Photos of the week: July 9, 2026

: Whiting driver Jimmy Ryan, No. 60, races at the front of the pack in the Sunoco Sportsman Modified 25-Lap Feature at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven on June 27. He ended in third place behind winner Scott Towslee of Manchester and Marty Kelly III of Bennington. During an earlier race, a race official waves the yellow flag to slow the racing during a potentially dangerous moment. The action continues at Devil’s Bowl this Sunday with Legends Night-The Vince Quenneville Memorial Race. Photo by Max Blumenthal

: Extreme heat in Middlebury on Friday (highs in the 90s) prompted Town Hall Theater to move its America 250 Block Party indoors across the new wing. Here Redd Daugherty of Redd and the Paper Flowers performs one of the Knoxville, Tenn., band’s Appalachian folk-grass tunes in the Anderson Studio. Independent photo/Steve James

: A little girl puts together her biggest cannonball as she hops into the Middlebury Town Pool this past Friday during a heat wave that saw temps in the 90s. Independent photo/Steve James

: After Town Hall Theater moved its America 250 block party inside because of extreme heat this past Friday afternoon and put its bike parade on hold, one brave bicyclist showed up for the event looking cool as a cucumber and ready for the Fourth. Photo by Susan Woloohojian

: Graedyn Devoid leaps off the diving board and into the Middlebury Town Pool this past Friday, July 3, toward the end of last week’s heatwave. Independent photo/Steve James

: Otterly Hopeless winner, Geoffrey Johnson, with his appropriately named daughter Winnie, eight months, at the 2026 Bristol Outhouse Race. Independent photo/Steve James

: Brent Rakowski, president of Otter Creek Engineering, holds the gold plunger won by his team, Otterly Hopeless, at the 2026 Bristol Outhouse Race. Independent photo/Steve James

: Five Town Riders Simon Donnelly, Ezra Seymour and Liam Warren at the 2026 Bristol Outhouse Race. Independent photo/Steve James

: Ian Funke, Carsyn Jennings and Walker Forand of Bristol Financial Services at the 2026 Bristol Outhouse Race. Independent photo/Steve James

: Mocha Minions at the 2026 Bristol Outhouse Race. Independent photo/Steve James

: A near-collision between Bristol Botanicals and Bristol Village Community Housing at the 2026 Bristol Outhouse Race. Independent photo/Steve James

: Dozens gathered in Cornwall on Saturday to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Festivities on the lawn of the Samson Memorial, which is run by the local DAR. Many rang bells at noon, as did folks across the nation. Carolyn Bausch of the DAR led the program, above, and handed out copies of the U.S. Constitution. The experience wrapped up with a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Independent photos/John S. McCright

: Dozens gathered in Cornwall on Saturday to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. The program began when the local historical society showed off the cleaned and restored Cornwall Civil War monument; a broken wing on the eagle atop the plinth had been repaired. Independent photos/John S. McCright