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Health & Fitness

Chamber Corner with Larry McHugh

The Chamber’s sold out, 12th Annual Support the Troops & Honor the Veterans Member Breakfast Meeting will be held this morning at the Crowne Plaza Cromwell.  This year, we are honored to welcome back as guest speaker, Former Army Captain Paul W. “Buddy” Bucha, a recipient of the Medal of Honor.  The Medal of Honor is the highest military honor in the United States of America.  We are truly lucky to have Buddy Bucha visit Middlesex County to address our members, and members of the local veteran community.  He is a terrific speaker who travels across the country for personal appearances and speaking engagements.  Buddy will focus his remarks on the members of our armed forces who are POW/MIA, and will also touch on the importance of hiring veterans into the American workforce.

Each year at this event, the Chamber presents The William J. Pomfret Veteran Community Service Award.  This award is presented to a Veteran of the United States Armed Forces who has shown a selfless commitment to community and public service in Middlesex County.  This year’s recipient is Jeremiah “Jerry” LaMark of Chester.  Jerry LaMark is a Veteran of the United States Army who served honorably in the Vietnam War.  Since his days on active duty, Jerry has worked tirelessly in support of veterans in his hometown of Chester, and throughout the State of Connecticut.  Jerry is the Founder and Chairperson of the Chester War Memorial Committee, a group of committed local citizens dedicated to honoring Chester residents who have served in armed conflicts since World War I.  The Chester War Memorial Committee raised funds to erect a memorial, next to the Chester World War I Memorial, which lists the names of Chester residents who have served in these conflicts.  The memorial is updated on an annual basis to include veterans of current conflicts and missions throughout the globe.  Jerry is committed to maintaining the grounds of the Chester War Memorials, and makes certain that the American flags which identify veteran graves at all Chester cemeteries are replaced regularly.  He is the Adjutant of Chester’s annual Memorial Day Parade, and organizes a firing squad of local veterans to participate in the event on an annual basis.  Jerry participates in a number of community activities, including volunteering with the Chester Hose Company Fire Department, coaching in the local Little League, and serving as the town’s Tree Warden.  He is Commander of American Legion Post # 97 in Chester, is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) serving as Senior Vice President of the local VFW Post, Vietnam Veterans of America, Society of the 1st Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, and is President of the Essex Veterans Memorial Hall.  Jerry LaMark is a lifelong supporter of veterans, and is truly committed to veterans’ community service.  He volunteers to bring local vets to doctor’s appointments and other important meetings.  He visits veterans in the V.A. Hospital to lift their spirits and help them get back to good health.  Jerry LaMark served his country with honor, and continues to serve the community of Chester and the State of Connecticut.  He is truly a deserving recipient of the 2013 William J. Pomfret Veteran Community Service Award.  Bill Currlin, our 2012 honoree, and another inspiring local veteran who is committed to community service, will introduce Jerry, and will present him with his award. 

The Support the Troops & Honor the Veterans Member Breakfast Meeting would not be possible without the efforts of our Support the Troops Committee, led by Phil Cacciola, Commander of American Legion Post 75 in Middletown.  This committee meets throughout the year to plan for this major event.  I would like to thank Phil and our entire Support the Troops Committee for their service to our country, and for their dedication to this annual event.  Finally, I want to thank Middlesex Hospital, under the leadership of CEO Vin Capece, for its sponsorship of this event and for its strong support of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce.

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Last Tuesday's 2013 Middlesex County Business to Business Expo was a smashing success.  I would like to once again thank all our sponsors, led by presenting sponsors Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C., and Comcast Business, and our terrific Expo Committee, led by Co-Chairs Brian Armet and Pamela Luchka.  The Crowne Plaza Cromwell once again did a terrific job hosting this event, and I want to recognize Steve Gardiner, General Manager, and his team, for a job well done.  We had a full day of events and activities and had a record crowd at the Executive Evening Member Business After Work portion of the event.  I would like to thank all of our members who showed up to support what is truly our signature event.  The Middlesex County Career Fair, which was once again a key component of the Business Expo, was also a very successful event which connected job seekers to Connecticut employers that are currently hiring.  I would like to thank the Connecticut Department of Labor and Workforce Alliance for sponsoring this important career fair.  Finally, I want to thank Johanna Bond, lead Expo Coordinator and one of my Vice Presidents here at the Chamber, for her great effort and for her continuing dedication to this major annual event.   We are getting terrific feedback from this year’s Expo and are already looking forward to the 2014 edition. 

I really enjoyed the 10th Anniversary Celebration for the Inn at Middletown last Wednesday afternoon.  General Manager Gary Nagler and his staff do a terrific job, and I was happy to attend the event along with Chamber Chairwoman Darlene Briggs, Mayor Dan Drew, Councilman Tom Serra, Councilman Gerry Daley, and many other friends and supporters of the Inn.  The Inn has proved to be a real economic generator for downtown Middletown that has successfully partnered with many other venues throughout our region.  I want to congratulate Gary and his team on ten terrific years; we look forward to many more. 

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The Chamber still has plenty of tickets available for this Saturday’s Yale football game vs. Brown University, kickoff at 12 Noon.  These complimentary tickets, courtesy of the Yale University Athletic Department, will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.  Stop by the Chamber office this week to collect your tickets to see some exciting Ivy League football in New Haven. 

Looking ahead, our annual Member Business After Work Networking Event and Festival of Wreaths will be held on Tuesday, November 19th, at the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in Haddam.  The Riverhouse team always puts out a wonderful spread and we are once again expecting a huge crowd for this popular event.  Chamber members will have the opportunity to bid on some beautifully designed wreaths with the proceeds going towards the Middletown Mentor Program and the Chamber’s Holiday on Main Street festivities.  In addition to the delicious spread of food, this event will feature free beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks and of course, the best networking around.

We have reached the month of November in Middlesex County, and the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce is on the move.

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


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