Page 4 - Hometown Heroes - Hartford Courant 022116
P. 4
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2016 THE HARTFORD COURANT
HOMETOWN HEROES: Good Neighbors
“I loved all these years of 4-H because I still see people and they remember
and that feels good. You’re helping without knowing you’re helping.”
Elsie Woolam
AT AGE 79, ‘I KEEP TOO BUSY’
South Windsor Woman Has A Lifelong Passion For 4-H And For Helping Others
By KATHLEEN MCWILLIAMS
kmcwilliams@courant.com
S OUTH WINDSOR — Elsie JOHN WOIKE | JWOIKE@COURANT.COM
Woolam will celebrate her 80th
birthday in August, but she ELSIE WOOLAM, 79, of South Windsor, got involved in 4-H as a teenager, through her future husband, and the two helped develop a 4-H
shows no signs of slowing down camp in Marlborough. She holds a pillow with a picture of her husband, Dick, on his favorite horse.
when it comes to giving back to the
community where she’s lived all her life. remember most about Elsie during this time “I loved all these years of 4-H because I man was at the end of the hallway and he
was that she would hear out any and all still see people and they remember and that said, ‘Put the hot meal on the table and the
A South Windsor resident, Woolam deliv- ideas, and was always supportive of them, feels good,” Woolam said. “You’re helping cold meal on the stove,’ and I wondered, do I
ers Meals on Wheels in town once a month, even the bad ones.” without knowing you’re helping.” go in and say hello or do I mind my own
drives for Friends In Service Here, a non- business and go?”
profit volunteer driving service that gives Balko said Woolam is the type of person When she isn’t handling paperwork at
rides to people who can’t drive themselves, who does and does until she can do no more. her dining room table or answering emails Now when she delivers his meals, she
and is the administrator at the Hartford in the wee hours of the morning, Woolam says hello, pats his dog and goes on her way.
County 4-H camp in Marlborough. “There are simply not enough people in drives for Friends in Service Here, delivers The small interactions with the people she
the world as selfless, giving, caring and Meals on Wheels, and volunteers through volunteers with lift her up, she said, as does
“Age doesn’t mean anything to me. I like hardworking as Elsie Woolam,” Balko the South Windsor Historical Society and giving back to her hometown. But she
to keep busy,” Woolam said. “I keep too busy. added. “She is one of a kind, and just when First Congregational Church. doesn’t count the years she’s served.
Everyone I know says I need to say no to you think that you know how amazing she
things, but I don’t know what to say no to. is, she comes up with or does something that When she delivers meals to homebound “It’s just not important to me. I just do it,”
But I’m happy and that’s what matters.” impresses you even more.” South Windsor residents, she does more she said. “People always ask me that and
than just drop the meals off and go. they ask, ‘You use your own car? You buy
Woolam first got involved in 4-H as a Until camp opens this summer Woolam has your own gas?’ Well, yeah. That’s the name
teenager. her hands full hiring counselors, working with “I get to say hello. For some of them, of the game, and that’s what giving back is all
vendors to coordinate food service and meet- you’re the only person they saw all day,” she about.”
“My future husband said they were ing with the board of trustees. said. “The first time I went to one home, the
looking for a secretary and why didn’t I
join?” she said.
At the time Woolam did not imagine that
would be the beginning of her lifelong
passion for 4-H. In the early 1960s, Woolam
and her husband spearheaded the purchase
of the land in Marlborough for the camp,
raised $175,000 to build it and oversaw the
construction at the 100-acre site.
The camp opened in 1965 and, from that
point forward, Woolam poured her time and
energy into running it.
“My husband and [my] whole life
revolved around 4-H,” Woolam said. “I
probably have three generations of 4-Hers
now. I was at a wake last night and one man
said to me, ‘Elsie Woolam, I will never forget
you. You caught us going to the girl’s side,
and when you caught us a second time, you
made us wash windows!’ I don’t even
remember that.”
Amy Balko of East Berlin started
attending 4-H camp when she was 9 or 10
and continued until she went to college. She
now serves on the camp’s board.
“Elsie has been at the center of all of those
activities for all of those years. ... As an adult
now, I realize that while the facility is
wonderful, it is not the place that has made
camp so dear to me. It is the people and the
experiences that helped me to become who
I am that has done it. Right at the center of it
all is Elsie,” Balko said. “The thing that I
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“IF YOU’RE NOT HAPPY, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT!”
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HOMETOWN HEROES: Good Neighbors
“I loved all these years of 4-H because I still see people and they remember
and that feels good. You’re helping without knowing you’re helping.”
Elsie Woolam
AT AGE 79, ‘I KEEP TOO BUSY’
South Windsor Woman Has A Lifelong Passion For 4-H And For Helping Others
By KATHLEEN MCWILLIAMS
kmcwilliams@courant.com
S OUTH WINDSOR — Elsie JOHN WOIKE | JWOIKE@COURANT.COM
Woolam will celebrate her 80th
birthday in August, but she ELSIE WOOLAM, 79, of South Windsor, got involved in 4-H as a teenager, through her future husband, and the two helped develop a 4-H
shows no signs of slowing down camp in Marlborough. She holds a pillow with a picture of her husband, Dick, on his favorite horse.
when it comes to giving back to the
community where she’s lived all her life. remember most about Elsie during this time “I loved all these years of 4-H because I man was at the end of the hallway and he
was that she would hear out any and all still see people and they remember and that said, ‘Put the hot meal on the table and the
A South Windsor resident, Woolam deliv- ideas, and was always supportive of them, feels good,” Woolam said. “You’re helping cold meal on the stove,’ and I wondered, do I
ers Meals on Wheels in town once a month, even the bad ones.” without knowing you’re helping.” go in and say hello or do I mind my own
drives for Friends In Service Here, a non- business and go?”
profit volunteer driving service that gives Balko said Woolam is the type of person When she isn’t handling paperwork at
rides to people who can’t drive themselves, who does and does until she can do no more. her dining room table or answering emails Now when she delivers his meals, she
and is the administrator at the Hartford in the wee hours of the morning, Woolam says hello, pats his dog and goes on her way.
County 4-H camp in Marlborough. “There are simply not enough people in drives for Friends in Service Here, delivers The small interactions with the people she
the world as selfless, giving, caring and Meals on Wheels, and volunteers through volunteers with lift her up, she said, as does
“Age doesn’t mean anything to me. I like hardworking as Elsie Woolam,” Balko the South Windsor Historical Society and giving back to her hometown. But she
to keep busy,” Woolam said. “I keep too busy. added. “She is one of a kind, and just when First Congregational Church. doesn’t count the years she’s served.
Everyone I know says I need to say no to you think that you know how amazing she
things, but I don’t know what to say no to. is, she comes up with or does something that When she delivers meals to homebound “It’s just not important to me. I just do it,”
But I’m happy and that’s what matters.” impresses you even more.” South Windsor residents, she does more she said. “People always ask me that and
than just drop the meals off and go. they ask, ‘You use your own car? You buy
Woolam first got involved in 4-H as a Until camp opens this summer Woolam has your own gas?’ Well, yeah. That’s the name
teenager. her hands full hiring counselors, working with “I get to say hello. For some of them, of the game, and that’s what giving back is all
vendors to coordinate food service and meet- you’re the only person they saw all day,” she about.”
“My future husband said they were ing with the board of trustees. said. “The first time I went to one home, the
looking for a secretary and why didn’t I
join?” she said.
At the time Woolam did not imagine that
would be the beginning of her lifelong
passion for 4-H. In the early 1960s, Woolam
and her husband spearheaded the purchase
of the land in Marlborough for the camp,
raised $175,000 to build it and oversaw the
construction at the 100-acre site.
The camp opened in 1965 and, from that
point forward, Woolam poured her time and
energy into running it.
“My husband and [my] whole life
revolved around 4-H,” Woolam said. “I
probably have three generations of 4-Hers
now. I was at a wake last night and one man
said to me, ‘Elsie Woolam, I will never forget
you. You caught us going to the girl’s side,
and when you caught us a second time, you
made us wash windows!’ I don’t even
remember that.”
Amy Balko of East Berlin started
attending 4-H camp when she was 9 or 10
and continued until she went to college. She
now serves on the camp’s board.
“Elsie has been at the center of all of those
activities for all of those years. ... As an adult
now, I realize that while the facility is
wonderful, it is not the place that has made
camp so dear to me. It is the people and the
experiences that helped me to become who
I am that has done it. Right at the center of it
all is Elsie,” Balko said. “The thing that I
EXTENDED! 0%
APR
PRESIDENTS’
ON SELECT
NEW SUBARUS
LIMITED TERM
OVER 220 NEW & PRE-OWNED
SUBARUS ON SALE!
BERTERA BRAND NEW FORESTERS – ALL MUST GO!
TIRES
FOR LIFE 1000 sOUTLET PRICING $ ’
PROGRAM** WILL SAVE YOU
ON NEW
SUBARUS
Brand New! FORESTERS
3 GREAT MODELS. 1 BUY NOW STARTING AT Nicely equipped with ABS, A/C,
SAME LOW PAYMENT! Full Power and more. All Wheel Drive!
3 GREAT OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM! $20,995
$169/MO OVER 90 SUBARU LEGACY
LEASE OPTIONS!!! Lease a New 2016 Fusion SE AWD FORESTERS
for 24 mos at $169 per mo. on Sale AWD, Automatic, A/C, All Power
2 Visit BerteraMotors.com to
VIN: 3FA6P0T98GR348239 • 10,500 miles/year see our entire Subaru Inventory Brand
$3,313 Down payment • $4,056 TTL MTHLY PYMTS • MSRP: $33,300 • Res.: $20,110 New!
SUBARU CROSSTREK
Prices exclude tax, title, registration and dealer fees. $0 security deposit.
DAS = down + bank fees due at signing. All Wheel Drive, Nicely Equipped!
3 Brand
New!
3 GREAT OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM! 3 GREAT OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM! 20,757$BUY 20,988$BUY
Lease a New 2015 Focus SE Lease a New 2016 Ford Escape SE 4WD FOR FOR
ONLY ONLY
for 36 mos at $169 per mo. for 24 mos at $169 per mo.
SUBARU OUTBACK SUBARU IMPREZA
AUTO • VIN: 1FADP3F21FL310548 • 10,500 miles/year VIN: 1FMCU9GXXGUA02085 • 10,500 miles/year
$2,500 Down Payment • $6,084 TTL MTHLY PYMTS • MSRP: $22,765 • Res.: $10,699 $3,313 Down Payment • $4,056 TTL MTHLY PYMTS • MSRP: $27,805 • Res.: $22,132 AWD, Automatic, All Power, Nicely Equipped 4DR, AWD, ABS, PW, PDL, Bluetooth
Prices exclude tax, title, registration and dealer fees. $0 security deposit. Prices exclude tax, title, registration and dealer fees. Brand Brand & more
DAS = down + bank fees due at signing. $0 security deposit. DAS = down + bank fees due at signing. New! New!
888-983-2928 23,920$BUY 17,938$BUY
CROWLEY-FORD.COM • 225 NEW BRITAIN AVE. PLAINVILLE, CT 06062 FOR FOR
ONLY ONLY
¥ON SELECT VEHICLES. 0% APR FINANCING FOR 60 MONTHS AT $16.67 PER MONTH PER $1,000 FINANCED REGARDLESS OF DOWN PAYMENT
(PGM #20702). †$2,000 TRADE IN ASSISTANCE BONUS CASH (PGM #30142) WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS WHO CURRENTLY OWN OR LEASE A 1995 BERTERA 0% APR
OR NEWER VEHICLE WHO TRADE-IN OR HAVE A LEASE EXPIRING FROM 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THROUGH 90 DAYS AFTER NEW RETAIL DELIVERY. ALL OFFERS: ON SELECT
ALL RETAIL OFFERS PLUS TAX, TITLE, REGISTRATION AND CONVEYANCE FEE $499. ALL FACTORY REBATES TO DEALER. MUST QUALIFY FOR EACH ADVERTISED SUBARU NEW SUBARUS
OFFER SEPARATELY. FINANCING REQUIRES APPROVAL THROUGH DEALER PRIMARY LENDER. FINAL TRADE-IN VALUE SUBJECT TO MECHANICAL INSPECTION. LIMITED TERM
DEALER RESERVES RIGHT NOT TO PURCHASE VEHICLE. SPECIAL OFFERS MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER/SAVINGS AND ARE SUBJECT TO OF HARTFORD
CHANGE/TERMINATION WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE. NO SUBSTITUTIONS & NOT VALID ON PRIOR TRANSACTIONS. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL
ERRORS. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS. OFFERS EXPIRE 2/29/16. 111 Weston Street, Hartford (Exit 33 off Rt. 91) | 888.799.1150
SEE SHOWROOM FOR DETAILS OR CLICK BERTERAMOTORS.COM
“IF YOU’RE NOT HAPPY, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT!”
*All vehicles subject to availability. Order your color today! 0% available to qualified buyers for limited term. See dealer for details Advertised price does not
-KEN CROWLEY, PRINCIPAL OWNER include state or local taxes, registration costs or dealer conveyance fee of $487.00. Order advertised vehicles in your choice of color. Not responsible for
typo/misprints. Offer Expires 2/26/16. **Not all Subaru models qualify for tires program. See dealer for model eligibility and complete program details. Visit
berteramotors.com for advertising details. Excludes other charges. All previous advertised specials expired.
