newsandviewsjb

NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts from the “NEWS” Category

New England Patriots Make Magic – Magician in the House, Yes Really

Posted on January 22, 2017

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   (Magic: Use of special powers to make things happen that would usually be impossible; a special, exciting quality that makes something or someone different and better than others – Cambridge English Dictionary)   Fans will be hoping for a little more magic when Hall of Fame-bound New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Head Coach Bill Belichick and an array of talented receivers enter Gillette Stadium tonight in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Fans will be hoping Brady’s and Belichick’s seemingly special powers beat the Steelers in the AFC title game and once again bring the Pats to the Super Bowl. For more than a decade Brady and Belichick have provided New England Patriots fans with magical memories, including multiple Super Bowl championships setting…

Categories: AFC Title Game, Beyond the Boundaries of Impossible, Brady/Belichick Magic ?, Magic, Magicians, New England Patriots vs Steelers, NEWS

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Inheriting the Dream – Simsbury Honors Martin Luther King Day

Posted on January 17, 2017

      Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Inside the Simsbury, Connecticut church where a young Martin Luther King Jr.’s voice stood out, town leaders spoke of pride in their place in American history. People filled the pews flowing upstairs into the balconies at the First Church of Christ Monday, January 16, for the 7th Annual MLK Day in Simsbury Celebration.   “A great man once graced Simsbury with his presence,” said First Selectman Lisa Heavner.   First Church of Christ Pastor the Rev. George Harris recounted a story, by now well-known, about Martin Luther King Jr. working on a Simsbury tobacco farm in the summers of 1944 and 1947 to earn money to attend Morehead College. While attending a Sunday…

Categories: Inspiration, Martin Luther King Day, NEWS, Racial History in America

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Diaco Firing Offers Opportunity To Pick Better Fit for UConn Football

Posted on December 27, 2016

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   The red light was flashing on my land line when I arrived home yesterday alerting me to a waiting message – “if you haven’t heard, Diaco has been fired.” ‘Diaco’ referring to Bob Diaco, head coach of University of Connecticut Football for the last three seasons. I would venture to guess text messages have been flying as fast as fingers can pound the keys and phone lines across the state have been burning up the “Diaco’s been fired” news.   Eagerly I awaited a report from Kevin Nathan of NBC30. Connecticut’s best broadcast sports journalist, I particularly wanted to hear his take on the firing. He was not on the 6:00 p.m. program but had sent word that according…

Categories: Bad Fits, college football, Diaco Fired, NEWS, Second Chances

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Successful Reuse of The Hilliard Mills – George Washington Would Be Proud

Posted on December 21, 2016

Article & Photos By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Another American presidential inauguration is but weeks away, this one for a billionaire able to afford the finest clothier. It is fascinating to think the woolen worn by George Washington at the country’s first inauguration in 1789 was made in a mill in Manchester, Connecticut – America’s oldest woolen mill site established in 1780.   The Hilliard Mills opened in 2006 as part of an ongoing effort in New England to repurpose once vibrant factories. The goal as stated on their website, is “to preserve one of Connecticut’s finest architectural and historical treasures.” According to a history of the site, circa 1780 it housed a woolen factory belonging to American industrialist Aaron Buckland – a name…

Categories: Entrepreneurial Spirit, Interesting Fact About George Washington Inauguration, NEWS, Remnants of the Industrial Revolution, Reuse New England Factories, Smart Growth, Successful Repurposing

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‘Best Ever’ Hot Chocolate

Posted on December 13, 2016

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   In a scene from one of my favorite Hallmark movies, “The Christmas Shepard”, the two main characters fall in love while mixing homemade hot chocolate – a.k.a. cocoa – in a country kitchen. Sally, played by Teri Polo, grates blocks of dark chocolate while Mark, played by Martin Cummins, uses an exotic gadget to blend the resulting cocoa powder. A romance sparks.   Although I am not quite that dedicated when it comes to brewing up this cold weather delectable, I have been told I make a “delicious”, “best ever” hot chocolate. As much as I would like to take credit for having a magic touch when it comes to serving the ‘best ever’ homemade hot chocolate, the truth…

Categories: National Cocoa Day, NEWS

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New England’s Largest Gingerbread House Festival

Posted on November 29, 2016

Story & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Stop in at Harry’s Place, visit Middle Earth, imagine walking a candy coated covered bridge or appreciate the architectural beauty of historical buildings. It is all possible in the same place, a gingerbread house world on display at South Windsor, Connecticut’s Wood Memorial Library & Museum through December 10.   Closed Tuesday & Wednesday. Admission is free.     The Wood exhibition is billed as one of the largest – if not the largest Gingerbread House Festival in New England. At least one hundred gingerbread houses can be viewed on two floors of the festively decorated historic library. Each gingerbread house is hand crafted by community members – experienced or novice, area artisans, bakers and students.   An annual…

Categories: Creativity, Middle Earth in Gingerbread, New England Gingerbread House Exhibit, NEWS

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Young Artist -Sofia- Has Drawing Selected for Cover Design

Posted on November 22, 2016

  By: Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   It was no surprise to her classmates and friends when Sofia Landeck-Williams, a student at Island Park Elementary School in Mercer Island, Washington, had her drawing selected in a districtwide competition as the cover design for the school directory. The surprise, however, came for the promising young artist when the directories were delivered to her class.     “A student came into her classroom to pass out the student directories and announced to Sofia that she won the cover,” noted Sofia’s family, “Everyone in the class was so happy for her. There were all kinds of ‘congratulations’ and comments that they all knew she was going to win.”     True to Sofia’s caring nature, her first thoughts…

Categories: Family Joy, NEWS, Passion, Talent, Young Artist

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On Veterans Day Remembering “Doughboy” – Uncle Frank Sheedy

Posted on November 11, 2016

By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   It was World War I that brought our Great Uncle Frank Sheedy to us. As it was told to me as a little girl, Uncle Frank had been gassed by the enemy. Upon returning to his home state of New York he was sent upstate to recuperate and came to Sunny Crest Farm in Bloomingburg, New York, which was owned and operated by my family. There he forged a lifelong bond with the Bennett Family.   What I remember most about Uncle Frank were his bright blue eyes, his gentle spirit and the sweet, gracious letters he penned. Vividly I recall Uncle Frank seated in his recliner by the bay window -cane at his side- in Aunt June’s dining…

Categories: NEWS, Veterans Day

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Raggedy Ann Returns to 55th Farmhouse Fair at Ellington Congregational Church

Posted on November 7, 2016

  Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Nearly a century has passed since Raggedy Ann came on the scene and for close to half that time, Penny Gates & company have been making Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy Dolls for the Farmhouse Fair in Ellington, Connecticut. Sponsored by the Women’s Fellowship and hosted by the Ellington Congregational Church, the 55th Farmhouse Fair was held November 4 and 5.   From a faceless rag doll packed away then forgotten in an attic, the now iconic Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls were born. According to online sources, legend has it that while rummaging through his mother’ s attic, American artist Johnny Gruelle found an old rag doll his mother had made for his sister.…

Categories: Congregational Church, Hand Made Raggedy Ann & Andy, Iconic Dolls, New England Church Fairs, NEWS

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Send Forth A Tiny Ripple of Hope – VOTE

Posted on November 5, 2016

Commentary by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope …” Robert F. Kennedy.   With one of the most crucial presidential elections our nation has ever been asked to decide but days away, this quote from Robert F. Kennedy has been on my mind. Ever the idealist, I still believe in the power of tiny ripples of hope.   In this most famous portion of what has become known as his “Ripple of Hope” speech, Kennedy went on to say “and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current…

Categories: 2016 Presidential Election, Democracy, NEWS, Unity, VOTE America

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