<p>The Putnam County Department of Health will be offering Freedom from Smoking, an evidence-based smoking cessation program, to individuals who live or work in Putnam County. Classes will be held in person on Mondays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Putnam County Department of Health, beginning March 10, through April 21, with an extra class on Thursday, April 3.</p><p>The program will be at no cost to the participants, and they will be supplied with free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) as long as the supply lasts. Pre-registration is required. Class size will be limited.</p><p>Register <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freedom-from-smoking-program-smoking-cessation-registration-1226391101799?aff=oddtdtcreator" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>For questions call the Putnam County Department of Health at (845) 808-1390 ext. 43155.</p>

<p>The Putnam County Department of Health will be offering Freedom from Smoking, an evidence-based smoking cessation program, to individuals who live or work in Putnam County. Classes will be held in person on Mondays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Putnam County Department of Health, beginning March 10, through April 21, with an extra class on Thursday, April 3.</p><p>The program will be at no cost to the participants, and they will be supplied with free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) as long as the supply lasts. Pre-registration is required. Class size will be limited.</p><p>Register at&nbsp;<a href="https://pcdohfreedomfromsmoking2025.eventbrite.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">https://PCDOHFreedomFromSmoking2025.eventbrite.com</a></p><p>For questions call the Putnam County Department of Health at (845) 808-1390 ext. 43155.</p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">In 2025, The Center for Empowerment and Education (CEE) will commemorate its 50th anniversary with events and initiatives designed to honor its history, engage the community, and inspire continued action.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">The year-long celebration will begin with the&nbsp;Annual Dinner on April 11, 2025, at the Amber Room Colonnade, a special evening of reflection, gratitude, and hope—recognizing the visionaries, staff, volunteers, donors, and community members who have made this work possible. Be part of this milestone anniversary </span><a href="https://e.givesmart.com/events/Fu2/?isOrderFormActive=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">here</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Fifty years ago, Alice Chapman, Mary Elizabeth Corso, and Bonnie Law saw a need in their community and took action. From a simple gathering in a kitchen, they built a movement—one that has provided safety, support, and empowerment to countless individuals. What began as The Women’s Center of Greater Danbury in 1975 has since evolved into The Center for Empowerment and Education (CEE), a place of hope for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Today, CEE remains a lifeline for those in crisis, offering 24/7 confidential services at no cost. Each year, over 22,000 individuals receive support through crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, and emergency shelter. CEE also works to prevent interpersonal violence through education and outreach, creating a ripple effect of awareness and change.&nbsp;In 2024 The Center had 2900 clients from Ridgefield.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">As CEE looks ahead, its mission remains clear: to build a future where every person is treated with dignity and respect, free from the threat of violence.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Join us in this journey. Learn more and get involved at</span><a href="https://thecenterct.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;"> thecenterct.org</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Please attend our dinner to learn about CEE or donate to help us continue our mission by clicking </span><a href="https://e.givesmart.com/events/Fu2/?isOrderFormActive=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">here</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">.</span></p><p><br></p>

<p>The Danbury Animal Welfare Society (DAWS) is thrilled to return to the Puppy Bowl for the seventh year, with three adorable puppies—Sprinkle, Zoe, and Marigold—competing in the big game!</p><p>Puppy Bowl XXI will be the largest yet, featuring 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across the country. This fun and heartwarming event raises awareness about pet adoption and showcases the incredible work of shelters like DAWS.</p><p>Be sure to cheer on the DAWS Puppy Bowl players on <strong>Sunday, February 9, at 2 PM ET / 11 AM PT on Animal Planet</strong>. Will <strong>Team Ruff</strong> or <strong>Team Fluff</strong> take home the coveted "Lombarky" trophy? Tune in to find out and celebrate the power of rescue! <a href="https://www.animalplanet.com/?xp=sistersite" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch here</a>.</p><p><strong>Support DAWS and Our Puppy Program</strong></p><p>DAWS works tirelessly to save and rehome animals, with over 1,000 lives saved last year alone. Sponsorship opportunities are available to help cover the costs of our puppy program and participation in this annual tradition.</p><p><strong>Learn more about DAWS and our Puppy Bowl journey:</strong> <a href="https://daws.org/dawspuppybowl/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://daws.org/dawspuppybowl/</a></p><p><strong>Make a donation to support our mission:</strong> <a href="https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/danbury-animal-welfare-society/puppy-bowl-2025" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donate here</a></p><p>Join us in celebrating these incredible pups and the joy of rescue!</p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Three Blind Mice, Hot Cross Buns, Mary Had a Little Lamb. These are the songs third graders across the country are playing on the recorder in music class.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Elementary students have been learning how to play the recorder, a simple, open-holed woodwind instrument, since the 1950s. Recorders are the perfect instrument for first time musicians because they are inexpensive and it is easy to produce sound using one. In fact, third graders at C.V. Starr Intermediate School are continuing the long-held tradition.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“Recorders are great for learning to read music, lots of the woodwind instruments follow the same finder placement, the instruments are cheap and indestructible, and every kid can succeed with the recorder,” said music teacher Danielle Ortiz-Welsh.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Students learned the notes last month–the line notes or every-good-boy-does-fine and the space notes or f-a-c-e. This week, they are learning finger placement and reading rhythm and notation.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“Is every hole on the recorder a note,” asked Beatrix Lasko.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“Beatirix is one step ahead,” said Ortiz. “That’s right–every hole is a line or a space note.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The class gets in the ready position–good posture, with the thumb&nbsp;covering the hole underneath the recorder and the left hand pointer finger covering the first hole for the note B.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“Ready and one, two, three,” said Ortiz.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ta-ta-ta-rest-ta-ta-ta-rest</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“That sounded a little squeaky,” said Ava </span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Ava Billar</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, “we need to play a little softer.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">By the end of class, students who had struggled with the squeaks and figuring out the rest notation had mastered the first line of Hot Cross Buns. By the next class “Gently Sleep” or “When the Saints Go Marching In.” After that, who knows… Carnegie Hall!</span></p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Brewster High School students interested in child development are getting the chance to study the subject at a college level without leaving Brewster.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In Nicole O’Sullivan’s class, The Development of Children, students are learning about child development and getting hands-on experience in the classroom. The course, which is offered through Syracuse University’s Project Advance, allows students to earn three college credits at a fraction of the cost. While college students would pay $6,500 for the course, Brewster students pay $345.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“It’s a great class for students who want to pursue a career in child development,” said O’Sullivan, “We have guest speakers from the community including a speech pathologist, social worker, bilingual educator, principal, and teachers. I love it when I hear back from former students who are studying child development in college or are working in the field.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This week, the class is fanning out across the district to observe and assist in middle school classrooms at Wells, intermediate classrooms at C.V. Starr and elementary classrooms at JFK. In total, more than 30 teachers have opened their doors to the students.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The juniors and seniors who take the class have a range of interests and ideas about their future paths.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“I want to be a school psychologist,” said Elyse deSaint-Leon, “My favorite unit so far in the class has been Erikson's stages of development. It spoke to me–no matter how old you are, you are still developing.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In addition to the high school child development class, Elyse volunteers in Cara Johansson’s second grade class where she reads with students, helps with writing and interacts during play time.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Kadance Golash is interested in becoming a mental health social worker. She volunteers every week in Michael Tomassi’s second grade class.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“I am focusing on how kids interact with each other and how they overcome their problems,” she said.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hanna Krempler, a senior, who will be attending Marist College for a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program in education next year, wants to be a seventh grade English teacher, following in her mother’s footsteps.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“I love to read and I think seventh grade would be a good grade to teach,” said Hannah.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Kayla Disla, who speaks Spanish, is planning to work with elementary school students and get her ENL certification. She also volunteers at JFK every Friday.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">One student, Ava Stano, also attends BOCES for child development and education. She volunteers in Barbara Huestis’ fourth grade classroom helping students stay on task.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In each of the classrooms, SUPA students listen to questions, give supportive feedback and smile. The teachers who are inviting and flexible and who have been through the process themselves, remind them how proud their families must be for their interest in child development and happy to get the college credits for a fraction of the actual cost. </span></p>