“Heff the mighty gardener. My rooster loves to help me garden, especially when there’s bugs to be had,” said Debbie Sposato, Voluntown. “He’s a good boy though, he never damages the plants and always leaves behind some organic fertilizer.”
Purina Mills® announces the winners of America’s Fanciest and Funniest Chicken Photo Contest®, and Debbie Sposato, Voluntown, and her bird Heffner were named one of the fanciest.
All contestants entered pictures of their fanciest bird struttin’ his stuff or their funkiest chicken doin’ his funniest thing. Winners were selected for both the fanciest and funniest categories based on originality, overall artistic composition, use of color and photo quality.
Ten grand prize winners in each category receive a one-year’s supply of a Purina® SunFresh® Recipe poultry feed of their choice for one bird. All other winners receive recognition and a Purina® SunFresh® Recipe apron.
Raising chickens is growing in popularity as people look for ways to save on food cost and control their food choices. From the farm to the backyard, chicken raising provides a healthy and educational alternative. Purina Mills is a poultry raising resource for communities throughout the country for both poultry raising experts and beginners.
“Raising poultry for eggs and meat is a tradition farm families have shared for many generations,” said Mary Corley, marketing manager for Purina Mills. “We are excited to help families, wherever they may live, learn the value of raising their own poultry. Whether on the farm, or in town, people like knowing their eggs are fresh and all natural.”
(l-r) Bruce Sullivan, Nick Distasio and Rod Coleman celebrate Nick’s last day at the Mystic Drawbridge house.
After 35 years at the Mystic Drawbridge house, Nick Distasio is retiring. He is originally from Brooklyn, NY and moved to New England in 1968 when his father’s job at the Brooklyn Navy Yard moved to Groton.
Nick’s time at the Mystic Drawbridge house has been an extremely fulfilling part of Nick’s life and he says, “I’ve had a lot of nice experiences with people in downtown and with the beautiful vessels that I’ve let through.”
Many unexpected people have sailed their vessels along the Mystic River including some well known celebrities. During his time working at the bridge, Nick has met some of these celebrities, including Billy Joel, Clint Eastwood and Steven Speilberg who were all enjoying some relaxing time on the Mystic River.
Those are not the only ones that Nick met over the years and he even joked that he had a, “Standing lunch,” at a catering truck with Julia Roberts while she was filming the movie Mystic Pizza. She told him how beautiful she thought Mystic was and that she was enjoying the time that she spent here.
Nick also had a small part in the movie and was shown working at the bridge house, but his scene was cut out.
“You’re your own boss,” says Nick, of working at the drawbridge house, which is part of what he really enjoyed about his job. Although he is retiring, he will continue to visit the bridge and plans on coming down to Mystic to see what work will be done on it next November.
The rehab of the bridge will be a tremendous project in which the State will restore Mystic’s drawbridge by repainting it, checking and replacing bolts and looking over the bridge for general maintenance.
Right now, the Department of Transportation does not have a replacement for Nick, but his friends, Rod Coleman and Bruce Sullivan, who also work at the bridge, will fill in for him until they find someone.
Nick had a small get together upstairs in the tiny drawbridge house with his friends and brother. They celebrated his time at the Drawbridge and his retirement. The celebration was complete with Mystic Pizza’a own pies and an assortment of doughnuts.
The friends spent time talking and making jokes on what was Nick’s last day at work.
Nick lives in Norwich, where he moved with his family when they first left Brooklyn in 1968.
LuLu Kiley, owner, Captain Daniel Packer Inne is the recipient of the 2009 Employer of the Year Award.
As part of the celebration, the 2009 Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner will be held on December 10th at the Mystic Marriott, Groton. This year, the recipients of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards are Volunteer of the Year – David Silvia, Employer of the Year – LuLu Kiley, owner, Captain Daniel Packer Inne. This year the Chamber is also pleased to recognize two Community Service Award recipients: Neil Kluepfel and The Washington Trust Company.
The Community Service Award will be given to Neil Kluepfel and Washington Trust for their unwavering commitment to the Mystic community. Neil Kluepfel’s energy, positive attitude and cheerfulness touch the lives of thousands. Neil provided significant contributions in terms of his talent and generous financial support to local groups that seek to meet the needs of the Mystic area’s most vulnerable citizens.
The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2009 Employer of the Year Award recipient is LuLu Kiley. She was nominated by members of her management team, daughter Allison Kiley Nasin, Judy Hartley and Chaz Paull.
This year’s recipient is especially deserving of the 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award: David Silvia. If you know David, you know the meaning of having a positive attitude. He worked at Pfizer for more than 30 years while running additional businesses, ranging from snow removal, appliance repair to tree removal. He also owns Patriotic Waves, a home based business that sells flags, flag products and installs flagpoles.
David serves on the Executive Board for MilitarySEEDS™ and he is a member and an extremely active volunteer of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce and the Groton Business Association (GBA). As a volunteer you can always count on David Sylvia; he is always present with bright ideas and new initiatives, ready to take the lead. David always has a kind word and encourages guidance for those around. He is constantly upbeat. Through his positive attitude, he motivates those around him to do their best, as well.
David Silvia is the recipient of the 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award. The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce will present the award on December 10, at the Mystic Marriott, Groton.
Saturday, November 21, Bobby Flay, world re-knowned chef, restauranteur, television personality and cookbook author, hosted a private party for more than 200 guests for the opening of his new restaurant Bar Americain. Bobby’s 276 seat restaurant is located at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville. The restaurant features European brasserie fare. Also featured are many spirits reflecting the commitment to all things American, including a variety of bourbons (which is his favorite). Bobby says he now has 10 restaurants, with this being the second Bar Americain. The first one opened in New York in 2005. Mohegan Sun is also home to Bobby’s fourth Bobby’s Burger Palace (BBP) which opened there on July 1, 2009. BBP presents Bobby’s love for the grill in his extensive selection of burgers inspired by America’s regional flavors and traditions. You can also find that the bar list is the only place he moved away from the (All American) theme, by including wines from all over the world.
The menu includes American regional cuisine, with dishes inspired by Native American tradition, a hint of Southwest flair, and a little Southern touch. The guests enjoyed the evening as they sampled the non-stop appetizers that were passed around. These included some of his specialties like lobster-avocado cocktail, tuna tartare on a potato chip, to name a couple.
Mitchell Etess, President and CEO, Mohegan Sun, graciously took time to pose for a photo and stated, “We’re really excited to be bringing this product in now.”
Amongst the many guests, was Bobby’s wife, Stephanie March (an American actress, best known for her portrayal of Alexandra Cabot in the television series (Law & Order, SVU New York), and his mother, Dorothy Flay.
Also in attendance was architect David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group, who designed Bar Americain by incorporating the design of the original Bar Americain in New York City with the theatrics of Mohegan Sun. At 11,500 square feet, the facade of the restaurant faces the hotel lobby, Casino of the Sky, and Taughannick Falls.
Bar Americain’s bar and lounge, also located off the hotel lobby, is open seven days a week from 11:00am until closing. The restaurant is open for dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5:00pm until 11:00pm and Friday and Saturday from 5:00pm until midnight.
Sara Gates greets her husband, Machinists Mate Second Class Sean Gates with the traditional “first kiss” during the Los Angeles-Class Submarine USS Memphis (SSN 691) homecoming to Naval Submarine Base New London.
by MC1 Steven Myers photos by ET1 John Sabados
The Los Angeles-Class Submarine USS Memphis (SSN 691) returned to Naval Submarine Base New London Saturday, Nov. 21 after a seven-month deployment with the USS Bataan (LHD 5) Expeditionary Strike Group in the U.S. European and Central Command areas of responsibility.
For the Sailors aboard, it was more than just a homecoming; it was an opportunity to be with the family for the holidays.
“We’re going to Disney World,” said first hug recipient Megan Jackson. “Our daughter Kandyce turns five on Thanksgiving Day, so it’s dinner with the princesses this year. She is so excited that Daddy gets to be there too.”
First kiss winner Sara Gates had to contend with her own fears amid the excitement.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t cry,” she said. “It’s been so long. Two hundred and four days but who’s counting.”
Memphis commanding officer Cmdr. Glenn Pendrick may have counted days; he definitely counted the miles.
“We traveled nearly 42,000 miles,” said Pendrick. “The crew did an outstanding job throughout our time away, and I am incredibly proud of their accomplishments.”
Attack submarines like Memphis are designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships; project power ashore with Tomahawk cruise missiles and special operation forces; carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions; support carrier strike groups; and engage in mine warfare.
Machinists Mate Second Class Robert Jackson greets his family, wife Megan; four-year-old Kandyce; and 16 month-old R.J. with the “first hug” at the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Memphis (SSN 691) homecoming to Naval Submarine Base New London. Memphis returned following a seven month deployment to the U.S. European and Central Command areas of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Electronics Technician First Class John Sabados.
