newsandviewsjb

NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts from the “American Way of Life” Category

Seattle Seahawks To Stand for Unity

Posted on September 11, 2016

  By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   When I was growing up my mother used to tell of how her father, my grandfather, would stand for the national anthem no matter where he was – even if he was in the house and it came over the radio. Mom loved to be on the go, so in the days of her waning health we tried to bring her as many places as possible. Among the last events we brought Mom to before she passed, was one of her beloved University of Connecticut football games. As is the custom, the national anthem was played prior to the start of the game – and Mom being Mom – she insisted on standing up from her wheelchair to…

Windham Bigg Play, “Remy’s Grinders” & Another Successful Super Bowl Sunday Fundraiser

Posted on February 8, 2016

  Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead   It was another successful year for the annual Windham Bigg Play, Inc. Super Bowl Sunday fundraiser featuring “Remy’s Grinders”. According to Bigg Play board members 650 grinders were sold this year which marked a historic 50th anniversary for the National Football League Super Bowl event. Proceeds from the “Remy’s Grinders” sales will help send young baseball players abroad on goodwill trips.               Bigg Play – Baseball International Goodwill Games Promoting Learning and Advancement of Youth – made its first trip in 1996 to…

Enjoy “Remy’s Grinders” Again

Posted on January 27, 2016

  Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com The New England Patriots may be out of contention but Super Bowl Sunday continues as a great American tradition, with this year marking the 50th anniversary for the annual football showdown.  In Windham, Connecticut & beyond, “Remy’s Grinders” remain another great tradition. As many will attest – simply the best!                                   For the eleventh year, “Remy’s Grinders”, which gained fame being made at the old downtown “dugout” store, are being sold to benefit a good cause – to help “Bigg Play” kids with traveling expenses to play baseball abroad. (Read the original newsandviewsjb story “Lengendary ‘Remy’s Grinders’ Reappear on Super…

Summer’s Last Hurrah at Hammonasset Beach on Long Island Sound

Posted on September 1, 2015

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   With Labor Day Weekend at hand, in a few days Connecticut’s local television stations will inevitably assign reporters to head to Hammonasset Beach State Park and cover one of the most popular places in New England to enjoy summer’s last hurrah. Located in the quaint town of Madison, Hammonasset – an American Indian phrase said to mean “where we dig holes in the sand” – offers more than two miles of beach on Long Island Sound. Unlike some beaches where the walk to reach the water’s edge is a long trek, a nice feature at Hammonasset is the breadth of the sand typically puts visitors closer to the surf. There is a boardwalk, walking/biking/ hiking trails…

Firefighters’ 66th Annual Peach Festival – Aug. 28, 2015 – Manchester, Connecticut

Posted on August 27, 2015

        Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Manchester, Connecticut firefighters will host their 66th Annual Peach Festival Friday, August 28 at the Fire Headquarters on 138 Main Street. The 8th District Utilities volunteer firefighters will hold the event rain or shine. Not to fear however – the weather is predicted to be wonderful!     The Peach Festival is slated to get underway promptly at 6 p.m. and run to 8 p.m. or later depending on the turnout, which is usually large. Tickets (available at the door or beforehand at the fire headquarters) are $5 for a bowl of peach shortcake topped with freshly cut peaches and whipped cream. Live music and door prizes are typically part of this…

Tremendous Response to “Remy’s Grinders” Fundraiser for Bigg Play

Posted on February 5, 2015

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   It was big for Bigg Play !   The sale of “Remy’s Grinders” on Super Bowl Sunday to benefit Bigg Play had a terrific response. Bigg Play is an organization based in Windham, Connecticut that raises money to send youth baseball teams abroad. This year marked the tenth anniversary of the annual grinder sales fundraiser.   According to Bigg Play President Bill Shea, an article posted on newsandviewsjb last week  – “Lengendary ‘Remy’s Grinders’ Reappear on Super Bowl Sundays” – gave the already popular grinder sales, a tremendous bounce. Before noon on February 1, when grinder pick-up was slated to begin, Bigg Play had already run out of meat and had to send out to restock. Rows and rows…

“Blue Bloods” Celebrates 100th Episode -Tackles Moral Dilemmas with Character

Posted on November 13, 2014

Commentary by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Tom Selleck continues to lead a strong cast in the 2014 fall season of the CBS Friday night drama, “Blue Bloods” – which this week celebrated filming of its 100th episode. With aplomb, Selleck as Francis “Frank” Reagan, plays the commissioner of the New York City Police Department and patriarch of an Irish-American family which tackles moral dilemmas with the kind of character that helped build and define America. Throughout the show the Reagans come together and air their differences while struggling with their personal moral compasses at the family dinner table – their father seated at one end and their grandfather/great-grandfather, a retired NYPD commissioner, Henry Reagan played by Len Cariou, seated at the opposite end. Blue…

Fourth of July Kickoff for Mom’s Recipe Box Series on newsandviewsjb

Posted on July 1, 2014

Look for a new series to kick off on newsandviewsjb – Mom’s Recipe Box. My mother collected recipes and I want to continue adding to her collection. I invited family members to send me their favorite recipes. These are recipes with special meaning or ones the cook is known for making – some may be original but that is not a requirement. American Independence Day was a holiday that my mother especially enjoyed. She loved America – two of her brothers served during WWII.  She loved parades, fireworks and those traditional pot luck family picnics where everyone brought a dish. With that in mind, Mom’s Recipe Box Series will launch on a patriotic note this Friday – the Fourth of July. Then watch for a recipe to be…

Lazy, Hazy Crazy Days of Summer at the Heart of Memorial Day Sacrifice

Posted on May 28, 2014

Commentary by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb      “Roll out those lazy, hazy crazy days of summer. Those days of soda and pretzels and beer…” – lyrics from an old song that usually surfaces on the radio sometime after Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of summer here in the good ole’ U.S.A. Inevitably, each year criticism also surfaces about picnics and forays to the beach overshadowing the true meaning of Memorial Day which is to honor those in the U.S. Armed Forces who died in service to the nation. In truth, however, as long as parades, speeches and the laying of wreaths continue in tribute to the fallen, what better way to honor their sacrifice than by enjoying what a local newspaper editor once…