(l-r) Kenneth Capano, Sr., Jean Capano, Arisleida Pagan, Scott Capano, Jennifer Capano, Kayla Capano and Kenneth Capano, Jr. greet customers and celebrate the grand opening of the ShopRite of Clinton.
The Capano Family opens their third supermarket, ShopRite of Clinton on Wednesday, June 23 in the former Shaw’s supermarket site. Scott Capano said, “The marketing company out of NJ found it to be a perfect fit for a ShopRite.” The two other ShopRites they operate are the supermarkets in New London and in Norwich.
Back in early 2009 Ken Capano, Sr. told us “We’re not the giant chain, we’re just two stores that we hope we are making better and better all the time. We do have plans for expansion, but we plan to take our time and grow sensibly and carefully.” They have done just that and when asked about the new location, Ken, Sr. said, “It is still all about our customer focus and being family-owned and operated. The community was waiting for it and customers from our New London and Norwich ShopRite supermarkets continually congratulate our family on the newest opening.”
With the Capano family at the helm you have guaranteed success. On the morning of the grand opening, shoppers gathered in a line that stretched from the front door, flowing down the sidewalk, to around the corner. Their brightly polished shopping carts gleamed in the early morning sun and at 9am, the doors opened, for the first time, for the eager shoppers. The Capano Family greeted their customers with big smiles. The shoppers were excited about the new supermarket location and the buzz that filled the air was that the ShopRite brings a new choice to Clinton and the surrounding areas.
The Capano Family is happy to offer a new choice to people. Ken, Sr. exclaims, “We are excited to be here!”
The store is an amazing growth of their business and derives from the entrepreneurial spirit of the Capano Family. Before the grand opening, renovations and improvements were made to the building which makes it sparkle, everything is fresh and clean. They outfitted the old building with new equipment, filled its shelves with a large variety of inventory and created an expansive produce, seafood and deli section.
Upon entering the store, the sights and smells flood the senses; the neatly placed fruit with all its vibrant colors and all the wonderful smells that makes ones stomach grumble from deep within, rush in. The Capanos took everything into account, including the layout of their supermarket; perishable items on the store’s perimeter, the deli in the back of the supermarket and the grocery items in the center of the store.
The Capano Family comes to Clinton and the community rejoices. The Capanos live and work in the community and it is their daily presence in each of the ShopRite supermarkets that makes the difference. It is their personal, hands-on approach that allows the Capanos to continually succeed; the Capano Family has hit another home run
Electric Boat reaches a preliminary agreement to purchase Pfizer’s complex and John P. Casey, president, Electric Boat said, “We appreciate the state’s support, which was instrumental in making this transaction possible.”
by Tyler Williams
Electric Boat announced it reached a preliminary agreement to purchase Pfizer’s New London complex. In July, engineers working on the Navy’s next-generation submarine are expected to be the first to move to the new building. The remainder of the 700,000 square-foot complex would be occupied in phases through 2011.
John P. Casey, president, Electric Boat said “We have been coordinating closely with Governor M. Jodi Rell and the State of Connecticut, the City of New London, the U.S. Navy and Pfizer to determine if this site meets our needs, and the initial results are very encouraging.” Electric Boat was seeking office space to accommodate growth in its engineering workforce and their 18-month occupancy schedule fits with Pfizer’s timetable to exit the New London site.
The building complex will not spend any significant time unoccupied and Electric Boat’s move to the new complex will enable the company to locate its employees in a modern office space, which is insufficient at their current location.
Peter J. Halvordson, vice president, Engineering at Electric Boat said, “It provides a quality workspace for our employees at the right time for our business.”
Electric Boat’s expansion is an exciting prospect and will stimulate our economy. In a statement released to the Resident, State Representative Elissa Wright said, “I am pleased that Electric Boat is expanding its historic commitment to CT and continuing to build on the existing synergy between our area, the state and company. This decision expands our economic base, provides stability in our economy, and retains and creates new high paying, quality jobs in CT–especially good news in a state that has lost nearly 100,000 jobs in the recent recession.”
Adam Burke, a purple heart combat veteran, is 90% disabled from a mortar attack while serving in Iraq. With help from Work Vessels for Vets, Adam is starting a second blueberry farm in Jacksonville, FL. Adam said, “I had pictures taken of my brain before my work with plants and pictures taken after and I now see an 80% improvement of blood flow to my brain.” He plans to reach out to other veterans to teach them about the benefits of “horticulture therapy.”
by Tyler Williams
Work Vessels for Vets (WVFV) began in Noank and its mission is to assist veterans returning to the U.S. as they begin their civilian careers or continue educational pursuits. WVFV helps assist these veterans by donating to them the necessary start-up tools (e.g. laptops, vehicles, machinery, tools, commercial vessels, etc.). The organization’s inaugural gift of a fishing boat in 2008 to an Iraq veteran helped coin the name “Work Vessels for Vets,” although today the donations are not limited to boats/vessels.
It all started when lifelong lobsterman, John Niekrash, CEO and founder of WVFV, was building a new commercial lobster boat and needed to decide what to do with his used but trusted vessel. The lobster boat ultimately went to Marine Reservist Richard Giguere of RI, who had recently returned from two tours in Iraq. Today, Richard is actively working the boat in Narragansett Bay supporting his family as a commercial fisherman.
Purple Heart recipient, Adam Burke, 90% disabled, was in Iraq for a year and a half before he was wounded in a mortar attack. Upon his return home, he found that he was having difficulties in many aspects of his life. His speech and memory were the most notable changes and he was diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He is undergoing treatment and therapy with the VA System and the progress is slow and tiresome.
Adam has a background in horticulture and he found that working with plants, specifically his specialty, blueberries, is one of the most therapeutic treatments available. Before working with plants, Adam’s blood pressure was thru the roof and he was walking with a cane. He no longer needs a cane and his blood pressure is significantly down! What is truly remarkable is that Adam said, “I had pictures taken of my brain before my work with plants and pictures taken after and I now see an 80% improvement of blood flow to my brain.” Adam hopes he can offer other vets an opportunity to experience these kinds of transformations.
WVFV is working closely with Adam to help start a second blueberry farm in Jacksonville, FL, where Adam and his wife have relocated to be close to his treatment center. WVFV is an incredibly helpful organization to veterans and Adam exclaimed, “John is an amazing man, he has flown down to Florida twice to meet with me.” About a month ago, WVFV purchased 8 acres of land with grant funding and is leasing it back to Adam for a 30-year period at the cost of $1.00 a year. This generous gift allows the working farm to also be a sanctuary for other disabled vets to work and rebuild their lives. Adam is even holding a Vets Farm Cleanup Day on May 22 at his Jacksonville farm to introduce vets to this type of therapy.
WVFV is helping put together this program, “Project Blueberry,” to foster rehabilitation in horticulture therapy. Adam said, “I am very excited about this type of therapy and would like to offer this to other veterans that are encountering many of the issues that I face.” Adam will partner with the local VA Healthcare system and the University of Florida Agricultural Department and he said, “We will supply the tools, regular training, resources education and caring environment for veterans interested in this type of therapy.”
Adam has many plans to help make the Jacksonville farm a productive farm and he said, “We plan to plant two year old blueberry plants this year, which will allow for picking next year.” The Jacksonville farm will also continue to make the specialty jam called “Red, White and Blueberry Jam” and his goal is to produce enough jam to become profitable. Adam wants to be able to give back to WVFV and some of the monetary proceeds from the farm will be used as donations to WVFV, assisting other veterans in starting their business careers across the country.
William B. Stanley, local historian & journalist, died Sunday, April 18th at the age of 80.
by Tyler Williams
William B. Stanley, 80, died Sunday, April 18th at Hartford Hospital. His illustrious life will be remembered and honored by his involvement as an author and Norwich’s own historian
Bill is survived by his wife, Margaret Stanley, his son William A. Stanley and his daughters Carol Little and Mary Stanley.
Bill’s ability to bring Norwich’s past to the community brought people together and grew an unwavering strength in the community. Bill always had a knack for making local history come alive; he was the spirit of Norwich and he will be greatly missed.
In a statement released to the Resident, Senator Chris Dodd said, “Bill Stanley was a great friend to my family, and to generations of residents in Norwich who were touched by his generosity, his humor, and his kindness. No one was a bigger cheerleader for the city of Norwich than Bill, and his contributions to our state will continue be felt for years to come. I join all those in Norwich and across Connecticut in mourning Bill’s passing, and I will miss him dearly.”
Bill’s legacy will be remembered by the combination of his outspokenness and his ability to put it into writing. His weekly newspaper columns will be remembered not only for his signature “Once Upon a Time” but for his capacity to grab the reader. He also published many books, some of them being a collection of his columns. His largest book chronicled the area’s history and his final book was a gift to Norwich schoolchildren, in which he donated 5,000 books to the school system.
In a statement released to the Resident, Senator Joe Lieberman said, “I was deeply saddened by the passing of Bill Stanley, a statesman, a principled patriot, and a scholar. Bill Stanley loved history, taught history, and made history. I knew Bill for many years, and I am grateful for all of the wisdom he offered me personally. Mostly though, I treasure the example he set in his career of devoted service to this country in the United States Marine Corps, Connecticut’s State Senate, and through the many important causes that he championed in the city of Norwich and throughout our state. Our state and this nation are blessed to have people like Bill Stanley who truly enrich our communities. We, his readers and his students, were particularly blessed with the opportunity to have learned from Bill Stanley, who illuminated our hearts and minds with his weekly columns for the Norwich Bulletin. Bill’s brilliant mind, generous spirit, and unforgettable stories will never fade from our memory.”
A special joint Business After Hours, “A Taste of Foxwoods,” was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce. This foodie fest featured some of the most amazing eateries, including: Al Dente, California Pizza Kitchen, Cedar’s Restaurant, Craftsteak, David Burke Prime, El Pollo Loco, Gelato Café, Golden Dragon, Hard Rock Café, Junior’s, Munson’s Chocolates, Panera, Paragon, The Scorpion Bar, Shrine, Stadium Sports Bar & Grill and Alta Strada.
The culinary adventure began as participants strolled into various restaurants in the Foxwoods Resort Casino and in the MGM Grand at Foxwoods and enjoyed many delectable tastes. The Chambers came together to pull off a wonderful night and everyone experienced the amazing food and reveled in the opportunity to network. The 17 different restaurants that participated, with some of Connecticut’s most celebrated chefs, made this an exceptional Business After Hours.
