newsandviewsjb

NEWS&VIEWS by Jacqueline Bennett

Posts from the “NEWS” Category

Put One Foot in Front of the Other for the 2014 Foodshare Walk Against Hunger on May 4

Posted on April 25, 2014

Write-up & Photo by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb  Every day people across Connecticut put one foot in front of the other quite literally as they go about their lives. Or, in the figurative sense of the expression as those down on their luck struggle to carry on. With the economy slow to recover from recession and the latest news out yesterday that America’s middle class is not only diminishing but has lost ground in terms of income – no longer the world’s wealthiest –  it should come as no surprise that the number of families and individuals unable to put food on the table continues to rise. Increasing numbers of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, or, with the breadwinner laid off are without a…

Categories: America's Diminishing Middle Class, Food Banks, Hunger, NEWS

Tagged: , , , , ,

Malloy, Wyman, Blumenthal Join Groundbreaking for CT Trees of Honor Memorial

Posted on April 18, 2014

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb The state’s top officials turned out April 17 to break ground for the CT Trees of Honor Memorial in Middletown, Connecticut that will honor the state’s 65 fallen in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Shovels in hand, Gov. Dannel Malloy, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, and United States Senator Richard Blumenthal joined Middletown Mayor Daniel Drew and members of the CTHM Committee for the afternoon ceremony in Middletown’s Veterans Memorial Park, where construction of the memorial will get underway in May. “What we are marking here today is a very different type of memorial, a memorial for the lives of those who have fallen,” said Malloy. Inspired by one citizen’s desire to make sure their sacrifices are…

Categories: 9/11, Arlington National Cemetery, Cost of freedom, Courage, NEWS, War Dead Iraq Afghanistan, war memorials

Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Whimsical Cats & Dogs Scavenger Hunt Underway in Windsor, Connecticut

Posted on April 16, 2014

Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb The hunt is on! A whimsical scavenger hunt for fancifully decorated statues of cats and dogs got underway April 15 in Windsor, Connecticut. It is part of the “Raining Cats and Dogs” public art exhibit and fundraiser to benefit two non-profits, the Windsor Education Foundation (WEF) and Windsor Chamber of Commerce (WC of C). The hunt continues through to May 20 and the winner will pocket $500. The month long hunt leads up to an auction of the animal art to be held on May 23, 2014 at historic Grace Church. And, some of the animals will be featured in a calendar. “Anyone can participate – residents, non-residents, in-state, out-of-state,” Jane Garibay, Executive Director of WC of…

Categories: Auction, education, fundraising, NEWS, Public Art Exhibit, U.S. Chambers of Commerce

Tagged: , , , , , ,

Dual Huskies Championships – Dual Parade Posts

Posted on April 15, 2014

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett As a proud University of Connecticut alum I am following up my previous post on the 2014 Dual UConn National Championships Parade for men’s and women’s basketball held in Hartford on Sunday, with a dual post featuring more photos…              

Categories: Basketball championships, College basketball, NEWS, Sports

Tagged: , , ,

Dual National Championship Parade for UConn Draws Hundreds of Thousands

Posted on April 14, 2014

Story & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb As far as the eye could see and beyond, fans lined the streets of downtown Hartford on April 13 for the 2014 Dual National Championship Parade honoring the University of Connecticut men’s and women’s basketball teams  – a repeat of ten years ago when the UConn men and women also brought home dual national NCAA basketball titles.   This time around the crowd was estimated to have been even larger – approaching 300,000. It certainly looked that way. Under sunny skies the celebration got underway at 4 p.m. outside the state Capitol. Scheduled for 45 minutes it went twice as long. Taking part were a number of  area high school marching bands, multiple fife & drum corps,…

Categories: NCAA Champions, NEWS, Parades, UConn basketball, unique acheivements

Tagged: , , , , , ,

Destination: Wood-n-Tap Bar & Grill in Farmington, Connecticut

Posted on April 11, 2014

Write – Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb Wood-n-Tap Bar & Grill in Farmington, Connecticut is one of a group of restaurants by the same name in the Greater Hartford area and lower part of the state. Open daily at 11:30 a.m., the Farmington site is located in what once was The Keg on the corner of an intersection along Farmington Avenue. The main dining area has a casual ambiance with dark decor booths and tables accented by overhanging lamps. The rear section tables are next to long patio windows and connected to a patio that overlooks a pond. In the tavern is an eye-catching stone fireplace, a bar, television – usually tuned to sports, booths and a long center table with high…

Categories: Food, NEWS, Restaurants

Tagged: , , ,

From “Nutty” to Nouveau – What’s The Big Deal About Organic Produce?

Posted on April 9, 2014

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com Organic farming has gone from “nutty” to noveau. For the rising numbers of American consumers concerned about the use of growth hormones and application of synthetic organic pesticides in conventional produce, and preservation of American farms, now is the time of year to shop for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) organic farm to join. “It’s not a movement – yet,” said one customer at the George Hall Farm in Connecticut’s Farmington Valley last summer. But she predicted organic produce is the way of the future. Like his fellow organic farmers, Darren Cugno, owner of Cugno’s Farm in Colchester, Connecticut is convinced that organic produce is not only better but that conventional fruits and vegetables can be downright…

Categories: Community Supported Agriculture, family farms, Farmer's Markets, Food, NEWS

Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Sen. Blumenthal Attends Windsor CT Chamber of Commerce Anniversary Auction – Doubles Donation

Posted on April 5, 2014

  Article & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb  United States Senator Richard Blumenthal charmed the “30 Years Windsor Chamber Cares” benefit auction Friday night, April 4, with humor and warmth. Addressing the event Blumenthal highlighted a special friendship he has forged, and then obliged a request from the crowd doubling his donation from not one, but to two breakfasts with him in Washington D.C. Held at Maneeley’s in South Windsor, it was the 30th anniversary for the Windsor, Connecticut Chamber of Commerce annual auction, this year benefiting Send Hometown Windsor to the Troops, the Windsor Education Foundation, Windsor Art Center at the Freight House, and, the chamber itself. Windsor Mayor Donald Trinks, Anita Mips and auction organizer Bill Gombert greeted the senator at the…

Categories: Auctions, fundraising, NEWS, U.S. Chambers of Commerce

Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Mere Hours Away – 2014 Fenway Park Opener with World Series Champ Red Sox vs. Brewers

Posted on April 1, 2014

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb It’s down to three days,  mere hours until the World Champion Red Sox “Boys of Summer” are back in action as the heart of downtown Boston, Massachusetts. This Friday, April 4, at 2:05 p.m. the 2014 season opener gets underway at storied Fenway Park when the 2013 World Series Champ Red Sox take on the Milwaukee Brewers. Currently, no tickets are available for the opening game but redsox.com advises checking back to see if availability changes. However, tickets are still on sale for the games against the Brewers on Saturday night 7:10 p.m. April 5 and Sunday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. on April 6 – following Sunday’s game all children in attendance have a chance to run the…

Categories: Home Openers, Major League Ballparks, Major League Baseball, NEWS

Tagged: , , , , , , ,

World Book Night Coming on April 23

Posted on March 31, 2014

Write-up by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb  What better way to wrap up National Reading Month than with news of World Book Night coming on April 23. Based on the UNESCO International Day of the Book, World Book Night is said to have originated in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2011. It has spread to the United States, where this year WBN book give-aways are slated for across the country. According to the WBN website, the date of April 23 was chosen for World Book Night, in part, because it is the generally accepted birth date of renown playwright and poet William Shakespeare. As well WBN notes, the Day of the Book was inspired by a tradition begun in a region of Spain, of giving…

Categories: NEWS, Promote Reading, William Shakespeare, World Book Night

Tagged: , ,