2nd fall festival a success
The Pomfret Recreation Department hosted its second annual Fall Festival Sept. 13 and it was a huge success. With clear skies and beautiful weather, the event brought the community together for a day full of activities, entertainment, and family fun, according to Pomfret Recreation Director Carrie Wolfe.
The festival kicked off with the “Harvest Hustle”—a 5K trail run for adults and a half-mile fun run for children by the Pomfret Community School PTO. The 5K course took participants through the scenic trails created and maintained by Quiet Corner NEMBA, while the children’s course looped around the baseball field. The National Anthem was performed by James Sposato, setting a patriotic tone for the start of the race.
Among the 5K participants were two particularly inspiring runners: Jeannine Fox (82) and her partner Richard DeCourey (86), who are traveling across the U.S. to participate in 5K races. They were also the event’s oldest participants.
Top race finishers included: Top Male Runner: Brian Werstler; Top Female Runner: Rebecca Byler; Top Boy Runner: Reagan Lewis; Top Girl Runner: Grace Moore
Live music was provided by the band Flat Rock, with partial sponsorship from the Pomfret Proprietors. Attendees enjoyed a variety of food trucks and local vendors throughout the day. The PCS PTO organized several inflatables and yard games for children, while members of the Junior Recreation Commission led traditional games, including sack races.
A highlight of the day was the apple pie contest, where the aromas of apples and cinnamon filled the air. Judging the contest were Carrie Wolfe (Recreation director), Joseph Wolfe, and Maureen Nicholson (first selectwoman). The winners were: 1st Place: Sue Mix; 2nd Place: Ashley Silvia; 3rd Place: Barbara Herbert
The festival also featured a pie-eating contest, with pies generously donated by Table Talk. Winners of the contest were Miles Olson and TJ King.
The Pomfret Recreation Department thanked all who contributed to the success of the festival, including the PCS PTO, Pomfret Fire Department, Recreation Commission members (Jen Hudock, Katie Bloom, Mary Collins, and Jennie Mix), Junior Recreation members (Emily Pike and Madison Lussier), student volunteers from PCS, and Joseph and Anthony Wolfe.
captions:
Clockwise from top left:
Pie Winners: From left: Barbara Herbert (3rd), Maureen Nicholson (1st selectman), Carrie Wolfe (Recreation director), Joseph Wolfe, and Sue Mix (1st). Courtesy photos.
Mike Olsen took a first place in the pie eating contest.
Oldest racers
A bit of soccer. Linda Lemmon photo.
TJ King
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Bell named veteran of month
THOMPSON — John L. Bell Sr. of Pompeo Road was selected as the Town of Thompson Veteran of the month for September.
Iran Hostage War Era Veteran, Petty Officer John Bell, Sr. enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1976 and received his honorable discharge in 1982. After basic training, he received advanced weapons direction and equipment training and went to the “USS Barney Guided Missile Destroyer DDG6”, to begin a four-and a half year deployment. Bell was in Bander Abbas, Iran when the Shah was in power and during the Iran Hostage Crisis. Also: the Mediterranean/Indian Ocean, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman, Gitmo, Cuba, Greece, Djibouti, the Sudan, Kenya, Naples Italy and more. Bell trained for the nuclear weapons security force, which included application of deadly force, and overview on the operation and instruction in the use of the FZ alarm and Duress System.
The Senior Officer W. L. Mcdow, LCDR, of the U.S. Navy, said “Petty Officer Bell was a highly capable and conscientious technician. His stamina, technical expertise and leadership capabilities were thoroughly tested in the high- pressure atmosphere of the Persian Gulf, where maintaining maximum weapons systems readiness was essential. It is to his great credit that his equipment did not suffer a single mission degrading casualty during his entire deployment.”
Bell was awarded The Battle “E” Efficiency Ribbon, The Navy Expeditionary Medal, The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and The First Good Conduct Award.
John Bell was born in Texas, but has lived most of his life in Webster and N. Grosvenordale. He graduated from Bartlett High School in 1969, and went on to study at Quinsigamound Community College in Worcester and at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic. Most of his professional life has been devoted to being a lieutenant for the State of Connecticut Prison System.
He has also been extremely active in Veterans Programs as a long- time member and 2 term Past Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10088 in Quinebaug, and a member of the American Legion Post 67 in Grosvenordale. Other memberships: the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 10 and the Polish American Veterans. Community service includes: Thompson Board of Selectman serving on its Board from 2009 to 2011; Zoning Board of Appeals, and is a state-certified Justice of the Peace. He has organized the annual Thompson Memorial Day Parade. He is also the head mechanic in Thompson for all voting machines John has also recently passed the State of Connecticut Moderator Examination, as a certified Moderator. John is also a proud owner of a lime green 2017 Dodge Challenger Sport Car.
John is married to his long-time wife Kathy (Molinaro) Bell, and together they have two sons, John, Jr. and Louis Bell and his wife Erica; and four grandchildren, Brendan, Brooke, Cali and Ashley.
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Seeking Putnam's Business of the Year
With so many wonderful businesses in Putnam, we ask that you, the patrons, submit your nominations for the business you would like to see recognized as Putnam’s 2025 Business of the Year.
The Business of the Year will be selected by the Economic Development Commission and Mayor Barney Seney.
The award will be presented by Mayor Seney during the Nov. 29 Small Business Saturday WINY live broadcast between 9 and 10 a.m. on Main Street. The winning business will also be included on the town of Putnam website and Facebook page and have its name on a plaque displayed in the Municipal Complex lobby.
Nomination forms are available in the Library, Town Clerk’s office and Building Dept. in the Municipal Complex; forms can also be found on the Town’s website at www.putnamct.us/departments/economic-and-community-development
Completed forms can be dropped off in Room 206 of the Municipal Complex, or emailed to
Nominations are due no later than 2 p.m. Oct. 16.
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Woodstock Public Schools
Every day: Fruit. Monday: Baked potato with fixings. Tuesday: Waffles, sausage, hash browns. Wednesday: Chicken nuggets, brown rice, black beans. Thursday: Penne, meatsauce, carrots. Friday: Pizza, raw veggie cups.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Every day but Wed.: Fruit. Monday: Macaroni and cheese, broccoli. Tuesday: Hot dogs or corn dogs, baked beans. Wednesday: Chicken ranch "Wolf Pup" wrap, veggie salad. Thursday: Pasta, meatsauce, corn. Friday: Pizza, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers.
Putnam High
Monday: General Tso's chicken or spicy chicken sandwich. Tuesday: Macaroni and cheese or bacon cheeseburger. Wednesday: Chicken Parm sandwich or chicken Caesar wrap. Thursday: Cheesy beef tot-chos or "Wild Mike's" cheese bites. Friday: Stuffed-crust pizza or popcorn chicken fry basket.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Cheeseburgers, baked beans. Tuesday: Buffalo ranch drummies, celery and baby carrots. Wednesday: French toast sticks, turkey sausage, hash browns. Thursday: Mac and cheese, baby carrots. Friday: Housemade cheese or roni pizza, romaine salad.
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