POMFRET — The Pomfret Public Library presents PomCon! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 2. It’s all things literary, nerdy, and exciting.
Feb. 2 is the eighth annual “Take Your Child to the Library Day”. Pomfret will be celebrating by holding a fun filled fandom mini-convention. Fandom conventions, or ComiCons, are gatherings for fans of comic books, graphic novels, gaming, and other forms of pop culture. The library encourages people of all ages, with or without kids, to come in and experience all that the library has to offer. The day will include featured guests, crafts, games, vendor booths, prizes and swag bags.
At 10 a.m., Glenn Costello will share his skill in Sport Stacking, the competitive art of up-stacking and down-stacking cups in predetermined sequences and at warp speed. Sport stacking develops fine motor skills, sequencing, concentration, focus, eye-hand coordination, ambidexterity, reaction time, agility, and fitness. Everyone in the audience will get a chance try this “track meet for your hands”.
At 12:30 p.m. graphic novelist Matt Ryan of Free Lunch Comics will present an interactive illustration workshop, guiding participants through character design, plot development and more.
 Special guests from the 501st legion will be there throughout the day.  Come get your photo taken with the Storm Troopers from Star Wars and see some of the highest quality costumes from this international organization.  Since these guys will be walking around throughout the whole event, the Pomfret Library wants to see YOUR best costume!  Come to the Con all dressed up and take part in the CosPlay Parade at 11:30 — maybe you’ll win a prize!  (Costumes should be family appropriate, and if a weapon of some sort is essential to your character, it must be very clearly fake)
Other activities will include Fandom Arts & Crafts, I Spy With My Jedi, and a Pokémon Scavenger hunt.  To add to the fun, our friends at Wonderland Comics from nearby downtown Putnam will also be in attendance with a selection of comics, graphic novels, games and pop culture memorabilia.
For more information call: 860-928-3475.

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Winter skies in the Quiet Corner

Grant will aid GPS system buy
Thanks to a grant in the amount of $1,000 received from Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation, Inc., The Arc Quinebaug Valley will be able to start the process of purchasing and installing GPS Systems into the agency’s fleet of vehicles. “We are extremely grateful to have received these grant funds from Jewett City Saving Bank. Due to the fact that our agency continuously faces state budget cuts on a year by year basis, it is imperative that we seek alternate routes in securing outside funds.  Additional funding for supports, supplies and specific projects is sought out by our fundraising efforts and submitting grant applications.” said Susan M. Desrosiers, executive director of The Arc Quinebaug Valley.
GPS fleet tracking services consist of a hardware and software bundle that will help The Arc track their vehicles, record the driving habits of employees, issues status reports on the fleet and will alert the agency when incidents or events occur. The main function of these services is to gather data to better improve the efficiency, safety and overall functionality of the vehicle fleet.  This technology will also allow The Arc to track idling time, which is vital information for improving fuel efficiency.     

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