newsandviewsjb

NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts by newsandviewsjb

Shady Glen Carolers – A Holiday Tradition

Posted on December 11, 2016

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Since my childhood, not a Christmas season has passed without anticipation of seeing and hearing the carolers perched atop the roof of Shady Glen, a sandwich and ice cream shop in Manchester, Connecticut. In an ever changing world this holiday tradition has been a joyful constant.   Shady Glen Dairy Stores include two shops both in Manchester. The original store is located along the Routes 6 & 44 corridor, which connects Hartford County with the state’s “Quiet Corner”.  Shady Glen is well-known as a Nutmeg State treasure and “local institution”. Famously, former CBS news anchor Dan Rather stopped in here.   Among my earliest memories as a little girl are those of my father carrying me…

Categories: Christmas Special Ice Cream, Food, Holiday Traditions, Iconic New England Restaurant, Vintage Ambiance

Tagged: , , , ,

Mom’s Recipe Box: Candy’s No-Salt Crockpot Simmered Vegetable Soup

Posted on December 7, 2016

            Candy’s No-Salt Crockpot Simmered Fresh Vegetable Soup     Soup is the ultimate comfort food. Unfortunately, most store-bought or restaurant soups are loaded with sodium. In an effort to still be able to partake of one of the most enjoyable of all food selections but in a healthier way, my sister Candy decided to experiment and create her own no-salt, crockpot simmered, fresh vegetable soup.                     She found Swanson’s no-salt broth at the Stop & Shop supermarket, then picked out fresh cabbage, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, celery, broccoli, onions, and green pepper. From there it was a matter of peeling and chopping. Homemade soup can pretty much be flavored…

Categories: Crockpot Cooking, Food, Learning Curves, No-Salt Fresh Vegetable Soup

Tagged: , , , , ,

New England’s Largest Gingerbread House Festival

Posted on November 29, 2016

Story & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Stop in at Harry’s Place, visit Middle Earth, imagine walking a candy coated covered bridge or appreciate the architectural beauty of historical buildings. It is all possible in the same place, a gingerbread house world on display at South Windsor, Connecticut’s Wood Memorial Library & Museum through December 10.   Closed Tuesday & Wednesday. Admission is free.     The Wood exhibition is billed as one of the largest – if not the largest Gingerbread House Festival in New England. At least one hundred gingerbread houses can be viewed on two floors of the festively decorated historic library. Each gingerbread house is hand crafted by community members – experienced or novice, area artisans, bakers and students.   An annual…

Categories: Creativity, Middle Earth in Gingerbread, New England Gingerbread House Exhibit, NEWS

Tagged: , , ,

Ben True “To the Wire” Win, Sisson Fastest Woman at Manchester Road Race

Posted on November 28, 2016

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Excitement on Main Street in Manchester, Connecticut reached a crescendo Thanksgiving Day at the 80th Manchester Road Race as two elite male competitors ran nose and nose to the finish line. Ben True of Hanover, New Hampshire took the win on the 4.75 mile course in a time of 21 minutes: 31 seconds. The last few strides between True and Leonard Korir of Colorado were so tight it made for a finish described both as “thrilling” and a “nail-biter”.   In True’s own words “it was right down to the wire”, the 30-year-old, told Fox 61 television that broadcast the road race live. True also won the MRR in 2014.     Emily Sisson, 25, of…

Categories: Manchester Road Race, New England Sporting Events, Thanksgiving Day Traditions

Tagged: , , , , , ,

Young Artist -Sofia- Has Drawing Selected for Cover Design

Posted on November 22, 2016

  By: Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   It was no surprise to her classmates and friends when Sofia Landeck-Williams, a student at Island Park Elementary School in Mercer Island, Washington, had her drawing selected in a districtwide competition as the cover design for the school directory. The surprise, however, came for the promising young artist when the directories were delivered to her class.     “A student came into her classroom to pass out the student directories and announced to Sofia that she won the cover,” noted Sofia’s family, “Everyone in the class was so happy for her. There were all kinds of ‘congratulations’ and comments that they all knew she was going to win.”     True to Sofia’s caring nature, her first thoughts…

Categories: Family Joy, NEWS, Passion, Talent, Young Artist

Tagged: , , , ,

80th Manchester Road Race Running on Thanksgiving Day 2016

Posted on November 13, 2016

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   The 80th running of the Manchester Road Race will take place Thanksgiving Day, November 24, slated to start promptly at 10:00 a.m. One of the largest sporting events in the Nutmeg state, MRR was honored in May with the presentation of the 2016 Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance Award recognizing the race’s “significant contribution to sports in Connecticut”.   As of early this morning, online registration remained open with 10,416 runners signed up, according to the MRR website. Visit https://www.manchesterroadrace.com/ for information about registration which will be capped at 15,000. Online registration will end November 17, at 14,000, this year there will be no evening or same day registration. However, walk-in registration will be held at the Sports & Fitness…

Categories: Manchester Road Race, Thanksgiving Day events in New England, Thanksgiving Traditions

Tagged: , , ,

On Veterans Day Remembering “Doughboy” – Uncle Frank Sheedy

Posted on November 11, 2016

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   It was World War I that brought our Great Uncle Frank Sheedy to us. As it was told to me as a little girl, Uncle Frank had been gassed by the enemy. Upon returning to his home state of New York he was sent upstate to recuperate and came to Sunny Crest Farm in Bloomingburg, New York, which was owned and operated by my family. There he forged a lifelong bond with the Bennett Family.   What I remember most about Uncle Frank were his bright blue eyes, his gentle spirit and the sweet, gracious letters he penned. Vividly I recall Uncle Frank seated in his recliner by the bay window -cane at his side- in Aunt June’s dining…

Categories: NEWS, Veterans Day

Tagged: , , , ,

Raggedy Ann Returns to 55th Farmhouse Fair at Ellington Congregational Church

Posted on November 7, 2016

  Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Nearly a century has passed since Raggedy Ann came on the scene and for close to half that time, Penny Gates & company have been making Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy Dolls for the Farmhouse Fair in Ellington, Connecticut. Sponsored by the Women’s Fellowship and hosted by the Ellington Congregational Church, the 55th Farmhouse Fair was held November 4 and 5.   From a faceless rag doll packed away then forgotten in an attic, the now iconic Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls were born. According to online sources, legend has it that while rummaging through his mother’ s attic, American artist Johnny Gruelle found an old rag doll his mother had made for his sister.…

Categories: Congregational Church, Hand Made Raggedy Ann & Andy, Iconic Dolls, New England Church Fairs, NEWS

Tagged: , , , , , ,

Send Forth A Tiny Ripple of Hope – VOTE

Posted on November 5, 2016

Commentary by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope …” Robert F. Kennedy.   With one of the most crucial presidential elections our nation has ever been asked to decide but days away, this quote from Robert F. Kennedy has been on my mind. Ever the idealist, I still believe in the power of tiny ripples of hope.   In this most famous portion of what has become known as his “Ripple of Hope” speech, Kennedy went on to say “and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current…

Categories: 2016 Presidential Election, Democracy, NEWS, Unity, VOTE America

Tagged: , ,

Home Baked Rich Muffins a Great Way to Start November!

Posted on November 1, 2016

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   With Thanksgiving just around the corner it is time to pull out the cornucopia of family recipes. Readers of newsandviewsjb may be familiar with my “Mom’s Recipe Box” series – a seven month series which featured old and new family favorites, including Rich Muffins.   Growing up one of the best surprises in the Bennett Household was to awaken to the aroma of my mother baking Rich Muffins downstairs in her RED & WHITE kitchen – a recipe that has been carried on to the next generations. I can’t think of a better way to start the month of November than with a batch of rich muffins. Put in the oven at 5:10 a.m. this morning and ready at…

Categories: family recipes, NEWS, Wicked Yummy!

Tagged: , , , , , ,