Friends and Neighbors

December 20, 2019 6:28 am • Last Updated: December 20, 2019 6:30 am

Front row, left to right: Charlotte Hennegan, City Center District; Katie Burrell and Gwenen Reeves, Mercedes-Benz of New London; Alana Truken, Community in Action.Back row, left to right: Brian Sear and Dave Denoia from New London Public Works; Stan Mickus, Cross Sound Ferry; Hannah Gant, RD86; Fran Kefalas, Jen Truken, Sophia Truken, Jose Ortiz and Traci Miller, Community in Action. (photo courtesy of Tita Williams)

New London beautification committee hosts annual recognition ceremony

The New London Beautification Committee recently recognized residents and businesses for their work making the city a more beautiful place to live. The following were honored at a ceremony on Nov. 18.

[naviga:ul]

[naviga:li]City Center District, for its work beautifying downtown New London[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Community in Action at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, for its work redesigning the inner courtyard with raised bed gardens and student-made sculptures,[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Cross Sound Ferry, for its work planting seasonal greens at the ferry depot,[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]Mercedes-Benz of New London, for its work installing a perennial plant landscape,[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]RD 86, for its work incorporating green elements into its courtyard landscape, and[/naviga:li]

[naviga:li]the city’s Public Works Department, for its work installing the new flagpole garden at Veterans Park.[/naviga:li]

[/naviga:ul]

More information about the NLBC can be found on its Facebook page.

Stonington engineer recognized by Navy

Gene Hackney of Stonington recently received the Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award. The award, the third highest honor from the department, recognizes civilian contributions of high value to the Navy.

Hackney currently serves as the associate director of Undersea Warfare for Advanced Concepts for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Headquarters in Newport, R.I. NUWC Newport provides research and development, testing and other services for the Navy's offensive and defensive systems.

"His keen managerial abilities in developing, creatively repurposing, and integrating highly technical systems at an operational scale were vital to the operational success of this key emerging capability," read a citation signed by Vice Adm. Charles A. Richard, commander of Subarmine Force Atlantic. "Mr. Hackney's exceptional professionalism, sound judgment, initiative and loyal devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Civil Service."

Friends and Neighbors is a regular feature in The Times. To submit, email times@theday.com.

Don McCormack, left, Executive Director, Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers, presents Gene Hackney, associate director, Undersea Warfare for Advanced Concepts at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Headquarters in Newport, Rhode Island, with the Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award during a ceremony held on Monday, Oct. 28, 2019. (U.S. Navy photo by Rich Allen, McLaughlin Research Corp.)

Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.

STORIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU