Looking for a fun, casual outdoor setting for a Friday night out that includes a live band, an eclectic summer drinks menu, casual or formal food on a beautiful deck overlooking the hills of Eastern Connecticut?
The place to go is The Spa at Norwich Inn, where every Friday night this summer, RJ Rockets & Co., a five piece band including a singer, will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. from a varied playlist that will satisfy a wide range of tastes: Elvis, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Buffett, Gretchen Wilson, Pat Benatar, the Beatles and more. They will play on the Spa’s Terrace Deck, which has an outdoor bar, lounge furniture, tables and chairs and room to dance. The deck overlooks the spa’s Reflecting Pool and the 17th tee of the Norwich Public Golf Course. If the weather is less than optimal, the party moves inside to Ascot’s Pub and the adjacent Garden Patio.
Ascot’s mixed up a cool list of summer martinis, including Pear-tini, Key Lime, Sour Apple, Watermelon, Blue Pomatini and Pomatini (Pomatinis feature pomegranate juice, which is popular for its health benefits), Elderflower Martini and Cajun Martini, to name just a few. There are five kinds of Margaritas, including an Organic Margarita, made with Partida Blanco Tequila, Agave Nectar and fresh lime juice, and 12 different choices of tequilas. There are 23 beers to choose from, and 14 single-malt scotches and seven premium scotch whiskeys. And then comes the food, which is designed to please a wide variety of tastes as well.
Diners may order appetizers or dinner from the informal Ascot’s menu, or ramp it up by ordering from the menu at Kensington’s, the Spa’s formal restaurant. While The Spa at Norwich Inn is a spa, it is not at all a place for “deprivation food.” There is red wine, steak and a chocolate dessert for someone who wants just that. And cheeseburgers. Other dishes include the freshest of seafood, natural-raised beef, pork, lamb and poultry, beautiful summer vegetables, a full wine list and a special pairing of dessert wines with exquisite desserts.
The Spa is located at 607 West Thames St. (Route 32) in Norwich. For information and reservations, call 860.425.3630 or visit www.thespaatnorwichinn.com.
Laurence P. "Jim" Smith, 94, of Waterford, passed away Wednesday, July 1.
by Alice F. Fitzpatrick
From his early days as a founding trustee, through his continuing generous scholarship support, to his plan to charitably divest his stock portfolio, we enjoyed a close and mutually supportive relationship with Laurence P. “Jim” Smith. He was the first major donor to the Community Foundation in 1983 with an unrestricted gift of $25,000. To date, his contributions to and through us exceed $5 million, more than any other single donor.
Over 25 years, Jim contributed these millions of his privately earned dollars to better the lives of deserving local kids. He wanted to see every ball field in use every day. He wanted every achieving student to have a chance to go to college, as he had not. He wanted his good fortune to be passed quietly to the community he loved. From Lawrence & Memorial Hospital to the United Way to the Visiting Nurse Association to Mitchell College, BP Learned Mission/Child & Family Agency to Waterford Country School, he regularly took care of many local nonprofits. Recently, and quite unexpectedly, he decided to give $50,000 to install lights on the girls’ softball field for the Waterford Little League South!
On his 90th birthday, I tried to find a way to honor him, but knew he had a core aversion to recognition ceremonies. I was able to convince him and his wife, Marjory, to attend a Sunday Ice Cream Social at Mitchell College to which all 100 Smith scholarship winners and their families were invited. Many came to thank him that day and many who lived out of the area wrote tributes to him, explaining how his financial support impacted their lives at a critical time. It was not the only time I saw Jim moved to tears, but one of the most memorable.
How can this community ever thank this humble local hero for his unselfish and shrewd philanthropy? I guess by doing what you can for causes you care about. The amount Jim contributed was indeed staggering. But what I will always treasure is the spirit behind each gift. “Let’s make sure these kids have a chance,” he would say to me, “We’re partners in this, you know.”
(l-r) John Heath (Einstien), Sarah Kronisch (The Countess), and James Flynn (Gaston) practice for the Emerson Theater Collaborative production “Picasso At The Lapin Agile.’”
story & photo
by Christopher Annino
Emerson Theater Collaborative, founded last year by Emerson College, Boston, alumni Camilla Ross, Lisa Giordano, and Emma Palzere-Rae, already gained attention of local and professional theater organizations. Its mission is to serve the youth, underrepresented communities and artists with an emphasis on diversity by producing innovative and exhilarating theater in SECT. They do so by choosing non-traditional pieces that stimulate the imagination of the audience such as this year’s summer production of “Picasso At The Lapin Agile” written by legendary comedian Steve Martin.
The production is directed by Aaron Arbiter and features the characters of Albert Einstein, played by John Heath, and Pablo Picasso, played by Stephen Sherman. In the story Einstein and Picasso meet at a bar called The Lapin Agile in Montmartre, Paris. Both men are on the verge of an amazing idea (Einstein will publish his “Theory of Relativity” in 1905 and Picasso will paint “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” in 1907) when they find themselves at The Lapin Agile, where they have a lengthy debate about the value of genius and talent.
“I am very thankful for the support that the community has given us especially Union Baptist Church, Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce and many other people and organizations. This all started with a conversation over coffee and it has evolved into a great thing. The arts are important to society and especially to children. It allows the mind to think freely with creativity,” said Camilla.
Upcoming dates for the producation are July 24 and 25 at the Tansill Theater on the Conn College campus. The production opened on July 17 to a sold out audience. For more information go to www.emersontheatercollaborative.org.
CT resident and wrestling legend Ox Baker holds his US Heavyweight Wrestling Champion belt.
story & photo
by Christopher Annino
Forty-six year wrestling veteran and CT resident, Douglas “Ox” Baker, began his career during high school. Ox went on to become a pro-wrestling legend and is known today as one of the meanest heels in the business with a kind heart.
Throughout his career, he won many national tag team titles, including, the titles of National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) North American Tag Team, American Wrestling Association (AWA) Midwest Tag Team (three times!), and AWA Midwest Tag Team, plus more. He also acquired impressive heavyweight titles: NWA North American Heavyweight in 1974, World Wrestling Alliance (WWA) World Heavyweight, defeating Bob Ellis in August of 1974, NWA American Heavyweight in 1977, and Canadian Heavyweight Champion, including many, many more.
It is estimated that he knocked out almost 3,000 wrestlers with his signature “more-the-hurt” punch. Also, Ox is the first individual to throw seven foot, five hundred pound, Andre The Giant. Some of his best match ups were against other legends, such as Hulk Hogan, Big John Studd, Bruiser Brody, Harley Race, and The Sheik. One of Ox’s classic matches was against The Sheik to win the American Heavyweight Title.
He was recently inducted in the New England Wrestling Hall of Fame, Providence.
Other individuals that were inducted were, “The Wolfman” Jason Sanderson, “Live Wire” Dave Padula, Sheldon Goldberg, Bobby Riedel, “Lethal” Paul Lauzon, the Power Company Twins Dave and Dean, Referee Slick Willie Jackson, “The Late Superbad” Steve Bradley, Jim Kettner, founder, East Coast Wrestling Association, and Tony Atlas.
Ox also dabbled in the film business. When Bruiser Brody, wrestling legend, died in an unfortunate accident, Ox was offered to play his character in the film “Escape to New York,” alongside Kurt Russell. Ox can also be seen in Jackie Chan’s “The Big Brawl.”
On July 3, a local family meet their Fresh Air child, from New York City, in the Norwich McDonald's parking lot.
Summer vacation, that special time of year for all children, is upon us and you still have the chance to make it memorable for a child from New York City! Thanks to the many families in the Southeastern CT area and throughout 13 Northeastern states and Canada, more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income neighborhoods experienced free summer vacations in suburban and small town communities through The Fresh Air Fund. The Fund is currently seeking more families to give inner-city children a two-week experience this summer. By volunteering as a host family for The Fund’s Friendly Town program, you can help give a child a break from the heat and noise of the crowded city streets.
“Summer would not be the same without our Fresh Air child,” says a Fresh Air host. “We use that time to be together as a family and enjoy the simple things, like swimming, barbequing and watching the stars at night.”
This year, The Fund needs more host families to carry on its 133rd summer tradition of sharing the joys of suburban and small town life like smelling fresh flowers or casting a fishing pole for the first time. The friendships that develop between hosts and their Fresh Air visitors often last a lifetime.
There are no financial requirements for hosting a Fresh Air child. First-time visitors are six to twelve years old, and re-invited youngsters may participate in the Friendly Town program through age 18.
To learn more about hosting a Fresh Air child this summer, please contact Raymond Cormier at 860.887.6559, or call The Fresh Air Fund at 800.367.0003. You can also visit The Fund’s website at www.freshair.org.
