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NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts from the “NEWS” Category

K-9 Iko Fundraiser Draws Large Turnout at Jim’s Pizza in Windsor CT

Posted on March 1, 2017

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   A large turnout for the K-9 Iko fundraiser Friday night, February 24, kept Jim’s Pizza in Windsor, Connecticut bustling with a line at the door and filled booths and tables. So busy was the restaurant that a delivery person helped to seat patrons during the event that ran from 5-9 p.m.   “I didn’t think there would be this many people,” said K-9 Iko’s partner and handler, Officer Steve Vesco of the Windsor Police Department.   Meanwhile, the reason for the evening, K-9 Iko, sent his regrets – “woof, woof” –  understandably detained while recovering from surgery. It is the cost of that surgery plus rehabilitation and medicine which drew an outpouring of support from the Windsor community…

Herald the Reggie Pinto Exhibit! Forty Years of Manchester Photos

Posted on February 25, 2017

  Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   For forty years, Reginald “Reggie” Pinto recorded the history of Manchester, Connecticut as chief photographer for the former Manchester Evening Herald. His unassuming, pleasant manner gained him access while his keen eye for telling a story with a camera produced photos that were informative and entertaining.   “He was charming,” Sara Wolfgang, Pinto’s granddaughter-in-law said during an interview at the Pinto exhibit held at the Manchester Historical Society February 19. She attended with her husband, David Wolfgang, Pinto’s grandson.     Born in Portugal in 1925, Pinto passed away in Manchester at age 86 in 2011. He had lived in Manchester 60 years. David and Sara Wolfgang shared Pinto’s story of an immigrant who lived…

Saving K-9 Iko

Posted on February 20, 2017

                              By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Doing what is right matters to Officer Steven Vesco.   After eight years of patrolling Windsor, Connecticut with K-9 Iko at his side, on February 14 Vesco faced a moral and personal dilemma. Iko was slated to retire on February 16 but two days before, while still on the job, the canine manifested a serious injury, a herniated disc resulting in paralysis of his rear quarter.   “Immediately I called the New England Veterinary Center in Windsor,” Vesco said during a February 17 phone interview.   Medication to try and relieve compression of Iko’s spinal cord did not work. Iko was brought to Middletown…

Amazing 100th Straight Wins! How About UConn Women’s Basketball on the $100 Dollar Bill?

Posted on February 14, 2017

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   One hundred straight wins – how about putting the University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball team on the U.S. $100 dollar bill?   Admittedly, this suggestion comes from a proud University of Connecticut alumna. Nonetheless, it is an idea deserving of consideration.   After all, the amazing 100th victory run is simply the latest of years of remarkable accomplishments by strong, young women in the UConn basketball program. Last night, before a home crowd at packed Gampel Pavilon on the Storrs campus, top- ranked UConn delivered that 100th win milestone by defeating no. 6 South Carolina, 66-55.      A great article on the UConn website listed “100 Things To Know About the 100th Win.” Here’s a few interesting points…

Scenes From Winter Storm Diana

Posted on February 13, 2017

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   What had been a mild winter for most of Connecticut has given way to the roar of two major snowstorms just days apart. On February 9, Winter Storm Chris, which was upgraded to blizzard status, blanketed the state with more than a foot of snow.   In central Connecticut, in the suburbs known as Greater Hartford, an old-fashioned yard stick measure showed a 12 and half inch accumulation from Chris; other parts of the state saw upwards of 18 inches.     By Sunday, February 12, a new snowstorm resulted in a nod to the powerful University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball team. Winter Storm Diana was named for UConn Women’s Basketball legend Diana Taurasi and added…

Make a Wish – It Is National Plum Pudding Day

Posted on February 12, 2017

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   A message from National Day Calendar declaring today – February 12 – as National Plum Pudding Day was waiting in my e-mail inbox this morning. Immediately I thought of a post I had written which featured my Great-Grandmother Reeve’s recipe for Plum Pudding. That post was part of my Mom’s Recipe Box Family Series from two years ago.   Here’s the link to that story https://newsandviewsjb.com/2015/01/16/moms-recipe-box-great-grandmother-reeves-english-plum-pudding-with-brandy/     As is true of so many recipes they represent much more. In this case, my great- grandmother’s plum pudding recipe provides a direct connection to the Bennett’s English heritage, which was talked about among the family over the years as we poured through old family photo albums, and has since been…

Winter Storm Chris To Drop Up To 18″- Precedes Snow Moon

Posted on February 9, 2017

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Anyone who thought Connecticut might escape the winter of 2017 without a major snowstorm was wrong. A so-called “nor’easter” named Winter Storm Chris is upon us and is expected to drop between 10 to 18 inches across the state by nightfall.   Snow got underway around 6 a.m. this morning in suburbs just outside of Hartford. An hour later, what had been a gentle coating showed rapid accumulation.   Gov. Dannel Malloy had already partially opened State Emergency Operations then provided an update at a 9 a.m. televised press conference. As of last report to him, Malloy said Connecticut State Police had responded to 200 calls and of those 30 were accidents, a few had minor injuries but none…

Historic Victory for Tom Brady, Patriots & Super Bowl Return to Sadler’s Ordinary

Posted on February 6, 2017

Commentary by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   “The G.O.A.T.” took New England Patriots fans on a wild ride last night. Ultimately, quarterback Tom Brady and his teammates delivered a 34-28  comeback victory against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51. It was historic on so many levels, from the historic seventh appearance in a Super Bowl of a head coach-quarterback combination, to their historic fifth win, to Brady’s fourth MVP trophy to the five Super Bowl rings our New England ‘Lord of the Rings’ can now wear, to the first overtime win in a Super Bowl. Last but far from least, the Patriots victory delivered some sweet justice in the aftermath of the NFL commissioner whom -in connection to allegations without evidence- wrongfully punished our…

Coast to Coast New England Patriots Family Unity

Posted on February 3, 2017

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   From coast to coast my family is united with New England Patriots spirit! Like the country in which we live, our family spans from the Atlantic to Pacific oceans. Also like the country in which we live our roots are in New England.   A number of relatives now call other regions of the country home and have affiliations to different teams. Nonetheless, ever the idealist I wondered – even if that were the case – could we come together behind the National Football League Pats as they head to Super Bowl 51?   A tall order I suppose, one easier for me residing in Connecticut, Patriots territory. As it turns out, I learned New England and family loyalty…

Connecticut Republican Linda McMahon Tapped to Head Small Business Administration – Remember When She Stopped by the Peach Festival?

Posted on January 25, 2017

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Connecticut Republican Linda McMahon has been tapped to head the Small Business Administration by President Donald Trump. In a show of bi-partisan support, she was introduced at her confirmation hearing on Capital Hill January 24 by two former political opponents, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, both Connecticut Democrats.   “I think she would be an excellent fit for this agency, “Blumenthal said at the hearing, “She knows, as I do, that small businesses are the backbone of the economy.” Blumenthal went on to say that McMahon has utilized her expertise to help veterans and women realize their dreams.   Various news organizations featured a side-by-side photo of McMahon, Blumenthal and Murphy at the confirmation hearing.…