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2 • Friday, November 19, 2010
WOODSTOCK VILLAGER
Bradley Playhouse to present
PUTNAM — As the time of year
approaches once again for the world
to ponder the true meaning of
Christmas, The Theatre of
Northeastern Connecticut at the
Bradley Playhouse is proud to present
the classic tale of greed and
want, goodness and evil in Charles
Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
The show opens Friday, Dec. 3, at 8
p.m., and runs for three weekends,
Dec. 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 8 p.m., and
Dec. 5, 12 and 19 at 2 p.m.
Adapted for stage by local playwrights
Victor and Claire Gregoire,
and directed by Jon Carpentier, who
is assisted by Carole Hayes, the infamous
tale begins on Christmas Eve,
seven years after the death of
Ebeneezer Scrooge’s business partner
Jacob Marley. Scrooge, played by
Tom Stokes, is a greedy and stingy
businessman who has no place in his
life for kindness, compassion, charity,
or benevolence. After being
warned by Marley’s ghost portrayed
by Mike Leferve, to change his ways,
Scrooge is visited by three additional
ghosts, who in turn accompany him,
through moments of his life, with the
hope of achieving his transformation.
Carol Alderson, in the role of The
Ghost of Christmas Past, is the first
of the spirits who takes Scrooge to
the scenes of his boyhood and youth.
Sometimes painful other times joyful,
these memories stir the old
miser’s gentle and tender side by
reminding him of a time when he
was more innocent.
The second spirit, the Ghost of
Christmas Present, played by Josh
Fontaine, takes Scrooge to several
joy-filled scenes as families and
friends prepare for the holiday festivities.
Although his time is short,
Christmas Present hopes to instill in
Scrooge a sense of responsibility for
his fellow man.
The third spirit, the Ghost of
Christmas Yet to Come, harrows
Scrooge with dire visions of the
future if he does not learn and act
upon what he has witnessed.
Scrooge’s own neglected and untended
grave is revealed,
prompting him to vow
that he will change his
ways in hopes of
changing these “shadows
of what may be.”
In the final scenes,
Scrooge awakens
Christmas morning
with joy and love in
his heart. Scrooge has
become a different
man overnight, and
now treats his fellow
LLC
Birthstone
Jewelry
Christmas classic
Christopher Wester as Bob Cratchit.
men with kindness, generosity, and
compassion, gaining a reputation as
a man who embodies the spirit of
Christmas. The story closes with the
narrator, portrayed by Gene
Waterman, confirms the permanence
of Scrooge’s transformation.
Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was
one of the single greatest influences
in rejuvenating the old Christmas
Courtesy photos
traditions of England, but, while it
brings to the audience images of
light, joy, and warmth, it also brings
strong and unforgettable images of
darkness, despair, sadness and death.
Scrooge himself is the embodiment
of winter, and just as winter is followed
by spring and the renewal of
life, so too is Scrooge’s cold, pinched
heart restored to the innocent goodwill
he had known in his childhood.
The Bradley Playhouse is a nonprofit
community theater located at
30 Front Street (Route 44) in Putnam.
Tickets are available at Wonderland
Books, 120 Main St., and Victoria
Station Café, 91 Main St., both in
Putnam. Tickets are $16 for adults
and $13 for seniors and students.
Reservations may be made with a
major credit card online at
www.bradleyplayhouse.org, or by
calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may also
be available at the door. All seating is
general admission.
VILLAGER ALMANAC
QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
“I think it’s a sign of good old-fashioned
police work … With the cooperation of State
Police, and out-of-state law enforcement, we
were able to bring the suspects in.”
- Lt. J. Paul Vance, commanding officer of the Connecticut
State Police Public Information Office., commenting on the
apprehension of two suspects in connection with a March
robbery of the Eastford branch of the NewAlliance Bank.
OPEN TO CLOSE
POMFRET
TOWN HALL
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday . . . . . . . . . . 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED
LIBRARIES
Abington Social Library
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8p.m.
Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 a.m.-noon
Pomfret Public Library
Tuesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Thursday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 p.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 a.m.-1 p.m
POST OFFICES
Pomfret
Monday-Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 a.m.-noon
Pomfret Center (Murdock Road)
Monday-Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-4:45 p.m.
Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 a.m.-noon
EASTFORD
TOWN HALL
Tuesday and Wednesday ........................ 10 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m.
Second and fourth Tuesday .................................. 5:30-7:30 p.m.
EASTFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY
Monday, Thursday ........................................................... 3-8 p.m.
Tuesday ................................................................... 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday ................................................................... 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
POST OFFICE
Monday-Friday ............................................... 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Saturday ................................................................ 8:30 a.m.-noon
TRANSFER STATION
Saturday and Sunday ............................................ 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wednesdays, Memorial Day to Labor Day ................... 3-7 p.m.
All other Wednesdays ..................................................... 1-3 p.m.
WOODSTOCK
TOWN HALL
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday ……….……. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday …………………………....……….. 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday ……………………………...…………… 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
TOWN LIBRARIES
May Memorial Library:
Wed. ..........................................................................1:00-5:00 p.m.
Fri. ............................................................................1:00-5:00 p.m.
Sat. ..................................................................10:00 a.m. - 12 noon
North Woodstock Library:
Mon. ..........................................................................1:00-5:00 p.m.
Thurs. ......................................................................2:00- 5:00 p.m.
Sat. ............................................................................1:30-4:30 p.m.
West Woodstock Library:
Tues. ........................................................................3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Wed. ..........................................................................4:00-7:00 p.m.
Thurs. ........................................................................4:00-6:00 p.m.
Sat. ....................................................................9:00 a.m. - 12 noon
Bracken Memorial Library:
Mon. - Fri. ........................................................7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sat. ............................................................................1:00-4:00 p.m.
School vacation hours vary.
Don Gibbs as Fred, Scrooge’s nephew.
BOOK OF THE WEEK
• Earrings
• Necklaces
• Bracelets
• Pendants
153 School St. Putnam
860-928-4525
158 Main St. Danielson
860-774-8093
TRANSMISSIONS
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We Have:
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• Saginaw Racing
Transmissions & Clutches for
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for Engine & Transmission for
More Power!
Michael W. Smith
Office 860-774-8421
On-Line at: mikesmithtransmissions.com
849 North Main Street, Danielson, CT 06239
Open Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-5:00pm; Sat. 8-12
Tom Stokes as Scrooge.
Quiet Corner Reads: A Collaboration of NE CT Libraries
“Mrs. Darcy and the Blue-Eyed Stranger”
Once in a while a collection of short stories jumps out at me.
“Mrs. Darcy and the Blue-Eyed Stranger” by Lee Smith initially
pulled me in because I thought that it would be related to
“Pride and Prejudice,” by Jane Austen (which it wasn’t!), but it
redeemed itself because every story was a little gem of its own.
The settings were Southern, exotic to this Northerner, with a
variety of ages and locales. Seven of the 14 stories were new for
this volume and seven had been published in other collections.
I felt like these stories placed me in the middle of a tight-knit
community and treated me like family.
VILLAGER STAFF DIRECTORY
- Submitted by Putnam Public Library Director Priscilla
Colwell. Visit www.quietcornerreads.org.
TO PLACE A BUSINESS AD:
RETAIL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
TARA OGLE
(860) 928-1818, EXT. 105
tara@villagernewspapers.com
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(800) 367-9898, EXT. 103
kjohnston@stonebridgepress.com
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CLASSIFIED REPRESENTATIVE
NATHAN SEMONIK
(800) 536-5836
nathan@stonebridgepress.com
TO PRINT AN OBITUARY:
E-MAIL
aminor@villagernewspapers.com OR
send to Villager, P.O. Box 196,
Woodstock, CT 06281
TO SUBMIT A LETTER
TO THE EDITOR:
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send to Villager, P.O. Box 196,
Woodstock, CT 06281
TO SUBMIT
CALENDAR ITEMS:
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send to Villager, P.O. Box 196,
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TO SOUND OFF:
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VISIT US ONLINE:
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TO FAX THE VILLAGER:
DIAL (860) 928-5946
The Putnam Villager (025-154) is published weekly by Villager
Newspapers, 283 Rte 169, Woodstock, CT 06281. Periodical postage
paid at Woodstock, CT and additional mailing office(s).
POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Putnam Villager,
P.O. Box 90, Southbridge, MA 01550.
NEWS STAFF
EEDITOR
ADAM MINOR
(860) 928-1818, EXT. 109
aminor@stonebridgepress.com
STAFF WRITER
JACK MELTZER
(860) 928-1818, ext. 110
jack@villagernewspapers.com
STAFF WRITER
CLARE HOPKINS
(860) 928-1818, ext. 112
clare@villagernewspapers.com
ADVERTISING MANAGER
JEAN ASHTON
(800) 367-9898, EXT. 104
jashton@stonebridgepress.com
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
RON TREMBLAY
(800) 367-9898, EXT. 102
rtremblay@stonebridgepress.com
ADVERTISING STAFF
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
TARA OGLE
(860) 928-1818, EXT. 105
tara@villagernewspapers.com
FOR ALL OTHER QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT
RACHAEL GLENN
((860) 928-1818
rachael@villagernewspapers.com
Stonebridge Press, Inc.
VILLAGER NEWSPAPERS
ARE PUBLISHED BY STONEBRIDGE PRESS
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER
FRANK G. CHILINSKI
(800) 367-9898 EXT. 101
frank@villagernewspapers.com
PRODUCTION MANAGER
JULIE CLARKE
(800) 367-9898, EXT. 105
production@stonebridgepress.com
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
JIM DINICOLA
(508) 764-6102
jdinicola@stonebridgepress.com
BIRD SIGHTINGS
Bird sightings at CT Audubon in Pomfret and Wyndham
Land Trust properties for the week of Nov. 8: Golden-crowned
Kinglet, Bluebird, Purple Finch, Wood Duck, Barred Owl, Sawwhet
Owl, Juncos, Brown Creeper and Mallards.
Regular Daily Admission $3.00
Children under 12 are FREE
Thursday, Dec. 2
Opening Day $2.00
1PM-5PM
AT THE AUDUBON
FRONT PAGE QUOTE
This week’s front page quote is attributed to:
W.J. Cameron
Magical! Sparkling! Holiday Fun!
Live Entertainment Daily
www.sparklingtrees.com
The 13 th Annual
Festival
Friday, Dec. 3
of
Seniors’ Day
10AM-5PM (Giving) Trees
Seniors Admitted Free *All proceeds fight BREAST CANCER
Refreshments available for purchase by Margaux’s Deli
LaSalle Reception Center at
Notre Dame Church,
444 Main St., Southbridge
Saturday, Dec. 4
Children’s Day
10 AM–5 PM
Pumpernickle Puppets 2PM-3PM
Santa Claus 11 AM-2 PM
Sunday, Dec. 5
Final Day
10 AM–3 PM
Winners Announced After 3 PM