Pink powers Yellowjackets in convincing home win

WINSTED — Gilbert-Northwestern football’s home game Oct. 3 against the Ellington-Somers Purple Knights doubled as a charitable fundraiser. The team played a “Pink Gameâ€�  in support of the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

And it may just have been the power of pink that fueled the Yellowjackets, who sought to avenge last year’s 12-6 season-ended overtime loss to the Knights. Vengeance was sweet as Gilbert dispatched the Knights 33-18.

Denise Jones, a member of the GN Football’s Parent Spirit Club, got the idea for the event when she saw the NFL hold Pink Games during last season.

A breast cancer survivor herself, Jones chaired the efforts to get the football team and cheerleaders involved in raising money for the foundation.

“We encouraged everyone to wear pink to the game in support of the fundraiser,� she said. “Half of all the ticket revenue, half of the 50/50 raffle proceeds and all of the proceeds made from the sale of the specially made pink GN football T-shirts are all going to be donated to the Susan B. Komen Foundation.�

Jones reached out to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to tell them about the fundraiser and said representatives were excited about the event.

“They sent me a huge box of goodies of keychains, pamphlets, information, logo tattoos and other fun stuff to hand out at the game,� she said. “That got me really psyched that they were so excited for our efforts.�

The Yellowjackets improved their record to 3-0 for the season. Gilbert-Northwestern will host the Stafford-East Windsor Bulldogs (0-3) on Friday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. under the lights, followed by an Oct. 16 road game against Enfield.

Latest News

Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cabaret comes to St. Andrew's in Kent

George Potts

Photo provided

Music in the Nave will again tap into local talent April 6 at 7 p.m. when its features George Potts in an intimate cabaret concert in the St. Andrew’s Church parish house.

Pott is a well-known figure in the community, both through his presence in the perennially popular Fife ‘n Drum, the restaurant started by his father-in-law, renowned pianist Dolph Trayman, and through his own career as a folk musician.

Keep ReadingShow less