Chamber Corner with Larry McHugh

Downtown Middletown will be rocking this Wednesday evening, from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M., with the 8th annual Middletown Motorcycle Mania, presented by Hunter Limousines Ltd., Hunter’s Ambulance, and the Hunter Family.  Over 4,000 bikes are expected to converge on Main Street for the eighth year of this summer event, which will showcase custom and vintage motorcycles.  Last year, we had over 3,500 motorcycles on display along with thousands of spectators.  All bikes are welcome to come out for this summer event which is sure to be a fantastic time for everyone involved.  Middletown Motorcycle Mania is an opportunity for the city to showcase its many fine restaurants and businesses in the downtown district.  There are a variety of activities planned for the evening, including a bike show with awards, street vendors, food and entertainment.

In addition to the event’s presenting sponsors, Hunter Limousines Ltd., Hunter’s Ambulance and the Hunter Family, additional sponsors for the event include Liberty Bank, Haymond Law, Charles Computer Services, Home Team Supply, Minuteman Press, Coca-Cola, Gengras Motorcycles, SERVPRO, Middletown Downtown Business District, First & Last Tavern, Fabian Associates and Mezzo Grille.  I would like to thank all of our sponsors for their terrific support along with Event Chairman Rich Greco and his committee for all of their hard work and dedication to this major downtown event. 

WMRD/WLIS Radio will broadcast live in front of the Chamber building, and the following bands will perform on the Showmobile in front of the Bank of America building: Rock Slide, a five piece classic rock band from Durham, will play from 5:00 to 6:30 P.M., and Two Virgins, a five piece original rock band from Middletown, from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.  Branded, a high energy rock oriented band, will perform in Plaza Middlesex by Lastrina Bridal Salon, from 5:00 until 9:00 P.M.  DJ Les Benfield will be stationed in the Gazebo on the South Green.

This event benefits Middletown youth programs, and past proceeds have gone to the Middletown Mentor Program, led by Hal Kaplan, and Middletown Parks and Recreation Department’s youth programs.  There is a suggested donation of $5 per motorcycle and $10 for bikes being entered for awards.  The Rain Date for Middletown Motorcycle Mania is Wednesday, August 21.  For more information or vendor space, please visit www.midtownmcmania.com or contact Cathy Duncan at the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce at 860-347-6924 at cathy@middlesexchamber.com.   

Last week was a busy one in Middletown and throughout Middlesex County. 

Monday evening brought us to Westbrook for a terrific Chamber Member Business After Work Networking Event at the Water’s Edge Resort and Spa.  This major event was attended by over 250 Chamber members and their guests.  I want to again thank the Dattilo family, General Manager Chris Barstein, Cindy Tedford, Anthony Amendola, Karen Robidoux, and the entire Water’s Edge team for hosting our group.  The weather, along with the scenery, was perfect, and our members truly enjoyed a fun night on the shoreline. 

Cherry Berry Self-Serve Yogurt Bar on Main Street in Middletown celebrated its Grand Opening last Tuesday afternoon.  Peter Mendlinger and his team are excited about their new business, and I was happy to attend the event to help them celebrate its successful beginning.  I want to again thank Peter, along with Cherry Berry’s other owners, Johnny Moore and Mark Balaban, for their support of the Chamber and their commitment to Middletown.

The Northeast Regional American Legion Baseball Tournament, held at Palmer Field, was once again a very successful event.  I enjoyed the Tournament Banquet last Wednesday at the Courtyard by Marriott in Cromwell.  Courtyard General Manager Steve Matiatos and his team did a terrific job as usual hosting not only the banquet, but all of the players, coaches and tournament personnel throughout the event.  I would like to again recognize the hard work of Commander Phil Cacciola and American Legion Post 75.  The tournament was well organized and was a nice event for our region. 

The Chamber’s Durham and Middlefield Divisions held a special meeting on Thursday morning, August 8th, in the Medical Building on the Durham Fairgrounds.  This was a follow up to a special July meeting which continued the discussion about the ongoing construction on Route 147 in Middlefield.  Lyman Orchards, a major tourist attraction in the area, and The 94th Annual Durham Fair, which is scheduled for September 26 - 29, 2013, are the major points of concern for local officials.  The dialogue that is taking place between municipal officials, state police, CT Department of Transportation Project Manager James Ruitto, and the business community is really working, and we are creating a scenario that will provide the least possible disruption on business and commerce in the area.  I would like to thank all of the participating individuals for the professional manner in which they are dealing with this situation. 

On Thursday evening, I attended an event hosted by the Community Foundation of Middlesex County which included a showing of Dreamgirls-Motown Comes to Our Towns, at Ivoryton Playhouse.  I want to thank CFMC President and CEO Cynthia Clegg, along with Ivoryton Playhouse Executive Director Jacqui Hubbard, for putting on a fun night in Essex for a sold out house.  Ivoryton Playhouse is terrific, and if you get a chance to take in a show there, you will not be disappointed. 

It is hard to believe, but we have reached the final week of the 2013 Middletown Summer Youth Employment Program.  We continue to have 80 youngsters working throughout Greater Middletown at host sites from many different employment sectors.  As I do on a weekly basis, I want to offer a big thank you to our program sponsors who make this whole thing possible: Workforce Alliance, City of Middletown, Liberty Bank Foundation, Middlesex United Way, The Peach Pit Foundation, Middle Oak, The Community Foundation of Middlesex County, The New England Emporium Eatery and Marketplace, Jackson Chevrolet, Pegasus Manufacturing, Guilmartin, DiPiro and Sokolowski, and Seasons Federal Credit Union.  I will provide a full program wrap up next week. 

We are looking forward to the Grand Opening celebration for 4D Vision Gym in Cromwell, scheduled for this Thursday at 4:00 P.M.  This new business, located at 181B Shunpike Road, is dedicated to excellence through eye training.  I will attend the Grand Opening along with First Selectwoman Mertie Terry, Chamber Chairwoman Darlene Briggs, and Cromwell Division Chairman Mike Cornett of Cartridge World. 

The next Middlesex Chamber Member Breakfast Meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 20th, at the Crowne Plaza Cromwell.  Our guest speaker will be UCONN Head Football Coach Paul Pasqualoni.  Our members are looking forward to hearing what Coach Pasqualoni has to say about the exciting upcoming football season.  The Breakfast will be held at the Crowne Plaza Cromwell, 100 Berlin Road, Cromwell, with Networking beginning at 7:00 A.M., Breakfast Buffet opens at 7:45 A.M. and the Breakfast Meeting Program 8:00 to 9:00 A.M.  Cost is $20.00 for Chamber members and $30.00 for non-members.  The event is sponsored by People’s United Bank. 

Following the Breakfast Meeting, there will be a seminar titled The ABCs of the Affordable Care Act.  This event, sponsored by Aetna, will feature Phil Boyle, Business-to-Business Manager at Access Health CT, and Robert Noonan of Robert Noonan & Associates/EmpACTS of New England.  The seminar will focus on the employer and individual coverage mandates, exchanges, tax credits, and other important components of the law.  Cost to attend is $10.00 for the seminar only, and $30.00 for the breakfast and the seminar. 

Finally, I am happy to announce that the Chamber’s 2013 Governor William O’Neill Service Award will be presented to Tom Serra.  The Governor William O’Neill Service Award has been presented each year since 2002 to a person who has performed Outstanding Public Service for the Citizens of Connecticut. The award is named after Governor O’Neill because he dedicated himself to Public Service for the Citizens of Connecticut during his tenure as a State Legislator and Governor.  Tom Serra has dedicated himself to public service during his time as an educator, a principal, a Mayor, a member of the Middletown Common Council, and countless community initiatives.  He has also been a very active member of this Chamber through his service on our Scholarship Committee, as Chairman of our Business & Education Partnership Advisory Council, and his support of many other Chamber events and activities.  We are proud to honor him with this prestigious award.  The Governor William O’Neill Service Award will be presented on Monday, September 23, 2013 at the Chamber’s Member Breakfast Meeting featuring guest speaker United States Congressman John B. Larson.

We have reached the middle of August, and the Middlesex Chamber is on the move. 

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