🌱 Patch AM: Why a Waterford state park feels straight out of Bridgerton

Hello Waterford! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why a Waterford state park feels straight out of Bridgerton
• Which big-name chains quietly left Waterford’s shopping scene in 2025?
• Which Waterford athlete and coach stood out in 2025?

Also on today's calendar: Mental Health Collaboration Series and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: Playing golf is bad for your brain. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Breezy; a morning flurry, with a high of 33 and low of 15 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Partly sunny, breezy and cold, temps: high: 28, low: 16.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high of 30 and low of 22 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• If You Love 'Bridgerton,' These 12 U.S. Spots Feel Just Like the Show (onlyinyourstate.com) — Waterford’s own Harkness Memorial State Park gets national love here, praised for its Long Island Sound views, formal gardens, and grand 42-room mansion that evoke a Bridgerton-style estate. The article rounds up romantic, historic spots across the U.S., but singles out Harkness as one of Connecticut’s prettiest state parks and a must-visit for history and garden lovers.
   

• These Connecticut Retail Stores And Restaurants Closed In 2025 (patch.com) — Waterford shoppers saw both Party City and Forever 21 close their local stores in 2025, part of a broader wave of national chains exiting Connecticut. The article details which brands disappeared entirely, which downsized, and how shifting retail economics reshaped shopping options across the state.
   

• The Day's Top 10 local sports stories (theday.com) — Waterford gets a shoutout in The Day’s year-end sports countdown, with high jumper Brodie Scott earning a New England title and resident Pete Walker reaching the World Series as Toronto’s pitching coach. The list highlights how southeastern Connecticut athletes, including several from nearby East Lyme and Old Lyme, made statewide and regional headlines in 2025.
   

📸 Around Waterford

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Waterford

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday January 4

• Mental Health Collaboration Series
  Lighthouse Inn, 6 W Guthrie Pl, New London
  2:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday January 6

• Board of Selectman Meeting
  Waterford, CT Calendar , 15 Rope Ferry Road Auditorium , Waterford
  5:00 pm
• Waterford Shellfish Commission Meeting
  Waterford, CT Calendar , 15 Rope Ferry Road Auditorium , Waterford
  7:00 pm

Wednesday January 7

• Harbor Management Commission Meeting
  Waterford, CT Calendar , 41 Avery Lane Police Training Room , Waterford
  5:00 pm

Thursday January 8

• Oswegatchie Fire Station Building Committee
  Waterford, CT Calendar Waterford, CT 06385
  6:30 pm

Friday January 9

• Blood Drive
  Waterford, CT Calendar , 15 Rope Ferry Road Auditorium , Waterford
  12:00 pm

Monday January 12

• Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority Regular Meeting
  Waterford, CT Calendar , 15 Rope Ferry Road BOE Conference Room upstairs , Waterford
  5:15 pm

Tuesday January 13

• Design Review Board Meeting
  Waterford, CT Calendar Waterford, CT 06385
  4:00 pm
• Library Board of Trustees
  Waterford, CT Calendar , Waterford Public Library conference room , Waterford
  6:00 pm

📣 Waterford Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday January 1

• 10:30 AM- Blood Pressure Clinic
  Old Lyme, CT Calendar , 26 Town Woods Road , Old Lyme
  10:30 am
• 1 PM- Wii Bowling
  Old Lyme, CT Calendar , 26 Town Woods Road , Old Lyme
  1:00 pm
• 5:30 PM- Dragon Fan Class with Ted
  Old Lyme, CT Calendar , 26 Town Woods Road , Old Lyme
  5:30 pm

Friday January 2

• 7:30 AM- Why Weights
  Old Lyme, CT Calendar , 26 Town Woods Road , Old Lyme
  7:30 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Waterford PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Werrlein Companies — (860) 785-0125
  Coming to the Mystic Area January 2026
• California Closets — (203) 924-8444
  Custom Storage Solutions for the Whole Home
• Deans Mill Farm — (860) 245-5487
  Rustic-chic private farm venue in scenic Stonington, CT

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Seconn Fabrication LLC posted a job opening for Machinist Assistant in Waterford. Apply here.
• Spirit Halloween posted a job opening for Senior Assistant Store Manager in Waterford. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Waterford here.

🗞 Nearby News

New London

• The season continues at the Lyman Allyn (theday.com)
• Connecticut Sun Celebrate the Holidays by Giving Back (oursportscentral.com)
• Yale Journal on Regulation Symposium on the 20th Anniversary of Kelo v. City of New London (reason.com)

Niantic

• Why Winter's Better In The Lymes: Beat The Blues With These Local Picks (patch.com)

Groton

Ok Waterford! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I just heard a golfer say he had four strokes on the first hole!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook