Archives for September 2014

story & photos
by Josie Kapral

Balloons hung by the living room window of Rachael and Russell Kropp: one for every holiday and special occasion that he missed over the last six months. Family members gathered from Bostonand Pittsburgh for what would be his last deployment with the USS New Hampshire, a Virginiaclass submarine out of the Navy Base at Groton. Streamers in red, white and blue hung in the doorways ready to greet him when he came home.

“I am so excited just talking about it,” Rachael Kropp said, “We’ve been through so much over the last five years”

They were not the only ones. Several family members of the 130 sailors onboard the submarine met at the Base to watch it make its first appearance in months on the Thames River. Navy wives and girlfriends were dressed up and ready with their signs welcoming their boys home. It was truly a very special occasion for so many people. Colton Newman, age four, stood with his mother, Ashley Newman, and little sister, Paisley Newman as he held his sign that was nearly as tall as he was telling everyone that his dad, TM3 Aaron Newman,was coming home and it was his birthday!

As the USS New Hampshire began to pull into the dock, the winners of “The First Hug” and “First Kiss” categories came to the pier. Five year old Colin Culbertson, and his mother waited for the moment they could finally hug Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Culbertson. Brittany Shaner, winner of the first kiss stood anxiously on the dock trying to get a glimpse of her husband, Petty Officer Aaron Shaner. The winner of the first kiss was selected by raffle tickets.

“Last year I waited six hours for him to come off the boat. I wasn’t going to wait this year, so I bought a lot of raffle tickets!” Shaner smiled. When her moment arrived, she ran down the pier to her husband who was carrying a rose and got the kiss she had been waiting for for months. She ran so fast, she left her shoes behind her on the pier.

Shortly after, the gates opened on the pier and the crowd of people that had been waiting in the rain were finally allowed onto the pier to greet their loved ones. It was a beautifully emotional scene. The Myers children, Ally and Maddie jumped into their dad, STS1 Jeremy Myers’ arms and smiled as their parents, Jeremy and Emily smiled at each other.

“We are so happy to finally have our family back together, it’s been a long deployment. I am so proud of all the sailors and families…together we are six months stronger!” said Emily Myers. She and her husband, Jeremy were also celebrating birthdays this week.

Across the pier was another happy little girl, Grace Benton who was squeezing her dad, STSC (SS) Robert Benton’s neck so tight as if to make sure he was not going to leave again any time soon.

Moments like these make you really realize what a sacrifice the families also make for their loved ones. While the USS New Hampshire was deployed, these families were all celebrating much like the Kropps. There was an empty seat at the dinner table. There was one less at Fourth of July. Birthdays and special holidays are often celebrated on a different day even months and months later. However, there is one day is always celebrated on the same day and that is homecoming. And for these families, this was that day.

story & photos
by Alexis Ann

Mohegan Tribal Nation held a ceremony to dedicate the sculptures of its 20th Century leaders on August 15, 2014 in the Chiefs’ Garden at the main entrance of the Tribal Government building.   The garden of eight life-sized sculptures representing Chiefs from 1902 – 2007 was dedicated by Trading Cove Associates in honor of its special friendship with Chief Ralph Sturges and the Mohegan Tribe.

Opening the ceremony on this gorgeous sunny summer day was Chairman Kevin Brown. “Thank you for joining us today as we mark the moments and the leaders who have brought us to this point in our history with the emplacement of this plaque and the dedication of this garden. The Chiefs’ Garden stands as a tribute to our past, and will be a permanent reminder of those who walked their path in service to our Tribe. The inscription on the plaque reads, “We walk as a single spirit on the Trail of Life… This garden reflects the trail of life that we walk on together into our future and honors those who served and led the Mohegan Tribe as Chief in the past.”

The Chairman expressed his gratitude for the generosity of Len Wolman, Waterford Hotel Group & Cove Associates for “helping to make the Garden a cherished part of our community and government center.” Kevin continued, “We would not be standing here today without the relationship that Len fostered with our Tribe and the late Chief Ralph Sturges (G’tinemong-He who helps thee).”

Len Wolman addressed the gathering explaining that his relationship with the Mohegan Tribe began with a handshake with Chief Sturges, summer 1992, soon after Ralph was appointed Lifetime Chief and was also serving as chairman of the Tribal Council. “Together with the Chief, the council, the council of elders and the Tribe, we were able to accomplish a number of firsts. The overturn of a negative determination for federal recognition, and the first ever simultaneous closing between the local governments, the State, and the various federal departments, including Justice and even Wall Street.”

This was the first ever Native American financing on Wall Street, resulting in opening up Wall Street to all Tribes in the U.S., Len pointed out. “The most important thing we established, said Len, was a very special, long-lasting relationship of mutual trust, respect and integrity based on reputation and the same values.”

Len Wolman told the history of the idea of a Garden when back in 2001 he approached Mark Brown who was chairman then. Len said that he and his partners, the Slavik Family, his brother Mark and Kerzner International wanted to give the Tribe a meaningful gift that depicted appreciation and honored their relationship. The outcome is this historic Garden of Chiefs that honored at that time, the only living Chief, Ralph Sturges and the previous chiefs of that century.

The first statue of Chief Sturges was unveiled in October 2003 on the 7th Anniversary of the casino. “Little did we know it would take until 2014 to complete this project.”

Len thanked his brother Mark who worked with Sharon Gale, the artist; Melissa Zobel, Anita Fowler, the cultural resources department, Lifetime Chief Lynn Malerba, former chairman councils and leaders of the Tribe and the families of each Chief.

Chief Lynn Malerba gave the blessing.

Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel presented a short narrative on the lives of each of the chiefs. Melissa noted “We have been very fortunate in our choice of Mohegan Chiefs. From our great Sachem Uncas/Wunxis, the fox, to our current Sunqsquaw Mutawi Mutahash Chief Many Hearts Lynn Malerba, great Mohegans have led us, or we would not be here today.”

by Alexis Ann

Those who first saw James Taylor in the Nantucket Coffeehouses still speak of instantly knowing they were in the presence of greatness. Those who rocked to Springsteen on the Jersey Shore knew he would soon be known to the world. Those who were mesmerized by a young Billy Joel in Long Island bars and pubs knew they saw a future Music Hall of Famer. That same recognition of having been on the ground floor prior to a meteoric rise to the top was shared by those who attended Jesse Terry in concert at the Katherine Hepburn Performing Arts Center in Old Saybrook on August 13th.

Jesse Terry not only owned the stage, but he owned the hearts of the roughly 200 people fortunate enough to attend the evening. Not all got to speak to him in person, but each and every one left the evening having become his friend as well as his lifetime fan. Unique to the great talents of the world, is the fact that they cannot be compared to each other. Jesse Terry is Jesse Terry – a voice, a presence, a personality, and a talent unto himself.

Jesse sings songs of his own composition, each an expression of his path through life, his dreams, his triumphs, and his tragedies. With three up and rising albums under his belt, “The Runner,” “Empty Seat on a Plane,” and “Stay Here With Me,” Jesse Terry has built a repertoire of diversity and distinction. Within that collection are words and tunes that everyone can identify with and embrace. As with all the great songwriters/singers, he is prolific – guaranteeing that one’s current favorite Jesse Terry song will soon be supplanted by his future creations.

A mother and daughter, Mom in her 50s, young lady in her 20s, were heard at the Katherine Center to remark, “All that talent and he is so easy on the eyes.” Handsome, yes, but more so charismatic, Jesse is a friend you are meeting for the first time though you feel you have known him forever. Yet, who is Jesse Terry?

Readers might have a chance to meet him locally on the sidewalks of Stonington, as Jesse and his New Zealand born wife, Jess, have settled in to our region!

Born and raised with music, Jesse received his first guitar as a gift from his mother. At the time an aspiring painter, he knew his true love was music. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee School of Music, Jesse can compose for each and every instrument that might accompany his finest tool – his voice. Jesse has a few gigs on the east coast prior to embarking on a September tour of the United Kingdom, a series of appearances that has already sold out in several venues. Can anyone say, “International Star?”

Our current favorite Jesse Terry song is “ Let the Blue Skies Go to Your Head,” (winner of the prestigious International Songwriting Competition Americana Award) from the “Empty Seat on a Plane” album. It has a lovely mid-tempo tune with tricky and evocative verse rhythms, a lilting chorus hook, and stays-in-your-head lyrics – a pane to having the courage to commit to a relationship. It takes no courage for us to say, Jesse Terry, here’s to a decades long relationship – the sky is the limit!

story & photos
by Alexis Ann

The Mohegan Wigwam Festival was held on August 16 and 17 and saw Tribes gather from across the country to dance on the sacred ground of Fort Shantok in Uncasville. Shantok, Village of Uncas, was the principal settlement of the Mohegan Tribe between 1636 and 1682 and the sacred ground of Uncas, the Mohegan leader and statesman. The event is organized by the Tribe’s Cultural and Community Programs department on the third weekend of August, following a long-established tradition.
Wigwam, also known as the “Green Corn Festival” emulates harvesting traditions. The days of traditional dance, music and Native-made foods and crafts opened with a noontime Grand Entry in which Natives from across the United States danced into the tent together. For the Mohegans, the Veterans’ Association leads the way, followed by the Council of Elders, Tribal Council and general population. This year, all Veterans in attendance were invited to gather in the circle.
Men’s and women’s dance competitions are arranged by age and dance format, such as Eastern War, Eastern Blanket, Northern Traditional, Southern Traditional, Jingle, Fancy, Grass and Smoke.
The Blessing was offered by Chief Lynn “Many Hearts” Malerba and opening welcome by Chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Council Kevin “Red Eagle” Brown.
Chief Lynn thanked all for traveling to celebrate Native traditional ways. “May we never forget the teachings of our ancestors and may we honor them whenever we are all gathered together.”