Heidi Brody, of New London, stands with her grandsons Charlie, left, 6, and Danny, 4, both of New York, as they watch the menorah lighting during a celebration of the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at Parade Plaza in New London. The event, organized by the Chabad of Eastern Connecticut, celebrated the first night of Hanukkah which continues through December 30. The Chabad is also hosting a menorah lighting ceremony and gelt drop on Monday, December 23, 2019 at 5:30 at Chelsea Parade in Norwich. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Lynn Manza, a food service worker, chats while serving a senior during the lunch service Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 at the Groton Senior Center. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Al Kinsall poses in his office at Randal Realtors in East Lyme Monday, December 16, 2019. Kinsall, 78, is retired from a 37-year career at EB. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Thomas Sharp, a chemistry professor at University of New Haven, in his home office in Preston. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Carol Meade sits at her desk at Progeny Systems in Mystic Wednesday, December 18, 2019. Meade has been working at the company for a dozen years. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Members of the Mystic Seaport Carolers look for friends in the crowd before the 72nd annual Community Carol Sing at the Mystic Seaport on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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A crowd sings along with the Mystic Seaport Carolers during the 72nd annual Community Carol Sing at the Mystic Seaport on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Calvin Matis, from right, 10, Pieter Brakels, 3, and Everett Kelly, 6, sing along from a tree during the 72nd annual Community Carol Sing at the Mystic Seaport on Sunday, December 22, 2019. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Danica Temple, left, teases a curl on her daughter Charlotte, 2, in the arms of her father Steven Temple as families get in last-minute visits with Santa at the Crystal Mall Monday, December 23, 2019 in Waterford. Santa is available for photos during mall hours until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Mall spokesman Jay Weitlauf assures the general public that Santa's logistics team can handle the schedule challenge of the Christmas Eve appearance schedule. Santa photos are available through the vendor Cherry Hill Programs. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Hannah Turner, from left, 16, of Oakdale, talks a walk along the beach with her mother Rachelle, sister Grace, 13, and the family's goldendoodle Max on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at Harkness Memorial State Park. The family took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather to celebrate Christmas Eve and Max's eight birthday. "It's his birthday walk at his favorite place," said Rachelle, "we do this every Christmas Eve we can." (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Santa chats with Stella, 8, and Ivan, 3, Seferi, of Waterford, as families get in last-minute visits with Santa at the Crystal Mall Monday, December 23, 2019 in Waterford. Santa is available for photos during mall hours until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Mall spokesman Jay Weitlauf assures the general public that Santa's logistics team can handle the schedule challenge of the Christmas Eve appearance schedule. Santa photos are available through the vendor Cherry Hill Programs. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Fishermen look through scopes to find scallops in the Niantic Bay on Monday, December 23, 2019. For the first time in four years, there are enough scallops in the Niantic River to open it for harvesting this winter season which began Dec. 15 and will last through Jan. 14, 2020. Scallopers must obtain a $35 permit either at the Waterford or East Lyme town halls, or at Hillyerís Tackle Shop and are allowed to harvest up to two gallons a day. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Pastor Danny Hammons tells a story during a Christmas Eve Family Service at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Gales Ferry on Tuesday, December 24, 2019. The family service featured an instant pageant, children and youth handbell choirs. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Emmelie Eastbourne, 7, and other children play "Silent Night" during a Christmas Eve Family Service at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Gales Ferry on Tuesday, December 24, 2019. The family service featured an instant pageant, children and youth handbell choirs. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Stuart Sharack of Waterford uses his metal detector Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019 hoping he said to find a big surprise at Ocean Beach Park in New London. Sharack also said he decided to go to the beach because it was a sunny day above freezing and for the solitude since the beach would be mostly empty because of the holiday. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Rachel Haddad, left, of Grand Rapids, Mich. and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Haddad of Cambridge, Mass., chat during a Miss Florence's Christmastime Tea Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019 at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme. The women were in the area visiting relatives in Old Saybrook. The event presented by Gourmet Gallery Catering runs through Saturday. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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River Clark, 7, of Quaker Hill catches air on a jump while riding the new BMX bike he received for Christmas Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019 while with his father, Paul, at the Groton Skatepark located in Sutton Park. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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(L-R) Robert Ahearn, his wife Helen, of Mystic and Ajay Morales, of Atlanta, Ga, in town visiting family, bow their heads for the blessing during the Christmas dinner Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019 at Union Baptist Church in Mystic (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Theresa Tuthill and her husband, Dave Eder, of New London spend time bird watching, with their new scope that was a Christmas gift they gave themselves , Friday evening, Dec. 27, 2019 at Billard Beach on Pequot Avenue in New London. The couple spent time in the morning bird watching, starting at the corner of Montauk Ave. and Pequot Ave. stopping at all the beaches along Pequot and ended at Ocean Beach Park. This evening they went out again, but only made it as far as Billard Beach before it started to get to dark. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Mike Dearborn of Norwich walks over algae covered rocks at low tide while looking for a shell to place in his aquarium at home Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 while at Harkness Memorial State Park. Dearborn said it was a beautiful day to be by the water. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Sungmin Lee of Storrs reaches out to his daughter, Rayna, 5, to come down so they can join her mother, Jiwon Nam, and their friends visiting from Texas while they spend time Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 at UConn Avery Point in Groton. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Interning Aluminum Falcon mentor Deidra Hall, left, tells Liam Greason, 12, and Dalton Vyr, 6, both of Groton about the robotic team's robot during the Encountering Robots with Aluminum Falcon Robotics & 4H event Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 at the Groton Public Library. The event was hosted by the library and the Fitch High School Aluminum Falcons robotics team. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Kyle Marquardt, 10, places the EV3 LEGO robot, that he programmed, so its sensor is on the line that it will follow while Aluminum Falcon mentor Connor Hall, center, and Monroe Thomas, 10, right, adjust the speed he programmed for his robot so its sensor can see the line easier during the Encountering Robots with Aluminum Falcon Robotics & 4H event Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 at the Groton Public Library. The event was hosted by the library and the Fitch High School Aluminum Falcons robotics team. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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