Spring on the Shoreline 2024

SPRING

APRIL 2024

Tiffany treasures Connecticut history through the lens of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s glasswork

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on the cover A detailed view of The Water Brooks Window (Trowbridge Memorial Window), c. 1904, Hilton C. Buley Library at Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven. Photo by Isabel chenoweth / southern connecticut state university

4

SPRING

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Hector window. Photo by Isabel chenoweth / Southern Connecticut State university

APRIL

CONTENTS

28

6

SPRING

Windows to the past Discovering Louis Comfort Tiffany’s innovations in glass throughout Connecticut

8

Fostering love

16

Welcome aboard RiverQuest

22

This must be The Place

38

Dancing daffodils at Halfinger Farms

44

Preserving special moments

Friends of Feral Felines: The small team at the heart of local feral cat treatment and welfare

See flora and fauna galore on a cruise down the Connecticut River

Since the 1950s, The Place Restaurant has carried on a tradition of New England feasts with friends

Pick-your-own at a one-of-a-kind spring destination

Where and how to create keepsakes for your unique experiences

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2024 SEASON

SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW! SINGLE TICKETS GO ON SALE MARCH 1, 2024

EVERLY

JIMMY BUFFETT’S ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE

THE MUSIC OF THE EVERLY BROTHERS

Created by Ben Hope and Eric Anthony

Book by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley.

Music and Lyrics by Jimmy Buffett

APRIL 4 – 21, 2024

SWINGTIME CANTEEN

AUGUST 8 – SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

Book by Linda Thorsen Bond, William Repicci and Charles Busch

MAY 16 – JUNE 9, 2024

ALABAMA STORY

By Kenneth Jones

MYSTIC PIZZA

OCTOBER 3 – 20, 2024

Book by Sandy Rustin. Based on the MGM motion picture with story and characters by Amy Holden Jones

JUNE 27 – JULY 28, 2024

GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE!

By Jacqueline Hubbard

NOVEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 15, 2024

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APRIL 2024

7

ALL ABOUT

ANIMALS

love

Fostering

8

SPRING

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FRIENDS OF FERAL FELINES

The small team at the heart of local feral cat treatment and welfare

F

of

Fe

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Fel ine s

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oto co

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al felines

Since beginning at Ocean Beach 28 years ago, the organizaBy Elle Rahilly tion has expanded into treating multiple colonies throughout eral cat colonies are more common in southeastern southeastern Connecticut with Carpenter at the helm. A small Connecticut than one might think. When Lee Carpenter, crew of dedicated volunteers helps facilitate the feeding and huM.S., D.V.M saw an opportunity to help tackle this overmane trapping of feral cats and kittens to be taken in for medilooked issue, she jumped at the chance. cal evaluation and treatment at NAH, the home base for FOFF. There are about 80 million feral cats across America, acThe organization’s network of volunteers is somewhere around 11 cording to Carpenter. That is roughly the same number as cats altogether between feeders, board members, and fosters. that live in homes. “The term ‘feral’ is multifaceted,” she says.

“There are three colonies we now feed daily and “Meaning, a lot of cats are abandoned and learn not take care of,” says Carpenter. “Any sick anito like people and are afraid of us. They’re not mal or newcomer that seems like it would feral per se, but it’s this sort of loose definibe able to be trapped, we try to take it tion where they’re not wanted.” into the animal hospital, neuter, vacWhen Carpenter opened the doors cinate, and return it to its colony.” to Niantic Animal Hospital (NAH) According to Carpenter, it’s been back in 1990, there was a national effective in keeping the populamoratorium on the Humane Sotion down. “It has been proven ciety of the United States due that capturing and euthanizto the number of unwanted ing creates a vacuum, and the pets. “Around 11 to 13 million population rebounds quickly. dogs and cats were put to Attrition happens when the sleep nationwide,” Carpencat colonies are neutered and ter explains, adding that spayed. I know it’s helped in increased awareness and our little area, just talking to TNR (trap, neuter, return) our feeders. They see less.” have brought those numbers Two recent examples of down. “I think it’s more like colonies that FOFF has treat5 to 6 million now. So, you’ve ed that have faded out due to more than halved the populaattrition are Twin Havens in tion of dogs and cats that are Waterford and Niantic Bay Maeuthanized.” rina. “We had feeders, we trapped Friends of Feral Felines (FOFF) the cats, we adopted out the ones who was founded in 1996 when Carpenter ds could be adopted, and then it just got to and a technician of hers at NAH were en Fri o t d the point where they all died because of old approached by a good Samaritan about helpe t on a Fo s t e r kittens play with toys d age,” says Carson Shook, daughter of Carpenter ing the stray cats at Ocean Beach Park in New and FOFF board member. “And because they were neuLondon. “I would go down with him around 3 a.m. tered and spayed, didn’t continue to have kittens.” sometimes to feed the cats,” she says. “He did it every mornIf feasible, FOFF will work with feral cats and kittens who ing. Even in the winter, he would shovel out an area for them. are able to be socialized and then adopted out through fosThat’s how it started.” tering. The organization is also dedicated to fostering and From there, Carpenter quickly set up FOFF as a pro bono adopting older cats.

501(c)(3) organization and began working with Ocean Beach “We’ve learned that we’re one of the only organizations that Park and New London city officials to address the feral cat will adopt out to people who are older,” says Shook. “When my colony on the premises. The organization started accepting domom sold the animal hospital, we felt one of the hospital cats nations to feed the cats and treat the ones that were ill.

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APRIL 2024

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ALL ABOUT

ANIMALS

ABOVE A scared cat is cuddled by a volunteer. Friends of Feral Felines works with rescue cats of all ages. Photo Courtesy of Friends of Feral Felines BELOW Daffy, a kitten who tested positive for feline leukemia, was given veterinary care and adopted to a family with another FELV positive kitten. Photo Courtesy of Friends of Feral Felines BOTTOM Friends of Feral Felines cares for feral cat colonies by providing veterinary care, including sterilization and vaccinations, and food. Photo by ataglier / Adobe stock photo

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would do better in a home. It just worked out that my friend’s grandmother was looking for a cat, and we had this cat that was about 13 years old. We thought that would be an amazing match, and it has been.”

FOFF counts on locals to assist in treating feral cat communities throughout southeastern Connecticut. “Trapping is a huge time commitment,” says Carpenter when describing how the organization relies heavily on the manpower of its volunteers to trap and deliver animals to FOFF for intake.

The organization recently finished treating a colony of 15 cats in Groton. “One of the fellows who lives [in the area] was instrumental in trapping these cats and collecting donations,” says Carpenter. “So, some of them are temporary volunteers, but they are hugely important.” Several kittens were able to be adopted from that colony.

“We had another one in Old Black Point, a woman and her husband who were really instrumental in trapping a lot of the strays there,” shares Shook. “For about two or three months, they would sit back on their back patio with one of our drop traps, and whenever they saw a cat come out, they would pull the trap. We treated about 10 or 12 cats altogether. And some were adopted out.”

FOFF utilizes a (pain-free) ear tip method to track which stray felines the organization has trapped, neutered, and vaccinated across all feral colonies it treats. If a trapper catches a cat and sees the left ear is tipped, they let it go. “It’s a pretty effective way to identify them,” says Carpenter.

Since selling NAH in May 2023, Carpenter still fills in when an extra veterinarian is needed. The new owner allows Carpenter to continue practicing surgery and medicine for FOFF. “It’s nice that we can still use the facility, since a major part of the organization is to spay and neuter to keep the stray population down,” she shares.

Carpenter tries not to interfere with the daily workings at NAH when conducting pro bono surgical procedures for the organization. FOFF pays a discounted rate for all surgeries and critical supplies like injections, vaccines, leukemia tests, dewormers, and anesthesia.

“It’s always been one of the bees in my bonnet,” says Carpenter.

“But it’s not a common thing for veterinarians, unfortunately.” In addition to Carpenter, the organization does count on other local veterinarians who are graciously willing and able to assist with surgeries for FOFF at a discounted rate.

According to Shook, price increases have made things even more complicated recently.

“The price of neuters and spays across the board are pretty significant. I’m curious to see how that does affect the feral cat population,” she shares. “That’s one thing I always remind people.

If a cat is spayed or neutered and has their vaccinations, it’s not

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APRIL 2024

11

Photo by ryo96c / adobe stock photo

ALL ABOUT

ANIMALS

What is

TRAP NEUTER RETURN?

The population of feral cats in the United States is about equal to the number of cats who have homes. Friends of Feral Felines and other rescue organizations around the country and the world use various methods to try to keep the population of feral cats under control. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is to use a method knowns as TNR. To learn more about TNR, visit alleycat.org/our-work/trap-neuter-return. To volunteer for FOFF, visit feralfelines.org.

TRAP

NEUTER

RETURN

EAR TIPPING

STRAY CAT

FERAL CAT

Using a humane trap, often with a pressure or manual trigger that can be loaded with food, community cats are removed from their colony.

The cat is brought to a vet, who spays or neuters the cat and gives them vaccinations and other health care as needed.

The cat is then returned to their original colony.

Cats are extremely territorial, so it’s best to return them to familiar surroundings and other cats that they know. Colonies that are included in a TNR program are usually provided with fresh food and water and monitored.

When a cat has been trapped and is undergoing the sterilization process, a vet will often remove the top quarter-inch of their left ear. This is painless, heals quickly, and helps to prevent recapture, which may be traumatizing.

A stray cat is a cat that is on its own without an owner, but has experience with humans and has been socialized. Stray cats can become feral if enough time goes by without human contact, or if they have a bad experience with humans.

A feral cat is one that has had little to no exposure to humans and is fearful and hostile. While it is not usually possible to socialize and adopt a feral cat, a feral kitten, if removed from their colony at a young enough age, can often learn to trust humans.

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an issue. When they are not neutered or well taken care of, and then let outside, we see a boom in the population. We see transmittable diseases popping up, and it makes our job really difficult.”

Friends of Feral Felines runs on a tight annual budget based solely on donations to continue its impactful work throughout the area. According to Carpenter, “Every penny goes into medication, food, and paying a minimal fee to the animal hospital for the services that we’re allowed to do there.”

The organization also hosts a number of fundraising events throughout the year, including Niantic Public House’s Halloween party this past year. Shook organizes an annual Memorial Day tag sale that brings in some critical funding for the organization as well.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a community event too,” says Carpenter. “So many of the [animal hospital] clients and the community knows that we have this and will say ‘I’ve been saving things all year for FOFF.’ Which is great.”

The small team of volunteers at FOFF certainly have their work cut out for them as the days get longer. “Cats’ ovulation is dependent on light,” Carpenter explains. “So, there is this quiescent period of reproductive fertility during the shorter winter months. Right around March, when you start having the longer days, that’s why you have the spring boom.

“Also, for cats, the act of copulation will cause ovulation,” she continues. “That’s why, in part, they’re so prolific. Except for that quiet period in the winter, cats are out there and can produce a ton of kittens in one season. Gestation in cats is only 64 days. So, two months and you’re going to have a litter. And then in six or seven months, those kittens are now fertile.”

The organization has three cats that reside at Niantic Animal Hospital. One is Yulee, an 18-year-old cat who was the pet of a client who passed away. She has medical issues, so FOFF

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ALL ABOUT

ANIMALS took her in instead of having her go to the Humane Society.

Another is Marty, a kitten FOFF trapped just over a year ago who was positive for feline leukemia (he has since fought it off).

The third is Spatz, who was brought to NAH to be euthanized and then was surrendered to FOFF. Care costs about $2,800 for those three alone, just because they have various medical needs and special food due to their health issues. “We try to help where we can,” says Carpenter.

Those looking to support Friends of Feral Felines can visit feralfelines.org, where the organization’s PayPal and Venmo accounts are both linked for donations. Check donations are also accepted by mail. FOFF wish lists through Chewy and Amazon are also a great way to help the organization procure essential care items including food, towels and blankets, and other supplies. Yulee, Marty, and Spatz even have their own items for donation.

“We probably have about 100 cats and kittens that come through us a year,” Carpenter shares. “91 came through us in 2023. We do our best.” Those interested in volunteering or fos-

tering through FOFF can send the organization an email or direct message via social media. For anyone looking to adopt, an adoption form can be filled out and submitted on the website.

From trappers and veterinarian services to fosters and the treasury, it’s a joint effort, according to Carpenter. “It’s a very ‘bare bones’ organization, but we’re all very dedicated. For me, it was just a part of my desire to help and my love of cats. And knowing that there was such a need.”

She continues, “When it comes to feral cats, we can cut down that number by everybody helping.”

While Friends of Feral Felines is based out of Niantic Animal Hospital, the organization is not affiliated with the hospital. Please direct all inquiries regarding rescue work to feralfelines.org. This includes volunteer/foster requests, adoptions, drop-offs, and additional ways to get involved.

If you see a suspected feral cat colony, contact FOFF before you begin any feeding or TNR work. A colony may already be under the care of a local organization, and additional feeding can attract wild animals and cause health issues in the cats.

ABOVE Rescued feral kittens can be socialized and adopted. Photo Courtesy of Friends of Feral Felines RIGHT Veterinary care such as sterilization, vaccinations, testing for diseases, and more are part of the intake process. Photo Courtesy of Friends of Feral Felines

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ABOVE While it’s very difficult and sometimes impossible to adopt a feral cat, feral kittens can become loving companions. Photo by Okssi / adobe stock photo BELOW Marty is one of three cats that are cared for by Friends of Feral Felines. They reside at Niantic Animal Hospital. Photo courtesy of Friends of Feral Felines RIGHT Friends of Feral Felines hosts an annual Memorial Day tag sale to raise money.

Photo courtesy of Friends of Feral Felines

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To donate via PayPal,

To donate via Venmo,

SCAN HERE

SCAN HERE

@foffsect

@foffsect

APRIL 2024

15

Embark on a journey along the Connecticut River aboard the eco-tour vessel RiverQuest. P hoto Courtesy of Riverquest / CT RIVer museum

welcome aboard

RiverQuest O

By Jennifer Carmichael ver time, the Connecticut River Museum at Steamboat Dock in Essex has strived to enhance people’s understanding of the Connecticut River’s past and encourage its preservation by offering unique educational and recreational experiences. As the museum commemorates its 50th anniversary, myriad activities await this spring, from unveiling a new exhibit to engaging adventures on the water. Embark on a journey along the river aboard the eco-tour vessel RiverQuest or sail back in time aboard the recreation of the historical boat Onrust.

“As the legend goes, 50 years ago, a group of Essex residents got together over

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a bowl of clam chowder and came up with the idea of saving the historic Steamboat Dock building, which is now the home of our museum,” says Elizabeth Kaeser, executive director of the Connecticut River Museum, who notes that many may not realize that RiverQuest, initially owned

by Connecticut River Expeditions, has only come under the museum’s wing in the last two years. “And for 50 years, we’ve been telling stories of the people and the river and how it has been used and abused throughout history.”

Docked at Steamboat Dock, RiverQuest will start Spring Osprey/Eagle Cruises this month. These leisurely cruises offer a fantastic opportunity to witness the bald eagle and osprey nesting territories along

on the shoreline

the riverbanks and on the navigational markers. Bring a camera and binoculars (limited supply available on board) on the journey to document and see wildlife up close as a seasoned captain, tour guides, and naturalists impart a wealth of knowledge and information.

“At this point, the eagles are caring for their nests and young chicks,” says Director of Visitor Experience Cathy Malin.

“And the ospreys are returning from their wintering grounds, and they are doing what I like to call ‘nestorations,’ fixing up their nests and getting ready to lay their eggs. So, it’s fun to watch the activity.”

There will be Sunset Cruises throughout May and summertime. But, the Spring Foliage Sunset Cruise on RiverQuest on

Saturday, May 11, is one-time only. The two-hour cruise from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. will offer a chance to see the spring foliage’s pastel hues and the river’s beauty at daytime or twilight. See local wildlife and various points of interest along our journey and learn about the unique flora. Bring a picnic basket and your favorite beverage.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a 60-minute cruise aboard RiverQuest or Onrust this May. Bring along at least one child or adult with a purchased ticket, and Mom can join the adventure for half price. Revel in breathtaking views of the lower Connecticut River adorned with vibrant spring foliage while learning about the area’s fascinating nature and rich history.

“RiverQuest offers more of the eco-cruise feel, so you get binoculars, and there’s a naturalist on board to help identify birds and other wildlife.

Onrust provides more of a historical experience,” says Kaeser. “You can try your hand at hauling lines, imagining what it would have been like to be Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, sailing up the Connecticut River for the first time in 1614.”

On Monday, May 13, RiverQuest will head to Selden Island State Park, the largest island on the Connecticut River in Lyme (a 607-acre island roughly a half-mile wide and one-and-a-half miles long), for a choice between three guided hikes. RiverQuest will leave at 8 a.m. and return around 2:30 p.m. Learn about nature journaling on the Selden Plant Hike and join a CRM educator to explore the plant life that inhabits the island. The island features lush woodland vegetation, except for the tidal marshes.

The Birding Hike will explore the trails of Selden Island in search of breeding birds—warblers, vireos, thrushes, and more—tending their nests. Look into the tidal marshes from the wooded hills and listen for rails, marsh wren, swamp sparrow, and other secretive birds. And since they breed in the area, there’s also an excellent chance to see a bald eagle.

The History Hike heads to the top of the lookout, exploring the island’s historical sites

ABOVE A pair of bald eagles. P hoto Courtesy of Riverquest / CT RIVer museum BELOW Sunset cruises offer beautiful panoramic views. P hoto by cathy malin, riverquest / ct river museum BOTTOM Cinderella crabapple trees can be seen during the Spring Foliage Sunset Cruise. P hoto by cathy malin, riverquest / ct river museum

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APRIL 2024

17

ABOVE Visitors can take a journey aboard a recreation of the historical boat Onrust. Photo courtesy of riverquest / ct river museum BELOW Juvenile Great Blue Heron. Photo by cathy malin, riverquest / ct river museum

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with views of the Connecticut River and Selden Creek. Look for ruins of the old farm buildings after exploring the abandoned quarry. In the late 1800s, stone from the quarry was used as pavers across New York City. For all hikes, bring a packed lunch to enjoy on the island.

“We want to get people out on the water so that they can understand the river’s past and present so that they will care about its future,” emphasizes Kaeser. “It wasn’t always a place where you could take a boat like RiverQuest out. In the last 50 or so years, we’ve seen clean-up efforts that have completely revitalized the river’s ecosystem.”

The Connecticut River Museum’s spring exhibition, Getting There: Wayfinding on the Water during the Pre-Modern Age, running April 18 through October 13, will explore the pre-modern era of navigation.

It recounts the risk-taking voyages of Connecticut Valley mariners over time. Crossing the seas evolved from being highly hazardous in the seventeenth century to relatively routine by the mid-nineteenth

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“The exhibit is family-friendly,” notes Kaeser. “We’ve included a guidebook and four major stops that offer interactive components. It concludes with a board game that kids can play.”

“We want to invite visitors to learn about the river and its history from the times of Indigenous peoples through today—12,000 years and all 410 miles,” notes Kaeser. “The river is special, so we want to inspire the next generation of river stewards to fall in love with it like so many others. This way, we can continue to make good choices for All museum boat tours the river and ensure include admission to that it remains an esthe Connecticut River sential source of water Museum. For a complete for the New England calendar of events, visit ctriverquest.com or region for generations ctrivermuseum.org. to come.”

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By Gretchen A. Peck ~ Photos courtesy of The Place Restaurant ou’ll know you’ve arrived at The Place Restaurant when its iconic red sign comes into view at 901 Boston Post Road in Guilford. It’s an unassuming restaurant—open from late April/early May to October—rustic in nature, with outdoor tables rounded by tree stumps for seating. A big red tent provides shelter from the summer sun and rainy occasions. For diners who enjoy an open view of the kitchen, this too, is “The Place.” The kitchen staff labors over flaminghot grills, preparing meals made with quintessential New England ingredients—think fresh-caught lobsters, clams, steamers, and corn grilled in the husk.

Vaughn Knowles’ relationship with the restaurant goes back decades.

The original owner, a retired sailor known as “Whitey,” was a family friend who hired Knowles and his siblings as summer help.

“My sister was his first waitress back in the early 1950s. Then, my older brother went to work there, also in the ‘50s. Next, my brother, Gary, and I were hired in the ‘60s. It was good money—a buck an hour,” Knowles says.

“In high school, I got my girlfriend, Judy, a job there. She’s my wife of 54 years,” he adds.

In 1970, Whitey’s wife passed away. She’d been “the backbone of the business,” according to Knowles, and Whitey decided to retire. The Knowles were a young couple at the time and hadn’t yet had children, so they picked up the torch. For the first 10 years, they leased the lot and eventually bought the land.

Knowles’ brother, Gary, became a partner in 1975, after Vaughn and Judy welcomed their first child.

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Though The Place’s location has changed over the years—Whitey originally founded it in Madison before relocating to Guilford—little else has changed.

“We try to make it appear that nothing has changed, but behind the scenes they have,” Knowles explains. “We’ve added walk-in coolers. Back in 1971, we just worked out of refrigerators, and we didn’t have a tent then. Every decade, we tended to add an item to the menu. We started out with just the roasted clams, corn, lobster, shrimp and steamers.

“In the ‘80s, we added the steaks and a decade later, chicken. Then we added the fish—salmon, catfish, bluefish—and mussels. The veggie kabobs were the last edition, probably a dozen years ago,” he says.

Everything but the drinks and desserts is cooked over an open flame.

“Our signature items are the roasted clams special, roasted corn, and roasted lobster,” he says.

They source lobsters from Guilford Lobster Pound, shipped in from Maine and delivered daily.

In an average season, they’ll serve between 8,000 and 10,000 lobsters. Despite the wildly fluctuating market price for the delicacy, The Place has managed to keep their costs reasonable. Knowles says that’s because they haven’t wanted to price themselves out of the market.

“In 1971, you could pick up lobsters for about $0.90 a pound. Now, you’re paying over $10 a pound.

Had we taken the original prices and marked them 10-times higher, nobody could afford it,” he says.

“Our menu is not one that we really want to put ‘market price’ signs on.”

Over the course of the season, The Place employs about 36 people—part-time high school and college students, or professionals, like teachers who appreciate the extra income. At the height of the summer, they can serve anywhere between 50 to 200 tables a night.

“We are very casual, as far as people bringing things in,” Knowles notes. “We’re BYOB, and we don’t have a corking charge. If you want to pick up Happy Meals® for the kids or salads and bring them in, that’s fine—as long as we don’t have to cook it.”

Shoreline locals know The Place well, but they also get a healthy influx of out-of-state patrons. The restaurant has been featured on Travel Channel and Cooking Channel shows; they’ve been covered in The New York Times, Newsweek, Coastal Living, Yankee

ABOVE The “Roast Clam Special” is among the most popular menu items.

BELOW While many restaurants in the area serve cooked lobsters that have been boiled, The Place grills its lobsters—whole and in the shell—over open flame.

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Magazine, and the New Haven Register. They’ve never paid for a single advertisement.

Knowles says all the local TV stations have done pieces on The Place, and they’re a favorite live-shot destination for weather reporters, in particular, because of their outdoor setting.

A few years back, they invested in seating—beyond the rustic tree-stump seats that remain in place. They often serve large parties of graduating classes from Yale and other local universities, and their families. “Many times, we’ll see the students—who know us already—come with their parents, dressed up in suits, after graduation,” he explains with a chuckle. “We now have about 60 chairs to satisfy people of an aging population.”

When On the Shoreline spoke with Knowles in mid-February, he was planning ahead for their season opening on April 26, 2024. He’s already booked a large party of 60.

“It’s always been fun,” he reflects.

The Place Restaurant opens for 2024 on April 26. Customers bring their own alcohol and the restaurant is cash-only. ATM on-site. Open Monday–Thursday 5–8 p.m.; Friday 5–9 p.m.; Saturday 1–9 p.m.; Sunday 12–8 p.m.; Holidays 12–8 p.m.

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FROM THE

COVER

windo Discovering Louis Comfort Tiffany’s innovations in glass throughout Connecticut

T

By Elle Rahilly iffany leaded glass windows offer a stunning glimpse into a storied segment of Connecticut history and a globally recognized artisan’s roots in the region.

Louis Comfort Tiffany, born 1848, characterized his life’s work as a “quest of beauty.” The son of iconic jeweler Charles Lewis Tiffany, he made a distinctive legacy for himself as a prolific designer of the late nineteenth century through his work with glass.

“Louis had this passion for innovation in glass, and for really pushing the limits of artistic representation,” says Tanya Pohrt, curator of the Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London exhibit at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London. “Part of his creativity as an artist is that he always wanted to try new things, and to celebrate the beauty of nature, and history, and cultures around the world. His windows were a great opportunity to really get the glass out into different communities.”

The Tiffany family’s ties to the region dates back to the late eighteenth century with Tiffany’s grandfather, Comfort Tiffany, who owned and operated a cotton mill on the Quinebaug River. Charles was born in 1812, and eventually went on to open a business in New York City with John Burnett Young, a friend from Connecticut.

“Charles married Young’s sister, Harriet Olivia Avery Young, so both sides of Louis’ family are from Connecticut,” Pohrt shares. “I feel like that is influential in terms of who they spent time with when they came back for summers, vacations, and holidays.”

Tiffany and his sister Annie were raised in New York City, and took frequent trips to visit relatives in Killingly, Norwich, and New London. It was in Norwich that Tiffany met and married his first wife, Mary Goddard. “A lot of Louis’ work was done in New York, so that’s where the magic happened, but so much of the family history and roots are in eastern Connecticut,” says Pohrt.

Annie Tiffany married a distant relative of Goddard’s, Alfred Mitchell, and the two settled down together on the bank of the Thames River in New London. The estate is now a part of Mitchell College’s campus. Tiffany and his family were frequent visitors to the Mitchells in the mid-tolate 1870s and 1880s.

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past ws

TO THE

Although Tiffany started out as a painter, he began studying the techniques and chemistry of glassmaking at 24 years old. In 1881, he developed a radical treatment in glass by which several colors were combined and manipulated to create a range of hues and three-dimensional effects.

He registered a patent for opalescent glass, which has a milky opacity created by the suspension of particles that reflect and scatter light.

Simultaneously, another artist, John La Farge, also developed and introduced opalescent glass, revolutionizing the thousand-year-old art of stained glass.

“Before Louis Tiffany and John La Farge came along, there hadn’t been much deviation in terms of stained-glass technology since the Middle Ages or the Renaissance,” Pohrt explains. “And in a short amount of time, he really pushed the boundaries of what glass could do.” According to Tiffany, this new material allowed more fidelity to the inherent hue of the medium as it enabled form to be defined by the glass itself, rather than by painting onto the glass like traditional forms of stained glass.

By 1885, Tiffany had established his own glassmaking firm. “Louis did a lot of experimentation on his own, but then he hired special glass chemists and craftsmen to head up his studios fairly quickly,” says Pohrt. “So, a number of those innovations were happening under his guidance in a kind of atelier setting, but with these artists and craftsmen doing the work.”

Tiffany and his artisans developed an extraordinary palette of glass by mastering vibrant colors and iridescent effects. They evoked texture by manipulating partially cooled glass and added layers of differently colored pieces to achieve a dappled effect. “There are a number of things they did to raise the level of artistry,” says Pohrt. “Like the rippled glass that they use for the water, and the drapery glass they use to show folds in clothing.

And by plating, having a couple layers of glass, that would have a nuanced color or variation.”

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Woodward Memorial Windows (Adoring Angels), c. 1895, Pequot Chapel, New London. P hotos courtesy of Lyman Allyn art Museum

INNOVATIONS IN GLASS

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WORK WITH CHURCHES Tiffany’s technical and artistic innovations in glass developed during an age of growth in the construction and ornamentation of churches, resulting in a high demand for his work. Throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Tiffany Studios created leaded glass windows for hundreds of churches across the United States and worldwide. “Louis’ work coincided with this period of very robust ecclesiastical work in America post-Civil War,” states Pohrt. “It was sort of a coincidence that this is a time when a lot of new churches are being built or old churches are being rebuilt.”

In Connecticut, prominent families commissioned Tiffany windows to commemorate loved ones and beautify their places of worship. “There are these beautiful, elaborate, colorful windows and illustrations,” says Nicholas Mignanelli, research librarian and lecturer at Yale Law School and acting moderator and historian at the Center Church on the Green in New Haven. “And this idea that there should be beauti-

Ezekiel H. Trowbridge Memorial Window, (Davenport Window), c. 1894, Center Church on the Green, New Haven. Photo courtesy of center church on the green

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ful art for the public around the turn of the twentieth century.”

The Ezekiel H. Trowbridge Memorial Window at the Center Church on the Green (founded in 1639 as the First Church of Christ) in New Haven, commonly known as “the Davenport window,” is a stunning rendering of Connecticut history and the church’s role in the founding of the city. Mounted above the pulpit, the Tiffany glass window portrays the church’s founding minister, Reverend John Davenport, on Sunday, April 25, 1638, preaching his first sermon in the land that would become New Haven (near the intersection of College Street and George Street today).

“It really is a treasure of our church,” Mignanelli expresses.

“What’s amazing about the window is it shows the social diversity of the early New Haven church. If you look around John Davenport, there’s a farmer, a solder, a mother and her child, a single woman, and a student. It shows all these walks of life.”

Gifted by E. Hayes Trowbridge in memory of his father, Ezekiel H. Trowbridge, the window was designed by Joseph Lauber of Tiffany Studios and installed in 1894. The design is based on the painting First Sabbath in New Haven by Thomas Prichard Rossiter.

“The two founders of the New Haven Colony are in that window,” says Mignanelli. “You have John Davenport in the middle. On the left-hand side, holding a musket, is supposed to be Governor Theophilus Eaton.”

In the years that followed, families and members of the church donated and installed nine other Tiffany windows. In 1960, the church removed these nine windows in an effort to restore the meeting house to its original 1814 appearance. All of the windows were preserved and given to fellow churches or back to their respective commissioners.

The First Church of Christ (also known as Center Church) in Hartford was founded in 1636. It is the oldest congregation in Connecticut, led from Boston to Hartford by Thomas Hooker, founder of the Connecticut Colony, who was its first pastor. The sanctuary features five Tiffany windows, including the Hooker Memorial Window which was installed in 1900 and commissioned in memory of Thomas Hooker. The window depicts Hooker, who is largely considered the “father of Connecticut,” preaching in Hartford.

The Angel of the Resurrection Window was dedicated to John Caldwell, the first president of Hartford National Bank, and showcases a popular design exhibited by Tiffany at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. In this window, Tiffany utilizes new types of glass and a technique of layering multiple plates of glass to enhance the illusionism. To create the angel’s feathered wings, sheets of partially cooled glass were shaken side-to-side to create furrows.

“I was particularly interested in Tiffany windows at the First Church in Hartford and Center Church in New Haven because

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Tiffany windows including the Come Unto Me Window (Rumrill Memorial Window), c. 1924; and Saint Cecilia Window, c. 1917; on display at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London. Photo courtesy of Lyman allyn art Museum

Visit The Lyman Allyn Art Museum’s Louis Comfort Tiffany in New London exhibit to see more than 100 fine and décorative arts objects— including windows, lamps, glass vessels, and other items donated by Tiffany family descendants and others.

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FROM THE

COVER

parallels with Tiffany themes far and wide. “Tiffany fell in they are these origin points for Connecticut, and these love with the desert,” says Mary Lycan, parish historian specialty windows commemorate that history,” at St. James. “There is this early period when his states Pohrt. “To have the church itself be makpaintings were of things like Moorish markets ing a statement about its role in the commuand people wearing flowing robes, because nity and in history by doing that kind of that’s how to not get destroyed in the heat commission is exciting and unique to and the wind.” think about.”

According to Lycan, elements of In New London, Tiffany winthat theme transcended into Tifdows remain in their original lofany’s glasswork. “If you look at cations at St. James Episcopal all the flowing robes in these Church and the Pequot Chapel.

Tiffany windows, that was part “What makes the windows of his mindset and his vocabuin the region special is that lary from his early paintings.” a number of the people who The Holy Family Window at St. commissioned them did have James Episcopal Church was ties to the family,” Pohrt exinstalled in 1910 and commisplains. “I think it gives those sioned in memory of Captain commissions added meaning Lyman Allyn, a prominent New and value.”

London whaling captain of the The Pequot Chapel was nineteenth century whose fambuilt in 1872 by Henry Crockily also founded the Lyman Aler for summer visitors to lyn Art Museum in 1926. the Pequot House, Crocker’s In the window, Mary and Jopopular resort on the Thames seph gaze upon a young Jesus River where Tiffany was a regas he holds a lamb, symbolizular. The Adoring Angel Wining his role as the shepherd and dows were given to the chathe church as his flock. The figpel in 1895 by Mrs. William ures are depicted in three lanWoodward in memory of her cet windows, with a beautiful husband, William Woodward, landscape in the background Jr.—who donated the land for uniting them. “Hanging down the chapel—and his mother, in front of Mary’s ankles is a Mary Edgar Webb Wooddrop spindle. She’s spinning ward. The windows, located either wool or linen, by hand. in the south transept, were This window clearly shows placed next to the pews the Joseph and Mary as working Woodwards always occupied Family Window (Allyn Memorial Window), c. 1910, St. James Episcopal Church, New London. people,” Lycan explains. and positioned so that the Holy Photo courtesy of Lyman Allyn art Museum Other prominent local famidelicate angels surrounded by lies who dedicated Tiffany windows to the church include the grapevines, a favorite motif of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s, face the Lawrences, the Williams, and the Whittleseys. “A volunteer of altar, guiding churchgoers’ attention towards the sermon. ours at the church says that the halo [in the Resurrected Christ Window] and the star [in the Annunciation to the Shepherds Window] are his two favorite things,” says Lycan. “Because At St. James Episcopal Church, built in 1850, prominent famithat’s where the light comes in.” All six Tiffany windows remain lies have memorialized their name by way of six Tiffany windows in the church today. commissioned for the church between 1910 and 1912 that share

IMPORTANT THEMES

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At the exhibit, two original Tiffany leaded-glass windows are currently on loan from the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in New London and the Frank Loomis Palmer Mausoleum in the Cedar Grove Cemetery of New London. The Palmers were part of a prominent New London family that owned textile mills in the region and lived about a half-mile from Annie Tiffany and Alfred Mitchell on Pequot Avenue.

Confetti glass found in a bush of the Come Unto Me Window is a prime example of Tiffany Studios’ exquisite work and unique attention to detail. In the luminous window, Jesus stands in a detailed pastoral landscape with arms outstretched. “They

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FROM THE

COVER

ABOVE Louis Comfort Tiffany, c.

1920s. photo by Blank & Stoller, courtesy of Lyman Allyn Museum LEFT Hooker Memorial Window, c. 1900, Center Church, Hartford. photo courtesy of Tanya Pohrt BELOW Resurrection Angel, also known as the Caldwell Memorial Window (Parsons Memorial Window), c. 1894, Center Church, Hartford. photo courtesy of Tanya Pohrt FAR RIGHT Saint Cecilia Window, c. 1917, Lyman Allyn Art Museum, New London. p hoto Courtesy of lyman allyn art museum

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melted green glass and then sprinkled little bits of other color once the glass was partly cooled,” Pohrt describes. “Maybe a few of them would melt, others wouldn’t, and so it gives this kind of mottled, variated effect, that looks sort of like the way light streaming through leaves might look.”

The window was designed by Frederick Wilson of Tiffany Studios and installed in 1924 in dedication to Anna Chapin Rumrill, whose daughter commissioned it for All Souls. The Rumrills summered in Waterford (where the Harkness mansion stands today) and were friends of the Tiffany-Mitchells. The daughter was even a bridesmaid to Alfreda Mitchell, daughter of Annie and Alfred Mitchell, when she married Hiram Bingham III in New London in 1900.

In 2014, All Souls outgrew their original chapel and moved to a larger facility in New London.

The Lyman Allyn Art Museum worked with the congregation to purchase the window and preserve it for the public.

Some of the removed windows from New Haven’s Center Church on the Green can still be found in the Hilton C. Buley Library at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

Others were given by Center Church to other churches throughout New Haven.

“One of the things we’re very committed to is sharing our treasures, sharing our history,” Mignanelli expresses. “The history of our congregation, the history of New Haven, and American history.” Tiffany windows are also displayed at a few different locations throughout Yale University and at several other churches throughout New Haven, including Trinity on the Green and the Pitts Chapel Unified Free Will Baptist Church.

“The Chittenden Memorial Window in old campus [at Yale] is supposed to be a classical depiction of education,” says Mignanelli. “They’re supposed to be the gods of educations, almost like the personifications of science, art, religion, and music. It’s a very beautiful window.”

A LASTING LEGACY Altogether, Tiffany windows still exist in more than 900 locations across 44 states and nine countries. “Tiffany was such a popular style that other artists started to mimic it,” says Mignanelli. “Sometimes, there are debates about whether something is or is not a genuine Tiffany window.”

Those interested in learning more can visit cambridge2000.com/tiffany, an online database with a full listing of the 51 sites throughout Connecticut where Tiffany windows can still be found. You can search by town, designer, window theme, and more. It is important to note that many churches operate under special hours, with a primary focus on their parishioners and services. Anyone who would like to see the windows should call ahead to make an appointment.

“It’s pretty remarkable to have done this pioneering work in making glass so stunningly beautiful. That conveys all these different stories, which are kind of flexible depending on what topic you want to explore. It’s almost like little museums in these communities sprinkled all over the country,” Pohrt reflects. “That legacy is so important.”

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FROM THE

COVER

On display Southern Connecticut State University restores and re-installs Tiffany windows in the Buley Library Decorative arts expert and art historian at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), Robert Koch, Ph.D., was an important early scholar of Louis Comfort Tiffany. His research into the work of Tiffany helped garner significant interest and, in turn, an increased demand for original Tiffany glass. In the 1960s, during his 20-year tenure at SCSU, Koch secured the donations of two Tiffany windows from the Center Church on the Green in New Haven. The windows, displayed in the Hilton C. Buley Library, date back to the heyday of Tiffany Studios in New York.

In 2008, SCSU began a large renovation and addition project to the library, which included removal and restoration of the windows. After nearly eight years in storage, these windows were returned to the library in 2015. Today, the windows rest in custom birch frames and display an array of gorgeous colors for students in the main reading space of the library.

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ABOVE The Water Brooks Window (Trowbridge Memorial Window), c. 1904, Hilton C. Buley Library at Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven. Photo by Isabel chenoweth / southern connecticut state university BELOW The Hector Window (Trowbridge Memorial Window), c. 1898, Hilton C. Buley Library at Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven. Photo by Isabel chenoweth / southern connecticut state university

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dancing daffodil s

at Halfinger Farms

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S

By Jennifer Carmichael ymbolizing new beginnings and rebirth, daffodils emerge each spring and light up our landscapes with cheerful, bright yellow blooms. Seeing these flowers signifies we’ve turned a corner, and the long winter is finally ending. And while you may have some of these beauties pop up in your yard, Halfinger Farms in Higganum welcomes a quarter million flowers in its field through April.

This spectacular sea of daffodils, also known as “Dancing Daffodils,” is a sight to behold and one of the few pick-your-own daffodil farms in the country and the only one in Connecticut.

“They are the ambassadors of spring,” say both Jennifer and John Halfinger, first-generation farmers, who began in the spring of 1996 by opening a 1,200-square-foot greenhouse and retail shop on the property where John grew up.

Through the years, the couple cultivated a diverse array of plants, including pumpkins and gourds, both on the land and now in three greenhouses totaling 15,500 square feet. In 2017, they bought 12 acres a half mile down the street, thinking it’d make for an excellent daffodil farm.

“Daffodils are pleasant and help you forget about things that are unhappy and feel unpleasant,” says Jennifer, who notes that the name, “Dancing Daffodils,” derived from the poem, “I Wandered

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Photos by Winter caplanson

Lonely as a Cloud,” (also sometimes called “Daffodils”) by English romantic poet William Wordsworth. It’s about a time when he’d been walking in the countryside, and had come across an area where there were thousands of wild daffodils, and the lyrics read: “And then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils.”

She continues, “As people’s lives get busier, if you can take some time to walk around the daffodils and take a few deep breaths and let the air’s color, environment, and smell just envelope you, it’s very therapeutic.”

After clearing the overgrown land in about two years, the couple planted 8,000 daffodil bulbs in the fall of 2019 and opened their field at the height of the pandemic in 2020. It proved a low-key way to introduce people to what they hoped would become a place for childhood memories and springtime family traditions.

“2020 was the first year we officially opened,” says Jennifer, who had the idea for the daffodil farm and believed it could come true. “We did a market test the year before where we planted bulbs in the front of our house, put a call out on social media for people to come pick their own, and it was validation—people came. These are our cherished daffodils that come up each year.”

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They added more bulbs yearly. Today, they have over 100,000 bulbs in over 25 varieties. And since many of the bulbs will create multiple blooms, the couple anticipates a quarter million flowers this year in three main picking areas—the fireplace area, secret garden, and backyard, each having its own feeling.

“The secret garden is expansive and abundant, allowing people to spread out,” says Jennifer. “The newest planting is the backyard, and it has rows fairly close together and will make for beautiful pictures. In comparison, by the fireplace, the rows are far apart if you want to take family photos sitting down or have a child in a stroller. It’s a lovely place to breathe a little bit and have room.”

The Halfingers recommend wearing sensible shoes for walking in the farm fields. And they say to pluck the daffodils with your fingers, the old-fashioned way. The cost is 70 cents per stem, and there is no minimum that you must pick. Water is available on-site, and they’ll tie bunches up with a yellow ribbon.

“It’s a lovely event for a family at an affordable price point because they can choose what they want to invest in it,” says Jennifer, who notes that she created a vase boutique where people can choose from a collection of reclaimed and rescued vessels of all shapes and sizes offered on a pay-from-your-heart

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donation basis. “We are trying to keep it simple, a place for family time or a place to go for ‘me time,’ and people seem to love it for that.”

The Halfingers hope people will think of Halfinger Farms as a spring destination. It’s a place to not only come and see the daffodils but also explore the greenhouses too. Visitors can peruse and purchase everything from herbs, flowering annuals, perennials, combinations, hanging baskets, and patio planters— and that’s just the spring season.

“People come to our farm for the variety of plants we offer,” says John, who recalls having people who moved 30 miles away come back to Halfinger Farms to buy their plants. “Plus, we’re producing and growing them. It’s getting harder and harder to find a plant farmer. It’s more frequent to see places that purchase from a wholesale grower and resell them.”

As first-generation farmers, John and Jennifer do research online and learn through trial and error. Being the only pickyour-own daffodil farm in the Northeast, they traveled to one in South Carolina. They walked through the daffodil field with the owner, who offered knowledge and advice.

“The daffodils have been a fun way to watch the farm come to life, seeing new people visit who might not have taken a chance on coming to Higganum or Halfinger Farms if it weren’t for them,” says John. “It’s like a rebirth because we’re meeting many new people while maintaining a loyal audience for the plants.”

The farm opened March 28 for pick-your-own daffodils. Typically a four-week season, the farm hopes to run seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout April at 489 Candlewood Hill Road. The following family-friendly events will run throughout the month: Bunnies and Blooms on Sunday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is a bunny visiting experience.

Stuffed Animal Day on Sunday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. celebrates love and relationships. Bring your stuffed friend to the daffodil farm to experience the magic of pick-your-own daffodils. Capture the moment with a visit to the selfie spot and visit the stuffed animal adoption area.

Living History Day on Saturday, April 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. is a step back in time, welcoming The Cromwell Historical Society and The Dirty Blue Historians, who will transport visitors to the turn of the nineteenth century with their beautiful period clothing, entertaining lawn games, and a Always call the picking hotline before traveling at glimpse into the lives of the 860-345-4609. For daily Bonfoey family, who lived on updates on conditions, visit the stately farm across from halfingerfarms.com.

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Patrons are given colorful buckets for gathering daffodils.

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Halfinger Farms is a familyfriendly destination for spring, featuring pick-your-own daffodils and events. P hoto courtesy of Halfinger farms

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Resin ornaments showcase dried flowers.

Photo Courtesy of Green Valley Blooms

preserving

With DIY and specialty shops, preserving special moments is limited only by your imagination . P hoto Courtesy of Papercraft clubhouse

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Photos and embellishments combine to result in a personalized keepsake. Photo Courtesy of Papercraft Clubhouse

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Family or holiday-themed recipe books are just one of the ways to capture traditions for posterity. P hoto Courtesy of Papercraft clubhouse

ial moments Preserving dried flowers in resin maintains both color and a lifelike, three-dimensional look. Photo Courtesy of Green valley blooms

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By Cris Cadiz emories slip away so easily in the digital age. Photo albums seem like ancient relics. When did you last frame a picture, instead of glancing at it on your phone?

Spring is time for important events: weddings, baby and bridal showers, prom, graduation. They deserve commemoration. With the rise of DIY and creative shops and services, preserving special moments is limited only by your imagination.

According to Tracie Larson, owner of Papercraft Clubhouse in Old Saybrook, traditional scrapbooks are still a popular way to record memories. “People create page layouts documenting both events and everyday moments. These usually include photos, a few themed embellishments, and some journaling to capture the who/what/where/when,” she says. Pages are placed in protective sleeves in a scrapbook album.

The results are colorful, artistic, personal, meaningful, and fun to create.

In addition to all the materials for craft projects, Larson’s shop offers classes and demonstration days for scrapbooking and more. “If you have dabbled in crafting and have some basic skills with a paper trimmer and scissors, you can take one of our cardmaking or technique classes to start,” she suggests.

“This is a great way to build skills, meet other crafters, and not get overwhelmed with a huge project.”

Mini albums that focus on one subject (like an event or a trip) are a good way to preserve memories and a more approachable project for a newbie. Larson says recipe albums, with room for recipe cards, journaling and photos, are popular gifts for recent graduates and newly married couples.

“Over the last few years there has been a trend toward creating smaller planners and journals to document everyday life,” says Larson. “These personal journals might include a few photos alongside hand stamped and colored images, die cut pieces, and

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ABOVE Any event or experience can be immortalized with some crafting supplies and creativity. P hoto courtesy of papercraft Clubhouse BELOW The resin process preserves flowers’ original shape and bright colors in a transparent medium that can be molded into a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. P hoto courtesy of green valley blooms

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ephemera. My next journal will probably be an ode to my love of all things coffee.”

Memory boxes or keepsake containers are a popular way to recall a special time, theme or event in your life and an easy DIY project. On my desk sits a glass jar filled with shells and stones I gathered over the years from around the world. I don’t recall which shell washed up on what beach anymore, but the collection reminds me of all the places I traveled. Memory containers can be as simple as a glass jar or complex as your creative skills. They can be themed (travel, music, sports) or for a specific event (wedding, graduation, big birthday). Select a container and décorate it. Choose meaningful items to tuck inside (ticket stubs, restaurant napkins, party favors, dried flowers, and other trinkets). Put the box or jar somewhere you can see it. One day, that keepsake container will catch your eye and you will enjoy memories evoked by what’s inside.

Event guestbooks have always been popular, but a signature or handwritten note in a bound paper book is old school.

Thanks to creative professionals such as Martha Stewart, social media, and websites like Pinterest, endless non-traditional guestbook ideas are at your fingertips. Here are just a few I found online: Take a traditional guestbook and personalize it with artwork or graphic design, add photos, pressed flowers and other 2-D mementos. Try an alternative layout (accordion style), colored and textured paper, glitter, paint, stamps, or other options from the dazzling variety at craft stores.

Guests don’t need to sign an actual book. If your theme is rustic, have them sign a live-edge slice of wood. Love music?

Sign a vintage vinyl record album. Love a sport? Sign a pair of skis, paddles, a swim buoy, or other paraphernalia. Guests can sign pieces of fabric to stitch into a quilt or Christmas ornaments to hang on a tree. How about picture frames, artwork, or even a special bottle of wine? The possibilities are endless.

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ABOVE People of all ages can appreciate a beautifully preserved flower or bouquet, and keepsakes can be anything from jewelry to home décor. Photo courtesy of green valley blooms BELOW In addition to carrying the materials for craft projects, Tracie Larson, owner of Papercraft Clubhouse in Old Saybrook, offers classes and demonstration days for scrapbooking and more. Photo courtesy of Papercraft clubhouse

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Another trendy way to preserve event memories is interactive. Provide a Polaroid camera for guests to take photos and post on a bulletin board with a caption. Offer ribbons or paper to write advice for marital bliss or wishes for the future to hang on a potted tree or another décorative item. Have them type a message to the graduate, mom-to-be, or bride and groom on a vintage typewriter. Guests will enjoy the entertainment and participation, and you will have a unique and lasting memento from your special event.

When we sold our house and downsized, I cleaned out the attic and found my wedding bouquet. Opening the box brought back wonderful memories but the dried flowers were sadly dull and crumbling. In addition to drying, you can also press flowers to preserve them or use silica gel, wax, or glycerin. There is a lot of DIY advice online. The most lasting option to capture the ephemeral beauty of special occasion flowers is resin preservation. Green Valley Blooms in northeastern Connecticut offers custom preservation of bouquets, corsages, and arrangements. Resin preserves flowers’ original shape and bright colors in a transparent medium that can be molded into a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles.

Although the technique has been around for a while, Green Valley Blooms owner Beth Tucker started preserving bouquets two years ago after a customer asked her to use dried wedding flowers in a piece of jewelry. Tucker started buying large molds, perfecting resin techniques, and her small, handmade jewelry business grew into a thriving creative service.

“Resin preservation has really taken off as a way for brides to display their bouquets in a much prettier way then traditional drying, which can be pretty and natural looking but loses all the gorgeous colors.”

The resin process preserves both color and a lifelike, threedimensional look. Bridal bouquets are her most popular order, but Tucker has preserved everything from memorial arrangements to first dance corsages. While Tucker is pro-DIY, she says the resin process is intense, tricky, and has taken her a few years to master. “I think anyone can try anything, but I don’t suggest trying resin for the first time with your special flowers.”

Tucker says every item is totally unique because she’s never gotten the same bouquet twice. Her most requested design is hexagon blocks, perfect for displaying on a mantle or shelf.

Other popular items are décor or vanity trays and ornaments.

“Customers send me photos of their pieces displayed next to their wedding photos; they always look so beautiful,” she says.

“Every bouquet is a blank canvas where I can use my expertise and imagination to preserve not only flowers but the memories that come with them.”

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