Residents of Southeastern CT and surrounding areas can look forward to the excitement of the Mohegan Sun Cycling Races taking place on September 20 and 21. In its second year, the races will be held in the communities of Sprague and Norwich, respectively.
The Mohegan Sun Cycling Races, sponsored by the Mohegan Sun, hosts two events: The Three Village Tour on Saturday, September 20, and the Rose Pedal Criterium on Sunday, September 21. This year, some 300 cyclists, including professional riders, are expected to participate in the races.
“The Mohegan Sun Cycling Races are important because they bring us together as a community,” says Margaret Carroll, resident of Norwich. “It gives the people of New London County the opportunity to shine as the great team that we are.”
The Third Annual Three Village Tour will be comprised of a 10-mile circuit that encompasses the three villages of the town Sprague, Baltic, Hanover and Versailles. The course is set in a countryside setting with rolling hills and parallels the beautiful Shetucket River. The proceeds from the race will go to benefit St. Joseph’s School of Baltic.
Presented by the YMCA of Southeastern CT, the Rose Pedal Criterium will feature cyclists of all calibers racing a 0.6 mile route in downtown Norwich. The challenging course will showcase the arts and entertainment district amidst the speeding colors and shapes. All proceeds from the race will go toward youth scholarships and programming for children.
“We seek to serve and respect the community of New London County by providing events with a positive, wholesome encounter which will accomplish community togetherness. Cycling is a social, athletic and recreational activity and to watch the cyclists round the corners with grace and ease is a spectacular sight,” says Cheryl Hughes, Wellness Director, YMCA of Southeastern CT.
Bill Humphreys of Bike Guy LLC, recently characterized the growth of criterium racing in the United States, “Criteriums are historically run on short laps through city streets offering spectators the opportunity to watch Olympians, world and national champions up-close as they ride at top speed. This has made the criterium format the most spectator-friendly form of cycling entertainment and this day of racing will re-emphasize an array of connections within the community.”
The communities of Sprague and Norwich promote a spirit of tolerance and understanding in this partnership event and welcome all to come to both events, which are free.
“With the economy as it is, society needs to focus on our local events and businesses. Take part, enjoy the activities right out your front door,” Cheryl says.
Competitive cycling continues to thrive and appeal to a number of contemporary trends and forces. It is photogenic and colorful, fast and exciting. Cycling is international in scope and environmentally sound in its presentation. It rings a bell for preventive health, personal fitness and energy conservation. Cycling allows everyone to participate, and they most certainly do.
For additional information on the races or to volunteer, please contact Cheryl Hughes, Wellness Director of the YMCA of Southeastern CT at 860.889.7349.
Demons, metal and hell-fire were in high demand at the Mohegan Sun Arena on August 15 - one of the 17 stops for the Metal Masters Tour that swept across America through the month of August. The tour consisted of three bands, each with their own distinct sound. The first band to take the stage was Testament, followed by the two headliners Heaven and Hell, and Judas Priest.
Testament performed a short opener and then Heaven and Hell took the stage. Their frontman, Ronnie James Dio, is well renowned for his work as the lead singer for the bands Black Sabbath and Dio. The rest of the band is made up of ex-Black Sabbath members, so they already know how to harmonize with each other from their earlier years together. This band literally blew me away and kept me interested throughout their entire performance.
When I thought that it couldn’t get any better, Judas Priest took the stage. They opened up with their new song “Nostradamus” and the whole place when crazy! Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford was lifted slowly onto the stage while he sang. This was not his only surprise of the night - Rob rode his motorcycle out onto the stage before singing “Hell Bent for Leather.”
Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by the night. It is safe to say that my taste for metal was most definitely satisfied.
If you were never exposed to Chris Rock before, then you either don’t have cable or are living under, well, a rock. Chris used his wit to entertain us on Saturday Night Live, In Living Color, HBO, Comedy Central, and numerous movies. He even infiltrated the kids market, as the voice of Marty, the zebra, in “Madagascar” and Mooseblood the Mosquito in “Bee Movie.” Once again, he had us laughing until our bellies hurt when he performed to a packed audience at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, August 16.
Chris was his usual, controversial self - making light of such heavy topics as politics and racial issues. He also explained two very important phenomena.
The first being that it doesn’t matter what words are used (especially his favorite “n-word”), but the c-o-n-t-e-x-t in which the word is said, citing specific examples. His answer to “Can white people use the n-word?” was “not really.”
The second was the difference between men and women. “Women cannot go backwards in lifestyle,” Chris explains, “and men cannot go backwards sexually.” Meaning that once we have a good experience with a past partner, we won’t accept anything less with the next.
Tuesday, August 12 marked the 150th show of the Rod Stewart Greatest Hits Tour. A packed audience at the Mohegan Sun Arena roared as they witnessed Rod, or as he jokingly insisted to be called Captain Rod Stewart.
The over 60-year-old ran out on stage as if he was 20-years-old again, and gave the audience more than they expected. He began the show singing “Forever Young” following up with “Hot Legs.” He continued to sing about 20 out of his 62 hit singles. Rod Stewart’s stage presence was so powerful that he needed a ten piece band to harness the excitement that he unleashed. His soulful voice commanded the crowd’s attention making it easy to transition from ballad to rock song.
Rod made it an obligation to make a connection to the audience. One generous act - he kicked souvenir soccer balls into the bleachers. For many of the fans that didn’t have seats up close this meant a lot.
The audience was very diverse - and very devoted as many dressed up like Rod. “He is a true gentleman and he puts on a tremendous show,” said Marion Kowzloska who is visiting CT from Poland.
Rod ended the evening with an encore performance with his much beloved song “Maggie May.”
Mohegan Sun scored a major hat trick with Cheap Trick, Heart and Journey, who collectively rocked the house in the Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday night, August 17. I was jammin’ out to 70’s rock hits all night long.
Cheap Trick was the first to perform, setting the mood in their cowboy hats with smash hits “I Want You to Want Me,” and “Surrender.” They rocked out with an interesting selection of guitars including one shaped like a person, and another five-guitars-in-one. “These guys are the gods of rock n’ roll,” said Journey drummer, Deen Castronovo, after Cheap Trick announced his August 17 birthday.
Next up was Heart, opening with their pigtailed keyboardist illuminated in blue, playing solo while sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson took the stage to perform their first song, “Wild Child.” They also performed “Magic Man,” “These Dreams,” and “Barracuda,” with an encore of Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California,” and their classic, “Crazy on You.”
Finally, Journey was up at bat. I have to admit, it was a little weird seeing a tiny Filipino guy, Arnel Pineda, as the lead singer for Journey. They found him on You Tube, which is even funnier, but man, his vocals are a dead ringer for former Journey lead singer, Steve Perry. 40 years old and bursting with spunk and energy, Arnel fits right in with the rest of the Journey crew.
Journey played “Change for the Better,” and “After All These Years” off their newest album, “Revelation”, during their 23-song set list. They kept us singing along all night with favorites like “Wheel in the Sky,” “Lights,” and “Open Arms.” Even I, self-proclaimed worst singer in the world, couldn’t help singing along and butchering “Faithfully,” and “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Journey ended the flashback evening with an upbeat delivery of “Any Way You Want It.” Needless to say, I left the Arena and continued to sing along with Journey the entire way home. Luckily, no one else was in the car.
Residents of Southeastern CT and surrounding areas can look forward to the excitement of the Mohegan Sun Cycling Races taking place on September 20 and 21. In its second year, the races will be held in the communities of Sprague and Norwich, respectively.
Print This Post
