newsandviewsjb

NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts by newsandviewsjb

And the Winners of the 75th Manchester Road Race are…..

Posted on November 25, 2011

And the Winners of the 75th Manchester Road Race are….. Write-up & photos by Jacqueline Bennett And the winners of the 75th Manchester Road Race are – no, not this turkey that parked himself on Porter Street- but for the men, Brian Olinger of Ohio with a time of 21 minutes, 31 seconds and for the women, Sally Kipyego of Kenya with a time of 24 minutes, 22 seconds. Under gorgeous autumn skies, on Thanksgiving Day 15,000 runners and walkers turned out to take on the near 5 mile course in Manchester, Connecticut. This year marked a return for 69-year-old Julia Chase-Brand, who 50 years ago broke the road race’s gender barrier, paving the way for the many women who now compete. As usual,…

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75th Manchester Road Race Continues Thanksgiving Day Tradition

Posted on November 18, 2011

Article & photos by Jacqueline Bennett Manchester, Connecticut is poised to host the town’s signature annual event, the Manchester Road Race. This year marks a milestone 75th running. Held on Thanksgiving Day, the 4.748 mile course draws thousands of runners, including international competitors, here to the “city of village charm.” One of the state’s biggest sports happenings, 13,261 runners were registered as of November 17, with registration slated to be capped at 15,000. If the past is an indicator, some of these folks will show up to run wearing amusing costumes. The night before the race a pasta meal is held so runners can load up on energy boosting carbs. Area pubs are also popular places on race eve. On race day, spectators line…

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Once Again, Amazed By Windsor

Posted on November 13, 2011

  Once Again, Amazed by Windsor Commentary by Jacqueline Bennett For twelve years I covered the town of Windsor, Connecticut as a reporter for the local newspaper, and, it is a community for which I have an abiding affection. The activism, volunteerism, caring, compassion and depth of character among so many of the people with whom my path crossed here in Connecticut’s oldest town never ceased to amaze me. And once again I am amazed by Windsor. This time by Windsor’s veterans who have given so much of themselves in service to our nation, yet this Veterans Day looked beyond their own contributions to recognize the patriotic deeds of someone who is not a veteran, by welcoming her as the main speaker for their…

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Ann Walsh Honored by Windsor, Connecticut Veterans

Posted on November 11, 2011

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com For nearly six years Ann Walsh’s  irrepressible determination and big heart have been the  driving  force behind Send Hometown Windsor To The Troops, a community service project of WIN-TV.  Thanks to her ongoing efforts Windsor’s sons  and daughters serving in the military in Iraq and  Afghanistan receive care packages on a regular basis, boxes filled with basic necessities,  homemade  cookies, homemade breads, other goodies and cards and letters to remind them they are thought about  and  appreciated. This year Walsh was honored by Windsor’s veterans – chosen as the first person who is not a veteran, to give the keynote speech for the Veterans Day Ceremony held 11/11/11 at town hall. She spoke of the strong sense…

Categories: NEWS, People

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Cold Blast Expected While Power Outages Remain In Connecticut

Posted on November 4, 2011

    Cold Blast Expected While Power Outages Remain In Connecticut Article and photos by Jacqueline Bennett Accuweather.com reports a cold blast is expected to hit Connecticut, the rest of New England and neighboring Canada today while more than 300,000 power customers in the Nutmeg state remain without heat and electricity following a late October snowstorm. Connecticut Govenor Dannel Malloy pulled no pushes yesterday when he said during a news conference he “wouldn’t want to be in (Connecticut Light & Power’s) shoes” if the utility fails to make good on a promise from their president to have 99 percent of customers restored by midnight Sunday. Tensions have been mounting among officials in towns particularly hard hit with the threat of lawsuits being bantered about…

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Jersey Boys Rocks in Hartford, CT

Posted on October 28, 2011

Jersey Boys Rocks in Hartford, CT Article and photo by Jacqueline Bennett It is easy to understand why Jersey Boys won the 2006 Tony Award for best musical. A documentary style musical about the 1960s rock n’ roll group Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, the show has been rocking the house in its return engagement at The Bushnell in downtown Hartford, Connecticut. Last Saturday’s matinee performance was no exception. From the moment the players stepped on stage until they took their final bow the audience was fully engaged with the story and music, offering prolonged applause after several songs to clearly appreciative cast members who remained in character, yet acknowledged the response with a touch of a hand to their hearts. From “Sherry” to…

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UConn Homecoming Victory Amidst Uncertainty

Posted on October 21, 2011

Article and photo by Jacqueline Bennett   The 2011 University of Connecticut homecoming football game win was a welcome victory amidst continued uncertainty about the future of the Big East Conference. UConn came up with a 16-10 W, in the October 15 game against South Florida at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. Two days later presidents and chancellors from the Big East universities voted unanimously to double the exit fee to $10 million for football schools to leave the conference. It is a vote which came on the heels of a turmoil creating announcement that Pittsburgh and Syracuse will drop out of the Big East to join the Atlantic Coast Conference – ACC. Speculation is that revenue and dominance were motivating factors in the…

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Trees of Honor for Connecticut’s Iraq, Afghanistan Fallen Heroes

Posted on October 14, 2011

Trees of Honor for Connecticut’s Iraq, Afghanistan Fallen Heroes by: Jacqueline Bennett “May they never be forgotten.” Plans are underway for a Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial, Inc. to pay homage to Connecticut’s military men and women who died in service to the nation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Initiated by a small group of citizens, currently looking for a 3 acre site in central Connecticut, the living memorial is envisioned as a “beautifully designed space” of serenity and reflection, to include a shade tree planted for each Connecticut military member who died serving in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraq Freedom and Operation New Dawn. A personalized plaque will be erected next to each tree and there will be walkways, flower gardens, benches, flagpoles, statues…

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Destination : The Putney Inn & (Update – now closed)

Posted on October 7, 2011

Update 10/8/2014 – I came across disappointing news today while checking The Putney Inn Website – the inn is closed. The message on their site reads: “I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of patrons who have graced my door over my four decades as innkeeper -ess.” According to on-line reports in the Rutland Herald, the Battleboro Reformer and Vermont Today, a deal with a Connecticut real estate developer to buy the 11.25 acre historic site, to make renovations and reopen this past spring fell through. The property, including adjacent motel rooms, was said to have been listed at $895,000. Last month innkeeper Randi Ziter faced a foreclosure auction. It was some fifteen years ago that I spotted The Putney Inn just off I-91…

Categories: New England, NEWS, Restaurants, Tourism

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Connecticut Day at the 2011 Big E

Posted on September 30, 2011

Connecticut Day at the 2011 Big E Article and photo by Jacqueline Bennett Connecticut Day, held September 21 at the Big E, drew the state’s top officials Gov. Dannel Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman. In the early afternoon Wyman was on hand at the Connecticut building for a ‘meet and greet’ with exhibitors including entrepreneur Kathie Pelliccio, the “Seed Queen” of Branford, who has started Super Seedz, an all natural gourmet pumpkin seed treat promoted as a healthy snack. Wyman even tasted a handful of seeds which come in a variety of flavors. Among other exhibits inside the building were the popular Connecticut authors booth, a winery sample,  an interesting LEGO demonstration, food concessions and as always a strong presence by the Connecticut State…

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