$600,000+
grant will
help local
families
PUTNAM — Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) has been awarded a $616,000 grant which would allow it to continue and expand its Family Advocacy Center home visiting program.
The grant is from the State of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood and runs through Dec. 31, 2020.
This expansion will provide for an additional home visitor, increased outreach staff hours, and further administrative support. In addition, a male fathering home visitor will be joining the team specializing in services and groups for dads. The program serves families in Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Columbia, Eastford, Hampton, Killingly, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Scotland, Sterling, Thompson, Windham and Woodstock.
The program’s mission is to support all young children in their development by ensuring that early childhood policy, funding, and services strengthen the critical role families, providers, educators and communities play in a child’s life. Parents can enroll anytime during pregnancy or after your child is born by calling (860) 963-6599 ext. 7109.
With grants from the State of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, DKH Family Advocacy Center Director Christine Collins, Clinical Supervisor Christine Millette, and their staff have successfully administered a home visiting program for more than 15 years.
“Nurturing Families Network and the families we serve are grateful for the continued support from the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood which enables us to continue providing vital programs that change people’s lives,” Collins said.
Day Kimball Healthcare is one of 16 recipients across the state to have been awarded a contract to provide an array of family-centered home visiting services. DKH’s application was strongly supported by recommendations from Senator Mae Flexer and other community partners including TEEG, Generations, Inter-Faith Human Services and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
“Receiving these grant funds will allow us to continue to offer this essential resource to northeastern Connecticut families as we work to improve the well-being of both parents and children across the life span,” said DKH President and CEO Anne Diamond.
Over the next 18-month period using the evidence-based model, “Parents as Teachers,” home visitors will be providing services to prenatal families and those with young children based on need and interest. The services are voluntary and free to families.
Home visitors provide encouragement and support, helpful tips for infant care, and free materials. They can assist with child development monitoring and information; activities to promote healthy brain development; infant massage information and support; options to deal with everyday stresses and connections to community resources. Telephone and mail support is also a service option for parents to select. Parenting Groups and Connection Play Groups will be offered regularly throughout the year.

..

Music

clockwise from upper left:

The BIG House Band at al Fresco "The Voice" concert. Photo courtesy of Marcy Dawley.

Mayor Barney Seney and Town Clerk Sara Seney disembark after a tour of the River Fire preparations Aug. 9. Linda Lemmon photo.

Photo courtesy of Marcy Dawley.

River Fire. Photo courtesy of Marcy Dawley.

Linda Lemmon photo.

caption, page 2: Long Pond in Thompson.

Land trust
earns
national
recognition
POMFRET CENTER — The Wyndham Land Trust, saving open spaces in northeastern Connecticut since 1975, recently received national recognition.
The trust is joining a network of more than 400 accredited land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in their work.
“Accreditation demonstrates the Wyndham Land Trust’s commitment to permanent land conservation in the Quiet Corner, said Michael St. Lawrence, president. “We are a stronger organization for having gone through the rigorous accreditation program. Our strength means special places — such as Bull Hill in Thompson and the Duck Marsh in Pomfret — will be protected forever, making this an even greater place for us and our children.”
The Wyndham Land Trust provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded accreditation, signifying its confidence that the Wyndham Land Trust’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts steward almost 20 million acres of land – the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined.
The Wyndham Land Trust owns property in the 10 towns that make up northeastern Connecticut, but in just two years, the Wyndham Land Trust has expanded the Bull Hill Preserve in Thompson and Woodstock to 975 acres, a testament to the land trust’s commitment to protecting this expansive unbroken forest. 
 “The land trust has focused on the Bull Hill project since the end of 2016,” said St Lawrence. “A lot of volunteer time and energy have gone in to it, but it’s gratifying to know how much impact we are having. We’re excited to protect so much land in such a short period of time. We’re getting a lot of support from the community, which inspires us to keep pushing forward. Accreditation earns us national recognition for the work we’re doing and for the people that volunteer their time to make it all happen.”
 “It is exciting to recognize the Wyndham Land Trust with this national mark of distinction,” said Tammara Van Ryn, executive director of the Commission. “Donors and partners can trust the more than 400 accredited land trusts across the country are united behind strong standards and have demonstrated sound finances, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting stewardship.”
The Wyndham Land Trust is one of 1,363 land trusts across the U.S. according to the Land Trust Alliance’s most recent National Land Trust Census. There are 120 land trusts in Connecticut, and 30 of them have been accredited by the Land Trust Alliance. A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits can be found at www.landtrustaccreditation.org.
The Wyndham Land Trust now protects more than 4300 acres in 46 separate parcels in ten towns in Northeast Connecticut. More information on the land trust can be found on their site at www.wyndhamlandtrust.org. The land trust can be reached by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling (860) 963 2090. You can also find the land trust on Facebook and Instagram.
..