Nationally recognized author Jeff Benedict of Waterford will give a special presentation at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the The Thames Club, 290 State St. in New London. The talk will be followed by a book signing and dinner.

Benedict has penned landmark biographies, including those of LeBron James (2023) and Tiger Woods (2018), and has been a special features writer for Sports Illustrated and the Los Angeles Times. His bestselling book “The Dynasty“ (2020) charted the six Super Bowls won by the New England Patriots over a 20-year period.

Benedict also executive produced the Emmy-winning documentary “Tiger” for HBO in 2021 and co-produced a Netflix documentary based on his book “Poisoned'”in 2023.

The cost is $30 a person plus gratuities and taxes and includes a buffet dinner and appetizer. Registration is required. by emailing General Manager Mark Michaud at gm@thamesclubnewlondon.org or calling 860-443-5504.

Creative Pursuits

Two local students will have their stories published later this year in the Young Writers publication put out periodically by the Arts at the Capitol Theater performing arts magnet high school at Eastern Connecticut State University.

The 100-word stories are written by junior Eliana Guadalupe of Norwich and sophomore Izekeial Phelps of New London.

Established in 1991, Young Writers hosts multiple writing contests a year for students of all ages; recent themes include “Spine Chillers,” “Mission Catastrophe” and “Poetry Idol.” In total, 11 students in ACT’s Creative Writing program will be published.

“It makes it fun,” said Guadalupe, 16, who wants to be a script writer. “I usually don't write 100-word stories, but these have allowed me to be able to write them.”

Creative Writing majors at ACT practice writing across a wide range of literary genres including poetry, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction, and SLAM, and present their work through various Coffee House performances, poetry readings and writing contests throughout the school year.

“Kyle the Death Demon,” Guadalupe’s 100-word story, is actually the author’s second published piece in the Young Writers series; a third story, “Crime Scene,” will appear in “Unsolved” later this fall. “My goal as a writer is to be able to make people feel things and make people think about what they're reading,” Guadalupe said. “I think I'm slowly starting to get to that point.”

Learn more at www.eastconn.org.

People & Places

Ron Lyman of Lyman Real Estate Brokerage & Development, has announced the sale of the industrial building at 12 East Parkway, Plainfield. Lyman associate Sam Lyman represented both the seller, Atlantic Coast Polymers, Inc., and buyer, Avco Industries. Sale price was $750,000. The 8,000 square-foot building includes warehousing and office spaces and sits on 1.88 acres across the street from Amazon’s new last-mile facility.

Avco Industries manufactures custom printed pizza and bakery boxes, paper cups, clear cold cups, paper handle bags, and waxed paper. Avco will use the Plainfield facility as a distribution center for New England customers.

Sunrise Home inspection of Mystic has announced its fifth anniversary in business. Owned by Kevin Power, the business provides home inspections to home owners and prospective home buyers and is licensed in both Connecticut and Rhode Island. Services include radon testing, well water testing, and mold testing.

Power has been a home inspector for 14 years, and started Sunrise Home Inspection in October 2018. The company has two full time inspectors. Power also has been training home inspectors for 10 years.

Safe Futures will be hosting its Annual 4K Safe Walk at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, at Waterford High School. Registration is $25 for adults and free for children and students. Register at safefuturesct.org/safewalk.

Every year, Safe Futures serves 10,000 victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking in southeastern Connecticut. To get help, call the 24/7 hotline at (860) 701-6001.

Slater Memorial Museum will be the site of the next Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours networking event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19. The museum is on the campus of Norwich Free Academy at 108 Crescent St.

BAH networking venues are on the third Thursday of each month at various locations. All GNACC Young Professionals can arrive 15 minutes early to get information on the upcoming YP program.

Nonmembers pay $25. To join, call the GNACC office at 860-887-1647. Online registration at norwichchamber.com will close at noon on day of event, though walk-ins are welcome.

Statewide report

A new report on the financial status of Connecticut’s hospitals released by the Office of Health Strategy confirms that hospitals across Connecticut are facing significant economic headwinds that threaten their financial health and sustainability. The Connecticut Hospital Association is calling for action to address the financial situation hospitals are facing, as demonstrated in the state’s report that echoes findings shared earlier this year about the lingering impact of the pandemic on hospitals’ financial health.

Hospital expenses have climbed by $3.3 billion since before the pandemic, OHS reports, and revenues are not keeping pace, leading to a negative hospital operating margin statewide of -1.3% in fiscal 2022.

The “Annual Report on the Financial Status of Connecticut’s Short Term Acute Care Hospitals” details how the rising costs of drugs, contract labor, and salaries and wages for medical personnel are driving the growth in expenses, at the same time hospitals are spending more on uncompensated care including Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements.