(l-r) The 2nd grade class, Richmond Elementary School and their teacher Terri Hamilton receive their award from Nancy Martin, WCCU Community Education Specialist.

(l-r) The 2nd grade class, Dunns Corners Elementary School and their teacher Pam Law receive their award from Nancy Martin, WCCU Community Education Specialist.

(l-r) Lianna Lombardo, teacher’s assistant, 3rd grade class, Dunns Corners Elementary School and their teacher Christina Lamb receive their award from Nancy Martin, WCCU Community Education Specialist.

(l-r) The 2nd grade class, Dunns Corners Elementary School and their teacher Peggy Gwaltney receive their award from Nancy Martin, WCCU Community Education Specialist.

Congratulations to Peggy Gwaltney, Pam Law, and Christina Lamb and her teacher’s assistant Lianna Lombardo all from Dunns Corners Elementary School and Terri Hamilton from Richmond Elementary School, for winning Westerly Community Credit Union’s Save For America School Savings Program Teachers’ Contest.  They taught their students financial education in different and fun ways and it has earned their classrooms a $100 Staples Gift Card.  WCCU held the Save For America contest throughout the school year for all of WCCU sponsored Save For America schools. 

Save For America has also selected an Ashaway Elementary student in its eighth annual National Super Saver Contest. Spencer Shiels was selected among 3,920 children grades K-8 who qualified for the National Super Saver 2010 contest.  Children qualified by making 10 or more savings deposits at school during the current year’s school banking program. Prize money for the winning students ranges from $25 to $200.

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Duane Cashin speaks to his audience about the challenges of standing out in today’s competitive business environment and gives them a renewed positive outlook.

story & photo
by Alexis Ann

People often feel that their work environment is competitive and they struggle with how to stand out in this perceived environment. Listening to Duane Cashin, the differentiation expert, makes people see things differently.

Duane draws from his 20-plus years of experience as a top salesman and entrepreneur to deliver clear insight on how to effectively differentiate one’s offering in today’s marketplace.

Duane brings his real-world experience to center stage, with the perfect blend of storytelling, humor, and passion. He uses his real-world experiences to easily relate to people in today’s work environment. During his speeches he challenges his audiences to rethink everything and as an author, his writing is candid, insightful and inspirational.

 Duane’s achievements, such as founding a company and growing it to a multi-million dollar enterprise, allow him to share credible and relevant insights. His entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his record of growth at startup firms and his team turnaround skills within large corporations.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Comcast presented “Establishing the Customer Connection!” A Seminar by Duane on April 22 at the Mystic Hilton.

 According to Duane, “In the year 1914, the product pitch was introduced.”  Duane stressed the importance of understanding the buying habits of people before making a pitch.

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Old Saybrook Fire Boat Christened May 23

The Old Saybrook Fire Department (OSFD) officially christened its new Fire Boat, the “Gordon B. Smith,” on Sunday, May 23rd, at Saybrook Point. The new boat was manufactured by Moose Boats of Petaluma, CA, and recently delivered to the all-volunteer department. It was placed into service after OSFD firefighters were trained in its operation. It boasts twin Mercury 300 h.p. Verado engines purchased locally at Oak Leaf Marina, Old Saybrook.

Scott Masse, owner, Oak Leaf Marina, provided invaluable assistance during the entire process of designing and constructing this boat. It is capable of pumping 1,000 gallons per minute. An enclosed all-weather cabin allows the boat to respond with both heat and air conditioning for the comfort of the crew, as well as patients being treated in the patient-treatment area. It also boasts advanced maritime and communications electronics, which will greatly assist the OSFD during search and rescue operations.

The boat is named for the first fire chief of the Old Saybrook Fire Department, Gordon B. Smith, who was born on Oct. 9, 1879. He served as Fire Chief from August 26, 1924, through November 13, 1929. He left office to serve as Old Saybrook’s until April 27, 1934. In 1935, he was elected as first selectman serving the town through the devastating 1938 Hurricane and World War II. He died in office on April 5, 1944.

Chief Smith’s daughter, Mary “Betty” VanZandt, Dover, VT,  travelled to Old Saybrook to officially break the ceremonial christening champagne bottle on the bow. At the completion of the short ceremony, visiting fire boats from area towns provided a “Wet Down” of the new OSFD Fire Boat. A Wet Down is a ritual celebrated by many fire departments in the United States, in which firefighters from neighboring towns ritualistically commission a new piece of fire apparatus by anointing it with water sprayed from the visitors’ firefighting equipment.

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