POMFRET CENTER—Generations of Boy Scouts across Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts have fond memories of camping at the Buck Hill Scout Reservation in Burrillville, R.I. 
The camp was created in the 1960s, and today it is operated by Scouting America, Narragansett Council, offering a summer and winter retreat for thousands of scouts from the three Southern New England states.
The reservation sits on the shore of Wakefield Pond and is connected to 1,200 acres of forest in Rhode Island and Connecticut owned by the Scouts. On the Rhode Island side, the Council is in the process of transferring 920 acres to the State where it will be incorporated into the Buck Hill and Washington Wildlife Management Areas.
On the Connecticut side, the Wyndham Land Trust acquired all of the Narragansett Council’s property–275 acres–at the beginning of September.
The parcel abuts the 75-acre Marie LeClair preserve that was donated to the Land Trust in 2011. The resulting 350-acre preserve creates a valuable bridge for wildlife between Quaddick State Park in Connecticut and the state-owned land in Rhode Island.
“Scouting America, Narragansett Council is pleased to work with the Wyndham Land Trust to preserve the natural beauty and resources of this property for future generations,” said Scouting America, Narragansett Council CEO Tim McCandless.
“We’ve been working for several years to protect this property,” said Mike St. Lawrence, president of the Wyndham Land Trust. “We identified it as a key link in the wildlife corridor between Quaddick State Park/State Forest owned by Connecticut and state-owned parks and forests in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. This represents a very large forest block– almost 15,000 acres–that provides critical wildlife habitat in Southern New England.
“In addition, the new preserve, which we are calling Blackmore Forest, will protect extensive wetlands, including brooks that feed into Quaddick Pond, the Five Mile River, and ultimately the Thames River and Long Island Sound."
 It’s a historic site with partial remnants of Thompson’s Town Farm, formerly an alms house for the poor and destitute in town.”
Large open spaces, like the new Blackmore Forest, are important for the survival of wildlife species threatened by sprawl and forest fragmentation in Southern New England. Large mammals that will benefit from the expanse of forest include bobcat, black bear, and fishers. Likewise, birds that thrive and breed far from human disturbance include red-shouldered hawk, barred owl, pileated woodpecker, ovenbird, wood thrush, and cerulean warbler.
In addition, the clean water in large forested expanses supports amphibians that struggle to survive when exposed to toxic runoff from streets, parking lots, and lawns.
The new preserve is open to the public and contains a network of trails that will be mapped by the Land Trust and the Thompson Trails Committee and shown on their web sites.
The Wyndham Land Trust was formed in 1975 and now protects 6,400 acres in northeastern Connecticut. The work of the all-volunteer group is possible through the generosity and dedication of its members and donors.
The Wyndham Land Trust is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and your membership and donations may be tax deductible. To learn more about the Land Trust visit wyndhamlandtrust.org. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

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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 December 17, 2024, at 7:00 
P. M. in Room 201 at the Putnam Municipal Complex, located at 200 School Street, Putnam, CT.  A public hearing will be held on each of the following:

Appeal #  2024-008 Town of Putnam request for a rear yard variance from the required 20’ down to 4’ for the construction of a proposed pavilion.  Property located at 15 South Main Street, Town Assessors Map 015, Lot 208, Zoned PD.

Appeal # 2024-009 Douglas Porter-WBA request for a variance for the front yard from the required 10’ down to 0, and rear yard from the required 20’ down to 0. Property located at 36 Canal Street, Town Assessors Map 15, Lot 93, Zoned PD.

Joseph Nash, Chairperson

Meeting information will be available on the Town of Putnam website prior to the meeting.

Dec. 5, 2024
Dec. 12, 2024

Town of Putnam
Planning & Zoning Commission 
Legal Notice

The Town of Putnam Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a hybrid meeting on December 18, 2024, at 7:00 P. M. in Room 201 at the Putnam Municipal Complex, located at 200 School Street, Putnam, CT.  A public hearing will be held on each of the following:

Docket # 2024-11 Wayne Langlois request for a Special Permit to operate a Swiss Screw Machine Shop. Property located at 70 May Street, Town Assessors Map 11, 208, Zoned GC.

Docket # 2024-12 Devon McCrillis request for a Home Occupation Permit to operate a Gunsmith and Coating Shop.  Property located at 17 Vine Street, Town Assessors Map 20, Lot 140, Zoned R-10.
 
Zoom meeting information will be available on the Town of Putnam website prior to the meeting date.   

Patricia Hedenberg, Chairperson

Dec. 5, 2024
Dec. 12, 2024

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Elks Thanksgiving: No one will be alone
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — It’s just one of thousands of stories that shine the spotlight on how much the annual Elks’ Thanksgiving Dinner means to the community.
Diane Robinson, past exalted ruler of the Putnam Lodge of Elks #574, said she remembers taking a call for one of the hundreds of free Thanksgiving dinners to be delivered. It turned out that the caller had spoken with a neighbor who had also called in for one dinner. They decided they should eat Thanksgiving dinner together so the meals were delivered together.
And the same goes for those at the Elks lodge Thanksgiving Day. All the tables are large. There’s no way to eat alone.
Robinson estimated 575 meals were prepared this year, the 11th year. Last year was slightly fewer. In this year’s numbers 350 meals were delivered, 145 were picked up (to go) and the rest ate at a spacious table at the lodge.
There were 23 routes set up to make all the deliveries. Elk Betsy Santerre drew up the routes.
And the Elks weren’t alone in their efforts either. A community of volunteers and contributors made it happen. Of the fund-raising, Michael Paquin said none of this would be possible without the volunteers and the donations. The first year, he said, there were 72 meals prepared. “This is the biggest year yet,” he added.
Individuals and businesses make donations. And if the coffer ever runs a bit short, members kick in money to make sure there are enough turkeys. 
Robinson said there were 130 turkeys, 70 hams, 350 pounds of white potatoes, 300 pounds of sweet potatoes and about 70 pounds of corn.
Work started earlier this week at the lodge with volunteers making 100 pumpkin pies, 15 apple pies and, for good measure, six apple crisps, according to Robinson. 
It’s a community effort that makes it a success, according to Exalted Ruler Michael Martin.
Years ago hanging out with fellow Elks, Rich Boulet said the lodge should create a free Thanksgiving dinner for the community. Wife Judi Boulet said the kids were pretty well grown and he needed something to do, to give back. Robinson said they began with a core group (including son “Zippy” Boulet) and it built up over the years. Now some 75 people help in some way. 
Paquin called it Boulet’s “brain child”. “It’s a labor of love.”
At the end it was full stomachs, smiles and — you’re not alone.