Last week, Niantic Main Street’s long-time board member and current Vice President Sue Kumro saw her many community contributions recognized with a field named in her honor. The field is located behind the Niantic Kari-Hill VFW Post 5849, known locally as the Niantic VFW. Since 2015, Sue has held a Cornhole Tournament as a fundraiser for the VFW.

“Sue has been the backbone of the Niantic Main Street organization,” said Rita Rivera at Niantic Main Street. In her 13 years of duty, she has served on nearly every Main Street committee and has volunteered for every major event. She has previously chaired the Niantic Holiday Stroll and spearheaded the creation of the Niantic Artisan & Vintage Market, Niantic Night Out, Feeding Our Friends and Beer for Beauty. She also organized the commemorative Buy-A-Brick program to help raise funds for the town’s public park on Main Street.

In addition to her Main Street work, Sue serves on the town’s Parks & Rec Commission and has volunteered and supported other organizations and events such as the Niantic Bay Oyster Festival, The Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut, Care & Share, Theater Under the Shell, the Niantic VFW, Niantic American Legion, Niantic Children’s Museum, and many, many more. She also owns a local business, Mermaid Liquors. You can find her there most days along with her schnauzer, Shirley.

“She has been an indispensable source of support for our veteran community, consistently volunteering her time and efforts on many different programs that have improved the lives of our veterans,” said Robert Farrior, Post Commander at the Niantic Kari-Hill VFW Post 5849.

Niantic Main Street is an all-volunteer organization, comprised of a Board of Directors and various volunteers from the community and the region. They rely on dedicated volunteers like Sue to keep their organization running. We would be nothing without our dedicated, hands-on board of directors. “We can only wish for a Sue Kurmo in every Main Street community,” said Rivera.