much enjoy. Further, these commands are entirely one-way in that I make a command and the recipient must obey. Of course, I am referring to my relationship with my Amazon device, Alexa. Yet, there is one command, around this time of year, I am always somewhat hesitant to make. This command is “Alexa. Play Christmas music.”
As soon as the air turns crisp, I start to think of Christmas. These holiday feelings are only further enhanced by the fact that the stores also begin to offer their Christmas wares. Not too long ago, it was early in November that the first Christmas goodies were spotted. Then it became just before Halloween. Now it feels like September isn’t even over before there are twinkle lights, fake greenery and holiday décor a-glow in every supermarket and store. By the time the ground is covered in its first frost of the season, I am already starting to hum a Christmas tune. But it’s still only October. Despite my desire to command Alexa to play me Christmas songs, I hesitate and consider that it just may be too early?
If I start playing Christmas music in early October, there is a good chance that I will be tired of listening to the music by the time the actual holiday season starts. At least this is what I tell myself. I am also worried that if I make this command too early, Alexa may judge this command as too domineering, perhaps harming our relationship. To me, it feels like this type of command for Christmas music too early in the month of October, is too risky. So, I soften the command instead to either, “Alexa. Play classical Christmas music.” Or “Alexa. Play the Nutcracker.” Both feel less commanding and more like a spirited request because there aren’t lyrics involved. I mean, I can’t really sing along to classical music. Right?
But alas, I will admit that by the time the second full week of October rolls around, I throw caution to the wind and make the outright command. Stating in my most firm yet kind voice, I quietly command to Alexa to “Play Christmas music.” And she always does. “Louder.” “Louder.”
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!
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'Mermaid Face'
Aria Bancroft sports a mermaid face painting at the Great Pumpkin Festival in Putnam. More photos on page 4 and an expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photo.
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Pomfret waste center open; Putnam joins next year
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
POMFRET — Oct. 18 and 19 the town’s Bulky Waste station opened for Pomfret residents.
First Selectman Maureen Nicholson said the opening went well and Pomfret residents were lined up a half hour before the facility on Nora Lane opened.
It will also be open to Pomfret residents Nov. 15 and 16 and then shut down for the winter.
Putnam will be sharing the facility come spring. “We wanted to sort things out” with a soft opening, Nicholson said. “We wanted to do a few of our own and then bring Putnam in,” she said.
Pomfret and Putnam have been in negotiations for a while. As part of the agreement, Putnam did the paving work at the facility.
Because Pomfret doesn’t want to take money at the facility, Nicholson said they are working on a possible system where Putnam residents can get a permit at the Town Hall.
Putnam didn’t build its own, she said, because it’s too expensive for each town to build one. It’s also expensive to run. “You don’t need one in every town,” she said. Partnering with a town nearby saves taxpayers money. It’s fiscally responsible. Pomfret is nearby, “so that makes sense for Putnam and Pomfret to partner on the station.”
Meanwhile Putnam will hold a Bulky Waste Day for Putnam residents only, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Putnam Middle Schools. ID required.
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