Dedication

Above, Putnam Bank President and CEO Tom Borner, Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut Board Member JoAnn Hall and CEO Terri O’Rourke dedicate the home building project on Mechanic Street in Danielson March 28.  The attendees celebrated along with the Diamond Family, an extended family of three generations, who will live in the home. Courtesy photo.  

 

'Nosing in' on Spring

This magnolia bud is starting to swell. Spring is very close indeed. More photos on page 6. Linda Lemmon photo.

 

PRIDE, 

police dept.

visit 

seniors

The Putnam Police Department, working in cooperation with the Partnership to Reduce the Influence of Drugs for Everyone (PRIDE), continues to expand its educational outreach in its effort to foster a safe, drug-free environment for the entire Putnam community.

Working in collaboration, the two agencies have been reaching out to business owners, town officials, law enforcement, school administrators, parents and youth, delivering the message on the dangers of drug and substance abuse.  In its latest effort the team visited the senior citizens in the elderly housing complexes in Putnam.  Included in their visits were the Bulger-St. Onge Apartments, Little River Acres, Hampshire Heights and Ella Grasso Apartments.

The team of presenters included Putnam Deputy Chief of Police Lee Konicki, Sgt. Justin Lussier and PRIDE Coordinator Romeo Blackmar.  This was a first-time initiative with Putnam’s senior housing developments.

“This was the first time we’ve done this type of presentation with this group.  We learned some things that we’ll put to use in future meetings.  It was a great event, giving us the opportunity to speak with some wonderful people, while answering a number of questions and concerns that were brought forward,” said Konicki.

The results of the visits paid off handsomely as approximately 50 pounds of unused and outdated prescription medications were collected from approximately 36 participants.  The success of the Putnam Police Department and PRIDE coalition has produced stunning results, with more than 2600 pounds of unwanted, unused and expired medications having been collected since the inception of the program.  

Much of the success of the “drug take back program” is attributable directly to two programs, the “Prescription Drug Drop Box” in the lobby of the police department and the “Drug Take Back Days.”  The response to the Drop Box has “been impressive,” according to Konicki.  The “Take Back Days” have been so well received that they are conducted twice a year, with people responding from throughout northeastern Connecticut and nearby Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Since the “Prescription Drug Drop Box” has been in the lobby of the police department, more than 1,000 pounds of unused, unwanted prescription drugs have been collected, while the “Drug Take Back days” have been responsible for more than 1,600 pounds being returned for safe disposal. 

“Expanding our program to our senior citizen community provided us the opportunity to not only meet and educate these people but it certainly fostered goodwill,” said Blackmar.

The next “Putnam Drug Take Back Day” is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 at the Putnam Farmer’s Market on Kennedy Drive.

 

 

caption, page 7:

 

Pledge Complete

Citizens National Bank recently completed its pledge to Day Kimball Healthcare's Care in a Heartbeat Capital Campaign. Left to right: Robert Smanik, president and CEO, Day Kimball Healthcare; Donald St. Onge, Senior Vice President, COO and Chief Nursing Officer, Day Kimball Healthcare; Pamela Watts, Development director, Day Kimball Healthcare; Peter Deary, Care in a Heartbeat Leadership Campaign co-chair; and David Conrad, president and CEO, Citizens National Bank. Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

PUTNAM — Citizens National Bank has contributed the final installment of a $250,000 pledge of support for Day Kimball Healthcare’s “Care In a Heartbeat” Capital Campaign. David Conrad, president and CEO of Citizens National Bank, presented a check for $87,500, the remainder of the pledge, to Day Kimball Healthcare leadership and the campaign’s co-chair at the bank’s Putnam branch March 26.

“We at The Citizens National Bank are extremely proud to finish our commitment of $250,000 towards the new emergency department at Day Kimball Hospital early with this check for $87,500,” Conrad said. “This endeavor is extremely important to the area in providing excellent medical care to the communities that both CNB and Day Kimball serve. The bank is truly honored to be part of this project.”

The Care in a Heartbeat Campaign raised over $3 million to help fund construction of the new Townsend Emergency Medical Center at Day Kimball Hospital. Construction of the new facility has been undertaken in three phases, with the first two phases completed in 2014. Already in use are 18 new private patient treatment rooms, including a behavioral health wing, and a state-of-the-art resuscitation room. The final phase, which includes six more new patient treatment rooms and an all-new entrance and waiting area, is set to open in late summer of this year. When complete, the new facility will offer double the space of the old emergency department. Other improvements include new, specialized equipment, technology upgrades and more.