Summer sizzles with the Good News that Dime Bank will be opening in my hometown, Stonington Borough.
by Alexis Ann
What fun reading Captain Allen Fee’s “No Fluke After August 20th”….Allen has such a passion for fishing and it’s so obvious in his column here. It’s no wonder NY Yankee Pitcher David Robertson chose Allen for his Captain on a bass trip to Sugar Reef during his All-Star break!
The Resident’s other Captain — Don Greene takes you on a trip down the Pawcatuck River to Pawcatuck Point. Don says, “This is a great exercise for you to practice traveling through narrow channels.” Don’t forget to pay attention movement based on winds and tides. Important tips for your boating safety here.
The 20th Anniversary Hospice SECT Regattas at the Stonington Dingy Club, Thames Yacht Club, Niantic Bay Yacht Club and Mystic River Mudhead Benefit Regatta sizzled with lots of participation from area sailors. Congrats to Peter Ross and Peter Bergendahl here.
And, congratulations to Mohegan Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum for being named Multiple Sclerosis CT Citizen of the Year! The National MS Society, CT Chapter presents the award annually to individuals exemplifying extraordinary leadership, outstanding civic and community service and a longstanding commitment to humanitarian endeavors. Way to go, Bruce and well deserving! More here.
Here is a story about a True Force of Valor — a Niantic resident, Specialist Alex Lozano. Find out how Alex learned at the young age of 21, “Never take anything for granted because too much can change in an instant!” Thank you, Alex, for serving our country!
Thanks for reading the Resident, the Good News that Rocks! Please remember to patronize our advertisers as they’re helping to make the “good news” happen.
(l-r) Lisa Gerrol, CT Chapter President and Chief Professional Officer, National MS Society, congratulates 2009 MS Gala honoree Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum, Chairman, Mohegan Tribal Council.
Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum, Chairman, Mohegan Tribal Council, was named Multiple Sclerosis (MS) CT Citizen of the Year at the 2009 MS Gala held at Mohegan Sun Thursday, July 23. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, CT Chapter presents the award annually to individuals exemplifying extraordinary leadership, outstanding civic and community service and a longstanding commitment to humanitarian endeavors.
Bruce, who attended Norwich public schools, served as an active member of the Mohegan Tribe for many years. First elected to the Tribal Council in 2004, he won re-election in 2005 and was then selected by fellow councilors to serve as chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Council.
Prior to serving on the Tribal Council, Bruce was manager of cultural programs where he established and developed multiple programs, including the continuation of the Mohegan Language Restoration Project, formation of Native flute, singing, dancing, folklore and craft classes and other efforts celebrating Mohegan culture and heritage.
As leader within the Tribe’s cultural and community programs department, Bruce played a key role in the expansion of educational and cultural outreach activities to schools and public, as well as, working on the Green Corn Festival and serving as Wigwam Director and manager of Cultural Week at Fort Shantok.
“Chairman Bozsum is a significant advocate for the CT Chapter and its constituents,” said Lisa Gerrol, CT Chapter President and Chief Professional Officer. “Mohegan Sun supports many of our efforts, including our two-day bike ride and its annual gala event. We are delighted to recognize and honor Chairman Bozsum for his commitment to help ensure that the lives of people with MS keep moving forward.”
More than 6,000 CT residents live with multiple sclerosis, a chronic and often disabling disease of the central nervous system. There currently is no cure. Symptoms can include, among other things, numbness in the limbs, difficulties with vision and speech, stiffness and, in some more severe cases, total paralysis. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted.
The 2009 MS Gala, held in conjunction with the Beyonce concert, raised more than $100,000. Funds raised through chapter events, such as the MS Gala, enable the CT Chapter to provide vital programs and services to those affected by multiple sclerosis. Funds also support groundbreaking research to find better treatments and a cure.
For more about programs and services offered by the CT Chapter, or to make a donation, please visit www.ctfightsms.org or call 1.800.FIGHT MS.
SPC Alex Lazano and his mother, Marie, at the first annual Asian and American Lions Golf Tournament dinner reception on July 13th.
photo & story
by Alexis Ann
After graduating from East Lyme High, Specialist Alex Lozano of Niantic enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in 2005. Next came the premier Military Police School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where SPC Alex learned how to be an “agile and adaptive” leader well grounded in Army values, war fighting tasks, MP technical skills, and doctrine. This training taught Alex to be a prepared soldier capable of executing the five MP functions in support of Military Police, Army, and Joint Force Commanders while conducting full spectrum operations.
Today, Specialist Alex Lozano remains on active duty in Niantic in “healing” status. Last November, Alex was shot in the back while on patrol in Iraq. “I was in a ‘Green Zone’ — it was supposed to be a safe zone,” Alex explained. The bullet entered his right backside and came out his left front. Alex lost a kidney.
Eight months later, as I interview him at the first annual Asian and American Lions Golf Tournament dinner reception, the 21-year old soldier tells me, “The pain is gone!”
A student at the University of New Haven, Alex was majoring in Criminal Justice before being deployed to Iraq in June 2008. “I’ll have to find another major,” states SPC Alex. “I’m considered a risk to work in the Criminal Justice System.”
When asked about the best lesson learned thus far? Alex posits, “Never take anything for granted because too much can change in an instant!”
Clearly, SPC Alex exemplifies the lessons learned at Military Police School — ”agility and adaptability.” The Resident salutes you, Alex…. Good luck with your studies at UNH.
(l-r) Karen Baker, Marketing Director, The Colonial Theater, Frank Winkler, Board of Trustees Vice President and Groton Utilities Economic Development Manager & Spokesman, and Shawn Dufault, Secretary, Board of Trustees, stand by the set for Shakepeare’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” that took place in Westerly’s Wilcox Park.
story & photo by Tony Schillaci and Don Church
Beautiful Wilcox Park, Westerly, served as the outdoor setting for William Shakespeare’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” this summer.
Presented by the Colonial Theatre and directed by Harland Meltzer, the comedy hit great high spots with the appearance of the two funniest characters, ‘Speed’ (Jimi Egan) and ‘Launce’ (Paul Romero). These Actor’s Equity Actors (AEA) knew full well how to make Shakespeare’s old English language both understandable and laugh-out-loud funny. When the two of them shared the stage, each tried to scene-steal the other, with riotous results.
Dragging a stuffed dog beside him on a noose-like leash, ‘Launce’ got the most out of the sight gag of talking to the silly looking inanimate bulldog. (Director Harland’s solution to the town’s ordinance against ‘performing animals not allowed in the park’ was the brilliant introduction of a stuffed animal!)
The set, by Mary Myers, was perfect, simple, and had enough doors, stairs and balconies to satisfy all the action. Added to the built set, the wooded areas surrounding the stage were put to perfect use by the director and stage manager, Sarah Tschirpke. If bandits were required to be in a forest, well, in a forest they were!
The story, an Elizabethan melodrama/soap opera, is as silly as can be – love letters intended for the wrong recipients, a woman disguised as a pageboy, lost loves, and royal banishment and reconciliation that could only come from the antiquated pen of Shakespeare. But this production, fast-paced and broadly acted, overcomes all of the Bard’s endlessly long wordy speeches, and uses body language and pratfalls to explain the text to those unfamiliar with the play.
Fine performances by Enrique Bravo as Proteus, LC Kirk as Lucetta and veteran actor Edward Franklin also helped to give clarity and reality to the play.
Be sure to get your blanket and lawn chair ready for next season’s production. Go to www.thecolonialtheater.org, and mark your calendars!
Telecommute CT will work with qualified employers and employees to set up ‘at home’ telecommuting offices to “be prepared” for employee absenteeism due to the predicted fall swine-flu pandemic.
by Tony Schillaci and Don Church
Employers in Southeastern CT are being offered an opportunity to “be prepared” for employee absenteeism due to the predicted fall swine-flu pandemic. They are strongly urged to take advantage of a free contingency plan offered by the State of CT’s Telecommute CT (www.telecommuteCT.com).
Telecommute CT will work with qualified employers and employees to set up ‘at home’ telecommuting offices. A representative who is an information technologies (IT) specialist will go to the qualified employee’s home to set up an efficient and time-managed home office. They will recommend specific software and hardware applications based on each business’ exact needs, reconfigure office footprints, and allow employees to remotely continue their daily activities in the safety of their own homes.
By preparing now, employers would be able continue or restart this telecommute program in the event of severe weather, transportation disruption, or other health emergencies; key personnel could stay-at-home to work, keeping the business continuity going.
Currently, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is meeting to consider taking a public stand in favor of telecommuting, based partly on the evidence presented by the World Health Organization that the H1-N1 swine flu virus will cause major outbreaks this fall.
In only one week in July, Britain reported 100,000 new cases. A sign of what could be coming as new cases are reported daily throughout the US.
Jean Stimolo, Program Manager, Telecommute CT, recommends, “Connecticut employers would benefit greatly by planning ahead so that they are ready with a telecommuting option and are not caught off-guard when an employee’s access to the office is blocked or limited.”
Helene Kelly, Marketing Consultant, CT Economic Resource Center, Inc., advises that the key to successful integration of telecommuting into any continuity planning effort is preparation. The recent recession, combined with escalating gas prices dictated that many employees could work at home a few days a week, saving both time on the road, and money for the employer. Once gas prices reduced, many employers and employees chose to continue their company’s newly initiated telecommuting programs.
For assistance in developing a telecommuting option into your business, contact Telecommute CT at 1.800.255.7433, or tct@telecommuteCT.com.
