Feb. 6 the Pomfret Public Library officially kicked off its Capital Campaign aimed at raising $500,000 to essentially double the space of the current library that has been in existence since 1739.  The addition to the building, which is the first major renovation in more than 40 years, includes conference areas, activity rooms for children and adults, space for the historical society archives, technology upgrades and other improvements to the current space.
The campaign team, led by Chairperson Atty. Kate Cerrone and Vice Chairpersons Marc and Mary Archambault, working in concert with community volunteers, was steadily moving toward its goal when it suddenly and surprisingly encountered the COVID-19 coronavirus.  Since that time, approximately the first week of March, the campaign has been forced to slow its progress but it hasn’t deterred those working diligently to see the campaign to its successful conclusion.
“Following the enthusiastic reception the project received at our kickoff, our team was making great progress toward achieving our goal.  We were looking forward to the day when we would announce our success, which would allow the community to move forward with the construction,” said Cerrone.  “We look forward to the day when we can gather again, and we want our library to be better than ever for that time.”
The library expansion project received its initial impetus through a grant of $421,800 from a Connecticut State Library Construction Grant. As part of the preparation for the expansion, the Town of Pomfret did an exploratory survey of its citizens that demonstrated the community agreed with the need for the expansion.  The $500,000 campaign goal is the community’s matching portion of the grant.
Pomfret Public Library has 1800 cardholders, which equates to approximately 10,000 visitors annually.  Its annual circulation is nearly 16,500 items.  In 2019 the library presented a variety of 186 programs that were attended by more than 2,100 people.  Attendance at many of the programs was often hindered due to the current space limitations of the building.  The library’s current collection includes more than 20,000 books and DVDs, with thousands more available on line, according to librarian Laurie Bell.
“We are very proud of the Pomfret Public Library and the work of our librarian Laurie Bell and the library staff.  The library is opened 32 hours per week and they work hard to plan and run the library sponsored programs and assist our patrons with whatever they need,” said Library Board Chairperson Ginger Lusa.  “Our board is enthusiastically behind this project and we are excited to see the progress that has been made so far.”
Despite the fund-raising slowdown caused by the coronavirus quarantine, the campaign team is prepared to resume activity as soon as the “shelter in place” edict is lifted.  Even during the quarantine period, the committee continues to receive inquiries regarding methods of support for the project.
“Our committee has maintained contact with our campaign consultant throughout this slowdown.  We receive and disseminate updates on a weekly basis.  It’s amazing, we actually received a substantial pledge recently and have received calls and e-mails from Pomfret residents who are in Florida and are looking forward to returning home.  I believe this bodes well for the outcome we’re working toward,” said Marc Archambault.

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No matter how long you have been with your current partner, new experiences can always pop up and contribute to your relationship growth.
These experiences can be as complex as an exotic trip to a foreign country, or as simple as, say, giving your partner a haircut when you’ve never, EVER, done it before.  Although the fact that hair grows back, offers a softening blow to the permanence of a poorly executed haircut, the hair on our head and the way in which we style it, is still a defining visible characteristic of who we are.  More so today, in the world of mask wearing which places even greater emphasis on our facial parts which remain uncovered.  But it is exactly this necessity for wearing a facial mask, that lead to the necessity of me having to give my husband a haircut!
I do take great comfort in knowing that I am not alone in my haircut drama as millions of other untrained family members have had to provide much needed haircuts to members of their own quarantining family members — further validating the current slogan of “in this together”.
But as much as this comforting fact exists, I alone held the scissors and the razor, ready to wage the war of ‘hairstyle’ on the fastly growing hairs on my husband’s head.  I had never used a razor for haircutting with any sense of style in mind.  My haircutting razor experience consisted of completely shaving a head which is relatively easy to do since no real technique knowledge is required.  Although, I did notice that it is necessary to try and do an even shave, lest you leave your victim with some patches of shaved hair higher than others.  My scissor cutting technique experience was even more dismal, as it involved randomly snipping off dead ends.  On paper, I would NOT be hired in a barber shop, but in my “I’m the only option you have” home, I was it!
I know, with certainty, that my husband did not have the greatest confidence in my abilities.  I cannot blame him at all since I would rather tip my head upside down, grab a pair of craft scissors from the kitchen junk drawer, and cut my own hair than sit in a chair and blindly grant him access.  However, my husband is not uber concerned with the necessity for a high quality, fashionable haircut, and so he let his stronger desire for shorter hair dominate, resulting in him sitting in a chair, wrapped in a cape, with me standing at the ready with a razor and scissors.  I also had a comb, hair clips, a small brush, a hand-held mirror, a dustpan, and a bandage (just in case) nearby.
In the end, we learned a little bit more about one another since he learned that I am “sensitive” to criticism and what I may perceive as criticism, and I learned that he is more “particular” about how he likes his hair to look than I thought he was.  With only one real “sort of” visible spot of a mistake, we both chalked up the experience as a success.
I am also a believer in the saying that “practice makes perfect” and I may be looking forward to giving it another try.  Or maybe not?
Grow! Grow!
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!

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Thanks
The signs of thanks are everywhere for those on the front lines, fighting the Coronavirus. These hearts hang in East Putnam. Linda Lemmon photo.

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