The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Vets’ dinner, Pomfret award highlight business news
Norman Hanenbaum, member of Connecticut Veterans’ Hall of Fame, to be honored for service
MIDDLETOWN» Autumn is in full swing in Middlesex County, and the chamber calendar continues to be packed with events and activities.
The chamber divisions continued their forums with legislative candidates as the Durham & Middlefield Division welcomed nine candidates to last Wednesday’s meeting at the Lyman Orchards Golf Center in Middlefield.
We are fortunate to have had great participation from candidates and chamber members at these meetings throughout the month of October. Our All-Middletown Division meets tomorrow at Apple Rehab in Middletown, and our candidate forums wrap up next week with meetings of the Westbrook Division and Haddam & East Haddam Division on Tuesday and Thursday.
I was happy to attend a press conference on Wednesday morning at Snow School in Middletown which announced grant awards, potentially worth $7.5 million, for UConn’s Neag School of Education. Snow School is affiliated with the Neag School through its Minds in Motion Program for talented and gifted students.
Mayor Drew offered remarks at the event, as did Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Congressman Joe Courtney and Dr. Sally Reis, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at UConn, who were all instrumental in securing these important funds.
On Wednesday evening, chamber Vice President Jeff Pugliese attended a stakeholders workshop concerning the Valley Railroad State Park Tourism-Passenger-Freight Economic and Structural Feasibility study being undertaken by the River COG.
The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce is indeed an important stakeholder in this process and will continue to stress the importance of maintaining the rail line in Middlesex County.
If the line were to be dismantled in any way and at any point, the options of policy makers and planners would be limited as potential productive uses would be eliminated. We will continue to stay on this important issue.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy visited with our Board of Directors at its October meeting held last Thursday in Chester. The governor’s opponent, Republican candidate Tom Foley, visited with our board in September.
I want to once again thank both of the gubernatorial candidates for agreeing to attend a meeting of our Board of Directors in advance of the election.
The grand re-opening celebration for The Wine Cellar on South Main Street in Middletown was held last Thursday afternoon, and I was happy to attend along with Mayor Dan Drew and chamber Chairman Rich Carella.
As I noted last week, The Wine Cellar was damaged this past April after a car crashed into the front of the business. The Wine Cellar is now back and better than ever, and I congratulate Nella and Mario Mazzotta and their team, and wish them nothing but the best moving forward.
It was a distinct honor and a privilege to have had the football field at Xavier High School named for me this past Saturday. It was great to spend some time with former players, family, friends and long-time supporters on homecoming weekend, but as I have repeatedly noted, it is the player’s field, not my field. I am, however, so appreciative of everyone who came out on Saturday, and to those who have sent notes and other messages of support over the past week. I want to especially thank Xavier High School, and in particular the headmaster, Brother Brian Davis, Director of Athletics Tony Jaskot, Director of Advancement Greg Brinn, and former Director of Athletics Art Kohs, who hired me and gave me the opportunity to coach at Xavier.
I am very proud of Head Football Coach Sean Marinan, who has done a wonderful job since taking over the program. Saturday was a special day at Xavier High School, and I am truly honored.
This week will be another busy one for our chamber. I look forward to attending the Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference on Wednesday at Mohegan Sun. Jeff Pugliese and Lorenzo Marshall from the chamber team will attend the entire conference which runs all day Wednesday and Thursday morning.
I am glad the chamber will be well-represented at this important conference, which features a number of terrific speakers including Coach Auriemma.
Looking ahead to November, the chamber’s 13th annual Support the Troops & Honor the Veterans member breakfast meeting will be held on Nov. 10 at the Crowne Plaza Cromwell. We look forward to welcoming American Legion Past National Commander Robert Spanogle as guest speaker.
I am proud to announce that the 2014 recipient of the William J. Pomfret Veteran Community Service Award is Norman Hanenbaum of Haddam. Norm has been very involved in a number of veterans’ organizations, including the local, state and national chapters of the Jewish War Veterans, and he was recently inducted into the Connecticut Veterans’ Hall of Fame.
We look forward to honoring Norm and we are excited to once again run this terrific event, which has become a key part of veterans’ week in Middlesex County.
Our 2014 Business to Business Expo is Nov. 18 at the Crowne Plaza Cromwell. This event will feature an economic forecast breakfast, Small Business Awards Luncheon, the Middlesex County Career Fair and over 100 exhibitor booths. We are also planning a number of important workshops, including one in partnership with Middlesex Hospital on local health preparedness, and another on Google Analytics. Stay tuned for more information on our 2014 Expo.
Finally, our Role Model of the Year Member Breakfast featuring Army Sgt. Joe Kapacziewski will be Nov. 25 at the Crowne Plaza Cromwell. As I noted last week, Joe Kap is the only Army Ranger to ever return to active duty after losing a limb in combat. Joe will be available to sign his book, “Back in the Fight,” following the event.
October is moving right along, and the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce continues to be on the move.
For information on chamber events and activities, visit www.middlesexchamber.com.