Connecticut

Jodi Rell funeral: CT governor lies in state ahead of services

Published

1 year ago

December 3, 2024

Jodi Rell funeral: CT governor lies in state ahead of services

A lone bagpiper played an ancient Irish tune, The Minstrel Boy, as a hearse bearing the body of Connecticut’s 87th governor, M. Jodi Rell, glided to a stop by the broad brick walk leading to the north portico of the state Capitol.

On a summer’s day 20 years ago, Rell marched to the same spot to take the oath of office, succeeding a governor who had resigned in the face of an impeachment inquiry. She then welcomed the public in a receiving line.

There was one last receiving line Tuesday in the east atrium of the Capitol, hard by the statue of Nathan Hale. Rell would lie in state for four hours before her funeral, her coffin draped by the blue flag of the state she served as a state representative, lieutenant governor and governor from 1985 to 2011.

As Lawrence F. Cafero, a former House Republican leader and one of the mourners in line Tuesday, recalled of her inaugural: It was cloudy at the start, but the sun eventually shone on the new governor.

Rell, who finished the last six months of her predecessor’s third term and was elected in 2006 to a four-year term of her own, died in Florida on Nov. 20 after a brief illness.

She had a plane ticket and plans to come back for Thanksgiving to Connecticut, where her daughter and son, Meredith and Michael, and their spouses and Rell’s grandchildren live. Her usual routine was to stay through Christmas, then head south before the new year.

Lying in state denotes a certain formality, and there was that on Tuesday.

A police and military honor guard awaited the hearse, which arrived as scheduled — a half hour before the 10 a.m. start, when her family would receive mourners. Six military men bore the coffin, climbing the steps to a called cadence.

“Ready! Step.”

They carried the coffin to a bier of cherry wood, on loan from a local funeral director, John C. Carmon. A legislative facilities manager said it was the same model the Reagan and Bush families chose when the former presidents lied in state at the U.S. Capitol.

A rotating honor guard, one Capitol police officer and one member of the military, stood at attention on either side. Her official portrait, borrowed from the Museum of Connecticut History on the other side of Capitol Avenue, faced the casket.

The family retired to a borrowed caucus room, where M. Lisa Moody, who served Rell as chief of staff for nearly all her 16 years as lieutenant and governor, waited to greet them. Moody was hobbled by recent foot surgery.

Paddi LeShane and Jackie Bernstein were there. Like Moody and Rell, they all were active in the Connecticut Women’s Council, a professional and social networking group.

The family held a private wake the previous day in Brookfield, the community Rell represented in the House. The home where Rell and her husband, Lou, raised their children is now owned by her daughter.

The former governor had kept a condo in town, though she was a snow bird, a retiree with a legal residence in Florida. Lou Rell died a decade ago at 73. Their daughter looks and sounds like the mother. The son favors the father.

The formality of a governor lying in state didn’t last long, as a line formed, nearly all of the early arrivals with some connection to Connecticut politics and its 87th governor.

“I had to sneak over and see my friend,” Paul Doyle said.

Doyle is a Superior Court judge who sits in criminal court, two blocks south of the Capitol. He was a House member during Rell’s 10 years in the House and later was elected to the Senate.

Peter Nystrom, the mayor of Norwich and a former House member, was already there. Soon, others followed: James A. Amann, who became House speaker in 2005, sometimes clashing with Rell over issues — once drawing the ire of his wife, who admonished him to be nicer.

Thomas D. Ritter, one of Amann’s predecessors as speaker, chatted with Jack Betkoski and Michael Caron, two former lawmakers now serving on the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Herb Shepardson, the Republican chair when Rell was governor, was behind them.

At 10 a.m., the family emerged to greet Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, the latter of whom had served in the House with Rell. Lamont and Bysiewicz were the first to pause by the casket, then chat with the family. Lying in state had become a wake.

House Speaker Matt Ritter, a Democrat, and House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, a Republican, arrived together. Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, left the line to join them. Then he returned to his place in line, explaining that Rell, who held the House seat that Harding would occupy before going to the Senate, had a thing about not jumping lines.

Cafero, a Republican, stood in line in front of Tom Swan, the director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, a liberal activist in Democratic causes.

Swan was one of organizers behind an effort to pass campaign finance reform the year after Rell took office. Rell wanted bans on contributions from contractors and lobbyists, but not the public financing of campaigns sought by Swan and others.

Ultimately, Rell accepted a version with public financing. On Tuesday, Swan said her initial reluctance was immaterial.

“She signed it,” Swan said.

There were other things about Rell that Swan admired, including signing a law that gave early marriage rights to same-sex couples under a civil unions law. She later signed a gay marriage bill enacting a court order. Medicaid expanded under Rell, and the tax code got more progressive, even if it was through a budget Rell allowed to take effect without her signature.

“She was a good governor,” Swan said, his voice low as he approached the casket and Rell’s family.

An initial rush subsided after 45 minutes, but a stream of others continued into the afternoon. Liz Kurantowicz, a former Rell aide, wore a scarf, a tribute to her former boss’s fashion signature.

“This is a Rell scarf,” Kurantowicz, pointing to a state seal.

Donald E. Williams Jr., the former Senate president pro tem, is a Democrat who led the opposition to the Republican governor but noted it was an opposition without rancor.

Williams moved up the pecking order at the Capitol the same time as Rell. When Gov. John G. Rowland resigned and Rell became governor, William’s predecessor as Senate leader, Kevin B. Sullivan, automatically succeeded Rell as lieutenant governor. Williams was then chosen as the new Senate leader.

After greeting the family, the mourners paused to sign a guest book that sat on a lectern by three easels hold photos.

The National Guard had brought pictures of Rell at events for Operation ELF, the guard’s annual toy drive. It was a pet cause of Rell’s. The photos were displayed on easels off to the side, near an illuminated Christmas tree.

Source link

Related Topics:feature story Featured top-story

Click to comment

Connecticut

Twin Peaks Restaurant planning to open 3 locations in Connecticut

Published

6 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Twin Peaks Restaurant planning to open 3 locations in Connecticut

DALLAS (WTNH) — A New London-based group is partnering with a Texas-based restaurant planning to open its first locations in Connecticut.

New London Hospitality has signed a new area development agreement with Twin Hospitality Group Inc., the parent company of Twin Peaks Restaurant, for the development rights of three future locations in the state, according to a press release from Twin Peaks.

The release lists New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury and Stamford or Bridgeport as potential markets.

According to the release, New London Hospitality is run by Deepak Verma and Kam Singh, who have experience in the hospitality industry and have worked with major hotel brands including Hilton, Red Roof Inn and Choice Hotels.

“Deepak and Kam bring a powerful combination of hospitality expertise and operational discipline,” Twin Peaks CEO Kim Boerema said in the release. “Their experience growing multi-unit concepts makes them ideal partners as we enter Connecticut. We are confident they will help anchor Twin Peaks as a new favorite for sports fans throughout the state.”

Twin Peaks describes itself as “the ultimate sports lodge featuring made-from-scratch food and the coldest beer in the business, surrounded by scenic views and wall-to-wall TVs. At every Twin Peaks, guests are immediately welcomed by a friendly Twin Peaks Girl and served up a menu made for MVPs.”

“Twin Peaks delivers everything guests want in a sports bar — scratch-made food, 29-degree draft beer, and the best place to catch every game,” Verma said. “We look forward to introducing the brand’s signature lodge experience and welcoming Twin Peaks girls to Connecticut, establishing a new home base for local sports fans and food enthusiasts.”

Twin Peaks was founded in 2005 in Lewisville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. There are 114 locations in the United States and Mexico. The closest location to Connecticut is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Source link

Connecticut

Road closures, crashes & flooding reported across Connecticut

Published

18 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Road closures, crashes & flooding reported across Connecticut

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — As Friday’s stormy weather brings strong rains and damaging winds, the Connecticut Department of Transportation and local agencies are reporting the following alerts.

Stormy Friday Weather

Note: Not every alert can be attributed to weather.

Current Traffic Alerts:

NEW HAVEN – Two-vehicle crash on Route 15 southbound between Exits 46 and 42B. The right lane is closed. Reported at 3:28 p.m.
OLD SAYBROOK – Route 154 (Main Street) closed in both directions between Willard Ave Ext. and Cromwell Ave because of tree down with wires. Reported Friday, December 19 at 2:20 pm.
PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed # 105 Norwich Road and Kinney Hill Road for tree in wires. Reported at 12:31 p.m.
PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed in both directions at Arbor Lane due to a pole down in wires. Reported at 12:25 p.m.
N. STONINGTON – Route 184 (Providence New London Turnpike) closed in both directions at Rt 49 (Pendelton Hill Road) because of tree down. Reported at 12:11 p.m.
COLCHESTER – Colchester Route 85 New London Road closed between Lake Hayward Road and West Road because of Wires Down. Reported at 12:04 p.m.
UNION – Route 171 closed at Route 197 and Rindge Road for a tree down in wires. Reported at 12:02 p.m.
DEEP RIVER – Route 80 (Winthrop Road) closed in both directions between Cedar Swamp Road and Bahr Road because of a tree down. Reported at 11:58 a.m.
OXFORD – Route 67 is closed at Route 42 for wires and a transformer down. Reported at 11:49 a.m.
LEBANON – Lebanon RT-207 Exeter Road is closed at Clubhouse Road because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 11:46 a.m.
NORTH BRANFORD – Route 17 northbound and southbound at the intersection of Rt 22 is closed. Utility work in area. Reported at 11:47 a.m.
BRANFORD – Localized flooding is currently occurring in multiple areas of town.
SEYMOUR – Fire officials are asking people to avoid Highland Avenue and Gilyard Street because a large tree has snapped a telephone pole. Please use alternate routes.
MIDDLETOWN – Multiple businesses without power.
EAST LYME – Route 161 (Flanders Road) closed in both directions at Society Road because of pole down with wires. Reported at 11:50 a.m.
EAST LYME – Tree down on powerlines on West Main Street, Niantic (Rte. 156) in the area of #278. Roadway is currently closed at Douglas Avenue and Four Mile intersection. Eversource has been notified. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
MANSFIELD – Route 195 is closed at Ledgewood Drive for a tree down across the road. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
GUILFORD – Route 146 Leetes Island Road closed in both directions between Wingate Road and Moose Hill Road because of a tree down with wires. Reported at 11:44 a.m.
THOMPSON – Thompson Route 193/Thompson Road is closed between Route 12/Riverside Drive and Robbins Road because of a Tree Down. Reported Friday, December 19 at 11:36 am.
COLCHESTER – Colchester Route16/Middletown Road is closed between Bigelow Road and Victoria Drive because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
HARWINTON – Harwinton Route 4/Burlington Road closed between Harmony Hill Road and Route 72 Terryville Road because of a tree down with wires on the road. A fire was also reported. Reported at 9:14 a.m.

Source link

Connecticut

Connecticut doctor warns about ‘super flu’ as holiday gatherings approach

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Connecticut doctor warns about ‘super flu’ as holiday gatherings approach

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Doctors are voicing concerns on the rising number of flu cases, including a new strain some are referring to as the “super flu,” as many are gathering indoors with loved ones for the holiday season.

With Christmas just a week away, Dr. Ulysses Wu, the chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said there are growing concerns over the new H3N2 flu strain.

“We had a very late flu season this year, but we’re making up for it like gang busters,” Dr. Wu said. “What’s happening with this one is, this has changed a bit, making it a little bit more infectious. It invades our immune system a little bit more, and that’s why we’re seeing a rise in cases.”

The most notable jump in the U.S. has been happening in New York City, with 14,000 cases reported in the first week of December. That is a 460% jump from the same time last year, according to the state flu tracker.

Dr. Wu warned that, because of its location, Connecticut is at risk to see a jump in flu cases.

“Remember, we’re sandwiched between New York and Boston, and we do have our share of travelers and commuters as well,” Dr. Wu said. “Our rates have certainly increased and that’s to be expected.”

Dr. Wu recommended that it is best to listen to medical professionals when it comes to the flu vaccine and the new H3N2 strain.

“So people are saying, ‘Oh well it’s changed, the vaccine isn’t going to work.’ It is still going to work,” Dr. Wu explained. “The whole point is to modulate the course of the disease so it’s not as severe.

Dr. Wu said that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are also up among children and older adults in Connecticut. When it comes to holiday celebrations, Dr. Wu recommends using common sense — wash your hands, stay home if you are sick and get vaccinated if you haven’t been already.

Source link