Honored
POMFRET CENTER and TOLLAND — WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors’ (WHZ) Laurence Hale, AAMS, CRPS®, James Zahansky, AWMA® and Leisl L. Langevin, CFP®, CDFA® have been awarded the 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager Award, the largest and most widely published wealth manager award program in the financial services industry. This is the 11th consecutive year that all WHZ advisors who were eligible to be considered for the award were selected to receive it.

Appointed
PUTNAM — Mike Bogdanski was recently appointed to Putnam’s Redevelopment agency by the Mayor and Board of Selectman.  He is also the vice chair of Putnam’s Economic and Community Development Commission.

Hired
TOLLAND — WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors hired Jonathan Mathews as associate vice president, Wealth Advisor. In this role, Mathews will work collaboratively with the firm’s advisory team to provide strategic financial planning and wealth management services to clients. He will be based at the firm’s Tolland office. Mathews holds an MBA from UConn and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas. He lives in Woodstock with his four children and is active in the local community, including coaching soccer.

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14th Annual Fire & Ice Festival is Feb. 8
PUTNAM — The Putnam Business Association, in partnership with The Town of Putnam, is once again hosting the largest single ice block competition in all of New England – the 14th Annual Fire & Ice – A Valentine’s Festival. 
The event, which runs from noon to 8 p.m., boasts more than five dozen ice carvings, ice photo opportunities, a 30-foot inflatable igloo, stilts walkers, a magician, a fire juggler, belly dancer, face painters, a massive heart-shaped bonfire pit, food trucks, epic fire demonstrations, the “Just in Time for Valentine’s Vendor Fair”, a beer garden, signature pours off ice luges, winter games and the iconic Ice Bar Arena.
From noon to 5 p.m. professional, amateur and group carvers create their masterpieces using 300-pound ice blocks.  All the blocks are sponsored by local businesses and carved by dedicated artists. Professional demonstrations are being sponsored by Ketel One, 85 Main, and Coca Cola.  Icy photo opportunities are sponsored by Woodstock Building Associates, Rawson Materials, Spirol, Girls ‘N’ Tools, WHZ Strategic Wealth Advisors, Jewett City Savings Bank, The Hare and The Hound, Rampco Construction, Cargill Chevrolet and CDM Smith. The awards ceremony is at 6. 
For adult patrons there will be a 12-foot Ice Bar sponsored by Teremana Tequila and Jägermeister that will be serving drink specials by The Courthouse Bar and Grille. Ice Luges will be at Saw Dust Coffee House, 85 Main, The Crossings Restaurant and Brew Pub, Blackstone Putnam, Daley’s Pours and The Hare and The Hound. Bear Hands Brewing Company will showcase their annual Beer Garden.
Back by popular demand is the 30-foot inflatable igloo sponsored by Gerardi Insurance – Hilb Group. From noon to 3 p.m. the igloo will feature meet and greet with UConn Mascot Jonathan — the Husky sponsored by Tom and Kathy Borner. Then the igloo will transform into The Crossings igloo takeover from 4 to 8 p.m. Also returning is Love Lane, an arts alley presented by Putnam public schools as well as the REMAX hot air balloon. Face painters, sponsored by Northeast Flooring and Kitchens - will set up shop inside the Montgomery Ward Building. Silt walkers and other unique acts will roam up and down Main Street entertaining the crowds — sponsored by Guaranteed Rate, Ruth Michalski and Big Gary’s Discount Liquors.
The festival welcomes newcomers to discover the many shops and galleries of Putnam. The Congregational Church will host the “Just in Time for Valentine’s Vendor Fair”. In addition to 13 select vendors, the Church will also feature a roaring fire pit along with lunch offerings.
There will be fire performances throughout the day ending in an epic fire breathing finale. Other performances on the fire stage include music and karaoke by request, magic shows, fire juggling and belly dancing sponsored by Byrnes Agency Insurance, Spicer Propane and Oil, The Liv and Donahue Industries. Music and sound provided by Daley’s DJ Service.
Parking is free and available in the municipal lots throughout Putnam and on Kennedy Drive. New this year will be a complimentary shuttle service. Visit: www.discoverputnam.com/fire—ice.

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Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday: Spaghetti, meatballs, broccoli, fruit. Tuesday - elementary: French toast sticks, sausages, spiced apples, hash browns, fruit. Tuesday - middle: Waffle sticks, fruit and cream toppings, sausages, spiced apples, hash browns, fruit. Wednesday - Wolf Meal: Beef burger with cheese, sherbet. Thursday: Mozzarella sticks, marinara sauce, noodles, peas, fruit. Friday - Valentine's Day: Heart-shaped chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, corn, cookie, fruit.
Putnam High
Monday: Sloppy Joes or spicy chicken sandwiches. Tuesday: Chicken Parm sandwich or bacon cheeseburgers. Wednesday: Italian meatball dinner or chicken wraps. Thursday: Cheesy beef tots or "Wild Mike's" cheese bites. Friday: French bread pizza or buffalo popcorn chicken basket.
Woodstock Public Schools
Every day: Fruit. Monday: Cheeseburger or hamburger, baked beans. Tuesday: Bosco Stix, marinara sauce. Wednesday: Chicken nuggets, brown rice, carrots. Thursday: Meatballs, sauce, pasta, green beans. Friday: Pizza, corn.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Chicken patty sandwich, broccoli. Tuesday: Beef and cheese walking taco, refried beans. Wednesday: Chicken tenders and waffles, hash browns. Thursday: Cheeseburger, sweet potato fries. Friday: Stuffed-crust pizza, cucumber wheels.

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