by Christopher Annino

Art Singer, artist and stonemason, leads an amazing life journey, both as a professional and as an individual.  At a young age Art went on a nationwide road trip throughout America, and hitchhiked to Nova Scotia. He bought 50 acres of land there that he shared with the Mik-Mak Tribe. Art lived in a 20-foot wide animal skinned hut and describes the experience as his definition of freedom. “While I was there I realized that having so little gave me tremendous wealth,” explained Art.

Art eventually left Nova Scotia,  establishing Salem Stone Design with his wife Stacy. He has over 30-years of experience working with stone. He is also a pillar in the local Mystic art scene, by establishing Noank Foundry & Sculpture Studio, which teaches stone and clay sculpting, iron and steel arts, and bronze casting to eager artists.

About a year ago, Art and his wife were kayaking up the Mystic River and docked their kayaks near Mystic River Park. While they were there Art peered at a space that looked vacant. He looked at the water and instantaneously envisioned the current sculpture that stands there today titled “Returning.”

“It represents the cycle of everyday life and the pause that sometimes people need to practice to appreciate it more,” said Art, who donated the piece free of charge to the park. The people that he pays his gratitude to are Chris Post, Bruce Avery, Clint Wright, Sherry Eastwood, and the support of his wife, Stacy.

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by Tony Schillaci and Don Church

Bradford Gross is a 36-year-old Scorpio, hailing from Pawcatuck, Stonington HS class of 1990. His first paid job was subbing for his drum teacher at the Colonial Theatre across from Westerly Park. The gig, he says, was a “teen age, gut wrenching-dynamic dynamo of a drumming rendition of Godspell.”  It planted a seed for his lifelong quest in music.

This is his second “featurette” in The Resident.  He used to drive a classic Ice Cream Truck (the first one in many years in the Pawcatuck/Westerly area), and he was also a recovering cancer patient at the time. He considers our current interest “very cool” – his ice cream pun, not ours.

Currently living in Hastings, England, Brad and his wife Victoria from Liverpool have a two-year-old boy named Milo.   Brad’s a semi-pro musician (drummer), and works in a host of jazz, acoustic, rock, funk and country/western groups, touring and recording.  After 10 years down in the Florida Keys teaching and playing drums, where he and Victoria met, they decided to give London a go.

He landed a job at London’s Science Museum, as an “explainer” creating shows “blowing stuff up and setting stuff on fire. Great job!”  He and other performers created the world’s ONLY Museum-Funded Science-Based Comedy Edu-tainment troupe, called Punk Science.  They are like the band “The Police” mixed with the Science Guy.  They’ve traveled all over Europe, worked with big companies – The British Council, Google, National Geographic, Honda, and did a bunch of big UK TV shows. “Last year, we were asked to perform at Buckingham Palace, and we were received by the Queen herself, so now we can put that little By Royal Appointment emblem by out name”, Brad proudly told us.

Punk Science was approached by a TV company and did a 13 episode kids show called “Scientrific”, which ran on Discovery Kids for a few years.  They scored a book deal with McMillan, to produce an interactive funny science book.  They also filmed a DVD that goes inside the cover of the book – of crazy dangerous experiments you “can’t do at home” with liquid nitrogen, helium, methane, and hydrogen.

The book is called “Do Try This at Home,” and his mother Janet “is over the moon that I was part of a book, so I think she contacted The Resident in the hope that you would ‘big up’ her boy. But the book has merit, and took us a year to whip into shape.”

“The point of Punk Science is that the world is a mess, and less and less kids these days are interested in sciences – Punk Science attempts to enthuse all young people about the possibilities of science, without coming off as smartie-pants.  If a drummer in a rock band can explain something interesting to you in plain terms, chances are you can explain it to someone else the same way, or better!”

The book is available across the UK, and eventually Europe, and the US. It sold 15,000 copies it’s first week, and they are hoping the Christmas holiday season will increase sales.

Brad and Victoria lived in England “6 years now, and love it here.  But I do need my ice coffee and doughnut fix when I come home.  The Brits just don’t get ice coffee,” he explained.

Regarding his Pawcatuck and Westerly home turf, Brad claims that “Soupy (Sopressata salami) is the raw, spicy cured meat, that holds the community together.  Soupy keeps the peace between CT and RI.  Without soupy, there would be war, bloody war, soupy is the “cure”…the peace.  Except for Vegetarians.  Not for them, sadly.”

His loving, supportive parents in Pawcatuck are Richard “Andy” & Janet Gross.  Janet, who has been a Montessori School teacher in the area for more than 30 years has since retired from teaching, and works part time in a health food store in Ledyard – The Green Market – as a specialist on gluten-free diets. “She is a firecracker of energy and enthusiasm.”

Andy boasts a career in Banking in CT for over 40 years, including being with Chelsea Groton for many years.  He was involved in all kinds of civic programs over the years, including Special Needs Programs, The Fisherman’s Assn., and Children’s Charities.  Since retiring, Andy started his own energy-saving business, PowerG.  Brad claims that Andy is “one heck of a guy.”

“Being over here a while changed me,” says Brad. “I wear a cravat, and a flat cap, a mac and dress shoes.  I’ve become a bit of a chap.  I might have difficulty going back.  Visit me if you’re here.  Hastings and Brighton are simply delish!”

If you happen to be going to Hastings, England sometime soon, be sure to pack some Soupy in your luggage.  Brad would certainly appreciate a little taste of home for the holidays!

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by Christopher Annino

On October 30th at the Radisson Hotel, New London, the New London Police Department (NLPD) celebrated its 140th anniversary.  The CT Police Union, Congressman Joe Courtney and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal attended the festivities. “This is an historic milestone for the department,” said Marshall “Chip” Segar of the NLPD.

During the celebration Congressman Joe Courtney, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, and State Comptroller Nancy Wyman presented Officers Joshua Bergeson, Douglass Williams, John Manavas, Kevin McBride, Jose Olivero, Leslie Smith, and Marshall Segar with the CT Wartime Service Medals.

A strong supporter of the Community Oriented Policing Service program, the NLPD and local area veterans, Congressman Joe Courtney expressed, “I feel that having an event, which reflects on the service that the men and women of the NLPD, is tremendous. They give so much to our community. We live at a time of war, as a country we have to support each other especially the people who protect.”

The NLPD was established after the Civil War.  Prior to this, locals were selected a as a constable. During the mid 1800’s, the New London community established a “night watch,” because locals refused to pay taxes.

When Hiram Willey became Mayor in 1862, he instituted a watch system for the city. It started with a three member police committee and eventually led to hiring eight men. The men were given clubs, bells, sockets and badges, and they worked out of an apartment. New London’s first modern police station was built on the eastside of Potter Street, and was used from 1868 and 1898. The brave men and women of the NLPD served and protected the people of New London for 140 years.

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The Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce produced a humorous calendar that features 30 respected local businessmen who agreed to cast aside their modesty for fundraising.   The photos show men in various stages of undress, often with just a “prop” that relates to their business.   “These men have really been great sports in the interest of raising funds for charity.  The calendar will promote their business and their sense of humor,” said Lisa Konicki.

Fordan Bonardi of Pawcatuck, a professional photographer, donated his services to photograph 10 months of the calendar and the cover.  Christine Corrigan of Pawcatuck, another professional photographer, donated two photo shoots to support the project.

Calendars are sold at more than 30 locations in the community.  The work was coordinated by the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce, and all expenses are being incurred by The Chamber as well. However, the Chamber is sharing profits with the Westerly Adult Day Center, Westerly W.A.R.M. Shelter, and St. John’s/St. Ann’s Food Pantry.  Those groups benefit from $10 of each calendar they sell.

Calendars such as this one are produced successfully in communities all over the country, including the  2002 Men of Maple Corner Calendar in VT,  2002 Women of Tamworth calendar in NH, and Still Magnolias calendar of Aiken, SC, featuring women 60-84.  In 2004 there was the Wearing Wool Calendar in ME and in 2005 there was a Men of Wickford calendar in RI.

The Men of Westerly  Calendar features a diverse group of businessmen who are all members of the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce and supportive of the local charities involved.  They range in age from 25 to 80.

The calendars were unveiled for the first time publicly on Wednesday, November 5th at the Granite Theatre.  Tickets to attend the “Men of Westerly Revealed!” event included a calendar, wine, foods and a chance to meet the models, view the pictures for the first time, and receive autographs.  Models were introduced on stage and their photos were simultaneously revealed.

A limited number of calendars are available for sale on a first come first serve basis. A list of locations that are selling calendars is on the Chamber’s website www.westerlychamber.org, where they may also be purchased online.

Men of Westerly-Pawcatuck Calendar Sales Locations:
• Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce, Westerly
• Adam’s Garden of Eden, Pawcatuck
• Amanda’s Pantry, Westerly
• Avie’s Ski and Sports, Westerly
• Bella Vita Salon, Westerly
• Bogue’s Alley, Westerly
• Carrie’s Shoes, Westerly
• Co Co’s Salon, Pawcatuck
• Dick’s World of Wines, Westerly
• Dunn’s Corners Market, Westerly
• Dylan’s, Westerly
• Elite Cleaners, Westerly
• Exceptions Consignments, Westerly
• The Fun Company, Westerly
• Lifestyle Home Furnishings, Westerly
• Nigrelli’s Jewelry, Westerly
• Other Tiger Books, Westerly
• Parcel Center, Westerly
• Parkside East Bed & Breakfast, Westerly
• Pizza Place, Westerly
• Prime Time Café, Pawcatuck
•St. Mary’s/St. James Food Pantry, Charlestown
• Seven Eleven, Westerly
• Subway, Westerly
• The Devine Touch, Westerly
• Uptown Salon & Day Spa, Westerly
• Vesta Bakery, Westerly
• WARM Shelter, Westerly
• Westerly Adult Day Services, Westerly
• Zoe & Company, Westerly

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