Amanda M. Albeke Grenier
BROOKLYN — Amanda M. Albeke Grenier, 37, died unexpectedly of natural causes Nov. 17, 2020, at home.
Amanda was born in 1983 in Pittsfield, Mass., at Berkshire Medical Center and moved to Moosup from Becket, Mass., when she was 2 years old. She always excelled in scholastics making the honor roll all throughout grade school. She graduated Plainfield High School in 2001 and went on to attend Fitchburg State College, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude earning a bachelor’s degree in science majoring in criminal justice. Amanda later went on to earn a master’s degree in library and information science at Southern Connecticut State University.
She married Justin Grenier Nov. 4, 2006, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Plainfield.
Amanda was the director of the Gladys E. Kelly Public Library in Webster. There she was influential in the library’s management and development, having a positive impact on her staff and the local community.
She leaves her husband, Justin R. Grenier of Brooklyn; her parents, Whitney and Donna Albeke of Moosup; her sister, Alison Showers (Gary) of Chicopee, Mass; two nieces, Caley and Madelyn Showers; her uncles, Michael Didato (Georgene) of Waterford, and Richard Albeke of Virginia.
The Graveside Service was Nov. 23 in St. Joseph Cemetery, Norwich. Donations: Friends of Gladys E. Kelly Public Library, 2 Lake St., Webster, MA 01570. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
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Wed. Nov. 25
Canceled Cookie Sale
BROOKLYN --- Our Lady of La Salette’s annual holiday cookie sale and basket drawing has been cancelled due to COVID-19. See you next year.
St. Nicholas Fair
POMFRET --- The annual Saint Nicholas Victorian Fair at Christ Church in Pomfret will be an online auction through noon Dec. 2. Items are to be picked up in person at the church between 10 a.m. and noon Dec. 5 (snow date Dec. 12). Go to: the Saint Nicholas Fair Auction at www.biddingowl.com/ChristChurchPomfret. Benefits local outreach programs. 860-315-7780.
Virtual Fair
BROOKLYN --- The Federated Church will hold a Sugar Plum Virtual Fair ending at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 2. Pickup is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 5 at the church. Limited in person shopping and delivery available. fccbrooklynct.org/event/sugar-plum-virtual-fair\
Thur. Nov. 26
Happy Thanksgiving!
Fri. Nov. 27
Santa
PUTNAM --- The town of Putnam will present Santa Comes to Town at Rotary Park. CANCELLED. Moved to Dec. 5.
Coats for Kids
BROOKLYN --- The Knights of Columbus will have Coats for Kids from 9 a.m. to noon at the Brooklyn Recreation Department. All children are invited, with parents or guardians, to get fitted for a brand new coat. For kids ages 3-17.
Sun. Nov. 29
Dazzle Parade
PUTNAM --- The 19th annual Holiday Dazzle Reverse Invitational Light Parade will be a reverse parade this year at Murphy Park. Rain date is Dec. 6. Spectators will be doing the moving, not the floats, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Bring a nonperishable donation for Daily Bread or a toy donation for the Putnam Family Resource Center. Donations collected at end of exit.
Sat. Dec. 5
Santa Coming!
PUTNAM --- At 4 p.m. Santa will arrive at the giant lighted ornament and the new Santa Over the Falls and more lights n Rotary Park. Pop up vendors will be there from noon to 4:30. COVID-19 guidelines event.
Boot Drive
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Democratic Town Committee will hold a Holiday Winter Boot Drive from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Station #76 on Rt. 169. It will benefit children from Woodstock and local towns through TEEG. Please bring new, unwrapped winter boots in children’s sizes for either gender and in original packaging. Cash donations also accepted or mail checks, payable to TEEG, to the Woodstock Democratic Town Committee, ATTN: Holiday Winter Boot Drive, P.O. Box 813, Woodstock, CT 06281. Cash donations will be used to purchase additional boots for area children.
Sun. Dec. 6
Hospice Tree
The Hospice Tree of Life Ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m. with simultaneous tree lighting ceremonies in 11 northeastern Connecticut towns. Benefits: Hospice & Palliative Care of NE CT. For info/changes go to: daykimball.org/treeoflife.
Sat. Dec. 12
Pet Food Drive
KILLINGLY --- Pet Pals Northeast, a local animal welfare organization, will be collecting cat and dog food, dry or canned, (Purina brands preferred) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Killingly Library. Cash donations always welcome. Everyone must wear a mask. 860-317-1720.
Fri. Dec. 25
Merry Christmas!
Sun. Jan. 1, 2021
Happy New Year!
Wee Wander
THOMPSON ---Wee Wander with Wyndham Land Trust from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the “Robbins Five Mile River Ramble.” The hike will be held at the Robbins Preserve. Take Quaddick Town Farm Road to Fred Davis Road, park at gate. Bring camera, dress appropriately. Bad weather during the schedule time of this event will cancel. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org
Sat. April 24
Wall of Honor
PUTNAM --- The Putnam High School Wall of Honor ceremony will be held today.
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The Last Green Valley, Inc. is taking the #OptOutside movement to the next level Thanksgiving Weekend with Walktober Redux – a mini version of our hugely popular autumnal hiking event. All hikes have a limited capacity to ensure safe distancing. Masks and registration are required for all events.
FRIDAY
Wolf Den Hike: 10 am, Nov. 27, Pomfret — Join TLGV Rangers John and Kevin on a hike of some of Mashamoquet State Park’s most iconic locations. Hike to the table rock and then to the wolf den where the group will take a short rest for a snack before returning on another trail to the parking area. This is a three-mile moderate hike. Registration and masks required. Parking directions will be given upon registration. Email Bill at
Bi-State Marker Hike: 12:30 pm, Nov. 27, Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown — Venture out in Pachaug State Forest to the stone monument marking the border between Connecticut and Rhode Island. It will be a four-mile out-and-back hike of moderate difficulty, featuring a few rock scrambles and approximately 100 ft. of elevation over the two miles out to the marker. Registration and masks required. Parking directions will be given upon registration. Email Kyle at
Winter Night Sky: 5:30 pm, Nov. 27, West Thompson Dam, Thompson — Enjoy the winter night sky views of the moon, Saturn and Jupiter. Registration and masks required. Parking directions will be given upon registration. Email Fran at
SATURDAY
Eastford Nipmuck Trail: 10 am to noon, Nov. 28, Eastford — Join Chief Ranger Bill Reid for a hike on the Nipmuck Trail in Eastford. This will be a moderate four-mile round-trip hike to an interesting destination on the iconic trail. Registration and masks required. Parking directions will be given upon registration. Email Bill at
TriTown Forest Preserve Hike: 1 pm, Nov. 28, N. Stonington — Come and experience one of Avalonia Land Conservancy’s newer and more rugged properties. This moderately difficult five-mile hike, with approximately 400 ft. elevation gain over the course of the loop, features two major scenic overlooks amid many noteworthy natural and historical features while weaving in and out of The Last Green Valley. Registration and masks required. Parking directions will be given upon registration. Email Kyle at
SUNDAY
Bartlett Brook Ramble: 10 am, Nov. 29, Lebanon — Enjoy a peaceful, relatively easy two-mile ramble on old farm roads in the Bartlett Brook Wildlife Management Area. We’ll learn about state habitat restoration efforts plus take a detour to glimpse a former water mill site. Registration and masks required. Parking directions will be given upon registration. Email Kyle at
Afternoon Nipmuck Trail Hike in Ashford: 1 – 3 pm, Nov. 29, Ashford — Join Chief Ranger Bill Reid for an afternoon hike on the Nipmuck Trail in Ashford. This will be an easy two-mile round-trip hike to a fun destination. Registration and masks required. Parking directions will be given upon registration. Email Bill at
Sprague Land Preserve Hike: 1 - 3:30 pm, Nov. 29, Sprague — Hike one of the newer trails at Sprague Land Preserve, where we will stop to see if the waterfall is flowing. On the way back, we can take a look at an old foundation. Depending on conditions, the hike will be three to four miles long, with potential elevation changes of 250 ft. Registration and masks required. Parking directions will be given upon registration. Email Nick at
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Grant
Jewett City Savings Bank recently awarded TEEG a $15,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Jobs for New England Recovery Grant Program. The program allows member financial institutions to assist small businesses and non-profit organizations that have experienced significant losses due to the pandemic. As a member, Jewett City Savings Bank focused its support on those organizations that had limited opportunities to participate in other funding sources that became available through the CARES act and other government programs. From left: Jewett City Savings Bank President and CEO Kevin Merchant; Anne Miller, executive director of Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group; and Michael Alberts, vice president and senior commercial loan officer. Courtesy photo.
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