First responders to competitively play softball, make chili in Groton
Groton — Competing on its home turf, the Town of Groton Police Department will go head to head with other area first responders for two upcoming events: a softball tournament on Saturday and a chili cookoff on Oct. 20.
The softball tournament will be held Saturday from roughly 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Farquahar Park, off North Road in Center Groton, and Sutton Park, off Poquonnock Road.
"The reason we play Groton City is really the police camaraderie thing," explained Community Policing Officer Rich Savino. "We're in the same town; we need to work together."
But this year, the two Groton departments are adding other area police departments: New London, Waterford, Ledyard and State Police Troop E. Officer Eric Korteweg is organizing the tournament.
The City of Groton Police Department is working with United Way on a back-to-school fundraiser and encourages tournament attendees to donate items like backpacks, notebooks and pencils, or money.
The Bridge Market is slated to be at the tournament from 10 to 2, and Savino said his department will also be using the tournament to recruit for the chili cookoff.
The Groton Senior Center is holding the chili cookoff, in which first responders compete to see who can make the best chili, on Oct. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Senior center staff said they have confirmed with the Town of Groton Police Department, Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department, Groton Ambulance and Ledyard Police Department will compete but are waiting to hear from other agencies.
The cost for members of the public to come and taste chili is $10, with money raised going toward senior center programs.
The chili cookoff is a new program for the senior center. It will come three months after the senior center's inaugural Bakers Battle, but senior center director Cathy Wilson said the cookoff is more comparable to their annual Souper Bowl.
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