Vol. VI, No. 11 Complimentary (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] ‘An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest’ Friday, December 10, 2010 THIS WEEK’S QUOTE ‘The need is “Only the mediocre are always at their constant’ best.” BLOOD DRIVES SEEKING INSIDE DONORS TO SAVE LIVES A8 — OPINION BY JACK MELTZER A12 — SPORTS VILLAGER STAFF WRITER B4 — HOT SPOT According to the Red Cross, every B2-4 — OBITS minute of every day, Jack Meltzer photos B4 — RELIGION someone needs blood, and currently only From left, American Legion Post 13 Commander Norman Seney with B5 — CALENDAR three out of every 100 Executive Director of Wreaths Across America Karen Worcester and her hus- people in America band, Wreaths Across America Founder Morrill Worcester. donate it. LOCAL With the holiday season just around the corner the time for giving is here. The slo- Remembering gan for the Red Cross is “the need is con- File photo stant, the gratification According the Red Cross, the need is great for blood is instant, give blood.” donations. There are several blood drives in and around “Blood drives are our veterans the Quiet Corner for those looking to donate. particularly impor- tant with the holidays. group. He also stated that the state People are focused on the holidays, of Connecticut still imports nearly ‘WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA’ and the festivities,” said CEO of 10,000 units of blood a year and that Connecticut Blood Services for the the state particularly needs 12 to 15 PAYS TRIBUTE TO LOCAL VETS Holocaust Red Cross, Paul Sullivan. “We don’t successful working blood drives a have enough donors to support our day to become self-sufficient. BY JACK MELTZER survivor Speaks own hospitals in Connecticut.” In this vein, there are variety of VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Sullivan said blood can only come upcoming blood drives if you PUTNAM — On Tuesday,Dec. 7, the national patriotic group Wreaths Page A3 from a volunteer donor, a person should feel the need to give this Across America stopped in Putnam to honor local veterans as part of who makes the choice to donate. month — Day Kimball Hospital, their annual trip called “Wreaths Across America’s 2010 Escort to There is no substitute for a person’s Arlington.” donation. When you make a blood SPORTS Turn To DONORS, page A11 The event took place in the Putnam Stop and Shop parking lot. The donation, you join a very select veterans of American Legion Post 13 and the Putnam Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1523 welcomed the organization. “This certainly is a great event. We’re going state to state, from Rhode Island to Connecticut. We pick up the Connecticut State Police Finding your happy today, and drop the Rhode Island State Police off,” said the founder of Wreaths Across America, Morrill Worcester. A color guard was posted at Stop and Shop when the organization arrived. OCAL SHIRT GURU IS SMILING FOR A CAUSE According to Worcester, this is the 19th consecutive trip from L T- Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Ceremony in Washington, D.C. The next stop for the group is Old Saybrook, then to Darien, and BY CLARE HOPKINS VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Turn To WREATHS, page A11 BROOKLYN — An eternal opti- mist and T-shirt enthusiast from Kipp’s Basketball Brooklyn has combined his two pas- preview sions to create a new company. Eric Anderson started his new Celebrating Homecare Page A12 venture, “Happy Shirts,” with co- founder Jason Tessitore about eight months ago after having the idea for EVERYDAY ECOLOGIST quite some time. and Hospice Month “I have an addiction to T-shirts,” HOLIDAY TIPS he said. “I love T-shirts and always PAGE A5 wanted to have my own T-shirt com- BY CLARE HOPKINS pany.I finally decided to do this and VILLAGER STAFF WRITER tap into my creative juices and start OPINION a business.” Alice Guay, 77 years old and completely blind, might normally be in a Though it is a business, Happy nursing or assisted living home. Instead, she is living in an in-law apart- GET YOUR ment because of the services provided by Day Kimball Hospital POINT ACROSS Shirts also allows Anderson to express his other passion, which is Homemakers and Homecare. PAGE A8 helping others in need. For each “These services are going to help you remain living at home, comfort- ably, safely and happily, and keep you connected as a member of our com- WHAT TO DO shirt bought one is donated to a child in need. munity,” said Day Kimball Homemakers Director Susan Esons. A CALENDAR “You’re not just buying a T-shirt Clare Hopkins Last month, Day Kimball celebrated National Homecare and Hospice OF AREA EVENTS — you’re also buying a new crisp T- Brooklyn resident Erik Anderson, the co- month, services which provide people like Guay the opportunity to stay PAGE B5 shirt for someone in need,” said founder of “Happy Shirts,” is donating a living in their own home. Anderson. T-shirt to the needy for each one pur- “All of these services help people remain living independently,” said Anderson said his larger message chased. Esons. “Wherever they call home is where we help them stay.” is that of optimism and hopeful- With 450 clients and close to 90 employees, the Homemakers program Each shirt features a character ness. provides non-medical support services such as general housecleaning and with a distinctive smiling face, “The core behind Happy Shirts is chores, running errands, meal planning and preparation, bathing, dress- which Anderson said he put consid- to help promote happiness and opti- ing, toileting, transportation to medical appointments, shopping and erable thought into. mism through your clothing and to recreation outings as well as socialization, medication supervision, and “The happy face eyes are squinted help provide clothing and support for those who have extreme needs,” Turn To HOSPICE, page A10 said Anderson. Turn To T-SHIRTS, page A11 A2 • Friday, December 10, 2010 PUTNAM VILLAGER Cerrones leading community VILLAGER ALMANAC QUOTATION OF THE WEEK YMCA campaign “Generally, we have several PUTNAM — Marc and YMCA’s commitment to events going on at the same Kate Cerrone, of Pomfret, fighting childhood obesity have been named co-chairs and encouraging the time, so I am juggling. I’m of the community cam- lifestyle choices that lead to paign for the new Regional healthy families, the facili- a good juggler, it’s part of Community YMCA. ty will host a state-of-the-art The community cam- health and wellness center, my role.” paign is set to begin in early gymnasium, group exercise 2011, as part of the ongoing studio/multi purpose - Pat Hedenberg, of Putnam, the appeals and event manager for major gifts capital cam- room, and cycling studio. paign already underway. Amazing kids and child Day Kimball Hospital, and one of the main coordinators for the The new YMCA will offer watch rooms (babysitting “Tree of Life” ceremony this Sunday, Dec. 12, commenting on activities and experiences while in the facility), will serving in many capacities for the event. for every age and fitness allow adults to access level with programs for YMCA services while their active adults and families, children are cared for in a including literacy pro- safe on-site environment. OPEN TO CLOSE grams, community develop- The facility will serve ment, and after-school and residents from the towns of PUTNAM TOWN HALL (963-6800) youth education. Putnam, Killingly,Eastford, Monday through Friday.................................8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “The new Regional Thompson, Brooklyn, Community YMCA will Pomfret, Woodstock and Town Clerk (963-6807): serve as a family destina- Plainfield. Monday through Friday.................................8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. tion for residents of the The Cerrones join Jim Recordings accepted until 4 p.m.; office occasionally closed Quiet Corner,” said Marc and Pat Calhoun, honorary between noon and 1 p.m. Cerrone, community cam- co-chairs of the Regional paign co-chair. “Kate and I Community YMCA Capital Water Pollution Control Authority (963-6819): are dedicated to supporting Campaign, and Woody and Monday through Friday .....................................8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this effort because as par- Sylvia Danenhower, ents, we know that the life- General Campaign chairs, Veterans Services.................................................9 to 11 a.m. Friday changing experiences our in the multi-dimensional children have had with the effort aimed to realize a PUTNAM PUBLIC LIBRARY (963-6826) Y will stay with them new community center Courtesy photo Monday through Thursday ..............................10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday..............................................................10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. throughout their lives. We with a state-of-the-art Pomfret residents Marc and Kate Cerrone were recently named Saturday...................................................................10 a.m. to 5 p.m. hope our friends and neigh- health and wellness center co-chairs of the community campaign for the new Regional Story Time: 4 p.m. Mondays, 11 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays bors will join us in this in Northeast Connecticut. Community YMCA. important effort to deliver The new Regional PUTNAM POST OFFICE (928-4051) the benefits that the YMCA Community YMCA is made programming are the Hartford served more than Window: will bring to our entire possible by the collabora- YMCA of Greater Hartford 111,000 people in 46 towns Monday through Friday .....................................8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. community.” tion of donors, volunteers, YMCA, the Town of and cities throughout the Saturday .................................................................8:30 a.m. to noon Included in the construc- local leaders, fitness and Putnam, the Newell D.