Month: November 2021

Five animal candidates are vying for the much sought-after title of Mayor of Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. This important election will decide the Zoo’s second Mayor, the highest-ranking animal official who will showcase the important role of animal ambassadors. Last year’s winner, Wiggles the Chinchilla, died in office, and runner-up Kallisto the Amur leopard is completing Wiggles’ term.

The five candidates who have made it past this year’s primary rounds to the general election are:

· Harry the Guinea Hog piglet. As the youngest candidate to enter the race, Harry has a maturity beyond his months. He demonstrates a remarkable ability to negotiate with his littermates on issues ranging from what to eat and when to eat it to what to roll in and how to roll in it. It’s rumored that there was a spiderweb in the barn that read “some pig.” This has not been verified.

· Zari the African Grey Parrot. As a long-time animal ambassador and a veteran of ZooMobile visits to senior centers as well as starring roles at children’s birthday parties, Zari has a calm demeanor and rarely flies off the handle. Her campaign slogan is “a bird on the hand is worth two of the other candidates.”

· K-Man the Yacare Caiman. Sometimes called the “piranha caiman” as yacare caimans are known to snack on the razor-toothed fish, K-Man’s campaign materials claim this ability makes him the perfect choice for choppy political waters. He says he is looking forward to sinking his teeth into the job of mayor.

· Jolene the Whistling duck. Jolene is a natural politician, and as such, has decided to put her wing in the ring for a second run at mayor. Sociable, boisterous, and noisy, she has openly supported the rights of ducks who prefer to walk on land as well as those who prefer to perch in trees. She considers all animals equal under the law.

· Clara the American Bison. As the country’s national mammal and official symbol of the country along with the bald eagle, Clara says that she has the dignity and gravitas demanded of a zoo mayor. A devoted single mother, Clara wants voters to know that she can run up to 35 mph, is extremely agile, and can spin around quickly. She calls her ability to spin an advantage in seeing all sides of an issue.

“Once again, the race for Mayor of Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is highly contested as each candidate attempts to win the support of voters,” said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho. “Unlike other elections, we encourage people to vote early, vote often, and stuff the ballot box.”

The election will be decided by online votes. The general public can vote for the candidate of their choice by making a one-dollar donation for each vote at https://CBZMayor2021.givesmart.com. Voting begins on Thursday, November 4. Polls close at four p.m. on Thursday, November 18.

The winning Mayor will hold a 12-month term. All donations to the ballot box will be used to support the Zoo’s mission of conservation, education, research, and fun.

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo:

Let your curiosity run wild! Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating its 99th year, features 350 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Amur tigers and leopards, maned wolves, Mexican gray wolves, and red wolves. Other highlights include our new Spider Monkey Habitat, the Rainforest Building, the prairie dog exhibit, and the Pampas Plain with Giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries. Guests can ride on the carousel, grab a bite from the Peacock Café and eat in the Picnic Grove. Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is a non-profit organization approaching its 100th year at a time when the mission of helping fragile wildlife populations and ecosystems is more important than ever.

Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org. In accordance with the state of Connecticut COVID-19 guidelines: we recommend that guests continue to wear masks while visiting the Zoo, but when guests are outside and can maintain social distance, masks may be removed. In any indoor area, or when social distancing cannot be maintained, masks are required. Everyone over the age of two, with the exception of those with medical conditions that preclude wearing them, should have a mask available.

Each year, in honor of Veterans Day, the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington Connecticut honors the exceptional military service of Native Americans in a formal dedication. This year, the Institute is once again inviting the public to participate in the program that will honor three Native Americans whose passion and loyalty have helped to make America what it is today on Sunday, November 14 at 12 noon.

The first honoree is Joseph A. Perry, Jr. (Eastern Pequot), a Vietnam Veteran who enlisted in the United States Army in 1960. Upon his Honorable Discharge as Sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division in 1963, he joined the Connecticut State Police in 1964, retiring in 1995 as Deputy Commissioner/ Colonel Division of State Police. In 1995 Joseph became the Director of Public Safety for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, retiring in 2011 as Inspector General.

Throughout his career, Joseph has volunteered extensively, serving several terms as a Tribal Councilor and Tribal Treasurer for the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation from 1996 through 2017. He also served on the Board of Trustees and Corporators of Norwich Free Academy from 1992 to 2007.

Currently, Joseph serves on Tribal Honor Guard, is a Tribal Ambassador and member of the Native American Heritage Advisory Council (NAHAC). In addition, he serves as a Corporator at William W. Backus Hospital, is on the Chairman Criteria Committee at the Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, and is a High School Football Official on the Eastern Connecticut Board of Approved Football Officials. Joseph is the recipient of numerous awards, including the University of New Haven Distinguished Alumni award, the Connecticut Chapter NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Southeastern Connecticut Chapter National Football Award – Distinguished American.

The second honoree is Albert E. Sargent, Sr., a second-generation submarine sailor. Sargent is a descendent of the Shinnecock, Pequot, Cherokee, and Pokanoket peoples, with ties to the Narragansett and Nipmuc Native American communities. Sargent enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April 1977. He first attended Radioman A School in San Diego, CA, and, later switched to sub-school training in Groton, CT. He served on the USS Trout SS566 and was later assigned to the USS Grayling SSN566 submarine in Charleston, SC, as a machinist mate. In April 1981 he was transferred to the USS Casimir Pulaski SSBN-594, where he became Petty Officer, Second Class. In 1984, he was given shore duty at the Sub school in Groton, CT.

In 1987 Sargent was offered a submarine construction job at Electric Boat in Groton, CT on the greatest FBM of its time, the USS Tennessee SSBN-734. He served on board this vessel until 1991 as Petty Officer, First Class. Offered shore duty again in Groton, CT at NSSF Naval Submarine Support Facility, he supervised a group of sailors to service the subs at homeport. Leaving the NSSF, Sargent was offered the opportunity to serve on the USS Groton in 1994. While serving on the Groton, he was selected for Chief Petty Officer and asked to serve two more years, but having served twenty years, he declined. Sergent served on the USS Groton from 1994 until his retirement in August 1997.

The third honoree is Dante Biss-Grayson, who served in the U.S. military as a Senior Airman from 2000 to 2012. His active military duty included seven combat tours in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Italy. In addition to Department of Defense Contracting, he was part of the Crash, Fire, and Rescue teams. He is trained in Emergency Management, Chem Warfare, base defense, search and rescue, heavy rescue, aircraft rescue, and inspection.

Today, Biss-Grayson is an Osage Artist that specializes in many media including fine art, large abstract paintings as well as drawings, installations, archetypes, abstract expressionism, expressionism, and the creation of ribbon skirts. A recent and ongoing project is creating poetry based on case files for missing and murdered indigenous women; to date, he has written more than 70 poems. Biss-Grayson, a world traveler will be at the Institute for American Indian Studies for the Veterans Ceremony as well as for several special programs planned throughout the weekend.

This outdoor ceremony will honor these individuals as well as all veterans, Native and Non-Native that have served our country. Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to enjoy light refreshments. This event is free and open to the public but pre-registration is requested. Please call 860-868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS)
Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. We have an outdoor replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village, the award-winning Wigwam Escape, and a Museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut.