Mystic Irish Parade 15th Annual — Humongous Success

April 4, 2018 by

(l-r) City of Groton Chief of Police Mike Spellman, Lori Potter, Director of Communications, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Jan Miller, Regional Ambassador, Alexis Ann, editor & publisher,
the Resident and Ed Stebbins, Stebbins Buyers & Sellers Realty.

The 15th Annual Mystic Irish Parade stepped off without a hitch from the Mystic Seaport parking lot at 1 pm on Sunday, March 25th. Despite the morning snow the sun shone intermittently on hundreds of floats, thousands of participants and several thousand spectators.
You might say that the Luck of the Irish was certainly in full play as the snow stopped just short of the parade but as Leo Roche, Parade Founder and Foundation President commented that morning with a twinkle in his eyes and broad Irish grin, “How do you like the weather–It doesn’t snow on the biggest Irish parade in the State of Connecticut.” From bagpipers, to high school bands, fire engines—new and old; to military personnel, law enforcement units to politicians, leprechauns, mariners and the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales. They were all marching in high style while proudly displaying their Irish heritage if even in spirit alone.
Grand Marshals for 2018 were Rob and Bob Valenti, Rob walked while Bob rode in his beloved 1975 Chevrolet that Bob purchased brand new and has kept in the same condition ever since it’s purchase. The Grand Marshals were also in for a special treat when Sift Bakery presented them with a five layer chocolate cake decorated with the parades logo signifying 15 years for the parade.
The parade was capped off with the Budweiser Clydesdales stopping at the reviewing stand to deliver a special case of beer to Leo Roche. Leo was also able to climb up and ride the rest of the route back to Mystic Seaport smiling ear to ear while playing with the Dalmatian mascots along the way.
Parade winners will be awarded on April 8th, 3 pm at Harp & Hound in Downtown Mystic. All are invited to join in the celebration and raise a glass or two to the well-deserving winners. In addition to the winners being awarded the parades raffle for a trip to Ireland will also be pulled at 4 pm. It’s not too late to win a trip to Ireland! See www.mysticirishparade.org for more information.

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Vintage Car Lover “Brings ’Em Back to Life” on His Hit YouTube Show

March 23, 2018 by

Renee and Dennis Savage enjoy restoring, driving, and showing off their fantastic collection of 1956 Chevys.

by Anna Trusky

To Dennis Savage of Lisbon, walking through an automobile salvage yard is like paying a visit to dear old friends.

“Salvage yards are outdoor museums for men who are interested in automotive history,” Dennis said. “They’re full of ‘memory candy,’ as I call it – old cars that remind us of times when we were younger, riding around with our parents or friends. That feeling is what I try to create with my YouTube show, ‘Bring ’Em Back to Life!’”
When he decided to develop a program that would share his passion for salvage yards and antique cars, Dennis joined the SECT filmmakers group so he could learn the ropes of television production. The friends he made there helped him turn his idea into a pilot and trailers, which led to showings at exhibitions and festivals.
“Today, with the assistance of my grandson and awesome editor Robbie Savage, Jr., a New England Tech graduate, ‘Bring ’Em Back To Life’ is garnering tens of thousands of views and hundreds of ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ on YouTube,” Dennis said. “We’re getting new subscribers every day. There are now 14 episodes on YouTube and a new season is about to begin.”
On each episode, Dennis takes his camera into a salvage yard and looks for vintage vehicles with parts that can be saved and repurposed. “Most salvage yard owners are happy to let me come into their yards. They walk with me and tell me the history. It’s good for those who are looking for parts for their antique cars to see what is out there.”
Dennis himself has a “sizeable” collection of vintage ’55 ’56, and ’57 Chevrolets. “We’ve been driving them all our lives,” he said. “When I’d find them in salvage yards, we’d save them and put them in our barn. We restored them and now they’re valuable antiques.”
Word of Dennis’s show is spreading far and wide. “Recently I was invited to talk about the show on Mike Minarski’s Wolverine FM Radio station in Jewett City, Stu Breyer’s WICH AM Talk Radio show in Norwich, and most recently Joe Pepitone’s ‘Every Car Has A Story’ on Big Talk Radio FM 106.7 in Wilmington, North Carolina. My wife Renee taped us meeting in person to use on an upcoming episode,” he said.
Renee, Dennis pointed out, is his faithful supporter and biggest fan. It’s no wonder since vintage Chevys have played an important role in the Savages’ life together since day one. “We just celebrated our fiftieth wedding anniversary—we eloped in my ’57 Chevrolet. That’s how our love affair with classic Chevrolets started!” Dennis said.
To get in touch with Dennis, email him at Den567@att.net or visit his Facebook page, Dennis Savage.

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NESS Announces AmeriCorps Grant Award and Expanded Programs in New London

July 4, 2014 by

New England Science Sailing Logo

PRESS RELEASE
July 2, 2014
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Cindy Nickerson, Executive Director
860-535-9362
New England Science & Sailing Foundation

NESS Announces AmeriCorps Grant Award and Expanded Programs in New London

New London, CT – New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS), US Sailing’s Outstanding Community Sailing Center in America for 2013, today announced expanded programs in New London to advance adventure STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education and experiential learning opportunities for the city’s students. This multi-faceted initiative, which exemplifies NESS’s continuing commitment to serve New London, includes the following:

  • A strengthened partnership with the Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, including establishment of a NESS classroom in the school.
  • A new $133,000 federal AmeriCorps grant from the Connecticut Commission on Community Service, to positively impact students’ lives by integrating NESS’s science and sailing-based adventure education curriculum with Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School’s STEM Academy. Numerous private donations from individuals and foundations will also support this program.
  • A new partnership with Ocean Beach Park, including establishment of a NESS classroom at Ocean Beach and kayak launching amenities for NESS’s marine science classes.
  • A new partnership with the Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut and New London High School to offer a high school sailing team.
  • A Pfizer donation of 10 Flying Junior double-handed dinghies, a 17′ powerboat, and a floating dock to NESS for use by the high school sailing team.
  • A new partnership with Mitchell College, which has donated the use of their fixed dock on the Thames River for use by the high school sailing team.

To celebrate this initiative, NESS will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony and press conference July 8 at 9:00 am at its new classroom at Ocean Beach Park. The community is welcome to attend to meet representatives from NESS, its partner organizations, and invited guests and dignitaries.

Anchoring the initiative is the award of a $133,000 AmeriCorps grant from the Connecticut Commission on Community Service to hire ten AmeriCorps Members to teach students in the STEM Academy. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with NESS. This innovative AmeriCorps program has the potential to transform our students’ lives through the combination of NESS’s adventure STEM education and mentoring and assistance from AmeriCorps volunteers,” remarked Alison Ryan, Principal of the Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School. The AmeriCorps program includes an extended learning program during the academic year for 200 students attending the STEM Academy at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School as well as a summer learning program for 125 participants in Camp Rotary and New London Recreation Department programs.

In addition to a dedicated NESS STEM Academy classroom within the school beginning this fall, NESS opened a 1,100 sq. ft. classroom at the city’s Ocean Beach Park to serve as its base for marine science education and kayaking expeditions. Dave Sugrue, Manager of Ocean Beach Park, noted, “We’re so excited to bring this wonderful program to the park to get more kids involved in education and enjoying its nature beauty. This could be transformative — not only for the kids but for the Park itself.” NESS Program Director Mary Horrigan added, “Ocean Beach is an amazing resource. We’re delighted to be offering programs right in New London — programs that will foster connections between students and their community as well as the environment.”

In a new partnership with the Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut and New London High School, NESS will offer and manage a high school sailing team for students wishing to participate. “We’re looking forward to bringing the world of competitive high school sailing to the students of New London. It’s one of the few sports in high school and college where girls and boys compete on the same level,” commented Mark Zagol, NESS’s Sailing Program Director. “We would not be able to offer this if not for the generosity of Pfizer, which has donated sailboats and a powerboat for this program, and Mitchell College, which has donated the use of their dock,” he continued.

“NESS is incredibly grateful to earn the trust of our donors and partners as we grow our commitment to New London through strengthened partnerships and dedicated donors,” remarked Spike Lobdell, NESS’s President. “There are so many organizations working together to provide opportunities for New London children,” he said. “Among them we would like to especially thank New London Public Schools, the City of New London and Ocean Beach Park, Pfizer, Mitchell College, New London Recreation Department, Camp Rotary, Jennings Family Resource Center, Drop-In Learning Center, and New London Community Boating in helping to improve opportunities for the city’s children,” he added.

NESS acknowledges gifts from lead sponsors including The National Recreation Foundation; The Forrest and Frances Lattner Foundation; Montauk Foundation; Chester Kitchings Family Foundation; The Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee; The TK Foundation; 11th Hour Racing; The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut; Dominion Foundation; Gowrie Group; Liberty Bank Foundation; Robert G. Youngs Family Foundation; The Bodenwein Public Benevolent Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee; Dime Bank Foundation, Inc.; Charter Oak Federal Credit Union; and Chelsea Groton Foundation.

NESS has been working with the Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School for two years to bring science and learning to life for students by getting them out of the classroom, onto — and sometimes into — the water. “This strengthened partnership and AmeriCorps award represent the next step in the evolution of NESS as a leading provider of STEM-based adventure education programming,” said Cindy Nickerson, NESS’s Executive Director. NESS’s STEM education curriculum includes the US Sailing REACH program, which uses sailing as the platform for teaching STEM concepts. NESS’s program promotes interest in STEM through experiential learning using sailing, kayaking, marine science, and adventure water sports.

NESS was named by US Sailing the 2013 Outstanding Community Sailing Center in America for its notable contributions to promote public access by demonstrating growth in program offerings, including partnerships, and community involvement and awareness. In 2013, NESS served 2,700 participants through its experiential hands-on science and sailing programs. Of these, more than 900 were sponsored by scholarship gifts and grants for underserved regional school children.

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About New England Science & Sailing: Named by US Sailing as the Outstanding Community Sailing Center in the nation for 2013 and celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2014, NESS is a year round nonprofit 501(c)(3) adventure education organization dedicated to inspiring individuals to discover themselves through the enjoyment of the sea.  Through inclusive, small group adventure education programs, NESS offers opportunities for transformational personal growth and discovery as well as connections leading to community and environmental stewardship.  Transdisciplinary STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education provides relevancy and sparks learning. Need based financial aid makes programs accessible to all.
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