(l-r, back row) Chelsea Groton Bank associates, Kleo Curis, Lauren Ackley, Pat Leonard, Josephine Pai, Rebecca Harms (front row) Jennifer Seuferling and Anne Ogden honor all those that are or have been serving our country. On Friday, July 2, they joined all the Waterford Banks and Credit Unions together with the Town of Waterford to wear Red,White and Blue, jeans and a special ribbon for the recent death of SSG. Edwin Rivera of Waterford. The ribbon donations went to the SSG Edwin Rivera Children’s Fund.
(l-r) Sophia Wright, 19, and Allan Selserman proudly give tours of the new ARC General Store and Bakery, 52 Sacred Heart Drive in Groton. Here you will get service with the biggest smiles imaginable and homemade blueberry muffins you will swear were made in heaven.
story & photo
by Maren Schober
Something new and wonderful opened at 52 Sacred Heart Drive, Groton, and today, I am checking it out. Walking through the door the aroma of home baked goods surrounds me and I have all I can do not to head right for the muffin counter. The fresh blueberry and orange cranberry muffins are unbelievably tantalizing.
“Hello,” Allan Selserman, manager, Arc General Store and Bakery, greets me. “Welcome to our new store. We opened May 3. Everything you see in the store is made by our Arc individuals or donated by their families and our staff members. This is Sophia Wright. She will give you a tour.”
The General Store is one large comfortable room with the bakery off to one side. The rest of the store is filled with a large variety of gift shop items. “Here is some jewelry made by us,” Sophia, age 19, points out.
I see a large inventory of beaded necklaces and bracelets. “Did you make one of these?” I ask
“I made this one,” Sophia replies and hands me a pretty bracelet. Sophia stands before me with the biggest smile on her face and it is right from her heart.
She is smiling at me with her whole being which is something I don’t experience often enough. It feels so good. I am warmed from within and return the smile. It is impossible not to like this young woman immediately.
Sophia continues the tour pointing out candles, tea cup sets, rubber stamps, tie dyed shirts, other crafts made by the Arc individuals and sweatshirts, ceramic coffee mugs and travel mugs, with the Arc logo on them.
“This week we are going to start selling Cool Beans coffee which is roasted in Hartford and distributed by Crystal Rock Water,” Allan tells me.
“What do you do in this store, Sophia?” I asked.
“I take inventory using the computer, pricing, make coffee, customer service, cashier, and I help customers.”
Allan explains, “Upstairs on the second floor is our Employment Transition Center which includes a crafts room, library, job training area, computer lab and industrial kitchen all used to teach our clients life skills so they can get jobs as cooks, cashiers and similar positions. Although my title is manager, I consider myself much more than that. I am a mentor. I help these men and women feel good about themselves, increase their self confidence, and get jobs in the community.” Allan loves what he does and it shows!
Although the home made chocolate chip and oatmeal cranberry raisin cookies are very tempting, I walk out with four muffins and one rubber stamp for my collection. All I can say is, you better get over there fast. You are in for a big treat and service with the biggest smiles you have ever seen.
The Store is open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. For more information call 860.449.1529.
Dodie Milardo "I passionately believe that this project has huge potential to help lots of people. My first goal is to raise one million dollars for charity."
story & photo
by Maren Schober
How many first time authors do you know who give most of their book profits to charity? Not many! Here is one. Her name is Dodie Milardo, a woman on a mission; a woman filled with zeal to help those less fortunate than herself. To listen to her is to begin to understand how much good one person can do who follows her dream on a steady path.
“My first book is a romance novel entitled Penelope’s Cruise,” Dodie shares with me. “When I came back from vacation and told my friends what happened on my vacation, they kept saying, ‘You have to write a book!’ Their words stayed with me and I decided to give it a try.”
Dodie’s readers tell her that Penelope’s Cruise is fun to read and a page turner. “While writing, I decided to spend more time volunteering,” Dodie continues. “I am so blessed and have everything I need: a wonderful husband, a great family, a nice home, clothes, food, heat in the winter. It occurred to me that I could use the book to raise money to help those who don’t have what they need. I also decided to start a company called To Give Is Divine, Ltd. It’s first fundraising is Penelope’s Cruise.”
An Oprah Show in February 2009 confirmed Dodie’s desire to help others. “The story was about tent cities cropping up all over the country because people have lost jobs and are losing their homes. I couldn’t stop crying. How on earth can people raise kids and send them to school when they live in a tent with no running water?”
Dodie strongly believes that God is guiding her in her mission to help those in need. “I passionately believe that this project has huge potential to help lots of people. My first goal is to raise one million dollars for charity.”
Recently, Dodie did a book signing to benefit High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Program, Old Lyme. “High Hopes gives horsemanship lessons to children and adults with disabilities. It was an amazing and humbling experience. These special needs kids are the happiest kids! I had the privilege of presenting winner ribbons to four riders. The feeling I got when I was able to donate 90% of the proceeds from the sale of Penelope’s Cruise during the book signing was priceless.”
Dodie is doing another book signing at an event June 22. “It is a Wine Tasting/Book Signing to benefit the Children’s Community Programs of CT. They provide a variety of services for children with special needs. The event is being held at the Gouveia Vineyards, Wallingford. For tickets you can all Linda Fecteau at 203.786.6403 x127.”
To order Penelope’s Cruise or to contact Dodie, go to her website www.togiveisdivine.com.
Myra Day gifted quilting teacher of Gales Ferry holds up an original quilt designed by herself. Myra never tires of making quilts and vests such as the one she is wearing. She donates many quilts to community members.
story & photo
by Maren Schober
If you ever have the desire to learn how to quilt and start looking around for a teacher, you are bound to come across Myra Day of Gales Ferry. More than thirty years ago Myra started making quilts at the encouragement of her husband, Bill and today, she is just as enthusiastic about quilting as she was in the beginning. She never tires of it.
“When I was a young newlywed,” Myra tells me, “Bill gave me a Singer sewing machine for Christmas. He encouraged me to save my sewing scraps from all the dresses I made so that I could make quilts. There were very few quilting books on the market so I thought I could teach myself. I quickly found out what works and what doesn’t. I took a quilting class from a wonderful mentor, Barbara McKie. After that I was hooked on quilting! I learned the entire process from piecing patches into blocks and blocks into quilt tops to hand quilting the quilt itself. Over the coming years I became accomplished at it..”
The Navy relocated Bill and Myra to Hawaii where Myra became keenly interested in Hawaiian quilting. She learned from Hawaiian ladies who were expert quilters there.
“My first king sized Hawaiian quilt took me three years to complete,” Myra declares. “It won the Best of Show at quilt and art shows. Today, it remains one of my favorites.”
In the 1980’s Myra made the switch from hand quilting to making quilts by machine. “Machine quilting is a technique that requires practice, practice, practice!” Myra acknowledges. “I love it because it allows me to pursue my creative spirit in a free form way.”
Myra teaches quilting classes through the Ledyard Parks and Recreation Dept. “It is a great way to meet people who want to learn the art of quilting. Quilting brings the thrill of success in creating something beautiful and useful at the same time.”
If you walk into the sanctuary of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Gales Ferry, you will discover a large sampler quilt made by Myra hanging almost from ceiling to floor on the back wall. “I designed and hand quilted this quilt for my church’s 30th anniversary. Many of the church members were asked to create a personal design on a square using a 12” muslin background that they were given. They became very creative! After I received the completed squares, I put them together in a sampler design and quilted the quilt.”
Over the years Myra donated many of her quilts to community members and non-profit organizations. “I made a quilt for one of the participants in the Survivors Of Homicide meetings I was attending in connection with my ministerial course. I made this quilt to aid in the grieving process in which the quilt would bring happy memories and comfort. I find it very rewarding to assist in the healing process through quilt making.”
“I love every part of the quilting process from the minute I dream up an idea to the final result. In addition to teaching quilting, I provide consultation services for quilting needs or making commissioned quilts.” You can contact Myra at 860.334.5732
(l-r) Senator Andrea Stillman, Luke Robinson, 2 Dogs 2,000 Miles, and Blaze Schwaller, owner, Spirit Gallery, with Hudson and Murphy, at the Spirit Gallery on Sunday, April 25, for the 2 Dogs 2,000 Miles meet and greet.
story & photos
by Angela Olsen
On Sunday April 25, Luke Robinson, with his two beloved Great Pyrenees Mountain Dogs, Hudson and Murphy, made a stop in New London as part of his 2,000 mile walk from Austin to Boston to raise awareness about cancer in man’s best friend. There was a mini-walk on the pier with other proud dog owners and choreographed canine dance routines by Top Hat & Tails Canine Dance Troupe! The event wrapped with a meet and greet at a fabulous venue, Spirit Gallery on Bank Street. Senator Andrea Stillman also turned out with her Katrina rescue Basset Hound, Deanie, from New Orleans.
Luke, a native of Texas, admittedly, was not always a dog person. His girlfriend, brought home Malcom, Luke’s first Great Pyrenees. Before he knew it, he was in love, calling Malcom, a one month-old fluff ball, “fuzzy-britches.” Sadly, when Malcom turned six, he was diagnosed with cancer and shortly thereafter succumbed to the cancer.
Luke was so moved by the bond he formed with Malcom, he decided to take Hudson and Murphy, on the road, to spread awareness about cancer in dogs.
In March 2008, Luke put all of his property in storage and committed to walk from Austin to Boston for the cause. He met many supporters along the way, and has formed a unique relationship with his dogs, saying that he “is turning Pyrenees, not gray.”
Dogs are thought to be psychic and have strong intuitions. I asked Luke about this and he told quite the story! On a spring day, walking in San Gabriel, Texas, Luke was looking for somewhere to setup camp and asked a neighbor if it was alright to stay. Meanwhile, Murphy barked relentlessly. Luke decided to get the dogs out of there! Within seconds, a drunk driver crashed at the very spot where the dogs were only a few moments before! Lucky for Luke, he trusts the intuition of his pack.
Luke invited me to dinner, where he promised to cook authentic Tex-Mex. Lori Stockman and her husband, Rich, were so moved by his story when it aired on NBC, that they got involved by putting Luke up at The Villa in Watch Hill. This was a welcome change for him, since he spends most of his time braving the elements. While Luke, a natural in the kitchen, prepared pescatarian quesadillas (he is a vegetarian who allows himself fish), he spoke of the two books he plans to write; one for adults about his journey and a children’s book narrated by Hudson and Murphy.
Luke and the boys are scheduled to reach Boston on June 18th, and Lori is hoping for a “Forrest Gump-effect,” where the whole town will be supporting him through his last strides. For more information, or to get involved, please check out 2dogs2000miles.org.
