Claire Bessette

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Claire Bessette |New London

Ashon Avent does not need theoretical or academic lessons to teach his business students the struggles, frustrations and joy of launching and growing a small business: He is a living example for them. Over a seven-year span, Avent, 45, of Norwich, who teaches business classes at Eastern Connecticut State University, has endured COVID-19 business disruptions, a major flood, and a dying mall with no working elevator.

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Claire Bessette |New London

When I started working at The Day, the Wauregan was crumbling, deer in the Mohegan Park Zoo enclosure had been infected with rabies and I worried every day that the giant Ponemah Mill could become the next Baltic Mill fire. Some buildings at Norwich Hospital were still occupied. A lot has changed in 30 years, with more changes in the works. I will leave it to my Day colleagues to cover current and future issues. AdvertisementI officially retired from The Day on Friday, Feb. 28. It’s been quite a ride.

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Claire Bessette |New London

Norwich — The 2025-26 city budget received more bad news this week with a 4% overall decrease in the grand list, mostly due to changes in state laws that caused big jumps in property exemptions and lowered motor vehicle values. The city’s net grand list dropped by $11.6 million, to a combined total of $2.845 billion for real estate, motor vehicle and personal property values. Only personal property values rose significantly last year, city Assessor Bill Lee said, up by 12%.

2 months ago | yahoo.com | Claire Bessette |New London

Norwich — Police are investigating a report of swastikas painted on Route 82-Salem Turnpike and on banners hung from the I-395 highway overpass at Exit 11 overnight or early Friday morning. Crews from the state Department of Transportation and the city Public Works Department removed the hanging items and painted over the graffiti Friday morning. A large swastika was painted in black with the word “TRUMP” in white block letters under it on Old Salem Turnpike at the intersection with Route 82.

2 months ago | yahoo.com | Claire Bessette |New London

Preston — Two large excavators sat idly on the frozen ground at the corner of Matthewson Mill Road and Route 2, but their presence and the work done before the winter freeze signal the next chapter for a long running local business. Ken Zachem and his 32-year-old son, Max Zachem, have been planning to build the new Lu-Mac’s Plaza on the large field across from the current plaza for more than five years.