Good morning, Hartford.

K9 Athena will be paired with a veteran through the Amazing K9 Duos program — a new effort to support local service members.

Officials said the initiative highlights Hartford's ongoing commitment to community care.

Couples with weddings at Lighthouse Point Park face last-minute venue changes after Thursday morning storms damaged the Carousel House.

Steph Wilson, whose August 22 wedding is affected, has contacted the Eli Whitney Museum and Anthony’s Ocean View (both offering alternatives) as officials assess repair timelines.

Families have weekend choices with a monster truck show at Peoples Bank Arena in Hartford, a superhero and princess ride at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, and the Summer Farm Festival at Hein Farm in Farmington — each running Saturday and Sunday.

Hartford’s Stowe Center for Literary Activism offers the 6,000+ Declarations of Independence exhibit that features comic art by Joe Young.

The exhibit, which began on Aug. 7, is on view through December and tells Black abolitionists’ stories as part of America’s history.

UConn School of Medicine held its white coat ceremony last Friday, welcoming 117 new students, including first-generation Elicia Colon (the largest cohort to date).

The event took place at 10 a.m. on the university health campus.

Local farmers are preparing for harvest as spotted lanternflies threaten vineyards and orchards, and they plan to boost monitoring and control measures — a key step to protect their crops.

Connecticut recorded over 5,200 tick submissions from January to July, and experts link the rise to warmer temperatures and increased deer and rodent activity in Fairfield and New Haven counties; emergency room visits for tick bites are also increasing.

State Sen. Richard Blumenthal warned at Charter Oak Health Center Friday that NeeDoh gel-filled toys can leak or explode when heated—social media videos encouraged misuse.

He called on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate the toys after a Connecticut child was treated for burns.

On Friday, Aug. 14, the Department of Public Health reported 94 cases of cyclosporiasis in the state, including four hospitalizations, up from 32 cases in 2025.

Officials noted that 43 cases were domestic, 12 international, and 39 from unknown sources.

Central Connecticut State University football team hosted a session for the Beautiful Lives Project at Arute Field (New Britain) on Friday, giving adults and children with disabilities a chance to practice and play football in its fifth consecutive year.

The iconic Stanley Cup will be at Dunkin’ Park for photos in Hartford on Tuesday, Aug.

18 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. as the Hockey Hall of Fame brings it along to support the Tunnel to Towers Foundation — the Yard Goats announced it on Instagram.