So you saw the three SSMEs that clearly after the boosters separated
from New Jersey? That's outstanding. I wonder if I would have been able
to see it from Central Connectcicut. Does anyone know if that would be
possible?

(whoops, didn't hit "Reply Group"... second attempt now

I've seen it twice (STS-108 and -113) from east-central Massachusetts.
There's a bit of high ground at a local country club near the family house
in my hometown, and we found that if we left right after SRB separation, we
arrived at the country club parking lot just in time to see the last eight
or ten seconds of powered flight before MECO. It's been a while but I'd
guess it was about 15-20 degrees above the horizon. Even with a bit of cloud
and city lighting it was very hard to miss, especially since something about
the engine exhaust causes flashing right before MECO (you can see this
clearly on the ET video now; at the time, when I asked about it here, nobody
believed me!

Being further south in CT I certainly think you can see it, if you can find
a good hill with dark skies somewhere.