WESTERLY â Michael âSpikeâ Lobdell, founder, president and CEO of New England Science & Sailing in Stonington, has joined a distinguished group of local residents.
Lobdell, widely applauded for creating one of the most successful community sailing programs in the country, is this yearâs Citizen of the Year, an award bestowed by the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce and considered by many to be the highest honor for business leaders in the two-state region.
Established in 1957, the award recognizes the âoutstanding leadershipâ and the âexceptional contributionsâ made by award-winners to the greater Westerly-Stonington region. In selecting the person to honor each year, chamber members consider qualities like community leadership, integrity and creativity. Candidates must also possess âstrong communication skills and broad social perspectives,â said Chamber President Lisa Konicki in a statement announcing the award.Â
Sun, 04/25/2021 - 9:45am
Joee Patterson. (Photo courtesy Stewardship Education Alliance)
Jay Burnett. (Photo courtesy Stewardship Education Alliance)
Sarah Doudera. (Photo courtesy Stewardship Education Alliance)
CAMDEN The Stewardship Education Alliance (S.E.A.) has tapped three new members to the local nonprofit’s Board of Directors. The announcement comes from S.E.A. president and Board chairman, Barbara Lawrence.
The year-old nonprofit works to increase community awareness of the importance of stewardship in protecting the Midcoast’s water resources and fragile watersheds. With S.E.A. support, students, teachers and communities are benefitting from grants for special watershed-related projects, activities and professional development.
Stonington Wendy Bury, the executive director of the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition, outlined an opportunity Tuesday for the town to form a designated cultural district that she said would provide a host of benefits for the community.
Last week, New London became the second town in the state, after Ridgefield, to form a cultural district. The cultural coalition was heavily involved in helping shepherd New London s effort through the state approval process. Bury said the City of Groton, Norwich and Lyme also are considering establishing districts.
At a meeting of the town s Economic Development Commission, Bury explained a cultural district is a specifically designated area of town that contains cultural facilities, activities and assets, and which is walkable.
Stonington Wendy Bury, the executive director of the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition, outlined an opportunity Tuesday for the town to form a designated cultural district that she said would provide a host of benefits for the community.
Last week, New London voted to begin the process of forming a designated cultural district. The cultural coalition will help shepherd New London s effort through the state approval process. Bury said the City of Groton, Norwich and Lyme also are considering establishing districts.
At a meeting of the town s Economic Development Commission, Bury explained a cultural district is a specifically designated area of town that contains cultural facilities, activities and assets, and which is walkable.
A headline across the top of The Day s April 10 front page last year set the stage for some spring optimism in the still-dark, unfolding pandemic: Pfizer working on virus drug.
The accompanying story went on to explain plans by Pfizer, including work at its laboratories here in eastern Connecticut, to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, then only a glimmer of hope as a way out of the unfolding health crisis.
Incredibly, just one year later, every adult Connecticut resident is eligible to receive one of three successful new COVID-19 vaccines, including Pfizer s. How remarkable.
The rest of the pandemic news last April remained bleak, as we all tried to get accustomed to a new reality, with nursing homes devastated and the state s pandemic death toll topping 1,000 on April 17.