LIFE

During the winter of 1775-1776, militiamen from the Middletown Upper Houses participated in the siege of Boston, preventing the British Army from moving any further into the colony by land. Many of these Upper Houses patriots served in Col. James Wadsworth’s 23rd Regiment of Connecticut Militia under the command of Capt. Comfort Sage.

Dreams really do come true. For Merrie Avallone of Cromwell, these deep-seated fantasies materialized in the form of dahlias – her favorite being pink – that she can plant, nurture, grow, hand pick and share with others.

Michael Lucas is settling in quickly as the new superintendent of the Cromwell Public Schools. He doesn’t have much of a choice. His first day on the job was July 27, just four weeks before the onset of the 2026-2027 academic year. A 58-year-old veteran educator, he said he is delighted to be here and looks forward to making a good district even better.

It’s only a few steps from the captain’s office to the chief’s office at Cromwell Police Department headquarters. But as Chief Steven Penn quickly learned, it represents a world of difference. “I have more pulling on me,” he said.

After months of planning, the return of the Riverport Festival is just a few weeks away. The details have been ironed out and a full schedule of activities awaits those who attend the three-day party from Sept. 24-26. The lead organization in bringing back this once-popular event is the government-appointed Community Events Committee chaired by Steven Wygonowski.

There is a saying that you can’t go back home again. But for the Rev. David Choquette, going back close to home is reality.

Goodspeed Musicals Founding Director Michael P. Price recalls walking in a London Park with his wife Jo-Ann pushing his son Daniel in a stroller. “I was humming a tune,” he recalled, “and Jo-Ann said, ‘You know what that’s from?’ I said, ‘Yes, I do.’ And she said, ‘Why don’t you try to put it together again?’”

Summer is the season when thoughts turn to vacations, cookouts, trips to the beach and eating ice cream. Not that it doesn’t taste good the rest of the year, but there’s something about the hot weather that makes this frozen dairy treat taste that much more delightful. We decided to visit some family-owned ice cream shops in this area.