Franklin Academy Head: Dr. Alexander Morris-Wood addresses students and family during opening day ceremonies. The school welcomed a record 105 students this year. Franklin Academy has selected Tecton Architects to lead the development of a comprehensive Campus Master Plan, launching a collaborative process that will help shape the long-term future of the school’s East Haddam campus. Made possible through a generous anonymous philanthropic gift, the initiative represents an im

Submitted by Recreation Director Lisa Conroy And just like that the 2026 Music on the River Summer Concert Series has concluded. ThisEast Haddam tradition is a beautiful example of community, collaboration, friendship, and a love of music. Thank you for sharing your Monday evenings with us and celebrating 19 years ofsinging and dancing together in one of the most stunning settings in all of Connecticut.We extend a heartfelt thank you to the amazing musicians who joined us…On

The wreck of the Aunt Polly as the MV Selden III crosses the Connecticut River in the background. By Peter Marteka The MV Selden III has been making trips across the Connecticut River between Chester and Hadlyme for the past 76 years. It’s time for a long rest. The state will replace the vessel after securing $8 million in funding, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. The state Department of Transportation is being awarded $6.4 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administrat

Submitted by the East Haddam Land Trust After years of battling invasive plants with loppers, saws, flamethrowers, volunteer work crews, and the occasional muttered complaint, East Haddam Land Trust has announced a bold new strategy: hiring a highly motivated herd of goats. The goats, collectively known as “Billy and the Kids,” have been contracted to tackle dense patches of invasive vegetation on one of Trust’s preserves. Their primary targets include multiflora rose, bitter

Ashlyn Maddox and cast rehearse for Goodspeed's The Snow Goose. Photo by Katie Desjardins. Submitted by Goodspeed Musicals Goodspeed Musicals proudly welcomes The Snow Goose as its third production of the 2026 season. An unforgettable new musical with a soaring score, The Snow Goose will run from Aug. 28 to Oct. 18 at The Goodspeed. “The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico has been a favorite of mine for over 40 years,” said Artistic Director Donna Lynn Hilton. “In 2022, Goodspeed opt

By Lauren Pszczolkowski, East Haddam Economic Development Coordinator The East Haddam Economic Development Commission recently invited residents and businesses to show their patriotic spirit through the Paint the Town Red, White & Blue Contest, held between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Throughout East Haddam, participants decorated their homes and businesses in red, white, and blue, helping bring the community together whi

Submitted by the Parks and Recreation and Music on the River Committee Pennsylvania-based House of Hamill is a fixture on festival stages across the United States and on the country’s premier folk stages. Their original song “Banks of the Brandywine” was a grand prize winner in the 2024 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and the video for their all-violin cover of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” amassed more than 16 million views on Facebook. Whether they’re ripping through a set of orig

Submitted By Craig Mansfield, Chairman East Haddam Company #2 Firehouse Building Committee Every time someone in East Haddam calls 911 for a fire, medical emergency, or rescue, they expect firefighters and EMS personnel to respond immediately with the equipment, training, and facilities needed to do the job safely. Most people never think about the building those emergency responders operate from — until that building itself becomes part of the problem and that is exactly whe

Guests watched the program in the pews of the historic First Church Meeting House. By Susan R. Waide About 350 East Haddam residents and visitors celebrated America’s 250th Anniversary during East Haddam’s signature day-long Semiquincentennial Celebration on July 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This memorable event began at the historic First Church Meeting House at 499 Town St. with live music performed by the Moodus Drum & Fife Corps and the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard B

Will Burton and the cast of Goodspeed's Crazy For You. Photo by Diane Sobolewski With the celebration of the United States’ semiquincentennial on July 4 marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, there has been a renewed sense of American history. In the lobby of the Goodspeed Opera House, a display marks “150 Years on the River.” “William Goodspeed builds an ornate Victorian opera house for East Haddam,” reads the first entry from 1876, “envision

Submitted by the town of East Haddam Residents and visitors are invited to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary during East Haddam’s signature day-long Semiquincentennial Celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend. You’re welcome to come dressed as your favorite revolutionary hero/heroine or wear red, white, and blue. This memorable event begins at the Historic First Church Meeting House, 499 Town St. or Route 151, with live music per

Emmett J.Lyman III, an avid student of American History, has dedicated 30 years of service to the town on its planning and zoning commission (18 years), the board of selectmen (eight years), and as the town’s First Selectman from Dec. 2016 to November 2019. (Photo credit: Susan R. Waide) By Emmett J. Lyman, III As Americans prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it is worth asking a simple but profound question: How did it all begin? Th

Lt. Michelle Walker conducts child passenger safety clinic with Lt. Eric Walker assisting. Submitted by EMS Captain Melanie Kolek The East Haddam Fire Department is proud to announce that Lt. Michelle Walker has secured more than $10,000 in grant funding and equipment to expand child passenger safety resources for families throughout the community. Lt. Walker became a certified child passenger safety technician through “Safe Kids Worldwide” after completing an intensive 40-ho

American bullfrog by Tess Jette. Submitted by East Haddam Land Trust It’s all about capturing the magic of the moment. That’s the way one East Haddam amateur photographer describes the appeal of taking pictures of nature. Tess Jette, 65, lives on Upper Moodus Reservoir and is co-owner of the business Netting Now, which makes custom nets for debris containment and safety purposes. Jette is one of dozens of people who have emailed their photographs to East Haddam Land Trust to

By Peter Marteka A $15 million proposal to build a new East Haddam Fire Company 2 building is in its final planning stages with a referendum scheduled for Sept. 15. The Moodus Firehouse building committee recently held a public hearing on the proposal to demolish the current firehouse on William F. Palmer Road and replace it with a 14,500-square-foot facility bringing it up to 21st century firefighting standards. The proposed facility would include five drive-through apparatu

For more information or to place an order, call 860-891-8024 or visit www.thenapitabar.com By David DeLucia There's a new restaurant in town that fills a long-standing absence - authentic Greek cuisine made from scratch and lovingly prepared. Thena Pita Bar on 25 Falls Rd. in Moodus is the brainchild of Niko Papathanasiou and Sarah Turker. They were married in 2019 in Greece and have a two-year-old girl, Penelope. Since 2016, their award-winning food truck, Greekin' Out, has

Fred Frese with his former Old Saybrook High School students who designed and raced human-powered submarines. By David DeLucia A packed audience was enthralled by a fascinating May 17 presentation at the East Haddam Historical Society & Museum by Fred Frese and Roy Manstan. Their talk covered the first known submarine - a submersible christened the “Turtle.” To fully appreciate the history of the Turtle it is necessary to go back to the Revolutionary War. The British Navy wa

Austin Lesch and the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar. Photo by Diane Sobolewski By Peter Marteka Before finding my seat at The Goodspeed, I found myself recollecting all I knew about Jesus Christ Superstar. It wasn’t much – the chorus from the main title song sometimes pops in my head over the years and I’ve always loved the Helen Reddy version of the ballad “I Don’t Know How To Love Him.” After the show? I felt like I had participated in a religious awakening disguised as a m

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EHFD Drill In Action Submitted by EMS Captain Melanie Kolek Captain Nathan Botting and Engineer Spencer Laddy-Locks led the East Haddam Fire Department in its monthly drill for April, surprising personnel with an unannounced scenario. Captain Botting organized a mock two-car motor vehicle accident involving fire and two trapped patients. Personnel were instructed to report to the fire house without prior knowledge of the drill details. The simulated call was dispatched via ra