🌱Modernized Unemployment In CT+ Audition For Christmas In Connecticut

Hey, The Haddams-Killingworth! I'm here in your inbox this morning to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on in town. Follow along for the latest...

First, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 79 Low: 64.

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Here are the top three stories in The Haddams-Killingworth today:

1. If you want to audition for Goodspeed Opera House's 'Christmas in Connecticut' show, the deadline is approaching quickly. The Goodspeed is reportedly looking for "equity actors" for roles in the show. According to Broadway World, "Goodspeed Musicals is committed to creating an equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace environment, and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Toward that end, Goodspeed affirms its commitment to non-discrimination and a flexible, imaginative casting policy. Goodspeed strongly encourages the casting of women, non-gender binary/trans individuals, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and people with disabilities in roles where these are not germane to the role. Please attach your self-tape video (any video format compatible with YouTube, Dropbox, or Vimeo upload is welcome) and headshot/resume (PDF format) to the form provided at: https://www.cognitoforms.com/P... Deadline is Tuesday, Jul 19." (Broadway World)
2. According to Eyewitness News 3, activists have contacted the State Attorney’s office in Middletown to see if 48-year-old Jameson Chapman can be charged with a hate crime. Chapman was charged with breach of peace second-degree, risk of injury to a child, and assault third-degree after he was videoed allegedly assaulting an 11-year-old biracial boy while he was riding his bike in Deep River. The video shows Chapman yelling profanities at the child and telling him to get out of his town. Chapman is also shown pushing the child off his bike and walking away. Eyewitness News reportedly showed former prosecutor and Criminal Justice Professor Mike Lawlor the video. “The comments that Mr. Chapman made are clearly indicated racial animus. He talked about are you really from here and stuff like that. There’s a basis to consider a hate crime charge but that’s going to be up to the prosecutors based on all the evidence that’s available to them,” said Lawlor, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of New Haven." (Eyewitness News 3)
3. Six years in the making the State Department of Labor unveiled its new and modernized unemployment filing system. Reportedly, The new cloud-based system replaces a 40-year-old mainframe based system, which struggled to handle a mountain of unemployment claims at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.Gov. Ned Lamont hailed the new system as an important step to bring state government into the 21st century. (Patch)

Today in The Haddams-Killingworth:

• Red Cross Blood Drive (9 a.m.)
• Pirates Ahoy morning session - Killingworth Library (11:15 a.m.)
• Art Night Mystery - Killingworth Library (5 p.m.)
• Pirates Ahoy evening session - Killingworth Library (5:45 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue: "Harry and Petunia settled into the main farm like they’ve been there for months not a week. Such great horses. And they are steadily gaining weight and getting healthier every day." (Connecticut Draft Horse Rescue via Facebook)
• Haddam-Killingworth Soccer Club: "A few weeks ago, our U13 girls won their division at the Joe Conte tournament! Awesome Job! " (Haddam-Killingworth Soccer Club via Facebook)
• Living Rock Church: "FREE! Seniors Cookout & Bonfire (for ages 55+) at Living Rock Church. Saturday, July 23 @ 5 p.m. - sign up online by July 17: https://buff.ly/3ONESKH" (Living Rock Church via Facebook)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Chatfield Hollow: "Alice and I want to express our deep thanks to all the picnicking families who came to the aid of Alice after she took a fall walking at Chatfield Hollow State Park on Sunday. Closing in on her Fitbit goal for the day, she tripped over a speed bump on the road by the bathhouse and hit her head causing multiple cuts and abrasions. Incredibly, multitudes of previously unseen picnickers came out of the woods surrounding her with love and attention, addressing and bandaging her wounds and racing to find me to take her to the ER." (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday off right. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Karena Garrity

About me: I am a native of Connecticut, who currently resides in the Tri-Town community of Chester, Deep River and Essex. I have been a community reporter for the better part of the past 20 years. I love my small town community and I am honored to be a part of Patch.com. You can reach me at; karena.garrity@patch.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming The Haddams-Killingworth Daily? Contact me at karena.garrity@patch.com