West Hartford Magazine - December 2022

Be the light this holiday season

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We specialize in all sizes of office space and offer a wide range of living options including luxury apartments and townhouses.

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4 I Vol. 12, No. 1, 2022 west hartford magazine

4 I Vol. 12, NO. 3, 2022 west hartford magazine

ON THE AVENUE

The annual West Hartford Holiday Stroll was a festive affair.

Looking for a unique gift for that special someone? Look no further.

THE ROAD BACK

A group of teens returned to their high school to rededicate the Holocaust sculpture they designed and built in 2018. 21

DOG DAYS

Dog Walk 2022 will be on display at Westfarms until New Year's Day 2023. Still time to make a donation!

23 BEST OF THE BEST

More than 150 guests were in attendance at the 2022 Best of West Hartford awards evening held in November.

Give 'til it feels good!

he season of giving is on our doorstep — and we’re here to help you do just that — GIVE! — in all sorts of ways. To de-stress the very stressful search for the perfect gift for everyone on your list, we’ve filled this issue with holiday ads from some of best area businesses. We encourage all of our readers to support these businesses by shopping local!The beneficiary nonprofits include:

• A Better World Adoption

• APK Charities

• Fidelco

• Hartford Healthcare Therapy Dog Program

• JFS Anya Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry

• McCallum Animal Fund

• Ron Foley Foundation

• The Bridge Family Center

• West Hartford Dog Park

At the same time, we’re also including a 2022 Gift Guide with all sorts of out-of-the-box goodies to get your creative gift giving juices flowing. If nothing else, the guide is fun for browsing!

Speaking of gifts… our popular Dog Walk 2022 is now happily ensconced in Westfarms, much to the delight of shoppers passing by (see photos from the Dog Walk at Westfarms on page 21). The Dog Walk is much more than a “pretty face” — it’s also a great place to discover the perfect gift for those who have everything. The proceeds from donations to each of the 12 painted dogs benefits a designated nonprofit. And so, by scanning the QR code that accompanies each dog, you can make a donation in honor of a loved one (or even in your own name) to that dog’s designated charity. One hundred percent of every donation goes to the nonprofit.

• West Hartford Art League

• West Hartford Interactive

Of course, these are tough times and not everyone has the financial resources right now to make donations. Remember, though, that a donation does not need to be monetary — giving of your time can be equally important. After all, many nonprofits rely on the time and effort of dedicated volunteers to help them promote their mission. And so, we encourage you to reach out to them directly to find out how you can help.

On behalf of the entire 2020Media staff, we wish all our readers and friends a holiday brimming with joy and a year of peace, good health and happiness.

Best, Tom Hickey CEO and Publisher

2020Media

ON THE COVER

A drawing by Emma Friedman, age 11, was selected first place winner of the “BE THE LIGHT" Art Contest, in which children and teens were asked to create their artistic rendition of the theme: "A little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness; I can be the light by spreading goodness!”

The winning artwork was announced at the Fire and Ice Chanukah Celebration held in West Hartford Center on Sunday, December 18.

Emma, whose winning artwork appears on the cover of this edition of WeHa Magazine, explained the thinking behind her piece: “No matter what holiday it is, cheer and happiness are spreading around, especially around Chanukah. Sometimes happiness doesn't make it to other people. Maybe they had a rough year, feel sad, or aren't as fortunate as others, not being able to afford presents and food. To help people who feel this way, we can just help by spreading more happiness. Decorations and light can help, but most of all people can. We can be the light around Chanukah and help others.”

Congratulations, Emma1

Publisher Tom Hickey

Editor in Chief Judie Jacobson

Associate Editor Stacey Dresner

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

Follow us on Social Media: Facebook West Hartford Magazine We-Ha.com Twitter @westhartfordmag @wehartford

Instagram @westhartfordite Hashtags #wehaevents #bestofweha #weha #westhartford #wehahacomedy

PO Box 271835, West Hartford, CT 06127 office: 860.508.4032

Vol. 12, No. 3, 2022 west hartford magazine

FROM

T

Celebrating 100 years in business, the Hoffman Auto Group is one of Connecticut’s most respected family-owned business with locations in East Hartford, New London, Waterbury, and Avon/Simsbury. Each of our nine locations offers a one-stop automotive experience where we are committed to demonstrating how we are driven by trust with every customer.

West Hartford Chamber of Commerce:

How the West Hartford Chamber keeps it local during the holiday season

by Christopher Conway

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for businesses. The National Retail Federation estimates that approximately 19 percent of overall retail sales come in the months of November and December. They note certain sectors see much higher numbers as percentage of sales this time of year. Restaurants see a similar spike due to more eating out, holiday celebrations and gift card sales.

By extension, chambers of commerce are generally very effective in their efforts to drive revenue to the businesses in their communities. The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce is no exception. We leverage several tools and opportunities to encourage people to shop small and shop local.

As a regular feature on our website, we post blogs on a variety of subjects relevant to business. Some recent topics regarding the holidays have been: “7 Ways to Get Your Business Ready for the Holidays”, “Why Shop Small for the Holidays?” and “4 Things to Do For Your Small Business in December.”

Social media is an impactful tool in amplifying messages and calls to action. The West Hartford Chamber is the administrator of the very popular Take Out Time West Hartford Facebook Group. Founded in 2020 in response to the COVID 19 pandemic, the group was founded as a means for restaurants to promote hours of operation, methods of serving and delivery, and specials. With close to 5000 active members, the group continues to be a very effective means for restaurant promotion and community engagement with people sharing positive experiences and asking for

recommendations for local restaurants.

During the 2019 holiday season, the West Hartford Chamber’s own social media influencer came on the scene in the form of a plush, frosty friend. Noah the Snowman comes to town each holiday making surprise visits with Chamber members. His exploits and adventures are shared on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. In the past four years, Noah has done over 100 drop-ins with chamber members. With thousands of views, Noah’s goal is to use his status as an influencer to promote member businesses during the holidays. Over the years, he has eaten at many restaurants, done his holiday shopping, worked out, purchased property and had spa treatments - just to name a few of his many exploits. He even has his own hashtag: #WHereIsNoah.

Besides Noah, the chamber staff is constantly sharing posts on behalf of members to help with the amplification of their individual messages. Instagram

Stories has proven to be powerful and popular in this process.

Without a doubt, the largest holiday initiative the chamber plays a leading role in is the Annual Holiday Stroll. 2022 marked the 35th anniversary of this classic New England holiday celebration. The West Hartford Chamber partners with the Town of West Hartford and community stakeholders Blue Back Square and West Hartford Center Business Association to highlight the sights, sounds, scents, and flavors of the holiday season.

Each year, on the first Thursday after Thanksgiving, thousands of people fill West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square for this free family-friendly event. Visitors partake in tasty treats, visits with

Santa, live performances on three stages, and overall holiday cheer. In an effort to make the event inclusive and reflective of our community, The Holiday Stroll also features a menorah, live nativity, a variety of performances of music, dance and spoken word - many accompanied by sign language interpreters. Over the decades, the Stroll has become one of the most popular holiday attractions in the state.

As an organization, the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce is always looking for meaningful and unique ways to support our member businesses and local community. Like many of the members we represent, the fourth quarter is one of our busiest, and most rewarding times of the year.

Conway Executive Director

West Hartford Chamber of Commerce

860.521.2300 - office 860.810.5663 - cell cconway@whchamber.com www.whchamber.com

Vol. 12, No. 3, 2022 west

Christopher

West Hartford Holiday Stroll 2022

On December 1, thousands of West Hartford residents and their families and friends turned out for the town’s 35th annual Holiday Stroll in Blue Back Square and West Hartford Center. Hosted by the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce and local businesses, the festivities included a tree lighting, carolers, dancers from the Ballet Theatre Co. and Santa and Mrs. Claus also showed up to provide tons of holiday cheer.

COFFEE TABLE BOOKS the gift of the world

Here are a treasure trove of coffee table books to satisfy the interests of anyone and everyone on your gift list. As Reader’s Digest, which recommended several of these books (as did Forbes), put it: “A beautiful, well-designed book can make for thoughtful gifts, showing friends that you know their tastes and want to highlight a shared interest of yours, or even expand their horizons.”

The Impossible Road Trip brings together 150 of America’s most fascinating roadside attractions in one entertaining guide so nothing is missed by fans of the quirky, cool or just plain odd. With entries from all 50 states, grouped by region and highlighted by charmingly illustrated maps, this comprehensive collection even includes attractions of yesteryear, weaving roadtrip history together with the singular sights of today.

Gastro Obscura is the year’s most exciting release for foodie travelers. Scouring the globe and bringing back tales from all 50 states and every continent (including Antarctica!), this compendium of cuisine covers the world’s most unique bites, rituals, holidays, techniques and trivia surrounding the arts of the edible (and sometimes inedible), with design as delicious as the eye-popping content.

Bird, new from Phaidon, presents more than 350 glorious pages of the winged world’s most fascinating representations, photographic, artistic, archaeological and otherwise. Thematically paired with a curator’s flair, each spread becomes a contemplative study of some of the planet’s most beautiful creatures, with packaging as vibrant and whimsical as the species themselves.

Luxury Art, architecture, jewels, fashion, furniture and more; whatever it is your favorite museum hound loves to ogle can be found within the 400+ oversize pages of Luxury, complete with an exhaustive history of the theme that has inspired so many of the world’s greatest museums. Spanning centuries, cultures and styles, the gold tone binding of this glossy gem is just a taste of the countless treasures within, all explorable without any pesky crowds, lines or costs of admission.

Let’s Get Lost is for the traveller who ventures to remote locations in search of connections with nature or themselves. For them, Let’s Get Lost offers some of the most astounding natural settings around the world, presented through the lenses of social media’s favorite photographers. Organized by environment, each entry presents not only stunning imagery, but the stories behind the adventures that inspired them for armchair travel at its truest.

Bruce Springsteen: Live in the Heartland captures the one and only boss of rock ‘n’ roll who has reigned supreme for close to five decades now. This black-and-white coffee table book features 256 pages of Springsteen images captured by famed photographer Janet Macoska from 1974 to 2016. Clarence Clemons, Steven Van Zandt, and, of course, those famous blue jeans all make an appearance.

Activist: Portraits of Courage is an inspiring book that is perfect for the passionate activist. Black-andwhite photographic portraits are paired with quotes and stories from activists ranging from singer Harry Belafonte to labor organizer Ai-jen Poo, from civil rights leader John Lewis to tennis player Billie Jean King. It’s a powerful reminder of how far we have come and a motivator to keep fighting for what is right.

200 Women: Who Will Change the Way You See the World is the perfect gift to empower and inspire young women. Portraits of prominent women from all walks of life are paired with their insight on personal growth, happiness, careers, and more. You’ll find wisdom here from celebrated novelists like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Isabel Allende, and Margaret Atwood, as well as renowned chef Alice Waters, Olympian Lydia Ko, and community organizer Dolores Huerta.

Creative Gift Giving

Looking for some out-of-the-box gift ideas this holiday season? We’ve got a bunch of suggestions to suit a host of ages and interests. Some are tech devices, some plain old fun stuff, and others bold and beautiful coffee table books. Note: With discounts flying fast and furious, we found it hard to keep track of prices. So we left them out…and instead included website addresses for those interested in finding out more about any given product.

Black Bird 4K

The Black Bird 4K is a tiny drone with a 4k camera that lets you take breathtaking photos and videos. It's foldable, lightweight and easy to carry. The drone has several settings that allow it to follow you, focus on you, or even fly around you. All this can even happen while you're on the move! If required, the drone can also be controlled manually. www.besttechtrend.com.

Miracle Sheets

These miraculous antibacterial sheets claim they will change the way you sleep. They’re self-cooling and self cleaning, and they’re made of Supima cotton which makes them feel fresh, clean, and comfortable without any sweat, www.besttechtrend.com.

ThePhotoStick Omni

Backing up photos or other personal files can be a tough task. You’ve got to dig through all those folders across all your devices, then organize all your photos and videos and go through each file and figure out which ones you’re going to back up, removing the duplicates you’ve already backed up.

ThePhotoStick Omni to the rescue. It backs ups all your devices for you, saving them in one secure physical location.The PhotoStick automatically finds, sorts, and saves up to 60,000 photos and videos across any of your devices with just one click. It works on all windows-computers, all Mac (Apple)-Computers, all phones and tablets. besttechtrend.com.

Nuubu

NuuBu foot patches are a century-old solution for stress, anxiety, and low energy. These Japanese patches stimulate the 60 acupuncture points on your feet and help detoxify your body. A unique, century-old herb mix draws out toxins from your feet in a safe and non-invasive way. Once you use them, you can see the toxins leaving your body as the patches turn black overnight. besttechtrend.com.

Sky Scope

Looking through the Sky Scope is like giving yourself superhero vision wherever you go: Out for a hike, at a sporting event, hunting, stargazing or just trying to see what that crazy neighbor down the street is doing, you can get a clear vision of anything from miles away.

Thanks to high-definition lenses made from multi-coated BAK4 glass, the same kind used in professional camera lenses and astronomy telescopes, the Sky Scope helps you see for miles with precision and depth for the best views. Plus you can use the 10x zoom as a telephoto lens for your phone and capture amazing photos!

dailylivingtech.com

this Holiday Season

Muama Enence

This genius device turns you into a fluent speaker of 36 languages in seconds. Just click the button, start talking, and it will immediately translate your words into the language of your choice. It’s perfect if you regularly deal with foreigners at work, enjoy talking to natives in exotic locations or simply want to impress your international business partners next time you meet. Stop fiddling around with overly complicated smartphone apps. Just hit the button, talk into the device, and no language will be foreign to you anymore.

amazon.com

Chill Pill

Sleeping pills can increase your risk of death by 4.6X — and they often don’t even improve the quality of your sleep! A more effective sleep aid is a new device (NOT an actual pill) that you hold in your hand while you go to sleep. It sends safe electronic pulses that calm your brain and help lull you into a deep sleep in just a few minutes. If you struggle to fall asleep quickly at night (or find yourself waking up frequently), this could be the innovation you’ve been waiting for!

Thegadgetoffice.com

Hootie

Hootie is an innovative new product that provides fearless independence to women when in unaccompanied situations like running, hiking, or walking to a car after work. When activated,Hootie triggers an intense strobe light and piercing 130-decibel alarm to create an immediate diversion and deter an attacker.

Hootie requires no training or skill to operate, and can be used by anyone, regardless of age or physical ability. All you have to do is simply pull out the plug on the alarm, and it will produce a 130DB earpiercing panic alarm that startles and scares away attackers. An ideal (and potentially life-saving) gift!

amazon.com

Beer of the Month Club

Each month, Beer of the Month Club sends recipients 12 full-sized bottles of hard-to-find, premium-quality craft beers from boutique breweries across the country. Two different breweries every month are featured, as well as two different beers from each brewery - that's four varieties of unique craft beer in every shipment AmazingClubs.com

Par-Tee Gift Box

Score a hole in one with the Par-Tee Gift Box for all Golf Lovers. The gift box contains unique, unusual and uncommon gifts that every golfer will appreciate. All products in this gift box are handpicked by golfers for golfers. To find out what’s inside the box visit amazingclubs.com.

Power Pod

Power Pod is little but mighty, thanks to its unique built-in micro high-velocity charger, which provides instant power that lasts for hours! Easily attach one to your key ring or briefcase. Power Pod is compatible with Apple and Android mobile devices. With Power Pod, no more cumbersome wires while charging, no more lugging about a bulky power pack, and no more worrying about your phone running out of juice! powerpodshop.com

Gardening Seat and Tool Bag

Skip the kneeling and hunching over with this easy-to-use low-seated design that offers functional comfort and is crafted of durable steel and textile that is outdoor safe. Just pop it up next to your plants and you're ready to go. The tool bag is great for holding every tool or seed packet, and is also removable for even more function. Simply fold the stool together for easy storage. The perfect combo of functionality and comfort for gardening! Itsthoughtful.com

Vol. 11, No. 3, 2022 west hartford magazine

Former Schechter students rededicate Holocaust sculpture

By Audrey Nobel

One morning in late November, a group gathered at Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford to rededicate the school’s Holocaust Memorial.

Members of Schechter’s class of 2019, who designed and built this special sculpture when they were in seventh grade, unveiled a new plaque.

Holocaust survivor Rabbi Phillip Lazowski spoke to the students, now in 12thgrade, about the importance of hearing survivors’ stories, because “in five or six years, there will be no more living survivors of the Holocaust.”

He urged all of the attendees to speak out against injustice, prejudice, and antisemitism. Representatives from Voices of Hope, a Connecticut organization that promotes education about the Holocaust and other genocides, also offered remarks.

Lamont toured Future Meat Technologies. The innovative Israel company is in early discussions with Connecticut about coming to the state. recently announced production of a chicken and beef product that they grow in a petri dish, with Lamont has tasted and declared “pretty good.”) and other industries.

Lamont expects that many of these Israeli entrepreneurs will be visiting Connecticut in the near future with an eye towards forging collaborations and the like.

“You know, there’s two and a half times more venture capital money being invested in Israel today than there was a year and a half ago. That’s a sign of optimism and people believing in the future,” Lamont told the Ledger.

In 2018, Schechter students collaborated with the organization Facing History and Ourselves to design and construct the large stone structure. Its core is a tower of cement blocks, which represent the hardship of the Holocaust: a rough and difficult material, something hard as stone. Blossoming from the blocks are open hands, shaped from a much smoother and softer-looking cement. These represent the new generations of Jews who survived and flourished after the Holocaust. Students made molds for the hands using their own hands as well as those of two grandparents who were Holocaust survivors. In some cases, a student molded his/her hand while clasped with their grandparent who survived the Holocaust. The six bricks around the memorial represent the six death camps as well as the six million Jews lost in the Holocaust.

“From a political standpoint, they’re really working hard to show that Israel is governing itself and moving forward – and the business community is really leading the way. And that’s great,” he added.

In the spring and summer, a variety of flowers native to Israel and Europe bloom from the cracks in the cement and around the monument. Daffodils return each spring, symbolizing hope, rebirth, memory, awareness, reflection, and forgiveness. The contrast of the hopeful and joyous colorful flowers against the stark and somber stone structure captures the themes of death and new life.

That sense of optimism is shared by others in the Connecticut delegation.

“We had an incredibly productive trip to Israel,” Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman said. “The Governor led delegation meetings with high-growth Israeli companies, venture firms, established companies, and the Israeli government. Our meetings were singularly focused on how to increase collaboration between our two economies and mutually beneficial direct investment. I am optimistic about the future of the Connecticut-Israel economic relationship.” n

Back in 2019, Alyssa Temkin, one of the Schechter students who took who took part in the project, noted, "The most impactful piece of this [sculpture] is where my Poppy and I have our hands clenched together. His courage and strength is forever intertwined with me. We represent the beauty that came after devastation. We will continue to grow, flourish and remember."

The Holocaust memorial designed and constructed on the grounds of Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford in 2019, by the school’s 7th graders.

Breakfast leads to a lifetime of happiness

Erika Hull’s and Brennan Graham’s mutual friends just knew the two would be a perfect match.

After much prodding from their friends that they should go out with each other, Erika sent Brennan a Facebook message suggesting they meet up for a date.

“We went on our first date – a breakfast date – in June of 2017 and have been together ever since!” Erika says.

Both Erika and Brennan are nurses at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford – Erika in labor and delivery and Brennan in the Cardiac ICU. Erika, a graduate of Suffield High School and Endicott College, and Brennan, who attended Northwest Catholic High School and Duquesne University, have great role models when it comes to creating a happy marriage.

Erika’s parents Sandra and Rodney Hull were high school sweethearts growing up in East Granby. Married 36 years ago, the Hulls moved to Suffield in 1986 where they raised Erika and her two brothers. After 22 years, Sandra is set to retire from her job as an eighth grade math teacher at Suffield Middle School. Rodney owned his own landscaping business for 30 years.

Brennan’s parents, Drs. Neville Graham and Tracy Brennan are recently retired OBGYN’s who worked for Women’s Comprehensive Health in Hartford. They met in residency, have been married for 36 years, and raised their five children on Norwood Road in West Hartford.

Brennan proposed to Erika in the rose garden at Elizabeth Park on June 12, 2021, then took her back to his parents’

house for a surprise engagement party.

“It was the perfect end to the perfect day to be able to celebrate with all of our closest family and friends,” Erika says.

The wedding was held on August 27,

The ceremony at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church in Groton, Conn.

2022 at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church in Groton.

“We had never been to this church before but chose it because it was close to our reception location and it looked absolutely beautiful. We learned that most of the church is originally from the Vatican Pavilion at the World’s Fair in New York (1964-1965) and was then transported to Groton.”

The church features most of the original stained glass windows and two rows of original pews – one of which was sat upon by the late Queen Elizabeth.

The reception was held nearby at Latitude 41 in Mystic, with stunning views of the sun setting over the Mystic River.

Erika had always dreamed of staying in a tropical overwater bungalow and the couple found the perfect honeymoon getaway spot in Bora Bora.

“Everything about the trip was amazing!! Everything was so beautiful, it looked like a postcard and it was hard to believe it was real life,” Brennan says. “The trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and it was everything we dreamed it would be!”

The wedding party (l to r): Kaitlyn Shettles, Ashley Agudelo, Krista Hull, Mila Hull (flower girl), Deirdre Kennedy, Janie Newell, Maura Graham, Lauren Rookey (maid of honor), Erika and Brennan, Patrick Nista (best man), Neville Graham, Patrick Graham, Shane Kennedy, Kevin Hull, Bryan Hull, and Patrick Madden.

The Hull family (l to r): Bryan Hull (bride's brother) and his wife Ashley Agudelo, the bride’s father Rodney Hull, Erika and Brennan, the bride’s mother Sandra Hull, Kevin Hull (bride's brother), Mila Hull (flower girl), and Kevin’s wife Krista Hull.

The Graham family (l to r): Patrick Graham (groom's brother) and his wife Kathleen Graham, Shane Kennedy (Deirdre's husband), Cillian Kennedy (ring bearer), Deirdre Kennedy (groom's sister), Graham Kennedy (ring bearer), the groom’s father Neville Graham, Erika and Brennan, the groom’s mother Tracy Graham, Maura Graham (groom's sister), Owen Kenney (Maura's boyfriend), Morgan Massey (Neville's fiancé), and Neville Graham (groom's brother).

Robin and Raveis ... what a great combination!

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

Dogs Westfarms goes to the

Dog Walk 2022— the whimsical and colorful display of fiberglass dogs designed and painted by local artists that has graced Blue Back Square for the past three months — moved to Westfarms on Dec. 7, and will be on display there until New Year’s Day 2023.

Community members were on hand to welcome the painted dogs to their new home at a special event hosted by Channel 30 newscaster Dennis House, and attended by each dog’s artist, sponsor and beneficiary non-profit .

Donations may be made to each dog’s designated charity by scanning the non-profit’s QR code displayed on the signage attached to each dog, or by visiting 20media20.com.

The 2022 Dog Walk makes holiday shopping a breeze, says Tom Hickey, CEO of 2020Media, the West Hartford-based media and marketing outfit that is producing this fun fundraiser.

“What better gift is there — especially for the people on your holiday list who have everything — then the gift of helping others,” he says. “And that’s just what you’re doing when you make a donation to a good cause in honor of friend or family member.

To learn more about the 2022 Dog Walk and/or to make a donation, visit www.20media20.com.

On hand to welcome the Dog Walk to Westfarms on December 7 were (l to r) Amanda Sirica, Westfarms public relations director; Barbara Foley, president of the Ron Foley Foundation; Kelly Kelly, West Hartford Dog Walk featured artist; Dennis House, WTNH News 8 who emceed the event.

Glastonbury High School students posed with "Daisy" dog painted by featured artist Amy Casazza to benefit Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation

A Celebration of Excellence

More than 150 guests were in attendance at the Eighth Annual Best of West Hartford awards evening, held at the Mandell Jewish Community Center on Monday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. Awards were presented to local businesses in a variety of categories, with more than 150 finalists in the running for the 2022 “Best of…” title.

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor and Joseph Gianni, Greater Hartford Market President of Bank of America, chatted as they enjoyed the festivities.

David Jacobs, executive director of the Mandell Jewish Community Center, addressed the crowd of more than 100 guests gathered in the JCC’s Chase Family Gallery before the awards were presented.

Among the winners of Best of West Hartford awards were Bards Clothing, Sally & Bob's, Eric Feeney and Friends of Feeney

Among those celebrating were Attorney Brooke Goff (center) and her team at the Goff Law Group

Representatives of the popular Playhouse on Park were in attendance.

Tom Hickey, CEO of 2020Media, sponsor and coordinator of the Best of West Hartford Awards, welcomed the guests to the JCC’s Innovation Center as he prepared to announce the awards.

Attention MEN! Stay (fashionably) warm this winter

By Matthew Banever

Let’s open with a hot take: Fall/winter fashion is superior to spring/summer fashion. That said, let’s discuss the five essential items you need this winter season!

Gone are the days of formal top coats, the ankle length duster that protected you from the elements as you trudge through a bleak frost bitten city. Many of us enjoy the luxury of remote starting our car, running to the warmed vehicle, and then walking from the parking lot to the destination. This simplified journey, combined with a non-alarming touch of climate change, whittles down what we truly need for winter, but there are still essentials.

1) A WINTER COAT.

This nylon, or polyester coat is more your everyday coat. It will keep you warm as you run errands, protect you from the wind, and the wet snow. It’s a more casual jacket to wear with any outfit. One of my favorite features is a coat with Stadium pockets, the ones by your chest so you look like a praying mantis.

2) A WOOL COAT.

We still have holiday parties to attend, work to go to or, dare I say, a desire to look good. This can be a peacoat, car coat, or hybrid jacket. Something wool based is terrific for quick commutes. It is light, fashionable, easy to store, and you can elevate your wardrobe by picking the right fabric. If you’re not wearing a sport coat, you can treat this layer like the final layer of the outfit.

3) KNIT BLAZER.

I am not a fan of sweaters, they don’t flatter me and I don’t like feeling confined. Find a knit blazer and treat it like a cardigan. It will serve as a layer of warmth and create a nice stylish look.

4 )WARM PANTS.

Ready for your mind to be blown? The lower half of you body wants to be warm too! Most offices do not require a jacket, so you lose out on the opportunity for warmth. Purchase some flannel pants, or canvas pants. They will take the edge out of the wind without heating you up. Thank me later.

5)TOP SHIRT.

In the 90’s they were just flannels. With jackets being cast aside, you can now introduce a heavy shirt as an extra layer. So functional, so comfortable, so awesome. (Tip: Look for a shirt with pockets.)

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

Dreaming about a new home is nice. Buying it with a great mortgage?

Westfield Bank has the flexible mortgage options and expert guidance you need to make your dream house your new home. As your regional community bank, we make it easy, with the convenience of applying online, in person, or starting online and finishing in person. The security of locking in your rate before you start shopping. And the relief of a fast and simple closing. That’s Westfield Bank.

That’s

Visit westfieldbank.com/personal/ mortgages to learn more and apply.

better.

Rehearsing for Retirement

Try living as a “retiree” for a month or two before you commit to leaving your career.

Provided by Robert A. Laraia, RFC Founding Partner Northstar Wealth Partners www.nstarwp.com

RESTAURANT REVIEW

but give your spouse 50% or more of your pension payments after you die. Your employer might also offer you a lump-sum pension buyout; if that turns out to be the case, you might want to consult with a financial professional who can help you to decide if the lump sum constitutes the better deal versus a lifelong income stream.1

Imagine if you could preview your retirement in advance. In a sense, you can. Financially and mentally, you can “rehearse” for the third act of your life, while still enjoying the second.

Pretend you are retired for a month or two. Take two steps to act out your rehearsal – one having to do with your budget, the other with your expectations.

Draw up a retirement budget & live on it for one, two, or three months. Make a list of essential expenses (groceries, gas, utilities, mortgage, medicines), and then a list of discretionary expenses (such as movie tickets, dinners out, spa treatments). This may reveal that you can live handily on less than what you currently spend each month.

Next, list your income sources for retirement. They might include Social Security benefits (depending on when you want to claim them), retirement plans, pension checks, dividends, freelance or consulting payments, or other revenue streams. Investment income is also in the mix here, so check with a financial professional to determine a withdrawal rate from those accounts that you can safely maintain through your retirement. (It might differ slightly from the long-recommended 4%.) When you have your list, stack the projected total income up against your essential expenses and see how much you have left over.

Try living off of that level of monthly income for a month or more while you are still working. If it covers your necessary monthly expenses and not much else, then some adjustments in your retirement strategy might be needed – a housing change, a change in your retirement date.

See how it feels to retire. Try to arrange some “previews” of your retirement lifestyle. If you want to serve your community, volunteer avidly for a month or two to get a taste of what daily volunteer work is like. If you see yourself traveling enthusiastically at the start of retirement, take a dream vacation or even a couple of consecutive trips (if your schedule allows) to see how they truly fit into your financial picture.

Your “rehearsal” need not be last-minute. If you think you will retire at 65, you could try doing this at 63, 60, or even before then. The earlier your attempt, the more time you have to alter your retirement strategy if needed.

What else should you consider as you rehearse? Besides income, expenses, and the day-to-day retirement experience, there are a few other factors to gauge.

How much cash do you have on hand? Starting retirement with a strong cash position provides you with some insulation if you happen to retire during a market downturn. The possibility of a bear market coinciding with your entry into retirement may make you want to revisit your portfolio allocations as well.

Take a second look at your projected monthly income. Will it be consistent? If it will vary, you will want to address that. If you are in line for a pension, you will face a major, likely irrevocable, financial decision: should it be single life, or joint-and-survivor? The latter option may reduce your pension income in retirement,

How about your entry into Medicare? You may enroll in it at medicare.gov within a window of your 65th birthday (that is, beginning three months prior to your birthday month and ending three months after it). If you sign up before your birthday, you will be covered beginning on the first day of your birthday month. Sign up following your 65th birthday, and you may have to wait for coverage to begin.2

If you expect to stay on the job after 65, consider signing up for Medicare Part A (the part that pays for hospital care) within the usual window. It will not cost you anything to do so, and sometimes Part A makes up for shortcomings in employersponsored health plans. You can enroll in Part B and other Medicare component parts later – within eight months of your retirement, to be precise. You will want to pay attention to that 8-month deadline, as your premiums will jump 10% for every 12-month period afterward that you refrain from enrolling. If you pay for your own insurance, you will still need to enroll in Medicare when you are eligible (Medicare will make that coverage superfluous, so you can anticipate dropping it).3

Rehearsing for retirement can be very insightful. Some new retirees leave work abruptly only to have their financial and lifestyle assumptions jarred. As you want to make a smooth retirement transition to a future that corresponds to your expectations, test-driving your retirement before it begins is only wise.

Robert Laraia may be reached at 888-886-7737 or rlaraia@nstarwp.com www.nstarwp.com

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, member SIPC/FINRA.

Citations.

1 – TheBalance.com, December 13, 2021

2 – Medicare.gov, 2022

3 – CMS.gov, 2022

Vol. 12, No. 3, 2022 west hartford

Create a holiday garden of delights with plants!

By Karla A. Dalley

The holiday season is upon us and there are so many reasons to celebrate!

One of the things that makes the holidays special is gathering in our homes with the people we love.

If you are like me, tend to obsess over the details: getting just the right food, the right decorations, more decorations, better decorations—you get the idea. What does that have to do with plants? Well, among other things, my home is filled with plants — and at the holidays, it is filled with plenty of extra plants to grace my tablescapes and living spaces.

that is very easy to care for and endures very low light is the spathiphyllum or Peace Lily. This common plant often comes as a tiny plant in dish gardens or you might see it in larger containers in public buildings precisely because it is so easy to care for. Besides that, the Peace Lily is readily available, easy to obtain while in flower, and decorative for the holidays. And should you forget to water, it will rebound easily from this oversight!

ZZ PLANT

CHINESE EVERGREEN

One plant that is a star for the holidays—and for year-round growing—is aglaeonema, commonly called Chinese Evergreen. This plant is easy to grow, unfussy about watering, needs only bright light, not full sun, and comes in several different leaf colorations. What that means is that whatever your decorating scheme, there’s probably an aglaeonema for you!

If you celebrate Christmas and are used to thinking of red and green, look for one of the red leafed varieties, which are probably the easiest to find.

If you don’t celebrate Christmas—or if red isn’t your thing—look for one of the varieties with white leaves. There are several stunning varieties with white stripes, white splotches, almost totally white leaves, and even white stems.

PEACE LILY

A different green plant with lovely white flowers

If you are looking for an easy-care plant to be structural, and an upright accent for your home, the zamioculcas zamiifolia — aka the ZZ Plant — is a fun plant to own. Originally available in only “plain green,” there are now darker green varieties. New this year is a variety called Chameleon, whose new foliage is bright yellow before it matures to darker green.

Because this plant has water-storing rhizomes, it is fairly drought-tolerant and will only need water every 2-3 weeks in an average home, making it very easy care and a breeze to take care of during the busy holidays!

SNAKE PLANT

Another upright, structural plant for everyone is the snake plant, or dracaena trifasciata. There are dwarf varieties and

A Chocolate Lover’s

Paradise:

Cacao and Spice in Amsterdam

By Lisa Martin

One of the highlights of my recent five-day trip to Amsterdam was discovering — thanks to our guide, Ian — Cacao & Spice, a chocolate business owned by Ian and his wife, Salomé TripWanganui. The eye-opening flavors that were enveloped in each chocolate sampling were like nothing I had ever experienced before!

Upon entering the store, we were given an introduction with a map to show how the Spice Islands and the Netherlands were tied together through history. Salomé shared tastings of their single-source chocolates by passing around three sets of

small, round chocolate drops. After each chocolate melted in my mouth, I was astonished to taste three flavors, one after the other. I had never had chocolate separate into noticeable flavors like that. Typically, chocolate tasting was more a mixture of a flavor of chocolate and the taste of something mixed in like a nut or liquor. It was never the chocolate that transformed by itself!

After visiting Cacao & Spice, I had so many questions for this artisan. So, I contacted Salomé and asked away.

HOW DID YOU LEARN TO MAKE CHOCOLATE?

All the basics in chocolate making, I’ve learned from a Belgian chocolatier and friend. All other things, especially vegan bonbons, I've learnt through experimenting.

HAVE YOU COMBINED YOUR CHOCOLATE WITH ANY UNUSUAL FOOD ITEMS?

I love to use ingredients that are not so common for chocolate. My mom is from the Moluccan Islands, known in the 17th century as the Spice Islands, a former colony of the Netherlands. The Dutch would get nutmeg and clove from these islands.

So, I love to mix chocolate with non-Dutch flavors. My newest chocolate creation is a collaboration with my mum. She makes the best baked peanuts. Even though she gave me her recipe: you know you can never make it the same way your mum

Salome passes around a tray of tastings at Cacao & Spice

Heinde & Verre Dutch Drinking Chocolate

does! She bakes her peanuts with garlic, and since I was a child, I am addicted to them. So, I now created a vegan bonbon with her baked peanuts (with garlic!), a caramel based on the sugar ‘Gula Jawa’, and made with a plant that’s indigenous to the Moluccan Islands, called the ‘Pandan’.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A CHOCOLATE CONFECTIONER?

It all started when my husband’s grandmother opened a chocolate shop in Amsterdam, which she named the ‘Chocolaterie Kitty’. It was always my husband’s dream to open a chocolate shop, just like his grandma had, and of course as a chocolate lover I did not say no! Our shop Cacao & Spice is a specialty chocolate shop. We only work with direct trade and single origin chocolates.

My husband and I have both worked in the non-profit field, and there we have seen how certifications are often not true to what they say. Because of our experience with certifications, we dove a bit deeper into fair trade chocolate, and found out that fair trade chocolate was still produced on a large scale -directly connected to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, extreme poverty and even 1.5 million child slaves!

After a lot of research, we got into contact with people who took it a few steps further than Fair Trade and worked ‘Direct Trade’ and ‘Single Origin." This became the philosophy of our shop: never more than two people between the cacao farmers and our shop, only cacao from a biodiverse environment, paying far above the Fair Trade price, and no mixing of cacao beans, but only using beans from one small area.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR CHOCOLATE?

We work with different small brands: some are produced in the country of origin, and some are produced in Europe. Our brands usually mention the name of the cacao cooperative or farm on the front or the back of the packaging (very transparent trade). Some of our chocolates are even produced at the cacao plantation.

For instance, we have chocolates that are made in Indonesia, the Philippines, Ecuador, India, and a brand from the Dominican Republic. We are also one of the few shops in the Netherlands that sell chocolate that is 100% made in Africa, these brands are part of the <1% African chocolate producers (over 70% of the world’s cacao comes from Africa, while less than 1% of the world’s chocolate is made in Africa).

WHO GROWS THE COCOA BEANS YOU USE?

Small farmers and small cooperations. Our cacao origins go from the Philippines to the Solomon Islands, India, Peru, Ecuador, Papua, Jamaica, Haiti, Congo, Uganda, India, etc., etc. Our cacao farmers get paid far over the Fair-Trade price, and we make sure that all our chocolate makers buy their beans directly from the farmers. You can find the origin of the cacao on each package.

HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR CHOCOLATES TRANSFORM THROUGH THREE FLAVORS? AMAZING!

There are three main factors:

1. Single-origin chocolate: don't mix beans, but only work with cacao beans from one small area: one cooperative, one

valley or one national park. This way you will preserve the unique taste of an area into a chocolate.

2. A biodiverse environment: make sure there is a rich soil for the cacao to grow in. Cacao takes the flavors from the environment, so a biodiverse environment influences the taste of the chocolate in a great way.

3. Final step: the chocolate maker. Somebody with a passion for cacao, who will take the time and try all different roasting profiles to create the best taste!

Salomé has a Facebook page, where she focuses on other female chocolatiers throughout Europe. I will visit the chocolatier she interviewed in Viviers, France when I go to Nice/Monaco, and up the Rhone River to Lyon, France in October 2023. Come join me!

Cacao & Spice ships internationally. For information, visit Cacao & Spice at www.cacaoandspice.com. Cacao & Spice is located at Dollebegijnensteeg 5a I Amsterdam I KVK: 76863166 . Visit it on Facebook I Instagram I +31(0)6534 898 54

Lisa Martin is a travel advisor, luxury cruise specialist, ACC, Cruise Planners; Land and Cruise. She may be contacted at (860) 929-0708, Lisa.martin@cruiseplanners.com, TotalTravelToday.com.

Vol. 12, No. 3, 2022 west hartford magazine I

Homemade chocolates

Salome holds a cacao pod

MORE “I FEEL SO GOOD.”

“I try to do my best to eat right and exercise, but keeping myself motivated can be a chore. At Duncaster, it’s easy to make my well-being a focus with chef-prepared healthy dining options, an on-site dietitian and a large selection of fitness programming that actively supports my goals. I have so much more energy and I’ve never felt better!”

– Mary Sargent, Duncaster resident since 2013

Continued from

Have you ever eaten something so scrumptious that you literally felt like your soul got a hug?

varieties that have foliage that fan out like a hand (called “starfish” varieties) and types with rolled foliage—thin or thick. Do an internet search and for images and you will be amazed!

One of the taller varieties might make a nice substitute for a modern tree with some small battery or LED lights strung on it—just make sure that the lights stay cool to the touch.

The Craft offers a selection of sweet treats and baked delights!

The dwarf varieties have rosettes of foliage and are often variegated so they are brightly colored, either green and white or green and yellow. They’ll add a pop of color to your home during this darker time of year, and the smaller size means you can scatter a few of them across your table as accents for decoration!

Experience pure delight with that first bite of the buttery layers of a croissant that was freshly baked by The Craft just hours ago.

Experience thrilling joy as you roll out that perfect pie crust in our baking class experiences.

Like the ZZ Plant, the Snake Plant can go for weeks without water and can live in very low light conditions (although the variegated varieties need brighter light).

SUCCULENTS

Experience it all! The Craft takes baking to the next level that reaches all the way to the depths of your soul!

For plants that like much brighter light, think of small succulents, These are not traditionally “holiday” plants, but they work well this time of year.

Go to a good garden center and check out the amazing array of succulent plants—the colors will astound you! Think about how these tiny plants can be worked into your holiday décor or entertaining. Perhaps you might use them on your tablescape,

10 East Street, Unit E, East Granby, CT 860.413.3553 | https://thecraftexperience.store

sideboard or buffet (just be sure that you have chosen plants with no spines).

Let your imagination run wild! Get creative with succulents and cranberries, pomegranates, pinecones or candles (or ask the garden center to suggest something—for you).

House plants are amazingly versatile and can ease the transition from the holidays through winter and into early spring. With these few easy plants, anyone can have some greenery and make it feel like spring year-round!

Vol. 12, No. 3, 2022 west hartford magazine I 39 Vol. 12, No. 1, 2022 west hartford magazine I 33

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