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Dropped By

Santa visited the Abington Social Library for a recent fund-raiser. Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

ABINGTON — Delicious pancakes, lively elves, smiling families, and the big man in red – what better way to kick off the holiday season! Over 100 people attended Breakfast with Santa, the annual fund-raiser hosted by Abington Social Library. 

The Abington Social Library has provided library services to the communities of Abington, Pomfret and neighboring towns for more than 200 years. It served as a women’s library in the early 1800s, more than a century before American women had the right to vote. Established in 1793, it is the oldest continuously operating social library in the U.S. 

The first social library in the U.S. was formed by Benjamin Franklin.  Commonly, social libraries were formed as book clubs.  To become a member, one had to pay dues and a tax was charged annually.  Books were shared amongst members.   Many of the social libraries were funded by contributions from the wealthy.  If times were prosperous, libraries could expand their collections.  In harder economic times, the libraries often were dissolved. Today, the Abington Social Library is still going strong. It is no longer a members only club and is open to the community for book lending at no charge. 

The library hosts a game night from 5 to 7 p.m. every first Thursday of the month with freshly popped popcorn and lemonade. A Book Discussion is held at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month, with refreshments. 

The Abington Social Library houses more than 30,000 books and has catalogued the majority of their fiction hardcover books as well as biographies on an internet program, accessible on: www.abingtonsociallibrary.org .Just click on Search ASL Catalog on the left and follow the prompts.

For more information, contact Library Director, Bonnie Duncan, at (860) 974-1674 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

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Children's Party

Santa Claus leads the singing at Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus’s annual children’s Christmas party, held for the young children and grandchildren of Cargill’s Knights at the council’s home in Putnam on Sunday, Dec. 13. Photo: Cargill Council 64.

 

 

PUTNAM — The Christmas spirit is alive and well at Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus, as Brother Knights recently spent a weekend holding its annual widow’s Christmas flower delivery and its children’s Christmas party, as well as welcoming two new members at a special ceremony.

 “Down through the years we’ve paid a few bills and shoveled a few driveways and helped some of our widows move, whatever they’ve needed,” said the council’s elected leader, Grand Knight Matthew R. Frederick. “This is something we’re committed to do as Knights. It’s an honor and a privilege for us to be there as best we can for these women, now that their husbands aren’t there.”

Dec. 11 and 12, the council’s 23 local widows received a red poinsettia, as part of a personal home visit from the Knights. The four who live out of state received Christmas cards. The widows range in age from 55 to 97.

Dec. 13 the Cargill Council 64 Home on Providence Street was filled with squeals of delight from more than 30 of the members’ young children and grandchildren, at the annual children’s Christmas party, co-sponsored by the Daughters of Isabella St. Mary’s Circle 543, of Putnam. The council raises money year-round to pay for the event, which included a Christmas tree, hot dogs and candy, songs, games, a new toy for every child and a visit from Santa Claus.

The day also included a private initiation ceremony before the party, when a Cargill Council ceremonial team welcomed two men, Nicholas A. Gardner of Pomfret, and Steven Sipperly of Moosup, into Cargill Council as brand new Knights of Columbus. The team has held at least five such ceremonies annually since 1982.

Founded in Putnam on July 26, 1892, Cargill Council 64 is made up of over 200 local Roman Catholic men and their families. The council serves Putnam, Pomfret, Woodstock and parts of the surrounding towns, as a ministry of both St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam and Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret. Working continuously since 1892, it’s the 64th local council founded since the Knights international organization began ten years before.

 

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The King Bees

 

 

Putnam native

to perform in her

hometown over

the holidays

By Ron P. Coderre

The Putnam area will be rocking to the music of The King Bees over the New Year’s holiday week.  The King Bees featuring Putnam native Penny “Queen Bee” Zamagni and National Blue Ridge Heritage Artist Rob “Hound Dog” Baskerville, will be performing at two local entertainment and dining venues.

Zamagni and Baskerville have been stingin’ and swingin’ the blues since 1987.  The pair met in and are based out of the mountains of North Carolina near Boone.  Since they’ve been together they’ve played Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, and Lincoln Center New York City as well as the Mississippi juke joints.

The King Bees are scheduled for two shows in Putnam over the holidays.  They’ll perform at the Stomping Grounds in the Heart of Putnam’s Antique District Dec. 29, where they’ll be joined by noted local drummer Wayne Gasiorek.

On Dec. 31 The Bees will be performing a New Year’s Eve show at The Crossings Restaurant and Brew Pub in the former New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Station in Union Square.  On the eve of 2016 they’ll be joined by another noted drummer Ned Peabody of the talented Peabody musical family.  

Other surprise guest performers may also be in store.  Shows will begin at 8 p.m. both evenings.

Over the decades The King Bees have toured and recorded with the best and most culturally significant Blues artists including Carey Bell, Nappy Brown and Jerry McCain, as well as with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, the renowned Bo Diddley.  Zamagni and Baskerville were featured on B.B. King’s 80th Birthday Tour.

In the mid-1980s the “Queen Bee” and “Hound Dog” made a decision to explore the Deep-South to apprentice with the real-deal Blues folk who created the most wonderful of American music.  Big Jack Johnson, Frank Frost, McCain, Chicago Bob Nelson and many others took The King Bees under their wings, nurturing and guiding them toward “the sound.”  

The goal of The King Bees today and in the past has been to promote, support and pay homage to the great artists who generously shared music and wisdom with them and the world.

The King Bees were signed to Amsterdam’s Tramp Records in the mid-1990s.  They’ve recorded several CD’s for the acclaimed international label.  Numerous European tours aided the duo in garnering many friends and followers in Blues and American Roots.  In 2003 they produced the New River Blues Festival, which continues as the North Carolina mountain’s only Blues festival.

The Charlotte Observer said, “Queen Bee Zamagni belts it out with the best, backed by a superb band highlighted by the burning riffs of Hound Dog Baskerville.”

And Blue Suede News said, “The King Bees have delighted audiences for years.  Queen Bee’s vocals are expressive and strong; Baskerville’s guitar playing is right on, from cool slide to sizzling licks.”

On past trips to Putnam, The King Bees have performed in front of enthusiastic full-house audiences at The Chickering Café and J.D. Cooper’s Restaurant.

“We’re proud to be performing in Putnam.  It’s always fun to return to northeastern Connecticut to meet with old friends and entertain.  We hope to share some very special music with our audiences,” said Queen Bee Penny Zamagni.