39 Midway Oval, Groton, before The Connection’s community development project.
by Tyler Williams
The Connection Fund, Inc., held a ribbon cutting at the recently completed construction at 39 Midway Oval in the Poquonnock area of Groton. The project removed a blighted house which impacted the surrounding neighborhood, and replaced it with a new and affordable three bedroom single family home with a garage.
Heide Erb, Director of Communications, The Connection said, “It was in impossible condition to do a gut rehab on this project the structure/foundation was seriously compromised. No materials were reused, parts of the house required asbestos abatement work for the demolition. The original materials were substandard.” The new construction enhances the value of surrounding properties in the neighborhood while bringing an affordable homeownership opportunity to a local family.
“This is another great opportunity where The Connection was able to remove a blighted structure, and replace it with a new, affordable home for a family here in Connecticut. We continue to strive to keep our communities thriving and provide homeownership opportunities,” said Peter Nucci, President and CEO, The Connection.
39 Midway Oval, Groton, a new three bedroom single family home with a garage.
“Because this home is affordable to this family, we can keep them here in Groton, here in Connecticut,” said Jane Dauphinais, Director, Southeastern Connecticut Housing Alliance. “Hard working families have a hard time becoming homeowners because home prices have risen so much faster in this region than average incomes. Thanks to the great job by The Connection, this family becomes stakeholders and can share in that prosperity.”
Heide Erb said, “The home is a very good value and the owners are valuable members of the community.”
Mayor Jim Streeter thanked the developer and welcomed the new homeowners, “What great work by The Connection and a great investment by the new homebuyers. We are happy when families invest in our community because they feel a deepened commitment to it. Efforts like this benefit the whole town. We’re proud that, as Groton residents, you decided to make the commitment to buy your first home here. Welcome!”
“I think one of the most important things to understand about this work completed by The Connection is that projects like these that add stability to our workers and their families represent key ingredients that shape our region’s economic future,” said John Beauregard, Executive Director, Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board. “When we don’t have suitable housing that’s affordable to our workforce, we significantly impair our ability to grow economically in the future.”
“My thoughts were short, my hair was long,” Kid Rock sings.
by Alexis Ann
Kid Rock, the self proclaimed “Devil Without a Cause,” performed in the Mohegan Sun Arena on February 13th. His intriguing mix of rock, hip-hop, country, and funk left the crowd screaming for more.
Kid’s awesome talent and endless energy amped up the crowd as he moved from one instrument to another ending with his drum solo.
Kid performed his worldwide hit single, “All Summer Long” – a song reminiscent of Lynrd Skynard’s “Sweet Home Alabama” – and a variety of covers including “Everyday People” (Sly & The Family Stone) and “Tumblin Dice” (Rolling Stones). Midway through the concert, Kid brought Peter Wolf, lead vocalist for the J Geils Band, onstage to rock out to “Must A Got Lost” and “Love Stinks.”
The crowd howled and stomped the bleachers, the noise reverberating throughout the 10,000 seat arena, as they begged for an encore. Kid responded with “So Hott” and rock anthem “Bawitdaba.” At the end of the concert, Kid, shirtless, sweaty, and just barely keeping his pants up, shouted, “God bless and ROCK ON!”
On February 5th, Aaron Lewis, lead singer and co-founder of Staind, performed his 36th show at Mohegan Sun. Prior to the concert, Aaron was inducted into Mohegan Sun’s Walk of Fame. Aaron performed solo acoustic versions of his well-known hits, as well as, covers of popular songs requested by the audience. The fan favorites were “It’s Been A While” – the most played song of the decade on Rock radio – and a cover of Alice in Chains’ “Rooster” that did Layne Staley proud. This amazingly talented songwriter and musician even diverted from his usual rock style to play an impromptu version of Kermit The Frog’s “Rainbow Connection.” With only a stool and a guitar, Aaron Lewis proved why he is the innovator of some of the most memorable songs of the past decade and Mohegan Sun is the perfect venue to enjoy his talent.
Singer and songwriter, Sophie B. Hawkins performed in the Wold Den at Mohegan Sun on February 18th
story & photo
by Christopher Annino
Sophie B. Hawkins performed in the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun on February 18th. She gave a demonstration of epic proportions of her gifts. She played some of her early works and material from her upcoming album “Dream Street and Chance.” The song “Missing,” is a tribute to her father who recently passed away. Sophie said, “I wrote this song when I got off the phone, after my sister told me my father passed away.”
Sophie later added, “I am more relaxed and aware of things, I am more independent with this album I wrote it and produced it. My entire career I used to try to fight for more creativity. I have more confidence with out worrying so much about the outcome.”
Sophie B. Hawkins emerged in 1992 onto the music scene with her debut album, “Tongues & Tails.” “I started out as a drummer and then gradually moved to wanting to switch to a vocalist,” said Sophie. The album went gold, earned her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, and fired a single, “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover,” into the Top Five. Another gold album, “Whaler,” followed two years later along with the single, “As I Lay Me Down” that charted in Billboard for a record-breaking sixty-seven weeks. Other albums that followed were “Timbre” in 1999, 2004 “Wilderness,” 2006 “Live Album Bad Kitty Board Mix.” Much happened in the past few years in Sophie’s life. She became a proud mother of son, Dasheill, and she is hard at work writing a Broadway musical for Kristin Chenoweth.
For more information, go to the official Sophie B. Hawkins website www.sophiebhawkins.com.
Providence’s Peter Manfredo Jr. attacks Matt Vanda in a middleweight Main Event at Mohegan Sun. Manfredo was the busier, more aggressive fighter over ten rounds and the Rhode Islander landed a big left hook to the floating rib in round six that put Vanda on one knee. The crowd enjoyed Manfredo’s work rate, chanting: Pete-ah, Pete-ah! as he pursued Vanda, pressuring him throughout the bout. With the decision win, Manfredo improved to 34-6 (18) while Matt Vanda dropped to 42-10 (22).
