story & photo
by Jessica Warzeniak

The CT Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America, announced on Thursday, April 9th, that they will honor Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) with its Community Service Award, and Alexis Ann, editor & publisher, the Resident, with its Outstanding Leadership Award. The 14th annual awards presentation will be at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center’s Gathering Place on Tuesday, June 16th.

The Community Service Award is presented to organizations that make a significant contribution to the community’s quality of life.

“We are very honored to receive this award. It’s telling, that we are meeting our goals of our mission of making Norwich a better place to live and do business,” said John Bilda, general manager, NPU. “What we do extends beyond providing safe, reliable utilities and show our community outreach programs are working.”

The Outstanding Leadership Award is presented to publicly acknowledge the accomplishments of an outstanding community leader; a person who lives by the Scout Oath and Law in their daily life.

“Scouting is a vital force in our society because it teaches us, at an early age, the importance of setting and meeting goals. I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout. I remember earning a swimming badge in Brownies and a lifesaving skills badge in Girl Scouts. I used those skills when I lifeguarded and taught swimming lessons to put myself through college,” said Alexis. “I am elated to be honored with this award.”

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story & photos by
Maren Schober

Having family and friends and enjoying their company and support can easily be something we take for granted.   The fact is there are many adults in our communities who do not have the love and support of family and personal friends.  There are men and women with disabilities who yearn for that personal contact, love and support that a friend can bring.  The Thames Area Citizen Advocacy Program (TACAP), Norwich exists to improve the quality of life for people living in health care centers by bringing together a volunteer Citizen Advocate with an isolated  senior or disabled person.  Norman Atwood, Gales Ferry is one such volunteer working through TACAP.

“Stan and I have been meeting together for three years now,” Norman  shares with me. “I meet with Stan every Friday and we always go out for his beloved cup of coffee and three donuts.  Then we do whatever shopping he wants.”

Today I am sitting with Stan and Norman.  It is obvious how much Stan loves and appreciates the weekly visits with his friend Norman.

“Norman comes and takes me out,” Stan tells me with his wide smile. “He’s the only ride I have.  He took me to Jewett City so I could see my brother.”

“Stan has no family that interacts with him, so we are it!” Norman acknowledges.

“I love him as a brother and he says he loves me.  It doesn’t get any better than that.  I have been blessed with so much.  What good is it if it is not shared?”

Norman does a lot of sharing of his time and gifts.  Monday through Thursdays Norman works at the Sub Base Power Plant as a contract buyer, an employee of  33 years.  His Fridays and Saturdays are spent in volunteering his time helping others.

“Every Friday morning plus one Saturday per month I volunteer my time as the breakfast chef and also as the back-up lunch cook at St. Vincent de Paul Place Soup Kitchen in Norwich,” Norman reflects.

“My wife Ellen and I also are volunteers for Hospice. We provide respite care when needed for Hospice patients.  Journeying with Hospice has completed the circle of life for me.  I was born, am living and am close to those who are dying and beginning their “new life”.  This has given me humility with the living.  This is God’s plan for me as His vessel.  It is hard to explain the beauty and love that comes from sharing and giving of one’s self to someone in need.  All I can say is come follow me and you will know the same happiness.”

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Groton Utilities was one of sixty  of the nation’s more than 2,000 public power utilities to earn Reliable Public Power Provider™ (RP3) recognition from the American Public Power Association (APPA) for providing consumers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service.  Groton Utilities was one of nineteen  utilities to receive a Gold Level Award.

This is the second time in three years that Groton Utilities received this recognition.  In 2007, Groton Utilities was the only New England public power system to receive the Platinum Level Award.

Paul Allen, Vice President of Engineering, Electric Service, Nashville, TN,  and Chair, APPA’s RP3 Review Panel, presented the designees, during the association’s annual Engineering & Operations Technical Conference, held in Austin, TX.  Randy S. Surprenant, General Manager of Electric Operations, Groton Utilities, was present to receive the award on behalf of Groton Utilities.

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story & photos
by Christopher Annino

Tommy John, former MLB southpaw pitcher, spoke  during the Connecticut Dugout Club’s monthly event at the Groton Inn and Suites on March 30th. Also presenting that night was Dr. William Morgan, former Boston Red Sox physician.

Both urged the importance of how exercise and rest is crucial to a baseball players training and the effects of neglect during ones career. “The most important thing you can do for yourself if you are a pitcher is prepare yourself. The more your on the mound the better you get, during your off days keep conditioning your body and when game day comes physically it should be the easiest day for you,” said Tommy. “Maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine. And most important love to want to play the game, the secrete to my success is I would do anything to play the game.”

Tommy also discussed his years with the Dodgers and how a damaged  ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm nearly ended his career. Miraculously, an experimental operation replaced the ligament in his throwing arm with a tendon from his right forearm.  Now called the “Tommy John Surgery,” it was named for Tommy, the first professional athlete to successfully undergo the operation.

The season after the surgery, he amazed fans by returning to the line-up and ending the season with a 3.09 ERA. Later in 1976, he was given the National League Comeback Player of the Year by Sporting News.

Tommy had an extended career due to the surgery, but most of his milestones can be attributed to his love for the game. Over his 26 year career, which began in 1963 with the Indians and finished with the Yankees in 1989, Tommy accomplished 288 career victories, 2,245 strike-outs, four all star appearances, a 3.34 ERA, and numerous awards for his efforts on the field.

Currently, Tommy is the manager of the Bridgeport Bluefish, a minor league ball club. He predicts growth in attendance for the minor league teams this season, “Not many people are going to want to pay a huge amount of money to go see a ball game, when they can see one in their local communities. The teams are just as talented and play with more passion. And in other ways they will be stimulating their local economy.”

The next Connecticut Dugout Club event will feature Rico Petrocelli. former Red Sox short stop, and Jim Longborg, 1967 Impossible Dream Team pitcher. Both will speak at the Groton Inn and Suites on April 27th. For more information visit www.ctdugoutclub.com.

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