Martinez-Cruz honored
DAYVILLE — Illenys Martinez-Cruz earned applause and appreciation as Westview’s March Employee of the Month. She is a teacher at Westview Child Care Center in the 2-Year-Olds classroom, where she has gained many fans among her colleagues, students, and their families.  In teaching this age group, Illenys’ efforts are as intentional as they are improvisational.
In her classroom, Illenys loves to see her students grow and gain confidence in a comfortable learning space.  Preschool teaching is a familiar field for her, with four years of prior experience in public preschool settings before becoming a member of the original staff at Westview Child Care Center in 2023. Teaching new words to her students is a noteworthy joy for her.  She delights in the excitement on their faces when they understand a new phrase, expression, or concept.  She integrates elements of Spanish language and culture into her teaching and often uses music as a learning tool. Sign language concepts are often introduced in her classroom, offering students another stimulating method of essential communication. 
She advocates lifelong learning. She values time spent with her “little family”—her husband, Alejandro Cardona, and her daughter, Angelica.  Her devotion to her family is deeply rooted in lived experience.  Illenys and her family relocated from Puerto Rico to the United States in pursuit of greater access to care and educational opportunities for her daughter.
Katy Holzer, director of Westview Child Care Center, said: “Ms. Illenys brings a rare combination of warmth, attentiveness, and creativity to her classroom.  At Westview, we believe in building rich, engaging learning environments, and she embodies that in every lesson she plans.  Her expertise is evident in the excitement and confidence of her students, and we are so fortunate to have her on the team.”

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Interact Club puts together ‘birthday kits’
PUTNAM — The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club had a “birthday party” of their own had fun creating Birthday Kits in remembrance of Lorna Wade.
Wade was a member of the Living Faith United Methodist Church of Putnam. She died in January 2026.
At her recent memorial service there were fliers with Wade’s idea of a Birthday Kit Ministry which allows every child to celebrate their birthday. 
Putnam Rotary Club and the Interact Club members donated items to create the kits: cake mixes, cans of frosting, cans of Sprite, candles, paper plates, napkins and sprinkles.
The Interact Club assembled 30 kits and they also received $96 in donations toward the Birthday Kits.
The kits will be delivered to Daily Bread to be distributed to families in need.
Rotarian Roberta Rocchetti, Interact advisor, thanked Interact members co-president Paige Perry, and Interactors Alyssa Daniels, Calleigh Levesque and Mabel Perreault for their hard work.
The Putnam Rotary Interact Club is a Rotary-sponsored regional club for ages 12 - 18 with the focus on community service. The club meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Putnam Public Library every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from September through May.
For more information contact Roberta Rocchetti - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 860-933-8603.

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From left: Mabel Perreault, Paige Perry, Calleigh Levesque, Alyssa Daniels

Festival: Main St. transformed into art
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The Putnam Business Association’s Fairy and Magic Festival was magical!
Vendors. And street art. Macaws. And street art. Gnome homes. And street art. And food. And street art. And fairies of every ilk. And … street art. Main Street was turned into a huge chalky canvas for the May 16 festival. 
More than 200 visitors voted on their favorite chalk art. It would have been more, according to art contest organizer Jennifer Lehto, if it weren’t for the wind continually knocking down the QC code sandwich sign. 
“It was a hit and well received,” she said, adding she is “hoping to grow this event and do it next year!”
Nineteen artists took part including four main local artists: Simone Germain who painted a beautiful tribute of Betty Hale; Dave Laabs who drew Gary O; and Kyle Campbell and Ethan Bruso.
Lehto said "All artist won $300; there wasn’t a 1,2,3 place, just community choice.”
From the winners: Lucas Reardon: “I’m Lucas. I am 22 years old and live in Woodstock. What I love about making art is how free it is. You really have the choice to just make anything you see fit, using whatever you want, for any reason.
Anna Ionkin: “I am an emerging artist and this year I had my first show at the Corridor Gallery. Later I will have my second ever show at the Spirol Gallery and my first art residency through the CT Audubon Society at Trail Woods. I have always enjoyed creating art but I love being a part of an art community. Tackling larger art projects, supporting each other artistic efforts, and beautifying the community are all possible through community. Participating in the first street art festival I hope encourages more events like it to happen and to help involve more people in the future.
Calvin Sandberg: “I’m originally from Killingly and currently go to school at the Maine College of Art and Design in Portland, Maine, as an illustration major. I’ve been drawing all of my life and really focused in on it in high school leading up to me perusing art at college. I mainly do pen and ink work but recently have been expanding what I use as a medium.”

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from top left, clockwise:

From left: Ava, Delilah and Jenna Willette - a trio of fairies. 

Sandberg

Lucas. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photos.

Mickey dropped by during the festival. He's 19 and a blue and gold macaw.  Owner Larry said he's a rescue and has a 30-word vocabulary.

Ionkin