Chamber in Favor of Road Bonds, Mattabassett Membership on Referendum

The state and Middlesex County was once again hit with a storm that wreaked havoc on the infrastructure of our region last week. Just as Tropical Storm Irene inflicted damage with high winds and rain, Winter Storm Alfred pummeled our state with up to 20 inches of snow that brought down a record number of trees and limbs. In turn, power lines came down along with the trees to create the worst power outage in state history.

However, Middlesex County and the state is full of resilient citizens and public leaders and officials. Shelters across the county became active while the snow was still falling and hundreds if not thousands of volunteers stepped up to the plate to care for those who were displaced by the storm and the mass power outage that it caused.

I would like to publicly thank these men and women who volunteered along with our town mayors and first selectmen for leading their communities through this tough time.

I would also like to applaud all of our public works and Connecticut Light & Power personnel who were out on the roads around the clock to clean up sections that were absolutely littered with trees and limbs. If not for these people, fire and other rescue apparatuses would not be able to access the residences of people in distress.

I would also like to thank the additional line and tree crews that came in to our state, along with those already in our state, for stepping up to work extended shifts that brought them through the day and into the cold of the nighttime.

The widespread outage last week, though, did not prevent several important events from happening. I was proud to attend the grand openings of Ideal Weight Systems LLC in Higganum and Big Deals Ladies Plus-Size Consignment in Cromwell on Wednesday and Thursday. Also on Thursday, I attended Jackson Chevrolet’s celebration of Chevrolet’s 100th anniversary in the automobile business. All of these were great events and are great examples of the many new businesses in the area along with longtime members of our business community.

Tomorrow we will give a big welcome to Paul “Buddy” Bucha, who is the only living Congressional Medal of Honor recipient in Connecticut at the Chamber’s monthly breakfast meeting. As you all may know by now, each November, the Chamber has a theme of Honor the Veterans and Support the Troops for this breakfast meeting. It is very important to recognize these individuals who have given and continue to give so much to our nation.

Phil Cacciola, a veteran himself, is the chairman of the Chamber’s Honor the Veterans and Support the Troops Committee. This committee works hard all year to pay a fitting tribute to our servicemen and women at the November breakfast meeting.

I would like to commend the committee for all of its hard work in putting this annual event together. I am certain that if it were not for Phil and his great committee, the event would not be as successful as it usually is. This year, we expect a crowd of over 600 to hear Paul Bucha speak and Phil has been vital to the organization of such a large event.

Every year, we recognize a veteran from the county with the William J. Pomfret Veteran Community Service Award. This year, Peter Galgano Jr. of East Berlin is the recipient. 

The award is presented in recognition of distinguished service on the part of a veteran of our Armed Forces to the citizens of Connecticut and selfless devotion to the ideal of commitment to public service. Ron has displayed this devotion throughout his time as an employee of Middlesex Community College and we are thrilled to recognize him today.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone to be sure to vote tomorrow. This is something that is extremely important for all of us to do as we have the ability to let our voice be heard in terms of what men and women will lead our municipalities for the next two years. 

In Middletown, it is very important to vote for not only our elected officials, but also two specific items that are up for referendum. The Chamber is very much in support of Question 2 on the ballot, which asks if the city shall appropriate the necessary fee in bonds to join the Mattabassett District as well as Question 3 that deals with the roughly $14 million bond authorization for the 2011 Road, Sidewalk and Public Works Facilities Improvement Program.

These are both issues that will improve the quality of life in Middletown in the long run and it is vital that these items pass through the referendum.

Tomorrow, it is important for everyone to get to the polls and know that your voice does matter.  Polls open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. so there is plenty of time to vote over the course of the day.

For information, visit www.middlesexchamber.com or contact Matt Fraulino at (860) 347-6924 or email mfraulino@middlesexchamber.com.