Week In Review: A Week of Mourning

What began as normal week quickly became one of unspeakable tragedy. On Tuesday evening, an Amber Alert went out for two North Stonington children. Hours later state police reported that Debra Denison 47, of Stonington shot and killed her 2-year-old and 6-month-old grandsons before shooting herself.

As news spread the sense of disbelief at the act seemed only to heighten. Many across the region came together on social media and news websites to share their feelings.

Community members remembered the two ‘beautiful boys,’ while trying to make sense of the tragedy. Details of the events leading up to the double murder-suicide are still emerging but two things appear to be clear — Denison had a history of mental illness and she had a gun. Those details once again brought gun and mental health issues to the forefront.

On Friday, the region came together for a candlelight vigil for the boys.

And yet while the region mourned life marched on. The Mystic Irish Parade Committee announced the selection of the Grand Marshal of the Mystic Irish Parade. Our 2013 Summer Camp Guide for New London County came out this week. The Board of Finance continued budget hearings. Locals offered their opinions on what should move into an empty storefront at 44 West Main Street in Mystic.

Catch up on some of the blog posts we had this week: RN Wednesday -- Kathleen Hastings by L+M Hospital, What Is The Sequester? by Robert Henderson and Lynn Kimmerle book review of The James Deans Moe Prager Series.

Everyday in 2013 we will share at least one photograph of a . It’s our way of making sure we take at least a moment each day to stop, look and appreciate what we have around us. We encourage you to share your tranquility photos by tweeting them to @StoningtonPatch, tagging Stonington on Facebook, and adding them to this gallery.

Thanks to OptiMystic, BNI Mystic, FitNutrition, Mystic Funeral Home and Pequot Plant Farm for recently claiming their directory listings on Patch. If you have a business in Stonington, Mystic or Pawcatuck that you want listed on Patch for free or want to claim email Editor Bree Shirvell.

We covered lots more this week and throughout the weekend, so search the site for other stories, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and check out our calendar to see what's happening next week in town.