West Hartford Magazine - Summer 2023

DOG AUCTION

ONLINE STYLE BETTER THAN BEING THERE

Transition from summer to fall with Virtual Styling on Facebook Live

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Happy Summer!

The BEST of WEST HARTFORD

… YES it is our Annual (9th this year) competition amongst businesses in West Hartford BUT it is much more … we CELEBRATE the BEST West Hartford has to offer all year long!

We take great pride in bringing this competition to you annually. One way we do that is through programs like the Best of West Hartford! Our 9th Annual BOWH AWARDS SHOW – WeHa’s biggest B2B Networking event of the year – takes place on Monday, July 31 at the Mandell JCC. We will be auctioning off our DOGS from this year’s DOG WALK (go to 20Media20.com to view the DOGS and most importantly you can still make a donation).

On a different note, many have asked why our beloved magazine is no longer printed and mailed to homes via snail mail. Initially, we went digital because the pandemic sidelined our printer and it was the only way of ensuring that WeHa Magazine reached all of our readers. Soon, however, we found that publishing a digital magazine enabled readers (far and near and much beyond West Hartford) to share, share, share and share some more, all the feature stories and columns they found interesting

or informative. As for our advertisers, going digital extended their reach into the marketplace by leaps and bounds almost instantaneously . And by leaps and bounds what we mean it, our reach grew almost overnight from 7,000 to nearly one million. That’s right -- nearly one million!

And so, we came to an obvious conclusion: Digital simply works better! It works better for our readers; it works better for our advertisers; and it’s here to stay.

We continue to enhance our reach; we knew a PODCAST was next on our list. So we formally announce ON THE SCENE … our PODCAST brought to you by NBT Bank.

Back by popular demand (with quite a few things still in the works to kick it off) we are bringing back WEHA WHEELS (see page 34) thanks to our supportive business sponsors.

We welcome you (if you haven’t already) to join us:

Be Safe, Be Well, Tom

Publisher Tom Hickey

Editor Keith Griffin

Digital Media Manager Hillary Sarrasin

Contributing Writers & Columnists: Matt Banever, Chris Conway, Karla Dalley, Robert Laraia, Lisa Martin

Bookkeeper Lisa Gangone

Photography Todd Fairchild/Shutterbug CT

Videographer Nild Sansone

Websites: We-Ha.com, WestHartfordMagazine.com, Wehawheels.com, JewishLedger.com, 20Media20.com, wehacal.com

Mike Roy/Roy Web Design

Principals

Thomas P. Hickey II James H. Gould III

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First Church of Christ. Photo by Johanna Greenfield

presented by

Joins us to celebrate the winners of the 9th Annual Best of West Hartford!

It will be an incredible night of networking, nibbling, and celebrating!

Monday, July 31st 5:30-8pm at the Mandell JCC

Special entertainment by Arthur Murray Dance

Click here for Tickets!

West Hartford Chamber of Commerce: A New Look, But the Same Mission

by Christopher Conway

For over 100 years, the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce has been supporting local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and the overall community. Its genesis was a meeting held on May 1st 1907, with an idea of forming an association of business people and citizens for promoting economic development and the interests of the community. No official action was taken until March the following year, when Allen B. Judd, acting as chairperson, formed a committee which drafted bylaws for an organization to be named the West Hartford Business Men’s Association. It was officially formed on April 10th 1908, with Judd acting as its first President.

In 1913, the association was incorporated as the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce. It did not hold its first public annual meeting until February of 1920. For over a century, the Chamber has worked for the betterment of business and, by extension, the overall West Hartford community.

Over that span of time, the organization has evolved. Most notably, it was no longer made up exclusively of men. In the 1990s, Elizabeth Gustin Basil became its first woman board chairperson. In 2023, half of the board seats are held by women.

Today, the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce is over 500 members strong, making it one of the largest chambers in the state. Beyond West Hartford, it has members in over 40 towns outside its borders. It also boasts members in multiple states including Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Minnesota, and California. Why? Because West Hartford is a great place to have a business presence.

Like any organization that has been around as long as the West Hartford Chamber, change and evolution are inevitable. The types of businesses represented have expanded over the years. Nearly all industries are represented. The heritage and backgrounds of our members is largely reflective of the community we serve.

Similar to our stakeholders, the Chamber is a business and therefore needs to be run like one. As businesses and organizations reinvent themselves, they often look to their branding as a way to convey their messaging.

Recently, the West Hartford Chamber went through a rebranding process. This included a redesign of the logo, which has been in use since 2008. Additionally, new logos for the Chamber’s various committees were designed to complement the primary logo in the spirit of a consistent look. The previous tagline, “Your Community & Business Connection'' was shortened to “Connecting Business & Community.” Brand colors were also updated to various shades of green, as well as black, white, and gray.

As part of the rebranding, we redesigned the new edition of our annual printed directory and community guide. A new website is currently under development, with more of an emphasis on resources for businesses and community members.

The goal of these processes is to demonstrate, through visuals and actions, the expansion and growth of an organization that is modern. Like the businesses and organizations that make up our membership, the West Hartford Chamber is dynamic and serves a wide spectrum of people and needs. This rebrand is just one way we are conveying that message.

“I’m

Robin and Raveis ... what a great combination!

thrilled to be at William Raveis, whose focus is Marketing and Technology with a connection to a great International Network.”

West Hartford Landmark Undergoes Transformation

First Church of Christ’s steeple campaign seeks community support

By Michael Savino

Jane Willan still remembers her reaction upon first seeing the First Church of Christ in West Hartford Center.

Willan was coming to interview to lead its congregation. She recalls approaching the church from Interstate 84 and being blown away by the steeple.

“The first time I pulled up in front of it, I could hardly believe that I was going to be interviewing there,” said Willan, now the senior pastor. “It’s a gorgeous building, it’s old, it’s packed with history.”

It’s a reaction a lot of people likely have when they pass the landmark that has sat at the intersection of South Main Street and Farmington Avenue for 77 years.

The building doesn’t look the same today, though, at least for the time being. That’s because the First Church is renovating

the 22-story steeple.

The congregation is hoping the rest of the community will help cover some of the $400,000 cost given the building’s history.

“We felt that we could appeal to our friends and neighbors and the community,” said Julia Rosa, chairwoman of the committee raising money.

But members also said they hope the project will remind the rest of West Hartford that the First Church is still very active. Besides Rosa, members include Don Clark, Luke Frey, Amy Melvin, Jeff Mitchell, and Joy Taylor.

“That’s why we do things out front so people see this church is alive and highly functioning and doing all kinds of things in the community,” Willan said.

Topped With Gold Leaf

The First Church of Christ has been operational since 1713,

Bob Cave, shown at the top of the scaffolding, is a church member who oversees the building and grounds committee. Bob spearheaded the renovation research and brought attention to the urgency of the project. Photo Courtesy of Bob Cave

back when the town was just the West Division of Hartford. The church used various meeting houses until it constructed a building on South Main Street. That building burned down in early 1942, leading to the construction of the church and steeple that still stand today.

The church has routinely painted the steeple to keep it looking pristine. That is how the congregation learned the structure would need more significant restoration.

“We found out very quickly that it was going to be a lot of repairs,” said Bob Cave, who oversees the church’s buildings and grounds committee.

Cave said the project will include fixing some roofing issues and replacing the wood that makes up the steeple’s exterior.

The church will also upgrade the decorative top to include a gold leaf. “It’s going to be, at least for me, a dramatic change from what I’ve been getting ready for,” Cave said.

Rosa said the congregation approved the project in February and work began in May. The members wanted to move quickly because the steeple houses organ pipes, a carillon — a keyboard and a series of bells — and other instruments.

“It’s important to preserve that because we would — it would be impossible to rehouse organ pipes or anything,” Willan said.

Carillon Continues

The work has been ongoing, but members said their regular Thursday carillon concerts continue and are open to the public. Four will be held in July beginning on July 6. More information is available on the church’s website: www.whfirstchurch.org.

Members also said it was just important to them to keep the steeple looking its best. “We think of it as a centerpiece of West Hartford,” Willian, the senior minister, said, adding the point of the steeple is to “draw your eye up toward God.”

Rosa said that was a big reason why the congregation felt they could ask the general public for donations. She said people not affiliated with the church would likely not feel inclined to donate for other maintenance or renovations.

Many members describe the steeple as iconic, though, and Rosa said her committee “was not conflicted” about seeking help from people who enjoy seeing the steeple or listening to the carillon music.

“This is one that we really feel is worthy of community outreach, to really specifically ask the community ‘would you support the effort that’s going on,’” Rosa said.

One Hundred K Goal

The church hopes to raise $100,000 from the public to help offset the total cost of the project.

The fundraising committee created a Go Fund Me page and

put up a “Save the Steeple” banner on the project scaffolding with a QR code that directs people to the page. (Information on donating is available at: www.whfirstchurch.org/save-the-firstchurch-steeple.)

Members of the committee were also outside the church seeking donations during June’s Celebrate! West Hartford festival. “We’re willing workers,” Rosa said of her committee of six volunteers. “We’re worker bees.”

Fundraising efforts have also included asking members of the congregation and some of the church’s vendors for donations.

The project and the need for donations, comes at a time when the First Church of Christ, like many religious organizations in the U.S., is seeing its membership drop. Cave said the church can hold 1,200 people, but estimated 150 to 200 people come on a typical Sunday.

Senior Pastor The Rev. Jane Willan is not only the first female senior pastor in the three-hundred-ten-year history of First Church, but likely the first female to climb the 22-stories to the top of the steeple and stand above it all in West Hartford Center. Photo courtesy of Jane Willan.

Aside from that, members said they hear from others in West Hartford who didn’t realize this church is still active.

Cave recalled opening the church so the public could see Christmas decorations, and passersby being surprised. “People walk in, they say ‘oh my gosh, it’s still a church here,” he said.

Willan said the church “just wants to be a community place that brings the Christian faith or faith itself into the community” while partnering with people of other beliefs.

She’s hopeful the steeple project will bring attention to First Church of Christ and everything it does in the community. “What it might do is bring attention to how alive this church is,” she said.

Cave said the renovation project will get people to look at the building, but he doesn’t think that will be enough to reverse the membership trend. “People come to church because of the people, the minister and the ministry,” he said. He does share hope that people will like what they see if they interact with the church, noting its involvement in the community, nursery and academy.

He also credits Willan with making sure the church is “adjusted to the time.” In June, the church participated in West Hartford’s Juneteenth and Pride events. “She’s been a dynamic change and we are a church in change,” Cave said.

Rosa, meanwhile, said the fundraising efforts have created chances to engage with the public. She said she even gave some children a tour of the church after learning they had never been inside.

“There’s a lot of goodwill going on the front of the church, which was really lovely,” she said.

The church hopes the project will be completed sometime in August. Contractors are lowering the scaffolding as they make progress.

To donate to the Save The Steeple project, go to www. gofundme.com/f/30rff4dnu0

Significant Dates In First Church’s History

The first meetinghouse of the Fourth Church of Hartford, built circa 1712, was a simple unadorned, and unheated wooden structure with a steep pyramidal roof.

Rev. Benjamin Colton served as minister for 44 years, from 1713 to 1757. His pastorate was followed by that of Nathanael Hooker, the grandson of Thomas Hooker. A scholarly, but frail man, Hooker led the congregation from 1757 until 1770 when he died of tuberculosis.

The original meetinghouse served the parish until 1742 when the expanding congregation voted to replace the building. That church was completed in 1744.

The second meetinghouse was a two-story building measuring 54' long by 40’ wide with a gable roof and attached steeple tower.

In 1833, the Ecclesiastical Society, the ruling body of the church, built the “vestry” or lecture hall on the southwest corner of Farmington and Main streets. When West Hartford

incorporated as a town in l854, the vestry was the site of the first Town Meeting.

In 1880, the ecclesiastical society proposed a plan to erect a new church building on the southwest corner, exchanging property with the town for the vestry and the land upon which it stood.

The Greystone Church, constructed of Monson granite instead of wood, was built in 1882 at a cost of $33,000. The church was dedicated on June 6, 1882.

With the destruction of the Greystone Church in a dramatic fire on January 3, 1942, construction of the new meetinghouse became imperative.

During construction, the congregation accepted the invitation of Rabbi Abraham Feldman to worship at Temple Beth Israel rent-free. The congregation worshiped at Beth Israel for 22 months, forging a friendship between the two congregations which is often celebrated at a combined Thanksgiving service along with the congregation of St. Johns Episcopal Church (who worshipped at Beth Israel after a fire in 1992).

The cornerstone of the sanctuary was laid in June of 1946 and completed by September. The chapel was added in 1956. Information provided by the First Church of Christ history posted on its website.

A "before" photo shows some of the decay that goes beyond just chipping paint. The woodwork showed considerable wet rot. Photo courtesy of Valley Restoration, LLC.

Closet Audit

By Mathew Banever

Ihave talked about this in the past: Pull everything out of your closet and make 3 piles: Keep, Tailor, Donate. Keep is obvious, tailor is that shirt you like but would wear more if it had less fabric, donate is what you need to get rid of, to charity, to kids, to the trash. - But I will expand upon it. A Closet Audit is much like a financial audit, you don't know how much you are spending or saving unless you take a hard look at everything; the coffees you buy everyday add up, those impulse “i just needed something to wear so i bought this” purchases add up.

Questions to ask yourself during the process: Am I the same person I was when I bought this? Am I holding on to this for illogical reasons? Did I buy this for an old job, does it represent my current situation? Was this a one time purchase? Am I holding onto this because I feel the need too because I spent too much money on it? I know I said I would try this style, but seriously, will I? Is 9 hoodies enough? Yes, this item is good, I wear it often, but could I upgrade it? If I want to upgrade something, does that mean I like that style and should explore that more? Is there a certain brand I see often? What do I like about this piece, color, fit, style, way I feel, material? How has my life changed since I purchased this? Are those holes in this T-shirt I’ve had since college? Can I store some of this differently? How OLD is my underwear? Do I just keep adding new things, but forget to focus on essentials? Have I considered how I take care of my clothing? Do I have 1000 different hangers?

Before we get started, very simply, on a piece of paper write down: how would you describe your style? What colors come to mind? What fit do you like?

1. Start Systematically: Do you have clothes in a dresser(s), in the closet, in bins under the bed - okay …even i'm starting to breathe heavily - this is a task,

so just start somewhere. Let's start with the dresser - empty it. One drawer at a time, we make our piles: Keep - TailorDonate. Okay! We got this!! Let’s move to the closet. Just slowly pull things out. Goodness, why do you have so many different hangers…let’s buy a pack of new ones. If you take care of your wardrobe, it’ll take care of you. - I think you have a good grasp on this concept.

2. Keep: The keep shouldn’t be one massive pile. Organize the clothing you’re going to keep by item. This is where you start to see trends and your style will emerge, even if you don’t think that's your style. Put all your jeans into a pile, your dress shirts, your casual shirts, your nice t shirts, your weekend t shirts, allllll separate piles. So..looking at everything, you feel like a pretty chill person who likes funky fun stuff, why do you have 10 blue shirts and only 3 pattern shirts? You wear nice clothing all day, and on weekends you usually go out. Why do you have 15 band t shirts and 12 basketball shorts? WHY do you still have this leather jacket that didn’t fit, does not fit, never gonna fit? – see what we’re doing here?

What colors stick out? Are they the

colors you wrote down? Maybe you love earthy colors, brown/olive/tan but you're seeing a sea of blue, white, and black.

Is your lifestyle more casual now? Thats a lot of dress clothing from your last job.

If you didn’t know you, looking at these piles, would you use the words you wrote down to describe this wardrobe?

3. Organize: Pride is one of the most misrepresented aspects of your wardrobe. Most people think of a vain fashionista if you take pride in your look, and just say whatever to storing the items. Organize your wardrobe how you dress. Starting with the drawers Underwear, socks, all that goes at the top. Your Shirts go in the middle, and pants at the bottom. Pack the ones you wear the most at the front, or top of the drawer depending on how you fold. If you don’t have room…maybe reconsider it as a keep?

Closet: I cannot stress this enough: buy matching hangers. Enough with the metal bent ones and the broken plastic ones. Don’t tell anyone I told you this but go to amazon or walmart and get a pack, they're like $20. If you’re hanging a garment you feel doesn’t deserve the

investment of hangers…donate?

1. Thin hangers for shirts, knits, and light items. Wide hangers for suits, blazers and jackets.

2. Organize by formality, your casual shirts in one section, followed by dress. (or swap depending on your lifestyle)

Assess: Now that we have disassembled and reassembled your wardrobe, look back at the items. Look at what you wrote down. Make a list to fill in the gaps

1. Do you need more casual shirts. Find a shirt you love and figure out what you love about it, the fit, the fabric, the company, the length.

2. Do you need less dress pants and more pants that can be dressed up or down?

3. Write down all the items you feel like you need, keep that list in your phone. Next time you feel the urge to impulse buy, pull out

this list and see if it matches your intentions. If it doesn’t or if you’re not sure, wait. You can always contact me.

This is a lot. You need to keep in mind you need to do this every few years. It will get easier, and you will get quicker. Honing your style takes time. Like watching movies, reading books, or doing another activity that you love, you rediscover your tastes as you journey through life. Always return and audit your wardrobe. If you need help, click below.

The Ron Foley Foundation would like to thank our generous sponsors and donors for making the 14th Annual Ron's Run for the Roses such a success! Together, we will win the fight against pancreatic

Presenting Sponsor

Toczydlowski Family

Laura & Chris McKenna

To donate or to learn more about the Ron Foley Foundation, please visit www.ronsrun.org

Matt Banever is the founder and CEO of Bards Clothing in West Hartford.

Book Consulation

Things Are Smokin’ at West

By Ronni Newton

It’s been a long journey, met with many obstacles – big ones, like the need to have the town enact an ordinance and also a pandemic that no one could have possibly foreseen – but GastroPark is not only surviving but is thriving and succeeding beyond owner Tate Norden’s expectations, with the West Hartford food truck park that he first envisioned in 2016 now open seven days a week for the public to “gather and graze” as the tagline says.

Roughly two-and-a-half years after opening in October 2020, West Hartford’s “experiential dining concept” now has several new resident food trucks, an ice cream stand, a bakery, and a new coffee vendor linked to a partnership with a local brewery, a permanent bar and kitchen, and plenty of seating outdoors (covered and uncovered) and indoors.

On May 1, GastroPark expanded their hours to be open seven days per week for lunch and dinner. Coffee – which is now available from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, plans to expand to Monday and Tuesday as well sometime in June, Norden said.

Alvarium took over the GastroPark coffee shop operation in April, replacing Perkatory – which moved to their own space just down the road.

“We are really excited about the collaboration,” said Kayla Brown, who came to West Hartford from Alvarium Roasting Company’s New Britain headquarters as lead barista and manager. The coffee specials are like cocktails, she said, showing off some of their state-of-the art machinery.

Norden is excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Alvarium on the beer side, too, where several of the beers are

offered on draft as well as in cans.

There’s an existing synergy with Small State Provisions, GastroPark’s resident bakery, as well, said Norden. Small State has already been a provider of baked goods to Alvarium’s mothership location in New Britain, and will continue to meet the sweet and savory appetites with artisan baked goods from Wednesday through Sunday.

In mid April, Hindsight BBQ became a resident food truck at GastroPark, and from Wednesday through Friday visitors can find a variety of delicious and innovative smoked items.

“We’re really excited,” Hindsight BBQ owner Jeff Schmidt said. Hindsight has a brick and mortar restaurant in Waterbury that they opened in 2020, mid pandemic, and multiple other food trucks – one of which will stay parked at GastroPark for most of the week, alongside their smoker.

“We’re ‘new school barbecue,'” Schmidt said, with a “new American twist” of different flavorings from a variety cuisines to spice up the classics.

“Hindsight is 2020,” Schmidt said, blending the traditions of the past but adding something new and unique.

Virtually everything starts off on the wood-fired smoker – a menu that includes brown butter burnt ends, wings, a brisket Philly empanada, and smokey cauliflower florets. There are also more classic meats (brisket, pork, turkey), burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, pork belly tacos, and sides like cornbread, mac and cheese, and sidewinder fries.

“Everything is made by hand,” Schmidt said, including the sauces. And with the smoker on site at GastroPark, “You’re going to smell it before you see it,” he said.

Hindsight BBQ is joining another resident food truck, Lobster Tales, which has already committed to a presence at GastroPark five

West Hartford’s GastroPark

days a week. Lobster Tales opens at noon on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and they also offer breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. on the weekends.

The other two food truck spots are filled by a rotating group that often includes Fuego Picante, East-West Grille on Wheels, and Feelin’ Saucy Pasta. CraftBird, which had been resident at GastroPark, will continue to be in the rotation. A quick check of social media (@thegastropark on either Facebook or Instagram) will feature the most-up-to-date schedule of food trucks as well as highlights of other happenings.

Those other happenings include trivia nights, a monthly night market featuring local small businesses like artists and bakeries (an upcoming Night Market is scheduled for May 26, from 5-8 p.m.), and live music. There have been dog adoption events – and others are in the works – as well as other charitable events.

Small State Provisions features their special “grandma-style” pizza on the first Thursday of the month.

Also, there is now ice cream. Hartford’s famed Capital Ice Cream cart will be onsite through at least the end of September – under the covered awning if it’s inclement weather – on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m.

“We have the most popular flavors from our shop,” said Capital Ice Cream owner Chantelle Boissiere-Kelly. “All of the deluxe flavors and a few toppings, too.”

GastroPark’s permanent awning was installed this spring, and along with lighting has attached heaters which will allow for the phase-out of the propane heating towers. There’s also a large fire pit that provides added warmth to the outdoor area – and like many of the elements at GastroPark was created from a salvaged item, in this case a large cement pipe that was on the former auto repair shop property and dug up during the construction.

“It was great seeing everyone gather around the fire pit for St. Patrick’s Day,” Norden said.

“There’s a great happy hour menu,” Norden said, weekdays from 3-6 p.m. and weekends from 4 p.m. until close, with select beers for $5, select wines for $6, and select cocktails for $7.

Frozen beverages have returned for the season as well.

“We’re further beautifying our property,” said Norden. They’ve added raised beds, and are growing mint, rosemary, and lavender that are used in the kitchen.

“It’s nice to be able to create the full circle,” said Norden. The on-premises kitchen serves a menu to augment the food truck offerings, and features a selection of smash burgers, hot dogs, and grilled cheese bites that can be ordered at the bar. The kitchen is open daily at noon, and at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays with brunch items like egg sandwiches and avocado toast as well as the regular menu.

“Our goal is to try to expand,” Norden said, while continuing to offer consistent food throughout the day, with something for everyone.

It’s a place where families can come for a quick bite and not worry about their kids making a mess of the floor – the outdoor “floor” is gravel, plus there are swings – where people can hang out with their human and furry friends (friendly and well-behaved dogs are not just welcomed on the patio but social media posting about their presence with the hashtag #dogsofgastropark is encouraged). It’s a spot where you can have a meeting over coffee in the morning, or grab a beer or cocktail with friends as a preview to other plans, or stick around to eat a full meal where there is something to please any palate.

“Gather. Graze.” Just like the tagline says.

Countdown to College

Provided by Robert Laraia, RFC, Founding Partner Northstar Wealth Partners

As a parent, you of course want to give your child the best opportunity for success, and for many, attending the "right" university or college is that opportunity. Unfortunately, being accepted to the college of one's choice may not be as easy as it once was. Additionally, the earlier you consider how you expect to pay for college costs, the better. Today, the average college graduate owes $28,950 in debt, while the average salary for a recent graduate is $55,360.1,2

Preparing for college means setting goals, staying focused, and tackling a few key milestones along the way—starting in the first year of high school.

Freshman Year

Before the school year begins, you and your child should have at least a handful of colleges picked out. A lot can change during high school, so remaining flexible but focused on your shared goals is crucial. It may be helpful to meet with your child's guidance counselor or homeroom teacher for any advice they may have. You may want to encourage your child to choose challenging classes as they navigate high school. Many universities look for students who push themselves when it comes to learning. However, a balance between difficult coursework and excellent grades is important. Keeping an eye on grades should be a priority for you and your child as well.

Sophomore Year

During their sophomore year, some students may have the opportunity to take a practice SAT. Even though they won't be required to take the actual SAT for roughly a year, a practice exam is a good way to get a feel for what the test entails.

Sophomore year is also a good time to explore extracurricular activities. Colleges are looking for the wellrounded student, so encouraging your child to explore their passions now may help their application later. Summer may also be a good time for sophomores to get a part-time job, secure an internship, or travel abroad to help bolster their experiences.

Junior Year

Your child's junior year is all about standardized testing. Every October, third-year high-school students are able to take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT), also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT). Even if they won't need to take the SAT for college, taking the PSAT/NMSQT is required for many scholarships, such as the National Merit Scholarship.3

Top colleges look for applicants who are future leaders. Encourage your child to take a leadership role in an extracurricular activity. This doesn't mean they have to be a drum major or captain of the football team. Leading may involve helping an organization with fundraising, marketing, or community outreach.

In the spring of their junior year, your child will want to take the SAT or ACT. An early test date may allow time for repeating tests during their senior year, if necessary. No matter how many times your child takes the test, most colleges will only look at the best score.

Senior Year

For many students, senior year is the most exciting time of high school. Seniors will finally begin to reap the benefits of their efforts during the last three years. Once you and your child have firmly decided on which schools to apply to, make sure you keep on top of deadlines. Applying early can increase your student's chance of acceptance.

Now is also the time to apply for scholarships. Consulting your child's guidance counselor can help you continue to identify scholarships within reach. Billions in free federal grant money go unclaimed each year, simply because students fail to fill out the free application. Make sure your child has submitted their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to avoid missing out on any financial assistance available.4

Finally, talk to your child about living away from home. Help make sure they know how to manage money wisely and pay bills on time. You may also want to talk to them about the social pressures some college freshmen face for the first time when they move away from home.

For many people, college sets the stage for life. Making sure your children have options when it comes to choosing a university can help shape their future. Work with them today to make goals and develop habits that will help ensure their success.

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA SIPC

1. Forbes.com, February 22, 2023

2. TheBalance.com, June 28, 2022

3. PrincetonReview.com, 2023

4. Forbes.com, February 5, 2023

Early Summer is the Best Time for Gardening

By Karla A. Dalley

Ioften say that autumn is the best time to plant. But don’t be confused by that. Right now — early summer — is the best time to garden.

What’s the difference? Fall is a good time to add most perennials, shrubs, and trees to your landscape. If you need to renovate your lawn, September is the time for that.

But early summer is a fabulous time to grow anything and everything! Have you been to the garden centers? They are a riot of color! In fact, take a walk around your neighborhood and try not to covet your neighbors’ container plantings, I dare you! If your neighbors are anything like mine, everyone has a great container or two outside their door. Some have multiple containers lining their walks.

Containers are where you can be creative with form, color and plants. And if you don’t like the way the result turns out, try again by planting another. Container plantings are a fun, easy way to show off your artistic flair.

Perennials & ‘Hell Strips’

Then there are those with gardens right down near the road for everyone to enjoy. I have several neighbors who are very thoughtful that way. There are also several great examples around West Hartford of people who have planted in those “hell strips,” the small piece of land between the sidewalk and the curb. It’s notoriously difficult to get grass to grow there but some creative gardeners have lovely perennials growing there!

In early summer, there is a riot of flowers to enjoy, beginning with lilacs. One of my thoughtful neighbors loves lilacs—she planted 10 bushes in her front yard for everyone to enjoy the scent as we walk by! Several of us have roses out in front and we give the neighborhood quite a little rose parade in June. Nothing fussy, since they have to take abuse from the snowplows, but the roses stand up well to our winters and the plows and bloom beautifully each summer for everyone visually to share.

My neighborhood also has an abundance of peonies for everyone to enjoy viewing. And once that early summer show settles down, there’s a more modest summer show of hydrangeas and the traditional summer perennials.

Because I have so little sun, I have been known to have vegetables right out in front of my house as well, and herbs, either in containers or tucked unobtrusively into my gardens. This is what I mean when I say that early summer is so great for gardening. You can have a bowl of leaf lettuces—which are lovely enough to be decorative—on display with your other containers.

Leaf lettuces are decorative enough to put on your patio table to pluck as you dine, in fact.

Exotic Alternatives

Decorative pots of herbs can also tuck in among your container displays. Some herbs can even be used as fillers or spillers in container displays, provided of course that everything you are using in the containers is organic. You want to be able to still harvest and eat the herbs.

Thyme makes a lovely trailing edge plant for containers and it comes in lots of variegated forms. There’s a trailing rosemary as well. There are variegated and purple forms of sage and cute, mounded forms of basil that don’t grow too wild. You could make a whole, decorative herb container pot if you like. Keep it on your patio, next to your grill, for easy harvesting and cooking. I always have herbs near my kitchen door where I can get to them quickly.

Speaking of containers, peppers never mind being in a container. And there are so many varieties of tomatoes for containers now. Again, grow or buy one for your patio to keep next to the grill.

If you’d like something a little more exotic, lots of places now sell fig trees—and the figs will fruit this season. There’s nothing like the taste of a home-grown fig, warm from the sun. They are not truly hardy for us—they have to be protected or brought in. Ask the garden center how best to do that.

Also exotic, and also not hardy in our climate, but great on the patio this time of year, are citrus trees. Garden centers sell them in all sizes. You don’t generally get a lot of fruit, but you will get fruit—and the scent of the flowers is just wonderful. It’s worth growing them for that alone. Just be prepared to either bring them in—or give them to a plant loving friend—when it gets cooler this fall.

I hope this gives you at least some ideas for the many ways that you can enjoy containers, early summer plantings, vegetables and herbs or some tropical plants this summer. Summer is short— get out and enjoy the garden!

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