The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Cruise Night on Main sure to be a blast
While every week is busy in Middletown and throughout our region, this one will be rocking from start to finish.
Before covering the major events and activities that are upon us, I would like to share some brief thoughts on the chamber’s 124th annual awards dinner last Wednesday at the Red Lion Hotel in Cromwell.
The event, enjoyed by over 300 chamber members, friends and guests, honored five distinguished Middlesex County citizens, and three graduating Middlesex County high school seniors. The event also marked the official passing of the chamber’s chairmanship from Jay Polke, co-owner of Willowbrook Spirit Shop in Cromwell, to DATTCO President Don Devivo.
I want to once again thank all of our members who attended the dinner, and I especially want to thank past chamber chairman and longtime supporter Rich Carella for doing a fantastic job as master of ceremonies.
Jay Polke did a terrific job over the past year in the important chamber leadership position of chairman. We thank him for his unbelievable service and support to the chamber. I know our staff looks forward to working with Don over the course of the next year as we continue our efforts to move Middlesex County forward.
Now, on to a monster of week in Middlesex County.
The first of the two major events of the week is Middletown’s 22nd annual Cruise Night On Main, powered by NAPA, Wednesday from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. downtown. Hundreds of cars are expected to line both sides of Middletown’s scenic Main Street from Washington Street to the South Green.
Music and food, combined with the array of pre-1994 classic vehicles, will make this a family friendly and fun event for everyone.
Entertainment includes Shaded Soul Band, an R&B and Motown band on the show mobile, All American Productions patriotic-themed fashion show, and WMRD / WLIS Radio, in front of the Chamber playing oldies music. Over the Hill Gang Car Club DJ will be by Brew Bakers, spinning tunes from the 50s and 60s; and The River 105.9 will be on the South Green.
This event will benefit Middletown youth programs, including the Hal Kaplan Middletown Mentor Program, Middletown Recreation Programs, and the Middletown Summer Youth Employment Program. There is a suggested donation of $10 for participants.
This event is for pre-1994 vehicles, and sponsor awards will be announced at 8 p.m. Registration for the cars will begin at 4:30 p.m. Cars should enter at the south end of Main Street, and registration signs will be posted in the area.
For information, visit CruiseNightOnMain.com. In case of inclement weather and the event has to be postponed, the rain date is June 19.
Questions can be directed to Haley Stafford at 860-3476924 or haley@middlesexchamber.com.
I would like to once again thank all of the sponsors and supporters of Cruise Night on Main, along with the city of Middletown, which stepped up again to support this important community event. From the mayor and the council, to all of our city directors and their respective staffs, and everyone else who has a hand in making the event work, I offer a sincere thank you on behalf of the chamber.
As soon as cruise night is in the books, attention turns to the inaugural Middletown pride event June 15. The city, Chamber and Wesleyan University are partnering together to ensure that the event will be a successful celebration of our diverse community and particularly the lives and contributions of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning residents.
The parade will commence at 2 p.m. on Main Street at St. John’s Square and will proceed down Main Street to Union Street. It will be an amazing parade that will feature over 800 marchers, at least 10 floats, a number of vehicles, our grand marshals Madison Sapphire Duchannes and Raven Matherne and more.
Master of ceremonies for is Illeana Douglas, an Emmynominated actress, writer, director, author, and Turner Classic Movies host. An outstanding festival will follow on the South Green, with a wide variety of entertainment, over 45 vendors, a beer garden featuring beer and hard cider from Middletown’s own Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company, Forest City Brewing, and Spoke + Spy Ciderworks and more.
We believe strongly that Middletown Pride will have a significant economic impact in the downtown area. It will incorporate a number of local businesses, and will attract people to our city from all over the state and New England. Most importantly, however, and beyond the economics of the situation, Pride will help to market Middletown as the vibrant, diverse and inclusive city that it is, and we very much look forward to supporting that effort.
Middletown Pride has attracted over 25 sponsors, from Fortune 500 companies and major local employers, to micro businesses and local individuals. I have been truly amazed by the outpouring of support for this event.
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has stepped up to make sure Middletown Pride is a success. From the chamber staff, to all of our partners at City Hall, including Mayor Drew and his team, the Common Council, and many of our key departments, to the Triangle Community Center and all of our sponsors, everyone has put so much time and effort into this event and it is very much appreciated.
I want to take a moment to especially thank Middletown Assistant General Counsel Christopher Smedick for his work to make Middletown Pride a reality. Chris has led this effort from the beginning, and he has done a fantastic job. I look forward to sharing a wrap-up of what will certainly be a day to remember. For information, visit middletownpride.org.
This week also features meetings of the chamber’s Durham and Middlefield Division Wednesday at the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and the Cromwell Division Thursday morning at Coles Road Firehouse in Cromwell. On Friday morning, I look forward to a meeting of the Connecticut Valley Hospital Advisory Committee, where I will join my fellow members in what is sure to be another productive discussion.
In closing, I want to take a moment to congratulate Greystone Retirement Home in Portland, which is celebrating 65 years in business with a celebration at its High Street facility Thursday afternoon. I look forward to attending the event along with Portland First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield and other local dignitaries.
Opened in 1953 by Baldwin and Lucy Amato, Greystone transitioned to daughter Lucille and son-in-law Paul Swanson beginning in the 1970s. Now, granddaughter Luel Swanson, administrator of Greystone for over 17 years, has purchased the facility to become the third generation of the Amato/Swanson family to continue the family legacy of care at the facility.
Congratulations to Luel and her staff for creating such a wonderful and caring place in our community, and we look forward to celebrating with them. On June 22, Luel and her team will host a 65th anniversary grand reopening open house from 1 to 4 p.m. The public is invited to see this outstanding local facility that continued to provide high quality care in our community.
It’s a big week in Middletown and in Middlesex County, let the sun shine!