Employee of Year
Cindy Olsen is recognized as the 2025 Employee of the Year at Westview Health Care Center. She was honored for her 50 years of dedication—and counting.  She has touched innumerable lives and contributed to every department’s operation spanning 5 decades at Westview.   Now in her 25th year as Westview’s Director of Nursing Services, her impact expands continually; helping others to help others across a legacy of generations.
She began in 1975 as a dishwasher.  After working for some time as a Dietary Aide, she transferred to Housekeeping and Laundry Services and gained more familiarity with the skilled nursing environment throughout Westview.  Her early interests in nursing care grew in these experiences, and flourished as she entered the field as a Certified Nursing Assistant.  Adjacently, she started working with patients and residents in recreation, and in 1979, Cindy became Westview’s Therapeutic Recreation Director.
In December of 1980 Cindy set forth in her career as a Licensed Practical Nurse; finding her efforts in patient care to be highly rewarding and inspiring.  Cindy aimed ever higher: When she earned her degree as a Registered Nurse in 1992, she continued caring for patients while pursuing positions of leadership.  During these years, working to aid the patient population as the Infection Control Coordinator and promoting the growth of fellow colleagues as the In-Service Director instilled Cindy with important perspectives on the major operations within a skilled care setting.  Next, in April 1995, she ascended to become a Certified Case Manager for those entrusted to Westview’s care and continued her work for a few years managing the needs, goals, and outcomes of rehabilitation cases.  Ascending first as an Assistant Director of Nursing in 1998, she ultimately earned the role and responsibility of Westview’s Director of Nursing Services in February 2001.
She grew up in the Killingly area with her mother, her father, and her four siblings.  She attended Killingly High School and Windham Technical High School to further her pre-college education in health care.  At  Becker College she earned her degrees as a Licensed Practical Nurse and as a Registered Nurse.  Cindy and her husband Keith live in Killingly.
Her son Josh, his wife Jill, and their children are all nearby. She loves the outdoors, crafting, golf, fishing, and skeet shooting. 
David T. Panteleakos, administrator, said:  “As Westview’s longest tenured employee, Cindy also has the unique distinction of being the longest serving Director of Nursing in Westview’s history.  Now, with over 50 years of dedicated service to Westview, I share in congratulating and thanking.”

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Church hosts film
POMFRET — A stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life—SUGARCANE, the debut feature documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie—will be shown at 2 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Great Hall at Christ Church Pomfret. Christ Church on Rt. 169, in cooperation with the Pomfret Historical Society, is offering the screening at no charge. For tickets to attend the free screening of SUGARCAN, visit: https://kinema.com/events/Sugarcane-unoywy. Reservations requested but not required. Overflow parking is available across the street at the Rectory School.  The cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning, SUGARCANE is set amidst a ground-breaking investigation into abuse and death at an Indian residential school. 
According to NoiseCat and Kassie, the film is meant to empower viewers to break cycles of intergenerational trauma by bearing witness to painful, long-ignored truths—and the love that endures within their families.
“Indian residential schools nearly annihilated the Indian way of life—a life imperiled by the pain and injustices of colonialism, yes, but also, overwhelmingly, a beautiful life full of family, culture and love,” said Kassie and NoiseCat in a press release advancing the documentary. “Our film aims to transform these dark truths into powerful legends that can endure and be remembered by future generations.”
During production, NoiseCat’s story became an integral part of this beautiful multi-stranded portrait of a community. By offering space, time, and profound empathy, the directors unearthed what was hidden. Kassie and NoiseCat encountered both the extraordinary pain these individuals had to suppress as a tool for survival and the unique beauty of a group of people finding the strength to persevere. 

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Position Advertisement
Recreation Services Coordinator 
 for the Town of Putnam

This position performs a variety of professional administrative and program support to the Recreation Office, other departments, community, recreation and senior programs as assigned.
This full-time, hourly, union position is set for 35 hours per week with a pay range of $20.86 - $30.43. There is health, dental, and other applicable benefits available with this position. Pro-rated vacation, personal leave, and sick leave accruals are applicable.
Full Posting, including requirements, and submittal details, can be found on the Town of Putnam’s website under the Human Resources Department.

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