Alexis Ann, editor & publisher, the Resident, and Captain John Eginton, owner, Mystic Whaler Cruises, sailing on Fishers Island Sound sharing the good news of Ed Dean and Amy O’Conner’s 23rd wedding anniversary aboard the Mystic Whaler. See page 5.
by Alexis Ann
photo by Ed Dean
First and foremost, let’s put our hands together for the Old Mystic Fire Department on their August 25th trench rescue. A 17-year old boy from Scotland, CT, accidentally buried himself at East Beach, Charlestown, RI. Chief Kenneth Richards, Jr., and his squad saved a life…Appreciation here.
The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT is pleased to announce Dr. Raymond B. Johnson as the 2009 recipient of the William Crawford Distinguished Service Award. The Crawford Award is an honor given by the Chamber recognizing an outstanding member of the community who has contributed, not only to the quality of life in the region, but also to his or her fellow neighbors. Meet Ray here.
Congrats to our pro baseball team, the Defenders, on their first playoff appearance in seven years! Catch the score here. And, don’t forget to mark your calendar for the fourth annual Groton Fall Festival-October 10th!
The Moose Lodge in Bozrah held its 5th Annual Moose Riders Pig Roast Cook-off and I was there to taste some sumptuous pork! Meet the winners here. What a fun event and unique way to raise monies for local charities. Hats off!
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.
Chief Kenneth Richards, Jr., Old Mystic Fire Department, stands next to one of the rescue trucks at the fire deparment. He is proud of his squad for helping to rescue a 17-year-old boy who accidently buried himself at East Beach, Charlestown, RI.
story & photo
by Christopher Annino
Under the devote leadership of Chief Kenneth Richards, Jr., the Old Mystic Fire Department (OMFD) is known as always being prepared.
On August 25th, the OMFD’s knowledge and skills were tested when they received an urgent 911 call. A 17-year-old boy from Scotland, CT, accidentally buried himself at East Beach, Charlestown, RI.
“A lot of times the trench rescue can be fatal. The most important thing when someone is stuck in a hole, especially, if it is sand, is not to panic. The more the victim moves the more they will be entrapped,” said Chief Richards.
The unearthing process took the efforts of Lt. Keven Czapla, FF Kristen Ihde, AE Shawn Kotfer, FF Craig Mateyov, Sr., FF Craig Mateyov, Jr., FF Ryan Parker, Lt. Jared Priest, Lt. Benjamin Ragdale, FF Geraldine Richards, Lt. Keith Richards, Chief Richards, and Engineer Chris Stearns, OMFD, to save the boys life. The young man survived and was sent via Life Star to the Rhode Island Hospital. This story gained national attention and was shown on a number of global news stations.
“This was our first trench rescue because we just got certified, so I am very proud of my squad. The department owes a great thanks to the Town of Stonington for purchasing our rescue vehicle that we used,” said Chief Richards.
Chief Richards is one of 30 people on the National Fire Protection Association Board of Directors. He was asked to develop training standards for the USA and Canada.
The OMFD has over 20 active members that are MRT, EMT, and/or Fire Fighter certified. The fire department also has several rescue teams that are certified in technical trench, rope, core, open water, advanced open water, and black water rescue. Each fire fighter must put in a great deal of their time to train, some training programs being 144 hours. The fire department’s dive team’s skills and readiness for action have been crucial for many vital rescues this year. So far this summer, they were called to three major dive rescues.
The Old Mystic Fire Department is always looking for volunteers, if interested please call 860.572.0434.
Stephen C. White, President & CEO, Mystic Seaport, has a strong vision for the future of the Museum as did founder Carl C. Cutler, shown in the painting.
story & photo
by Alexis Ann
Last January 15th, some 80 years after the story of the Mystic Seaport began with the incorporation of the Marine Historical Association, Stephen White, former headmaster of the Fay School, Southborough, MA, took its lead position as President and Chief Executive Officer. Stephen, a cheerful, enthusiastic, ambitious, down-to-earth, market-savvy leader has a strong vision for the future of the Seaport. He stresses the importance of the Seaport’s connection to our community as did the three founders: Carl C. Cutler, a lawyer from a seafaring family, Charles K. Stillman, a New York doctor who had returned to Mystic to live in the house of his grandfather, shipbuilder Clark Greenman; and Edward Bradley, a local silk manufacturer.
Reciprocity
The new president’s mission? “Intensifying our focus on community relations.” He poses, “How can we (Mystic Seaport) be a more effective partner to the community?” Stephen adds, “A strong healthy Mystic is important to the Seaport and a strong healthy Seaport is important to Mystic.”
Legacy
As a young boy growing up on the coast of Maine, Stephen developed a deep passion for the sea and sailing. Explaining the legacy of the Mystic area, “Before the Seaport was here as a museum, this place had a legacy of the sea. This area was a hub for maritime industry. The three largest ships ever built in Connecticut, including the famous Davy Crockett, were built here.” Today, this legacy lives on through the marinas and boating activities on the Mystic River. “The Museum represents the legacy of the past.”
Culture of a Museum
“The hardest part of non-profits is managing the culture of the institution. Embracing and nurturing the culture while moving it in a positive direction-a dynamic direction so it sustains itself. Unlike other types of businesses, if we have to make more money, we can’t step up production of something. We have to inspire donors to give more. We have to acquire more grants. We have to inspire a visitor to come visit us and then, make them want to come back, time after time.”
Dreams for Future
“My dream is that every fourth grader in the State of Connecticut will have the opportunity to walk across our campus and experience all that Mystic Seaport is. With budget cuts and the financial struggles of educating our kids, we need to enrich the experience of our elementary school children. They need to go to places like here. Through partnerships with statewide organizations and our fundraising efforts, I’m hoping we can provide a free experience for fourth graders.”
Goal
“My first goal is: How do we get every fourth grader in New London County the opportunity to come experience the Mystic Seaport next year. To date, we’ve raised $450,000 to endow this program. We are working with other major businesses in this area to participate in the funding of this program.”
“My second goal is to provide teachers access to our knowledge of U.S. History and our knowledge of maritime history through webinars and online resources.”
It was the Connecticut Sun that gave the 101-year old, Mystic Seaport’s steamboat Sabino its sparkle on September 3rd. Four athletes from the playoff-hopeful WNBA team joined fans for an evening cruise in an effort to raise awareness among school children for the nation’s leading maritime museum. Proceeds from the event went to a new Mystic Seaport initiative to provide greater access to the museum for local school children.
It was a brilliant day for local school kids like Mackenzie Braymar, who took the opportunity to take pictures with Erin Phillips, one of her favorite WNBA players. Connecticut Sun’s guard Lindsey Whalen mingled among guests, while players Asjha Jones and Sandrine Gruda signed autographs for fans. Steve White, President, Mystic Seaport, a retired teacher and field-trip advocate, took the helm of the Sabino, which is the last coal-fired steamboat in operation in the country.
The Connecticut Sun and the Mystic Seaport are key components of a vibrant community in Southeastern Connecticut that brings people from all around the state together for entertainment and education. There are many connections in the network between Mystic Seaport and the Connecticut Sun, including the Mike O’Farrell, Public Relations Manager, Mystic Seaport, who is the voice behind the broadcasted cheers at Connecticut Sun games.
Mystic Seaport has it’s own working shipyard featuring tall ships, as well as a re-created 19th century village, exhibits, and a planetarium. For information on Mystic Seaport, visit www.mysticseaport.org. For information on the Connecticut Sun, visit www.wnba.com/sun.
The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is pleased to announce Dr. Raymond B. Johnson as the 2009 recipient of the William Crawford Distinguished Service Award. The Crawford Award is an honor given by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut recognizing an outstanding member of the community who has contributed not only to the quality of life in the region but also to his or her fellow neighbors.
Dr. Johnson is the retired Senior Associate Director of Clinical Research at Pfizer, where he worked to further clinical development on drugs treating everything from typhoid fever to sexually transmitted diseases. He was honored with the Central Research Achievement Award by Pfizer for his contributions to Zithromax. Before starting his career at Pfizer, he served as Commanding Officer of the Naval Hospital at Bethesda, MD, overseeing 2,500 military and civilian staff.
He is a member of nearly 20 years on the Board of Trustees at the Waterford Country School. His leadership as Board member and Vice Chairman of the Board prompted the school to name its medical center for him. Earlier this year, he completed a productive and successful tenure on the Board of Directors at Natchaug Hospital, Mansfield, where he served seven of his nine years on the Board as its Chairman.
Dr. Johnson is a Corporator at The William W. Backus Hospital and Dime Bank, and served previously as a member of the Board of Directors of Summer Music. In 2008, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Connecticut’s African American Affairs Commission.
His alma mater, Dartmouth College, where he was one of only a dozen African-American students at the time, honored him years later with an Honorary Doctorate Degree. Dr. Johnson and his wife, Arlene, live in Noank. They have four children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The Crawford Award Dinner honoring Dr. Johnson will be held in November.
