Harland McKenna, left, 9, laughs as he has a water fight with his friend Jackson Durant, 8, both of Old Lyme, as they play in the rain on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at Sound View Beach in Old Lyme. “This is the first time I´ve been to the beach all summer,Ó said Jackson´s mother Caitlin Vickers. “A little rain wasn´t going to stop us.Ó (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

Friends Jacob Wirch, left, and Colin Miley, of Avon, use paddle boards rented from Black Hall Outfitters as they paddle along the Black Hall River on Sunday, August 9, 2020. (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

Rebekah Patton, left, looks on as employee Adam Crawford helps James Bischoff off the dock at Black Hall Outfitters on Sunday, August 9, 2020. (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

Glennie Poletti, a RN at Backus Hospital, waves to a car as she joins a picket outside the hospital in Norwich on Sunday, August 9, 2020. The event was organized by the Backus Federation of Nurses, AFT Connecticut, and Local 5149 to call attention to what they say are patient care issues and poor working conditions amid their contract negotiations with management. (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

Mayor Michael Passero helps Monik Ryes raise the Ecuadorean flag in front of New London City Hall Monday, August 10, 2020 to celebrate Ecuadorean independence. Members of the local Ecuadorean community gathered on the plaza in front of city hall and saluted both the U.S. National Anthem and the Ecuadorean anthem, danced to Ecuadorean music, and took photos together with the flag.. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Members of the local Ecuadorean dance on City Hall Plaza as the Ecuadorean flag flies in front of New London City Hall Monday, August 10, 2020 to celebrate Ecuadorean independence. Members of the Ecuadorean community gathered on the plaza in front of city hall and saluted both the U.S. National Anthem and the Ecuadorean anthem, danced to Ecuadorean music, and took photos together with the flag.. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Dorothy Moreau talks with activity manager Julie Boras after singing Happy Birthday on her 102nd on Monday, August 10, 2020 at Bride Brook Health and Rehabilitation Center in Niantic. Moreau tested positive for COVID-19 in April and recovered. (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

David Roden models one of the robotic/artificial intelligence exercise machines at his studio in Groton Monday, August 10, 2020. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Beachgoers play along Alewife Cove between Ocean Beach Park and Waterford Beach on Monday, August 10, 2020. (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

Paul Hurlock votes during the primary election Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2020, at the East Lyme High School polling station. Democrats were setup on one side and Republicans on the other to handout ballots and answer questions to those registered in their party. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Tuba players Carter Bonura, a sophomore, right, and Michael Tangney, a senior, of the East Lyme High School marching band work together while they and their fellow brass unit members, split into two other groups, practice Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, during band camp at the high school. Other units of the band were scattered around the campus and the lawn of neighboring Flanders Elementary School. Tuesday was the second day of camp that runs noon-8 p.m. through Friday and then they will begin practicing every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of their U.S. Marching Band Circuit competition season. All the competitions this season will all be virtual. Angelica Fadrowski, the director of bands at East Lyme High School, said their season was able to go on as scheduled because it is easy for members of the band to social distance, they don´t share equipment and they connect by making music together. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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New London Police officers investigate a car v. Pedestrian accident at Harbor Freight in New London on Tuesday August 10, 2020. There were multiple injuries reported in the accident that also closed the store at 320 South Frontage Rd. (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

Emily Morenzoni, of Groton, a family friend, holds a sign as she stands through a sun roof during a surprise parade for Joey Gomez, 3, outside his home in Mystic Tuesday August 10, 2020. Joey, who has been on dialysis since birth, recently came home after a kidney transplant. (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

Michael Weaver, 6, left, Noah Saavedra, 6, center, both of Southington, and Alexander Mogielnicki, 8, of Bristol, search for creatures in the water while wading in Bride Brook Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme. Michael said they have been finding small fish, eels and small crabs. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Joey Gomez, 3, reaches for balloons as his dad Mark and mom Kristen during a surprise parade outside his home in Mystic Tuesday August 10, 2020. Joey, who has been on dialysis since birth, recently came home after a kidney transplant. (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

Roscoe Washington in his backyard garden Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, at his home in Montville. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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A monarch butterfly lands on a flower in a garden Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, at Groton Family Farm. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Members of Bravo Company of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Class of 2024 compete in the tire flip challenge in their Sea Trials Thursday, August 13, 2020 in New London. The Sea Trials, a series of physical, team building, challenges that marks the end of their 7-week Swab Summer indoctrination. The Swabs will receive their shoulder boards Friday morning, August 14th, officially joining the corps of cadets. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Mary Barger, far left partially blocked from view, and Lisa Ingram, left, both of East Lyme, and their children take a look at a cannon as they arrive Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, at Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park. The trip to Fort Griswold was the first time the two families met in person. The women met through their church ZOOM gatherings and discovered they had a lot in common, they are both Navy families and each have 4 children, so they decided to get together. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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A member of Bravo Company of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Class of 2024 gets help with a drink of water after competing in the tire flip challenge in their Sea Trials Thursday, August 13, 2020 in New London. The Sea Trials, a series of physical, team building, challenges that marks the end of their 7-week Swab Summer indoctrination. The Swabs will receive their shoulder boards Friday morning, August 14th, officially joining the corps of cadets. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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Swab Annabelle Figueroa, left, gives encouragement to of Golf Company classmate Andrew Schifflin as they near the end of the log carry during Sea Trials for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Class of 2024 Thursday, August 13, 2020 in New London. The Sea Trials, a series of physical, team building, challenges that marks the end of their 7-week Swab Summer indoctrination. The Swabs will receive their shoulder boards Friday morning, August 14th, officially joining the corps of cadets. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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City of Groton Parks and Recreation Summer Playground Camp Councilor Kendrick Boss, left, Camp Supervisor Ashley Montgomery, center and Camp Councilor Hunter Nadeau share a laugh while they take cover from the rain while they wait to help direct the parents, who arrive early due to the rain, where to go to pick up their children Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, at Washington Park. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Coast Guard Commander of Sector Long Island Sound Eva Van Camp, left, shakes hands with Capt. Michael Ward after he and his crew recieved the Public Service Award Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, while the Cape Henlopen was docked at the Cross Sound Ferry Terminal in New London between runs to Long Island. The crew received the award for responding to a vessel in distress and taking on water north of Plum Island and rescuing the five people on board. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Annie Itkin, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and her sons Will, 4, center, and James, 6, head back to the house after spending time at the beach Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, while visiting relatives in Groton Long Point. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Brandy Mulhare, left, with We Adopt Greyhounds, Inc., (WAG) talks about some of the rescue dogs being offered for adoption under a tent in front of Bank Square Books during the first day of the Downtown Mystic Sidewalk Sale event Friday, August 14, 2020. The group, a 501(c)3 charitable organization that rescues and shelters retired racing dogs until suitable homes can be found, usually has a tent at the Mystic Outdoor Arts Festival, which was cancelled this year, so they opted to make a showing Friday and Saturday during the sidewalk sale event. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
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New London historian Sally Ryan, right, takes a selfie with friends Libby Friedman, left, of Waterford, Tita Williams, second from left, of New London, and Mary Beth Baker, second from right, of New London, while gathered in the library of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum for refreshments Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, during the her 90th birthday celebration. Earlier Ryan and guests visited the Sweet Dreams: Confectionery Sculpture by Peter Anton exhibit (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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Mark Kanzler, right, of New London talks to Juanita Austin, center, CEO of Cultured AF, and volunteer Fred Weaver, left, as he picks up a bag filled with food items, hair and skin products and kids activities during the Community Wellness Day Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in the Harris Place atrium in New London. The event was hosted by Cultured AF and Power Health Tour. (Dana Jensen/The Day)
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