The Resident Dec. 13 ~ 26

Girls Excel at Regional Cheer Competition

story & photo
by Karen Koerner

Girls from 12 area teams dazzled a crowd with demonstrations of their jumps, tumbling moves, cheers and stunts Nov. 12 during the Southern New England Youth Cheerleading Competition held at the Waterford High School. Pyramids brought the loudest applause from the enthusiastic audience, as the girls built ever-higher pyramids in a demonstration of the strength, skill and confidence that cheer requires.
“These girls work hard,” said one parent, Ken Kelly, whose daughter Ava competed in the East Lyme junior competition. “They are real athletes.” The East Lyme Juniors brought home a fourth place trophy.

(l-r) Celebrating a Stonington Junior Division first place cheer competition trophy are Rita Hoadley, Glen Riffe, his daughter Chelsea Riffe, Nancy Riffe, and Corinne Gones.

Exuberant supporters sported their team colors in each town’s section of the bleachers. They shouted encouragement to their favorite team, and the entire crowd cheered as each team performed a two-and-a-half minute routine designed to demonstrate their skills in partner stunts, pyramids, jumps, tumbling, motions, dance, and voices.
Teams are organized from the towns of East Lyme, Griswold, Groton/Mystic, Ledyard, Montville, New London, Norwich, Plainfield, Stonington, Waterford, Westerly, and Windham. Girls in first through eighth grade compete in four divisions, Mini for girls aged eight and under, Micro for those 10 and under, Junior for 12 and under, and Senior for those 14 and under. Large and small squads compete separately, said Michelle Canty, Cheerleading President for the Southern New England Youth Football Conference (SNEYFC), which organizes the competition. SNEYFC is funded and coordinated by participating towns to provide football for boys and cheer for girls.

East Lyme Junior Cheer Team celebrates their trophy.

“We start in August and we end in November,” Michelle said. All directors and coaches are volunteers, and the emphasis is on safety and sportsmanship as the girls also train for skills, strength, and the teamwork necessary to build themselves into pyramids, toss and catch each other, and to cheer their football teams. The annual Cheer Competition is the culmination of the season. “This is a fun event for the girls,” Michelle said. “They work very hard in rain and cold with football. This is a day for them to show off everything they’ve learned.”
Trophies were awarded for the top four places in each division. First place winners that day were: Mini Division Small Champion, New London; Mini Division Large Champion, Groton/Mystic; Micro Division Small Champion, Montville; Micro Division Large Champion, Groton/Mystic; Junior Division Small Champion, Stonington; Junior Division Large Champion, Groton/Mystic; Senior Division Small Champion, Montville; and Senior Division Large Champion, Griswold.

Living Nativity is Salem Family Tradition

by Karen Koerner

In the middle of the commercialized Christmas season, residents of Salem can pause to celebrate a “Silent Night, Holy Night,” thanks to the commitment of retired dairy farmers Stu and Judy Gadbois. The couple organizes a living nativity and carol sing in their barn each year, and they invite area residents to join them. The free event will begin at 5 pm Sunday, Dec. 17 at Maegog Farm, at the corner of Highway 82 and routes 354 and 82 in Salem.
“I started it for my grandkids because I wanted them to know Christmas is more than shopping at the mall,” Judy said. She is planning the 28th living nativity now, with her family and with help from neighbors and her church, the Congregational Church of Salem. Members of the Salem Volunteer Fire Department also help. Stu and Judy’s granddaughter, Rachel Crafton, and her husband, Casey Crafton, will portray Mary and Joseph this year, and their infant son, Knox, gets the honor of being Baby Jesus.

(l-r) Shepherd Patrick D’Amato, Jr. watches over Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus, portrayed in a past Maegog Farm Living Nativity by Jennifer and Orin Helfrich, and their boy, Michael Helfrich. This year’s Nativity will be held Dec. 17.

Guests are invited to sit on bales of hay in the barn to enjoy the presentation. Members of the Gadbois family read the Christmas story while family members or neighbors portray shepherds, the three kings, and angels. Music is part of the presentation, as family members sing and play some carols, and all attendees join in other familiar carols. The Congregational Church Choir also sings a selection. The family’s great-grandchildren contribute to the evening by singing “Away in the Manger.” The evening ends with hot cider and cupcakes. “It’s Jesus’s birthday cake,” Judy said.
Judy laughed at the memory of the first year the family held the nativity. “The very first year we were going to do it, my aunts thought no one would show up.” Even that first year, 200 people enjoyed the presentation. Stu and Judy have three children, six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, and all enjoy the annual tradition.
The Maegog Farm Living Nativity will go on rain or shine, Judy said. “Even if it’s our family singing carols, we’ll do it,” she said.

The Resident Nov. 29 ~ Dec. 12

 

Subaru Loves Pets and So Does the Valenti Family of Dealerships

story & photo
by Alexis Ann

(l-r) Brittany Hughes, First Vice President, Stand Up For Animals, Art Smith, Animal Control Officer, Barbara Martin, Secretary, Stand Up For Animals, Lina O’Leary, President, Stand Up For Animals, Larry Hirsch, Trustee, Bruce Morrow, General Manager, Valenti Subaru, Lucy & Noah Nicolosi, Lori DeJesus, Trustee.

This past October, as part of Subaru Loves Pets Month, Valenti Subaru, Westerly, Rhode Island, donated pet supplies including 200 stuffed toys and bandanas to Stand Up For Animals (SUFA), Westerly. Lina O’Leary, President, SUFA, was on hand to accept the generous donations as were Art Smith, Animal Control Officer, Larry Hirsch, SUFA board member and others from the SUFA team.

Bruce Morrow, General Manager, Valenti Subaru, is being licked.

Lina announced, “Relay for Life collected supplies for animals including collars, blankets, tick repellent and of course, these stuffed toys and bandanas from Valenti Subaru.” She continued, “Our community is very animal-friendly and generous.”
Bruce Morrow, General Manager, Valenti Subaru, announced when presenting the gifts, “We are a family within a family the Valenti Family of Dealerships and are honored to offer a leg-up to our furry, four-legged friends here at SUFA.”
Subaru is proud to be a long-standing partner of ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) the leading animal welfare organization in North America, to help bring pets and people together. According to Bruce, “Subaru has donated nearly $20 million to ASPCA and helped support over 1200 adoption events, helping more than 40,000 animals nationwide.”
It was an especially bright, sunny Saturday for all our furry friends at the SUFA shelter! Hats off to Valenti Subaru!

Criss Angel Kicks Off Foxwoods ‘Stuff the Bus’

by Karen Koerner

(l-r) Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council Chairman Rodney Butler, Annawon Weeden and Albert Zamora, Cultural Resources, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Jennifer Rapillio, Assistant Director Bus Marketing, Foxwoods Resort Casino, William Gonzalez, Bus Marketing Sales Manager, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Councilor Daniel Menihan Jr., and Lynn Page, Loyalty Rewards Manager, Foxwoods Resort Casino, assemble Nov. 4 at the motorcoach that soon will be stuffed with toys for local children. Daniel is speaking about the happiness the holiday gifts will bring to children who might not otherwise receive Christmas gifts.

It was a magical moment in front of Foxwoods Resort Casino Nov. 4 when world-renowned illusionist Criss Angel made a $25,000 donation during the fifth annual Stuff the Bus campaign that will benefit the Tommy Toy Fund program of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. The campaign continues until Dec. 11.
“We are one world, one people,” Criss told the crowd standing in front of the motorcoach that will be stuffed with toys and other gifts. “Children are all our children. I do this in honor of my beautiful son Johnny Christopher.”
Nearly a dozen excited “Loyals,” as Criss’s fans call themselves, screamed in delight when he announced his donation, and quickly collected their own contributions to put toward the Christmas charity. The group gathered from New York, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and even the United Kingdom. They met at Foxwoods to see Criss perform, and were ecstatic to be able to attend the kickoff with their idol.
Alice Soscia, Leadership Giving Director, United Way of SECT, said cash donations for the kickoff event totaled $26,140. Foxwoods patrons and employees also brought toys to begin the joyful process of stuffing the bus with holiday gifts. She noted that many think of Foxwoods as simply a world-class center for entertainment. “But we as a community see a whole lot more. It’s deeper and impactful and it saves and changes lives every day.”
Contributions of unwrapped toys, blankets, pajamas, jackets and diapers will be collected during the five-week campaign. Donations will be accepted at the Foxwoods Bus Terminal Bay #1 from 8am till 12am and at all Foxwoods hotel lobbies and select locations in the Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods. Mario Dennis Transportation out of Seekonk Massachusetts supplies the bus for the month-long effort.

(l-r) Criss Angel, master illusionist, and Felix Rappaport, President and CEO, Foxwoods Resort Casino, enjoy listening to a welcome song by Mashantucket Pequot musicians during the kickoff of the Stuff the Bus toy and gift drive Nov. 4.

“The Stuff the Bus campaign is one of our most important charitable initiatives, and we are proud of the continued support shown by our loyal guests, team members and many of the celebrities who visit or perform at Foxwoods,” said Felix Rappaport, President & CEO,  Foxwoods Resort Casino. “In fact, this program continues to get even bigger and more successful every year, and has now brightened the holidays for more than 20,000 children and families in the region.”
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Councilor Danny Menihan recalled how the campaign grew in popularity. “The initial year we filled one (shuttle) bus,” he said. Last year, Foxwoods Stuff the Bus filled more than two motorcoaches with toys, blankets and more that are given to local children who otherwise would not receive Christmas gifts. “It does touch a lot of homes,” he said.
Lynn Page, Loyalty Rewards Manager, Foxwoods Resort Casino, was Emcee of the colorful event. She also recounted the explosion in giving over the years. “This year, what do you think?” she urged the crowd. “Can we fill up two or possibly three buses?”

The Resident Nov. 15 ~ 28

 

http://www.theresident.com/17826-2/

The Resident Oct. 18 ~ 31

 

USS Missouri Returns to Homeport

(l-r) The Monk family welcomes home their sailor, Dylan Monk who, in three weeks, will be marrying Samantha Dabek. L-r, Dennis Monk, Sarah Monk, Samantha Dabek, Dylan Monk, and Pat Monk.

story & photos
by Eva Bunnell

On the warm, sunny, afternoon of Wednesday, October 4th, family members, friends, and various Navy personnel awaited the return of the USS Missouri to its homeport at the Naval Submarine Base in New London.
Family members of the 132-member crew-15 officers and 117 enlisted sailors- could barely contain their excitement and pride. And who could blame them. Proud American military families are the backbone of the world’s most elite naval force on any water.
The USS Missouri, under the command of Cmdr. Fraser Hudson, is a fast-attack multi-mission, submarine that enables “five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities-sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.” Commissioned on July 31, 2010, the Missouri returned to its homeport after months away from its New London homeport, while “executing the Chief of the Naval Operation’s Maritime Strategy in supporting national security interests and Maritime Security Operations.” The submarine is “designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare; anti-ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance” among many other features that help protect our country. It is “377 feet long with a beam of 34 feet.”
On Wednesday, however, what mattered most to those gathered just beyond the pier, was that the Missouri contained a most precious cargo, its officers and sailors. Pat and Dennis Monks, of East Rutherford, New Jersey, along with their daughter, Sarah, “couldn’t wait” to see and welcome home their son and Sarah’s brother, Dylan, who is a sailor on the Missouri.
Dennis Monk shared proudly that “Prior to joining the Navy, Dylan became a firefighter, just like me. When he became a firefighter, I told him he became my brother. When he joined the Navy, he became my hero.” Standing beside the family at the pier, was Dylan’s fiancé, Samantha Dabek. Adding to the excitement of the day, the family shared that in three weeks the couple will be welcoming family and friends to their wedding. It is set to take place at Yosemite National Park.
As is the custom for submarine crews returning to home port, those who are first in line for a hug and kiss are chosen by lottery. The couple chose for “First Kiss” was Kim and Anthony Rossi, Chief System Technician Submarine. The Rossi’s are from Florida and Arizona, respectively. They met, however, in Groton. Those chosen for “First Hug” were Hannah and Michael Wirth, STSC.
Watching families reunite, and listening to their shouts of joy on first seeing one another, it was hard not to be emotional. These families endure what many civilians do not-separation from one another in service to our nation’s global security. And they do so, with strength.
To the crew and families of the USS Missouri, and to all military and their families-thank you for your sacrifice and service.