service with a smile well done

SERVICE WITH A SMILE
WELL DONE
CMS releases latest
‘star ratings’ / 4
Junior Volunteer reflects
on rewarding summer / 4
HospiTell
The William W. Backus Hospital
VOL. 45, NO. 32
Windham Community Memorial Hospital
backushospital.org • windhamhospital.org
AUG. 5, 2016
Aisles of smiles
New grocery store tours help
promote healthy eating habits
Brenda Viens, RD-N, left, a community dietitian at Backus Hospital, leads a discussion about
making healthy choices and eating on a budget during a supermarket tour of ShopRite
last week. Those participating included, from left, Gail Schor, Christine Steliga and Mary
Hudspeth. The tours are part of the Just Ask program which originated at Backus
Hospital and are now available at several ShopRite’s throughout the state.
A weekly newsletter for East Region employees, volunteers, patients and friends.
STORY,
PAGE 3
HOSPITELL
2
Gift Shop
Items of the Week
BACKUS
Angel lockets
Many colors and styles. $19.95
WINDHAM
August 5, 2016
What’s your ‘best practice’
As Hartford HealthCare mobilizes to improve our patient/customer experience, we know that great things are already happening in our offices, on our
units and in our patient rooms every day.
The next step is to make sure that these “best practices” are shared across
the system so that we can create one exceptional experience at every location
that displays the HHC logo.
The HHC Patient Experience Council would like to hear about what you are
already doing and what new ideas you have to improve patient experience.
Please help us to spread our best practices by submitting yours for review.
Your submission should explain what you are doing and how it has had a
measurable impact on improving patient experience. All submissions should
explain how the practice relates to least one of the HHC 2016 Experience focus
areas — Service, Communication and Environment.
The council, comprised of leaders across the system, will evaluate every entry. The best of the best will be celebrated at our next patient experience event
and the implementation of the practice will be encouraged system-wide.
If you would like to submit a best practice for consideration, please visit our
Patient & Customer Experience page on HHC Connect to find answers to your
frequently asked questions (FAQs) and an electronic submission form. If you
have questions, please contact one of HHC’s Strategic Experience Advisors.
Cardiac support group meets next Aug. 10
Cotton summer tops
Stay cool with these breezy new
looks for sale now at the Auxiliary
to Windham Hospital Gift Shop.
BACKUS Gift Shop HOURS: Mon. - WED. / 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.,
THURS. - FRI. / 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.,
Sat. / 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sun. / 1 – 4 p.m.
Windham GIFT SHOP HOURS:
Mon. - Fri. / 9 A.M. - 4 P.M.
About HospiTell
HospiTell is published each Friday by
the Communications Departments
of The William W. Backus Hospital
and Windham Hospital. Employees,
medical staff and volunteers can have
HospiTell e-mailed to their homes by
sending a request to
hospitell@hhchealth.org
To submit news:
E-mail: steve.coates@hhchealth.org
Fax: 860.892.6964
Deadline: Wednesdays at noon
The Backus cardiac disease support group will host its next session on
Wednesday, Aug. 10, from 6-7 p.m. in the hospital’s library. The support group is
open to anyone who needs support in managing cardiac disease.
If you have questions, please call 860.889.8331, ext. 2128.
Healing Touch class planned for Sept. 10-11
A Healing Touch Level I class is scheduled for Sept. 10-11 at Windham Hospital. Learn the principles and practice of Healing Touch methods for personal
and professional use. Tuition is $365. Limited partial scholarships are available.
Please contact Paula Novak at 860.889.8331, ext. 2163 for more details.
Upcoming Auxiliary
vendor sales
Backus: A.S. Sales will be the
featured dealer for the next Backus Auxiliary vendor sale Friday, Aug.
5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the main lobby conference rooms. Items
include Reebok sneakers and more.
Windham: Alexander’s Uniforms will be the featured dealer for
the next Auxiliary to Windham vendor sale Thursday, Aug. 11, from
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the atrium.
All sales by each auxiliary benefit the host hospital!
August 5, 2016
3
HOSPITELL
Grocery tours promote healthy eating
For many, the first steps in achieving a healthier lifestyle are taken in
the aisle of their local grocery store.
But when you’re trying to eat healthier, shopping for the right ingredients
can be a daunting and expensive task.
Backus Hospital is teaming up with
ShopRite Supermarket in Norwich to
make that process a little easier by
offering shoppers personal, aisle-toaisle tours of the
store to help them
shop healthier and
more efficiently.
The tours, which
are being led by Backus and Thames
Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) dietitian Brenda Viens
include tips on how to save money
by comparing fresh, frozen, and
canned food prices, selecting and
storing perishable food items, using
unit prices to stretch your food dollar,
and explaining how ShopRite’s color
coded shelf tags make it simple to
find healthy foods.
The series is part of Hartford
HealthCare’s “Just Ask” program
which originally began as a partnership between Backus Hospital and
several dozen local restaurants to
offer customers heart healthy, low
fat and low sodium menu choices.
ShopRite in Norwich came aboard in
early 2016 and now promotes the program by displaying Just Ask signage
throughout the store to help customers make healthier choices and by
encouraging staff to help customers
choose healthier foods. The program
COVER
STORY
Brenda Viens, RD-N, right, a community dietitian at Backus Hospital,
leads a discussion about making healthy choices and eating on a budget
during a tour of ShopRite in Norwich. Taking part in the tour were, from
left, Mary Hudspeth, Gail Schor and Christine Steliga.
has been so successful that it is now
also being offered at ShopRite stores
in New London, Canton and West
Hartford; and soon in Southington,
Waterford and Bristol.
“You might think that eating
healthy is really expensive. It doesn’t
have to be,” said Viens as she kicked
off the first grocery tour on July 29
in Norwich.
“This is the best thing I’ve done
for myself in months,” said Christine Steliga of Norwich, who was
part of the grocery store tour. “It
was great to able to go through the
supermarket with [a dietitian from
Backus] who took us through every
aisle and department to show what
is nutritionally good for me, how to
read labels appropriately and how
to be aware of the different products
that are available to keep me healthy.
n To view a video
of the ShopRite
tour, visit
www.backushospital.org
Food is medicine. This is excellent
and I would do it again.”
Backus and ShopRite will host
more tours in the coming months,
including programs focused specifically on heart health, diabetes, and
weight loss.
“It’s a wonderful partnership. We
care about the people in our community and we want them to make
healthy choices. The customers were
really engaged [during the tour]. They
asked great questions,” said Tracey
Leary, RPh, Pharmacy Supervisor
at ShopRite
Backus Auxiliary mini-golf tournament returns Sept. 24
The Backus Hospital Auxiliary will host its 13th
annual Mini-Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 24,
at the Knolls and Holes Course at Odetah Camping Resort
in Bozrah.
Registration starts at 10:30 a.m. with the tournament
kicking off at noon. Award presentations and a full-course
buffet will begin at 2 p.m. The event will also include live
and silent auctions.
Tickets are $75 per participant and are on sale at the
Backus Gift Shop and the BOCC Gift Shop.
Players must be 21 or older to participate. For tickets or
sponsorship information, call 860.889.8331, ext 2259.
HOSPITELL
4
August 5, 2016
CMS releases latest ‘star ratings’
Backus Hospital has received four out of five stars for
quality in the latest “Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating”
from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Backus is the only hospital in Connecticut to receive four stars under
the program, which ranked 3,662
hospitals around the country on a scale of one to five
stars. Windham Hospital received three stars under the
rating system. No Connecticut hospitals received
five stars.
Dr. Rocco Orlando, senior vice president and chief
BACKUS
BEAT
medical officer for Hartford HealthCare, says while the
CMS Star System does use some flawed methodology
and is “very much a work in progress,” that some components do reflect real quality measures, such as hospitalacquired infections and avoidable surgical complications.
“All five acute care hospitals in the Hartford HealthCare system continue to work in concert to improve quality and safety,” Orlando said
“I want to thank our hospital staff, medical staff
and community of providers who are dedicated to
quality care for our patients,” said Bimal Patel, HHC’s East
Region President.
Being a Junior Volunteer has many rewards
For example, on a typical
There are few things
day in summer, the Junior
that can be considered
Volunteers start early and
more rewarding than
leave late. We are the ones
voluntary community
putting together patient
service; and programs
packets and delivering mail
both engaging and truly
and meals; we sort paperconducive to their benwork and build charts; we
eficiaries are fewer still.
assemble tabs and stamp
I can say from personal
envelopes. We receive paexperience that Backus
NITHYA
tients, transport them, and
Hospital’s Junior VolunPRAKASH
help them leave — we are
teer Program is one such
often the last people they
program, for more than a
see. Simple tasks, yes, but mitigated
few reasons at that.
not only by the camaraderie we build
More than simply being a place
over the course of months but also by
to regularly meet and converse with
the knowledge that we are genuinely
friends both old and new, the Junior
helping people.
Volunteer Program allows its particiThe Junior Volunteer Program is
pants to be integral parts of a producwhat allows us the opportunity do this
tive and professional environment;
and more — the opportunity to mentor
though our role seems small, it is an
each other, to learn about the operaimperative one in both the improvetion of a hospital, to observe profesment of patient experience and the
sionalism in a real work environment.
expedition of administrative tasks.
Moreover, it gives us experiences that
simply can’t be obtained anywhere
else: like the chance for a 15-year-old
girl to sit and speak quietly with a
patient in the Critical Care Unit, and so
learn the value of life, as I once did.
The Backus Junior Volunteer
Program is far from cursory; it is
not simply something for local high
school students to put on their college applications. And its participants
are far from decorative; they are the
grease that oils the cogs — at least in
the months of summer. It is a program surely unique to the hospital
that fosters it, and it is truly an honor
to be able to freely give our time in
this way — after all, we get something
invaluable in return.
Nithya Prakash is a Backus Junior
Volunteer who recently graduated from
NFA and will attend George Washington
University this fall
Skybox seats available for Keith Urban at Mohegan Sun
Special skybox tickets are now available for the Nov. 18
Keith Urban concert at Mohegan Sun Arena, with proceeds to benefit the Backus Volunteer Bridge Program.
The tickets, graciously donated by the Mohegan Tribe,
are $150. They can be purchased by contacting Mary Brown
at mary.brown@hhchealth.org or the Backus Volunteer
Office at ext. 6320. The show, which will also feature Brett
Eldredge and Maren Morris, begins at 8 p.m. The skybox
includes complementary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
The Backus Volunteer Bridge Program enhances the
experience of 100 young volunteers each summer, offering
networking, job shadowing and many other opportunities.
August 5, 2016
5
HOSPITELL
Here's !
u
o
y
o
t
n A weekly roundup of kudos
from staff and patients. Please
email your submissions to
virginia.james@hhchealth.org
by noon on Wednesdays.
Editors reserve the right to
edit submission for length and
grammar.
Windham paramedics shine
during home delivery
Kyle Ridenour and
Kudos to Windham Paramedics
ing to bring a new baby
Rory Leslie for their role in help
cted home delivery
into the world during an unexpe
limantic Fire Department
recently. Kyle, Rory and the Wil
d after a 9-1-1 call of
arrived on the scene and assiste
about to deliver. They
a patient who was in labor and
d with the delivery. The
arrived on the scene and assiste
ially; but with intervenbaby had a low Apgar score init
and was able to begin
tion, the baby improved quickly
and baby were transportnursing during transport. Mom
directly from scene with
ed safely to OB unit at Windham
the ED.
coordination between EMS and
, EMS Program Manager
RRT
P,
MT— Bill Muskett, NRE
Who was th
at masked w
Our apologie
oman?
s
for failing to
mention Win
dham ED Nu
rse
Pam Purcell,
RN, in our co
ve
r
photo from th
e July 15 issu
e
of HospiTell. Pa
m is pictured
with Jen Clach
rie, RN, Clinic
al
Educator, East
Region Emer
gency Servic
es and Patric
k Turek, Hartf
System Direc
ord HealthCar
tor of Emerge
e
ncy Managem
Department
ent during th
of Public Hea
e
lth Ebola read
at Windham
iness site visi
on July 12. Pa
t
m
donned the p
gear for the ex
rotective
ercise at Win
dham. Thanks
Angel Otano,
to
Pam and
RN, who also
donned the ge
Backus ED, w
ar
, from the
ho also and to
everyone wh
and beyond
o went above
during the D
PH visit.
—Steve Coate
s, Senior Com
munications
Specialist
Backus and
Windham h
ospitals
Way to go,
Katheleen and Barbara
Congratulations to Katheleen
Breault, RN, Nurse Care Manager at
Backus on achieving her Bachelor of
Science in Nursing degree from Chamberlain College of Nursing and to Barbara Oliveira, RN, Nurse Case Manager
at Windham Hospital on achieving her
Master’s in Public Health degree from
UMass Amherst. I am very proud of
these ladies!
— Giselle Goupille, RN, MSN
Regional Manager, Care Management
Hartford HealthCare East Region
The Windham Hospital Emergency Department officially
began its journey into H3W Daily Management by holding its
first daily huddle on Aug. 3. The daily model moves from the
monthly rhythm of work group meetings to a daily rhythm
by incorporating 15-minute daily huddles with standardized
visual tracking for key metrics and results, daily coaching
and follow-up. Pictured, from left, are huddle leader and EMS
Manager Bill Muskett, Emergency Department Medical Director Mark Dziedzic, MD; huddle leader and ED Nurse Manager
Meghan Hilliard and H3W Facilitator Paul Simeone.
HOSPITELL
6
News
from the
EAG weekly prize
winner for Aug. 5
Discount movie tickets
n Discount Lisbon
Landing Digiplex
movie tickets are
available through
Cathy Saunders in
Diagnostic Imaging
or Donna McLaughlin in Food and
n Jennifer Telford — Palliative
Care
Nutrition. We are pleased to offer the
tickets to CarMike Cinemas for $8.
Call Cathy Saunders at ext. 2105
to collect your prize.
About the EAG
n The EAG is a small team of employees who plan and coordinate
fun and discounted activities for all
Cancer group meets Wednesdays
Windham Hospital hosts a weekly cancer support group on Wednesdays from 5:30 7 p.m. in the Johnson Room off the main lobby.
Pre-registration is preferred.
For more information or to register, call
860.456.6770 or 855.HHC.HERE.
Backus Café menu
August 5, 2016
WHAT’S
UP AT
WINDHAM
employees. Contact the group by emailing Donna McLaughlin at donna.
mclaughlin@hhchealth.org.
Weight Watchers
group meets weekly
Weight Watchers meetings are
held in the Windham Hospital Family
Health Center Tuesdays at 4 and 5 p.m.
in the second floor conference room.
All employees and hospital insured
partners are welcome.
Sunday, Aug. 7
baked chicken tenders / baked sweet potato fries / fresh steamed broccoli / au bon
pain vegetarian chili
Monday, Aug. 8
ENTREES: chicken francaise / pesto crusted cod / SOUPS: vegetable beef barley / black
bean and chicken / SIDES: lemon rice pilaf / au gratin potatoes / cauliflower and snow
peas
Tuesday, Aug. 9
ENTREES: pesto primavera / taco salad bar / SOUPS: lobster corn bisque / roasted poblano and chicken chili / SIDES: fresh steamed carrots / steak cut french fries
Wednesday, Aug. 10
ENTREES: chipotle flank steak / grilled chicken / grilled peach, praline bacon and walnut salad / SOUPS: roasted corn / italian wedding / SIDES: fresh asparagus / sweet
potato wedges / herbed quinoa
Thursday, Aug. 11
ENTREES: sweet and sour asian chicken / orange beef stir fry / SOUPS: chicken orzo /
potato leek / SIDES: sesame green beans / white rice / vegetarian egg roll
Friday, Aug. 12
ENTREES: carne slider / fried clams / SOUPS: pasta fagioli / new england clam chowder / SIDES: carrots and squash / cole slaw / french fries
Saturday, Aug. 13
stuffed shells with meat sauce / wild rice blend / garlic bread / corn / french onion
soup
DAILY FARE: A variety of pizza, sandwich and burger options are available on a rotating basis
The Backus cafeteria is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Hot food is served from 6:30-10:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-6:30 p.m.
August 5, 2016
7
HOSPITELL
Heart Walk moves to new site
Backus and Windham hospitals
have once again committed to participating in the American Heart Association’s Eastern Connecticut Heart Walk
(previously known as the Rocky Neck
Heart Walk). The event is moving to a
new location this year and will take
place on Sunday, Sept. 25, at the Mohegan Reservation in Uncasville.
The East Region has set a goal to
raise $10,000 and we need your help to
make this a reality. Please consider:
n Joining as a Team Captain and
recruiting fundraising walkers
n Joining a Team as a fundraising
walker
n Making a personal donation to
support our efforts
Register today by visiting
http://bit.ly/29xckTv
There is no registration fee or a
minimum amount you must raise to
participate. If you have any questions
or need assistance registering, please
contact Steve Coates at steve.coates@
hhchealth.org or 860.634.4477.
Walkers head out at the start of last
year’s Heart Walk at Rocky Neck
State Park. This year’s walk will
take place on Sunday, Sept. 25.
Laura Beth Seder Memorial Golf Tournament set for Oct. 7
The Backus Hospital Office of Philanthropy and Development will host the Laura Beth Seder Memorial Golf
Tournament on Oct. 7, at the Mohegan Sun Golf Club in
Baltic. Registration will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a
shotgun start at 11 a.m. and a reception at 4:30 p.m.
Sponsors receive priority registration. To register or re-
quest sponsorship information, contact Genevieve Schies,
Backus Development Program Manager, at 860.823.6331
or visit www.backushospital.org/seder-golf.
All funds raised from this event will be directed to the
Laura Beth Seder Memorial Fund in support of the Backus
Breast Health Initiative.
broiled salmon / zucchini, squash and roasted red peppers / spaghetti
Monday, Aug. 8
ENTREES: oven fried chicken breast / beef lasagna / SOUPS: minestrone / broccoli
cheddar / SIDES: mustard greens / roasted vegetables / sour cream and chive potato /
baked beans
Tuesday, Aug. 9
ENTREES: baked fish with avocado pineapple salsa / garlic herb pork loin / SOUPS: thai
red curry / loaded potato / SIDES: fresh steamed broccoli / fresh steamed carrots /
lemon orzo
Wednesday, Aug. 10
ENTREES: thyme and garlic roasted turkey breast / black bean burrito / SOUPS: potato
chowder / italian wedding / SIDES: grilled asparagus / mint scented peas / spanish
rice
Thursday, Aug. 11
ENTREES: sesame chicken with vegetables / meatloaf with gravy / SOUPS: chicken
noodle / cream of mushroom / SIDES: green beans / steamed brown rice / whipped
potatoes
Friday, Aug. 12
ENTREES: cumin chicken breast / pesto crusted cod / SOUPS: roasted tomato / new
england clam chowder / SIDES: fresh steamed carrots / corn on the cob / fingerling
potatoes
Saturday, Aug. 13
blackened tilapia with red beans and rice / grilled vegetables
Sumner Café menu
Sunday, Aug. 7
DAILY FARE: A variety of pizza and burger/chicken/sandwich options are available on a rotating basis
The Sumner Café open from 6:30 - 10:30 a.m.; 11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.; 2 - 2:30 p.m. and
3 - 6:30 p.m. Hot food is served from 6:30 - 9:30 a.m.; 11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.; and 5 - 6:30 p.m.
HOSPITELL
8
August 5, 2016
GENERAL STORE
General Store is a free classified ad section for the benefit of
East Region employees, retirees, medical staff and volunteers.
We welcome your submissions by the hospital Intranet, fax (860.892.6964), mail or by e-mailing hospitell@hhchealth.org.
The deadline for submissions to be included in each Friday’s HospiTell is Wednesday at noon.
HospiTell will include community events for not-for-profit organizations based in eastern Connecticut that are open to
the public and free of charge. We do not accept ads for real estate, firearms or personal ads. Please do not list hospital
phone numbers or hospital e-mail addresses for responses. You must submit your item weekly if you want it to appear
more than one week.
To have HospiTell e-mailed to you, or for questions about the General Store, please call Ginny James, Backus Corporate
Communications, at 860.889.8331, ext. 4211, or e-mail her at virginia.james@hhchealth.org.
FOR SALE
WANTED
2008 GULF STREAM MACO 30FBHS —
Fifth-wheel camper, excellent condition, minimal miles, sleeps eight, two
bathrooms, one owner, includes hitch,
various extras, can deliver within 100
miles. Call 860.908.7339.
VENDORS — For a tag sale on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at 387 Route 32, Franklin. $25 for a
10-by-10-foot space. To reserve space,
please mail your name, address and
phone number to Jan DeCarlis, 41
Meetinghouse Hill Road, Franklin, CT,
06354. Check payable to Friends of
Ashbel Woodward House Museum,
to which 100% of the proceeds will
be donated. Call with questions.
860.917.0520.
GAZELLE EXERCISE MACHINE — $75
or best offer. Call 860.642.6428.
SPINNING BIKE — Like new, asking $200, can send pictures. Call
607.426.3072.
MISC. ITEMS — Red tandem, twoperson Emotion kayak, like new,
includes paddles, asking $550. 1995
Red Subaru Legacy, 260,000 miles,
runs, needs work, asking $750. LeBra
car hood protector, new, fits all Toyota
Camry cars, $40. Women’s Harley
Davidson black boots, like new, size 10
medium, asking $55. Text or call and
please leave a message 860.705.5663.
FREE
THREE MALE GUINEA PIGS — Very
friendly, two cages. Call 860.204.8140.
CRAFTERS/VENDORS — Scarecrow
Festival, Saturday, Sept. 24, Preston
City Congregational Church, Preston.
Call 860.887.4647 or email scarecrow
festivalcrafters@hotmail.com.
VENDORS — Divine Providence
Church is seeking vendors for its Harvest Festival/Flea Market to be held on
Saturday, Oct. 22. For more information call 860.718.5921.
VENDORS — For the Kris Kringle Fair,
Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at Saints Peter & Paul Church, 181
Elizabeth St., Norwich. Please apply
by calling the Rectory at 860.887.9857.
VENDORS — Craft, Hobby and Product
Show, Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Lebanon Fire Safety Complex, Goshen Hill
Road, Lebanon. Sponsored by Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department Ladies
Auxiliary. Call 860.208.3554.
EVENTS
YOGA IN THE PARK — 5:30-6:30 p.m.
on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays,
Aug. 9, 11, 18. Offered by the Norwich
Recreation Department at Mohegan Park Lakeside Pavilion. Cheryl
Hughes, a 200 E-RYT instructor, will
guide the evening practice outdoors,
if it rains, the inside of the pavilion
is available for use. Fees: Walk-ins
are $10 for residents, $12 for nonresidents.
NORWICH GRANGE FAIR — Saturday,
Aug. 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 174 West
Town St., Norwich. Tag sale, live country music, country store, raffles, silent
auction, blue ribbons, cash prizes,
exhibitors invited. Call 860.887.3145.
CLASSIC CAR & TRUCK SHOW —
Saturday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. at Holy New Martyrs Church, 364
Backus and Backus
Plainfield Emergency
Care Center paramedics Jeanna Zavistoski,
left, and Sandra Evans, right, are joined
by American Ambulance’s Eric Buckland,
center, as they get
ready to throw out
the first pitch before
the Connecticut Tigers game Friday, July
29. The CT Tigers were promoting First Responder Night in conjunction
with Backus and Windham hospitals.
Canterbury Tpke., Norwich. Trophies
awarded, admission is one nonperishable food item to benefit the
Soup Kitchen, music by DJ “The Pom,”
vendors, great food, tag sale.
Chicken Barbecue — Saturday,
Aug. 20 from 4-6 p.m. at the Voluntown Baptist Church, 52 Main
St. Dinner includes chicken, baked
potato, corn, and cole slaw. Dine-in
or take-out available. Adult dinner
tickets are $11 and children (under 12)
are $5. For tickets, call the church at
860.376.9485.
NORWICH ARTS CENTER FUNDRAISER — Friday, Sept. 23, at the Norwich
Inn and Spa. An evening of fine food,
lively music, cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner, entertainment by Cabaret
to Go. Tickets, $125 per person. Call
860.608.2088 or email dljewell@
sbcglobal.net.
ANNUAL SCARECROW FESTIVAL
— Saturday, Sept. 24, at Preston City
Congregational Church, Preston.
Crafters and vendors needed. Call
860.887.4647 or e-mail scarecrow
festivalcrafters@hotmail.com.
Next Backus blood
drive Aug. 29
Backus will host a blood drive
today — Monday,
Aug. 29, from 7:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
in the hospital’s
main lobby conference rooms at
326 Washington St. in Norwich.
To make an appointment to
give blood, call 860-889-8331, ext.
4211 or 800-733-2767.