FALLEN OAK TREE CLOSES ROSE GARDEN RECIPIENTS SOUGHT FOR WHEELCHAIR GIVEAWAY POLICE: EXPECT CLOSINGS, DELAYS DURING GROTON PARADE

Norwich — November and December is far from peak time to visit the Norwich Rose Garden, but anyone who does will find the main gate locked until a giant oak tree that came down in the Oct. 29 windstorm is removed.

Franz Redanz, a tree warden for the Public Works Department, said the tree was uprooted and fell across the garden, but caused no major damage.

One sundial was grazed, but the tree missed the gazebo and did not damage the decorative deer fence that surrounds the garden.

The gate initially was locked because the tree was tangled with a live electric wire. That hazard has been removed. The Public Works Department is waiting until the ground freezes to bring in heavy equipment to remove the tree, Redanz said.

Norwich — The eighth annual “Gift of Mobility” motorized wheelchair giveaway will be held Sunday, Dec. 10, and organizer Phil Pavone is seeking last-minute applicants for available chairs.

Pavone, owner of AZ Pawn in Norwich, plans to give away nearly 100 motorized wheelchairs at 11 a.m. Dec. 10 at the Holiday Inn in Norwich, and is seeking applicants for the remaining unclaimed chairs.

The chairs are full-size motorized wheelchairs, not portable and not scooters, he said. Pavone and volunteers spend the year refurbishing donated chairs and charging batteries to get them ready for the annual giveaway.

Anyone interested in receiving a chair is asked to contact Pavone at (860) 889-4474 no later than Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Groton — The Town of Groton will be holding the annual Holiday Lights Parade starting at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The parade starts in the area of Poquonnock Road at South Road and proceeds west onto Route 1 to the Groton Shopping Plaza.

Residents can expect traffic delays and road closures prior to and during the parade. Staging for the parade is anticipated to create moderate traffic congestion on Fort Hill Road, between Depot Road and South Road, starting at 4:30 p.m. for capital improvements in the New London school district.

The money was part of a pool of $30 million awarded as grants, based on approved applications, to Alliance Districts across the state to pay for general improvements to school buildings. Eligible projects include improvements to things like bathrooms, windows, doors, boilers, athletic fields and security.

The New London school district did not provide specifics about where the money would be used.