From Music to Momentum: Accelerating Hope
Particle Accelerator honors lives lost to suicide, builds awareness through music and community
PUTNAM — Every year, the Young family gathers the community to celebrate the life of their son, Jack Young, Jr., through the Particle Accelerator Music Fest. Jack was a gifted musician who played in numerous bands, was a storyteller and artist. After losing him to suicide, his family and friends chose to honor his memory in a way that reflects both his love of music and their commitment to helping others.
Sept. 13 was one of those beautiful days.
The name Particle Accelerator carries a powerful meaning. In science, a particle accelerator propels tiny particles to extraordinary speeds, unleashing energy that reveals hidden truths about the universe. What begins small becomes a force of discovery and light.
That is exactly what the Particle Accelerator Music Fest represents. Everyone who attends—whether to listen, play music, volunteer, or simply be present—is like a particle. Alone, each of us may feel small, but when we come together, our collective energy accelerates into something transformative:
- Raising awareness about suicide and mental health.
- Building connections that replace isolation with community.
- Creating hope that fuels healing and resilience.
This is why the festival has become more than a concert. It is a movement—a living tribute that transforms loss into light and silence into conversation.
As the festival’s message declares: “From Music to Momentum: Accelerating Hope.” Through music, remembrance, and unity, the Particle Accelerator Music Fest shines brightly—not only as a memorial to Jack’s life, but as an accelerator of awareness, compassion, and hope for all.
Thank You to Our Sponsors: We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of our sponsors, who make the Particle Accelerator Music Fest possible:
- Showcase Sponsor: United Lens Company
- Premier Sponsor: United Lens Company
- Gold Sponsors: bankHometown; Deary’s Gymnastic Supply; Charter Oak, Federal Credit Union; Byrnes Agency, Inc.; Jewett City Savings Bank; Unitarian Universalist Society; NAMI Windham County; Daniel R. Santos, CPA,
- Silver Sponsor: Quest Martial Arts
- Bronze Sponsors: Mohegan Sun; Sarantopoulos & Sarantopoulos, LLC; Gilman & Valade Funeral Homes & Crematory; SPIROL International; Bill’s Bedding and Furniture; Rawson Materials; 85 Main; Baker’s Dozen; Gerardi Insurance Services, Inc.; The Courthouse Bar and Grille; Knights of Columbus, Cargill Council No. 64; Deary’s Stand; Sawdust Coffee House.
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Woodstock Public Schools
Every day: Fruit. Monday: Hamburgers or cheeseburgers, baked beans. Tuesday: Pancakes, sausage, hash browns. Wednesday - elementary: Chicken nuggets, brown rice, broccoli. Wednesday - Middle: General Tso's chicken brown rice, broccoli. Thursday: Meatsauce, penne, carrots. Friday: Pizza, wax beans.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Every day: Fruit. Monday: Spaghetti, meatballs, roasted vegetable medley. Tuesday: Orange popcorn chicken rice bowls, broccoli. Wednesday: Chicken sandwich. Thursday: Locally sourced beef, pasta/meatsauce, carrots. Friday: Pizza tomato and cucumbers salad.
Putnam High
Monday: Waffle bar or spicy chicken sandwich. Tuesday: Chicken Parm sandwich or bacon cheeseburger. Wednesday: Texas-style grilled cheese or chicken Caesar wraps. Thursday: Locally sourced beef Nachos Grande or "Wild Mike's" cheese bites. Friday: Pizza or chicken tender fry basket.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Cheeseburger, baked beans. Tuesday: Buffalo ranch drummies, celery and baby carrots. Wednesday: French toast stix, turkey sausage, hash browns. Thursday: Italian grinders, tomato with cucumber wheels. Friday; Cheese or roni pizza, romaine salad.
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Town of Putnam
Zoning Board of Appeals
Legal Notice
The Town of Putnam Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a hybrid meeting on October 21, 2025, at 7:00 P.M. in Room 201 on the second floor at the Putnam Municipal Complex, located at 200 School Street, Putnam, CT. A public hearing will take place on the following:
Appeal # 2025-003 Sam’s Food Store, c/o Arsalan Altaf Director of Real Estate request for a modification to an existing fueling station in accordance with Section 210 of the Town of Putnam Zoning Regulations the proposed replacement of existing underground tanks which have expired along with the installation of new pumps to optimize traffic flow through the site. The property is located at 303 Kennedy Drive, Town Assessors Map 11, Lot 138, Zoned GC.
Appeal # 2025-004 Thomas Thurlow and Wendy Van Kirk request for a variance of 15’ from the required 25’ rear yard setback down to 10’ to remove an existing garage/stable and construct a workshop with a small 1-bedroom apartment consisting of 300 S.F. Property located at 18 Chapman Street, Town Assessors Map 19, Lot 4, Zoned R-7.
Joseph Nash, Chairperson
Oct. 9, 2025
Oct. 16, 2025
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Briefly
Ricciardone joins bank
JEWETT CITY — Demetrio “Dino” Ricciardone has joined the Jewett City Savings Bank team as Assistant Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer. Ricciardone has 20 years of experience in the banking industry. He served as Vice President, Senior Business Banking Officer at Berkshire Bank. He is active in the community. He holds a bachelor’s Boston College.
New president
DANIELSON — Mary Ellen Jukoski, PhD, was named as the CT State Community College Quinebaug Valley’s new campus president. A highly respected leader in higher education, she Jukoski brings a deep commitment to student success, academic excellence, and community engagement. She served for 20 years as president of Mitchell College in New London. In 2014, she was appointed president of Three Rivers Community College, where she champions student-centered initiatives and academic innovation. Under the new CT State Community College structure, she will now lead both the Quinebaug Valley and Three Rivers campuses, helping to deliver high-quality, accessible education that aligns with regional workforce and community needs.
$10,000 donation
DANIELSON — Sept. 16 members of Donahue Industries visited the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center (AMTC) at CT State Community College Quinebaug Valley and presented a check for $10,000 to the Northeast CT Education Foundation (NCEF) for the AMTC Fund which supports AMTC students and the program at Quinebaug Valley.
Merger OK’d
NORWICH — CorePlus Federal Credit Union (CPCU) and Scient Federal Credit Union (Scient) announced Scient’s members overwhelmingly approved the proposed merger of equals, with 85 percent of votes cast in favor. With member approval secured, Legal Day One of the merger will be Oct. 1, 2025. Following Legal Day One, both credit unions will continue to serve their respective members independently until the core banking systems are combined in mid-2026. Scient members can expect only minor changes until that time. As previously announced, the combined credit union will maintain a leadership partnership structure, with Ray Currier serving as CEO and Chris Maynard serving as President. The merger is intended to create a stronger, more resilient financial cooperative with the scale to invest in technology, talent, and member experience, while remaining deeply rooted in the communities of Eastern Connecticut.
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