Woodstock public schools
Monday: Bacon hamburgers, carrot sticks, fruit. Tuesday: Waffles, sausage, fruit. Wednesday: Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, wax beans, fruit. Thursday: Beef and bean burritos, fruit. Friday: Pizza, salad, fruit.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday: Grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, cheddar Goldfish crackers, baby carrots with hummus. Tuesday: Spaghetti, meatballs, broccoli. Wednesday: Chicken bacon ranch panini, veggies with dip. Thursday: Fiesta Taco Bowls, Spanish rice, Mexicali corn. Friday: Putnam Special Pizza, salad.
Putnam High
Monday: Hot dogs or spicy chicken sandwiches. Tuesday: Italian meatball subs or bacon cheeseburgers. Wednesday:  Chicken tenders or steak and cheese panini. Thursday: Nachos Grande or chicken Caesar salad. Friday: Stuffed-crust pizza or fish and chips.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Grilled cheese, carrots with ranch dip, rainbow tray with fruit and veggies. Tuesday: Beef tacos, refried beans, rainbow tray with fruit and veggies. Wednesday: Chicken and waffles, rainbow tray with fruit and veggies. Thursday: Chicken Parm rolls, rainbow tray with fruit and veggies. Friday: Fried dough pizza with sauce and cheese, green bean salad, rainbow tray with fruit and veggies.

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Wed. Sept. 4
Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present an exhibit, “Lost Knowledges, Vanishing Histories” by Jessica Porzuczek through September at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Free. 860-928-4948.

Fri. Sept. 6
First Fridays
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Business Association’s First Fridays will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. around downtown Putnam. This month’s theme is “ComiCon.”

Sat. Sept. 7
Concert/Riverfire
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam will present a performance by Billy Pilgrim from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Rotary Park, followed by Riverfire at 7:30. Free. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. This is a fund-raiser for Light Up Putnam , Phase 3 to replace Santa Over the Falls.

Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Bird Banding” at 9 a.m. Sept. 7, 14, 21 and 28 starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Sun. Sept. 8
Art Show
WOODSTOCK --- The Roseland Park Art Show at Roseland Park will present its 5th annual Art in the Park from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Refreshments provided.

Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Becorns: A Woodland World of Wonder” photo exhibit and sale by David Bird through Oct. 31 at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. An opening reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 8. 860-928-4948.

Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Calm and Creativity: Sit Spotting at Trail Wood” from 1 to 4 p.m. at Trail Wood, Kenyon Road. $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Savor the Flavor
PUTNAM --- "Savor the Flavor - Pasta" fund-raiser will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at Rotary Park. $5. Music provided by Souls on Fire. Benefits Daily Bread.

Fri. Sept. 13
History Program
CANTERBURY --- The Canterbury Historical Society will present “Metal Detecting Enthusiasts Dave Wise and Todd Hiltz” following the 7 p.m. brief business session at the Community Room at the Canterbury Town Hall. Free. Refreshments follow.

Sat. Sept. 14
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Gardens & Grounds Group” from 9 a.m. to noon at Trail Wood, Kenyon Road. Bring gloves, rakes, clippers and spades.  860-928-4948.

Fund-raiser Race
EASTFORD ---The 8th Annual “5K: We Never Stop Fighting  in Loving Memory of Marilyn T. Krom” will kick off at 10 a.m. from Eastford Town Office Building, followed at 10:10 a.m. by "Owen's Run," for kids age 12 and under. Register online at: runsignup.com. To register or donate by check, make check payable to The Marilyn T. Krom Foundation, and mail to: Recreation Commission, Town of Eastford, PO Box 98, Eastford, CT 06242. Volunteers needed: 860-933-8012.

Sun. Sept. 15
Author to Speak
PUTNAM --- Author Hanna Perlstein Marcus will be speaking at B'nai Shalom on Church Street at 2 p.m. Her newest book is “Surviving Remnant, a Reader's Choice Award nominee and describes her upbringing in a community of Holocaust survivors in Springfield, Mass.'s North End.

Old Furnace Ride
DANIELSON --- The Quiet Corner Chapter of the New England MountainBike Association will hold its annual Old Furnace Fun Ride at Old Furnace State Park on Ross Road. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Two marked loop options for self-guided rides. Benefits the maintenance of the trails. Helmets required. No e-bikes. For more info seewww.facebook.com/QuietCornerNEMBA/.

Thur. Sept. 19
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Bird Walk” at 8 a.m. at Trail Wood, Kenyon Road. $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Fri. Sept. 20
Book/Bake Sale
BROOKLYN --- Our Lady of LaSalette Church on Rt. 6 will present a huge book and bake sale in the church basement. It’s from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 20 and from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 21.

Sat. Sept. 21
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Nature Sketch Book Journaling” from 9 a.m. to noon at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Call 860-928-4948 for list of materials to bring.

Acorn Adventure
THOMPSON --- Acorn Adventure -- Into the Woods will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the West Thompson Dam. A bit of hiking 101. 860-774-3300. Acorn Adventures are sponsored by Putnam Bank.

Forest Program
VOLUNTOWN --- The Friends of Pachaug Forest will present a program/statue unveiling from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. honoring the Civilian Conservation Corps which developed the state’s forests and parks systems. The forest is on Rt. 49. Go to Chapman Field. The statue will be unveiled at noon. Music, food.

Sun. Sept. 22
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Non-fiction Book Club” from 2 to 4 p.m. at Trail Wood, Kenyon Road. Free. Donations accepted. 860-928-4948.

Mon. Sept. 23
Equinox Hike
UNION --- The Last Green Valley will present Autumnal Equinox Hike from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Bigelow Hollow State Park, Rt. 171. 6-mile hike. Bring trail lunch. Participants must have good balance for stream crossings and be in excellent physical condition. Rain cancels. Open to 20 hikers. RSVP required: 860-774-3300.

Thur. Sept. 26
Museum Tour
PUTNAM --- The American Lithuanian Cultural Archives, 37 Mary Crest Dr., will offer a tour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fri. Sept. 27
Fund-raiser
PUTNAM --- The DKH Pumpkins & Pearls Auction and Cocktail Party will be held at 6 p.m. at Ballard Farm, Thompson. Benefits Day Kimball HomeCare, HomeMakers and Hospice & Palliative Care of NE CT. $45 pp. Daykimball.org.

Sat. Sept. 28
Community Conversation
WOODSTOCK — The Quiet Corner subcommittee of the Windham/Willimantic NAACP Chapter will present “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till” at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Woodstock on Rt. 169. It’s part of a free film series. Movie and popcorn free. Discussion follows.

Clothing Giveaway
PUTNAM --- A clothing giveaway sponsored by IHSP-NU 2 U Clothing Closet will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Living Faith United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall off Bradley Street. Free Warm winter clothing, coats, hats, scarves, etc. for all ages, plus summer clearance. Bring your own bags.

Sun. Sept. 29
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present “Bull Hill Bird Walk” at 8 a.m.  Meet at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $7 for members and $2 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.


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If there is something I do or somewhere I go to on a regular basis, I start to find ways to accomplish these things, or the travel, as efficiently as possible.  I’m not sure if I do this so that the repetitiveness of the action becomes less mundane or if it’s just because I thrive off finding the most streamlined approach to things!
I tend to think that I am not alone in my approach.  As a society, we are definitely creatures of habit and when we do something over and over and over again, we want to waste as little time as possible.  It is why a sewing machine was invented or a vacuum cleaner or GPS Navigation, or, way back when, the wheel! However, I am not sure that everyone is as focused on finding the most efficient solution as I am. 
Over my many decades of doing things, I have found that it is actually more efficient, time wise, when doing dishes, to leave the water running over them while you wash each one, rinse it and place it in the drying rack. Of course, this only pertains to dinner dishes for up to four people.  More people dining requires a more extensive clean-up, which, if you have one, can best be accomplished with a dishwasher.
When changing sheets on a bed, it is more efficient to tuck the fitted bottom sheet around the head/top of the mattress before tucking it around the foot/bottom.  For whatever reason, there is more space to maneuver around the foot of the bed, making the tightest sheet tucks easier to do.
And when channel surfing, it is certainly more efficient to create a custom channel surfing guide, based on your preferred channels, rather than leaving all 8 million channels as options.  Of course, this can make it quite frustrating for anyone else in your household, who may have a completely altered preferred viewing platform, to use the remote. 
I am most concerned about my streamlining, however, when it comes to driving. If there is a place that I have to drive to on a regular basis, I try to find the most efficient way to get there, which, depending upon posted speed limit signs and traffic lights, may not necessarily be the least mileage route.  I research roads and study maps and find that sometimes, a route that is several miles longer, may actually, in the end, be the quickest route.  I try them all and time myself.  On occasion, I have even enlisted another driver and told them to travel the other route just to see who actually gets there faster.  And it goes without saying, that if you can safely hug the yellow line when going around corners and (again, safely) pass through yellow lights, you will arrive at your destination a few seconds, or maybe even minutes, earlier than you did the last time.  Upon a deeper reflection of my own zest for driving efficiency, perhaps I missed my true calling and should have seriously considered being a professional race car driver, which, after all, is the very epitome of streamline accomplishment!
TRIM. TRIM.
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!

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