Duane Cashin, motivational speaker and author, shares with Alexis Ann, editor & publisher, the Resident, “Creativity is a competitive advantage!”
Summer heats up and so does the “good news” around the region! First, congratulations to The Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa and its signature steakhouse, Octagon, honored with the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award. This is the ninth consecutive year the hotel is awarded four diamonds and the seventh consecutive recognition for Octagon. Congrats here.
Congratulations to Bill Turner, Regional Director of External & Government Affairs, AT&T, who was presented Natchaug Hospital’s Distinguished Service Award in recognition for his advocacy on behalf of improving educational opportunities for at-risk youth. Meet Bill here.
Celebrate the sizzle of education and our hardworking students! We compiled an extensive list of academic achievers around the region that the Resident Team thought is important to give accolades to.
Helping to build a future home for the Birriel Family–The amazing efforts of the local women who participated to give back as part of Habitat for Humanity’s National Women Build Week. Lowe’s was instrumental in helping by granting a $5000 gift card and by organizing some in-store training with practical lessons for the women. More here.
For your chance to win tickets to the Work Vessel for Veterans benefit concert featuring Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason formally of Traffic, Kal David and the Real Deal, on June 4th, be the first to submit the correct answers to the crossword puzzle by Tuesday, June 1st.
Remember those who have lost their lives defending liberty and have a safe and happy Memorial Day!
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.
WWII veteran Roger “Raz” Ingraham shares his stories with the Resident’s very own, Angela Olsen.
by Angela Olsen
Who knew that on a gloomy and rainy Saturday afternoon, on my first assignment for the Resident, I would meet a wonderful friend? As I made my way through the AmericanWarrior meeting at the Rose City Senior Center, Norwich, I noticed a man with bright, smiling eyes. Nervous to begin snapping photos, I quietly started with Roger “Raz” Ingraham. He kindly obliged, and the meeting proceeded, giving the AmericanWarriors all of the pertinent information about their exciting trip to Washington DC to visit the World War II Memorial.
As I continued my mini-interviews, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder, and it was “Raz.” I already interviewed him and he told me that he feels he “got off easy by training people” – not having to leave the country during the War, but working in an Air Force training facility. He originally enlisted in the Air Force, because as he puts it, it was cleaner, “If you went down in the Air Force, you could kiss your ass goodbye!”
I sense a bit of guilt for his fallen brothers, when he says he “got off easy,” but you don’t grow to be a spunky and vivacious 89-year-old by luck, or guilt.
Roger is a classic and quintessential gentleman. His life is one of adventure. He tells me stories of his grandmother, who gave birth to five children aboard a square-rigged-ship out of both New York and Boston. He says that “those were the days when the Captain would head into bars, and shanghai drunkards, take them out to sea, and make men of them!” Wow, I thought, what a hangover that must have been! Mama Mia!
I was surprised when Roger made an impromptu trip of over an hour, from Enfield to Noank Village to visit with me. We ate steamers, clams casino, while sipping on whiskey as he told me more remarkable stories. I had to know more about this grandmother who was so far ahead of her time!
When life at sea became too much for his granny, she took a horse and buggy to Hawk’s Nest Old Lyme. Quite the pioneer, she bought two or three cottages for $1900.
Roger talks of trips to Block Island on his father’s 30-foot sloop, and how they loved to dig for clams. However, one time, when all they had left on board were clams, he says that “Nobody made it to work the next day, the clams sat in the stomach like bricks!”
There was no shortage of tears, as Roger told us about how he met his wife, Margaret Jane Parker at Hawk’s Nest Beach. Roger asked Margaret to sail with him and a few other friends for a weekend on Block Island, where he decided that she was going to be his wife. To this day, a painting of her yellow and black bikini, hanging from the mast of the boat, is on display at a bar on the east end of the Island. Roger was married to Margaret for 62 years.
I don’t care what “Raz” says about getting off easy, there is something to be said for being a kind, loyal, and positive person. That is a magnificent contribution to this great Nation, and I am learning so much from him.
(l-r) Personnel Specialist Third Class Ronn Erick Arnecillo Rios, Navy Operational Support Center, Subase, and other current and former members of the United States military were given the oath of citizenship by the Honorable Warren W. Eginton, Senior United States District Judge, on May 14 at the Submarine Force Library and Museum, Groton.
Being a citizen of the United States of America is something that many people who are born here take for granted, but for those who hail from different countries around the world, becoming an American citizen is a day they will cherish forever.
The day before Armed Forces day was just that for 12 current and former members of the U.S. military. They became naturalized citizens of the United States on May 14, during a ceremony at the Submarine Force Library and Museum with historic ship Nautilus serving as the back drop.
“It is indeed appropriate that this special Military Appreciation Naturalization Ceremony take place here, in front of the world’s first nuclear powered vessel and the forerunner our Nuclear Navy,” said Captain Marc W. Denno, Commanding Officer, Naval Submarine Base New London, as he welcomed the distinguished guests and soon-to-be American citizens. “The man whose vision, determination, and leadership led to the harnessing of the atom for submarine propulsion and the construction of Nautilus, was himself a naturalized citizen.”
Capt. Denno spoke of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, ‘The Father of the Nuclear Navy,’ who immigrated from Makow, Russia to the U.S. when he was six years old.
One of the service members who became a naturalized citizen during the ceremony has a similar story. Personnel Specialist Third Class Ronn Erick Arnecillo Rios from the Navy Operational Support Center immigrated from Cavite, Philippines with his parents when he was three years old.
“It feels great to finally be a citizen of the country I so proudly serve,” said Ronn. “It was my dad’s dream to come to America and join the military. When he was unable to enlist I decided that when I was old enough I would make his dream a reality and have a member of our family proudly serve in America’s military.”
Congressman Joe Courtney was the keynote speaker for this first such Connecticut based U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) ceremony to take place at a military installation. He commended the new citizens for having taken two oaths: the first to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and the second to now become citizens.
The Honorable Warren W. Eginton, Senior United States District Judge, presided over the ceremony, delivering the oath of citizenship and reminding the newest Americans to remember their obligations in self-government: to vote and to respond to a call for jury service.
Participants hailed from Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Philippines, and the Peoples Republic of China, Poland and Peru. “We all look forward to your continuing contributions to the American story,” Capt. Denno concluded.
(l-r, back row) Amy Parulis, Niantic, Amanda Duntz, Colchester, Laura Zawadzke, Guilford, Lindsey Kieffaber, Greenwich, (front row) Mary Jane Piela, Niantic, Dominique Moncrieffe, Lowe’s, Diana Lozada, Norwich (future Habitat homeowner), Kristie Smith, Human Resource Manager, Lowe’s, former Senator Melodie Peters, Old Lyme, Terri O’Rourke, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of SECT, Cara Pianka, Clinton, Amy D’Amico, volunteer, Habitat for Humanity of SECT, Julie Savin, Stonington, Mary Charlton, Old Lyme and Debbie Webster, Guilford, participate in Women Build Week.
On Saturday, May 8th the day before Mother’s Day, several local women turned out at a site on Fitch Avenue in New London, to give back as part of Habitat for Humanity’s National Women Build Week. The weather was cold and damp, but that didn’t stop these ladies, who are eager to see progress made on a home for Sarita Birriel, a single mother to six children!
The local chapter of Women Build, is largely supported by The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme and Lowe’s. Lowe’s granted a $5000 gift card to Lowe’s stores and also organized some in-store training with practical lessons for women. Kristie Smith, Human Resource Manager, Lowe’s, says the Women Build Clinic on drywall and insulation installation is remarkable because, “We are not all builders at heart.”
When asked what inspires former Senator Melodie Peters, she said, “I have always had a passion, an excitement of sorts upon seeing a SOLD sign in front of a house…. Just knowing that a family will be moving in soon and making it home.” Melanie now resides in Old Lyme and is a Deacon at The First Congregational Church.
Women Build built over 1650 houses since 1998, and shows no sign of slowing down. Sarita Birriel is not alone in needing acceptable housing, in fact, over 12 million children, that means one out of every six kids, are living in poor conditions in this country.
Amy D’Amico, who works in the local office for Habitat for Humanity in New London, set the build off with quotations from Helen Keller and Virginia Woolf. She began volunteering in college and was so moved that it is now a part of her life. Amy wants people to know that “Women Build is an awesome program, about empowering people and learning valuable skills.”
Myra Day gifted quilting teacher of Gales Ferry holds up an original quilt designed by herself. Myra never tires of making quilts and vests such as the one she is wearing. She donates many quilts to community members.
story & photo
by Maren Schober
If you ever have the desire to learn how to quilt and start looking around for a teacher, you are bound to come across Myra Day of Gales Ferry. More than thirty years ago Myra started making quilts at the encouragement of her husband, Bill and today, she is just as enthusiastic about quilting as she was in the beginning. She never tires of it.
“When I was a young newlywed,” Myra tells me, “Bill gave me a Singer sewing machine for Christmas. He encouraged me to save my sewing scraps from all the dresses I made so that I could make quilts. There were very few quilting books on the market so I thought I could teach myself. I quickly found out what works and what doesn’t. I took a quilting class from a wonderful mentor, Barbara McKie. After that I was hooked on quilting! I learned the entire process from piecing patches into blocks and blocks into quilt tops to hand quilting the quilt itself. Over the coming years I became accomplished at it..”
The Navy relocated Bill and Myra to Hawaii where Myra became keenly interested in Hawaiian quilting. She learned from Hawaiian ladies who were expert quilters there.
“My first king sized Hawaiian quilt took me three years to complete,” Myra declares. “It won the Best of Show at quilt and art shows. Today, it remains one of my favorites.”
In the 1980’s Myra made the switch from hand quilting to making quilts by machine. “Machine quilting is a technique that requires practice, practice, practice!” Myra acknowledges. “I love it because it allows me to pursue my creative spirit in a free form way.”
Myra teaches quilting classes through the Ledyard Parks and Recreation Dept. “It is a great way to meet people who want to learn the art of quilting. Quilting brings the thrill of success in creating something beautiful and useful at the same time.”
If you walk into the sanctuary of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Gales Ferry, you will discover a large sampler quilt made by Myra hanging almost from ceiling to floor on the back wall. “I designed and hand quilted this quilt for my church’s 30th anniversary. Many of the church members were asked to create a personal design on a square using a 12” muslin background that they were given. They became very creative! After I received the completed squares, I put them together in a sampler design and quilted the quilt.”
Over the years Myra donated many of her quilts to community members and non-profit organizations. “I made a quilt for one of the participants in the Survivors Of Homicide meetings I was attending in connection with my ministerial course. I made this quilt to aid in the grieving process in which the quilt would bring happy memories and comfort. I find it very rewarding to assist in the healing process through quilt making.”
“I love every part of the quilting process from the minute I dream up an idea to the final result. In addition to teaching quilting, I provide consultation services for quilting needs or making commissioned quilts.” You can contact Myra at 860.334.5732
