I am all for honoring people who have done amazing things in and for the world, their country, their profession, or even simply, their own family. One of the easiest ways to honor such a person, after the planning, organization and implementation of the event, that is, is to simply STAND and give them an ovation when their achievements and name are announced.
As kids, or even teenagers, didn’t we all dream about doing or becoming something or someone special or extraordinary so that one day, we might also be the recipient of a great award and greeted by an audience, applauding loudly and earnestly, whilst standing in awe. That moment, for the recipient of the standing ovation, has got to feel — simply stated — AWESOME. So why then, are we as a society, totally watering down this gesture?
Today, audiences are not using the standing ovation just for people, but rather for words: If someone, who happens to be speaking, says what someone in the audience likes, they stand. It’s like the personification of hitting the “Like” button on Facebook. Other audience members, perhaps not even listening attentively, see someone standing and don’t want to appear rude or, worse yet, left out. Suddenly they suddenly stand, too. This, of course, sets off a chain reaction of wave-like standers, and soon enough, the speaker has received a standing ovation. Fast forward two and a half minutes and REPEAT!
Additionally, at said event honoring someone special, the audience seems to be a collective group of zealous supporters with “ants in their pants’ who stand for the announcement of the host, each speaker, the honoree’s close personal friend or chauffer or twice-removed distant cousin… By the time the honoree is actually introduced, the audience is sweating and trying hard to make this standing ovation somehow different from the last 15. And then, of course, comes the honoree’s speech, which is filled with a plethora of stand-worthy anecdotes and opinions. By the time the event has concluded, audience members have shed their extra layers of clothing and lost 5 pounds!
Recently, I attended such an event filled with multiple honorees and lots of standing ovation moments. However, I had recently had foot surgery, which precluded me from standing incessantly. At first, I felt awkward not standing, as if my posture signified a protest of gratitude for the host or her anecdotes. My sitting shame overtook me and so I decided to stand, making an extra effort to display my injured foot to those around me. Soon enough, I grew weary of standing every few minutes and so I decided to happily accept my foot-injury excuse and remain seated. Interestingly, I began to look around during the standing ovations and noticed that a better part of the audience was now remaining seated as well. In addition, these audience members did not have foot injuries or medical issues that precluded them from rising and falling with regularity, they had simply had enough.
Remember when you used to withhold your vertical support applause for the last or lead actors in a production? After all, they had the most lines and stage time and talent and were the headliners driving up the exorbitant ticket price. But today, somewhere in the audience is the chorus cast members family and they stand without hesitation when the first performers come out to take their bow, which sets off the audience chain reaction and then you have to stand in order to see who is coming out next. Or maybe, the standing ovation is just the new cardio class?! Bravo! Bravo!
Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!
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Wed. Dec. 5
Art Exhibit
POMFRET CENTER --- The Connecticut Audubon Center at Pomfret Center will present House & Garden; Field & Farm – art by Roxanne Steed through December at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Free. 860-928-4948.
Art Exhibit
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present, as part of its Art @ the Library series “Beauty in Bloom” by Jonathan Fritz through Dec. 28. Reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6.
Nature Store
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will hold its annual Holiday Nature Store through Dec. 21 at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. 860-928-4948.
Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present its winter art show and sale through Jan. 13 at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. 860-928-4948.
Thur. Dec. 6
History Program
PUTNAM --- The Aspinock Historical Society of Putnam will present “The Putnam High School Wall of Honor 2017” from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Joseph Pempek Conference Room in the Superintendent’s wing of Putnam High.
Fri. Dec. 7
‘Christmas Story’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse on Front Street will present “A Christmas Story” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, 8, 14 and 15 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 and 16. $20 for adults and $16 for seniors and students. 860-928-7887. Theater goers are urged to bring hats/gloves/mittens to put into the box under the tree.
Sat. Dec. 8
Victorian Christmas
WOODSTOCK --- Roseland Cottage will present “A Victorian Christmas” from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 8 and Dec. 9. Free. Costumed interpreters will lead visitors through the first floor of the museum, which is decorated according to the Bowens’ written account of the family’s Christmas celebration of 1887. Visitors are also invited to make a Victorian tree ornament to take home. The Roseland Cottage gift shop will be open. Cosponsored by Archambault Insurance.
Christmas Bazaar
PUTNAM --- The Putnam Baptist Church on Church Street will present its Christmas Bazaar. Crafts Fair and Bake Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drawings. Light fare available for purchase. Mrs. Claus will be visiting.
Pet Food Drive
DANIELSON --- Pet Pals Northeast, a local animal welfare organization, will be collecting cat and dog food, dry or canned, for homeless and needy animals on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Killingly Library. Purina brands preferred. Cash donations always welcome. Pet Pals is not accepting redeemable cans or bottles today. 860-317-1720.
Cocoa With Santa
EASTFORD --- Cookies and Cocoa and photos with Santa will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Eastford. Sponsored by the Eastford Recreation Commission. Live Holiday Music by the Babcock Band from 11 a.m. to noon. Free. All welcome.
Sun. Dec. 9
Fair, Open House
WOODSTOCK --- PAWS Cat Shelter on Rt. 171 will hold its Holiday Fair and Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. New and gently used jewelry/purses, handmade gifts and baked goods, and a Gift Wrapping Station. Tours. Adoptions. 860-315-1CAT.
Celebration
PASCOAG --- Music at the Farm at the Grace Note Farm on Jackson Schoolhouse Road, along with the Burrillville Land Trust, will present a holiday season celebration with music and desserts at 2 p.m. $20 for adults; $10 for students. 401-567-0354. Inclement weather date Dec. 16.
Concert
WINDHAM --- “Music to Warm the Heart,” a holiday a cappella concert to Benefit United Services’ Domestic Violence Programs will be held at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Plains Road. The concert is free with “pay what you can” donations to United Services’ Domestic Violence program gratefully accepted at the door in lieu of ticket prices.
Lessons, Carols
POMFRET --- Pomfret School will present "An Eveninng of Lessons & Carols" at 7 p.m. at the Clark Memorial Chapel. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments follow.
Mon. Dec. 10
Exercise Group
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Senior Exercise Group will meet from 9 to 10 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday in the Woodstock Town Hall large meeting room on the lower. Minimum fee. Local seniors welcome. Please check the town website www.woodstockCT.gov for current schedule or call 860-928-6595.
Thur. Dec. 13
Plaque Dedication
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Open Space, Land Acquisition and Farmland Preservation Committee will dedicate a preservation plaque at 6:30 at the town Hall. All welcome. Refreshments. 860-928-6595, ext. 320.
Fri. Dec. 14
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present Meteor Shower Watch and Hike at 7 p.m. starting from the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.
Sat. Dec. 15
Cookie Sale
BROOKLYN --- Our Lady of LaSalette Church on Rt. 6 will hold its annual holiday cookies “sold by the pound” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the basement.
Wreaths Across America
PUTNAM --- The Town of Putnam will take part in the Wreaths Across America at noon at the Veterans Memorial Park on Bridge Street.
Sun. Dec. 16
Free Concert
PUTNAM --- The Daughters of the Holy Spirit will sponsor a Tim Janis concert at 2 p.m. at the gymnatorium at 72 Church St. Free. All welcome. 860-928-0891, ext 148.
Fri. Dec. 21
Solstice Celebration
POMFRET --- The Wyndham Land Trust will present a solstice event from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Lyon Preserve (Wright’s Crossing Road north of intersection with Rt. 101. Light refreshments. All welcome.
Tues. Dec. 25
Merry Christmas!
Thurs. Dec. 27
Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret Center will present a Bird Walk at 1 p.m. starting from the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.
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PUTNAM — A program that began in 1992 when the Worcester Wreath Company of Harington, Maine, found itself with a surplus of wreaths has grown into a program of national stature known as “Wreaths Across America.”
At noon Dec. 15 the “Wreaths Across America” ceremony will take place at Veterans Memorial Park along with towns throughout America. America will pause in a minute of silence in tribute and remembrance to the fallen, the prisoners of war, the missing in action, and to honor those who have served and are serving this great nation’s armed services. The Putnam ceremony is coordinated by the Mayotte-Viens American Legion Post #13 and the Albert J. Breault VFW Post #1523. The members of the Legion and VFW are encouraging the public to attend the ceremony.
In 2008 the United States Congress voted unanimously to honor veterans in December as “Wreaths Across America Day.” That year, wreath laying ceremonies were held in 300 locations in every state. By 2012, the number of locations had grown to 545 sites involving more than 220,000 volunteers. This year more than 1,100 ceremonies will be held simultaneously across our great nation.
“As veterans we’re proud to offer this program to the Putnam community. Our volunteers have worked diligently in putting together a program of remembrance and honor with the goal of teaching the lesson of freedom. This program gives us reason to remember those who gave their lives, and to pause and thank all those who have served and are currently serving in our military forces,” said Alan R. Joslin, commander of Post #13.
Following the minute of silence at exactly noon, the program will open with the singing of the National Anthem by United States Air Force veteran Maurice Coderre. In the presence of the combined Honor Guards of the American Legion and VFW, wreaths will be laid in memory of those who served and are serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines. An individual wreath will be laid in remembrance of the 93,129 service personnel from all branches whose last known status was either Prisoner of War or Missing in Action.
Reflections will be offered by Putnam Mayor Norman “Barney” Seney and Commander Joslin. Retiring State Representative from the 51st Assembly District and a U.S. Army veteran, Daniel S. Rovero will be accorded special recognition for his public service as seven-term mayor of Putnam and four-term Connecticut State Representative.
The reflections will be followed by the tossing of a remembrance wreath into the Quinebaug River by American Legion Commander Joslin and Norman Beaupre, commander of the VFW. The ceremonial wreath tossing will be followed by Taps performed by members of the Putnam High School band, followed by a rifle volley.
After the closing of the ceremony, the Honor Guard will disburse to local cemeteries and bridges where they will honor veterans by placing wreaths at each location. The day will also mark the formal retirement of the flags on the memorial bridge on Pomfret Street. The flags will be retired until Memorial Day 2019 when they will once again fly until Wreaths Across America 2019. The program is coordinated by the two service organizations in cooperation with the Town of Putnam’s Recreation Department.
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WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Open-Space, Land Acquisition and Farmland Preservation Committee announces the dedication of a preservation plaque at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Woodstock Town Hall.
Over the years, nearly 50 families have taken steps to permanently protect their Woodstock lands. Some sold their development rights to the Department of Agriculture, others donated or sold their land to local land trusts including the New Roxbury Land Trust, the Wyndham Land Trust, and the Connecticut Farmland Trust.
Now the town of Woodstock, acting through the Open Space and Farmland Preservation Committee, will honor those families. Representatives of local land trusts, land owners, and state and local officials have been invited.
The event is open to the public and refreshments will be served. For more information contact the Woodstock Town Clerk at 860.928.6595 x 320; or Dawn C. Adiletta, chair, Open-Space and Farmland Preservation Committee 860.928.4369
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