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Health & Fitness

Chamber Corner with Larry McHugh

Today is Veterans’ Day in Middlesex County and throughout the United States of America.  The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor our veterans, and support our active duty and guard & reserve personnel on an ongoing basis.

12th Annual Support the Troops & Honor the Veterans Member Breakfast Meeting was held last Monday, November 4th. A huge crowd attended this event including many local veterans. This Member Breakfast Meeting, sponsored by Middlesex Hospital, featured keynote speaker Paul W. “Buddy” Bucha, former Army Captain and recipient of the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is the highest military honor in the United States of America.

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 was Jeremiah “Jerry” LaMark of Chester. Jerry is a Veteran of the United States Army who served honorably in the Vietnam War. He is a lifelong supporter of veterans, and is truly committed to veterans’ community service.

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Our Chamber is honored to host this annual event which supports our troops and honors our veterans. I would like to again thank our Support the Troops Committee, led by Chairman Phil Cacciola, for its hard work on this event and continuing service to our community and to our nation.

Grand Opening and Grand Re-Opening celebrations are happening all over which is great news for our region.  Hair Solutions Salon in Middletown held a Grand Opening at its South Main Street location on Friday, November 1st.  I was happy to attend the event to celebrate along with Owners Jessica and Susan Manno.  Bottom 2 Top, an urban clothing retailer on Main Street in Middletown, also celebrated a Grand Opening on November 1st.  I was happy to visit with Rubin Walton, Owner and Operator, for this special occasion.  Chamber Chairwoman Darlene Briggs and Middletown Mayor Dan Drew joined me for these events as we celebrated these local entrepreneurs.  Let’s hope there are many more to come. 

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Malloves Jewelers, an institution in downtown Middletown, celebrated 85 years in business last week with an Open House event and other fun activities including a Thanksgiving Food Drive Raffle.  Marc Levin, his father Buzzy, and the entire Malloves team have been instrumental in the success of downtown Middletown.  We congratulate them on 85 terrific years in business. 

This week also features a number of Grand Opening and Grand Re-Opening events.  This evening, we will head out to Jackson Chevrolet on South Main Street for its Grand Re-Opening.  Tamera “TJ” Jackson and her team have done an unbelievable job on the Jackson Chevrolet facility here in Middletown.    TJ is a great a supporter of our Chamber and serves on our Board of Directors.  Jackson Chevrolet was the Title Sponsor of the 2013 Cruise Night on Main, a major downtown event held in June.  We look forward to celebrating not only the extensive renovations at the facility, but this outstanding company. 

This Thursday, November 14th, is loaded with events.  McDonald's in Cromwell, 125 Berlin Road / 4 Industrial Park Road, is hosting a Grand Re-Opening at 9:30 AM.  This McDonald’s facility in Cromwell has undergone extensive renovations which have modernized the restaurant, expanded the inside seating area, and installed a new double drive thru.  This particular restaurant opened 20 years ago in 1993.  I look forward to celebrating the Grand Re-Opening with owners John and Nick Haskos, and of course, Ronald McDonald. 

St. Luke’s Eldercare Services, 211 South Main Street in the Citizens Bank basement, will hold a Grand Opening at 10:00 AM.  Later in the day, Ädelbrook Behavioral & Developmental Services will host a Grand Opening for its Transitional Academy on South Main Street in Middletown.  Finally, to close the day on Thursday, The Pickle Stand Deli & Tavern on Main Street will host a Grand Opening at 4:30 PM.  We look forward to celebrating these exciting businesses. 

Finally, on Friday, November 15th, I will attend the Grand Opening for Chris Cote’s Golf Shop in Portland.  Chris and his team have done such a great job with the business, that they have outgrown their Main Street facility and have moved to a new facility on Route 66 in Portland.  The new facility’s square footage is tripled, and will be able to accommodate more custom golf club fittings and other services provided by Chris and his team.  I look forward to attending the Grand Opening on Friday. 

The Chamber’s 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 the best networking around. 

In addition to a number of Grand Openings, Business After Work events, and other celebrations of local businesses, the Chamber continues to book major Member Breakfast Meetings at the Crowne Plaza Cromwell. 

On Monday, November 25th, we look forward to welcoming back former United States Senator Christopher J. Dodd.  Senator Dodd is now the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., serving as the voice and advocate of the U.S. motion picture, home video, and television industries around the world.  Senator Dodd has addressed our Chamber many times and has always given terrific remarks.  We look forward to hearing his thoughts on the motion picture industry, and a number of other important topics on November 25th.  This Member Breakfast Meeting, sponsored by The Mohegan Tribe, will begin with networking at 7:00 AM, Breakfast Buffet 7:30 AM, and Meeting Program 8:00-9:00 AM.  Chris Dodd represented Connecticut in Congress for 36 years, six as a member of the House of Representatives and 30 as a member of the United States Senate.  We look forward to welcoming him back to a Middlesex Chamber Member Breakfast Meeting. 

Governor Dannel P. Malloy will speak to the Chamber at our Annual Holiday Member Breakfast Meeting on Tuesday, December 10th.  Every year since the mid 1980’s, this Chamber has hosted the Governor of the State of Connecticut for a Member Breakfast Meeting in the month of December.  This event with the Governor has truly become a tradition in Middlesex County, and we are once again expecting a sold out crowd.  This event is sponsored by Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas, Northeast Utilities Companies.  We look forward to welcoming our Governor to Middlesex County as we do every year. 

On Friday, January 3rd, the Chamber is excited to welcome as guest speaker, Sergeant First Class Joe Kapacziewski.  Known as “Joe Kap” by his comrades and friends, Joe is the only amputee in the history of the United States Army Rangers to return to combat, serving ten tours in the Middle East.  On May 24, 2011, he became the first enlisted soldier ever to receive the No Greater Sacrifice Freedom Award, given to individuals who epitomize selfless service to the nation.  Since losing his leg, he has completed three triathlons and finished the New York City Marathon twice.  When not deployed to war zones, he often visits wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio.  SFC Joe Kap will receive our Role Model Award at this Member Breakfast Meeting on January 3rd.  I would like to thank AT&T for sponsoring this important event, and Derek Phelps from Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C. for working hard to secure Joe Kap as keynote speaker.

I would like to close by offer congratulations to all of those who participated in the many municipal elections throughout Middlesex County.  It is not easy to run for office these days, and we appreciate all the candidates and their willingness to run for office. 

We are approaching the holiday season, and the Middlesex Chamber is certainly on the move.

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