It's an ancient European tradition. Hiking a town’s boundaries still occurs in three CT towns (Madison, Guilford, and Durham). They conducted theirs recently, complete with the carved ceremonial stone, for placement where the towns meet. Madison First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons has the story.

She was a boxer, an opera singer, and a rum runner. Nellie Green made it through 13 years of Prohibition with just one team member getting arrested, while keeping her patrons well supplied with alcohol. She also distributed some of her liquor to other bootleggers further inland, making hefty profits. How did this singing sensation – with a knock-out punch – end up being one of the biggest rum runners in the northeast?

PT Barnum – the world’s greatest showman. His legacy lives on. The 75-year-old Barnum Festival keeps the showman alive. It gives residents a chance to celebrate the man annually. Barnum was a major benefactor of Bridgeport. He served as Mayor and donated his estate to create beautiful Seaside Park. And, it will surprise you just how many important businesses and civic enterprises he established. We’ll hear about Barnum from this year’s Ring Master for the Barnum Festival, Greg Gnandt.

Skydiving became a sport in the U.S. in the 1950s. The first commercial jumping operation was at a rural grass landing strip in Litchfield County that catered to college students with money and nerves of steel. The special guest telling this story, Russ Wheeler, was at the airstrip and was a stunt skydiver with hundreds of jumps to his credit, including in several locations that will absolutely amaze you.

An island of miracles. Retreats at Enders Island re-instill virtue and provide hope. A Catholic ministry has a remarkable record with 12-step programs held on the island. But, it almost wasn’t so. The island was nearly closed 30 years ago due to financial struggles. Now, it’s flourishing. It’s beautiful. It’s serene. Its dahlia gardens are internationally renowned. Delicious jelly is made from local fruit trees. Its sacred art program has achieved distinction. And there’s a highly unusual religious relic – an 800-year-old arm. All of this on just 11 acres. You must hear about Enders Island from Father Thomas Hoar, who runs it.

Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys made Vermont possible. Formed by Connecticut natives Allen (Litchfield) and Seth Warner (Roxbury), the group fought to retain land grant rights in the 1700s in the wilderness between New Hampshire and New York. Their efforts paved the way for Vermont to become a separate state. The story is told by historian and author Gene Procknow.

The Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village has an exceptionally unusual backstory. The village of around 100 residents was occupied for about 100 years in the 1700s and 1800s in a very remote section of CT’s northwest hills. It was abandoned and virtually forgotten until an archeological team stumbled across it and put the pieces together. The story includes a Romeo and Juliet type of love story, coupled with a fascinating twist explaining how a village 70 miles from Long Island Sound got the name lighthouse. The story is told by Ken Feder, Professor Emeritus of Archeology at Central Connecticut State University, who led the archeological digs.

During the War of 1812, the superior British Navy blockaded Long Island Sound, causing huge financial losses for Connecticut merchants. Sailors and civilian boaters alike were trying to win government rewards for blowing up British ships in The Sound with underwater bombs. The British responded by devastating the village of Essex on the Connecticut River, destroying its 27 ships. Four months later, they attacked the tiny village of Stonington and outnumbered the town 1,300 to 30 in manpower – but the Battle of Stonington had a very different outcome. The story is told by Tertius de Kay, author of the acclaimed narrative on the battle.