Thieves steal from East Hampton bell factory destroyed by fire

May 30, 2012 Local News Comments Off

East Hampton Police are reporting that thieves have added to the tragedy of the Bevin family, whose members and employees witnessed a ferocious blaze that destroyed a 200-year-old bell factory, the last of its kind in the United States.

The fire – which investigators are now saying may have been sparked by lightening on the evening of May 27 – drew firefighters from 30 companies

Police say today they are investigating the theft of approximately 1,500 pounds of formed, trimmed hand bells from the site of the Bevin Bell Company.

The bells are made of brass. “They are all blackened and gray from fire damage,” according to police.

Police say the theft occurred during the overnight of May 28-29, 2012.

Anyone with information or inquiries is asked to call East Hampton Police at 860-267-9922.

Posted May 30, 2012

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Victorian Days this weekend – house tours, high tea, carriage rides

May 30, 2012 Arts & Entertainment, Local News Comments Off

Horse-drawn rides past historic Victorian homes are part of the 14th annual Victorian Days activities that run from Thursday, May 31 through Sunday, June 3 (most events are Saturday and Sunday). Photo courtesy of the Willimantic Victorian Neighborhood Association

Willimantic, Connecticut will invite visitors into some of its 600 Victorian-style homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places during the 14th annual Victorian Days events, which begins Thursday, May 31 and continues through Sunday, June 3.

This very popular event, which draws people from throughout New England, also includes garden tours, unique museum exhibits, live music, art exhibits and Victorian teas that sell out every year.

Victorian Days is sponsored by the Willimantic Victorian Neighborhood Association, which promotes the preservation of Willimantic’s Victorian past.

Most events take place on Saturday and Sunday.

Willimantic’s Hill Section abounds with old Victorian homes. It is “sort of a hidden treasure,” says event manager Lynn Duval. “It was built when the textile mill industry was at its prime.”

During that era, immigrants came from France, Poland, Ukraine, Ireland and other countries to work at the thread mills, and “their families are still here,” Duval said.

The George Tiffany House on Prospect Street is one of the Victorian-style homes that will be open for tours during the 14th annual Victorian Days, the weekend of June 2-3, 2012. Photo courtesy of Wilimantic Victorian Neighborhood Association

“They all left something here in the community,” she said, and so the Victorian Days weekend also celebrates the diversity of Willimantic’s history.

“People come from all over New England,” Duval said, and “when we bring the people here, they see that Willimantic is kind of a cool town.”

New to this year’s festivities will be Saturday tours of five churches with historically interesting stained glass windows and organs.

“They’re all historic. They all have magnificent stained glass. It’s going to be a beautiful tour,” Duval said.

Thursday – with cooler and less humid weather in the forecast – will start the three-day event with a walking tour of historic Main Street that will include a viewing of the old Franklin Hall Vaudeville Theater.

Friday night, the public can attend a free Classic Brass Band Concert at the First Congregational Church, 199 Valley St. Following the performance will be a large buffet.

The Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum will take part in the 14th annual Victorian Days the weekend of June 2-3, and will offer 1.5-mile train rides in an open car with benches. Photo of the "round house" courtesy of the Railroad Museum

Saturday and Sunday, visitors can tour Victorian homes, the Willimantic Camp Meeting Association (Saturday, only), the Elks Lodge, the Old Willimantic Cemetery, Windham Mills, the magnificent Garden on the Bridge neighboring the renovated mills and ArtSpace, Wright’s Pleasant Street Garden and the Windham Town Hall with its newly installed exhibit, “Connecticut’s Connection to the Titanic.”

The Windham Textile & History Museum/Visitor’s Center, the Windham Historical Society at Jillson House and the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum (set back from Bridge Street) will also feature exhibits and other activities.

The railroad museum will offer 1.5-mile train rides in an open car with benches. “The kids will love it,” Duval said.

The Victorian Teas are “real high teas,” using real china, silverware and linen napkins and tablecloths. Sandwiches, handmade scones, pastries and tea are served in one of the Victorian homes. The tea gatherings sell out quickly. “We tell people to reserve ahead of time, and they have to,” Duval said.

For information on where to buy tickets or to make advance reservations for tea on Saturday or Sunday, call (860) 428-7573.

To download a brochure detailing all the events and a map, visit the Willimantic Victorian Neighborhood Association Web site at http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/events/victorian-days-in-willimantic

Posted May 30, 2012 as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

For first time in five years, no referendum petition for Mansfield budget

May 30, 2012 Local News Comments Off

Mansfield Mayor Betsy Paterson was slightly surprised, but happy, that there was no petition this year to force the Annual Town Budget vote to a referendum, “because it saves the town some money,” she said. On average, a referendum can cost a town as much as $2,000. File photo: Mansfield Town Manager Matt Hart and Mayor Betsy Paterson, by Marie Brennan.

For the first time in five years, the Annual Town Meeting was the final stop for Mansfield’s school/ town budget.

The Mansfield Town Charter was revised in 2007 to allow residents to send a budget vote to referendum following the Annual Town Meeting, and budget opponents have done so ever since – until this year.

In order to force a referendum, a petition signed by two percent of the town’s registered voters would have had to be turned into the Town Clerk by Tuesday, May 29. (The Town Charter stipulates that such petitions must be submitted three weeks after the Annual Town Meeting vote.) This would have required signatures from 206 electors; there are currently 10,255 registered voters in Mansfield, CT.

Mansfield Mayor Betsy Paterson was slightly surprised, but happy, “because it saves the town some money,” she said.

On average, a referendum can cost a town as much as $2,000.

Deputy Mayor Toni Moran agreed. “It’s a relief, because it does cost the town money every time you have a referendum and it’s a lot of work for people,” she said.

Paterson conjectured that the absence of a challenge to the new budget may be a combination of having presented an acceptable budget and allowing for lots of discussion.

Moran also said the Town Council was very “cautious” when preparing the budget.

At the May 8, 2012 Annual Town Meeting, voters passed the $45,037,040 budget 174 to 100. The budget includes the general government and Mansfield Board of Education budgets as well as Mansfield’s contribution to Regional School District 19, which oversees Edwin O. Smith High School.

The 2012- 13 budget is two percent higher than the current budget. The mill rate increase is 0.48 mills, bring the tax rate from 26.68 to 27.16 mills. For a home assessed at $200,000, this translates into $96 in additional taxes.

Posted May 30, 2012 as edited and added to by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

Parents angry over kindergartener with gun

May 30, 2012 Local News Comments Off

Lebanon residents (R-L) Brian Green, Dina Mador and Dawn Green at a May 29, 2012 public meeting sparked by an incident in which a kindergartener brought a nonfunctioning gun to school for "show and tell." Photo by Al Malpa

An incident involving a kindergarten student found last week to have a gun in his/her backpack (the identity of the child is not being released) has put a local superintendent in the hot seat.

While the fact that a 5-year-old came to school with a gun is in itself disturbing, the main complaint Lebanon parents expressed at a public meeting Tuesday (May 29) was the way the school handled the situation.

Parents are particularly unhappy about how and when they were notified; the school district mailed a letter to parents on Wednesday, the day after the incident occurred.

Parents say they should have been notified immediately – i.e. by email or phone.

According to Connecticut State Police, on Tuesday, May 22, the afternoon bus driver was delivering students to their homes when she became aware that one of the kindergarten students had a gun in his/her backpack.

It was determined that the gun was not loaded or even working. The bus driver returned it to the child’s parents, according to police.

Lebanon School Superintendent Janet Tyler responds to comments from angry parents at a May 29, 2012 meeting at which she was criticized for not notifying parents immediately about a gun found in a kindergartener's backpack. Photo by Al Malpa

At last night’s meeting, parent Dina Madore, yelled at Tyler and said parents should have been notified on Tuesday.

Parent Julie Robbins agreed and said she had no idea about the incident until a neighbor told her. Robbins’ child was on that bus, she said, and it was “upsetting” to hear about it from someone other than the school.

“We couldn’t talk about it with our child because we had no idea,” Robbins told Tyler.

Tyler responded that she believes she did what she “felt was right.”

“I have kids as well,” Tyler said, and added “(I am an) advocate for children. I would never ever want to hurt a child for any reason.”

However, Tyler said, if the same incident happened tomorrow, she would call “every single person” to let them know.

In an interview today, State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said the incident was “blown out of proportion” because the gun actually was an antique replica that was incapable of being fired.

“It was not a firearm… it was not a ‘gun,’ by definition,” Lt. Vance said.

He also said the child brought the gun to school for “show and tell.”

At last night’s meeting, Tyler criticized the bus driver. “The driver’s failure to timely notify the school district severely handicapped our ability to investigate and inform parents,” Tyler said. It was hours later that the district was notified, she said.

Parent Brian Green said it is Tyler’s responsibility to communicate with parents. “This can’t happen again,” he said. “You are the face and you are the leader (of our school district).”

Green added that if Tyler was working “anywhere else,” she would have been fired already for the “abysmal” handling of the incident.

Lebanon resident Ron Cowles called for parents to do more than complain about a gun incident and take part in developing better protocol for Lebanon Schools, at a May 29 2012 public meeting. Photo by Al Malpa

Resident Ron Cowles was the only person at the meeting to stick up for Tyler and the rest of the school district’s administration.

Cowles said he understood the parents’ reaction, but urged them to become a part of the process to fix school policy. “Everyone needs to be involved. One person cannot do it alone,” he said.

Cowles said he looks forward to seeing how many of the parents and other community members will step up. “Help this woman (Tyler) to make it better,” he said.

Tyler asked for e-mail addresses from the people at the meeting in order to notify them of the next public meeting during which new protocol for incidents such as this one can be developed.

After the meeting, Tyler said she is “confident” the district can move forward.

However, Lebanon Board of Education member Stephen Nelson said he hopes the incident is discussed at the next school board meeting, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12 at the Lebanon Middle School Media Center.

Posted May 30, 2012 as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

Connecticut wins approval for No Child Left Behind waivers

May 29, 2012 Areawide, Local News Comments Off

Connecticut’s No Child Left Behind waiver establishes a new, more comprehensive system of measuring student academic achievement and progress across all performance bands; adds writing and science assessments to the accountability system; and holds high schools accountable for graduation rates in addition to test scores. Photo source: WikiCommons public domain images

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today (May 29) announced that Connecticut’s application for a waiver from certain mandates imposed by the 2001 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act has been approved.

The waiver, which grants states greater flexibility for implementing school reforms, comes just weeks after Gov. Malloy and legislative leaders reached an agreement to begin fixing what’s broken in Connecticut’s public schools.

The jointly-issued press release states that the NCLB Waiver, among other things, will ensure that Connecticut:

has greater flexibility with Federal Title 1 dollars, meaning that the state can now use that money to fund programs and reform models that are right for Connecticut and gets it to the students who need it;

avoids a situation where nearly half of the state’s public schools would have been deemed “failing” – setting in motion massive restructuring and possibly even school closures; and creates a system that more accurately measures student achievement across all levels.

NCLB requires a series of sanctions for schools that do not achieve 100 percent student proficiency on standardized assessments by 2014.

Connecticut’s waiver-

establishes a new, more comprehensive system of measuring student academic achievement and progress across all performance bands;

adds writing and science assessments to the accountability system;

and holds high schools accountable for graduation rates in addition to test scores.

And Connecticut’s education reform plans call for –

implementation of the Common Core State Standards and new assessments aligned to those standards in 2014-15;

authorization of intensive interventions and supports necessary to turn around Connecticut’s lowest performing schools and districts;

a new, enhanced system of teacher and principal evaluation and support;

and reduction of red tape and undue administrative burdens placed on districts.

All of these initiatives, set forth as guiding principles for education reform by Gov. Malloy in December 2011, were affirmed or enhanced with passage of Senate Bill 458, An Act Concerning Educational Reform, which was signed into law by Governor Malloy on May 14, 2012.

“I want to commend Connecticut for demonstrating real courage that made it one of the leading states in this round of plans,” Secretary Duncan said.

“Connecticut’s plan to adopt college and career-ready standards, elevate and support teachers, and focus resources in order to close the achievement gap will include hundreds more schools and thousands more children who were invisible under NCLB,” Duncan said.

Connecticut Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor said, “From Common Core implementation, to low-performing school turnaround, to educator evaluation, we were able to convey Connecticut’s authentic agenda in our presentation to the federal Education Department.”

“After too many years of failing to secure significant federal approvals for our education work here in Connecticut, we are finally entering an era of strong state/federal partnership regarding the strengthening of our schools,” Pryor said.

Posted May 29, 2012

Memorial Day Weekend a busy one for State Police and local firefighters

May 29, 2012 Areawide, Local News Comments Off

At the Lebanon, CT 2012 Memorial Day Parade - the World War II, Korea and Vietnam Veterans float. In the center waving to the crowd is 93-year-old Army Veteran Joseph Brissan from Lebanon. Photo by Al Malpa

The 2012 Memorial Day weekend was a busy one for Connecticut State Police, but the holiday was relatively quiet for local law enforcement agencies.

State police reported 279 accidents from midnight Friday, May 25 through midnight Monday, May 28, that resulted in 57 injuries and one fatality.

These numbers are up from the 2011 holiday weekend, when 260 accidents were reported, including 18 involving injuries and four fatalities.

“We were very active,” State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said.

It was also a busy weekend for firefighters throughout the state. In the Windham area, local departments responded to two fires in Lebanon.

The American Red Cross responded to seven fires in the state over the weekend – and provided assistance to 57 people – including one that destroyed the 200-year-old Bevin Brothers bell factory, the last of its kind, in East Hampton, CT. In that instance, the Red Cross set up a temporary shelter when residents near the factory buildings were evacuated because of concern about toxic chemicals in the air.

Connecticut State Troopers made 77 drunken-driving arrests this year, seven more than last year.

Offering a salute for fallen veterans are from right to left, Dana Hallenbeck, Joe Eaton, Bob LaMarche, Yvon Turgeon, Jim Sposito and Lem Theroux of the American Legion Post 52 in Coventry, CT. Members of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Cub Scouts Pack 57 and Boy Scout Troop 65, as well as the public, paid tribute at the 2012 Memorial Day ceremonies in Coventry, CT. Photo by Marie Brennan

There were 816 seatbelt violations and 1,797 speeding citations.

Willimantic Police Lt. Jack Reed said it was a “very quiet weekend” for his department.

Reed said his department responded to four accidents, two Friday and two Monday, none of which involved injuries.

This morning, he said that no individuals were arrested for driving while intoxicated.

Reed also said there were also no cell-phone violations or speeding tickets recorded, though some might be included in the system later in the day, he said.

The Memorial Day parade kept Willimantic officers busy.

Participants left from Memorial Park on Main Street and marched to the American Legion on Bricktop Road. Main Street was closed for the festivities, as it is every year.

Willimantic officers directed traffic and public works employees set up barriers around the parade route.

“There was a pretty good turnout,” said Reed.

Coventry Police Chief Mark Palmer said traffic enforcement went smoothly over the weekend.

“It was relatively quiet,” Palmer said.

The department did not have any DWI checkpoints set up, but did conduct roving patrols.

Palmer said there were two accidents, both of which were very “minor” and did not involve injuries.

Coventry police made 26 motor vehicle stops, and issued 11 citations and 13 warnings.

The citations included three speeding citations, one for a cellphone violation, and two traffic sign violations.

“It’s pretty typical,” Palmer said, comparing this year’s statistics from those for past Memorial Day weekends.

Police shut down roads surrounding the town parade, which kicked off at G. H. Robertson Intermediate School on Cross Street.

More people attended the town parade than in previous years, but traffic was under control, said Palmer. “People were very patient,” he said.

Posted May 29, 2012 as edited by HTNP.com Editor Brenda Sullivan

Enjoy Connecticut’s many beautiful state parks at a discount

May 27, 2012 Areawide, Arts & Entertainment, Local News Comments Off

Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT offers views of Long Island Sound, nature trails, picnic tables, beautiful gardens and a tour of the historic mansion (for an additional fee).

The State offers a number of seasonal passes to Connecticut’s many and varied state parks for reasonable prices.

With the cost of gas up one day and down the next – usually up once the summer vacation season rolls around – a day at a state park can be an affordable day trip.

Some parks, such as Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, offer ocean views and many offer picnic and cookout sites.

Most have hiking trails that vary from relatively flat and easy, to steep and challenging, often leading to a summit with an inspiring view.

Some parks are great for bird-watching, and others allow fishing.

Some parks, such as Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam, also offer tours of historic and unusual estates.

Before bringing your four-legged family member along, check that a particular park allows dogs. If it does, your dog must be on a leash and you should bring drinking water and the necessary equipment for cleaning up after your dog.

Here is some information about discounted passes.

Season passes

For the frequent park visitor, Connecticut offers a season pass (a windshield sticker) that allows unlimited vehicle access to any state park or recreation area that has a parking fee, for no extra charge.

Season passes are valid for one vehicle per pass (non-transferable to any other vehicle) for an entire calendar year.

Season passes are not valid for admission to Dinosaur or Fort Trumbull State Park Exhibit Centers or tours of Gillette Castle (but you can visit the grounds), camping or special events with charges; if an area is closed to the public for any reason; for commercial use or on a commercial vehicle; if not adhered to the windshield (motorcycle operators may handhold the pass) of a registered vehicle.

A separate Heritage Passport will allow for unlimited access to Dinosaur, Fort Trumbull and Gillette Castle State Parks until the end of the calendar year. The cost is $67 and is good for a family (2 adults and up to 4 children). You can buy your Heritage Passport at any one of the three parks.

A season pass for access to all other parks is $67 for Connecticut residents and $112 for Out-of State residents and can be paid for online at the DEEP Store (The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection) http://www.ctdeepstore.com, as well as by mail or in person.

By mail, send a check for the fee, plus $2.50 for shipping and handling, made out to Treasurer, State of Connecticut to: DEEP Store, 79 Elm St., Hartford, CT 06106-5127

Your pass will be sent via first class mail with delivery confirmation to the address provided in your request.

Free lifetime passes

Called the Charter Oak Pass, this one provides access to all Connecticut state parks and forests and is available free to Connecticut residents age 65 or older.

It is accepted at all day-use areas where a parking fee applies and allows free access for the entering vehicle and passengers. And the pass holder does not have to be the vehicle driver.

It also allows free admission for the Charter Oak pass holder when visiting Gillette Castle, Dinosaur or Fort Trumbull State Parks, or fishing at the Quinebaug Valley Hatchery. Accompanying visitors, however, will be required to pay the appropriate fee.

Please note that each pass is issued to a specific person and can only be used when presented by that individual. Also, they are not valid for camping or special events that have separate admission charges, and may not be used for commercial purposes.

For a list of offices where you can buy your Charter Oak Pass in person (please bring proof of age and Connecticut residency), click this link and scroll half-way down the page.

Another free, lifetime pass is available for disabled veterans.

The Disabled Veteran Pass provides access to Connecticut state parks and forests and is available free to Connecticut residents who have a service-connected disability.

It allows free access for the entering vehicle and all passengers. Again, the pass holder does not have to be the driver.

This pass is not valid for camping or special events that have separate admission charges and may not be used for commercial purposes.

However, this pass can be used for free admission to Gillette Castle, Dinosaur or Fort Trumbull State Parks, or fishing at the Quinebaug Valley Hatchery. Accompanying visitors will be required to pay the appropriate fee.

You will need to show (or mail a copy of) your current Connecticut drivers license or other legal proof of residency, as well as a copy of your VA card or VA Benefits Letter indicating a service-connected disability. Mail to: DEEP Disabled Veteran Pass, State Parks Division, 79 Elm St., Hartford, CT 06106-5127. Questions? Call 860-424-3200 state office hours.

Letterboxing

And did you know that many state forests are included in letterboxing activities? Letterboxing is something like a treasure hunt in which boxes containing a log book and rubber stamp are hidden in the parks. Maps are created and the boxes hidden by participants, and clues to finding the boxes are posted on the Web.

You can learn more about letterboxing in this area at this site http://letterboxing.org/faq/faq.html

And this link will take you to a map of Connecticut counties and links to the letterbox maps for those areas.

And here is a link to Connecticut state forests with letterboxing trails and their clues.

More info

For descriptions of the state parks and the facilities they offer, click on this link http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325086&depNav_GID=1650

For more information about passes, click on this link http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325090&depNav_GID=1650

Also note that from time-to-time, the governor has declared certain dates to be admission-free at state parks and forests. Watch for those announcements here.

Posted May 27, 2012

2012 Memorial Day ceremonies and parades in our area

May 27, 2012 Arts & Entertainment, Local News Comments Off

Navy veterans and Pearl Harbor survivors John Busma, left, a machinist's mate 1st class aboard the repair ship USS Medusa (AR 1), and Richard Cramer, a signalman 1st class aboard USS Pennsylvania (BB 38) on Dec. 7, 1941, listen to the program during 5th annual Pearl Harbor Commemorative Celebration, Dec. 7, 2011 at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Detachment Norco, home of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division. The theme of the event was Keeping Traditions Alive, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and 70 years of Navy presence in Riverside County, first as a naval hospital serving wounded from Pearl Harbor and currently as the Navy's independent assessment agent and one of its newest federal labs. (U.S. Navy photo by Greg Vojtko/Released)

Here are some of the 2012 Memorial Day activities slated for the HTNP.com readership area this weekend.

Sunday, May 27

SCOTLAND – The Memorial Day Parade kicks off at noon, and follows Route 97 from the town green to the Scotland Cemetery, where a ceremony will take place.

Monday, May 28

ASHFORD – The Memorial Day parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the firehouse on Route 89. Those marching in the parade are asked to meet at the fire station between 10 and 10:15 a.m. The parade will end at Pompey Hollow Park, where a service will be held.

COLUMBIA – Veterans will be honored during a Memorial Day ceremony at the town green, across from Columbia Town Hall on Route 66, beginning at 9 a.m.

During the ceremony, First Selectwoman Carmen Vance will make remarks and there will be a moment of silence for deceased veterans. Taps will be played and at the end of the ceremony, Vance will read a poem.

COVENTRY – The town’s Memorial Day parade starts at 10 a.m., beginning at the G.H. Robertson School on Cross Street, off of Route 31 (Main Street).

The parade will proceed to the Veteran’s Green for a brief service and then reform to continue down Lake Street to Main Street. The parade will end at Bradbury Lane.

HAMPTON – Memorial Day remembrances will take place throughout town. From 7 to 9 a.m., a Memorial Day breakfast will be served at the Hampton Congregational Church. At 9 a.m., the Memorial Day Parade starts at Route 97, from the Fletcher Memorial Library to the Hampton Community Center.

Hampton Town Hall will then host several Memorial Day remembrances and speeches starting at 10 a.m.

At noon, a ceremony for the Navy will take place at Little River on Hammond Hill Road.

And a chicken BBQ will be served at the Hampton Community Center from 11:20 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The day’s events include a 12:30 p.m. concert at the community center by the Juniper Hill Jumpers, a Dixieland jazz band.

HEBRON – The Memorial Day Parade kicks off at 10 a. m., follows Wall Street (Route 316) at RHAM High School. The parade will be followed by the dedication of a Civilian Aircraft Observation Post and World War II Memorial at the Hebron Town Office building. (See separate story in Hebron Today)

MANSFIELD (info added) – Memorial Day Parade starts at 9 a.m., from the intersection of Route 195 (Storrs Road) and Bassetts Bridge Road in Mansfield Center. Marchers will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Bassetts Bridge Road. The parade will progress north on Route 195 and down Cemetery Road to the new Mansfield Center cemetery.

All veterans and active duty personnel are invited to march at the head of the parade.

There will be a memorial ceremony at the cemetery. Councilor Christopher Paulhus will welcome all, Town Manager Matthew Hart will give the address, and Pastor Joe Nollet will represent the Hope Lutheran Church and give the invocation and benediction. Music will be provided by the Mansfield Middle School Band and the E.O. Smith Regional High School Band. Three volleys will be fired and taps sounded in honors for the fallen. The units will then return to Bassetts Bridge Road.

In the event of heavy rain, the ceremony will be held in the Mansfield Middle School gymnasium, the school is located at 205 Spring Hill Road, off of Route 195. Listen for the announcement at 7:30 a.m. on WILI of the ceremony moves indoors.

In the event of heavy rain, the ceremony will be held in the Mansfield Middle School gymnasium, the school is located at 205 Spring Hill Road, off of Route 195.

WINDHAM/ WILLIMANTIC – The Windham/Willimantic Memorial Day pilgrimage begins at 7 a.m. at the VFW on 1415 Main St. to begin a visit to each of the town’s cemeteries and memorials.

These include: New Willimantic Cemetery, Old Willimantic Cemetery, South Windham Memorial, Windham Center Cemetery, Windham Center Memorials, North Windham Cemetery, St. Joseph Cemetery, Russian Orthodox Cemetery and Windham Veteran’s Greenway.

At 9 a.m. coffee and doughnuts will be served at the VFW. And at 11 a.m., an observance will take place at Memorial Park on Main Street.

Following, the Memorial Day parade will form and march to the American Legion Hall on Brick Top Road.

Posted May 27, 2012, info added at 5:07 p.m.

Have a news item, event or Letter to the Editor you’d like posted on this news site? Simply send your information to editor@htnp.com and include your town in the subject line of your email. Please also include a phone number where you can be reached if there are questions. For daily updates on local and Connecticut news, “like” us on Facebook at HTNP News at https://www.facebook.com/HTNPnews and find us on Twitter at HTNP News (@HTNPNews )