Not finding anything on this from searching, and rather than risk breaking something, has anyone input on how to release this connector? I’m guessing from other such situations I’ve run into that it’s pretty simple once you know how to do it. But help is always appreciated.

Not one to accept defeat, I figured it out. This picture is of the side of the removed connector, and the little "tab" on the back of the connector (that the green arrow is pointing to) is a catch which holds the connector from dropping down (and out). It must be depressed with a tiny screwdriver in the direction that the arrow is pointing. Some ham-handed previous owner did a lot of shade-tree work (and using that term is being kind), and it looks like there once was another tab on the other side.
Although I had the front fender liners off which facilitated getting a better look and seeing the solution, this can be accessed and removed by taking off the headlight and using a flashlight and inspection mirror to see what's back there.
Inasmuch as the reason I wanted to get better access to the wires going to that connector in order to wire in my side markers to flash with my turn signals, anyone wanting to do the same thing may want to remove the front fender liners as well.

Your prior owner and my prior owner must have used the same mechanic. Nice fix.

I hope you write up a DIY (if there isn't one already) for the flashing side marker mod you're working on. Anything that gives these cars a bit more visibility to other drivers is probably a good idea. Your car looks dark blue, which is probably bad enough; mine is black with tinted windows and apparently looks like a nice empty lane at night to other drivers wanting to change lanes.

Here ya go:
http://gallery.rennlist.com/gallery/album103