The Day
‘MIRACLE ON THE MISSISSIPPI’
New Orleans — A tanker in New Orleans that apparently lost its steering slammed into a docked river cruise boat with 180 people aboard Friday, the mayor said. All aboard survived after the crash prompted a massive rescue operation for passengers and...
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USS South Dakota: Answers being sought
Congressional leaders in the U.S. House Armed Services Committee have asked the Navy if the Oct. 14 dismissal of the USS South Dakota’s commanding officer was the result of a grounding. In a letter to the Department of the Navy on Thursday, U.S. Reps....
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Norwich holds annual Veterans Day ceremony
Norwich — A large crowd gathered at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 594 on Wednesday for the Norwich Area Veterans Council’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. Lori Marriott, co- director of military services for Easterseals Veterans Rally Point and a former...
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Waterford students pay respects to all who served
Waterford — Of the 55 active and former military service members who attended a ceremony honoring veterans at Clark Lane Middle School on Tuesday, 27 served in the U.S. Navy. One of them, resident and Navy Master Chief Zachary Nielsen, who has a son...
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NL restaurant owners appeal approval of big apartment project
New London — The owners of a popular seafood restaurant are appealing a recent Planning and Zoning Commission decision that would allow the construction of 235 apartments near their seasonal eatery. ESH, the limited liability company that owns the...
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No Kings rally celebrates the blue wave
New London — “Who is the most powerful force in the United States?" Waterford resident Bonnie Fenn Sullivan shouted to dozens of of people standing at Parade Plaza on State Street on Sunday. “We the people!" the crowd responded. “We the people are...
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‘Cheers’ of Stonington Borough says its last hurrah
Like a trusted yacht, Water Street Cafe, for years one of the region’s premier dining spots, has weathered nearly every storm, steadily rolling with the tide of local tastes and the swell of near-disasters. But as of Saturday, Water Street Cafe in...
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First Columbia to arrive in 2028
The first Columbia- class submarine will be delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2028, according to General Dynamics executives who shared a promising update on Electric Boat’s efforts to ramp up submarine production. In an earnings call with investors last...
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Pfizer to build $650M facility in Groton
Groton — Construction will begin on a $ 650 million advancedmanufacturing center on the campus of Pfizer Inc. next spring with an opening planned for mid-2031. AdvanceCT announced Thursday that the New York- based drug company plans to build the...
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How de la Cruz won: experience, blue wave, relatability
Groton — When results for Groton came into the Groton Democratic Headquarters on Tuesday evening, Democrat Joe de la Cruz suddenly had a more than 3,000-vote lead over five-term incumbent state Sen. Heather Somers. Now, the question was whether he...
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Marx declares victory over Elci in 20th Senate District
Incumbent Democratic state Sen. Martha Marx on Tuesday night declared victory in her quest for a third term in office that came after a rough-and-tumble campaign against radio personality-turned-Republicanchallenger Lee Elci. Marx celebrated her win...
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Day of decision arrives in the region
Election Day is upon us as voters in southeastern Connecticut head to the polls today to elect candidates for state offices. And in the case of Norwich and Plainfield, there are local referendum questions on the ballot. Polls will be open from 6...
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Early voting wraps up strong
For elderly Stonington resident Maureen Shepard, early and curbside voting is a “blessing." Shepard uses a walker and has balance issues, making it difficult for her to get around. She said curbside voting allows her to vote without the fear of...
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A new generation takes over
Sisters Maddie Stern and Alexa Britton grew up in Groton — but, they say, they also grew up at Paul’s Pasta Shop. The two sisters worked alongside each other at the Thames Street restaurant for about 15 years. Now, Stern, 33, has become the general...
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VANISHING CATCH
Montauk, N.Y. — Striped bass fishing has been Bill Jakob’s passion for more than 60 years, and he remembers an era when he’d spend all night casting his line into the crashing waves off Montauk and get eight or nine fish ranging up to 40 pounds, a big...
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Yoga studios bend over backward for nonprofit
Groton — Seven years ago, Samson Muhalia, a yoga instructor from Kenya, founded an organization that builds toilets for schools, orphanages and homes in that African country. He said underground toilets are prevalent in Kenya, and when the water goes...
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The Place for CommUNITY celebrates $675,000 grant
New London — Jennifer Muggeo opened The Place for CommUNITY Wellbeing in 2024 with the dream of creating a space where everyone would feel like they belonged. Two years later, Muggeo’s dream is growing with the help of a $675,000 federal grant. U.S....
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Study of New London bus service to launch next month
New London — A regional planning council is preparing to launch the first study of the city’s public transit system in more than a decade, examining the effectiveness of both fixed-route and microtransit services serving local riders. The...
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Courtney, Austin debate at Conn
New London — Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney and his Republican challenger George Austin faced off in a debate at Connecticut College on Monday night, expressing their views on cost of living, college affordability and immigration. The candidates...
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Preston group rescues endangered horses to help vets
Preston — Last month, Marcy Baker and Jessy Walden stood looking at an emaciated horse covered in open, bloody wounds. The horse looked back at them and put its head on Baker’s chest with a deep breath. “She looked at me with those big, beautiful...
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It’s all for fun — and frights
With Halloween lurking around the corner, some area homeowners have turned their homes into a neighborhood, and sometimes a regional, destination. East Lyme’s Stefanie Thomas has outfitted her 56 Stoneywood Drive home with a topiary garden of ghouls...
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‘THEY CAN ABSOLUTELY TOTAL A VEHICLE’
In his 26 years of working in the auto repair industry, Rich Harris, of Rich’s Auto Body on Truman Street, has seen a lot of damaged vehicles come through his father’s New London garage. And not an insignificant number were damaged by deer...
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MLK scholars receive awards
Mashantucket — Thirteen young scholars — aspiring lawyers, forensic scientists and mechanical engineers — received a total of $325,000 Thursday night from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Foundation, which awards money to area students of...
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East Lyme weighs changing appeal time for speeding camera tickets
East Lyme — Drivers may get 14 calendar days to contest a speeding ticket issued by the newly approved speed cameras in town. On Wednesday night the Board of Selectmen discussed changing the time drivers have to contest a ticket from 10 days from the...
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Montville paraeducator named best in state
Montville — Leonard J. Tyl Middle School Paraeducator Lisa Atkinson received both the state’s top honor for her profession and a standing ovation from every Tyl student in a Tuesday ceremony at the school. Atkinson was recognized with the 2027 Anne...
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‘People will die because of this’
Nonprofit leaders and disability rights advocates in eastern Connecticut are warning state and federal officials of the life-and-death implications of looming federal work requirements for Medicaid patients. Under the changes, which will take effect...
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Are there spirits at Seaside?
Waterford — To Rose Porto, the Seaside Sanatorium evokes a deep sense of sadness, but as she gets closer to the historic abandoned buildings, she also feels as if she is being watched. The founder of the CT Spirit Investigators said she can feel this...
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Putting the housing crisis in context
If the phrase “housing crisis” sounds ripped from recent headlines, it is: This newspaper has used it more than a dozen times this year. But the idea is nothing new. Americans have been talking about housing crises for over a century amid wars,...
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A new name on the peninsula
New London — The city’s newest apartment complex — and the first being built on the Fort Trumbull peninsula since an infamous eminent domain case was settled — now has a name: The Mizzen. The moniker, a term referring to a ship’s mast or sail, is in...
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Developers eye farmland for new kind of community
Mystic — With a 223- unit residential development, “The Grange,” proposed for about 80 acres of farmland on Sandy Hollow and Noank Ledyard roads in Mystic, neighbors are concerned about the loss of one of the last remaining parcels of farmland in...
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Recent NL graduate shot, killed
New London — Police say an 18-yearold man who graduated from New London High School in June was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon on Garfield Avenue. Police said Richard Rowell Jr. was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside a car in the...
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Courtney joins housing discussion in New London
New London — Congressman Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, met with housing advocates, builders and Realtors on Tuesday for a comprehensive discussion on the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, Congress’ bipartisan solution to the national housing...
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COLUMBUS DAY IN WESTERLY-PAWCATUCK
The public watches the 75th annual Westerly-Pawcatuck Columbus Day Parade in Westerly on Monday. One of the largest parades in Rhode Island each year, it featured marching bands, firetrucks, floats and various organizations and businesses after a...
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Former Norwich Hospital workers share memories
Mashantucket — One memory that will always stick out from Jerri Catillo’s 25-year career as a nurse at Norwich Hospital was when she and a group of 12 fellow nursing students visited the most violent wards of the hospital. “The first thing we saw was...
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State’s largest accessible playground opens at Camp Harkness
Waterford — A group of state and local officials including Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz announced Tuesday that the State Bond Commission has approved $ 2.5 million to fund improvements at Harkness Memorial State Park. That works starts with maintenance...
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New NPU wastewater treatment plant 80% complete
Norwich — Nearly three years into a $200 million project to build a new wastewater treatment plant, Norwich Public Utilities says the project is about 80% complete. Construction began in November 2023, and is expected to complete in 2028. Both plants...
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Women-owned businesses make their mark
East Lyme — Surrounded by walls covered in colorful balls of yarn, eight women sait together on a couch in the corner of Knitty Gritty Yarn Girl Yarn Shop. Their conversations about knitting patterns, new projects and life filled the shop in Midway...
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The Garde turns back the clock to mark 100th anniversary with Gatsby-style gala
New London — The Garde Arts Center on Saturday was transformed into a scene straight out of “The Great Gatsby," with the theater’s 100th anniversary celebration embracing the glamour and spectacle of the Roaring ‘20s. Guests arriving for “A Night to...
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NFA’s new esports room inspired by ‘Tron’
Norwich — Norwich Free Academy’s esports team this week held its third practice ever in the academy’s new Esports room, called “the Grid." Academy staff have worked more than a year to paint and decorate the former classroom, tucked in the back of the...
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Honored for wartime service
Plainfield — Sen. Heather Somers, R-18th District, hosted a veterans’ medal ceremony at Plainfield High School Thursday evening that honored 125 local veterans that served during a period of war. The atmosphere in the room was one of camaraderie,...
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Federal highway chief visits Gold Star project
New London — Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster visited the Gold Star Memorial Bridge on Wednesday and said he hopes other states follow Connecticut’s lead in rehabilitating and enhancing infrastructure critical to the local and national...
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Hundreds attend Celebrate Cultural Diversity Festival in Norwich
Norwich — Hundreds of people flocked to Chelsea Parade on Tuesday evening to enjoy cultural dances and ethnic food offerings at the Norwich rotary clubs’ 13th annual Celebrate Cultural Diversity Festival. Ana Resto, of Florida, said she enjoyed how...
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A BIG WELCOME FOR THE USS IDAHO
After four months at sea on its first deployment, the USS Idaho (SSN-799) returned to the Naval Submarine Base in Groton on Monday. Dozens of friends and family members welcomed personnel off the submarine with signs and hugs. The Virginia-class,...
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SURF’S UP IN MISQUAMICUT
Pete Serra of Westerly rides the waves off the coast of Misquamicut State Beach in Westerly on Sunday. About two dozen people were on the sand and in the water despite a nor’easter rocking the coast over the weekend. Families with children played in...
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THE GARDE TURNS 100 A place built on community, arts center has hosted it all
The Garde in New London has lasted a century — an eternity for an arts venue. As it marks its 100th anniversary this year, its survival can be traced, in part, to how it has evolved over those decades to adapt to outside forces. What began as a...
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Reflecting on the craft that became her career
New London — In 1983, Sara Munro walked into a small downtown gallery and framing shop and began a job for which she’d unknowingly been preparing nearly her whole life. “I’ve cut glass, done crafting and embroidery and furniture refurbishing,” Munro...
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Fans offer a fond farewell
Mohegan — Maria Bedard has been using a cast and knee scooter as she recovers from a recent leg surgery, but that wasn’t enough to keep her away from the Connecticut Sun’s final time playing at the Mohegan Sun Arena as its home team. Bedard, of...
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Norwich show exposes students to manufacturing careers
Norwich — Using what looked like a PlayStation controller, Norwich Free Academy senior Christian Blondin moved a robotic arm to pick up a piece of foam and drop it into a plastic cup. “It’s kind of difficult,” he said. “The controls are kind of, like,...
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New London selects finance director as city’s first CFOO
New London — David McBride, the city’s longtime finance director, will soon have a new title — chief financial operating officer — that comes with a nearly $25,000 annual raise. After an hourlong executive session Monday night, the City Council...
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SMALL WILD CAT IS IDENTIFIED AS A NEW SPECIES IN BOLIVIA
Coroico, Bolivia — A tiny wild cat hidden away in the cloud forests of Bolivia has become an unlikely tourist attraction, drawing a stream of visitors hoping for a glimpse of the animal that scientists have identified as a brand new species. There is...
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In Montville, a few dogs have their day
Montville — Robin Stolzenberg laughed and cooed as a 1-year-old, tiny, grey pug-shih tzu mix nicknamed Squirrelly wriggled around in her arms and licked her face Sunday at the K9 Barrett Memorial Animal Control Facility. “He’s all over you. He’s not...
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Nonprofit is putting culverts on the map
The Nature Conservancy wants you to start thinking about culverts. The tubes and tunnels that channel water under roads and rail lines are everywhere — and as the climate changes, their ability to function is more critical than ever, for both the...
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Pastry chef from Waterford competes on TV
Waterford — Kyle Caulkins found his passion for baking as a student at Clark Lane Middle School. And it wasn’t in a baking class. His teacher, language arts instructor Beth Sheridan, ran a class project called “genius hour,” letting students study any...
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Speed cameras? Not so fast
East Lyme — The Board of Selectmen voted Wednesday to postpone voting on allowing speed cameras in town after residents expressed differing opinions on their use. Police Chief Kevin Glenn started the meeting explaining how the speed cameras, also...
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Florida man walks through the region during his cross-country journey for mental health
Old Lyme — As Florida native Kyndal Ray Edwards walked the streets here Wednesday dressed in American flag shorts and a neon cap, cars beeped, people leaned out of their cars to wave and say hello and many pulled to the side of the road to talk to...
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SERVING UP A HELPING OF GRATITUDE
North Stonington — With the sun setting over a 103-acre cattle farm and dinner about to be served Monday, Cowboy Kent Rollins, with his wife and co-star Shannon Rollins, of “Cast Iron Cowboy” told local veterans “You’re family to us." “Food brings...
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New London looks to put best foot forward for museum
New London — Local officials for years have hailed the opening of the National Coast Guard Museum as a seismic event for the city, one they hope will have the power to transform New London into a powerhouse tourist destination that will attract...
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THE GOVERNOR AND THE TRAITOR
Gov. Ned Lamont lights an effigy of Benedict Arnold on fire at the burning of Benedict Arnold at Waterfront Park in New London on Saturday during the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival. Sunday's festival events were rained out.
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Meet Harvey, the opossum without a tail
It sounds like something out of a storybook, but Harvey the tailless opossum is the real deal, and he’s the newest — and cutest — employee at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic. Harvey made his public debut in August as the nature...
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Region marks 25 years since attacks
Across the region Friday, first responders, military personnel and residents came together in small groups or as part of larger gatherings to memorialize the Sept. 11 attacks that shook the nation 25 years ago. At Stonington Point, community remembers...
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MEMORIES UNDIMMED AFTER 25 YEARS
Top , Juliana and Ruth McCourt. Above left , James Greenleaf. Above right , Josh Piver.
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‘EVERYBODY LOOKS FORWARD TO IT’
East Lyme — As the Black Hawk Sport Fishing party boat took off out of Niantic Bay on Wednesday afternoon, the dozens of veterans aboard began to prepare their lines for a day of fishing on Long Island Sound. Veteran Daryl Cousin, who served in the...
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Motorcyclists escort Vietnam wall replica to Putnam
Putnam — Thousands of community members, volunteers and students gathered along Keech Street on Tuesday afternoon waving American flags to watch nearly 200 motorcycles escort the Wall That Heals, a Vietnam War Memorial replica to Murphy Park. The...
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SNAPPING A SOUVENIR
A participant takes a selfie as she waits to walk in the West Indian Day Parade on Monday in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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Celebrating the Feast of the Holy Ghost
Stonington — Dressed in flowing red and white dresses, Melissa Lestinsky, Lindsey Houle and Morgan Humphrey marched through the streets of Stonington borough carrying a silver crown that has been in their family for generations. “A lot of families...
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Voices from a Coast Guard disaster
Capt. Charles Satterlee, commander of the Coast Guard cutter Tampa, hoped to buy a small place in Florida after World War I to escape New England winters. Lt. John McGourty, one of his officers, thought about farming or the Merchant Marine, but mostly...
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Mystic River park to open at last
Mystic — Kate Ruenzel, co-captain of the Stonington High School girls’ crew team, said her teammates can now look out at the Mystic River while training upstairs in the new boathouse and think: This is what we worked for. “It’s very exciting,” she...
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New Stanton elementary school in Norwich welcomes students
Norwich — The new John B. Stanton Elementary School — the first of the four new elementary schools to complete construction under the city’s $386 million school building project — opened its doors to students for the first time Thursday. The...
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FILLING A CANVAS OF BRICK
Resident and muralist Faith Satterfield is in the process of painting a mural outside the Chestnut Street Playhouse in Norwich. The mural depicts the Rose of New England, the city's nickname, and she said its message is to give flowers of...
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WELCOME TO YOUR NEW PRESCHOOL
The Groton school system hosted an open house Tuesday for pre-K students and parents ahead of its first day of school. The new free pre-K program will serve about 176 4-year-old students in 11 classrooms at the former Mary Morrisson Elementary School....
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Phone call finally comes for man awaiting liver
New London — At 8:45 a.m. last Thursday, Jason Barnwell got the call he’d been waiting months to receive: A deceased-donor liver was ready to be transplanted into his immunocompromised body. The call came from the NYU Langone Transplant Institute...
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Bening receives Spirit of Katharine Hepburn Award
Old Saybrook — Actress Annette Bening reminisced about some of her most memorable projects, from “Dutton Ranch” to “Nyad,” as well as about working with Katharine Hepburn when she received the Spirit of Katharine Hepburn Award on Saturday. The...
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FAR MORE THAN JUST A GAME
Before the glitz and glamour of Foxwoods Resort Casino, there was a bingo hall in the woods. Mashantucket Pequot High Stakes Bingo opened 40 years ago this summer, launching a gaming economy that would not only power one of the nation’s largest...
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