Article by Susan Elan in LoHud:Patricia McMahon Houser of Carmel, an assistant professor of geography at Central Connecticut State University, is Putnam's new county historian.
Houser said she wants to engage the entire community in a discussion of what from Putnam's past is worth preserving and how it should be preserved. But she said that she understands the "value of rescuing" historic sites such as the Hill-Agor farm, with its "potential for development as a living museum."
On her to-do list as county historian, Houser said she hopes to strengthen the link between those involved in historical projects on the county's east and west sides.
Few can deny that the various burkini bans put in place by towns on the French Riviera this summer have become symbolic of thecountry’s struggle over “secular identity.” The bans have seemed particularly odd to Italian beachgoers and others around the world, who have pointed out that nuns are often seen on Italian beaches in their habit. Despite the French Conseil d’Etat’s suspension of the burkini ban, local mayors continue to say they will enforce the dress code. Cogolin Mayor Marc Etienne Lansade told CNN, ”if you don’t want to live the way we do, don’t come...If you are accepted in Rome — do like Romans do.” As it turns out, there is an ancient history of telling women what they can and cannot wear as a means of controlling a community’s political message.
