Wed. Jan. 21
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present “Change Comes in Layers” by Wendy Forbes for the month of January. In the Display Case: Theresa Walsh.
Photo Exhibit
WOODSTOCK --- The Center for Woodstock History is presenting a photo exhibit, "Woodstock Through the Camera's Eye in Post-Civil War America." Please call for more info: 860-928-1035.
Art Show
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library is hosting its third annual Tiny Art Show and is looking for artists to take part. The show involves free form art by teens, adults and seniors. The theme is “Remembering the Revolution” in honor of next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Call or stop by to register and pick up the 3x3” canvas and the materials. Completed artwork is due by Jan. 31 and the exhibit in the library starts Feb. 2. 860-963-6826.
Tues. Jan. 27
Al-Anon Meeting
POMFRET --- Al-Anon will meet at noon on Tuesdays at the Christ Church, 527 Pomfret St. Please use the lower level door, near the flagpole. All welcome.
Community Film
POMFRET --- The Winter 2026 free Community Film Series in Pomfret will present “Ocean” with David Attleborough at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Connecticut Audubon Center on Day Road. Next in the Series, starting at 6:30 are: Outgrow the System (2/17), Food Inc. 2 (3/3), and The Little Things That Run the World (3/24).
Fri. Jan. 30
‘Rumors’ at Bradley
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “Rumors” for two weekends starting Jan. 30. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30, 31 and Feb. 6, 7 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 1, 8. Tickets are $28 for adults and $25 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders (including fees). Reservations with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance, or at the door if available.
Schwartz Lecture
POMFRET --- Pomfret School will present its Schwartz Public Lecture from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Hard Auditorium. Kobie Boykins, NASA engineer, is the speaker. Free and open to the public. Registration required: pomfret.org/schwartz.
Sat. Jan. 31
‘Rumors’ at Bradley
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “Rumors” for two weekends starting Jan. 30. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 and Feb. 6, 7 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 1, 8. Tickets are $28 for adults and $25 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders (including fees). Reservations with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance, or at the door if available.
Sun. Feb. 1
‘Rumors’ at Bradley
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “Rumors” for two weekends starting Jan. 30. Performances are at 2 p.m. Feb. 1, 8. Tickets are $28 for adults and $25 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders (including fees). Reservations with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance, or at the door if available.
Fri. Feb. 6
‘Rumors’ at Bradley
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “Rumors” for two weekends starting Jan. 30. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6, 7 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 1, 8. Tickets are $28 for adults and $25 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders (including fees). Reservations with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance, or at the door if available.
Sat. Feb. 7
‘Rumors’ at Bradley
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “Rumors” for two weekends starting Jan. 30. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 8. Tickets are $28 for adults and $25 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders (including fees). Reservations with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance, or at the door if available.
Fire & Ice
PUTNAM --- The 15th annual Fire & Ice event will be held from noon to 8 p.m. around downtown Putnam. Ice sculptures, food, drinks, entertainment and much more, all centered around fire and ice themes. Tickets are on sale for the Mystic Aquarium's penguin ambassadors who will appear at the Bradley Playhouse at 2:30. www.discoverputnam.com. In addition the Gertrude Chandler Warner Children Boxcar Museum will be open then.
Sun. Feb. 8
‘Rumors’ at Bradley
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “Rumors” for two weekends starting Jan. 30. Performances are at 2 p.m. Feb. 8. Tickets are $28 for adults and $25 for seniors, students, veterans and first responders (including fees). Reservations with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance, or at the door if available.
Wed. Feb. 11
'Slavery' Program
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library will present "Slavery in New England" with Tom Kelleher of Old Sturbridge Village at 6 p.m. (snow date Feb. 18). Free. It's part of the America's 250th Anniversary of the Revolution program.
Thur. Feb. 19
Fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- A Celebrity Bartender fund-raiser will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Montana Nights Axe Throwing. It will benefit IHSP.
Sat. March 21
'Revolutionary Women'
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Public Library will present "Women in the American Revolution" with Eric Chandler at 1 p.m. It's part of the America's 250th Anniversary of the Revolution program.
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NASA engineer is Pomfret School Visiting Fellow
POMFRET — NASA Engineer Kobie Boykins is the Pomfret School 2026 Schwartz Visiting Fellow. As part of this year’s program, Boykins will deliver a public lecture on at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 in Hard Auditorium, followed by a reception. This special event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Visit pomfret.org/schwartz to register.
After earning a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Boykins joined NASA, contributing to the Pathfinder mission that took the first rover, Sojourner, to Mars. Following the success of Pathfinder, he designed the solar arrays that powered the Spirit and Opportunity exploration rovers and led the mobility and remote sensing teams for Curiosity. He served as chief engineer on NASA’s Europa Clipper mission to investigate the ocean and habitability of Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. Currently, Boykins is working on the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission.
Outside the lab, Boykins is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of explorers. A National Geographic speaker, he engages students and communities on curiosity, innovation, and problem-solving. He received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2013, one of the agency’s highest honors.
Since 1989, the Schwartz Visiting Fellow Program has brought world-renowned experts to Pomfret School. Made possible by Michael Schwartz ’66 and Eric Schwartz ’69, past fellows have included animal science professor Temple Grandin, celebrity chef Ming Tsai, groundbreaking choreographer Bill T. Jones, author Bill Bryson, and historian David McCullough.
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caption:
Kobie Boykins, photo by Michael Callopy
Just when you've tossed the last shovel full of snow, the gray clouds depart and the reward for shoveling takes your breath away.
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Promoted to Seventh Degree Black Belt
THOMPSON — Quest Martial Arts and the United States Goodwill Tang Soo Do Association announce the promotion of Master Kristin Duethorn to Seventh Degree Black Belt.
Master Duethorn, owner and head instructor of Quest Martial Arts, continues to train and compete at national and international levels while teaching the next generation of martial artists.
Under Master Duethorn’s leadership and coaching, Quest Martial Arts has flourished into a thriving community with children, teens, and adults at all skill levels, including more than 40 active black belts and senior masters who train weekly. In 2025 alone, her coaching has led the Quest competition team to three international competitions in the United Kingdom, with Quest competitors producing multiple grand champions at local, national, and international levels.
Master Duethorn serves on the board of two Tang Soo Do associations and is the highest-ranked female instructor in both organizations. Her promotion to Seventh Degree Black Belt required demonstration of teaching ability and technical expertise before a panel of grandmasters from across the eastern U.S.
Master Duethorn invited distinguished grandmasters Grandmaster Frederick Scott (AMKOR Karate, PA), Grandmaster Steve Voelker (Pyang Hwa Kwan, CT), and Grandmaster Wesley Jenkins (Tiger Dojang, MD) to sit on her panel for their dedication to the art as both teachers and practitioners, and for their high standards and character. Quest Martial Arts focuses on developing well-rounded black belts who possess not only self-defense skills but also strong character and mental fortitude. The school’s philosophy blends traditional martial arts values with modern applications for self-defense as well as skills for achieving goals and facing life’s challenges.
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