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NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts from the “NEWS” Category

Weather Postpones 2015 Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Parade to March 21

Posted on March 14, 2015

Write-up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Due to the forecast of cold, rainy weather, and possible early morning icing, the 44th Annual Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Parade – originally to be held today – has been rescheduled to March 21.   One of the most popular and delightful events to take place each year in Connecticut’s capital city, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade typically attracts tens of thousands of spectators and is a boon to the local economy.   Sponsored by the Central Connecticut Celtic Cultural Committee, the committee posted a statement on their website: “The goal of the Greater Hartford St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is to produce a quality event that celebrates the heritage of Connecticut’s Irish and Irish Americans and that…

“Beware the Ides of March”

Posted on March 11, 2015

Essay By Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   I awoke on this breathtakingly beautiful March morning, with my birthday but three weeks away, contemplating what it means to be a writer/journalist and the great joy I take in writing. As any contemplation of writing always does for me, it led me to “The Bard of Avon.” So gentle reader, please indulge me my admiration of William Shakespeare and this essay.   I would dare say Shakespeare is my favorite author/playwright. Each year as his April birthday nears, I cannot help but ponder the thrust, impact and longevity of Shakepeare’s body of work. It is truly amazing as evidenced by the phrases from his writings that remain part of modern language with relevant meanings.   With the approach of March 15, the first…

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…

Service Members Take Part in Read Across America Day – March 2, 2015

Posted on March 1, 2015

Commentary by: Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com #read across america   Members of the United States Armed Forces have taken part in a must see video for Read Across America Day which is Monday, March 2, 2015. Created by Travis Sauls, I discovered the video available in the public domain posted on the National Education Association website this morning. I tweeted it out and then inserted that into this post.   Sponsored by the NEA annually, the theme of Read Across America Day this year is “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” based upon a book of the same name written by renown American children’s books author Dr. Seuss. DVIDS – Video – Read Across America 2015: Service Members Read "Oh, the Places You'll Go": https://t.co/DMwkRjqecb via @dvidshub — newsandviewsjb (@newsandviewsjb) March…

Phase Two of CT Trees of Honor Memorial Gets Underway in Spring 2015

Posted on February 15, 2015

Write-up & Photo by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Look for new road signs along major highways and local streets in the near future directing visitors to the Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial in Middletown, Connecticut, if CTTH committee members are successful in their appeals to city officials and state representatives. The sign initiative comes as Phase Two of the CTTH Memorial is slated to get underway this coming spring, with a focus on construction of an entrance plaza and flag ceremonial area.   “Our committee members are most eager and busy planning for spring construction of Phase Two of the Memorial,” Committee Chairman Sue Martucci wrote in the Feb/March CTTH newsletter.   Construction will be done under the guidance of construction advisor Brian Kronenberger.   Martucci noted too that evergreen wreaths were placed…

Singing Valentines a Hallmark of Silk City Chorus

Posted on February 11, 2015

  Write-up by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   “Let me call you sweetheart, I’m in love with you ….” Who wouldn’t want to receive a romantic serenade of such timeless lyrics for Valentine’s Day?   For those in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut area, the Silk City Chorus continues its longstanding tradition this coming Friday and Saturday, February 13 and February 14, of offering a “Singing  Valentine” personally delivered by a “tuxedo-clad Barbershop Quartet” – sung in “magnificent 4-part harmony”. For $50., in addition to performing two love songs, they deliver a card, a fresh rose and a photo of the quartet singing to the recipient.   Singing valentines have become a hallmark of the award-winning, Manchester-based chorus that is a member of the 75-year-old non-profit Barbershop Harmony Society.   “We perform valentines at offices,…

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…

Walk Until Your Heart’s Content – Start on National Wear Red Day – #GoRed

Posted on February 6, 2015

By: Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com “I heard a bird sing in the dark of December. A magical thing And sweet to remember ‘We are closer to spring Than we were in September’ …” – from I Heard a Bird Sing by Oliver Herford.       If that poetic verse is true of December, it most certainly applies in the deep of a February winter, with feet of snow on the ground and more predicted to fall. Around this time of year, almost every popular women’s and health magazines arrive on the stands, or online, with springtime in sight, featuring articles about the benefits of walking which is recognized as an excellent activity for heart health.   What better time to begin to make fitness walking a way…

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…

Legendary “Remy’s Grinders” Reappear On Super Bowl Sundays

Posted on January 26, 2015

   By: Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com   Much as the mysterious village of Brigadoon appeared once every one hundred years, “Remy’s Grinders” reappear twice yearly in Windham, Connecticut – in November and again on Super Bowl Sundays. Back in the day in Windham “Remy’s Grinders” ruled. Customers are said to have come from far and wide to make their way down the stairway into the small, below ground grocery store, nicknamed the “dugout”, in pursuit of grinders made by J. Remy Handfield. Although “Remy’s Grinder Shop” – better known simply as “Remy’s”- no longer exists, the below ground site where it once was, remains on Main Street not far from town hall in the Willimantic section of Windham. (Windham and Willimantic were consolidated several years ago.) Come Super Bowl Sundays, some 24 years…