Cheryl Ricard Wakely
WOODSTOCK — Cheryl Ricard Wakely, 71, of Woodstock died Dec. 6, 2021, at home.
She was born Sept. 23, 1950 in Killingly, daughter of Shirley Babbitt Ricard and Armand Ricard.
Mrs. Wakely was a 1968 graduate of Killingly High School, where she was a school piano accompanist, and a 1972 graduate of UConn School of Business. She changed careers in 1996 when she received a master’s degree from Simmons College in Library Management. She was a member of Beta Phi Mu, the International Library Honor Society.
In an early career, Mrs. Wakely was the purchasing agent for Loos and Company in Pomfret. She later became interim director of the Stafford Public Library and director of three local school libraries: The Hyde School, Marianapolis Prep School, and Killingly High School. She was the owner of Woodstock Hill Antiques for 40 years, helping many people furnish their homes with 18th- and early 19th- century antiques.
Mrs. Wakely volunteered for many institutions and agencies, including: Chair of the Woodstock Wetlands Commission, serving on that agency for 10 years; historian and librarian of the First Congregational Church of Woodstock, during the time of the church’s 300th anniversary; president of the Woodstock Historical Society for eight years and on the Board of Directors for 15 years; a member of the Woodstock Tercentenary Committee, on which she served as publications chair; and a long-time member of the Concert Choir of Northeastern Connecticut.
She was the author of From the Roxbury Fells to the Eastward Vale: A Journey Through Woodstock, 1686-2011; co-editor with Charlene Perkins Cutler of Heritage and Horizons: Woodstock Remembers 300 Years; and editor of the 300th anniversary edition of the Woodstock Parish Observer. She wrote many articles about Woodstock history.
Mrs. Wakely loved leading Walking Weekend history tours, singing with choirs in the Quiet Corner, sailing on Alexander’s Lake, and playing golf at many local golf courses.
She leaves two sons, Jonathan(Jennifer) of Washington, D.C., Stephen, and fiancée Melissa of Barrington, R.I.; and grandchildren Samuel and Cecilia Wakely of Washington, D.C.
The Funeral is at 2 p.m. Dec. 18 in the First Congregational Church of Woodstock, Rt. 169, Woodstock. Donations: A memorial fund for the Killingly High School Library Media Center; or to the First Congregational Church of Woodstock. Gilman, 104 Church St., Putnam.
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Wed. Dec. 15
Blood Drive
PUTNAM --- The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 1 to 6 p.m. at Putnam Elks Club.
Thur. Dec. 16
Vaccinations/Boosters
PUTNAM --- Day Kimball Healthcare will hold a COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 2 to 4 p.m. at Day Kimball Hospital, off the main entrance of the facility. It is open to all and will offer all the different available vaccines including pediatric and adult Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson first or second vaccines and booster doses. Please bring your vaccination card if you have one so the additional shots can be added to it.
Fri. Dec. 17
Caroling
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association’s Light Up the Season will present the Woodstock Academy Hill Singers from 6 to 8 p.m. in downtown Putnam.
‘White Christmas’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse on Front Street will present “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, The Musical” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 19. 860-9287887.
Vaccinations/Boosters
PUTNAM --- Day Kimball Healthcare will hold a COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Putnam Municipal Complex on School Street. It is open to all and will offer all the different available vaccines including pediatric and adult Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson first or second vaccines and booster doses. Please bring your vaccination card if you have one so the additional shots can be added
Sat. Dec. 18
Holiday Cookies
BROOKLYN --- Our Lady of LaSalette Church on Rt. 6 will sell Holiday Cookies by the pound from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the church basement. Choose the cookies you want. Also a basket raffle. COVID compliant.
Wreaths Across America
PUTNAM --- The American Legion Post 13 and the VFW Post 1523 will present Wreaths Across America at noon at the Veterans Park. Rain location: Farmers’ Market Pavilion.
Sun. Dec. 19
Free Coats
PUTNAM --- The Knights of Columbus, Cargill Council 64, will offer free, new winter coats for local children in need, ages 3 to 17, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the K of C Hall on Providence Street. Santa will be there. No charge. Kids invited with their parents or guardians, to be fitted for a brand new, free, warm winter coat they can wear home. For info: 860-928-7241.
Sat. Dec. 25
Merry Christmas!
Tues. Dec. 28
Bird Watch
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Pomfret on Day Road will hold a Winter Bird Walk starting at 1 p.m. Register:
Thur. Dec. 30
Nightingale Hike
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Pomfret on Day Road will present “Hike Nightingale Forest South” at 9 a.m. at the Wyndham Land Trust. Register:
Sat. Jan. 1, 2022
Happy New Year!
Sat. Feb. 19
Wee Walk
THOMPSON --- The Wyndham Land Trust’s family-friendly Wee Wander Walk, “Animal Tracking at the Robins Preserve” will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dress appropriately and bring your camera. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org.
Sat. May 7
Wee Walk
POMFRET --- The Wyndham Land Trust’s family-friendly Wee Wander Walk, “Salamander Search at the 3 B’s” will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dress appropriately and bring your camera. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org
Sat. Aug. 6
Wee Walk
POMFRET --- The Wyndham Land Trust’s family-friendly Wee Wander Walk, “Bats at Lyon Preserve” will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Dress appropriately and bring your camera. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org
Sat. Oct. 1
Wee Walk
WOODSTOCK --- The Wyndham Land Trust’s family-friendly Wee Wander Walk, “Leaves and Mushrooms at Rapoport Preserve” will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dress appropriately and bring your camera. www.wyndhamlandtrust.org
Sat. Nov. 5, 2022
Dueling Pianos
PUTNAM --- Day Kimball Healthcare will present Dueling Pianos Presented By Foxwoods Resort Casino at 7 p.m. at Connecticut National Golf Club. Benefit: Day Kimball Healthcare At Home. More Info: daykimball.org/pianos
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Little Free Library
The Putnam Business Association dedicated a Little Free Library to Shirley Serafin last week at the Little River Acres. From left: Edwin Higgins, executor of the Serafin estate; Amanda Heibel and Dick Loomis, co-chairs of the PBA Membership Committee; and Lynn Converse, PBA secretary. Linda Lemmon photo.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — A fitting legacy.
The newest Little Free Library in the Quiet Corner went up recently at Little River Acres in honor of Shirley Serafin, one of the main sparkplugs behind the creation of Little River Acres.
The Putnam Business Association’s Membership Committee dedicated the free exchange library Dec. 8. Co-chairs of the committee, Richard Loomis and Amanda Heibel, said the $650 cost for the construction and installation of the library came from the estate of Peter Serafin. Estate executor, attorney Edwin Higgins, said the contribution was in their honor.
Loomis said that the Putnam Business Association asked Higgins if the estate would sponsor the library in honor of Shirley Serafin. Four short months later, the library was dedicated.
Loomis added that the library was installed the week before the dedication and saw use immediately. “It’s definitely in the right spot,” he said.
The Arc Eastern Connecticut will be restocking the library as needed, he said.
Heibel said the Little Free Library is registered and is on the Little Free Library map.
Shirley Serafin, Loomis said, was a founding director of the Board of Directors of the Putnam Baptist Homes — Little River Acres which built Little River Acres. “It was important to her,” Loomis said. A fitting legacy.
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Interact Perseverance
Not rain, wind or even crutches will stops volunteers from ringing. The Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club raised $2,022.90 in its second weekend of bell ringing for the Salvation Army. The grand total, so far, is $7,870, according to Interact Club Advisor Roberta Rocchetti. Dec. 18 will be the last time Interact Club members and friends will be swinging their bells at the kettles at local stores. Club members sent a special thank you to Sophia, an eighth grader from Thompson who came on crutches and was out in the rain for three hours. The club also thanked: Dawn Rivers, Leo Rocchetti, Tara Earley and Haylee Olson (Rotaract) and student volunteers: From Killingly High - Anjolina Oriz, Casey Beauregard; From Tourtellotte - Tara Haffernan, Neveihah Richardson, Julian Rodriguez, Sophia, Hunter Cleveland, Morgan Lapalme, Alex Starr; From Woodstock Academy - Ryan Hanlon, Abby Smith, Julia Scandalito, Morgan Bonin, Lelia Macinnon, Ava Coutu, Amber Ahearn, Hadley Grether, Diego Rodriguez, Maya Rodriguez. The club also thanked Rotarians Joseph Adiletta, Doug Porter, Roberta and Mike Rocchetti for assisting with set up. Pictured, left: Julian Rodriguez and Sophia.
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