February 19, 2026
.com
Clinton, Westbrook, & Old Saybrook Vol. XXIX Iss. 8
Clinton Reclaims $500K for Downtown Plan By Eric O'Connell Staff Writer
In early February, the Town of Clinton learned it had been awarded $500,000 in federal funding for the design of a downtown wastewater system. The award comes a year after voters approved resubmitting an application for money that had previously been
granted, then later rescinded. At a Town Council meeting on Feb. 4, Town Manager Michelle Benivegna announced she had heard from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s (D-Conn.) office that Clinton’s application for $500,000 in congressionally directed spending was approved and included in the federal spending package signed into law last month.
The money will pay for the design of a downtown wastewater system—a move proponents say is a major step toward solving Clinton’s longstanding wastewater issues. Clinton Water Pollution Control Commission Chairman Matthew Kennedy told the Harbor News: See Clinton Reclaims page 7
Melanie McGuire is inspiring the next generation of leaders............2
Harmony In Action Musician Joe McCarthy, left, and SWF Foundation’s Cathy Weiss discuss the Unity Tree, where attendees leave handwritten messages during Project One: For Harmony, For Humanity on Feb. 15. Led by McCarthy and the Latin Grammy Award-winning New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band, the multidisciplinary project blends Afro-Latin jazz, Indian and funk traditions with spoken word, dance and visual art. Community members can contribute their voices at Angelface-Records.com/OneMusic.
Photo by Wesley Bunnell/ Harbor News
Welcome to the Club Mersades Passante scored her 1,000th career point in the Huskies’ win over Coginchaug...................12
New for the New Year Madison Lyric Stage has announced its 2026 lineup............................19
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