After 38 years of being a competitive strongman and power lifter, Joe Mugavero permanently injured himself and, as a result, he could no longer compete. This loss opened a new door for Joe, and he began to participate in grip competitions. Along with his new passion, Joe applied his years of strength training knowledge and formed the New London Breakfast Club.
The New London Breakfast Club is a strength training school that focuses on power lifting, grip strength exercises and preparation for strongman competitions. It is based in Joe’s basement in New London. “We named it the breakfast club because we originally practiced Sundays from morning to night,” said Joe.
Joe is retired from the US Postal Service after 41 years of service. Throughout his strongman career, he was an American Power Lifting Chairman, won over 200 awards in power lifting and strongmen competitions and currently holds three age group records in the State of CT for bench press.
Joe trains 15 members of the New London Breakfast Club in the standard grip and strongman exercises such as: bench press, atlas stones, the yoke, bending nails, ripping phonebooks, farmers walk and the sledge hammer hold. There are three disciplines in grip competitions: crush, pinch and support grip. Each one uses different hand and arm muscles. For example, support grip is more for individuals who can lift heavy objects for long periods of time, and crush grip is when an individual attempts to bend things with their hands, and pinch is when an individual uses the tips of there fingers to hold heavy weights.
One of his students, John Retrowski, Waterford, recently certified to be on the IronMind Red Nail Roster. IronMind offers a “Bag of Nails” with five levels of nails: White, Green, Yellow, Blue, and Red. These “nails” are a variety of lengths and diameters of cold rolled steel. The Red Nail, the most difficult to bend at 7-inches long and 5/16-inch thick, takes over 385 pounds of force to bend. If you bend it into a U-shape, following very strict rules, in less than a minute, you get your name featured on their certification list. This is pretty rare and only happened 57 times since John Brookfield, a living legend in the world of grip strength, started the challenge in 1995.
Some of Joe’s other key students are 67-year-old John McGuire, who can lift 360 pounds, and 16-year-old sensation Sal Gromolini from New London.
Joe will make history by having the first ever SECT Strongman Competition at Fitness World, Norwich, on July 11.
“It is a day to thank people and a day to be thankful,” said Bruce MacDonald, president, Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center (PNC) Board of Directors, in a touching speech at the dedication of the Robert A. Granato Senior Center at the PNC on May 27. “We are here today to start writing the next chapter of the uplifting story of the PNC.”
The ceremony was filled with joy, but there was an underlying sadness. The senior center was finally done, but Bob Granato, one of its biggest champions, was not there to see it.
“This is a reminder to all of us how wonderful you were,” said a teary eyed Christopher Granato in memory of his late father. “Thank you to the Town of Stonington for bestowing such a wonderful honor on my father.”
Bob’s wife, Carol, sons and grandchildren were there for the dedication. In his speech, Bruce addressed Bob’s grandchildren, quoting President John F. Kennedy, “‘Things do not happen. Things are made to happen.’ Your grandfather decided to make things happen.”
The $1.1 million senior center project is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the State Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) Small Cities Program, the State of CT and the Town of Stonington.
“This is a resource I hope will be utilized by every eligible citizen… They now have the senior center they deserve,” said Robert Elmer III, Chairman, Stonington Commission on Aging.
“This senior center is a focal point of the community, and I am thrilled to be a part of it,” said Pamela Giannini, MSW, director, Bureau of Aging, State Department of Social Services. Pamela spoke of how fitting that the senior center opening was in May since it is “Older Americans Month.” The Administration on Aging picked this year’s theme, “Living Today for a Better Tomorrow,” because it reflects on their “…continued focus on prevention efforts and programs throughout the country that are helping older adults have better health as they age and avoid the risks of chronic disease, disability and injury.” Exactly the purpose of the Robert A. Granato Senior Center.
“This is a journey. In some ways this is a journey that started in 1995,” said Bruce referring to when Nick Kepple and Sam Agnello started the PNC. Speaking about the progression of the senior center project, he said, “Even the longest journey begins with a single step. Bill Brown took that step, and we greatly appreciate that.”
“This exceeds the dreams I had and I’m sure it exceeds the dreams of Bob Granato,” said Selectman Bill Brown, Town of Stonington. “This is my legacy. I will know ‘til the day I die we were able to make this thing happen.”
The annual “Youthtopia” field day is the centerpiece among all the variety of events offered by the Griswold Youth Center, the cornerstone of the town’s programs designed to engage youngsters when they are not in school. “This is a good day, lots of fun,” said Catherine Forbes, Griswold, who, like many other parents at Griswold Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, May 30, was enjoying the family day.
Griswold Middle School eighth grader Aaron Longo said he heads over to the youth center four or five times a week. “I like playing basketball there and they have video game contests. It’s lots of fun there,” he said.
“This gives the kids a good way to interact with one other,” Catherine said. “You know, Griswold is a small place and there’s not much to do, so things like this, the youth center, helps keep kids out of trouble.”
Canterbury resident Dylan Seifert, a senior at Griswold High, helps at the center because he believes that the center produces results. “It keeps kids off the street that [otherwise] would be hanging out on the streets,” Dylan said.
The center, with 60 registered members, is the most visible arm of the Griswold Youth and Family Services, according to Ryan Aubin, director, who also oversees the Griswold Recreation Department.
Ryan said “Youthtopia” attracted about 500 families and raised more than $1,000 for the youth center to help pay for the many programs offered by the center. Visit the group’s Web site at www.griswoldyfs.com for additional information.
“We had 30-plus youth center staff and summer recreation program personnel staffing the event,” said Ryan. In addition to the usual fun, games and food, “Youthtopia” also has an educational component to it. Various booths were set up to distribute information aimed at helping youngsters more easily cope with the pressures of growing up.
Backus Hospital’s smoking prevention trailer was at the park staffed by Registered Nurse Melissa Bargnesi, Norwich. “We’ve had more than 50 young people come in today. We try to give them information, different ways that will help them resist the peer pressure to start smoking,” she said.
Dylan Dick, 12, appreciated the helping hand. Asked what he would do if friends told him it was cool to smoke, Dylan immediately responds, “I’d rather be dumb than cool.”
PNC Board Member Alexis Ann, editor & publisher, the Resident, was the celebrity bartender at a Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center (PNC) fundraiser held at Venice Restaurant & Lounge on Thursday, May 28. Behind the bar, Alexis mixed up peachy Residentinis. The event raised $2,500 for the PNC.
Stoli Orange, Peach Schnapps, Pineapple Juice
Shake vigorously and strained into a chilled glass.
Then pour a splash of grenadine through the middle of the drink.
Top off with a splash of Grand Marnier.
Thank you to all the businesses for your generous donations to the PNC!
Mystic Cosmetic Dentistry, Majestic Jewelers, R.A. Georgetti, Mystic Market, Grand Salon & Spa at Foxwoods, Puffins of Watch Hill, Densmore Oil, Mazzella Carpet & Tile, The Wine Store RI, L’Interieur, The Resident, Brustolon Buick Pontiac GMC and Venice Restaurant & Lounge!
On Friday, June 12th, at 6:00pm, Mystic Area Shelter and Hospitably (MASH) will host its annual Auction for Action and “Iron Chef” Competition at Enders Island. The competition and auction will raise awareness and money for homeless families and children in the towns of Groton, Stonington, North Stonington, Ledyard, New London and Westerly. Since 1999, MASH provided housing to 185 homeless children and 94 homeless families.
The event will feature Executive Chefs Jamie Fowler, Noah’s Restaurant, Stonington, and Andrew Madsen, The Blue Door, Mystic, with Sous Chefs Alexis Ann, editor & publisher, the Resident, and Kevin Rogers, a local elementary school teacher and a bartender from BravoBravo. Judges for this year’s event will be John Casey, president, Electric Boat, and Father Thomas Hoar, St. Edmund’s Enders Island.
There will be live and silent auctions, music provided by Five After Five and complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. For more information and tickets for MASH’s Auction for Action and “Iron Chef” Competition, please call 860.245.0222.
After 38 years of being a competitive strongman and power lifter, Joe Mugavero permanently injured himself and, as a result, he could no longer compete. This loss opened a new door for Joe, and he began to participate in grip competitions. Along with his new passion, Joe applied his years of strength training knowledge and formed the New London Breakfast Club.
