113016 Wesley Bunnell | Staff New artwork hangs on the first floor of New Britain City Hall titled The Friendship Garden. The mixed-media mural was designed by the president of the New Britain Art Co-Cop, artist Victoria Cloud. Over the past summer 33 second and third grade students who participated in the Smalley Academy Summer School Arts Program worked together on the project.
Temple UConn Football
Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu (20) in action against Temple during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Connecticut Houston Football
Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco watches from the sideline in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Houston, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
12/1/2016 Mike Orazzi | Staff Santa arrives during the annual tree lighting at the Plainville Fire Company Thursday evening.
DePaul UConn Basketball
Connecticut's Kia Nurse is fouled by DePaul's Amarah Coleman, right, as she drives to the basket in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
120116 Wesley Bunnell | Staff Santa Claus visited Central Park in New Britain on Thursday evening for the annual Christmas Tree lighting.
Trump Mattis
FLE - In this March 5, 2013, file photo, then-Marine Gen. James Mattis, commander, U.S. Central Command, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. President-elect Donald Trump says he will nominate retired Gen. James Mattis to lead the Defense Department.(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Connecticut's Saniya Chong, left, and Katie Lou Samuelson react in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against DePaul, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
4/19/2016 Mike Orazzi | Staff State Representative Betty Boukus while introducing forensic scientist Dr. Henry Lee at Plainville High School Tuesday morning.
DePaul's Kelly Campbell, right, guards Connecticut’s Natalie Butler, left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
120116 Wesley Bunnell | Staff Students from CCSU's Sorority Kappa Delta Pi worked with youngsters at Smalley Academy on Thursday evening as the start of an annual literacy program. CCSU Senior Brittany Knowles, a student teacher at Smalley Academy, sits with Alexander Garcia, shown left, and Emily Garcia during a Paint with Literacy exercise. Students crated a painting then were encourage to write a poem to accompany the painting.
120116 Wesley Bunnell | Staff Students from CCSU's Sorority Kappa Delta Pi worked with youngsters at Smalley Academy on Thursday evening as the start of an annual literacy program. During a Paint with Literacy exercise Elydia Carr helps daughter Isabella Nunez, age 2 with Kiara Nunez , age 9 to the right, Genesis Nunez, age 5 and Trinity Nunez, age 10.
12/3/2016 Mike Orazzi | Staff Amber Ruff photographs herself with Spiderman, Anthony Kosienski, during the New Britain YWCA's Winter Wonderland Weekend on Saturday.
12/3/2016 Mike Orazzi | Staff Leighton Hebert sits with Princess Ariel, Jasmine Colapietro, during the New Britain YWCA's Winter Wonderland Weekend on Saturday.
Russia Japan
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, Dec. 2, 2016. Putin is to travel to Japan later this month to meet the Japanese prime minister and discuss a territorial dispute over the southern Kuril islands which keeps the two countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their World War II hostilities. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, pool)
APTOPIX Oil Pipeline
Law enforcement vehicles line a road leading to a blocked bridge next to the Oceti Sakowin camp where people have gathered to protest the Dakota Access oil pipeline in Cannon Ball, N.D., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/David Goldman)