A female in a raft of Lesser Scaup diving ducks flaps her wings as the group paddles along in the Niantic River off Cini Park in Niantic Monday, February 10, 2020 in East Lyme. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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A trio of shoppers huddle under umbrellas as they stroll along West Main St. in Mystic Monday, February 10, 2020. Unsettled weather is in the forecast for the rest of the week. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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A customer's French bulldog waits patiently for its human outside Sift on Water St. in Mystic Tuesday, February 11, 2020. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Friends of Harkness horticulture volunteer Penny Howell Heller, of Niantic, prunes a tree Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 while she and her fellow volunteers, not shown, work together pruning the trees in the apple orchard at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford. John Suher, not shown, the horticulture volunteer chairman and coordinator, said there are approximately 40 apple trees in the orchard that were planted in the mid 1990's and this year they plan on buying 20 trees to add to the orchard. Suher also said that the Connecticut College Arboretum is will be creating a map of the orchard showing the unusual varieties of apples now in place and will help select the varieties for the new trees. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Peggie Lindenthal, left, sets up her shot with the help of a bridge while, Judi Warnock, center, and Ellen Solecki, right, all of Waterford, chat while they play a game of cutthroat Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 during the Senior Services Ladies Billiard Program at the Waterford Community Center. Lindenthal has participated in the program thirteen years, Solecki, ten and Wornock fifteen.The program runs 10 a.m.- noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Members of the audience listen on as New York Times bestselling author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi gives his address in Leamy Hall Auditorium at the United States Coast Guard Academy on what it means to be an antiracist. Dr. Kendi's address was delivered as part of the Conversations on Race lecture series. (Tim Cook/The Day)
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New York Times bestselling author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi addresses the audience in Leamy Hall Auditorium at the United States Coast Guard Academy on what it means to be an antiracist during his speech as part of the Conversations on Race lecture series. (Tim Cook/The Day)
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Newly hired Poquonock Bridge Fire Department firefighters, from left, Justin Parker, Michael Swanson and Kyle Mendillo salute the flag as the National Anthem is read during a swearing-in and pinning ceremony on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 the Groton Senior Center. The ceremony recognized three promotions and six new firefighters, the most hired at one time in the history of the department. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Poquonock Bridge Fire Department newly promoted Captain Michael Lowell, right, wears his daughter's stuffed animal as Captain Bryan Quilter looks on during a swearing-in and pinning ceremony on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 the Groton Senior Center. The ceremony recognized three promotions and six new firefighters, the most hired at one time in the history of the department. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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Allyson Quilter, 8, reacts to getting a kiss from her father Bryan Quilter, newly promoted to Captain at the Poquonock Bridge Fire Department following a swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 the Groton Senior Center. The ceremony recognized three promotions and six new firefighters, the most hired at one time in the history of the department. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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A raincoat clad walker moves through the trees at McCook Point Park on Thursday, February 13, 2020 in Niantic. According to the national Weather Service the wet weather will hold off through the weekend with Friday and Saturday seeing sunny skies and temperature highs in the 30s. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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VIP's view the new natural gas-fired boilers at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy during a tour that followed a ceremony to celebrate the completion of a two-year energy management project Wednesday, February 13, 2020. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Lilliana Sajetta, 4, watches as her parents Anjelu and Felicia exchange wedding vows with the help of Justice of the Peace Marie Tyler Wiley, right, during annual free wedding ceremonies in honor of Valentine's Day Friday, February 14, 2020 in the meetinghouse at Olde Mystick Village. This is the 12th year Wiley has offered the free wedding services on Valentine's Day. Couples, with a valid wedding license in the town of Stonington, had the choice of a variety of ceremonies and a professional photographer was on hand making photos available. Wylie performed over 20 weddings and marriage vow renewals Friday. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Ronald Santos breaks down laughing after having trouble putting the ring on his bride Chelsie's finger as Justice of the Peace Marie Tyler Wiley officiates their wedding during annual free wedding ceremonies for couples in honor of Valentine's Day Friday, February 14, 2020 in the meetinghouse at Olde Mystick Village. This is the 12th year Wiley has offered the free wedding services on Valentine's Day. Couples, with a valid wedding license in the town of Stonington, had the choice of a variety of ceremonies and a professional photographer was on hand making photos available. Wylie performed over 20 weddings and marriage vow renewals Friday. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Vicki Chapman and Bob Esty kiss after being married by Justice of the Peace Marie Tyler Wiley, right, during annual free wedding ceremonies for couples in honor of Valentine's Day Friday, February 14, 2020 in the meetinghouse at Olde Mystick Village. This is the 12th year Wiley has offered the free wedding services on Valentine's Day. Couples, with a valid wedding license in the town of Stonington, had the choice of a variety of ceremonies and a professional photographer was on hand making photos available. Wylie performed over 20 weddings and marriage vow renewals Friday. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Edwin and Debra Lopez receive congratulations from their friends and family after being married by Justice of the Peace Marie Tyler Wiley, not pictured, during the annual free wedding ceremonies for couples in honor of Valentine's Day Friday, February 14, 2020 in the meetinghouse at Olde Mystick Village. This is the 12th year Wiley has offered the free wedding services on Valentine's Day. Couples, with a valid wedding license in the town of Stonington, had the choice of a variety of ceremonies and a professional photographer was on hand making photos available. Wylie performed over 20 weddings and marriage vow renewals Friday. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Sharon Bajorin, left, and Sawyer Chinigl, 8, both of Ledyard, play a game during the Chess Workshop Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 at the Bill Library in Ledyard. The workshop is for adults and children ages 7 and older. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Dylan Chinigl, 6, closely watches as his opponent Leah Tusia, 10, both of Ledyard, makes a move while they play a game during the Chess Workshop Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 at the Bill Library in Ledyard. The workshop is for adults and children ages 7 and older. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Camryn Williamson, 11, left, of Stonington, and her friend, Ryan Pageani, 11, of Hebron, pet two Newfoundland dogs that are part of the Newfoundland Club of New England during the Ice Festival Saturday, Feb 15, 2020 at the Mystic Seaport Museum. Several Newfoundland dogs and their owners were at the event for a few hours for people to visit with the dogs and answer questions. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Nada and Chris Vericker of Franklin, Mass. walk along the waterfront with the ship Joseph Conrad in the background during the Ice Festival Saturday, Feb 15, 2020 at the Mystic Seaport Museum. The Verickers said they came to see the JMW Turner exhibition, featuring watercolor paintings by the British painter, and were happy find out that there was also a festival so much more to see. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Tom Mirsky, left, of Niantic, listens to Nathan Rumney, portraying William Palmer, in the year 1896, a naturalist from Yale, while in the Seamanís Friend Society during the Ice Festival Saturday, Feb 15, 2020 at the Mystic Seaport Museum. Mirsky volunteered at the festival, but then he and his wife, Tracey Mirsky, not shown, decided see the performances of the reenactors around the museum grounds. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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