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NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts from the “New England” Category

Beautiful Weather Accompanies “Taste of Mystic” 2015

Posted on June 15, 2015

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Beautiful weather accompanied the 2015 Taste of Mystic in Mystic Connecticut which ran June 12, 13 & 14. Crowds that turned out for the event had a chance to sample menu items from about 30 area restaurants. Seafood was a popular choice such as clams shucked on the spot when customers made their purchases at the “HARBOUR HOUSE at the INN AT MYSTIC”, as well as, Lobster Mac prepared by the “Portuguese Fisherman”. Soup lovers were drawn to offerings of Lobster Bisque and New England – of course – Clam Chowder.   The Taste of Mystic was set up in a parking lot outside the Olde Mistick Village shops with a large tent of picnic tables…

Categories: Food, New England, New England Seaside Restaurants, NEWS, Restaurants, Seafood, Tourism

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Change Was on Display at 42nd Annual “Art in the Park” in Manchester, Connecticut

Posted on June 9, 2015

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Change was on display June 7 when more than 127 artisans, crafters and other vendors took part in the 42nd Annual “Art in the Park” held in Manchester, Connecticut’s Center Memorial Park. After four decades of being run by the Manchester Art Association, the first Sunday in June slot was kept but this year the event became juried as the reins were handed to new hosts Young @ Art CT and Imagine Main Street under the supervision of a new coordinator, Cynthia Bulaong.   The first-come, first-pick approach of the past for registered participants was scrapped and replaced with assigned spots, interactive art projects were featured, as well as, live performances throughout the day from 10…

Categories: Art as Community Revitilization, Art in the Park, Imagine Main Street, New England, NEWS, Young @ Art

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Destination: Dog Lane Cafe – Storrs, Connecticut

Posted on May 26, 2015

Write-up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com      Dog Lane Cafe at Storrs Center in Connecticut was a show of good faith that has become a success. Located across the road from the main University of Connecticut campus which is tucked into the rural Connecticut countryside, this European/American style cafe holds the anchor spot for the still relatively new mixed use center, that back in 2005 was said to have been struggling to attract tenants. On the day of my recent visit, the cafe was bustling with students and adults – attracting the latter by design.   Brothers Barry and Brian Jessurum, business partners in Dog Lane Cafe’s sister restaurants, the hugely popular Vanilla Bean in Pomfret, and 85 Main in Putnam, reportedly…

Categories: Cafes, New England, New England Cafes, NEWS, Restaurants

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Col. Harry Generous Organized CT Air National Guard/ Cousin & Brothers Led Generations of Family Service to USAF

Posted on May 18, 2015

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Since near the dawn of American aviation members of the Generous family have taken to the skies to serve their country. Harry, Al and Oliver (“Bunker”) Generous had roles in American aviation history. Commencing in the early half of the 20th Century to the present day, four generations of the Generous family have a proud lineage of USAF service that spans close to a century, in the U.S. Air Corp which became the U.S. Air Force, and in the Air National Guard.   Last Memorial Day I wrote a piece for newsandviewsjb titled “Quiet Heroes from Connecticut’s Quiet Corner” about two of my mother’s brothers who served during World War II, with a focus on her brother Oliver “Bunker”…

Categories: American Aviation, American history, Arlington National Cemetery, Army Air Force, Aviation Pioneers, Connecticut history, Family, Leadership, New England, NEWS

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Classy Farewell from NE Patriots Vince Wilfork & Salt in an Old Wound

Posted on March 6, 2015

Commentary by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Whenever a popular player from one of my favorite teams, who has not only performed well but with loyalty and integrity, is shown the door it feels like salt in an old wound for me. That being the devasting 11th hour trade of Ronnie Francis from the former National Hockey League Hartford Whalers.   Known to virtually everyone in Connecticut by his first name during his time with the Whale, “Ronnie” was traded on March 4, 1991. He was traded along with Ulf Samuelson and Grant Jennings to the Pittsburgh Penguins after Francis spent close to ten seasons with the Whalers, most of those as captain, reportedly scoring 264 goals, 557 assists and “setting nearly every offensive record in franchise history.” Rightfully so, he was beloved…

Categories: New England, NEWS, NFL, Sports

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More Snow for New England

Posted on February 10, 2015

Write-up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Whether or not snow in New England is actually ‘news’ is a question to be pondered. Reports of snow certainly dominate the local airwaves this time of year. Anchors are typically called in to work earlier than usual and the morning news shows go on anywhere from a half hour to a hour ahead of their time slots  – some at 4 a.m. – as meteorologists keep viewers informed almost minute by minute about the amount of snow on the ground and, or, falling from the air.     Television coverage has taken to calling the accumulations, “snow events”. And, weather reports have consumed so much of the broadcast news that it prompted a local newspaper editor to write…

Categories: New England, NEWS, snow events, Snowfall, weather

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New England Patriots Win Super Bowl, Defeat Seahawks – From ‘Sea to Shining Sea’ We Had It Covered

Posted on February 2, 2015

By:Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   When the camera panned from a night view of Boston, Massachusetts to one of Seattle, Washington during the opening of the Super Bowl last evening as John Legend sang the lyrics “from sea to shining sea” in “America the Beautiful”, it really struck a chord. Super Bowl XLIX was especially exciting in my family with those of us living in New England as stalwart Patriots fans and my Seattle relatives huge Seahawks fans. No matter what, I thought to myself, our family was going to win because as the beautiful lyric goes – “from sea to shining sea” – we had it covered.   If both teams could have won, I would have been pleased. That said, since only one could bring…

Categories: 2015 Super Bowl, Family, New England, NEWS, Super Bowl XLIX

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Sour Grapes Meant to Deflate Patriots AFC Championship?

Posted on January 22, 2015

Commentary By: Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   “… The officials do a great job of being sure everything is up-to-date. With all the procedures they take, I find it hard to believe that someone could take two bags of 12 balls and deflate them. I don’t see where you could go with this large bag of balls. Do you lock yourself in a room? It’s not very feasible.” Gil Brandt, former vice president for player personnel with the Dallas Cowboys and current analyst for NFL Media, as quoted January 20 in The New York Times.   I am a New England Patriots fan. Like most Pats fans I was on top of world after the AFC championship game victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, January 18, that…

Categories: Controversy, National Football League, New England, NEWS, Sports

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Scarves on Windham “Frog Bridge” – Sign of the Holiday Season in Northeastern Connecticut

Posted on December 17, 2014

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   A distinctive splash of red twirled around four gigantic green frog sculptures, perched atop spools of thread on the “Frog Bridge” has become a whimsical sign of the holiday season in northeastern Connecticut’s Windham county. Upclose, at a distance, front view or rear view, one might say the frogs in scarves visual – jumps out – to greet travelers.   Flurries playfully accented the 11- foot-tall bronze statues following a recent, early December snowfall, likely among the first of many snowflakes that will descend throughout the coming winter. The bright red scarves clearly bring holiday warmth to these creatures from the deep.     Four frogs squat, one perched on each corner of the bridge spanning the Willimantic River and Windham rail line from Pleasant Street (Route…

Categories: American history, architecture, Bridges, Folklore, New England, NEWS, sculptures, Signs of the Holiday Season

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Connecticut’s Breathtaking Autumn Foliage Continues Into November

Posted on November 2, 2014

  Write-up by Jacqueline Bennett Photos by Michelle Larned & Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com     New England is known for the brilliance of its autumn foliage. In Connecticut, breathtaking views have been bountiful this season. Some tree crowns began turning in the latter part of August – by October, the landscapes awash in rich colors, have rendered vistas so beautiful there is joy simply in being alive to drink it all in.   Good news for Nutmeggers and other leaf peepers, areas in Connecticut are predicted to hold their color for two more weeks through to November 15, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.   From orchards and pastures in the “Quiet Corner” to hills of the City of Village…

Categories: Autumn Foliage, New England, NEWS, Tourism

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