Your Turn: Youth Super Bowl a tradition in Franklin
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers logo on a Franklin football field gave kids the sense of being in the Big Game Feb. 7. (photo submitted)
The Kansas City Chiefs logo on a Franklin football field gave kids the sense of being in the Big Game Feb. 7. (photo submitted)
Published February 26. 2021 8:00AM
Matthew Walsh, Special to The Times
This is the fifth year that my family has hosted a Youth Super Bowl at our Franklin home during Super Bowl Sunday.
Football has been a passion of mine throughout my life, going back to 1989 when I was a young boy and my parents allowed me to host my first Super Bowl party. At that time, my father, Marty Walsh, helped me build a replica football goal post from PVC pipe in our backyard and purchased enough cans of spray paint to allow me to try to replicate what the actual Super Bowl end zones would look like.
Published February 25. 2021 12:01AM
Bill Stanley, Special to The Times
As Black History Month draws to a close, I am reminded that my former hometown has been blessed with many, many prominent and accomplished Black citizens who have had such a positive impact on our lives in Norwich.
It is fair to say that members of Norwich’s Black population have made significant impacts locally, statewide and even nationally in various fields, ranging from education and social services to politics and and the arts, to social services and civil rights.
Some, like Virginia Christian, the first elected Black City Councilor in eastern Connecticut, made their marks more than a half-century ago and paved the way for the likes of Jacqueline Caron, who would serve multiple Council terms years later.
Modern-day treasure hunters
Tom Knoblauch, left, and Duane Donovan stand with some of the items they have collected in Donovan’s Norwich home Tuesday, February 9, 2021. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
A small sample of artwork collected by Duane Donovan and Tom Knoblauch on display in Donovan’s Norwich home Tuesday, February 9, 2021. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
Duane Donovan, left, and Tom Knoblauch stand with some of the items they have collected in Donovan’s Norwich home Tuesday, February 9, 2021. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day)
Published February 24. 2021 7:45AM
Brian Barganier, Special to The Times
Tom Knoblauch and Duane Donovan are what you would call modern-day treasure hunters. Norwich is a city with deep history, with little trinkets and heirlooms left through the generations, well preserved treasures, and Knoblauch and Donovan love the hunt for them.
Jim Euell (photo submitted)
Roberta Vincent, Special to The Times
Editor’s Note: As our nation celebrates Black History Month, this series in The Norwich Times looks at the accomplishments of some of the exceptional athletes from Norwich who attended NFA and were inducted into the NFA/Norwich Sports Hall of Fame. This is the third in our series.
Every small city has its share of fast runners, but how many can say they rose to national prominence? Here is the story of one with Norwich ties whose 1960s and 1970s exploits can still be found in the record books.