newsandviewsjb

NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts by newsandviewsjb

Historic Victory for Tom Brady, Patriots & Super Bowl Return to Sadler’s Ordinary

Posted on February 6, 2017

Commentary by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   “The G.O.A.T.” took New England Patriots fans on a wild ride last night. Ultimately, quarterback Tom Brady and his teammates delivered a 34-28  comeback victory against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51. It was historic on so many levels, from the historic seventh appearance in a Super Bowl of a head coach-quarterback combination, to their historic fifth win, to Brady’s fourth MVP trophy to the five Super Bowl rings our New England ‘Lord of the Rings’ can now wear, to the first overtime win in a Super Bowl. Last but far from least, the Patriots victory delivered some sweet justice in the aftermath of the NFL commissioner whom -in connection to allegations without evidence- wrongfully punished our…

Categories: Hooray New England Patriots!, NEWS, Super Bowl 51, Sweet Justice New England Patriots, Tom Brady - Lord of the Rings

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Coast to Coast New England Patriots Family Unity

Posted on February 3, 2017

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   From coast to coast my family is united with New England Patriots spirit! Like the country in which we live, our family spans from the Atlantic to Pacific oceans. Also like the country in which we live our roots are in New England.   A number of relatives now call other regions of the country home and have affiliations to different teams. Nonetheless, ever the idealist I wondered – even if that were the case – could we come together behind the National Football League Pats as they head to Super Bowl 51?   A tall order I suppose, one easier for me residing in Connecticut, Patriots territory. As it turns out, I learned New England and family loyalty…

Categories: Family, Historic QB Head Coach Combo, NEWS, NFL, Super Bowl 51

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Connecticut Republican Linda McMahon Tapped to Head Small Business Administration – Remember When She Stopped by the Peach Festival?

Posted on January 25, 2017

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Connecticut Republican Linda McMahon has been tapped to head the Small Business Administration by President Donald Trump. In a show of bi-partisan support, she was introduced at her confirmation hearing on Capital Hill January 24 by two former political opponents, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, both Connecticut Democrats.   “I think she would be an excellent fit for this agency, “Blumenthal said at the hearing, “She knows, as I do, that small businesses are the backbone of the economy.” Blumenthal went on to say that McMahon has utilized her expertise to help veterans and women realize their dreams.   Various news organizations featured a side-by-side photo of McMahon, Blumenthal and Murphy at the confirmation hearing.…

Categories: Bi-partisan Support, NEWS, Politics, Small Business in America

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New England Patriots Make Magic – Magician in the House, Yes Really

Posted on January 22, 2017

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   (Magic: Use of special powers to make things happen that would usually be impossible; a special, exciting quality that makes something or someone different and better than others – Cambridge English Dictionary)   Fans will be hoping for a little more magic when Hall of Fame-bound New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Head Coach Bill Belichick and an array of talented receivers enter Gillette Stadium tonight in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Fans will be hoping Brady’s and Belichick’s seemingly special powers beat the Steelers in the AFC title game and once again bring the Pats to the Super Bowl. For more than a decade Brady and Belichick have provided New England Patriots fans with magical memories, including multiple Super Bowl championships setting…

Categories: AFC Title Game, Beyond the Boundaries of Impossible, Brady/Belichick Magic ?, Magic, Magicians, New England Patriots vs Steelers, NEWS

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Inheriting the Dream – Simsbury Honors Martin Luther King Day

Posted on January 17, 2017

      Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Inside the Simsbury, Connecticut church where a young Martin Luther King Jr.’s voice stood out, town leaders spoke of pride in their place in American history. People filled the pews flowing upstairs into the balconies at the First Church of Christ Monday, January 16, for the 7th Annual MLK Day in Simsbury Celebration.   “A great man once graced Simsbury with his presence,” said First Selectman Lisa Heavner.   First Church of Christ Pastor the Rev. George Harris recounted a story, by now well-known, about Martin Luther King Jr. working on a Simsbury tobacco farm in the summers of 1944 and 1947 to earn money to attend Morehead College. While attending a Sunday…

Categories: Inspiration, Martin Luther King Day, NEWS, Racial History in America

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Destination: Panera Bread Cafe Newly Opened in South Windsor, CT

Posted on January 13, 2017

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   It has become tradition for my sisters and me to celebrate the January 12 anniversary of our mother’s birthday by picking a restaurant where we meet for lunch on that day. This year we could not think of a more perfect spot than the new Panera Bread Cafe in our South Windsor, Connecticut ‘neighborhood’ where we added to the celebration by using Christmas gift cards to Panera from our nieces Katie and Sofia.     Located on the edge of Evergreen Walk along Buckland Road, this is a busy place. A few features set it apart from other Panera cafes that I have been to, such as a popular drive thru window, self-ordering kioshs, an inside…

Categories: Clean Food, Food, Nationwide Restaurants

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Diaco Firing Offers Opportunity To Pick Better Fit for UConn Football

Posted on December 27, 2016

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   The red light was flashing on my land line when I arrived home yesterday alerting me to a waiting message – “if you haven’t heard, Diaco has been fired.” ‘Diaco’ referring to Bob Diaco, head coach of University of Connecticut Football for the last three seasons. I would venture to guess text messages have been flying as fast as fingers can pound the keys and phone lines across the state have been burning up the “Diaco’s been fired” news.   Eagerly I awaited a report from Kevin Nathan of NBC30. Connecticut’s best broadcast sports journalist, I particularly wanted to hear his take on the firing. He was not on the 6:00 p.m. program but had sent word that according…

Categories: Bad Fits, college football, Diaco Fired, NEWS, Second Chances

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Christmas Baking & Oranges in Stockings

Posted on December 24, 2016

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Food is an integral part of Christmas and baking can be a most satisfying aspect of the season. Long hours spent peeling, measuring and  mixing are quite worthwhile when the finished product is eagerly anticipated by family and friends.   A sight that heralds the holiday for me is loaves of banana bread fresh out of the oven, later wrapped in foil for delivery. This isn’t just any banana bread, it is a family baking tradition being carried on by my sister Candy made from our mother Cecelia’s recipe which was handed down to her from our grandmother Delia. It is tricky trying to achieve the precise flavor and consistency resulting from this recipe. Done right…

Categories: Culinary Christmas Trations, Food, Oranges in Stockings - why?

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Successful Reuse of The Hilliard Mills – George Washington Would Be Proud

Posted on December 21, 2016

Article & Photos By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Another American presidential inauguration is but weeks away, this one for a billionaire able to afford the finest clothier. It is fascinating to think the woolen worn by George Washington at the country’s first inauguration in 1789 was made in a mill in Manchester, Connecticut – America’s oldest woolen mill site established in 1780.   The Hilliard Mills opened in 2006 as part of an ongoing effort in New England to repurpose once vibrant factories. The goal as stated on their website, is “to preserve one of Connecticut’s finest architectural and historical treasures.” According to a history of the site, circa 1780 it housed a woolen factory belonging to American industrialist Aaron Buckland – a name…

Categories: Entrepreneurial Spirit, Interesting Fact About George Washington Inauguration, NEWS, Remnants of the Industrial Revolution, Reuse New England Factories, Smart Growth, Successful Repurposing

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‘Best Ever’ Hot Chocolate

Posted on December 13, 2016

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   In a scene from one of my favorite Hallmark movies, “The Christmas Shepard”, the two main characters fall in love while mixing homemade hot chocolate – a.k.a. cocoa – in a country kitchen. Sally, played by Teri Polo, grates blocks of dark chocolate while Mark, played by Martin Cummins, uses an exotic gadget to blend the resulting cocoa powder. A romance sparks.   Although I am not quite that dedicated when it comes to brewing up this cold weather delectable, I have been told I make a “delicious”, “best ever” hot chocolate. As much as I would like to take credit for having a magic touch when it comes to serving the ‘best ever’ homemade hot chocolate, the truth…

Categories: National Cocoa Day, NEWS

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