Joined by schoolchildren, Boys and Girls Scouts, lawmakers and municipal officials, Governor M. Jodi Rell led a procession from the State Capitol to the State Library on February 17th to officially kick off the Connecticut’s 375th Anniversary Celebration.
“While all birthdays are fun, some are genuine milestones. This is certainly one of them,” the Governor told those gathered in historic State Library. “Today is just the beginning of a year-long tribute to those who came before us and helped shape the state we love. It is a state whose people will forever be industrious, inventive and enduring.”
Historians point to 1635 as the critical year for settlement of the three river towns – Wethersfield, Windsor and Hartford – that initially established the Connecticut Colony.
The event, which also featured a ceremonial escort by the Governor’s Foot Guard, also marked the unveiling of the official 375th Website – www.CT375.com – which will include a calendar of events and activities that will include local schools, state parks, the arts community, museums and oral histories. To help plan and promote events, the Governor assembled a volunteer commission of historians, educators, arts and culture representatives, fundraisers and others.
“These marvelous volunteers who have stepped forward to help are contributing their time, their expertise and in-kind services to make sure this celebration is a fun and rewarding one,” Governor Rell said.
The 375th Commission includes John Patrick, President, Farmington Bank, and former First Lady Nikki O’Neill, who was co-chairwoman of the state’s 350th Anniversary Celebration. Other members are State Historian Walter Woodward, State Librarian Kendall Wiggin, former Lt. Gov. Eunice Groark and Karen Senich, Executive Director of the state Commission on Culture and Tourism.
BB Smith 2009-2010 President, Southeastern CT Women’s Network, Realtor, Prudential CT Realty, East Lyme
Membership in groups and service organizations is one way to meet and work with people who are actively involved in the day to day involvement of a community. These are people who are going a little beyond the usual focus and demands of their chosen profession to expand their horizons. Founded over thirty years ago by Millie Devine, one such organization is the Southeastern CT Women’s Network. The purpose of “The Network” is to provide its members, which now also include men, the opportunity to:
• meet business and professional people in the community
• communicate and exchange general and career information
• promote personal visibility
• develop a constituency for the purpose of examining and speaking out on issues of concern to the membership.
In addition to awarding scholarships to three deserving women every year who are furthering their education, The Network recognizes its own through the prestegious Woman of the Year Award. Its outreach to the community is largely through the Womens Center of Southeastern CT partnering for a better environment for women and families who are working through life alterning circumstances.
The Mastermind component of The Network is a chance to work in smaller more intimate groups for the purpose of building success by setting wealth and business intentions through in-depth group support.
The Network meets the third Wednesday of every month at 11:30 at the Groton Inn and Suites. I encourage you to come and see what we are all about. Also visit us at www.southeasternctwomensnetwork.com.
Sincerely,
BB Smith
2009-2010 President,
Southeastern CT Women’s Network
Realtor,
Prudential CT Realty, East Lyme
Laura Giannelli, Marketing Director, United Way of Southeastern Connecticut
The Red Cross, CT Chapter has been very busy working with the local Haitian community to assure they receive all of the support available to them since an Earthquake devastated Haiti on January 12th. Locally, both of the area casinos have hosted the Red Cross by inviting them into their organizations to provide affected families from our community access to a database set up by the Red Cross International to find any information about their family members located in Haiti.
Along with database support, the Red Cross also employs short-term Mental Health professionals to assist those who are in need of support to help them cope with this disaster and determine if long-term support is necessary to overcome stresses associated with such a devastating tragedy.
The Red Cross has distributed over 500 flyers to our Haitian community providing them with information as how to access the database and the local support services available. Not only are the area casinos reaching out to their employees many other businesses have contacted the Red Cross to assure they are doing what they can to support our Haitian community.
United Way of Southeastern Connecticut is working closely with the Red Cross, CT Chapter to help identify immediate needs within the community to include fundraising efforts. As a United Way partner agency, the Red Cross receives funding for their Disaster Services program to help prepare, respond to and recover from natural and manmade disasters on a 24 hour, seven days a week, 365 days a year basis for New London County.
If you are interested in hosting the Red Cross to provide information to your employees who are affected by this tragedy, please contact Sharon Peccini at United Way of Southeastern Connecticut at 860.464.3318 or send her an email sharon.peccini@uwsect.org. If you are would like to make a donation to the Red Cross please visit www.uwsect.org. It is vital that we support those within our community.
Sincerely, Laura Giannelli Marketing Director
United Way of Southeastern Connecticut
Jennifer Johnson, Director of Marketing & Communications, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
The beginning of a new year is a time when many people make a resolution to improve their overall health. Spending time in nature is among the best ways to improve one’s physical and mental health and emotional well-being.
Research shows that children who spend a lot of time outdoors, in all seasons, are happier, healthier and do better in school. Other studies have shown that getting out of a man-made environment and into an outdoor lowers blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension.
We are fortunate to live in an area with abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. This time of year area parks are open for numerous winter activities. Don’t overlook your own backyard as a place to play. If you’re looking for ideas of winter games to play with your kids, check out the new Be Out There website (www.beoutthere.org)
The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center offers something for everyone and is another great place to visit for winter activities. We are a combination wildlife sanctuary, natural history museum, and educational facility set in a 300-acre nature preserve. Come hike, walk, snowshoe or cross-country ski our more than 10 miles of trails.
If you prefer to explore with a group, be sure to check out our calendar of events for our numerous children’s, family, and adult programs and guided hikes. Our Women’s Hiking group meets the first Monday of every month at various locations in the region. Our Cottontails group, for caregivers and children ages 1 – 4, meets for a weekly hike on Thursday morning at different locations in the area. We also host free monthly full moon hikes, and will be re-starting our Adult Hiking Club in March. Watch our website for details.
Originally made possible through the long-term support and commitment of the Denison Society, the Nature Center is a private, non-profit organization. We are open year-round, Monday thru Saturday from 9 to 5, and Sunday from 10 to 4. We are located at 109 Pequotsepos Road in Mystic. For more information, please visit www.dpnc.org or call 860.536.1216.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Johnson
Director of Marketing & Communications,
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
Peter Derosa, Montville Joshua Center Program Director, Natchaug Hospital.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, every day 32 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 45 minutes. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $51 billion.
• In 2008, 11,773 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (32%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.
• Of the 1,347 traffic fatalities among children ages 0 to 14 years in 2008, about one out of every six (16%) involved an alcohol-impaired driver.
• Of the 216 child passengers ages 14 and younger who died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2008, about half (99) were riding in the vehicle with the alcohol-impaired driver.
• In 2008, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. That’s less than one percent of the 159 million self-reported episodes of alcohol-impaired driving among U.S. adults each year.
• Drugs other than alcohol (e.g., marijuana and cocaine) are involved in about 18% of motor vehicle driver deaths. These other drugs are often used in combination with alcohol.
Young people, motorcyclists and drivers with a history of driving under the influence are most at risk and we know that Southeastern CT has had our share of alcohol related fatal motor vehicle deaths. Certainly increased law enforcement, sobriety check points, additional education and increased treatment can help. However, individually we can take deliberate steps to reduce incidents of alcohol related deaths.
Tell your friend or family member or child that you do not want him getting into a car with someone who has been drinking or using drugs. The use of a designated driver is a widely acceptable prevention tool and should be encouraged.
Tell your friend or family member that you want them to call you if they cannot get home safely. Emphasize that, while you do not support excessive alcohol use, safety comes first.
If you host a party, have plenty of non alcoholic beverages available, and if you are concerned, hold the keys for the drivers. Do not serve alcohol to adolescents. Check on your guests regularly and make sure no one is bringing in unwanted alcohol or illegal drugs into your home.
Be a good role model and enjoy the holidays.
Sincerely, Peter Derosa
Montville Joshua Center Program Director
Natchaug Hospital
