“As Coast Guard officers, you will swear to defend our nation against maritime threats be they small-vessel terrorist attacks, the smuggling of dangerous weapons and drugs or the scourge of maritime piracy, which in past months we have seen escalate to troubling new levels,” said Janet Napolitano, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), during the Coast Guard Academy’s 128th commencement ceremony on May 20. During her keynote speech, DHS Sect. Napolitano, whose department oversees the Coast Guard and its Academy, addressed the 225 cadets, soon to become ensigns. “You are an essential part of the Department of Homeland Security,” she said.
Distinguished graduate, Matthew Evan Eyler, Mystic, spoke to his fellow classmates. “We aren’t defined solely by our performance of duty. We are defined by the effort we put in to do the job right.” He continues, “We have learned to deal with setbacks. We’re here today because we have gotten back up. We will always rise when we have fallen.” Matthew, one of three graduates from our area, was presented his commission papers by his father, Capt. David Elyer (ret.), Navy. Matthew will report to the Cutter Morgenthau, Alameda, CA in June.
In his comments and introduction of the Secretary, Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant, USCG, said, “Family and friends of the Class of 2009, thank you for the Class of 2009!” He continued, “Our children are the message we send to the future we will never see. The Class of 2009 is the message we send to the Coast Guard.”
When addressing the graduates DHS Sect. Napolitano said, “In short, you will face a dynamic, ever-changing threat environment. There has never been a greater demand for the Coast Guard’s services than right now.”
“My commitment to you today is to do everything I can to ensure that the Coast Guard has all the tools and resources it needs to achieve everything the country asks of you.”
“Now that you have reached graduation, it is time to begin the transition to your active-duty service and accept the full responsibilities of a United States military officer,” said DHS Sect. Napolitano. “God bless you. God bless the Coast Guard. Semper Paratus.”
“They have alert minds, sound bodies, and stout hearts,” said Rear Admiral J. Scott Burhoe, Superintendent, USCG Academy. “I personally attest to their ability.”
Greg Crocker, Marine Technician, Crocker’s Boatyard, New London, completed various classes this past winter and gained many certifications for Volvo/Penta, Yanmar Marine, Westerbeke Engines and Generators, and Mercury. Every year he attends new classes, as technology is constantly updating.
On Friday, May 15, 27-year-old Derek Poundstone broke a world record at Mohegan Sun. Derek, a CT native, pulled two busses weighing 56,000 lbs, 100 ft in 44.6 seconds across the Thames Garage M Parking Lot. Randall Bumgarner, a drywall specialist from Lebanon, was pulled from the crowd to help spot Derek during the pull. “Being a former strongman, it is an honor to be a part of this. I have no doubt in my mind that Derek will be the next Mariusz Pudzianowski,” said Randall. Mariusz won more World’s Strongest Man titles than any other strongman competitor, winning the event in 2008 for the fifth time.
When asked the reason for attempting to break such a physically demanding record, Derek said, “Well, I threw the idea to Colin Bryce [former strongman competitor, ex-Olympian and CEO, Show Productions] in regards to pulling a bus to promote the Giants Live Qualifier at Mohegan Sun. Usually, Colin will respond by going to the next extreme. So that’s how we came up with the idea of breaking the world record.”
On Sunday, May 17, Giants Live!, 2009’s first World’s Strongest Man Qualifier, was held at Mohegan Sun Arena. World-class strongmen such as Derek Poundstone, Waterbury, Travis Ortmayer, Cypress, TX, Brian Shaw, Denver, CO, Mark Felix, Grenada, Sebastian Wenta, Poland, Terry Hollands, UK, and rookie sensation Johannes Arsjo, Sweden, competed at the event.
The strongman events included the Giant 800lb Timber Frame Carry, the Car Dead Lift, the Log Press 286lbs, Apollon’s Axle, the Husafell Stone 375lbs, and the most physically demanding, the Atlas Stones. During this event, the strongmen carry and load six stones, weighing 285 – 420 pounds, onto platforms. The fastest time to load all six stones (or the most stones) wins. The past two years no one loaded the last stone. Mark Felix, veteran professional strongman, said, “The most important thing to remember about this sport is that it is more mental than anything. Before you compete you need to be ready mentally.”
During the Apollon’s Axle event, both Johannes Arsjo and Travis Ortmayer set records, but within minutes Derek destroyed the record by blasting over 400lbs over his head. Travis said, “Dang!! I had the record for 5 minutes and ‘Poundcake’ aka Poundstone stole it from me. I am gonna have to get him some how tonight.” And that he did.
In the final event, Travis did what seemed impossible. He broke the two year curse by lifting the final Atlas Stone.
Overall, Derek Poundstone placed first, Travis Ortmayer placed second, and Brian Shaw placed third.
“This is great that Mohegan Sun adopted us by letting us use their facility. This sport has grown from being held in back yards and parks to arenas,” said the world’s youngest World’s Strongest Man competitor, Kevin Nee, 23, Massachusetts.
“I had 15 days to prepare for this event and I lost, but I would go at the drop of a hat if I ever get invited. It is truly an honor to compete with such amazing athletes,” said Gerard Benderoth, New York police officer.
The local television airways will never be the same, especially when Red Sox Nation meets the Yankees Evil Empire every Wednesday night at 7:00 pm.
Each week, two Groton Utilities Water Division employees trade in their company work uniforms for more seasonal type of clothing. They don the hats and shirts of their favorite baseball teams.
When Bill Rossi, the avid Red Sox fan, and Jeff Hunt, the crazy Yankee fan, leave Groton Utilities every Wednesday after work, they head for the studios of the local public access Channel 12 which is broadcast on both the Thames Valley Communications and Comcast cable systems. That’s when they tape their weekly television show, Sox and Stripes Forever. People on the Metrocast system can catch the show on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm on Channel 24.
It’s a classic weekly showdown of a Red Sox fan and a Yankee fan. It is filled with the emotion that only this rivalry can produce, loud voices trying to gain that extra edge, and a pile of stats to challenge even the climbers of Mount Everest. The show goes on and is proof positive that the Sox-Yanks, Yanks-Sox rivalry remains alive and well.
Keeping it all together is two of their Water Division co-workers Paul Hyatt and Tim LeHouillier. Paul directs the show, and Tim is on the camera.
The exchange of friendly bards, the spirit of one-upmanship, and a fierce sense of competition add to the show’s allure.
The show has a one, two, three format. During the first segment, Bill and Jeff talk baseball. During the next part, they go to “This or That.” And the show ends with reading and responding to e-mail sent in by viewers. E-mail them at soxandstripesforever@yahoo.com.
Talk to Mayor Fred B. Allyn Jr., Ledyard, for a few minutes and it quickly becomes apparent that this man is successful in his goal of staying one step ahead of the bureaucrats in Hartford and Washington.
“The affordability of living here [in Ledyard] is something we have to constantly work on,” Fred told residents at a town meeting May 18 to discuss the town’s zero-increase budget for 2010 which voters approved the next day at referendum.
Like most municipal leaders blindsided by the declining state of the U.S. economy, Fred faced the dilemma of maintaining local services in the wake of declining revenues.
But unlike many of his counterparts nationwide who sought refuge by raising taxes, Fred planned for a rainy day – which turned out to be a severe thunderstorm.
“When we started this project, we didn’t realize the world would melt down around us,” said Fred, referring to his pet project which was to cut town spending during the present fiscal year and use those savings to preclude the need for a tax hike in the coming year.
His foresight paid off to some extent, no tax increase is foreseen, but a few layoffs became necessary due to the down turn in the economy.
And then came the rainbow following the financial storm, D.C.’s pot of gold – the stimulus package.
Once again, Fred was ahead of the pack, creating a committee to sift through all the red, white and blue tape in order to maximize the number of dollars headed to Ledyard.
It’s not as if each town simply got a six-figure U.S. Treasury check to cash. Fred says he was inundated with possible ways to qualify for stimulus funds, some coming directly from Washington, some funneled from Congress via state legislatures.
“I needed some friends to help me sort through all this,” said Fred. So he asked Terry Jones, Gales Ferry, a defense analyst, to volunteer to lead a Stimulus Work Group to ascertain how the town might receive as much stimulus money as possible.
“Fred’s good at recruiting people,” said Terry whose job is to match people with a stimulus project for which they are best suited.
There’s stimulus money available for so many things — energy, environment, public health, public safety — but you have to go get it, much like applying for grants, said Fred, giving Terry credit for a fresh approach to finding funds.
“Terry had a great suggestion, to determine the town’s needs and then to look for sources of funding to satisfy those needs, ” he said.
So far, no stimulus funds are deposited into the town’s bank account, but that won’t stop Fred and friends from continuing to work diligently each day to stay one step ahead of the pack.
“Everybody’s out there competing to get a piece of (the stimulus package) and we just want to get our fair share,” said Fred.
“As Coast Guard officers, you will swear to defend our nation against maritime threats be they small-vessel terrorist attacks, the smuggling of dangerous weapons and drugs or the scourge of maritime piracy, which in past months we have seen escalate to troubling new levels,” said Janet Napolitano, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), during the Coast Guard Academy’s 128th commencement ceremony on May 20. During her keynote speech, DHS Sect. Napolitano, whose department oversees the Coast Guard and its Academy, addressed the 225 cadets, soon to become ensigns. “You are an essential part of the Department of Homeland Security,” she said.
