Daniel Drainville

Montville and Waterford reporter for the Day in New London, CT. UCONN.

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

“I start them very young - being civic-minded,” says State Rep. Kathleen McCarty (D-Waterford, middle) as she sits with (left to right) Jason Ashanti, 21; granddaughter Caitlin Youther, 19; RTC Chair Tali Maidelis; granddaughter Adelle Plude, 11; and Avery Teel, 12. @thedayct

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

As Hunter Heikkinen, 18, exited the Waterford Town Hall after voting for his first time, he flashed two thumbs up at his mother, Candy.

“It wasn’t as busy as I thought it would be,” Heikkinen said. “Everyone was pretty helpful for showing you where to go.” @thedayct

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

Candy Heikkinen (right) sells donuts and other baked goods at the District 1 polling location, Waterford Town Hall, to fundraise for a “safe grad party” for Waterford Seniors.

“We’re doing pretty good so far,” she said. “Early voting probably hurt our numbers a little bit.”

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

14,966 people registered to vote in Waterford, not including same day registrations. 4,621 were Democrats, 3,330 were Republicans and 6,789 were unaffiliated, Democratic Registrar Bigi Ebbin said. “You can see the unaffiliated is really the largest number,” she added. @thedayct

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

Here’s the scoop on voter turnout in Waterford as of 2 p.m. According to registrars, 3,634 have come to vote across the town’s four districts. This morning, 14,966 were registered to vote, and now there have been 64 same day registrations. 5,138 already voted early. @thedayct

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

At a Tuesday candlelight vigil for the Wilson family, retired North Stonington Schools' music teacher Michael Noonan leads hundreds of attendees in a rendition of "Amazing Grace." 14-year-old Carson Wilson, of Groton died in a car crash early Monday. His brother is hospitalized.

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

https://t.co/3TgvlLOemZ

An agency that serves people with disabilities says it is concerned that a proposed lithium battery storage facility next door would be too noisy and create a stressful environment for its clients. @thedayct

Full story below:

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

Quaker Hill Elementary School surprises 30-year Waterford Schools custodian William “Mr. Billy” Krajewski with a Las Vegas-themed assembly for finishing in the top three in @CintasCorp national “Custodian of the Year” contest. (Video courtesy of Principal Christopher Discordia)

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

A video taken from Summit Drive at the bottom of a steep 100-foot hill Thursday shows Norwich firefighters stretching ropes to access a car that was stuck at the top, resting against two trees. The man stuck inside was taken down with a rescue basket and rope system. @thedayct

[WFSB Channel 3 @WFSBnews]

WATCH LIVE: The governor is giving an update on the fiery fuel tanker crash in #Norwalk. https://t.co/kkLJJsfdT0

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

At 1:43 p.m., a group of Connecticut College students walked down Huntington Street in the 17th annual Walk to End Homelessness Sunday, April 28. They joined hundreds more. @thedayct

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

From left to right: Valerie King, Jessica Solis, Josalyn Solis, Amy Waterman, Juliettta Solis, Jasmine Solis and Robert King hold signs protesting the criminalization of the homeless 15 minutes before the 17th annual Walk to End Homelessness on April 28, 2024. @thedayct

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

East Lyme resident Sarah Selke,a member of Temple Emanu-El in Waterford, makes a donation to the New London Homeless Hospitality Center an hour before the 17th Walk to End Homelessness on April 28, 2024. @thedayct

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

As someone really passionate about local journalism, I ask my followers to please consider supporting this fund, which has the very tangible effect of allowing us to hire a reporter to cover towns in the region that we do not currently have the resources to cover. 🥺
@thedayct

[Karen Florin @karen_florin]

Join me in raising money for The Day's special investigation into the environment and local coverage! @LocalMediaAssoc @thedayct #localnewsmatters via @givebutter https://t.co/EoniWFIOJ3

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

https://t.co/VGN3BvqaHE

Montville's Superintendent Search Committee has unanimously named its successor for Superintendent Laurie Pallin. Congratulations @DVumback, may you serve Montville Public Schools well.

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

https://t.co/P7UDgk7IwG

“The way they get treated by these kids is unbelievable,” Valerie Metivier, a 7-year Quaker Hill music teacher, said of paraprofessionals. “They’re not respected. They’re punched. They’re kicked. They’re spat on. It’s not a glamorous job.”

Story here:

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

Waterford paraprofessionals and a few Stonington paraprofessionals, both currently in contract negotiations, picket for better wages outside the Waterford Town Hall before a school board meeting on April 25, 2024. @thedayct

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

Alewife swim up the Mystic River en route to spawning grounds further north on the the night of April 21, 2024.

[Daniel Drainville @d_drainville]

https://t.co/EyNJqohlrW
“We have many visits where we don’t see anything.”
Favretti, first chair director of the Alliance for Mystic River Watershed says excessive trawling in Long Island Sound continues to damage the region’s river herring populations. Legislation might fix it.

[The Day @thedayct]

The pot of gold at the end of this double rainbow is square in the middle of @GDElectricBoat. Reporter @d_drainville took this from The Day's newsroom.