US. POSTAGE PAID GLASTONBURY CITIZEN, INC. P.O. BOX 373, GLASTONBURY, CT, 06033 POSTAL CUSTOMER PRESORTED STANDARD LOCAL ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ RIVEREAST News Bulletin Serving Amston, Andover, Cobalt, Colchester, East Hampton, Hebron, Marlborough, Middle Haddam and Portland Volume 37, Number 15 Published by The Glastonbury Citizen July 20, 2012 Pride on Parade At Old Home Days by Joshua Anusewicz Over the last calendar year, East Hampton Joslyn-Greenwald said that Bjorn went over has had many reasons to come together in a “really great with the kids” again this year. show of solidarity and community. Unfortu- Thursday night also featured local rock group nately, some of those reasons have been during Johnny 5. times of struggle: Tropical Storm Irene, a freak Friday also featured two musical acts – Voo- October snowstorm, and the tragic fire that lev- doo River Band and The Tim Charron Band – eled the Bevin Bell factory in May. which were both well-received. But the big at- But each time the town has been dealt a blow, traction Friday was the 14th annual Glorious it has come back stronger than before, with a Gallop 5K Road Race, which kicked off just stronger sense of community spirit and pride. after 7 p.m. Joslyn-Greenwald said over 430 That community spirit and pride was on full runners participated in this year’s race – con- display for all to see last weekend, as the town siderably higher than last year’s number of run- came together for its annual Old Home Days ners, which was affected by a severe storm. Glorious Celebration, a three-day summer tra- Making his hometown proud, this year’s dition in the town’s Village Center. And from winner was 19-year-old Bill Lonsdale of East running road races to free bicycles to live mu- Hampton with a time of 16:22. The winner in sic, Old Home Days had a little something for the female division was Sarah Ports, 23, of everyone. Lebanon, with a time of 19:13. “The weekend was spectacular,” said Pam Friday gave way to Saturday, and the Old Joslyn-Greenwald, president of the Old Home Home Days Parade, the centerpiece of the three- Days Association this week, adding that the day celebration. Billed as the largest in great weather over the weekend helped draw Middlesex County, the parade drew marchers an “exceptional” crowd for all of the events over and floats from throughout the area, all of which the three days. entertained the large crowd which gathered Welcome Home...Over 200 townspeople turned out July 6 to welcome home the Old Home Days kicked off Thursday night under the morning sun. Crowds along Route U.S. Navy’s Christopher Abbott, left, and Cody Flannery. The two had been deployed and, for the second straight year, the live enter- 66 were several people deep in some spots, to Afghanistan, and recently came back to East Hampton. A large group of family tainment was kicked off by a magician - Bjorn showing just how much Belltown enjoys a good members and friends watched as they cut their yellow ribbons off the tree in the the Magician, to be exact. Using a magician in parade. that slot last year was considered a success, and village center. Photo by Kathy Barber. See Parade Page 2 ‘Anything Goes’ for AHM Youth Theater by Geeta Schrayter twists and turns,” as AHM describes it. Walking into the RHAM High School Audi- The musical also boasts a Cole Porter score torium Wednesday night, the voice of director featuring several well-known classics, such as Mary Rose Meade is the first thing heard. Kind “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “It’s De-Lovely” yet commanding, she tells one group of actors and “You’re the Top,” along with quite a few to alter their costumes, tweaks a few positions dance numbers. And it’s those numbers which and tells the performers to watch their footing. Meade said have been both a challenge and a Soon after, the group, dressed in period at- reward. tire from the 1930s, is back to practicing a scene “Dancing has been a challenge,” said Meade, from Anything Goes, this year’s production by who’s in her 20th year with the program. And the AHM Summer Youth Theater program. The for the first time in those 20 years, Meade is musical will be performed next weekend at having the entire cast perform a tap number. RHAM High School in Hebron. Time was also stacked against them. When The Tony Award-winning Anything Goes rehearsals were originally planned, Meade said originally opened on Broadway in 1934, and is the last day of school was expected to be June currently enjoying a revival on the Great White 13. However, due to weather-related school can- Way. Originally written by Guy Bolton and P.G. cellations, graduation didn’t take place until Wodehouse, and then revised by Howard Lind- June 20, and rehearsals started shortly after. say and Russel Crouse before the play’s 1934 “So we’ve had to have some longer nights,” debut, the story takes place on a luxury cruise she said. “Time is always a challenge, but this liner as it journeys from New York to England. year it was a particular challenge because of On board are a slew of passengers, includ- all the singing and dancing.” ing Reno Sweeney, a nightclub singer and In addition, Meade explained some of this former evangelist, and her old friend Billy year’s performers had never danced before but Crocker, who’s stowing away to be near Hope “they all learned.” Everyone worked really hard, Harcourt, the girl he loves. Crocker plans to she said, and “repeated and repeated” the scenes win Harcourt over, but things are complicated until they got them right. It’s that dedication – due to the fact that Harcourt is traveling with and the results they bring – that Meade said The cast of Anything Goes, this year’s performance by the AHM Summer Youth both her overbearing mother and her fiancé. In she’s found most rewarding. Theater Program, gathered at RHAM Wednesday to rehearse for next weekend’s addition, Crocker’s boss is on the ship as well, And the aforementioned challenging tap shows. Pictured from left are Genna Marcin as Hope Harcourt, Nicholas Everlith along with a gangster disguised as a preacher. number, when the entire cast of over 50 per- as the Captain, Peter O’Connell as Mrs. Harcourt, Andrew Hawes as the Purser, The result: a musical filled with “hilarious See ‘Anything Goes’ Page 2 Dan Busa as Billy Crocker and Chris Yeterian as Moonface Martin. Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï Cover Story ï This year’s Old Home Days ended, as usual, with a grand parade down Route 66. The “Golden Age of Television” was this year’s theme; local Boy Scouts contributed a float celebrating the 1960s Batman TV show, top left, while the East Hampton High School Class of 1962 showed off an American Bandstand-themed display, below right. Parade participants also included local bagpipers, top right, and, at far bottom, Epoch Arts celebrating 20 years’ worth of productions (such as Alice in Wonderland and James and the Giant Peach) and the East Hampton Yellow Ribbon Committee. Parade cont. from Front Page The parade, which stepped off at 11 a.m., Citizen of the Year Joann Youngs; the always- was led by the East Hampton Police Depart- popular Shriners in their miniature cars and ment, and followed by the police color guard, motorcycles; the Yellow Ribbon Welcome members of the VFW Post 5095 and the Home Committee, which received a great round Governor’s Foot Guard. Appearing in his 22nd of applause from the crowd; and Rocky, the Old Home Days parade, U.S. Sen. Richard New Britain Rock Cats mascot, who desecrated Blumenthal waved to the crowd and spoke with a parade-goer’s New York Yankees cap. some of the spectators, marching alongside Lt. Throughout the parade, the younger specta- Gov. Nancy Wyman and state Attorney Gen. tors were treated to all fashion of free items: George Jepsen. candy, freeze pops, T-shirts, and even some Members of the East Hampton Fire Depart- plants, courtesy of Paul’s and Sandy’s Too. ment and Volunteer Ambulance soon followed, Joslyn-Greenwald said seeing all of the smil- leading up to the Town Council, Police Chief ing faces of the children are what makes the Matthew Reimondo and new Town Manager parade so special. Michael Maniscalco, walking in his first Old “It’s really for the kids,” she said. “That’s Home Days Parade in his first week in office. what it’s all about.” Behind the town officials was one of the And that wasn’t all the kids had to enjoy. highlights of the parade: a horse and carriage Throughout the weekend, the youngsters were carrying Matthew Bevin, the owner of the Bevin treated to carnival rides, games, and food on Bros. Manufacturing Company. Bevin received the Center School grounds, which include a free a warm reception from those in the crowd, as a bubble tent and hula-hoop corral for those kids troop of marchers followed behind the carriage out of tickets. Each day of the celebration, 20 ringing bells around a Bevin Bell factory float. lucky children were also selected to receive a “I’m glad they participated, because we had free bicycle, courtesy of the annual Bike Give- hoped they would get involved,” Joslyn- away.