Speaker Sharkey to Talk Proposed Bills at Inn at Middletown

Last week was another busy one in Middlesex County and throughout the state of Connecticut. 

I attended the Common Council meeting at Middletown City Hall last Monday night where Mayor Dan Drew and members of the council once again affirmed their support for three major downtown events. 

The 16th Annual Car Cruise on June 12, The  on July 10, and the 8th Annual Middletown Motorcycle Mania on Aug. 14, are huge events and I want once again thank the Mayor and our council members for their support of these important events for our downtown. On Wednesday afternoon, First and Last Tavern hosted a luncheon which recognized all the sponsors of last year’s downtown events. 

I want to publicly thank Mike Bellobuono and First & Last for hosting our group and for sponsoring the luncheon, and I want to again thank our sponsors and members of the downtown events planning committees for their terrific support.

On Tuesday, Jeff Pugliese from the Chamber staff attended an important meeting of CACCE in Hartford.  CACCE, or the Connecticut Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, put together a fine program which focused on best practices for building the future of Chambers. 

Danny Hearn, President & CEO, Catawaba County Chamber of Commerce in Hickory, NC, served as keynote speaker and gave a great presentation.  The following morning was Connecticut Business Day in Hartford. 

Sponsored by CBIA and the Connecticut Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Connecticut Business Day is the largest gathering of employers at the Capitol during the legislative session.  The event featured remarks from Governor Malloy and a fiscal panel with the Speaker of the House, the Senate Minority Leader and the House Minority Leader, along with breakout sessions on tourism and manufacturing. 

Connecticut Business Day also included an important press conference which announced a major partnership between the Department of Economic and Community Development, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the University of Connecticut and many Chambers of Commerce in our state. 

Small Business Development Centers, to be staffed by professional business counselors, will open up on the campuses of UCONN branches and in Chamber offices throughout the state.  I would like to publicly thank Gov. Malloy, and DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith, for their leadership on these important initiatives that provide the resources businesses need to expand and grow jobs in Connecticut.  

March 6 was the first meeting of the Middletown Riverfront Redevelopment Commission held at City Hall. The meeting featured a great opening discussion and a terrific presentation from Bill Warner, Director of Planning, Conservation and Development. 

I was happy to be selected for this important body by Mayor Drew and the Common Council and I look forward to continuing this important work with my fellow commission members.

Thursday evening brought me over to the KGS Insurance Services office on Court Street for a reception hosted by Kelly Smith and Lizz Milardo.  This event celebrated a joint initiative between Kelly, Owner and Operator of KGS Insurance Services, and Lizz, a Financial Planner with Barnum Financial Group.  I want to thank both of these terrific businesspeople for their strong support of our Chamber and our community. 

Tomorrow morning, March 12, the Chamber’s Legislative Committee will host the new Speaker of the House, Brendan Sharkey of Hamden, for a Special Legislative Event at the Inn at Middletown.  At this special meeting, Speaker Sharkey will visit with Chamber members to discuss the 2013 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly. 

The Chamber’s Board of Directors and Legislative Committee will have the opportunity to ask questions about the session and discuss some important issues on the Chamber’s 2013 Public Policy Agenda.  We look forward to welcoming Speaker Sharkey to Middletown.  I would like to send out a special thank you to our friends at Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. for sponsoring this important event. 

I am looking forward to speaking to the Kiwanis Club of Middletown this Wednesday at their weekly meeting held at Cantina Cafe Ristorante.  The Kiwanis is a great group that is committed to fellowship and the community and I appreciate their kind invitation to attend the meeting and speak. 

On Monday, March 18th, the Chamber will welcome UCONN Women’s Basketball Coach Geno Auriemma at our March Member Breakfast Meeting.  We are expecting a sellout crowd at this annual event, to be held the day after the Selection Sunday telecast which will lay out the road to the Final Four in New Orleans. 

Geno has spoken to our Chamber for the past few years and it is always a great event for our members.  We look forward to Coach Auriemma’s remarks and will wish him and the Lady Huskies the best of luck as they embark on what we all hope is another championship run. 

We are gearing up for the 29th Annual Member Business After Work Auction and Taste of Downtown, to be held next Tuesday, March 19th, from 5 to 8 p.m at the Italian Society Hall in Middletown. 

The event will feature samplings from 15 downtown Middletown restaurants along with a live auction, silent auction, complimentary beer, wine, soda and even Chamber Hurricanes. This year’s event has a Mardi Gras theme so don’t miss out!

In closing, on Sunday, March 3rd, I was honored to attend a birthday party for Rich Jukonski along with almost 70 of his closest friends.  The event was held at Matty’s Next Door in Middletown, the food was terrific, and a good time was had by all.  Ray Klick, who was responsible for dressing Rich for the party, picked out a very nice tuxedo but forgot to make sure that Rich wore socks to the event.  It was a great party and I want to again wish Rich a Happy Birthday. 

The clocks are turned ahead, spring is on the way, and the Middlesex Chamber is on the move. 

For more information on Chamber events and activities, please contact Jeff Pugliese at jpugliese@middlesexchamber.com.