The Day
East Lyme plans $6M rebuilding of bridge
East Lyme — Voters will decide in the coming weeks whether the town should spend $6 million to rebuild the Colony Road Bridge over Latimer Brook and, eventually, millions of dollars more on two other deteriorated bridges. Deputy Public Works Director...
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Expanding despite federal cuts
New London — State, local and community health leaders on Thursday celebrated the imminent opening of a relocated and expanded Planned Parenthood of Southern New England clinic that attendees said will serve as an antidote to federal cuts to sexual and...
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Fed up tenants push for boycotts
East Lyme — As she raised a sign calling for a boycott of her landlord’s company on Wednesday, New London renter Brandi Walker said she will tell prospective tenants touring her building the property’s owner is “no good." Walker spoke at a rally on...
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New London holds Free America Walkout protest
New London — Protesters held signs reading “Make Lying Wrong Again," “Not a Paid Protester, I hate Trump for Free!!!" and “We Stand for Good," during a gathering Tuesday afternoon at Parade Plaza as part of a nationwide protest campaign dubbed “Free...
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KING’S MESSAGE STILL RESONATES
Residents of New London, Norwich and Groton gathered Monday to honor the late Rev. Martin Luther King on what would have been been the civil rights leader’s 97th birthday. Overnight snow and sleet canceled planned marches in New London and...
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Murder suspect heard on video talking about killing
Murder suspect Atlantik Balidemaj was alone and in handcuffs, detained in the back seat of a police cruiser just hours after a fatal Nov. 5, 2022, Norwich shooting when state prosecutors contend he uttered the words, “I killed the b****.” A 12-member...
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History may have been revealed
Killingly — A long-submerged Native American burial ground has surfaced on the shore of Old Killingly Pond as water levels continue to drop in the widely opposed drawdown of the pond dam. After spending decades at the bottom of the pond, the burial...
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Pemberton wins in 139th District
According to unofficial results, it appears voters in the 139th District on Tuesday chose Democrat Larry Pemberton as their state representative in a special election. Pemberton, 52, of Montville, who was also endorsed by the Working Families Party,...
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HUNDREDS PROTEST AGAINST ICE IN NEW LONDON
Minneapolis (AP) — Federal agents carrying out immigration arrests in Minnesota’s Twin Cities region already shaken by the fatal shooting of a woman rammed the door of one home Sunday and pushed their way inside, part of what the Department of Homeland...
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Liège waffles arrive in New London via Texas
New London — The smell of caramelized sugar and roasted coffee filled the dining area of Water Street Waffle Co. on Friday as local officials and residents celebrated the recent opening of downtown’s latest restaurant. The restaurant has a winding...
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HEADED OUT TO SEA
An outgoing Virginia-class submarine is escorted by U.S. Navy boats past Fishers Island on Tuesday after leaving the Naval Submarine Base in Groton as seen from Pequot Avenue in New London.
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New camera-equipped emergency call boxes being installed in city
New London — The shells of bright blue emergency call kiosks have begun appearing throughout the city, two years after funding for the new safety devices were approved. The six “blue light” phone towers, which are not yet functional — one was still...
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THREE KINGS ARRIVE A LITTLE EARLY
New London — From the start of the Association of Dominicans of New London’s Three Kings Day celebration, a line poured out of the group’s building on State Street and around the corner, as families filed past long tables stacked with toys sorted by...
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He’s retired, but far from gone
Their table sits at the front of the dining room at Tony D’s, the popular New London city eatery and home office for “Tuesdays With Castaldi,” the bi-monthly lunch gathering. Their energy runs like a current through the place — other patrons often ask...
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WATCHING FOR ALCIDS
Sean Williams, of East Lyme, looks for rare birds Friday at New London’s Ocean Beach Park. Williams said it’s a good time to spot birds in the Alcidae family — which includes auks, guillemots, murres and puffins — coming through the area from northern...
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Taking a stroll to start the year
Old Lyme — Wayne Gallagher, a local man and retiree, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2025. He beat it. “I was lucky, we caught it early," Gallagher said over searingly cold wind blowing from the frigid waters of Long Island Sound. He was one of...
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Plainfield’s tanks a reminder of service members’ spirit, sacrfiice
Plainfield — Hulking and stoic, the sight of just one military tank is impressive. Plainfield has two. A World War II-era M5A1 Stuart Light Tank guards Town Hall, while a M60A3 TTS version stands sentry over the monuments at American Legion Post 91...
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Massive metal panels protect Pawcatuck from flooding
Editor’s Note: Have you ever walked past a strange art display or a highway divider covered with birdhouses and wondered, “What’s that about?"? The Day’s curious reporters set out to find the answers and will bring them to you in a weeklong series...
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Love blooms at the Lobster Trap Tree
Stonington — A glowing tunnel of painted buoys known as the Stonington Lobster Trap Tree has become a popular winter attraction for visitors in recent years, and increasingly, a place where couples pause for more than a photo. On one recent night,...
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Industrial ruin in New London tells a tale from the age of coal
Allison McGuire likes to poke around New London’s Fort Trumbull neighborhood with her dog so she can learn about its past. One day a few years ago, they were out for a stroll not far from her Willetts Avenue home when something caught her eye. “I...
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KWANZAA CELEBRATION BEGINS
The first of the candles is lit in the kinara at Parade Plaza in New London on Friday, a candleholder used to mark the seven days of Kwanzaa. The black candle represents the first of the holiday's seven founding principles, unity. Each day of Kwanzaa...
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Annual holiday dinner is served
Mystic — A piano player tapped out Christmas carols as steaming plates of turkey and fixings made their way from the kitchen to the fellowship hall at Union Baptist Church. The turnout for the Christmas dinner was so large that volunteers had to bring...
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Major milestone for USS Groton Sail Monument
Groton — The sun had not yet risen as members of the USS Groton Sail Foundation stood on the sidewalks outside the Electric Boat contractor’s gate on Eastern Point Road Tuesday morning. Holding a sign that read “Welcome Home USS Groton," they kept an...
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Trump halts Revolution Wind again
The Trump administration on Monday ordered a halt to construction of five permitted East Coast offshore wind farms, including two projects whose components are being marshaled at State Pier in New London. The move — the latest in a series of attempts...
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Traditions, new and old, at Seaport carol sing
Mystic — A sea of Santa hats and jingle bells crowded the green of the McGraw Gallery Quadrangle for the annual Mystic Seaport Museum Community Carol Sing on Sunday. Ariya Caird, 6, wore a Christmas lights necklace and headband along with a Santa...
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On the hunt for a lost submarine
On Oct. 6, 1943, a newly commissioned submarine left Groton, heading down the Thames River and out to sea. USS Dorado (SS-248) was bound for the Panama Canal. It was never seen again. The fate of this vessel has been one of the enduring unknowns of...
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Coast Guard cleared to fund museum
New London — The lingering question of how the National Coast Guard Museum will fund nearly $50 million in remaining construction costs was answered Thursday with the swipe of President Donald Trump’s pen. In addition to authorizing $901 billion for...
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20-unit apartment building planned for Groton City
Groton — A 20- unit apartment building is planned for Sacred Heart Drive in the City of Groton near Electric Boat. City Planner Leslie Creane said the applicant recognized the great need for housing in the area, particularly with regard to the...
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Emergency buttressing of church spire continues
New London — The sounds of hammers filled the unplowed intersection of Broad and Hempstead streets Tuesday morning as work continues on the Second Congregational Church. Two employees of Loring & Son Masonry Restoration worked from a large green lift...
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Lack of a ‘wet’ signature disqualifies candidate
Norwich — The lack of a proper signature has torpedoed former Republican nominee Mark Adams’ Independent Party nomination for an upcoming special election to fill the late state Rep. Kevin Ryan’s seat, the state Office of the Secretary of the State...
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A message of light in the shadow of violence
New London — Families gathered in the cold and snow-covered Parade Plaza on Sunday to watch a 15-foot menorah be lit up on the first night of Hanukkah, an annual tradition that organizers said carried added weight after this year amid rising...
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Cooking up skills for work and life
Students at Waterford High School are lining up to take culinary classes that blend career-ready kitchen skills with a welcoming, learnthrough-mistakes environment. Freshman Neve Bullock, 14, said one of the reasons she enjoys the class is the...
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Group helps family own a home
New London — Roger Caballero stood inside his family’s new home at 57 Belden St. on Friday and gazed out a second- floor window that offered a glimpse of an American flag fluttering over Fort Trumbull State Park. “Look at that vista,” the 36-yearold...
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Norwich firefighter charged with sexual assault is placed on leave
Norwich — Jason Crute, a 35-yearold volunteer firefighter with the Laurel Hill Volunteer Fire Co., has been placed on leave after Norwich police arrested him last month and charged him with sexually assaulting a girl known to him, on multiple...
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Sub base celebrates expanded USO facility
Groton — Sometimes Navy sailors and their families just need a place to recharge. The nonprofit United Service Organizations (USO) has an answer for that. USO New England on Tuesday unveiled an expanded USO center at the Naval Submarine Base that...
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Ex-Rep. de la Cruz announces run for 18th District state Senate seat
Groton — Former state Rep. Joe de la Cruz has announced his campaign to seek the Democratic nomination for the 18th District state Senate seat. The district covers Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington and...
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NUTCRACKER TRAIL WINDS THROUGH LOCAL BUSINESSES IN STONINGTON, WESTERLY
Stonington — On a recent night at C.C. O’Brien’s Sports Cafe a couple walked in the door. They asked to see the nutcracker. It’s a request Carolyn O’Brien, owner of the business on Mechanic Street in Pawcatuck has been getting a lot recently. “That...
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Call it ‘kismet’
With a quarter of a million twinkling lights, Amarante’s Winter Wonderland in Killingly makes Clark Griswold’s home in “Christmas Vacation” look like a lesson in minimalism. For the last 15 years, Daniel Amarante and his four siblings have transformed...
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WHITE HOUSE SETS UP A HALL OF SHAME FOR NEWS OUTLETS
New York — President Donald Trump’s White House is taking on the role of media critic and asking for help from “everyday Americans.” The White House launched a web portal it says will spotlight bias on the part of news outlets, targeting the Boston...
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Making spirits bright: Stars to light up Stonington’s Wadawanuck Square
Stonington — Wadawanuck Square in the borough will light up with stars today with an art installation that is also something of a homecoming for artist Christopher Owens. The Christopher Owens Borough Star Field, sponsored by the Greater Mystic...
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Juliette Parker is Groton Town’s new mayor
Groton — Town Councilor Juliette Parker was chosen and sworn in Tuesday as the town’s new mayor. She also has the distinction of being the town’s first Black mayor. Parker, a Democrat and a lifelong resident, has been serving as a councilor since...
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Singh sworn in as Norwich mayor
Norwich — A crowd gathered in the Council Chambers, hallways and an auxiliary room at City Hall on Tuesday as newly elected Mayor Swarnjit Singh, City Councilors, Board of Education members, and the incumbent city treasurer were sworn into...
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UConn faculty protest for academic freedom, speech
Storrs — University of Connecticut faculty and graduate students gathered in goofy costumes and inflatable animal suits — but their protest in front of Homer Babbidge Library on Monday was no laughing matter. At the “Freedom Frolic,” members of the...
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’TIS ALREADY THE SEASON
Waterford — Despite a steady drizzle on Sunday, families continued to arrive at Ukleja’s Tree Farm as part of the post-Thanksgiving rush that kicks off the local Christmas tree season. Near the entrance of the farm, owner Vincent Ukleja stood by a...
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Sons of Mystic get long-overdue honor
After its 1883 dedication, Mystic’s Civil War monument was described in The Day as “a handsome granite pedestal and shaft surmounted by the figure of a soldier … at parade rest.” The sides bore the names of four battles and an inscription: “Dedicated...
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Black Friday has changed, shoppers say
Waterford — As Eric Bedard, of East Lyme, scanned aisles of electronic gadgets at Best Buy late Friday morning, he reminisced about what the biggest shopping day of the year used to be. “It’s funny, I was talking to somebody about that today,” Bedard...
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NL could use $500K for emergency church repairs
New London — The city is prepared to use $500,000 in fund balance money to finance emergency repairs to a deteriorating steeple towering above a recently condemned 45 Broad St. church. The City Council on Tuesday is scheduled to discuss Mayor Michael...
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OLD RIVALRY, NEW CHAPTER
The sun was just starting to rise Tuesday morning as members of the Varsity N Club at Norwich Free Academy gathered in the third-story windows of the Tirrell Building of the school's campus in Norwich. They shouted down to teachers and staff on the...
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Groton Middle School students learn debate skills
Groton — Groton Middle School students on Monday afternoon debated a topic inspired by a real discussion in the state legislature: whether to use taxpayer dollars to feed people who are food-insecure. Sitting at tables, students from the middle...
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On the trail one last time before winter
Groton — Hooves thudded softly on the muddy and rocky parking lot of Bluff Point State Park as riders steered their horses at the start of the Connecticut Morgan Horse Association’s 15th annual Turkey Trot & Trail Ride, a yearly gathering that blends...
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New London church condemned
New London — The city condemned the Second Congregational Church on Wednesday afternoon, nearly six months after ordering its owner to address potentially “catastrophic” issues with the 45 Broad St. structure’s bell tower. The order, issued by...
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NFA has big projects in the works
Norwich — Norwich Free Academy is negotiating with Park Congregational Church, directly across Broadway from its campus, about acquiring part of the building to house students, school officials say. Head of Schools Nate Quesnel said last week the...
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CG Museum reaches a milestone
New London — Construction of the National Coast Guard Museum reached another milestone this week with completion of the sixstory building’s steel frame. Stakeholders in the $150 million project gathered at the perimeter of the museum’s construction...
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Christmas comes early at Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun’s Earth Expo Center hosted hundreds of small business owners from across New England over the weekend, and they spent the time sharing their creations, selling, and celebrating handmade craftsmanship. The 39th annual New England Christmas...
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Stepping up to fill the void
As local and state lawmakers continue pushing for a full restoration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, community members across eastern Connecticut are stepping up their efforts — with free breakfasts, gratis hot dogs and...
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Salem sees more Democrats elected than in past years
Salem — Over the past decade, this town has been a Republican stronghold. This year’s election changed that as Democrats took control of the First Selectman’s office and the Board of Selectmen. Democrat Sue Spang unofficially won the first selectman...
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Filling two land use positions at the top of busy agenda
Stonington — Two days after becoming the town’s chief elected official with approximately 70% of the vote, First Selectman- elect Bill Middleton has begun to look at a list of projects and tasks waiting for him and the new Board of Selectmen when they...
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BY AIR AND BY SEA
A HeliService helicopter kicks up a spray as it leads the Idaho (SSN-799) for sea trials as seen from Eastern Point Beach in Groton early Wednesday morning. The Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine is currently undergoing outfitting,...
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Singh appears to win Norwich
Norwich — Unofficial results on Tuesday night showed Democrat Alderman Swarnjit Singh with a commanding lead over Republican Alderwoman Stacy Gould and petitioning Republican Marcia Wilbur. When the final Election Day votes were tallied at...
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Election Day will decide local races
In 2012, Barack Obama crushed Mitt Romney in the gritty Connecticut city of New Britain, an expected result given the 5-1 advantage Democrats then enjoyed in voter registration. But the next year, a 26-year-old Republican woman named Erin Stewart was...
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‘The Cro’ is back at Conn College
New London — After more than a year of construction, Connecticut College’s longtime campus hub has reopened with a new look and renewed purpose. The renovated College Center at Crozier- Williams, known to students simply as “the Cro," is once again a...
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It won’t soon be forgotten
In the late 1970s and early '80s, Kathy Wilts and her friends would get off work at the Edward Malley department store at 9 p.m. on Friday nights and first go to dinner. Then they would take in the midnight showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at...
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Food pantries brace for SNAP turmoil
This month, amid anxiety about an impending funding lapse for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, use of the Groton Human Services department’s “food locker” has tripled. Social worker Lisa Fredsbo said that before news broke about...
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Fresh legal fight likely between town, developer
East Lyme — The town’s denial this week of a developer’s application for more daily sewer flow at the site of a proposed project in Oswegatchie Hills is likely to mean another battle in a nearly 30-year legal war. Ben North, the head of the town’s...
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Mystic Seaport lays off 22 employees
Mystic — Buffeted by inflation, rising costs and the growing uncertainty surrounding government support for cultural institutions, Mystic Seaport Museum has implemented “necessary organizational changes” that include the elimination of 22...
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Four on RTM cleared in ethics case
Waterford — The Ethics Commission has cleared four Representative Town Meeting members accused of violating the town’s Code of Ethics when they voted on the school budget earlier this year. In its 4-1 decision on Oct. 16, the commission determined...
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Putnam mayoral candidates tout experience and vision
Putnam — Mayor Barney Seney and Board of Finance Chairman David Coderre are going head-to-head next week in the race for mayor. Seney, 82, has run the town since 2017. He is seeking re-election as an unaffiliated candidate with a Democratic...
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SEARCHING FOR THE EXIT
Preston — When people think of a corn maze, most probably aren’t immediately thinking of it as a place to catch up on the town buzz, or run into a friend. But in this quiet town, where options for places to socialize are limited, residents are often...
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Haunted by a death at sea
Even as an 11-year-old, Joseph Hann would go to the New London waterfront, fix his gaze seaward and stare, deep in thought. Somewhere out there, miles beyond Ledge Light, was the place his father had sailed, never to return. Hann didn’t know where it...
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Lyme Tavern owner handing over the keys
— Among the locals, it’s East Lyme no secret the Lyme Tavern is changing hands. “Who knows about it?” owner Steve Carpenteri said Friday, repeating an out-of-towner’s question. “The whole world,” he said. In fact, the popular Niantic sports bar and...
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Students get their feet wet in a key field
Groton — Nolan Nanson, 18, a recent Ella T. Grasso Technical High School graduate, said that as a wastewater operator for Veolia in New London, he gets to work at his own pace while still getting everything done by the end of the day and protecting the...
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Brookside Farm Museum in East Lyme looks to the future
East Lyme — The Brookside Farm Museum came to be when a group of residents restored the historic former dairy farm in 1974. But in the half-century since, further maintenance has been largely deferred, Curator Annah Perch said Tuesday. “It needs...
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Charges questioned in Foxwoods standoff arrest
A judge in New London on Tuesday reduced the bond and declined to find probable cause for two of the most serious charges faced by an armed East Windsor man whom police accused of assaulting two women and barricading himself into a hotel room at...
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Twelve candidates running for 7 Montville Town Council seats
Montville — Twelve candidates are running Nov. 4 for seven Town Council seats, as Democrats, Republicans and a write-in candidate compete to shape the town’s leadership for the next two years. The Democratic slate includes incumbents Kate Southard,...
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