The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Event to honor legacy of Biagio, Jean Ciottos
Late couple made ‘indelible’ mark on Connecticut
MIDDLETOWN — We have reached the fall season in Middlesex County, and the chamber continues to be on the move.
This week’s calendar includes important meetings of our Westbrook Division, Women’s Leadership Collaborative, Chamber Finance Committee, and our Holiday on Main Street Planning Committee.
After a brief summer hiatus, the Westbrook Division will meet on Zoom Tuesday at 8 a.m. The gathering will feature updates from local leaders, business owners, members of the General Assembly, and the chamber team.
The Women’s Leadership Collaborative meeting, led by Chairwoman Barbara Taylor-Hatje, will be also be held Tuesday morning. It will feature planning discussions for the group’s events and activities in late 2021 and early 2022.
The chamber’s Finance Committee, also known as “The Big 8,” has been meeting throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to discuss the state of the chamber’s financials. This group of dedicated and engaged chamber members continues to do great work as we navigate this ever-changing climate.
The Holiday on Main Street Committee will meet Friday at 8:30 a.m. to continue its planning for this year’s event, dubbed “The Magic of Middletown,” scheduled for late November through early to midDecember. I will have much more information as the busy holiday season approaches.
Honoring Biagio Ciotto
On Thursday evening, there is a celebration of life and launch of the “Biagio ‘Billy’ & Jeanne Ciotto Memorial Fund” at the Tunxis Pavilion Country Club. This was created to honor the legacy of Billy and Jeanne Ciotto, who were married for over 66 years, and made an indelible impact on the entire state of Connecticut.
I was fortunate to know Billy well and to work with him for several years. For 42 years, he worked for the state Department of Motor Vehicles as deputy commissioner from 1987-89. He was elected to the state Senate in 1994, and served six terms representing the towns of Wethersfield, Newington, Rocky Hill, Cromwell, and part of Middletown.
He was extremely wellliked and well-respected by both sides of the aisle, and by all of those he worked with during his time in office. He then went on to work for U.S. Congressman John Larson in a constituent service role, a role that suited Billy perfectly.
Billy Ciotto was one of the best. He was a strong supporter of our chamber, a fixture at our member breakfast meetings, and a friend to countless people around the state and country.
Business milestone
On Friday evening, I look forward to celebrating the 51st year of continuous operation for LABCO Welding, as well as the partial retirement of Vinnie LaBella. After completing eight great years in Rockfall, LABCO moved to the industrial park in Middletown over 43 years ago.
The company has expanded five times, doubled its employment over the years, and served as an outstanding corporate citizen in our city and beyond. I am very grateful that LABCO has been a member of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce for over 40 years.
It is an outstanding local company, and we are lucky to have it in Middletown and in Middlesex County. Thank you, Vinnie LaBella and LABCO Welding for your commitment to our community.
Amistad to dock at Harbor Park
This weekend will feature the return of the Amistad to Middletown. The historic ship will dock at Harbor Park as they pay honor to, and acknowledge, the resiliency and determination of the Mende captives during the 1839 Amistad Uprising.
The schooner’s visit Saturday will feature onboard tours of the flagship, along with other culturally enriching opportunities.
It is amazing that 21 years has passed since the Amistad’s last visit to Middletown, and I, for one, am very much looking forward to its return. For information, please contact the Middletown Arts & Culture Office or visit discoveringamistad.org.
Career fair
To close out this week’s column, I want to make everyone aware that the Middlesex County Career Fair is making its return after a year off due to the pandemic. It is set for Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott
in Cromwell. This important event will feature over 40 employers that are now hiring.
The Middlesex County Career Fair is sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Workforce Alliance and Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.
This event comes at a particularly important time for our workforce and regional economy. We hear every day from employers having a difficult time filling open positions and retaining good employees. This is especially true of key industry sectors for our economy.
The chamber strives to be a bridge between job seekers and employers, and our career fair has always
been an important part of this effort.
I want to take a moment to thank state Department of Labor Commissioner Dante Bartolomeo and Workforce Alliance President and CEO Bill Villano for supporting this effort, and longtime support of workforce development in our state.
To register your organization to be a part of this results-oriented career fair, or to view our current listing of participating companies, please visit middlesexchamber.com/careerfair.
The sun always shines in Middlesex County!