What can be done to help our veterans?
Veterans, lawmakers, and community leaders gathered this week in the Quiet Corner towns for a quarterly Veterans Community Forum, a listening session focused on the challenges facing local service members. The meetings, organized and led by Brian Maynard, past commander of American Legion Post 13, provide a consistent platform for veterans to speak directly with state officials.
The forum drew State Representatives Chris Stewart and Pat Boyd, State Senator Mae Flexer, Judge of Probate Gabbi Labonte, and Putnam Mayor and Vietnam veteran Barney Seney, along with dozens of veterans from across the region.
A central topic was the difficulty many veterans face transitioning back to civilian life. Attendees highlighted the connection between the loss of military structure and elevated suicide rates among veterans. They urged lawmakers to strengthen transition programs such as Troops to Trades, ensure military training counts toward state licensing, and expand community?based support networks for younger veterans.
Veterans also raised concerns about declining access to local schools. Many reported challenges arranging presentations, Veterans Day events, and youth programs, noting hesitation from some educators to engage with military?related topics. Several suggested integrating military studies into high school curricula, similar to vocational pathways, to expose students to service opportunities earlier.
Retention of younger veterans in the Quiet Corner remains a concern. Despite the region’s high veteran population per capita, many Iraq and Afghanistan?era veterans continue to leave due to limited job opportunities, housing shortages, and the concentration of services in larger cities. Attendees called for more equitable distribution of state and federal resources.
Mental health access was another recurring issue. Some veterans described traveling out of state for crisis support or retreat?style programs and urged the state to expand services in Eastern Connecticut.
The most contentious discussion involved inconsistent implementation of property tax exemptions for 100 percent Permanent and Total disabled veterans. Veterans described a patchwork of local rules, including annual recertification requirements despite permanent status, confusion over whether land is included in exemptions, rigid Jan. 1 deadlines that can cost veterans a full year of benefits, and differing interpretations of eligibility for veterans deemed unemployable by the VA. Surviving spouses also reported unexpected tax increases after the death of a veteran. Legislators acknowledged the problems and committed to clarifying state statutes and encouraging uniform practices across municipalities. Towns with active Veterans Advisory Committees were praised for helping veterans navigate paperwork and deadlines.
Lawmakers highlighted recent legislative progress, including no?cost veteran driver’s licenses with a flag emblem under the Hero Act, Public Act 26?35. Discussion continued around House Bill 5413, which would expand free dental care for veterans through the Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Marines’ Fund. Many attendees voiced support for updating Connecticut’s definition of “veteran” to align more closely with federal standards.
Throughout the forum, legislators emphasized bipartisan support for veterans’ issues. Veterans stressed that they are seeking benefits earned through service, not handouts, and called for clearer communication and fewer unfunded mandates on towns.
As the meeting concluded, lawmakers pledged to follow up on tax exemption inconsistencies, explore deadline flexibility, and address concerns raised by surviving spouses. Veteran organizations agreed to work toward a unified definition of “veteran” for future legislation. Quarterly forums will continue, and towns were encouraged to strengthen or establish Veterans Advisory Committees. Participants also expressed interest in improving school access and exploring a military studies curriculum for local districts.
By Brian Maynard
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Legal Notice
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Town of Pomfret
Planning and Zoning Commission
The Pomfret Planning & Zoning Commission will hold the following Public Hearing(s) at its meeting on June 17, 2026 starting at 7:00 PM at the Pomfret Community Center.
1. 26-4TA of the Pomfret Planning and Zoning Commission seeking to modify the Zoning Regulations to conform with mandated housing legislation per PA25-1 (HB8002). Modify the Definition of Mobile Home, Add definition of Mixed Use Development, Add Section 12.30 Mixed Use Development, Add Mixed Use Development to each of the Commercial Districts, modify Section 15.10.4 residential parking requirements to conform with PA25-1, modify Section 13.5.3 Notification to Abutters to comply with current case law.
A copy of this application is on file in the office of the Planning & Zoning Commission, 5 Haven Road, Pomfret Center, Connecticut. The file is available for review during normal business hours.
Dated this 26th day
of May 2026
Town of Pomfret
Sarah Healey,
Assistant Land Use Clerk
Planning & Zoning Commission
Legal Notice
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Town of Pomfret
Planning and Zoning Commission
The Pomfret Planning & Zoning Commission will hold the following Public Hearing(s) at its meeting on June 17, 2026 starting at 7:00 PM at the Pomfret Community Center.
1. 26-2SP, 44 Bradley Road Andrew Rzeznikiewicz, ? William R. Sweeney, Esq. Application is made under section 5.2.22 of the municipal zoning regulations, requesting approval of the following use: Special Events.
A copy of this application is on file in the office of the Planning & Zoning Commission, 5 Haven Road, Pomfret Center, Connecticut. The file is available for review during normal business hours.
Dated this 27th day of May 2026
Town of Pomfret
Sarah Healey,
Assistant Land Use Clerk
Planning & Zoning Commission
Town of Putnam
Zoning Board of Appeals
Legal Notice
The Town of Putnam Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on June 16, 2026, at 7:00 P.M. in Room 201 located on the second floor of the Putnam Municipal Complex, located at 200 School Street, Putnam, CT. A public hearing is scheduled for each of the following:
Appeal # 2025-008A Sukpaseuth Phongsa and Khamphanh Phongsa request for variances from Section 601 of the Town of Putnam Zoning Regulations to reduce the 33 required parking spaces down to 22 parking spaces and Section 601(c.) setback of parking access from property line: reduced from the required 5 feet down to approximately 2 feet. The applicant is seeking variances for the construction of a restaurant and a grocery store. Property is located at 611 School Street, Town Assessors Map 26, Lot 67, Zoned Highway Commercial.
Appeal # 2026-005 Chris Ramos request for a variance in accordance with Section 401 “Schedule of Dimensional Regulations” to increase the height of an accessory building from 22 feet to 26 feet to accommodate (2) 12’ X 12’ overhead doors and 10’storage space. Property is located at 16 Decubellis Court, Town Assessors Map 39, Lot 56, Zoned R-40.
Scott Zadora, Chairman
Town of Putnam
Planning & Zoning Commission
Legal Notice
The Town of Putnam Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a hybrid meeting on June 17, 2026, at 7:00 P. M. in Room 201 at the Putnam Municipal Complex, located at 200 School Street, Putnam, CT. Public hearings will take place on each of the following:
Docket # 2026-09 Lisa-Jean Clifford request for a Special Permit in accordance with Sections 413 and 414 – Horse and Pony Farms, Riding Academies, or Boarding Stables and Livestock. Property is located at 630 Liberty Highway, Town Assessors Map 22, 007, Zoned R-40.
Docket # 2026-10 Strategic Commercial Realty, Inc., DBA Rawson Materials request for renewal of an existing gravel excavation permit in accordance with Section 607 “Excavation” item H “Extension or Renewal Permit” of the Town of Putnam Zoning Regulations. The permit was originally granted under Docket # 2016-01 and modified on June 18, 2025. Property is located at 300 River Road, Town Assessors Map 44, Lot 23, Zoned AG-2.
Patricia Hedenberg, Chairperson
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Scraggly corner will bloom soon
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
POMFRET — The bleak triangle of dirt at the corner of Rt. 97 and Taft Pond Road was a frustration.
The patch’s neighbor across the street, Christine Kalafus, decided to fix the problem. A couple weeks ago she planted wildflower seeds.
The wildflower garden might look scruffy now but the seeds are already coming up she said. Within a couple weeks, it will be well on its way to beautiful.
“The grass was really sparse. It wasn’t really growing very well,” she said. “Sometimes people parked there because they’re lost or they’re looking for directions and they’d pull over onto the grass.”
Originally the triangle was a cutaway, she said. It was part of her property, before she lived there. The previous owner had taken care of the triangle “and we just kind of took over what the previous owner did. We just maintain it.” When there was grass, they mowed it. Other neighbors on Taft Pond Road also helped.
Finally she thought to herself “well we have all these wildflowers in our yard and I thought ‘Maybe we’d do it in there.” So they did. “It’s pretty and it’s good pollinators.”
She has about a half-acre of her yard planted with wildflowers and some will get very tall. “They’ve gotten up to like 7 feet so you can walk through – it’s like a maze.”
They also take care of the flag that flies in the middle of the up and coming garden. A neighbor had handled it and Kalafus said “My husband saw him walking every day, like from down the street, and he said ‘You know, we can do it. We can put it up’.”
The flowers will reseed every year.
“Anytime I can add flowers, I like to.” Amen.
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You need a scorecard
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The juggernaut that is Putnam progress.
The town received about a million dollars in good news last week.
The state Bond Commission just approved funding for sidewalk improvements between Grove and South Main streets. The Community Investment Fund 2030 Round 8 funding included $1,579,791 for Putnam’s Sidewalk Safety Improvements project.
Lots of paperwork to be done before there’s construction including more design work, approvals by the DOT, the Board of Selectmen’s acceptance of the funding, bids and more.
A couple months ago Economic and Community Development Director Mary Ann Chinatti said construction may start in the spring. She believes it would be a one-construction season project.
The total cost of the project is $1,610,403. The balance would be the town’s share, surveys and plans.
Plans call for a complete redo of the sidewalks on seven streets between Grove and South Main streets: Bradley, Center, Chapman, Fremont, King, Pleasant and Seward streets. Some of the streets only have a sidewalk on one side of the street. Most of the sidewalks are old and cracked and heaving up.
The project will involve removing concrete and bituminous sidewalks. There will be 5-foot wide sidewalks poured with curbs, plus sidewalk ramps, catch basin top replacements, patching driveways, warning strips, topsoil and turf, resetting mail boxes and more.
“This is such a great project,” Chinatti said. “This will greatly enhance foot traffic and address so many issues.”
The town hopes to move the antique hitching posts still gracing the sidewalks in that area to the proposed Union Square Park.
The Good Word from D.C.
The proposed work on the town’s Peake Brook water plant is moving through the federal government budget process. The town put in for about $1 million dollars for the project and Chinatti is “thrilled” that, according to the Grants and Special Project coordinator for U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney’s office, the figure that’s survived in the Agriculture subcommittee’s bill text is $938,000. Often requests are slashed. “This is rare,” she said. “I’m so thrilled it’s almost intact.” Courtney’s coordinator, Julie McGrath, told the town that there should be an update in mid- to late June.
The 30-plus year old building on Peake Brook Road, according to CDM Smith, Inc., needs repairs and upgrades and replacement of some equipment. Equipment, piping, controllers, gear boxes, filters need replacement. The engineering report also called for replacement of the backup generator, among other things.
A couple months ago Chinatti said the entire project would cost $4.5 million. The Water Pollution Control Authority’s Brian Lynch has put in for $2.5 million in bonding and he’s asking for the $1 million through the USDA Department of Agriculture Community Services program. Then the town would have to contribute $250,000, which the WPCA has in its budget.
Lynch has been working on this for more than a year, she said.
Fingers are crossed that the near-$1 million appropriation survives and is part of the federal budget (maybe) done by October.
Rt. 44 Sidewalks
On the other side of town, the town received some positive comments from the state Department of Transportation on its updated plans to continue the School Street sidewalks up to Walmart. One challenge was solved by the proposal of a prefabricated pedestrian bridge at Little Dam Tavern Brook. Chinatti said this project is in preliminary stages. Syl Pauley, NECCOG’s engineer who is preparing the plans, will incorporate DOT comments into the plan. Then DOT reviews the plans again. This project is nowhere near the “apply for grants” stage. Chinatti estimated ¾ of a mile as a rough estimate on the length of the project.
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