Topping off brings MGM Grand at Foxwoods one step closer
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| Tribal Council Chairman Michael Thomas signs the beam before it is raised. Toni Parker-Johnson photo |
Looking up the tower of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, it was hard not to feel a sense of awe. Those who have found the gleaming structure impressive from afar will certainly find it much more so up close when it opens in the Spring of 2008.
"You are witnessing the first physical manifestation of our partnership with MGM Mirage," said Tribal Council Chairman Michael Thomas at a ceremony celebrating the "topping off' of the project on March 22.
"I must take the time to thank the Tribal Elders, the Tribal community and my fellow councilors," he added before those in attendance signed a large beam that was then zoomed into the sky by crane to be placed atop the building. "Your ability to make decisions looking to the future is what has made this possible."
And that future looks bright indeed. When completed, the project (More)
MPMRC plays key part in undersea expedition
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| Kevin McBride displays a core sample taken from a previous underwater expedition. Stephanie Powers photo |
Dr. Kevin McBride, Director of Research Resources at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, joined renowned ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballard from March 3rd through 9th in bringing "Secrets of the Gulf" undersea expedition to children, scholars and the general public from a remote science console based at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration.
With McBride and Ballard monitoring the expedition's progress, a team of scientists were aboard the Navy NR 1 submarine 115 miles off the Texas/Louisiana coast exploring the undersea landscape of the federal Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. The expedition team was able to communicate and show video via state-of-the art "telepresence" technology.
For this week-long expedition, McBride and Ballard took shifts
(More)
Local charities benefit from Foxwoods 15th anniversary
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| Robert Nolan of Connecticut Children's Medical Center holds a check presented by Tribal Council Treasurer Rodney Butler (left), Council Secretary Charlene Jones and Foxwoods President John O'Brien. Photo by Tebo |
On February 28, fifteen local organizations received donations of $10,000 each to commemorate Foxwoods' 15th anniversary. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation presented checks totaling $150,000 to area charities during a press conference.
"We want to say thank you for making a significant difference to so many people in the area," said Foxwoods President John O'Brien. "Many of the charitable organizations that are here today provided helping hands to many of our team members as well as to their families over the past years and we are very appreciative of that fact that you have been there with them, and so today we would like to share our success by giving back to you."
During over the last 15 years the Tribe and all of its enterprises have donated an excess of $85 million in cash and millions more in goods and services to the economy. O'Brien says that the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is so proud to be able to share the fortunate success that they've achieved (More)
2007
Framed against the sky, the lone tree on a knoll represents
Mashantucket, the "much-wooded land" where the Pequots hunted and
kept alive their identity as an independent people. Displayed on the
knoll is the sign of Robin Cassasinnamon, the Pequot’s first leader
following the 1637 massacre at Mystic Fort. The fox stands as a
reminder that the Pequots are known as "the fox people."
Pequot basketweave pattern.
A gift from the Winged Ones, feathers
carry prayers to the Great Spirit.