The Third Annual Pajama Drive is nearing its end with hundreds of pajamas collected. More are needed to meet or surpass the goal of 1500 new winter pajamas. The Westerly Armory, site of sorting and storage is abuzz as volunteers box pj’s in kid sizes from infant to teens. These will be distributed by fi ve local agencies during the first two weeks of December: River Front Day Care, Groton; Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center; RICAN, and the Jonny Cake Centers in Westerly and Peace Dale, RI.
To give new winter pajamas to local children in need, use one of these drop off sites by December 2nd: Stonington Free Library, Stonington Community Center, Curves in Mystic, Westerly or Wakefield, RI; Wheeler Library, North Stonington Congregational Church; Westerly Senior Center, Westerly Library, Webster Bank in Westerly, RI; Washington Trust, Charlestown, RI, Pier Pizza in Wakefield, RI, or the Peace Dale Library in Peace Dale, RI.
Shirley Anderson, Project Coordinator and retired UCC Clergywomen says “This is not a Church Project. There are scores of contributors from Scouts to Grange members, Rotarians and Elks, banks, pizza parlors and physical therapy patrons, women exercising at three Curves sites and book club attendees. Part of the pleasure of this program is the excitement that it raises among us all. Who doesn’t love to hunker down in toasty nightwear during the cold winter?”
Anderson is known as the Jammie Grammie. The name evolved out of the fact that her own nine grand kids are given pajamas every Christmas. “I was drawn to the idea of giving beyond family when a woman in Millbury, MA where I was serving as minister, collected pj’s to distribute to the homeless in Boston. The folks at First Congregational Church of Millbury sent me into retirement with 15 pajamas, saying that I should collect more and give them to youngsters in our new area. That’s what I’m doing, but certainly not alone. People of all ages are pitching in. It is a worthwhile effort that is most gratifying.
The main event on November 15, at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, featured former Stonington Chief of Police Dave Erskine. For more than a year, Dave researched the history of prizefighting in Stonington, Westerly, Mystic, and Pawcatuck during the 1920s and ‘30s. Presented by The Stonington Historical Society, his program—The Prizefighters of Pawcatuck—was an insightful survey of boxing history in those cities. Assisting Dave was Marsha Standish.
Most of Dave’s presentation focused on Pawcatuck. He pointed out that professional prizefighters from New Haven, Springfield, Waterbury, Fall River and Holyoke journeyed to the city to box at St. Michael’s K. of C. Arena, located off Stillman Avenue and demolished in 1936. In the Stonington Historical Society’s November edition of “Historical Footnotes,” Dave and co-author Elizabeth Wood quote Westerly Sun editor Abe Soloveitzik as fondly recalling the arena in his 1939 sports column. “I could see those raging battles between Hookie Jackson and Joe Russo,” Soloveitzik wrote. “I could see Big Boy Burlap waddling his way around the ring…I could see the crowds, their passions change as the fortunes of their favorites dimmed and then brightened.”Jackson was a middleweight, Russo a welterweight, and Burlap a heavyweight—and they were three fighters (among many others) Dave discussed.
Research at boxrec.com reveals the southpaw Jackson, whose career began in 1930, compiled a 26-19-2 record. Of his 47 bouts, ten were fought at St. Michael’s. In 1936 he fought a preliminary bout in Madison Square Garden. He also appeared at the fabled New Haven Arena several times, before retiring in 1939. Hookie’s real name was, Dave explained, Alec Panciera. The reason he changed it “was because he played hookie a lot and his truant officer was named Jackson.”
Of Russo’s 27 professional fights, six took place at St. Michael’s. Russo began his career in 1929 and retired in 1934 after Hookie Jackson knocked him out. In 1929 and 1930 he fought future CT Hall of Fame inductee Lou Brouillard, the first time in Norwich, a year later in New London at the Armory. Dave said Russo’s real name was Angelo Sposato, adding that many fighters at that time changed their names “because they didn’t want their parents to know they were boxing professionally.”
Burlap fought three times at St. Micahel’s. He also fought in Westerly and at the Boston Arena. At St. Michael’s in 1931, he lost by decision to Jack Roper. Roper’s claim to fame was that in 1939 he fought for the heavyweight championship against the great Joe Louis, who flattened him in the first round. Roper also helped train actor Errol Flynn for his 1942 “Gentleman Jim” motion picture and accidentally knocked out the actor during a the sparring session.
Though the fighters Dave talked about weren’t world champions, they were courageous and determined. They were tough, young professionals who fought hard and often during a difficult time in America—the Depression. They were similar to those journeyman character actors who rarely have the lead role in a film but are always honest and reliable in their work.
The sun was shining into the boardroom of Chelsea Groton Bank, Groton, this past Friday, where there was standing room only. Why? The Chelsea Groton Foundation was distributing $74,365.20 to 29 nonprofit organizations from our two-state region. B. Michael Rauh Jr., President and CEO, Chelsea Groton Bank and Eric Janney, Chairman, Chelsea Groton Foundation presented grants to the following recipients:
Three Rivers Community College Foundation, Backus Hospital Foundation, The Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut, Covenant Shelter of New London, Westerly Area Rest Meals, Serenity Recovery Living Centers, Norwich Community Care Team, The Furniture Bank of Southeastern Connecticut, Fairview Odd Fellows Home of Connecticut, Thames Area Citizen Advocacy Program, Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut, United Cerebral Palsy of Eastern Connecticut, Connecticut Adoption and Family Services, St. Vincent de Paul Place, United Community and Family Services, Thames River Community Services, Martin House, Habitat for Humanity, Sound Community Services, Ocean Community YMCA, Eliza Huntington Memorial Home of Norwich, Otis Library, Eastern Regional Mental Health Board, New London Youth Affairs, Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut, Malta Inc., Noank Group Homes and Support Services, Opportunities Industrialization Center of New London County, and Memorial and Library Association of Westerly.
The foundation is part of Chelsea Groton Bank, the region’s largest locally owned mutual savings bank. Chelsea Groton Bank established the regional philanthropic foundation in 1999 with a $2 million endowment.
“It’s eye opening to read the many requests for funding that we receive from non-profit agencies in the region. There is such a depth and breadth of issues that face our communities. Supporting the work of these agencies is at the core of what Chelsea Groton’s purpose is as a mutual bank-we’re here to help support the community. We’re really honored to work with so many outstanding organizations to help them make this area a better place to live and work”, says Michael Rauh,- Jr.
The foundation’s mission is to improve life in southeastern Connecticut and the Westerly area through financial distributions to charitable and social service agencies.
Eric Janney, Chairman of the Chelsea Groton Foundation, states, “It’s an honor to support the important work of so many charitable organizations in Eastern Connecticut and Southern Rhode Island. Each and every day these groups are bettering the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. I’m proud that Chelsea Groton, as a community bank, continues to illustrate its long-standing commitment to our region and its citizens.”
The bank foundation receives grant requests throughout the year and then meets bi-annually to review and award grants. Those who apply to the bank foundation must have tax-exempt status or must provide proof that the organization is a governmental unit.
There’s a parade in Southeastern Connecticut, and you’re watching as a steady stream of floats passes by. Suddenly, you hear that unmistakable sound — bagpipes! — and the Mystic Highland Pipe Band (MHPB) marches into view in all its tartaned majesty! You watch and listen in awe and delight as the stalwart group of local residents coaxes stirring music out of instruments whose millenia-old origins can be traced not to Scotland, but the Middle East.
“The pipes we use are called Great Highland Pipes,” explains the band’s President John Mauritz of Mystic. This is actually a woodwind instrument, which places it in the same category as clarinets, oboes, and bassoons. When the bagpipe first appeared in Scotland, likely in the late 1300s, it was played in a military context. “This is why we wear the uniform of the Scottish regimental style in the Royal Stewart and Black Watch tartans,” John points out. Patterns of intersecting vertical and horizontal bands of color, tartans are associated most often with Scottish clans, but may actually date back about 3,000 years to China. The Royal Stewart pattern is predominately red, while the Black Watch is mostly navy and green.
Like the bagpipes and tartans themselves, the Mystic Highland Pipe Band has a rich history. The band was started in 1969 by a group of men working at Electric Boat in Groton; they marched in their first official parade on Memorial Day 1972 in Ledyard.
Today, the band is directed by Pipe Major Robert Bienvenue. It’s composed of 26 pipers, drummers and color guard members and six support personnel. Its officers include Southeastern Connecticut residents Drum Major Brad Lake, Pipe Sergeant Colleen Cournoyer (who started with the band at age nine), and Color Guard Sergeant U.S Army Sergeant Major (retired) Douglas McVeigh.
“We have a lot of fun,” says Rob Davis, the band’s Drum Sergeant, of Gales Ferry with 30 years in the band. Rob started with the MHPB the last two years he was in the Navy, and participated during the 25 years he worked at Millstone Station.
Rob explains, “Then I decided to get involved with the band, and I taught myself the Highland style of drumming.”
Membership has fluctuated over the years, and the band is hoping to recruit new members. “We’ve managed to survive through all the ups and downs and have been blessed with a lot of great people,” Rob says.
“We’re like a big family,” adds John. “We have members of all ages and skill levels. Everyone is welcome.”
A not-for-profi t organization, the MHPB does 20 performances each year, mostly in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts. The group has performed at the “Dressed to Kilt” show at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, and has played with the U.S. Coast Guard National Band, New London, on many occasions. In addition to participating in parades for Independence Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and other holidays, the band plays at services for U.S. Armed Forces Veterans.
If you’re interested in joining the band but don’t know how to pipe or drum, never fear! The band practices every Wednesday and the members provide lessons to any laddie or lassie interested in giving it a whirl. For more information, email mystichighland-pipeband@gmail.com, call 860-572-0120, or visit the band’s Facebook page or website, www.mystic-highland-pipe-band.org.
Lisa Konicki was unanimously selected by a committee of her peers from six states to be awarded the “Chamber Executive of the Year” for New England2011. Lisa has 18 years of Chamber work. Her first job after college was Membership Sales Representative for the Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce. She was promoted to Manager of Membership Development after one year and she worked for three years total with that organization. She was hired as Executive Director of the Greater Westerly Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce in 1995 at the age of 29, one of the youngest Chamber Executives in New England at the time. The Chamber had 420 members and after 6 months with Lisa at the helm, it grew to 573 members and membership has steadily grown to the 850-950 range where it has fl uctuated for the past few years.
Lisa was nominated for this award by NEACCE President Roy Nascimento of the New Bedford Chamber of Commerce. He wrote the nomination and secured letters of support from past Chamber President Rudi Hauser and Past Downtown Business Association President, Carrie Baird. Criteria for the award included:
Demonstrated professional management of a New England Chamber of Commerce’s programs and finances. The largest fundraising event at the time of her hire was a golf tournament that made $5,000. In her first year with the Chamber, Lisa produced an art festival that raises over $25,000 annually, and the Pawcatuck River Duck Race which raises over $40,000 annually for the Chamber Foundation. She also acquired a billboard in town which generates over $15,000 annually for the Chamber budget.
Demonstrated mentoring of peers and staff members to assist them in achieving their goals. Lisa has gone out of her way to mentor peers in the Chamber industry. She has taught several chambers how to run a duck race event. She has taught Newport, North Kingstown, Mystic and the Greater Norwich Chambers of Commerce how to run a gift certificate program.
Demonstrated promotion of collaboration and partnerships that exemplify the chamber mission to bring together many sectors of the community for a common goal. Lisa conceived of a program entitled “Destination Downtown” that brings Chamber leaders, along with other event planners and municipal leaders involved with revitalizing downtowns, together to collaborate on marketing, event planning and shared resources.
One of Lisa’s most significant collaborations was her efforts to respond after the flood of 2010. She conceived of the Jump Start Small Business Recovery Program, a way to raise funds for businesses who suffered losses that were not covered by insurance. She brought banking leaders together and challenged them to match an initial pledge she secured for grant support. She then approached the Town Manager and Town Council and brought them into the process and secured an unprecedented $15,000 in municipal support. She inspired the Town to make a $15,000 donation to small, private businesses. She involved SCORE and received funds from that group and invited their representative to serve on the committee evaluating grant applications.
The nominee must be a member in good standing of NEACCE for a minimum of three years and must have supported NEACCE through service on the Board of Directors, attendance at conferences, and/or service on its committees.
Lisa was honored at a dinner during the annual NEACCE Conference in Cambridge Mass on Sunday, November 6, 2011. Over 125 Chamber professionals from around New England were present. “It’s an enormous compliment to have received this honor from my peers in the industry. I’m truly touched.” Said Konicki.
“Lisa has a reputation for building bridges, initiating collaborative programs and solving community challenges. She is the consummate Chamber professional, always finding ways to grow our organization and expand our impact, and doing it in a way that is innovative, ethical, and effective. We couldn’t be more proud of her and we consider ourselves very fortunate to have had her passion and commitment dedicated to our community for these past 15 years. This Chamber of Commerce has flourished under Lisa’s leadership and she has helped many, many businesses prosper along the way”, said Michelle Pendola, Chamber President, Owner of Zoe & Co.
