by Bryan Golden

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
- Thomas A. Edison

“Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great.
Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.”
- Orison Swett Marden

Opportunity is sought by virtually everyone. People flock to the US from all over the world in search of abundant opportunity. In our great country, there is more opportunity than anywhere else. Yet many of those who are born here don’t fully appreciate all of the opportunities that surround them each and every day.

There are a couple of misconceptions about opportunity that are unfortunately embraced by too many. One fallacy is “opportunity only knocks once.” Another is that you have to wait for your ship to come in.

The reality is, opportunity exists everywhere. There are new opportunities daily. Waiting for your ship to come in is comparable to playing the lottery; a miniscule percentage of people have a ship that comes in, whereas the vast majority sits at an empty port.

The key to finding opportunity is swimming out and locating your ship. The two essential elements are searching while being proactive. You will never find opportunity if you don’t look for it. You will never benefit from opportunity unless you work at it.

The essence of opportunity exists within you. It begins with the control you have over your destiny. You decide what you think about. Your thoughts shape your reality. What you believe to be possible is doable. Whatever you think is impossible will never happen.

After your thoughts, what happens to you is influenced by your behavior. You can have the greatest mindset, but without appropriate action, nothing will materialize. Thoughts without action are fruitless.

Since you have the opportunity to control your thoughts and action, you have the opportunity to make changes to your life. At any time, you can decide to make a change, and then take the necessary steps to do so.

You have the opportunity to make decisions. You can say yes or no. If you make a bad decision, you have the opportunity to make another one. You always have the opportunity to improve your circumstances.

You have the opportunity to control your emotions. You don’t have to give others the power to push your buttons. It’s not necessary to get upset or angry. You are not obligated to fight or argue. You control how you react to your environment.

You have the opportunity to select the occupation that best suits you. If you don’t like a particular job, you can get another. If you need more money, you can secure a better paying job. If you don’t like being an employee, you can start your own business.

You have the opportunity to get an education. At any age, at any time, you can acquire whatever information you desire. From learning a new skill, to earning a degree, you just have to make the effort, and the knowledge is yours.

You have unlimited opportunity. You can accomplish anything you want to. Realizing opportunity takes effort. If you chose the path of least resistance, which is often the path of least work, opportunity will constantly elude you.

Don’t wait for opportunity. Time goes by all too rapidly. Search for, find, and seize opportunity. Do what it takes to turn opportunity into reality. You have the opportunity to fail and the opportunity to succeed. The choice is yours.
NOW AVAILABLE: “Dare to Live Without Limits,” the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper. 2006 Bryan Golden

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by Roger Zotti

CT Rebounds

After the Indiana Fever embarrassed the Sun, May 27, CT’s Barbara Turner said, “It’s something that we watch and correct…Our response to this is on Friday [May 30].” So, what happened Friday against the New York Liberty? A nail-biting 89-85 victory, that’s what.

At the end of the first quarter, CT was up, 27-15, but then came the turnovers, nineteen in all. Make no mistake, New York capitalized. After the game, Sun Head Coach Mike Thibault, said: “We were good for a long stretch, then all of a sudden… I don’t have an answer [for those turnovers].” Point guard Lindsay Whalen added, “[We have] to take care of the ball…There are some really disappointing things to take away from the night. We need to work on those things.”

Sun point guard Jamie Carey sank three clutch three-pointers and scored a season-high 11 points. One reason for her strong offensive showing was that Coach T. told her to shoot more often. “…he told me [that] right before the ball went up,” Jamie said. “When I came here, I was very liberated by how free you are as a shooter. If you can shoot the ball, shoot the ball…”

Fast forward to June 1. An away game against the Chicago Sky. A 75-73 CT win. Tamika Whitmore and Lindsay Whalen each had 19 points, while rookie Amber Holt scored 11 and snagged 5 rebounds. Key was the Sun’s 16 for 20 foul shooting.

The Austalian Bee Gees

June 1 was a busy day for Mike Weltman of North Hampton, MA. First, there was baseball: An Eastern League/Double A game in New Britain between the Trenton Thunder, the Yankees’ affiliate, and the New Britain Rock Cats, the Minnesota Twins’ farm club. Trenton’s Austin Jackson belted in seven runs, in a 9-3 victory. Then Mike traveled to the Mohegan Sun Casino for the Australian Bee Gees: Stayin’ Alive concert.

If you’re wondering about the Australian Bee Gees, they’re Michael Clift (as Barry Gibb), David Scott (as Robin Gibb), and Wayne Hosking (as Maurice Gibb). On bass guitar is Tony Richards; on drums and vocals, Mike Mitchell. What a show they put on! In Mike’s words, “No frills. Just that great Bee Gees’ harmony and all their hits. And on the big screen, the videos of the guys in concert worldwide and, near the end, clips of Barry, Robin, and Maurice. Tribute bands don’t get any better.”

Highlights: A medley – which included “Heartbreak,” “Run to Me,” and “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” – with vocals from Michael (on guitar, too), Wayne, and David. (Drummer Tony and bass guitarist Mike took a break)…My favorite Bee Gees’ tunes are “Massachusetts” and “I Started a Joke,” performed by the guys from Australia. Check the latter’s lyrics: “I looked at the skies, running my hands over my eyes/ I fell out of bed, hurting my head from things that I said./ Till I finally died, which started the whole world living,/ Oh, if I’d only seen that the joke was on me.” (On one hand, maybe Mel Brooks wrote them; on the other, Albert Camus.)

A few facts about the “English Bee Gees”: 974 top forty hits in worldwide charts. Twenty U.S. number one hits. 13 U.K. number one hits. Two hundred number one chart positions worldwide. Enough said!

Susan Jones

Susan Jones, author of the poignant “Until We Meet Again,” is one of the three finalists for the 2008 Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in the Children’s Picture Book category. The ceremony took place at the Wilshire Grand Hotel, Los Angeles, CA, May 29. Susan, a Norwich resident, was interviewed in these pages several months ago.

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story & photos
by Alexis Ann

Emeril Lagasse, the famous restaurant chef, cookbook author and businessman created some of his famous Creole cuisine recipes in the Fox Theatre on Sunday, June 8th. Emeril captured the attention of a full house of food enthusiasts with his cooking demonstration, humor and food preparation tips.

A native New Englander, Emeril grew up in Fall River, MA. His mother, Hilda, was in the audience and it was heartwarming experiencing Emeril’s love for Mom. Emeril’s cooking career started at the young age of ten and included working at a Portuguese bakery in town. Emeril turned down a full scholarship of music at the Conservatory to attend cooking school. By following his instincts, he was guided by the best and became fascinated with Louisiana; the people, the food, the culture. It became part of his life.

Emeril began his show by teaching us how to create a Raspberry Mojito cocktail, followed by salad greens with fried oysters topped with a buttermilk dressing. As he prepared his cuisine he chatted about the Emeril Foundation and one of its programs called Café Reconcile, established to get at risk children off the streets and train them in the hospitality business. Another program at St. Michaels Special School teaches children with learning disabilities how to cook for themselves and prepare for job opportunities. “We all have made contributions for the betterment of children.”

Next, came the Corn Soup topped with chilled shrimp followed by Roasted Halibut with chorizo, clams, and a rouille stew with scallops from New Bedford. While preparing the fresh halibut from Maine, he added “If it smells like fish, go for the lamb!”

Dessert was a Lemon Pudding Cake with strawberry coulisse. What one would give to be among his chosen fans on stage enjoying everything prepared?

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by Vicki Anderson

A joint fundraising, “awareness-raising” project by The Resident and the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, once again brought about a number of wonderful things. We raised close to $4,000 to help feed children, on the federal “Free and Reduced Lunch Program” when they’re out of school over the summer months, and to help replenish our emergency food pantry shelves. Families face July and August knowing that they must now provide each of their children with 21 nutritious meals each week on a paycheck that probably didn’t grow as much ( if at all) as the cost of food has spiked.

We’ve watched tornadoes and floods hit the “bread basket” of the United States and the states that grow our oranges, lemons and apples. We know that all of this will have a profound effect on all of us at the grocery stores. Only through donations of the LOCAL community are able to meet the demands of our next door neighbors in need. We’ll need your help through the summer and through the year. Would you like to join our E-Mail Hunger Task Force? No meetings involved! You’ll receive an email when need items such as pasta sauce, macaroni, cereal or peanut butter. We CAN end local hunger!

Thank you for being a part of our local “Feed Your Neighbor” mission.

Ross Aiellos, Jr. ~ Cynthia Allyn ~ Scott Anderson

Vicki Anderson ~ Alexis Ann ~ Tony Antoch

Joan Bailey ~ William Banks ~ Jackie Baudro

Daniel Bennett ~ Brian Bergeron ~ Marjorie Berthasavage

Katheryn Bickford ~ Barb & Dan Blackstone ~ Michelle L. Boiselle

Angeline Boska ~ R & K Bressette ~ Diane Brown

Roger Brown ~ Rick & Linda Bruno ~ Nancy Bulkeley

Andrea Bundy ~ Terry Burzawa ~ Jean Cahill

Cheryl Calderado ~ Mr. & Mrs. Gerard Capalbo ~ Donna Ceccarelli

Julie A. Cinami ~ Orabelle S. Cofone ~ Melissa Colli

Bunny Comeau ~ Gina Cote ~ Katherine E. Cowles

Patricia Crowley ~ Thomas & Anne D’Amico ~ Luz Dickinson

Gail DiMarco ~ Dan DiSebastian ~ Mrs. Frances DiSebastian

Elaine Donahue ~ Marlene B. Donahue ~ Catherine Donohue

Captain & Mrs. Robert E. Ellis ~ Thomas J. Ellis ~ David Erskine

Marsha Erskine ~ Corrie AJ Faillie ~ Gloria Fowler

A Friend ~ A Friend ~ Sally Gagnon

Michael Garvey, CPA ~ Carol Granato ~ Chris & Kim Granato

Greg & Susan Granato ~ Jeff & Lori Granato ~ Stephanie Gromko

John & Alice Groton ~ Edward Haberek, Jr. ~ Carolyn C. Hanley

Gisela Harma ~ Lea Haselman ~ Dora Hill

Sandi Hill ~ Olga Hunihan ~ Jack Jacobs

Heather A. Jakan ~ Ron & Lynne Jason ~ Cathy & John Johansen

Eleanor Johnson ~ Barbara A. Kleeman, D.C. ~ Patricia Kluepfel

Jacqueline Korengel ~ Inez Lattimore ~ Mrs. Patricia R. Lewis

Drusiana J. Lidestri ~ Mrs. Agnes Lo Presto ~ Janet Longo

Julie Lumpkins ~ Emily Lynch ~ Merrily Lyon

Bruce MacDonald ~ Linda Maggs ~ Chris Manseau

Victoria Martinez ~ Emilia A. Mascaro ~ Edward McCabe

Rev. Joshua A. McClure ~ Celina McGuire ~ Sue McLaughlin

Charles & Barbara Mehringer ~ Colleen Miller ~ Karen MIller

Jeanna Miner ~ Marjorie Misovich ~ Jeannette C. Misuraca

Employees of Monsanto ~ Ann Moore ~ Cindy Moran

Kathy Morano ~ William Morrision ~ Alisa & Rusty Morrison

Tamie Murray ~ Mary Nardone ~ Julie O’Connor

Katie O’Donnell ~ Pauline R. Panatieri ~ Travis Pearson

Raymond Perrin ~ M. Wicks & R. Pervier ~ John & Rina Phelps

Mary T. Phoenix ~ Mary Joan Picone ~ Martin O. & Barbara A. Pierce

Amber Platt ~ Pochal Family ~ Frances & Curtis Ralls

Beverly Ravenelle ~ Thomas & Maureen Reynolds ~ Nellie Riley

Donald Robinson ~ Michael & Michelle Sammataro ~ Mary Sebastian

John C. Seremet ~ Darlene Serra ~ Edwin Shaw

Lorraine Shortman ~ Peter Simone ~ James E. Sisk

Sandie Smith-Andaloro ~ Keona Strickland ~ Alan & June Strunk

Chuck Sneddon & Susette Tibus ~ Bryan Sweet ~ Marilyn Taylor

Thomas James Taylor ~ Tom Taylor ~ Stonington Arms Tenants Association

Frank J. Terranova ~ Erin Tirrell ~ Sally Tocco

Marie T. Vacca ~ Larry Vetelino ~ Bruce & Marion Viau

John Vincent ~ Margaret Vuotto ~ Jessica Watrous

Judith Weber ~ Charlotte Whipple ~ Stephen J. White

Mary & Jon Wilska ~ Gail Zagarenski ~ Cathy Zeiner

Blanche Zimmerman ~ Anonymous ~ Anonymous

Anonymous ~ Anonymous ~ Anonymous

Anonymous ~ Anonymous ~ Anonymous

Jean & Phil ~ Paula

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by Roger Zotti

Before people begin reading your novel,” I asked Estevan Vega, “what would you like them to know?” One thing, he said, is that “when I write, I begin with what’s bothering me. That might be what kind of changes I would like to see in myself or in others,” he said. “It usually starts off with what’s bad around me. ‘The Sacred Sin’ really delves into whatever it is that consumes people and makes them less than who they need to be. What people need to know is that they’ll find a little bit of themselves in the book.”

When you begin reading Estevan’s latest novel, “The Sacred Sin” (PublishAmerica), you’ll be involved in a tense, fast paced, hugely imaginative, page-turner – a supernatural thriller in which you’ll encounter the conflict between good and evil and even some soul stealing.

Los Angeles police detective Jude Foster is the novel’s main character. When we meet him, he’s struggling with his demons and trying to rebuild his life after being betrayed and left for dead, a year ago, by his partner, Morgan Cross.

An especially engaging aspect of “The Sacred Sin” appears near the end. It’s rain. That’s right: rain. In Estevan’s talented hands it’s menacing and parallels the situations in which Jude and his temporary partner, Rachel, find themselves. For Jude, we read, “every falling raindrop…felt like fatal wounds on his face; some burned.” Later we read, “The sky flooded with bigger drops now, heavy condemning drops that hurt when they hit.” At another point, Rachel runs “through the unrelenting rain needles.”

Estevan, a Portland, CT resident, had his first novel, “Servant of the Realm,” published when he was fifteen. “The Sacred Sin” was published when he was eighteen. He’s nineteen now, which prompted me to ask him if he’s tired of being queried about his age. “Not at all,” he said. “The way I see it, if I can be an encouragement to kids my age, especially if their dream is to became a writer, that’s great. If I can be entertaining to people older than me, that’s great, too.”

The best thing about writing, Estevan said, is “seeing myself in print. I remember that seeing my first book in print was an earth shattering experience.” As for the toughest thing, Estevan laughed and said, “Seeing my stuff in print.” Then he added: “And rereading not only the good stuff but the stuff that’s less than it should be.” While writing the book, he added, the editing process was the toughest: “What to keep. What to get rid of.”

As for Estevan’s future writing plans, he went to New York City a few weeks ago and talked with a few editors of major publishing houses. “One of them was from Penguin Group and has requested [the new book I’m writing],” he said. “I’m finishing it up and hope to have it out soon. I usually write dark, supernatural stuff. This is more of a departure. It’s a coming of age story and it’s set in CT.”

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