newsandviewsjb

NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts by newsandviewsjb

Linda McMahon & More Candidates Greet Big Crowd at Manchester, Connecticut Peach Festival

Posted on August 25, 2012

  Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Fresh off her August primary win, Linda McMahon, Republican nominee to run for the United States senate from Connecticut. turned out to greet the large crowd at the 63rd Annual Peach Festival in Manchester, Conn. last night. It was a return visit to the popular festival, according to McMahon, who said she had stopped by two years ago. Surrounded by supporters wearing blue McMahon T-shirts, she shook hands with firefighter Ernest Jones then made her way up the hill along Main Street where festival-goers waited in line.     McMahon, who previously ran unsuccessfully for the senate against Democrat Richard Blumenthal, will face Democrat Congressman Chris Murphy in the upcoming November election. McMahon expressed confidence. “I…

Categories: NEWS

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63rd Peach Festival Tonight – August 24 – in Manchester, Connecticut

Posted on August 24, 2012

              Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett Things should be just peachy tonight in Manchester, Connecticut where the 63rd Annual Peach Festival is being held from 6-8 p.m. Put on by Eighth Utilities District Fire Department, this is a no frills, albeit popular hometown festival that revolves around tasty bowls of peach shortcake topped with whipped cream.  Lines usually start forming well before 6 p.m. and snarl along Main Street down the hill to the old fire station on the corner of Hilliard and Main, where the peachy treats are served to festival-goers. Seating is outdoors, family style at long rows of tables set up in the department’s parking lot across the road on the opposite corner of…

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Destination: Enjoy the Grilling Sorcery at Harry’s Place Colchester,CT

Posted on August 21, 2012

Write-up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb A bit of sorcery may well be in play at Harry’s Place where right before one’s eyes, side-by-side, juicy hot dogs and chubby burgers are grilled to perfection then tucked inside fresh plump rolls – look below the dogs for chili, cheese or browned onions. Currently, ‘chef ‘ Ronald Clark is one of the grill wizards at the restaurant. And, don’t be surprised to see owner John Garet at the register – the third among owners since the original. Situated on 104 Broadway near Routes 2 and 85 in a modest looking white roadside shack – which by the way, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places – for decades Harry’s Place in Colchester, has been…

Categories: Food, iconic restaurants, NEWS

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Upcoming Tavern Trot & ‘Lemon Aid’ Golf Tourney Among Benefits for Alex’s Lemonade Foundation

Posted on August 10, 2012

UPDATE 8/14/2012: According to organizer  Sue Bowman, registration for the first “Lemon Aid” Golf Tournament scheduled for September 9 has been slow. Anyone interested in participating is asked to contact her at bowman@townofwindsorct.com or by phone 860-930-2029.   Story & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb Early registration is underway for the 6th Annual Tavern Trot, a 3.5 mile road and trail race through the center of historic Windsor, Connecticut. Hosted by the Union Street Tavern at 20 Union Street, the race on September 16 welcomes runners and walkers and is a USATF certified qualifier for the Manchester Road Race. Same day registration will be held from 11:00 a.m to 12 noon. Start time for the race in 12:30 p.m.          …

Categories: Cancer research, Charitities, Charity Golf Tournament, NEWS

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Cruisin’ on Main Draws Thousands to Manchester, Connecticut

Posted on August 6, 2012

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb Stepping back in time has become a once a year tradition in Manchester, Connecticut where thousands of spectators strolled the downtown’s mile long main drag August 5, to enjoy the 12th annual Cruisin’ on Main. Sunny skies for most of the day and temperatures in the 90s, proved to be ideal conditions to attract vintage and classic vehicles, as well as, those who love to admire them. The show ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., admission was free. Cruisin’ on Main is billed as the largest car collector show of its kind in the Northeast. As noted on its website, the event is meant to conjure up memories of an era in small town America when…

Categories: Annual car shows, Main Street Revitilization, NEWS

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Fun Fridays at Springfield Museums & Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden

Posted on August 2, 2012

Write-up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb Scores of visitors took advantage of free admission at the Springfield Museums in Massachusetts last Friday. It was part of Fun Fridays at locations throughout the state, a program that runs through August 31, being made available by the Highland Street Foundation. Intended for individuals and families, what a fabulous bargain. All four museums within The Quadrangle in downtown Springfield were included. They are the Springfield Science Museum, George Vincent Smith Art Museum, D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts and the Wood Museum of Springfield History. A  fee was being charged for the Seymour Planetarium. Among the numerous attractions was the Castle Adventure inside the science museum. An exhibit of LEGO brick decorations, secret passageways, thrones, knights in…

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Coming Soon – Greater Hartford Irish Music Festival and Mount Carmel Italian Festival

Posted on July 20, 2012

Write-up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb Two wonderful festivals celebrating proud ancestries are coming soon to central Connecticut. This year marks the 28th anniversary of the Greater Hartford Irish Music Festival slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 27-29, on the grounds of the Irish American Home Society in Glastonbury. The following weekend, the Mount Carmel Italian Festival will hold its 87th Annual Feast  August 3, 4 and 5 in Enfield. According to the Irish American Home Society website, the Greater Hartford Irish Music Festival will feature a number of international Irish rock bands -among those scheduled to perform are Unforgetable Fire, McLean Avenue Band, Keltic Kick and Shilelagh Law. At the Cultural Tent, enjoy “traditional music, song and dance.” Learn about Irish history,…

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Anchor Tangle Delays OpSail CT 2012 Parade of Sail Arrival in Final Port – New London

Posted on July 10, 2012

  Story & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb An unexpected snafu delayed the arrival of OpSail CT 2012 Parade of Sail on July 7, into its final port in New London, Connecticut. Expected to arrive around 10 a.m., the holdup left folks who had turned out early that morning to secure a shoreline vantage point, waiting an extra hour and a half under intense sun and in sweltering heat wondering what went awry. Some gave up and left. According to The Day of New London, the anchor chain for the U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle got tangled. Fortunately, the paper noted, the crew was able to untangle it allowing the Eagle as planned, and with Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy on board, to lead the…

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Destination: “A Cupcake For Later” Willimantic, Connecticut

Posted on July 6, 2012

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb Have a sweet tooth to satisfy? Head for “A Cupcake For Later” located in a quaint, little bake store on the Main Street of Willimantic in Windham County, Connecticut. Delightfully, I stumbled upon this gourmet cupcake shop while attending the Fourth of July Boom Box Parade. A new speciality introduced that day was, Apple Pie cupcakes, because said Owner/Baker Cheryl Preston – “What’s more American than apple pie?” Absolutely delectable, they were just one of an assortment of specialty cupcakes with creative names, baked on site by Cheryl, a.k.a. , the Cupcake Lady. Her husband, Jim Preston, is a supervisor at Home Depot but helps out when he can. For breakfast, how about a Maple Bacon cupcake? Perhaps…

Categories: Bakeries, Baking, Cupcakes, NEWS, Second Careers, Starting Over

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Unique Boom Box Parade Celebrates Fourth of July

Posted on July 4, 2012

Story & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb The 27th annual Boom Box Parade drew thousands of participants and spectators to Willimantic, Connecticut today to celebrate the Fourth of July. The unique parade began in 1986 after no marching bands could be found to take part in the town’s Memorial Day Parade. Thanks to Yankee ingenuity and WILI – the local radio station – a few weeks later the idea for a boom box parade came to life. It quickly became enormously popular and has captured attention well beyond the borders of this small community nestled in the eastern corner of the Nutmeg State.   Anyone can march in the parade down the Main Street. Participants are asked to wear red, white and blue and…

Categories: American cuture, NEWS, Parades

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