Stonington - When state voters had the chance to decide Nov. 4 to allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they turned 18 by the general election, Corey Prachniak was especially thrilled.

”When I got my absentee ballot in the mail and I saw it, I was really excited. It’s all about getting people involved, and I think this will enable schools to teach students better about primaries,” Prachniak said of the ballot question, which voters approved by a wide margin.

The Georgetown University senior, who is majoring in government, was part of a group of Stonington High School students who first floated the idea before state lawmakers in 2005.

Social studies teacher Richard Walter said his government students that year were discussing the history of voting rights when students asked whether voting could be opened to younger people. Research revealed that the U.S. Constitution’s 26th Amendment forbade denying people over 18 the right to vote but did not prohibit voting at a younger age – and that many other states already allowed 17-year-olds to vote in primaries.

”We were all kind of political science geeks, so we would spend a lot of time talking about this kind of stuff in private,” Prachniak said.

Walter abetted their wonkiness by reaching out to local lawmakers, and four students addressed the Government Administration and Elections Committee that year, including Prachniak.

”[Y]ou don’t really have full voting rights at 18 if you can’t select who you’re going to be voting for at 18,” he said before the committee in 2005.

Lawmakers, especially State Rep. James Spallone, D-Essex, expressed optimism about the idea. But Walter said he learned that what his students proposed as a bill would have to be a state constitutional amendment, and the idea grew dormant. Spallone contacted him in Winter 2007 to help reintroduce the idea, Walter said, and students again participated, this time by discussing the issue with Spallone and Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, who supported the amendment.

It passed on Election Day, and the state joins nearly 20 others in permitting younger voters a say in primaries.

”I was very happy,” Walter said. “It was kind of strange because there was so little attention given to it. Even now, I’m still out there, trying to bring it to people’s attention that this was a student-driven initiative.”

Here’s Citizen Dick, not in teaching garb, another fine example of Mariners making a somewhat different contribution to our Communities.  Good Man Richard!

Normally only ‘Imported Irish Bands play there. I believe we are one of the few ‘Yanks’ groups to play there. It is a great milestone for us ‘Yanks’!!

Mighty. Also, Chris Morgan and the IR-REGULARS are scheduled to do a live CD in November at a Seminole, Florida gig.

Can’t wait to hear it!

“The Ancient Mariners of Connecticut perform at Waterfront Park during the second annual Jibboom Club Parade in New London on Saturday as part of National Maritime Week. The Jibboom Club Parade has its origins in the late 1800s. The Jibboom Club began as a place where retired mariners, many of them whalers, would gather to recount old stories, play cards and sing. The parade was revived last year.”

Photo by Tim Clark.

More to follow…

Press photos of the day can be found here and here.

The article from the Westerly Sun is here.

On the road again: Spring training is over and another season has kicked off in full swagger!

Late Addition: The Mariners were voted “Best Musical Unit” by the Parade Committee.

“The Ancient Mariners of Connecticut, a fife and drum corps, wait to join the marchers in the Westerly Columbus Day Parade on Sunday. From left are, Steve Chomka of Cumberland, R.I., Bill Fagen of Killingworth and John Greenhalgh of Westerly.”

“…The Ancient Mariners of Connecticut, a fife and drum corps, was one of the crowd favorites.

Dressed as sailors from the War of 1812, they occasionally shot a small cannon during their march. One of the members, Dan Woodford, played the part of a prisoner. He would fall to the ground at the sound of the cannon and John Greenhalgh dragged him a few feet down the street by his handcuffs…” Photo by Adena Stevens.

And a good day was had by all.