Yankee Yesteryear Car Club (YYCC)

04/02/2026

FROM THE WINY RADIO NEWSROOM: TRI-STATE CRUISERS TO KICK OFF 33RD CRUISE SEASON ON SATURDAY, APRIL 25TH: WINY caught up with Dick Salvas, the Dean of Saturday night cruising in Northeastern Connecticut. Salvas is the President of the Tri-State Cruisers Classic Car Club and says he and his team of volunteers are preparing for the first cruise of the season to be held on Saturday, April 25th at Pizza 101, 16A Mashamoquet Road, near the intersection of routes 101 and 169 in Pomfret. Cars should enter the cruise on the access road between Pizza 101 and Bakers Dozen, according to Salvas. The cruise series will run every Saturday night from April 25th through September 26th. Salvas is hoping for better weather this season and says that last year the first 9 weeks were canceled due to rain. Salvas, who is a familiar voice on the microphone, spins classic tunes from the 50’s and 60’s at each cruise and encourages guests to participate in the 50/50 raffle. Last year, even with 9 rain-outs, the raffle earned $18,000 which is donated at the end of the season to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford. The running total for donations to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is $274,000. Admission is FREE to all cruise nights and spectators are always welcome.
Photo: WINY Radio: Tri State Cruisers Classic Car Club President Dick Salvas

02/18/2026

Mark this on your 2026 planner:

Come to Waters Farm to watch one of our fantastic tractor pull competitions! Registration for tractor owners starts at 9:00 a.m. The pull competition starts at 10:00 a.m. and ends when the last tractor pulls the heaviest load over the finish line. This event is free for spectators.

02/17/2026

Long Time YYCC member Leo Roger Lavigne Sr., 85, of Brooklyn, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on February 4, 2026, at Matulaitis Nursing Home.
He was born in Norwich, CT on November 5, 1940, to Leo Frederick Lavigne and Alice Lydia Lavigne (Blais) of Taftville.
He attended Sacred Heart School in Taftville and graduated from NFA in 1958. He earned a degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland. He served in the United States Airforce as a Finance and Accounting Specialist. Upon his honorable discharge in October 1961, he continued to a career in finance in positions as controller at Connecticut Silica and GN Papers, Vice President Finance and Administration for Southwire Company, and CFO for Sanitary Dash/Zurn. He retired from his final position as CFO at Granville Slate in 2002.
On September 2, 1963, he married Jeanne Claire Deslandes at Sacred Heart Church in Taftville. Together they raised a family of 4 children in Taftville and Brooklyn, CT. He had a strong passion for genealogy, loved collecting and showing his antique Ford Model A and T’s. He was active in the Knights of Columbus, and was Past Grand Knight of the Ponemah Council, and Past Faithful Navigator of the H. Belec Assembly #117. He was passionate about Catholic education and was instrumental in the campaign to Save Sacred Heart School chairing fundraising efforts.
He leaves a legacy of love in his wife of 62 years, Jeanne and his children Diane (Mark) Shaffer of Mystic, Denise (Jason) Geeza of Dayville, Doreen Mailloux and partner Bob Silliman of Brooklyn, and Leo (Heidi) Lavigne of Brooklyn. He also leaves eight grandchildren Robert and Jonathan Shaffer, Natalie Geeza, Rachel Hanley, Brittany Robinson, Aaron Chausse, Leo and Cole Lavigne and four great-grandchildren, Cooper and Eli Hanley, and Noah and Liliana Shaffer who were the apple of his eye.
He was predeceased by his parents and twin sisters Lorraine Ozga and Lucille Crute.
Leo’s family would like to thank the staff of Matulaitis Nursing Home for their compassionate care in his final days.

02/12/2026