Shred Days set
OXFORD, Mass. — bankHometown will hold three free Shred Days at local offices. No appointment is necessary.
Shred Days:
Oxford Office — Sept. 10 — 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Putnam Office – Sept. 24 – 9 to 11 a.m.
Sturbridge Office – Oct. 8 — 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Local residents can reduce their risk of identity theft by bringing old mail, receipts, statements or bills, cancelled checks, pay stubs, medical records, or any other unwanted paper documents containing personal or confidential information and shredding them safely and securely for free. A professional document destruction company will be on site in the bank’s parking lot and can accept up to two boxes of documents per person.

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Donation
The Northeast Connecticut Cancer Fund of Day Kimball Healthcare recently received a donation of $2,000 by the Solomon family in memory of their family member and 2018 NECT Cancer Fund Angel Ambassador, Shannon Labonte who passed away from a rare form of cancer on April 27, 2018. From left: Kristen Willis, director of development, Day Kimball Healthcare; JoAnn Labonte, Shannon’s mother-in-law; Zoe Labonte, Shannon’s daughter; Ann Russo, Shannon’s aunt; Roberta Solomon, Shannon’s mother; Chloe Magao, Shannon’s Cousin; and Linda Pacheco, Shannon’s aunt at the Deary Memorial Recognition Garden on the grounds of DKH’s Schneider Center across from the Day Kimball Hospital. The garden was created by members of the Deary family in 2007 to memorialize, honor, and recognize cancer survivors and loved ones lost to cancer. Courtesy photo.

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DKH gets $580k
grant to upgrade
telemedicine
PUTNAM — Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) received a $580,400 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to upgrade the facility’s telemedicine network infrastructure through the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants Program.
DKH will use the funds to upgrade telemedicine services which offer cost savings to the hospital, medical practices, and patients by reducing no-show appointments and increasing provider productivity. It also allows DKH to modernize capabilities and ensure that residents of northeastern Connecticut continue to have clear, seamless, and stable access to their physicians and providers. The total investment for this project is $1,055,342, with the remainder being contributed by DKH.
“On behalf of Day Kimball Healthcare, we would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Congressman Joe Courtney and his staff, as well as the USDA, for their support in advancing our information technology infrastructure and telehealth platforms,” said Kyle Kramer, Chief Executive Officer, Day Kimball Healthcare. “The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that there is more that we can do to engage with our patients through virtual care platforms and telemedicine, and this funding will allow us to modernize our capabilities and ensure that the residents of Northeastern Connecticut continue to have clear, seamless, and stable access to their physicians and providers,” Kramer said.
“There’s really a big need out there for reliable telehealth services, especially in rural areas like Windham County, and particularly while there’s such high demand nationwide for things like mental health services,” said Rep. Joe Courtney. “We’ve got a serious need for this kind of support in eastern Connecticut—rural health centers like Day Kimball provide a critically essential service for many of our Quiet Corner communities, but they and our towns often simply don’t have the resources coming out of COVID to make these sorts of major investments, which are essential to the future of our public health, our quality of life, the strength of our workforce, and more. That’s exactly why we passed the American Rescue Plan, so that these sorts of critical investments aren’t delayed, and so that we can keep doing the work today to prepare our region for success tomorrow and in the future. It’s great to see this federal support coming home to improve health care for people throughout Windham County.”
“DKH plays an absolutely vital role in the safety and security of Connecticut’s rural communities and this investment in the telemedicine network is critical to increasing patient access to the service the hospital provides,” said Scott Soares.
 director USDA Rural Development Southern New England. “By way of increasing access to healthcare, telehealth is an important opportunity for our rural neighbors as well as an important tool that allows healthcare providers to extend smart innovative care to the communities they serve.”
This program made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act under the leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, is intended to expand critical services in 143 rural health care originations. $32 million of the total $74 million investments are earmarked for 67 rural health care organizations to help more than 1 million people living in socially vulnerable communities.

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Pluck-a-Duck 2022 —
Top 20 prize winners
Bob Trahan – 7500 Watt Generac generator with electric start; Ron Adams, $500 Visa gift card; Maura Babbitt, 25 tons of sand, stone or gravel with delivery within 30-minute radius; Cindy Price, 6-month Family Membership Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center; Wesley Warren, a Newport Getaway; Cheryl Lytell, Yeti cooler with gift card; Blair Cole, Paint party for 20 people; Donna Dubois, Foursome round of golf with carts; Denise Tsanjoures, a Foxwoods Getaway; Lynn McLean, Round-trip airport transportation to Bradley, Logan or T.F. Green for four; Dena Birdsell, $200 gift certificate – The Inn at Woodstock Hill; Jaxson Welch, $200 gift certificate – Bill’s Bedding & Furniture; Jane Farland, $50 gift certificate – Back Dog Bar & Grille; Terri Pearsall, Gift certificate for a tandem skydive; Christine Ezell, Voucher for any 6-hr. workshop with REAL Custom Training; Britt Mistark, $150 gift card – Elizabeth’s Farmhouse Restaurant; Courtney Ravenelle, 4 tickets to Hartford Wolf Pack home game (regular season); Jacklyn Brodeur, $50 Gift certificate, Grill 37; Roy Uqpont, 50 customized note pads; Joseph Daniels, $100 Gift certificate – Renee’s Bistro & Catering Service LLC.
A complete and expanded list was posted on the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger FB page Aug. 22.

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