September 2, 2009

Top Dog Rufus Visits Mystic

Top Dog Rufus traveled from his hometown of Holmel, NJ, to lend a paw in the first ever Dog Days at Mystic Seaport, August 28th – 30th. Rufus kicked off the weekend with a ride on Pizzetta’s famous fire truck before a cocktail party at The Ancient Mariner on August 27th. Proceeds collected from the weekend supported the restoration of the Charles W. Morgan. (l-r) Chris Owens, owner, Pizzeta, Skip Torraca, Ancient Mariner, Florence Tambone, Rufus, Barbara Bishop, Rufus’ Mom, Richard Prisby, The Whaler’s Inn, and Tom Bishop, Rufus’ Dad, stand in front of the famous Pizzetta Fire Truck during Rufus’ visit to Academy Point, Mystic.

New London Ledge Lighthouse:
A Century of Service

To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Ledge Lighthouse and to kick off fundraising efforts, the Centennial Gala was held at the Port ‘n Starboard at Ocean Beach on September 25th. In 1988, the New London Ledge Lighthouse Foundation, a non-profit organization, received a thirty-year lease from the Coast Guard.  The Foundation wants to raise $40,000 to restore and preserve this landmark, a lighthouse that is one of the best known in America and a symbol of our area.

September 16, 2009

Moose Lodge Pig Roast Cook-off

On Saturday, August 15th, the Bozrah Moose Lodge held their Fifth Annual Moose Riders Pig Roast Cook-off. They raised approximately $4300 and around 400 people attended the event.  The money that was raised is used throughout the year to help various local charities and those in the community who are in need. (l-r) The winners of the Fifth Annual CT Moose Riders Rig Roast Cook Off was the Moose Lodge 950 Team,  Dave George, Little Mike, Andre St. George, Collin Laffey, Alexis Laffey, and Kevin Dubicki.

Taylor Swift Reaches SUN Status

(l-r) Mohegan Sun honored Taylor Swift with a star on their Walk of Fame. Mitchell Ettess, President & CEO, Mohegan Sun, Taylor Swift, and Lynn Malerba, Vice Chairwoman, Mohegan Tribe, during the induction ceremony on August 28th in front of the Mohegan Sun Arena box office. Taylor sold out her Mohegan Sun show in a record breaking two minutes.

Connecticut Sun Shines on Sabino

(l-r, front row) Sandrine Gruda, Asjha Jones, Lindsay Whalen, and Erin Phillips, team members, Connecticut Sun, and (l-r, back row) Steve White, President, and Michael O’Farrel, Public Relations Manager, Mystic Seaport, enjoy a beautiful day on board the Mystic Seaport’s Sabino, to raise awareness among school children about the maritime museum on September 3rd.

Stephen C. White Leads Seaport into the Future

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 has a strong vision for the future of the Museum as did founder Carl C. Cutler, shown in the painting.

September 30, 2009

Angel Swim for Cancer

Fred Brooke, Lyme, remains on track to swim across the US-Canadian border in August, 2012 – 10 years after his first “Angel Swim” across Long Island Sound to begin raising money for children with cancer. This past August, Fred completed the most recent leg in his 850-mile solo charity swim called, Angel Swim New England, after swimming between the Maine cities of Portland and Port Clyde, August 7 – 13.

Battle Between the Bridges

(l-r) Megan Malmoe, Jessi Reel, Jon Winter, Brian DeRegt, Sam Stitt and James Dietz II are this year’s winners of the 7th Annual “Battle Between the Bridges,” held on September 19th in Downtown Mystic.

David Whitehead Achieves His Ultimate Dream

This past July, David Whitehead, took the lead position as Chief Executive Officer and President of Backus Hospital, the community hospital where he was born 49 years ago. David joined Backus in 1999 and served as Vice President for Planning since 2003. “Leadership skills never stop developing. If you want to continue along a career path that you set for yourself and you want to obtain that ultimate dream, you have a personal responsibility to develop your own skill set and your own tool box,” says David.

Downtown Mystic Streetscape Project

The official kick-off for a $910,000 project funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), began with a groundbreaking ceremony on September 14th at Mystic River Park. (l-r) Mystic Fire Chief Fritz Hilbert, Najib O. Habesch, VP, Urban Engineers, Bill Haase, Director of Planning, Tricia Cunningham, President, Mystic Chamber of Commerce, Stonington Second Selectman Peter Ballestracci, Stonington First Selectman Ed Haberek, Jr., Jenny Contois, Office of Congressman Joe Courtney, Sharon Beebe, Milton Beebe Co., Pat McLaughlin, Chief Inspector, Urban Engineers, Stonington Police Chief Darren Stewart, Joe Bragaw, Director, Stonington Public Works, and Barbara Majedek, CT DOT.